stumbled across him a year ago.'
Velsinore's voice was close. Definitely close. Feena moved up to the cupboard from the side.
'Why reveal yourself now, then?' asked Feena. 'And why keep what you learned about the Sharrans a secret from Dhauna and Mifano?'
'Turning over Keph seemed like an advantageous way to introduce myself. And why keep what I learned a secret?' She paused for a moment. 'Let's say I was biding my time. If Dhauna hadn't lost her mind and brought you to Moonshadow Hall, I would have become the Moonmistress-Designate.'
'What about Mifano?' Feena asked.
Velsinore laughed and said, 'He was never really a contender. I had Mother Dhauna's ear.'
'And when you were finally High Moonmistress, what then? What would you have done with all the information you had collected on the Sharrans? Wiped them out in one big raid and taken all the glory?'
'Not exactly.' Velsinore's voice dropped. 'I would have invited them into Moonshadow Hall.'
Feena froze, and Velsinore laughed again.
'Let me put it in terms you'll understand,' the traitor priestess said. 'When you fight the servants of Malarevil lycanthropeswhat is it that sets you apart from them? You all become animals, don't you? What is it that sets Sharrans apart from Selunites? Their darkness to our light? Do you know that we share many of the same legends?' Velsinore drew a slow breath and said, 'I'm no traitor to Selune, Feena. I've just realized that there's more to the relationship between the Moonmaiden and the Mistress of the Night than our faith wants to admit.'
It felt then as if Feena was back in her dream, with an ancient, whispering darkness pursuing her. Her stomach lurched in horror. Selune had been trying to warn them of heresy within Moonshadow Hallthe very heresy Dhauna had dismissed as nothing more than lies. The New Moon Pact might have been framed for the heresy that had brought them low, but Velsinore had fallen straight into that twisted belief.
Feena had rediscovered the New Moon Pact. Velsinore had rediscovered the New Moon Heresy.
'Stop it!' Feena snarled.
She lunged for the open door of the cupboard and ripped it wide. It was empty.
Gray robes flashed in the corner of her eye. Feena spun around as Velsinore rose from behind the cauldron she had dismissed earlier. She took a step toward the tall priestess.
'You're wrong,' Feena spat. 'Selune and Shar are enemies!'
'Maybe we only think they are.'
Feena's breath hissed between her teeth. 'Our Silver Lady have mercy upon you, Velsinore. You're wrong. You may not think you're a traitor to Selune, but you are!'
'Then why does she still answer my prayers?' Velsinore thrust out her hand, Selune's medallion in her grasp. 'Moonmaiden, scour my enemies!'
A scream wrenched itself out of Feena as silver-white fire burst all around her, burning her flesh and searing her very soul.
The Sharrans poured out of a cramped tunnel and through a splintered wall into a dusty cellar beneath a broom-maker's shop. Had the shopkeeper known what the broken wall had hidden? Keph didn't think sothere was blood on the shop floor and the smell of death in the air. Someone had been murdered to keep the newly opened passage a secret.
Outside the shop, the night was sweltering hot and still. Clouds veiled the stars. Far off in the distance over the Sea of Fallen Stars, heat lightning lit the sky in silent display. Yhaunn seemed to hold its breath. The chants and clashing that had accompanied the cult through the tunnels beneath the city fell silent. Most of the cultists slipped into the shadows, and all Keph could think of was a swarm of rats darting through the streets.
Variance walked down the center of the street like some kind of dark matron and where she walked the shadows grew deeper, cloaking her skulking children. Anyone meeting the dark tide in the street would surely vanish into it, and anyone glancing out a window would see nothing but thick shadow and vague figures.
Keph had been counting the cultists. He edged up beside Variance as they strode along.
'You have twenty-eight madmen and women following you,' he whispered. 'That's not going to be enough to launch an assault on Moonshadow Hall. If the Selunites can't stop you themselves, the city guard will!'
Variance looked at him. He could barely see her face, but her voice was low and calm. 'Are you trying to convince me to stop the attack?'
His stomach twisted. 'You're leading the cult into a massacre.'
Faster than he would have thought possible, her hand lashed out and dug into his shoulder. Her fingers were hard. He gasped.
'You should only worry about the task ahead of you,' she said. 'When the time comes, I suggest that you run for Fourstaves House very quickly. You won't have long before the distraction begins.' Keph caught the flash of a frown. 'For now, stay close and hold your tongue. I will turn Shar's magic against you if I have to.' ' She released him and he staggered. A short distance away, Bolan snickered.
'Keph! Hey, Keph!' Baret jogged over to him. 'Where's Jarull tonight?'
Keph could feel Variance's eyes on him. He ground his teeth together.
'Jarull… is out of Yhaunn,' Keph lied. 'He's gone to Ravens Bluff.'
'Why would he do that? He's going to miss everything!'
Baret sounded genuinely disappointed.
'Maybe Shar called him,' Keph answered.
'Dark!' Baret said in wonder. 'Both of you touched by the goddess!' He drew a deep breath. 'Talisk, Starne, and me were wondering if we could stand with you during the assault. Talisk says that if Shar rescued you from the Selunites, she must have you marked. We could be an honor guard for you.'
Keph's throat seemed to close around his breath. 'No,' he said.
'Come on!'
'I said, no!'
Keph reached out and pushed the other man away, Baret stumbled and cursed.
'Keph's modesty ill becomes one favored of Shar,' interrupted Variance. Keph whirled on her. The priestess was wearing a smile. 'The Lady of Loss has given him a special task tonight, one he must perform alone. But such faith as yours will be rewarded, Baret. Bring Talisk and Starne to me and receive the blessing of Shar's own strength.'
Awe crossed Baret's face. 'Yes, Mother Night!'
He disappeared into the shadows. Variance watched after him for a moment. Keph glared at her.
'He doesn't deserve to die,' he said between clenched teeth.
'He came to Shar's embrace willinglyeven more willingly than you did.' She stopped abruptly then called, 'Bolan!'
Without further instruction, Bolan swiftly herded the other cultists away from her. Keph looked around, uneasy. They stood at an intersection, a quiet square that stood under the watchful eye of a statue dedicated to some otherwise unremarkable merchant prince. He knew the square. Moonshadow Hall lay a short distance almost directly along one of the intersecting streetsand Fourstaves House off along another.
'Perhaps,' said Variance, 'you'll find that Shar triumphs over Selune after all, Keph.'
Once again, the shadows seemed to thicken around her. Keph shuddered. In spite of himself, he took a step closer to the priestess. Facing the watching statue, she held out a hand and beckoned with two fingers.
'By the power of the Mistress of the Night, I bid you come forth, O beasts of Shadow!'
Around the plinth on which the statue stood, shadows lengthened and deepened, then swirled and condensed. Something within them movedand five massive dogs came padding silently into the square. Keph shuddered and moved back. The dogs were as black as the night itself, with smooth, shining coats over thick muscles, and malevolent eyes above powerful jaws. And Variance wasn't finished.
'Come forth!' she said. 'Come forth! In Shar's name, come forth!'
The black dogs kept coming until eighteen of the beasts squatted and stalked in the square. Even Shar's faithful pressed back from them. One of the dogs growled at Bolan and the priest took a cautious step away.
'Be calm,' Variance commanded. 'They're shadow mastiffsour allies.' She raised her hands and Keph could feel the power that flowed from her as she made a final call. 'Rax! Variance Amatick summons you to Shar's service. Bound by ancient contracts, I call you now. Rax, stand forth!'
The shadows didn't so much condense then as collapse.
