Richard Tuttle - Star of Sakova

Lyra shook her head as she watched Alazar prepare to attack. She held her arms out to her sides and a blue cylinder appeared around her. It started at her feet and grew upward, stretching into the sky, turning transparent as it stretched. Alazar released his spell and a massive fireball streamed towards Lyra and slammed into the blue-tinged cylinder. The fireball did not bounce off of Lyra's shield, nor did it explode when it met the shield. It simply ceased to exist. In fury, Alazar cast another and another. His fireballs merely dissolved before reaching the young girl.

StarWind glanced over at Malafar and saw the old mage standing in silence as the Imperial Guards continued to try to hack their way through the shield that Temiker was maintaining. His hands were at his sides and he bore a look of utter failure on his face. He appeared to neither notice nor care about the men attacking him. Alazar stepped to one side of the platform, so he could see past Lyra, and cast a fireball at the old mage. It erupted on Malafar's chest, throwing the Star's father to the ground in a crumpled heap. The flames went out immediately, but Malafar did not stir.

Oh false Katana, boomed Lyra's voice as she turned to face Alazar once again. Oh assassin. Why do you seek to destroy the tool you used to kill the real Katana?

The people of Okata were rising up from the ground now and they turned their attention to the platform. Lyra had not raised a hand against the Katana and the Imperial Guard and the Monitors appeared unsure of what to do. Alazar stared at Lyra with contempt, knowing his fireballs would not penetrate her shields.

Guards, seize this traitorous daughter of an assassin, he shouted. This lowly being is Lyra, daughter of the Sakovan assassin Malafar. There shall be four executions today instead of three.

Stop, boomed Lyra as the Monitors started towards her. Do not make the god Kaltara destroy this city to protect a man who would seize control by treachery. Let me speak my piece and then I will lower my shield to accept justice.

The Monitors faltered and Alazar again ordered them to attack. You do not take orders from the young wench, he screamed. Seize her.

The Monitors closed on Lyra and the Sakovans started towards the platform. Stop, Sakovans, came Lyra's whisper, the sound so close and intimate that StarWind whirled to see if someone else had spoken. I commanded you to your tasks. Obey me, the whisper continued.

On the platform, the Monitors attacked Lyra. A sword struck the shield and the blade disappeared. The Monitor looked down at the hilt he held in his hand and shook his head as another Monitor swung another sword. Its blade also disappeared. A loud collective gasp emanated from the crowd, which had been watching the contest in absolute silence. A third Monitor attacked Lyra and disgustedly discarded his sword when the blade disappeared. In frustration he reached for Lyra and screamed in agony as his arm disappeared. His fellow Monitors swiftly grabbed him as he fell and dragged him away from Lyra. The remaining Monitors also backed away from the young girl in the blue cylinder.

Lyra turned towards the front of the platform and gazed over the shocked crowd before her.

The real assassin of your Katana stands before you today and he is not the one lying on the ground over there, she boomed as she pointed towards the still figure of Malafar. I am Lyra, daughter of Malafar and Rhodella of the Academy of Magic. It is my father who lies before you on the ground and he did indeed intend to kill Alazar today, but hear the truth of what I say. He came to kill a man who deserves to die, not a Katana, for this man who stands upon this platform in his flowing robe of gold and white is a false Katana. He is a murder and usurper of office. He is a despicable man who uses others to kill for him, whether they wish to or not. He drugged my father into killing the old Katana for him so that he might rule this nation.

Alazar was wringing his hands in frustration as he tried to think of a way to kill Lyra before she could say more, but she appeared to be immune to magic attacks as well as physical attacks. His only option was to flee. He turned to run and Lyra spread her arms again. Another blue cylinder formed around Alazar's feet and rose towards the sky.

Please stay and listen, oh false Katana, offered Lyra. The cylinder will protect you from all harm. I can not even attack you now if I wished to, which I do not.

That is one spell I want to learn when we get back to StarCity, whispered Temiker. You must have LifeTender teach it to me.

LifeTender knows no such spell, answered StarWind. I have never seen the likes of it until today. I do not understand where Lyra gets her power and her knowledge.

No person knows, chirped MistyTrail. Ask Lyra and she will tell you, only Kaltara knows.

The mage Malafar is…was my father, Lyra continued, but he was never Sakovan. I, however, am Sakovan. In fact, I am the Star of Sakova, leader of the Sakovan people and chosen by our god Kaltara. I swear to the people of Omunga that Sakova does not wish war with you. I swear by Kaltara that we have not attacked you. We have not burned your fields. We have not assassinated your Katana. I could do so today, but I will not. He is your false Katana and your problem to deal with.

You speak lies, shouted Alazar. You scheme with your father to rule Omunga as well as Sakova. We shall hunt you down and exterminate you along with the rest of your savage Sakovans.

You can never hurt me, Alazar, smiled Lyra as she turned to face the false Katana. I could remove this shield right now and you could do nothing to me for my god Kaltara will protect me. He protects me from evil and you are nothing if not evil. The shield is to protect me from your guards who are only doing their honest job when they follow your orders, because they know not that you are a false Katana.

Then lower your shields, smirked Alazar. Let us see how well your god protects you.

I could, smiled Lyra, but you will die if you attack me.

You said you would not attack me, reminded Alazar. You said your god alone would protect you.

As I say now, agreed Lyra. I have no need to attack you. I will take the body of my fallen father and leave your city. I leave your fate to the people of Okata.

Lyra smiled as she heard the murmurs of acceptance ripple through the crowd. She only hoped that the Imperial Guard and Monitors would react the same as the crowd of citizens. If she guessed wrong, she would die. Using Lord Marak's spell, she wove an Air Tunnel to Alazar's ear.

You do not have the power to kill me, oh false Katana, she whispered for his ear only. You will falter before you win. You are weak and the people here can see it.

Drop these shields, Sakovan, Alazar shouted in rage. I defy your god and your people and I alone will strike you dead.

You alone? she laughed. Against Kaltara? Thank the Heavens that you at least spare your men from God's death as they cannot legally attack me now as you have publicly forbidden them to do so. I do ask you not to attack me yourself though. Kaltara will forbid it.

Hoping to God that the Omungans would honor the words of the false Katana, Lyra dropped both of the blue cylinders.

Alazar sneered and immediately raised his arm to attack with a fireball. He must have been building his power while he waited for the shields to drop, Lyra realized. She stared at him as his face contorted with effort, but no fireball emerged. Murmurs ran through the crowd as well as the Monitors and Imperial Guard, but nobody moved towards her. That was fortunate as she had no physical defense and would easily be struck down.

Gasps ran through the audience as Alazar strained to get his fireball off. Sweat poured down his face accentuating the rage it held. Alazar's body shook noticeably and his head tilted to one side. His knees weakened but not his rage. Within moments, Alazar collapsed to the floor of the platform. A Monitor stooped to help him up.