Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“I suppose that you are the Star of Sakova?” asked the colonel.

“I am, Colonel Zanta,” Lyra replied. “Is the Katana being brought to me?”

“Along with his council,” nodded the colonel. “I demand that whatever transpires here, it be a fair hearing.”

“It will be as fair as the citizens of Okata will allow,” replied Lyra. “Bring the Councilors out.”

The colonel nodded and signaled to his men. While they were carrying the Katana to the plaza, Lyra cast a spell to clear the dust from the skies overhead. The citizens began trickling into the plaza. Lyra waited patiently.

On the other side of the Imperial Palace, seven figures emerged from an old potters shed in a rundown garden.

“Come with me, HawkShadow,” urged Cherri. “We need to change clothes at my house. Both of us will stand out too much if seen on the streets.”

“StarWind and SkyDancer should join you two,” offered Temiker. “Too many Monitors would notice them.”

HawkShadow and the three Sakovan women moved out of the garden together. Ukaro watched them go before turning to Temiker.

“I am quite impressed with your illusions,” complimented the Chula shaman. “You must teach me some of them before we part company. I can understand the basic principles of the duplicates you conjured in the garden, but how did you disappear when the five illusions were dropped?”

“I didn’t,” smiled Temiker. “All six were illusions. I was already hidden behind another illusion in the far corner. We must hurry to the plaza. I want to be there in case Lyra needs help.”

Ukaro nodded and pulled a hood over his head as the trio exited the garden and merged with the flow of citizens streaming towards the plaza. They split up as they joined with the crowd. Temiker frowned as he entered the plaza and saw Lyra standing in the center. There was no blue cylinder surrounding her. He glanced at the destroyed building and noticed that the Imperial Guards were keeping their distance. Several paces in front of the Star of Sakova was a small band of Monitors, led by Colonel Zanta. Just in front of them was the frozen Katana and blindfolded Councilors. Temiker removed his hood and moved through the crowd so that he would be as close to Lyra as possible.

“Welcome back, citizens of Okata,” Lyra said loudly as the plaza filled to capacity. “Before you are the leaders of Omunga who have decided in the past the course of your nation. I have already told you of the deceit and treachery they have foisted upon you. Now you shall hear what they have to say for themselves. Colonel Zanta, please remove the blindfolds and gags from the Councilors.”

The colonel issued orders to his men who cautiously removed the blindfolds and the gags while being careful not to touch the magical garrotes. The Councilors blinked and looked around the plaza. Several of them gasped when they saw the ruins of the headquarters of the Imperial Guard. Others stared in disbelief at the frozen statue of the Katana. None of them spoke.

The Star of Sakova raised her arm and pointed at the Katana. A streak of light flashed between them and the ice dropped away from the Katana. He shook his head and wobbled slightly as he regained control over his body. As he realized where he was, his first action was to raise his arm and point at Lyra threateningly. His eyes narrowed and his lips moved, but nothing happened. The Katana’s brow creased in frustration as he struggled to get off his magical projectile.

“Cease,” ordered Lyra. “Your magic is worthless against the power of Kaltara. The more you try to harm me, the greater your pain will be.”

“Kaltara?” spat the Katana. “He is nothing to Vand. Your Kaltara was defeated at Vandegar.”

The people in the plaza were confused by the speech. They had no idea who Vand was, although many knew that Kaltara was the god of the Sakovans.

“Vand fled from Vandegar,” retorted the Star of Sakova. “I know he plans to return and bring his vast horde of armies with him, but that is not something that concerns you any longer. Who are you?”

“I am Larst,” spat the Katana. “You may kill me, but that act will not save you or these pitiful people.”

“I will have the truth from you,” demanded Lyra as her arm rose once again.

A streak of blue light shot from Lyra’s fingertip. It struck the Katana in the chest and spread rapidly until his body was covered with dancing blue flames. The Katana howled an inhuman scream, as his skin appeared to peel away from his face. His features contorted, and Colonel Zanta fidgeted as if he would intervene at any moment.

“Stand fast, Colonel,” advised the Star of Sakova. “The magic is not killing the false Katana. It is revealing his true identity.”

People gasped as the Katana doubled over, holding his face with his hands. Lyra waited patiently. Eventually the screaming stopped, and the Katana rose upright. His face was a mask of defiant rage, but it was not the face of Larst. Many in the crowd, including the Monitors and the Councilors, recognized the man as the historian who had spent so much time with First Minister Larst.

“Who are you?” demanded Lyra.

“I am Karnic,” spat the false Katana, “favored aid to the god Vand. Little good this knowledge will do you. Your lives are about to turn to dust. Rejoice in your little victory and prepare to die.”

“He is yours, Colonel,” declared Lyra. “Ask the people what they want done with the false Katana who has ruined their lives.”

Colonel Zanta stepped forward to seize Karnic, but the mage refused to go quietly. He turned towards the crowd and threw a massive fireball towards them. The citizens screamed as the fiery projectile soared towards them. They turned and tried to flee, but the crowd was too tightly packed. Panic erupted.

Temiker swiftly erected a shield in front of the crowd. The fireball struck the shield and splattered into thousands of harmless sparkles. Colonel Zanta stepped forward and brought the hilt of his sword down on Karnic’s head. The Motangan mage slumped to the ground and the crowd quieted down as they realized the threat had passed.

“I apologize,” Lyra said to the colonel. “I expected him to attack me. I did not suspect that he would try to kill as many as he could before he died.”

“You saved them well enough,” nodded the colonel.

Lyra realized that the colonel thought the shield had been hers. She did not try to correct him. She bit her lower lip and turned to face the huge crowd of citizens.

“He is your false Katana,” the Star of Sakova said loudly. “What do you want done with him?”

“Kill him,” shouted a multitude of voices.

The crowd roared with calls for the false Katana’s death. The Monitors stood still as they could not bring themselves to harm a Katana, even a false one. Eventually, a tall broad-shouldered man left the crowd and marched to the fallen body of the Katana. He reached out to take the sword that Colonel Zanta was holding. The colonel balked at first and stepped away, but the citizen was insistent. He stepped close to the colonel and gently took the sword from his hand. He turned and viscously decapitated the false Katana. The crowd cheered as the man wiped the sword clean on Karnic’s robe and handed the sword back to the colonel. The man turned and bowed to Lyra before returning to the crowd. Lyra waited a few minutes before speaking again to the crowd of citizens.

“These men,” she said pointing to the Councilors, “have been the backbone of Omunga. They are supposed to guide the Katana towards policies that are best for the people of Omunga. Do you think they have failed you?”

“Wait,” shouted the First Minister. “We did not know that the Katana was false. You cannot blame us for this fakery. We have always tried to do what is best for the people.”