"The Sarl I know will welcome her. They have accepted me as one of their own. I am sure Greenblade, as well as all of you, will find a home with them."
"It has been our dream for generations. To live as our ancestors did. This island is not our home."
Suddenly, Olaf grew lightheaded and his vision blurred. "I believe I have suffered some ill effects of traveling through the Portal," he said, carefully standing. "Is there a place I can lie down?"
"Of course," Germian said, hurrying to help. "You may use our room."
"Thank you."
Olaf lay down on their bed and soon was asleep.
****
He was back in the Giant's maze, in the room of mirrors. His heart thumped loudly in his chest when he realized he had been returned to his statue form.
He couldn't look around, but he knew from what he heard that the Giant, Island of Freedom, was approaching.
The master of the Maze stood in front of him.
"Olaf, I granted you life to help Moonrazer and Adazzra find and return my pearl eye. Your wisdom and assistance earned you permanent life with them when they left."
Olaf could only stare, unmoving, at the Giant.
"You have returned to an area under the influence of a Giant. You have been blessed by the Holy One. Vessel of Life, the Giant under the island, is the first of us. We, the Dreaming Giants, owe our lives to him. We were his first Dreams."
The Giant touched the statue Olaf's shoulder. "Wheels have begun turning. The Navin came, thinking they could stave off the coming storm by killing Vessel of Life. Others will also try as the time of the Great Conflict grows nearer.
"Take this knowledge back to your friend and my savior. The role she will play in the future is dependent upon her understanding of Vessel's role among her people. Help her choose her path wisely."
Olaf woke, shivering and sweating. He'd never had a dream because he was made of dreams. Dreaming could end the life he knew, dissolving his body back into the mist and magic from which it was born. He had to get back to the mainland.
****
The next morning, Varian watched through the window as the sun came up over the glaciers. He sat in a room down the hall from the Throne Room, where he would face the Sword of Justice.
Would Moonrazer actually execute him if the Sword judged him guilty?
He sighed and moved away from the window. What did it matter? Time was running out for him in any event. Without an heir to present at the Festival of the Dragon Moon, he would be killed by the Dragons.
Anthelme came into the room. "I think it's time."
Varian gave his friend a small smile. "I did not kill Olivier out of malice, but we can't know what the Sword will decide."
"We have to believe it will see the truth in what happened."
"I hope so, but I need to tell you a few things in case it doesn't."
"I don't want to listen to this."
"No, Anthelme. You have to. If I am judged guilty this morning, Gloriana will be the ruler of Tellan and without an heir, she will have to abdicate in favor of Rillaur."
"No, Your Highness."
Varian touched his friend's shoulder. "The people of Tellan must be protected. I want you to promise you'll do what you can to keep my sisters safe after he comes to the throne."
Anthelme took a deep breath, then bowed. "I serve at the pleasure of the Prince of Tellan. I will do all in my power to keep the princesses safe."
"From both Rillaur and the Dragons."
"Yes, Your Highness." Then Anthelme's eyes grew wide. "What about Princess Christabel?"
Varian shook his head. "I am not worried about her. King Rillaur doesn't know about the Weavers, and the Dragons would not bother them as they are keeping the Giants quiet."
"We should get to the Throne Room," the valet said. "The Exalted Warrior is waiting."
****
The Throne Room was more crowded than it had been for Prince Raphael/Piers Michael's judging, but it was also quieter. All eyes were on Moonrazer, but everyone looked at the door when Whiteshadow opened it to admit Prince Varian.
As the men approached her, Moonrazer bowed her head, asking the Holy One to help her see the truth through the Sword's justice.
Her prayer finished, she opened her eyes and looked at the man standing in front of her. Before she could begin speaking, Anthelme opened his mouth and stepped toward the throne.
Varian reached out to touch his friend's arm, but the valet took another step before Moonrazer stood. Anthelme stared at her, closing his mouth.
"I am sure you feel a great need to stand by your prince. I will allow you to do so, but understand this, Anthelme of Tellan. I will allow no interference with this judgment. When the Sword has given its verdict, that is the end of the matter."
Moonrazer did not raise her voice, but she knew no one would argue with her. Not even Whiteshadow would speak against the Sword of Justice. It was one tradition the two of them could agree on.
"The judgments of the Sword are swift, and if this man is found guilty of murder or attempted murder, the execution will be carried out instantly," she said, watching Varian's face.
Varian kept his eyes locked on hers, and she searched her feelings to see if he was attempting to control them the way he had done with Whiteshadow.
"Prince Varian," she said. "You have admitted to killing Lord Olivier in self-defense in the forest. Do you stand by that claim, or would you care to admit to a more serious charge of murder and avoid the judgment of the Sword?"
She had surprised him. He blinked and opened his mouth to respond.
With raised eyebrows, she asked, "Is there something more you want to tell me?"
He held her eyes again, and she saw pleading in them. She felt a prickling at the edge of her emotions, but knew this was not about Lord Olivier. He seemed to be urging her tolerance of something else—some past sin or failing he was not ready to share.
"You will only be judged on the charges recited before this gathering," she said. "Whatever you have done in the past is of no concern to us."
He gave her a weak smile. "Forgive me for hesitation. I will submit to the Sword's judgment. I am not guilty of the murder of Lord Olivier." The Prince held himself a little straighter, and Moonrazer suppressed a smile.
She respected his bravery.
"As you wish," Moonrazer said. She took a deep breath and lifted the sword above her head.
Something like the sound of an avalanche roared outside the walls, and while Lucan cried out in alarm and raced to the window, she held her ground.
"Nightwind, the Dragon Protector of the Sarl, has arrived to observe this Judging." Her voice rang out through the room, sounding over the fading roars. "Prince Varian is under the protection of another Dragon."
"There are two Dragons outside," Lucan called from the window.
This surprised Moonrazer, and she wanted to see what Lucan saw, but her duty as Wielder of the Sword of Justice kept her rooted to the spot.
"The second, smaller Dragon is Silverbeacon, the Dragon Protector of Tellan." Moonrazer's voice cut over the surprised and terrified sounds in the Throne Room. Instantly, everyone in the room grew silent.
The knowledge of Silverbeacon had come to her instantly and she assumed Nightwind had given it to her. She saw fear in Varian's eyes.
Did the Tellan Dragon Protector frighten him? Or did he understand the seriousness of his situation?
There was no time to question him. She could feel the Sword tremble, eager for the judgment to come. She took a deep breath and continued.
"Oh, Holy One, who gifted the Sarl with the Sword of Justice and Ruby Medallion as reminders of Your care for us, we come before You seeking Your wisdom. We desire to know if this man, Prince Varian of Tellan, has committed evil against another. I raise the Sword of Justice to await your judgment." She positioned the heavy blade horizontally over Varian's head.
The sword began to glow, first red then blue and finally white. A bolt o
f lightning seared through the air and connected the blade to the ceiling of the chamber and beyond. By these signs, it was clear to her that Varian was a rightful prince, and a man of great power.
Moonrazer's entire body was engulfed in the white light and she saw the truth. She saw Lord Olivier's actions through Varian's eyes and knew that the Prince had spoken honestly.
As this knowledge filled her mind and heart, the light vanished and the roaring outside ceased.
Moonrazer dropped to her knees, and Whiteshadow rushed to her, taking her arm. Varian took a half step forward toward her.
"Stay back," Whiteshadow said sternly. She then spoke more softly, for Moonrazer's ears only. "Are you well, my sister? You have grown pale, and there are circles of fatigue under your eyes."
Hearing the concern in the Mother Prioress's voice, Moonrazer rubbed her sore shoulder. "I will be fine, sister. This judging is never easy, but I am glad you are here."
Some time passed as she regained her composure. Then she stood, and slid the sword back in the sheath that hung from her belt. Releasing Whiteshadow's arm, she drew herself up to her full height.
"There has been no crime committed," she announced. "Prince Varian had to defend himself from an attack from Lord Olivier, who was clearly under the influence of the same mesmeric herb as Piers Michael."
She met Varian's eyes. "Prince Varian will remain as a Candidate in the Choosing."
The roar of two Dragons was heard from the windows and the sound like an avalanche returned as the Protectors left the Tower.
****
"I want to talk to you about the investigation of the food tampering." Whiteshadow approached Moonrazer as the Exalted Warrior groomed Wind Rider after a ride.
"I will speak to the Sisters of the Flame who prepared the meals, sister. If they know anything, I have to find out," Moonrazer said.
"I would not have a problem with you questioning my Sisters if I thought they had anything to do with the tampering. However, I have some information you should see."
"What did you find out?"
"When Sister Calmeye took General Poliard's body back home, she discovered that the man who came here with that name was really a butcher. The real General's body had been found in an alley several days before the Candidates arrived here."
"Why would someone kill General Poliard? Did this butcher do it?"
"Not unless he was skilled in the art of poisons. The constable there told Sister Calmeye that the murder was committed by someone with special training."
"None of this makes any sense." Moonrazer sat on a nearby box. "How did this butcher get the invitation to the Choosing?"
"We have to assume that whoever killed General Poliard also stole the notice of the Choosing and gave it to the butcher." Whiteshadow pulled out a scroll from under her robes.
"One of the Sisters of the Flame is a history scholar, and she did some research in the Archives. She told me that Worlds Tellan and Andarnnon have been at an uneasy peace for some time."
Moonrazer rubbed her shoulder. "What does this have to do with General Poliard, and more importantly, what does any of this have to do with the food tampering?"
"I think King Rillaur, or someone on Andarnnon, hired an assassin to kill Prince Varian and sent that man here. The food was likely tampered with by that same assassin. I think it was Lord Olivier."
"What?" Moonrazer scowled at her sister. "Why?"
"Listen to me. This makes sense. He poisoned all the food baskets except his own, but when he tried to kill Prince Varian, he failed, and Prince Varian killed him instead."
Moonrazer realized this theory could explain everything.
However, there was an alternative theory she wanted to test. Perhaps the Mother Prioress was involved.
"I cannot judge Lord Olivier with the Sword," Moonrazer said. "He is dead, and I do not have his body."
"That is, of course, a shame," Whiteshadow said mildly. "However, I think the evidence is convincing. You should make a proclamation about this."
"I shall, sister. However, before I do that, there is one more thing to investigate. I do have some of Olivier's blood."
The color left Whiteshadow's face. "How is that possible?"
"Prince Varian brought back his cloak, with blood on it. I think it will be possible for the Sword to tell us the truth of these accusations after all."
"Do you really think that is necessary?" Whiteshadow bit her lower lip. "The Rituals have been postponed long enough."
Her protests made her sound guilty, but Moonrazer had no need to speculate. She had the power to find out for sure, and she would use it now.
"Get Varian and Darkwater and meet me in the Tower Solarium. We will see what the cloak and the Sword tell us."
****
The Solarium at the top of the Tower was open on two sides, offering a view of the great mountains to the South and a vast panorama to the North.
The open air was cold and brisk, and Moonrazer steadied her nerves. She had the same sick, twisting feeling in her gut she got before a battle.
She feared Whiteshadow was responsible for poisoning the food. In fact, she felt almost certain of it, and if that were true, Moonrazer didn't know what she would do.
The Sword of Justice would demand a swift resolution, which could mean Whiteshadow's execution, and Moonrazer knew she'd never be able to live with herself if that were the case.
She didn't like the direction her thoughts were running, and desperately hoped her suspicions were false.
"Warrior," said Darkwater. "We are here in accord with your request. I have brought Lord Olivier's cloak."
"Prince Varian, Whiteshadow. The two of you have accused Lord Olivier of murder; it is the two of you who should hold the cloak for me."
"I don't think—" Varian started.
"Silence," Moonrazer said. "Do as I have commanded."
The Exalted Warrior watched, stoically, as Varian and Whiteshadow grasped the edges of the cloak. Whiteshadow's hands shook, and her lips moved in a silent prayer.
"Lord Olivier stands accused of being an assassin," Moonrazer said. "And his blood will answer for him."
With the Sword, Moonrazer struck the top edge of the cloak. Whiteshadow flinched as the blade bit into the fabric, and she pulled her hands away.
The Sword sliced through the material as lightning crackled along the length of the great blade.
Fire took hold of the fabric, and as the garment burned, thick roiling clouds of gray smoke began to fill the room.
Varian released his grip and backed away.
The cloak hung in the air as though held by the dancing light playing along the Sword.
The smoke thickened and darkened, obscuring the sun. Moonrazer could no longer see the others clearly.
Something began to form in the heart of the dark cloud.
The image of Lord Olivier dressed in dark clothing.
He crept through the halls of a castle she did not recognize.
Varian gasped.
Quietly, Lord Olivier slid past guards with milky eyes that stared blindly. Had they been given some kind of mesmeric herb?
Moonrazer watched, fascinated, as Olivier entered a room where a sleeping woman and young boy lay beneath a large canopy on a bed of shimmering red and gold, breathing softly.
"No," Varian whispered.
Olivier stepped closer and produced a small stoppered vial from inside his shirt. He unscrewed the lid and let a drop fall into the open mouths of each of the figures on the bed.
"No!" This time Varian shouted and started toward the center of the room, reaching for the cloak. Two Sarl guards grabbed his arms to hold him back.
The Tower room was silent then, and Moonrazer feared the spell might be broken.
The wind became a mournful howl that shook the Tower, but did nothing to disperse the smoke. Clearly, the cloak had some other testimony to give.
Moonrazer's blood chilled. She'd had no idea the Sword would produce such an effe
ct. Clearly, they were witnessing events of great importance.
She'd only planned this to compel Whiteshadow to tell the truth about what she knew.
The scene changed, and she saw a man.
"King Rillaur." Varian's voice was filled with anguish. Moonrazer's heart ached for him.
The King spoke.
"I have reason to believe that Prince Varian will be in attendance, trying to win the hand of Exalted Warrior Moonrazer in a competition of some sort. You are to make sure that doesn't happen."
Sword and Illusion Page 27
