The creature’s mind was warm in mine as it scanned my feelings.

[You really are kind, Jane True,] it murmured, as I felt its power shift. The next thing I knew my shields surrounding Phaedra had burst, spilling water everywhere. The Alfar was free.

But she wasn’t going anywhere.

Her expression was frozen in horror, gazing down through lifeless eyes at the tentacle speared through her torso.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered, as the tentacle shook Phaedra free. The bald little Alfar fell to the wet floor with a splat. There was no reason to check whether she was alive or dead, not with the hole in her chest so big I could have stuck my head through it.

For a second I envisioned myself wearing Phaedra as a necklace, and I shuddered.

[No,] it said, in my mind. [I didn’t. But it made things easier.]

I looked at the Alfar’s huddled form. “I had her contained.”

[Yes, you did. But I’ve seen inside her thoughts. She would never have stopped coming for you. Or for me, for that matter.]

I understand that, I thought. But to kill her—

[Was something I took upon myself, so that your people did not have to. There is no place that could guarantee her captivity, and she cannot be allowed free at this juncture. As I said, I saw into her mind…] With these words the creature’s thoughts trailed off.

“And?” I prompted.

[And you must believe me when I tell you that I am by no means the most dangerous thing either hidden or hiding out there. My prison’s crumbling might destroy a corner of the world… but there are things out there that will gladly take the whole planet with them.]

“Is this what you saw in Phaedra’s mind?”

[She was but a minion; she knew only her own mission. But she had heard rumors, and knew where others had been sent.]

“Are they looking for other creatures? Other artifacts?”

[Both. But this is not a conversation we should have in private…]

I felt the creature’s power swirl about me, and then I heard a pop as Blondie apparated in front of us.

“What the fuck?” she said, throwing up shields and peering madly about. When she saw me, she sprinted over and nearly knocked me down with her hug.

“Hey, girl,” I said, laughing and trying to figure out where to put my arm. It was tough holding someone while also holding an ax. Or a labrys. Whatever.

“Are you all right?” she said, rearing back to scan my face as she held tightly to my upper arms.

“I’m great. Better than Phaedra,” I said, gesturing with my non-ax hand.

“Ugh,” she said. “Holey-moley.” Then she saw what I was carrying.

“Jane,” she said, her eyes shining. “You accepted!”

I looked at the labrys. I looked at Blondie. I looked at the labrys again. And then I put two and two together.

“You conned me!” I shouted, turning around to confront the giant eyeball.

Its presence in my mind was smug, amused, and entirely unrepentant.

“I’m your champion now, aren’t I?” I asked.

[Yes,] it said. [By accepting the labrys, you’ve accepted my power.]

“I don’t suppose I can exchange it for a pair of socks?”

[No,] it said. [Now let me see my child,] it insisted, and I realized I was standing between the eyeball and Blondie. So I moved out of the way, my brain struggling to compute that I’d just unwittingly made myself the creature’s little pet.

[Hello, child,] came the creature’s voice in my mind. I saw Blondie gulp, go pale, then turn to the great eyeball. To my surprise, she fell to her knees.

“Sire,” she whispered, tears choking her throat. “I’m so sorry…”

[No need, my child. We are past apologies. It is good to see you with my real sight,] it said.

She sniffled, and then turned to me.

“I’m proud of you, Jane. You did what you had to do.”

“I found the creature,” I said, trying to figure out if I might actually deserve the creature’s confidence. “And I did pass the Alfar tests. Well, sort of.”

“And you defeated your Rival,” she said. I frowned.

“Did you let Phaedra get to me?” I demanded.

Blondie looked guilty.

“I knew it. I knew you could have just kicked her ass. Why did you let her get through to me?”

[Do not blame my child, my child,] the creature said. It needed to expand his pet name vocabulary, for sure. [You had to face your Rival, to earn my power. The Alfar set certain rules. I was not able to do away with them, only alter them. One of the Alfar rules was that you had to face a Rival. My child only did as commanded, facilitating your duel.]

“I’m sorry, Jane,” Blondie said. “I hated keeping all those secrets. Now, however, my mission is complete, so no more lies?”

“There better not be,” I said, admittedly rather petulantly.

“So, why was I brought here?” Blondie asked, uncomfortably.

[I was telling Jane news you must know. What I saw in Phaedra’s mind—there is much to fear, and her people have been busy.]

“Did you see where they’re searching? And which things they’re looking for?” Blondie asked.

[They are gathering their forces behind two creatures of evil—of darkness. These beings would destroy everyone merely for the joy of creating chaos. Jane must stand in their way.]

“Me?” I squeaked. Blondie gave me a sympathetic look.

[With the weapon you now possess, yes. You must fight, Jane. And you must lead.]

“But what if I can’t? What if I’m not good enough?”

[You shall not be coerced, child. I do not write your destiny. I am giving you a choice. But the rebellion needs a leader—someone who can be as much figurehead as warrior.]

“A figurehead? Like what… Joan of Arc?”

The creature thought over my question. [Yes, that is an adequate analogy.]

“She got burned at the stake,” I reminded it.

[Perhaps not entirely adequate.]

“So that’s all I have to do? Exist? Point at things and make speeches? Try not to get set aflame?”

[No, Jane. You will have to fight. It’s why I gave you my weapon. I meant it when I said you were my champion. It couldn’t be the one you call Blondie—she’s the cause, in some ways, of all of this, although she can’t be blamed. At heart, this is my fault. My fault for interfering, my fault for being naïve. And so I have created this weapon, imbuing it with my own power, for one whom I deemed worthy in both heart and mind. It will give you what you need in body and strength.]

I looked at the labrys, still glowing with power. I let it go ahead and cool off, so I could really see my so-called destiny. It wasn’t much, to be honest. It looked very plain, very rough-hewn. But when I applied my power again it glowed like it was made of crystal.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted, my voice small.

[I know. And that is why you were chosen. Your humanity will bring you victory. I knew you were a candidate when you were younger, but after being in your soul, when you were attacked… You are what the rebellion needs.]

“Speaking of being attacked, do you know who did it?” Blondie interrupted.

[Yes, I know who did it. They were humans, hired by the enemy months ago. That was the first chance they had to attack. And before you ask, it was not Jarl, but one very like him. They work for the same forces.] I felt the creature’s concentration again focus on me. [You must learn to think bigger than merely Jarl, Jane. Your enemies are not solitary, nor are they without resources beyond the physical.]

So all of the conjecturing I did with Trill and Nell was correct. There is something bigger going on… and Jarl is just one face of our enemy.

“Can you tell me who, exactly, ordered that attack?” asked Blondie.

[I will brief you on what you need to know about what I found in Phaedra’s mind, including who hired the humans. I will also send you where you need to go for more information. Are you ready? We must move as swiftly as our enemies.]

“Um, sure,” Blondie said. “How long will this take?”

[Not long. I am sending you to a source that will have much to tell you. He will, however, need to be coerced.]

“Coercion I can do,” she said. “Jane, take care. I guess I’ll see you soon.” Then Blondie turned and nodded at the great eye. “I’m rea-…” she said, only to be apparated away suddenly.

“Will she be all right?” I asked.

[Oh, yes. This mission will be easy for her.]

And then I asked the question I was dreading, in my smallest mental voice. But the creature heard me.

[Are you still unsure she can be trusted?] it demanded.

“Yes,” I replied, my real voice equally small.

[Yes, she can be. She is your ally, and your friend. My child cares for you very much, little Jane.]

I blushed, and then I glanced again at Phaedra’s crumpled form. It was difficult to juggle my perception of the creature as wise and gentle with the Swiss-cheese corpse lying on the floor.