SkyDancer halted the column as she heard the bell pealing. The Sakovans all sat with expressions of shock on their faces and Temiker rode up next to StarWind.
“What is it?” the old mage inquired.
StarWind blinked and turned to Temiker. “It is a prophecy fulfilled, wizard. It is a sound that I have hoped for every day of my life and yet one I never expected to hear. Kaltara has sent us a new Star. The Sakovans have a new leader.”
“No more hiding in the wilderness,” StormSong declared. “It is time for the Omungans to fear being caught.”
“We shall see,” StarWind cautioned. “If we had been minutes earlier, we might have seen the Star of the Chapel glow. Come, let’s ride.”
The returning Sakovan column was indeed just minutes short of the tunnel into StarCity and they galloped to the cave entrance. Once through the tunnel, they raced for the palace and noticed the streets empty. StarWind led the way onto the palace grounds and they abandoned the chokas to race up the stairs. They reached the roof only to find it mobbed with people.
“Whoever it is, he must still be in there,” SkyDancer suggested.
“It is not a he,” Jostin stated his red head poking out of the crowd before them. “It is that outlander girl you brought in, Lyra.”
“Lyra?” StarWind echoed with amazement.
“I told you she was special,” smirked MistyTrail. “Good thing I didn’t let HawkShadow kill her.”
“I’ll be damned,” HawkShadow shook his head. “Give that elf a clova chip.”
“I am not an elf,” MistyTrail insisted. “There are no elves.”
“Quiet back there,” someone shouted. “We are trying to hear what is going on.”
Because everyone could not fit in the chapel, news of what was happening was relayed back through the crowd and MistyTrail and HawkShadow ceased their bantering. Temiker, who had been left behind in the mad dash to the roof, finally arrived. StarWind heard his panting and turned to him.
“You niece is the new Star,” StarWind reported. “There is no way we can get into the chapel, so we will have to wait until it is over to find out what has happened.”
“Sounds like a mighty burden for a young woman,” Temiker stated, “but if she is as tough as Rhodella, she will do fine.”
“She’s coming out,” Jostin shouted.
The crowd parted and Lyra appeared with LifeTender at her side. The Sakovans dropped to their knees as she approached. StarWind and the rest of the Sakovan hunting party dropped to their knees with the rest of the people, but Temiker stood staring at his niece with wonder.
“On your knees Temiker,” StarWind ordered. “She be your niece, but she is our Star.”
Temiker got down on his knees and watched Lyra pass. Lyra did not notice him or anyone else. Her eyes were misted over with tears as LifeTender led her through the crowd.
As soon as Lyra passed them by and started down the steps, StarWind grabbed Temiker’s arm and indicated that he should follow her. StarWind ran down the stairs and saw LifeTender steer Lyra towards her room. StarWind followed and entered Lyra’s room with Temiker in tow before the door closed.
“Forgive my boldness,” StarWind apologized, “but I have brought your uncle back with me.”
Lyra spun and saw Temiker and ran to him and hugged him. “Uncle Temiker,” she cried.
Temiker comforted her and led her over to the bed and sat her down. “What is all this about you leading the Sakovans now?” he asked.
Lyra raised her right hand and showed her deformity. “It was an accident,” she explained. “I was trying to learn to cast a fireball and the ring interfered and scarred me.”
Temiker gently took her hand and looked at it while LifeTender and StarWind crowded around. “That was not caused by any fireball spell,” he declared. “I have never seen anything like it, but it was not caused by your spell.”
“It was,” Lyra insisted. “My hand burst into flames. MistyTrail had to heal me.”
Temiker ran his finger gently over the inlaid star on Lyra’s hand. “It shines like a gem and looks like a gem, but it feels just like skin. Lyra, I have practiced magic all my life and I have seen every kind of accident there is. This mark was not caused by your spell.”
“How then?” she asked.
“Kaltara chose you,” LifeTender interjected. “For whatever reason He has, He has decided that you are the person He wants to lead the Sakovans after centuries of abandonment. Perhaps He has been waiting for a person with your qualities. I cannot begin to suppose why He does what He does. We must accept what He gives us. You must accept it too, Lyra.”
“Lyra,” StarWind added, “you are special. MistyTrail sensed it and refused to kill you. RavenWing sensed it and sent me after you. He broke the law in bringing you here. That is how strongly he felt that you must come to StarCity. All of us have treated you differently from all other outlanders. Perhaps Kaltara has been guiding our thoughts to make sure that the Sakovans received their new Star.”
“But I am only half Sakovan,” Lyra protested. “Why should the Sakovans follow me? I don’t even know most of you. There must be someone better qualified.”
“Lyra,” LifeTender stated, “you heard the reading of the Scroll of Kaltara. Three times we refused to follow His Star and we have paid very severely for those failures. There is not a Sakovan alive who will not follow you. We have learned our lesson the hard way. Every man, woman, and child will die this time before we spurn you. We will never make that mistake again.”
“It would not matter if you were a clova,” StarWind offered. “Half Sakovan, full Sakovan. It makes no difference to any of us. You are a gift from Kaltara. Why would we care what your ancestry is?”
“But how will I lead the Sakovans?” Lyra asked. “I know nothing about leading people. It is fun to play at being a leader, but if I decide wrongly now, people will die because of it.”
“Kaltara would not send you to lead if you were not capable,” LifeTender answered. “He will guide your thoughts. You will also have the advice of anyone you wish. The combined wisdom of the entire Sakovan nation is at your command. I have tutored you for some time now. You are sensible and logical, perceptive and honest. We could hardly ask for more than that in a leader. You will do fine.”
“You need only to purge your own self-doubt,” added StarWind. “I should go and check with MoonFlow to see if anything important came up while I was gone. I will report to you when I am done.”
“MoonFlow is dead,” informed LifeTender. “She died when Mekin attacked RavenWing. I am afraid that RavenWing is paralyzed and may die.”
“Mekin?” StarWind asked with tears in her eyes. “The son of GoldenEar? When did this happen?”
“The same,” LifeTender said, “or least that is who he was posing as. Lyra stumbled onto his deception. MoonFlow was talking to RavenWing about him when he attacked. Lyra and I got there just in time to stop him from finishing the job. Lyra killed him before he could finish. It was RavenWing who noticed the Star’s reflection while I was tending to him. He understood what it meant.”
“So that is how he knew,” Lyra nodded. “My ring slipped off when I was chilling the water. I didn’t think anyone noticed. Why did you shout not to kill him?”
“Fear among other things,” LifeTender stated. “I saw his arm and understood what had happened. I was afraid that the same thing would happen to you. It was so quick that I did not realize you were using your left hand. I also thought we might find out who sent him if he was captured alive.”
“So I already made my first mistake,” frowned Lyra.
“Hardly,” smiled LifeTender. “If you had waited as I wished, RavenWing would have died. I had thought he was already dead when I shouted. As I said before, He will guide you.”
“I agree,” StarWind stated. “The only thing Mekin would have told us is who recruited him and I am sure that is not who we are after. We interrogated one of the assassins sent to capture you. Klaarg has been hiring them, but the real power is someone high up in the government.”
“The government kidnapped my father?” Lyra asked.
“Someone high up in it,” nodded StarWind. “I intend to find out who, but just knowing what we do now, I have a decent idea of where to look for Master Malafar. The Imperial Palace has holding cells that are magically blocked. It is the perfect place to hold a mage.”
“Perhaps you should check the intelligence reports now,” LifeTender suggested. “Let Lyra visit with her uncle for a while. We can come back later.”
StarWind nodded and rose and left the room with LifeTender right behind her. “Who would have believed it,” mused StarWind out in the corridor. “A young woman as the new Star. All of the Stars have been men so far.”
“About time Kaltara got sensible,” chuckled LifeTender. “She will do fine. I should have known myself I guess. I have never seen anyone with such power in magic. She sent a force bolt clean through a practice block, with her left hand at that. She put a like hole through Mekin too. I wouldn’t like to be the one to clean that up.”
“That is powerful,” StarWind agreed. “I mourn for MoonFlow. She was a close friend. I try to keep myself distant from my contacts to avoid this sort of grief, but I guess it is impossible to insulate yourself if the Omungans can come into StarCity and kill us.”
“She will be missed by many of us,” nodded LifeTender. “Too many die and I fear that number is about to increase. The Scroll says that we will retake our homeland now. I fear a great many will die.”
“The number of dead will depend on Kaltara,” StarWind stated. “May He be merciful. Where will I find RavenWing?”
“He will be in his bed,” LifeTender stated sadly. “I will see to having devices made so he can get as much mobility as possible, but that will be some time from now. His body has had quite a shock. He will never walk again if he does survive. Try not to bother him today. I want him to rest.”
StarWind nodded as she descended the steps and went to her office. She resisted the urge to stop in RavenWing’s office and see MoonFlow one last time. Better to remember her alive, StarWind thought. She unlocked the door to her office and sat at the desk. Quite a few messages had come in while she was off dealing with the assassins and MoonFlow had categorized them all efficiently. She berated herself and pushed MoonFlow out of her mind. She would deal with her loss tonight after her work was done.
Most of the messages were routine reports, but there was a disturbing theme running through them. Normally mention of Sakovans was only heard in official circles, but the new batch of reports indicated that the general population was talking about the Sakovans. StarWind knew that there was no reason for this unless someone was causing it. She had an ill feeling that someone was trying to direct Omungan public opinion regarding the Sakovans.
Then she came across reports from two different operatives in Campanil. Both reports described the burning watula fields and the general commotion in the city regarding a Sakovan attack. She shook her head and then pushed her wavy brown hair out of her eyes. There had been no Sakovan attack on Campanil. She knew that, but someone had obviously burned the fields and blamed it on the Sakovans. This was serious. She wondered if RavenWing had been apprised of this information and remembered LifeTender’s admonishment to let him rest. She decided that she would have to visit Campanil herself and see what she could find out.
StarWind spent several hours reviewing all of the reports and writing some messages to be delivered to agents. She locked up her office and went out to the perches to find Jostin. The red-haired boy was always around. He even slept with the birds. Jostin saw her coming and scampered over to meet her.
“That was some surprise today, wasn’t it,” Jostin cheerily greeted the Sakovan spymaster.
“Yes, Jostin it was,” StarWind answered. “It is exciting to be alive during the time of a Star. You will remember this day the rest of your life.” StarWind did not add that she would remember it for more than one reason.
“Even out on the roof we could see the flashes of blue light,” the boy ecstatically related. “The sound was deafening, but nobody minded. Everyone is so excited.”
“Times are changing,” StarWind nodded. “I have some messages that must go out tonight. If there are any replies before morning, I want to know about it immediately. I will be leaving in the morning, so if they come in later just …”
StarWind stopped talking and bit her lower lip. She needed someone to take MoonFlow’s place while she was gone and Jostin had to start sharing information with Lyra instead of RavenWing.
“MeadowTune will be my new assistant,” StarWind stated. “You will need to keep Lyra apprised as well. RavenWing should not be disturbed without LifeTender’s authorization. I am not sure how Lyra wants you to handle information for her. You will need to talk to her about it, but I would not do so today unless it is urgent.”
“Of course,” assured Jostin. “I already figured that I should go to Lyra if anything came up. I am sorry about MoonFlow. I liked her a lot and I know you did too. At least she is with Kaltara now. I prayed for her when I found out what happened.”
StarWind's throat constricted with emotion and she tousled Jostin’s red mop. “Thank you, Jostin. I know she will be happy.”
StarWind turned and strode away from the freckle-faced boy swiftly, holding her emotion down as she went in search of MeadowTune. She saw Goral as she was walking and signaled to him.
“I am going to Campanil in the morning,” she said quietly. “I would like you to go with me.”
“Then I shall,” the gruff giant replied. “How long will we be gone?”
“I need just one day there,” StarWind answered. “I will see you at first light.”
StarWind left Goral without waiting for a reply that she knew would not come. Goral never wasted words and he had never refused her request for help. StarWind continued looking and finally found MeadowTune in MoonFlow’s quarters.
“StarWind,” cried MeadowTune as she embraced the Sakovan spymaster. “I am so sorry for you. I know how close you were. I thought I would clean this up so you didn’t have to face it.”
“That was very thoughtful,” StarWind said quietly as she returned the slight woman’s embrace. “You may want to just leave it and move in. I would like you to take over MoonFlow’s job. I know you refused it before, but you are the best person suited for it and with the coming of the Star, we need your expertise.”
“I will not refuse this time,” MeadowTune agreed in her musical voice. “The last time you asked I refused because I knew MoonFlow really wanted the job and that she would be good at it. Now I wonder if I sent her to her death by my refusal.”
“You blame yourself as I do,” sighed StarWind. “We must not continue to do so. We lessen her memory by thinking that we controlled what she did. I was hoping you would agree. I am leaving in the morning for a short trip to Campanil. There are claims of a Sakovan attack being floated there and I must discover who is doing it. I have informed Jostin of your appointment with hope that you would accept. I will inform Lyra immediately. Here is a key for the office.”
“Have a safe journey,” MeadowTune called after her.
StarWind realized that she had missed the evening meal as she strode to Lyra’s room and knocked on the door. The door opened and Temiker stuck his head out to see who it was. When he saw StarWind, he opened the door and motioned her in.
“Thank you wizard,” StarWind said as she scanned the room and found Lyra sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. She walked over and sat facing the new Star.
“I know this is all new to you, Lyra,” StarWind began, “but I must continue the work MoonFlow was working on and that requires me to leave StarCity for a while.”
“I understand,” Lyra replied softly. “I need your help as well, but I know I come after Sakova. What was she working on?”
“There are rumors circulating in Campanil about a Sakovan attack,” informed StarWind. “Someone burned all of their watula fields and blamed us. I want to find out who. I am also starting to see mention of Sakovans in the agent reports concerning the general population. You are not aware, but this is highly unusual. Most Omungans either do not know we exist or think we are dark creatures who never leave the Sakova. That attitude suits us and someone is destroying it around the country. I think the two are related.”
“Then we must find out,” agreed Lyra. “Who will handle things in your absence?”
“On the information end, I have asked MeadowTune to be my new assistant,” answered StarWind. “She is very capable. The boy Jostin handles the messages coming in and going out. He is very reliable and he may need contact with you if certain messages come in. He cannot depend on RavenWing to take the messages any more.”
“I understand,” smiled Lyra weakly. “My uncle, er, Temiker has been helping me cope with all of this. I am sorry for my weak start, but I promise I will learn what I must do and get it done. I value your input and would like to discuss things with you when you return. I am going to need a lot of guidance in this job and while Temiker is wise, I need a Sakovan’s input. I would like yours.”
StarWind noticed the switch from uncle to Temiker and smiled as she realized that the wizard was already advising her regarding how she should behave and interact with others. StarWind was beginning to take a liking to the old mage.
“There is nothing critical going on that I know of besides the Campanil thing,” stated StarWind. “Why don’t you continue your magic lessons and limit your audiences to a couple of hours a day? Use LifeTender as a buffer and get her to schedule appointments for people to speak with you. Most audiences will deal with good wishes to you and offers of support. If something important does come up, LifeTender will not let you miss it. In the meantime, she can also help familiarize you with our way of life and who everybody is.”
“That is sound advice,” Lyra smiled, “as long as I don’t get people angry with me for putting them off.”
“You will not be putting them off,” smiled StarWind, “LifeTender will be and she can handle it. Besides, people will understand that you need time to acclimate yourself to our way of life. Everyone knows you are new here and they will give you time to learn the ropes.”
“She speaks well,” Temiker interjected. “As I said, the Sakovans know that you have been thrust into this position. They will be patient with you. Never forget that you are Rhodella’s daughter. She has taught you to think clearly and logically. Learn the Sakovan way of life as you would study magic. Approach it in an organized manner and you will succeed beyond your wildest imagination.”
“Exactly,” StarWind agreed. “I am taking Goral with me to Campanil. We will return in a few days and I will put myself at your disposal when we return.”
“Thank you, StarWind,” Lyra said as the Sakovan spymaster rose and left the room.
***
To the southwest in Okata, a buxom young woman toyed with a strand of her golden shoulder-length hair as she sat on a stone bench in her private garden. She stared at the stone wall surrounding the garden, ignoring the multitude of flowers and bushes that she delighted in tending. She removed her gardening apron and stared at the small slip of paper one more time. She rose from the bench and walked to a small wooden building in the corner of the garden and opened the door.
Inside the small building were shelves with garden implements, pottery planters, numerous tins of various seeds, and bottles of liquids. She removed a small glass dish from the shelf and placed it on the work counter. Next she opened a small bottle of liquid and poured a tiny portion into the glass dish. She placed the little slip of paper into the liquid and watched as it hissed and steamed. Within seconds, the paper was gone as if it never existed. She took a small pouch of granules off the shelf and poured some into the dish and observed the interaction between them and the liquid. Within moments, the dish was again empty and she placed it back on the shelf and left the building.
The beautiful blond strolled through her private garden and opened the doors to the mansion beyond. She walked across the marble floor, ignoring the rich tapestries and marble sculptures and ascended the wide spiraling staircase to the second floor. At the end of the wide hall she opened the ornate double doors to her suite and went to her clothes closet. She removed a long tight-fitting black dress from the rack and laid it on the enormous bed. Next she went to the dresser and withdrew a pair of black hose. She stripped off her gardening smock and admired her tan body in the tall mirror. Subconsciously she touched the birthmark on her right arm and frowned slightly.
Shaking herself out of her pondering, she swiftly dressed and slid on a pair of black leather shoes. She wrapped a black kerchief around her golden locks and checked her reflection one more time. Satisfied with what she saw, she picked up a small black purse and returned downstairs and slipped out a side door to an alley. At the mouth of the alley, she stopped and checked the street for traffic before boldly stepping out and walking along the street past the fashionable shops of the wealthy district in which she lived. Nobody paid any attention to her as she continued walking out of the wealthy district into the more common part of the city.
A half-hour later, she slipped into another alley near the border between the common man’s section of town and the seedier waterfront area. She moved stealthily now, down the alley until she came to a small, unmarked wooden door. She reached into the small purse and extracted a thin piece of metal and applied it to the lock on the door. Within a scant few minutes, a snick indicated that the door was unlocked and she slid cautiously inside.
The main room was a shambles. Papers and drawers littered the floor. Furniture was knocked over and broken glass was everywhere. The woman in black ignored it all and went to the small door leading off of the main room. She silently turned the handle and crept into the small room. Two small beds and a small dresser were the only pieces of furniture in the room and the dresser had been ransacked. She moved to the bed along the far wall and pulled it into the middle of the floor. Walking around to the far side of the bed, she threw the covers on the floor and laid down on them. She wiggled her curvaceous body under the bed and felt along the inside of the headboard leg until she found a small hole. She stuck the thin piece of metal into the hole and worked it in a professional manner until a small compartment slid open. She reached into the compartment with two fingers and extracted a small book. With a click, she closed the small compartment door.
Squirming out from under the bed, she slid the small book between her breasts and threw the covers back onto the bed. She walked around to the other side and shoved the bed back against the wall. Easing herself back out the way she came in, the woman paused at the rear door and placed the thin piece of metal into her purse. With her hand of the doorknob, she heard a scuffing sound from the alley beyond the door. With the swiftness of a cat, the woman moved back from the door and flattened her body to the wall. The doorknob turned slowly and a slight shaft of light penetrated the dark room as the door eased open.
The woman sprang swiftly, throwing the door open and driving her stiffened fingers into the throat of the man entering the room. The man gurgled and clutched his throat as his knees buckled. Deprived of air, the man struggled to understand what was happening. He dropped to his knees and his hands came up to his throat. The woman viscously punched the side of his head and the man sprawled unconsciously to the floor. She stuck her head out the open door and checked the alley for any accomplices. Seeing none, she dragged his body into the alley and propped it against the wall. She slipped the lock mechanism of the door and pulled it shut. Moving quickly and quietly, the woman worked her way back up the alley and onto the street. She walked casually, but swiftly as she retraced her steps to her home.