Dave Gross - Mistress of the Night

Variance walked down the center of the street like some kind of dark matron and where she walked the shadows grew deeper, cloaking her skulking children. Anyone meeting the dark tide in the street would surely vanish into it, and anyone glancing out a window would see nothing but thick shadow and vague figures.

Keph had been counting the cultists. He edged up beside Variance as they strode along.

"You have twenty-eight madmen and women following you," he whispered. "That's not going to be enough to launch an assault on Moonshadow Hall. If the Selunites can't stop you themselves, the city guard will!"

Variance looked at him. He could barely see her face, but her voice was low and calm. "Are you trying to convince me to stop the attack?"

His stomach twisted. "You're leading the cult into a massacre."

Faster than he would have thought possible, her hand lashed out and dug into his shoulder. Her fingers were hard. He gasped.

"You should only worry about the task ahead of you," she said. "When the time comes, I suggest that you run for Fourstaves House very quickly. You won't have long before the distraction begins." Keph caught the flash of a frown. "For now, stay close and hold your tongue. I will turn Shar's magic against you if I have to." ' She released him and he staggered. A short distance away, Bolan snickered.

"Keph! Hey, Keph!" Baret jogged over to him. "Where's Jarull tonight?"

Keph could feel Variance's eyes on him. He ground his teeth together.

"Jarull… is out of Yhaunn," Keph lied. "He's gone to Ravens Bluff."

"Why would he do that? He's going to miss everything!"

Baret sounded genuinely disappointed.

"Maybe Shar called him," Keph answered.

"Dark!" Baret said in wonder. "Both of you touched by the goddess!" He drew a deep breath. "Talisk, Starne, and me were wondering if we could stand with you during the assault. Talisk says that if Shar rescued you from the Selunites, she must have you marked. We could be an honor guard for you."

Keph's throat seemed to close around his breath. "No," he said.

"Come on!"

"I said, no!"

Keph reached out and pushed the other man away, Baret stumbled and cursed.

"Keph's modesty ill becomes one favored of Shar," interrupted Variance. Keph whirled on her. The priestess was wearing a smile. "The Lady of Loss has given him a special task tonight, one he must perform alone. But such faith as yours will be rewarded, Baret. Bring Talisk and Starne to me and receive the blessing of Shar's own strength."

Awe crossed Baret's face. "Yes, Mother Night!"

He disappeared into the shadows. Variance watched after him for a moment. Keph glared at her.

"He doesn't deserve to die," he said between clenched teeth.

"He came to Shar's embrace willinglyeven more willingly than you did." She stopped abruptly then called, "Bolan!"

Without further instruction, Bolan swiftly herded the other cultists away from her. Keph looked around, uneasy. They stood at an intersection, a quiet square that stood under the watchful eye of a statue dedicated to some otherwise unremarkable merchant prince. He knew the square. Moonshadow Hall lay a short distance almost directly along one of the intersecting streetsand Fourstaves House off along another.

"Perhaps," said Variance, "you'll find that Shar triumphs over Selune after all, Keph."

Once again, the shadows seemed to thicken around her. Keph shuddered. In spite of himself, he took a step closer to the priestess. Facing the watching statue, she held out a hand and beckoned with two fingers.

"By the power of the Mistress of the Night, I bid you come forth, O beasts of Shadow!"

Around the plinth on which the statue stood, shadows lengthened and deepened, then swirled and condensed. Something within them movedand five massive dogs came padding silently into the square. Keph shuddered and moved back. The dogs were as black as the night itself, with smooth, shining coats over thick muscles, and malevolent eyes above powerful jaws. And Variance wasn't finished.

"Come forth!" she said. "Come forth! In Shar's name, come forth!"

The black dogs kept coming until eighteen of the beasts squatted and stalked in the square. Even Shar's faithful pressed back from them. One of the dogs growled at Bolan and the priest took a cautious step away.

"Be calm," Variance commanded. "They're shadow mastiffsour allies." She raised her hands and Keph could feel the power that flowed from her as she made a final call. "Rax! Variance Amatick summons you to Shar's service. Bound by ancient contracts, I call you now. Rax, stand forth!"

The shadows didn't so much condense then as collapse.

The final shadow mastiff to step onto the square was as large as a warhorse and brutally scarred. All of the other dogs looked to it with deference.

Variance held out her hand and said, "I would have you be my lieutenant tonight, Rax. Half of these beasts will be your pack. I ask only that you cause the greatest confusion possible." Her hand swept around the square. "In return I offer three nights hunting upon Faerun with Shar's blessing."

The huge dog's eyes narrowed and it let out a growl. Something about the sound of the black beast struck terror deep into Keph's soul.

Variance nodded calmly and said, "I thank you, Rax. Choose your pack and go. Your territory lies that way."

She turned and pointedbut not toward Moonshadow Hall or even Fourstaves House. She pointed down a third street.

Directly toward the night-crowded maze of the Stiltways.

Rax growled again and trotted off. Nine of the other mastiffs followed. Variance turned to Keph.

"There is your distraction," she said. "You'd best hurry if you want to make the best of it. When you have the tiles, bring them to me at the east wall of Moonshadow Hall. I'll be waiting for you." Keph stared at her. Her eyebrows arched. "Go!" she commanded. Her hand jabbed in the direction of Fourstaves House.

Keph whirled and ran. Behind him he could hear Variance as she called out to the cultists, "Come forward and receive Shar's blessing, for now we join her battle!"

The gout of divine fire lasted only moments, but it left Feena writhing on the floor of the kitchen. Footsteps approachedshe forced herself to roll over and raise her head. Velsinore looked down at her. In her hands she clutched a long iron rod, a spit from the kitchen.

"Tell me, Feena," she said. "If Selune is good and Shar is evil, then why does Selune grant me the power to do this to you?"

Feena looked down at her hands. They were burned red and raw. It hurt to flex her fingers. The sleeves of her robe were smoldering. She groaned and sat back on her heels, looking up at Velsinore.

"I asked myself that question when Mother Dhauna forced me to attack her," Feena snarled. Her lungs burned with every breath. "This is what I think: Selune grants you power, but you choose how to use it. Selune isn't evil. You are."

Rage flared in Velsinore's eyes and she swung the rod with both hands. Feena hurled herself aside, tumbling across the kitchen floor. The rod hit the stone of the floor with a resounding clang. Sparks and chips of stone spat from the impact. Velsinore heaved the rod back up and whirled after her, but Feena rolled back to her feet. One hand grabbed for her medallion.

"Bright Lady of the Night, lay your touch upon me!" she prayed.

Cool magic washed over her, soothing the worst of her burns. Feena gasped in relief and dodged back from another wild swing of Velsinore's rod. She darted swiftly to the side of the big cauldron, putting it between her and the tall priestess.

"You asked me another question," Feena said. "If you're a traitor, why does Selune still answer your prayers?"

"Do you have a homespun answer to that too?" asked Velsinore. She stalked around the cauldron, but Feena just moved with her. "Let's hear it."