Sword and Illusion

by Nancy S. Brandt

  "I'd love to see that."

  "I'm sure we all would," Prince Varian said, as he rode up on Moonrazer's other side.

  Before she could respond, another Candidate forced his mount between theirs.

  "What else do we have to do here?" he asked Moonrazer. "That Mother woman said something about historic events. I would like to hear more." He faced Moonrazer, after glaring at Varian.

  "And you are?" Moonrazer asked.

  "We met last night at the pageant," the man said. "I am Vaungog, the royal historian for the Court of Fakaurindulu, Fifth Holder of the Title of Tharotur Supreme. By the way, I hope you won't be insulted, but I also think the Mother Prioress did an injustice to your history. I didn't speak up last night when—"

  "Forgive me, Vaungog," Moonrazer said. "I am afraid I cannot keep all of the Candidates' names straight yet."

  He didn't return her smile.

  "Did you want to tell us about historic events?" he said. "It is frigid out here, so perhaps we should get on with it."

  "Of course."

  She raised her voice so all the Candidates could hear her. "During the reign of Eldertree the Second, her brother, Jarah, was kidnapped by mercenaries hired by King Gonnig. This is a story that was not in the pageant, so I will tell you what happened."

  She motioned toward the glacier. "The kidnappers intended to hold him for ransom, but Jarah had spent his childhood exploring this glacier, against his mother's wishes, so he knew secret ways through the ice and escaped. The kidnappers, however, got lost and wandered around until Eldertree's warriors found them. They were eventually staked out on this same glacier and left for the Oncilla and ice wolves to devour."

  Vaungog looked at her, his mouth open and his breath coming in quick gasps. "And you would condone this kind of execution?"

  "Yes, under the right circumstances," Moonrazer said. "As brother of the Exalted Warrior, Jarah was a very important person to the Sarl. His escape was heroic and inspirational to our people."

  "But his captors were probably eaten alive." The man looked appalled.

  "They were criminals," Lucan interjected. "Would you have preferred that the Exalted Warrior's brother had died?"

  "Of course not," he said. "I would have preferred none of them die."

  "That is not the way warrior people think," General Poliard said. "Enemies die, and justice is served."

  Moonrazer felt as though the Sarl had been insulted again, but she wasn't sure exactly how to respond. She'd never been at ease where court politics were concerned, and this was the kind of conversation that used to make her wish for a long solitary ride into a battle.

  Just then a series of growls came from a ledge above their heads.

  Moonrazer spun Wind Rider around and reached for the Sword of Justice.

  She saw a pack of black-footed frost Oncillas crouched down as though ready to pounce.

  Pulling the Sword of Justice out of its sheath, she kicked Wind Rider, but the horse had already seen the danger and was nudging the other animals out of his way as he hurried to place her in the best position to protect the group and possibly kill the animals.

  To her surprise, Lucan, Prince Varian, and the Sarl man Everard kept pace with her. She glanced at the Prince, whose ethereal blue eyes seemed to be taking in the entire situation.

  Wind Rider took a steady stance between the wild animals and the other Candidates. From years of working with Moonrazer and leading her into many battles, he'd grown able to anticipate her commands in situations like this.

  "Stand back," she said to the three men beside her.

  Most of the rest of the Candidates, she noticed out of the corner of her eye, had already moved off the foot of the glacier. She wondered if any of them would be able to kill anything for the offering. Perhaps this series of Rituals was worth something after all. If nothing else, it would give her a better idea of their mettle.

  The cats swarmed down the glacier. Moonrazer had not appreciated the size of the pack. She found herself at the center of a storm of teeth and fur. She sliced the closest cat's abdomen with her sword, and caught the next animal's throat with the other hand. The animal made a gurgling sound as she squeezed the life out of it.

  She had both hands full when the third one leaped straight at her, claws outstretched.

  Her reflexes were off by just a breath. Moonrazer knew what to do, when to move, how to move, but she felt as though she watched her body not respond to the movements her brain demanded.

  She was half a breath too slow.

  As a result, the animal caught her shoulder as she jerked aside. She stifled a yell of pain as she struggled to get in the proper position to attack the Oncilla.

  She spun in the saddle and pierced the cat's neck through to the bone with her sword. The Oncilla was dead before it landed in a heap next to Wind Rider.

  As she turned back to the rest, she caught sight of the cats attacking Varian. One lay dead at his feet, and he seemed to be staring two others down, just as she'd seen him do with her sister during the History Cycle earlier. Instead of leaping, they swished their tails in agitation, growling but not attacking.

  Moonrazer feared the standoff wouldn't last, and she pressed her left knee into her horse's side as one of the cats suddenly jumped and landed on the Prince, knocking him from his saddle.

  She swiftly charged at the second cat, directing Wind Rider to trample it. He kicked as he approached, and she saw a metal-shod hoof strike the beast in the head. There was a crunch of bone, and it tumbled to the ground. She whirled and looked at Varian.

  He had lost his sword, but was able to hold the cat and prevent its teeth sinking into his neck. Before Wind Rider could reach him, Varian sunk his knife into the Oncilla's side.

  He had not been disarmed, she realized, but had decided to switch weapons. He was better than she had thought. From the gush of dark cat's blood that flowed over his arm, she knew the blade had found its mark.

  The animal collapsed but before he pushed it aside, he slit the dying cat's throat, unconcerned about the damage to his own clothing. She smiled at his agility as well as his compassion in not allowing the animal to suffer.

  Varian got up and looked at her as though to speak, but he cried out and rushed toward Lucan, who was on the ground, wrestling with a larger, more ferocious cat. The animal's huge, sharp teeth were bared as it reached for Lucan's throat.

  His muscles strained to keep the great claws away from his body. Blood soaked the tattered cloth armor protecting his arms. Whatever wound he'd received, it had not stopped him from fighting.

  In a quick, unexpected move, he flipped the animal over onto its back, and in an instant, snapped its neck. Moonrazer caught her breath, impressed by his strength. She had no time to congratulate him on his kill, though.

  A final cat charged the remainder of the Candidates and Moonrazer urged Wind Rider forward.

  The Sword of Justice remained in her hand, and Wind Rider was fast, but she was too late. The cat ignored all of the other men and headed straight for General Poliard. Even though terror showed on his face, he was apparently determined to prove his own prowess.

  He swung his sword, but too slowly. The cat snarled, knocked the General over, and sank its sharp teeth into his neck.

  Moonrazer came in range and swung the Sword of Justice. The Oncilla evaded her blow, retreating and baring its blood-soaked fangs. She jumped off Wind Rider.

  She held the Sword of Justice with both hands in high guard and met the cat's eyes. It did not approach, but growled at her.

  All the action around her seemed to vanish, and she felt her battle skills push conscious thought away. The only thing that mattered was this enemy and their contest.

  Her breath slowed, and she saw the cat in a clarity most of her life lacked. She knew which direction it would move to attack her, and she seemed to have days to decide what her response would be.

  As she prepared to strike, however, the cat turned and ran away, flying up the glac
ier and out of sight.

  Immediately, Varian ran to Poliard's side and fell to his knees beside the General.

  "Is he still alive?" Moonrazer asked him, motioning toward Poliard.

  Varian checked the gouges in the man’s neck. "He's dead."

  A gust of wind blew, filling the air with an eerie sighing melody, sweeping a fine layer of white over the corpse of the General. The distant angry roar of an Oncilla followed.

  "Did you see that?" A man's voice came from the crowd of Candidates, and a low murmur rose from the rest of them.

  "What just happened?" Lucan asked.

  Moonrazer stood and wiped her hands on her trousers. "I have never known the cats to attack in the daytime like this unless they are threatened."

  "It was the Crystal Spirits." Everard pulled his horse from the crowd and approached Poliard's body. "He spoke against the story of the First Exalted Warrior, and the cats punished him."

  She looked at him. While she honored the ancient stories, she'd never truly believed the Spirits were real.

  Was it possible there were such things? Could the woman she fought with on the glacier be one of them? What did they want with her?

  "Master Hunter Everard," she said, "you will take the General's body back to the Tower. I want the healers to look at it. There may be some clue as to why the cats attacked him and no one else."

  Everard opened his mouth to speak, but one look from her made him close it and merely nod.

  With the help of a few other men, he put Poliard back on his horse and tied the animal behind his own.

  "I believe it is time we all headed back to the Tower," Moonrazer said. "I do not want to tempt the cats to return."

  No one argued with her, and most of the Candidates followed Everard off the glacier.

  Moonrazer remounted Wind Rider and saw Lucan and Prince Varian watching her.

  "You don't believe it was because of his comments on the story, do you?" the Prince asked.

  She considered her words before she spoke. "It is said that when an exceptionally brave and honorable Sarl warrior dies, her soul goes to live with the Crystal Spirits, caring for our people and acting as messengers for the Holy One. I have always considered this a story told to children to help them lead a virtuous life. Today, I am not so certain."

  ****

  Whiteshadow stood at the end of the long banquet table and looked at the men seated around it. She tried not to let her eyes linger on Lucan's face, but he was so handsome.

  When the men met the morning before to ride out with Moonrazer to the glacier, there had been fifteen who planned to make an offering to become the Exalted Warrior's consort. However, after the death of General Poliard, and some time to think about it, several of them seemed uncertain.

  "Is it always this dangerous here?" one of the men asked.

  "Yes, a very good question." Another man stood up. Whiteshadow thought she remembered him being introduced as Prince Raphael. "I didn't feel safe until I was in sight of the castle, but then I fell into a huge sinkhole in the snow."

  "That was not a sinkhole. That was a footprint," Everard said.

  "A footprint?" Prince Raphael sputtered. "It was the length of five horses!"

  "Aye. Carrick has one of the largest and most powerful Dragon Protectors in the Known Worlds." Everard lifted his chin.

  "Dragon Protector? Not something to be proud of." Lord Olivier stood. "They claim to protect the Worlds, but who protects us from them when they turn against the people? Prince Varian may have something to say about that."

  Everyone in the room looked at Prince Varian, and Whiteshadow scowled. What was all this?

  The Prince sighed. "This is not about Tellan. I'd rather not discuss our Dragon Protector. Let's see what Mother Whiteshadow has to tell us." He motioned toward the Prioress.

  "Thank you, Prince Varian. I agree. We should focus on the issue at hand." She looked around the room. "The Oncillas are ferocious animals."

  Several of the men were thinking of backing out. She could read the emotions on their faces.

  "From what I have been told, General Poliard had been warned that his talk against the ancient stories could anger the Crystal Spirits. Perhaps if he had been willing to apologize—"

  "Apologize?" Another man stood up. Whiteshadow thought his name was Carawick, and he was a wealthy landowner. "He was attacked while under Moonrazer's protection and you're blaming him?"

  "Surely you do not think that she can prevent all danger? She is the Exalted Warrior, the greatest warrior of the Sarl, but even she is not the Holy One." Whiteshadow continued to smile, while knowing her own feelings about her sister had to be kept secret.

  "She didn't seem like an exceptional warrior out there on that glacier," Carawick said. "She should have been able to prevent Poliard's death. I expected better."

  Whiteshadow took a deep breath and opened her mouth to explain about Moonrazer's age and the process Sarl women go through, but she stopped when Prince Varian stood.

  "I'm a bit confused, Mother Prioress," the Prince said. "As a wizard, I know a little bit about magic and I have to wonder if these men, especially Master Carawick, have been put under some kind of enchantment. The Exalted Warrior I saw out on the glacier was very different than the one they are describing. She killed three cats at once, then took one off my hands."

  He faced the other men. "While most of you retreated from those animals, staying as far away as possible, Moonrazer rushed into the middle of a pack of teeth and claws to protect you. Several of you spent the time before the cat's arrival criticizing and questioning everything she told you about the Sarl. I am amazed that most of you have forgotten or were never taught how the Sarl saved your worlds or at the very least, your royal families. There isn't one world that has not been touched, at some time in history, by the bravery and compassion of these warrior women."

  Even though Whiteshadow knew he would be a problem for her plan, she was gratified to hear him defend the Sarl. This man seemed to know what the Sarl were created to do. If things were different, he might have been a good choice to help her bring them back to their true heritage.

  "I, too, have read the history of the Sarl," Vaungog said. "They have one of the largest Dragon Protectors in the Known Worlds. History records that he sometimes fights with the others of his kind. There are stories of Nightwind leveling mountains, trampling strong fortresses to dust, and devouring entire armies of men, crunching their armor in his great teeth. For the sake of the Dragon alone, the Sarl are worthy allies."

  "Then how did the Navin conquer this world?" someone asked.

  "Because, at that time, there was no one to hold the Sword of Justice," Whiteshadow said.

  Carawick spoke again. "She looked clumsy and off balance to me. It kind of reminded me of the History Cycle story where she tripped and fell, accidentally killing her enemy.

  "Look, she fights well enough for a woman, I suppose, but after watching that battle with the cats, I believe it must be the Dragon that does all the work, not these Sarl."

  How dare he speak about the Sarl that way? Whiteshadow forced herself to not respond. It would be better for Lucan and her plans if more men dropped out of the Choosing, but she hated hearing her people maligned in this way.

  "If that is your opinion," Prince Varian said, "then you are indeed a fool, sir. The Sarl have been involved in the history of every one of the Known Worlds and most of the races. Whenever there have been unjust wars or despotic rulers, Sarl warriors have stepped in to fight for what was right. Many of us owe our very existence to them."

  "It may have been that way once," Carawick said. "I see nothing to show me these Sarl are the same as their ancestors." He looked at Whiteshadow. "I will not be continuing with these rituals." He left the room.

  Another man hurried after him.

  Whiteshadow was appalled that any of these men would only want to mate with a Sarl woman because she was a warrior and not because of their natural feminine allure. Lucan h
ad taught her the kind of power that allure had, and she'd grown to appreciate that Sarl women were strong in many ways.

  She looked around the table. "Tomorrow Sister Gisela will explain the next part of the Ritual. Get a good night's sleep. You will need it."

  ****

  Varian looked around at the other men after the Mother Prioress left. Prince Raphael said nothing, and Everard shrugged as though this were something he dealt with every day.

  Soon all the other men left the room, leaving Varian alone, thinking about the woman he'd seen on the glacier.

  She was the leader of her people and a courageous, noble warrior, but she was also a woman, one who could be as vulnerable as any other. He'd seen a glimpse of that vulnerability when she failed to save Poliard.