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    The Temple of the Damned
    The Temple of the Damned
    The Temple of the Damned
    Ebook559 pages8 hours

    The Temple of the Damned

    By Ashley Abbiss

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    ‎‎“You're a cheerful lot, aren't you?” Mennia said. ‎
    ‎“If you're about to say that we'll get through, don't bother,” Carlitha said sourly. ‎
    ‎“Well, won't we?” ‎
    ‎“Mennia, if you start in about the gods again, I'll throw something.” ‎
    ‎“I wasn't going to mention the gods. I was just saying that I don't intend to fail after all this ‎effort. You can do what you like, but I'm getting into that city even if I have to tunnel all the ‎way to the temple with my bare hands.”‎
    ‎“There's not really a lot you can say to that,” Niari observed mildly to Carlitha. ‎
    ‎“Oh, shut up, Niari!” ‎

    A year ago, Niari, Carlitha, Friend, and their companions beat the Cult of the Earth ‎Mother to the ‎Collar of Volandris, thus completing the set of the Collars of Phaleran. Prophecy ‎says the collars ‎must be taken to the fabled Temple of the Damned so that the events that are ‎ordained to happen ‎there may take place; events that will affect the very future of their world. ‎But certain necessary ‎signs had not yet been fulfilled, so they hid the ‎collars where the Cult couldn’t get to them and ‎went home to wait. ‎

    Now it’s time. ‎

    All the signs are fulfilled, and the journey to the Temple can begin. ‎

    There’s just one small problem. According to their research, the Temple of the Damned is ‎‎situated in the kingdom of Nava. And Nava is headquarters for the Cult. The entire resources of ‎the kingdom are ranged against ‎the Companions. ‎

    Also, the event in the Temple of the Damned is a meeting. Both sides must be present for a ‎meeting to ‎take place. That means the Cult knows where they’re going. Some ‎in the Cult believe ‎that they can win by default if they can prevent the meeting from taking ‎place. With troops ‎converging from all sides, the companions must make it to the Temple ‎through territory that’s ‎alien to them but home to the hunters. And meanwhile, one of the gods is ‎trying to sabotage the ‎quest and prevent the meeting from taking place. ‎

    Last time, a very unexpected alliance with the nature ‎spirits helped them win the victory. They’ll ‎need even more help this time. They were ‎astounded when the nature spirits made their offer. ‎They’ll be completely flabbergasted when ‎they find out who is offering them aid this time; and ‎absolutely dumbfounded when they find ‎out why. ‎

    With a group of uniquely talented companions, some very strange allies, and perhaps just a little ‎‎help from the gods (most of them, anyway), Niari, Carlitha and Friend set out for Nava and the ‎‎Temple of the Damned – and whatever they may find there. ‎

    Can they make it through to the Temple of the Damned ‎in the face of impossible odds? Can they ‎do what they have to do there, and will it finally bring peace ‎to the world? Come join those ‎champions of the gods on their most dangerous quest yet – if you ‎dare. ‎

    The Temple of the Damned is the third novel in the Daughters of Destiny series and follows on ‎‎from events in Voices from the Grave. But it should be perfectly ‎‎possible to read it without having first read the other two books.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAshley Abbiss
    Release dateJul 16, 2016
    ISBN9781310122828
    The Temple of the Damned
    Author

    Ashley Abbiss

    Hello there. I’m Ashley Abbiss. ‎I live and write in beautiful New Zealand, where I live with one large dog, who looks nothing ‎like Friend from my Daughters of Destiny books. She is, however, almost as intelligent and definitely as ‎opinionated, and if she can’t quite speak in the way Friend does to Niari, that doesn’t really ‎hold her back much!‎I write fantasy, mostly of the epic variety. Let me say right up front that if you’re looking for a quick read, you’re in the wrong place. But if you like a substantial, ‎satisfying story that you can really get your teeth into, stick with me. I may have something ‎you’ll enjoy. There’s no graphic sex in my books. If that’s what you want, you’ll have to look ‎elsewhere. There is violence, and there is swearing, though mostly of the ‘s/he swore’ variety, ‎nothing overly graphic or offensive. I also write about strong, independent female characters, ‎so if your taste runs to something more macho, or something more frilly and helpless, this may ‎not be the place for you. ‎I’ve always loved wandering in different worlds, be they fantasy or science fiction, although ‎lately I tend to prefer fantasy. The only proviso is that they have to be believable worlds, ‎worlds that feel real, that have depth and scope – and they must, absolutely must be fun to ‎visit. I read for escape and entertainment, and I don’t really want to escape from this world ‎into one even grimmer. Trouble, tension, and danger I can deal with, what sort of story would ‎there be without them? Where would Pern be without Thread, Frodo without Sauron, Harry ‎Potter without Voldemort? But there has to be hope, and there has to be a light touch. Happy ‎ever after does have a lot going for it, even if initially it’s only a very small light at the end of ‎a long, dark tunnel. My personal favourites include Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Anne ‎McCaffrey’s Pern series, and the fantasies of David Eddings, and lately, they’ve been joined ‎by J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and a few others. Of those, David Eddings was probably my ‎greatest inspiration.‎I began to wonder if I could create my own world, one just as believable and multi-layered as ‎theirs. Could I create a world with its own history, geography, social structure, deities, and all ‎the rest? One that hung together? That a reader could believe in? It became a challenge, one I ‎really wanted to see if I could meet. So I dusted off my writing skills, learned a few more, ‎cranked up the imagination, and got busy. I’d always been good at creative writing, but ‎though I’d made a few attempts to write after I left school, none of them came to anything. ‎That was until I started writing fantasy. Suddenly, I knew I’d come home. ‎I quickly discovered that I’m not the sort of writer who can plan a book (or a world!) before I ‎start. I just can’t do it. But I can create characters, and suddenly the characters took on a ‎reality of their own and took over the stories, often to the extent that they actually surprised ‎me. And the stories worked. Their world worked. Sometimes I had to go back and fix the ‎odd contradiction, but mostly it worked and was very natural and organic. Even though my ‎first attempts were pitiful, I knew I’d found where I belong. I persevered, I learned, I wrote. ‎I discovered that the characters are key for me. Once I get them right, they tell their own ‎story. I was away. There were dark days during which my stories became my refuge, my ‎characters my friends. And I kept writing. There were happy times when I didn’t need a ‎refuge, but my characters were still my friends, and they drew me inexorably back. I kept ‎writing. ‎And now, I hope my characters may become your friends too, my worlds ones where you also ‎like to walk; perhaps even your refuge from dark days. Come join me in a world where magic ‎is real and the gods are near, where beasts talk and men and women achieve things they never ‎dreamed they could. But most of all, come and have fun! ‎Happy reading.‎Ash.‎

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      Book preview

      The Temple of the Damned - Ashley Abbiss

      THE TEMPLE OF THE DAMNED

      (The Third Daughters of Destiny Novel)

      Ashley Abbiss

      Copyright 2016 Ashley Abbiss

      Smashwords Edition

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      The Daughters of Destiny Series so far:

      The Collars of Phaleran

      Voices from the Grave

      The Temple of the Damned

      The Ancient Shrine (coming October 2016)

      Cover Photo Credits:

      Woman in Blue – © Edinorog12 | Dreamstime.com

      Woman in Red – © Mircea Bezergheanu | Dreamstime.com

      Man –  Copyright: Fotokvadrat

      Dog - © Monika Šturmová | Dreamstime.com

      Cover Design and Editing… Ashley Abbiss

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      TITLE PAGE

      MAP

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      CHAPTER TEN

      CHAPTER ELEVEN

      CHAPTER TWELVE

      CHAPTER THIRTEEN

      CHAPTER FOURTEEN

      CHAPTER FIFTEEN

      CHAPTER SIXTEEN

      CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

      CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

      CHAPTER NINETEEN

      CHAPTER TWENTY

      CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

      CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

      CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

      CONNECT WITH ASHLEY ABBISS

      PREVIEW OF BOOK FOUR THE ANCIENT SHRINE

      CHAPTER ONE

      Niari and Carlitha, princesses of Nebreth, sorceresses, sisters and best friends (most of the time), reined in their horses. The forest of Ch'ranath Wivas, through which they had just ridden, pressed close at their backs but before them the land fell away to form a small valley; a valley that seemed full of light after the relative gloom under the trees.

      I love this place, Niari said. Somehow it always makes me feel refreshed.

      It's peaceful, isn't it? Carlitha agreed, gazing down to where the tiny cottage nestled among its carefully tended fields and kitchen garden. Hello. I think Yarisha has some other visitors. There're a couple of extra horses down there.

      So there are. I wonder who it is?

      Why don't we go down and find out? Carlitha said, and without more ado led the way down the steep trail towards the valley bottom. They were about halfway down when some people came out of the house and stood looking up at them, shielding their eyes against the sun.

      That's Varia and Benric! Carlitha said. I thought they were supposed to be guarding the Entrothian border.

      I don't suppose they do that all on their own. And there is such a thing as leave, you know.

      I'm sure I could never have worked that out for myself, Carlitha said tartly. What I meant was, what are they doing here?

      Well, if we go down there, we can find out, Niari said in a perfect echo of her sister a few moments before.

      Carlitha favoured her with a very hard look, but they had reached level ground by that time, and the three at the house were waving to them, so the sisters abandoned the incipient argument and rode forward to greet their friends.

      What are you two doing here? Carlitha asked as they greeted the two Entrothians.

      Looking for you, actually, Varia said.

      Oh? Niari said as she slid down from Moonwind’s back.

      There's a rumour going around in Entroth that the Prophet of the Earth Mother is dead. We wondered if you'd heard anything about it.

      Can't say we have, Carlitha said. She also dismounted, clinging to her saddle as she reached for her sticks. Carlitha had been crippled since babyhood and needed the help of two sticks to walk any distance. It might explain what we came to tell Yarisha, though, she said as she got herself organised and turned, leaning on her sticks.

      Oh? Yarisha said.

      We've been up in the Lost Lands, Niari said.

      Keeping an eye on the collars? Benric asked with a twinkle.

      Carlitha grinned up at the gigantic blond man. Keeping an eye on the Cult, who're keeping an eye on the collars. I think they're afraid they’re going to get up and run away. They've been guarding the place for the last year, ever since we left the collars with Nogok.

      A little over a year ago, Niari, Carlitha, and a group of companions including Varia, Benric, and Yarisha had, after much searching, found the Collar of Volandris, the missing one of the Collars of Phaleran. The collars were a set of fabulous magical artefacts created centuries ago by the great sorcerer Phaleran. Highly magical, they were coveted for their power, of course, but also because they were pivotal to at least two prophecies. In particular, the Cult of the Earth Mother, whose aim was to conquer the entire world for their goddess and set her up as sole goddess and queen, needed the collars and the three Children mentioned in their prophecy, namely Niari, Carlitha and their brother King Aanek, in order to fulfil their prophecy. However, Niari, Carlitha, and their friends were also following a prophecy, and they needed the collars as well. They had to take them to a place called the Temple of the Damned in order to fulfil the requirements of their prophecy and defeat the Cult.

      So it had been a contest; a contest that the Companions had ultimately won. It had been they who had eventually entered the tomb where the last Collar was hidden and retrieved it. But the timing was crucial, at least in their prophecy. Although it had been essential to find the collar before the Cult did, the time hadn’t been right to make the trip to the temple. There were certain signs that had to be fulfilled first, otherwise, the prophecy said, they would fail and the Cult would win. So, after much discussion and racking of brains, they had decided to entrust the collars to the care of a rock spirit named Nogok until such time as the signs were right and they could make the journey.

      Earlier in their quest, the Companions had been approached by a water sprite named Kasifabar. The nature spirits - earth spirits, rock spirits, water sprites, wood nymphs and others, were the elemental spirits of this world and had been its gods long ago before the Earth Mother came. But when the Earth Mother arrived, liked the place, and decided to stay she imprisoned them and took their worshippers for herself, establishing herself as the only god of this world until eventually the other gods came and also made a place for themselves. For thousands of years, the small local gods had languished, bound and forgotten, unable to interact any longer with those who used to be their worshippers. But the meeting at the Temple of the Damned would involve the Earth Mother, and as the time approached she was becoming preoccupied and distracted. Her hold over the nature spirits was weakened. The stronger of them were beginning to break free. They quite naturally wanted to remain free, so they offered the Companions a bargain. They would help them in their quest if they would promise to ask Maras, king and chief of the gods, to grant them their freedom permanently if he came out on top at the Temple of the Damned. It was, therefore, in the interests of the nature spirits that the Companions retained possession of the collars. The Companions knew that Nogok, who was, after all, a god, even if a minor one, would have the power to prevent the Cult from laying hands on them, and so they had requested his aid. Nogok had agreed to be the guardian of the collars and had hidden them in a cave deep inside the monolith that was his home.

      The Cult, however, had been right on the Companions’ heels when they arrived at the monolith with the collars. They therefore knew that the collars were somewhere on Nogok’s monolith, a huge pile of rock sitting in the middle of the sere plain that was the entrance to the Lost Lands, although they didn’t know exactly where. When repeated attempts to locate the collars failed, they had done really the only thing they could do and settled down to guard the monolith. Obviously, the Companions were going to have to come back sooner or later to retrieve the collars. The Cult planned to be waiting when they did.

      You'd think the Cult would have realised by now that they haven't a hope of getting their hands on the collars, Niari said.

      Varia laughed. There's nothing like tenacity, I suppose. Although, my guess is that they’ve given up any idea of trying to find them. More likely, they’re waiting for us to retrieve them. They must know as well as we do that we have to get them back at some stage, and if they’re there waiting, they’ll have a good chance of taking them off us when we emerge with them. It's just unfortunate that they were there when we hid them. It's going to make it a bit difficult to get them when we need them again.

      Possibly not, Carlitha said. That's what we came to tell Yarisha. The Cultists have suddenly all packed up and gone home.

      What?

      The place is completely deserted, Carlitha nodded, pleased at the impact of her words. Their camp's been dismantled, and all the people have gone, not even a token guard.

      A few spies, though, I’d imagine, Benric said. I can’t see them leaving the collars completely unguarded.

      Carlitha shook her head. We thought of that, too, and we looked. We looked with our eyes, we looked with our power, we even had Friend get the animals on the job. If there is anyone left, they’re invisible, believe me.

      Varia blinked. Amazing. Or maybe not quite so amazing if the rumours we've heard are true. I guess there'd be some reshuffling and policy changes and that sort of thing if they have to choose a new Prophet. Although I admit I’m still just a little surprised that they’ve left no presence at all. Something as important to them as the collars, you’d think they’d leave at least a token guard.

      I know. We couldn’t believe it ourselves, which is why we took such pains to search. But there’s no one there.

      We ought to go and get the ‎collars while they're not there, then, Benric said. We could give them to Kasifabar to mind until we need them. At least that way the Cult won't know what we've done with them. In fact, if we do it right they may not even realise we've moved them.

      Somehow I don't think they're quite that silly, Benric, Varia said. It's definitely a good idea to move the ‎collars, though. It could save a lot of trouble later. We can help. We have leave.

      You do? Carlitha asked. How did you manage that?

      Varia shrugged. The death of the Prophet, if it's true, will presumably mean that we can get on with the journey to the Temple of the Damned. I still have a sister to avenge. That's a sacred duty in Entroth, so all I really had to do was ask.

      What do you think, Yarisha? Niari asked. Should we give the ‎collars to Kasifabar?

      I certainly think it's wise to go get them, but if Varia and Benric's news is true, there'd be no point in giving them to Kasifabar. There'd be only one more sign to be fulfilled, and I don't think that'll be very long in happening now.

      You mean it's time to go to the temple? Niari asked. Are you sure, Yarisha?

      As sure as I can be, Niari. The pace definitely seems to be quickening. You'll remember that the prophecy said we had to find all the ‎Collars of Phaleran, but we daren't risk taking them to the Temple of the Damned until all six signs it mentioned had come to pass. When we left the ‎collars with Nogok, only one of those signs had been fulfilled. Things remained that way for almost eight months before the second came to pass, and then there was nothing more until two months ago when the third was fulfilled, but suddenly two of the signs have come to pass in the last couple of weeks.

      Which two are they? Varia asked curiously.

      The rise of a new prophet of the Earth Mother, which presumably will occur very soon, if it hasn't already, and the foregathering of the Company. You and Benric are the last.

      We are? Where's everyone else?

      Camped about an hour's ride from here, Carlitha said, grinning at her friends' disbelieving stares. We wanted Yarisha's advice about the ‎collars, but we didn't think she'd really appreciate all of us descending on her without warning.

      I thought they were scattered all over, Benric said.

      Niari spread her hands. They've all turned up in the last month. Tarras was the first. He got himself wounded in a skirmish that the Warriors were involved in, and he came to stay while he convalesces. Then Jomac turned up to visit Mennia, and Keladryn just turned up, in between smuggling runs, probably.

      He didn't go back and rejoin the priesthood, then? Benric asked.

      He applied, but they told him they wouldn't take him for a year, to give him plenty of time to think it through and come to a firm decision. They want to be sure he really means it, I think. He wasn't best pleased because he'd already spent several months making up his mind to ask, but he knows he's not really in any position to argue.

      Varia nodded. And what about the others? Minnow and Shad.

      They arrived a week ago from the Northland, with Song of the Night's staff.

      They didn't release her spirit when they got home, then? Varia asked.

      Carlitha shook her head. Song of the Night refused. She said she'd be needed on the journey to the temple, so there was no sense taking her out of the staff. So we're still going to have our resident ghost along. On their quest to find the Collar of Volandris, they had been accompanied by the ghost of Song of the Night, their Eriathite friend who had been killed a couple of years before in the Battle of Nebreth City. The hunt for the Collar of Volandris had been precipitated when Song of the Night’s son and daughter, Shad and Minnow, had come to Niari and Carlitha wanting to rescue Song of the Night’s spirit from its imprisonment in the tower in which she had died. When they went to the tower she had appeared and given them all a message from Maras. It was that message that had sent them off on the quest and she had accompanied them, her spirit housed in a sacred staff. But anyway, Carlitha went on, Shad and Minnow turned up last week, saying that Song of the Night had appeared to them and told them it was time to come back here because they needed to be on hand when it was time to make the journey to the temple.

      And that's probably the best indication we could have that Yarisha's right, and it's time to go get the ‎collars, Varia said. After all, Song of the Night is the Voice of the Gods, isn't she, so presumably she should know.

      But whatever are you all doing camped in the forest? Yarisha asked.

      Carlitha shrugged. Niari and I were coming out to check on the ‎collars; or, more properly, I suppose, the Cult. We've been doing that from time to time over the last year, as you know. Actually, we were feeling a bit crowded with all those people suddenly moving in, and we were going to sneak off, but they found out about it and all insisted on coming. So here we are.

      And just in time to get the collars, it seems, Varia said dryly. Do you think this could possibly be a plot?

      It is beginning to look that way, isn't it? Carlitha agreed. We could probably be excused for thinking someone, she pointed heavenwards, planned it that way.

      It would definitely seem to indicate that it's time to get the collars and begin the trip to the Temple of the Damned, Yarisha agreed.

      I can't say that really fills me with joy, Benric said. I'm not at all sure I want to go anywhere near the Temple of the Damned. It's an awful name. It gives me the creeps. The big soldier shuddered.

      It was an awful story, Niari said quietly.

      Silence fell on the group, all of them remembering the story of how the ancient Eriathite civilisation had met its downfall at the hands of Maras, king and chief of the gods. Appalled by the abominations of the new religion that had taken over from the traditional worship of their Ancestors, he had sent his disciples to tell the people it must stop. When the Eriathites hadn't listened and had begun attacking Maras’ disciples, he'd sent his judgment upon them. The civilisation had crumbled in the aftermath of a series of disasters, and the Eriathite people had abandoned their new religion and their cities and returned to their ancient ways. Now they inhabited the Northland, always the heart of their realm, and even today they remained in their villages, close to the Ancestors they worshipped. Although they had held onto their technology and weren’t nearly as primitive as some people thought, kings and cities were but a distant memory; a memory even now so tainted with the shame of their ancestors' arrogance and vanity that no Eriathite would entertain for a moment the thought of trying to recapture past glories. They had learnt their lesson, and, if the truth was told, while other peoples looked down on them as primitive and backward, they tended to view their more sophisticated neighbours with a kind of indulgent pity, as one might a child who is yet to learn a painful lesson.

      It was in the transition time, those relatively few generations when the people of Eriath were abandoning their cities and re-establishing their old tribal way of life, that a temple had been built in a city called Eiana. This temple was the only one the world had ever known that had been dedicated to Maras, and it had housed a community of monks and nuns whose task it was to pray continually to Maras for forgiveness for their people. That temple had been known, for obvious reasons, as the Temple of the Damned.

      When the signs the friends had been discussing had all come to pass, they had to take the Collars of Phaleran to that temple and lay them on the altar there so that the prophecy that had set them on this quest might finally reach its fulfilment. Unfortunately, things weren't quite as straightforward as they seemed at first glance. Their researches had revealed that the temple was somewhere in what was now Nava, and the Cult of the Earth Mother had its base in Nava. The knowledge that they had to take the one thing the Cult wanted more than anything else in the world right into the heart of Cult territory had not impressed Carlitha at the time, and she let her feelings about it be known again now.

      Yes, we all know what you think of the idea, Niari interrupted her sister's tirade. But the fact remains that we have no choice. The prophecy says we have to take the ‎collars to the temple and yelling about it isn't going to change that, is it?

      When I want a lecture I'll let you know, Carlitha retorted acidly.

      Well, stop being so unreasonable. You know perfectly well we can't do anything but go to the temple, so why do you insist on moaning about it?

      We could do something else. We could go home and let the gods sort out their own problems for once.

      Niari didn't even attempt to answer that. She just threw her hands in the air and turned away, swearing under her breath.

      Why don't you go and get the others, Carlitha? Yarisha asked. We might as well all stay here tonight, and then we can start for the Lost Lands to get the ‎collars in the morning. She cast a mournful eye around her little domain. It's quite the worst time of year to have to leave, I'm afraid. There's so much to be done, but I suppose it can't be helped.

      You're coming with us, then? Varia asked.

      Well, yes, I think I'd better, don't you? As I told you, the pace of things does seem to be gathering momentum. It may well be that by the time we've retrieved the ‎collars it'll be time to start for Nava. It would be inconvenient and possibly dangerous for you to have to come all this way back just to pick me up. The old woman looked about again and sighed.

      Niari felt sorry for her. Yarisha had lived most of her life in this secluded valley in the middle of the forest. A servant of Maras, as they all were, she had been led there many years before to await the coming of Niari, the One of the prophecies. Her task had been to study the scriptures and prophecies and have all the information Niari and Carlitha and their companions would need ready for them when the time came. Her years of study had brought her acclaim as a student of prophecy, but Niari knew that Yarisha still depended on the food she produced herself to see her through the winter. Of course, she and Carlitha could easily make up any shortfall, but a woman had her pride. And then, of course, there was the prospect of coming home to find the place gone to wrack and ruin, or perhaps taken over by some hermit or robbed by passers-by...

      Kami and Bodan! Niari said.

      What are you prattling about now? Carlitha asked acidly.

      Niari ignored her. Remember the two servants who looked after the place for you last time, Yarisha? I could send them out here to take over for you again. They'll see that everything's ready for winter.

      They did do a wonderful job last time, Yarisha acknowledged. Do you think they'd mind doing it again?

      Mind? They'd love it!

      But they're back at the house, Niari, Carlitha said.

      So what? We've got the medallions, so there'd be no problem sending a message. Varia can help me with that while you go and get the others. Kami and Bodan could be here in a couple of days.

      That's really very good of you, Niari, Yarisha said, a note of relief in her voice. Thank you.

      So it was decided. Carlitha mounted up and rode off to get the rest of the party, incidentally also removing her bad temper, to the relief of those left behind.

      What’s got into her? Varia asked as they watched Carlitha ride up out of the valley on her errand. I know Carlitha has her moments, but she’s not usually quite this unreasonable.

      Niari scrubbed wearily at her face with her hands. She’s been feeling crowded with all these people arriving, she explained. Carlitha doesn’t handle crowds very well, as you know. I suggested the trip to check on the monolith so she could get away for a few days, but, of course, that didn’t work out because everyone decided to tag along. She’s been ghastly ever since.

      Varia laughed. Sorry, she said. I shouldn’t laugh. And it’s not actually all that funny, especially if we’re all going to be off to the temple. I hope Carlitha’s going to regain her composure sometime soon. It could get just a little wearing if she doesn’t.

      Tell me about it, Niari said.

      Varia laughed again. Come on, let’s get on with this.

      She and Niari joined hands and prepared to perform their errand. The two women, in common with several other of their friends, wore about their necks discs of silver filigree, each set with a semi-precious stone near the centre. They were rather modest-looking pieces of jewellery, but decoration wasn't their function. They were the Treasures of Dalmia, magical talismans that gave their users great powers, and were the weapons the Companions wielded in the magical side of their battle with the Cult.

      Now the two women willed themselves across the leagues of forest toward the house where Niari and Carlitha lived. Like a couple of impossible birds, they swept above the trees, and in a short while were swooping down into their waiting bodies.

      No matter how long we have these medallions, that's one thing I'm never going to get used to, Varia declared as she looked around the living room of Niari's home.

      What? This way of travelling?

      Varia nodded. I just can't get my head around the idea that one moment I'm one place, and the next I'm somewhere completely different. I always find it a bit unnerving.

      So do some others, Niari said wryly as a servant poked her head in the room and then withdrew again with a shriek of fright. They could hear her frightened footsteps pounding away down the corridor. I rather think we just became a maid short.

      Do you often have that problem with the servants? Varia asked curiously, remembering that Niari and Carlitha were not only users of the medallions, but sorceresses in their own right.

      This is the first time. But then, we don't usually make a habit of arriving home this way.

      Varia laughed. Let's go and find Kami and Bodan before we upset any more of your staff.

      An hour later the two women arrived back at Yarisha's house.

      All set, Niari announced. Kami and Bodan are delighted. They really love this place and the time they spent here last time. Kami can hardly wait to get back.

      Yarisha breathed a visible sigh of relief.

      An hour after that, Carlitha led the rest of the group down the path into the valley, and there was a somewhat exuberant reunion. Most of them had been together for the last several days, of course, but few of them had seen Varia or Benric for some time, or Yarisha, for that matter, so there was a lot of news to catch up on. Yarisha provided ale from her stores and then retreated to the small kitchen area to prepare food, humming happily as she worked. The men, since Yarisha's little cottage wasn't anywhere near large enough to house all of them, set up tents in the field outside, and then, since there were going to be more mouths to feed than Yarisha’s small kitchen could hope to cope with, began to dig a fire pit near the tents and set up a spit. The men hadn’t wasted their time waiting in the forest, and a couple of carcasses were soon suspended over the fire pit. Others brought in more wood for the fire, or fetched water, or helped unsaddle the horses and turn them loose to graze. Mennia and Minnow went over to help Yarisha, who had now moved her efforts to a large table near the fire pit. Niari and Carlitha's housekeeper and the small dark Eriathite woman whose real name was Voice of the River, but who was known to her friends as Minnow, had become firm friends on their journey to find the ‎Collar of Volandris, and those two had habitually been Yarisha's helpers at cooking on their journeys. Seeing them at that task again, and against the backdrop of the rest of the hustle and bustle of setting up a camp, felt peculiarly right to Niari as she sat sipping ale with Carlitha. Somehow that did more than all the words had to convince her that it really was time to go to the Temple of the Damned.

      It would take at least two days for Kami and Bodan to make the trip, and they didn’t want to leave until they were there. Most of the party elected to spend the next day hunting in the forest, returning in the evening with an assortment of game to present to the cooks. A good bit of the second day was spent in checking and mending equipment and weapons, in mending and washing clothes, washing hair and checking the contents of packs in anticipation of beginning a long and dangerous journey the next day or possibly the day after. The friends had decided to have a feast that night to celebrate the end of the waiting and the gathering together of the company again. The hunters had provided the meat, Mennia and Minnow had made a long excursion into the forest to find mushrooms, herbs, and other edibles, and Yarisha's garden provided more fresh vegetables. Her stores provided ale, and Carlitha used her power as a sorceress to turn several bottles of water into a selection of rather nice wines. Niari and Carlitha sat side by side on the grass near the fire pit watching the preparations.

      Should be a good party, Carlitha said.

      It's good to be all together again, Niari said.

      Carlitha snorted. It's even better to be on our way at last. I'm sick of having the Temple of the Damned hanging over my head. I'll be glad to get there and get it over with.

      Niari smiled, taking care to keep it strictly to herself. It was utterly typical of Carlitha to be grumbling about something one moment, and then do a complete about-face the next. Sometimes, Niari was convinced that her sister grumbled merely on principal. She was, however, vastly relieved to note that Carlitha seemed to have got over her bout of temper.

      Do you want some wine? Carlitha asked.

      Shouldn't we wait?

      What for? This is a party, after all, and we're not very likely to run out. I can easily make more any time I please.

      If you're sober enough, Niari said, and then shrieked as Carlitha stuffed a handful of grass down her back.

      Tarras is looking better than when he came to us, Niari said as Carlitha filled their wine cups. That limp is barely noticeable now.

      Is his convalescent leave going to be enough to cover this trip, I wonder?

      Should be. They gave him six months, and he's barely used a month of that yet.

      That was generous of them.

      Not really. I believe there was some doubt initially about whether he was ever going to have full use of that leg again. It's really only because he's been so stubbornly determined that he’s recovered so well.

      The two sisters looked over to where the man in question was helping Keladryn prepare a carcass for roasting. The two men had once run together as smugglers until Tarras had given that up to join the Warriors of the Moon, a militant order within the church of Elithim, goddess of the moon. Keladryn, an apostate priest of the sun god Atrios, had remained a smuggler, but an incident during their journey to find the ‎Collar of Volandris had convinced him to rethink his position. He had applied for readmittance to the priesthood and was now going through a waiting period before being accepted back.

      The sisters watched as the two men, hindered more than assisted by Minnow's brother Shad and Mennia's brother Jomac, who had already had their noses in their ale cups for some time, began to hoist the prepared carcass of a deer onto a spit to roast over the fire. Benric watched them struggle with it for a moment until, laughing, he got up to lend a hand. The Entrothian soldier was a huge man with strength to match, and with his help, the task was soon accomplished. Meanwhile, Yarisha, Minnow, and Mennia sliced and diced, stirred pots, and placed leaf-wrapped parcels in the embers, where they shortly began to emit the most delicious aromas.

      The feast was all that could be desired, and the party went on long into the night. There was always a sense of urgency, almost of desperation in these eve-of-campaign parties, Niari noted. They all knew, of course, that this was likely to be their last chance to let their hair down and relax for quite some time, and it was as though everyone felt the need to wring the very last ounce of enjoyment out of the festivities, as though they were storing it up to see them through the hard times ahead. No one got to bed before midnight, most long after that. The stragglers were just crawling from their blankets when Bodan and Kami rode in around noon of the next day, leading several packhorses loaded with supplies for the friends' trip that Varia and Niari had thought to order when they visited. Since several people were feeling somewhat delicate, and they had no deadline to meet, the party decided to remain at Yarisha's that day also and ride out at first light the next morning.

      Accordingly, just as the first rays of the dawn sun crept over the lip of the valley, the company, amid assurances and farewells from Bodan and his wife, mounted and rode up out of the valley, turning their path towards the west and the ancient ruined city known as Red Cliffs, which guarded one of the few passes up into the Lost Lands. Led by Carlitha, who had grown up in this forest, and who knew it like the back of her hand, they rode at an easy pace through the forest. The going was relatively easy, the ground hard. The late summer sun beat down from a pure blue sky, but under the trees it was pleasantly cool. It was a good day to be riding, and they were in no particular hurry. There was an almost holiday atmosphere in the group. They took their time and enjoyed the ride. Even so, when they made camp at dusk, they were almost halfway to Red Cliffs.

      Where's that beast? Carlitha asked that night as she and Niari lounged on the banks of a stream before dinner, watching several of the others, who were swimming in one of the deeper stretches of water.

      Friend?

      Who else? I suppose he is coming with us?

      Of course. A runiac is never unfaithful.

      Him and his dumb motto! Well, where is he, then?

      He'll be along. I called him before we left Yarisha's valley. Niari smiled. He said he'd catch us up. I think he wants to spend as much time as he can in the forest. He knows it’s going to be a long journey, and a long time before he gets to return.

      And when he does turn up, I suppose he'll jump out of the bushes at someone and make their horse throw them, Carlitha said sourly.

      It is a bad habit of his, Niari agreed.

      Carlitha merely grunted.

      Niari, as an adjunct to her powers of sorcery, was a beastspeaker, someone who could hear the thoughts of animals and speak with them. She had met Friend in the forest one day a few years back, and he had attached himself to her. He was a runiac, the legendary ancestor of the dog and the wolf, and, to the astonishment of many people, wore one of the Treasures of Dalmia and was one of the company. He represented the animals, just as Varia and Benric represented the Arnites and Shad and Minnow the Eriathites. It was, after all, the animals’ world too. It was only right that they should have a hand in determining its future. Far from being a pet, Friend was a working member of the team, an incredible scout, and a formidable fighter when the occasion demanded.

      Niari yawned and rubbed her eyes. Oh help, I'm tired.

      You've gone soft, that's your trouble, Carlitha said.

      Niari didn't even try to answer that. She just gave her sister a filthy look.

      I did warn you, Carlitha went on. Didn't I tell you that if you spent all your time sitting around embroidering, you were going to get fat and... She broke off with a shriek as Niari pushed her into the water.

      By the next evening, they were within a few hours' ride of Red Cliffs and within a day or so of the place where they had hidden the ‎Collars of Phaleran. Red Cliffs was an obvious place to camp, so they avoided it, just in case watchers from the Cult were lurking somewhere nearby. Accordingly, Shad and Minnow rode out ahead of the party to find an alternative camp site. The party was just beginning to set up camp in the place the two had found when Friend arrived, bounding out of the undergrowth and knocking Niari flat.

      "I am here! I have come! I have found you!" his voice echoed in her mind as he thoroughly wet her face with his long tongue. Friend did not speak with language, but rather with thought. Niari, of course, being a beastspeaker, could hear him, and so could Carlitha most times, but anyone else needed one of the sisters to translate for them.

      Friend eventually finished with Niari and went off to greet the rest of the company with equal exuberance. When everyone had been thoroughly wetted he strolled across to the fire, found himself a place to stretch out as close to the flames as he dared, and promptly went to sleep, leaving the humans to recover as best they could from his greetings.

      Well, Minnow said a bit doubtfully as she wiped her face with a corner of her tunic. It's nice to know he's glad to see us, I guess.

      I think I could actually live without him being quite that glad to see me, Varia said dryly.

      It is good to see him, though, Mennia said. Somehow it feels right. Now I really feel as though we're on our way.

      I know just how you feel, Tarras agreed. The team's not complete without Friend, is it?

      And it did feel right, Niari had to admit the next morning when they rode out for the pass. This was how it was supposed to be, with Friend scouting ahead for them. They reached Red Cliffs a little before midmorning, and since Friend reported it safe, continued straight on up the pass, reaching the top a couple of hours after noon. The pass was steep and not particularly easy even at that time of year, but it was the only way up onto the plateau that was the entrance to the Lost Lands for many leagues.

      CHAPTER TWO

      They were all tired by the time they reached the top, and they went only far enough to find a shallow gully fringed by scrubby thorn bushes. It wasn't much of a campsite, but it at least provided some protection from the wind that continually scoured the plain, and from its accompanying dust. They didn't risk a fire, in case the Cultists had returned suddenly, but Yarisha and her helpers prepared them a cold meal that was tasty and filling enough. Friend headed off into the blowing dust to scout and, presumably, to hunt his own dinner. Shortly after they finished eating, Friend reported that there was no sign of the Cultists having returned. In fact, the companions were the only human beings on the plateau for as far as Friend's animal contacts could see. It was too late for them to make it to the monolith where the ‎Collars were hidden before dark, and they were unlikely to find a better campsite on the bleak plateau, so they agreed unanimously to stay there that night and go on in the morning. There was really no hurry.

      I feel downright lazy, Tarras said. After all the trouble we went to to get our hands on those ‎collars and then to put them where they were safe from the Cult, it doesn't seem right that we can just stroll up and get them now with no trouble at all. Somehow it'd feel more natural if we were running and hiding, or fighting our way through.

      I know exactly how you feel, Jomac agreed.

      Every time we've had dealings with the ‎collars before it's been a matter of desperate urgency, that's why, Varia said.

      It's a matter of desperate urgency this time too, though isn't it? Mennia said. I mean, we must get through to the temple with the ‎collars, mustn't we? And the Cult must get the ‎collars if they're to fulfil their prophecy. Nothing's changed.

      Keladryn suddenly sat up from where he had been lounging back on his elbows. She's right, he said, his voice suddenly sharp. Nothing has changed. So why has everything changed?

      Varia, Jomac, and Tarras swore in unison.

      That's the trouble with waiting, Minnow said. If you do it long enough it wears you down, and then when it's time to get moving, you find your brains have gone rusty.

      That's a picturesque way of putting it! Keladryn said, with a bark of laughter. He became abruptly serious again. It's a fairly accurate assessment, though, isn't it? What do we do now?

      Well, they're not around here, Niari said. That's definite. Friend wouldn't make a mistake like that. They're nowhere within a day's travel of the monolith.

      Then where are they? Benric rumbled. Because as Mennia has just so eloquently pointed out, they must be somewhere. And somewhere a lot closer than Nava.

      Varia spat out a barrack-room oath that nearly blistered the air. I knew this was too good to be true! I hate being used. And if they know where we're going... She swore again, her voice reflecting her helpless frustration.

      Why are we getting so worked up about it? Shad asked reasonably. I mean, we might have known it would happen, mightn't we? And as Varia's always saying, it's when the enemy does unexpected things that we should get upset. This is entirely predictable.

      Well, yes, Varia said, but I don't like being made a fool of. And I hate being used. And I'd still like to know where they are.

      That's easy, Shad grinned. Somewhere between here and there.

      Varia gave him a disgusted look.

      Shad's grin grew positively impish. It's simple enough, he said, addressing himself to the rest of them. The Cult has probably figured out by now that there's no way they can get to the ‎collars. So if they want them, the sensible thing to do is to withdraw and leave the field open for us to get them, and then try to take them off us at some later time.

      It does make sense, Minnow admitted.

      And I'm glad he said 'try', Tarras growled.

      Shad grinned at him with a little mocking bow.

      So if Shad's right, all we have to do is get the ‎collars and then lose ourselves before the Cult comes calling, Jomac summed it up.

      That's about the size of it, Keladryn said. What do you think, Carlitha? You know this part of the country best. Can it be done?

      Probably, as long as they're not too close. But there's one thing I'd rather like to find out about first.

      Oh?

      Abandoning their watch here and hoping they can catch up with us once we have the ‎collars is a bit risky, Carlitha said. So unless they know something we don't, I'm wondering if they haven't left a little something behind at the monolith; like a nice little spell that'll tell them if anyone arrives, or if the ‎collars are moved, something like that.

      It's a possibility, isn't it? Keladryn said, scratching at his beard as he squinted into the late afternoon sunlight. Are the medallions capable of finding out?

      They should be, wouldn't you think? Varia said, frowning. After all, an experienced magician can feel magic being used, and the medallions amplify our own abilities.

      But you'd only be able to feel the spell actually being cast, wouldn’t you? Tarras said. This is already done, if it exists.

      But it would still leave traces, Tarras, Niari said. An active spell doesn’t resonate quite as much as when it’s being cast, but it does still resonate.

      Oh, does it? I thought it only did that when it was actually being cast.

      "No, we may still be able to pick up traces

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