Omnixius
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DKP 7-22 The truth hurts
🕑 Added 2022-02-18 19:39:17 +0000 UTC“You really think that?” Lilly asked as Calathen came into view.
Alayse tried not to look down and assured the dragon that the two events were related somehow. She was certain Lilly had developed the warning sense because of their unique connection, and that was somehow causing the headaches.
“But I don’t’ have the headaches,” Lilly insisted.
“Then you must not be in danger,” Alayse suggested. “Something about you is different. The motivation behind the cause must not mean you any harm.”
Lilly flared her wings wide and turned to look toward the city, trying to work out Alayse's theory.
“Should I tell Gersius and Sarah?” she asked, not sure how she would even approach the topic.
“I wish I had more proof before raising the alarm,” Alayse growled. “I would hate to be wrong about this. I can tell you like this woman.”
“She is very nice,” Lilly agreed. “But I know I am naive and easily deceived. You, humans, have a penchant for deception that we dragons simply cannot grasp. If you think there is a danger, then I would rather tell them and be wrong than let them blunder into it blind.”
“But Thayle will blame me for putting this idea in your head if it turns out to be wrong,” Alayse insisted. “I just need a little more time to find some proof.”
“Not to mention my family has asked Thayle to look into this, not you,” Lilly added. “Sarah might be offended that you were poking around in our business, especially if you're wrong.”
“Then give me another day,” Alayse insisted. “Jessivel is collecting information that might help shed some light on the matter, and I have sent for somebody to help me get my proof.”
“Alright,” Lilly agreed as she began to circle the landing circle. “I will try to spend some time with Celine. If I develop a headache, we will know for certain you are right.”
“Don’t spend time with her alone,” Alayse cautioned. “Make sure one of your partners is with you at all times.”
Lilly agreed and began to flap against her momentum, slowing her pace as she descended to the landing ring below. A moment later, she touched down, and Alayse couldn't be happier to be off Lilly's back.
She hurried away and raced into the city as the hours grew late. She reached the temple of the seekers and didn't even acknowledge the guards that saluted at her passing. She went directly to the secluded rooms they were using for their clandestine meetings and threw open the door.
“Is he here?” she asked as her eyes adjusted to the gloom.
Jessivel nodded and gestured with his head to a corner where a man sat with his face obscured by a broad hat. He looked up with distrust in his eyes, barely visible below the berm.
“I told him everything we know and suspected so far,” Jessivel said. “He thinks we should tell Gersius and Sarah.”
Alayse nodded and turned to the man in the corner. “So you’re Tavis?”
“At your service,” he said with a spreading smile. “Now, why haven't you gone to Gersius with this information?”
“Because most of the imperial family is sweet on her, and I don't want to make an accusation without proof. That doesn't mean I haven't made some warnings. I made sure Thayle knew I didn't trust her. She was already investigating the woman's strange aura and was suspicious of her intentions. I also had the unfortunate experience of being forced to fly with Lilly for the day. I managed to share some of my concerns with her, but I asked her to keep them to herself.”
“How did Lilly take it?” Jessivel asked as he looked away from the window.
“She wasn't happy to hear it. She spoke calmly, but I could see the conflict in her aura. She likes Celine and made it clear that so did Sarah and Gersius. Still, she admits she is naive and easily fooled by people, so she is reserving judgment.”
“So why am I here again?” Tavis asked. Alayse shot him a glare of disapproval, but Tavis only smiled in return.
“You’re here because I have no proof that this woman is anything but what she claims to be. If anything, I have a mountain of proof that she is honest and sincere, but there are too many mysteries around her,” Alayse replied.
“And you think the weave has something to do with it?” Tavis asked.
“I do,” Alayse said firmly. “I have seen the weave used to cheat our aura sight before. It was used by a sect of assassins from the deserts in the east. I never witnessed it firsthand, but I have heard accounts of it being done.” She turned to Jessivel and announced she had even more proof. She recounted the tale of the men in the temple and how Lilly used the warning sense. This meant that Thayle most likely had it and proved that only those connected to Astikar were feeling the headaches. She, of course, pointed out that Lilly wasn't suffering one, but that only meant she wasn't in danger.
“Why would Lilly be exempt from the danger?” Jessivel asked.
“I don’t know,” Alayse replied as she paced. “Maybe they are trying to protect her in some way.”
“They?” Tavis questioned. “Last I heard, you had the one suspect.”
“She must be working with others,” Alayse argued and then asked Jessivel if he had learned anything.
“I have learned plenty,” he replied. “She has no supporters in or around the city. She was never seen on the roads east, but I have two witnesses in the west that claim to have seen a woman of her description. She was walking alone just a few miles from the city.”
“The west?” Alayse repeated as she tried to puzzle it out. “If her homelands are in the east, why would she be approaching from the west?”
“I have no idea,” Jessivel said and folded his arms. “But I sent men to scour the regions west of her sighting. Nobody has seen her further west; she seems to have appeared out of thin air a few miles outside of Calathen.”
“A noblewoman traveling alone?” Tavis questioned. “She is either very brave or very stupid.”
“We thought of that,” Alayse replied. “It was one of the things that raised our suspicions.” She then asked Jessivel if his men had learned anything by following her. He replied that she seemed to stick to the palace for most of the day, but they noted a strange behavior. The woman hadn’t eaten anything since the tea party with Alayse.”
“That was over a day ago,” Alayse protested. “She hasn’t eaten anything since then?”
“Not a thing,” Jessivel replied. “I have also found people in the city that claim to have seen her. She seems to have wandered the whole of the city, and several witnesses claim to have seen her in a corner or alleyway singing.”
“She was evoking a blessing,” Tavis suggested,
“She claimed she wasn't a priestess or weaver,” Alayse said with a lost expression. “And where is she now?”
“The last report said she was in the palace exploring the lower halls,” he replied.
Alayse looked confused then asked what was significant about the lower halls. Jessivel explained that it was where the vaults were. And where many of the artifacts of the empire were kept. It didn’t make sense until Tavis volunteered information they had previously been unaware of.
“The sword Dellain used to nearly kill Gersius is there,” he said with a displeased tone.
“Could she be after the sword?” Alaye asked.
“No,” Jessivel said with a dismissive shake of his head. “It is so well guarded that not even my men can learn the nature of its defenses. It’s even rumored that Sarah herself placed magical wards around it to alert her if anyone even comes close to it.”
“But will her wards work?” Alayse asked. “If this woman can cheat our aura sight and your divine warning, do we trust she can’t evade Sarah’s warding?”
“I could do it with preparation and enough time,” the Tavis agreed.
“And Celine has nothing to do but wander the palace all day,” Alayse pointed out.
“It isn't enough to accuse her of plotting against the empire,” Jessivel insisted. “My agents say that Sarah is sweet on this woman. If we level an accusation and are proven wrong, it will go very badly for us.”
“Thayle is already as suspicious of the woman as I am,” Alayse said. “If we have to make an accusation, I will do it and bring all our findings to her. We can let her decide to act or not. If it turns out to be wrong, I will stand the full weight of judgment.”
“So what you really need is the proof,” Tavis said as he stood from his chair.
“Yes,” Alayse agreed. “There must be something you can do to discover if a weave is being used. Most of the weavers in the city willfully aided the previous regime and can't be trusted. You're the only one who can get close.”
“Then it’s time I made a visit to the palace,” he said and tipped his hat back while smiling mischievously. “I want to meet this Celine.”
Alayse agreed and volunteered to take him to the palace. She had a report to hand in, and it would be a good excuse to be around. She cautioned him not to appear to be together, and they decided she would go in first, then he would follow a few minutes later. Jessivel planned to keep tabs on Celine and was waiting for reports from his agents scouring her supposed homeland. If he learned anything important, he would ensure she knew.
With that, they set out for the palace, and as planned, Alayse went in first. She found them in the council chambers with Gersius and Sarah sitting while Lilly hovered over Sarah rubbing at the back of her neck. Thayle was beside Gersius doing the same, a clear indication that they were trying to soothe away headaches.
Perhaps thirty others were about, and she quickly searched the room for the dreaded Celine. Then, certain that the woman wasn't there, she went before the thrones and dipped into a low bow before announcing that she had Thayle's report.
“Lilly told me you had some trouble,” Thayle said. “I wonder how many of our abandoned temples have become homes to vagabonds.”
“I recommend you send people in well-armed groups to future temples,” Alayse replied and walked up the steps to hand Thayle the list. “Might I be so bold as to ask if you are having more headaches?”
“Sarah and I are,” Gersius replied with a sigh. “But our wives are soothing the pain away.”
“Thayle is teaching me some of her techniques,” Lilly chimed in.
“Yes, she likes to teach the ones she loves,” Alayse replied and stepped back as Thayle gave her a disapproving glare.
“That reminds me,” Gersius began. “Celine was here earlier. She asked if anyone wanted to go on another horse ride and picnic. I told her you, and I would like to go,” he added and looked at Lilly.
“Of course, I want to go,” Lilly replied enthusiastically. “But Sarah should come this time.”
“Somebody has to run the empire while you are off playing,” Sarah said with closed eyes while enjoying her massage. “You and our Husband go and enjoy yourselves.”
“I would like to go,” Thayle said as she pressed her thumbs into Gersius firmly. “I love a good picnic.”
“Then it is settled. The three of us will go,” he said and let out a sigh.
Alayse didn't like the idea of the three of them being alone with this Celine, but then Lilly was a dragon. If that woman caused any trouble, Lilly would probably stomp her and eat what was left.
“We are having a banquet tonight,” Sarah said as she opened her eyes and turned them on Alayse. “You and Jessivel should attend. We still haven’t heard your full report.”
“I will make sure he is aware,” Alayse said with a dip of her head. She bowed to the other three then stepped away just as a dark form arrived in the doorway. She tried not to acknowledge him as Tavis made his way across the room and came to stand before the four thrones.
“Tavis,” Gerisus said in surprise. “Does this mean you bring ill news?”
“Not in the slightest,” Tavis replied and tipped his hat back so they could see his face. “I came at the request of another to help them solve a magical problem, but I wanted to make sure we got to see one another.” He was careful not to tell too much or say anything that might be seen as a lie. Gersius and the others accepted his answer and asked him how his wives were.
“Ayawa is growing impatient with our efforts. She is sure something is wrong in the north, but we haven't found a sign of the missing army. Gedris misses sparing with Lilly. She finds matching blades with Ayawa or I to be rather one-sided.”
“That’s because you never let her win,” Lilly said and looked at Gersius. “Just like you never let me win.”
“How will you improve if I make you believe you are already a master?” Gersius countered.
“Have you found anything in the north?” Sarah asked to change the subject back to the matter at hand.
“The north is overrun but dulloch and trolls. We even found a small orroc encampment on the base of the mountain and cleaned them out before they caused any trouble. We are moving further west, but there has been no sign of the missing army so far.”
“And how is Numidel? Did he fly you in?” Sarah asked again.
“I am afraid I came by other means, but he is well,” Tavis replied. “He is growing rather fond of that Taylin girl if you get my meaning,” he added with a smile. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the old dragon took another wife.”
“I don't know if his heart can bear it,” Sarah sighed. “He so loved his first wife, and losing her had a deep effect on him. I fear he might be afraid to take another, knowing he will have to face that pain again.”
Tavis understood the fear that Sarah and Lilly carried. They were afraid of Gersius and Thayle growing old and passing long before they would. He knew that there was a difference because of the bind, but none of them were sure if it would matter.
“Well, he sends his regards and wishes to talk to you about your happiness. He also wanted me to say that you should have listened to him sooner,” Tavis said with a wide smile.
“Of course he did,” Sarah groaned. “That old dragon must have tried to tell me about love a thousand times. Doesn’t he understand how hard a concept that is for a dragon to grasp? Well, I look forward to his chastisement when this mess is over.”
“I am sure so is he,” Tavis added with a bow.
Gersius was amused by the display and invited Tavis to stay for the banquet in an hour. He accepted graciously and excused himself to fetch a glass of wine. A few minutes later, he was taking a sip as Alayse approached the table for a wine of her own.
“Did you learn anything?” Alayse asked without looking at him.
“All I did was announce my presence,” Tavis replied as he spoke into his glass. “Nothing seems to be amiss.”
“That’s part of what’s wrong,” Alayse said as she poured. “This woman seems to be perfect, too perfect.”
Tavis took a sip as his eyes searched the room. There were thirty other people gathered about, but none of them fit the description of Celine. He asked Alayse if she was present, and she confirmed the woman was not, but she had been earlier, and Gersius and Sarah suffered headaches right after.
“You still think the headaches are related,” he said and set his glass aside. “I will look into this, but I won’t do anything that betrays their confidence.”
“That's all I am asking you to do. You both have rooms in the palace so you can get close to her and see if anything strange is going on,” Alayse said, then pretended not to be interested in him. “How are you going to figure that out anyway?”
Tavis rolled something in his fingers, and Alayse glanced to see it was a ring. He explained that it was a ring of detection and would glow blue when in the presence of a weave. If Celine was using a weave on herself, it would reveal the presence but not the nature of the magic itself.
“What if she isn’t weaving?” Alayse asked.
“She might have used a weave that takes a while to wear off,” Tavis said. “But more likely, she has a magical item like this ring. Have you noticed if she wears any jewelry?”
Alayse nearly choked on her wine and explained how the woman wore excessive jewelry. “I have never seen so much on one person.”
“That’s suspicious,” Tavis replied. “I wonder if she is a shaper and not a weaver.”
“Aren’t most weavers both?” Alayse asked.
“Most weavers know a little of shaping, but it takes a lot of discipline to master both,” he agreed.
“Well, if you discover something, be sure to let me know,” Alasye said and then walked away before anyone noticed them together.
Tavis nodded as he searched the groups of people filing in to join the banquet. Eventually, he saw a woman with dark hair and a coppery hue to her skin. He watched her intently for a few minutes, wondering if this was the elusive Celine, but then Lilly ran right up to her and took her hand. He moved closer to eavesdrop on their conversation and heard Lilly say she was looking forward to their picnic. He approached and announced himself on a whim, asking Lilly to introduce him to her friend.
“Oh, this is Celine,” Lilly said excitedly. “Celine, this is Tavis, a good friend of ours.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Lord Tavis,” Celine said with a nod.
“I am quite pleased to meet you as well,” Tavis replied with a widening smile. Alayse was right. The woman was covered in jewelry from head to toe. She had multiple rings on her fingers and pierced through her ears, along with gold chains and bands around every wrist, arm, and leg.
“Tavis has two wives,” Lilly said as if it was something exciting to share. “One of his wives is my wed mother.”
“Your wed mother?” Celine asked in surprise.
Lilly nodded and explained the silver crown Ayawa had given her on her wedding day and how it made Ayawa her mother. Celine seemed at a loss as to what to say, but Lilly kept her attention long enough for Tavis to move closer and reach his hand just beside Celine's leg. He looked down with a sour expression as the ring glowed with luminescent light.
“Forgive me,” Tavis said as he stepped back. “I have a matte to intend to. I hope we will meet again.” He bowed low and then turned about, heading for the door at a brisk pace. Alayse saw the exchange and followed him out, eager to see what he had learned.
“She is covered in weaves,” Tavis said as they headed down the hall. “You said she claimed to have no training in it?”
“She said her father knew something of weaving, and she hoped he would teach her,” Alayse replied.
“I suspect some of that jewelry is the source,” he said as they turned a corner and headed down a wide hall.
“So weaves can block divine powers?” Alayse asked.
“Don’t you remember the prison camps?” Tavis asked as he glanced her way. “They used rune stones etched with weaves I have never seen before as anchors. They were powerful enough to block your women from calling out to the goddess.”
“And you know how these work?” she asked.
“I have no idea, and neither did the weavers left behind to maintain them. Only one person knew how they worked, the women who made them in the first place,” he said and stopped in a relatively empty part of the hall. “Gersius brought some of those weavers back with him, didn't he?”
“I think so,” Alayse replied. “But what good will that do you?”
“It's just an idea,” Tavis said and looked around again. “I am going to inquire at the weaver's college to see if any of those people are still here. In the meantime, warn Jessivel to keep an eye on her and don't lose sight of her.”
“She is going on a picnic with Gersius, Lilly, and Thayle tomorrow,” Alayse said. “We can't follow him without being seen.”
“Maybe I can get some weavers to help and use far sight to watch them unseen,” Tavis said.
“Your starting to worry me,” Alayse said. “Do I need to take the risk and confront her now?”
“She might have been given those magical items as gifts. For all we know, she isn't even aware they are magical,” Tavis said and began to walk again. “Let me chase down my idea, and I will meet you at the seeker's temple in the morning.”
“Fine,” Alayse grumbled as she felt conflicted. She knew the woman was too good to be true, but it could still be wrong despite all they had discovered. She had to play this carefully and hurried off to find Jessivel so he could accompany her to the banquet and give their report.
When morning came, Alayse was up early and went out of her way to bump into Lilly. She wasn't surprised at all to learn that Gersius, Sarah, and Thayle had suffered headaches after the banquet. They were gone by morning, but Alayse knew they would be back during the picnic. Lilly asked her if she still believed Celine was behind it, and Alayse could only say she still suspected. Lilly looked sad and then excused herself to get ready for her horse ride but paused to ask a question. She wanted to know if Alayse knew the strange man seen with Tavis that morning.
Alayse hadn't seen Tavis yet and wondered what he was up to. She made her way out and headed for the seeker's temple, where hopefully Tavis would explain.
“He’s there to use far sight and watch over them on their day out,” Tavis replied. “Unfortunately, their route is a secret, and an elite guard has been picked to ensure it stays that way. I had to pry Lilly to get the rough direction of their intended trip so I could plant him close to where they intended to go.”
“And he will be able to watch them?” Jessivel asked.
“So long as they don't stray too far from the city,” Tavis said as he began to pace. “He's one of the men who helped maintain the ward used in the prison camps. He has no idea how it worked, but he reminded me of something. All of the wards were the work of one person, a woman named Carigarra.”
“That’s an odd name,” Alayse said. “Do you think Celine could be working with this Carigarra?”
“There is no way to tell unless we catch them together,” Tavis said.
“My men report she never left the palace last night,” Jessivel said.
“We saw her there giving our report,” Alayse added. “She is always nearby the imperial family.”
“That isn't any different than a hundred other nobles,” Jessivel pointed out. “What we need is solid proof that she is using these weaves to conceal her true motives and that those motives are hostile.”
“So, how do we get that proof?” Alayse asked.
“I am working on a plan to expose her weaves,” Tavis said. “If I can manage it, I can bring down the weaves for a short while, and she shouldn't notice. If I can time it to happen while somebody with the aura sight is there to question her, we might catch her in a lie.”
“I know exactly what to ask her,” Alayse said. “We ask her if she knows a woman named Carigarra.”
“She might not know that,” Jessivel sighed. “Just ask her if she means harm to the emperor or his wives. Better yet, if we could arrange that to happen while Thayle is there to see it, she will be fully exposed.”
Alayse nodded in agreement then asked Tavis how soon he could manage it. He told them he was going to prepare the needed enchantments with the aid of the second weaver. If it went smoothly, he could be ready to use them as soon as tomorrow.
“Then all we can do is wait,” Jessivel said. “Hopefully, this will give us the final answer.”
Tavis parted the meeting with a deep concern that they were going too far. He was secretly employing a weaver to spy on the emperor and his wives while using his status in the palace to discover secret information. He knew Gersius would understand, but it didn't make the idea of having to explain it. Part of him wished Ayawa were here so she could do the spying herself, but circumstances forced him to rely on another.
He went to the palace and watched Gersius and the others depart for their picnic with the mysterious Celine. Afterward, he did a little more spying, even going so far as to search the woman's room. He found nothing of interest in the chests or wardrobe and was about to leave when he noticed something shining by the bed. He looked closer to discover a single gold coin etched with the image of a dragon's head on one side. The other bore a symbol he didn't recognize, but he had seen writing like it before. There was smaller writing around the edge that was in the same language.
He pocketed the coin and put an arm on the bed only to feel a strange firmness. Curious, he pulled back the blankets to discover a layer of gold coins strewn underneath.
“Why is she sleeping on gold coins?” Tavis said aloud as he remembered the one person he knew that did the same thing. “She couldn’t be?” he said to himself as his mind began to see the possibilities. How could so young a woman be a master of both the weave and shaping? Why would she wear so much jewelry and sleep on a bed of coins? Why did she eat so rarely, and why was it primarily meat when she did?
He ran from the room and hurried through the palace, hoping he was wrong. It took nearly an hour to cross the city, arriving at a run-down house built along the wall. It was here that Erigus was watching the gate that Gersius would set out from. Using the weave, he would follow them for the full length of their journey, silently observing everything that had gone on. Hopefully, he had seen nothing but a horse ride and picnic. He would rush to the elite guards waiting at the gate and send them rushing to Gersius's aid if anything else happened. Otherwise, he would wait for them to return and then begin preparations to break the woman's protective layer of weaves.
With a dozen worries circling his mind, he stepped up to the old building and reached for the door. Before he could grasp the handle, it was pulled open from the inside, revealing a panic-stricken Erigus.
“They're gone!” he shouted in a shaking voice. “A dragon took them!”
Tavis nearly fell over but quickly pried the man for details. As it turns out, Celine met them at the gate but didn't go on the ride. He couldn't hear what was being said, of course, but Gersius, Thayle, and Lilly took a picnic basket from the woman and went on the ride alone. They were in the northern plains just a few miles from the city when they stopped along a stream. It was here that four shapes emerged from behind the rocks and ambushed them with weaves. The battle was over in seconds, and one of the four turned into a dragon with deep blue scales. He picked up the three and flew to the northwest. The other three also became dragons, two reds and a black. They followed moments later, quickly fading from his sight.
“So Celine is still in the city?” Tavis asked as he tried to puzzle out what to do.
“Who is Celine?” Erigus asked in confusion.
“The woman they took the picnic basket from,” Tavis insisted.
“That isn’t her name,” the man said, his voice still full of panic.
“What do you mean that isn't her name?” Tavis practically shouted. “Speak clearly, man. Do you know this woman?”
“Of course, I know her. I could never forget a woman of such unbridled power,” he replied. “The weaves she knows are almost unbelievable to behold. ‘
“When did you see her weaving?” Tavis demanded.
“Weeks ago, when we were pressed to work in the prison camps. She was the one who laid the wards that blocked the divine power. She is the lady Carigarra.”
Tavis ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He cursed himself for a fool for not seeing it sooner. Gersius and the others were gone, and Carigarra was almost certainly alone with Sarah. Whatever she was planning was happening now, and there was no time to waste. If he could reach Sarah in time, she could sense them over the bind to follow the trail before it was too late.
By the time he reached the palace, he was winded and breathing heavily. He tried to rush through the gate, but the guards demanded he stop and be tested by a woman of Ulustrah. Just as he was about to argue, a familiar voice spoke up, and he turned to see Jessivel and Alayse.
“What’s happened?” Jessivel asked.
“She’s making her move now!” Tavis gasped. “She has already struck the others. Now she is after Sarah.”
Alayse's eyes went wide with shock as his aura flashed with the truth. She ordered the guards aside and demanded the palace be secured before charging in with Tavis and Jessivel. They collected guards from the corridors as they passed and burst into the council chambers with a hoard of armed soldiers.
Sarah looked up in shock, and guests called out in alarm as the room filled with battle priests. Tavis ran forward and pointed the target out while giving her a wide berth.
“Sarah, get away from her,” Tavis yelled as Celine turned to face them with a look of surprise.
“What is going on here?” Sarah demanded with a flare of flame in her eyes.
“She isn’t who she claims to be,” Tavis said. “She has already lured Gerisus and the others into a trap, and now she is here to eliminate you.”
“That isn’t true!” Celine shouted and turned with a broken expression to Sarah. “I would never do anything to deceive you.”
“I,” Sarah began and looked to Tavis for understanding as he circled Celine and approached the throne. “The others have tested her light a hundred times. She has never lied to us once,” she protested.
“She is using weaves to conceal her truth,” Tavis said. “She is also hiding something else. Something you might find very disturbing.” He drew closer to Sarah as an idea formed in his mind. He needed to prove Sarah was being manipulated, and he thought of a daring way to accomplish it.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Celine shouted. “I have never caused any of you harm.”
“You have caused plenty of us harm,” Tavis said as he got closer to Sarah. “Just ask some of the women of Ulustrah who stand behind you. They languished in the camps that were shielded by magical wards that you created.”
“I had nothing to do with that. I don’t even know how to weave,” Celine protested and looked to Sarah for help. “Ask me anything. I will stand before every priestess of Ulustrah in the empire. You will see I am telling the truth.”
Sarah nodded and looked to Tavis, “I don’t see how you can be right.”
Tavis looked at her with a deadly glare as his hand slowly wrapped around the hilt of a dagger.
“Tell me, how bad is your headache right now? Tavis said.
“It’s throbbing,” Sarah replied. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I will explain it after this,” he said and lunged forward with the dagger flashing out. Sarah cried out in alarm but wasn't quick enough to avoid the weapon as it was buried in her shoulder and pinned her to the throne. The room echoed with a cry of alarm, and Sarah clutched his hand and asked him why.
Tavis yanked the weapon free and cast it aside as he stepped back. Sarah leaned over in pain and clutched her arm, singing a chant of healing to mend the bleeding wound.
“I am sorry,” Tavis said as soldiers now moved to intercept him. “It was the only way to make you understand the truth.”
“What truth,” Sarah growled as her healing finished, and she looked at him with blazing red eyes.
“That you can’t feel the warning sense anymore,” Tavis said and stepped aside to point at Celine. “You can’t feel it because she is using the same weaves she used on the camps that imprisoned the women of Ulustrah. Weaves meant to prevent both the aura sight and Astikar’s warning from revealing the truth. That’s what is causing your headaches. It’s the constant wail of Astikar screaming that you are in danger.” He then turned his gaze on Celine and tipped his hat low as a broad smile spread. “Isn't that right, Carigarra?”
“How?” the woman said as her hands curled into fists. “How could you have seen through my weaves!” she screamed as her eyes burst into red flames. “You filthy rodent! I will burn you to cinders!” she roared, and fire suddenly filled the air. It raced for Tavis, but he held up a hand and fell into a chant of his own that swallowed the flames into the palm of his hand.
“You!” Sarah roared as her own eyes burned to match Carigarra’s. “You will not leave here alive!”
Carigarra turned on her as a red pattern of lines appeared before her dancing hands. In a flash, red light twisted and streaked for Sarah, who chanted while raising an arm, creating a shield of Astikar. They were canceled in an explosion of light, and Sarah returned the weave with a twisting bolt of her own.
“Strike her down!” Jessivel commanded to bring the stunned onlookers out of their stupors. The room filled with orange light, and a hail of hammers raced from all directions as vines grew out of the floor to entangle the woman.
There was a flash of purple, and Carigarra was suddenly by the far wall as the center of the room exploded in a devastation of blessing and weaves.
Sarah was already moving, a hammer in hand to throw as Carigarra grabbed hold of a necklace and shouted a command word. The room filled with a blinding light followed by an explosion as Sarah's hammer struck blind. When their eyes cleared of spots, Sarah was breathing heavily as she stood beside a wall of cracked and chipped bricks.
“Find her!” Sarah shouted as she looked around for the missing enemy. “Bring me her worthless hide!”
Guards raced into the outer halls and began to fan out in a mad hunt for the missing woman as Tavis, Alayse, and Jessivel rushed to Sarah’s side.
“I am so sorry about that,” Tavis said with a nod to her shoulder.
“Forget it,” Sarah growled and slammed the wall with a fist so hard she broke another stone. “I was blind not to see the danger. I should have put it together.”
“I Believe she was using a weave that puts people at ease,” Tavis said. “All that jewelry is probably layers of deceptions and protections.”
Sarah nodded then looked up with a deadly gaze. “What did you say about my family? Where are they?”
Tavis quickly recounted what his spy had seen, and Sarah slammed the wall again, this time producing a hail of stone chips.
“You three are with me,” she commanded and hurried across the battle-ravaged hall. She led them into the deeper palace and then into terraces where the dragon ring stood. She demanded they explain how they knew the woman was deceiving them, and it all came down to Alayse. She was the one who suspected the headaches were linked and that they had to be caused by Celine. She drew Jessivel and then Tavis into her efforts, trying to root out how the woman was doing it.
“You took that upon yourself?” Sarah asked as they reached the ring. “Well, we will talk more of this when my family is safely returned. I am going to fly out and find them. You, Tavis, are appointed temporary ruler in my absence. I expect you to keep Gersius's empire safe until he returns.”
“I will do all I can,” he said with a bow.
Sarah nodded and then turned to Alayse and Jessivel. “I expect you two to assist him in anything he needs doing. I don't expect to be gone long but just in case, make sure he has your skills at his disposal.”
“Of course,” Jessivel said with a nod.
“Good, now go. I need to undress and fly out. Now that Carigarra is away from me, I can feel just how far my loved ones are.”
The three backed away and left the ring so Sarah could change and begin the pursuit. It was a sad ending to the story, but hopefully, there was still time to win the day.
