Temiker suddenly appeared next to StarWind. He is using the same tactics as the last time, Malafar's brother declared. We will know his location when the Winter Wind comes. It is next.
What can we do to stop him? StarWind asked frantically as her hands rose to her ears.
The screaming of the crowd increased and people began to wriggle in pain as the pitch tore through them.
I have a filter over us, Temiker explained as he drew her hands down. The sound will not harm us. The only thing I can think of to stop him is to shield the Katana. Should I?
The howling wind came next, even as another bolt of lightning slammed into the Katana. StarWind watched in amazement as a frost blew across the platform creating thin ice on all it passed. She followed the path backwards and saw Malafar emerge, not from within the crowd, but from behind a pillar on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Alazar saw him at the same time and the Katana's arm raised and pointed at the old mage.
Temiker's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the platform. The Katana's shields are not shrinking, he stated. The ice is not adhering either. Alazar has had his shields increased. I am not sure that Malafar can even get through them this time.
Everyone saw Malafar now and the Imperial Guards were rushing towards him even as Alazar unleashed his own magical attack. Rage formed on Malafar's face as he realized that the Katana's shields were not weakening.
Malafar will have to divert energy to protect himself now, Temiker said as Alazar's fireballs started hitting his brother. Tell me what to do, little Star.
The Imperial Guards were almost upon Malafar when Lyra spoke. Throw a protective physical shield around Malafar, she ordered. Keep it there no matter what happens. StarWind, gather our people and instruct them not to interfere. That goes for you double.
StarWind started to object, but when she turned, Lyra was gone. She swiftly issued hands signals and spun around to make sure that her people were coming to her, but she could not see which way Lyra had gone. She was searching the panicked crowd for her Star when she heard Lyra's voice booming across the plaza.
Stop! the girl demanded. Stop this madness.
StarWind turned in shock to find her leader standing on the platform between Alazar and Malafar. The high-pitched whine ceased immediately and the lightning crackled to a halt, while Malafar's face contorted in confusion. The Imperial Guards whirled as their sword blows bounced off some invisible shield surrounding Malafar, but Alazar's eyes narrowed as he viewed the obstacle blocking the view of his enemy. StarWind yelled as she saw the power building in Alazar and knew he was going to remove that obstacle and continue his attack on Malafar.
Lyra shook her head as she watched Alazar prepare to attack. She held her arms out to her sides and a blue cylinder appeared around her. It started at her feet and grew upward, stretching into the sky, turning transparent as it stretched. Alazar released his spell and a massive fireball streamed towards Lyra and slammed into the blue-tinged cylinder. The fireball did not bounce off of Lyra's shield, nor did it explode when it met the shield. It simply ceased to exist. In fury, Alazar cast another and another. His fireballs merely dissolved before reaching the young girl.
StarWind glanced over at Malafar and saw the old mage standing in silence as the Imperial Guards continued to try to hack their way through the shield that Temiker was maintaining. His hands were at his sides and he bore a look of utter failure on his face. He appeared to neither notice nor care about the men attacking him. Alazar stepped to one side of the platform, so he could see past Lyra, and cast a fireball at the old mage. It erupted on Malafar's chest, throwing the Star's father to the ground in a crumpled heap. The flames went out immediately, but Malafar did not stir.
Oh false Katana, boomed Lyra's voice as she turned to face Alazar once again. Oh assassin. Why do you seek to destroy the tool you used to kill the real Katana?
The people of Okata were rising up from the ground now and they turned their attention to the platform. Lyra had not raised a hand against the Katana and the Imperial Guard and the Monitors appeared unsure of what to do. Alazar stared at Lyra with contempt, knowing his fireballs would not penetrate her shields.
Guards, seize this traitorous daughter of an assassin, he shouted. This lowly being is Lyra, daughter of the Sakovan assassin Malafar. There shall be four executions today instead of three.
Stop, boomed Lyra as the Monitors started towards her. Do not make the god Kaltara destroy this city to protect a man who would seize control by treachery. Let me speak my piece and then I will lower my shield to accept justice.
The Monitors faltered and Alazar again ordered them to attack. You do not take orders from the young wench, he screamed. Seize her.
The Monitors closed on Lyra and the Sakovans started towards the platform. Stop, Sakovans, came Lyra's whisper, the sound so close and intimate that StarWind whirled to see if someone else had spoken. I commanded you to your tasks. Obey me, the whisper continued.
On the platform, the Monitors attacked Lyra. A sword struck the shield and the blade disappeared. The Monitor looked down at the hilt he held in his hand and shook his head as another Monitor swung another sword. Its blade also disappeared. A loud collective gasp emanated from the crowd, which had been watching the contest in absolute silence. A third Monitor attacked Lyra and disgustedly discarded his sword when the blade disappeared. In frustration he reached for Lyra and screamed in agony as his arm disappeared. His fellow Monitors swiftly grabbed him as he fell and dragged him away from Lyra. The remaining Monitors also backed away from the young girl in the blue cylinder.
Lyra turned towards the front of the platform and gazed over the shocked crowd before her.
The real assassin of your Katana stands before you today and he is not the one lying on the ground over there, she boomed as she pointed towards the still figure of Malafar. I am Lyra, daughter of Malafar and Rhodella of the Academy of Magic. It is my father who lies before you on the ground and he did indeed intend to kill Alazar today, but hear the truth of what I say. He came to kill a man who deserves to die, not a Katana, for this man who stands upon this platform in his flowing robe of gold and white is a false Katana. He is a murder and usurper of office. He is a despicable man who uses others to kill for him, whether they wish to or not. He drugged my father into killing the old Katana for him so that he might rule this nation.
Alazar was wringing his hands in frustration as he tried to think of a way to kill Lyra before she could say more, but she appeared to be immune to magic attacks as well as physical attacks. His only option was to flee. He turned to run and Lyra spread her arms again. Another blue cylinder formed around Alazar's feet and rose towards the sky.
Please stay and listen, oh false Katana, offered Lyra. The cylinder will protect you from all harm. I can not even attack you now if I wished to, which I do not.
That is one spell I want to learn when we get back to StarCity, whispered Temiker. You must have LifeTender teach it to me.
LifeTender knows no such spell, answered StarWind. I have never seen the likes of it until today. I do not understand where Lyra gets her power and her knowledge.
No person knows, chirped MistyTrail. Ask Lyra and she will tell you, only Kaltara knows.
The mage Malafar is…was my father, Lyra continued, but he was never Sakovan. I, however, am Sakovan. In fact, I am the Star of Sakova, leader of the Sakovan people and chosen by our god Kaltara. I swear to the people of Omunga that Sakova does not wish war with you. I swear by Kaltara that we have not attacked you. We have not burned your fields. We have not assassinated your Katana. I could do so today, but I will not. He is your false Katana and your problem to deal with.