Dave Gross - Mistress of the Night

To the west of the temple, she could see the lingering cloud of dark mist that screams had described as she had struggled with Velsinore. A few of Selune's clerics still looked out that way, but more were racing around the roofs to take positions on the east and south as figures broke from shadows to surge around the temple walls. Feena drew a sharp breath. The mist had been a trick to draw attention from the real attack. On the east the figures had grappling hooks to attack the walls. On the south, outside the gates, they had an easier target: the mob of poor who had gathered to demand a share of the New Moon Beneficence were fleeing or falling before the screaming Sharrans. Selune's priestesses had tried to get some of the poor inside the protection of the temple. Now they struggled to close the gates against the rush of Sharrans!

There were more than just humans among the cultists, too. Feena could see some kind of beasts loping alongside them. Wolves? No, huge dogsbut not natural animals at all. Creatures summoned by dark magic. Feena growled under her breath. Cyrume, the cultist in the Stiltways had his body been ravaged by one of those beasts in order to frame her? She struggled to turn her head, trying to see more.

Shadows crawled up the roof of the winter chapel toward the top of the walls. The Sharrans had found Moonshadow Hall's weakness. Feena tried to call out a warning to Selune's defenders.

Nothing happened. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. She just kept rising, higher and higher above Moonshadow Hall, up toward a full moon that hung bigger, brighter, and more beautiful than any she had ever seen in her life.

A blue-haired woman stood in the air before her, soft wings beating slowly at her back, arms outstretched in welcome though her eyes seemed to hold immeasurable sorrow. Feena recognized her from legends and from the tall relief that stood against Moonshadow Hall's pale wallsone of the seven Shards, Selune's greatest servants. The Shard smiled softly, sadly, and beckoned to her.

Fear sharper than pain stabbed through Feena.

No, she whimpered silently. No, I can't. I won't. I'm needed!

"Feena! Feena!" Julith's voice called again, growing distant.

Closermuch closerthere was a growl. A chorus of growls, like a pack of wolves at her back.

No, like a Pact. Feena was aware of Niree Swifthands's lean gray form to one side of her and Rade's black bulk to the other. More animal voices rose behind her. Tyver Thorndrove's human voice rang out in triumph above them all.

"She denies death, Shard! There is still hope. She denies death!"

The Shard's beckoning gestured slowed, then stopped. Her arm fell back to her side and her eyes… her eyes shone with joy.

She faded from the sky and the glorious full moon faded along with her. Darkness fell.

A darkness that surged with whispers. Feena stared into it. Selune's warning? That couldn't be right. The New Moon Heresy was dead once more, killed along with Velsinore. The New Moon Pact had been rediscovered. What more was there?

She found her voice and called, "Tyver!"

The Peacemaker was crouched in front of her. "Feena! Feena, listen to me! The Pact"

"The darkness, Tyver!" Feena screamed at him "What is it? I still don't understand what Selune wants of me!"

"There are things that should not be understood. There are things that must not be spoken. When the time comes, you'll know what to do," Tyver said, then he reached down and grasped her shoulders. "Feena, if you would deny death for Selune's service, enter the Pact!"

"Tyver, J don't-"

"The Pact, Feena!" Tyver shook her hard. "Enter the waters of the moon" "Feena! "shouted Julith.

Feena coughed. Blood sprayed out of her throat and she gulped air. Close by, Julith gasped. Feena groaned and opened her eyes. She was still on the floor of the kitchen, though Julith had her sitting up, her hands on

Feena's shoulders. The young priestess's symbol of Selune dangled around her neck. Feena could feel the fading remnants of healing magic coursing through her body-but too little and very nearly too late. Blood had spread in a pool around her. Her head felt light.

She didn't have long. She could feel it.

"Oh, Feena," Julith said. "What did Velsinore do to you?"

"The attack?" slurred Feena. Speaking hurt. "What's happening?"

"We're holding the Sharrans off," said Julith, "but just barely. They tried to climb the winter chapel and"

"I know." She shook her head at Julith's look of amazement. "You stopped them?" Julith nodded and Feena grunted. "Good. The book of the New Moon Pact. Where is it?"

"I" Under smears of blood, Julith's face went pale. "I dropped it in the courtyard!"

Enter the waters of the moonSelune's sacred pool.

"Take me there." She got a hand onto Julith's shoulder and tried to stand. The effort sent a wave of pain through her. Julith hissed and caught her as she fell backward.

"You need more healing than I can give you," Julith said. "We need to get you to"

Feena opened her mouth and spat out more blood. "Get me to the courtyard!" she choked.

"Nice bird," said Keph. "Pretty bird."

The copper falcon cocked its head. Keph stretched out a hand as if the wondrous construct might somehow catch his scent. Why not? It worked for the stone dogs at the door of Fourstaves House. It had seemed to work with the creeping ward on the study door. He held his breath, praying that his luck would hold out and that the falcon would let him pass as well.

The metal bird leaned forward. Keph stepped through the door and into the study, moving a little closer. "Good bird," he murmured. "Good bird…"

Whether he had moved too close or too fast, he couldn't tell, but the bird pulled back, its wings spread wide. Keph could see the blue sparks that danced along them and his nose caught the sharp smell of lightning. He froze but the bird didn't relax. He stretched his hand out a little farther.

The bird's wings snapped down and its body stiffened as its hooked beak opened and vomited a thin, crackling stream of lightning at him. Keph felt the energy crack into his outstretched fingertips and writhe up his arm. He snatched his burning hand back with a yelp, shaking it against the sudden sharp pain.

"Ow! Beshaba's-"

The copper falcon stiffened again, wings out then down. Keph danced aside just in time as lightning arced down to the floor where he'd been standing. The falcon's head swiveled, following him. Its wings pumped again. Keph stifled a curse and dodged back. Another stream of lightning crackled across the study, then another.

A long arc caught his leg. Keph choked on another yelp and hopped frantically. He needed cover against the metal guardian, but unfortunately there was none. Strasus's study was open, with bookshelves back against the walls and three tall tables too high to hide behind and too solid to consider tipping overif he'd been able to reach them. The falcon spat its lightning with disturbing efficiency, keeping him boxed in by the door as if to give him the option of retreat.

Except that retreat wasn't an option. At least not yet. He needed the slate tiles. If he could find them, maybe he could get past the falcon, grab them, and get out again. Keph scanned the tables and shelves as more lightning — chased him back across the room. Books, strange figures, talismans, fetishes from distant lands, scrolls, a pile of crumbling leather, a rust-eaten sword, a heap of odd coins…

Coins. The conversation he'd overheard around the breakfast table came back to him. Krin had described coins that had been found with the tiles. On the same table as the coins, the ancient leather, and the rusty sword, a big piece of gray silk covered something flat and thick.

The tiles?

Keph clenched his teeth and hurled himself toward the table, straight past the copper falcon's perch.