Sword and Illusion

by Nancy S. Brandt

  All too easy, she thought, as she brought the Sword of Justice around in a wide circular power swing.

  Suddenly, however, her arms felt weak. The blade swung, too slowly, and chopped into the heavy fur. The other warrior let out a grunt, but the weapon did not penetrate.

  The attacker regained her balance, and with amazing skill kicked backward with a boot. Moonrazer reacted quickly, dropping to her knee below the flying kick.

  She rolled backwards, leaping to her feet and again adopting a defensive position, but wobbling on the slick battlefield. The strange warrior attacked again, delivering a rapid sequence of basic attacks—each of them easy to block, but coming far too fast. Moonrazer found herself retreating, stepping into thick snow where her footing was surer.

  She felt power build in her as the fever of the battle aroused her strength. The Sword of Justice leaped forward almost on its own, flashing with light and a sound like thunder.

  She furiously beat back her opponent's blades and finally struck a glancing blow to her enemy's arm. The strange woman cried out in pain, and one of her knives went arching high into the gray fog and disappeared from sight.

  Moonrazer's attacker bared her teeth, then knelt, grabbing a handful of snow.

  Perceiving a weakness, Moonrazer charged forward, intending to hold her blade to her opponent's throat, but before she could reach her target the woman threw snow into the air. In an instant Moonrazer was blinded; all she could see was radiant, featureless white in every direction.

  She stopped her advance and swung her blade in circles, questing for the knife. In an instant, she found it, felt a connection as her enemy parried the blind swing, and focused her every thought on that sliver of metal. She traced its movements with her own, keeping the weapons in contact, blocking any advance, hoping desperately to regain her sight soon.

  The blade retreated before her, towards the slick ice. Moonrazer lost her balance. Instantly, the other warrior struck and disarmed her.

  Blind and with no weapon, Moonrazer was more angry than frightened, and all at once she felt herself change. Her senses became sharper, and she perceived her opponent through the white fog.

  In her anger, she swung her fist and, to her surprise, she moved quickly and powerfully enough to connect with her target.

  The woman in white flew through the air and landed in a snow bank. The gold circlet fell as she did, clattering to the ice.

  Perhaps, Moonrazer thought, I have not lost my strength after all.

  The power faded from her then, and she clutched her side.

  I have broken a rib, she thought angrily. And I have no access to Adazzra's healing magic.

  The woman in the snow vanished and was replaced by another—a woman clothed in gold and radiant light. Moonrazer tried to clear her head of the hallucination but it did not pass.

  "My daughter," the vision said, her voice sounding far away although she stood within a couple of strides of the Exalted Warrior, "you have done well."

  "My lady?" Moonrazer asked. She didn't recognize this figure and wondered if she had hit her head. Reaching up to touch her scalp, she felt no blood or any spot of tenderness.

  The woman smiled. "You have defeated a servant of the Holy One and have passed the test. He has a great mission for you."

  "I do not understand."

  "Be alert, my child," the woman said, her smile fading a bit. "There are forces gathering who seek to do you ill and harm those you love. One who has misinterpreted a vision cannot be allowed to prosper."

  "I do not wish to misinterpret this. Help me, Lady."

  "You will wish to seek out ancient writings. A friend will assist you and will go a great distance and cross deep water to help, and in the end a lost temple will be found."

  "I am a warrior. I place no trust in mere prophecy. My life is not determined by old writings on a scroll. I prefer to make my own future."

  A small chuckle escaped the lady's lips. "Do not discount prophecy, my child. I know how you feel, as does the Holy One, but one day, you will find that prophecy will save your life and that of entire worlds."

  Moonrazer doubted prophecy could have such power, but she said nothing.

  An instant later, the mysterious lady vanished, leaving Moonrazer and Wild Rider alone.

  Puzzled by the vision's words, Moonrazer stood up and re-sheathed the Sword of Justice, wincing in pain.

  "Stop moping," she said to Wind Rider, whose head was bowed as he watched her drag herself to the top of a rock so she could climb onto his back.

  The animal seemed to perk up a bit at her words and nudged her with his nose.

  When she reached the top, she stopped to catch her breath. It was completely ridiculous that she, the Exalted Warrior of the Sarl, should find herself in such a helpless situation.

  Wind Rider eased himself down so she could get on his back. Then carefully, he made his way off the icy slope.

  Chapter Seven

  Adazzra's magic wasn't able to instantly heal Moonrazer's rib, but the Tree Woman said that she'd only have to stay in bed a day.

  "Why were you out on that glacier, anyway?" Adazzra asked as she gathered up her herbs. "I thought you told me that it is dangerous to climb them in warmer weather."

  "I needed to get away," Moonrazer said, looking at the end of her bed so she wouldn't have to meet her friend's eyes. "I was not thinking about the weather. Perhaps I was tired or…"

  Her voice trailed off, and Adazzra watched her face. Moonrazer wasn't eager to tell her friend about the vision on the glacier.

  "What did you see out there?" the Tree Woman asked.

  Moonrazer stared at her friend. "What do you mean?"

  "Something is different, and I suspect you have seen a vision."

  "I do not know what I saw." The Exalted Warrior waved the thought away with one hand. "At first, I suspected it was the Lady Lorelii but perhaps it was merely the sun and the cold working on my mind."

  "Visions of the Blessed Lorelii are always significant."

  "She said someone had misinterpreted a vision and would have to be stopped before something happened."

  "What does that mean?"

  Shrugging, the Exalted Warrior said, "I do not know who she spoke of or what would happen if this person is not stopped."

  Adazzra was silent for a heartbeat or two, then said, "If there is something you need to do, she will return with more instructions. I still don't know how this vision caused you to get hurt."

  "We… battled."

  "You fought the mother of the Holy One?" Adazzra's eyes widened.

  "There were two women. The first one said she believed I was not the Exalted Warrior and challenged me. However, after we fought, another woman appeared who said I had done well against a servant of the Holy One. The second one might have been Lorelii, but she never said her name."

  "Do you think this is related to the Choosing Ritual?"

  "It is possible. I have never had such a vision before."

  Adazzra sat with her hands in her lap. "Perhaps the meaning is not in the vision itself but in its result."

  "Only bruises and a broken rib were the results."

  "Exactly. You broke a rib above your heart. Perhaps to make you more aware of the need for love."

  Moonrazer scowled. "I do not expect that love will be part of my life.”

  Adazzra blinked. "But you told me yourself that you didn't want Whiteshadow to find you a man."

  "I do not want some man handed to me with instructions to have a child. I would like to find love in a mate, but for the purposes of my duty it is not necessary."

  She hoped her words didn't sound as forced to Adazzra as they did to her.

  "What is necessary?" the Tree Woman asked.

  Moonrazer sighed. "Duty, respect, courage. I have to do what is best for my people. I am the Exalted Warrior. I have to maintain my strength. Whiteshadow is right about that. The only way to do that is to mate and conceive a child."

  "So you are
going to go through with the Choosing Ritual?"

  "I can only pray that the Holy One will grant me love in time."

  Adazzra patted her friend's arm and stood up. "We'll talk about this in the morning. I'll give you some herbs that will ease the pain and help you sleep."

  "Thank you. Will you send Oakgold in? I know she is hanging around outside the door."

  The Tree Woman chuckled. "Of course."

  ****

  Whiteshadow sat in the chapel, fingering her prayer beads while contemplating the Star of Janico hanging over the Table of Sacrifice.

  The Holy One had died to save His people from their disobedience. As Whiteshadow looked at His bruised and bleeding body, she remembered the vision she'd had when she was sick.

  He had a mission for her.

  She chuckled to herself. She had a destiny and a plan on how to fulfill it.

  That thought strengthened her. Surely, Janico wouldn't have entrusted this mission to her if He didn't believe she could handle it.

  She would do whatever had to be done to make sure that the Sarl were restored to their destiny.

  Not everyone would understand what she had to do, but in the end, all would see that her actions had been for the benefit of the Sarl. For now, she kept her secrets.

  "Mother Whiteshadow?"

  A young Sarl woman—Whiteshadow thought she recognized the girl as one of Moonrazer's servants—stood next to her. "The Exalted Warrior needs to see you."

  Whiteshadow stood up. "Is she hurt?"

  "The Warrior was injured on the glacier. She fell and broke her rib. The Tree Woman has attended her, however, and…"

  Whiteshadow interrupted her. "Not a Sarl healer? Are our own people not good enough for her?"

  "I… um… think you should go to her. She has requested to speak to you."

  Whiteshadow bit back a scream of frustration. As always, she, and everyone else, served at the pleasure of the Exalted Warrior, but eventually that would change.

  The servant left the chapel and the Mother Prioress followed.

  When they arrived at Moonrazer's bedside, Whiteshadow looked at her sister, whose eyes were closed as though in sleep.

  She still couldn't understand how Moonrazer had proven more worthy—

  Before she could finish the thought, the Exalted Warrior opened her eyes.

  "Sister?" Moonrazer asked.

  Whiteshadow straightened her spine and tried to appear serene. It was time to be the Mother Prioress. She took Moonrazer's hand and sat on the stool the young servant brought for her.

  "I am here."

  "I need my rest, but I wanted to tell you I am ready to go through with the Ritual."

  "The Choosing Ritual?"

  "Yes."

  "As you wish, Warrior." Whiteshadow tried to keep the victory out of her voice.

  The herbal drink on the table beside the bed caught Whiteshadow's eye, and she had an idea.

  The chambers Moonrazer had given her were not satisfactory, and now was the time to remedy that.

  "Is this a sleeping potion from your friend?"

  "I should drink that," Moonrazer said. "Thank you for coming."

  Whiteshadow handed her the cup and watched her drink. Within seconds, Moonrazer's breathing grew steady.

  The Mother Prioress stood and spoke to the servant. "The Exalted Warrior is sleeping. Do not let her be disturbed. That Tree Woman person should not be allowed in under any circumstances. Do you understand?"

  Whiteshadow knew how loyal Moonrazer's servants were. The Exalted Warrior would not be happy that her little Tree Woman friend was kept out of her quarters.

  "But, Mother Prioress, the Exalted Warrior…"

  "No arguments. Do as I command."

  After a pause, the servant bowed her head. "I understand, Mother Prioress."

  Whiteshadow had no doubt that when Moonrazer woke up, someone would tell her that Adazzra had been forbidden access to her. This was certain to require some reprimand, and Whiteshadow was sure she would be moved somewhere a little more convenient for her plans.

  ****

  The next morning, Moonrazer woke up and looked around her chamber. Where was Adazzra? Whenever she had been hurt in the past, Adazzra rarely left her side until the injury was healed.

  She pulled on the rope that summoned Oakgold. The servant entered.

  "Where is Adazzra?" Moonrazer asked.

  Oakgold took a deep breath and bit her lip before responding.

  "Your sister, the Mother Prioress, gave me strict instructions that I was not to allow anyone to disturb you while you rested. She specifically said that Mistress Adazzra not be admitted to your room."

  Moonrazer scowled and tried to sit up, but weakness prevented her. "Did she give any reason?"

  Oakgold wrung her hands. "No, Warrior."

  "I want you to find the Mother Prioress and send her to me immediately."

  Whiteshadow followed Oakgold into Moonrazer's room less than a candlemark later. Moonrazer wondered if the Mother Prioress had been waiting for this summons.

  "What is this I hear about you telling Adazzra she was not allowed in my room while I was sleeping?" The Exalted Warrior spoke without waiting for whatever ritual or protocol Whiteshadow would invoke.

  "I was only thinking of your welfare," the Mother Prioress said, bowing.

  Moonrazer wanted to scream. How could anyone make this small act that was meant to signal submissiveness feel like rebellion?

  "If that were true, you would have been eager to allow my healer to attend me."

  Whiteshadow raised her head and looked into her sister's eyes. "I know the Exalted Warrior is not saying that our Sarl healers are not good enough for her."

  This old argument again. "You know that is not what I meant," Moonrazer said, then closed her eyes. She did not want to be drawn into a position where she was defending herself. Whiteshadow had overstepped her authority.

  "You have no business directing my servants on their duties," Moonrazer said, opening her eyes after she'd regained her composure.

  "I am not some young Sarl warrior trying to usurp your authority," Whiteshadow said. "I am the Mother Prioress."

  "As you delight in reminding me at every opportunity." Moonrazer closed her eyes for a breath. "You are neither my second in command, nor are you a member of my household. Out of respect to your position and our familial relationship, I gave you quarters on this floor even though guests generally stay on the bottom level of the Tower. You have taken advantage of my good nature. I think we all would be better off if we moved your things to the guest wing downstairs."

  Moonrazer pulled the bell rope above the bed. "Oakgold will assign servants to help you."

  "You are banishing me from your presence?" Whiteshadow stared at her.

  Moonrazer scowled. "I am not banishing you from anything. You will still have access to me, if you want it, but I am moving you to guest quarters and forbidding you to give any further orders to my warriors or servants. You are a guest here, after all."

  Whiteshadow stared at her, and the Exalted Warrior thought she saw her sister's mouth twitch. "You cannot do this to me. I am the spiritual leader of the Sarl. I have a right to an elevated position within the Tower."

  "That may have been true before you showed your eagerness to step in and act as Exalted Warrior. I am sure if I went to the Fountain of Infallible Light and began giving instruction to the Sisters of the Flame, you would not allow that to continue."

  Her sister tipped her head. "You are right, my sister. I would never allow anyone to assume my role in regards to the Sisters. Perhaps you are correct in this case. The Holy One knows what motives I had, but I will bow to your wishes."

  Oakgold came into the room.

  "You will see that servants assist the Mother Prioress in moving her things to a more suitable apartment in the guest wing downstairs," Moonrazer said.

  "Yes, Warrior."

  Whiteshadow followed the servant out of the room.


  ****

  The servants finished moving her things to the new chambers on the ground floor, and Whiteshadow watched them leave, making sure they were truly out of sight before she spun around in delight. That was easier than she had even dared hope.