“Is this wise?” Ogden started to say, but Hesaya spoke over him. “We don’t have time to waste. I’d appreciate your presence in case someone needs medical attention, but this is not yourarea of expertise. It is mine.” She stood from her throne. “I don’t care how much the archdemon can or cannot see. Once we’re in that room, we saynothingthat isn’t strictly necessary for the exorcism. Kheris, Nines, Ilusha—with me. Everyone else, to your posts. You have a fortress to defend. And remember: if we fall, so does this world.”
38
ADVERSARY
JACEN
The cell below the library was little more than a pit, with rough stone walls and a sandy floor. Seth slumped forward on his knees, arms outstretched and chained to the walls. A low, sloped ceiling let in a diagonal beam of reddish light, falling like a blade across his chest. Three Disciples, armed with swords and sedatives, watched him from three different angles.
Hesaya ordered them out. She rounded on the small group who’d followed her—those without the good sense to stay away: Ogden, Urien, Ysira, and Neri. Ged and the other knights lurked at a distance, down the hall.
Neri said to Hesaya, “Should I go with you? She might only speak to me.”
“No,” Hesaya said firmly. “You’ll play your part, my lord, but for now, we need you safe.” She glanced at Jacen. “We’re exorcists. The demon will speak to us whether she wishes it or not.”
Ysira made to guide Neri away. He stared hopelessly at Seth, barely acknowledging his mother as he shook away her hand.
Ysira could not conceal her hurt at that. But when she looked at Jacen, her gaze cut like a pair of obsidian daggers. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” She did not wait for a response. “We’ll be outside.”
Jacen crossed the threshold first, with Hesaya. She paused. Jacen told her, “I can lead the rite if you don’t?—”
She glared at him so viciously, he stopped talking. “I don’t trust you to be objective about Seth Semira of all subjects.”
He didn’t dare argue with her about that. They entered the prison together, and he let Hesaya take her place at the point of the exorcists’ triangle. Jacen stood opposite a trembling Ilusha as Nines and Ogden filed in behind them.
Urien lingered to tell Ogden, “You don’t have to watch this.” “No,” said Ogden. “I do.”
“Then . . . be careful.” Urien slipped out, and shut the heavy door behind him. With a quietthunk,someone barred it shut.
Jacen knelt to remove Seth’s gag and earplugs but left the blindfold and manacles as Ogden said, “The sedative should be wearing off.”
“Seth,” Jacen said. “Can you hear me?”
Seth groaned. He turned his head back and forth, as if trying to shake off the blindfold. “I think so. Jace, what’s going on? Why am I in chains?” He tugged at his bound wrists and sucked in an agonized gasp as the metal nudged his stump. Blood seeped through the bandages. “Is it my imagination, or is my right hand gone?”
He sounded like himself,feltlike himself, though Hesaya murmured, “Careful.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jacen said. “Yes. It’s gone.”
“Well.” Seth tried to grin and shrug it off but failed. “Shit.” “What’s the last thing you remember?” asked Hesaya.
“I remember the library. I smelled smoke. Ysira . . . Neri . . . Oh, gods. I didn’t hurt them, did I? Why would I have done that?”
“Ysira’s fine,” said Jacen. “You know how hard she is to kill. And Neri is safe. You . . .” He struggled to explain. “You have a demon inside you. One of the gods.”
“We’re going to attempt an exorcism,” Hesaya informed him. “Oh,” Seth said faintly. “I suppose you’d better.”
“I don’t sense anything,” said Ilusha. “You said it wanted to talk.
Why isn’t it talking?”
“I’m not sure.” Hesaya’s eyes never left Seth, scanning him up and down like an inscrutable ancient text. “We’ll start by following the rite—with inquiry.”
“Therite?” Ilusha’s laugh was high-pitched, hysterical. “There’s no Church protocol for this.”
“This rite is far older than the Church of the Black Sun,” said Hesaya. “You’d do well to pay attention, Sister.” She planted her feet at shoulder width, hands clasped behind her back. “This demon is intelligent enough to exploit weaknesses the vermin cannot. We are all vulnerable, so keep your calm. Keep her at a distance.Do not give her a way in.” She surveyed each of them in turn. “Am I understood?”
Ilusha managed to nod, as did Nines. “Let’s get this over with,” said Ogden.
