Four Roads Cross (Craft Sequence #5)(80)

“What do you mean?”

“How would you shore up faith in Kos, ordinarily?”

“Preach,” Abelard said. “Encourage prayer and reflection.”

“Using your current theology?”

“Of course.”

“Which sees Kos as the center of your faith, and Seril as an afterthought, or a rival.”

“Ah,” Abelard said.

“That’s her goal: her attack will push you into fundamentalism, exposing your flank. Then she’ll strike.”

*

The chaos beneath Ramp’s feet whirlpooled down and out to form a miniature of Alt Coulumb. Claws of light surrounded the model city, curved down, and pierced.

“That,” Ramp said, “leaves Seril to us. The moon goddess is not strong enough to defeat a direct attack, and we are not bound to respect her as we are Kos. Since she signed no treaties after the Wars, she is technically a combatant still. If we break her, we resolve the main issue and obtain a captive goddess, not without value. But if Kos comes to her defense, we have him.”

The raven-faced creature croaked a thunderclap. “How can we be sure of defeating Seril?”

“She is doubly weak: directly and through her creatures.” A mock gargoyle crouched upon Ramp’s open palm, fangs gnashing as it beat its broad wings. She closed her fingers, and stone dust rained onto the miniature city. “When they break, so will she.”

*

“Justice might also be a target,” Tara admitted, turning to page three, “but Ramp will probably ignore her. The parts of Seril connected with Justice don’t have enough slack to support the Goddess’s mind. If all Seril has left is Justice, she’ll be as good as dead.”

“How do we protect Seril, then?” Abelard asked. “Evangelism?”

“Seril draws faith from her new following in the Paupers’ Quarter. Jones’s interview will help, but it’s not enough. The church has to come clean.” Cardinals shifted uncertainly around the room. “Tell the truth about everything that happened last year, about Cardinal Gustave’s death, even.” She challenged each Cardinal with her gaze. “Support her.”

*

“What if the church pivots to support Seril?” asked a voice made from the screams of children.

“Doctrine,” Ramp said, “does not corner well. Which brings us to the church’s second, more profound weakness.”

“Which is?”

“Ms. Abernathy.”

“We have heard good report of her,” the crimson elephant said.

“She is a good Craftswoman, but she’s young. The church will retain other help for the battle itself—Kelethres Albrecht, most likely—but Ms. Abernathy’s decisions today will determine much, and she’s an optimist. She’ll believe the church can woo a city to supporting Seril—which will not happen in time.”

“You’re basing a great deal on your estimation of her character.”

“My assistant”—she pointed to Daphne, who waved—“knows her well. And I have inside knowledge. Besides, Abernathy will remain our principal adversary in the Seril matter. Craft firms can’t defend Seril, since she has made no formal peace with them. Which brings us to the best part.”

*

“You expect us to undo forty years of religious education in three days.”

“Of course not,” Tara said. “Hope springs eternal, but the spring constant’s not infinite.” Blank stares. “This is the part you won’t like.”

Bede crossed his arms.

“I have a plan to save Seril.”

Silence.

“When She died in the God Wars, Her killers carved her to pieces. Denovo remade what was left into Justice, but Seril’s butchers took large sections of her portfolio for themselves. If I get those back, or compensation for their theft, Seril will be able to defend herself against Ramp. She can rise in glory through the night, rule from her high tower, all that good stuff.”

“Why would we not like that?” Bede asked.

“There’s a big catch. I have to leave the city, today, for Dresediel Lex.”

“You can’t.” Abelard rose halfway from his chair. “We need you.”

“You need a team to defend Kos. I’ll build one. But no Craft firm will touch Seril with a lightning rod, and if we don’t find her missing portfolio, she dies. If I go, we have a chance. If I stay, it’s to fight a losing battle.” She spread her hands. “If anyone at the table has a better idea, feel free to speak up.”

*

“Tara Abernathy can’t defend Seril. She faces a long grinding battle with defeat at the end. And nothing is more alien to Tara Abernathy. She is brilliant, talented, and fierce. She came from a podunk farm town near the Badlands and worked caravans studying with hedge witches for seven years before she reached the Hidden Schools. The schools kicked her out a thousand feet in the air above the Crack in the World, and she crawled home across a desert surviving on cactus flesh and vulture blood. This is not a woman who knows her limits. Back her into a corner, and she will seek a long-shot solution—or invent one. It’s a big world. Plenty of long-shot solutions out there. Deals with old slumbering powers. Pacts with the Golden Horde. Demon mortgages. Lost grails and hidden powers in all their forms. Brilliance can’t bear the prospect of futile struggle. So she’ll go for an edge play.”