main road into the town. The occupants had departed hastily, leaving most of their belongings behind. She felt only a little guilt at taking them as her own, since she had chased off looters every night. With the markets closed she had little choice but to start eating the small store of food. I suppose I could buy supplies from the Dreamweavers, but they’ll need all they have and what’s here will spoil if someone doesn’t eat it.
Looking back out of the window, she watched another pair of Dreamweavers passing. Her mind returned to the problem of how to kill the gods.
Six attackers, she thought. One above. One below. One on each side. How are we to do that?
Unlike gods, immortals were subject to gravity. They could take positions on all sides, but that relied upon the gods being near the ground. The places above and below still presented a problem.
Except to Auraya, she reminded herself. She can fly. The place above is obviously hers, if she decides to take it. So what of the one below?
Gods, as non-physical beings, could pass through solid objects. Immortals obviously couldn’t. Whoever took the place below would have to hope there was a handy cave or tunnel in the right position.
And where is the right position likely to be? She pursed her lips. The White and the Voices will probably face each other before the battle and exchange the usual threats and bluster. She smiled as she realized where this meeting would probably take place. On the Isthmus.
Thinking back to her last visit to Diamyane, she considered the tunnel she had passed through with the family travelling north to hear the Wise Man of Karienne preach. It had been controlled by thieves, but that could be remedied.
They might have fled, along with the locals. Or more likely they’re looting houses, which is probably a more lucrative activity now. Her smile broadened as she recalled them fleeing from her magic as she melted the gate they had used to control travellers passing through the tunnel.
The only trouble with this tunnel was that it cut through the Isthmus, not along it. And it was positioned close to the Diamyane shore. That meant she and her fellow immortals had to hope the meeting would take place right on top of the tunnel, which was unlikely. More likely it would happen in the center.
Then she remembered what the father of the family had told her. He said there had been several tunnels through the Isthmus in the past, but they had been filled in. Perhaps some could be opened again.
But which ones? Ah, it’s all a nice daydream, she thought wryly. And it’ll probably stay that way. Standing up, she moved to the bed and lay down. I had better find out what Mirar is up to.
Closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing and steered her mind toward sleep. When she reached the right state she called Mirar’s name. There was no answer, so she stretched out to skim the minds around her. Most were predictably involved in thoughts relating to the coming conflict. She reached toward the wharves and found a few Pentadrian spies. Then she followed the few traders, travellers and Pentadrians allowed on the Isthmus. Searching along it, she found no thoughts of men or women beneath the land bridge.
:Emerahl!
She let her awareness of the minds outside fade.
:Mirar. How are things in Glymma?
:The same. Where are you?
:Diamyane.
:When are you leaving?
:I... I don’t know, she admitted. I’m beginning to think we all ought to be here, just in case. If no opportunity comes to kill the gods we lose nothing, but if one does and we aren’t here...
:We’ll curse ourselves, he finished.
:Yes. She told him of her ideas about the positioning of the immortals around the gods, and the tunnel.
:It’s worth investigating. But you do realize that if we are to attack while the White and Pentadrians are meeting, those of us not underground will be in full view.
:Yes. If you agree to protect the Pentadrians, you’ll be there anyway. As for the rest of us, we’ll have to hope the gods’ attention will be on the meeting. I could disguise myself... actually, there’s an idea. Would you mind if I pretended to be a Dreamweaver?
She felt his amusement.
:Why ask me? You didn’t last time.
:I didn’t know you were around to ask, she retorted.
:Fair enough. You’re welcome to join my people. Perhaps if I can find some excuse for Dreamweavers to follow the White out onto the Isthmus, you could go out with them.
:Then Surim and Tamun will have to approach from the sides. In boats.
:Yes. I just have to free Auraya.
She caught a hint of desperation.
:No ideas yet?
:I’ve skimmed the minds of several Servants, but all I’ve learned is that it would be impossible to sneak in and free her. My plan so far was to insist that I get to tell Auraya of the White’s defeat. That will keep her alive until after the battle. I’ll slip back to Glymma while the Pentadrians celebrate their victory and free her then.
:A bold plan. She’ll hate you for helping kill the White.
:And blame herself for it, too. Still, I’d choose for her to live over the White any day. And I get the feeling she already blames the Circlian gods for her predicament. She seems to hate Huan, who she says arranged for the Siyee to be captured and is intent on killing her. Chaia has admitted he could free her only if the other gods would agree to it.
:So she’d kill Huan, but not the others. I don’t see how we can arrange that.
:No. And we still need to free her before the battle if your plan is to work.
:Yes. Hmm. Something just occurred to me. We need Auraya for more than just to be our sixth immortal. She’s the only one of us who can sense if the gods are actually where we need them to be.
:You really are taking this seriously, aren’t you?
:Just trying to work out how to make it work in case the opportunity comes.
:Then you ought to test the theory first. I want to be sure if I can draw enough magic to create a void before I put myself near both the White and the Voices and try to kill their gods.
:Yes, it would be sensible to confirm that it works. One of us needs to attempt to make a void. One of The Twins, maybe, since using that much magic would attract more attention than you or I need.
:Yes. So go chat to them. I’ll talk to Arleej. And see if I can find a way to free Auraya before the battle.
She felt a pang of concern.
:Be careful.
:I’m always careful. After all this time I’ve become rather fond of being alive.
After his presence had faded, Emerahl turned her thoughts to The Twins.
:Surim. Tamun.
They responded with their usual promptness.
:Greetings, Emerahl.
:I have a few ideas and suggestions for you.
:Oh?
:How long would it take for you two, and The Gull, to get to Diamyane?
:Now, Emerahl, Tamun said sternly. You agreed with us. You didn’t
