The world slowly stopped spinning and light penetrated the dark shroud of Lyra’s void. Birds chirped and sounds of the city filtered through the buzzing drone of nothingness. Lyra’s head throbbed and her mouth felt like the trampled mud of a springtime field. She opened her eyes with effort against the brightness of the stark white ceiling. She moaned as she turned her head to get her bearings and StormSong and LifeTender blurred into view, concern etched into their faces as hard as a chisel mark in granite. They rushed towards her as if in slow motion and Lyra closed her eyes and opened them again, trying to gain some sharpness to the images and focus properly.
“Are you alright?” thundered LifeTender as Lyra’s ears recoiled from the loud harsh noise of her voice. “What happened to you?”
StormSong said nothing as she faded into the background allowing LifeTender to get nearer to the bed. Lyra finally recognized her own room and struggled to sit up, but LifeTender firmly pushed her back down.
“You should not try to rise until we find out what happened,” lectured LifeTender. “How do you feel?”
“Water,” croaked the Star of Sakova.
StormSong moved swiftly and poured a mug of water from the pitcher on the dresser and handed it to LifeTender. The healing mage placed the mug to Lyra’s lips as she raised her head to drink. Lyra rolled the water around in her mouth before swallowing to rinse the mud feeling away and sighed as she felt the cool liquid cascade down her throat.
“I will tell the others that she has awakened,” StormSong said in a monotone voice.
“How did I get here?” Lyra asked as StormSong left the room. “What happened to me?”
“That is what we want to know,” frowned LifeTender. “You were found in the chapel unconscious. StormSong went to your office to report on Lord Marak and you were not there, so she went to RavenWing and he said you might be in the chapel. She found you and brought you here. She would not leave your side until you awoke.”
“I am afraid I was not good company for her,” Lyra smiled weakly. “I guess I just fainted. Let me get up so I can deal with Lord Marak before he becomes disenchanted with the Sakovans.”
“I don’t think so,” LifeTender said shaking her head. “One does not remain unconscious for two days from fainting, and Lord Marak has been kept entertained. He will not miss you until you are well enough to function properly.”
“Two days?” queried Lyra. “It can’t be two days. You said StormSong stayed by my side.”
“I did say that,” confirmed LifeTender. “She must be a wreck herself by now. She refused to sleep or even leave the room for meals. I finally had to send food up for her.”
“Why?” puzzled Lyra. “Of all people, I would suspect that StormSong cared the least.”
“Then you do not know her well,” smiled LifeTender. “She has admired you ever since you stood up to her when you tried to escape, well before you became the Star. She values honor and courage as much as she values skill and you impressed her that night. StormSong is not the issue right now though. I must know what happened to you if I am to heal you. Tell me what happened.”
Lyra gently pushed LifeTender’s hands away and sat up, rubbing the back of her neck which felt like it had been struck with a hammer. She blinked her eyes and tried to remember what had happened at the chapel, but the throbbing in her head was too great a distraction. “Have you anything for a headache?” she asked.
LifeTender rummaged through her pack and extracted a thin reddish root and handed it to her patient. “Chew slowly on this,” she instructed. “You do not need to swallow it, but it will not hurt if you do.”
Lyra stuck the root in her mouth and bit down on it. A moist bitter liquid escaped from the root and burned the tender insides of her mouth like lava running down the mountainside. She winced at the heat, but it dissipated quickly and the throbbing lessened somewhat. She bit off a small piece of the root and held it in her mouth, chewing gently whenever the lava receded and soon the pounding in her head ceased.
She quickly swallowed the small piece of root and reached for the mug of water in LifeTender’s hands and washed the bitter taste out of her mouth. “Pretty potent roots you carry,” Lyra smiled. “The headache is gone. Thanks.”
LifeTender just smiled and nodded as Lyra tried once again to focus on the events in the chapel. She smiled as she recalled her talk with Kaltara and frowned as she remembered the images that came afterwards. She nodded as she understood what Kaltara had been showing her with the images and suddenly she knew what He had done.
“I became the Star of Sakova,” she informed the healing mage.
“No,” frowned LifeTender with concern as she shook her head. “You were already the Star. Try to get some more rest,” she instructed as she rose from the bed.
“You don’t understand LifeTender,” Lyra said as she swung her legs to the floor. “It is all well and good for all of you to say that I am the Star and you are willing to die for me, but it is quite another for Kaltara to tell me who and what I am. I spoke with Him. I must talk to RavenWing.”
LifeTender stared at Lyra with wide round eyes and her mouth gaping open. She frowned again and shook her head. “No,” LifeTender stated. “You are not well enough to move yet. If you must speak with RavenWing, I will have him brought here.”
“You will not,” declared Lyra sternly. She bit her lip and immediately regretted using such a harsh tone with LifeTender. “I am sorry, LifeTender,” she apologized. “I know how painful it is for RavenWing to move and I have already requested his appearance at the strategy meeting. I am alright, trust me. I am no longer dizzy and your root has vanquished my headache. I understand what happened to me now and while I cannot easily explain it, I can assure you that it will not happen again. Have MistyTrail meet me in my office to report on Lord Marak. I will go there as soon as I see RavenWing.”
“What about StormSong’s report?” inquired LifeTender.
“StormSong needs rest more than I do,” answered Lyra. “Let her get some sleep.”
“You still need some guidance with her,” informed LifeTender. “Reporting to you is her duty and she will not sleep until she has fulfilled it. Can you see her before MistyTrail?”
Lyra paused as she tugged a plain tunic over her head and smoothed it down her body. “Certainly,” she agreed. “I want her fully rested before the strategy meeting and I would like to hold it as soon as StarWind arrives, so make sure she gets rest after she reports.”
“StarWind arrived yesterday,” LifeTender reported. “She has been up here several times to see how you are. StormSong would not let anyone but me and her enter, so your father has not been able to see you yet.”
Lyra inhaled deeply as she felt the first tremors of stress fighting for recognition and she banned the unhelpful feelings to a distant corner of her mind. “Very well,” she said calmly. “Have Jostin in my office as well as StormSong then. I will use him to schedule the sequence of interviews. You probably need some rest yourself. Grab it while you can.”
LifeTender nodded and left the room while Lyra finished dressing. Lyra grabbed the mug of water that LifeTender left on the dresser and drained it. She threw open her door and strode purposely down the stairs to RavenWing’s chamber. Without knocking she opened the door and strode in.
“Praise Kaltara!” exclaimed RavenWing. “You had us all worried.”
“Praise Kaltara indeed,” smiled Lyra. “It was Kaltara who caused my unconsciousness. Why did you not tell me?”
RavenWing’s brow creased with puzzlement. “Tell you what?” he quizzed.
“You were the one who told me to go to the chapel and speak with Kaltara,” accused Lyra. “You could have warned me what would happen.”
“I don’t understand,” replied RavenWing. “I told you to pray about your self-doubt. I merely hoped that Kaltara would hear your prayers and answer them. I meant no harm.”
Lyra cocked her head and gazed at RavenWing as if in a stupor. “Then you did not know what would happen to me?” she asked.
“Lyra,” he sighed, “I do not yet know what happened to you. Why don’t you tell me?
Lyra shook her head and sat on the bed at RavenWing’s feet. “He spoke to me,” Lyra explained. “Not just his voice, but sounds and images. So fast, so terribly fast, but I understood them. I knew what He was trying to show me. RavenWing, I was not the Star until He spoke to me. Oh, the mark is genuine, but that is just to let the Sakovan people know who He has chosen. He showed me everything.”
“Everything?” queried RavenWing. “What did he show you?”
“The whole history of the Sakovan people,” informed Lyra. “All of it. I saw the Wound of Kaltara being created. I saw the massacres when the Omungans landed and began slaughtering everybody. The land turned red with Sakovan blood. It was horrible.”
“I never knew there was a blessing from Kaltara required for a Star,” admitted RavenWing. “There is no mention of it in any of our books or scrolls. I want to say that I am sorry for sending you to the chapel to be put through that, but I am not. I am happy that you have received Kaltara’s blessing. Surely you can have no doubt anymore after such a blessing?”
“I have no doubt about Kaltara,” confirmed Lyra. “I still have some doubts about myself, but that is only human. I will deal with it.”
“What else did he show you?” RavenWing asked. “I should record it so the next Star will know what to expect.”
Lyra stared out the window for a long time without responding. Finally she rose and gently gripped RavenWing’s hand. “Record nothing about it,” instructed the Star. “I must go,” she added as she released RavenWing’s hand and exited the room.
When she arrived at her office, Jostin and StormSong were there. She nodded to both of them and entered the room and surveyed the changes that Syman and Antello had made. There were flowers everywhere and gay carefree paintings on the wall. The chairs were covered in a light breezy fabric and a large rug occupied the center of the floor. Only the huge wall map of RavenWing’s remained, as she had requested. She was pleased with the new look and slumped into the chair behind the desk.
“Jostin, I am going to keep you lean today,” she smiled. “I want to see MistyTrail next and then StarWind.”
“Yes, Lyra,” he grinned. “I will get MistyTrail now,” he added as he scampered out of the room.
“Sit StormSong,” Lyra said as she waved her hand towards a chair. “You look wrecked. Thank you for being there for me,” she smiled.
StormSong nodded silently and took the offered chair. Her eyes were dark hollows and her face was drawn and taut.
“I will not keep you long and then I want you off to bed,” opened Lyra. “Give me your impression of Lord Marak. Can he be trusted and do you think there is anything he can do to help us?”
“He is most extraordinary for a man,” reported StormSong. “He is the most highly skilled warrior I have ever seen and yet he is without pride. The title Lord means nothing to him and he will not even notice if you address him simply as Marak. He values honor and courage as I do, so I know he can be trusted. I would not have let him arrive in the city if I thought otherwise.”
“Good,” remarked the Star. “Other than a distant friend, is there anything he can do to help us?”
“I am not sure,” StormSong answered. “I believe his armies to be well trained, but they are very distant. I do not see how they can help, especially when his own footing in Khadora is so unsure. If the Omungans turned to attack Khadora before they were finished with us, then we could work together and attack from both sides, but I fear that will not happen.”
Lyra nodded solemnly and StormSong shifted in her chair. “There is one thing he could offer us,” StormSong suddenly suggested. “It is not much, but it may help. He has different fighting techniques than we do. I do not know how much time we can convince him to spare us, but if he could teach some of those techniques to our people, it would help.”
“Thank you, StormSong,” concluded Lyra. “I will see what I can get out of him. Get some sleep now and thank you again for standing by me. It means a lot to me.”
StormSong nodded perfunctorily and rose. As soon as she left the room, Jostin showed MistyTrail in. “Temiker after StarWind,” Lyra called to him and he waved and dashed off.
“You are feeling better,” chirped MistyTrail as she pranced into the room. “You had us all worried.”
“I am fine,” greeted Lyra. “I trust you have kept Lord Marak occupied while I rested?”
“Of course,” beamed the short Sakovan. “It was easy. He wants to know everything about everything. Even the smallest detail intrigues him. He spent the entire morning with the chokas today. He inspected the gear we use on them and their eating habits and how we groom them. Nothing was too small to catch his attention.”
“Is his inquisitive nature something that we should be concerned with?” Lyra asked.
“Oh no,” MistyTrail quickly responded. “If you mean could he be a spy, the answer is no. He is just a curious person. His mind is sort of like a sponge I guess.”
“So you trust him then?” the Star questioned.
“Oh yes,” MistyTrail nodded vigorously. “I like him. He is very handsome too. He would make good children.”
“Have you tried?” chuckled Lyra.
“No,” MistyTrail answered as her brow wrinkled and her eyes grew large with the shock of such a question. “Not me,” she continued defensively. “I was thinking what a nice couple you two would make,” she grinned.
“Thank you, MistyTrail,” laughed Lyra, “but I am not in the market for a family just yet.” The Star shook her head and waited for her laughter to subside. “Do you see any way he can help us in our conflict with the Omungans?” she inquired.
“Sure,” replied MistyTrail. “His people all adore him and would follow him anywhere. Get them all to move down here and our ranks would swell dramatically. The Omungans would not dare attack us then.”
“And we could make beautiful children together,” chuckled Lyra. “Nice try, MistyTrail. Go keep him occupied some more, but you can tell him that I will see him shortly.”
MistyTrail frowned as she rose. “You will like him,” she called as she darted out the door of the room and Lyra began laughing again.
“What was that?” StarWind queried as Jostin showed her in.
“Just an elf in heat,” laughed Lyra. Jostin hung at the door to find out who would follow Temiker and Lyra waved him away. “I am so glad you made it out of Okata, StarWind,” Lyra said as she motioned the Sakovan spymaster to a chair.
“Me too,” StarWind replied. “Nice touch with the room. I like it much better than how RavenWing had it.”
“How is Master Malafar handling the trip to StarCity?” Lyra asked skipping over the niceties.
“Not as bad as I feared,” StarWind responded. “Goral had a talk with him and gained his cooperation on the trip in, so that was not bad. It was touch-and-go when he saw Temiker, but at least they are talking now, although it is still strained somewhat. I cannot tell how much effect the drug still has on him. He is a very confused man right now and that is what bothers me the most. He is much too powerful to be an enemy to us and remain here.”
“I agree,” concurred the Star of Sakova. “I am seeing Temiker next. He should be able to judge how much of the old Malafar remains. I do not know what to do with him if remaining here is not an option though. I cannot just let my father be captured by the Omungans.”
“Perhaps that decision will not be necessary,” suggested StarWind.
“Perhaps,” mused Lyra. “I want a strategy meeting tonight regarding the Omungan problem. I would like you there to brief everyone on what has happened and where we stand. Can you do it?”
“Certainly,” agreed StarWind. “I think it is a great idea. We should invite the outlanders as well. Maybe their perspectives will let us see things from a different angle. I know that it will not hurt for Malafar to see things from our point of view.”
“Good idea,” Lyra said. “Can you get me the report to read before tonight? I want to make sure that I understand everything you will have to say.”
“I just finished it this morning,” noted StarWind. “I will see that you get it immediately. If you have any questions on the contents, send Jostin for me. I will just be relaxing this afternoon.”
“Good,” replied Lyra. “You deserve a bit of a rest after your trip. Have Jostin send in Temiker and tell him to wait outside. I am not sure who I will see after Temiker.”
StarWind nodded and left the room. Temiker entered immediately and helped himself to a chair. “What happened to you?” he questioned. “You had the whole city worried.”
“Nothing serious,” smiled Lyra. “How is Malafar?”
Temiker sighed and pulled on his beard. “He has had a rough time of it,” he finally said. “He is still as stubborn as a wasooki, but he is not sure what to be stubborn about. He finally believes that it was not my student who killed Alfred, but he cannot let go of the hostility he feels towards me because he had thought it true. Alazar fed him so many tales that he does not know what is truth and what is fiction.”
“Is he a danger to the Sakovan people?” Lyra asked pointedly.
“I don’t know,” sighed Temiker. “I have been trying to be his constant companion so that I can watch him, but he wants to be alone most of the time and does not welcome my company.”
“I don’t know what to do with him,” conceded the Star. “I wish I could put him back into his Academy and bring Rhodella back to life, but that is not possible. I can’t let him be taken by the Omungans and I fear to have him here. What can I do?”
Temiker nodded and stared at the floor. “I have been wondering the same thing,” Temiker admitted. “I thought about taking him back to Alamar with me, but they will be hunting him and that would not work.”
“Does he know about me?” Lyra asked.
“No,” Temiker answered. “He knows only that you are sick and nobody is permitted to see you except the healers. He argued at first, but we managed to make him see reason after a while. You should talk to him.”
“I will,” agreed Lyra. “I have been hesitant to do so, because I do not know how he will react, but it must be done and the sooner the better. Tell Jostin to fetch him.”
“Do you want me here for protection?” Temiker asked.
“No,” Lyra responded after a moment. “If he is inclined to kill Sakovans, then let him start with me.”
Temiker frowned as he rose and hesitated on his way to the door, but with a look back at Lyra, he continued out of the room. Jostin flew in and placed a stack of papers on Lyra’s desk and darted back out again. Lyra looked at the papers and saw that they were StarWind’s report. She sat scanning the papers while she waited for Master Malafar and didn’t get far before the door swung open. She looked up and saw Master Malafar standing in the doorway and she rose and went towards him.
“They told me that I was going to see the Sakovan leader,” Malafar said softly. “What kind of deception is this?”
Lyra halted on her way across the room and stared at him as if weighing her course of action. With an imperceptible nod, she continued across the floor and hugged Malafar’s stiff wooden body. After a few silent moments, Malafar softened and hugged Lyra back. With tears in her eyes she led him over to a chair and he sat down.
“You were not deceived,” Lyra said as she walked around the desk and sat down, “at least not by the Sakovans. I am the leader they promised you would see.”
Malafar’s body stiffened again and he sat ramrod straight in his chair. Lyra held her hand up in a gesture for him to let her explain, but the dark scowl on his face did not soften.
“This is not a decision that I made,” Lyra explained, “and do not blame Temiker, or Rhodella, or the Sakovans. Nobody made this decision except Kaltara.”
“Kaltara,” spat Malafar. “What nonsense have they been feeding you? Just how did some nonexistent deity make you the leader of the savages?”
Lyra found her fingers tapping rapidly on the desktop and she consciously calmed herself. She looked down at the mark on her finger and rose. Leaning across the desk she extended her hand towards Master Malafar. “See for yourself,” she said softly.
Malafar rose and took her hand, running his finger over the gemlike blue star fused with her skin. “What is this?” he asked.
“A good question,” responded Lyra. “I didn’t know what is was, but it was predicted in the Scroll of Kaltara. It is the sign of the Star of Sakova. I fought believing in it, as you do now, but I no longer have any doubt that it is genuine and that Kaltara has chosen me to lead the Sakovan people.”
“Preposterous!” exclaimed Master Malafar. “It is probably some freak accident. A reaction to something perhaps.”
“Father,” Lyra asked softly, “can you tell me of a single example of Sakovan savagery that you personally have witnessed?”
“I do not have to witness atrocities to know that they exist,” fought the old mage. “The history books are full of examples.”
“The Omungan history books are,” agreed Lyra, “but the Sakovan books tell a different story. Have you ever read anything that you did not believe?”
“Of course,” argued Malafar. “If I read your Sakovan history books I am sure they would be littered with lies.”
“Then perhaps the Omungan ones are as well,” Lyra pointed out. “Alazar lied to you. You know that, don’t you?”
A pall of confusion fell over the Master mage. “I was confused,” he finally responded. “He might have lied, but he also told me many truths.”
“You were confused because he drugged you,” Lyra said harshly. “He admitted that he lied to you when he said he made up the story about Alfred’s death. I have never lied to you, Father. Who do you choose to believe in now? Your good friend and confidant who tried to kill you, or your only daughter?”
I…I do not think you are lying to me,” stammered Master Malafar. “I am sure you really believe what you are saying, but it is all so preposterous.”
“Is it?” queried Lyra. “Perhaps I can see how preposterous it is if I allow myself to be objective about it.”
“Then do so,” commanded Master Malafar. “I have always taught you to be objective when considering things.”
“I will if you will,” smiled the Star of Sakova. “I am hosting a meeting tonight to present our situation to the Sakovan people and get their input on what we should do. I want you to attend and I will welcome your input as well. Will you come?”
Master Malafar stared at his daughter as if seeing her for the first time. She was not the little girl he remembered who tried to sneak out of his magic lessons. He saw Lyra for the first time as a woman, a woman who was capable of reasoning and turning his own words against him. The confusion came back to him and he found himself unable to comprehend what was going on. He nodded blankly and continued staring at his daughter.
“Good,” smiled Lyra. “There is one other promise I must have out of you. You are an extremely powerful mage and capable of massive destruction. I want your solemn oath that you will not harm the Sakovans while you are visiting with us.”
Malafar squinted and nodded slightly as if dismissing the topic.
“Not good enough,” insisted Lyra. “Whether you believe in me or not, these people do. I am responsible for you being here. I want to know for sure that you will not harm them. Swear to me on Alfred’s soul that you will not harm them.”
Master Malafar scowled when his son’s name was brought up and he rose to his feet, his hands shaking with anger. “How dare you invoke Alfred’s name in the same breath as the Sakovans,” he growled, his face contorting with rage.
“I dare because Alfred was Sakovan,” retorted Lyra, darkness enveloping her features as well. “I dare because Alfred would ask the same thing of you that I am asking. I dare because my mother would stand by my side in demanding the promise, if she were still alive to do so, if you had used your power to save her.”
Master Malafar and the Star of Sakova faced each other on the brink of a deep chasm, their faces matched in darkness and fury, their spirits determined to win their point or perish in the attempt.
“Swear it!” Lyra screamed. “Swear it or strike me dead!”