Chapter 7
Seven
When Kai walked back inside to the Belith scholars’ workroom, it felt more crowded, even with the Enalin warriors standing against the walls to keep out of the way.
The Tescai-lin had taken Chancellor Domtellan aside to talk, and Kai went over to where Ziede and Tahren stood with Tenes.
Dahin was still over by the table with Sura and the other scholars.
Sanja was beside him now, looking curiously at the artifacts.
A couple of the younger Doorkeepers had joined the group.
Kai said softly, “The Tescai-lin won’t stop Ramad from going, but they’ll make sure I go too.
And Dahin and you two, if there’s room.”
“Good,” Ziede said. She glanced at Tahren, concern furrowing her brow. Tahren watched Dahin with an air of consternation.
Tenes touched Kai’s arm and signed, I would go too, if possible.
Kai told her, “I would have you go too, but I want you to stay here, with Sanja, if you’re willing.
” He was reluctant to leave Sanja even with the Tescai-lin, who would be certain to make sure she was cared for and taken to Avagantrum.
What Bashat had said had left a pain in his heart, like a little shard of glass.
He didn’t want her to think she was being abandoned, even temporarily.
“I don’t want to leave her with someone she doesn’t know. ”
Tenes looked toward Sanja, troubled understanding in her expression. I see. I will protect her with my life.
“I’ll leave you a note for my daughter Tanis at Avagantrum,” Ziede told Tenes. “If we don’t come back, the Tescai-lin will help you go there, and you’ll be welcomed.”
You fear you will not return, Tenes asked, glancing at each of them with concern.
Ziede’s voice was wry. “If things go badly, walking back from the Capstone of the World might take some time.”
Tahren turned her attention to the two Immortal Blessed and Arnsterath, but she said, “I’m worried about Dahin.”
The scholars still clustered around the artifact table, though a few had broken off to talk separately or sit down on one of the benches to take notes. Now all Kai could see of Dahin was a glimpse of his light-colored hair as he moved around in the crowd, talking animatedly.
“He’s doing his ‘important scholar’ act, isn’t he.” Ziede frowned. “I don’t know why it has to be an act, since he actually is an important scholar. But you’re right, he’s more … antic than he should be.”
“He’s getting what he wants,” Kai said, but he knew in his bones that something had been wrong with Dahin since this trip started.
Ziede said silently, Oh good, here comes Ramad. Just what we need.
Kai turned, and he knew his expression was not welcoming. Ramad stopped a few paces away. He said, “Can I speak to you?”
Kai was about to say of course not, when Ziede prodded him through her pearl. He’s distracted and tired. He may tell you more than he means to.
Kai did not make any reply because he knew he would sound like a sulky child. He just stepped away far enough to give the illusion of privacy.
“Thank you,” Ramad said, and he did sound tired.
In his own very weary heart, Kai thought Ramad truly intended nothing but good for the Rising World.
Ramad was also in the process of bringing Arnsterath to Benais-arik.
Bashat had already disposed of one intractable demon; that he might want another who could be more amenable to persuasion was very possible.
She had acted as an expositor and participated in a plot against the Rising World coalition; the council would not be inclined to treat her as anything but a criminal, especially the members whose lands were more plagued by wandering expositors than the Arik.
Becoming Bashat’s pet demon might not be her only option, but it was the best one.
Kai said, “Talk. I’ve already said everything I had to say. ”
Ramad let his breath out. He looked around, as if hoping the situation had changed in the last few heartbeats.
On the far side of the room, the Tescai-lin was still speaking to Domtellan, who had taken a seat on a low bench so they would be closer to eye level.
Arnsterath stood at ease, staring at nothing, while the Immortal Blessed watched her warily.
He turned back to Kai. “I thought you were going to your home.”
“So did I,” Kai agreed, then bit the inside of his cheek to remind himself not to give so much away. It might be gentle provocation, but it was still provocation.
Ramad watched him, something of frustration, something of concern in his expression. “I can’t leave it like this between us. We have to work together. The Tescai-lin is arranging for you to go with me.”
“The Tescai-lin would prefer it if you didn’t go at all,” Kai corrected. “They don’t trust you either.”
Ramad rubbed his face wearily. “Well, Bashat does, but I know that isn’t much of a recommendation.”
Kai wanted to growl. If only Ramad wasn’t so shitting reasonable.
“You have a reason to want to get there first,” Ramad said, his voice low enough that it was almost hard to hear under the noise of the other conversations. “I could help you if you’d let me.”
Kai let all his skepticism bleed into his face. “I’ve broken with Bashat. You haven’t. We don’t want the same things.”
Through her pearl, Ziede commented, This would be easier if he was stupid.
This would be easier if Bashat was stupid, Kai corrected her. It wasn’t Ramad they needed to worry about.
Sanja appeared at Kai’s side and made the Witchspeak sign for important.
Kai signed back, Tell me.
Sanja signed, Dahin took something out of that teacher person’s pocket and went away.
Kai’s gaze went to the artifact table, where the other scholars were still talking, then the rest of the room. Dahin was gone. A hundred shitting asses, Kai thought. He had known, he had known something wasn’t right.
“What?” Ramad said, frowning at Sanja. “Where?”
Of course Ramad could understand Witchspeak. As Sanja glared at him in affront and didn’t answer, Kai raised his voice to a battlefield carry and said, “Sura! The key to the anchor stones, where is it?”
Everyone fell silent. Sura, leaning over the map on the table, jolted upright, her hand going to the pocket of her tunic. Her expression turned horrified. “It’s gone. I had it here—”
Tahren strode toward her. “Where is the first anchor? The vessel?”
Alarmed, Domtellan pointed toward the archway at the back of the room. “That way, outside and up—”
Kai ran.
The room erupted in chaos around him but the scholars scrambled out of his way and he made it to the door first. In his head, Ziede said, Go, hurry, we’re behind you.
Kai ran through two more rooms, a short passage, and shoved open a heavy wooden door.
He was outside in another paved garden area, lit only by a few guttering stone lamps.
No sign of Dahin, but Domtellan had said up.
Kai turned back and saw the narrow stone steps up to the next level terrace of the pyramid just as Ramad and Sura stumbled out the door.
“This way!” Sura called out and started for the steps.
Kai elbowed Ramad aside and passed Sura before she reached the second level.
He saw the next set of stairs going up toward the domed enclosure on the building’s roof.
Ziede cursed angrily through her heart pearl.
From the bare glimpses he got, Arnsterath had run in the confusion, bolting out the front.
In trying to chase her the Immortal Marshalls had managed to block Ziede’s way.
It had slowed down everyone who might have been helpful, and Tahren had thrown one Blessed into a wall and was now dragging the other by the hair.
Arnsterath taking the first opportunity to run was predictable and absolutely not Kai’s biggest problem at the moment.
The stairs opened inside a lamplit dome that must have been for watching stars at some point.
It had sliding metal panels in the curved stone ceiling, some partially open.
In the center was a small ascension raft, barely ten paces across.
Stacked next to it were heavy canvas bags of supplies, ready to be lifted aboard.
Kai hissed out a breath. Of course, Ilhanrun Highsun would have come here in an ascension raft, and of course would have used it to help transport the expedition on the first long journey to the Capstone.
Then he had employed it to allow the mortals to pass unharmed through the anchor stones.
There was no way the raft could have gotten into this chamber otherwise; the openings in the dome weren’t large enough.
Some bags had already been put onboard, blocking Kai’s view of the interior. Then Dahin stood up from behind the pile, something cradled in his hands. He stepped toward the steering column. Kai said, “Dahin, what are you doing? We’re all going, I—”
Dahin whipped around, a full-body flinch, and grimaced in annoyance and guilt. He started to speak. Running steps sounded behind Kai as Ramad and then Sura slammed through the doorway.
Dahin’s expression hardened and he lunged for the steering column. Kai flung himself forward and vaulted over the rail into the raft.
He landed on the metal deck and felt it shudder under him, as if the raft was trying to lift up. Dahin yelled, “Dammit, Kai!”
Ramad leapt over the side and landed beside Kai. Sura tumbled over the bags of supplies and slid to the deck. The raft lifted off the floor, shuddering. Something started to howl, like a wind through a deep narrow canyon.
“You— This is not—” Dahin snarled at Ramad. “How dare you—”
“Then stop this and let’s speak about it,” Ramad shouted back.
Sura said, “He can’t, it’s too late!” She grabbed on to a strap bolted to the raft’s floor. “Hold on!”
Kai crouched and caught hold of a cargo net. He exchanged an irritated glare with Ramad, who did the same.