They are not able to enter this place. They wait in the temple grounds. He paused. There is energy coming from the right. I suspect our gate might lie there.
I followed him through the ether, and tried not to get distracted by the otherworldly beauty of everything around us. Azriel swung right, and the buildings disappeared, replaced by a honeycombed tunnel, along which ran various oddly shaped doors. Some glowed, some did not. And from one of them came a strange humming sound.
What's that noise? I reached back for Amaya. She might not be needed, given I had Azriel to protect me, but I certainly felt easier with her in my hand – not something I'd ever thought would happen when she and I were first introduced.
It is not of this place, he replied.
Flames flickered down Valdis's sides, and an answering hum came from Amaya. Whatever that noise was, the two swords were anticipating meeting it.
Have you any idea where it's coming from?
From the star-shaped door. He glanced over his shoulder. There is movement inside. Be ready to fight.
My grip tightened against Amaya's hilt, and her humming ratcheted up several notches. Is it our sorceress?
It is not a reaper or Aedh, so I would think it must be.
So you can't tell from the energy itself?
No. He hesitated. It has not the feel of anything I've come across before.
If our theory was right, and both the sorceress and Lucian had been using dark magic to transform their beings into energy so that they could get onto the fields, then it was logical that he wouldn't be able to recognize whoever or whatever waited inside that door. Azriel placed a hand on the odd-shaped door. It reacted to his touch, emitting a warm, nonthreatening light. I briefly wondered how it would have reacted had we not been wearing my father's bracelets. He glanced at me. Are you ready?
I nodded and tightened my grip on Amaya. Her humming became a hiss of expectant fury, the noise jarring against the silence that surrounded us.
He pushed the door open and stepped through. I quickly followed, Amaya raised and my gaze scanning the surrounds. The room was large and circular in shape, with ghostly honeycombed walls defining its area. There was no furniture or adornments – or nothing that I recognized as such – nor did there appear to be anyone here.
But there was something here.