“What do you do? I hope it’s more useful than . . . what was his name?”
Ged wasn’t actually asking, but Solai said, “Var Mondral.” She lifted her chin, giving him a better view of her inhuman eyes. “My demon allows me to channel extradimensional energy. I’ll grant you I’m no soldier, but valak are not knights. We are not chosen for our physical strength. I’ll be of use.”
Before Ged could offer another opinion, Hesaya said, “Good. Commanders, select fifteen of your best militiamen.”
Azaharo bowed. Teheda said, “At once, Gatekeeper.”
“I can provide direction aboard the station,” said Urien. “It’s been a couple of decades, but I remember a largely unguarded route through the hydroponics facilities.” At this, a number of people nodded politely. Most only stared until Urien cleared his throat. “If everything on the ground goes according to plan and you follow my directions, you can ambush the archdemons in their residences.”
“First, though, there’s the matter of the Zal Fel base,” said Ysira. “The Gate is underground. We won’t make it up to the spires fast enough to stop any communications from reaching the station.”
“There will be forces waiting at the Gate,” Urien acknowledged. “But the area is heavily restricted, off-limitsto most of the base, and so close to the Source, Firstborn communications technology—even within the same structure—is useless. If we neutralize the Gate level quickly enough, we can make certain the rest of the base hears nothing amiss. There’s an old path outside. I estimate a two-hour climb to the spires. You’d be able to enter through one of the upper floors and call a transport to the station with no one the wiser.”
“The Gate is a natural bottleneck,” Ysira pointed out, with a frown. “They would be stupid not to shoot down anyone who walks through it. We have to give them a reason not to.”
For several minutes, they debated this. Then Neri said, “Send me.” Every eye in the hall turned toward him. He said again, “Send me.
They want me alive, and I’ll be going to the station anyway. If I go through the Gate first, they won’t hurt me.”
“I could go with him.” Urien scratched his chin, an odd gesture through his faceplate. “With the right story?—”
“He needs to be better protected,” Ysira said. “I’ll go.”
“Youwill attract too much suspicion,” said Ogden. “After you butchered half their science and security personnel in orbit, there’s no chance they don’t all know your face.”
Ysira seemed to realize he had a point but shook her head. “We can’t risk it.”
“We might be able to,” Jacen argued. “What Urien said—with the right story. What if we send Turil, too?”
It was not the best, nor the safest idea he’d had today. Several people exploded into protests at once.
“You were at the Gate with me, yes?” said Ysira. “When a man exploded in our efforts topreventTuril from going through?”
“This would be different.” Jacen gestured at Nines, though again she shrank back, horrified to be perceived. “My novitiate figured it out. Turil didn’t use offensive telepathic powersagainst us, because shecan’t.Not with a host who isn’t a telepath. She’s limited by what Seth can do, and if he’s not aware of his surroundings, neither is she.”
If Ged was surprised, he recovered quickly. “Her presence puts us all at risk. We should have destroyed her the moment she was defeated.”
Neri glared at his father. “You’re not killing Seth.”
“Turil wants to speak with us.” Jacen hesitated. “I think we should do it—and attempt an exorcism.”
“Is he drunk again?” muttered one of the knights. Heat crept up Jacen’s neck.
“This sounds like a trap,” Hesaya said coolly.
“It probably is,” Jacen allowed. “But Turil is not the threat she wants us to believe she is. We can defend ourselves.”
He reached, tentative, toward Hesaya’s mind. She recoiled, but then he showed her his plan. The theory he intended to test.
“Three priests to an exorcism,” Hesaya reminded him. “You and I make two. And no—before you even suggest it, we willnotattempt to exorcise an archdemon with your half-trained, traumatized novitiate assisting.”
“I can help,” Nines insisted.
Hesaya rubbed her temples. “You’ve observed one exorcism.” “She was able to incapacitate Akkani,” Jacen said. “She’s Sixth Tier.”“Fine—we havetwo and a halfexorcists.”
“She knows the rite.” Jacen pointed at Sister Ilusha, whose face had gone as white as her eyes. “She can assist. This is a chance to find out what Turil knows and what her people might be planning. We don’t know enough. We can’t go in blind.”
For another breath, Hesaya said nothing. Then, to Jacen’s relief, she snapped, “We’ll do it. But I will lead the rite.”
