The Heavenly Host

Jehenna took a sip of wine and gazed out over the city. She sat on Lenamare’s terrace with him as they wound down their long day. The glow of the wards cast a rather eerie light over the city.

“I was questioned by a sword today,” Lenamare said suddenly, apropos of nothing.

Jehenna blinked and glanced at him. “Someone questioned you at sword point? Why would you permit that?”

“Not at sword point. By a sword,” Lenamare replied, taking a sip of wine.

“A sellsword? I am not following,” Jehenna asked, puzzled.

“Yes, it was most odd. A walking, talking, intelligent sword,” Lenamare said matter-of-factly.

“Obviously, I am familiar with intelligent swords, but not ones that walk and talk. I am having trouble even conceiving of what that would mean,” Jehenna said.

“Think of an extremely finely crafted adamantite golem with a lot of razor-sharp edges. Clearly beyond what any normal wizard could create,” Lenamare said.

“So it just walked up to you and began interviewing you?” Jehenna asked, frowning.

“Well, it invited me back to my quarters to speak in private, but yes.”

“What on Astlan did it want?” Jehenna asked.

“Well, it calls itself Ruiden. Apparently it was, or is, the sword of Talarius and it is investigating his abduction.”

“Well, that’s unusual.” Jehenna was still frowning, trying to take this in. “What did it want with you?”

“It was aware that I was the first person to summon the greater demon,” Lenamare said.

“So what did it want?” Jehenna asked. “Did it want you to conjure it?”

“Indeed, it did. I demurred, saying the wards prevented it, and that even then, I would be hesitant to summon it to a place where people might be harmed.”

“Altruistic of you.” Jehenna said.

Lenamare chuckled. “The sword works for the Rod. That is the sort of logic they would consider, or at least one expects that they would. It seemed to understand.”

“So the interrogation was cordial?” Jehenna asked.

“Quite.” Lenamare shrugged. “I have to say the sword seemed quite reasonable, for a tool of death at least.”

“That’s nice, I guess.” Jehenna shook her head. “What else did you tell it?”

“I claimed that I had not realized how powerful the demon was and that subsequent information that the Council obtains makes me suspect that this greater demon was tied to the archdemons in the palace. In particular, I thought it, Ruiden, should consider speaking with Exador, should he ever come back; and that the Council believed Exador was an archdemon, likely in charge of the greater demon.”

Jehenna did a double take. “And did it buy this argument?” She seemed doubtful.

“The sword was noncommittal, but it did say that it had seen the crystal balling and had spotted Exador on the carpet with Ramses the Damned and the woman. It said it would be speaking to Exador upon his return.”

“Well, that’s something. I suspect that Exador will not like being quizzed by a sword. Particularly if the sword accuses him of being an archdemon.”

Lenamare grinned. “Exactly my thought.”

Jehenna chuckled and the two went back to silently looking out over the city, relaxing over their wine. After a few minutes of pleasant silence, Jehenna spoke up again.

“You know, I’m not sure about this proposal of yours today,” Jehenna said.

Lenamare glanced over at her. “My proposal? To the sword?”

Jehenna gently shook her head. “No, not that one. I am talking about the one that has us leaving the city should an archdemon Exador return to try and retrieve the book.”

Lenamare tilted his head in thought. “I’m not so sure it was so much a proposal as laying the groundwork for future options.”

“Hmm.” Jehenna took another sip and then continued with her point. “While I might agree there is some value in heading off someplace where Exador can’t find us to work on the book, should he actually find us, I think we are in a much more defensible position here.”

Lenamare chuckled softly. “Long term, or I suppose in general, I agree with that assessment. Weighing the extra safety in being somewhere Exador is unlikely to find us versus the increased risk when he does find us is a difficult proposition.” He took a sip of his own wine. “I’m not sure I want to have to make that calculation. On the other hand, the argument that the city and the Council would be much safer if we were gone when an archdemon Exador comes looking for us is a very easy argument to make.”

Jehenna grimaced. “I’m not sure I like your newfound altruism.”

Lenamare chuckled. “Far from altruism my dear; it is the foundation for doing what I suspect we may have to do anyway.”

Jehenna looked at him directly. “I’m not following.”

“I am coming to suspect that we are missing a key to opening this book. At this juncture, with the stakes this high, we can’t afford to outsource finding the key to another group of ne’er-do-well adventurers. We may have to seek it ourselves.” Jehenna nodded at this. “It is also unquestionably true that dragging our students along with us would be a huge hindrance.”