Chapter 22

Vedarrak

It was just a little after noon. Eliza and Lynn weren't due to be at the White Rose until evening, so Marinae had some time to kill. Marinae did a little slinking and skulking about town, trying to keep her eyes looking all around her. With eavesdropping and a little magic, Marinae discovered that the townsfolk were divided, just like the innkeeper's daughter had said. Most supported Aselid and railed against the intrusion by the "Home Faith", but others trusted the White Knights and spoke of how they must be doing Ezra's work. Marinae also found out that the White Knights were respected by almost everyone in town regardless of how they felt about the trial.

"So the Knights aren't doing this on their own.", Marinae thought to herself. "They must be under Church orders to take any 'person of interest'."

Marinae also overheard that Ronaldo, the annoying young priest that she had met in the Great Cathedral, was going be the prosecutor in the case and that Joseba Rittan would be the judge. She also discovered that Joseba was the Sentire of the Mortingy church of Ezra and that he was known for harsh justice. More than one person suggested that that was why they decided to hold the trial there instead of in Port-a-Lucine.

"Someone wants him silenced.", Marinae thought.

That evening Marinae waited at the White Rose, but there was no sign of Eliza or Lynn. The innkeeper's daughter didn't know why they weren't there. She said that they had been there every night for weeks. So Marinae went to her room early, claiming to be very tired, but slipped into something black, pulled her hair back, and snuck out of her room's window to go check out Lynn's and Eliza's cottage.


David was awakened by a banging on the door. He looked up to see the door give way and in walked two Falcons carrying torches. David rolled to his feet and grabbed for his short sword, but two more men entered and dove on top of him. A third man followed behind them. David looked up to see his nemesis: colonel Marcos Vedarrak.

The two soldiers quickly subdued the struggling young man. David cursed and screamed as the colonel looked down on him.

"David Markson. The last member of the resistance left.", the colonel said with a smile. "But no more."

"I watched you die once, you son of a bitch, and I swear and I'll see it happen again if I have to rip your fucking head off myself.", David hissed.

The colonel grinned. "I think not.", he said coolly.

Eliza and Lynn woke up with a start. Eliza's heart was pounding as she hopped out of bed and slipped on a light robe. In a chest at the foot of the bed, she found the silver mace that Aselid had given her. Lynn grabbed her swords and ran to the door. She shared Eliza's nervousness but once she felt the handles of her katanas she was serene inside.

Eliza opened the door to the bedroom and the two women stepped out. Lynn saw the soldiers and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew she was looking down on the room from above. She could see the five soldiers, Eliza, and David. She could also see that she was completely naked, but it was too late to change that.

In a quiet but commanding voice Eliza said, "Release him."

They didn't, and the two other soldiers set down their torches and drew their swords.

Eliza glanced at them and felt afraid, but her fears were quenched by the feeling of strength that her faith in Ezra had given her. "Leave now and you will not be harmed.", she said forcefully.

But Vedarrak was not impressed. "What, and miss all the raping?", he sneered. His men grinned lasciviously as they eyed Lynn's nude body. "Put down your weapons and you two will live."

Eliza steeled her expression. The thought of those men touching Lynn set a fire of righteous anger inside the Anchorite. "This your last chance.", she said, almost shouting. "Leave now or, by Ezra, you will walk the Mists tonight."

Lynn hoped that they would leave, but if they didn't she was ready. She didn't want to kill them, and she wasn't going to hurt them if she could help it, but she knew that she had to keep Eliza and David safe. That was the most important thing.

"Put down your weapons or we'll kill your friend.", Marcos said.

Obediently, one of the men holding David to the ground put his sword to the young man's throat. Eliza hesitated and looked from David to Lynn, not knowing what to do. She knew that Lynn had learned a lot in fighting school, but to her the odds looked hopeless.

To Lynn the odds looked very different. She could see the path in her mind: where she had to go and what she had to do. She could get to the soldier holding the sword to David's throat, but she knew that she was going to have to be fast.

"Well?", Marcos asked slowly.

As he spoke Lynn's blades flashed in the torchlight. She could see that the soldier in front of her was out of position, so she quickly brought the flat of her purple katana down on his wrist and his sword clattered to the floor. From there she made a quick jump past him next to David while twirling her silver katana in her hand so that she was grasping it blade downward. Then she drove it point first into the arm of the soldier holding the sword at the David's throat. With amazing skill she pinned his arm to the floor. The soldier shrieked and David felt him let go of the sword.

Marcos cursed loudly. "Kill her! Kill them all!", he shouted.

The other soldier next to David pulled back his sword and tried to jab David in the stomach, but David managed to roll out of the way just in time, then he grabbed the sword that had been at his throat planted his foot into the unpinned Falcon's chest.

The soldier in front of Eliza looked at his friend as he doubled over, grasping at his wrist. Then he turned back and raised his sword to strike at Eliza. The priestess was stunned by how quickly everything was happening and tried desperately to deflect the incoming blow, but Lynn came to her rescue just in time. La déesse d'épée spun on her heel and her purple katana whistled through the air, catching the blade of the soldier before he could deliver the blow. Eliza watched the soldier finish his swing harmlessly as he was holding only the handle of his weapon. The severed blade clattered to the wooden floor.

Eliza took the opening and swung with all her strength. She heaved her silver mace at the soldier who stepped back just in time, but only to feel the flat of Lynn's silver katana on his neck as she continued her spin. He collapsed to the floor in a heap.

David kicked the soldier off of himself and chopped at the Falcon's head, but his stroke missed, catching only a few stray hairs as it went by. Then David ducked as his kneeling foe raised his sword above his head. But the blow never landed. The sword, and the soldier's hand dropped to the floor as Lynn's razor-edged purple katana sliced flesh and bone. And just like that, all of Marcos' men were disarmed or unconscious.

Furious, Marcos drew his sword and closed on the rebel leader. David leapt to his feet and squared off with the colonel, standing between his former commander and his former lover. He assumed a fighting stance and looked for an opening.

"Come on Marcos. Let's be done with it, eh?", David said, forcing a grin.

Two soldiers were kneeling on the ground in front of Lynn, holding their hands. The third bolted for the door and met Marcos' blade.

"Coward!", Marcos shouted as he killed the fleeing Falcon. Then he turned to David. "You'll get the same, Markson."

"You first, Commander.", David replied as he lunged forward to strike.

Marcos easily knocked aside David's attack and nearly caught him with the riposte. "You've forgotten your technique soldier.", he said mockingly.

One of the two soldiers glanced up at Lynn and eyed his sword, laying beside him.

"Don't.", Lynn pleaded with him.

But the soldier did anyway and quickly paid the price.

David let all the fear and anger wash through him and forced a savage and reckless attack.

Marcos calmly blocked again, but the young man's rage drove him back. "Your anger will be your undoing.", he said with a sneer.

Heedless, David pressed the assault. David's sword crashed down on Marcos' shield, but the Colonel was anticipating the attack and thrust his blade deeply into David's stomach. David's eyes opened wide as the weapon pierced his flesh. His own sword clattered to the ground.

Eliza and Lynn both gasped. "David!", Lynn cried out.

Marcos yanked out his sword and prepared for the coup de grâce, but Lynn leapt to David's side and blocked the blow aimed at David's neck. Then the two engaged in a furious sword fight with Lynn matching each of Marcos' thrusts and Marcos' shield taking a pounding from Lynn's blades. But without any armor, Lynn couldn't take any chances, and she gave ground as Marcos pressed his attack. Blades crashed against blades furiously as the two battled fiercely to the death.

David coughed up some blood, and gritted his teeth. His wound was deep and fatal, just like the one he had given the young farm boy so many years ago. Eliza rushed in and pulled David's weakened body out of the way. She looked at the blood pouring out of his stomach and quickly began stripping away his shirt. Then she bundled it up and used it to stop the flow of blood. Remembering the other two soldiers she quickly looked up and gave them a firm stare. They understood and cared for their own wounds. One was missing a hand and the other a few fingers. They weren't going to try anything.


It was dark, but Marinae's half-elven eyes adjusted and she found her way along the country trails to Lynn and Eliza's cottage. It was a cozy little place in the hills, hidden from the main road in a small but fertile valley. As Marinae got closer she could see the wood piled up next to the cottage. Her friends were already prepared for winter. Then Marinae heard some commotion going on inside. She quickened her pace and hurried towards the front door which stood open, pouring torchlight into the front lawn. Marinae heard the sound of swords clashing together and saw two figures sparring near the door. One looked like a Falkovnian soldier, the other looked like Lynn, nude.

As Marinae got closer, she couldn't believe her eyes. It was Colonel Marcos Vedarrak, the man who they had left for dead in the Mountains of Madness. Without a second thought she attacked.


Marcos groaned loudly and cursed as glowing bolts shot into his body. Lynn saw the opening and slashed at his legs with both her katanas, knocking him to the ground.

Lynn stood her ground, waiting to see what Marcos was going to do next. Marcos looked out the door and saw Marinae. "You!", he shouted.

"Drop your sword, you bastard.", the sorceress shouted at him as she walked slowly towards the door.

But Marcos did no such thing, instead he jumped to his feet and charged straight at Lynn. Lynn saw him coming and spun out of the way, bringing both of her blades down across Marcos' back. Marcos stumbled and fell next to David. Then, wincing, he slowly got up once more.

"Why don't they ever listen?", Marinae moaned as she walked in the front door. There she saw Eliza tending to David, who was kneeling on the floor next to Marcos and bleeding from the stomach.

"I see you have all been busy in my absence.", Marinae said with a wink. Then she began to cast another spell.

Marcos looked up and saw Marinae pointing her finger at him, preparing another magical volley. His eyes rolled up into his head and then he collapsed. Out of his body the shimmering image of a spirit form rose. Lynn opened her eyes and gasped as Marinae fired her magical bolts into the spirit. One by one they impacted and the spirit screamed in agony.

"You'll die. You'll all die!", the spirit hissed, then turned and ran out of the cottage, the solid wooden walls not stopping its retreat.

"The spirit.", Lynn gasped as she recovered her breath.

"He won't be coming back now that I'm here.", Marinae said with a grin.

Marinae saw the bodies of two other Falkovnians lying in the cottage and two more kneeling and holding their hands. She looked at the living ones and seriously considered burning them to ashes. She didn't want to have to look at another Falcon emblem again. After all, what right did they have wearing it anymore? Drakov was dead. With the danger passed, Eliza pressed her hands to the wound on David's stomach and prayed, applying her gifts and trying to heal the man.

"Marinae.", Lynn said, breathing heavily. "Thank you, again." Then she bent down and quickly wiped the blood off of her katanas.

"You weren't at the inn...I grew concerned.", Marinae replied.

"David wasn't well.", Lynn said softly.

As if on cue, David gasped and spit up some more blood. Eliza followed him down and prayed harder for his recovery. Her hands began to glow with a soft white light.

"Oh no, David.", Lynn said, rushing to his side.

"Eliza. How much can you do for him?", Marinae asked.

"I'm trying.", Eliza replied, focusing on the wound. But her voice was very unsteady.

Marinae wanted to help, but the wound was too deep for her meager skills. Lynn looked down at the young man, and hoped that Eliza could heal him.

Marinae looked up and glared at the nearer of the Falkovnians. "I thought my King ordered you people to stay within your own borders.", she said angrily.

"It was Marcos.", one of them said through gritted teeth. "He ordered us into Dementlieu."

"Speak plainly! Why are you here!", Marinae shouted.

"To kill him.", the other soldier said, nodding at David. "We didn't know that Marcos was possessed."

"Bastards.", Marinae replied.

Marinae pulled out her most impressive looking dagger and stepped over to the soldier who was missing a hand. She grabbed his hair and pulled his head back.

"I should kill you.", Marinae hissed. "But you are not worth cleaning my blade."

The soldier said nothing and held his wrist tightly. Then Marinae pushed his head back down and turned her back on him, returning to David's side.

 "Just let me die.", David whispered. He looked at Eliza pleadingly. "Please..."

"No, David. No.", Lynn pleaded.

"I can't do that.", Eliza spoke gently. "You have to hold on, David."

David closed his eyes tightly. "I shouldn't be here.", he gasped. "It needs to end."

The two soldiers slowly got to their feet and headed for the door, hoping that they'd be allowed to leave.

"Wait!", Marinae shouted. "Both of you."

One of them cursed quietly to himself and stopped while the other kept going.

"I won't have it said that my people are without mercy.", Marinae said, handing the Falcon some bandages.

The soldier gave Marinae a nasty look, but he wasn't too proud not to take them.

Marinae returned to the others. In her mind the Falkovnians no longer existed.


Eliza moved her hands around David's wound. As she continued to pray her hands began to glow. But the wound was deep, and she didn't know if she could heal it. Marinae watched in fascination and a little awe, wishing that she could help. Eliza struggled as the wound began to close on the inside and the outside, but it wasn't going to be enough.

"We promised to help you, David, and that's what we're going to do.", Eliza said. Then she chanted some lines from the Book of Ezra.

Lynn closed her eyes and fed her strength to Eliza through the ring, causing the white glow enveloping Eliza's hands to flare brightly. David felt his flesh knitting back together. The glow brightened and David groaned as the feeling of pain went away. When the glow finally faded he felt only warmth where the fatal wound once was. Eliza gasped and looked down. They had done it. They'd saved David's life.

"You did it.", Lynn said happily.

Marinae shook her head and waggled a finger at her friends. "I am constantly having to get the lot of you out of scrapes.", she said, relieved that David was well.

Eliza grinned at Marinae. "Yes. Thank you.", she said.

Eliza swayed slightly as she stood up. She looked around and saw that Lynn was still without a stitch of clothing. She quickly grabbed a cloak from near the door and draped it over her lover's shoulders.

"We are so glad to see you.", Lynn replied, blushing brightly as Eliza put the cloak around her.

Eliza kissed Lynn's cheek and said, "Maybe you should put something on?"

Lynn blushed even redder and slunk off to the bedroom. She returned wearing a nightgown and without her katanas. Marinae looked gravely at the three of them, holding the moment, and then broke into a grin and hugged everyone. David slowly ambled to his feet and got caught up in Marinae's hug.

"You have amazing timing.", David said, managing a little humor.

"Yes. Just this morning, I was in prison in Neblus, if you can believe that.", the sorceress replied.

"Oh, shit. We lost.", said the remaining Falkovnian as he woke up.

David saw the soldier moving and his eyes narrowed. He slipped away from Marinae and grabbed the man by his collar, slamming him against the wall.

"Talk.", David thundered. The soldier said nothing.

"Need a knife? Or two? Or three?", Marinae asked sweetly.

"No need.", David replied. "Yet."

Marinae schooled her face into an implacable mask and toyed with the same dagger she'd threatened the other soldier with.

"Keep me in mind. I lost count in the Falkon Wars.", Marinae said.

The soldier decided to talk after all. "Colonel Vedarrak ordered us to come here.", the soldier stammered. "We're supposed to kill you."

David turned his attention back to the soldier. "You failed. When and where were you assigned to Vedarrak's command?", he shouted.

"Lekar. Three days ago.", the soldier replied, talking quickly. "He was rounding up men to go after the resistance."

"How did you track me?", David demanded.

"Vedarrak said he knew where you were.", the soldier explained. "We just followed him."

"How did he know?", David asked, shaking the frightened soldier.

"I don't know.", the soldier said, shaking his head.

David's anger was starting to get the better of him. He gave the soldier a punch to the gut. "Guess!", he shouted.

"Argh.", the soldier gasped. "Intel?"

Eliza stood speechless at the sudden violence from David.

"Don't hurt him.", Lynn gasped.

 "Wrong answer.", David shot back as back handed the Falkovnian across the face.

"Fuck! I don't know!", the soldier shouted.

Marinae decided that there was no problem with the ethics of mind-reading the man. She said a few magic words and peered into the soldier's mind. Inside she found that the soldier wasn't holding anything back. She also found, and not to her surprise, that the soldier was hoping that David wasn't going to kill him.

David wrapped his hand around the man's throat, squeezing and pressing him back against the wall. "Of course, you don't know. You're too fucking stupid.", David spat, getting angrier as he spoke. "You don't ask questions. You don't think. You just follow orders. You do as you're told even if it means killing somebody who never did anything to you. Just so you can..."

David paused and remembered the words Vedarrak spoke to him after he killed the farm boy. "Just so you can get a 'Job well done, lad'.", he added. "I should do the world a favor and..."

"He's telling the truth David.", Marinae pleaded, dropping her act. "For what honesty in a Falkovnian is worth."

"Yeah, she's right.", the soldier choked desperately. "I'm telling the truth."

David could feel himself slipping. He was going to kill the soldier, kill him with his bare hands. His blood was boiling. Desperately he fought the feelings, trying to make them go away. Gradually his rational self took control. David drew a deep breath and slowly released his hold on the man. Then he took a step back. He'd never killed anyone who was helpless before but now he knew that he was capable of it.

"Run!", David shouted, unsure if he could hold himself back any longer.

Marinae flipped her dagger. "Quickly.", she added.

The soldier looked around in disbelief, then he bolted for the door. David watched the man leave, staring into the space beyond the door long after he was gone. Marinae eyed the remaining Falkovnian and wondered if he was dead, playing possum, or unconscious. She looked closely and saw that he was indeed dead. Like an automaton, David began to drag the bodies outside.

"You both can stay, but we don't have another mattress.", Lynn said.

"I'll sleep on David.", Marinae replied with a mostly straight face.

Once the bodies and parts were cleared, David sat in a chair and looked at nothing. "It's okay. I don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight.", he said.

In fact, no one felt like sleeping, so they lit some candles and talked instead.

"You said that you were in jail this morning?", Lynn asked Marinae quizzically.

"It's a long story...", Marinae began.

"Sit down, I'll make some tea.", Eliza said, going over to the stove.

Lynn got some wet rags and started cleaning up the mess as Marinae curled up on a cushion and began to tell her tale.

"I left here that morning, the day after we last talked, aboard a boat. It took several days to reach port, and a few more to get to Neblus.", Marinae began, "I had decided that I would bluff my way into Court and get an audience with the Baron himself. Aselid had helped me dummy up a seal, and I used it to make an official-looking scroll to present to the Baron, acting as a messenger from my 'Master Aselid'."

Marinae paused and gave everyone a wry grin.

"And he had you put you in jail for that?", Lynn asked.

"No, not yet.", Marinae said, then she continued her tale. "Well, I wore that same red silk dress. I was terrified...surprising that my knees didn't knock. I presented myself, gave a speech warning that the Hands could well be in Drakov's possession. The Baron scoffed, of course. Few in Darkon considered Falkovnia any sort of threat."

Then, seeing as how her audience was completely at her attention, paused to take a sip of the tea. "Good tea.", she said.

The others could barely wait for her to continue.

"I revealed my identity, then, as a token of the importance of the message.", Marinae continued. "The Baron looked ready to have me executed on the spot! But then a member of the Kargat interceded and intimidated him into releasing me. The next day, she delivered me to the King himself, who pretty much drafted me into his army."

"No!", Lynn exclaimed with a smile.

"Yes. I fought practically at his side against the Falkovnian army, all the way to the final battle. Then....", Marinae paused, to build the suspense. "He sent me home. To face the Baron."

"And he put you in jail? After what you did?", Lynn asked.

"The Baron, in his mercy, had me and Rambis thrown into prison without so much as a trial. And I moldered therein for three days, the beginning of a three-year sentence for violating my exile.", Marinae explained. "I was relatively pleased, he could have ordered me executed."

The others shook their heads.

"On the third day, I got a visit from Aselid's familiar, with a note and this ring.", Marinae said, showing them the ring. "Aselid was in trouble and needed me immediately. But here's honest little me, who could very likely have broken out. Me and my silly notions of honor. I stayed put and thought about things, and then it occurred to me that I had the right to appeal to powers higher than the Baron."

"The King?", Lynn asked with a gasp.

Marinae smiled. "I managed to convince a guard to dictate a petition to the King, asking for leniency in the face of Aselid's need, in light of my service to the Crown.", she replied. "I had him take that to my family attorney. This was yesterday. This morning, my attorney came and led me to freedom."

"I stayed only long enough to retrieve Maelstrom and my things from safe-keeping, put on the ring, and was brought to Port-a-Lucine via mysterious mists.", Marinae added. "The rest, you should know well enough, finding that Aselid is facing trial, taken by the Knights. I was waiting at the Inn for you, growing worried, coming here, and that, as they say, is that."

"Trial?", Eliza asked.

"Trial?", Lynn seconded.

"It's all over town!", Marinae answered, shocked that they hadn't heard the news.

Eliza looked at Lynn and shook her head. "We've been here all day.", Eliza said.

"And we've been too busy to gossip when we've been in town.", Lynn added.

"So I see.", Marinae replied. "The serving-girl at the inn thinks he's been taken to Richemulot. The Church has apparently brought in a well-hung judge."

Marinae thought for a moment. "No, a hanging judge.", she corrected herself.

Eliza frowned. "This isn't good. Trials in Richemulot can be very harsh.", she said. "I know of the Sentire at Mortingy. He is an unforgiving man. Rittan is his name."

Marinae nodded.

"Why is Aselid on trial?", Eliza asked.

"There is talk of him summoning demons.", Marinae explained. "Most townsfolk seem to think it's a power-play by the church."

Eliza frowned deeper. "That's very likely.", she replied.

"He was doing research. I believe his explorations have upset someone in power.", Marinae added. "That was three Moons ago, about the time I left to go back...home."

Marinae was surprised at the power of that word, "home".

Eliza started getting angry. "It just doesn't stop!", she erupted. "They take and they take and anyone that gets in the way is accused of heresy."

Lynn got quiet. She knew that this was going to be the first test of their faith. She hoped that they were up to it.

Firmly Eliza said, "It's time they were shown how far they've strayed from Ezra's hand."

"The Baron has the same sort of power, any criticism is disloyalty.", Marinae said and gave Eliza a knowing look. "Any show of self-determination is treason. Even for one who fought for the Crown. I...I was there when Drakov was executed."

David's head snapped up. He couldn't believe his ears. "What?", he asked.

"He had brought Meech back from the dead, Lynn.", Marinae added.

David leaned over the table. "You're saying that Vlad Drakov is dead?", he said in disbelief.

Lynn was speechless. Eliza's mouth hung open. Marinae simply nodded, surprised at how little her friends knew of the latest news of the world.

David sat back, his face a mask of confusion. "How?", he asked skeptically, wondering exactly when and how it had happened.

"The King took the Hands, one by one.", Marinae explained. "Drakov had grafted them in place of his own, one Death, one Life. Azalin offered mercy to that twisted, evil bastard. Drakov refused it. The King took his head."

Marinae looked at the others who stared at her with shock and amazement. "I thought you knew!", she shouted. "But, if news of his death hasn't made it this far. I wonder how much of the truth is being spoken in Darkon itself."

"The Hands...", Marinae said quietly.

"What of the Hands?", David asked. "Where are they now?"

"They were returned to Balican, and his tomb was sealed.", Marinae replied.

"Praise Ezra.", Eliza whispered.

"I hope Meech will remain in the land of the dead this time.", Marinae said.

"You were wonderful, Marinae.", Lynn said admiringly.

Marinae smiled gratefully.

"Who rules Falkovnia, now?", David asked, wondering which cruel general had taken over in Drakov's place.

"I do not know who rules.", Marinae answered.

"There will be a vacuum of power.", David explained. "His generals will each attempt to take the throne for themselves. I have to return to Falkovnia again. With Drakov dead, the resistance must make a stand before one of his men can gain power."

David was filled with the urge to return to Falkovnia once more and finish the job that he had started. Perhaps his suffering in Falkovnia had a purpose after all, weakening Drakov's forces and distracting them so that Marinae and King Azalin could conquer him once and for all. Now he needed to make sure that another Drakov wouldn't rise to take his place. But first, he had a debt to pay to Eliza.

"You saved my skin again.", David said to the priestess. "I'll come with you to Richemulot. It's the least I can do."

Eliza smiled and thanked him.

"I...feel that I must apologize, especially to you, Eliza.", Marinae said.

"Why?", Eliza asked, turned back to Marinae and giving her a confused look.

"I was so focused on feeling guilty about causing you injury that I...well, a friend of mine referred to it as a pity-party.", Marinae explained.

"It all worked out in the end.", Eliza assured her.

"He hit me over the head a few times to make me see more clearly.", Marinae added.

Eliza grinned. "Consider it forgiven.", she replied.

Everyone fell silent. The adrenaline had worn off and the reunited friends began to grow tired. So they decided to leave for Mortingy the next morning and went to bed, hoping that the night held no further surprises.