quick look, obviously noting Cavatina’s use of the words “may have.” Fortunately, the Protector was well behind Qilué, and the high priestess didn’t notice.
“Troubling news,” Qilué answered in a flat voice, without even breaking her stride. The high priestess’s shoulders had tensed, Cavatina noted, at the word “portal,” then relaxed again at the mention of it being south of the rivera location that was nowhere near the ancient temple.
Detection? Cavatina signed to Rylla.
No evil seen. You try.
Leliana had dropped back slightly, forcing Cavatina and Rylla to shift awkwardly to hide their silent conversation. The Protector obviously realized something serious was in the offingeven if she had no idea, yet, what it was. She watched them out of the corner of her eye.
Cavatina was forced to sign with Leliana watching. Report dretch, she suggested.
Rylla moved up beside Qilué. “Lady Qilué, there was an intrusion you should know about. A dretch was spotted …”
As Rylla sketched out the events that had followed the dretch’s discovery, Cavatina dropped back another pace and sang under her breathsoftly, so Qilué wouldn’t hear her. Her prayer took hold, causing the holy symbol that hung against her chest to softly vibrate. She scanned the Crescent Blade, looking for the bruised purple aura that accompanied evil. To her surprise, the sword was clean.
Had she been wrong about Wendonai being inside the Crescent Blade?
Rylla glanced back briefly. Cavatina flicked a quick mesŹsage at her. Nothing.
Illusion?
Doubtful. Cavatina had never heard of a balor capable of conjuring illusions.
Banished? Rylla signed without looking back.
An excellent questionone that Cavatina didn’t know the answer to.
“The oozes concern me more than one lone dretch does,” Qilué told her battle-mistress. “They’re the real threat to the Promenade. Are the seals on the Pit intact?”
“Yes, Lady,” Rylla answered. “I checked them myself, earlier today.”
Cavatina, still well back, whispered a second prayer. The silver aura that accompanied holiness sprang into view around the high priestess. But it was fainter than it should have been: a dull gleam, rather than a sheen so bright it caused the eyes to ache. The silver glow was faintest near the hand that gripped the Crescent Bladethe hand whose wrist was marked with a small, still-visible scar.
The Crescent Blade itself was devoid of an aura. For an item forged from moon metal and consecrated to Eilistraee, that was telling indeed.
Wendonai must have been inside it, Cavatina decided, even if he wasn’t there now. Perhaps, having done Lolth’s bidding by persuading Qilué to open a portal to the Pit, he’d departed. The Spider Queen could very well have restored his corpse to life, allowing him to return to the Abyss.
All well and good, but it left a gaping hole. With Wendonai departed, there was nothing to prevent Qilué’s priestesses from pointing out to the high priestess what she’d been tricked into doingand then reversing it. Lolth might be insane, but she was cunning. She wouldn’t have overlooked this flaw in her plans.
The more likely possibilityvastly more terrifyingwas that Wendonai had departed the Crescent Blade for a living host: Qilué.
Cavatina shifted her song a second time, and saw what she’d missed before: a faint purple glow, just above the scar. That was where Wendonai must be hiding.
She fought to hide the revulsion she felt. The situation was more grave than she’d dreamed. Was Qilué’s mind still her own? Was this a demon Cavatina was talking to?
No. Some part of Qilué remained. A significant part. Or her aura wouldn’t have shone silver at all.
Cavatina prayed that Wendonai wasn’t listening in on her thoughts. If he’d heard what had just passed through her mindor was listening to whatever Rylla was currently thinkinghe’d counter whatever they tried next. She prayed that redemption was an armor he couldn’t penetrate.
There was still time to arrange an exorcismas long as nothing happened to tip their hand. No rash moves, she decided. Nothing that would force the demon to react before they were ready. She’d play along, make her report, and slip away as quickly as she could to make the necessary preparations.
Cavatina directed a sending at Lelianaa carefully worded one that wouldn’t send the Protector into a panic. This may be an imposter, not Qilué. I need to question her without alerting her. On my signal, sing a truth psalm. Do nothing more.
Leliana’s lips tightened. She nodded.
They approached the High House. Rylla reached for the door, but Qilué blocked her. “Thank you for your report, battle-mistress. Please return to the Mound, and re-inspect the seals on the Pit.”
“Surely someone else can