refused to answer my prayers!” Lord Gorgias sprang. Adon tossed the mirror fragment at him, at the same time speaking the command word that triggered the spell it contained. The shard struck the duke's arm and sank deep into his flesh. A silver light flashed from the wound, and Lord Gorgias's anguished voice rang off the castle walls. In the next instant, he vanished. The mirror triangle tumbled to the ground. When Adon picked up the shard, it felt so cold that it stung his fingers. No longer was it possible to tell that it had once been part of a mirror, for its smooth surface had become as hard as polished stone. In place of the cleric's reflection was the image of Lord Gorgias, his shadowed eyes glaring out at the world, his tusks gnashing in anger. The patriarch studied the shard for a long time. He felt a great sense of relief and hope, but also of loss and fear. Today, he had vanquished a monster, but he had also vanquished something even more terrible-something that he'd been afraid to face for many years. Just before Lord Gorgias had smashed the mirror against his face, Adon had seen himself without his scar. It was then that he had realized why Mystra had sent him to Tegea. The power to remove the scar always lay inside him, just as the ability to defeat the duke had been his all along-if only he turned his gaze outside himself, focused his thoughts on something other than his own petty concerns. The clerics of Chauntea who'd abandoned the village had done so because their own selfish interests had stopped them from breaking the silence the duke had imposed upon their souls. And all the spells that had failed Adon in the last few days had done so because he'd cast them, not to help others, but to prove himself a worthy servant of Mystra. By the time he realized where he was, Adon had walked back to the center of town. Myron, Corene, and Sarafina were trailing along behind him, keeping a respectful distance from the pensive young patriarch. Finally Myron came forward. “I didn't believe anyone could banish the duke, but you have.” He paused for a moment, then pointed at Castle Gorgias. “Corene and Sarafina are already talking about making a House of Mysteries out of that.” “You'll have plenty of help,” Sarafina said from beside the crowded pool in the center of the square. “Yes, when our husbands return from the fields this evening, they'll be so glad to see us without veils that they'll have it converted before morning,” said another. Dozens of women were filing into the street, all without veils, all smiling broadly. Some had big noses and some double chins, while others were missing teeth and had cheeks as leathery as saddles. Nevertheless, Adon would not
have called any of them unattractive. Too him, they were all as beautiful as Corene. “Well, Corene,” Adon said, turning to the novice, “are you looking forward to seeing Arabel again?” “I’ll be going back with you?“ asked Corene, stepping to Adon's side. ”Not exactly,“ the cleric replied, looking down at her. Her button nose had returned to its normal size, and her pale cheeks had begun to shine with their old radiance. I’ll be staying here. I don't think the spell the duke cast to shield the village from the gods has been lifted entirely. It'll take someone of the right temperament to maintain contact with the Lady once the church is established here.” Corene kissed Adon's cheek. Then, wiping the blood from her lips, she said, “I don't know if it will work, but I could try to heal your nose and those cuts.” “Fine, but leave my scar alone,” said Adon. Sarafina, still hidden behind her veil, stepped up to Adon's side and slipped a slender arm around the patriarch's waist. “I've thought from the start that it gives your face character.” “Maybe you're right,” the priest said, laughing. “But I'm not going to spend any more time worrying about it. My concern now is how to help Tegea.” Sarafina lowered her veil and smiled at him. It was the most beautiful thing Adon had ever seen. Dark Mirror R. A. Salvatore Sunrise. Birth of a new day. An awakening of the surface