“Andras is right,” Kaelen says. “We need more information, and the only way we’re going to get it is to go to the temple and ask.”
“Askagain,” Chitai amends, her eyes narrow.
“Ask again,” Kaelen agrees.
I see movement by the fire, and Bern and Sergeant Neville walk over to us, both carrying weapons.
“We heard a commotion,” the sergeant says. “Is it another attack?”
“Not exactly,” I say and then fill him in.
“To the temple, then,” Kaelen says. “Now is better than later.”
“It’s a trap,” Neville says.
“It probably is,” Chitai agrees. “Won’t they be surprised when we spring it and slaughter everyone who gets in our way?”
“I’m not so much in favor of slaughter,” I say. “Or at least, not unless we’re defending ourselves. Maybe we could just try to communicate like reasonable people?”
Chitai laughs. “When has that ever worked? But sure. Talk first, slaughter later.”
Great.
Talk first, slaughter later.
I should embroider that on a shirt.
I’m still wondering if she’d wear it when we finish the little preparation we need and start up the mountain path toward the temple to find out exactly how unwelcome we are.
Maybethis key won’t be guarded by unspeakable evil, just stubborn scholars.
I definitely don’t want to slaughter scholars.
Against my skin, the amulet heats up.
Manywould-be invaders have made the mistake of thinking the warrior scholars of the Temple of Knowledge in the Panterran Mountains are weak, due to their lifelong devotion to the pursuit of learning.
None have ever made this mistake twice.
—Legends of the Warrior Scholars of the Panterran Mountains, Octorran Gillam
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Since the amulet doesn’t reach a heat level I can’t bear, I don’t mention it to the others. I don’t want to stop and have a conversation about what it might mean or argue with Elianna about who should carry it. I remain vividly aware of the goddess’s objects around my neck, and the way they gradually grow warmer the closer we get to the temple. Maybe it’s our nearness to the second key causing a reaction?
It’s impossible to know and futile to speculate, so I do my best to ignore it and urge Cloud up the path. Half an hour’s ride later, Andras and Chitai gesture for us to be prepared. When we round the bend in the path, we see two armed and dangerous-looking women standing guard between two twenty-foot-high stone pillars. Behind them, a bright-red gate bars access to what appears to be a partially hidden cave entrance carved into the side of the mountain.
“Not another cave,” I groan. Too loudly, evidently, because everyone looks at me.
One guard, a tall, lean woman with brown skin, eyes, and hair, touches her hand to her forehead, then heart, and bows to us. “Blessings of the day to you. I am Scholar Haven.”
Studying her scarlet tunic, I realize it’s true. These are two of the warrior scholars of the Temple of Knowledge. “And to you,” I respond. “Forgive me, but I half believed you were a myth Octorran Gillam made up. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Soli.”
“Hemay have invented much of what he said about us. Gillam had anunorthodoxapproach to study. We did not allow him to remain at the temple for long,” says the other guard, shorter and stouter, with green eyes and tawny hair and skin. “Call me Bean. Everyone does.”
Kaelen bows formally and correctly. “Are you indeed warrior scholars of the Temple of Knowledge?”
Bean returns his bow. “We are, prince of Valourian. Your party may not enter herein, but we wish you well.”
