he waited for everyone to gather in his family's sitting room. He had been one of the first to arrive.
Long night, he realized. When was the last time I slept? He realized it had been the night before the last, and fitfully at that. When Mikolos died, Pilos remembered, feeling his throat constricting in sorrow. Has it only been one day?
The Abreeant felt much better, though, even if he was tired. A hot bath and clean clothes could do wonders for a person who had been nearly stabbed, drowned, and shot at numerous times throughout the day and night. Everyone else who drifted into the room looked better, too, though Emriana still had that strange, haunted look on her face. It troubled Pilos, but he resolved to give her whatever time she needed and not press her about it. She'll tell me when she's ready, he told himself.
The sitting room quickly became crowded as everyone packed in. In addition to himself, Uncle Tharlgarl, and Ariskrit, Pilos counted Emriana and Xaphira, Horial, Adyan, Grolo-looking much better after substantial healing-and Edilus, and a pair of House guards sitting on either side of a still-confined Lobra.
Ariskrit cleared her throat and everyone grew silent. 'Well, now,' she said in a bemused tone. 'It seems that a few of us have had a rather interesting evening. Lots of news to share and plans to be made. But before we begin, let me just say that House Darowdryn has always been and will continue to be staunch allies of the Matrells and their associates. Let that never be in doubt.' She looked pointedly at Emriana and Xaphira, and the grand dame sent an icy stare toward Lobra, who sniffed. Pilos wasn't buying into the woman's airs, though. She looked beside herself with apprehension.
She knows she's in a pickle, the young priest thought.
In turn, everyone told their stories. Along the way, there were more than a few gasps and murmurs, and when Emriana described how she had come to be free of the mirror, she seemed to leave a large gap in the tale. At one point, she had to stop and clutch at her aunt's hand, but she got through her part of things without ever revealing what Pilos was beginning to suspect was the reason for her demeanor.
When everyone had explained their adventures, and after considerable back-and-forth questioning, the room fell silent.
'All right,' Ariskrit said, turning to look at Lobra. 'Let's see what you have to say.' She gestured for the two guards to remove the woman's gag. Once she was free to speak, she looked around the room, her expression sullen. 'You might as well go ahead,' Ariskrit said. 'We'll beat the truth out of you eventually, but you can spare yourself quite a bit of misery by just spilling it now. And don't think we won't know if you lie. We've got plenty of enchantments to reveal falsehoods. Well?' she demanded and tapped her toe.
Lobra, still looking sullen, finally began to speak. 'My husband did most of it,' she said. 'I was too distraught with family deaths to participate much.'
'And is it true that your husband has been conspiring with House Talricci and the newly appointed Grand Syndar to bring about all this chaos?'
'I suppose so,' Lobra muttered.
'Speak up, girl,' Ariskrit demanded, crossing over to where Lobra was restrained. 'Your mother isn't here to see this, rest her soul, but if she were, I'm sure Anista Pharaboldi would be more than a little upset with your antics of late. Now then, did your husband conspire with Grand Syndar Lavant and Grozier Talricci to start a war?'
Lobra began sniffling then, all of her stoicism lost. 'Yes!' she blurted. 'Yes! They wanted to corner the lumber market! And they wanted House Matrell out of the way while they did it! I went along with it because I was so angry with the Matrells for what happened to my brother and mother! Falagh hates you all so much, and I just learned to hate you, too.' At that point, she broke off speaking and sat there, looking miserable.
For a moment, Pilos started to feel sorry for the woman, for it seemed to him that she had been manipulated by others into her participation. Emriana stood up, walked over to Lobra, and glared at her. Then, out of nowhere, she smacked the sniveling woman. And it was no slap, but a full-on, hand-balled-into-fist punch in the mouth. The blow knocked Lobra backward with a grunt.
Everyone in the room gasped in surprise and began to talk at once. Xaphira jumped up and grabbed Emriana, pulling her back, while Lobra, chastened, stared at the floor, a trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth. Whatever sympathy Pilos had felt for the woman before, it was gone with that outburst. Emriana didn't say anything as she was led back to her seat, but she continued to glare at Lobra for a long time.
Once calm had been restored, Ariskrit turned to Pilos. 'Do you think the other priests of the temple would be interested in hearing what our dear Lobra has to say?' she asked.
The Abreeant nodded. 'I don't think they'll be too happy with their new Grand Syndar,' he said. 'The Waukeenar are not in the business of starting wars for profit,' he said firmly.
'Then I think it's time you went to them and told them what evidence we have,' Ariskrit said. 'But you can't go alone. You need some other folk who can help you convince them to listen.'
'Horial, Adyan, and Grolo should go, too,' Xaphira said. 'I can't imagine the clergy will be happy to hear that Lavant and Falagh tried to exterminate an entire company of their finest troops.'
Horial began shaking his head. 'We promised Vambran we would look after you and Em,' he said. 'We gave our word.'
Xaphira gave the mercenary a cold stare. 'I was fighting in skirmishes before the two of you and Vambran were old enough to kiss the girls,' she said. 'Vambran means well, but Emriana and I can take care of ourselves. Now that we know exactly how widespread this whole horrible scheme is, House Matrell is not the only entity in danger. We need to make certain everyone in the city is aware of it. Lavant cannot be allowed to continue to rule the temple. You three are going with Pilos.'
Horial shrugged and said, 'Yes, ma'am.' He cast a quick glance at Adyan, but the other sergeant was just grinning and shrugged back.
'I would go with them, too,' Edilus said, bringing the room to absolute silence as everyone turned to look at the druid. 'Though I did not intend to come here with the soldiers, I see that they have been honorable in their words to me, and I want to aid them.' He turned and looked directly at Horial. 'And my debt to you for saving my life is over!' he grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.
'Suits me just fine,' Horial said. 'I think maybe it's time for the temple to meet one of you druids, anyway. Might get a better idea of what you stand for, which to my way of thinking would be a good first step toward repairing relations with the Enclave.'
Edilus seemed surprised at the sergeant's words, and he inclined his head in acknowledgement.
'Then it's settled,' Ariskrit said. 'Pilos and the boys will go to the temple to expose Lavant for the liar that he is. And you,' she said, looking at Lobra again, 'will remain our guest until the priests are ready to talk to you themselves.'
'Emriana and I are going back to our house,' Xaphira announced. 'We have some unfinished business there.'
Ariskrit looked worried for a moment, but when she saw the determined look in both women's eyes, she nodded. 'I see by your expressions that you're every bit as determined as Hetta always was, so I don't think I could talk you out of it if I tried. Very well, then, I'll just wish you good luck and offer you whatever I can from our House to aid you.'
Xaphira smiled and nodded her thanks.
The mercenaries wasted no time setting out with Pilos. At first, they considered taking a contingent of Darowdryn guards with them for additional force, but they decided it would draw the wrong kind of attention, suggesting that they intended to be confrontational. Instead, they took advantage of Darowdryn coaches and rode through the city streets in relative obscurity. From time to time they spotted Generon guards about, but it didn't look as if a concerted effort to track them down continued. After they rolled past the third such group without incident, Pilos began to relax.
The coaches made their way through the crowded streets and reached the temple complex by early afternoon. They rode right up to the front entrance, and Pilos and the others climbed down, ready to stride right into the middle of the council chambers and declare Lavant a traitor to the Waukeenar. The temple was bustling with activity as they entered, but more than a few clerics stopped dead in their tracks as Pilos and the others passed.
At first, the Abreeant thought it was simply because Edilus was with them, but as they approached the council chambers, he began to realize that temple guards were everywhere, watching them. They reached the door and prepared to go inside, but one of the guards stepped in their path, barring them entry.
