“Slow down,” Thero soothed, stroking the boy’s forehead. “One thing at a time. Klia’s alive?”

“Yes, she’s with a lady dyrmagnos named Rhazat.”

Micum rested a hand on the hilt of his sword; this confirmed their worst fears, and now she had a name.

“Is Klia hurt?” asked Thero.

Mika shook his head. “She said Rhazat can’t kill her because she needs her to break the thing in the cave.”

“What sort of thing?”

“It’s gold with a stone in the middle that glows.”

“You were right,” Micum murmured.

“That’s a Great Seal, Mika. Why did she think Klia could break it?” asked Thero.

“I think because Klia’s related to the last Hierophant, a woman called Nhandi. Klia thinks that’s who made the seal and put the dyrmagnos in the other place.”

“Illior’s Light! But Klia didn’t break the seal.”

Mika’s lips trembled. “She wouldn’t because it was her duty to Skala. So she had to let—” Tears slid down both cheeks. “Rhazat broke my arm again, to make her, and was going to put a dra’gorgos in me.”

“But she didn’t. What happened?”

“Because the red came, Master,” Mika whispered, as if expecting a remonstrance. “It was a bad red, and I woke up in the deep, wet cave Seregil and Alec told us about and crawled up out of it to the next one. Did you find me?”

“No. One of the guards there brought you to me. You said you have a lot to tell me?”

Mika nodded. “Klia told me things to tell you. We were in a town with a tower, called Zikara. Rhazat claims she’s a queen but she’s really a dyrmagnos who kisses people to kill them.”

“Kisses them?”

“That’s what Klia said. Rhazat doesn’t look how she really is but mirrors show what she looks like. I didn’t get pulled into the other plane, either, I just was there all of a sudden. Our amulets didn’t work there, because a dra’gorgos took mine, and later another one caught us and carried us to the cave, the one on her side.” He frowned, trying to remember more. “She can’t touch gold and Lady Zella has a dra’gorgos in her.”

“Damnation, Seregil is with her!” Micum exclaimed. “I’ve got to go let him know.”

“A moment,” said Thero, laying a hand on his arm. “Let’s hear what else Mika can tell us, then you can carry the news to Seregil. Mika, is there anything else you remember?”

“Yes, Master. When Klia and I were in that other cave with Rhazat, I heard a voice in my head, just before the red came. It said something like ‘eshrlee.’ ”

“Are you sure that’s what it was?”

“No, Master, but it was like that, I’m sure.”

“Does that mean something?” asked Micum.

Thero shook his head.