For a moment she ground her teeth. She really shouldn't be here when the battle was far from over and she wasn't really injured. Still, she had to admit reluctantly that her exhaustion was starting to impair her judgment. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a terrible thing to lie down for a few minutes and close her eyes. Even ten minutes of rest sounded like bliss. She wondered if she should go to Shasta's tent. After so much horror and ugliness today, the Princess's beautiful face would be a welcome sight.

But as she turned her steps toward the royal tent, she was suddenly deterred by a familiar voice singing sweetly nearby, and she followed the sound until she laid eyes on Shasta. The Princess was sitting on a wooden bench next to an assortment of healing paraphernalia, and a soldier knelt at her feet with his arm in her lap. Shasta was singing to him quietly, an old folk song that Talon remembered from her days as an entertainer, as she carefully drew a needle through the man's skin to sew up a gash in his forearm. She was still dressed in her shining silver armor but had removed the helmet. Her long hair was plaited at the base of her neck to keep it out of her face.

Talon was shocked that Princess Shasta, who had always abhorred sewing, was not only plying a needle willingly but was actually stitching up human flesh. Slowly, she drew closer. Shasta's voice was soft and melodic, and the soldier she was tending seemed so entranced that he scarcely flinched as she moved the needle up and down. Perhaps he was just astonished that the Princess herself was caring for his wound.

Talon watched her finish the row of stitches, tie the thread off at the bottom, and snip it with a small pair of scissors. Her song ended, and she gave the man a smile.

"Good as new, soldier," she said gently and stood with him as he flexed his arm.

When she looked up, the weariness in her face made Talon's heart ache, and she opened her arms so the Princess could fall into them. For a long moment neither of them spoke, but Shasta squeezed her so tightly Talon found it difficult to breathe.

"Are you hurt?" Shasta asked weakly.

"It's nothing."

"We'll just see about that." Shasta took a step back and tugged her over to the bench. "Kneel."

Talon obeyed, her gaze never leaving the Princess's face as Shasta rinsed the needle and wiped it with something out of a small glass vial. She threaded it again and took a firm grip on Talon's chin. "This might sting a little," she warned, then proceeded to take a tiny stitch in the torn skin, tugging very gently.

Talon couldn't even feel it, she was so stunned. "When did you learn to do this?"

"I've learned a lot of things today."

Talon noticed flecks of blood staining the Princess's cheeks, dark spatters against her pale skin that looked even more pronounced in the lamplight.

"You've been helping the healers all day?"

Shasta nodded, her eyes intent on her work. "They need every hand they can get. If I can't go out on the field and fight Kumire myself, at the very least I can do something to fight him from back here."

"You're amazing."

The Princess gave a wistful laugh and tied the thread off. She eyed her handiwork critically. "Not nearly as amazing as the soldiers I've been tending today." Her eyes darkened. "Talon...have you heard yet about Captain Vaughn?"

"I saw him go down, and I knew they were bringing him here..." The grief on Shasta's face made her throat constrict. "He's dead, isn't he?"

"Yes," came the tremulous reply.

Talon's chest felt heavy. Vaughn had been her teacher and her mentor for more than four winters. He was one of the most decent, intelligent, noble men she'd ever known. But this was how the captain would have wanted to die, if he'd been able to choose. She gave a sad smile. "I'm going to miss him."

"Me too." Shasta stood. "You look exhausted, Talon. Come lie down and rest for a while."

"I really should go back. I've been here too long already."

"Please?" Shasta met her eyes imploringly. "You just got here. I've been so worried all day. Please, just come sit with me for a few minutes, at least."

Talon couldn't refuse her. She allowed herself to be led back to the Princess's tent, where Shasta collapsed into the pile of cushions, drawing Talon down beside her. "You know, I should have brought these out so the injured could use them," she said, fingering a tasseled pillow with a guilty expression. "I didn't even think of it."

Talon squeezed her shoulders. "We can bring them out together in a few minutes. But for now..." She rested her cheek on the Princess's head and closed her eyes. "Ah, it feels so good just to sit here like this with you."

"Tell me, Talon, do you really think we're going to win here?"

"Mmm." Talon kissed Shasta's temple, taking a second to think before she spoke. She'd been asking herself that question all day. "It could still go either way, but I think we are gaining an edge thanks to the priestesses."

"How are you holding up?" The question was asked so carefully that it brought a grateful smile to Talon's lips. Shasta was inquiring, as gently as possible, about their previous conversation.

"Better than I'd expected," she replied truthfully. "The barbarians don't seem nearly as frightening now that I've been fighting them for hours on end. I don't worry about freezing up anymore."

Shasta snuggled beneath her guardian's chin. "I'm glad."

Her voice trailed off, and Talon realized that Shasta was falling asleep. She knew she should go back, but she couldn't bring herself to leave just yet. A few minutes, she promised herself, and then I'll go. She settled back into the cushions, for the moment content to just feel the Princess resting on her chest, her breath rising and falling as she relaxed against her guardian's side. Just a few more minutes, she thought, caressing Shasta's soft hair. It couldn't hurt.

Lyris had observed something strange all day, a sort of darkness gathering around the face of each enemy she attacked. At first she'd attributed the phenomenon to the setting sun and the fact that twilight can often play tricks on the eyes, but now that night had fallen completely she realized she was observing something entirely different. The darkness was still there, but it was more a sensation than a visual. She knew it was there without actually seeing it.

Eventually she noticed that it always seemed to appear right before an adversary attacked someone. Testing this theory, she found that she could defend the soldiers proactively by looking for that gathering darkness among the sea of enemy faces.

Yet it still felt as though something was missing. Without the shaa'ri, the battle probably would have ended long ago, and not favorably for Princess Shasta. But Lyris felt certain there should be more, that there was something they hadn't tried yet. She wracked her brain but could not think of anything they could be doing more efficiently.

The thin light of dawn had just begun to gray the eastern horizon when all of a sudden, everything around her stopped.

To Lyris's utter shock, the battle seemed to freeze in place, as if time itself had ceased. Both Shasta's soldiers and the enemy forces were suspended in midmotion, arms raised and mouths hanging open in wordless battle cries.

Lyris looked around in bewilderment. All down the line, some unseen force held everyone-the barbarians, the guard, the horses, even the other priestesses-as immobile as statues. Even the horse beneath her seemed riveted to the spot. She could still feel the warmth of its sweating skin beneath her legs, but its sides no longer heaved with breath and it no longer rocked beneath her. The sounds of fighting were replaced by an eerie silence.

Lyris twisted to look behind her and gasped. There was a woman gliding toward her over the bodies of the dead, her feet never touching the ground. Silver-blue robes glowed around her, undulating gently in a nonexistent breeze. Her features and hair were obscured by a light that seemed to radiate from her very skin. Of all the descriptions of the Goddess in the ancient books, not one had truly prepared Lyris for Her beauty.

The priestess's heart skipped erratically, but she remembered to bow her head and lift her hands in the prayer position. "Ithyris."

The Goddess approached, floating right over the brawling, motionless men on the ground until She was an arm's length from the priestess. Her eyes were burning, a cool, beautiful swirl of light, and when She spoke Her voice was musical, nearly singing rather than speaking. "Palri, y'Ostryn. Si lo kursshiaryn."

Lyris comprehended the words-Go back, my daughter. They are coming for her-but they didn't make any sense. "Forgive me, Divine Lady, I don't understand..."

Ithyris's unfathomable gaze remained on her for a moment, and then She reached out and laid a hand on the priestess's forehead. "Si lo kursshi." They are coming.

Lyris gave a sharp cry as her mind suddenly flooded with horrific images. When she opened her eyes the Goddess had vanished and the battle had resumed around her as if it had never stopped. The sudden clamor was disconcerting. Frantically she called down to a man by her horse's shoulder.

"Do any of the provincial guard wear black uniforms?"

He stared up at her, his face caked with blood and sweat. "That would be Tabin, Your Grace. But they're not here. The other six northern provinces are fighting us, but Tabin never showed."

Lyris clenched her jaw. "Soldier, I need you to tell the others to disperse to another priestess's cover. I'm afraid I must return to camp for a moment." She did not wait for his reply but wheeled her horse around and cut her way through the fighters until she reached Qiturah, Honored Mother of Verdred.

The older woman regarded her with astonishment and some sternness. "Ostryn Lyris, have you left your section unprotected?"

"Your Honor, there's not enough time to explain everything. I've seen Ithyris. The Princess is in grave danger. I believe the Tabin provincial guard are going to attack her camp from behind."

"What?" The Honored Mother's consternation did not prevent her from waving an arm at a charging enemy soldier.

Lyris held her breath. Ithyris rarely spoke directly to anyone, much less appeared in person, and when She did it was usually to the Honored Mothers themselves, not to a priestess as young and new to the temple as Lyris was. She hoped Qiturah would believe her.

After a tense moment, the Honored Mother commanded, "Gather as many horses and riders as you can. We must go to check on them."

Relieved, Lyris darted off to obey. There were horses trotting aimlessly behind the Princess's lines, their riders having been thrown or knocked off during the battle. Her heart in her throat, she called exhausted soldiers to help and set about assembling the riding party. As she worked, she chanted a prayer under her breath, thanking the Goddess for the gift of Her vision and begging for time...just a little more time...to come to the Princess's defense before the enemy could strike her down.

Talon smelled them first. An acrid odor drifted into the royal tent and awakened her in Shasta's arms. She was aghast to realize that she'd actually fallen asleep, and then even more alarmed when her instincts alerted her that something wasn't quite right. She put one hand on the ground and felt a faint rumble vibrating the earth beneath them. It was not a good sign.

Gently she shook the Princess. "Shasta, wake up. We have to go."

"Go?" The Princess blinked sleepily as Talon rose to her feet and pulled Shasta up with her. "Talon, what...?"

"Something's coming. From behind us, I think."

"From the forest?" Shasta allowed Talon to lead her out of the tent, and Talon stared into the thick trees behind them. The early-morning light was beginning to streak the sky in shades of yellow and pink, and had there been more time Talon would have berated herself for sleeping so long. But the rumble was audible now, and Talon knew it meant horses. Many of them. She could smell sweating horseflesh, and it was getting stronger by the second. She drew her sword and handed it to the Princess gravely.

"Take this. Don't be afraid to use it if you must." She bent over one of the patients on the ground and took the sword from his side. "I'm sorry, Corporal, but I need to borrow your blade." She held an arm out protectively in front of Shasta as the rumbling grew louder and she scanned the camp, squinting to see any movement in the thin light of dawn. "Argh, we need a horse. We need to get you off the ground."

Shasta put her fingers in her mouth and gave a sharp, unladylike whistle that screeched through the early morning air, causing everyone within earshot to stare at her oddly. A high-pitched whinny sounded in reply, and Shasta's little white mare came trotting toward them, the same horse she'd ridden every day of their journey from Verdred Temple.

She grinned at Talon and patted the mare's nose affectionately. "I've been teaching her a few things."

Talon was getting used to Shasta's surprises. She boosted the Princess into the saddle and met her eyes. "Shasta, you once promised me that if the time came for you to leave me behind, you'd obey my order to run." Talon was half tempted to give that order now, but the attackers were too close and there wasn't enough time for Shasta to get clear of the camp. "If anything happens to me I want you to gallop south, as hard and as fast as you can, and don't stop until you're out of Aster entirely."

"What do you mean?" Shasta asked, suddenly looking frightened. "What's going to happen?"

"I don't know yet." Talon scanned the line of trees anxiously. "Just promise me you'll get away from here. Don't wait for me, just go."

"I..." But the Princess did not get the opportunity to answer, because at that moment a group of riders in black uniforms burst through the trees and into the camp. Talon recognized them as Tabin guard. They trampled carelessly over the injured soldiers on the ground and waved their swords with triumphant hoots. Anyone who was still standing was cut down, including the defenseless healers. Those among the wounded who were still able to walk struggled to their feet to avoid being crushed beneath the horses' hooves.

Shasta shrieked furiously. Before Talon could stop her, the Princess had urged her horse forward with a loud cry, Talon's sword lifted over her head.

"Shasta!" Talon shouted in dismay as the white mare surged past her, and she shot after the Princess on foot.

Utter confusion ensued as the Tabin guard caught sight of the Princess in her shimmering armor. They converged on her and her little horse. Though Shasta was no stranger to the sword, she'd never fought a real battle before. Still, she hacked and slashed at the soldiers on either side of her, rage making up for what she lacked in technique.

Talon reached her side and tried to hold them off, but there were just too many. She heard a loud clang over her head and looked up. A heavy blow had knocked Shasta off balance, and she was sliding backward off her horse. Talon caught her with one arm. It was too late to get the Princess back into the saddle, so Talon lowered her to the ground. She used the mare as cover on one side and held their attackers back as best she could on the other. Then she and Shasta were back to back as the horse was slapped away and they were completely surrounded.

Talon cursed under her breath. Without the mare Shasta had no means of escape. With the wall of soldiers facing them on all sides, the situation did not look promising. She couldn't see Shasta's face, but she could hear the fear in her voice.

"Talon? I love you."

"I love you too," Talon replied softly.

She felt Shasta straighten at her back. "Let's make them work for it."

Talon gave a grim laugh and tightened her grip on her sword. "Sounds good to me."

And then they came, one after another, wave upon wave of flashing metal and clanking swords and spurting blood. The Princess and her guardian did not have the opportunity for any more words as the black uniforms pressed in on them. Talon was surprised that they had even lasted more than a few seconds against such an onslaught. She thought she could perceive a strange blue haze surrounding them, some kind of mist that kept their attackers at bay enough to allow them both room to swing their swords.

A woman's cry rang out over the knot of soldiers. Talon was confused as something that appeared to be a burst of blue fire erupted through the enemy ranks. The Tabin guard were immersed in flames that spread from one man to another until they were surrounded by a peculiar sapphire inferno. Right in front of her eyes, their attackers dissolved as though they had been melted away.

Talon swung her gaze frantically around in case more attackers were bearing down from another direction, but all she saw was Lyris sitting astride a pale horse, staring down at her hand in utter bewilderment.

"Ostryn!" Qiturah's sharp cry made Lyris wheel around. The Honored Mother gazed at her with an expression that was difficult to read. A strange joy lit her eyes and she bowed her head and pressed the tips of her fingers to Lyris's brow, a formal sign of reverence.

"Ithyris has blessed you with the gift of celestial fire," she breathed in amazement. "Surely you are beloved of the Goddess."

Lyris stared back at the empty space where just moments ago nearly fifty enemy soldiers had converged upon Princess Shasta and shook her head dazedly. "I don't think it's just me, Your Honor. I think we all have it, we just didn't know how to use it." She pointed at the oncoming soldiers. "Can you see the darkness surrounding our enemy as they fight us?" At Qiturah's nod, she said, "Try attacking the darkness instead of the men themselves."

The Honored Mother of Verdred stretched out a hand toward one section of the line and concentrated for a moment. A similar burst of blue fire erupted from her palm to engulf the soldiers and dissolved them just like the first.

"Ostryn." Her voice wavered slightly. "With this gift..."

"Yes, Your Honor. We can win this war."

Qiturah wheeled her horse. "Hold them here. I'm taking word to the front lines."

As the Honored Mother charged back across the moors toward the battle, Lyris flung her hands out repeatedly and directed the celestial fire of the Goddess across the entire camp. The holy blue flames affected only those who emitted the darkness. The fire seared into the enemy ranks until one of them raised a white handkerchief on the tip of his sword and waved it frantically in the air.

Lyris paused, her arm drawn back and her fingers sparking. She felt a hand on her thigh and looked down to see Talon.

"You can stop, Your Grace," her sister said, her voice low and amused. "I think you've beaten them."

Shasta appeared at Talon's side, wheezing from the physical exertion of the battle. Lifting startled eyes to Lyris, she asked, "How did you do that?"

Lyris winked and lifted her hand over her head, her fingers still blazing dangerously. She spoke to the remaining enemy guard. "Soldiers of Tabin, the Goddess Ithyris has taken sides in this battle. If you do not wish to incur Her wrath, you will drop your weapons immediately and swear fealty to Princess Shasta Talia Soltranis of Rane, chosen by the Goddess as the true regent of Ithyria." She wiggled her fingers for emphasis, and the blue flames danced around her fingertips.

One by one the men began to throw down their swords. The thirty Verdred guard moved to confiscate the surrendered blades, and Lyris scanned the faces of the surrendered to be sure there was no further sign of the darkness that promised danger to the Princess's forces. She gave a satisfied smile.

"So long as you intend no detriment to Princess Shasta, the Goddess's flames will not harm you. Choose to serve the Princess now, and you may still enjoy Ithyris's favor. Treachery, however, will be met with swift punishment."

In minutes the Princess's few soldiers overcame the two hundred or so remaining men of Tabin. They were quickly relieved of their horses and weapons and corralled neatly to await Shasta's judgment.

Lyris stepped aside as Shasta moved forward to address them. "Men of Tabin, I am grieved that our first meeting has taken place on a field of battle. I have the greatest appreciation for Tabin province. The entire kingdom benefits from the contributions of your forests and mines, and your people are some of the most courageous settlers in Ithyria, facing constant raids from the barbarians in the northern mountains. I have no desire to do you harm." She held up her hands. "Chancellor Kumire has lied to you, and indeed to all of Ithyria. He killed my father the King with his own hands and told you that I was dead. Yet here I stand. The very barbarians who now guard the palace gates are the same ones he claims to have vanquished in an attempt to save King Soltran. Yet you can see with your own eyes that they clearly follow his orders."

The soldiers began to mutter as they considered her words.

"Kumire is a power-hungry traitor, and he is using you to take a throne that is not rightfully his. But I will not ask you to fight for a cause you do not believe in. If you wish to take up your swords and stand with me, I will welcome your services with open arms. Or you may choose to return home to your families immediately, without fear of reprisal from me. So long as you cease all further attempts to thwart our objectives, you receive my full pardon either way. I doubt you would receive such a bargain from Kumire."

The muttering grew, and then one man in the middle leapt to his feet. "Your Highness, if the Goddess herself has chosen you to lead us, I will not stand in the way. I have three sons at home," he declared hotly, "and I would hate for them to grow up believing their father was a traitor to Ithyria's rightful queen. If you will allow it, Your Highness, I wish to join you."

Shasta inclined her head, and he saluted her. Immediately another man jumped up. And one by one they stood, shouting out their intention to fight with Shasta until there was not one man left seated on the ground.

The Princess held out her hands for silence and turned to Lyris. "What do you think?"