Lyria's Arc

Chapter 4 of 9

Adrian's offer hung in the air. Swear to the judge, or be barred. Lyria would not beg him. She stood, sword sheathed, wolf at her heel, and walked past him into the night. She had unbound the beast. She would find her own proof. Dawn found her at the sacred oath circle, harp in her lap, the wolf asleep on the carved stones. She had no plan, only a truth no one would trust. A witness who reads souls, she thought. Kael had spoken of one. A traveling elf who saw what others could not. She came before Lyria called. A small figure with silver hair and violet eyes stepped through the timber doorway, a snow-white lynx pressed against her boots. The lynx watched the wolf and did not flinch. Selenya Starwhisper studied Lyria the way one reads a page. "Amber," Selenya said. "Curious. Careful." She looked at the wolf. "Its bond is not to your blade." She tilted her head. "It is not gray. It is safe." "Will you say that to the judge?" Lyria asked. "I say what I see," Selenya answered. "Nothing more." They walked to the trial grounds. Adrian was already there, standing near the masked judge, ready to speak first. His smile faded when he saw the soul-seer at Lyria's side. The lynx moved with her, calm and quiet, a second creature that owed Lyria nothing. Justice Veritas turned the blank mask toward them. "You claim your wolf is no weapon. Show me proof." Lyria drew her sword and held it up. The runes stayed dark. She set it on the ground and stepped back. The wolf did not stir toward it. "The bond is broken," she said. "This elf can see souls. She will vouch for it." Adrian stepped in. "She played the rite backward first. I heard it. The unbinding is false." Selenya did not raise her voice. "Backward first is part of the rite. Then forward. I have seen it done." She pointed at the wolf, then the lynx. "His soul touches her, not the blade. The lynx touches no one. If the wolf were still bound, both beasts would feel it. They do not." The judge crossed to the wolf and pressed a gloved hand to its fur. The runes glowed soft and alone. No answer came from the sword. Veritas straightened. "The blade is clean. The beast is separate." The mask turned to Adrian. "Your witness proved the rite worked. You may go." Adrian's jaw tightened. He turned and left without a word. "You may enter the trials," the judge said to Lyria. "Report at the arena at dawn." Lyria breathed out. She had won her place. Then Selenya caught her sleeve, voice low. "There is gray ahead," she said. "A soul turned dangerous. It walks toward these trials." She met Lyria's eyes. "I did not come here for you. I came following it."