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She put away the seal and waited expectantly, her attention focused squarely upon Orias.
“I will warn you, I haven’t had time to reflect upon this most recent vision, so please keep that in mind. I foresaw a doorway framed with stars in the forest. Something passed through, but the vision ended before I could make out what it was.”
Ranna’s expression sank, and she sighed in disappointment. “That’s all?”
“Yes, but it was a powerful vision. I do not doubt the significance.”
Ranna waved him off. “Sure, sure, but that one doesn’t help my predicament.” Her mood shifted. “Don’t you love my new dress?”
Taken aback, Orias frowned. “It’s a stunning display of skill, highlighting all your most attractive assets. I would have remarked upon it first had you not come upon me in my out-of-sorts post-vision state.”
“You are such a charmer, Orias. One day, you’ll make a lovely partner for some lucky and undeserving lady,” Ranna replied.
He suppressed a smile.
“Anyway, I had to get this show-stunner made in a jiffy after my prior outfit dusted off me, at a quite inopportune time. I was making this acceptance speech for my contributions and suddenly, in front of quite a crowd, poof goes my most favorite dress. Tell me, have you had any visions that might shed some light upon my dire plight?”
Anxiety knotted in his gut. “I can recall nothing of merit, Ranna.”
Ranna pouted. “And here I was, so sure you’d know why I’d lost Lizbees in such a dramatic fashion. Explain to me why a doorway merits a vision, and Lizbees does not?”
“Lizbees?” Kobol asked.
“Lizbees, my dress! She was also my dearest, oldest friend and confidant before her unfortunate demise. I wore her hide proudly to display my loyalty to her cabal.”
Kobol coughed and slammed the rest of his whiskey. Lizbees must have been an Elder daemon, the same as Ranna.
Orias felt punched in the gut. Her dress had been Lizbees’ daemon hide, and Orias could certainly imagine the one thing that could have made it crumble into ash with no warnings. Belial’s sancre. “I can assure you, I’ve had no visions pertaining to Lizbees or her disappearance, nor any of you resplendently gown-free during your acceptance speech.”
Ranna smiled wickedly, her sharpened canines suddenly more pronounced. “You’d recall such a wonder, I’m certain.”
Orias forced another smile. “If I have any visions about Lizbees, I’ll visit you promptly.”
“That’s such a reassurance, Orias. I’d hate to think of you withholding from a sworn ally.” Her eyes sparkled, a green flame briefly flashing.
“I can hardly imagine it myself,” Orias replied, anxiety percolating through his gut.
This would likely end poorly.
Ranna stood with a sweeping gesture. “Then I’m afraid I must take my leave of you, boys. You know, places to go, daemons to rally.”
Orias and Kobol both stood, but Ranna was already off.
“What do you think the forest arch is about?” Kobol asked.
“I do not know. It could be literal or metaphorical,” Orias replied. He downed the rest of his ale.
“Do we need to go find Azimuth and search the forest?” Kobol asked.
“Yes, and no,” Orias replied. “Therefore I never share the visions, at least until they appear applicable. Searching the entire forest. Cause I have nothing else better to do than chase ghosts from visions?” Orias tossed a couple of coins on the table and headed out the door.
CHAPTER29
NADIR
Nadir felt Belial’s summons echo in her bones, stirring an instantaneous, toddler-like defiance in her gut. She didn’t regret swearing allegiance to the prince of darkness or her bond with her cabal-mates, but that didn’t mean she would ever grow accustomed to being at a prince of Sheol’s whim. It was unfortunate that his summons worked all the way into the human realm, but she suspected that if it hadn’t, he’d never have allowed her to leave the burrow.
Nadir reluctantly tore herself away from researching everything god-touched she’d been able to get her hands on and ported back to the burrow. The tension within the cabal was palpable, as dense as fog and just as challenging to navigate. Upon her arrival, Azimuth, Kobol, and Orias exchanged uneasy glances as they sipped on glasses of dark, viscous liquid. The liquid resembled blood, but tasted like a smoky blend of fruit and spice. It was a favorite among the cabal, and it helped to calm their nerves. They sat on the couches in the common area, and by how far they were into the bottle, it looked like they’d been talking for a while.
