“Binding threads. I think.” Those threads were not visible to Kaylin’s eye, but she didn’t doubt him. She could doubt his ability to express his activity in Elantran, though. “If I had to guess, Spike is attempting to remove—from the interior—whatever is holding the path in the wrong shape.”
“That is what he attempts,” Hope said. “We are protected here for the moment; the entirety of the force appears to be external in nature. Chosen, look at what you perceive as walls. Do not move too quickly or you will leave my protective sphere.”
“Can you tell us how much of a diversion we’ll suffer if we leave?”
“Not without leaving you behind, for however short a period. Is it essential knowledge?”
Kaylin exhaled. “Yes. If we’re pushed away from the cavern, they intend to prevent our interference in the cavern itself. If we’re pushed farther in, we’re meant to landinthe Adversary’s lap. The first implies that the Consort is important enough that they wish to preserve her. The latter implies that the Consort is irrelevant at best, and one of their targets at worst.”
“They would notdare,” Ynpharion snapped; he was almost quivering with outrage.
“Ynpharion.” As his name left the Consort’s lips, he stilled. “I do not believe it is necessary to send your familiar to, or through, the portal’s destination point.”
“It’s—”
“Assume that I am, in your best case, irrelevant.”
A flash of bright, searing light permeated the “wall” to Kaylin’s immediate right. Defensive formation shifted around the Consort; she remained at its heart.
“Spike asks that you continue to do what you’re doing,” Hope said quietly.
Kaylin stiffened. “We’re not doing anything.”
“He asks that your servant be encouraged to continue.”
Her shoulders sagged.
In the distance, slightly muffled, she heard the grim silence of Nightshade’s amusement.
Although light could be seen through the opaque, misshapen tunnel wall, nothing else made enough visual noise to permeate it. But the flare was a strobe of lightning that illuminated the witnesses. Only when it appeared for the third time did Kaylin realize they cast no shadows in its sustained bursts.
“I think Nightshade is wieldingMeliannos,” she said.
“He is,” Teela replied, her own sword gleaming in her hand.
“Do not,” the Consort said, her voice much softer than her words, “attempt to go to his aid.”
“What is he fighting?” Teela asked, which was all of her reply.
“I think he wants me to shut up.”
“A sentiment with which I’m certain we can all identify.” Teela glanced at Severn. Severn shook his head.
“Where are the cohort?”
“They are not yet in the same place.” There was a moment’s hesitation. “Valliant, however, has found his way to the stairs that lead to the cavern, if I’m not mistaken. He is not stupid enough to take them.”
Mandoran might have been.
“And before you ask, no. I cannot tell you anything about the relationship of Nightshade’s current conflict to the progress of the cohort. In theory, he should not be able to track them or find them at all.”
“In theory?”
“We are attempting to intersect the path they’ll eventually take. And all evidence—admittedly not conclusive—implies that we are not the only ones who can. It’s possible Nightshade is attempting to follow the trail of those who cannot enter the portal itself.”
Yes.
“And something he’s encountered on the way requires the use of that sword? I’ve seen him wield that sword—and it never looked like this.”
