****
Moonrazer walked out of the Tower, rolling her shoulders to relieve the tension in her neck. She'd just left Whiteshadow and the Sisters of the Flame setting up the banquet hall for the Choosing Ritual.
All afternoon they'd drilled her on what she was supposed to say and how to react to various offerings.
Oakgold stood outside with a cloak. "I thought you might need to get out of the Tower when you finished your meeting with your sister."
Moonrazer smiled. The servant seemed to make it her job to surprise the Exalted Warrior whenever possible.
"Thank you. May Janico bless you and your family."
She grabbed the cloak and headed out to the stable. Olaf was working there with Bergthor, one of the assistant stable hands.
"Warrior," the serpent man greeted her. "Are you here to take Wind Rider out for his exercise?"
"I have not ridden him in several days, and I have missed it." She patted the beast's nose.
Just then, a man's head rose out of one of the nearby stalls. "He is a lovely animal," the man said, stepping out of the stall, wiping his hands on his homespun trousers.
Moonrazer tilted her head as she contemplated this man. "I am afraid I do not know you, sir," she said. "Why are you working in my stable with my horses?" She laid her hand on the hilt of the Sword of Justice as a silent warning.
"Wait, Moony," Olaf said, touching her arm. "This is Lucan. He is not Sarl, that is true, but he has proven himself quite knowledgeable about horses. He helped us out a few days ago when one of the mares had trouble delivering her foal."
Lucan looked at the ground. "To be honest, I have come as a Consort Candidate."
Moonrazer felt her heart sink in her chest. The last thing she wanted now was to deal with a Candidate. She grimaced and focused her attention on the horses.
Lucan moved to the other side of the stable.
Olaf said, "I know that you aren't happy about these rituals or interested in the men who are coming here, but I've spent a few days with Lucan. He came to the stable and offered his help, asking nothing in return. He seems like a good man. You could be making a mistake, dismissing him so quickly."
Moonrazer considered this and decided that if Olaf trusted the man, she wouldn't worry about him. Her friend would keep an eye open for trouble.
"I will give him a chance to prove his worth before dismissing him," she told her friend.
Olaf bowed his head. "That's all I ask."
She started getting Wind Rider ready for their ride. Lucan came to stand beside her.
"I haven't been on Carrick very long," he said. "If you don't mind the company, I would like to ride with you and see more of this area."
Moonrazer looked at him in surprise. Never had anyone invited him- or herself to come along when she rode Wind Rider. She started to tell him that she wanted to ride alone, but after what happened last time she was on the glacier, she felt better knowing someone else would be with her, although she'd never say this out loud.
She smiled. "Do you have a horse?"
Olaf stepped up. "His horse is stabled here."
Moonrazer thought for a moment. "Have you ever ridden your animal along the glaciers?"
"No. Smokey Traveler is from a much warmer world than this. She is only beginning to get accustomed to being out in the cold."
Moonrazer motioned to Olaf, who approached. "As my adviser and apprentice stable master," she asked, "do you believe Smokey Traveler is ready for a long ride to the glaciers?"
"She's more than ready. I think she's eager to be out and stretch her legs. I have replaced her shoes with studded ones more suited to Carrick's terrain."
"It is settled," Moonrazer said, turning to Lucan. "Get Smokey saddled up, and meet me outside. I will show you our glaciers."
****
From the window in her bedchamber, Whiteshadow watched as Moonrazer rode off across the snow-covered landscape on Wind Rider. The Mother Prioress scowled. Lucan was with her. Even though the plan was that he would eventually mate with her sister, Whiteshadow wasn't happy to see them together so soon.
As Exalted Warrior, Moonrazer had the freedom to just ride off like that. She wasn't confined to a temple full of women who had all the same conflicts and irritating habits as women everywhere, religious or not.
The Mother Prioress moved away from the window and strode across the room. Her Holy Books lay on a table next to an unlit candle.
The Book of the Soaring Phoenix was open to the third chapter. She stared at the passage she'd been reading when she went to bed last night:
The Sword and Medallion will be lost by one who should never have sat on the honored throne of Exalted Warrior. The land will suffer from this loss, and the people will scatter. Many clans will be lost, and their loss will be felt by those not of the Sarl.
When the time is right, the Sword and Medallion will be restored to the land, and the people will live in peace.
Whiteshadow took a deep breath and closed her eyes to enjoy the anticipation of what came next.
Before she could read further, she heard a knock on her door. Whether she wanted to meditate on the sacred writings or not, she had a responsibility to the people.
"Come," she said, standing up and clasping her hands together at her waist.
Sister Indil entered and bowed. "You asked me to come, Mother?"
Whiteshadow had forgotten about her weekly appointment with Indil, a new postulant at the Fountain of Infallible Light. The sister who normally instructed the postulants was on an extended retreat to her home world of Thorum, discerning a calling to total silence. In her absence, the task of instruction had fallen to the Mother Prioress.
Having Lucan nearby had hampered Whiteshadow's sense of responsibility. She smiled at Indil, but mentally chastised herself. She would need to practice firmer self-control.
"Yes, Sister Indil," Whiteshadow said. "Please come in and sit down."
Indil looked at the bed but sat in the chair by the table. Whiteshadow glanced at the bed as well, but saw no evidence of her previous visitor.
"Mother, have you been studying the writings on the Exalted Warrior?" Sister Indil asked, indicating the books.
Whiteshadow approached the table. "I was. Have you read these particular passages?"
Indil read aloud, "'When the time is right, the Sword and Medallion will be restored to the land, and the people will live in peace.'" She looked up at the Mother Prioress, smiling. "This prophecy has been fulfilled in our lifetime, Mother. Moonrazer, your own sister, found the Sword and the Medallion and brought the Sarl back to Carrick, and the people live in peace."
Sister Indil bit her lip and stared at the words. "Should the Sarl be at peace, Mother? The Sarl are warriors. Are warriors even equipped to live at peace? I mean, as religious sisters, we are chosen to live at peace, but warriors are designed by the Holy One to be guardians of justice throughout the Known Worlds. This often requires violence. Would peace not dull their senses or cause them to fight with each other?"
Whiteshadow continued to smile. "Exactly. The writings say the next Exalted Warrior will take the Sarl back to their traditional life. The Sarl are warriors and should be involved in one of the many wars that are always raging somewhere in the Known Worlds." The Mother Prioress pointed to the book. "Why do you not read the next passage?"
Indil continued, "'The Exalted Warrior will leave her position and her throne, and find her destiny elsewhere. A new Exalted Warrior will come from an unexpected place, and there will be unity between the people of dreams and the people of swords.'"
Whiteshadow smiled. This passage was the prophecy that told her that what she planned was acceptable in the sight of the Holy One. "What do you think this means, Sister Indil?"
The younger woman bit her lip. "I am not sure, Mother."
"The 'people of dreams' means those who have visions."
Indil tilted her head as she considered the words in front of her. "Religious, and the people of sw
ords must be the warriors. What makes no sense is that the religious and the warriors are not at odds."
"By the time the next Exalted Warrior takes the Throne, perhaps that will not be the case," Whiteshadow said, striding over to the window to peer out. She wondered what Lucan and Moonrazer were doing out on the glacier. Forcing her thoughts to the matter at hand, she turned back to Indil. "Why do you not read the next sentence? Perhaps the meaning will become clearer."
"‘A new Exalted Warrior will come from an unexpected place.’" She studied the words for a moment then looked at Mother Whiteshadow. "A new Exalted Warrior." The postulant scowled. "I do not understand. Obviously, if Warrior Moonrazer leaves the throne, a new Exalted Warrior will have to be found."
"It is the words 'unexpected place' that are important," Whiteshadow said. "And remember the context of unity between the people of swords and the people of dreams. What do you think this might mean now?"
"Again, Mother," Indil said, "I am not qualified to interpret prophecy. However, it seems to me that the next Exalted Warrior must be someone that no one would think of, perhaps someone unworthy."
Whiteshadow took another deep breath and opened her mouth to berate the young girl. Unworthy?
However, Indil seemed not to notice this and continued speaking. "We know, do we not, that the Holy One does not see us as others see us. He looks on our hearts and the hidden places in our souls that others cannot see. Perhaps the next Exalted Warrior will be someone who is seen as unworthy to the Sarl, but in the eyes of the Holy One, she is the most worthy."
Whiteshadow smiled in relief. "That is a very wise reading of the text, my daughter. You may yet have a future with the Sisters."
Sister Indil blushed and bowed her head. "That is my greatest hope, Mother."
"Now, return to your room, and spend a candlemark in prayer for the next Exalted Warrior."
The postulant stood. "And for Warrior Moonrazer as well, Mother?"
"Of course. Pray for Moonrazer as well."
Indil bowed and left the room.
Whiteshadow returned to her reading. "'After the Sword is found again, there will be a time of darkness in which an unworthy Exalted Warrior will lead the people. In punishment for her sins, she will be left desolate.'"
She could not suppress a small giggle. "You will pay for what you have done, my sister."
Immediately, realizing the inappropriateness of her mirth, she chastised herself. "Lord Janico, have mercy upon my poor unworthy sister."
As she finished her prayer, she thought how blessed she was, to have grown in holiness so much that she could pray for someone clearly unworthy.
Chapter Ten
Whiteshadow sat in the chair the postulant had just vacated and reread the words of prophecy. Of course, this was what Janico and the Blessed Lorelii had spoken of in her vision. The Mother Prioress was to be the next Exalted Warrior. It was so clear in these words.
No one expected the next Exalted Warrior to be the Mother Prioress, nor did they expect the Sisters of the Flame and the warriors to be unified into one army. But they would see for themselves that younger sisters should not be discounted.
It only made sense, too, of course. Justice. The Holy One had taught His followers about justice. This change in the class system would bring justice to those who had been left behind for generations.
"Those considered the least in the Known Worlds will be raised to the heights in Paradise." Whiteshadow whispered one of the most beloved passages from the Holy Books.
Janico loved all His children, and He made sure that those who profited in this world at the expense of others would receive little in the next, but those who had struggled against unfair obstacles and burdens would triumph in the time to come.
Moonrazer had always succeeded in this world.
She had gotten everything Whiteshadow had wanted growing up. The Warriors' Mantle and Blessing from their mother, the eyes of every male in the camp as she practiced her swordplay, even the admiration of all the older warriors in her sparring.
When Whiteshadow thought she'd found the man of her dreams, the man who would prevent her from having to join the Sisters of the Flame, Moonrazer had won him, too. That fool Lammer had been taken in by Moonrazer's height, figure, and skill with weapons even though he'd told Whiteshadow he was more interested in intelligent conversation than in beauty.
He'd spent long afternoons with Whiteshadow, but the moment he saw Moonrazer practicing with her sword he'd left their blanket under a tree to watch. Whiteshadow had never been alone with him again.
Even in love, Whiteshadow had been left in her older sister's shadow, required to be content with what small accolades fell her way.
Eventually, Whiteshadow, forced into religious life by the injustice of having been born second, became the Mother Prioress by finding the Sword of Mercy, and she'd thought she'd finally done something her sister could never best, but she'd been wrong.
Moonrazer found the Sword of Justice and Ruby Medallion and became the Exalted Warrior, after seven generations with no one leading the Sarl.
She would be the one the Sarl would remember for the rest of time as the Exalted Warrior who brought the people back to their ancestral homeland.
Where was the justice in all this?
Whiteshadow looked at the small replica of the Star of Janico hanging on the wall of her room.
Soon, all would be put right.
Moonrazer would choose Lucan as her Consort Intended, and Whiteshadow would have the pleasure of taking him away from her, as well as the Sword of Justice and Ruby Medallion, before using the Sword to slit Moonrazer's throat in judgment.
Whiteshadow walked back over to the book and closed it. There was no need to read further tonight.
****
Varian and Anthelme guided their horses through the Portal on Carrick. There was nothing to mark the exit except a small cabin attended by an old woman. Apparently, she was the only Portal Master this world had.
She gave them directions toward the Tower of the Exalted Warrior, and a tankard of warm mead to sustain them against the cold.
When the Prince reached for his coin purse, the woman shook her head and said, "Best of luck in the Choosing, sir."
Varian and Anthelme rode their horses down the trail for a few hours, doing their best to spy out the small painted signs which marked the path.
Occasionally they'd get turned around, losing their way under the drifting snow.
"I think we've wandered off the trail again, Sire. I'm pretty sure we should be up there," Anthelme said at one point.
"You're right." Varian sighed. "That's one of the trail markers behind that bush on the path above us."
Just as he gave a gentle kick to the horse’s sides, he heard the faint sound of a child crying.
"Did you hear that?" Varian drew in the reins, stopping his horse at the side of the rutted, frozen road that led away from the Portal.
Anthelme paused to listen. "It's just a child. Probably a village nearby. You know, there ought to be one right near the Portal. For most worlds, that's a center of commerce. This has to be the only Portal in the Known Worlds located in the middle of nowhere."
"It sounds like he's hurt," Varian said. He guided his horse in the direction of the sound and kicked it into a gentle trot.
Anthelme turned his horse and caught up with Varian. "The free mead was nice, but you'd think they'd build a tavern, at least. After all, travelers might want a place to rest their feet and something warm to put in their stomachs to keep them going on their trip in this frozen wasteland."
"What are you on about?" Varian said, turning to his valet. "Can't you hear that child crying?'
"What about it? Probably hungry. I'm sure the brat's mother will handle it. Can we please turn back? I don't want to freeze my manhood off before we get to Cool Trails."
"No." Varian shook his head. "That is not the sound of a hungry child. Something's wrong."
He kicked his horse's
side, and the animal increased speed. They headed toward the wailing.
"Sire," Anthelme called. "Please. Cool Trails is in the other direction."
Varian ignored the other man and rode into the scraggly forest, his horse stepping as quickly and carefully as he could over the broken branches and small, virtually invisible ice patches.
After riding for some time, during which the crying never ceased, he found himself near what must be a storage shed on the edge of a small clearing cut in the forest. The sound of the child crying came from the other side of the building and now he could also hear what sounded like a woman moaning.
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