Koren took in a deep breath. Speaking would probably light up the star and startle Madam, but it had to be done. “Madam Orley?” Exodus slowly brightened. “Madam Orley, it’s me, Koren.”
“I came here to see you.” Madam emerged from her hiding place. “I overheard you talking to Hyborn about meeting here at dawn.”
Koren floated closer but stayed about ten feet from the ground, still mindful of Brinella’s warning to keep her distance. “What do you need?”
“First of all, thank you for sending Tibalt. He isn’t much help with housework, but he knows a great deal about the Code.” Madam gestured with the book. “It was supposed to go to Stephan, but since he died, I kept it.”
“Yes,” Koren said, “I remember.”
“Tibalt pointed out this passage to me.” Madam opened the book to a page near the end and began to read. “ ‘Like a guiding star, the Creator’s word brings light to the soul. It ignites a flame within those who take it into their hearts. Like a refining fire, it burns away all that is impure. Those who seek cleansing will come to the light, and those who love darkness will try to extinguish the guiding star.’ “ She closed the book and slid it into her pocket. “Tibalt and I think you are shining that light, and some of our own people will try to destroy you. I have heard the grumbling already.”
“Do you mean Yeager?”
She nodded. “But he isn’t the only one. Some are old enough to remember Cassabrie, the first Starlighter. She didn’t float around inside a sphere, but she did cause a lot of trouble. She wasn’t shy about telling people what they ought to be doing, and most folks don’t like that. It didn’t take long before she had to go into hiding. Plenty of people were willing to turn her in to Magnar.”
“So is that why you came? To warn me to be careful?”
“That, and …” She withdrew a folded parchment from her skirt pocket. “I was wondering if you could tell me what happened to my daughter, Agatha. Since you’re a Starlighter, I thought you might be able to tell the tale.”
Koren glanced at the parchment, but it was too far away to see any details.
A tear trickling down her cheek, Madam continued. “I now think that she has died, but I was hoping you could tell me. As I’m sure you remember, she was promoted just before you came to us, and”—she held up the parchment—“and I received a letter, but I wonder now if the letter is fraudulent.”
As warmth flowed into Koren’s body, a stream of words flooded her mind. “Oh, Madam, I do have a tale for you.” She spread out her arms, fanning her cloak. “Agatha, precious daughter of Constance and Dominic Milton Orley, loved the sciences, especially those that revealed the mysteries of the human body.”
A girl appeared next to Madam Orley. Sitting at a desk, she wrote in a huge book, a wavering candle near her elbow providing light. With dark hair and a bloodstained tunic and skirt, she appeared to be about fourteen years old.
“Agatha often worked in the butcher shop, which helped her learn about the internal organs and muscular and skeletal structures of animals. That study caused her to seek more knowledge from her father, who allowed her to watch surgeries. She then wrote down everything she learned and drew sketches of human anatomy.”
Madam knelt next to Agatha’s image, her hand trembling as she reached up and caressed the phantom girl’s cheek.
“One evening during exam time,” Koren continued, “Arxad visited the students, a rare event, for priests of the Zodiac are usually the ones who are visited by those in need, not the other way around.”
The scene changed. Agatha, now wearing a clean skirt and tunic, sat upright in a chair. Arxad bobbed his head in front of her as if studying her eyes. “Her test scores are exactly what I had hoped,” he said. “She will receive a Promotion.”
Arxad led Agatha away, walking in place as if floating a few inches off the cobblestones. The book and pedestal from the Basilica theater room appeared, and Arxad halted next to them. “I chose this one for Promotion myself,” he said in the dragon language. “She is proficient in medicine. Her teacher seemed curious as to why I would select a student with such high scores, but he did not verbalize his question.”
Magnar shuffled into view, his eyes fiery. “Have you completed the preparations?”
“She has already had her time at the Reflections Crystal.” Arxad presented a sheet of parchment in his clawed hand. “And here is her letter.”
Magnar let out a snort of contempt. “What does it say? I always find these amusing.”
Arxad drew the letter close to his eyes. “Dear Mother, I am happy in the Northlands with the great dragon king. Arxad told me I would learn more about medicine here, so I am looking forward to that. Papa will be proud of me when I discover the cure for the disease that now afflicts him. Please tell him that I will find it as soon as I can. I love you, Mama.”
Magnar laughed. “She is as idealistic as you are.”
“Perhaps we need more who embrace idealism.” Arxad touched the top of Agatha’s head. “This one is too pure and innocent to live among the corrupt.”
“And are you the arbiter of worthiness to live? Congratulations, Arxad. You are now sitting in the Creator’s judgment seat.”
Arxad snorted a plume of smoke. “Spoken by the one who consumes the innocent.”
“I am not the one who believes these vermin to be —”
“I know. I know. This is an old debate.” Arxad pushed Agatha toward Magnar. “Take her. She is yours now.” Agatha stumbled and fell in front of Magnar. Without another word, he snatched her with his claws and flew away.
Still on her knees, Madam Orley trembled, but she stayed quiet as she kept her stare locked where Agatha had fallen. A shining female form appeared, standing erect in that spot. Although composed of pure light instead of substance, she looked just like Agatha.
The surroundings altered from the Basilica theater room to the foyer at the Northlands castle. Arxad walked close to Agatha, his claws biting into the wooden floor. “Alaph will meet with you soon,” he said. “He will want you to choose a name that reflects your character. He has a list of qualities from which you may make a selection.”
“Just give me one that no one else wants.” As Agatha spoke, she faded, leaving only her lips visible. “I will be glad to take it. I would never want to cause a disruption.”
Arxad smiled. “There are several that fit you. Peaceable? Deference? Goodness?”
“Then if it pleases you …” She curtsied, bringing light to her form again. “I will choose Deference.”
Koren lowered her arms. The scene crumbled into shards of radiance that evaporated in the dawning light. “Agatha lives,” Koren said, “but not in bodily form. Arxad preserved her spirit, and now she serves the king of the Northlands in that state. I have seen her myself, though I didn’t know at the time that she was your daughter. She is happy and content, so I hope this news brings you comfort.”
Madam Orley rose to her feet and bowed her head. Sniffling, she spoke in between sobbing spasms. “I am … comforted … but I am … also confused … Why would Arxad … take my precious little one … to Magnar to be …” Her final word came out in a wail. “Eaten?”
“I cannot answer for Arxad. We can only guess at his reasons based on what we saw and heard.”
During the ensuing silence, Madam composed herself. Then, her voice transformed into a spite-filled growl. “Arxad is a dragon, so he does what is best for himself and other dragons. When I next see him, he will answer for taking my daughter from me.” She then raised a clenched fist. “We must rise up and fight. Maybe together we can break our bonds and escape to the Northlands.”
“That is my hope,” Koren said, “but it will require a united effort. Many of us will suffer, and some will die in the process.”
“Then so be it. With you here to provide the truth about the dragons’ cruelty, maybe people will listen. Maybe they will be willing to risk danger in order to find freedom.”
“Enough of thi
s talk!” A dragon flew at Koren and slapped Exodus with a wing as he passed. Exodus zoomed up, spinning wildly toward the Zodiac. Koren spun with it. Her cloak spread out, and light shot from her body, sending streams of energy through the outer membrane and all across the village.
Exodus struck one of the spires and bounced back, slowing its spin. Koren set her feet and halted the rotation. Then, gliding back over the street, she surveyed the brightening scene. Yeager now stood next to Madam Orley, wrenching her arms behind her back and tying them together with a rope. Hyborn flew to a landing and trotted up to them, his hot stare aimed at Koren. “So this is your plan!” Hyborn shouted. “You hope to incite a rebellion by twisting history to suit your purposes.”
Koren inhaled deeply. It would be best to stay calm and just speak the truth. “I am not twisting history. I am showing exactly what occurred.”
“When you show selected events out of context, you are twisting history. Yesterday in the presence of dragons, you displayed the overwhelming cruelty of humans, buying our favor with your hypnotizing rhetoric. Yet today you tried to ensnare this woman by telling of a singular act of cruelty by one dragon, and you hoped to ignite passions through emotional appeal.” Extending his neck, Hyborn angled his head upward and looked at her nearly eye to eye. His voice lowered to a growling whisper. “Your power is great, Starlighter, and you have proven how dangerous you are.”
Koren pulled her cloak closer to her body, trying to hide her trembling legs. Steeling herself, she kept her voice steady. “Is one act really out of context? That one act was committed by the dragon king who guides and represents you all, and it was not singular. Magnar has repeated his ravenous cruelty many times. What I have shown is enough to condemn the authority of those who enslave my people.”
“It is true that Magnar has committed acts of cruelty,” Hyborn said, “but that does not give you the right to stand in judgment of all dragons.”
Squinting at her light, Yeager tightened Madam’s binding knot with a hard jerk. “I knew you were a prideful princess when I sold you to Arxad, but now your lofty perch has swelled you into a high-and-mighty queen. You can’t even walk or talk with us. How dare you try to get us to rise up against our masters! It is a hopeless dream and a foolish one.”
Hyborn lowered his head and looked at Madam Orley. “In order to ensure that no humans heed this Starlighter’s words, let us make an example of this woman. I will take her to the Basilica gate where she will be tied and left without food or water until she dies.”
Koren balled her fists. “By whose authority? You can’t take Arxad’s housekeeper!”
“I spoke to Taushin about this matter earlier this morning. Since I am less susceptible to your charms than most, he gave me authority to quell any uprising through any means that I desire.” Hyborn turned to Yeager. “Spread the news. The lockdown is over. Before going to their normal duties, everyone must pass by the Basilica and express their contempt for this rebel. Those who disobey will suffer the same fate.”
“But I haven’t done anything wrong,” Madam Orley said as she twisted her hands and wrists at her back. “Is it a crime to want to be free from bondage?”
Hyborn slapped Madam with a wing, cutting her cheek. Blood poured from the wound and dripped to her shoulder. She cried out but quickly bit her lip.
“You will be silent,” Hyborn shouted. “It is a crime to conspire with this Starlighter to incite rebellion.”
“Leave her alone!” Koren drove Exodus downward, but Hyborn slapped the star again. As Koren flew upward in a wild spin, she dropped to hands and knees and looked through the sphere’s floor. Below, Hyborn grabbed Madam Orley by the hair and dragged her toward the Basilica. “Go down!” Koren pounded the floor. “I have to help Madam!”
Exodus gradually leveled out, its spin easing. Then, as slow as a setting moon, it descended. “Faster!” she shouted, blinking away dizziness. “Why aren’t you listening to me?”
Hyborn threw Madam toward the Basilica, slamming her head against the gate. Yeager wrapped the rope around her midsection and fastened her to the iron bars. “Now go,” Hyborn said to Yeager. “Bring your fellow slaves. No one is exempt.”
While Yeager ran toward the grottoes, Koren drew closer. She rose to her feet and whipped her cloak around. “Hyborn! Hear my words. You will regret this brutality.”
“Is that so?” Hyborn laughed. “What will you do to me? Hurt my ears with your endless squeaking?”
She halted the lower part of Exodus just above Hyborn’s eye level. “I call to witness every slave to whom you have been cruel!”
An old man hobbled toward Hyborn, bent at the waist as he leaned on a walking stick. A small girl followed, wearing short trousers. Red welts striped her exposed legs. At least twenty men, women, and children joined the procession. Each one bore a bruise, walked with a limp, or displayed whip marks.
As Hyborn watched them approach, his neck swayed from side to side. He blinked several times as if trying to ward off sleep. When the people drew near, they formed two lines that looped around him. As soon as the circle was complete, Koren called out. “You speak of singular events, yet each one of these slaves has borne witness to your cruelty multiple times. Shall I ask them to describe your crimes against them?”
Hyborn closed his eyes and wagged his head hard. “I will not stand here to be ridiculed by your phantasms!” He blew a stream of fire at the bent man, engulfing him in flames, then pivoted slowly in an arc, blasting the witnesses until they all disappeared. An errant burst of fire swept across Madam’s legs. She cried out, shaking so violently the gate’s bars vibrated.
Another old man ran toward the dragon. “Allow me to stand guard,” he shouted. “I’ll watch this cowardly rebel.”
Koren clenched a fist. Tibalt!
“Who are you?” Hyborn asked. “I do not recognize you.”
Tibalt bowed. “My name is Tibalt. I saw how you scorched those demons the Starlighter conjured.” He swung a fist. “Whoo-hee! That’ll teach that sorceress to mess with our masters!”
Madam Orley cried out. “Tibalt! Help me! I need water for my legs!”
“Do you know this woman?” Hyborn asked.
Tibalt squinted at Madam. “Met her last night. Been suspicious of her ever since. She said some crazy things about thinking we should be free. Imagine that! What would we do if dragons set us free? Why, we would probably starve and come back on our knees begging for our chains.”
Koren cringed. Careful, Tibalt. Don’t pour it on too thick.
Hyborn gave Tibalt a skeptical stare. “Do not think you can gain my favor with your fawning rhetoric. I have seen many deceivers in my time.”
“And I have spent too many years in prison to want to go there again,” Tibalt said, bowing.
“Magnar never told me about a human prisoner. Why did he detain you for so long?”
Tibalt pointed at himself. “Because I am the son of Uriel Blackstone, one of the original slaves. Magnar didn’t want me spreading stories about how humans arrived here, but he also wanted to preserve me for, as he put it, a ‘genetic resource.’ Apparently, Magnar wasn’t worried about me anymore, so he gave orders for my release.”
“Yes,” Hyborn said, still staring. “I see the resemblance.”
Tibalt offered another quick bow. “Then you must know that I speak only the truth. The last thing I want to do is go back to that prison.”
“Then stay here and guard her while I report to Taushin, but do not give her any water.” Hyborn spread out his wings and spat a ball of fire near Tibalt’s feet. “If you fail me, you will be the next fool I scorch. I can always capture her again.”
Tibalt leaped back from the flames. “Don’t worry. I’ll watch that rebel like a guardian dragon.”
Hyborn lifted into the air, swept past Exodus without a glance at Koren, and descended through an opening in the Basilica roof.
Tibalt looked all around before tiptoeing to Madam Orley. “Now try to stay quiet. I??
?ll have you out of here before you can say, ‘Magnar’s a monkey.’”
As he worked to untie the knot, Madam Orley stared at Koren, her deeply etched face giving away her pain.
Tibalt muttered, “They must have knots here we don’t have back home.”
“You!” Yeager called, running toward them at a gallop. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” Tibalt thrust his hands behind his back. “I was checking to see if her knots are secure.”
Yeager slowed to a halt in front of Madam Orley. “Of course they’re tight. I tied them myself.”
“They are tight, indeed. Tight as a school marm’s hair.”
“School marm?” Yeager gave him a quizzical look. “What’s a school marm?”
Koren pressed her fingers against her lips. Careful, Tibalt.
“It’s a saying we had back when I was a young’un, way before your time.”
“Madam Orley told me about you.” Yeager checked the knots. Apparently satisfied, he turned back to Tibalt. “How many years have you seen, old man?”
“I lost count. More than ninety, I suppose. But since I just got out of prison, I don’t know the folks here.”
“Well, you’ll have a chance to meet many of us. I gave the command to one of our tongue waggers, so it won’t take long for word to get around.”
While Tibalt and Yeager talked, Koren glanced around—from the Basilica gate to the hole in its roof to the Zodiac. She had to do something. But what? Maybe it would be best to wait for the other slaves to show up, then she could try to persuade them all at once. That might be the only way to get the proverbial river past the barrier wall, to communicate the new idea and create an unstoppable wave. At the very least, maybe someone would help Madam Orley.
After a few minutes, a line of slaves streamed up the slope and onto the street. Most appeared to be more tired than usual, perhaps weary at being summoned yet again to the village. Many gave Exodus a quick glance before turning away with a grimace. Children of all ages and sizes accompanied the adults, including infants carried in mothers’ arms.