Chapter 35

Alone

The guard came for Eliza. She did not fight. Silently he led her down to the far end of the row of cells, around a corner, and down another hallway. Like the hall before, bars lined one wall, but instead of more prison cells Eliza could see a torture chamber on the other side. Rugs lined the stone walls and in the center of the room was a wooden chair with an array of ghastly metal things attached to it. Eliza tried to prepare herself for what was coming as best she could but she couldn't stop her body from shaking uncontrollably. This was the most horrible thing that she could ever imagine.

The guard led her to the end of the hallway and down a short flight of stairs to the floor of the chamber. Now Eliza could see more torture equipment. Every device that she'd ever read about was there, and many more that she hadn't. The guard told her to take a seat in the chair. Eliza looked down and winced as she looked at all the screws, plates, and cranks and imagined what they would do to her body.

Eliza looked from the chair to the guard and then back the way she came. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer as she decided that resistance would only hurt more. She complied with the guard's orders and sat down. The guard then closed the clamps around Eliza's arms, legs, waist, and neck, and made sure that they were tight and locked in place. Then he left the chamber.

Eliza waited, her stomach filling with an awful, nervous feeling she as looked around the room. At that moment she never felt more alone. She felt through her ring. Lynn was on the other side and she was getting closer. Eliza could feel how distressed her lover was and wanted to send back a good feeling to reassure her, but the only things that she felt were horror and dread.

Soon a few people filed into the chamber. Eliza recognized most of them. Leading the way was Ivan Dilisnya, the old but still strong-bodied leader of Lady Boritsi's enforcers. Behind him was an incredibly beautiful young woman with dark black hair and blue eyes whom Eliza had never seen before. The woman was followed by Praesidius Levin Postoya, High Seeker Vasile Topa, and finally Petrov Nichola, the captain of the White Knights.

Everyone but the young woman and Petrov gave Eliza a stern, disapproving looked. The lady was smiling and Petrov was stone-faced once more. Eliza sat tall in the chair, trying to meet their gazes with strength and determination. Most of the group took seats around Eliza's chair with Ivan and the young lady electing to stand. Without any fanfare or introductions, the interrogation began.

"Eliza.", Levin Postoya began. "You claim to have a new revelation about the church. Could you explain yourself?"

Eliza swallowed hard and began her defense. "The church has strayed from its calling.", she said. Her voice was wobbling, but gained strength as she spoke. "I have stood at death's door and Ezra met me there. She showed me that many who call themselves Ezrans fail to walk the path of her grace."

Eliza's gaze passed pointedly over Levin, Vasile, and finally Petrov.

"While those who are not Ezrans, even some who have been cast from the earthly church, retained her favor.", Eliza continued, feeling more confident. "You excommunicated me for breaking church law. But that law was not the will of our Goddess. If it were, then how could what happened at the court in Mortingy have occurred?"

Levin began to reply but Eliza cut him off.

"I left for the love of a woman. I have returned for the love of a goddess.", Eliza said firmly. "I do not fear death or any device of torture you can conceive. Ezra is with me and through me she will show you her plan."

"Yes, Mortingy.", Levin said as he got a chance to reply. "In the courthouse you made the shield. Could you be so kind as to make it again?"

Vasile whispered a chant and stared intently at Eliza. Eliza nodded and began the Prayer of the Shield. Silence fell across the room as Eliza slowly chanted, but Ezra was not with her, and nothing happened. Levin looked at Vasile who shook his head.

"Was the shield in the courtroom a fake?", Levin asked.

Eliza looked confused and suddenly scared. "No, no this isn't right.", she said bewildered as she stared down at her arms and legs and saw that they were not covered with a white glow. Eliza's mind raced. She couldn't figure out why she could make the shield. Then she thought about Kiri, and the magic that the Drow possessed. Her shield had been a fake. Kendra had lied to her.

Levin nodded towards Ivan, who approached the back of Eliza's chair.

Eliza watched the enforcer approach and then looked to the young woman. "Lady Boritsi! Please stop this!", she called out. "Everything I've done has been out of love. Surely, you of all people could understand that."

The young woman frowned as Eliza guessed her identity. "Give her two turns", Ivana said bitterly.

Ivan stopped behind Eliza's chair and turned an iron crank. Eliza felt a metal plate pushing into her back, shoving her spine out of line.


Lynn let out a shriek.

"What?!", Weamar yelped.

Marinae looked around for threats but Weamar suspected the cause was not that local. Marinae came to the same conclusion moments later.

Lynn gasped, "Pain, pain, they're hurting her."

"Lynn...where?", Marinae asked.

Lynn gasped and moaned. She grasped at her ribs and back tenderly. Weamar realized what was happening and acted fast. He slapped the cart horse and urged Dry into a canter, donning his magic gauntlets as he went. As they approached the entrance to the Great Cathedral they saw at least a dozen White Knights standing guard at the top of the polished marble staircase. The doors were closed and the Knights were alert. It looked like they were expecting trouble.

Weamar urged Dry even faster, and charged up the stairs. Marinae rode past the cart and followed Weamar, her staff at the ready. Her adrenaline was pumping and it was making her fears of mortal combat go away. The Knights drew their swords and readied their shields. They were defending their goddess' holiest site and there wasn't a hint of fear in their eyes.

"Stop!", one of the Knights called out. "In the name of Ezra and all that is good."

Weamar ignored the Knight's order and pressed the charge. Dry's courage, however, was not equal to his master's and the horse slowed as they approached the landing.

"Weamar! Wait!", Marius shouted, hoping that it was not too late.

It wasn't. Dry stopped a few steps from the Knights. For a moment no one said anything.

Weamar called back. "Make it quick Marius.", he replied as he kept his eyes on the Knights and his hand on his sword. "Time is a factor..."

Marius scrambled out of the cart, stopping only to have Lynn confirm that Eliza was in the church. Then he hurried up the stairs. Lynn cried out again and rolled out of the cart. She staggered to her feet as Marius approached the top of the stairs. Frelnikov also got out of the cart and stood next to it. Marinae glanced back and saw him pull a wand out of his robe. Marinae growled a few curses about how much time this was taking, then hopped of her horse and rushed to Lynn's side to help her stand. Weamar dismounted and wondered what pointing a pistol at a helmet would do for the Knight's desire to cooperate.

Marius approached the Knights' leader, who stood in the middle of the line. "I am Marius Sima, Sentire of Sturben, and I request that you let my companions and I inside the Great Cathedral."

"No one gets in, not even you Marius.", the lieutenant said. "The orders come from Petrov himself."

Marinae made sure to keep an eye on Frelnikov as she walked alongside Lynn and watched as he lifted the slender rod into the air and pointed it straight up. Marinae heard a feint, high pitched whistle and then saw a small sparkling of purple light above.

"This is an emergency.", Marius explained. "I have reason to believe that a young priestess is inside the church and that she is being harmed."

The Knights kept a close watch on Weamar as Lynn slowly staggered up the steps. Weamar dismounted and stood in front of the lead Knight next to Marius.

"The church is handling the situation Marius.", the lieutenant said, not believing him. "We can let you into the Cathedral in the morning."

"You must let us in right now." Marinae demanded.

"You know what happened in Mortingy don't you?", Marius asked sternly.

"We've heard, and the situation is being taken care of by the Praesidius personally.", the lieutenant replied stubbornly.

Weamar gritted his teeth. He glanced at Lynn, doubled over and barely able to stand, and knew that he had to get inside the church, whatever it took. He thought up a plan and extended a gauntleted hand to the lieutenant. "I'm sure that we can come to some arrangement?", he said, hoping that the Knight would take his hand.

He didn't. Instead the lieutenant only glanced at Weamar and then looked back at Marius.

"If there's nothing untoward going on then we have no problem.", Weamar added, trying to smile.

"Eliza is the fifth prophet.", Marius explained, getting to the point quickly. "You cannot stand by and allow them to silence her for saying things that the church does not agree with."

The lieutenant pointed at Marius, "I can and will stand by the rulings of the Praesidius." Then he pointed at Weamar, "And I do have reason to stop anyone from entering the church, especially one who has the gall to not show the proper respect."

"Respect is earned.", Weamar said firmly.

The lieutenant pointed at Weamar again. "I want you and your horse off the stairs and on the street now.", he insisted.

Weamar knocked the lieutenant's pointing hand away easily. "That isn't the way to earn it.", he replied, hoping that he could goad the Knights into a fight.

The lieutenant frowned and pulled his hand back, reaching for his sword. The Knights next to him raised their weapons and looked at Weamar.

"I really wouldn't do that if I were you", Weamar said, feeling the strength that the gauntlets were giving him. He felt invincible. "You can let us in, or we can go in. Your choice."

Frelnikov was standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching the conflict unfold. Lynn was a few steps below Marius and Weamar, clutching at her ribs and gritting her teeth. Marinae was a few steps below and a few feet beside them, wary or facing off against so many foes. The lieutenant drew his sword.

"Please, no violence.", Marius pleaded. "Not here."

"Judging by Lynn's behavior, there's already violence here.", Marinae reminded him.

The sorceress turned back towards Lynn and then to Frelnikov who was still next to the cart. "Just what the hell are you doing?", she called back to him.

"Keeping a safe distance.", Frelnikov said.

"Okay, that makes sense, but what about that?", Marinae nodded at the wand.

But the lawyer's reply was cut off as Weamar let loose a mighty blow to the lieutenant's shield. The ranger was surprised by his own strength as he knocked the Knight back a few steps and nearly to the ground.

Marius took a couple of steps back as the two sergeants to either side of where the lieutenant was stepped towards Weamar. Most of the other Knights moved to surround Weamar, Marius, and Lynn with three walking down the steps towards Marinae. Lynn drew her katanas and gritted her teeth, she wondered if she could fight at all.


Eliza practiced her shield. She was tired from trying and she couldn't get it to be any more than a feint glow. Eliza pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting back a headache.

"It just won't work.", Eliza moaned. "I can't do it without Lynn."

"You must practice every day. It will become stronger, and easier to invoke.", Ilsa replied sternly.

Then the Drow went silent for a moment as if listening intently to something. "I must leave now.", she said abruptly. "Stay here and you will be safe."

"Where are you going?", Eliza asked, but Ilsa did not answer. Before she knew it Eliza heard the door to the cellar open and close. She was alone in darkness.


"See? This is no way to earn respect, picking on an innocent elf.", Marinae said as she watched the three Knights approach her. She held her staff ready, intending to swing it at the head of the Knight on the right.

Grimly determined, Weamar advanced on the doors of the church, still not drawing a weapon. The two sergeants moved to block him and so Weamar struck out at one, trying to knock the sword out his hand. But the Knight was too fast and he slashed at Weamar, who ducked quickly out of the way. The other sergeant took advantage of an opening and landed a solid blow which glanced off of Weamar's leather armored shoulder. He wasn't bleeding, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

Marinae swung at the right hand Knight who deflected her staff with his shield. The Knights, almost in unison, stabbed downwards at Marinae who desperately tried to knock their blades aside. But she was only fast enough for two of them and one sword pierced her belly shallowly, drawing first blood. Marinae gasped, but refused to fall. She fixed the one who had hit her with the most evil glare she had.

"My turn, bastard.", Marinae hissed.

Marinae pointed at one of the Knights and unloaded a volley of magical energy directly into his face. The Knight screamed in agony and went down, grasping at his eyes.

"You shouldn't pick on innocent elf-women.", Marinae shot back.

"They're going to kill you. You are sooo stupid.", Frelnikov called up at Marinae who muttered something under her breath in return.

Frelnikov chanted a few magic words and Marinae saw a fine mist of magical energy surrounding all of the Knights. When the magic dust settled on the lieutenant and his two sergeants it caused a white glow to flare up around their bodies.

"There's a sorcerer among them.", the lieutenant shouted out to his men. "Resist the urge to surrender."

The soldiers around Marinae didn't have to, their emotions were driving them onward, but the Knights surrounding the others relaxed and simply held their ground. Their leaders froze for a moment and fought off the effects of the spell.

"Stupid shield.", Frelnikov muttered and looked around for reinforcements.

Lynn staggered around holding her katanas close and ready to strike. She could see everything in her mind, but something was wrong. She wasn't floating above the battle looking down. Instead she was still inside herself, and she knew that she couldn't win against so many men fighting her old way. Thoughts of failure filled her mind and she remembered how she couldn't protect Eliza in the courtroom. Silently she hoped that another miracle would happen. Marius was holding out his hands, ordering the Knights to stop at once. Two of the Knights recognized Lynn from the courthouse and let the others know that the witch was in their midst. The other Knights braced themselves for combat.

The lieutenant recovered his balance and told his two sergeants to let Weamar through. They did and Weamar went past them. The ranger was still intent on the doors, but the lieutenant stood in his path. So Weamar drew his acid sword and made ready to attack.

The two Knights on Marinae watched their friend go down and slashed at her fiercely. One missed wildly while the other landed a solid blow to her arm. Marinae backed down the stairs, trying to stay out of sword range and keeping away from Frelnikov too. There was something about him that she didn't trust.

"Don't lead them down here.", Frelnikov whined.

"I don't have time to roll my eyes. But if you're in my way we're both dead.", Marinae shouted back.

"I'll show you who's stupid.", Marinae thought to herself as she gripped at her arm and launched a retreating attack.

Another Knight absorbed a volley of magic bolts and buckled. Determined to defend his church the third Knight charged after Marinae. She tried to duck his sword but it caught her hard on her back, sending her stumbling down the stairs. She knew that she couldn't take many more hits like that. Her fears of dying were coming back, and she wondered if Frelnikov was right.

Weamar raised his sword and brought it crashing down on the lieutenant's shield. As he did so he saw a white glow flare around the lieutenant's body. To Weamar's surprise the Knight did not budge, not even an inch, and his sword had done no damage at all.

"Power of Ezra.", the lieutenant said. "Relent or be struck down."

Lynn waved her katanas around and stepped towards one of the Knights, then she doubled over in pain. The Knights surrounding her hesitated, wondering if it was honorable to attack her. The presence of the Sentire was giving them second thoughts.

One of the Sergeants turned and looked at the battle and at his men's reluctance. "If they don't clear the stairs, kill them, kill them all.", he ordered.

"You heard him, get off the stairs!", one of the Knights shouted at Lynn and Marius.

Marius stared intently at the Knight, daring him to attack a Sentire. Lynn tried to hold her ground, but the pain shooting through her was too intense. She reached to take off her ring but she knew that she couldn't. Eliza needed her strength.

"You're both going to die!", the voice inside Lynn's head shouted at her.


Eliza grimaced and looked to the Praesidius. "Can you truly believe that this is what Ezra would condone?", the young woman protested.

"Was the shield in the courtroom a fake?", Levin asked again, ignoring Eliza's pleas.

"No! I prayed and it happened!", Eliza shouted, knowing that it was a lie.

Levin looked to Vasile who shook his head. Then Levin nodded to Ivan who turned the crank one more time around. Eliza felt the pain in her back and had a flashback to the battle in the buried chapel where her back had been broken when she was thrown against a stone staircase.

"Can't you see? Can't you see what's happening? She's using you!", Eliza screamed out as the pain grew. "Boritsi is using the church for her own whims and you're letting it happen."

Eliza glared at Ivana and remembered the liquid shadow within her. She prayed that Kendra hadn't been lying about that and that one touch would kill the evil woman. But Eliza wondered how to get Ivana close enough. She was keeping her distance, Eliza wondered if Ivana suspected something.

"You sound like a bleeding heart from the Mordent Sect.", Ivana mocked. "Give her another turn."

Ivan obliged and the pain grew as Eliza's back was forced into an unnatural shape.

"Who sent you?", Vasile asked harshly. He wondered how long the woman could stand the pain and wanted to get any important information out of her before she passed out.

Eliza ignored the Seeker's question and gritted her teeth. "This isn't your style is it Ivana? I understand you're more partial to poison.", she hissed. "We've all heard the stories. In all these years you've never found one person that could truly love you. They all turned away when they saw past the pretty facade."

Ivana just laughed.

"Who sent you?", Vasile asked, louder.

"Ezra sent me.", Eliza replied.

"Was it Azalin?", Vasile asked, remembering Ronaldo's report.

Eliza ignored Vasile and addressed the woman again. "You can kill me but it doesn't change a blessed thing. I'll still have found something that you never will. I'll take that memory to my grave."

"And what's that?", Ivana said with a smile as Ivan turned the crank again.

Eliza's reply was choked off as the crank was turned and the pain grew unbearable. She took a few labored breaths and tried to speak but what came out was barely audible. But this time it was a ruse. Eliza wanted to draw Ivana closer.

"Ivan, could you turn that back for just a moment?", the young woman asked. "I want to hear what she has to say."

Ivan gave Ivana a bitter look and then turned the crank back. Eliza felt a sense of relief as the pain became tolerable, but her plan had been thwarted.

"She suspects something.", Eliza thought to herself, but she knew that she had to keep trying.

"H..ha..hap..", Eliza gasped.

"Yes, dear?", Ivana said, mocking Eliza's pain.

"...happiness.", Eliza finished.

Ivana laughed a fake cheery laugh. "How droll. You think that I haven't found happiness?", she said. "You must be daft, silly girl."

Eliza got angry. Ivana hadn't taken one step towards her. She got desperate.

"And what makes you happy?", Eliza shot back. "It can't be watching your flunky do all the dirty work."

"I am the ruler of all of Borca, and my writ reaches from Dementlieu to Verbrek.", Ivana replied, still grinning. "Power gives me great joy."

"Like power over the church?", Eliza replied, hoping to dig at any seeds of dissention within Petrov, Levin, or Vasile.
   
"We have common interests, and we act together.", Ivana said. "I have no desire to play Praesidius."

"What has corrupted you?", Vasile demanded, wanting to get back to the point.

"I'm not the one here who is corrupt.", Eliza fired back.

Vasile nodded to Ivan, who gladly turned the crank back to where it had been before.

"What has corrupted you?", Vasile asked again.

Eliza shook her head against the question and the pain. Vasile prepared to ask another question but Levin held him back.

"You were once a fine upstanding anchorite.", Levin said with a calm voice. "This hurts us as much as it does you. Tell us what has caused you to fall."

Eliza thought bitterly of Kendra and the Drow's plan. What loyalty did she owe them now? She thought about confessing everything, and getting back at Kendra by failing. But then they would kill her for sure. Hope was slipping away from her.

"For every answer you give, the crank is turned back. For every one you don't, it goes forwards.", Levin explained.

Eliza's tears began to fall from her eyes. What was the use in fighting them? She had tried to goad Ivana into approaching but it hadn't worked. And she knew that if she kept refusing to answer that they were going to break her back. Eliza felt through her ring. Lynn was closer now and that gave her a spark of hope. Maybe Lynn would rescue her. Maybe everything would work out after all. Then a thought came to her. They called the Lady Boritsi "The Black Widow" and a spider will only dine when the prey is helpless and broken. Pressed behind that thought was one desire that blotted out all else, to kill the smirking bitch before her. Eliza fell into the act and nodded pitifully to her former Patriarch.

"Good.", Levin said, happy that his kinder approach was working. "Now, what has caused you to fall from grace?"

"L…L…Lynn.", Eliza replied, sighing heavily. "My love for Lynn."

Vasile and Levin turned to look at each other. Vasile nodded to Ivan and Levin continued. Ivan reluctantly turned the crank back.

Ivana scoffed. "What does a young girl know of love?", she mocked. "Stimulation and infatuation. She has felt nothing more."

"You're wrong.", Eliza protested. "Lynn and I share something more wonderful than you could ever know."

Ivana rolled her eyes and Levin spoke up. "We know all about your illicit affair with the one named Lynn, and the church was willing to overlook your youthful indiscretion.", the Praesidius said gently. "But you refused. However…"

Eliza cut him off. She sensed that she was finally getting to Ivana. "It wasn't a 'youthful indiscretion'.", she shot back. "It was true love. There's a bond between us, a soul bond. And we love each other more deeply than anyone has ever loved."

"Oh please.", Ivana said dismissively. "You sound exactly like a teenage girl with a crush on some handsome man who's taking advantage of her."

"No. It's true.", Eliza insisted firmly. "We each wear a ring that connects us. Our emotions, our feelings, our love we share as one. I can touch her with my heart as well as my hands, and when she touches me I can feel her love, and her love is as pure as any that I've ever known."

Ivana shook her head and rolled her eyes. She was about to make another rude comment when she overheard the High Seeker.

"She speaks the truth.", Vasile whispered to Levin who nodded in return.

Ivana was suddenly filled with anger. "She does not!", the young woman roared at Vasile, but she knew that Vasile could sense the truth in what others said. It was a power that all High Seekers were granted by Ezra herself.

Eliza nodded submissively. "It's true.", she said quietly. "I can feel her devotion to me and she can feel mine. We are as one. We love without doubt and without reservation."

"We shall see about that!", Ivana shouted, her beautiful face twisted with hatred. "Ivan! Remove her ring!"

Ivan nodded and moved to do so. Eliza balled her hand into a fist and shouted, "Take it yourself you pathetic old bitch!"

"Cut off her finger if you have to!", Ivana screamed.

Ivan grabbed at the young woman's hand but couldn't get Eliza to open it. Then he reached for his knife.

"No, wait!", Ivana shouted, a hideous smile coming to her face as an evil plan formed in her mind. "So, your lover is feeling everything that you are feeling right now then is that correct?"

Eliza looked up desperately at Ivana who'd thwarted her plans again.

"She is isn't she.", Ivana said as a malicious smile spread across her face. Her voice suddenly turned hard and cold as all the bitterness in her heart rose to the surface. "Then I shall break you two to pieces. No longer will love flow between your rings but instead misery, suffering, and unending pain. I shall torture you both to the point of breaking and laugh as you beg me for mercy. But I shall not relent."

Eliza swallowed hard. She knew that she had made a mistake. Now Lynn was going to pay for it too. The thought was almost too much for her to bear.

"And the final feeling that you will share will be the greatest agony of all.", Ivana said, wrapped up in the hideous cruelty of her plan. "Lynn will feel you die, and your precious soul bond will be broken forever!"