"Because they're trolls and like to destroy everything in their path? What more reason do you need?" Corlin said stubbornly.
"Perhaps," Brianna agreed. "But what if there's another reason? That last battle was different from all the others, and we need to know why."
Corlin eyed Lyall sideways. "What does he care? He's just like them, wanting to take over our village."
Brianna glanced at Lyall, but he seemed unmoved by the villager's words, then back at Corlin as he added, "And why are you siding with him?"
She winced. To the villagers, her presence here and agreement with Lyall's actions looked like a betrayal. And to some extent, maybe it was. But if Lyall could work out why the trolls attacked, and maybe stop them, the whole village would benefit. But how could she get them to understand that?
The truth was, she couldn't. Not without telling them a whole heap of things she'd rather not divulge. And even then, it was doubtful they would believe her. "I'm not siding with anyone," she said flatly.
"And no one here has a choice in it," Lyall interrupted her. "I am in command here and I will do whatever I wish.. Return to your homes now, or I will call someone to escort you."
There were some mutters and under the breath curses, but to Brianna's surprise, the villagers did disperse.
"You didn't need to threaten them," she said quietly. "They weren't going to stop you."
Lyall raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you let them talk back to you like that. Aren't you supposed to be in charge of this village?"
Brianna laughed. "I negotiate disputes when people disagree and make the final decision on village matters, but I'm not ‘in charge'. Mianna and I are more like spokespeople for the village. We don't control them, we help them."
"That doesn't work," Lyall said flatly.
"It might not for a military invasion, like the one you're conducting, but for running a small village, it works just fine."
Lyall got her point. And he refused to respond. Instead, he turned back to watch the soldiers who were just breaking through the heavy stone. Pieces fell to the stone below, sending a loud boom through the graveyard. One that could surely be heard throughout the village. Brianna winced.
Lyall stepped forwards eagerly, and despite her misgivings, Brianna couldn't help but follow. They peered into the crypt, but it was too dark inside to see anything.
"Bring some torches," Lyall ordered.
The mages just stared at him. "Torches, sir? We don't have any."
It was Brianna's turn to grin. Why would mages need torches when they could use magic? She headed to the edge of the graveyard and called out to one of the shadows she could see still watching from the nearest home. "Bring a lantern."
The curtain fell, and a few moments later, Sari hurried over to the fence and passed her the lantern. She couldn't help but hiss, "This is wrong," before she hurried away again. Brianna smiled, and turned and brought the lantern back to the group near the crypt.
Lyall took it off her and stepped inside first and Brianna didn't object. The idea of walking into the grave was a little … creepy.
Not creepy enough that she wasn't interested though, and since Lyall wasn't struck down for his desecration, she followed him inside.
He held up the torch and its light reflected off the polished interior walls. Inside there was not one, but two skeletons, each on a raised dais on either side of the small space. They were arranged neatly, their hands resting on their chests and their heads turned towards each other. Brianna was quite surprised that they were undisturbed. The trolls had been in here and taken something. She had expected more destruction.
"Husband and wife?" Lyall guessed.
Brianna looked more closely, and shook her head. "They're both female, see the wider pelvis? I guess they're twins."
Lyall nodded slowly. "That makes sense. And explains why they have such an elaborate resting place. But it doesn't explain what the trolls wanted." He looked around the room as though expecting to find an answer written on the walls. But unlike those outside, these were bare.
Careful not to touch them, Brianna examined the two skeletons. Though years had rotted away the flesh, the cool dry conditions of the crypt had persevered scraps of the material they had been dressed in. It looked like white silk. Brianna looked from one to the other and a realisation came to her. "It was their wedding day. They were both brides."
Lyall raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"They're wearing white and that's reserved for weddings. They died on their wedding day."
Lyall frowned. "Where is their husband then?"
"Maybe they were interrupted before the ceremony was completed, or maybe their husband didn't die. I don't know."
"So what were the trolls after then?"
There was nothing else in the tiny crypt. No shelves or benches on which anything could have sat. Only the untouched skeletons. Brianna bent over the closer one, a glint of something catching her eye. "Bring the lantern here."
Obediently, Lyall moved the light closer, over her head. There it was. Hidden under the skeletal fingers was something shiny. Brianna was hesitant to touch the body, but curiosity overcame her caution, and she gently lifted up the fingers to reveal a perfect, heart shaped blue jewel. Her breath caught.
Lyall whistled. "That's some gem," he said.
Brianna hesitated and picked it up to examine it more closely. As soon as she touched the gem, colours whirled around her, blocking out the walls of the crypt. They swirled so fast that she couldn't make them out. She was outside the crypt, looking down at it, but it was different, all covered in colourful paintings, and there was snow. Then she was again staring at the gem in her hand.
"It can't be what the trolls were after though, since they left it here … " Lyall's voice sounded faint. He paused, staring at her oddly. "Brianna?" he asked softly.
She couldn't tear her eyes away from the gem. What had she seen?
Lyall reached out his hand towards the gem, but Brianna snatched it away. "No," she said, though she had no idea why.
He frowned. "Let me see it," he demanded. "What is it?"
Brianna shook her head. "Nothing, it's just a gem." She couldn't give it to him. Not now. Not when she was pretty sure it had overcome whatever barrier surrounded and protected her village. That had to be what the swirls of colour were.
Though he was still frowning, Lyall didn't push her. Instead, he turned to the other skeleton and examined the hands under the lantern light, moving them carefully. "This one doesn't have one. Could that be what the trolls were after?"
It made sense. If this gem could access magic through the shield, then it would be very powerful to anyone who could use it. Did that mean … ? "I think they could be your mages, Lyall." The words were out before she could stop herself.
"The trolls?" Lyall frowned. "Impossible. The other mages were human."
It did seem impossible, but there was no other explanation for what she held in her hands. Not that it was really an explanation, more like a whole new set of questions. Brianna hesitated as Lyall stared at her, a frown creasing her brow.
Could she trust him? Was there really a chance he could free her village from the threat of the trolls?
Was it worth the risk?
Brianna held out the gem to him, her hands shaking. "Then explain this," she said.
Setting the lantern down on the floor, Lyall took the gem gently from her. Then he gasped. "It's channelling magic through the shield!"
"If the trolls took the other one … "
Lyall's eyes widened. "The only reason they would need it is to be able to use magic themselves. Which means they are mages."
Brianna nodded. "They must be."
Lyall shook his head. "But the other mages were humans, I'm sure of it."
"I don't know," Brianna said. "It's the only explanation that makes sense." Then she remembered something. "When I first picked up the gem, I could see outside, and the paintings on the walls. Perhaps they explain something more?"
Lyall frowned. "You could see outside?"
Brianna just nodded. Lyall glanced at her one more time, then, leaving the lantern on the floor, he headed outside and looked at the first panel. "You were right," he said softly, "It's a wedding. It's beautiful."
All Brianna could see was a blank wall with a few flecks of paint. She reached out and put her hand over Lyall's, touching the gem through his fingers. For a moment, the wall in front of her shimmered, then it took shape.
She'd been right. The first picture showed a wedding, the two blonde twins dressed in elaborate white gowns, with flower garlands on their heads, both holding the hands of the man between them. But while the woman on the left looked happy and radiant, the one on the right had tears on her cheeks.