Information Retrieved

Belboz took a deep breath, and said, "It is as I had feared. My other self anticpating my plan, has indeed retrieved the Agony statue." Ecstasy made a soft wail of fear at the news. "And, again, as I suspected, he's used it to create a counterpart to Joan here."

The queen nodded her head. "It does make sense, I suppose, in a bizarre sort of way. So our Joan here will have to face her in battle."

"It appears so," Belboz agreed. "Their champion is imbued with the same qualities as I gave Joan - she is far swifter and stronger than any man, and has much more stamina. Any other warrior you send against her will be swiftly defeated and killed - and rather unpleasantly, I imagine, for she is as devoted to chaotic violence as Arthema."

"And what did have to reveal to your counterpart in order to get this information?" Embron asked suspiciously.

"Very little he didn't already know," Belboz said with some asperity. "He now knows about the hidden prophecies, and about Zerrod and Zosh, but it is not information that will do him or his allies any good. However," Belboz added gravely, "I also found out one other piece of troubling news:"

1. "Their champion is actually my former apprentice, a gifted if unbalanced sorceror named Elayne."
2. "The only fight that means anything is Joan vs her counterpart. Whoever wins that battle - wins the war."
3. "Arthema is capturing Allarian subjects, male and female, and having her Belboz transform them into Amazons loyal only to her."
4. "His Sundeath spell will become permanent unless we can counteract it within two hours."

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