Chapter 284 — The Secret Assembly of All Things' End
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 3
"I shall go to the Abyss of Flesh and Blood myself and submit to the Grand Hierophant's judgment," Hidon said, watching Beiyila with a blank face and speaking blandly only after she had finished. "This is my fault. But I still do not change my view: Cecil Territory is a threat. That duke who rose from the dead is a threat. He is certainly not merely building a frontier territory..."
"Of course he is a threat!" Beiyila suddenly raised her voice. "Do you think you are the only one who can see it?"
For the first time a trace of astonishment crossed Hidon's face. He stared into Beiyila's eyes and asked slowly: "What do you mean?"
"He is a threat—and so what? Is the Gondo Wasteland not a threat? Are the aberrations not a threat? Do we not go on making use of such threats all the same?" As she spoke, Beiyila's gaze swept over everyone present. Plainly these words were not meant for Hidon alone but for every person in the hall. "A threat need not always be eradicated. A threat put to proper use is a sharp blade."
The two elven High Priestesses seated opposite Beiyila spoke in unison: "What is Gao Yang Cecil's value to be exploited?"
"A war machine. He is forging a war machine," A deep chill surfaced in Beiyila's eyes. "We do not yet have reliable intelligence, nor can we yet make out what his thinking really is, but one thing is beyond doubt: Cecil Territory can grow in a short time into a bone-grinding mill that produces countless heaps of flesh and corpses..."
The fallen druids exchanged glances. No one who could sit in this hall was a fool, and they had already begun to guess at the true intent of Beiyila—or rather, of the "Grand Hierophant" standing behind her.
"The shift in the situation between Ansou and Typhon is indeed an accident, but it does not matter. We have a great many contingency plans," Beiyila smiled. "Though the Grand Hierophant sleeps, his wise mind has already mapped out our next moves for us. War will break out in any case."
Then Beiyila slowly rose, and the roots of her lower body drew slowly back: "Relna, Filna—the Grand Hierophant commands you to activate the contingency plans in Typhon."
The two elven High Priestesses smiled as one: "We do like contingency plans."
"Priest Clement—the Grand Hierophant commands you to activate the arrangements in Ansou. Remember, do not alert that she-wolf of the Wilder family in the north."
A man who kept his face hidden in a black hood rose and bowed slightly: "I obey the Grand Hierophant's will."
"As for you, Priest Hidon," Beiyila said at last, turning to Hidon seated beside her—yet the mockery and sarcasm of her earlier manner had vanished from her face. "Though we have contingency plans, your mistake can only be described as stupidity. The Grand Hierophant is most displeased with your acting on your own and your blind self-assurance, so you are to go to the Abyss of Flesh and Blood and undergo three days and three nights of sacrificial punishment."
Hidon lowered his head slightly—not to Beiyila, but to the Grand Hierophant's will: "I have nothing to say."
Beiyila gave a soft "mm," then continued: "But before you receive your punishment, there is one more matter to attend to."
Hidon glanced at the woman with the inhuman body, his tone barely shifting: "What matter?"
"Prepare the 'Dark Bridge.' I need to make contact with our companions on 'the other side.'"
At this request Hidon visibly hesitated, and Beiyila frowned at once: "Is the 'Dark Bridge' unusable?"
"No, the 'Dark Bridge' is usable, but lately the mages of the Silver Empire have plainly noticed something amiss. They inspect the channels ever more frequently, and an additional connection might arouse still more of their vigilance."