The Purifying Fire: A Planeswalker Novel by Laura Resnick Page B

smashed the case and removed the scroll she’d wanted. She could see as she approached that the case had been replaced and that there were four scrolls inside it.
    Chandra’s heart thudded.
Yes
. The scroll was there! With Brother Segril’s description, she could identify it easily. There was also a distinctive scorch mark on the leather casing, and a big dent in the gold end piece.
    Unfortunately, she still had no idea what it contained. Given that it was rolled up, its contents firmly hidden, she could not understand why it was displayed to the public.What was interesting about a rolled piece of paper? It could be some scribe’s to-do list for all anyone knew.
    Still, there was no question: she’d have to steal it a second time.
    She was still gazing at it, trying to think of a plan, when two pairs of strong hands seized her from behind—one assailant for each arm—and a deep, booming voice said, “Chandra Nalaar, by the authority vested in me, I arrest you for crimes against the Prelate, the Sanctum of Stars, and the people of Kephalai!”

C handra was stunned speechless. She raised her head as her two captors whirled her around with brute force; her hood fell back, and a rough hand yanked her long red hair out of her collar so that it fell freely around her shoulders.
    There was a fairly good-sized crowd of visitors here. Most of them were staring in surprised fascination at Chandra, who was held firmly by two guards, one of whom had pressed the blade of his sword against her throat. She stared in bemusement at the third guard, a stocky, middle-aged man who didn’t look remotely familiar. He had just
used her name
when arresting her.
    How could he possibly know …
    Oh, no
.
    The planeswalker who had come to Regatha! He had known her name, too. Had she really thought he’d have just returned the scroll and left again?
    She looked quickly around the Sanctum, but she didn’t see the planeswalker. She froze in appalled surprise, though, when she
did
see …
    “Telepaths?” she guessed.
    There were two of them. Both women. They emergedfrom their concealment walking arm in arm. Their bald heads reflected the lights of the Sanctum as their hairless brows cast shadows over unnaturally bright eyes. She saw that their skin was eerily white, and they wore identical pale blue robes with an unfamiliar dark blue symbol embroidered on the left shoulder. They stared hard at Chandra. She nodded, answering her own question. “Telepaths.”
    Chandra realized that her physical disguise had been pointless. These two had probably been reading everyone who entered the building!
    Fine, read this: drop dead you creepy, bald hags!
    The two women blinked in unison.
    Well, this was just
great
. The intruder had returned the scroll to the Sanctum of Stars, told them her name, and told them she might be back. They had obviously prepared for this. She had just as obviously walked into a trap.
    That fact became even clearer as about two dozen soldiers now poured into the hall, moving with swift, well-rehearsed efficiency.
    Damn, damn, damn.
    Eight of the soldiers took charge of organizing the departure of the gawking visitors. The rest of them surrounded Chandra, weapons drawn. In addition to swordsmen, there were six archers among them who drew their bows and pointed their arrows directly at her.
    “Now, now, let’s all stay calm,” she said. “I’m sure we can discuss our differences like reasonable adults.”
    One of the mind mages warned the guards, “She intends to fight.”
    Chandra scowled and tried to block their probing. She knew she was stronger, if she could concentrate. But for Chandra it was actually the opposite. Her mind was racing with possibility. Thoughts were moving in her headwith such imprecision, that
she
barely knew she was thinking. She did know, however, that this whole situation was making her very mad.
    They sensed it, or rather they sensed that Chandra’s fuse was short. The telepath who had spoken