About two hours later the trio came into the outskirts of the city and transferred their belongings onto a small rented pushcart.  They dismissed the oxcart driver and started into the city.  The girls were amazed at everything they saw.  All manner of animals, fruits, vegetables, and wares were for sale, and the noise of the market was deafening.

"What's that smell?" asked Noni.  Kania laughed and said "Well Noni maybe it's the pigs and goats and chickens and rotten fruit or any one of the dozens and dozens of things surrounding us?"  Marantha smiled.  "No," he said "she means the smell of people" … and it was true.  Neither woman had ever been around so much humanity at once, and the experience was very close and overwhelming.  "Why are they all packed so tightly together?" asked Kania, for the sellers were almost elbow to elbow as far as they could see.  "Because the market space must be paid for" Marantha told her.  "A group of businessmen called the Ihazara controls this market and most of the space outside the city walls, and they charge each merchant by the amount of ground they cover.  Each person tries to put many things in the smallest space possible, and what you see is the result."  "Well, I suppose we can get used to anything" said Kania, "and besides we will only have to deal with it for this one day."  They pushed on through the narrow alleys, becoming more and more used to the sights and sounds around them.  Noni was troubled by Kania's observation, and at her own relief that they'd soon be gone.  Yes, they would put this behind them, but everyone she could see had to stay here day after day.

Marantha's plan was to visit as many vendors as possible before the end of the day and return to the one with the best price.  All day long they haggled.  Some traders were fair and kind, some abrupt and untrustworthy.  Kania and Noni were learning the ways of the world, and Marantha the ways of this market which he hadn't visited in many years.  He was also learning that his evaluation of the grain he carried was correct.  They were receiving very good offers for their rice, and Marantha was confident that his mistress Ahiza would soon be able to become comfortable on the profits from the small farm she had been cultivating for the past five years.

As Marantha haggled in the market, a merchant he had visited early in the day stood in the offices of the Ihazara before a man called Mizari, and he hoped his business there would be concluded quickly.  Mizari was a top leader of the Ihazara.  He was liked by few and feared by most.  "I knew you had put out notice to bring you the best rice in the market, sir," said the merchant Balazaic, "and this is the best I have seen in many years."  Mizari didn't answer, but only looked at the shopkeeper with disgust.  He was an important man who developed plans and methods for his syndicate and had no time for conversation with those he saw as only a way to bring more money into their accounts.

A few of the grains of rice brought by Balazaic went into an ornate black box Mizari brought forth from his black cloak.  The box was covered with arcane silver symbols and the top was a smooth, clear oval-shaped stone.  He closed the box, crushing the grains, then re-opened it and added a few drops of water.  When he closed the box again, the stone on top began to glow a faint, soft red.  Mizari hid his surprise from Balazaic, but inwardly wondered.  He had never seen the stone begin to glow so quickly.  After only a few seconds the glow had turned a deep red, and Mizari quickly put the box back in his pocket to conceal from Balazaic how special these grains really were.

 "Who is the trader of this grain?" he demanded of Balazaic.  The shopkeeper knew then he had an important item and answered quickly.  "There are three of them," said Balazaic.  "An old man with two young women.  The women are the daughters of the woman who grew the rice, and the old man is their guide and a worker at their mother's house in Pankajum."  Mizari glowered at the shopkeeper and motioned to three dark men standing nearby.  "Find these traders, bring me the women and the grain they have left.  I do not care about the old man.  Balazaic will accompany you to identify them.  This is a matter of great importance … take my carriage."  Mizari's eyes were blazing and his face as hard as stone and he thundered "Go now, and return quickly with what I want!".  The four hurried out of the offices of the Ihazara, and the black windowless carriage of Mizari sped away into the confusion of the marketplace.

Balazaic and the three assailants searched the market for more than an hour with no luck before spotting Marantha and the girls outside a small tent near the end of an alley.  “That’s them!” Balazaic shouted, “Now I will get my reward from the master Mizari!”.  “Ha!” laughed Pharaza, the leader of Mizari’s henchmen.  “I know my lord far better than you and generosity is not one of his traits.  You may stay or go as you wish … but stay out of our way!”

Pharaza and his men approached Marantha just as he was concluding his business with the shopkeeper.  “Stop!” shouted Pharaza.  “We are here from the Ihazara with instructions to bring you and the rice you carry to our offices for inspection.”

“What is this?”  demanded Marantha.  “There is nothing wrong with our rice and you have no right to demand we leave this market.  Besides, we have just concluded a deal with this trader and the rice is no longer even ours.”  Pharaza was not deterred.  He called the other two men forward and told Marantha, “The rice is still in your cart old man, and I will have it either with your consent or without.  Now stand aside!”  As the two men reached for the bag of rice Marantha stepped in front of them and raised a strong stick he had brought to lever the heavy rice onto and off of their cart.  “I will not allow you to steal our property!”  he shouted, and held the stick above his head ready to deal a blow to whomever would come near. 

But the assailants hesitated only a moment.  At a signal from Pharaza both men drew their swords from underneath their black cloaks and advanced.  The one nearest Marantha swung his weapon in a short arc toward the loyal servant and Marantha blocked the blow with his stick, but before the sword had even been withdrawn Pharaza had drawn his weapon and neatly nicked Marantha’s arm just above the wrist.  Marantha grimaced and his stick fell from his hand as Pharaza raised the sword above his head for the final blow.

But it was a blow which never came.  In the blink of an eye Noni pulled loose a support rod from the shopkeeper’s tent and drove it into Pharaza’s arm just above his elbow.  Pharaza dropped his sword and grabbed his useless arm.  Moving calmly Noni stepped in front of Marantha and deftly blocked the attack now coming from the other two kidnappers.  Her moves seemed effortless as she allowed their swords to pass within inches with each swing, and in seconds she had injured both enough to cause them to withdraw from the fight.

Noni picked up Pharaza’s sword and turned to face the stunned thugs.  She was breathing heavily and was frightened.  She had no idea how she had moved that way.  She had studied a small bit with the temple monks on the ways of self-defense, but that had only been exercises done alone .. she had never fought another person, even in practice, … yet now she stood with a sword in her hand in control of three trained fighters whom she had just defeated with only a stick as a weapon!  She shook the confusion of the moment out of her head and began to wonder what to do next, when a voice from the crowd chilled her with its coldness.

“Impressive”, said Mizari as he stepped from among the onlookers, and with only a look caused them to turn and look away.  Noni turned to look into those eyes and saw darkness and a lack of feeling beyond words, and she trembled but did not back down.  Mizari stood motionless watching her and feeling her uncertainty.  “Soon we will talk more so I can find out more about this young woman who defeated three of my best men with only a stick … but for now you and your sister will come with me.”

“We will not come with you,” Noni said, “nor will you have what we brought to your market.  It is sold now, and this night we return to our home.”  Mizari smiled and shook his head.  “I will bring you to my home tonight girl, and your wonderful rice with you.” he said as he withdrew a perfectly white slim rod from his cloak.  “Now stop this bravery nonsense and put that weapon down!”  Noni stepped forward and swung Pharaza’s sword, meaning only to scare this old but imposing man, but Mizari’s rod flew up and met the expensive and strong sword with a loud crack, and the polished steel blade shattered into a hail of fragments.

Pharaza’s mouth flew open.  That sword had been purchased from the finest steel maker in Terrajaya … it had taken 4 months to craft and was considered by everyone to be the best of it’s kind, yet Mizari’s puny rod had destroyed it with only a touch!  Noni grabbed her wrist and her face twisted in pain as she backed away.  Her hand felt like it had been smashed by a rock and she was stunned at how the heavy sword had been so utterly demolished with what seemed like no effort at all.  Mizari pointed the rod at Noni.  “So be it”, he said, and a bright, twisted bolt of light leapt from the rod and surrounded Noni.  She gasped and fell to the ground, unconscious.  “Sorcery!” whispered Marantha, and tried to grab Kania but he was too slow.  Small tendrils of light were still playing over Noni’s limp body as Kania reached her and as one of them snapped onto her hand she jerked back in pain.  “What have you done to my sister!?” Kania screamed.  “The same thing I will do to you my dear” said Mizari, “if you do not get into my carriage immediately.  Make your choice!” he commanded, and leveled the rod at Kania.

Trembling with fear Kania allowed herself to be led into the black carriage as two of Mizari’s men gingerly picked Noni up and put her in behind.  Pharaza loaded the bag of rice from Marantha’s cart in with the girls, closed the carriage’s thick wooden doors, and in an instant the menacing vehicle blended into the market’s packed throng and was gone. 

Marantha stood dumbfounded holding his bleeding arm.  The two daughters of his kind and lovely mistress Ahiza were kidnapped by a sorcerer of the Ihazara, and he was left helpless and alone in the teeming market of Terrajaya.

No one could afford to help an enemy of the Ihazara and the crowd around Marantha dispersed as soon as Mizari’s carriage disappeared from sight.  He picked up his staff and stood, weary and confused, and turned to find only a priest and a tall young monk left watching him.

“Can you help me?” asked Marantha.  “Certainly you saw what happened … can you help me find out where those two girls were taken?  They were the daughters of my mistress and I must get them back at any cost!”

The priest pulled back his hood to reveal a fine and regal face.  His bright blue eyes were kind, and staring from his lined face they soothed the old man.  “Marantha” he said, “my name is Renaya and this is my student Elahil, and yes, we can help.”

Marantha’s mouth fell open in surprise.  “But how do you know who I am?” he asked.  “I have no friends in Terrajaya.”  The priest smiled knowingly.  “There is no time to explain” he said, “but rest assured you do have friends here.”  And with that he whistled and two monks rode up swiftly on horses already outfitted for travel.  “Hurry Marantha, we must leave now and ride without stopping if we are to be in Pankajum by this time tomorrow!”  Still confused but willing to accept help from this commanding man, Marantha struggled onto the horse behind the priest, and with Elahil following the three rode directly to the market entrance and bolted away on the road to Pankajum.

Late the next day the riders pulled up their horses in front of the house of Ahiza.  Tired and dirty from their overnight ride they climbed down and went directly in to find her and break the news.  “Ahiza!” shouted Marantha as he saw his mistress.  “Noni and Kania are captured and …”.  But Ahiza was not listening.  She was staring at the priest as he slowly removed his hood.  “Renaya!” she gasped, “but I thought you had been killed!”  “I am not so easy to kill”, said the priest.  “When the Ihazara defeated and dethroned your brother I escaped the palace and ran away to the mountains west of Terrajaya with my wife and several of our students.  We knew the king had already sent you here … and we knew he had sent his infant daughter away though we did not know where.  My son Elahil rides with us today … and my wife waits for me in our retreat.  We have maintained an army of watchers and have trained for the day the house of Mituro can rise again.  When one of our people reported the arrival of your daughter yesterday morning, accompanied by another girl and your house master Marantha, I took Elahil to the market to guard her.”

Marantha fell backwards into a chair … and had it not been for the chair he would have been sprawled out on the floor.  “Your brother!?” he whispered.  “You are the sister of the king!?  How could this be … I never …”  Ahiza came to him and knelt before the chair.  “Oh Marantha”, she said.  “I wish I could have told you but as you know all remnants of the empire were hunted and killed by the Ihazara.  I could not take the chance.  Even I did not know that my childhood friend who brought you here, the great man Renaya who was so important in my brother’s house, was still alive.  Thank the gods for him!”  She turned to Renaya and said “The girl accompanying Kania is called Noni.  I adopted her from the temple when she was only three years old.  Now tell me what has happened to my daughters … and tell me what we must do next!”  Renaya called his son to his side as he sat down to tell the story.  “Elahil, go and water our horses and make them ready for the journey home.  We leave as soon as we are rested.”  Elahil bowed and said “Certainly father, but there is one thing you should know … we were followed on the road.  I never saw the rider clearly, but one has been behind us since we left.”  Renaya frowned at this news.  “I do not know what to make of our stalker, but neither do I have time to guess their intention.  I must talk now with Ahiza and we must leave soon.  Thank you for your diligence … stay alert and get food and sleep as soon as you have seen to our animals.”  Ahiza returned with food for the men as Elahil left the house, and the three sat and talked until the sun was long down.

Rinpoche Alahara came immediately from his offices set in the middle of the Pankajum temple at the news of the dusty and wild rider who had just ridden fully into the entrance way, fallen from her horse, and would not stop demanding to see the master of the temple.  He gasped and his mouth fell open as he came running into the temple courtyard and saw his finest student lying on the stones, exhausted and bruised.  “Hamidah!” he gasped, kneeling beside her and taking her hand.  “Why are you here and what has happened to you?”  “Dismiss the messenger, Rinpoche, and I will tell you news which you will not want to hear!”  “Of course …” said the priest, faltering at the sight of the brave young woman, one who had commanded respect from the moment he saw her so many years ago, lying so weary and helpless before him.  “Misha, go and get water for Hamidah and bring tea and food … and hurry!”  Hamidah relaxed as the young apprentice left.  “Now we can talk” she said, and quickly and quietly related the details of the abduction in the market.  “This is grave news indeed” said the Rinpoche.  Hamidah’s face was serious and worried.  “What will we do?” she asked.  “If we send our own force to Terrajaya we will reveal the secret which we vowed to keep, but if we do not respond the chosen one may never be seen again!”  Alahara smiled at Hamidah’s concern and knew, once again, that he was right to have made her his ally in their mission to vanquish the greed and fear of the Ihazara and restore peace and harmony to their land.  “Rest easy, brave Hamidah.  If Renaya is here as you say he will come to the temple seeking help.  We can send our forces with him and they will act with honor to secure the release of the girls.  You are absolutely right.  Under no circumstances can we let the Ihazara know the secret only you and I hold … that they have in their possession one of the most cherished persons ever alive in the country of Canaluum … Noni Mituro … the daughter of the King!”

K ... this isnt the story but yes, I should be shot for leaving two pretty young girls in the clutches of an evil sorcerer for like 2 whole weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm soooooo sorry and i PROMISE to get them out soon.

Really, apologies to anyone who reads (and there are a few of u I see) and I'm hard at work AS I TYPE and expect to wrap up some stuff very very very very soon :)!

Bye and check back in about 5 hours !!!!!!!!!

Kania came awake slowly with cold stone against her face and her head throbbing.  Noni lay not moving beside her.  “Noni wake up!” Kania shouted, shaking her sister roughly.  Fear gripped her as Noni failed to respond.  “What did that sorcerer do!?” she said, crying and fearing the worst.  “NONI!” she sobbed and pounded the sleeping girl harder.

“Stop it!” Noni slurred, pushing Kania’s arms away and rising slowly off the floor.  She held her head and looked around trying to get her clear the fog in her head as the events in the market slowly came back to her.  “Kania I’m sorry!” she said, shaking away her blurred vision.  “I didn’t know where I was at first … are you alright?”

“Noni it’s ok.  I’m fine I was so worried about you though!  I was afraid you were dead and I was so scared …”  “Kania don’t worry please … it looks like we’re both ok.” said Noni softly, realizing how worried her sister had been about her … and how scared she was becoming about where they were and what was happening to them.  Did the wizard hurt you after I passed out?”  Kania shook her head.  “He made me drink a potion and I guess it made me sleep, but other than that he didn’t touch me.”

They saw through a small window in the dim room that the sun was almost down.  “I suppose it’s only been hours since we were captured.” said Noni.  “If it’s still the same day that is.  What could he possibly want with us?” she wondered aloud … and they both sat silent and scared as darkness fell slowly around them in the cold cell.

----------

From the shadows near their small room young Elahil listened intently to the girls’ conversation.  As soon as he and his father had returned from Pankajum he had secured his supposedly menial position as a cleaner of the Ihazara’s basement cells and rooms … one of which was where Noni and Kania had been kept drugged for the past three weeks … by using contacts within the Ihazara which they had been secretly developing for years.  Elahil had found himself drawn, oddly enough, to the sleeping Noni, even though no words had passed between them.  He felt he could see her in his mind … a happy, beautiful and special young woman, and he felt she would one day be great.  But Elahil’s job was to report on Kania, the daughter of Ahiza, and as soon as he could he left the Ihazara’s offices and sped home with news that the girls were finally awake.

----------

Hamidah was furious with Rinpoche Alahara.  “How could you leave them in that dungeon for three whole weeks!?” she demanded.  “I want to get Noni out of there and learn what’s to become of her!  Please can we not move soon to release her?”  Alahara tried, once again, to calm Hamidah.  He cared so much for the brilliant woman who had come into his life unexpectedly and had, in only a little more than a year, become a light in his otherwise dim life.  In her he found he could place trust, and he could always count on her to care.  What a gem she was!  And he was sad he had not been able to find a way to free Noni sooner.  “Please Hamidah”, he said, “the girls have been under Mizari’s spells since we arrived and we can’t free them until they are awake.  Besides we need Renaya to move first … we are only a few and besides we cannot reveal Noni’s real purpose until this crisis is over.”  Hamidah knew Alahara was right, but still she was impatient.  “Well Elahil is free from his work at the cells at this time of the day.  Will you at least go and see what news he brings to Ahiza and Renaya today?”  “Of course I will”, said Alahara, making Hamidah at least a bit happier.

Alahara moved the few items from the table top at which they were sitting and produced a cloth from his travel bag.  On this cloth he arranged five small highly polished stones … and he and Hamidah closed their eyes and concentrated very, very intently.  Within seconds the cloth in the center of the ring of stones began to fade to a dim grey and grew more and more unfocused.  Clouds seem to swim there, swirling faster and faster until the cloth seemed to disappear and, faintly at first but becoming quickly clearer, an image grew of Renaya and Ahiza sitting in the small kitchen of the house Renaya maintained on the outskirts of town.  They saw the two engaged in casual conversation … and then Elahil came bursting into the room.

----------

“Father they are awake!” shouted Elahil as he ran through the door.  “They both stirred just before sunset but I had to wait until I could safely leave to bring the news.”  Renaya’s face grew stern.  “This is the moment we’ve waited for.  All our men and women are ready and waiting for our signal.  Elahil, go and tell our leader in town that the time has come to free these girls and she should make everyone ready to act tonight!”  Ahiza was ecstatic.  She hadn’t known whether or not the spell cast by Mizari would ever be lifted.  They both knew of Mizari’s black power, but neither had been able to decide exactly why the sorcerer had abducted the girls in the first place.  What could such a man want with two simple country girls?  The most obvious answer was that he knew that Ahiza was actually the former king’s sister, but he would have come after Ahiza herself had he known that, wouldn’t he?  Of course he could be luring her into a trap … giving himself the opportunity to do away with her “legally” … but Mizari cared little for laws, and would have almost certainly taken the chance to abduct her from Pankajum had he ever become aware of her family ties.  But trap or not, Ahiza was to stay home this night while Renaya’s guerillas moved into and through the black corridors of the Ihazara’s main buildings in the center of town.

----------

Sharita Kumisa, the leader of the team waiting in Terrajaya for their call to action to free Kania and Noni, paced nervously at sunset.  She and her fighters had been waiting for three weeks and there was discontent in the ranks.  No one liked their living conditions, especially when they were used to the lovely, relaxed life in the hills to the west.  Here they were cramped into a four room house … thirteen of them!  At least it gave them the opportunity to go over and over their plans to overtake the small contingent of guards within the Ihazara compound and accomplish their mission … but they had covered the plans so many times they could recite them in their sleep, and too much training was a bad thing.  But even though her spirit was down Sharita moved like a cat when she heard the rider coming down the street in front of their house.  A knock at the door … the password given … and Elahil was standing before her telling her that they would move as soon as possible.  That’s how it was in this business.  Weeks of waiting and now everyone must move as if they were freshly awakened and eager for the fight.  Well, at least they were still eager … and each fighter’s heart began beating faster as the news passed among them that tonight was the night!

----------

Mizari’s houses in the compound of the Ihazara were accessible to anyone, but few ever ventured there.  In stark contrast to the beauty of Terrajaya the buildings sat black and imposing … no friendly lights or beckoning sounds from within, only stark lines and dark windows and the smell of fear.

So the guard at the front gate was certainly surprised when a pretty young lady came walking slowly along the street in front of the black mansion.  “Hi there miss”, he said casually.  “What brings you out along this street on a moonless night?”  The woman pretended to be fearful, but she was far from it.  Her name was Beneshi and she was one of the most highly trained fighters Renaya had ever seen.  Her skills with weapons were amazing, but her skills as an urban fighter were more solidly grounded in her ability to put almost anyone at ease … or fill them with fear … anytime she liked.  Beneshi could become whatever she wanted, and tonight she wanted to appear helpless just long enough to make this man sorry he had ever heard of the Ihazara … and doubly sorry he was guarding a place she needed access to.

“I’m lost!” she said in a slightly trembling voice.  “I got separated from my family today on our trip in from the country and haven’t seen any of them in hours!”  The guard smiled a friendly smile but he was not a friendly man.  The Ihazara tended to work its malice into any associated with it, and though the guard had once been a citizen of Terrajaya eager to make himself prosperous by finding work with the organization, he had become hardened and selfish by it and had for many years now been willing to prey on the weak for his pleasure.  “Of course I can help you child … you don’t need to be afraid anymore.  Come right back here to this office and we’ll take a look at some maps and maybe you can find your way back home soon.”  The guard turned, thinking of the fun he would soon be having with the girl, and as he did Beneshi pushed a long thin needle into the back of his neck with her thumb.  She pushed hard, until the needle almost exited the man’s throat through the front, and though he hardly bled at all, the electrifying pain which shot through his body paralyzed him immediately, and he actually died before he fell.

Five more guerillas rounded the corner at a whistle from Beneshi, Sharita leading them through the gate and toward the main door of the house only some 4 meters away.  When they found no guards there the eight who were waiting in reserve were called and they entered the main lobby and fanned out.  Each one knew their assignment and the layout of the building so well they could have found the basements blindfolded, and they all took separate routes so if any one group was caught the mission wouldn’t be compromised.  Within minutes they had rendezvoused near the girls holding cell and all were accounted for.

The fact they’d met very little resistance worried Sharita.  One group had encountered a worker in the house and had immobilized and tied him up, but that had only been a worker, not a guard, and she was concerned they were walking into a trap.  Nevertheless, hoping that luck was on their side, she led her group down the final corridor to the locked wooden door to which Elahil had stolen the key over a week ago.  With men poised to rush into the room, Sharita opened the door and stepped aside.

Noni shouted loudly as the door to their room flew open and people came rushing in!  She grabbed Kania and the two had barely opened their mouths to scream before Sharita was saying their names and admonishing them to be quiet.  “We’re here to rescue you so don’t ruin it!” Sharita said sharply.  The girls were still very afraid but two soldiers produced small lights and struck them.  Sharita’s face was kind, but hard and serious.  “Please, let’s move now … are you two alright?” she asked.  Kania spoke first.  “We’re fine, we think, only very tired and weak.  Who sent you to find us?”  “That’s a long story Kania” Sharita told her, “but for now let’s just say your mother is waiting and is very anxious to see you … do you think you two can come immediately?”  At the mention of their mother both girls relaxed visibly and said “let’s go now!” at the same time.  The group extinguished their lights and moved out into the hallways of the basement.  “Stay behind me”, said a soldier named Tobera.  “We know these passages and you don’t, but trust me we’ll be out of this house in less than a minute.”

The group made their way up to the main floor before Mizari’s plans became clear.  They were within feet of the outer door when he stepped from the shadows with his glowing white staff held before him.  Two soldiers moved and he dropped them with blue bolts from the cane before they posed any threat at all.  “Stop!” shouted Sharita.  She knew they had no defense against this weapon, and knew it could kill if Mizari wished.  She had no desire to lose more men or women to this magician but hoped her wit could provide an edge if they could draw him out.  She was to find the wit of Mizari was more formidable than she thought.  “Sharita”, he said.  “I do find your killing of my gate keeper a bit rash!”

Hearing her name from Mizari’s lips took Sharita aback.  “Oh please”, he said, seeing fear creep into her face.  “I’ve known of your plans since you came into town last week.”  Sharita saw that at least his information about how long they’d been here was wrong, but just as she thought maybe they had an edge Mizari named several others in their group and spoke of where they’d been staying.  She knew their “rescue” had failed when over 20 Ihazara guards came into the hall behind them.  “Wait!” shouted Mizari.  “Sharita and I have some talking to do before we take them all below for our recreation.  Sharita … do tell me who sent you?”  Mizari leveled his staff … its tip glowed brighter and small sparks jumped from its tip … and Sharita swallowed heavily.  She was seriously afraid for the first time in her life.  She had never expected Mizari, or any opponent for that matter, to be so imposing.  Her training had been wonderful, and her courage was not lacking, but this was real life and she realized she’d failed.  “I’ll die before I tell you anything, wizard” she said bravely.  Mizari laughed softly.  “That can … no wait … that will be arranged my dear” he said, and his eyes grew dark and cold, and Sharita closed her eyes in preparation for whatever was to come.

As fire leapt from Mizari’s cane his face contorted.  The blue bolt of light dissolved into nothingness and he slowly sank to his knees to reveal a regal figure standing in the doorway.  Hamidah stepped forward from the night, her face composed and concentrated, her robes beautiful with gold and blue velvet trimming gleaming in the light from the lobby torches.  “Hamidah!” gasped Noni, recognizing her friend from the temple.  “how did you ... ??”

But before Noni could finish her question the Ihazara henchmen struck.  Hamidah was busy keeping Mizari under her spell.  The wizard was fighting hard, and losing to the power concentrated in the will of Hamidah, but it took all she had and the band of soldiers had to handle the house guards alone.  One came straight at Noni and she thought she would surely be killed when Elahil stepped in front of her to confront her attacker.  Elahil was a young man, and the Ihazara fighter an old warrior, but the young man had been doubly struck upon seeing Noni awake and alive … and he fought with the skill of a man twice his age.  He struck down the henchman and stood and fought three more, and when he turned and locked eyes with the one he had so bravely protected Noni felt something pass between them.  She felt as if she had known this man somewhere else … she felt as if they had been intertwined somehow.  She stood and moved toward him.  And as quickly as it had begun the battle was over.  All around them lay dead and wounded Ihazara … and with the exception of the two who had been felled by Mizari at the start, the team of guerillas was unharmed.

They all turned toward the doorway to find Hamidah with eyes closed, locked in a battle of the minds with the sorcerer lying now almost helpless on the floor of the hall.  Sharita was as confused as she had ever been.  Only minutes before she was sure she would be killed, sure she was powerless against this madman of the Ihazara … and now this opponent who was feared by almost everyone was lying defeated at the feet of a young priestess who apparently possessed no weapon at all.  Sharita began to believe in the magic she had always rejected in favor of science and hard will.  She had no other way to explain the events before her.

Noni wanted to talk to Hamidah and learn why she had been first been rescued by people she’d never seen before then ultimately been rescued by someone she’d played with and read with as a friend as she studied at the temple of her home which was two hours away!  Nothing made sense … and she reeled even more as Rinpoche Alahara stepped through the door!  This was a man who was the gentlest person she’d ever met … was he actually presiding over the carnage around her?  How could this be?

Hamidah stepped aside as the Rinpoche relieved her.  “You have done well student”, he told his prized Hamidah.  “This wizard has learned something of his power tonight, this is sure.”  Hamidah smiled slightly.  She was always certain of the outcome of her battle with Mizari … not overly confident, only certain.  Hamidah found Noni’s eyes as Alahara turned his attention to Mizari.  “Now, sorcerer … you will become again what you once were”, he said, and Mizari seemed to shrink and fail before their eyes.  He became not so dark … not so imposing.  His hair turned almost completely white and his face shrank.  After a moment, Alahara said “you are released”, and Mizari crawled toward the door and out … to a place no one knows for he was never seen again in the city of Terrajaya.

Alahara raised his hand to get the attention of the group.  “With your permission, Sharita, I propose we make haste to find your master.”  Sharita was now composed … the brief battle they had fought and won returning her to her old self.  “Certainly Honorable One” she said, bowing slightly.  “I look forward to your tale of how you came to be here tonight, and I thank you as deeply as I can for coming to the rescue of our humble band.”  Alahara smiled slightly.  “Your band is courageous and honorable beyond your knowledge, brave fighter, and your mission tonight more important than you can imagine.  Please, let us all go now away from this death.  Lead us, if you will.”, and they followed Sharita out to make their way to Renaya to learn why they had all come to be together on this failed rescue which had turned out so magnificently well.