“Are you sure you’re both all right?” Aloisia asked.
Inari placed a hand on her cheek. “We are fine,ro suda. Do not worry.”
The shaman led the way back out of the room, Ezra and Aloisia trailing behind as they made their way back towards the nave.
“I will go to collect the captured Forgotten God,” Inari said, pausing beside the double doors leading out of the Temple.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Ezra asked. “Of the two of us—”
Inari spun to face him. “You are still recovering. If you would like to be the one to go, then be my guest. However, you are not at your best right now, and this is too important to put at such risk.”
“Fair enough,” Ezra conceded. “I do not think the creatures will return soon, anyway.”
“We cannot know that.”
High Priest Silas made his way to them. “Are you able to place wards on the Temple?”
Inari nodded. “We can.”
“Whether they will be effective…” Ezra said.
“Theyshouldbe effective,” Inari countered. “But, of course, we cannot guarantee it.”
“Do you best,” Silas said. “It is better than nothing.”
“Debatable,” Ezra muttered.
Silas ordered the guards on this side of the doors to open them. The doors swung open and the guards on the outside stepped out of the way. Inari and Ezra strode outside. Aloisia moved to follow them, but Inari held a hand up to stop her.
“Everyone should remain inside whilst we do this,” he said. “The guards too.”
Silas hesitated, clearly uncertain of leaving the two of them alone. He yielded a moment later, inclining his head. “As you say.”
The guards were ushered inside, and the doors were closed on them all.
Though she knew she probably shouldn’t, Aloisia pressed an ear to the door. Their low chants were barely audible through the wood, their enchantment weaving on the breeze, settling upon the building. Or, at least, that was how she imagined it. She set her eye to the gap between the doors, Inari and Ezra hardly visible. On it went, the two of them chanting ancient words. She could see them moving their hands in unison, in time with the song-like quality of the spell. And then, abruptly, it stopped.
Aloisia jumped back as the doors opened. Inari and Ezra returned to the Temple, and the guards returned to their post.
“Hopefully,” Inari said, “this will provide some kind of protection should the creatures return.”
“Thank you.” Silas inclined his head. “We are in your debt. It will not be forgotten at the trial.”
“I should hope not,” Aloisia uttered.
“We have our volunteers,” Silas continued. “So, once the captured monster has been brought to us, we can begin the trial in Temple Green.”
“Then I suppose we had better get moving.” Inari clapped his hands together. “Who is to join me in heading back to Execution Square?”
Magistrate Vester appeared beneath the archway to the nave, Oda and Kaja by his side. “These two will be going.” He gestured to them.
Aloisia opened her mouth to protest, but Kaja cut her off.
“You should remain here, Lis, to help set things up on this side. We’ll bring Dhara and Neiris back with the Forgotten God.”
“Hold on to this,ro suda.” Inari brought one of the truth darts from his pocket and pressed it to her palm, folding her fingers over it. “We’ll need it for the creature’s testimony.”
Before she could say anything else to any of them, the doors were opened again. Aloisia watched as Oda, Kaja, and Inari set off down the path away from the Temple. She grasped the dart in her fingers and hoped it would work, and they would find the truth after all.
