He’s communing,Balthazar sent back.I got something garbled back from him, nothing more.He’s deep into it.Julian is going to rouse him, but–
Not in time unless Fiona keeps teleporting us forever,Grayson said.
I can do that,Fiona reminded him.We’ll just keep you out of its clutches.
Grayson gave her a grateful smile.Balthazar, where is Caemorn?This thing was in a weapons’ box. He loves all those old things–
He’s with Ryder.But there’s another problem,Balthazar sounded exasperated.We’re pretty sure that this is a ruse to get everyone dealing running after you while Legion or the Sect get into the Kaly Palace.
How could they do that?Caemorn has complete control?—
Roan Tithe,Balthazar answered with bitter certainty.
The final Kaly slice?
That we know of.There could be more of them out there.Slices of slices.Who the hell knows!Balthazar cursed.Sometimes Kaly is too clever for their own good.But needless to say, Caemorn and Ryder are going to deal with that.Christian, Elgar and I will help you two.Christian has taken a shine to the weapons.And he’s got some ideas.Elgar actually used to make some of them.
Great, we–
“Have to go!”Fiona warned before teleporting them over the wall and into a clearing into the woods.
The creature had suddenly increased speed and had almost been upon them.It flew over the top of the wall, flapping its wings as it scanned for them.He knew when it caught sight of him again, because its blue-white eyes burned hotly and it started to fly again.A panther appeared from out of the trees to their right and it transformed into a man.Demos shook his dreads out.Siban materialized out of the forest beside him.
“What’s the word?”Demos asked.
“That.”Grayson’s right hand shot up towards the creature.
Demos followed his hand.He grunted.“What isthatother than very bad news?”
“It reminds me of something,” Siban said, eyes narrowing.
“It was in a weapons box in the Helm basement.It’s taken a disturbing liking to Grayson,” Fiona said.
“I thought the weapons were swords, bows, knives, and all that.Fella doesn’t look quite like that,” Demos said.
“Some of them were imbued with spirits,” Siban said.“That’s what gives some of them their power.Maybe this one escaped from its prison.”
“Of course, it’s got to be a Kaly weapon.Okay, thoughts or ideas on how to deal with it?”Grayson said out loud, but also sent to Balthazar.
Go to the Shrine of Eternity,Balthazar sent.Caemorn says that its power will be weaker there if it is a spirit.
“Do you know where that is?”Grayson asked Fiona.
She nodded.He had only a vague recollection that it was by the sea.
“What do you want us to do?”Siban asked.
“Should we come with you?”Demos added.
“No, Ryder and Caemorn may need your help and we need to keep the wall protected,” Grayson said.“If nothing else, Fiona and I can just keep leading it around until we find a solution.”
Neither looked happy about this and he understood.He was their leader’s lover and their friend.He was also very human right now.Seeing the burning glow of those blue-white eyes aiming towards him, he felt weak as water.
“We need to go.We’ll figure this out,” Grayson assured them.
The two of them nodded, but slowly.They didn’t move until he and Fiona teleported yet another hundred feet away.The creature changed course towards them, ignoring Siban and Demos just as it had ignored Eiji and the others.That was the one good thing about it.
Balthazar, does anyone have any idea what could imprint like this on me?Any ideas at all?Grayson asked.
