Lyra awoke in the darkness. She rolled over in the softness of the bed and sat up wishing for some light. She momentarily thought about calling for the fire lighting spell and quickly dismissed it, remembering the pain of her hand when the fireball spell backfired. She remembered seeing a candle on the small table next to the bed and groped around for it. Grabbing hold of the candle she continued to probe for a striker, but the table was bare. She rose and cautiously padded over to the fireplace and ran her hand along the mantle. She found a striker and lit the candle, taking a moment to let her eyes adjust to the new light. She placed the candle on the dresser and walked to the small window and leaned out. The freshness of the cold air invigorated her and she gazed up at the stars to gauge the hour. Still several hours to dawn she calculated and turned her attention to the city below. The streets were quiet, but there were still some people moving about. Here and there an occasional light shone from a window.
Lyra pulled her head in and returned to the dresser. She had meant only to take a nap, but she had slept for some time. She reached down and snared the water pitcher and filled the washbowl. A small cake of soap sat upon a silver dish next to the bowl and Lyra shed her traveling clothes. Her skin pricked with bumps as she submerged her hands in the icy cold water. Again she wished to invoke her magic to warm the water, but was afraid to. She wondered if she would ever perform magic again after the fiasco at the stream. She returned to the fireplace and built a small fire and placed the washbowl on the hearth. She decided to lay out her clothes for tomorrow while she waited for the fire to take the chill off the washing water. She rummaged through her packs for something suitable to meet the leader of the Sakovan people and came up disappointed. Feeling the chill of the night air sweeping over her naked body, she wished she had waited for the water to warm before disrobing. She dragged her packs over to the fireplace and sat down before the flames.
The fire warmed her and she continued to search for presentable clothes, but everything she owned was dirty and crumpled. She pulled the clothes out and spread them on the floor, thinking that she might wash some of them out and be able to dry them by morning. She stuck her finger in the washbowl and felt the water. It was not warm, but it no longer chilled her to feel it. She slipped her mother’s ring off and shoved her hands into the cool water. She stared at the mark upon her finger and how the candlelight caught it and sent rivers of blue color cascading through the washbowl. Shaking her head in puzzlement, she quickly washed up in front of the fireplace. She sat before the fire for a time letting the warmth roll over her body and dry it. As she sat her eyes examined the room in the dim light. She wondered whom the room was designed for. StarCity should have no ambassadors coming to it nor did it appear as if the Sakovans had any formal court, at least none that she had seen. The palace had seemed deserted.
Her eyes stopped on the hanging closet and she thought she could hang her clothes in there so they would not appear so crumpled. She rose and made her way to the closet and opened it. Inside the closet was an array of feminine garments and she pawed through them. Without thinking, she cast her fire lighting spell and held the tiny flame aloft so she could see well. There were dresses and skirts, pants and robes. She pulled a few items out and held them up to her body with her free hand. Most appeared a little large, but not too large as to be noticeable. She returned to the dresser and pulled open the drawers. The dresser was loaded with clothes. Neatly folded shirts and towels, socks and leggings, even some cloth hats and gloves inhabited the drawers. Lyra smiled, extinguished her spell, and pulled out a sleeping gown and tugged it on over her head. Leaving her packs strewn across the floor, Lyra pulled back the covers on the bed and slid in. Within moments the warmth of the covers radiated through her body and she drifted off to sleep.
A pounding on the door awakened Lyra and her eyes snapped open to a light filled room. She gazed at the packs strew across the floor and her eyes rested upon her mother’s ring on the hearth. She quickly leaped out of bed and snatched the ring, sliding it onto her finger before answering the summons from the door. When she answered the knocking with a shout, the door swung open and StarWind entered.
“I trust you found the quarters comfortable,” StarWind smiled as she eyed the packs strew across the floor.
“Indeed I did,” Lyra returned the smile. “Who were these rooms set up for? I mean I wouldn’t think that Sakova had any ambassadors.”
“Not ambassadors,” StarWind answered. “We have some people who live in Omunga and they come to StarCity only occasionally. We have rooms furnished for when they come as they stay in the palace when they are here.”
“Oh,” Lyra responded sheepishly, “I hope she doesn’t mind me using her nightgown. I needed to wash up and I found nothing suitable to wear.”
“She won’t mind,” StarWind frowned. “She was killed three months ago by the Omungans. She won’t be coming home again. She was close to your size and you will find some clothes in the hanging closet. Feel free to choose something appropriate to wear. We will have breakfast as soon as you are ready and then meet with the leader. I will wait outside for you.”
“No wait,” Lyra said abruptly. “Please stay. I will not be but a moment.”
StarWind nodded and closed the door. She sat in one of the stuffed chairs and stared out the window.
Lyra opened the hanging closet and chose a plain blue dress. “Did you know her well?” Lyra asked as she made her way to the dresser.
StarWind nodded and then said, “Yes, I knew her well. I know all of them well. Each and every empty room in this palace haunts me.”
Lyra cringed as she heard the loss in StarWind’s words. She wondered what it was like to have your friends dying left and right everyday. She suddenly realized how sheltered a life she had led. These Sakovans were at war with Omunga, had been at war ever since there was an Omunga and most of her countrymen had no idea the conflict existed. She felt a tinge of shame as she realized that StarWind had many such losses in her life and yet Lyra had pounded on her because StarWind hadn’t seemed to care enough about possible innocent casualties while clearing the Sakova. How foolish and self-centered she must appear to the Sakovans who live with death continually.
“I cannot imagine the inner strength you must have to accept these losses and continue on,” Lyra said. “I think there are many things about Sakova that I do not understand.”
“You should not be expected to know about us,” StarWind replied. “In fact, I wish you knew nothing about us. I wish you had not come here.”
“I wish that as well,” sighed Lyra sensing that the Sakovan already knew what Lyra’s fate was to be and didn’t like it. “StarWind, I want you to know that I hold no hatred for you or your people. We were wrong to enter the Sakova. It is not your fault, but mine. I do wish though that somehow Syman and Antello could be spared. Their only crime is in trying to help me reach my uncle. I feel bad that I got them involved.”
StarWind rose and smiled sadly. “Do not give up hope yet, Lyra. Our leader is not a ruthless man. If I can think of someway to save the three of you without harming Sakova, I will.”
Lyra merely nodded and indicated that she was ready to leave. StarWind led the way downstairs to a small dining room. Two small girls immediately brought out trays of food for them to eat. The fare was simple but enjoyable. The eggs were larger than Lyra was accustomed to, but they were also tastier and the pastries were oven-fresh. There was no talk during the meal and when Lyra was finished, StarWind led her through endless corridors again until they were outside a wooden door. She knocked and Lyra heard a muffled reply. StarWind opened the door and ushered Lyra inside, closing the door behind them as she entered as well.
Across the room an old bird-like man stood behind a desk. His hawkish nose turned towards them as they entered and he came around the desk to meet them. His long white hair bounced as he walked and he stopped just short of three chairs arranged before his desk.
“You must be Lyra,” he said dryly. “Please sit. StarWind I wish you to stay and hear what this young lady has to say.”
StarWind, as head of gathering information, had expected as much and she slid into one of the chairs. Lyra was hesitant, as she was not sure how to greet the old man. She finally seated herself without a greeting.
RavenWing seemed not to notice any breach of etiquette and took the remaining chair rather than sit behind his desk. “I understand that you and two boys have been caught within the Sakova. I trust you are aware that such a trespass is a serious offense. We do not normally ask questions of those who come uninvited onto our lands, but I am told that there are some rather strange occurrences involved with your visit. I want you to tell me what is going on to bring you into the Sakova.”
Lyra fidgeted in her chair for a while regarding the old man with a skeptical look. She nodded slowly and met the old man’s gaze. “I want very much to tell you my story,” Lyra said. “It needs to be told to someone, but I am concerned for others as you are concerned with the Sakovan people. As their leader, you have the responsibility of safeguarding the Sakovans. I too have a responsibility to safeguard others. As I aid your cause in revealing what I know, will you aid my cause in helping these others to safety?”
RavenWing frowned and shot StarWind a puzzled look. Lyra saw StarWind shrug out of the corner of her eye. RavenWing returned his gaze to Lyra and his features hardened. “This is not some game we are playing young girl,” he scowled. “By all rights you should be dead now. You live only at my grace. I will have the answers from you that I seek and I will have them now.”
Lyra started to rise and felt StarWind’s hand on her arm. She remained seated, but she met the old man’s gaze firmly. “As you said, I should be dead now. There are several times that I should have died already and now you hold the power of life and death over me. You may indeed kill me for not telling you what you want to know, perhaps you will kill me once I tell you what I know, but I still have my responsibility to fulfill and I am determined to do so. I have no quarrel with the Sakovans; indeed I have never known about their existence until being apprehended by your people. I will endeavor to aid you in any way that I can. Why is it unreasonable to ask the same of you?”
RavenWing sighed and rose from his chair. “Perhaps I was wrong in suggesting this course of action, StarWind. It is obvious that this child has no concept of where she is and what she is facing.”
Lyra leaped to her feet, StarWind unable to catch her in time, and wheeled to face the old man. “I do understand exactly the situation I am in old man,” she stormed. “I know I am about to die and still I offer to aid the very people who are going to kill me. I offer to help because I have come to feel for your people. I am ashamed of what my fellow countrymen have done to you and continue to do. I will tell you my story although I am not sure what good the information will do you. All I am asking is your help to care for people who depend on me because I will no longer be able to help them myself. Is it so difficult for you to accept that there are other people who suffer other than the Sakovans? Or have you just killed anyone not Sakovan for so long that you do not even think about it anymore?”
Fury burned in RavenWing’s eyes and StarWind rose and pulled RavenWing aside. She whispered in his ear for a few moments and turned to Lyra. “Your treatment of our leader is unacceptable, Lyra,” she stated. “RavenWing is respected by all Sakovans and you gain nothing with this childish rampage.”
Lyra’s eyes opened wide at the mention of the leader’s name and her mouth gaped open. Her mother’s final words flooded back through her mind. “This is RavenWing?” she asked nervously. She hoped to barter her life for some concessions or die trying, but the mention of RavenWing’s name brought confusion to her mind. “Can there be another RavenWing?”
StarWind looked puzzled at Lyra. “There is only one RavenWing. Where have you heard the name before? I have never mentioned it, I am sure.”
Lyra stared down at the ring upon her finger, the ring given to her by her mother and recalled Rhodella’s instructions. She was supposed to go to Uncle Temiker to get training and then have Temiker contact RavenWing. What could Temiker have to do with the Sakovans? “Do you know a mage Temiker of Alamar?” she asked.
StarWind and RavenWing exchanged glances with each other quizzically. “What do you need help with?” RavenWing asked calmly.
Lyra sensed an acknowledgement from the pair of Sakovans and sat down. “Syman and Antello are here because they vowed to help me. I feel responsible for them. I understand that you cannot free them, but I ask that they be allowed to remain with the Sakovans. They are good boys and I know that they will accept this situation and be productive in any way they can.”
Lyra cleared her throat and continued when she got no reaction to her first request. “My father has been kidnapped and the only people to help him are myself and Uncle Temiker. If I must die, I ask that you get a message to my uncle so that he may help his brother. That is all I ask.”
RavenWing reclaimed his seat behind his desk and looked at Lyra. “Temiker will be informed,” he declared. “As for your friends, nobody has decided upon killing anyone yet, including yourself. Contrary to your views of Sakovans, we do not take pleasure in killing innocent people. We kill only when it is necessary to ensure our survival. If we can find a way not to kill you without endangering our people, I will be the first to proclaim it. Having the three of you remain in StarCity for the rest of your life is an option, but that must not be considered lightly. For as long as any of you lived, we would be bound to spend manpower watching you to ensure you didn’t escape. There will be time to discuss such things later. At present, we are in no hurry to be rid of your company.”
Lyra nodded and began to tell her tale. She watched their faces as she went and noted some interesting reactions. RavenWing’s eyes flared when Lyra mentioned names that she supposed he had heard before, while other names brought no reaction. As best Lyra could tell, he had heard of Temiker, Rhodella, and Klaarg before, but not Master Malafar or Master Caulder.
RavenWing interrupted Lyra when she got to the part where she and Syman and Antello tried to escape. “That was a very foolish move on your part, Lyra. If any Sakovan is trained to kill quickly and silently, it is HawkShadow. You are indeed charmed to have lived to get this far.”
RavenWing rose and walked over to Lyra and picked up her right hand to examine the ring. “Goral was right, StarWind. That is why she saw the cave.”
StarWind smiled as Lyra’s face distorted with confusion. What could Goral have said about her seeing the cave?
“Lyra,” RavenWing said, “you mentioned before that you feel for our people and would like to help them. How sincere was that offer? If you were free to leave and your father and uncle were not in danger, would you stay and help the Sakovans? Think before you answer. I do not wish to hear false bravado and your answer will have no bearing on the length of time you can expect to live, because I have already decided that the Sakovan people will not kill you, regardless of your answer.”
Lyra seriously pondered her answer to the question. She had no home to return to and she did feel for the Sakovans, despite the fact that she had felt threatened by them. She understood why they felt the need for their actions and she thought she might react similarly to such a situation. Slowly, she nodded her head. “I do care about the Sakovan people. I do not know what help I could be, but I think that I have to try to do something to right the wrongs that have been done here. I have nothing to return to in Omunga as long as my father is free.”
“Do you have any idea why you feel for a people who have wanted you dead the past few days?” RavenWing asked.
“No,” Lyra answered. “I understand that you are just doing what you feel you must to survive. I may not agree with some of your methods, but I do agree with your grievance with Omunga. Perhaps I feel the way I do because I do not like the thought of a peaceful people being annihilated.”
“Lyra,” RavenWing smiled, “you feel the way you do because you are Sakovan.”
Lyra stared at RavenWing in disbelief, seeing an old man gone mad with age, but RavenWing continued. “Your mother, Rhodella, was Sakovan, Lyra. The ring she gave you is a magical Sakovan ring. It is the reason that your fireball spell failed. While a mage can cast with a magical ring on, she must take the ring into account when casting because the magical auras can interfere with each other. If you removed the ring or accounted for it in your spell, your casting would go fine.”
Lyra was startled with the revelation regarding Rhodella. How could she have been Sakovan and Lyra never know of it? Was it possible?
“I know that you may need time to reflect on what I have said,” soothed RavenWing, “but consider this. Goral came to me last night and told me that you saw the cave opening on your journey into StarCity. The cave opening is protected by magic, which makes it invisible to outlanders. That is why your friend asked where SkyDancer had gone; he could not see the cave. Yet you, wearing the Sakovan Ring, saw it clearly. It is not sufficient to just wear the ring to make it work, Lyra. The person who wears it must be of Sakovan blood for it to work.”
Lyra’s whole life reeled through her mind at an incredible speed. Every interaction with Rhodella played itself back and Lyra fought to find some indication that Rhodella was Sakovan and found nothing. Lyra realized that she had tuned out RavenWing and StarWind and they were looking at her curiously.
“Lyra,” RavenWing said, “let us end this session for now. Go and rest and digest what we have spoken of and we will talk again later. You have no need to fear for your safety or that of your companions. As long as they do not try to leave the city, no harm will come to them. I think we may find a more permanent solution somehow. We have but to take the time to consider it fully. Go rest.”
Lyra nodded and rose to leave. StarWind started to follow, but RavenWing halted her. “Have somebody show Lyra the way to her room. I need to discuss some matter with you.”
StarWind opened the door and hailed Jostin, who was passing by. She instructed the red-haired boy to escort Lyra back to her room, giving him instructions as to which room Lyra was staying in. StarWind then returned to RavenWing’s office.
“I couldn’t have imagined that Lyra was Sakovan,” StarWind declared. “The name Rhodella sits in the back of my mind, but I cannot attach a person to it. Who was she?”
“You may remember her as WinterWind,” sighed RavenWing. “Her loss is a tragedy.”
“WinterWind,” StarWind repeated with awe. “LoneBadger's mother? And we almost killed her daughter. Do you think she will stay with us?”
“I do not know,” RavenWing answered. “I imagine that she has much to think about. I need you to find out about this Master Malafar and contact her Uncle Temiker. Be vague about Lyra being here in the Sakova and how you came into such knowledge of the kidnapping of his brother. And keep tabs on his travels. I want to know where he is at any given time. We may need him to convince Lyra to stay with us.”
“From what MistyTrail said,” StarWind stated, “Lyra’s magic knowledge is far from complete. She reported that while Lyra’s fireball spell was very powerful, she lacked the control of it, even accounting for the interference of the Ring.”
“True,” RavenWing mused, “but WinterWind had instructed her to seek out Temiker’s training. She must have known that Lyra’s training was incomplete. It has been a long time since she left. I will have to read the files on her to be sure I have my thoughts correct.”
“I could use a refresher too,” admitted StarWind, “but I certainly remember LoneBadger. That was a coup I can easily remember and a defeat that stung harshly. I doubt that Lyra knows any of this. I wonder how she will take the truth when we finally tell her.”
“I suggest that we feed her slowly,” cautioned RavenWing. “Too much of a shock and we will lose her. I refuse to let WinterWind’s life pass without benefit for the Sakovans. She gave so much for her people.”
StarWind nodded and changed the subject. “We still have the assassins from Alamar to worry about. There will probably be forty in one group this time and that is not something to be taken lightly. Have you given thought to a mobilization?”
“I have given it thought,” conceded RavenWing as he walked to the wall map. “We don’t have confirmation yet on where they are. I would prefer a small group as we have done previously and HawkShadow agrees. A large group would ensure losses to our people.”
“Perhaps,” argued StarWind, “but these are not mere soldiers to be toyed with. I think HawkShadow got lucky with the first group and we risk losing a small elite group if we are seriously outnumbered.”
“I take it you fear that the group will split up?” quizzed RavenWing.
“Yes,” answered StarWind. “They are not tracking Lyra this time. I think they will spread out to cover a very large area and try to intercept her before she leaves the Sakova. Our own people could get caught between segments of the group and be annihilated.
“Your fears are valid,” agreed the Sakovan leader. “I will talk with HawkShadow again about this, but the ultimate decision is his. I respect his ability to control the boarder areas. If they get past him, I will go with a mobilization.”
StarWind nodded and started to leave.
“One more item,” recalled RavenWing. “Lyra’s account mentioned a man named Klaarg. The name is familiar to me, but I cannot place it. I want you to research your files and see what you come up with. Also send out a contact bulletin. I want your operatives to be on the lookout for him. Nothing overt, but mark it as high priority.”
“I will see to it,” assured StarWind. “I think I should check in on Lyra as soon as I get these other things under way. When do you want to see her next?”
“You seem to have developed her trust well,” smiled RavenWing. “You feed her slowly and whenever you feel the need for me to be involved further, just schedule it. I will always be available for you. I am posting a pair of guards at the tunnel, so you may let the boys have free reign of the city. If they try to escape, we will have a problem, but if they do not, it will ease Lyra’s fears for their safety.”
StarWind nodded and let herself out of RavenWing’s office.