Chapter 30

The Prophet Speaks

"I would like to call Eliza Duval to the stand.", Frelnikov announced, looking at the young priestess assuringly.

Eliza rose slowly and approached the stand. As she did so Frelnikov turned to Marinae.

"Could you take a look into Ronaldo's mind?", Frelnikov whispered.

Marinae made a slight face. That seemed to be a little out of bounds for her sense of ethics, but she agreed. "For Aselid. Yes.", she said.

Then the sorceress shifted her attention to the priest and focused her mind, but she couldn't seem to penetrate his thoughts. She whispered a curse.

"I cannot read him.", Marinae whispered to Frelnikov.

Frelnikov cursed silently and hoped that nothing bad was going to happen. He wanted to know if Ronaldo had any special questions waiting for Eliza and if his cross-examination would hurt his case more than the priestess' testimony would help it.

Marinae wondered what to do next. Then she remembered the spirits. She cast her magic sight spell and looked around the room. There they were, two wispy forms waiting on either side of the courtroom a few rows behind her.

"I can see the two spirit-men. A few rows behind me.", Marinae whispered to Lynn. Then she noticed that the one behind her was moving to the other side of the courtroom and closer to the front, as if it were following Eliza. As Marinae watched it closer it appeared to be doing exactly that. Marinae pursed her lips and prepared herself to stop the ghost if it tried to hurt Eliza in any way.

"Eliza. The prosecution's case seems to rest on the belief that Lynn is a sorceress.", Frelnikov began. "You know her as well as anyone, could you tell us what you know of her?"

Eliza's eyes lingered on Lynn as she thought for a moment. "Lynn is, without doubt, the kindest, most caring, giving, and loving people I've ever known.", she said without a hint of doubt in her voice. "She's my best friend and she's saved my life more times than I can count. She is most definitely not a sorceress."

"Have you ever seen her cast a spell?", Frelnikov asked as Ronaldo started rifling through a stack of papers on his desk.

Eliza shook her head. "No, I haven't.", she replied emphatically.

"Objection!", Ronaldo shouted, holding up a piece of paper. "Eliza is not a valid witness. She has broken the laws of the church."

"Ronaldo.", Joseba said, looking sternly at the young priest. "She has been excommunicated, but she is still allowed to testify."

"Your honor, she has broken with the agreement she signed in her excommunication.", Ronaldo said loudly, holding up the paper. "She has entered one of Ezra's temples."

Once more murmurs went through the crowd.

"We have witnesses stating that she has entered the temple of Ste. Mere Des Larmes.", Ronaldo added excitedly.

Joseba turned to Eliza. "Is this true?", he asked. "And may I remind you that you are under oath."

Eliza nodded. "I have been to the Sainted Mother's temple.", she replied calmly. "I traveled there seeking truth and I found it."

Then the young woman turned to the crowd and spoke loudly and forcefully. "The law under which I was punished is invalid!", Eliza called out. "It was not part of Dilysnia's Revelation!"

A gasp went through the crowd. Joseba turned to the guards. "Take her to a cell and put her in irons immediately.", he said.

Lynn's eyes went wide.

"The Canon of the Virtues is a forgery!", Eliza shouted, desperately trying to say what she wanted to say while she still had the chance. "If it were the will of Ezra, would she still grant me her favor?", Eliza added as the burly lieutenant next to the witness' chair quickly moved over to her and grabbed her.

Frelnikov moved back from Eliza. Lynn jumped to her feet.

"Let go of me!", Eliza shouted.

Eliza tried to find the strength to summon the shield, but as she began to concentrate the lieutenant whispered something in her ear. Suddenly her face went slack and she stopped resisting. The burly guard then reached in and scooped the small priestess up out of the chair. Lynn jumped over the railing and took a few steps towards the witness stand where she was met by two White Knights.

Marinae put one hand on a shiny dagger, thinking of engraving the burly lieutenant's name on it. But she held back, knowing that if she threw it, there was no going back. Lynn stopped a few feet away from the guards and turned her back towards them, reaching slowly into the folds of her black skirt. The two Knights stood between her and the witness stand, confident of their ability to keep the peace without needing to draw their swords. The burly guard easily lifted Eliza up and carried her toward the back door. An unsteady calm took hold.


Weamar had heard Joseba's order, but he couldn't tell what was going on inside the courthouse. Whatever it was he knew that it was bad. He put on his gauntlets and made his way to the back door of the courthouse, waiting for the guards to come out. Then he thought that it would be much better if David were with him, but it was too late to go and get him.

On the other side of the courthouse David was working through a plan in his mind. If the trial went badly, and it was sounding like it was, he needed a way to get Aselid away from the guards somewhere between the courthouse steps and the burning pole. He knew that he could hide next to the steps and surprise the guards, slitting a couple throats before the others could react. After that it would be up to his friends to hold off the guards and the crowd while he got Aselid to safety. But when David looked around at the size of the crowd that had gathered, he just shook his head. They were going to need a miracle. He thought harder.


Marinae watched both of the spirits. The one on the other side of the courtroom hadn't moved, but the other one was moving with Eliza. It wouldn't be long before it was gone. "Do something!", she told herself. But she didn't want to be the first to act. A few seconds later she didn't have to wait.

Eliza's head drooped as she was carried away. Weakly she moaned, "Lynn..."

With a flurry Lynn spun back around. Silver and purple flashed around her and the Knights. Marinae watched one of the Knight's helmets fly off and strike the wall behind a ducking Joseba Rittan. The other Knight stood motionless as Lynn held her purple katana at his throat. The helmetless Knight took a wobbly step backwards and then collapsed to the ground. His friend gulped hard and held his hands up slowly.

"You five, come with me.", the burly lieutenant shouted at the other Knights. "The rest of you stop that woman."

Marinae was taken by surprise by the sudden flurry of action, then she decided that it was time to move. She waved her hands and hissed a few magic words, focusing on the spirit following Eliza. Flashing bolts flew across the courtroom, seemingly aimed at Joseba, but striking the ghost floating above him. The bolts sparked brightly as they hit the ghost with less than full force, but they were still strong enough to hurt the spirit being. Angrily the ghost disappeared behind the wall.

The burly guard carried Eliza helplessly into the back room followed by five guards. Petrov and three other guards drew their weapons and marched towards Lynn. The White Knight before Lynn looked at her closed eyes and, frightened of her witchcraft, nervously undid his sword belt. Then he backed away from his weapon, hoping that the others would surprise her, but instead it was Lynn who surprised them. She waited until the others were close enough and then she struck. Lynn's purple blade arced around her and caught one of the Knight's blades, shattering it in two and taking a piece out of his shield as well. The Knight next to him turned away to avoid the flying blade which left his arm exposed. Lynn took advantage and dropped the back of her silver katana sharply down on his elbow, knocking the sword from his hand.

Joseba peered up over his desk at the fray and Ronaldo sat paralyzed, only a few yards from the action. Marius looked on helplessly. He put his head in his hands and prayed to Ezra, hoping that she would somehow bring peace and justice to the proceedings. Marinae watched Eliza go. She wanted to run after her but she knew that Petrov would stop her if she did. Then she thought about blasting him with her magic bolts, but she knew that if it didn't kill him that she wouldn't have the time to try again. So she watched, waited, and hoped.


Eliza and Ilsa were waiting across the alleyway in the shadows. They could see Weamar waiting around the corner of the courthouse. That was going to put a wrinkle in their plans. As Eliza watched Weamar she remembered how angry she was when Lynn had told her that Weamar had abandoned them. Then she remembered that it wasn't Lynn that told her that, it was Kiri, and that Weamar didn't really leave her because she wasn't the real Eliza. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but feel the dull ache of betrayal in her stomach.

"No. I'm the real Eliza.", the imposter thought to herself. "I love Lynn more than she does and I can do the things that she is afraid to do. She is weak and I am strong."

Eliza glared at Weamar and despised him for siding with her weaker half.

"I'm taking him out.", Ilsa said as she saw Weamar peering around the corner. "When I give the signal, distract him."

Eliza nodded and the black robed woman raced off in another direction, quickly circling around the alley and making her way through the shadows of the jail. Eliza watched Ilsa glide through the darkness like a thief in the night. Then she lost sight of her and understood why the Drow were such formidable foes underground.


The two Knights in front of Petrov moved aside, one holding his limp sword arm, the other a stump of a sword. The third Knight didn't look eager to jump into the fray and stayed guarding Petrov's flank. Petrov boldly stepped forth to meet the woman he believed to be a witch. The two met and Lynn's fury clashed with Petrov's strength. Her purple katana slashed against his sword and shield but instead of shredding them her blade was turned away. Petrov's sword, shield, and armor were protected by powerful enchantments and shined with an almost holy light. The crowd was in awe as they watched him facing down the black-robed woman.

"She is a witch!", Petrov shouted as sword and shield clashed over and over. "She fights with her eyes closed!"

"She's just better than you, you imbecile.", Marinae shouted out, her voice almost drowned out by the cheering of the crowd.

Marinae was right. Lynn was better than Petrov, and she proved it by landing a blow squarely on Petrov's shoulder. But as the blow landed everyone saw a white glow flare up around Petrov's body, deflecting the sword and protecting him from harm.


The burly lieutenant shouted orders at the other Knights. "You five stay in here and guard that door. Make sure that no one gets through.", he said firmly. "I'll see if the coast is clear."

With that the burly Knight walked out the back door of the courthouse carrying Eliza. He looked around to either side, wondering where his companions were. Weamar tensed up as he heard the door open, getting his legs ready for a sprint. He peeked around the corner and saw a Knight holding Eliza and looking around impatiently. The Knight took a few steps down the stairs, then noticed Weamar.

"Oh great.", the lieutenant said, sounding very un-knightly. "Some lame rescue attempt."

But Weamar didn't answer, instead he raced towards the guard as fast as he could go.

The lieutenant reacted quickly. "Stop!", he shouted, holding out his hand.

And much to his surprise, Weamar did. The ranger ground to a halt just a few steps away from the lieutenant and Eliza. He could see and he could hear, but he couldn't move.

The lieutenant glanced over Weamar's shoulder and then smiled. "See ya, Mud.", he said happily.

The lights went out for Weamar.


David could hear the commotion going on in the courthouse. A few groups had gathered around the windows to watch. David joined one of those groups and looked in. Upon seeing Lynn locked in combat with the Ezran Knight, his old rage boiled up again. With swift movements he used the crowd as stepping stones to climb up and leap through the window into the courthouse. Marinae turned to see the nimble young man jump to the floor beside her.

"You're late.", Marinae said with typical elvish understatement.

David drew his sword as he rose to his feet. "Better late than never.", he replied.

The battle continued between Lynn and Petrov. Lynn was pleading that she didn't want to hurt Petrov and Petrov was shouting that he was going to put an end to Lynn's foulness forever. The crowd was cheering for Petrov and overjoyed that they would get to see their hero in action again the Legions of the Night. David leaped into the fray as the guard at Petrov's flank turned towards him.


"Geez, Eliza?!", the lieutenant called out. "Get over here."

The imposter slunk out of the shadows and came over while Ilsa, standing over Weamar with her hammer in hand, looked around for witnesses. Eliza stared as she saw herself walking towards her. She could barely believe her eyes. The imposter stared back with a look of determination on her face.

The lieutenant pulled the ring off of Eliza's finger and handed it to the imposter. "Here.", she says. "Hurry."

Eliza, severed from her soulmate and staggered from meeting her own image, gasped and clutched her stomach as a great emptiness filled her.

"You don't realize just how good you had it.", the imposter hissed, inches away from Eliza's face. "You could have just stayed with her at the cottage. Instead you had to be a crusader. You've lost your chance. That life, and Lynn, are mine now."


Suddenly, without a blow from Petrov, or anything that anyone could see, Lynn cried out and collapsed to the floor.

"No!", Lynn shrieked as she fell. Her katanas dropped to her sides.

Through the ring Lynn had been feeling desperation and helplessness coming from her soul mate. Now she felt nothing, nothing at all.

"She's dead!", a voice screamed in Lynn's mind. "She's dead and you couldn't save her! 'Sword Goddess', ha! You're a miserable failure and you deserve to die!"

"No, no. They just took off her ring.", Lynn whispered, but this time the voice was deafening.

"She's dead and you will be too!", the voice hissed. "Two dead whores! Good riddance!"

David saw Lynn fall and screamed with a ferocity that was almost inhuman. He moved on the guard standing in his path with lethal intent. The White Knight stood his ground against David, but David was a man possessed. Crashing into his shield, David knocked the Knight to the ground and plunged his sword into the man's neck, killing him instantly.

Marinae was getting a case of frayed nerves. Fear filled her as she remembered the last time that she fought against armed men. She tried to fight her fears but the thought of death clouded her mind. She drew her throwing knife, but couldn't bring herself to throw it. Instead she watched as Petrov paused and then approached Lynn cautiously. Then he lifted his sword for the killing blow. Marinae gasped as she saw Lynn lying helplessly at Petrov's feet. She aimed her throwing knife at Petrov's head.

"PETROV!", Marinae screamed. "If she dies, you die."

Petrov ignored the half-elf and looked down at Lynn with rage in his blood.

"You owe me your life, Petrov. Don't make me take it.", Marinae shouted, pitching her voice for the audience. "When last I saw this brave man, he was in an alley, eating scraps he'd stolen from trash heaps. I saved his life, brought him medicines, and treated his injuries.", Marinae added. "And now, he would repay kindness with evil! Is this the act of an honorable man?"

"Do it!", shouted one member of the crowd. "Kill the witch!", shouted another.

"So, you are a noble Knight?!", Tshaya shouted, rising to her feet once more. "Now here you are about to strike down a helpless woman."

Petrov paused at Marinae's and Tshaya's words.

"It is noble to smite evil!", Petrov said commandingly. "It is the duty of all Ezrans to turn back the Legions of the Night!"

And with that Petrov began to glow brightly. David scrambled to his feet and charged the glowing Knight, but Petrov seemed filled with inhuman strength and tossed the young man aside like a rag doll. Petrov raised his sword to smite Lynn once more, who was now slowly moving to pick up her katanas.

"You will not lay a hand on her!", Marinae shouted as she fired glowing bolts of magical energy at the White Knight. But she hissed a curse as she watched them being absorbed by his glowing white aura. David looked on helplessly as well. There was nothing that anyone could do to stop him.


"Hit me.", the imposter said. "I want to make it look real."

The lieutenant stared at her.

"Hurry.", Eliza hissed. She said it again, slowly. "Hit. Me."

The burly man gave Eliza a black eye. Eliza staggered around. She gained her feet.

"Tear my dress.", Eliza said

The burly Knight did so, ripping the front and exposing her breasts. "Enough?", he asked.

The imposter nodded. Then she knelt down to her sister and whispered, "You don't have to worry. I'll take care of her. Once my work is done I'll take her home. She'll never have fight for me, for us, again."

With that Eliza slipped on the ring. The lieutenant pulled out the lightning ball and opened the door to the courthouse.

"Say hi to Ezra for me.", the lieutenant said to the soldiers inside as he tossed the ball into the room and closed the door.


The crowd waited anxiously for the kill, but Petrov's blow never fell. Instead the entire courthouse shook as a deafening clap of thunder rang out. The door to the guard room was blown off its hinges as everyone in the courtroom hit the floor. Smoke began to pour out of the guard room as the crowd in the courtroom slowly rose to their feet or knees. Lynn gasped as she felt something warm inside. She could feel Eliza again.

Out of the smoke and into the courtroom stepped Eliza. Her right eye was red and swollen and the front of her dress had been torn partly away. Modestly she held the tattered remains of her top up to her chest as she walked in front of Joseba's bench and turned to face the stunned crowd. Marinae peeked up over the railing from the audience section and gasped.

"The Lady Our Guardian has spoken.", Eliza said calmly, but loud enough so that everyone in the courtroom could hear. "This is how the Knights treat young women who are not of the church."

"Ezra disapproves.", Eliza added quietly, the words carrying a powerful message that wasn't lost on anyone.

The crowd went deathly silent. All eyes turned towards the young woman while Marinae rushed to Lynn's side and checked her for wounds. But Lynn wasn't injured, and she looked up at Eliza in awe.

"Yes, I broke the church's rules. I fell in love. I fell in love with another woman.", Eliza said as she turned her head towards Lynn. "The most wonderful woman in the whole world."

Petrov was standing like a statue only a few feet away from Eliza. As he heard her words he felt deeply ashamed.

Eliza turned back to the crowd and looking each one of them in the eye she said, "I knew that it was a sin. I knew that it was wrong. But it felt so pure that I wondered how anything so wrong could feel so right."

"The church found out, and I was excommunicated.", Eliza said as she looked down at the floor. Then she raised her head again. "But though the church left me, Ezra never did. I healed in her name, I helped turned back the Legions of the Night, and together with my friends I aided the noble Aselid as he turned back Rastinon and banished him from this world."

Murmurs went through the crowd. Many of them still condemned Eliza, but more than a few now supported her.

"The church was wrong to excommunicate me. It was not Ezra's will. And the church has strayed from The Lady's teachings in many other ways.", the young priestess spoke calmly but forcefully. "The Lady Boritsi is using the church for her own purposes, to add to her wealth and to add to her power. Her desires have corrupted the church and innocents are suffering because of it."

"Hear, hear!", one man called out.

Tshaya smiled and looked over at Petrov, but his eyes were fixed on Eliza.

"Yes.", said another. "This trial is a sham. They're trying to weaken Dementlieu so that we have to pay a fortune in taxes to Borca to protect us from Drakov."

Eliza calmed the crowd with a gentle gesture. "And you all may suffer as well, for I have seen the other side with my own eyes. In my battles against the Legions of the Night I was nearly killed. I stood on the brink of death and saw Ezra guiding lost souls through the Mists.", she waited for that to sink in. "And I was shocked, and saddened, to see that The Lady did not guide every Ezran to safety. I know what that means. The church is straying so far that Ezra is forsaking it."

Loud gasps went through the crowd mixed with shouts of "blasphemy" and "false prophet".

"I speak the truth.", Eliza said. Then she lowered her head and concentrated intently, whispering the prayer of the shield.

Slowly a white, shimmering glow appeared around the young woman. It grew until everyone could see it clearly and then it faded away.

"She is a true anchorite!", one man called out.

"No it's a trick!", called out another.

The second man was right. It was a trick. But no one could see Kiri hiding invisibly in the guard room, and no one knew that she was casting a spell to make the shield appear, not even Eliza.

"I want to show the church the error of its ways.", Eliza said. Then she turned to face Joseba Rittan. She took a deep breath before saying the rest.

Joseba was peering over his desk nervously and frightened, as if he were a sinner at the hands of an angry goddess.

"Absolve my friends of their crimes and do them no harm. In return I will give myself up for whatever punishment the church sees fit to deliver.", Eliza said graciously. "But I demand that I be punished in Levkarest, before the Praesidius, and before the Lady Boritsi."

Joseba blinked. He couldn't believe his ears. Ronaldo's hands were shaking. He tried to steady himself but failed. Marius watched with a mixture of awe and pride. He was filled with the great feeling that one gets when one is told that they are wrong for so long and then they are proved right.

Joseba fought to regain his composure. "Petrov.", he said sternly, snapping the young Knight out of his daze. "Gather a dozen Knights and escort Eliza to the Levkarest as she has requested."

"Travel quickly, and protect her virtue with your life.", Joseba added with a pointed glare.

Petrov nodded. He started pointing at the remaining Knights to come with him.

"Surprised?", Tshaya hissed, just loud enough for Petrov to hear. "It doesn't surprise me that your men would rape."

Lynn looked sadly at Eliza. "No.", she said softly. "Don't go."

Eliza slowly made her way towards Lynn and softly touched her cheek. "I love you.", she said warmly. Then, in front of the entire crowd, she leaned in and kissed her lover passionately while cradling her face gently.

"Oh, Eliza.", Lynn said, melting at lover's touch. Feelings of love, sadness, and longing filled her heart through the ring. Lynn returned the kiss and never wanted it to stop.

The crowd gasped loudly as they watched the scene. Joseba and Ronaldo cringed inside but said nothing, fearing for their souls. David finally managed to get to his feet only to look away as he saw the two embrace.

"Petrov.", Joseba said firmly.

Petrov nodded and took Eliza by the arm gently. There was a hint of emotion in his eyes, but only a little. Eliza could see that he was proud of her. Petrov tugged a little harder on Eliza's arm.

As Petrov pulled, Eliza whispered to Lynn, "Come for me." Then she reluctantly let go of her lover and allowed Petrov to lead her away.

Lynn watched her go in disbelief. Tears came to her eyes. Eliza was taken out the door by the remaining five White Knights. Lynn could hardly bear to watch. "No.", she whispered as she felt certain that the Knights were taking Eliza to her death. The awful feelings returned once more.

"Another adventure.", Marinae thought to herself. "Will I never retire?"

"Aselid.", Joseba said, breaking the sad silence. "This court finds you not guilty of the crimes of which you have been accused."

"Court is adjourned.", Joseba added, pounding his gavel once and then quickly retiring to his room.

Marinae rushed to her teacher and started pulling at the chains, but they were magical, and strong enough to hold a wizard. She tried to find the keys to the magic chain but they were nowhere in sight.

"Are you alright?", David asked Lynn who stood in the middle of the courtroom, but only barely.

Lynn shook her head. She picked up her katanas and put them away.

David swallowed the lump in his throat and looked around the court. "Where's Weamar?", he asked.


Mud. Weamar was face down in it. He stood up and started scraping it off himself. Then he remembered what the guard had called him. 'Mud'. Only one other person had ever called him Mud and that was Kiri. The back of Weamar's head ached badly, and thinking too hard about what Kendra's involvement meant made it worse. He leaned up against a wall and tried to clear the cobwebs from his mind.


Outside the crowd cheered as Petrov emerged with Eliza. Then they booed loudly as Petrov told them that there would be no burning today. Then he sent one of his Knights back into the courtroom to deliver the keys to Marinae who used them to free Aselid. Aselid then gave Marinae a big hug.

David watched the Knight who had returned carefully. He'd just killed a White Knight and he wondered if there would be any retribution. But the Knight only seemed to care about his unconscious friend, the one whose helmet Lynn had knocked off. David figured that he was off the hook, but felt that he needed to leave town before it caught up to him.

"That was some rescue.", Aselid said to Marinae.

"We've done better.", Marinae returned with a grin.

Aselid stood up and went over to shake Frelnikov's hand. "I owe you old friend.", he said gladly.

"We were in trouble Aselid.", Frelnikov admitted. "Deep trouble."

"Indeed. In the future I won't take these matters so lightly.", Aselid replied.

Then Marinae saw Weamar staggering into the courtroom from the guard room rubbing his head.

"Weamar!", Marinae shouted. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bump on the head.", the ranger replied.

"Still have your wits?", the sorceress asked.

"Plural?", Weamar asked with a grin. "I think that's a yes."

Weamar staggered over to a bench and took a seat. The courtroom was almost completely empty with the last members of the audience filing out.

"What happened?", the ranger asked, looking around at the courtroom.

"Eliza shortened the trial by quite a bit.", Marinae replied. "Aselid is free, we're all free, but Eliza insisted that they try her for her own 'crimes' in Levkarest."

Weamar gave Marinae a confused look. "Last I saw she was being carried to the jail.", he explained. "Then someone hit me, or something"

Tshaya came over and sat next to Weamar. "I do not like this town. I wish to go somewhere else.", she said curtly.

Weamar looked up at Tshaya, "Where?", he asked.

"Some place where they don't burn people for entertainment.", Tshaya said dismissively.

"I think they do that almost anywhere, given enough 'cause'.", Weamar said derisively.

"You'd like Neblus, then.", Marinae replied. "Just don't hit anyone's mother."

"Take me to this Neblus.", Tshaya said in a playful but demanding way, but Weamar's reply was interrupted.

"No!", Ronaldo shouted loud enough for everyone to hear. "It's gone."

The young priest shuffled the papers about his desk but there was no sign of the book or the gem.

"The book?", Marinae asked. "Who has the book?"

Ronaldo could barely restrain himself from cursing. Aselid gave him a stern look.

Ronaldo was about to go crazy. He looked over at the two remaining Knights. "Search everyone here.", he demanded. "For a book and a gem."

"Oh, and a gem is missing, too.", Marinae said mockingly. "Wonderful."

The Knights slowly began the search, starting with Aselid and Frelnikov.

"They're not here, Ronaldo.", Aselid said after casting a spell and looking around the courtroom.

"The mán has them. The daefaer.", Tshaya said nonchalantly.

Ronaldo, Aselid, Marinae, and Frelnikov turned towards Tshaya. Ronaldo walked up to the young lady.

"Who has them?", the priest asked sternly.

"Daefaer. Spirits.", Marinae explained. "There were two in this room during the trial. One of them is what I attacked before Eliza was removed from the room." Then she looked at Aselid. "I did not know they could interact with our world this way."

"The one behind you left when Eliza was talking to everyone and you were distracted.", Tshaya said to Ronaldo accusingly. "It took the book and the gem."

Weamar said quietly and gently to Tshaya, "If he couldn't see them, he couldn't know."

"And what did he say?", Tshaya sneered. "'We are protected by scores of White Knights. And the Order of Seekers has other defenses in place'. Ha!"

Ronaldo frowned and stared at the young girl. He looked as if he were about to slap her face. Tshaya just stared back, daring him to try anything.

"So now Rastinon comes back and the world burns.", Tshaya said, staring into Ronaldo's eyes.

Ronaldo pursed his lips and glared at the woman, then he went back to his desk, gathered his things, and stormed out of the courthouse.


David went back to Lynn, guiding her away from the others. "Lynn, we need to talk.", he told her.

Lynn nodded and went with David. They sat together on a bench. Lynn was crying.

David struggled with how to say what he needed to. "I promised that I would help save the wizard and we've done that. Eliza did that.", he began. "I also made a promise to someone else. I swore to Lady Renier that I would return to Falkovnia once this was done."

Lynn nodded sadly. "I understand.", she said softly.

"You're going to go to Levkarest after her, aren't you?", David asked.

Lynn nodded. "I must.", she whispered.

David was torn by his divided loyalties, by honor and love. "Tell me you want my help in saving her too.", he said hoping that the woman he loved with all of his heart would tell him what he wanted to hear. "Tell me you need me and, for you, I'll stay."

"I'll only hurt you.", Lynn said, wiping a tear.

"I'm starting to learn that I hurt no matter what I do.", David replied.

Lynn knew exactly how David felt, helpless in a world of pain. Now she felt that way again.

David took Lynn's hands. "Please, Lynn.", he pleaded. "Tell me you need me or tell me to go."

Lynn looked down at her hands. "I love you so much. I love you both.", she cried. "I can't stand to see either of you hurt."

"Then I should go.", David whispered, but inside he burned. "It's seems like we're always saying goodbye."

Lynn pulled her hands away from David slowly. The awful feelings were raging inside of her now. She felt David's soft hands and wanted them all over her body. Her desires were overpowering, but she remembered what had happened when he touched her before, in the Mountains of Misery, and she knew that if she made her desires known to him that she would only hurt him more. Lynn was in agony. She searched desperately for something to give her strength. She sat trembling, shaking, and fighting back more tears.

David stood up. He couldn't bear to see Lynn suffer, but he knew that he couldn't do anything to help her. And as he walked away from her he could hear her whispering, "Eliza, Eliza, Eliza…"