Page 89 of Grave Situation

Hearne lowers himself onto a log across the fire from me, his leathers creaking slightly, and says, “Could you tell us exactly what happened? From previous reports, the zombie attackers didn’t bring archers with them—and with the last attack being only days ago, it seems unexpected that they were ready again so soon, and with a more coordinated plan.”

I look away, and Jaimin offers quietly, “Why don’t I tell this? Talon can step in if he has a different viewpoint to add.”

“Of course.” Hearne’s voice is dripping with sympathy and sorrow. He might not have known Tia well, but dragon riders are all very close-knit, and when one dies, even if they were disliked, everyone mourns them deeply. It has to do with the bond between dragons.

“I’d show you, but it would be a waste of time. Fix this, Mage. Or I’ll end you.”

“We were approaching the end of the woods,” Jaimin begins, and as I listen, I can’t believe this happened only yesterday. It feels as though an eternity has passed. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, but it’s the most hours I’ve ever lived without Tia.

“It’s unfortunate that Mage Silverbright felt the need to request a convocation in Lenledia,” Kanesha muses at one point, regaining my full attention. “Of course, the temples shouldn’t have put him in that position.”

“The temples shouldn’t even know about the stone resurfacing,” Hearne growls. “If I find out who told them, they’ll be meeting Weise.” Not far off, one of the strange dragons—presumably Weise—roars.

“We dragons are most displeased with the priesthood,”Leicht informs me, despite me not wondering about it at all.“The stone created usall, not just humans and their gods.”

If I had room in my head to think of anything new right now, I might care about that information.

“Still,”Kanesha continues, “to set the outlying temples on a hunt, knowing what his purpose is…” She shakes her head, then frowns. “Although… where would a temple even be out here?”

“We haven’t yet determined that,” Jaimin says. “It was low on our priority list.”

Because Tia is dead, and nothing else matters.

“The stone informed Talon that one of the acolytes—you saw him earlier—would be required to accompany us. Talon attempted to negotiate with the bishop, to suggest that we would take one of his people with us as a sign of our pure intent. That was when the bishop signaled the archers to fire.”

“The bishop did?” Hearne exclaims. “I thought the priests were merelytherewhen the zombie attack came… that they hindered you, prevented Leicht from a full response.”

“There were no zombies this time. Just the bishop’s men.”

“The temples attacked—attacked—a group from the academies, on sanctioned business from the City of Knowledge, who had the support of every sovereign nation on the continent?” Kanesha shakes her head. “Why? What idiocy—” She breaks off. “Are you saying the Temple of Wasianth killed a dragon rider?”

“Leicht flew closer to aid us, and the archers fired at him—” The roars of the two visiting dragons drown Jaimin out, ringing in my ears.

“I hadn’t told them that part,”Leicht says dryly.“The temples are now at war with the dragons—or they will be, when our council meets.”

I’m still ignoring him—I have to, even if I wanted to ask for more information. Hearne and Kaneshacannotknow about this bond.

“They fired upon a dragon?” Hearne’s face is red. “They broke treaty with the dragons?”

The way he says that makes me think there’s even more to this than I know about. Jaimin gives me a quick, questioning look, and I shrug minutely. It seems we’re both in the dark. Hopefully Master will know more.

“They fired at Leicht,” Jaimin repeats. “We weren’t initially concerned—not for ordinary arrows against a dragon. But one of those arrows…” He stops. We all know what happened next.

Hearne stands, paces away from the fire, then back. He clears his throat, holds up a finger, and says, “To sum up: the Temple of Wasianth, acting on behalf of the convocation of temples, ambushed a sanctioned mission of the City of Knowledge. They refused negotiation and committed an act of war against the dragons, at the same time killing a dragon rider. Is that correct?” His voice is even, but I can sense the rage boiling in him.

“Yes. At that point, Mage Silverbright wanted to reach his sister, and in a desperate act of magic was able to shield us fromthe archers long enough for Coryn to disable them—but they were already dead when he reached them. I was able to examine them last night and have determined some kind of suicide serum.”

That last part is an outright lie, and I envy the cool, collected manner in which he delivers it.

“What about the priests?” Kanesha asks. She’s as cold as ice now, her face hard, gaze analytical.

“The bishop realized that the consequences of his actions would be severe, and he was eager to take my suggestion that he accept Talon’s earlier offer to have an acolyte travel with us. I then recommended he return to his temple and send an immediate report to his high priest.”

“Where is the acolyte?” Master asks. “I think it’s time we spoke with him.”

Jaimin hesitates. “He’s… timid. I don’t believe he has any great understanding of the current situation.”

“Perhaps, but I’m very curious about the supposed presence of a temple near here. A few local priests in the villages, I would understand, but to merit a bishop, this must be a temple of considerable size, and I fail to see what purpose that would serve so far from a town with substantial population.”

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