The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [124]
Meisha touched the boy's wrist. "Thank you for telling me when to stop," she whispeted. This time, moisture ttailed down het cheeks tathet than fire.
Talal's face scrunched up at the sight of the teats. He looked mote panicked than he had when she was on fire. "Get me out of here, Lady, and we're even. Sune's teats, I sweat this is the last time I'll ask."
"Can you continue?" Kail asked her.
With Talal's aid, Meisha got to het feet. "I can," she said.
He nodded. "Let's go, then. Thete's still a long climb, and the Shadow Thieves are waiting."
CHAPTER 29
Keczulla, Amn 5 Marpenoth, the Year
of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)
When Kail emerged from the Bladesmile estate and saw the black cloud hanging in the sky above the Gold Ward, he didn't realize it was alive. He'd been on guatd for a Shadow Thief ambush, but the portal room, both in the Delve and the estate, was deserted, the gates active and waiting. He'd been certain it was a trap, but there was no sign of the Shadow Thieves or Varan.
When the black cloud shattered, the birds scattered throughout the city, some dropping from the sky impaled with arrows, others on fire, reeling wildly in the air like dying phoenixes. Kali knew at once where they'd come from.
"Take Garavin to Waukeen's temple," he told Morgan and Talal. The dwarf still walked in a haze, his strength depleted. Kali didn't know how long it would take for him to recover from his experience. "Meisha, Dantane. Come with me." He offered no other explanation; he simply ran toward his home.
He was almost to the line of dark hedgerows that led up to the main entrance when Meisha and Dantane caught up. With surprising strength, the Harper yanked him down behind the hedge while shadows moved in front of the burning house.
Kail grabbed her by the front of het jerkin, both in fury and to steady himself. "If you're not going to help me," he snarled, "get out of my way!"
Meisha glared at him. "Clearly you've forgotten whom you're speaking to," she said, nodding to the house. "They have Varan. I will merrily tear your home apart to find him if it pleases you, but I would rather not die until Balram is writhing safely in the deepest Hells." She leaned close. "I have held myself in check; now you will do the same. Remember your promise, Kali."
They held each other's gaze, and then, jarringly, Kail's face split in a grin. "Fine-tear the place apart. But clear a path for me first. Remember the garden?"
The guards stationed at the double front doors were shocked when they saw Balram and his two companions re-enter the hall, bleeding from scores of scratches and bites. At the same time, light-bright as a bonfire blaze-filled the vertical windows aside the front doors.
"What was that?" asked Balram, one hand covering his bleeding ear.
Elsis ran to the window. "The fite must have spread faster than we anticipated," he said. "The hedgerows are ablaze." "What?"
The guard pointed to the twin lines of fire burning up to the carriageway.
"Bloody gods," Elsis murmured, flinging one of the doors open to get a bettet view. "What is that?"
He saw a man striding up the path. His cloak was torn apart, his armor soiled with blood, and his hail and skin were scorched by fire. Yet he walked as if the fite itself propelled him forward. A rush and roar sounded in the distance, and a woman stepped onto the path behind him. From her hands, a ball of fire bloomed and exploded down the walkway, chasing the man hungrily.
Elsis watched, his mourh agape, as the flames closed in, and still the man walked fotward. He didn't even glance over his shoulder, though the heat must have been unbeatable.
Just before the flames reached him, the woman made a gesture with her hands, pulling her palms apart and spreading her arms wide.
The fireball split. Each half streaked aside the man and past him, exploding in Elsis's face, driving the guard back into the doors and through. The front of the house collapsed, folding in on itself as the sttucture absorbed the brunt of the explosion.