Kris rubbed her chin. “So, we can probably assume her master is the one interested in the Temple of Archons. I suppose that’s not really a concern right now. Can we assume Emma won’t fight us when we make our final attempt on Turillia?”
“Better off not making any assumptions,” Eli said. “It’s a good way to get killed.”
“I agree,” Dominick interjected. “Even if you share a common goal, trusting this Emma can lead only to ruin.”
Kari chuckled; just a few days before, she would’ve been the one saying such things to her friends and allies. The last few days had been so strange, but like Eli had said, just because demons were evil didn’t mean they couldn’t be useful. It was possible Emma had been using Kari right from the beginning, when the mallasti caused the uprising on Tsalbrin. That would add more credence to Erik’s suggestion that Kari might be Salvation’s Dawn, but the fact that Emma had hit Kari with a lightning bolt still left a lot of room for doubt. Emma was a problem and an enemy, but Kari was fascinated with the complexity of the mallasti’s actions and plans.
I really need to have a long chat with Aeligos about her, she thought. He may be the only one smart enough to put all of this together. Shame I didn’t bring him with me.
“Dominick, I was wondering: Do you know of any type of magic that lets a person be in two places at once?” Kari asked.
The wizard considered the question, a hand to his bearded chin. “Well, there are several illusions I know of that could produce that effect, and well enough that the caster could perform certain actions through the illusion,” he answered. “I assume you are asking because of the similarities between Kaelin Black and BlackWing? As I believe was already explained, neither of them was under the influence of illusion or shape-shifting magic when their fight in the bazaar took place some years ago.”
“So only illusions?”
“The only other option would be the creation of a simulacrum, which would register as a form of alteration when investigated,” the wizard said. “Are you still convinced that Lord Black and BlackWing might be the same person?”
“Or long-lost siblings, or maybe father and son? I don’t suppose the investigative divinations used would’ve revealed that, would they?” Kari asked. She chuckled as Eli’s brows rose. She could hardly believe she hadn’t tripped over the words, herself.
“Hmmmm, no, but father and son? You raise a fascinating possibility,” Dominick said, rubbing his chin again. “I do not think anyone had even considered that at the time, as everyone was convinced that one or the other was an illusion or under the effects of polymorph. Now I am almost sad that BlackWing was killed; you have presented me with a truly exciting puzzle.”
“But BlackWing crumbled to dust when the demon left him,” Kari offered.
Dominick nodded. “Yes, exactly. Was he already dead when the demon took possession of his body? Or did the demon kill BlackWing to claim his body for itself? The possibilities… and we know so little about these shadow demons. This bears investigation, my lady. I think I will go speak with some of the priests on Temple Street and see if there are any spells of the necromantic variety that might gain us insight on this matter, even post-mortem. Such information would undoubtedly be of great value to your Order. However, I can investigate this matter for you while you deal with Turillia and Emma—and I am very much happy to help.”
Kari nodded and turned toward Eli, who, while interested in the conversation, had kept quiet. “So, you found Emma at the town hall?” Kari asked.
“Yes. The building is boarded up and abandoned, and she’s living upstairs. She’s got the place masked, so the average person won’t notice her presence, though.”
The demonhunter nodded and glanced at the old city hall. “Perfect.”
“So, what now?” Eli asked.
“Now… we set the trap,” Kari answered.
19
The Hunter’s Mind
Everyone was gathering for dinner, just as Kari requested. Eli had pushed together a few tables in the center of the room but left soon after to take care of something before supper was served. Alyssa and Chelsea worked quickly to lay out place settings for each of the guests. Kari decided it would be best to have a long, comfortable dinner, and wait until the other patrons left before she brought the actual meeting to order.
At present, she sat on the inn’s front porch, listening to the distant sounds of thunder, the scent of rain on the wind. She hoped the thunderstorm would bring in warmer air; she was getting tired of the chilly southern spring.
Nearly everyone was inside already, so Kari relaxed on the front bench and waited for the stragglers: Sherman, Sharyn, and Eli. She had a suspicion about why Sherman and Sharyn were late but brushed it aside. She trusted both of them, and if they decided to explore the path of romance, that was no business of hers. As long as they could focus on their assigned tasks and were more help than hindrance, Kari saw no reason to butt into their private affairs.
That’ll be Lord Garant’s job, and one I’m happy to leave to him…
Eli returned, his steps hurried as lightning from the north illuminated the majority of Temple Street. The rain hadn’t started yet, but it was getting windy, and Eli had his wings folded tight against its pull. When he stepped before Kari, his smile was all at once warm, confident, and appreciative, and she found it contagious. She wondered why he’d left the inn, but Eli looked around at the other patrons coming for dinner and decided against talking out in the open. Instead, he patted Kari’s shoulder and headed inside.
The soft tap of rain on the earth began, and Kari looked down the streets for any sign of her other two friends. They were approaching down the western road and picked up their pace to get out of the rain. Thunder crashed again, louder and closer but still far off; Kari hadn’t even noticed the lightning. Sherman and Sharyn reached the porch and Kari motioned for them to stop and speak to her before they headed inside.
Once the porch was clear, Kari rose, glanced around, and stood straight before her friends. “Did you find anything?”
“We didn’t find her, but there were definitely signs that she’s been in the southwest,” Sharyn answered. “I’m pretty sure she’s been living there; I just can’t pinpoint where.”
“No matter,” Kari said with a dismissive gesture. “I think I’ve figured out how to bring her to us this time. But we’re going to have a nice, quiet dinner—I don’t want anyone talking while the inn is full of townsfolk.”
“Understood,” Sherman said, and he opened the door and held it for the women.
Alyssa had prepared a fine meal for them, and the group took its time eating and chatting lightly about unrelated topics. There was an assortment of meats for their carnivorous half-demon friends to choose from, and plenty of roasted or stewed vegetables to go with them. Kari would’ve described it as a feast, and she was content sitting among so many new friends. It was almost like dinner at home, when she sat at her mother-in-law’s table surrounded by her family.
They were careful to avoid speaking of the incident at the graveyard, any mention of the demons, or anything that could be damaging if the common folk began spreading gossip. For once, Kari was glad to share some of her past glories, happy to do anything to keep away from more sensitive issues. She told the group about her friend Carly Bakhor, who’d been sanctified by the gods after she passed.