"Lord Avram, I, private Maxwell Laskaris, charge you with having failed in your duty to protect all peoples, lacarna and human as per the Protector's code. In addition, you ordered the murder of one of our own, Peter Laskaris, my father."

Lysander relaxed his knife a little. "And I, Sergeant Lysander Harris, charge you with betraying your brethren, the Immortals, the murder of hundreds of lacarnians and the destruction of their home centuries ago.

The Sergeant leading the Protectors up the path commanded them to stop.

"Lord Avram, does this boy speak the truth?"

"Of course not you fool, they're mad. Forget about my life, stop them."

Alexandra rushed towards Lord Avram. "Melody!"

Melody let go of Max, who fell to the ground. Running to Ca.s.sia she formed her barrier before the guards could reach her.

Alexandra yelled at Lysander. "Get clear."

Holding the Lifestone in one hand, she grabbed Lord Avram's shoulder with the other. He squirmed beneath her grip.

"Untie me!"

The light in the stone intensified until it engulfed them in a bright, blue light. At Alexandra's feet, gra.s.s sprouted, spreading in an outward arc that flowed down into the dead lands like a ripple in a pond.

Lord Avram screamed in pain. Around Alexandra, flowers rose from the gra.s.s. As they did so, Lord Avram's skin began to shrivel and tighten around his bones. His hair first grayed then fell from his scalp.

Down in the valley, saplings sprouted from the ground. The Protectors who had gathered there milled about in wonder at the growth. They forgot about Lord Avram, whose body slowly dissolved on the plateau above, one layer at a time. His skin went quickly, then his muscles and finally his bones. Below, the saplings grew into small trees sending the Protectors running in different directions as they tried to avoid them.

Above, Alexandra fell to her knees as the Lifestone now fed on her. She began to shrivel like Lord Avram. A wide variety of plants, the likes that Max had never seen, sprang up from the ground in the valley. Then the growth slowed. Max shivered as a mournful wail arose from Alexandra.

"Nooo. It's not finished."

Lysander rushed towards Alexandra. "That thing is going to kill her."

Anemone bounded from behind Melody, reaching Alexandra before Lysander. Placing her head against the stone her body disintegrated as a new wave of plants burst forth below before stopping once again.

Lysander stood frozen in his tracks, but Callie started towards Alexandra. Melody screamed at her.

"That won't be enough! The stone is far too powerful for us."

Lysander shook himself free. "She won't stop until the forest is complete or that stone kills her."

"Then stay away from the stone. Touch her instead. I think she can act as a valve, keeping it from completely destroying us."

"Are you sure?"

Melody dropped the barrier, no longer concerned about the guards who stood in fascination at the growing forest. She ran to Alexandra, grabbing her hand. Alexandra's body stopped deteriorating as the color slowly drained from Melody. Below, the plants and trees grew once more.

After half a minute had pa.s.sed, Melody went limp, letting go of Alexandra. Lysander ran forward, yanking her away. Melody struggled to stay conscious.

"She's so strong. If we can supply her, she can finish it."

Lysander turned to the others. "Help her!"

Without hesitation, Callie, Effie and Eve formed a line, each following Melody's example. As Alexandra drained them, Lysander pulled them free. Below, the forest grew thick and tall. The tops of the trees reached above the cliffs on either side.

Then, to their amazement, a few of the Protector's silently came forward, lending their bodies to Alexandra. However, as fewer volunteers came forward, Lysander tried to wake Alexandra from the trance she had fallen in.

"Alexandra, you've done enough."

She did not respond.

"Alex, I'm the last. You will need me to heal yourself. Let go of the stone."

Alexandra drew a small breath. "I can finish it."

"Not without dying."

Alexandra managed the weakest of shrugs. "I should have died a long time ago."

Lysander's hands clenched. "But you didn't, and you're sure not going to now!"

Lysander grabbed the stone, yanking it from Alexandra's hand. He jerked in pain as he instantly turned pale. With a guttural yell, he slammed the stone into the ground, shattering it into thousands of glistening shards.

Lysander sat hard on the ground, catching Alexandra as she slumped over. "Take what you need."

Alexandra touched the side of his face just long enough for her body to return to normal. Lysander, with what little strength he had left, wrapped Alexandra in his arms. Max, along with the others, dragged themselves to his side where they sat in wonder at the forest in front of them.

Several minutes pa.s.sed before Eve turned to Melody. "Melody, did you find Spook?"

Melody reached into a pocket inside her robe and pulled out the little mouse. "I found her near a rock. She must have hit it when Lord Avram flung her."

Eve cupped her hands so Melody could lay Spook in them. The mouse no longer breathed. Max took Eve in his arms as she sobbed. Feeling a tear roll down his own cheek, he realized how much he had grown attached to their little friend.

Footsteps came from behind, then Max heard the sergeant speak.

"What you accused Lord Avram of earlier, is it true?"

"Yes, though it is a long story."

"One you must tell, for you have a.s.sisted in the death of our leader."

"It was necessary to right a wrong committed long ago. His death has set the lacarna and the Protectors free."

"And that is the only reason your story will wait. We are returning to Moenia immediately. We do not know what havoc the lacarna are causing."

Alexandra's eyes fluttered open. "I have put people in place to keep peace. They are being led into the forest as we speak. One of your own, Mr. Penna, is a.s.sisting as well. In fact, your absence will give things a chance to sort out on their own."

Max scooted around to face the sergeant. "My father, Lt. Laskaris, knew the lacarna were not the beasts Lord Avram made them out to be. It was he who set this plan into motion years ago. We merely completed the task that he could not. We believed the same as he, that the Protectors purpose is to watch over everyone, human and lacarna alike."

"I knew your father. He was a friend to all and well respected among us. We knew he also disagreed with Lord Avram's control of the lacarnians. Many of us did. It does not surprise me he had the courage to change things when the rest of us did not. It seems you are of the same mold. Sgt. Harris, I a.s.sume you believe this boy as well considering your involvement and accusations?"

"Yes. The lacarna are not as Lord Avram told us. Maxwell, Eve and a few others many years ago have shown me that. In fact, I would trust Eve as I would you. Lord Avram led the Protectors away from their true purpose. With Maxwell's guidance I would like to see us redeem ourselves."

The Sergeant nodded. "We will need to hear the whole story, but the forest the little one has created below will go a long way in your defense. Now, despite your a.s.surances, I am anxious to return to Moenia."

"I agree, but we are too weak to move at this time."

A female voice came from the cave entrance, startling them.

"That, I can help with."

All turned to see who had spoken. In front of the cave opening stood a woman whose beauty, transfixed Max.

"Who are you?"

"I am Rhea, one of the Creators."

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR.

Max gave a heavy sigh. He thought he'd figured everything out to this point.

Now some woman appears and tells us she's a Creator? I don't think I can handle much more.

Max turned to Alexandra. "Uh, Alex?"

Alexandra gave a light tap on Lysander's arm. "Let me go, please."

Lysander unwrapped Alexandra from his arms and helped her stand. Brushing what dust she could off of her dress, she wobbled a few steps before managing a small curtsy.

"Welcome, Rhea, my name is Alexandra."

Rhea returned the curtsey. "Thank you."

Max scratched his head. "Do you know who she is, Alex?"

"Remember the drawings in the cave?"

Max nodded "Yeah."

"Did you notice I skipped one at the very beginning?"

"Uh..."

Melody nodded. "I did. It looked like a hand above the people. Why did you skip it?"

"Because, I was unsure of its meaning. We had nothing that referenced it. We only speculated that it was the hand of the true Creators placing us here."

Rhea smiled. "Your interpretation is correct. After we created your ancestors, we placed them here between the mountains. We had intended to leave no knowledge of our existence."

Lysander tried to stand, but his legs quickly gave out. "How do we know you are who you say you are?"

Rhea started walking towards Eve. Max reached for his swords only to realize he had no idea of what happened to them. Eve's ears twitched nervously but she remained still.

"It's okay, Max."

Rhea bent over and gently touched Spook who Eve still cradled in her hands. "Such a brave little creature."

Rhea placed her hands over Spook. A second later Eve jumped with surprise, startling Max.

"Eve!"

Eve giggled. "Maxy, look."

Rhea removed her hands, revealing Spook standing on her hind legs. She sniffed at the air then climbed to her usual perch on Eve's shoulder.

Melody stared in wonder at Spook. "Sa...satisfied, Lysander."

"Yeah, that will do it."

Alexandra wobbled back to the others and eased herself to the ground.

"Why did you not want us to know about you? Why have you come now?"

Rhea lowered her head. "I would like to tell you everything, but my time is limited. I can only tell you of what, I am afraid, will reflect poorly on my brothers and sisters."

Rhea laid her hand on Eve. Max watched the wounds close shut and the bruises fade away.

"We wanted to create our own paradise, a place to relax and enjoy. We picked this planet as our starting point. From its soil we created a variety of vegetation, much like Alexandra has done."

Rhea moved next to Max and laid a hand on his shoulder. A warm sensation flowed through him erasing the pain and soreness, filling him with fresh energy.

"We then created various creatures; some to amuse us, others to keep a balance with the vegetation. We had few rules in regards to our creations, but one exception restricted the creation of a form like ourselves."

Rhea moved on to Lysander and then the few Protectors who had joined them in creating the forest, healing each in turn.

"Then, a small group of my colleagues decided they could evade the rule by making a creature that, while having the ability to communicate with us, was mostly animal in nature. Thus they made the lacarna."

Rhea reached Lalita, who lay motionless in the middle of the plateau. She bent over her for several seconds before shaking her head and returning to where Max and the others sat.

"When the others learned what had been done, they were jealous. They saw the lacarna as monsters and set about to create a form true to themselves, the humans. Arguments rose as to which was the better creation."

Rhea sighed heavily. "The debate lasted for years until a fateful decision was made on how to settle the issue. Both creations were gathered and placed here in this ring of mountains to see which could survive the best. When both seemed to be flourishing, opponents on either side tried to sabotage the other. They interfered with the lives of the lacarna and the humans, trying to get one to destroy the other."

Alexandra's eyes lit up. "The disease on the humans."