Richard Tuttle - Star of Sakova

Lyra sat up abruptly and opened her eyes. She recognized the clearing where the party had made camp for the night. All around her people were running and shouting. She threw off her blanket, but it was stuck by her legs and she looked down to see a man’s body draped over her legs. The man’s head was bleeding profusely where a Sakovan star had penetrated his throat.

Lyra kicked the body away as she caught sight of Goral swinging his massive maul at the dark shape of a man. The maul connected with the man’s head and the attacker’s body went flying off into the trees. Not far from Goral, MistyTrail separated from the darkness to swing her sword into the legs of another dark shape. The shape fell to the ground and MistyTrail plunged the sword into the man’s chest.

Looking in the other direction, Lyra saw StormSong facing off against three attackers. She tried to rise to go to the proud warrior’s aid, but MistyTrail was by her side before she could get up.

“Stay down,” MistyTrail ordered. “They are using bows as well.”

Lyra started to object and rise, but MistyTrail swiftly swept her legs out from under her and the Star of Sakova crashed to the ground. She felt the weight of a body being thrown on top of her and caught sight of StormSong taking out two of the attackers with a vicious figure eight.

“Stay down or I will make sure that you do,” ordered MistyTrail.

Lyra watched as StormSong decapitated the third attacker and then the campsite turned silent. She felt MistyTrail’s presence behind her and then the feeling of the body being lifted off of her.

“I am sorry, Lyra,” MistyTrail apologized. “I had to keep you down. It was you they were after.”

Lyra picked herself up as Temiker, StarWind, and SunChaser entered the clearing. Lyra turned and saw StormSong and Goral before speaking. “Where is HawkShadow?” she asked, fearing that the Sakovan assassin may not have survived.

“He is checking the bodies,” StarWind reported. “He will be back shortly.”

“Are these the twenty assassins that were missing?” Lyra questioned.

StarWind nodded, “Yes, but not all of them. I think three of them got away. HawkShadow will know for sure. We will be able to track them so they will not get far.”

“Not unless they are headed towards Okata,” the Star shook her head. “I must get to Okata before Malafar.”

“That is the direction they fled,” HawkShadow declared as he entered the clearing. “If we still had the chokas they wouldn’t stand a chance. I will go on ahead. They will need to sleep sometime.”

“So will you,” Lyra objected. “Forget them for now. Let’s all get some sleep.”

The Sakovans nodded and started clearing the bodies out of the campsite while Lyra disappeared under her blanket. She lay awake for a long time pondering the attack and the strange dream, but what kept her awake was the frustration of not knowing what to do once they caught up with Master Malafar. She could not fathom killing her own father, and yet there appeared to be no alternative. She was the only who could stand up to Malafar’s power, if she could even do it again. He had been confused the last time they battled. What if he was stronger than she was? What if he wasn’t? It was not fair that one of them must die, she thought bitterly. Eventually Lyra cried herself to sleep.

“Second floor facing the Palace,” Temiker reported as he strode down the stairs of the carriage platform at the side of the Palace Arms.

“Do you know if there are vacancies in the adjoining rooms?” Lyra asked.

“They are practically empty,” Temiker stated. “The city gates have only been open for a couple of days now. It will take a while for word to spread.”

“The merchants stay in the Merchant District,” interjected SunChaser. “The inns will be full down there pretty soon, but mostly visiting dignitaries stay here. Are you sure you don’t want to stay at my mansion? There is plenty of room to put everyone up.”

“No,” answered the Star of Sakova. “I do not want to compromise your cover in Okata, besides, Malafar may remember your mansion and I do not want him to know we are here.”

“I will get the next room,” offered HawkShadow.

“Let’s split up into pairs,” suggested StarWind. “We make too noticeable a group standing together. I will take Goral and get a room right after HawkShadow is done.”

“Good idea,” mused Lyra. “I will get a room for StormSong and MistyTrail. Either of them would be memorable to the clerk.”

“There is no reason why we cannot wait in the lobby if we are split up,” Temiker pointed out.

“True,” responded StarWind, “but let’s keep some distance between us.”

“I see no reason why I cannot go in with you, StarWind,” Lyra declared. “I do not want to risk getting rooms on different floors and two rooms for two women travelling together would not appear strange.”

StarWind nodded and the group split up. HawkShadow entered the doors at the carriage platform while Lyra and StarWind walked around to the front of the inn, leaving SunChaser, Goral, and Temiker to fend for themselves. They would filter in after a few moments had passed.

Lyra marveled at the grandeur of the city as they rounded the corner of the building. She hesitated at the front steps and gazed over the grand plaza that separated the inn from the palace. She smiled at the chirping birds and frisky squirrels that frolicked in the park, but her smile faded quickly. Okata was not going to be a peaceful city much longer, she knew. Her eyes passed over a group of children playing near a clump of trees in the park and she wanted to run over and tell them to go home. Shaking her head, she turned and followed StarWind up the front steps of the Palace Arms and into the plush lobby.

The lobby was huge and carpeted with couches and comfortable chairs spread throughout it. The walls to her left and right both sported huge fireplaces with clumps of chairs before them. There were about a dozen people in the lobby scattered about in small groups or sitting alone. Light music emanated from a doorway across from the main entrance and Lyra could smell meat cooking somewhere distant. She absently licked her lips as she thought about having a prepared Omungan meal for a change.

StarWind led Lyra towards the center of the room and they stood, seemingly in light conversation with one another, watching HawkShadow register for a room. Lyra caught sight of StormSong and MistyTrail entering the lobby cautiously and signaled StarWind with her eyes. StarWind nodded and Lyra caught the spymaster’s fingers moving rapidly at her side. StormSong gave the barest of nods and led MistyTrail away from the other groups.

Within a few moments, HawkShadow turned away from the counter and nodded absently. He moved swiftly off towards the stairs while StarWind led Lyra towards the counter. Lyra watched Temiker and SunChaser disappear up the stairs while StarWind waited for the clerk to finish some paperwork and look up at her.

“Can I help you?” the clerk said, finally finished with his papers.

“Yes,” smiled StarWind, “I want a room on the second floor overlooking the plaza.”

“Two actually,” Lyra chirped. “Together if that is possible.”

The clerk nodded and turned to see if the rooms were available.

“I hope you will pay a visit to my room later tonight young lady,” a male voice suddenly said from behind StarWind and Lyra.

Lyra whirled to face a tall thin man with a smile upon his face and saw StormSong over his shoulder, approaching with her hand on a belt knife and fury on her face. Evidently the man’s comment was not uttered as softly as he had thought and Lyra’s mind raced to prevent the coming confrontation. Suddenly Goral rose from one of the chairs and stepped in front of the approaching StormSong and placed his huge hand on her shoulder, shaking his head.