The Dark Remains - Mark Anthony [216]
It was the day Melia had arrived at Ar-tolor.
Yes, it all makes sense. Melia has been getting lost in thoughts of the past, and the moment she arrived at Artolor, the same thing began happening to you, sister. And now it is happening to the people of Tarras, even as the other gods become caught in the web of the past.
Lirith supposed the tangle she saw in the Weirding was simply a vision—a construct of her ability with the Sight, one which strove to give form and shape to the peril she had been sensing. But why was the demon causing Melia and the other gods—as well as people near to them—to mix past, present, and future? It was as if the demon was unraveling not just the threads of the Weirding, but the very fabric of time itself.
Lirith sighed. These were questions she could not answer, but she resolved to ask the others. That was, if there was time. For last night, by the dying light of the fire, they had forged what seemed to Lirith a desperate plan.
I think I’m supposed to go beneath the city, Travis had said. I think that’s why the fairy used its blood to fill the gate artifact again. It wants me to go through, take Sinfathisar, and stop the demon before it gets loose.
We’ll need to distract the Scirathi, Sareth had said. They will be keeping watch on the cavern where the demon is imprisoned. Your magic Stone will do you no good if you never manage to get near the demon. We need to keep the sorcerers as far away from you as possible.
I believe Emperor Ephesian will help us in that regard, Melia had said, her eyes gleaming. Whether he wishes to or not.
It was Grace who had finally spoken the question on all their minds. How, Travis? How can you use Sinfathisar to stop the demon?
I don’t have that one entirely figured out, Grace, he had said with a wry smile. But the fairy seems to think the Stone can do it. And I did use Sinfathisar to seal the Rune Gate. I’ll have to believe it can do this as well.
They had gone to bed then, Sareth and Vani showing them to different wagons where they could sleep. However, Lirith had had one more conversation before she let sleep come, speaking in the dark with Aryn as they lay in the wagon. They had spoken without words—nor had they included Grace in their conversation, for she had fallen at once into the profound sleep of exhaustion. Besides, Lirith did not know how they were going to tell Grace that the Pattern required her to betray her friend.
Except Grace wasn’t at the High Coven, sister, Aryn had spoken in her mind. She isn’t part of the Pattern.
That was true, only Lirith didn’t understand what it meant, not fully. She would have to consider it later. Right now there other matters at hand.
We must send word of Travis Wilder’s arrival to Ivalaine at the first opportunity. That much the Pattern requires.
Lirith had sensed the hesitation on the other end of the thread. She felt it herself.
I know, sister. You are not the only one who was joyous to see Travis—then despaired at the sight of him. I still find it hard to believe he would seek to harm Eldh. In everything I have seen him do, he is a kind and gentle man. But he has power, great power. That much neither of us can deny.
But what do we do, Lirith?
Just what I have said. The Pattern requires only that we send word back to Ivalaine and that we watch him. No matter how he might threaten Eldh in the future, right now Travis is the only one who has a chance of preventing the demon’s escape, and we must not hinder him in this.
But what if he makes a mistake, sister? What if he accidentally allows the demon to escape, and that’s how Eldh is destroyed?
Lirith had not considered that. However, she knew the perils of interpreting prophecy. Sometimes, in trying to avoid what was foretold, one could cause it to happen.
No, Aryn, we will take no action other than what we were commanded. We will send a missive to Ivalaine as soon as we can, and we will watch Travis. That is all.
And how will we tell Grace?
Good night, sister, Lirith had said. You will need your sleep.