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The Sacrifice June 1990

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

Gene Wolf's Stories - The Sacrifice

This was a more ambitious undertaking. I wanted something with more character development and more of a story line. I also wanted a story that I could continue with. I realize this is not perfect, perhaps not even good. I am however happy with what I accomplished with it. I believe the feeling comes through. I hope you enjoy it.

The Sacrifice

“Yes! I see it!”, exclaimed Diana excitedly as she sat crosslegged on the floor of the cave. “It’s so beautiful!” Her eyes were closed and her face, relaxed and serene, belied the effort her concentration required.

“Don’t get excited or you’ll lose the vision.” said Maltur in a low and even voice. Maltur was the wizard Laramus’s apprentice and had been teaching Diana his craft for the last several weeks. He was a lean, well muscled young man of 25 and handsome by most standards. He had intense eyes which made him seem as though he could look through you. He was taken on as the wizards apprentice when he demonstrated that he had a gift for the Craft.

Now he was taking Diana on her first steps in the Craft. The very first thing any apprentice must learn is to center themselves. Without being able to see the very center of their existence, the source of their life force itself, little else could be taught to them.

Diana learned quickly. He had shown her the centering and concentration exercises necessary to make the vision of the center of the being possible. What would take a normal apprentice months to learn, and develop the ability to use, had taken her only three weeks. She had the gift. Diana’s breathing steadied and she once again ran through the mental exercises necessary to revisualize the Cup of Life. The image which had begun to fade again sharpened. Her mind concentrated fully on seeing the innermost sanctuary of her soul.

“It is beautiful.”, she said, now in a steady voice. She found that once she had the image, knew the path she had to travel in order to see it, it was much easier to bring it back again. “It looks like an ornate goblet filled with water. It’s surface is carved with deep multi-colored runes and the surface of the water is almost like a mirror.”

Maltur listened to the description, pleased. He enjoyed teaching novices. He especially enjoyed their moment of enlightenment, when they saw the Cup of Life for the first time.

“What you see with your minds eye is called the Cup of Life.” He explained. “It contains the essence of your life force, the Water of Life. Without the Water of Life you could not live, your body would simply stop, but like life itself, the water in your Cup is constantly replenished, but that is a different lesson.” Maltur thought that Diana, having made one discovery today, was ready for still another. He chuckled to himself. This discovery was going to shock her. “Let the vision of the Cup fade.”, he said evenly. “Retain your concentration as you let the vision go. We will come back to it again. Once the vision has faded from you mind open your eyes and look at me. Do not let your concentration falter.”

Diana was reluctant to let the vision of the cup go. It was so beautiful. Diana took a deep cleansing breath and let the vision fade. She knew she could regain the vision at will. Once you knew how to do it it was fairly easy. She took another deep breath and the vision was gone. She was still in a state of deep concentration but instead of looking at the cup, her consciousness just floated.

She took another deep breath and opened her eyes. Her eyes were dark and large, as though they were meant to see as much of life as possible. They were surrounded by long dark hair, stretching almost to her waist, or in her current position, almost to the floor.

Maltur sat crosslegged facing her grinning from ear to ear as she opened her eyes. He fully expected the look of shock that crossed her features as she saw him.

“What are they?”, She asked not believing what she saw. As she looked at Maltur with her newly developed Craft sense, she saw a multitude of multicolored lines surrounding him, almost like a cocoon but moving, pulsing, changing. She watched for many long seconds, seeing his smiling face, and seeing the threads surrounding him at the same time. She knew that somehow they were a part of him, necessary, a part of the whole. She waited for his answer.

“What you can now see are called the Runes of Life.”, he said again taking on the role of teacher. “With your new sight you will be able to see them in anyone and any living thing. All living things possess the Runes. Wizards use them in healing, in casting spells, in determining the honesty of a person. They are part of the essence of life. They change, depending on a person’s mood, health, alertness, and all other factors of life. I’ll give you an example. Ask me my name.”, he smiled at the puzzled look on her face as she said,

“What is your name?”

“My name is Faldor.”, Maltur responded matter of factly. Diana, listening to the voice of Maltur alone, might have been convinced, but as he spoke she watched his runes pulse with life. They pulsed with beautiful blues, greens, and crystal gold colors. As he spoke a name that was not the truth a sickly tinge of yellow quickly raced through the runes and then was gone.

“Did you see it?”, he asked as she continued watching him but made no response to his obvious lie.

“Do you mean the ugly yellow color that went through your Runes as you lied to me? Yes I saw that. It lasted only a second and was gone.”

“Excellent!” Maltur exclaimed. “That is truly excellent! You have just done what it takes many apprentices over a year to accomplish! The Runes can be used to tell when someone is lying. If you are observant you will see the yellow color his runes. Yellow is also a sign of sickness or stress. Red is a sign of pain or suffering, and when you see black it means that death is near. When you learn see the different colors you can learn much about an individual just by looking at their Runes.”

“Observe.”, Maltur said. As Diana watched him he took one hand and pinched the fleshy skin between thumb and forefinger hard. Diana was fascinated as she saw the Runes surrounding Maltur’s hand tinge a vicious red.

“As you see, “, Maltur said while rubbing the pain away, “only the local Runes were affected. Those surrounding the other parts of the body remain as they were. Wizards use this knowledge in healing. If the location of pain is known treatment can be recommended for that area only. A person may have pain in their back, but looking at the Runes can determine if it’s a specific bone or muscle. Wizards study for years to perfect such knowledge.”

Diana could see what he meant. She watched as Maltur rubbed the pain from his hand and saw the red slowly fade. She also saw, of the many Runes surrounding his hand, only very few had actually turned red.

“Wouldn’t it be possible for a physician, with such knowledge and sight, to be able to see a persons pain or illness, without knowing that person or even talking to them?” Diana asked after her observation. “I also suppose Runes are related to specific muscles or bones and an observant and knowledgeable physician could tell what was wrong with a person just by using the Sight.”

“Indeed it is.” Maltur said shaking his head in wonder at this leap in knowledge she had just made. “However, this knowledge is used sparingly, and then only when requested. It is not hard for the superstitious folk to believe that a wizard’s observations are really a curse cast upon them. In many cases a persons Runes indicate illness, even death, well before they are aware that there is anything wrong. If a wizard told a person of their imminent illness and several days or weeks later that person fell ill it would not be hard to believe that the illness was really caused by a spell cast by the wizard.”

Maltur was truly amazed at Diana’s progress. Even after seeing the Runes and their relationship to health, most apprentices did not understand that each Rune relates to only a specific muscle or bone. Only in the case of emotion, such as lying or embarrassment, are all Runes effected, and then for only a very short time. Diana not only had the gift but she was truly adept at using it. He was curious himself now at her abilities and the ease with which she learned the Craft. She had said something earlier as she was describing her Cup and he wanted to see if her description had been accurate, or made during the excitement of the moment of discovery.

“Your ability to harness the powers of the Craft are measurable.”, he began to explain. “Your abilities and potentials in the Craft are directly tied to the fullness of your Cup. The fuller your Cup, the more power and ability you may have.”

“You mean everyone’s cup isn’t filled to the same level?” Diana asked curiously while still observing Maltur’s Runes.

“No, not at all. Some Cups are only half full, some a little more, some a little less.”

“Well, I assume that those selected as apprentice to the Craft are selected because of their potential. Only those with the fullest Cups are selected.”

“Ah, that would make sense, but there is a small problem.”, Maltur explained. “You see, no one can see your Cup until you have seen it first. For instance, up until today I could not have seen your Cup no matter how powerful I was. Now I will be able to.”

Maltur took a deep breath and began running through the mental exercises he’d used many times to sharpen his concentration.

“I’m going to look at your Cup. For me to see your Cup however you need to have it pictured in your mind.”, he said to her as his concentration started to focus inwardly. “Retrace the path back to your Cup and focus it in your mind.”

Diana breathed deep and brought the image of her Cup into her mind easily. Maltur concentrated on Diana and the image she had in her mind then clarified in his. Now it was his turn to be shocked.

“By all that is holy in the Lady’s name!”, he exclaimed. The picture of Diana’s Cup wavered in his mind as his concentration faltered for a moment. He concentrated again to be sure that he had seen aright. As the image clarified he looked again. Her original description was accurate. Her cup was full! Never had he seen anyone possess such potential for power. It certainly explained why she learned the Craft so easily. Power was drawn to her!

“Maltur, what’s wrong?”, Diana asked concerned yet keeping the image of her Cup rock solid in her mind. She also watched Maltur’s Runes darken then return to their normal patterns and intensities. She was beginning to recognize what was normal for him and what was not.

“Nothing is wrong...exactly.” He responded hesitantly. “Let me show you. You have learned to center you concentration within yourself in order to see your own Cup. Center your concentration within me now as I visualize my Cup and the image of my Cup will form in your mind. She watched him as he concentrated and she too concentrated. This time she concentrated on seeing his Cup and suddenly the image solidified in her mind. She gasped.

“Your Cup is just over half full!”, she stated puzzled. “How can that be?” You have taught me how to see and use some of the Craft and yet my Cup is full while yours is not.’

Maltur chuckled. “Remember that the Cup signifies potential only. If you had never seen the Cup, or you don’t learn how to use the Craft that potential is meaningless. What amazes me,” he continued, “is the fullness of your Cup. The Cup of Laramus, the most powerful wizard in the world, is just over three quarters full. You have the potential to be more powerful than even Laramus!”

His statement struck her like a blow. “That’s not possible!”, she protested. “I am not a wizard, I’m the Princess of the kingdom. I cannot be more powerful than Laramus, I can’t envision myself being more powerful than even the beginning apprentices.”

“Perhaps not,” Maltur said, “but you have the potential. Under the proper training it could be developed and honed. You could become a first rank wizard.”

“There is one more lesson you must learn today before we quit.”, Maltur explained. He knew she was tiring. Normally he would only give this lesson to his advanced apprentices but he wanted to test her potential once more today. “Picture your Cup in your mind and when you have the image firmly established tell me.”, he said.

“I have it.”, Diana said quickly. She secretly enjoyed the knowledge that she could become a world class wizard. She pictured her Cup easily in her mind and marveled at it’s intricacy, delicacy, and fullness. The water within the Cup appeared to be a crystal blue and the surface of the cup was as smooth as the mirror pond within the castle’s courtyard.

Maltur again concentrated on Diana and saw, in his own mind, that she indeed did have her Cup of Life visualized. He said in a voice measured not to disturb her concentration, “Now look beyond the Cup, past it. Tell me what you see.

Diana deepened her concentration and looked beyond the Cup. It seemed almost as though dense mists hung just past the Cup. She imagined herself now walking through that mental landscape, past the Cup to whatever might lay beyond. She concentrated harder and the mists slowly cleared. There just beyond the Cup now stood two seemingly massive doors. They seemed made of solid gold inlaid with intricate Runes of blue, green, and amber.

“I see two doors, like the castle gate, tightly closed, intricate, beautiful!” This last she said as if in awe.

Maltur now saw the doors she described and began to explain them to her. “These are called the Doors of the Soul. They are the source of the Water of Life. Beyond them lies the Ocean of the Goddess. At the moment of your death those doors open. The water within your Cup flows through them to rejoin the waters tended by the Goddess. You again become one with her. During your life, as you use some of the water from your cup, it is slowly replenished by the Goddess. Her waters seep through the Doors of the Soul and refill your Cup.” He paused for a moment then began again.

“When you are sick, or in battle, or face a very trying time you use some of the Water from your Cup. As you recover or rest the Goddess replenishes your Cup. All power anyone has comes from the Goddess and its original source is Her Ocean.

Diana considered his words as the image began to falter. She felt a tiredness steal over her and interfere with her concentration. “Maltur, I am getting tired, I cannot concentrate enough any longer to retain the images.” She said, disappointed that she couldn’t hold the images.

“You have done well.”, he said. We have been at this for over two hours. Most apprentices cannot hold this level of concentration for even one hour. It is no wonder you are exhausted. We will rest before going back to the castle.”

They rested for awhile. The cave they were in was warm and dry, lighted by candles arranged in sconces placed at regular intervals in the wall. While the cave was not far from the castle it was the first time Diana had been here. While they were resting and talking Diana was observing the interior of the cave. When they had fallen silent for awhile Diana asked why Maltur had chosen this place to initiate her into the Craft.

“This cave has great significance as a place of power.”, Maltur said reverently. “Centuries ago wizards fought a great battle against a monstrous evil spreading throughout the world. One wizard, Balquin, the most powerful wizard ever to live, made his stand against the evil in this very cave. Over there,” he pointed to a stone staff firmly embedded in the caves floor, “is the staff he used to battle this evil. It is said that he plunged his staff into the heart of the earth to tap the power there. In so doing he channeled the power through himself in the fight against the evil.”

“What happened to him?”, Diana asked enthralled by the story and in awe that she was in such a place of power.

“He paid with his life.”, Maltur said somewhat sorrowfully. “The story has it that the power he channeled through himself in order to lock the evil from the world was too much for him to bear. In completing his spell Balquin drained his cup. He died in this cave protecting the world.”

“That is a sad story.”, Diana said quietly.

“No, not sad at all.” Maltur explained. “He died protecting the world from the evil that would encompass us all. His legacy still lives with us. Look at the floor of the cave and use your Sight.”

Diana did as she was told. With her newly acquired vision she could see faint blue threads of power crisscrossing the cave floor, almost like a web. “These Runes,”, Diana asked, “are they a part of Balquins spell?”

“Indeed they are.” Maltur replied. “Everywhere you look, anywhere in the world these Runes are present. They block the evil from coming to the surface of the world. However, in some places the spell is weakening and evil again stalks.

Diana caught the concerned look on Maltur’s face and again saw his Runes darken momentarily. She asked, “Why doesn’t a powerful wizard just use Balquins staff to reinforce his spell?”

“If we only could.”, Maltur said sighing. “Stand and go over to the staff. Touch it.”, Maltur instructed.

Diana stood and stretched. She ached from having remained sitting crosslegged for so long. As she walked towards the staff the crystal globe seated on the end of the staff began to glow whitely. It was as though a spark of life within it was being fanned by some breath of air. As she moved closer to the staff the runes carved into it’s surface began to come alive. The glowed dully with the blues, golds, and amber colors she had seen engraved in her own Doors to the Soul. She reached to touch the staff, which could easily be grasped even with her small hands, when a protective light from the crystal atop the staff encased it. Diana’s hand touched the light but could go no further. She pushed, trying to bypass the light and grasp the staff, to no avail. She might just as well have tried pushing the mountain housing this very cave.

“Why is the staff protected? Can’t anyone touch it?”, Diana asked confused and a little annoyed.

“No,’, Maltur sighed, “since the staff was placed there many centuries ago during the last great battle, no one has been able to touch it. Many have tried.” Maltur explained further, “It is said that Balquin cast that protective spell so that the staff , and the power it taps, could not be used recklessly. It is said that when the time comes the staff will be used again.”

Diane watched the staff as she moved away from it. The protective sheath of light surrounding the staff faded as did the colors in the runes and the light within the crystal itself. When she was back where she had been sitting the staff was as dark and lifeless as it had been before.

“Come,” Maltur said, standing and stretching, “it is time for us to go back to the castle. You have learned enough for today.”

“Please,” Diana asked in a low voice, “can’t we stay just a little longer? I enjoy my time with you and we get so few hours to spend together anymore.”

“I know.” Maltur replied a little regretfully, “I am all too busy with my study and my teachings to have much time to myself anymore, and you have so little time. You will have even less time now that your wedding day approaches.”

“Wedding day!”, Diana said vehemently, almost spitting the words as though distasteful to her, “I’ll not marry Prince Tremb! Never! I have had no say in this marriage, arranged when we were just children, and I’ll not marry someone from another kingdom whom I’ve never even met!” “Besides,” Diana continued is a much softer tone, “I love you.”

Maltur smiled warmly. ‘I know you do,” he said consoling, “and know truthfully that I love you with all my heart. But, your marriage has been arranged by your father and King Tryon to avoid the wars that ravaged each of their kingdoms. By your marriage to Prince Tremb, one day both kingdoms will be united under one king, with you as queen, and no more blood will be spilled.”

“But what of my wishes?” Diana despaired, “What of my love? Why must I sacrifice my happiness? I love you Maltur. I always have. Even as a child I felt you were the one for me. Tell me you didn’t feel it too! Remember, I can tell when you’re lying now.” she smiled when adding this last.

“I will not lie to you and say it’s not true.”, Maltur said slowly. Diana watched his Runes pulse but the telltale yellow did not run through them. “I too feel that we were meant for each other and have felt so for a very long time. “But,”, he continued, “Your marriage is necessary to keep the peace between the two kingdoms. The evil of war must never again be allowed.”

“No!”, Diana said hotly. “I will not be the sacrificial lamb led to my doom without a say in it. I will talk to my father and have this stopped!” Diana was adamant but Maltur knew her protestations to her father would be useless. The king had a bigger benefit to consider above the wishes of his only child.

“Diana, let’s not discuss this any more. To end what has, up to now, been one of the most pleasant days of my life this way would not be right.” Maltur continued. “Let me give what little pleasure I can.”

“What do you mean?”, Diana asked. She was used to tenderness in Malturs voice but this was somehow different.

“Let me show you.”, Maltur said quietly. “Sit again on the floor and use the sight to visualize my Runes.” Diana did so, though her body objected to being placed again in that position.

Maltur began to explain, “What I am going to do, with your permission, is called the Mingling of the Runes. It is normally reserved only for lovers.” Maltur continued quietly, “There is only the contact of our Runes, and our feelings for one another. Some say it is more intimate than even physical contact. I have never shared this with anyone before and I’d like the first time to be with you.” Maltur broke eye contact with her momentarily, embarrassed at having even come this far with her.

“Maltur”, Diana said truthfully, “I have known you since we were children, and never once have you ever hurt me. I have no reason to believe that you would now. I have no experience of either the flesh or of the Runes, but I would not hesitate sharing either one with you.” She smiled as she saw the color rise to his face.

Maltur took a deep breath and concentrated on his Runes. Slowly a portion of them expanded, swelled to a probe and came in contact with the Runes surrounding Diana.

Diana gasped as his Malturs Runes contacted hers. She felt an incredible love and desire flood her. Her concentration wavered slightly then she brought it back. His runes were still continuing to penetrate hers and the feelings flooding her intensified. She could distinctly see the differences between her Runes and His as they merged and became one. The colors began pulsing in unison and the ecstacy flooding her senses was almost more than she could bear.

The colors in the individual Runes, his and hers, began to take on the same hue so that they were difficult to tell apart. It was as if they were becoming the same person. She felt the ecstacy flood through her and underlying it all she felt his love for her. How could she be denied this?

Maltur slowly, reluctantly, withdrew his Runes. They sat there for a long quiet moment just staring at each other. Finally, Diana spoke, “We are meant for each other aren’t we?”

Maltur hesitated a moment before answering, “Yes, I believe we are.”, he said honestly, “but it can never be. Perhaps this was all a mistake.”

“Please don’t say that!”, Diana said almost crying. “you have made me happier today than I have ever been. Please don’t ruin it by having regrets. I will talk to my father and make him understand. Wars or no wars, I will not marry Tremb. I am yours.”

Maltur was silent, wistful, thinking of how wonderful the fantasy of having Diana as his wife could be. He quickly put the thought from his mind, knowing that it could never be. Even these thoughts, pleasant as they were, could become torture when they were out of his reach.

“Come,”, he said again standing and helping Diana to her feet. “We must be getting back to the castle. Your father told me to have you back before dark, and nightfall is not too far away.” As they walked in silence Maltur thought that this was probably the last time they would take such a walk. Once Diana spoke to her father he might easily forbid her from ever seeing him again. The thought pained him. They walked back to the castle slowly.

Once back within the castle Diana wasted no time seeking out her father. Normally she would have bathed or at least brushed the dust gathered from the cave floor off of her clothes, but her urgency drove her to ignore such niceties.

She found her father in the library studying. It was her father’s favorite place within the castle. Here, everyone was under strict orders not to disturb him, under threat of dire consequences. Even a king needed time to be alone and contemplate. The affairs and worries of others could be put off on occasion.

Diana walked in and closed the massive door behind her. King Rismond looked up somewhat annoyed at the disturbance. Once he saw that it was Diana he smiled warmly.

“Come in my dear.” he said putting the tome he had been reading aside. “By the looks of you you have just slain a few dragons and came here to report the safety of the kingdom to me.” He chuckled as he said this, knowing he would raise her ire at the revocation of this old childhood secret between them.

“Father!”, Diana said exasperatedly, “You know that dragons are not to be slain! To even speak of such a thing is hideous. Must you remind me of my silly childhood fear this way?” She stood there with hands on her hips and fire in her eyes trying to look as fierce as she could. After a few seconds she broke into gales of laughter and ran to his arms. The king, enjoying their private joke and laughing heartily opened his arms to her and caught her easily.

They hugged each other for long seconds and then the king held her at arms length and looked at her.

“So what is it that brings you to me in my sanctuary and in this unkempt state Dee?”, the king asked using the familiar short of her name he used with her only in private. She usually waited until he had left the library before disturbing him unless it was of the utmost importance, to her.

He recalled how once she came to him here, many years ago, with her favorite doll in one hand and its arm in the other. She was crying terribly. Her world had just been shattered. He consoled her and sent her to fetch a needle and thread. There amongst the knowledge of the ages he had sewn her doll back together for her. He could have summoned a seamstress to do it . It probably would have been done more quickly and undoubtedly better but she had brought her world to him for repair. He still could recall her beaming face as he made the last stitch and snipped the thread with his teeth and handed her doll back to her. As the years passed this type of welcome intrusion became less frequent. Her sense of urgency matured with her. He missed that.

“Father, I want to talk to you about my marriage to Prince Tremb.”, she said to him watching his smile give way to a more sober look.

“What about it do you want to discuss?” the king asked. This was not to be as easy as mending a doll and he did not like what he knew he had to tell her. He had expected this for some time and had prepared, but that did not make it easier. Planning something in your mind to tell your only child then facing that child’s emotions face to face was totally different.

“Father, I do not want to marry Tremb. I love Maltur.” Said said honestly. She marveled at the ability that her new sight gave her. She saw her father’s Runes darken and she thought she could feel sadness in him. There was a great weight pressing on him and she knew she was the cause of it.

“Diana, I wish that I could do otherwise for you. I truly do. I love you with all my heart and you know that, were it within my power, I would let you marry anyone you chose. However, in this thing, it is not within my power and you will be wed to Tremb.”

Diana saw her fathers Runes remain dark but not once did she detect that he was lying to her. He believed what he said and she would be marrying Prince Tremb.

“But father!”, she exclaimed backing up from him several steps but still looking him in the eyes, “I don’t love Tremb, I don’t even know him! I was promised to him when we were both children to stop some silly war between our kingdoms. I’m an adult now and I love Maltur and want to marry him!”

The king drew a deep breath and hesitated from giving a reply. She knew the history behind the betrothal as well as anyone else in the two kingdoms. War had ravaged both kingdoms and thousands had given their lives valiantly, even if needlessly. He would not see that happen again. Even now talk of another war was rumored to be spreading around the outlying regions of the kingdom. The wedding of his daughter to the only son of King Tryon would cement the old peace treaty once and for all. Each king would rule his own kingdom until he died. Once both kings had died Tremb would be named king of both kingdoms, joining them forever as one, thus preventing any further war between them.

The king knew the words he had to say would wound his daughter deeply, perhaps drive her away from him forever. However, there were some stakes higher even than a daughters love. He hoped that history would record this as one of them.

“Diana, you will marry Tremb. It is the only way that peace between our kingdoms can be assured. I will not ask my people to fight to their death for a war, that most assuradely will occur, if you do not marry Tremb.” He paused to let his words be understood. He recognized the rebellious look coming into her eyes. He had seen it since childhood. Even if she did not say anything he knew that she had it within her mind to somehow thwart this marriage. He paused again, pained by the next words he knew had to be spoken in order for her to understand the severity of the situation.

“Diana,” he said slowly, “your marriage with Tremb will occur. With or without your consent it will happen. If you persist to resist me in this one thing, I promise you I will have no choice but to ensure that it happens. If it requires me to have young Maltur put to the sword and you locked in your room until your wedding day, then by all that’s holy in the Lady’s name I will see that’s it’s done!”

Diana’s face paled. She had been watching her father’s Runes and knew that what he spoke was the truth. Not once did the telltale yellow color his Runes. Never did she expect it to come to this! She also knew there was no arguing with him. Without another word or look she ran from the room crying. She flung the massive door wide and ran out of the library. The king watched her retreating back as she fled from him. Only when she was gone and he was totally alone did he hang his head in his hands and cry softly.

Diana ran through the castle with no destination in mind. She was crying, hurt and confused. Her whole world had just been shattered. Somehow she knew that her father wouldn’t relent but she at least had dared to hope. Now she felt as though she had placed the life of the one she loved in danger as well. She had to tell him.

She made her way to Malturs’ chambers and knocked on the door. Maltur opened the door and saw her tear streaked face and let her in. He helped her to a large comfortable chair and went in to an adjoining room. He came back a few minutes later bearing a large tray with a kettle and two cups on it. He placed the tray on an intricately carved wooden table and poured them each of the richly aromatic steaming brew. He handed her one of the cups and said, “Drink this. It’s a tea over which I’ve cast a calming spell. It will help you to relax.

Diana looked at the tea, then looked at it with her Sight. She saw the purple bands of the spell surrounding the tea, mixing with it, becoming part of it. She sipped the tea and immediately saw the purple runes interact with hers. She felt the warmth of the tea and at the same time saw the Runes of the spell dissolve into her own. As they did her Runes took on a purplish cast and she felt a comfort come over her. She felt she could talk now without breaking down.

She conveyed the story of what had happened and did not leave out her fathers threat to have Maltur killed. He just nodded. When she had finished he spoke.

“Your story does not surprise me Diana.’ he said. “Your father’s love for his kingdom and for you”, he held up his hand to ward off her attempted reply, “yes, his love for you is well known. Do not believe for an instant that he likes what he has said to you or that he does not know how deeply he has hurt you.”

“But how could he?”, she cried, “He cannot know. He is colder than I ever thought him to be. To even say such a thing!”

“Oh, he knows all right.”, Maltur said. He knows the same way that you now know. You see, when your mother died a couple of years after you were born your father was stricken with grief. He went into seclusion coming out only to take care of the most pressing needs of state. After a few months your father came to Laramus to ask if he had known about the queens’ illness. Laramus, of course knew, and explained why and how he knew to your father. He also told your father that there was not anything that could have been done to save your mother. Laramus had kept the secret to himself to allow your mother and father to enjoy what would be her last days before meeting the Goddess.” Maltur continued, “Your father understood. He then demanded that Laramus take him as an apprentice and teach him the Sight.”

Diana gasped, “You mean Father too has the sight? I never knew!”

“Nor do many other people.”, Maltur said. “Your father has sworn us to secrecy. He never took the training any farther than obtaining the Sight. I guess he wanted to be prepared to help you in case you ever became ill. Since then I’m sure he has found it useful in negotiating and in trying criminals. He never speaks of it, or will ever admit to anyone but Laramus that he even possesses the ability. Rest assured, my Diana, that your father is a kind and generous man. He knows of your hurt because he saw it just as clearly as you yourself can see me.”

His words bit her deeply. All the ugly thoughts she had had of her father melted away. What had his words with her cost him? She had been so upset that she had forgotten to look for anything but yellow in his Runes. Had she looked would she had seen Red coursing through his Runes? She believed now that she would.

“Do not despair.”, Maltur interrupted her thoughts. “I have been thinking and have come up with a plan that may yet save you from this marriage with Tremb.” He looked at her as she stared at him, wanting to believe, yet remembering her fathers words. “I must leave for a few days. I will leave a note for Laramus, who is off visiting with another wizard in the kingdom of Illac. He will not approve, but by the time he returns I will be gone.”

Diana did not like the sound of what he just said. She asked, concern in her voice, “You are not doing anything dangerous are you?”

Maltur laughed and replied, “My lady, there is danger in everything we do. What I have planned is dangerous, yes, but it is also the only possibility to prevent your marriage to Tremb. Besides,”, he added, “your father is a man of his word. If he thought there was any danger to your wedding plans just staying here could be dangerous for me.” He said that last lightly. He knew the king well, he had hunted with the king and Laramus numerous times. He felt there was little threat to himself. Still, he knew that the king would do whatever was necessary to make sure that there was no longer any chance of war between the kingdoms. If it took Maltur’s life and his daughters marriage to a man she didn’t even know, then so be it.

Diana was concerned but she knew the truth of his words. “When will you return?” she asked.

“Three days, maybe four, certainly no more than that.”, Maltur said. “If I am successful we can both go to your father and prove to him that the marriage does not need to take place. We can convince him of it.”

“Just how do you plan to do that?”, Diana asked doubtful. “The only thing he wants is assurance that war between the kingdoms will never happen again. My marriage will guarantee that. What can you do to assure him that a future war simply cannot happen.”

Maltur was amazed again at the way Diana cut to the heart of the matter. That was exactly what he had to prove to the king and his plan was to be able to prove exactly that. He replied, “I cannot tell you the details of the plan. I do not mean to belittle you but you do not yet have the knowledge to understand what I will attempt to do. In the note to Laramus I will explain it all. In three or four days it will not matter anyway. I will either succeed and we can go to the king, or I won’t and we will be no worse off than we are now.”

“No more than four days?” Diana asked watching him with her Sight.

“Dear Diana, no more than four days.” Maltur replied honestly.

The days dragged by slowly. Diana thought that she now understood what the fishermans’ wives must feel each time their men go out to sea for days at a time. She wished there was someplace she could go to see the sight of a sail on the horizon foretelling of her loved ones return. There was none, thus she could only wait.

Laramus had returned the day after Maltur had left. He had rested after his journey then sought out the king. Usually a keg of mead was broken out and drinking, eating and the telling of tales would go on through the small hours of the morning. Laramus and the king were great friends and tales of high adventure and daring were common. Whether they were completely true was never questioned. Perhaps that was part of the sport, to see how far a story’s credibility could be stretched. It did not matter though, both men enjoyed the others company and took great pleasure in the telling of tales. Diana always enjoyed hearing these tales and the laughter of the two men as they told them.

This meeting was unlike all of the others though. Laramus met with the king in his formal robes and his face was clouded with concern. The two men met in private for several hours. At the end of the meeting Laramus retreated to his chambers his countenance still as solemn as when he had entered.

Diana waited several more days for Maltur to return. When he hadn’t re turned on the fifth day, Diana went to see her father. She found him alone in his council chambers. Concern clouded his face and his bearing. Something was troubling him deeply.

‘Father, what’s wrong?’ Diana asked concerned that he had hardly noticed her enter the council room where he and Laramus had talked days before.

The king looked at his daughter and his features softened slightly. Was that sorrow she had seen cross his face? She was watching him with the Sight, but did not yet know enough to distinguish every emotion.

‘Diana,’ the king said speaking slowly, ‘are you talking to me now? I was afraid that after our last discussion you would never speak to me again.’

‘Father, don’t ever even think that!’ Diana said forcefully. ‘I love you and I always will. I do not like the fate that awaits me, I do not love Tremb, and I deeply love Maltur. But like you, I have responsibilities too. If necessary I will marry Tremb for the sake of Maltur and our kingdom.’

The king smiled a weak smile. ‘Spoken like a true princess.’ he said. ‘You are truly my daughter and your love for your young man is plain for all to see. It seems his love is no less than yours.’

‘What do you mean?’ Diana asked quickly. ‘Have you word from him?

‘Word from Maltur, no.’ the king replied. ‘Upon his return for Illac, a small community on the outskirts of the kingdom, Laramus reported to me. I had asked him to go there to discover the sources of the rumors of an impending war. Rumors can sometimes be as disruptive as war itself.’ the king explained to his obviously impatient daughter. He continued, ‘He had found no definite source to the rumors. It was as though the thoughts were springing to peoples minds of themselves. There is no stopping the rumors because there is no source.’ The king paused to let his words have their effect. ‘No person is starting the rumors.’

‘But how can that be?’ Diana asked confused. ‘Someone must be spreading the rumors.’

‘I would have thought so too, but I trust to Laramus in these things. He states the people are simply getting the idea that a war is imminent. The source is not an individual or group. It is something else.’

Diana realized that this was somehow tied to the disappearance of Maltur. ‘What about Maltur?’ she asked. ‘What did you mean his love was no less than mine?’

The king sighed deeply, ‘I do not know the full story behind it.’ the king said, his voice laden with concern for his daughter. ‘He had left a note for Laramus telling him of his plans. Somehow this fits in with the rumors of war spreading through the kingdom. Laramus brought the note to meas soon as he found it and explained to me what the apprentice is attempting. He was concerned that what Maltur is trying to do is more dangerous than a full scale war.’ Diana face betrayed her shock as the king continued. ‘It is a thing dealing with magic and spells, something I do not understand. According to Laramus it is a deadly task Maltur has undertaken, all in the name of his love for you.’ Again the king paused before he said, ‘Diana, I am truly sorry. I cannot change what must be but I pray the Maltur is successful. Go seek out Laramus and tell him I sent you. He can explain more fully than I.’

Diana was shaken and confused. Maltur’s life at risk? Where was he and why hadn’t she heard from him? She felt she would have known if he were dead, she was sure she would have. She thanked her father for telling her this much and left him to seek out Laramus. She went straight to his chambers and knocked on the massive polished oak door there. The door opened and Laramus stood there in his ceremonial robes. He was surprised to see Diana as he bid her enter.

‘What brings you here today little one?’ Laramus asked. He used the familiar nickname he had used with her since she was a toddler. She enjoyed the ease and comfort that name usually brought with it but this time there was none.

‘I have just spoken with my father.’ Diana said flatly. ‘He says a note Maltur left for you hints that he is doing something that could get him killed. Is this true? Have you seen him?’ Her voice was filled with concern yet her tone conveyed she wanted answers and she wanted them now.

‘Sit. Please sit and do not be so alarmed.’ Laramus soothed. Diana sat in a large comfortable chair pointed out by Laramus and waited for him to continue. ‘Your father does not fully understand our craft and may have read more into my words than I intended’ he continued. ‘Maltur is in no real danger, and in answer to your question, no, I have not seen him since my return.’

Diana saw Laramus’ Runes flush with bright yellow and was out out the chair like a shot.

‘Do not lie to me!’ she almost screamed at Laramus. ‘I have the sight and I KNOW! Tell me what you know about Maltur and tell me now or I will turn this kingdom upside down to find him!’

Laramus was shocked and surprised. Wizards did not get to where they were without the ability to control their powers and this included the masking of the Runes. A wizard was able to mask his Runes from all but wizards of their own rank, yet this girl had seen through his well intentioned lies as though he were a rank apprentice.

‘Calm down little one. I did not know you had the Sight, or that you were able to see through my masking. I would not have insulted you by lying to you had I known.’ Diana was not sure what he had meant by masking but waited for him to continue.

‘Maltur has embarked on a dangerous journey, and has unfortunately failed.’ Laramus said sadly. ‘I have seen him as recently as this morning and he may be dead already. If you wish I can take you to him.’

No, I mean yes, I want to see him but he said what he was doing was not that dangerous, He said that he would return.’ Diana voice was filled with despair. She explained their last meeting to Laramus as they left the castle and headed for the cave of Balquin.

After her explanation Laramus explained. ‘What he told you was the truth to him, little one. What he attempted was simple, and not too dangerous, based on what he, and the rest of us knew at the time. My trip to Illac uncovered more information though that made his undertaking far more dangerous than anyone would know. Come, we are almost there. You will see.’

They reached the entrance of the cave and went in. The torches were still lit on the wall casting a warm glow throughout the cave. As they entered Diana saw The prostrate body of Maltur on a stone slab in the middle of the cave. The slab was raised above the floor by pillars supporting each end.

Maltur appeared near death. His face and hands were an ashen white and dark black circles surrounded his sunken eyes. His body, once vital with the energies of life, now seemed shrunken and frail. His hair seemed matted to his head and dull. He was alive but close to death. His chest rose and fell as he breathed but each breath seemed hollow and as though it could be his last.

Diana started running to Malturs prone body but was caught in Laramus’ firm grip before she could take more than a single step.

‘Don’t make the same mistake Maltur did. Know what you are facing before taking any action.’ Laramus said as her released her. ‘Watch.’

Laramus reached into a concealed pocket of his cloak and produced a large silver coin as he walked to the body of Maltur. He murmured some words over the coin then tossed it into the air. The coin spun swiftly and hovered over the body of Maltur. It continued spinning swiftly then suddenly stopped and fell to the chest of Maltur.

Diana asked confused, ‘What does that prove? What does it mean? Why the parlor tricks when Maltur is obviously dying?’

Now it was Laramus’ turn to get impatient. ‘You have the Sight. Use it!’ he demanded. You will learn nothing unless you learn to use your talents constantly. We are at risk even being here. To do this again dares fate. Watch with the sight this time what I do.’

Diana was embarrassed that she had forgotten the Sight. So disturbed had she been by the sight of Malturs emaciated body that she had simply forgotten. She brought her concentration easily and concentrated on what Laramus did with the coin.

She heard him murmur a few world over the coin and she saw some of his runes actually detach and surround the coin. She saw the smallest of Cups within the coin and the coin itself surrounded buy it’s own Runes. As Laramus tossed the coin again she saw it start to spin madly as it had done before. Laramus had cast a spell about the coin that had caused it to spin. It would continue to spin until the water within it’s cup was depleted.

The coin again hovered over the body of Maltur and spun there for several seconds. Then, horrified, Diana saw a black tendril of power shoot out from Malturs prone form and strike the coin. Strike was not exactly the right word though. This black tendril, while seemingly solid, was a rune itself. It did not alter the coins motion in any way but struck directly towards the coins tiny cup. As it encountered the cup it immediately drained it, removing the life force from it altogether. The coin, now devoid of its power, again fell motionless to the chest of Maltur.

Diana watched this time in disbelief. She watched as Laramus quickly snatched the coin from Malturs chest before the tendril could seek him. Diana then looked at the motionless body of Maltur and was horrified at the sight. Black tendrils seemed to surround him. Wherever they came in contact with his Runes there was an ugly blood red coloration. There were literally hundreds of vile black tendrils snaking their way in and out of his runes. She concentrated harder and saw his Cup. Several of the ichor black tendrils had found their way to his Cup and were slowly draining it! It was now less than one-quarter full!

Diana looked at Laramus with tears streaking her face and asked, ‘What can we do? He’s dying! We’ve got to help him. Look at him. There isn’t much time left! In the name of the Goddess do something!!!’ As she continued talking her voice was rising until when she had finished she was almost screaming at Laramus.

Laramus looked at her sadly. When she had stopped he began to explain. ‘Long ago there was a great war in which Balquin banished evil from the face of the earth with a powerful spell.’ Diana nodded having heard this story from Maltur before. Laramus continued,

‘Evil was banished, not destroyed. It has spent these many centuries consolidating its power. It has probed for weak spots in the spell. The wars that ravaged the kingdom many years ago were caused by the evil breaking out in some of those weak spots and working on the minds of people in those areas. It would fan hatred, jealousy, distrust and ambition. The rumors in the northern reaches of the kingdom were caused by just such a breach of Balquins spell by evil.’

Diana listened to Laramus while glancing at the body of Maltur. She thought she could see his words in the action of the vile black tendrils defiling Malturs Runes.

‘The wizards have been long aware of the weakening of Balquins spell and have strengthened it in those areas that were the weakest.’ Laramus continued. ‘That is why the spell has survived for so long. That was also the purpose of my trip to Illac. I strengthened the spell there thus blocking the attempt by this evil to start another border war that might eventually engulf the entire kingdom. But it seems that this was not the evils entire plan. Maltur attempted to strengthen the local spell which was growing weak. This was what the evil was waiting for. In order to strengthen the spell it must be first dismantled and then recast stronger. Malturs hope was to use the presence of the staff of Balquin to strengthen the spell over both kingdoms. It was his hope that some power could be drawn from the proximity of the staff to do this. If it were successful war between the kingdoms would be averted.

Diana cried, ‘So what happened? Why did this happen to him?’

‘Apparently the evil had hoped this would happen and poised waiting to strike. Perhaps it planted the thought in his mind, perhaps not. Had any wizard tried it the same would have happened to them, even me. There was no way of knowing. When the spell was dismantled it struck through his defenses like a hot knife through butter. He was utterly defenseless against an opponent who has planned for more than three thousand years.’

‘There must be a way to help him.’ Diana sobbed. Looking at the now too frail body of Maltur caused more tears to flow.

‘No, there is nothing that can be done. I have strengthened the spell around this area so that the evil cannot spread. It has rendered the area of the cave to such an extent that there is no closing it again. What has to be done is permanently seal the cave. Evil can have its free run here but there will be no one to affect.’

‘Seal the cave?’, Diana cried. ‘You’re sentencing Maltur to certain death! You’re leaving him to the mercy of that...that... that thing! There has to be another way! There just has to be!’

Laramus looked at her sadly and said, ‘There is truly no other way that I know of. This is the only way to be sure that the evil cannot spread.’

Diana again looked at the prone body of her beloved. He was here because of her. He loved her and risked all for her. She couldn’t just seal him up in a tomb and turn her back on him. There had to be another way.’

She looked around the cave and saw the staff of Balquin. The source of the power that had kept the spell in place all of these years. The crystal set in it’s end was glowing faintly as if calling to her.

She knew what she had to do.

Laramus saw her looking at the staff and horror filled him as he saw her dart for it. He moved to restrain her but she was too quick. Diana lunged for the staff fully expecting the protective barrier to prevent her from touching it. As her hand approached the staff the crystal burst into life casting a searing white glow throughout the cave. As her hand grasped the staff the runes carved into its cool surface blazed to life.

Laramus covered his eyes with his arm and backed away. He could still see the searing white light filling the cave. He saw Diana standing erect, clutching the staff, still buried firmly in the ground, with one hand and holding the other hand palm out at arms length towards the motionless body of Maltur. She was using herself as a conduit of power to battle this evil!

He backed out of the cave as the light from the crystal was increasing. He had to report to the king.

As Diana clutched the staff surprise went through her. She really hadn’t expected to be able to touch the staff at all. When she did there was an instant when knowledge flooded through her just before the crystal blazed to life. She felt the cool surface of the stone of which the staff was carved and felt the Runes in the surface come to life at her touch. She knew she had to channel the power from the heart of the earth itself through her and to this evil. She had to battle this vileness even as she knew Maltur was doing!

She brought up her arm and pointed her arm at the body of Maltur and the black arms engulfing it. Instinctively she thought that the power under her command should wipe them away. A crystal blue bolt sprang from her extended palm and engulfed the black arms around Malturs body. Most of the arms withered and died. Most but not all. She saw the black tendrils coming from the ground seemingly solidify and renew their attack. She also saw a black bolt, the opposite of the one she had just loosed fly towards her.

She again used the power flowing through her to deftly fend it away. The evil was now aware of her and concentrated its attacks upon her. Bolt after bolt of black ichor shot towards her and she countered each. When blue met black each died in an ugly crimson which was painful to watch.

This silent battle continued for hours. Diana countered every attack swiftly but the attacks were so swift she could do nothing to dispel the remaining tendrils surrounding Malturs weakening body.

‘You have no chance.’ a voice said in her mind. ‘You are not even an apprentice. You cannot defeat me.’

‘Who is that?’, Diana thought to herself somewhat confused. She looked about the cave and saw that it was empty save for Maltur and herself.

‘It is I, your opponent.’ the words were like venom to her mind. Somehow hypnotic and numbing.

‘What are you? What do you want?’ Diana asked of this thing wordlessly.

‘I want freedom. I want to be able to roam the surface of the world again. I want to be able to stretch and grow. I want to feed.’ the words sprang in her mind. These last words conjured such a picture in her mind that Diana wanted to be sick.

‘You cannot! I will not let you. I will fight you until I can stand no more. I will send you back to the prison from whence you came.’ Diana thought the words but was unsure of her ability to carry them out. She only knew her desire was there.

‘HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!’ the evil laughed in her mind. ‘You? You have no knowledge, you have no power. I have been toying with you, testing you. Testing the power of the staff. I needed someone to take the staff and release the world from the spell. In breaking the protective spell the original spell of Balquin is gone. Look!’

Diana was horrified to see that what the evilness had said was true. The thin webbing of Runes that had surrounded the world for three thousand years was gone! The entire world was now open to this evil monstrosity. ‘That’s quite correct.’ The evil responded to her undirected thoughts. ‘The world is open to me now. Once I destroy you I will possess the power of the staff itself, the power from the heart of the world itself, and I will bloom!’

Visions crossed her mind. Such visions of monstrous evil loosed upon the land and its people that Diana wanted to retch. Her concentration faltered momentarily and the evil took the opportunity to strike.

Tendrils of evil struck out blindingly fast meaning to engulf her. Diana countered with a spell that surrounded her in a protective blue crystal shell or Runes and the black tendrils withered as they struck it.

‘So you do have knowledge.’, the evil hissed in her mind. ‘It does not matter. You are flesh and you will tire. When you do you will be mine anyway. I can wait a few more hours.’

Diana was filled with doubt. The power flowing through her made her feel powerful, almost a Goddess but she knew that the evil was right. She could not battle forever.

Laramus made his was back to the king. The king had been meeting with his councilors about how to best handle the border session when Laramus came into the room.

‘Sire’ Laramus broke in on the meeting and all eyes turned to him, ‘Your daughter is in grave danger. I tried to stop her but I failed.’

The king stood quickly and demanded, ‘What are you babbling about? Quickly! Tell me!’

‘Sire, in the cave of Balquin. Your daughter fights the evil that is plaguing the kingdom. Her life is in jeopardy.’ Laramus said more calmly.

‘Take me to her at once!’ the king demanded and followed Laramus out of the chamber without another glance at his councilors. As he left his councilors looked at one another then quickly left to follow.

The king and Laramus entered the cave together with the councilors following close behind. To the king and Laramus the battle was an awesome sight. Blacks and countering blue Runes dissolved into bloody reds as the battle raged. Top the councilors nothing seemed to be going on at all. They saw the princess grasping the staff which was firmly planted in the ground and holding her hand palm out to Maltur who rested on a stone slab. The crystal in the end of the staff blazed like a small sun and they had to protect their eyes from it but that was all that could be seen.

The kings watched the scene for some long minutes and saw the battle rage back and forth between the evil and his daughter. Finally he turned to Laramus and asked, ‘What do you make of it? Somehow they seem evenly matched. What will happen?’

Laramus was slow in answering. He watched the battle for more seconds and them looked at the king and said, ‘Your daughter possesses more raw power than anyone else I have ever seen. That is why she is alive now. Somehow the staff of Balquin sensed the need and let her control it, channeling its power through her cup and into the battle.’ He paused to watch a few seconds more and continued. ‘The staff of Balquin taps into the heart of the world itself, drawing its power from there. In essence tapping the Ocean of the Goddess. Your daughter is the conduit of that power now. The Water of Life which normally seeps around the Doors to the Soul is now coursing through to replenish the Waters your daughter is using to continue the battle.’

Laramus sighed deeply. ‘You are right though, the evil and your daughter are evenly matched. Were that it were not so.’

‘What do you mean?’ the king asked quickly.

‘Your daughter is a conduit for power, but she is also flesh. Her power comes from her ability to concentrate and fight this evil. Her power comes from her Cup and the replenishing waters the staff makes possible to flow through her doors.’ He paused, swallowed hard and continued, ‘Your daughter will eventually tire. If she cannot defeat the evil it will eventually tire her. When that happens it will crush the Doors to her Soul and through the staff attain the heart of the world itself. If that happens it will have unlimited power at its disposal and nothing will be able to stop it.’

‘Can she defeat it?’ the king asked now looking at his daughter as though for the last time.

Laramus hesitated before answering. ‘No, I don’t think she can.’

As they had been talking they saw the intensity of the battle increase. The Runes of evil and power from Diana clashed more frequently, almost constantly now and the power from each encounter was growing.

‘Come’, Laramus said, ‘Let’s retreat to the safety of the castle. The power that is being unleashed here could inadvertently destroy us all.’

Diana had been concentrating on the battle but had also somehow heard Laramus’ dire predictions. She herself was beginning to have doubts about defeating this obscenity. She was able to counter its every attack but it was getting progressively more difficult. Each attack took a little longer to fend off.

The evil blackness seemed to realize this and increased the intensity of its attacks. Diana thought she sensed a frustration in its attacks. It was as though it had not expected her to be able to resist this long. Diana also realized that she was receiving help from elsewhere. She was receiving power through her doors, she could see the waters from the Goddesses ocean streaming around them and filling her cup. The placid surface of her cup was now rippled with the torrent of water flowing into it. With this water and power however came knowledge. This was the extra help she was receiving. She didn’t know how, but as the encounter intensified her knowledge of how to use the power to best advantage also increased. Somehow she knew how to counter the evils every attack and keep it at bay. She didn’t have the knowledge to defeat it, but up to now anyway, it couldn’t defeat her either!

The battle raged hour after hour. The evil had stopped whispering in her mind. She felt it was pressing its attack and gave up trying to disrupt her concentration. More and more power flowed between the combatants. The struggle was no longer visible as attack and counter but was a constant meeting of power the pressure of which was building. It was like two great men in an arm wrestling contest where each is putting out all the power he can and yet no one moves.

Diana felt herself tiring in this struggle. How long had it continued? As she tired new knowledge came to her as to how to best use her remaining strength. The power that she was channelling was more than any had ever used before. She looked within herself and saw her Cup now boiling with power. The surface was far from being the mirror that it was just a few short days ago when Maltur introduced her to it. It’s surface was now an angry cauldron of liquid power flowing to battle the evil that desired her world.

Hour after weary hour the battle raged on. Diana forced her body to accept more and more power from the staff and channel it into the battle. Her cup now was a raging geyser of power. If the flow from the staff or from the Doors of the Soul stopped for even the briefest instant her Cup would exhaust itself and she would die.

More hours passed and Diana was forcing the power through her. Knowledge was also flowing into her now like a refreshing river. It was coming with the Waters of Life but she knew the knowledge alone would no longer be enough. With the knowledge came the thought that she had to continue just a little longer; for Malturs sake.

Maltur! She hadn’t thought of Maltur in hours! So fierce had her concentration been that she had shut him out of her mind. Him, for whom this battle was started. She looked past the evil she was holding off with a constant flow of liquid blue power and looked at Maltur. The evil had managed to enclose him in more tendrils and a few more had entered his Cup! It was almost empty!

‘Yes, it is almost empty.’ the evil hissed into he mind taking her by surprise. ‘And once empty there is no way to bring him back. He is mine! Let me show you.’ The evil made the last sound almost like a sneer in her mind.

Diana saw another tendril make its way towards Malturs’ Cup. She was certain that if this reached his Cup it would surely be drained. She brought forth all the power within her and shouted, ‘NO!!!’.

This was the first word she had uttered since beginning this soundless battle. The power she now commanded caused even her words to have power. As that one word was uttered its power expanded and filled the cave. As it came in contact with the solid rock walls those walls dissolved into nothingness. The word echoed like thunder across the countryside. The mountain that they were within simply ceased to exist. The battle now continued under a starlit sky.

The evil recoiled at this display of power. The tendril it had been loosing towards Malturs cup was struck by a force which was not power from the battle. The tendril simply dissolved like the mountain had. It had not expected anything like the resistance it was receiving, nor did it expect such power in one so seemingly frail. The evil faltered only momentarily then renewed its attack in a frenzy.

Diana was failing. She continued to hold off the evil, but its stronger attacks were getting closer and closer to breaking through her defenses. The crystal set in the end of the staff blazed like a mad sun sending a beam of solid white light into the sky like an accusing finger. The beam could be seen from the castle and all watched. Laramus and the king also watched and saw the first signs of the light dimming.

‘Sire, I believe the end is almost here.’ Laramus said to the king who did not take his eyes from the telltale light. ‘Would you like to go see your daughter?’

The king made no reply at first, then turned to his old friend and said, as tears streaked his cheeks and disappeared into his beard, ‘Yes, I’d like to be with her at the end.’

Diana knew they were around. She had sensed their coming for miles. Her power was such now that she sensed the cricket calling to its mate and its mates reply on the other side of her world. She sensed the beauty in the grass and its joy at growing in the bright sunlight. She knew of her fathers sorrow and of his love for her. She felt his sorrow and pride at her battle, and she felt his remorse. He felt that it was his fault for her being here. She could have, with just a touch, erased his sorrow and shown him that it was her decision, her actions that led her here. But the evil didn’t give her that time. It pressed, and pressed, and pressed.

‘Just a few minutes more my child.’ came that thought. Loving, caring but urgent. It was not the voice of the evil but something sweet, precious. Diana was weakening, she needed more power to fend off the attacks and not enough was coming through her Doors. She could feel the flow to her Cup now as a tangible thing. She could feel the Doors themselves as a block to the power she needed to fight on. To open those doors meant death, but to lack the power also meant death. If the evil reached her Doors then the world itself was doomed. Perhaps if she opened the Doors, in that split second of her death, she could defeat the evil in the flood of power that would ensue.

Diana held on as long as she was able. She saw the evil gathering its strength in what could only be the final attack. She saw it poise to strike not only her but Maltur as well. She had fought long and well but it was over. She would not be able to withstand another attack. She brought one more surge of power into play and shouted with all of the power that remained within her, ‘If in life I truly cannot defeat you, then perhaps my death will serve that cause. Die with me vile corruption!’ Diana then willed the Doors to her Soul open!

In that instant the moon crested the horizon and its first rays struck the crystal mounted atop the staff of Balquin. Diana watched fascinated as the Doors of her soul opened. She watched herself now, as from a distance, as power flooded through the doors directly to the staff. She also watched as and image formed around her body, becoming taller, wider, more powerful. The woman who was Diana now, but not Diana, looked at where Diana was watching from.

‘You have done well my daughter.’ the woman spoke to Diana. ‘You have fought courageously. Fear not, your lover will not perish, your sacrifice will not have been in vain.’

The voice was soothing and comforting. This was the Goddess herself! She was using Dianas body now as her own. Diana was comforted and watched from a distance as power flowed on ocean tides through the now open Doors to her Soul. As the power flowed through the Goddess took on more and more substance. The moon cleared the horizon and the rays striking the crystal increased the power and added to the Goddesses substance.

The goddess looked to where the evil had all but consumed Maltur and laughed. Her voice rang out with the clarity of struck crystal. The evil sensing the change feared for the first time. It gathered all of its power and struck fully and directly at the Goddess. The Goddess laughed again and said, ‘You could not defeat my daughter, and now you expect to defeat me?’ Her laughter filled the air. ‘Begone you vile thing and do not ever return to this sacred place again!’ she commanded.

As she spoke she withdrew the staff of Balquin from the ground as easily as a child plucks a flower. As she removed the staff a beam of pure blue power from the heart of the moon and an answering beam from the depth of her ocean, through the open doors, simultaneously met on the crystal of the staff. The crystal blazed like blue fire and the Goddess brought the crystal firmly in contact with the ground.

Power poured from those twin beams into the crystal and a blue network of Runes coursed through the ground. They raced in an ever widening circle around the Goddess like a ripple in a pond. When they came in contact with the black coming out of the ground an acrid black plume of smoke appeared and the tendril withered and died. The blue Runes continued their race through the ground. When they reached Maltur they refilled his Cup and continued on.

Ever wider did the Runes spread throughout the kingdom. Only when the entire kingdom was cleared of any trace of the black evil did the Goddess lift the staff. The beams which had struck the crystal suddenly stopped and the crystal again glowed whitley with a trace of blue. She straightened the staff and again thrust it deep into the ground. It’s blue white glow surrounded Diana and the Goddess.

Satisfied, the Goddess walked away from Dianas body and gently lowered it to the ground. She then straightened and looked at Diana and said, ‘Come daughter, there is much yet to do and much yet for you to learn. Walk with me for awhile.’ She held out her hand to Diana who walked over and took it. She was walking with the Goddess through the Doors to her Soul, to the Goddesses ocean when she turned for a moment and paused to look at Maltur. With her Sight and understanding she saw that her would recover. The evil was gone and he would live. Her sacrifice had been worth it.

‘Come.’ said the Goddess again, and Diana joyfully walked hand in hand with the Goddess to the ocean.

‘Look!’ someone said above her and to her right, ‘she stirs!’

Diana opened her eyes painfully and tried sitting up. The world revolved around her and she laid back down again quickly. ‘Where am I?’ she asked slowly.

Maltur looked down at her and said, ‘You have returned to us. You are where you had fallen during the battle.’

‘Oh, I feel as though I’ve been trampled by wild horses.’ Diana said strength returning. Then she remembered fully, ‘The Goddess... where...’

‘Shhhh.’ Maltur insisted. ‘Please rest. We did not know whether you were with us or not. The crystal and staff had protected you like it had protected itself. You have lain here where you fell for the past three days. No one could touch you until just a few moments ago.’ Diana sat up slowly and looked at the crystal in the staff as its last light faded. It was now as she had first seen it.

‘No, I don’t need rest. I will recover soon.’ She looked around and saw her father and Laramus standing together looking at her. She asked of Laramus, ‘The evil is gone isn’t it?’

‘Yes. The spell of Balquin is no more but there is no longer evil in the kingdom.’ Laramus replied.

Diana nodded, she knew what he meant. She needed to explain. ‘Yes, the kingdom is free of the evil, and will be forever. It is one of the gifts the Goddess gave to me in reward for my battle. The rest of the world is open to evil.’

Maltur gasped as she said this. ‘But why?’, he asked, ‘Why leave the world open to such vile horrors as this thing will produce?’

Diana smiled. ‘That was Balquins error. He shut off the entire world to evil. Once his spell started to weaken, as all spells will, the evil was able to come through. In those areas it did come through its effects were amplified, grossly distorted. Wars were fought, people hated, lovers killed. All of this because evil had no other escape.’ Diana continued as Laramus nodded. He saw where this was leading and saw the truth of it.

‘Beauty and truth need evil. They are the opposite sides of the same coin. Without evil, people soon lose the ability to recognize truth and beauty. When evil does again return its seen as much worse than it really is.’ Diana waited for a moment before continuing. ‘The Goddess removed evil from only this kingdom as a haven, an oasis if you will. Evil will spread throughout the rest of the world but because it has the whole world to cover its effects will be slight in any one area. There is enough beauty in the world to allow people to see it and still suffer the evil that is there too.’ ‘And’, she added, ‘they always have a place to come to get away from it completely for awhile.’ She said this last while looking at her father and smiling.

Her father came up to her and kneeled beside her where she sat on the ground and have her a great hug. He then held her at arms length and said, ‘I’m so sorry Diana. I’ve caused you great hurt and I will not let that happen again.’ He smiled at her and said, ‘As for your marriage to Tremb I’m going to have it called off.’

‘Thank you father.’ Diana said smiling, ‘You are not to blame for what has happened. It was the free choice of Maltur to recast the spell of Balquin and it was my choice to aid him. Each of us acted of our free will. Had it been otherwise the Goddess could not have acted. As for calling off the wedding between Tremb and I there is no need!’ She said this last laughing.

Her father looked at her puzzled. ‘What do you mean?’, he asked.

She pointed at a mounted rider coming towards them at full gallop. Tremb stopped his horse, in front of the king and his daughter and dismounted. Tremb kneeled and bowed his head awaiting permission from the king to speak.

The king cleared his throat and said, ‘What brings you here Tremb?’

Trembs face reddened. He started to speak faltered, then started again. ‘I uh, sire I wish to request, I mean I’d like to ask that our wedding, I mean the wedding between your daughter and I be called off.’ with that blurted out he awaited the kings angry response.

The king looked at his daughter and she at him and they both started laughing uproariously. Tremb was totally confused at this reaction. The king stood, helping his daughter to her feet all the while laughing. He clapped Tremb on the shoulder, and bid him stand as well. When Tremb was looking the king in the eye the king said, ‘Request granted! But tell me Tremb, why don’t you want to marry my daughter?’

Tremb blushed again but was a little more relaxed now. Your Highness, I am not in love with your daughter. I love another. I have come here on the wishes of my father to tell you of this and to face your wrath.’ He stared at the king and the king watched him, knowing he was telling the truth. Tremb continued, ‘This marriage was arranged to prevent a war between our kingdoms. I swear on my honor and on that of my kingdom that I will never wage a war against you or any other king of this land.’

Diana and her father watched Tremb with the Sight. The king then took Trembs hand and shook it. ‘Your word is honorable Tremb and I believe you. Go back and tell your father that I fully expect him to attend the wedding of my daughter...’

‘Sire?’ Tremb started to say.

‘Father?’ Diana began to protest. ‘But you just said...’

‘If you two would let an old man finish.’, the king chuckled. ‘Tremb go back and tell your father that I fully expect him to attend the wedding of my daughter. To Maltur.’

‘At once sire!’ Tremb said smiling. He remounted his horse and was quickly away.

Diana turned to her father and hugged him. ‘Thank you.’ she said simply.

The king turned and looked at Maltur who had been standing there grinning ear to ear the entire time and said, ‘That is of course if you would have her.’

Maltur walked up to Diana and looked into her eyes. ‘Sire, it would be my hearts greatest pleasure and my honor to marry your daughter.’ With that he drew her into a long kiss.

When the kiss was over Maltur stepped back and looked at Diana. ‘Excuse me for asking this but I know of no other way of putting it.’ he said somewhat slowly. ‘While I couldn’t really watch the battle I felt as though I were watching it. I saw you open the Doors to you Soul at the last moment. This may sound indelicate, but why aren’t you dead?’

Diana smiled at him. She took his hand and looked into his eyes. ‘I am, or I really should say, I was.’ She smiled at his shocked look. ‘I walked with the Goddess along side her ocean for a long time. She taught me many things and explained many others. She granted me vast knowledge I would not otherwise have, such as Tremb’s request to stop our marraige.’

‘You see Maltur’, Diana said while looking at him still, ‘the Goddess was in true jeopardy. Had I given up the battle too soon the evil could have plunged through my doors and gone straight to the waters of the Goddess. The Goddess would have been powerless to stop it. The Goddess gave me as much power as she could through my closed doors and just enough knowledge to prolong the battle. She needed the combined strength of the moon and her ocean to overcome the power of the evil that was concentrated here. Had it been any different, she too might have lost the battle.’

Maltur was shocked to hear that the Goddess could have been defeated. Diana explained, ‘We always expect evil to be defeated, but never truth and beauty. They can be. If they are not cherished for the fragile things that they are they can be defeated just as easily as evil can.’

‘The Goddess granted one last request for me.’ Diana continued. ‘If you look, the Doors to my Soul are still open. Had you said you didn’t want to marry me the Goddess would have come to take me back with her and I would have gone willingly. She now keeps my Cup full because she has told me that I will be needed here again.’ Maltur frowned at this.

‘Yes, there are more battles that will need to be fought in the Goddesses name.’ Diana said. ‘But do not be concerned. They are a long way off. The last request I made of the Goddess, had you said you wanted me,’ she smiled when she said this, ‘was that when you finally open your doors and she comes to take you to her ocean, that she also takes me.’

‘Diana, I love you!’ Maltur said and hugged her tightly.

‘I love you too.’ Diana whispered in his ear as he held her. ‘I also have one more surprise for you.’ she whispered in his ear.

Before he could move and ask what she was talking about she expanded her Runes to completely envelop him. He was filled with such ecstacy that he couldn’t move. He stood there with her in his arms as wave after wave of pleasure flooded over him. After several seconds Diana let her Runes take on their more normal form and Maltur slumped to the ground. The king and Laramus looked away slightly embarrassed and highly amused.

‘It seems son,’ The king said after Maltur had regained his feet and his composure, ‘that you may well have a very enjoyable and long marriage.’ Maltur nodded while looking at Diana somewhat in shock at her abilities.

‘That is of course if you survive the wedding night!’

At that remark they all began laughing and continued laughing all the way back to the castle.

© 2007 Gene Wolf | Design by Andreas Viklund