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.”

“Lyra,” sighed Syman, “I’m sorry, but we have no time for that now. Those raiders are coming back here and as soon as they see the one we killed, they are going to be tracking us. We need to get whatever we can salvage and get out of here quickly.”