“No! I don’t want it to swallow you.”
“But if Cassabrie is dying—”
“Randall!” Koren elbowed him in the ribs. “If you can hear me, we need you now!”
He fell to the side again. This time Koren caught him and bit his ear as hard as she could.
“Augh!” Randall shot up and banged his head against Koren’s chin. He climbed to his feet and swayed in place while rubbing his ear. “What’s going on?”
Koren pointed at the trunk. “Get the lid and shove it between Exodus and the crystal!”
Randall looked at the trunk then at Cassabrie. “Why is she —”
“Don’t ask questions! Just do it!”
Randall lumbered over to the trunk, grabbed the lid with both hands, then, looking like he might tip over at any second, shuffled toward Exodus. Just before he reached it, he toppled forward. The lid flew from his grasp. His face smacked the floor, and the lid leaned against the Reflection’s Crystal. Exodus vibrated, rousing Cassabrie.
“Randall!” Koren screamed. “Are you all right?”
Randall lay quiet and motionless.
Groaning, Cassabrie pushed up to all fours. “So weak! I can barely breathe.”
“Cassabrie!” Koren shouted. “Hurry and tell me what to do. You said something about me delivering mercy.”
“There is something.” Cassabrie climbed slowly to her feet. Teetering while standing, she looked at Koren. “Do you have the control box I asked Magnar to give you?”
Koren touched her pocket where the box lay. “Yes.”
“Good.” Her cloak streaming behind her as if blown by the winds, Cassabrie withdrew a tube from an inner pocket and clutched it against her chest. “I am ready. Push the button.”
“Push the button?” Koren jerked the control box from her pocket and laid it on the floor next to her hip. “That tube will destroy you! I’ve seen what it can do.”
“It’s the only way, Koren. I am the mercy cure. I know you heard the prophecy:
“A liberator comes on high With mercy streaming from her eyes.
The slaves must take her blood and bone And plant within this mercy sown.”
Koren rubbed her thumb and finger together. “But I thought we could just take stardrop material and combine it with your —”
“My blood and bone. I know.” Cassabrie’s voice grew weaker again. “But it won’t work. First, the medicine must be swallowed. Second, mercy is the missing ingredient. I ingested that, and now all the components are in place.”
“The flower petal?”
Cassabrie nodded. “Now push the button and release the cure before the crystal once again drains my energy.”
Her throat cramping terribly, Koren picked up the box and laid it in her lap. How could she —
“No! Don’t kill her!” A flash of light streaked toward the center of the dome room. Deference picked up the trunk lid and shoved it between Exodus and the Reflections Crystal. The lid wedged in place, but before Deference could turn, her radiant body stretched out. Like a slurping beast, the crystal sucked her in, and she disappeared.
“Deference!” Koren lunged once more, but the manacles bit her wrists hard and held her fast. Her wrists now bleeding, Koren covered her face and wept. “Oh, Deference! Poor Deference! It’s all my fault!”
“She has given us more time,” Cassabrie said.
Koren looked between her fingers. Cassabrie knelt, again touching the connection point. “It’s draining very slowly now. Almost imperceptible.”
A shadow passed across the floor, then another. Two dragons flew in—Mallerin followed by Taushin. Blood dripped from Mallerin’s cheek and from Taushin’s underbelly, though neither wound looked life threatening.
Koren grabbed the control box, slid it behind her, and covered it with her cloak, careful to avoid the button. Cassabrie rose to her feet and looked on, her arms crossed loosely, apparently unalarmed at Taushin’s presence.
The two dragons landed on the run between the crystal and Koren, both stomping on Randall as they slowed. “Scan the room,” Taushin ordered, his eyebeams set on Mallerin.
The she-dragon cast her gaze around the perimeter. When her eyes met Koren’s, Taushin shouted, “Stop!”
“I’m glad to see you.” Koren gave him a painful smile. “Did you rescue Fellina?”
“You tell your tale first.” Taushin shuffled closer. “I see much has happened since I departed.”
“Well …” The pain in Koren’s gut suddenly spiked, and her cheeks flushed hot. “Cassabrie came. I think the Reflections Crystal drew her here.”
“Yes, I know that. Even a blind dragon can solve simple puzzles.” Taushin’s eyebeams flashed bright blue. “When you answer my questions, speak directly to the Reflections Crystal.”
“Okay.” Koren nodded.
He flared a wing toward Randall. “Did that Darksphere warrior hit you?”
“No,” Koren said, projecting her voice toward the center of the room. “Someone who was with him hit me. Randall is the only one who stayed. The disease kept him from leaving.”
The crystal flashed brighter than ever, then continued pulsing as it slowly drained Exodus. Taushin’s smile made it clear that he saw the flash through Mallerin’s eyes. “Where is the key to your bonds?”
“I don’t know. He took it with him.”
Again the crystal flashed briefly.
“He? Jason?”
“Yes.”
The crystal brightened again. “How remarkable.” Taushin smiled, baring several teeth. “The one you took a fancy to has bloodied your head, enchained your wrists, and left you behind. It seems that you have become a pariah in his sight.”
Koren hid a gulp. That was the exact word she had used to describe herself. How could Taushin know?
He turned his beams on Koren’s chest. “Mother, leave before these Starlighters hypnotize you, and take the Darksphere human with you.”
Mallerin growled. “Leave you again? But—”
“Just do as I say. I need you to keep Fellina and Xenith out of the battle. I can find my way to the top of the portico, so if you see me there, come to my aid.”
Her brow bending, Mallerin launched into the air, snatching up Randall with her back claws as she rose. Seconds later, she flew over the Zodiac’s wall and disappeared. Cassabrie watched her leave, apparently making no effort to use her gifts to rescue Randall.
“Now you will submit to me.” Taushin shifted his beams to Koren’s eyes.
She clenched them shut and swung her head away. “No! You can’t! I won’t let you!”
“You will if you love your fellow slaves.” His voice was soft and smooth. “The battle goes poorly for the Southlands dragons, and it has encroached upon the sick and dying slaves. Soldiers from Darksphere have joined in, and they are fighting against both races of dragons. They are few in number and will not last long. With fire and ice flying all around, many slaves will die, so we must deliver the medicine immediately. The only way for me to convince Cassabrie to help is for me to look through your —”
“Never!” Koren’s heart thumped. “Spew your venom somewhere else, you lying monster! I don’t believe a word you say!”
“So the Starlighter in chains thinks she is free from my control. Have you forgotten so soon the shocks you experienced when you resisted me before? These chains are similar, and I will do what I must to save your friends.”
Koren gritted her teeth and peeked out through a slit. His beams had shifted to her chest again. “I haven’t forgotten.” She focused on her bare feet. “Do your worst. I’ll never give in again.”
“I regret this action, but you leave me no choice.” The beams drifted toward one of the manacles. “I trust that this form of persuasion will remind you of your duty toward your friends.”
The second the beams touched the manacle, pain bit into her wrist and crawled up her arm, like a swarm of bees stinging savagely as they wrapped around her elbow and bicep. The fiery tort
ure flew up and down her back and plunged into her spine and skull. Every muscle cramped. Daggers stabbed her brain. Whips lashed chest and legs, one flaming hot lash after another.
Gasping for breath, Koren writhed in place. With pain stiffening her jaw, she cried out, “Cassabrie! Help me!”
But no help came.
Koren glanced at Cassabrie. She stood in the same position as before, weeping. She couldn’t hypnotize Taushin. He was immune to a Starlighter’s charms.
Finally, Koren looked toward the sky. “Mercy! Creator, please have mercy!”
The pain eased. Her muscles unlocked. The stinging sensation receded to her wrist and faded away.
Her body feeling like a knotted rope, Koren sat up and leaned against the column. She glared at Taushin but stayed quiet.
“It seems that we are repeating the previous episode,” Taushin said. “You have received mercy. Will you now acquiesce as you did before?”
Koren focused again on her bare feet. “I will never be your slave again. Kill me if you want. My body is in chains, but my mind is free.”
“Taushin!” Cassabrie shouted. “Hearken to me!”
He kept his back toward Cassabrie. “What do you want, Starlighter?”
Cassabrie spread out her cloak. Radiance sparkled throughout the material, making it crackle with every movement. “Release Koren! She has made her decision.”
Taushin chuckled as he turned toward her. “Although I am immune to your charms, you have the power to stymie my efforts. Why did you not?”
“The trial was necessary. For Koren’s sake.”
“Ah! A test of strength and resolve. I understand. Perhaps a similar test is in order for you. You know what I want.”
“I do,” Cassabrie said. “And it’s not genetic material to heal the slaves. That was a ruse to weaken Koren, and now that she has rejected your advances, you will turn your lust for Starlighter power on me.”
Taushin growled. “You have always been the one I wanted. You are more powerful than Koren.”
“I see.” Cassabrie lowered herself to her knees, again revealing her weakness. “That is no longer true, I’m afraid.”
“I can release you.” Taushin’s beams struck Exodus’s membrane and passed through to Cassabrie’s chest. “Give in to me, and you will live.”
“Begone, deceiver,” Cassabrie said. “Threats of death mean nothing to me.”
“Perhaps not toward you.” Taushin faced Koren again and spread out a wing. “But since Koren is no longer useful to me, perhaps a threat against her will change your mind. Since she will not give me her eyes, they will be my first target.”
Cassabrie raised her hood. “Guard your eyes, Koren! I will chase this monster from our presence.”
Koren clenched her eyes shut just as a slap of leather and claw tore into her cheek. Crying out, she ducked, but not before another claw slid across her forehead wound, digging deeper into the gash.
“I am blind,” Taushin shouted, “but I know where she is. I will claw her to death.”
“Taushin!” Cassabrie’s voice boomed, making the floor vibrate. “Listen to me! Give up this mad obsession and join your mother in battle. She has willing eyes. She and the others fight for you while you pursue selfish goals.”
The slapping stopped. Koren dared not open her eyes. Once more Taushin’s hot breath huffed over her face, raising new stings. Shuffling noises followed, fading slowly. Taushin was moving toward Cassabrie. “You have one final chance to give in to me, Starlighter. If you do not, I will incinerate Koren.”
“Hold on, Koren! Help is on its way.”
“It is too late,” Taushin said. “There is no one here to save her.”
A tail swished somewhere close to Cassabrie. Koren cringed. He was coming back. Any moment the flames would strike.
“Taushin?” The beating of dragon wings sounded. Koren risked a peek at the sky. Mallerin flew in and settled close to Taushin. “You never came out,” she said. “I thought you might need help.”
“Your timing is exquisite again. Look at Koren. I want to burn her eyes out first so she will know the pain of blindness.”
“Look at Koren? Which one?”
Koren glanced around the room. A perfect replica of herself sat chained to each column. The entry door and trunk were gone, eliminating any marker that would give her real position away.
“A Starlighter’s trick!” Taushin snorted. “I will soon put an end to this nonsense.”
“Koren,” Cassabrie said. “Hold your breath and stay completely still.”
Koren held her breath and stiffened her muscles. One clink of a chain could mean death.
Silence descended. Koren ached to breathe, but even that might give her position away. This couldn’t work for long. He would eventually find her by sense of smell.
Taushin charged one of the Koren replicas and blew a torrent of flames, instantly vaporizing it.
Trying not to gasp, Koren steeled her muscles. Why was Cassabrie doing this? Taushin would never give up. He would blast every last image. She should know that.
“Mallerin!” Cassabrie called. “Look at the sky!”
Mallerin turned and looked up. Cassabrie waved an arm and fanned out her cloak. “You will keep your eyes focused on the sky until I give you leave to do otherwise.”
“Focused on the sky.” Mallerin’s head swayed. “Until you give leave.”
“A temporary solution,” Taushin said. “A vision of this room is still in my mind. I will eventually find her.” He launched another firestorm, striking the second image, only four images to Koren’s left. It, too, vaporized.
Koren stared at Cassabrie. Why was she creating images that vaporized? If one of them would burst into flames, Taushin might be convinced that he found the right Koren.
The next two images vaporized, then another. The next target was made of flesh and blood.
Cassabrie draped her cloak over her body, then repeated the motion.
Koren touched a corner of her cloak. It was still damp. She jerked the cloak around and covered her head and body. The chains jingled loudly. Instantly flames roared over her. Heat radiated through the cloak—as did the smell of smoke. Now the vaporizing images made sense. Cassabrie couldn’t fake the odors.
Keeping her eyes closed, Koren let out a heart-stopping scream and shook her chains.
As the barrage of flames continued, the cloak sizzled, growing hotter and raising a stench, but would that be enough? When Taushin took a breath, he would expect the odor of burning flesh.
Cringing, Koren slid a hand over the cloak. Fire splashed against it, and she screamed again, this time without faking pain. She jerked her hand back in and sucked her fingers, silencing her voice.
The crackling eased. Koren shrugged the flaming cloak off and held her breath. The fingers of her left hand were splayed, the tips blackened and smoking. To her side, her cloak lay in a smoldering heap. Careful to keep the chain quiet, she slowly lifted her scorched hand close to Taushin’s snout.
Taushin drew in a deep breath, then sighed. “It is unfortunate to lose this valuable Starlighter, but her rebellion and your refusal forced my actions.”
Cassabrie sobbed. “You wicked monster!”
“As I said, it was your —”
“Get out of my sight!” Cassabrie waved an arm. “Mallerin, fly away immediately and lead this devil of a son out of here.”
Mallerin lifted into the air and circled above. “Son! Our dragons need your guidance. Come! Hurry!”
Taushin shifted toward Cassabrie and felt his way to the crystal. He set a clawed hand on the trunk lid and shoved it to the side. “Good night, Starlighter. The last of your breed will finally perish.”
Exodus rocked but stayed in place. Cassabrie gasped and dropped to a sitting position.
Smiling, Taushin lifted into the air. When he flew out of earshot, Koren rose to her knees. Pain throbbed in her fingers. Every beat of her heart sent a new shock wave from her fingertips throu
gh her arm and into her skull where sharp spikes jabbed from ear to ear. “Can you see Deference? Is she inside the crystal? We need someone to move the lid again.”
Cassabrie bowed her head low, muffling her voice. “I already tried to look. I can’t tell.”
“So what do we do now?”
“We?” Cassabrie looked up. “I can do nothing. I am trapped here, and I am dying. You are the only one who can set us all free.”
“You mean …” Koren reached back for the control box and laid it on her lap.
“Yes. Even if Elyssa managed to concoct more medicine, it will ultimately fail, as you well know. There is only one cure possible, and when the real cure is made manifest, the false cure will become worse than the disease itself. Those who choose the pretender and refuse the authentic will perish within moments. And like rain from the sky, the real cure will purge the very air of the disease, so that its scourge will inflict no one else.” Cassabrie sat up straight and withdrew the explosive tube from her cloak. “Push the button, Koren. You have proven that your mind is free from Taushin’s influence. Do what you must before it’s too late.”
Koren cupped her hand over the box’s detonate button. “But I can’t kill you. That would be murder.”
“My life is an offering, Koren. Yes, my death will come by your hand, but that is all part of the plan.”
“But why? You could have kept the box and destroyed yourself. Why did you send it to me?”
“Because those who need liberation must make a decision to value freedom. You are the last Starlighter, and as such, you will begin the process. Your decision will set off a chain of decisions among your fellow slaves, whether for good or for evil. If I made the decision myself, if freedom were to be given without the sacrifice of heart and mind, it would be cheap. It would be of no value to the ones whose chains have been loosed. They would soon return to their bondage.”
A dragon shriek shot through the corridor. A woman screamed, “No! Don’t kill my baby!” A tumult of sound followed — more screams and shouts, along with the grunts and bellows of angry men. Metal rang against stone, and flames crackled.
Furrows of pain dug into Cassabrie’s brow. “The battle has come to our very doorstep, Koren. What will the last Starlighter do?”