7. THE CITY OF THE GODDESS

The trio arrived in Jad weary and confused. The few-days respite in Forcena had temporarily energized them, but now, inching closer to Wendel, tormented by uncertainty, they were frustrated, and the stress was wearing on them.

Richard was eager to return to the affairs of his kingdom, Loki was taking his renewed separation from Simone hard, and Valda - well, Valda just wanted to go home. She was more tired than she had ever been before, and it didn't help that she seemed to be coming down with something. It was making her irritable.

She shook her head slightly to wake herself up. Richard looked at her with concern, but she gave his hand a quick squeeze to reassure him that she was fine. Just a little out of sorts.

Perhaps a little more than out of sorts, she realized, when she lost her temper completely as the innkeeper told them they would have to wait four days to continue travel to Wendel. "The cave's only safe to cross on the Mana Holy Day," he informed them. "Monsters guard it the remainder of the time."

"Goddess damn it! Four more days! Can we just get to the Stone and take care of the Drag- Hey!" Her sentence was abruptly cut off as she found herself being dragged by Richard into the privacy of their rooms.

"What's gotten into you, Valda?" asked Loki incredulously. "Do you realize what you almost said in the middle of an inn's common room?"

He was right. Valda felt a slight blush. "I'm sorry. I am just so sick of delays, I want this to be over with." She curled up on the bed, feeling snippy. At least, this far from home, in a nondescript inn room in Jad, the Princess of Altena had the luxury of being a little petulant.

"Well, if we want to go tomorrow, I can't imagine that a few monsters in the Cave of Waterfalls would stop us," Loki suggested.

"No, Loki," Richard interjected, looking at Valda's eyes growing heavy. "I won't risk her more than necessary." The sentiment comforted her, as did Richard's now-familiar touch, as she drifted off.

--

Perhaps they should have braved the monsters, Valda thought five days later. Without them, this trip was rather boring, even though the cave was quite pretty, small waterfalls filling azure pools everywhere. But days of killing time in Jad had made the men anxious to be doing something, anything, and Loki gripped his sword as if the rocks itself would attack. Valda found herself fingering her dagger often herself.

But finally, a week after leaving Forcena, they found themselves being led to the audience chamber of the Priest of Light. Valda suppressed another yawn. How could she still be tired, after all the sleep she'd been getting?

A thought occurred to her. "Doesn't the fairy want to be here?" she whispered to Loki.

Loki paused for a moment. "She says she would only frighten the Priest into thinking the situation is more severe than it is. She's the quiet sort, only speaking up when there's really some need."

More severe? If the Dragon Emperor trying to use the power of the Mana Stones was not so bad, Valda shuddered to think what might be. Perhaps there was a worse storm ahead. She pushed the thought down for the moment.

"Greetings, your Highnesses and good Sir," intoned the Priest. He looked just as Valda had pictured him, a long white beard dangling in front of his holy robes. He carried with it the aura of wisdom one would expect from someone of such advanced age; she would have been surprised to hear he was less than eighty. It reminded her how short a time she herself had been ruling.

Loki knelt before the altar, while Richard and Valda gave the more subtle nods that were expected from royalty. "What brings you here?" the Priest asked.

Richard gave the barest possible outline of their quest, merely indicating that they needed to find the Mana Stones on a matter of great urgency, and they could only locate four. He kept the name of the Dragon Emperor out of it, but nevertheless the Priest's expression grew somber.

"The Mana Stones," he mused. "Surely your business must be greatly important for the royalty of two powerful nations to be found here together, so far from home."

The Priest stepped forward and placed a hand on the shoulder of Loki, who had not yet risen as Richard spoke. Loki looked up in surprise. Valda wondered if the Priest could sense the Fairy's presence; there was nothing else that would have indicated Loki was anything other than Richard's retainer. For a long moment, there was no sound in the room but their own breaths, as the Priest inclined his head to stare not just into Loki's eyes, but his very soul. Valda recognized the subtle signs of strain as the Swordmaster forced himself to meet that disturbingly penetrating gaze.

When his eyes returned to Valda, they were clouded and somber.

"I can feel it too, Sorceress. Mana is fading. How much, I cannot yet tell... I can only hope that the Goddess has not weakened so much that the God-Beasts can be released from the Stones..."

The God-Beasts. Stuff of legend, Valda thought. She could only hope she would never see such a thing in her lifetime.

"Our enemy has been trying to unseal the Stones, but so far he has not succeeded, so it seems Mana is holding for the moment," replied Richard, giving up discretion. "But if he did... what might happen next?"

"The Stones would give him power, but more importantly, one could enter the Holyland and take the Sword of Mana... the power of the Goddess herself..."

"And could potentially release and control the God-Beasts," Valda finished. The Sword. It might be worse than she had thought. The Sword was an entity more mysterious than even the Goddess herself, but legend said that whoever held the Sword had the powers of life and death itself. A chill passed through her as she realized that might be the true goal of the Dragon Emperor.

The Priest turned to the others. "Unfortunately, all I can tell you is the location of the Stone of Light. It is high up in the mountains, easily accessible by air, but the overland route is far more treacherous. I would expect the climb to take several days."

"How did it get up there?" Loki wondered.

Valda knew. "It always was there. The Holy City was once located there, until a thousand years ago, their prince made a pact with the underworld and destroyed his kingdom. Wendel was founded centuries later, but now, it seems only natural barriers protect the stone."

"And if it is easily accessible by air..." Richard left the sentence hanging, but Valda knew the ending. The Dragon Emperor could reach there. Probably much sooner than they could. The only saving grace was that he did not have the chance to visit the Priest of Light and find out where the Stone was.

"Don't worry, I will send a guide with you," the Priest told them. "When do you wish to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning, if possible," Richard said.

The Priest nodded. "Then let it be so. I will send your guide to meet you at the inn."

--

Valda was thankful that she had let the men talk her out of her dress and into a pair of leggings, just this once. Though they felt rather different to her, she shuddered to think what it would have been like climbing this mountain in a silken gown.

She had expected something like Rolante, but whereas a couple months ago that climb would have seemed exceptionally rigorous, now she began to appreciate the maintenance the Amazons did on their trails. Here, there was nothing, but a tricky climb among rocks, setting their feet down wherever they could on the steep slope, grateful for even the smallest outcrops.

Even as Valda struggled, their guide handled it all well, politely slowing down to wait for them. Cecil insisted this was indeed the quickest way up.

He was an attractive young man, perhaps sixteen years of age, with the silvery-white hair that was common in Wendel, even on young people. He explained that he was learning the skills of a warrior in order to protect the Goddess, as Richard chatted jovially with him.

"It's a shame I haven't been able to talk him into coming back with us to Forcena," Richard told Valda. "I bet he would make a fine Paladin."

Valda could only nod. The strain of climbing was showing on her, but she put up a good front in front of the men, not wanting to admit how badly she simply wanted to lie down for a nap. Richard wasn't hiding his knightly desire to protect her; nowadays, she could barely sneeze without him appearing at her side. Comforting in its own way, but the Sorceress reminded herself that she was a ruler in her own right, and she could not allow herself the luxury of becoming dependent on him.

So she gritted her teeth, made her denials, and hoped they would soon reach the top.

Days of slow climbing later, Valda had practically given up hope of ever seeing flat ground again, but they crested a rise and in the distance she saw a group of ruined buildings, still bearing the luster of the gold found in its rocks. The Ancient City of Light. The sun's downward arc reflected off the walls, making the city seem to burn as it once had in reality, a thousand years ago.

So near their goal, and yet so far. None thought it wise that they attempt entry in the nighttime, as they made camp perhaps five miles from the city. The sun finally fell before the horizon, and though the time was only early evening, the mood of their little camp was hushed and subdued. No one felt the urge to lighten it, even as Valda wished the gloom would break.

She shivered involuntarily, and was not surprised when a minute later a cloak appeared around her shoulders. This time, she dropped the mask of strength she had been holding up, and leaned gratefully back against Richard. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her with the blanket, as she let herself feel enclosed and safe, if only for the moment.

--

As the morning rose, Valda felt knots in her stomach. That, in itself, suggested something momentous was about to happen, as if she had not expected it already. She pushed away the proffered breakfast; nausea came over her at the sight.

The foursome advanced onto the flattened mountaintop where the city lay, but perhaps a half mile from the entrance, Cecil abruptly stopped. "I think it would be better if I waited for you here," he told them. "Whatever you are after... I think it's beyond my skills. There's something weird in the air. I'll be waiting for you when you come out. Good luck," he finished.

Thanking the young man for his help, they approached the city with trepidation. There was something strange here. Even the men could feel it by now, Loki's left hand on his sword hilt an unconscious mirror of Richard's right hand on his. The fighters flanked Valda as packed dirt gave way to a path of worn golden bricks. The remnants of the lagoon that had once surrounded and nourished the city lapped lazily at the base of the structures before them.

She peered up at the magnificent exterior wall as they passed under one of its arches to enter the city proper. It was like slipping into another world, the world of a thousand years ago. Valda tried to picture the massacre of the people, the destruction of one of the two great cities of the ancient world, and suddenly she could almost hear the screams and cries of those long dead. She shuddered, and forced herself to concentrate until silence surrounded her once again.

Even so, the haunted feeling lingered. Nothing had been seen, nothing had attacked them since leaving Wendel, and the silence here somehow felt more dangerous than any monsters would have been.

It almost was a relief when the two phantom knights appeared.

Silvery suits of armor they were, but somehow Valda knew that if she flipped up the visor up, she would find nothingness inside. The ghosts of the ancient city approached the party from opposite sides with a grim determination to protect a city which they did not realize no longer existed. Richard and Loki pulled their swords, while the Sorceress between them began forming her spell.

Not knowing the weak point, Valda flung out a simple fireball, neatly directed both ways. She scored a clean hit, the figures stumbling and appearing to take injury.

But they straightened, and Valda was in for an unpleasant surprise. By now, she knew this Mana signature from the many times Richard had used it.

"They're using healing magic!" she announced, surprised.

"I know!' Richard called back. "Leave this to us!" And he dove for the spirit nearest him.

Valda threw spells to knock their opponents off balance, as the two pairs danced around her, blades flashing. Loki seemed to be making steady progress on her right, his enemy's sharp chops and swipes looking amateur as the Swordmaster proved the truth of his title. He deftly parried blows even without a shield, deflecting a swipe with his own blade, then quickly whirling it underneath to swipe his opponent across the chest. The silver knight wasn't even given a chance to heal himself.

Richard, however, was struggling with the other combatant, both healing themselves with every injury, the two opponents locked in a stalemate. Even with the little she knew about swordfighting, Valda could see the phantom knight was as skilled, as quick, as Richard himself, and could heal just as Richard could...

The answer struck her. "Richard! I don't know how, but these things have the same skills as a Lord!"

"How'd they get them? Nevermind, what do I do about it?' Richard called, just dodging the swipe that would have cleaved directly into his chest.

"You need something to tip the balance! Loki! What can you give him?"

"Try this," the Swordmaster called back, barely averting his attention from the knight he was now driving against the wall. "It'll suck its magic right out so it can't heal." A greenish glow encompassed Richard's sword, giving Valda an odd sensation that she thought indicated Dryad's magic.

As Richard's sword cleaved into his opponent, the suit of armor tried to heal, but the spell dissipated like a puff of air before forming. The ghost paused, as if in surprise. Richard smiled that big, jovial grin as he raised his sword again.

Valda heard a crash of metal from the opposite direction, and turned to see Loki stepping over what was now nothing more than a pile of battered armor parts. He ran towards his liege, but Richard motioned him back to stay with Valda, as the prince gleefully pressed his new advantage.

Blow after blow now hit home, until the suit of armor fell face forward on the bricks, the spirit inside having disappeared to return to wherever the souls of the ancient city now lived.

--

"Where to, Princess?" asked Richard, breathing hard. The fight had taken more out of him than anything in a while.

Valda remained silent for a moment, trying to focus on what she was sensing. "It's this way," she announced finally, striding left of the entrance.

It was too much to hope for that there would be a direct and easy route. Stairs led them up and down between the different levels of the city, sometimes forcing them to slog through pools of water that had probably stagnated for a thousand years. Meandering through one of the ancient buildings to emerge back in the sunlight, Valda suddenly felt a sharp spike of Mana from her left, and knew they had reached their goal.

Pushing down yet another gurgle from her stomach, she practically flew down the stairs, heedless of her own safety, to emerge on a small terrace overlooking the lagoon. And on the terrace itself...

The Mana Stone of Light awaited them. As did the object of their quest.

Behind the Dragon Emperor, a flicker of motion drew her eye to a second presence on the dais. Lumina, the Light Elemental, a small fluffy cloud of Mana, flitted about nervously. "You can't have it! I won't let you unseal the Stone!" she whimpered, black eyes staring at the intruder.

"Shush, you. Your power alone will do little to stop me." He cackled. "Light. Ever the weakest of the elementals, suitable only for healing and defense." He stepped forward, and Valda noted with satisfaction he winced slightly in pain, unconsciously reaching for the site of Loki's injury.

Richard stepped forward, but Valda laid one hand on his arm. She could feel the power the Dragon Emperor was holding, this close to the Mana Stone. Richard would be obliterated before even getting to him.

In any case, the element of surprise was already lost; holding that much Mana, the Dragon Emperor could feel their presence. "So finally you've caught up," the blond man laughed, so arrogant he did not even turn to face them. "You wouldn't have had a chance if I had been able to release the seals on these blasted stones, but the Goddess is too strong yet. I'd need someone with a better connection to her power. Perhaps you would care to help, Sorceress?" He turned, to look straight at Valda.

"Never," Valda responded, forcefully, but even as she spoke, she felt a touch on her mind, seeming to brush her magic power, pushing, tentatively, then harder. Valda resisted within herself, and pushed back. The strange feeling brushed gently, making her spine tingle, but then disappeared.

The Dragon Emperor only nodded, as if having determined something.

Valda's eyes widened in shock in response. For just a split second, she could have sworn she felt him inside her head, his evil touch on her soul… and the idea faded almost as soon as it had formed, leaving her shaking her head. What was that she had been thinking? It couldn't have been important, could it? In any case, not nearly as important as the task at hand, and she resolutely pushed the worry away, the thought of the thought disappearing just as neatly.

Richard, ever overconfident, jumped forward, having learned nothing from their last encounter. "For Forcena!" he cried with his slash, but just before his sword would have made contact, a fireball slammed into him, and Richard's body skidded against the far railing. Valda's heart sank as he lay there unmoving, but a second later, he let his sword arm fall to the ground with a groan. Lumina flew over to poke at him with one wispy protrusion.

Valda counterattacked with a deluge of icy magic. The Dragon Emperor allowed a momentary flinch, but as the spell poured over the terrace to splash into the lake below, he stood there looking just as whole as ever. "You are too weak yet, Sorceress," he told her. "When you have more strength, you may be some use to me."

Loki joined her side, sword hanging from his hand with exaggerated casualness. Ever willing to use the powers of stealth, he knew now not to make the mistake Richard did, biding his time for the chance to strike.

That knot that had been in the pit of her stomach only deepened, and Valda struggled to keep the nausea under control, sickened by the Dragon Emperor. She forced herself to contemplate the situation, when inside her head, the Light Elemental spoke. "Sorceress. You can use my magic best of all the elements, if you will only let me show you how. I may only be able to help you for a second, so be ready." Valda let her strength build slowly.

The Dragon Emperor sneered, he himself holding far more power than she at the moment. "What do you think you are going to do?"

"Cover me, Loki!" Valda cried, and released the pure power of Lumina, at the last fraction of a second feeling the power spike. Beams of pure holy energy, the energy of the saints themselves, poured down on the Dragon Emperor with a force she had never produced before. He screamed, and staggered… and retaliated.

Loki was already bounding up the steps from behind her, but faltered as their enemy countered. Nothing like the brush she had felt before, Valda now felt dark energy piercing her mind with blinding pain. Loki knelt next to her as she wailed, hands to her head as she fell to the ground, the Swordmaster powerless to stop the spell. "Valda, stay with me! Focus! Fight back against his power from inside!" He grasped her hand, and suddenly Valda was absolutely certain the Fairy was reaching for her through Loki. As Valda's eyes rolled back in her head, she sensed a small flow of energy fed into her from the man holding her, and she reached for it with all her might, grabbing for it as a branch in a flood. She clung to the glimmer of the Goddess's power with all her might, knowing it she let go of that one little speck, the dark energy would destroy her in an instant. Even so, death reached its tendrils towards her and she felt the light within her begin to fade.

Suddenly the spell shattered, the sudden release almost as painful as the attack itself. Valda sat up, goggle-eyed, and drew a deep breath, shaking her head to reassure herself she was alive.

Richard was gritting his teeth in pain, wobbling on his feet, but there was mad anger in his eyes. He clung to one arm of the Dragon Emperor, his captive madly dodging Richard's wild sword swipes. Blinded by anger and pain, Richard was fighting with little skill, but it was enough. Valda was free.

The trickle of the Goddess's power still pulsed within her, and it gave Valda an idea. "Stand back, Richard!" she shouted, as she began to wrap Lumina's power around it. Richard let go of the Dragon Emperor's arm, stumbling slightly himself, and Valda struck.

The saint beam that hit the Dragon Emperor square in the chest was not as strong as before, but the results were much more gratifying, as he was knocked clean off his feet. She had hoped to kill him with that strike, but still, he crawled forward, one arm reaching for the Mana Stone. Lumina zoomed wildly around it, and the Stone seemed to flicker angrily.

He glared at Valda with open hate. "I will not forget this, Sorceress!" he roared, wheezing as the Stone floated inches away from his touch. Loki strode towards the platform, sword hand tensed. "One day, I will find you, and I will take what you value most from you!"

As Loki raised his sword over their fallen foe, there was a blinding flash of light, and the Dragon Emperor disappeared.

--

As the afterimage of that blinding flash faded from vision, Valda's stomach churned in fear. After all this, their foe had eluded them somehow?

"It wasn't Mana," she told the others, her voice quavering. "Whatever he used to escape us... it was power that came from somewhere else."

Richard might have run to her, but it was taking all of Loki's strength just to keep the taller man on his feet. "Well, you did something there at the end. What was that? It was certainly effective."

"I've never done anything like that before... but... I think it had some of every element in it. I guess it was too much to hope for that it would kill him, but he should be injured for quite some time."

"I expect he won't be showing himself again for a while," Loki suggested.

"Then there's nothing that we can do," Richard concluded. "We can only hope that next time he appears, we will be able to stop him again."

"But if Mana keeps drying up the way it has been, it will only be easier to unseal the Stones... and that's the one thing we can't stop," Valda concluded. She felt more fearful than ever, and her stomach roiled.

"What's wrong, Valda? You look positively green," Loki asked.

Valda couldn't take it anymore. She ran to the railing of the terrace, and promptly threw up.