Moon Shimmers(84)

Smoky poured me a glass of milk—somehow, I didn’t think alcohol would make a good complement to the dizziness—and Shade served bowls of the soup, which had been cooked in a rich meat base, and was filled with chunks of carrots and handover roots, along with wild chervil and cress leaves. As everyone set to, a comfortable silence rose around us as the tension began to fall away. After about twenty minutes, we pushed back our plates. Delilah and I ventured into the washroom and—sure enough—it also contained a bathroom, to our relief. We took care of business, and washed our hands and faces.

As we returned to the table, the servers were carrying away our plates, and Keth had also returned. He had brought with him a bottle of what looked like brandy, and was pouring cordial glasses for us.

“Dwarven brandy, straight from the Nebulveori Mountains.” He handed me a glass.

The scent was almost intoxicating, and I felt grounded enough to take a sip. It was like grape honey on the tongue, rich and full-bodied. As I murmured “Thank you,” he offered the others their glasses.

“Now, then, while the food sets, tell me why you have come to visit our temple.” He spoke in English this time.

Chase cleared his throat. “May I ask a question—without meaning to be rude?”

“Ask. You cannot find answers if you do not seek them out.” Keth seemed in a generous mood, or perhaps he was always this good-natured.

“You call this a temple, but also a monastery. Which is it?”

“A sanctuary can be one and still be the other. This is our monastery and it is also our temple. Either word works.” Keth leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “Remember, constraints provide only limitations. Expand the definition, and you expand the potential.”

Chase grinned at him. “I see what you mean. Thank you.”

“Then, let us proceed. Lady Camille, I feel you are the one to answer my question. Tell me, why are you here?” The monk turned back to me.

I swallowed my nerves. This was it. How they reacted would be the difference between whether we had to find a way to sneak around behind their backs—quite possibly causing a political schism that could mar future relations between the Order of the Crystal Dagger and just about every city or group I belonged to—or whether we’d have them as allies.

“I am Camille Sepharial te Maria, High Priestess of the Moon Mother and soon to take the throne of Dusk and Twilight. I’ve come for the Keraastar Diamond, to gather and lead the Keraastar Knights into the coming battle against Shadow Wing, who rails against the portals and seeks to break through and devastate both Earthside and Y’Eírialiastar. It was Shadow Wing who drove the armies of Telazhar against Elqaneve.”

Keth didn’t jump, or start, or show any of the reactions I had expected him to. Instead, he merely leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his stomach.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“Surprise? We’re taught to anticipate but never expect. We’re taught that surprise is our enemy. It leads to being caught off guard. I have long learned to moderate my reactions, Priestess. Your news is not something we expected, but neither am I surprised. We knew that Shadow Wing was behind Telazhar—the Order doesn’t merely sit up here on the mountain and hide out from the rest of the world. But we have little to do with the goings-on. All things pass in time. So, you come for the Keraastar Diamond? Why do you think we have it?”

“I don’t think you have it here in the temple, but the Maharata-Vashi led me here and points to the gem being on your land.” I withdrew the scroll and spread it out to show him the legend. “Can you read ancient Melosealfôr? I can only read a few words.”

He leaned across the table, gazing into my eyes. “Do you trust me to read it correctly, that should be your question?”

I held his gaze, peering into the deep brown pools that seemed to go on forever. After a moment, I realized that yes, I did trust him. His energy was clear. He wasn’t on our side, but he wasn’t against us, either. He was playing Switzerland in a world of opposites.

“Yes, I think I do. I also need the incantation on the Maharata-Verdi translated.”

“That, I can also do.” He studied the map. “First, the map. It reads thusly: The Keraastar Diamond is found in the Cavernica Redal. There’s a cave system that begins on our land. The Cavernica Redal isn’t far—a day’s journey up the mountain side behind the monastery, but a dangerous trek, and whatever guards the Keraastar Diamond, you will have to vanquish.”

“How long has the diamond been here?” Venus asked.