Thomas Reid - The Fractured Sky

Tauran swallowed his worry. "Your welcoming party at the dryad village told me all I needed to know," he said. "But then, you knew it would, didn't you? You wanted me to figure all this out."

"Down to the last little detail," Zasian replied. "And you performed admirably."

"But why? Whatever my role is supposed to be in your plan, you cannot truly hope to steal Azuth's staff," Tauran said. "Bringing me here was a mistake. You know I will try to stop you."

"Oh, I'm counting on it," the priest said. "You'd be surprised what a little distraction will do for Kashada's chances to succeed."

As if that were a signal, Kashada stepped backward and vanished into the deeper shadows of the chamber. At the same moment, Zasian moved toward Tauran, his pendant in hand.

Micus stared across the plaza at the Hail of Petitions. "You are certain?" he asked the zelekhut beside him. "Tauran is within?"

The centaurlike construct nodded. "Indeed," it said in its flat, mechanical voice. "Within that dome at the highest point." It pointed to the apex of the cavern.

Micus frowned. "Now, how did he manage to pull that off?"

"I am afraid I do not know," the zelekhut answered.

Micus dismissed the response with a wave of his hand. "No, of course not." But I'm going to have to get inside, and that's going to be tricky.

"I think you will have to wait for me here," the angel said. "I can move faster by myself."

"As you wish," the construct replied.

Micus strolled across the plaza to the imposing building, leaving the zelekhut behind.

I could ask for an immediate audience, the angel thought. But would they receive me without the required notifications that I am here on official business? Probably not. The need is great, though, so perhaps…

Micus paused midstep. Aliisza the alu swooped in and settled to the ground in front of the main entrance to the hall. She stood there a moment, peering up at its facade as if deep in thought.

She hasn't seen me, the angel realized. She can be my bargaining chip.

Micus moved toward the half-fiend, careful to remain quiet. He longed for his mace. He felt naked without his weapon, but that wretch Tauran had taken it.

He had other options.

"Well met, Aliisza," he said quietly.

The alu gasped and whirled to face him. She staggered back and reached for the hilt of her sword.

Before she could take hold of it, though, Micus uttered a word of power.

The half-fiend tumbled backward as if he had slammed into her with a battering ram. She crumpled to the paving stones of the avenue and lay still. A few passersby stopped and stared.

"Escaped fugitive," Micus explained. The onlookers shrugged or muttered and went on their way.

Micus quickly disarmed Aliisza and motioned for the zelekhut to assist him. The construct approached.

"Watch her," the angel said, gesturing. "She is slippery. Secure her for me and be ready for her tricks."

The zelekhut nodded and extended its chains from its forearms. It wrapped them around the alu and made her immobile.

Micus sorely wished that he had the dimensional shackles with him, but they, like everything else, had returned to the House of the Triad with Garin. Micus should have gone, too, but he had refused Garin's urgings.

I will catch him, the angel vowed. This will end. Tyr's laws will be upheld.

Aliisza stirred. She blinked a few times and groaned. She tried to sit up, pulling against her bonds.

"Don't," Micus warned. "Or I will scour you with the wrath of Tyr again.'"

She froze and looked at him, grimacing. She sank back down. "Listen to me," she said, her voice filled with desperation. "I know you think you've got to stop Tauran, but if you do this thing, something terrible is going to happen."

"Hush," Micus said. "Enough of your lies. I have a single task before me, and that is to bring Tauran to justice."

Aliisza rolled her eyes. "You're unbelievable," she said, but there was no admiration in her tone. "You have the power to see if I am truthful, and you're so full of pride that you won't use it."

"Where is he?" Micus asked.

She said nothing, but her eyes betrayed her thoughts as they flicked toward the building behind her.

"I know he's in there," Micus said, "but what is he doing?"

"Trying to stop Cyric from stealing Azuth's staff. Because if Cyric does, another god is going to die," she said. "It's what I'm trying to tell you, and if you weren't such a bull-headed fool, you'd know that!"

For a moment, Micus could only gape. That was not possible. Cyric was a cowardly, craven worm. Micus shook his head, dismissing the thought.

"You lie," he said. "Once more, and I will ask Tyr to send you to oblivion. Now, what is truly happening?"

"I speak the truth," she said. "I saw it. In the Eye of Savras. Zasian and Kashada are there, too, trying to steal Azuth's staff. All they need is a distraction, and you and Tauran are going to provide it for them if you storm in there and try to subdue him. I think Cyric means to kill Mystra with it. What can I do to prove it to you?"

Micus blinked. What she claimed was preposterous. Mortals, stealing the cherished possessions of gods? Still, he sensed that she believed it.

"Azuth's host will stop them," he said. "They do not need my help to deal with this."

"Oh, yes," Aliisza said. "Just like all of you did such a good job stopping them in the House."

Micus mused for a moment. Then inspiration struck. "If what you say is true, then this crime cannot be committed if Tauran and I do not battle. True?"

Aliisza nodded. "Yes. That's what I saw. Tauran tries to stop Zasian, and you try to stop him. Kashada steals the staff during the commotion."

"Then come with me," Micus said. "Convince Tauran to surrender without a fight."

Aliisza's eyes widened. "You're asking me to betray him?"

"If you believe your own vision, then you are actually saving him." And he's already betrayed himself, and you, in so many ways you can't imagine, he thought. It's hardly the worst thing that will befall him, believe me.

The alu bit her lip. "I can't," she said. "I can't do that to him."

"You'd rather see him bring about this terrible crime? That's almost like aiding Cyric yourself. You'd be no better than Zasian and Kashada." He felt a tinge of guilt at suggesting that, but she had to see the consequences of her choices. "Is that what you want?"

"Of course not!"

"Then do this. For him, as well as for me. You have to know that I will take Tauran eventually, even without your help."

Aliisza groaned.

Micus knew he had her then.

Kaanyr groaned and became aware. The sound of battle filled his ears, but in his groggy state, it didn't make sense at first. He rolled over, blinking to clear the cobwebs from his mind, and peered in the direction of the fight.

Kael faced off with the planetar. The two exchanged blows, their swords ringing like hammers on an anvil with each strike. It appeared to Vhok that the celestial was getting the better of the half-drow.

I must help him, the cambion thought. He struggled to rise, but his limbs felt like jelly. Get up, Vhok. Stand and fight!

"You have the power to tell if I'm lying," Kael said, frantically deflecting a series of vicious attacks. "Use it! I'm here because of a common enemy. Tell me how to prove that-how I can win your trust."

The planetar's next swing opened Kael's defenses wide. The celestial brought his blade down again, and Kael grunted and crumpled down before the onslaught.

Rage boiled in Kaanyr. Old hatred bubbled up, disdain and spite for the rigid, holier-than-thou attitudes of cursed celestials. He rose to his knees.

"Come!" The knight shouted. "Do something smarter than just kill me, you idiot!"

Kaanyr slid his own blade free of its scabbard.