Sparks flashed between the thin metal plates of its feathers.
'Oh, Beshaba's ivory arms,' Keph cursed.
The stone, mortar, and wood of Moonshadow Hall tickled at Feena as she rose slowly up through the temple's structure. For a long moment, it seemed as if she were everywhere within the old walls all at once. She stood among frightened novices as elderly priestesses tried to calm them in spite of being terrified themselves. She stood within the gates as younger priestesses and priests gripped maces in preparation for battle. She stood above the gates as acolytes rang alarm bells to alert the city guard to danger. She passed through the infirmary where Chandri spoke desperate prayers of healing over Mifano. She passed through the archives, through dusty storerooms, and through the cold vaults and crypts that lay beneath the temple.
And as soon as she wondered at the wash of impressions and the miraculous vision, she realized what was happening.
Moonmaiden's grace, she cursed, I'm dead!
'Feena! Feena!'
Julith's voice. Where was she? Feena tried to call out, to turn around and find the younger priestess. There wasn't time. Suddenly, irresistibly, she was outside of Moonshadow Hall and gazing down upon it.
Clergy crawled around the ring of the temple roof. Moonshadow Hall had known nothing but peace for generations, but abruptly Feena could see that it had once been intended as a solidly defensible building. The walkway that circled the roof was protected by parapets. Above the false, decorative gates that marked the outer walls, guardhouses stood out, additional protection for defenders. The temple's original windows faced only inwardattackers would have to storm the main gates or climb the high, smooth walls to gain entrance.
At least they would have centuries ago. Generations of alterations had weakened Selune's temple. The wall of the kitchen garden looped away from the temple like a bubble. The slope of the winter chapel's roof was a ramp reaching almost to the top of the walls. A bold attacker could cross the gap with a leap. Here and there, windows had been forced through the outer wall. Guardhouses and parapets crumbled in disrepair. Mifano and Velsinore had been the only leaders of Moonshadow Hall to dismiss the Sharran threat, it seemed!
To the west of the temple, she could see the lingering cloud of dark mist that screams had described as she had struggled with Velsinore. A few of Selune's clerics still looked out that way, but more were racing around the roofs to take positions on the east and south as figures broke from shadows to surge around the temple walls. Feena drew a sharp breath. The mist had been a trick to draw attention from the real attack. On the east the figures had grappling hooks to attack the walls. On the south, outside the gates, they had an easier target: the mob of poor who had gathered to demand a share of the New Moon Beneficence were fleeing or falling before the screaming Sharrans. Selune's priestesses had tried to get some of the poor inside the protection of the temple. Now they struggled to close the gates against the rush of Sharrans!
There were more than just humans among the cultists, too. Feena could see some kind of beasts loping alongside them. Wolves? No, huge dogsbut not natural animals at all. Creatures summoned by dark magic. Feena growled under her breath. Cyrume, the cultist in the Stiltways had his body been ravaged by one of those beasts in order to frame her? She struggled to turn her head, trying to see more.
Shadows crawled up the roof of the winter chapel toward the top of the walls. The Sharrans had found Moonshadow Hall's weakness. Feena tried to call out a warning to Selune's defenders.
Nothing happened. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. She just kept rising, higher and higher above Moonshadow Hall, up toward a full moon that hung bigger, brighter, and more beautiful than any she had ever seen in her life.
A blue-haired woman stood in the air before her, soft wings beating slowly at her back, arms outstretched in welcome though her eyes seemed to hold immeasurable sorrow. Feena recognized her from legends and from the tall relief that stood against Moonshadow Hall's pale wallsone of the seven Shards, Selune's greatest servants. The Shard smiled softly, sadly, and beckoned to her.
Fear sharper than pain stabbed through Feena.
No, she whimpered silently. No, I can't. I won't. I'm needed!
'Feena! Feena!' Julith's voice called again, growing distant.
Closermuch closerthere was a growl. A chorus of growls, like a pack of wolves at her back.
No, like a Pact. Feena was aware of Niree Swifthands's lean gray form to one side of her and Rade's black bulk to the other. More animal voices rose behind her. Tyver Thorndrove's human voice rang out in triumph above them all.
'She denies death, Shard! There is still hope. She denies death!'
The Shard's beckoning gestured slowed, then stopped. Her arm fell back to her side and her eyes… her eyes shone with joy.
She faded from the sky and the glorious full moon faded along with her. Darkness fell.
A darkness that surged with whispers. Feena stared into it. Selune's warning? That couldn't be right. The New Moon Heresy was dead once more, killed along with Velsinore. The New Moon Pact had been rediscovered. What more was there?
She found her voice and called, 'Tyver!'
The Peacemaker was crouched in front of her. 'Feena! Feena, listen to me! The Pact'
'The darkness, Tyver!' Feena screamed at him 'What is it? I still don't understand what Selune wants of me!'
'There are things that should not be understood. There are things that must not be spoken. When the time comes, you'll know what to do,' Tyver said, then he reached down and grasped her shoulders. 'Feena, if you would deny death for Selune's service, enter the Pact!'
'Tyver, J don't-'
'The Pact, Feena!' Tyver shook her hard. 'Enter the waters of the moon' 'Feena! 'shouted Julith.
Feena coughed. Blood sprayed out of her throat and she gulped air. Close by, Julith gasped. Feena groaned and opened her eyes. She was still on the floor of the kitchen, though Julith had her sitting up, her hands on
Feena's shoulders. The young priestess's symbol of Selune dangled around her neck. Feena could feel the fading remnants of healing magic coursing through her body-but too little and very nearly too late. Blood had spread in a pool around her. Her head felt light.
She didn't have long. She could feel it.
'Oh, Feena,' Julith said. 'What did Velsinore do to you?'
'The attack?' slurred Feena. Speaking hurt. 'What's happening?'
'We're holding the Sharrans off,' said Julith, 'but just barely. They tried to climb the winter chapel and'
'I know.' She shook her head at Julith's look of amazement. 'You stopped them?' Julith nodded and Feena grunted. 'Good. The book of the New Moon Pact. Where is it?'
'I' Under smears of blood, Julith's face went pale. 'I dropped it in the courtyard!'
Enter the waters of the moonSelune's sacred pool.
'Take me there.' She got a hand onto Julith's shoulder and tried to stand. The effort sent a wave of pain through her. Julith hissed and caught her as she fell backward.
'You need more healing than I can give you,' Julith said. 'We need to get you to'
Feena opened her mouth and spat out more blood. 'Get me to the courtyard!' she choked.
'Nice bird,' said Keph. 'Pretty bird.'
The copper falcon cocked its head. Keph stretched out a hand as if the wondrous construct might somehow catch his scent. Why not? It worked for the stone dogs at the door of Fourstaves House. It had seemed to work with the creeping ward on the study door. He held his breath, praying that his luck would hold out and that the falcon would let him pass as well.
The metal bird leaned forward. Keph stepped through the door and into the study, moving a little closer. 'Good bird,' he murmured. 'Good bird…'
Whether he had moved too close or too fast, he couldn't tell, but the bird pulled back, its wings spread wide. Keph could see the blue sparks that danced along them and his nose caught the sharp smell of lightning. He froze but the bird didn't relax. He stretched his hand out a little farther.
The bird's wings snapped down and its body stiffened as its hooked beak opened and vomited a thin,
