“So, my little mud rat,” sneered the raider, “you’ve been hiding in the moat, have you? Put down the sword and I won’t be forced to hurt you. We’re going on a little trip, we are.”
Lyra was about to probe the man for information, but he must have sensed the boys behind him because he whirled and lunged for Antello. Syman wasted no time and leaped at the hulk of a man, bringing his sword down hard on the man’s unprotected neck. The raider cried out in pain as he collapsed to the stones, blood squirting out of the long cut on his neck. Lyra ran quickly to the raider, but when she arrived the raider’s body shivered and fell still. Wordlessly, the three youngsters entered the castle and started searching for survivors or other raiders who might be lurking about.
The entry foyer was the scene of a battle and Lyra fought to remain calm. Bloody bodies lay all over the stone floor and Lyra nearly fell when her bare feet slid on the blood-slicked stones. Most of the bodies in the entry foyer were Academy guards, although there were also a few raiders and some of the guests she had seen earlier. The weaponless guests had been slaughtered as well as the guards who were meant to protect the Academy. The three young warriors searched the entry foyer carefully, but they could not find anyone alive.
Lyra led the group as they silently climbed the steps to the second floor. There were classrooms and guest quarters on this floor and each room had to be checked thoroughly before they could be sure that there were no more raiders. The classrooms on this level were used mostly by Master Caulder to teach strategy and tactics to the small number of students he took on. Lyra’s father had allowed Master Caulder to host a school here in return for the services of his men and cadets. The arrangement had turned out to be a poor deal for both of them. Most of the classrooms were empty, but the hallway and the large practice room were littered with more bodies. Most of the bodies here were cadets and there was not a single body of a raider on the entire floor.
Lyra’s whole body began shaking as she summoned the strength to mount the next flight of steps to the floor that housed the magic classrooms. Syman and Antello each placed a firm hand on her shoulder as she fought to control herself. Everyone had heard the conversation and knew what they would find on the next floor. Lyra inhaled and nearly choked on the smell of blood, but she steeled herself and shook off the hands of her friends as she led the way up the stairway.
Lyra halted on the landing of the third floor and nearly retched. While downstairs had looked like a battleground, this floor presented the image of a senseless slaughter. The hallway was littered with student bodies, the look of horror and fear still etched on their young faces. Blood had flowed freely here and in the center of the hallway was a large pool of red, sticky blood.
The walls of the corridor were scorched black near the far stairway and burnt husks of what were raiders littered the far end of the hall. Lyra halted and stared at the scorch marks in confusion. Master Malafar disdained any use of offensive magic, but it was obvious that he must have utilized it because none of the students were capable of it. The conversation the raiders had outside swiftly replayed through Lyra’s mind and she frowned at their mention of a woman mage, specifically indicating that it was her mother. But Rhodella knew no magic at all.
Lyra headed toward her father’s main classroom while Syman and Antello continued searching for survivors. The scene of the large classroom was more like a battlefield again with Academy guards and weapons scattered around the room. Once again the walls were scorched black and burnt raiders were piled just inside the door. At the doorway to her father’s private study, which connected with the large classroom, Lyra saw the body of Master Caulder. The bodies of eight raiders lay before him and Lyra belatedly thanked him for doing his best to save her father. Pushing past the bodies, Lyra stretched into her father’s study and halted when she saw the body of her mother, Rhodella. Tears started flowing down Lyra’s cheeks as she started crying. The sound of her bawling brought Syman and Antello running and Syman put his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.
Lyra pushed Syman away and sank to the floor next to her mother’s body, which was lying in a puddle of blood. Lyra reached out and caressed her mother’s long golden hair and gasped when Rhodella’s head moved.
“She’s alive!” exclaimed Lyra. “Get me something for a bandage. Hurry!”
Antello leaped out of the room while Syman lowered himself to the floor on the opposite side of Rhodella. He helped Lyra gently turn Rhodella over and winced when he saw the nasty gash across her abdomen. He shook his head sadly as he looked into Lyra’s eyes and Lyra bit her lower lip as the muscles of her neck bulged. She knew that there was nothing she could do to help her mother with the type of wound she had and Rhodella would soon die.
“You are safe,” smiled Rhodella. “I thank the heavens for such mercy.”
Lyra smiled tautly and moved the dagger away from her mother’s hand. She never knew her mother owned a weapon therefore was amazed to find the dagger in her possession. Rhodella noticed the confusion on Lyra’s face as she coughed and winced with pain.
“Your father was the nonviolent one,” smiled Rhodella. “I fought alongside my brothers when I was young. Listen carefully. I know that I do not have much time left and I do not feel like I can say this twice. You must get away from here quickly. They have your father and they want him do to something evil.”
Rhodella smiled and held her finger to Lyra’s mouth when the young girl tried to ask something. “Let me finish quickly,” gasped Rhodella. “Your father will not cooperate freely. They will need some leverage to make him perform. I was supposed to be that leverage; now they will seek you. You must go to Uncle Temiker’s place in Alamar. Tell him what happened and get him to teach you properly. It will be up to you to free your father and you must learn everything you can. Tell Temiker to contact RavenWing.”
Rhodella convulsed into a coughing fit as she removed a ring from her finger and placed it in Lyra’s hand. “Who were they, Mother?” asked Lyra as she cast the healing spell that she had used on the boys earlier. “What are they going to try to make father do? Where will I find him?”
Rhodella grimaced as she tried to shake her head. “Thank you,” Rhodella smiled tightly as she felt the effects of Lyra’s spell. “You have learned your lessons well. I know nothing more about the raiders than you do. Under my bed is a chest. Go to it. Inside is your brother’s sword. I think you know how to use it, in spite of your father’s attempts to deny it. Do not allow anyone or anything to get in your way. I feel that there is more at stake here than just your father’s life. Temiker will not be safe, either. Anyone who can cause your father to do what the raiders want is in danger.”
Rhodella coughed and spit up blood. Syman gently took the bandages Antello had brought back and used one to wipe Rhodella’s face. Antello stooped and tried to bandage Rhodella, but she pushed his hands away.
“Don’t bother with me,” Rhodella stated. “I know what is coming and you can do nothing to stop it. I want you two boys to swear that you will stay with Lyra until this is over. She needs your help.”
Although both boys readily agreed, Rhodella was dead before she could hear their answer. Lyra sat and wept while cradling her mother’s head as Syman and Antello quietly left the room.
Chapter 2
Escape from Terror
Syman heard Lyra calling and ran back to Master Malafar’s study. Sliding on the blood soaked floor, he hit the doorway and halted haphazardly. “What is it?” he questioned. “Is something the matter?”
No,” answered Lyra, her muddied face gazing at her dead mother. “I just wanted help getting my mother outside so we can have a proper funeral.”