exact same spot as the hole in the spelljammer hull-above the altar in the tent. Apparently only portals to the altar functioned. Just like the one in the spelljammer hull, this portal was blocked by a magical barrier through which Joel could push his dagger but not his hand.
Joel listened carefully for the voices again and was rewarded when he heard someone say, 'My lord, I do not recommend that you speak with them. It will only cause them unnecessary anxiety, which is likely to affect your ability to control the spell.'
The voice was deep and familiar. Joel was pretty sure it was the same voice that had ordered Beshaba to be placed in the fusion chamber.
The second speaker's voice was also deep, but softer than the first, making it hard for Joel to distinguish the words.
'… would think… anxiety… happening to them would be worse… ease the transition… be cowardly… Nothing will alter my will' were all the words Joel caught.
Suddenly two tall male figures appeared in the doorway of the tent. One was particularly handsome, with the body of a tall, slender, youthful athlete and fiery red-orange hair. He was dressed in a tunic of opalescent reds and golds. He could only be the god Lathander, Joel thought. The other figure was even taller, with hair, eyebrows, and beard of living flames. His robe shimmered with the colors of fire. Joel guessed this was the mysterious Sirrion of the Flowing Flame. Each god possessed an aura so bright that Joel stood blinking like an owl in daylight.
'What is he doing in the fusion chamber?' Lathander demanded, pointing directly at the bard.
Immediately Joel dived behind the cover of the altar.
'In our haste to place Beshaba into the fusion chamber,' Joel heard Sirrion reply, 'I neglected to have your servants search her. She must have smuggled him in as a smaller creature. It will make no difference to our spell. He is a mere mortal and cannot affect the outcome.'
'But he will die in the chaos of the creation,' Lathander objected.
'I warned you, my lord, that some sacrifices would have to be made,' Sirrion said. A slight impatient whine had crept into his voice. 'No,' Lathander insisted, 'not one such as this. He is the priest of another god. He must be taken out. I sense him hiding there behind that altar. Open the portal so the guardinals can fetch him.'
'My lord,' Sirrion objected, 'it's too risky. Lady Beshaba and Lady Tymora are both conscious. They may sense the exit and seize the opportunity to escape.'
Then you must drain enough power from them so that they become unconscious again,' Lathander ordered.
'That could delay the spell by nearly another day,' Sirrion declared. 'Selune's suspicions have already been aroused because you placed Tymora where she cannot sense her presence. If we don't hurry, Selune may enter this place unbidden and discover our plan. She isn't likely to agree with your decision. She may find a way to thwart us.'
'And what exactly is this plan, Lord Lathander?' Tymora asked suddenly in an angry tone. 'I was doubtful of Beshaba's claim that you were involved in this, but I see you have betrayed my trust.' Lady Luck pointed to the gold coin suspended above the stone altar outside the fusion chamber. 'You have drained my power from me by using the power key I gave to one of your priests as a favor to you.'
Joel peered out from behind the altar. Tymora and Beshaba had just flown into the temple. They stood on either side of the tunnel window Joel had enlarged and glared out of the fusion chamber at their captors.
'Lady Tymora, Lady Beshaba, welcome to Elysium,' Lathander said with a low bow. 'Please forgive me for your abduction and imprisonment, but it is for a good cause, I assure you.'
'I don't give a damn about your 'good cause,' ' Beshaba retorted. 'Free me this instant, you arrogant peacock.'
Lathander gave Beshaba a coldly polite smile and said, 'I did not expect you to care, Lady Beshaba. But I will explain our plan for Lady Tymora's sake. Please feel free to listen.'
Lady Beshaba scowled at the Morninglord.
'Do go on, Lord Lathander,' Tymora said with mock sarcasm. 'Some time ago,' Lathander began, 'Lord Sirrion petitioned me to become a patron of an important cause. He seemed to feel that there was an imbalance among the gods of Faerun that, if left unchecked, could lead to bloody wars on Toril.'
'Sirrion isn't worshiped on Faerun,' Beshaba said. 'Why should he care?'
'Lord Sirrion,' Lathander explained, 'has reason to believe that an imbalance of good on Faerun would lead to an exodus of evil, which would end up on Krynn, where he does have worshipers. Krynn is already beset with much evil, and Lord Sirrion is anxious to avoid the influx of any more. From the first I found his arguments in favor of his plan quite compelling, but I didn't agree to sponsor him immediately. I am not as rash as many of the gods believe me to be.'
'Please get to the point, Lathander,' Tymora snapped. 'My attention tends to wander when I'm a captive audience.'
Joel peered around another corner of the altar so that he could view Lathander and Sirrion. Sirrion had started to manipulate the crystals and glass balls on the altar just outside the fusion chamber.
'Lord Sirrion seemed to feel that your church, Lady Tymora, was about to face a grave conflict with that of Lady Beshaba's, which would lead to horrendous wars. The only way to prevent this catastrophe,' Lathander said resignedly, 'was to bring the two of you, and hence your followers, together. To accomplish this, you need to be united once again in the form of Tyche, the goddess you once were.'
Beshaba guffawed loudly. 'Have you lost your wits?' she asked Lathander.
'Lathander,' Tymora said with horror, 'Tyche is dead. You can't mean you're going to try to resurrect her.'
'No, Lady Tymora. Tyche is not dead. She lives in you and your sister, and when the two of you are fused into one with the aid of this machine and the power of our magic, Tyche will be whole again. Toril will remain at peace, and Krynn will not be disturbed by our troubles.'
'But only at our expense,' Tymora declared. 'Lathander, I am happy as I am. I do not want to be united with Beshaba. You have no right to force this upon us.'
'Yes. For a long time, that is what kept me from supporting Sirrion's plan. But then I was left to dwell on a matter of equal importance.' The Morninglord looked away from Tymora and stared off into space with a haunted look. 'An ancient wrong will be righted by this plan,' he said. 'Tyche was a great goddess. She should never have been destroyed. To this day, I blame myself for that tragedy. Had I not started the Dawn Cataclysm, Moander might never have corrupted Tyche, and she would yet live.'
'It's a little late to think of that now,' Beshaba said accusingly. 'You tried to claim power that was not yours. Only a fool would be surprised the other gods of Faerun chose to war against you. By the time the Dawn Cataclysm ended, your allies had suffered more losses than the enemies you hoped to contain in your bid for leadership.'
'You may come to regret this move as well,' Tymora warned.
'I'm sorry you are unwilling, my lady,' Lathander said, 'but believe me, this is for the greater good. It will serve both Toril and Krynn as well as restore Tyche.'
'Not to mention that it will help you assuage your guilt,' Beshaba growled. 'You're a complete fool, Lathander. It's no wonder the others wouldn't accept your leadership, nor that Tyche left you.'
'Soon, Lady Beshaba,' the Morninglord replied softly, 'you will be free from the spite and malice that enslaves your heart. You will become happier and more beloved than you have ever been. Although I realize you would never agree, you, even more than Lady Tymora, should appreciate what I am about to do for you.'
'Hear me, Lathander,' Beshaba vowed. 'If any part of me truly remains in Tyche, she will claw out your eyes the first chance she gets.'
'Lathander, Selune will never let you get away with this,' Tymora said fiercely. 'You cannot hope to keep her from discovering this. She is your ally. She is aware of all that happens wherever you have followers, even here in your realm. Even if you've renounced your alliance, Finder's priest is here, and Finder is an ally of Selune's as well. Your scheme is already uncovered.'
'Not really,' Lathander said. 'With Sirrion's aid, I have created a dark zone about this machine that makes it impossible for anyone, even a god, to sense what goes on within. Besides, Selune is far too busy searching for the elusive Iyachtu Xvim and helping keep your church on its feet in your absence.'
