Chapter 33

A Union Defiled

"Desist at once!", the sorcerer said firmly. "There will be grave consequences if you do not. And I do mean grave."

Weamar muttered something about graves and digging one's own as he dragged his captive into the firelight to get a closer look. The man was middle aged and breathing, heavily, like someone out of shape. He was also overweight, looking like he spent too much time riding on his carpet instead of walking. No one recognized the man's face, but the voice seemed to be sparking some of Marinae's memories. Marinae poured through her uncertain memories and found the man's tone familiar, but she couldn't be sure. She mostly remembered whispering, someone whispering in her ear.

"Whispers...in the dark...", Marinae muttered absently to herself.

"Who are you?", Weamar demanded.

"My name is not important.", the man said. "What is important is that you release me."

"Well, Not Important," Weamar said, mocking the man's reply, "Why would we release you?"

"For the sake of your friend's family of course.", the man replied as he looked at Marinae.

Marinae schooled her expression to neutrality. "If he's a member of the Kargat, it is best to do as he says.", she reluctantly advised. As much as she wanted to make the man suffer, she knew that the Kargat were to be feared no matter where they were.

"The Kargat is a sort of police force for the Crown, back home.", Marinae told Weamar. "They're known for being ruthless, cunning..."

"Then has anyone got a good reason why he should live to see his threats carried out?", Weamar answered. "And you didn't include 'immortal', so why not just finish him?"

"One day you will return home.", the sorcerer said to Marinae. "Wouldn't it be nice if everything was as it was before you left?"

"If you are Kargat you would already know I am an exile.", Marinae replied in a huff. "I cannot return there, even though I broke that exile in good faith to bring word of danger to the Crown. It would seem that I was used poorly in return for my good faith."

"You do remember how happy you were when you were last there don't you?", the man replied, brushing aside her comments. "When you return, all that will come back to you, your memories, your devotion, your heroic service."

"As the humans say, 'bullshirt.' ", Marinae shot back. Then she paused, troubled that the word that she used didn't sound right. She looked to Weamar for a hint.

"Bullshit.", Weamar advised.

"Dammit. After all this time...", Marinae said under her breath. "Bullshit!"

"It is true.", the man said. "And your mother and grandmother will look up to you, as will all the elves of Neblus."

"There was nothing heroic in my being there. I was imprisoned.", Marinae answered. "I suppose you will regale me with a tale of how I saw the evil Drakov slain? Or how I stood at the right hand of the King himself?"

The fat man's voice softened as he addressed Marinae. "It will all seem real again. To you, and to your family.", he replied.

As the sorcerer lowered his voice it sounded more and more to Marinae like the whispering voice from her dreams.

"I remember a voice whispering nothings in my ear.", Marinae said, looking the man in the eye. "A voice in the darkness. Your voice, perhaps."

The man smiled softly. "One of my greatest tales.", he said. "If I were you I would want to believe it."

"I am not you.", Marinae shot back angrily. "I can actually look myself in the eye in the mornings, you soulless vomit."

Marinae walked around behind the man. "Tell me, Mage, while I was being interrogated, did you have the tale of how I killed a man by placing my hands just so...?", she said, placed her hands over his ears.

"Kill me and it all goes away.", the man said loudly. "Your memories, your mother, your grandmother, Ellan...everything!"

"You have not answered me.", Marinae replied harshly. "Did I tell you about the effect of Levin bolts at point-blank range? Perhaps you've already done such an experiment."

"Death has never been an obstacle for Azalin.", the man said, his voice instantly becoming dark and sinister.

"I do not think he's listening to me, Weamar.", Marinae replied, annoyed that she was unable to unsettle the man. But members of the Kargat are not easily intimidated.

"You won't just be killing me, you will be killing your grandmother.", the man said, bravely, but there was a hint of worry in his voice. He knew how far from home he was and how temperamental half-elves could be.

"You don't want to mess with her. She's meaner than all of you put together.", Marinae replied, searching for something to say. "As for my mother, we didn't part on good terms this time, either."

"I am tiring of this banter.", the man said. "Make your decision, and then live with it."

"He's too dangerous to let him go.", Marius said, trying to stop the situation from getting out of hand. "But I will not sit by and allow an execution."

Marinae ignored the priest. "What do you say, Weamar? If we hang him upside down from that tree and open a vein, it might attract bears, raccoons, Falkovnians, or worse.", she said, looking at the sorcerer's expression and hoping to see it grow more worried. "I'd have to make the wounds small, for him to live long enough to appreciate the forest animals."

The sorcerer said nothing. Marius was displeased.

"Marius, what alternative do you suggest?", Weamar asked.

"We must take him with us.", Marius said, surprised at his conclusion.

Weamar frowned. He wasn't fond of that suggestion.

"I believe you're right.", Marinae conceded. "Dead, he would be more trouble for us all. But he must be muffled and bound so he cannot conjure. Perhaps even unconscious. I can do that, though it will be verrry painful."

Weamar sighed. "Okay, someone get me some rope from Dry's saddlebags."

Marius returned with the rope and soon their captive was bound and gagged. Marius retrieved the carpet, rolling it up neatly and placing it in the cart. A sense of relief went through everyone as the ordeal was finally over.

Then Weamar searched the clearing where he remembered seeing Solance. He found nothing. He searched it again and again found nothing. Solance, or an imposter, should have left something behind: crushed leaves, snapped twigs, footprints; but there was nothing, nothing at all. He could see where he had come and gone, but his were the only traces in the clearing.

"What happened here?", Weamar wondered as he wandered back to the camp.


"We will wait until sunset, then we ride for Levkarest.", Ilsa said as if that had been the plan all along.

Eliza's eyes narrowed. "Why?", she protested. "We don't have time to just sit here. Those things could already..."

Eliza's voice choked off as an image of Lynn crying out in pain crossed her mind.

"We cannot travel by day.", Ilsa replied. "But Kiri has been told, and she will help Lynn."

Eliza looked off into the shadowed woods, her face a mask of sadness, anger and agonizing frustration. She prayed silently for strength to hold herself together and was pleased that it did, but only just. Ilsa seemed content to sit quietly, as if she were meditating, but staring coldly at Eliza all the while.

"When we were attacked.", Eliza began, uncomfortable with the stare of the dark woman but determined to know the truth. "What did you do? How were you able to fend off the spirit?"

Ilsa looked deeply in Eliza's eyes. "Your question should be why you weren't able to fend off the spirit.", she said firmly.

Eliza flinched at the barb but pressed onward. "It was shield, wasn't it? A Shield of Ezra?", Eliza shot back bravely.

"A black shield? A shield of black flames?", Ilsa said indignantly. "Do you actually think that Ezra would bestow such an evil gift?"

"Then what was it?", Eliza replied.

"You know nothing of the Drow.", Ilsa said dismissively. "And that is how it should be."

But Eliza wouldn't give up. "Why? Why should it be that way?", she pleaded. "What are you afraid of?"

"Have you forgotten the history of your church?", Ilsa asked.

Eliza nodded. "They turned against you.", she conceded. "But how can I know that that wasn't the right decision when all you show me is the bad? How can I make them see that they were wrong about you when you can't even show me?"

"You risk much just by talking to me. If anyone were to see my face in Levkarest they would all seek to destroy me.", Ilsa hissed. "And if they were to know that you had any sympathy for me they would not hesitate to do the same to you."

Eliza's voice softened, but her determination didn't waver. "If we are, as I suspect, both servants of a greater good, children of the Goddess…",  Eliza ventured, unsure of how Ilsa would react. "Then it is a risk I'm willing to face."

Ilsa stared hard at Eliza. "That is the most vile blasphemy that any Ezran could ever utter.", she said coldly. "Never say anything like that to anyone in your church."

"And what if it's the truth?", Eliza countered.

"The truth doesn't matter when faith is involved.", Ilsa answered.

Eliza knew exactly what the Drow meant, and that convinced her that she was right.

"It matters to me.", Eliza muttered.

Ilsa did not reply and Eliza let her statement linger until nightfall.


The White Knights quickly made their way down the Luna river so that they could arrive in Levkarest before twilight. Petrov was stone-faced again, saying nothing. It was as if the conversation the day before had never taken place. Eliza rode along in silence behind him. Her thoughts were focused on the task that Kendra had given her, the death of Lady Boritsi.

They arrived in Levkarest just before sunset. Petrov led the Knights directly to the Great Cathedral.

"What will happen tomorrow?", Eliza whispered to the strong warrior.

"That...", Petrov said without looking at Eliza. "...is up to you."

"If I go through with the trial...?", Eliza asked.

"Only Ezra will be able to save you.", the stone-faced man answered.

"...and if I don't?", Eliza replied, resting her cheek on Petrov's armored back.

"And cleanse yourself, and devote yourself to Ezra, and take my hand in marriage....", Petrov said firmly. Then he softened, "Then I will forgive you."

Eliza was trying to figure out a way to get close to the Lady Ivana Boritsi, but most of what she knew of the "Black Widow" she'd heard through legends and tall tales that she couldn't completely trust. But she knew that the Lady Boritsi was a jealous woman who dealt harshly, sometimes personally, with her enemies. That gave Eliza an idea. If Ivana had taken a shine to Petrov, then getting married to the Knight would make the Lady Boritsi jealous and maybe that would give her a chance to carry out Kendra's plan. That seemed easier than taking her chances during a trial.

"You mentioned Lady Boritsi before.", Eliza asked. "What do you know of her? Other than the usual legends."

Petrov exhaled heavily. "She is getting more and more involved with the church.", the young man said quietly so that his men couldn't hear. "She's using the church to bring the other sects back into the fold, and to weaken the other countries of the alliance." Then he lowered his voice even more. "We only speak of such things in private, but we know what's going on."

"Have you ever met her?", Eliza asked hopefully.

Petrov shook his head. "No. But I know that she is not who she seemed to be.", he answered, thinking about a tale he'd heard about Ivana's eternal youth.

Eliza frowned and said, "Her meddling must be exposed."

Petrov nodded. "Yes. But the question is how.", he replied. "Not all in the church disagree with her meddling since it is making the church stronger, much stronger."

Eliza went quiet for a moment as she settled on her course. She decided to plant a splinter of hope in her shining knight's heart. "Petrov.", the priestess said as she wrapped her arms around Petrov's waist and hugged him tightly. "Whatever happens tomorrow, just remember that I...that I love you."

Those were the words that Petrov had wanted to hear for so long, but now that he had heard them he didn't know how to react. His mind was going every direction at once and his emotions were desperately trying to break loose from his well disciplined heart. He wanted to say that he loved her deeply. Her wanted to take her in his arms. But instead he did nothing, and kept riding towards the Cathedral.

Although her body had never been there before, Eliza's mind remembered the Great Cathedral. She looked at the towering spires with both awe and dread, wondering what her fate would be inside the church that she had once adored. Petrov was acting strangely as the dismounted and entered the church. He dragged Eliza along behind him by the wrist and began giving his men confusing orders. Eliza smiled inwardly at the disorder she had caused with only a few words. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. She felt that her work would be done soon enough and that she and Lynn would be together once more.

As Petrov pulled her along she asked quietly, "Petrov? What's wrong?"

"I'm taking you to the Praesidius at once.", Petrov answered.

Eliza was surprised but allowed Petrov to lead her along. Petrov and two of his men led Eliza to the Praesidius' office. Petrov instructed the Knights to guard Eliza, and then he went inside to discuss all that had happened in Mortingy and what to do with the heretic priestess.


The sky turned pink and the sun peeked through the Borcan forest once more. Weamar, Marinae and Tshaya awoke, happy to find Lynn and Marius watching alertly and their captive still tied up. Another long day of travel lay ahead and after a quick breakfast they were eager to get on their way. Lynn was haggard and listless. After forcing down a meal she crawled into the back of the cart and lay down, curled up into a ball. She could feel Eliza getting farther away and she could also feel the anger and hatred inside her soulmate, overshadowing the love and warmth that she was used to feeling. Lynn felt helpless, and wished that the cart could go faster. The waiting was the worst part. She longed to be in Levkarest, and with Eliza once more. But until then she could do nothing. Marius sighed as he looked at Lynn and took a seat in the cart next to Tshaya. Weamar took the lead as the group headed east.

As the morning sun rose into the sky they came across a clearing with a number of new buildings. Several of them were sawmills and several more were barracks. The noises of wood being cut could be heard coming from each of the mills. And as they pulled closer they saw a team of large horses pulling the trunks of freshly cut trees towards the camp along a path that led southwest, towards Verbrek. Weamar felt pangs of revulsion as he saw with his own eyes what he had only heard of from his friend Rikard. Verbrek was being raped, and Weamar could only watch. He knew that he had to return soon and do something.

"Tell me more about the bitches.", Tshaya said, then she frowned and changed her tone. "I should not talk like that. That is how the Vistani talk to gaje." She paused, seeming to make a decision on the spot. "I will talk to you as friends."

Marinae smiled at Tshaya, sensing the young girl's icy personality finally thawing. Weamar smiled as well, and hoped that it was the start of something more.

"I'd like to know more about Kiri and Kendra.", Tshaya said, unsure of herself.

"What sort of things?", Weamar replied.

"Why are they...why they are your enemies.", Tshaya replied, trying not to slip back into her usual speech patterns. "Why they attacked you behind the courthouse."

"I don't know. I've been thinking about that myself.", Weamar said in all honesty. "I don't think we're 'enemies' as such, our goals and methods differ. We helped her, she helped us, but her motivations worry me, deeply."

"She also resurrected, or something, one of the werewolf war chiefs.", Weamar added, still wondering what Kendra's purpose was behind that.

"Kiri and Kendra...at the courthouse?", Marinae said with a start. She'd forgotten all about it.

"When Eliza was carried outside the courthouse I was ambushed trying to help. One of the ambushers called me 'Mud'.", Weamar explained. "Only Kiri has ever called me that."

"But Eliza went back inside.", Tshaya replied.

"When do you mean? I was unconscious for a while.", Weamar said, absently scratching the bump on his head.

"We saw her get carried out.", Marius spoke up. "Then there was the thunderclap. And Eliza came back inside."

"Did you hear the thunderclap?", the priest asked Weamar.

Weamar was looking totally confused. "No.", he stammered.

"It was a sign from Ezra.", Marius replied. "Eliza was in a room being, well, having who knows what done to her and then there was the thunderclap."

"Everyone inside the guard room was killed…except Eliza. And out she stepped from the room, through the smoke and the ashes, and gave her testimony.", Marius continued, his eyes lighting up. "It was divine."

"I saw her carried into the back alley, I charged at the guard, then I was hit from behind.", Weamar replied. "When I woke I came into the courtroom."

Weamar sat deep in thought. He turned to the priest and asked, "A werewolf couldn't stand having silver in its mouth, could it?"

Marius looked at Weamar oddly. "No...well…I wouldn't think…", he tried to answer. "What are you thinking?"

"Kendra 'resurrected' Talrak Silverclaw, who now has silver teeth and claws.", Weamar replied.

"My word.", Marius said, pondering that.

"And if the new Talrak isn't a werewolf, and Kendra resurrected Eliza…", Weamar continued, but not knowing where it all led.

"She's changed her...", Marius wondered aloud.

Tshaya spoke up. "I see a woman, no, two women, a pair joined together. One is good, the other evil. The evil one brings destruction. She must be stopped.", Tshaya said, reciting Madame Raisa's fortune. "That is what the Seer told me."

"Eliza, evil?", Marius said, his face turning white.

"If whatever Eliza is now is very powerful, would it be able to control Lynn's reaction to it not being the old Eliza?", Weamar wondered.

"I don't like where this is going.", Marinae replied, looking back towards the cart.

Lynn didn't either. She groggily rose up to her hands and knees in the swaying cart. Weamar looked towards the her and felt nervous. If she was being controlled, Weamar thought, then he had no idea what she might do.

"It's her. It's Eliza.", Lynn whispered. "I know it is. I can feel her."

"I want to believe you.", Weamar replied, a little relieved. "Can you take off the ring for two minutes?"

Lynn looked down and shook her head. "She needs me.", Lynn said softly.

"Why does the new prophet need you?", Weamar answered.

"Without me, she can't make the shield.", Lynn explained, her voice tired and desperate.

"The prophet is not one person, but two.", Marius added. "But Kendra has defiled their union. She must be stopped."

"Does she need the shield all the time?", Weamar asked, hoping to convince the young woman. "A small break in the link won't be that serious, will it?"

Lynn shook her head at Marius, then held her ring and turned to Weamar. "Why?", she asked.

"To be sure I'm talking to you, not Eliza, or whoever, is wearing the other ring.", Weamar answered.

Lynn nodded weakly. She closed her eyes and sent a warm feeling through the ring, then took it off. She gasped for a moment, then she steadied herself.

"Thank you, I know it isn't easy for you.", Weamar replied.

Lynn nodded.

"Can you quickly describe any differences in Eliza that you noticed when Kendra first revived her?", Weamar asked quickly.

Lynn nodded again. "She was weaker, and she got tired more easily. But her faith was stronger.", Lynn said. "Kendra had given her a book. It made her ask questions. She went to the library and found the answers."

"But she was the same mind?", Weamar asked.

Lynn nodded. "Yes.", she whispered. "It was her."

Weamar was satisfied. "Thanks Lynn.", he said warmly. "You can put your ring back on."

Lynn slid the ring back on and grasped in it both hands. She sent another warm feeling through it to her lover on the other side.

"A book?", Tshaya asked.

"A book of Ezra. The first one.", Lynn explained. "It was different. At first she didn't believe that it was the truth."

"The first book of Ezra?", Marius said, amazed. "But there are no other copies in existence other than the one at the library in the Great Cathedral."

"Kendra seems to have a knack for collecting nice things.", Weamar thought to himself.

"Eliza also said that she felt a hollow feeling, after the thing was removed.", Lynn said. "But it went away over time. It healed."

Marius was growing angry. "Kendra gave her a book, and she read it, and she changed?", he asked.

Lynn remembered the book in the buried chapel. "Oh no.", she gasped.

Tshaya was looking confused. "So why did...Kiri was it? Why did Kiri drag her out of the courtroom?", she asked.

"To finish the spell!", Marius said, almost bursting. "Lynn, did you notice anything different about Eliza after she was taken away?"

Lynn nodded. "Her emotions, were darker.", she said slowly. "But after what happened to her..." Lynn paused. "...they took off her ring.", she added hollowly.

"Or swapped it.", Weamar conjectured. "Taking the real Eliza past me, and some simulacrum went back into the court."

"Two Elizas?", Marius asked incredulously.

Marinae squirmed. "Aselid told me that a body can be copied...but the spirit cannot.", she replied. "It couldn't have been…"

But Marinae also remembered Aselid's golden rule of knowledge: when everyone agrees that something is impossible, it makes it all the more likely. "Maybe Kendra has found a way.", she wondered.

"Aselid is correct.", Marius said. "And Lynn could tell the difference between a double and the real Eliza. Right?", he asked Lynn.

Lynn hesitated, then nodded.

"Then there is no double. They've corrupted Eliza.", Marius concluded. "We must hurry." He clicked his tongue and the horse pulling the cart walked faster.

Weamar was confused about what was going on, but agreed that time seemed to be pressing and urged Dry to go faster. Tshaya wasn't convinced, but she sat quietly in the cart. Lynn was filled with worry once again. She sat back down and curled up again, hoping that they could get to Levkarest in time. But the cart was slow, especially now that it had to carry another person, and it was going to take them another day to reach the capital of Borca.

"'Wheels within wheels in a spiral array, a pattern so grand and complex...time after time we lose sight of the way...our causes can't see their effects.'", Marinae said, reciting a poem that Aselid once told her. "Nothing is ever simple anymore, is it?"