14.3.0

Dirk left his chambers through the secret passages. When he could not sleep, he often walked through these passageways, observing the castle's residents through the many hidden spy holes dotting the walls. The information he gleaned revealed a great deal about personal motives and potential betrayals.

He paused outside Zyrdicia's quarters. She was, of course, not yet there. Her staff was, though. He heard raised voices coming from beyond the passage walls. That, alone, was enough to pique his interest.

He stepped quietly into the alcove and drew a black curtain behind him to prevent the torchlight in the passageway from spilling through the gap in the stone. He slid the cover off the cleverly designed opening and peered into the chamber beyond.

Portia was there, along with the strange, little man he had observed in the monocle with Zyrdicia in the library. Portia was white as a sheet. "Is he really dead?"

"Yes, Magnus is dead."

"Totally dead?"

"Of course! There are no partial deaths in this world! It was instantaneous."

"And Magnus didn't provoke her at all?"

"Presumably not."

"She just showed up and ripped his throat open?" Portia asked, her voice shaking.

Philip nodded gravely.

"It makes no sense! Why would she try to kill one of her friends?"

The elfin man coaxed the stunned woman to sit. "He wasn't the only one, dear."

"Kaz..."

Philip shook his head sadly. "All of the Inner Sanctum at the Cauldron last night. I'm sorry."

"All dead?" Portia whispered weakly.

"She sent you away for a reason! All of you here! You should be grateful. I thought it strange she sent you three away with that prince. I should have guessed. I never should have let her leave the library last night."

"She planned this?" Portia demanded, on the edge of hysteria.

"No! She feared it." The elf's voice softened and touched the woman's shoulder gently. "You musn't blame her for your friends' loss. It was Baal who killed them, not Zyrdicia. She was so very tired. She lost control of the Sephiroth last night. He got loose in her psyche and forced her to do it, I think. He chose her friends quite deliberately. Had you been with her, you would be dead now too. She sent you away to protect you."

Tears welled up in Porta's green eyes. "What were they to Baal?"

"Nothing. The Sephiroth wants to isolate her. To enrage her. The sleep deprivation, the psychic torment were just the beginning. All of it is part of his effort to drive her to confront him."

"Is she still in Lyr?"

"No, I found the bind-rune for her a few hours afterward. She left for the astral plane immediately."

"You're saying she took his bait."

"I'm afraid so."

"He's going to kill her."

"Doubtful. He's herding her close to Hell's Gate. I think he will try to take her to Azriok."

"Oh, Philip. It's all my fault. If they hurt her, I'm to blame."

"Portia, that is silly."

"No! My grandfather warned me if she became self-destructive, I had a duty to notify the Old Priesthood. If I had told them, they could have used the Black Cradle to hold her, to keep her from going to meet Baal! She would still be alive. Everyone would still be alive."

"She is still alive. You must trust her. If you had betrayed her to your grandfather and succeeded in placing her in the Cradle, she would be trapped in there with Baal. The consequences would have been catastrophic. The Old Priests have always been short-sighted about the Twilight! It will unfold without them. Let destiny run its course, Portia! Do not let them meddle in this!"

"But..."

Phillip's gaze became kindly. "Portia, if you want to keep your grandfather alive, don't let him meddle. You know very well what will happen to the Old Priests if she discovers that any of them escaped her wrath. You do not properly appreciate her hatred of them. She hated them more than even the Crusaders. This new generation fails to comprehend how much more powerful she is now. They won't win this if they oppose her."

"Zyr's magic..."

"Belongs to her now, not the Old Priests! They never understood that. The Twilight is greater then the Old Priesthood. Their age has passed. I made my choice a long time ago. You must too!"

"Please don't tell her," Portia begged, suddenly fearful.

Philip waved his finger menacingly. "I haven't yet, but I will tell her if I fear the Old Priests intend to interfere with the Twilight using foolishness such as the Black Cradle." With that, the elf disappeared.

In the dark alcove, Dirk slid the cover back over the spy hole in the stone. He remembered well the section of Zyrdicia's biography relating to the slaughter of the Old Priests. They had harassed her mother and annoyed her as a child, and she had eventually repaid them with bloodletting. She had enemies other than the demons, it seemed. He wondered what this information might be worth. Portia's disloyalty was a useful surprise. Such intrigue was well at home in Castle Blackpool. It would serve him well.

14.3.1

"I'm not going to do it! She would be furious!" Portia exclaimed defiantly. "I don't work for you!"

"You will. Of that I am quite certain," Dirk countered calmly.

"No."

"If you disappoint me, I will send Cai to minister my affairs in the farthest, iciest corner of my realm. You will never see him again. He will probably freeze to death before Midwinter." The prince punctuated the threat with a cold smile. He was well aware that the pair had grown hopelessly attached to one another. It made them both vulnerable.

"You're lying," Portia said flatly, trying to disguise her worry.

"Hardly. He will be gone within the hour. If you don't believe I'm capable of it, simply wait," Dirk advised coolly. He watched her face carefully, then moved in for the kill. "Furthermore, if you don't do as I say, when your mistress returns, I shall inform her of your betrayal."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Perhaps your grandfather would. She would undoubtedly be most interested to discover that you have ties to the Priesthood she loathes."

Portia stared at him, the color draining from her face. "I still don't know what you're talking about."

Dirk smirked. "Ah, but I'm certain that Zyrdicia will have no difficulty at all understanding what I'm talking about. We'll see tomorrow night, won't we?"

Portia swallowed hard. Her mistress had never actually forbidden her to do what the prince now asked. Not that it mattered. Delving into the past like this touched a special nerve and angered Zyrdicia as few things did. Portia nodded her head reluctantly. She had no choice. "Do you know how mad she will be if she finds out you stole her birth records from Lyr?"

"Not nearly as angry as she would be to discover that you planned to betray her to the Priests. Now, go!" Despite his tone, he was pleased. He knew she would not tell her mistress about the conversation.

He would now always be able to get Portia to do his bidding. Fear of having her secret revealed made her a perfect pawn.