“You need to abandon this obsession with the ring, Lyra,” cautioned LifeTender. “We will try it, but I am not happy with this deviation from training.”
Lyra nodded and followed LifeTender’s instructions for positioning her left arm and hand. She listened to the proper procedures for summoning and gathering the energy and had LifeTender repeat the release methodology several times.
“I think I have it,” Lyra finally said.
“Okay,” LifeTender instructed. “We will go slowly at first. The block of wood is your target. Aim for the very center, but do not release the spell yet. First I want to see you gather it properly.”
Lyra drew on her inner energies, gathering them and directing them to her left forearm. Her arm grew rigid and bulged slightly as her skin rippled in tiny waves flowing towards her closed fist.
“Excellent,” cheered LifeTender. “Casting with your left hand will produce a weaker spell so do not feel poorly if it does not reach the wood. It may not even get past your fist, but that doesn’t matter. The important thing is your understanding of the casting and release. Let’s try it.”
Lyra concentrated on the wood block and willed the energy free. Her eyes opened wide at the feeling of the energy screaming into her fist. She directed the energy towards the wood and watched as the air rippled before her, gathering into a comet of power, which streaked away as quickly as it had formed. She saw the wood block as if looking through the water of a shallow pond, the image distorted by gentle waves, the comet creating a tunnel of clarity. The force bolt struck the wood block and a thunderous crack resounded across the yard.
“By the Giver of the Star!” exclaimed LifeTender as she ran towards the block.
Lyra ran after her and stopped alongside her. The block before the two of them had a fist-sized hole clear through it.
“You were supposed to try knocking it down,” LifeTender stated. “Look at this. You’ve blown a hole clear through it. That wood is thicker than my leg. Lyra, I have never seen power like that. I don’t know if I can teach someone with that much power.”
Lyra looked at the tunnel through the thick block of wood with wonderment. “Nonsense, LifeTender,” she murmured. “You are obviously teaching me well if I can do this. The destructive force awes me though. Did I do something wrong or is this an acceptable outcome?”
“Oh you did nothing wrong,” assured LifeTender. “The force bolt is supposed to be a comet of power which strikes the object with force. You have done exactly that. It is just that I have never seen one so strong. And you used your left hand. That much power frightens me.”
“Can I use less power and still do the same thing?” Lyra asked.
“If you mean strike the target with force,” LifeTender answered, “then the answer is yes. You will not do the same amount of damage of course. Your control was fine. You hit the target in the center where I asked you to. Lessen the force and you lessen the destruction. The bolt will still travel true.”
“Let’s try some more,” Lyra suggested. “I will use less power this time.”
LifeTender joined Lyra away from the target. Lyra tried various levels of power with the spell and LifeTender was satisfied with Lyra’s knowledge of the spell and her control. After two hours, LifeTender called the lessons to a halt and Lyra returned to the palace. Mekin was waiting outside for her.
“I trust your practice went well?” questioned Mekin.
“Yes,” Lyra replied distractedly. “I may actually learn something here in StarCity.”
“How about that walk?” smiled Mekin. “You were going to show me the city. Perhaps we can visit one of the wonderful gardens I have heard so much about.”
“Sure,” Lyra responded, her mind still pondering the force of her practice spells. She snapped out of her musings and saw Mekin staring at her. “Sorry,” she said. “My mind was elsewhere. Yes, let’s go for a walk and I will show you what I can.”
Chapter 19
Guarding the Sakova
An eerie dense mist covered the forest floor and the Sakovans advanced warily. Goral and SkyDancer split off to the right, while MistyTrail and StormSong went left. StarWind maintained her approach steadily and HawkShadow disappeared completely. StarWind sensed that the fog was unnatural and dismounted, leading her choka slowly.
“Hail Sakovans,” emanated a voice from the fog. “I come in peace and wish to talk.”
“Then disperse your fog, wizard,” called StarWind. “Identify and show yourself or pay the consequences. Your mist will not save you.”
“It was not meant to,” smiled Temiker as he walked out of the mist. “It was only meant to stop your swiftness in killing me. I am Temiker of Alamar.”
“You are bold, Temiker,” StarWind replied, “but I admire your caution.”
StarWind signaled the other Sakovans as the fog melted into the ground. “We have been expecting you, wizard. Why do you seek entry into the Sakova?”
“I saw your spy birds,” Temiker stated as he approached StarWind. “I knew a party would be waiting for me. I wish passage across the Sakova. I will cause no harm, but I fear that there is a party following me and they will not abide by your laws. I am sorry to bring this trouble to your door, but my options are limited.”
“It is not you that they want,” StarWind declared. “They search for your niece, Lyra.”
“Lyra?” Temiker queried. “I am on my way to her father’s academy. What is Lyra doing in the Sakova and why would these raiders be looking for her?”
“Master Malafar’s academy no longer exists,” informed StarWind as the other Sakovans gathered around. “It was attacked by assassins some time ago. Master Malafar was kidnapped and Rhodella was murdered with the rest of the inhabitants.”
Temiker sank slowly to the ground, a look of pain and anguish on his face. Tears welled up in his eyes as StarWind slid down and sat next to him. “Who caused it?” Temiker asked with a trembling voice.
“We are not sure,” StarWind stated calmly. “I am sorry for you. I know your brother must be close to you.”
“It is not my brother I weep for,” Temiker stated as he steadied himself. “That old grouch can take care of himself, but Rhodella was a slice of sunshine for me. I cannot believe that I will never see her again.”
The other Sakovans, sensing an end to any threat from the mage, pulled the packs off the chokas and set up a temporary camp while their leader spoke with Temiker. StarWind placed her hand on Temiker’s arm gently. “Then I am doubly sorry for you, mage,” she soothed. “I never knew WinterWind, but I know those who did and all miss her sorely. Lyra is in StarCity. She and two friends escaped the massacre at the academy and entered the Sakova. Only fate saved her life and we took her to the city.”
“I must talk to her,” demanded Temiker. “I know your laws forbid me entrance to the stronghold, but surely you can bring her to me.”
“These are strange times, Temiker,” StarWind responded. “You have never violated our trust in the past and I find no reason for your character to change. RavenWing has allowed your entrance into StarCity. You shall see Lyra soon, but first we have to deal with those who try to snare her.”
“I am greatly honored,” Temiker replied. “I will never violate your trust. I promised Rhodella that her secret would remain behind my lips and I shall never break that promise. Why do you feel these raiders are after Lyra? They tried to capture me in Alamar, but I escaped. I thought I had lost their trail, but they are following me.”
“I am not aware of your problems in Alamar,” StarWind said, “but there were others to the west chasing Lyra. We dispatched them and found orders on their bodies. The orders indicated that forty of them were to penetrate the Sakova from the east as well. It is those forty that we go to fight. Are you saying that there are others? The orders did indicate another group, but not where they were.”