The Crystal Mountain by Thomas M. Reid

to deliver the death strike.
    Aliisza grabbed Kaanyr’s arm and held it. “Don’t,” she said, her voice low and angry.
    “If he dies, the bubble will pop,” Zasian said, cowering. “I’m doing my best. Please don’t kill me!”
    Kaanyr wanted to yank his arm free, wanted so desperately to vent his frustration and anger upon the pathetic, cowering priest who had been the source of so much trouble. But something made him hold.
    “He’s right,” Aliisza said. “He’s the only thing keeping us all alive at the moment. All of us. Harm him, and you put Kael and Tauran in jeopardy. If you can’t believe that he’s lost his memories, than at least accept that.”
    Kaanyr could see the glimmer of smugness in her eyes. He understood what she was trying to do, and he tried to block it out, but the thought was already there. Her words took hold of him, stayed his hand against destroying the priest. If what Zasian said was even remotely possible—if the priest’s efforts at keeping the planetar alive were the only thing between everyone within the remains of the rotunda and oblivion— then dispatching the priest meant putting Tauran and Kael at risk. Tauran’s magic denied him once more.
    The cambion narrowed his eyes in fury at Aliisza’s treachery. He wanted to smack the alu and drive her from him, but he merely yanked his arm down in disgust. “You’re just not content unless I’m squirming in misery, are you?” he said, turning away. “What a fine mess you made of this. Just when Tauran, Kael, and I were on the verge of finally defeating this wretch, you burst in with Micus to muck it all up. And now, when I can finish this once and for all and be rid of angels and half-drow and priests of Cyric forever, you weave me into a snare impossible to untangle! I’m beginning to think you loathe me, wench.”
    “It’s the only way to get through to you, you bullheaded idiot!” Aliisza retorted. “You’re so damned eager to let blood, you never think. I’m beginning to wonder why I try so hard.”
    Kaanyr’s eyes bulged. “Try? Is that what you call it? So far, everything you’ve tried has caused me untold trouble. And if I so annoy you, just leave! Quit making my life so complicated and just go!”
    Aliisza stared at the cambion with a mixture of fury and sorrow and said nothing for several moments. She pursed her lips and glared at him. He thought she was on the verge of crying.
    Wonderful, he thought. She’s going to become a weeping mess again. “What?” he asked, his voice softer. “What are you trying to prove?”
    The alu drew in a long breath and took hold of both of Kaanyr’s arms. “First,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “I never meant to betray you. You must understand that.”
    “Then why in all the Hells did you bring Micus?”
    “Because a battle here was just what Zasian wanted. He needed the distraction so that Kashada could steal Azuth’s staff. That’s the vision I saw in the Eye of Savras.”
    Her voice sounded so earnest, Kaanyr wanted to believe her. He suddenly felt guilty. “Why didn’t you come back sooner?” he asked. “Tauran wouldn’t wait, and I—”
    “I don’t know. Just know that I hurried to you as fast as I could to try to stop you.” She looked down, then, sounding defeated. “I wasn’t fast enough.”
    Kaanyr began to understand. “But you believed it strongly enough to work with Micus to stop us?” he asked. “You were willing to surrender to our enemies just to keep us from realizing your vision?”
    Aliisza nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I didn’t want to, but it was the only way to reach you in time, to stop you. I have hated myself for it every moment since then.” She gave a forlorn laugh. “And despite my betrayal, it all happened anyway.” She turned and gestured at their surroundings. “Everything is destroyed. We’re lost, adrift who-knows-where. And he”—she
    pointed at Zasian—”has the only means of keeping us