Free Issola by Steven Brust Page A

thinking about that," I said. "But even if I can I don't know how much good it will do."
    "I would rather," she said, "be free to act, no matter what happens after."
    "I understand that," I told her.
    Either way was a gamble - picking up the cube, or attempting to free Morrolan and Aliera. I don't like gambling, especially when I don't know the odds; or at least the stakes. When possible, I'd rather be running the game than playing it. But now the Jenoine were running it, and I didn't even know the rules. I didn't know how to free them, and I didn't know if I could kill Verra. Freeing them might accomplish nothing; killing my Demon Goddess was not high on my list of ways to spend an afternoon.
    I reached down and picked up the Morganti dagger; stuffed it into my belt. It wasn't easy to do - I'd never liked those things, and I could tell instantly that this was a particularly nasty one. Well, I suppose it would have to be, if they expected me to kill the Goddess with it.
    Morrolan snapped, "What are you doing, Vlad?"
    "Can always use a good Morganti dagger, right?"
    "Boss, you're not going to — "
    "I've got to do something. I'm bored."
    "Oh. You're bored. Well, that's a good reason—"
    "Drop it."
    So I didn't have a plan. I did, as I stood there, start to get seeds of what might, sometime, become a vague step generally in the direction of an intention. I may be stating that too strongly. I took a good look around the room, noting the tall, thin metal shelves; the flat grey look of the walls; the height of the ceiling. I tried to fix it in my mind. I could not imagine what circumstances might lead me totry teleporting here, but that is the sort of thinking that goes with paying attention to details, in case you're curious about how my mind works.
    My chest hurt. I tried to keep my breathing shallow, and to forget about how heavy I felt. It would be impossible to exert myself without taking deep breaths. I felt Aliera and Morrolan watching me. One step, and I was committed, and I still just didn't have enough information. But the only other option was standing around doing nothing, and that would only be effectie for so long.
    No, if I was going to do something, I had to have information, and there was no one here who could give it to me, which left only one option.
    I reached into my pouch and pulled out two pieces of gammon. I handed one to Aliera and one to Morrolan. "If you're going to be helpless and miserable," I said, "at least you can eat a little." They both accepted it, and they both looked like they were trying to decide if they should thank me, but neither said anything. I flexed my fingers.
    All right.
    "Lady Teldra," I said, "would you come here, please? Take my hand, if you would." She did so, asking no questions but looking curious. Her hand was dry and cool. I reached down with my other hand, not letting her go, and picked up the small black cube.
    Aliera said, "Vlad, what are you doing?"
    The cube was very heavy for its size, but didn't seem to do anything except make the walls of the room turn a dull, ugly white. Or, at any rate, that was my first reaction; it took a moment to realize that Teldra, Loiosh, and I now stood in the Halls of Verra, the Demon Goddess.

    5

PLEASANTRIES WITH DEITIES

    Everything was too big and too white. The ceiling too high, the wallstoo far apart, the pillars spaced along the walls too big around, and everything the same uniform, ugly, chalky, pasty color. It was huge. It was only a hallway. The next thing I noticed was that it was easier to breathe, I didn't feel as heavy and sluggish as I had a second ago. It was only then that I realized that the little black cube had, after doing its job, neatly vanished.
    "I got to get me one of those," I remarked. My voice sounded funny; it took me a second to realize it was because there was no echo - it was as if the corridor was absorbing the sound.
    "I'llpass one along next time we get a shipment," said Teldra.Her voice sounded odd,