Sorceress of Faith Read Online Free Page A

Venetria.
    “It’s
back at its master’s nest.” The words pulled jerkily from Jaquar, he didn’t
want to think of his journey to the red maw, his vain assault, the gloating
triumph he’d sensed. Nevertheless, he told Chalmon and Venetria.
    They
were both pale when he finished.
    “It’s
coming back, and not alone,” Venetria whispered. “More than one sangvile?”
    “Yes,”
Jaquar said. He’d be ready for the horrors, and he wasn’t averse to attacking.
“We need more to find the nest, to understand what this ‘master’ is and how to
battle it. I’ll organize the effort.”
    Chalmon
frowned. “I don’t know—”
    Jaquar
gestured, stopping Chalmon’s protest. “I’ve lost the most. Isn’t that the Tower
Community tradition? The one who is most passionate gathers Powerful Circlets
of the Fifth Degree and directs them?”
    The
two looked at each other again.
    “We’re
all concerned with the defense of Lladrana and now finding the master who
directs the monsters to invade,” Chalmon said.
    Smiling
coldly, Jaquar said, “If anyone wants to challenge me for leadership, I’m
available.”
    Venetria
dipped her head. “So noted.”
    Chalmon
shrugged, turned the subject. “No Sorcerer or Sorceress could pass. No
Lladranan with Power could breech the shield. That means we use someone from
the Exotique land. Someone for the Tower community. Our Exotique.”
    “We
could ask the Exotique Alyeka,” Venetria said.
    “She’s
one of the Marshalls. We can’t be indebted to them. We’d lose our
independence,” Chalmon snapped.
    “Summoning
our Exotique is already planned,” Jaquar said.
    “The
master said, ‘No Lladranan can harm the nest,’ as if just the presence of one
who is not Lladranan can hurt the Dark.”
    “A
natural weapon,” Chalmon breathed.
    “Think
what she’ll be like when she’s trained!” Venetria said.
    Jaquar
said, “The Summoning Song will bring to Lladrana a person who will work well
with us.”
    Venetria
sucked in a breath. “Yes, but she must be strong if we are going to send her to
the nest.”
    Jaquar
said, “Any Exotique the Marshalls can contact will naturally be strong. As
eldest and most powerful of the Tower, I believe Bossgond sent the Marshalls a
list of the proper qualities.” Jaquar felt his mouth twist. “Bossgond didn’t
notify me, but I received an acknowledgment from the Marshalls.”
    Frowning,
Chalmon said, “Bossgond didn’t tell me, either. It is time he breaks this
hermit existence.”
    “I’m
sure he’d be glad to hear you tell him so,” Venetria said sweetly.
    Chalmon
continued. “The Exotique must be well-trained before we send him or her to this
master you discovered, Jaquar. He or she must at least be trained enough to
report what is found in the nest.”
    “We
may not have that luxury,” Jaquar said. “Not if the maw spews out more
sangviles, as well as the other horrors—the slayers and soul-suckers and
renders.”
    “And
dreeths.” Venetria shivered. She’d barely survived a battle with one of the
winged lizards.
    Chalmon
scowled. “Yes, we must be prepared to sacrifice the Exotique, for the good of
Lladrana, for the planet Amee herself. Knowledge is more important than one
life. If worse comes to worst, we could attach a reporting orb to her and send
her with a destruction spell—perhaps she’d be able to untie that weapon knot
you have.”
    “I
would go myself, if I could,” Jaquar said.
    Venetria
looked at him sharply. “You are the best plane-walker. You already tried. Do
you think the shield applies to all planes?”
    Again
Jaquar’s laughter was bitter. “It applied to as many as I could reach within
the limits of the spell—twenty or so. I’m not sure exactly where or what the
physical location is, but it’s big.”
    Making
a note, Chalmon said, “Other things to research—the shield, whether it is only
magical or is physical also. Where the nest could be. When the Exotique comes,
I’ll train him or