Sword and Illusion

by Nancy S. Brandt

  Standing, he bowed to Moonrazer and walked over to Whiteshadow's seat. Moonrazer's eyes narrowed in confusion, but he looked only at the Mother Prioress.

  The music and singing continued for quite some time, but he waited patiently for the celebration to die down. When it did he spoke. "Thank you, Mother Whiteshadow, for that splendid performance."

  "You are most welcome, Prince Varian," she said, smiling.

  His eyes connected with hers, and through them he let his magic flow. Dreams of Tellan gardens, rivers that sparkled like living gems in the sun, and flowers with sheer petals of royal purple filled her mind, and he felt her relax as she got swept up in the vision.

  He faced the room, letting his magic fill Whiteshadow's head with songs of the great Mother Prioresses as supplied by the play. She had betrayed enough of her prejudices and feelings in the performance that an amateur wizard could craft visions that would hold her spellbound. Varian, a master, barely had to try.

  "I know that the Sisters of the Flame were only following Moonrazer's humble wishes, giving credit for her triumph to the Holy One instead of taking the praise herself."

  Moonrazer looked uncertain, but he smiled at her.

  "However, I'm certain that the people of the city of Morovan are grateful to Moonrazer, who risked her life to bring justice to their town."

  The Mother Prioress watched Varian, a dream-like smile on her face. The Exalted Warrior was probably wondering why she didn't stop his speech.

  "And you all know that Moonrazer fought not one, but twelve Dragons in the cave that day. She fought even after her leg was burned, even when a Dragon's teeth gnawed her shoulder. Despite her humility, I would exalt Moonrazer."

  He shoved his fist into the air. "All hail the Exalted Warrior!"

  ****

  Moonrazer was stunned by the thunderous shower of applause and cheering that erupted. All the warriors in attendance were on their feet, and eventually the Sisters of the Flame reluctantly joined in.

  Whiteshadow, however, continued to watch Varian, as if in a trance.

  Moonrazer was grateful to Varian for what he had done, and impressed by his courage. He was not the only Candidate, however, to stand up for her.

  Prince Raphael and Lord Olivier had also given her moral support. She wished that Lucan had been sitting next to her during a more controversial segment of the play. She wondered what he would have done.

  Moonrazer had been annoyed at Whiteshadow's heavy-handed moralizing and petty insults. However, in the wake of Prince Varian's speech, it became increasingly clear to her that the insult had not been successful. The people here knew what she had done.

  ****

  Whiteshadow sat on her bed, her shoes on the floor beside her aching feet. She wished Lucan were here to rub them for her. Her whole body always seemed to feel better afterward.

  However, the History Cycle performance marked the official beginning of the Choosing Ritual, so he had to stay in the Candidates' House.

  This whole process was getting more complicated than the Mother Prioress had anticipated.

  First of all, there were more Candidates than she'd expected. She'd specifically sent invitations to some royalty, like King Rillaur of Andarnnon and Prince Varian of Tellan, knowing they had mates. She hadn't planned on what to do if they sent substitutes or if her information had been wrong.

  Not only did her feet ache from the tight shoes she had to wear with her Prioress garments, but she had a headache from sitting in the Throne Room for most of the day listening to amateurish recitations of ancient events, many of which probably hadn't been very interesting when they were first included in the Cycle.

  Her original plan hadn't been to bore Candidates into leaving, but she thought maybe that would be the result of today's activities.

  Well, if that did happen, so much the better. There were too many men here who might actually be competition for Lucan.

  She'd tried to keep Moonrazer from spending too much time with the competition, but that became exhausting, watching her show interest in other men and realizing that all she'd have to do would be to select a man other than Lucan, and everything Whiteshadow had worked for would be ruined.

  Lucan had to become the Consort Intended. Moonrazer had to see that he was the best Candidate. Everything depended on that. Whiteshadow had to do whatever was necessary to ensure the proper results.

  If she failed, the Sarl would end up being a soft, peace-loving people and not the avenging angels the Holy One created them to be.

  Whiteshadow stood and went over to the small prayer table set in the corner. A statue of Janico and his mother, the Blessed Lorelii, sat in the center of the gold cloth-covered circle. On one side was the small prayer book she used every morning for her devotions, and on the other was a small yellow candle and a bowl of rose petals.

  She eased down onto her knees, ignoring her achy joints. She knew she was getting older too, even if she was several blizzards younger than Moonrazer.

  Her physical decline could be forestalled, but religious Sarl were forbidden to take mates. However, though she had never been directly told, she knew her relationship with Lucan was an exception. After all, she was special and the same rules didn't apply to her.

  For now, though, she had to keep her relationship with Lucan a secret. The others wouldn't understand.

  Whiteshadow knew that the murder of Moonrazer would be a hard thing for Lucan to comprehend, and she'd been hesitant to reveal that to him, but she prayed that when the time came, he would see the necessity of it.

  Moonrazer was a traitor to the Sarl people, and as such, she had to pay for her crimes. She had changed the once-proud Avenging Angels into passive farmers and soft children, who played at war in the safe training grounds behind the Tower.

  If she allowed Moonrazer to live, she would always be a reminder to the Sarl that they had followed a woman unworthy to be their leader. She would be a distraction to them and eventually, one of the bitter warriors would rise up and kill her, taking revenge for all the years of pacifism they had been forced to endure.

  Revenge was not what the Sarl were about, and Whiteshadow could never let her people dwell on the betrayal they'd suffered.

  No. It was better that Moonrazer die as the Sword of Justice declared her guilty of treason than for one of the warriors to take the law into her own hands.

  When Moonrazer was dead, Whiteshadow and Lucan would announce new revelations from the Holy One. She would take him as her Consort, and she would stop taking the foul-tasting herbs that kept her from conceiving a child. They would have the first daughter destined to inherit the title of Exalted Warrior.

  Her meditation that night centered on the vision she'd had and the mission she'd received. The obstacles that stood before her were merely tests to prove her worthiness to do as the Holy One wished.

  When her prayer candle had burned itself out, she stood, her resolve strengthened.

  She touched the statue in gratitude. The Holy One would bless her efforts.

  ****

  The morning after the History Cycle performance, the Candidates again gathered outside the Tower for a tour of the Alitiano glacier.

  Moonrazer attempted to ignore a lecture on the value of Sarir granite for building fortifications from a heavy, red-faced man who was trying to monopolize her attention. Progenitor Corritar was explaining how her Tower would be stronger with granite from his territory.

  "That is extremely interesting," Moonrazer said. "Perhaps we can test your theories after the Choosing. First, however, we must tour the glacier."

  The man preened, clearly believing he now had some sort of edge over his competition. He rode away toward the other Candidates.

  Moonrazer watched him then faced Whiteshadow.

  "Are you ready?" the Mother Prioress asked, her mouth tight.

  "Yes, sister." Moonrazer mounted Wind Rider.

  The men who were still on the ground got onto their horses. Mother Whiteshadow had some
final instructions.

  "The Exalted Warrior will lead you all to the Great Alitiano Glacier and explain some of the historic events that have happened there, such as the finding of the Sword of Justice. This Gathering is to allow her to see your riding ability."

  She bowed. "Enjoy yourselves."

  ****

  "This is the Great Alitiano Glacier," the Exalted Warrior said when the Candidates halted their horses at the base of what looked, to Varian, like every other huge mountain of ice they had passed on the way here.

  "Legend has it that the first Exalted Warrior was abandoned here by her family. She was cared for by the Holy One and the Oncilla, saber-tooth cats that can weigh as much as four horses."

  "Oncilla?" a man in the crowd asked. Varian turned slightly to look at him.

  The speaker was a short man with black hair and light gray eyes. He wore insignia on his coat that appeared to be military of some fashion. When he smiled at the Exalted Warrior, he appeared to be more mocking than pleased.

  Moonrazer moved her horse to face the questioner. "I am sorry. I do not remember your name, sir," she said.

  "I am General Poliard from the Jowles territory on World Agebeve. I am heir to the Throne of Jowles and owner of six gambling dens." He sat up a bit taller in his saddle.

  Varian was surprised at the coarseness in his manner. He probably came to his wealth and title through business dealings and had not been bred to it. Tellan was full of men like this, who believed their title and wealth gave them some kind of superiority over other men, especially if those things were earned rather than inherited.

  He saw from the look in the Exalted Warrior's eyes that she too understood the kind of man he was.

  "Well, General Poliard," she said, "do you have a question?"

  "I don't know about the cats on Carrick," he said, "but any wild animals on Agebeve would certainly devour any child left alone. I find it hard to believe that this Grayskin would have survived."

  Varian heard murmurs among some of the other men, and Moonrazer's eyes narrowed.

  "You do not believe the Holy One could protect her?" she asked. "Grayskin was chosen by him to be the first Exalted Warrior."

  At this, General Poliard smirked. "I suppose it is understandable that our people are more enlightened than a race that has focused merely on war and battles. Our people have moved away from that and have devoted ourselves to science and the arts."

  "Do you have a point to this?" Varian asked. The other men and the Exalted Warrior turned to face him.

  General Poliard literally raised his chin so he had to look down his nose at Varian. "And you are?"

  The Prince sighed. Now, it appeared, they would have to get into a battle of whose throne was bigger.

  "I am Prince Varian, ruler of World Tellan."

  The smug look on General Poliard's face faltered a bit before he composed himself.

  Varian heard whispers among the other Candidates and saw several of them appraising him. They probably had spent vacations on his home world.

  "Tellan is a very small world, isn't it?" General Poliard said.

  "It may not be as large in size as Agebeve, but there, insulting a queen the way you just did, is punishable by an enforced lesson in etiquette. Flogging and a public apology are involved. I would be happy to demonstrate our custom for the Exalted Warrior."

  Varian knew he probably sounded like a bully, but he couldn't let this rude, arrogant man get away with insulting her publicly. Why was he the only one defending her and her people?

  The murmurs of the crowd died as the other Candidates watched both Prince Varian and General Poliard, who began to sweat, even in the chill air around the glacier. Varian stared at the General and even touched the small knife tucked in his belt.

  After a tense moment, Moonrazer spoke. "The people of Tellan are too soft, I think. It is normal Sarl custom that anyone who speaks against the stories of the first Exalted Warrior must take part in a duel." She took the Sword of Justice from its sheath.

  Varian bit back a smile as he saw the color drain from Poliard's face.

  "I am to duel you?" the General asked.

  Moonrazer's face betrayed nothing, and Varian realized he would not want to be on the receiving end of that cold expression. She would be an imposing foe.

  "You need not duel me if that does not appeal to you," she said. "I am sure one of my warriors would be happy to oblige once we return to Cool Trails. Or perhaps one of the other men here would be willing to stand up as a champion?" She looked around at the Candidates.

  Two men, Lucan and the Sarl man named Everard, shouted at the same time. "I will do it!" They moved their horses until they were on either side of the Exalted Warrior.

  "I'd be happy to teach the General some manners," Lucan said.

  "I think I should be the one to defend our people, Warrior." Everard glared at the General. "No one should ever question the word of the Exalted Warrior nor cast doubt on our sacred stories."

  Before Varian could say anything in response, Poliard said, "No. If I have to duel anyone, I want it to be Prince Varian."

  Lucan and Everard both stared at him. Varian tried to figure out if this man could somehow be from King Rillaur.

  "A challenge has been offered." Moonrazer said, moving her horse in between the two men.

  She glanced at Varian, an unspoken question in her eyes. She clearly wanted to know why Poliard would choose him also.

  "I am curious," Varian said, urging his horse forward. "Why is the General so eager to fight me? I have done nothing to him."

  "Would you decline such a challenge?" The Exalted Warrior faced him, and he had a feeling this was part of the Sarl duel ritual.

  "I would not, Warrior." He bowed his head to her. "It would be to my great credit if I was selected as your champion. Knowing how skilled you must be in battle, your faith in me would give me the greatest pleasure."

  She bowed her head in response. "I thank you for your eagerness to defend the customs of the Sarl. It shows great honor, something my people value highly. However, I do not wish to see any of the Candidates die."

  "Let it be to first blood then," Poliard called out.

  "You are determined to go through with your challenge?" she asked the General.

  "I am." He raised his chin and met her eyes.

  "Very well. I do not see a need for this, but as a sincere challenge has been given and accepted, the laws of the Sarl are clear. At daybreak tomorrow, on this spot, General Poliard and Prince Varian will duel to first blood."

  She nodded once to both men. Poliard looked satisfied, but Varian noticed a bit of fear in his eyes as well.

  Moonrazer turned back to Poliard. "You should understand that those you consider less enlightened here on Carrick revere the story of Grayskin and believe that anyone who mocks the legend will bring down the Curse of the Crystal Spirits upon himself."

  The General said nothing to her in response, but Varian saw him glance behind him as though looking for the spirits she mentioned.

  ****

  Moonrazer went back to the head of the crowd of Candidates, confused by the General's words. He certainly hadn't acted like someone who was vying for her hand in joining.

  Prince Varian, on the other hand, was willing to defend her world and her beliefs even though he didn't know her. That, in itself, was interesting.

  He wore a sword and from the muscles in his arms and shoulders, visible through his jacket, he'd had a lot of practice with it. She knew who she hoped would win the duel.

  ****

  Vaurt, keeping to the back of the crowd of Candidates, caught General Poliard's eye and bowed slightly. He'd found this man in a dingy butcher shop trying to sell dog meat as first rate beef. It had taken a few days of training, but now this fake Poliard looked and acted the part of a nobleman.

  No one would ever find the body of the real General Poliard, who had been foolish enough to wave his invitation around in a tavern.

  Vaurt'
s goal in using Poliard had been to goad Varian into a fight, and the fake Poliard had subtle weapons to make sure the Prince died. It would look like a result of battling a superior warrior.

  While he'd expected it would be today, a duel on the glacier tomorrow would see Prince Varian just as dead.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lucan moved his horse away from the crowd and closer to Moonrazer's. "The glacier looks beautiful in this bright sunshine."

  Moonrazer smiled. "It does, but you should see it during a sunset. The colors seem to dance over the ice."