TheSwordofShannaraBook1oftheOrginalShannaraTrilogyByTerryBrooks

ChapterOne

Thesunwasalreadysinkingintothedeepgreenofthehillstothewestofthevalley, the red and gray-pink of its shadows touching the comers of the land,whenFlickOhmsfordbeganhisdescent.Thebailstretchedoutunevenlydownthenorthernslope,windingthroughthehugeboulderswhichstuddedtheruggedterraininmassiveclumps,disappearingintothethickforestsofthelowlandstoreappear inbriefglimpses insmallclearingsand thinningspacesofwoodland.Flick followed the familiar trailwithhiseyesashe trudgedwearilyalong,hislightpackslung looselyoveroneshoulder.Hisbroad,windburnedfaceboreaset, placid look, and only thewide gray eyes revealed the restless energy thatburnedbeneaththecalmexterior.Hewasayoungman,thoughhisstockybuildand thegrizzledbrownhair and shaggyeyebrowsmadehim lookmucholder.Hewore the loose-fittingwork clothes of theVale people and in the pack hecardedwere severalmetal implements that rolled and clanked loosely againstoneanother.Therewasaslightchillintheeveningair,andFlickclutchedthecollarofhis

openwool shirt closer to his neck.His journey ahead lay through forests androllingflatlands,thelatternotyetvisibletohimashepassedintotheforests,andthe darkness of the tall oaks and somber hickories reached upward to overlapandblotoutthecloudlessnightsky.Thesunhadset,leavingonlythedeepblueoftheheavenspinpointedbythousandsoffriendlystars.Thehugetreesshutouteven these,andFlickwas leftalone in thesilentdarknessashemovedslowlyalongthebeatenpath.Becausehehadtraveledthissamerouteahundredtimes,the youngman noticed immediately the unusual stillness that seemed to havecaptivated the entire valley this evening.The familiar buzzing and chirpingofinsects normally present in the quiet of the night, the cries of the birds thatawokewith thesettingof thesun to fly insearchof food—allweremissing.Flick listened intently for some sound of life, but his keen ears could detectnothing. He shook his head uneasily. The deep silence was unsettling,particularlyinviewoftherumorsofafrighteningblack-wingedcreaturesightedinthenightskiesnorthofthevalleyonlydaysearlier.Heforcedhimselftowhistleandturnedhisthoughtsbacktohisday’sworkin

the country just to the north of theVale,where outlying families farmed andtended domestic livestock: He traveled to their homes every week, supplying

variousitemsthattheyrequiredandbringingbitsofnewsonthehappeningsoftheValeandoccasionally thedistantcitiesof thedeepSouthland.Fewpeopleknew the surrounding countryside as well as he did, and fewer still cared totravel beyond the comparative safety of their homes in the valley.Men weremoreinclinedtoremaininisolatedcommunitiesthesedaysandlettherestoftheworldgetalongasbestitcould.ButFlicklikedtotraveloutsidethevalleyfromtimetotime,andtheoutlyinghomesteadswereinneedofhisservicesandwerewilling to pay him for the trouble. Flick’s father was not one to let anopportunity pass him by where there was money to be made, and thearrangementseemedtoworkoutwellforallconcerned.A low-hanging branch brushing against his head caused Flick to start

suddenly and leap to one side. In chagrin, he straightened himself and glaredback at the leafy obstacle before continuing his journey at a slightly quickerpace. He was deep in the lowland forests now and only slivers of moonlightwere able to find their way through the thick boughs overhead to light thewinding path dimly. It was so dark that Flickwas having trouble finding thetrail, and as he studied the lay of the land ahead, he again found himselfconscious of the heavy silence. It was as if all life had been suddenlyextinguished, and he alone remained to find his way out of this forest tomb.Againhe recalled the strange rumors.He felt abit anxious in spiteofhimselfandglancedworriedlyaround.Butnothingstirredonthetrailaheadnormovedinthetreesabouthim,andhefeltembarrassinglyrelieved.Pausing momentarily in a moonlit clearing, he gazed at the fullness of the

night sky before passing abruptly into the trees beyond. He walked slowly,pickinghiswayalongthewindingpath thathadnarrowedbeyondtheclearingandhow seemed todisappear into awall of trees andbushes ahead.Heknewthatitwasmerelyanillusion,butfoundhimselfglancingaboutuneasilyallthesame.Afewmomentslater,hewasagainonawidertrailandcoulddiscernbitsof sky peeking through the heavy trees. He was almost to the bottom of thevalleyandabouttwomilesfromhishome.Hesmiledandbeganwhistlinganoldtavernsongashehurriedon.Hewasso intenton the trailaheadand theopenlandbeyondtheforestthathefailedtonoticethehugeblackshadowthatseemedtoriseupsuddenly,detachingitselffromagreatoaktreeonhisleftandmovingswiftly toward thepath to intercepthim.Thedarkfigurewasalmoston topofthe Vale man before Flick sensed its presence looming up before him like agreat, black stonewhich threatened to crushhis smaller being.With a startledcryoffearheleapedaside,hispackfallingtothepathwithacrashofmetal,and

hislefthandwhippedoutthelongthindaggerathiswaist.Evenashecrouchedtodefendhimself,hewasstayedbyacommandingarmraisedabovethefigurebeforehimandastrong,yetreassuringvoicethatspokeoutquickly.“Wait a moment, friend. I’m no enemy and have no wish to harm you. I

merelyseekdirectionsandwouldbegrateful ifyoucouldshowmetheproperpath.”Flickrelaxedhisguardabitandtriedtopeerintotheblacknessofthefigure

beforehiminanefforttodiscoversomesemblanceofahumanbeing.Hecouldseenothing,however,andhemovedtotheleftwithcautiousstepsinanattempttocatchthefeaturesofthedarkfigureinthetree-shadowedmoonlight.“I assure you, I mean no harm,” the voice continued, as if reading the

Valeman’smind.“Ididnotmeantofrightenyou,butIdidn’tseeyouuntilyouwerealmostuponme,andIwasafraidyoumightpassthebywithoutrealizingIwasthere.”Thevoicestoppedandthehugeblackfigurestoodsilently,thoughFlickcould

feeltheeyesfollowinghimasheedgedaboutthepathtoputhisownbacktothelight. Slowly the pale moonlight began to etch out the stranger’s features invaguelinesandblueshadows.Foralongmomentthetwofacedoneanotherinsilence,eachstudyingtheother,Flickinanefforttodecidewhatitwashefaced,thestrangerinquietanticipation.Then suddenly the huge figure lunged with terrible swiftness, his powerful

hands seizing theValeman’swrists, andFlickwas liftedabruptlyoff the solidearthandheldhigh,hisknifedroppingfromnervelessfingersasthedeepvoicelaughedmockinglyupathim.“Well,well,my young friend!What are you going to do now, Iwonder? I

could cut your heart out on the spot and leave you for thewolves if I chose,couldn’tI?”Flick struggled violently to free himself, terror numbing his mind to any

thoughtbutthatofescape.Hehadnoideawhatmannerofcreaturehadsubduedhim,butitwasfarmorepowerfulthananynormalmanandapparentlypreparedtodispatchFlickquickly.Thenabruptly,hiscaptorheldhimoutatarm’slength,andthemockingvoicebecameicycoldwithdispleasure.“Enough of this, boy!We have played our little game and still you know

nothingofme.I’mtiredandhungryandhavenowishtobedelayedontheforesttrailinthechilloftheeveningwhileyoudecideifIammanorbeast.Iwillsetyoudownthatyoumayshowmethepath.Iwarnyou—donottrytorunfrommeoritwillbetheworseforyou.”

The strong voice trailed off and the tone of displeasure disappeared as theformerhintofmockeryreturnedwithashortlaugh.“Besides,”thefigurerumbledasthefingersreleasedtheirirongripandFlick

slippedtothepath,“Imaybeabetterfriendthanyourealize.”ThefiguremovedbackastepasFlickstraightenedhimself,rubbinghiswrists

carefully torestore thecirculation tohisnumbedhands.Hewanted torun,butwas certain that the stranger would catch him again and this time finish himwithout further thought. He leaned over cautiously and picked up the fallendagger,returningittohisbelt.Flick could see the fellow more dearly now, and a quick scrutiny of him

revealedthathewasdefinitelyhuman,thoughmuchlargerthananymanFlickhadeverseen.Hewasat leastsevenfeet tall,butexceptionally lean, thoughitwas difficult to be certain about this, since his tall frame was wrapped in aflowingblackcloakwithaloosecowlpulledcloseabouthishead.Thedarkenedfacewas long anddeeply lined, giving it a craggy appearance.The eyesweredeep-set and almost completely hidden from view by shaggy eyebrows thatknottedfiercelyoveralongflatruse.Ashort,blackbeardoutlinedawidemouththatwaslustalineontheface—alinethatneverseemedtomove.Theoverallappearancewasfrightening,allblacknessandsize,andFlickhadtofightdowntheurgebuildingwithinhim tomakeabreak for the forest’sedge.He lookedstraight into the deep, hard eyes of the stranger, though not without somedifficulty,andmanagedaweaksmile.“Ithoughtyouwereathief,”hemumbledhesitantly.“You were mistaken,” was the quiet retort. Then the voice softened a bit.

“You must learn to know a friend from an enemy. Sometime your life maydependuponit.Nowthen,let’shaveyourname.”“FlickOhmsford.”Flickhesitatedandthencontinuedinaslightlybravertoneofvoice.“MyfatherisCurzadOhmsford.HemanagesaninninShadyValeamileor

twofromhere.Youcouldfindlodgingandfoodthere.”“Ah,ShadyVale,”thestrangerexclaimedsuddenly.“Yes,thatiswhereIam

going.” He paused as if reflecting on his own words. Flick watched himcautiouslyasherubbedhiscraggyfacewithcrookedfingersandlookedbeyondtheforest’sedgetotherollinggrasslandsofthevalley.liewasstilllookingawaywhenhespokeagain.“You...haveabrother.”It was not a question; it was a simple statement of fact. It was spoken so

distantlyandcalmly,asifthetallstrangerwerenotatallinterestedinanysortofa reply, that Flick almost missed hearing it. Then suddenly realizing thesignificanceoftheremark,hestartedandlookedquicklyattheother.“Howdid...?”“Oh,well,”themansaid,“doesn’teveryyoungValemanlikeyourselfhavea

brothersomewhere?”Flicknoddeddumbly,unable to comprehendwhat itwas that theotherwas

tryingtosayandwonderingvaguelyhowmuchheknewaboutShadyVale.Thestrangerwaslookingquestioninglyathim,evidentlywaitingtobeguidedtothepromised food and lodging. Flick quickly turned away to find his hastilydiscardedpack,pickeditupandslungitoverhisshoulder,lookingbackatthefiguretoweringoverhim.“Thepathisthisway.”Hepointed,andthetwobeganwalking.Theypassedoutofthedeepforestandenteredrolling,gentlehillswhichthey

wouldfollowtothehamletofShadyValeatthefarendofthevalley.Outofthewoods,itwasabrightnight;themoonwasafullwhiteglobeoverhead,itsglowclearly illuminating the landscape of the valley and the path which the twotravelers were following. The path itself was a vague line winding over thegrassy hills and distinguishable only by occasional rain-washed ruts and fiat,hardpatchesofearthbreakingthroughtheheavygrass.Thewindhadgatheredstrength and rushed at the two men with quick gusts that whipped at theirclothingastheywalked,forcingthemtobowtheirheadsslightlytoshieldtheireyes.Neitherspokeawordastheyproceeded,eachconcentratingonthelayofthelandbeyond,asnewhillsandsmalldepressionsappearedwiththepassingofeachtraveledknoll.Exceptfortherushingofthewind,thenightremainedsilent.Flicklistenedintently,andoncehethoughtheheardasharpcryfartothenorth,but an instant later it was gone, and he did not hear it again. The strangerappearedtobeunconcernedwiththesilence.Hisattentionseemedtobefocusedonaconstantlychangingpointonthegroundsomesixfeetinfrontofthem.Hedid not look up and he did not look at big youngguide for directions as theywent.Instead,heseemedtoknowexactlywheretheotherwasgoingandwalkedconfidentlybesidehum.Afterawhile,Flickbegantohavetroublekeepingpacewiththetallman,who

traveled thepathwith long,swingingstrides thatdwarfedFlick’sshorterones.Attimes,theValemanalmosthadtoruntokeepup.Onceortwicetheothermanglanceddownathissmallercompanionand,seeingthedifficultyhewashavingin trying to match strides, slowed to an easier pace. Finally, as the southern

slopes of the valley drew near, the hills began to level off into shrub-coveredgrasslandsthathintedattheappearanceofnewforests.Theterrainbegantodipdownward at a gentle slope, and Flick located several familiar landmarks thatboundedtheoutskirtsofShadyVale.Hefeltasurgeofreliefinspiteofhimself.Thehamletandhisownwarmhomewerejustahead.Thestrangerdidnotspeakasinglewordduring thebrief journey,andFlick

wasreluctanttoattemptanyconversation.Instead,hetriedtostudythegiantinquickglimpsesastheywalked,withoutpermittingtheothertoobservewhathewasdoing.Hewasunderstandablyawed.The longcraggy face, shadedby thesharpblackbeard,recalledthefearfulWarlocksdescribedtohimbysterneldersbeforetheglowingembersofalateeveningfirewhenhewasonlyachild.Mostfrighteningwerethestranger’seyes—orratherthedeep,darkcavernsbeneaththeshaggybrowswherehiseyesshouldbe.Flickcouldnotpenetratetheheavyshadows that continued tomask that entire area of his face. The deeply linedcountenance seemed carved from stone, fixed and bowed slightly to the pathbeforeit.AsFlickponderedtheinscrutablevisage,hesuddenlyrealizedthatthestrangerhadneverevenmentionedhisname.The two were on the outer lip of the Vale, where the now clearly

distinguishable pathwound through large, crowded bushes that almost chokedoffhumanpassage.Thetallstrangerstoppedsuddenlyandstoodperfectlystill,headbowed,listeningintently.Flickhaltedbesidehimandwaitedquietly,alsolistening,butunabletodetectanything.Theyremainedmotionlessforseeminglyendless minutes, and then the big man turned hurriedly to his smallercompanion.“Quickly!Hideinthebushesahead.Gonow,run!”Hehalfpushed,halfthrewFlickinfrontofhimasheracedswiftlytowardthe

tall brush.Flick scurried fearfully for the sanctuaryof the shrubbery, his packslapping wildly against his back and the metal implements clanging. Thestrangerturnedonhimandsnatchedthepackaway,tuckingitbeneaththelongrobe.“Silence!”hehissed.“Runnow.Notasound”Theyranquicklytothedarkwalloffoliagesomefiftyfeetahead,andthetall

man hurriedly pushed Flick through the leafy branches that whipped againsttheirfaces,pullinghimroughlyintothemiddleofalargeclumpofbrush,wherethey stood breathing heavily. Flick glanced at his companion and saw that hewasnotlookingthroughthebrushat thecountryaroundthem,butinsteadwaspeering upward where the night sky was visible in small, irregular patches

through the foliage. The sky seemed clear to theValeman as he followed theother’s intense gaze, and only the changeless stars winked back at him as hewatched and waited. Minutes passed; once he attempted to speak, but wasquickly silencedby the stronghandsof the stranger, grippinghis shoulders inwarning.Flickremainedstanding,lookingatthenightandstraininghisearsforsomesoundoftheapparentdanger.Butheheardnothingsavetheirownheavybreathingandaquietrushofwindthroughtheweavingbranchesoftheircover.Then, just as Flick prepared to case his tired limbs by sitting the sky was

suddenlyblottedoutbysomethinghugeandblackthatfloatedoverheadandthenpassed from sight. A moment later it passed again, circling slowly withoutseemingtomove,itsshadowflangingominouslyabovethetwohiddentravelersas if preparing to fall upon them. A sudden feeling of terror raced throughFlick’smind,trappingitinanironwebasitstrainedtofleethefearfulmadnesspenetratinginward.Somethingseemedtobereachingdownwardintohischest,slowlysqueezingtheairfromhislungs,andhefoundhimselfgaspingforbreath.Avisionpassedsharplybeforehimofablackimagelacedwithred,ofclawedhandsandgiantwings,of a thing soevil that itsveryexistence threatenedhisfraillife.Foraninstanttheyoungmanthoughthewouldscream,butthehandofthe stranger gripped his shoulder tightly, pulling himback from the precipice.Justassuddenlyasithadappeared,thegiantshadowwasgoneandthepeacefulskyofthepatchednightwasallthatremained.The hand on Flick’s shoulder slowly relaxed its grip, and theValeman slid

heavily to theground,hisbody limpashebrokeout in a cold sweat.The tallstrangerseatedhimselfquietlynexttohiscompanionandasmallsmilecrossedhisface.HelaidonelonghandonFlick’sandpatteditashewouldachild’s.“Comenow,myyoungfriend,”hewhispered,“you’realiveandwell,andthe

Valeliesjustahead.”Flick lookedupat theother’scalm face,hisowneyeswidewith fearashe

shookhisheadslowly.“Thatthing!Whatwasthatterriblething?”“Justashadow,”themanrepliedeasily.“Butthisisneithertheplacenorthe

time to concern ourselves with suchmatters.Wewill speak of it later. Rightnow,IwouldlikesomefoodandawarmfirebeforeIloseallpatience.”HehelpedtheValemantohisfeetandreturnedhispacktohim.Thenwitha

sweepofhisrobedarm,heindicatedthathewasreadytofollowiftheotherwasreadytolead.Theyleftthecoverofthebrush,Flicknotwithoutmisgivingsashe glanced apprehensively at the night sky. It almost seemed as if the whole

business had been the result of an overactive imagination. Flick pondered themattersolemnlyandquicklydecidedthatwhateverthecase,hehadhadenoughforoneevening:first thisnamelessgiantand then that frighteningshadow.Hesilentlyvowed thathewould think twicebefore travelingagainatnight so farfromthesafetyoftheVale.Severalminuteslater,thetreesandbrushbegantothinoutandtheflickering

ofyellowlightwasvisiblethroughthedarkness.Astheydrewcloser,thevagueforms of buildings began to take shape as square and rectangular bulks in thegloom. The path widened into a smoother dirt road that led straight into thehamlet,andFlicksmiledgratefullyat the lights that shone in friendlygreetingthroughthewindowsofthesilentbuildings.Noonemovedontheroadahead;ifit had not been for the lights, onemightwell havewondered if anyone at alllived in the Vale. As it was, Flick’s thoughts were far from such questions.AlreadyhewasconsideringhowmuchheoughttotellhisfatherandShea,notwishing toworry them about strange shadows that could easily have been theproductofhisimaginationandthegloomynight.Thestrangerathissidemightshedsomelightonthesubjectatalatertime,butsofarhehadnotprovedtobemuchofaconversationalist.Flickglancedinvoluntarilyatthetallfigurewalkingsilentlybesidehim.Againhewaschilledbytheblacknessoftheman.Itseemedtoreflectfromhiscloakandhoodoverhisbowedheadandleanhands,toshroudtheentirefigureinhazygloom.Whoeverhewas,Flickfeltcertainthathewouldbeadangerousenemy.Theypassedslowlybetweenthebuildingsofthehamlet,andFlickcouldsee

torches burning through thewooden frames of thewidewindows.Thehousesthemselves were long, low structures, each containing only a ground floorbeneathaslightlyslopingroof,whichinmostinstancestaperedoffononesidetoshelterasmallveranda,supportedbyheavypolesaffixedtoalongporch.Thebuildingswereconstructedofwood,withstonefoundationsandstonefrontingsonafew.Flickglancedthroughthecurtainedwindows,catchingglimpsesoftheinhabitants,thesightoffamiliarfacesreassuringtohiminthedarknessoutside.Ithadbeenafrighteningnight,andhewasrelievedtobehomeamongpeopleheknew.Thestranger remainedoblivious toeverything.Hedidnotbotherwithmore

than a casual glance at the hamlet and had not spoken once since they hadentered the Vale. Flick remained incredulous at the way in which the otherfollowed him. He wasn’t following Flick at all, but seemed to know exactlywhere the Valeman was going. When the road branched off in opposite

directions amid identical rows of houses, the tall man had no difficulty indetermining the correct route, though he never once looked at Flick nor evenraised his head to study the road. Flick foundhimself trailing alongwhile theotherguided.Thetwoquicklyreachedtheinn.Itwasalargestructureconsistingofamain

buildingandloungingporch,withtwolongwingsthatextendedoutandbackoneither side. It was constructed of huge logs, cut and laced on a high stonefoundationandcoveredwiththefamiliarwoodshingleroof,thisparticularroofmuchhigher than thoseof the familydwellings.Thecentralbuildingwaswelllighted, and muffled voices could be heard from within, interspersed withoccasional laughter and shouts.Thewingsof the innwere in darkness; itwastherethatthesleepingquartersoftheguestswerelocated.Thesmellofroastingmeatpermeatedthenightair,andFlickquicklyledthewayupthewoodenstepsof the long porch to the wide double doors at the center of the inn. The tallstrangerfollowedwithoutaword.Flickslidbacktheheavymetaldoorlatchandpulledonthehandles.Thebig

dooron the rightswungopen toadmit themintoa large loungingroom, filledwith benches, high-backed chairs, and several long, heavy wooden tables setagainstthewalltotheleftandrear.Theroomwasbrightlylitbythetallcandlesonthetablesandwallracksandbythehugefireplacebuiltintothecenterofthewallontheleft;Flickwasmomentarilyblindedashiseyesadjustedtothisnewlight.Hesquintedsharply,glancingpastthefireplaceandloungingfurnituretothecloseddoubledoorsatthebackoftheroomandovertothelongservingbarrunningdownthelengthofthewalltohisright.Themengatheredaboutthebarlookedup idlyas thepairentered theroom, their facesregisteringundisguisedamazementat theappearanceof the tall stranger.ButFlick’ssilentcompaniondid not seem to see them, and they quickly returned to their conversation andeveningdrinks,glancingbackatthenewcomersonceortwicetoseewhattheywere going to do. The pair remained standing at the door for a fewmomentsmoreasFlicklookedaroundasecondtimeatthefaceofthesmallcrowdtoseeifhis fatherwerepresent.Thestrangermotioned to the loungingchairson theleft.“Iwill have a seatwhile you find your father. Perhapswe can have dinner

togetherwhenyoureturn.”Withoutfurthercomment,hemovedquietlyawaytoasmalltableattherear

of the room and seated himself with his back to themen at the bar, his faceslightly bowed and turned away from Flick. TheValemanwatched him for a

moment, thenmoved quickly to the double doors at the rear of the room andpushed through them to the hallway beyond. His father was probably in thekitchen,havingdinnerwithShea.Flickhurrieddownthehallpastseveralcloseddoorsbeforereachingtheonethatopenedintotheinnkitchen.Asheentered,thetwocookswhowereworkingattherearoftheroomgreetedtheyoungmanwithacheerfulgoodevening.Hisfatherwasseatedattheendofalongcounterattheleft.AsFlickhadanticipated,hewasintheprocessoffinishinghisdinner.Hewavedabrawnyhandingreeting.“You’reabitlaterthanusual,son,”hegrowledpleasantly.“Comeoverhere

andhavedinnerwhilethere’sstillsomethingtoeat.”Flickwalkedoverwearily,loweredthetravelingpacktothefloorwithaslight

clatter,andperchedhimselfononeofthehighcounterstools.Hisfather’slargeframe straightened itself as he shoved back the empty plate and lookedquizzicallyattheother,hiswideforeheadwrinkling.“I met a traveler on the road coming into the valley,” Flick explained

hesitantly.“Hewantsaroomanddinner.Askedustojoinhim.”“Well,hecametotherightplaceforaroom,”theelderOhmsforddeclared.“I

don’tseewhyweshouldn’tjoinhimforabitetoeat—Icouldeasilydowithanotherhelping.”Heraisedhismassive framefrom thestoolandsignaled thecooks for three

dinners. Flick looked about for Shea, but hewas nowhere in sight.His fatherlumberedover to the cooks to give some special instructions onpreparing themealforthesmallparty,andFlickturnedtothebasinnexttothesinktowashoff thedirtandgrime from the road.Whenhis fathercameover tohim,Flickaskedwherehisbrotherhadgone.“Sheahasgoneoutonanerrandformeandshouldreturnonthemoment,”his

fatherreplied.“Bytheway,what’sthenameofthismanyoubroughtbackwithyou?”“Idon’tknow.Hedidn’tsay.”Flickshrugged.His father frowned and mumbled something about closemouthed strangers,

roundingoffhismuffledcommentwithavowtohavenomoremysterioustypesathisinn.Thenmotioningtohisson,heledthewaythroughthekitchendoors,hiswideshouldersbrushingthewallbeyondasheswungtohislefttowardtheloungingarea.Flickfollowedquickly,hisbroadfacewrinkledindoubt.The stranger was still sitting quietly, his back to the men gathered at the

servingbar.Whenheheardthereardoorsswingopen,heshiftedaboutslightlyto catch a glimpse of the two who entered. The stranger studied the close

resemblance between father and son. Bothwere ofmedium height and heavybuild,withthesamebroad,placidfacesandgrizzledbrownhair.Theyhesitatedin the doorway and Flick pointed toward the dark figure. He could see thesurpriseinCurzadOhmsford’seyesastheinnkeeperregardedhimforaminutebeforeapproaching.Thestrangerstoodupcourteously,toweringovertheothertwoastheycameuptohim.“Welcometomyinn,stranger,”theelderOhmsfordgreetedhim,tryingvainly

topeerbeneaththecloakhoodthatshadowedtheother’sdarkface.“Myname,asmyboyhasprobablytoldyou,isCurzadOhmsford.”Thestrangershooktheextendedhandwithagripthatcausedthestockyman

togrimaceandthennoddedtoFlick.“Yoursonwaskindenoughtoshowmetothispleasantinn.”Hesmiledwith

whatFlickcouldhaveswornwasamockinggrin.“Ihopeyouwilljoinmefordinnerandaglassofbeer.”“Certainly,” answered the innkeeper, lumbering past the other to a vacant

chairwhereheseatedhimselfheavily.Flickalsopulledupachairandsatdown,hiseyesstillonthestranger,whowasintheprocessofcomplimentinghisfatheron having such a fine inn. The elder Ohmsford beamed with pleasure andnoddedinsatisfactiontoFlickashesignaledoneofthemenattheservingbarfor three glasses. The tall man still did not pull back the hood of the cloakshadinghisface.Flickwantedtopeerbeneath theshadows,butwasafraid thestrangerwouldnotice,andonesuchattempthadalreadyearnedhimsorewristsand a healthy respect for the big man’s strength and temper. It was safer toremainindoubt.He sat in silence as the conversation between his father and the stranger

lengthened from polite comments on the mildness of the weather to a moreintimatediscussionofthepeopleandhappeningsoftheVale.Flicknoticedthathis father, who never neededmuch encouragement anyway, was carrying theentire conversationwith only casual questions interjected by the otherman. Itprobablydidnotmatter,buttheOhmsfordsknewnothingaboutthestranger.Hehad not even told them his name. Now he was quite subtly drawing outinformationon theVale from theunsuspecting innkeeper.Thewhole situationbotheredFlick,buthewasuncertainwhatheshoulddo.HebegantowishthatShea would appear and see what was happening. But his brother remainedabsent, and the long-awaited dinnerwas served and entirely consumed beforeone of thewide double doors at the front of the lobby swungopen, andSheaappearedfromoutofthedarkness.

For the first time, Flick saw the hooded stranger takemore than a passinginterest in someone. Strong hands gripped the table as the black figure rosesilently, toweringover theOhmsfords.Heseemed tohave forgotten theywerethere,asthelinedbrowfurrowedmoredeeplyandthecraggyfeaturesradiatedan intense concentration. For one frightening second, Flick believed that thestrangerwassomehowabouttodestroyShea,butthentheideadisappearedandwasreplacedwithanother.Themanwassearchinghisbrother’smind.He stared intently at Shea, his deep, shaded eyes running quickly over the

young man’s slim countenance and slight build. He noted the telltale Elvenfeatures immediately— the hint of slightly pointed ears beneath the tousledblondhair,thepencil-likeeyebrowsthatranstraightupatasharpanglefromthebridgeofthenoseratherthanacrossthebrow,andtheslimnessofthenoseandjaw.He saw intelligence and honesty in that face, and now as he faced Sheaacross the room, he saw determination in the penetrating blue eyes —determination that spread in a flushover theyouthful features as the twomenlocked theirgazesononeanother.ForamomentSheahesitated inaweof thehuge, dark apparition across the room. He felt unexplainably trapped but,bracinghimselfwithsuddenresolve,hewalkedtowardtheforbiddingfigure.Flick and his father watched Shea approach them, his eyes still on the tall

stranger and then, as if suddenly realizingwhohewas, the two rose from thetable.Therewasamomentofawkwardsilenceas theyfacedoneanother,andthenalltheOhmsfordsbegangreetingeachotheratonceinasuddenjumbleofwords that relieved the initial tension.SheasmiledatFlick,butcouldnot takehiseyesoff the imposingfigurebeforehim.Sheawasslightlyshorter thanhisbrotherandwasthereforeevenmoreintheshadowofthestrangerthanFlickhadbeen,thoughhewaslessnervousaboutitastiefacedtheman.CurzadOhmsfordwastalkingtohimabouthiserrand,andhisattentionwasmomentarilydivertedwhile he replied to his father’s insistent questions. After a few preliminaryremarks,SheaturnedbacktothenewcomertotheVale.“Idon’tbelievewehavemet,yetyouseemtoknowmefromsomewhere,and

IhavethestrangestfeelingthatIshouldknowyou.”The dark face above him nodded as the familiar mocking smile crossed it

fleetingly.“Perhaps you should knowme, though it is not surprising that you do not

remember.ButIknowwhoyouare;indeed,Iknowyouwell.”Sheawasdumbfoundedat thisreplyand,unabletorespond,stoodstaringat

the stranger.The other raised a lean hand to his chin to stroke the small dark

beard,glancingslowlyaroundatthethreemenwhowaitedforhimtocontinue.Flick’sopenmouthwasframingthequestiononthemindsofalltheOhmsfords,when the stranger reached up and pulled back the cowl of his cloak to revealclearlythedarkface,nowframedbylongblackhair,cutnearlyshoulderlengthand shading the deep-set eyes, which still showed only as black slits in theshadowsbeneaththeheavybrows.“MynameisAllanon,”heannouncedquietly.Therewas a longmomentof stunned silence as the three listeners stared in

speechless amazement.Allanon— themysteriouswanderer of the four lands,historianoftheraces,philosopherandteacher,and,somesaid,practitionerofthemystic arts. Allanon— the man who had been everywhere from the darkesthavensoftheAnartotheforbiddenheightsoftheCharnalMountains.Hiswasaname familiar to thepeopleof even themost isolatedSouthlandcommunities.NowhestoodunexpectedlybeforetheOhmsfords,noneofwhomhadventuredoutsidetheirvalleyhomemorethanahandfuloftimesintheirlives.Allanonsmiledwarmlyfor thefirst time,but inwardlyhefeltpityfor them.

Thequietexistence theyhadknownfor somanyyearswas finished,and, inaway,itwashisresponsibility.“Whatbringsyouhere?”Sheaaskedatlast.The tall man looked sharply at him and uttered a deep, low chuckle that

caughtthemallbysurprise.“You,Shea,”hemurmured.“Icamelookingforyou.”

ChapterTwo

Sheawasawakeearlythenextmorning,risingfromthewarmthofhisbedtodress hastily in the damp cold of themorning air. He had arisen so early, hediscovered, that noone else in the entire inn, guest or family,wasyet awake.Thelongbuildingwassilentashemovedquietlyfromhissmallroomintherearofthemainsectiontothelargelobby,wherehequicklystartedafireinthegreatstone hearth, his fingers almost numb with cold. The valley was alwaysstrikinglycoldintheearly-morninghoursbeforethesunreachedtherimofthehills, even during the warmest seasons of the year. Shady Vale was wellsheltered,notonlyfromtheeyesofmen,butfromthefuryofperverseweatherconditionsthatdrifteddownfromtheNorthland.YetwhiletheheavystormsofthewinterandspringpassedoverthevalleyandShadyVale, thebittercoldofearlymorningallyearroundsettledintothehighhills,holdinguntilthewarmthofthenoondaysunfiltereddowntochaseawaythechill.ThefirecrackledandsnappedatthewoodasShearelaxedinoneofthehigh,

straight-backed chairs and pondered the events of the previous evening. Heleanedback,foldedhisarmsforwarmth,andhuncheddownintothehardwood.HowcouldAllanonhaveknownhim?HehadseldombeenoutoftheValeandwouldcertainlyhaverememberedtheothermanifhehadmethimwhileononeofhisinfrequentjourneys.Allanonhadrefusedtosaymoreonthesubjectafterthat one declaration. He had finished his dinner in silence, concluding thatfurther talk shouldwaituntil thenextmorning, andhebecameonceagain theforbiddingfigurehehadfirstappearedwhenSheaenteredtheinnthatevening.Hismeal completed, he had asked to be shown, to his room so that hemightsleep,andthenexcusedhimself.NeitherSheanorFlickcouldgethimtosayoneword further about the trip to Shady Vale and his interest in Shea. The twobrothershadtalkedalonelaterthatnight,andFlickhadrelatedthestoryofhisencounterwithAllanonandtheincidentwiththeterrifyingshadow.Shea’sthoughtsdriftedbacktohisinitialquestion—howcouldAllanonhave

knownhim?Mentallyhe retraced theeventsofhis life.Hsearlyyearswereavaguememory.Hedidnotknowwherehebadbeenborn, although sometimeafter theOhmsfords had adoptedhim, he hadbeen told that his place of birthwasasmallWestlandcommunity.Hisfatherhaddiedbeforehewasoldenoughtoformalastingimpression,andnowhecouldrecallalmostnothingofhim.For

atimehismotherhadkepthim,andhecouldrecallbitsandpiecesofhisyearswithher,playingwithElvenchildren,surroundedbygreattreesanddeepgreensolitude.HewasfivewhenshebecamesuddenlyillanddecidedtoreturntoherownpeopleinthehamletofShadyVale.Shemusthaveknownthenthatshewasdying,butherfirstconcernwasforherson.Thejourneysouthwasthefinishforher,andshediedshortlyaftertheyreachedthevalley.The relatives his mother had left when she married were gone, all but the

Ohmsfords,whowerenomorethandistantcousins.CurzadOhmsfordhadlosthiswifelessthanayearearlier,andwasraisinghissonFlickwhilehemanagedtheinn.Sheabecameapartoftheirfamily,andthetwoboyshadgrownupasbrothers, both bearing the nameOhmsford. Shea had never been told his truename,nordidhecare toask.TheOhmsfordswere theonly family thatmeantanythingtohim,andtheyhadacceptedhimastheirown.Thereweretimesthatbeing a half-blood bothered him, but Flick had stoutly insisted that it was adistinctadvantagebecauseitgavehimtheinstinctsandcharacteroftworacestobuildupon.YetnowherecouldherememberanencounterwithAllanon.Itwasas if the

eventhadneverreallyoccurred.Perhapsitneverhad.Heshiftedaroundinthechair and gazed absently into the fire. There was something about the grimwanderer that frightenedhim.Perhaps itwashis imagination,buthecouldnotshakeoff thefeeling that themancouldsomehowreadhis thoughts,couldseeright through him whenever he chose to do so. It seemed ridiculous, but thethoughthadlingeredwiththeValemansincethemeetinginthelobbyoftheinn.Flickhadremarkedonit too.Andhehadgonefurtherthanthat,whisperinginthedarknessoftheirsleepingroomtohisbrother,fearfulthathemightinsomewaybeoverheard,thathefeltAllanonwasdangerous.Shea stretched himself and sighed deeply. Already it was becoming light

outside.Herosetoaddsomemorewoodtothefire,andheardthesoundofhisfather’svoiceinthehallway,grumblingloudlyaboutmattersingeneral.Sighingin resignation,Sheaput asidehis thoughts andhastened to thekitchen tohelpwiththemorningpreparations.ItwasalmostnoonbeforeSheasawanysignofAllanon,whohadevidently

kept to his room for the duration of themorning.He appeared quite suddenlyfromaroundonecorneroftheinnasShearelaxedbeneathahugeshadetreeattherearofthebuilding,absentlymunchingonaquickluncheonhehadpreparedforhimself.Hisfatherwasoccupiedwithin,andFlickwasoffsomewhereonanerrand.Thedarkstrangerofthepreviousnightseemednolessforbiddinginthe

noonsun,stillashadowedfigureof tremendousheight, thoughheappeared tohave changed his cloak fromblack to a light gray.The lean facewas slightlybowedtothepathbeforehimashewalkedtowardSheaandseatedhimselfonthegrassnexttotheValeman,gazingabsentlyat thehilltopstotheeastwhichappeared above the treesof thehamlet.Bothmenwere silent for several longminutes,untilatlastSheacouldstanditnolonger.“Whydidyoucometothevale,Allanon?Whywereyoulookingforme?”The dark face turned toward him and a slight smile played across the lean

features.“Aquestion,myyoungfriend,thatcannotbeaseasilyansweredasyouwould

like.Perhapsthebestwayinwhichtoansweryouisfirsttoquestionyou.HaveyoureadanythingofthehistoryoftheNorthland?”Hepaused.“DoyouknowoftheSkullKingdom?”Shea stiffened at thementionof the name—aname thatwas synonymous

with all the terrible things in life, real and imagined, a name used to frightenlittle childrenwhohadbeenbador to send shivers down the spines of grownmenwhenstoriesweretoldbeforethedyingcoalsofalateeveningfire.Itwasanamethathintedofghostsandgoblins,oftheslyforestGnomesoftheeastandthegreatRockTrollsofthefarnorth.Shealookedatthegrimvisagebeforehimandnoddedslowly.AgainAllanonpausedbeforecontinuing.“I am a historian, Shea, among other things — perhaps the most widely

traveled historian alive today, since few besides myself have entered theNorthlandinoverfivehundredyears.IknowmuchabouttheraceofManthatnone now suspect. The past has become a blurred memory, and just as wellperhaps;forthehistoryofManhasnotbeenparticularlygloriousinthelasttwothousand years. Men today have forgotten the past; they know little of thepresentandlessofthefuture.TheraceofManlivesalmostsolelyintheconfinesof theSouthland. Itknowsnothingatallof theNorthlandand itspeoples,andlittleoftheEastlandandWestland.ApitythatMenhavedevelopedintosuchashortsightedpeople,foroncetheywerethemostvisionaryoftheraces.Butnowthey are quite content to live apart from the other races, isolated from theproblemsoftherestoftheworld.Theyremaincontent,mindyou,becausethoseproblems have not as yet touched them and because a fear of the past haspersuadedthemnottolooktoocloselyatthefuture.”Shea felt slightly irritated by these sweeping accusations, andhis replywas

sharp.

“You make it sound like a terrible thing to want to be left alone. I knowenoughhistory—no,Iknowenoughlife—torealizethatMan’sonlyhopeforsurvivalistoremainapartfromtheraces,torebuildeverythinghehaslostoverthelasttwothousandyears.Thenperhapshewillbesmartenoughnottocloseita second time.He almost destroyed himself entirely in theGreatWars by hispersistent intervention in theaffairsofothersandhis ill-conceivedrejectionofanisolationpolicy.”Allanon’sdarkfaceturnedhard.“I amwell aware of the catastrophic consequences brought about by those

wars—theproductsofpowerandgreedthattherateofManbroughtdownonits own head through a combination of carelessness and remarkableshortsightedness.Thatwas longago—andwhathaschanged?You think thatMancanstartagain,doyou,Shea?Well,youmightbequitesurprisedtolearnthat some things never change, and the dangers of power are always present,even toa race thatalmostcompletelyobliterated itself.TheGreatWarsof thepastmaybegone—thewarsoftheraces,ofpoliticsandnationalism,andthefinalonesofsheerenergy,ofultimatepower.Butwefacenewdangers today,andthesearemoreofathreattotheexistenceoftheracesthanwereanyoftheold!IfyouthinkManisfreetobuildanewlifewhiletherestoftheworlddriftsby,thenyoudonotknowanythingofhistory!”He paused suddenly, his grim features lined with anger. Shea stared back

defiantly,thoughwithinhefeltsmallandfrightened.“Enoughofthis,”Allanonbeganagain,hisfacesofteningasonestronghand

reacheduptogripShea’sshoulderinfriendship.“Thepastisbehindus,anditiswiththefuturethatwemustconcernourselves.LetmerefreshyourmemoryforamomentonthehistoryoftheNorthlandandthelegendoftheSkullKingdom.Asyouknow, I’m sure, theGreatWars brought an end to an agewhereManalonewas the dominant race.Manwas almost completely destroyed and eventhe geography he had knownwas completely altered, completely restructured.Countries,nations, andgovernmentsall ceased toexist as the lastmembersofthehumanracefledsouthtosurvive.ItwasnearlyathousandyearsbeforeManhadonceagain raisedhimselfabove thestandardof theanimalshehunted forfoodandestablishedaprogressivecivilization.Itwasprimitive,tobesure,buttherewasorder anda semblanceofgovernment.ThenManbegan todiscovertherewereotherracesbesideshimselfinhabitingtheworld—creatureswhohadsurvivedtheGreatWarsanddevelopedtheirownraces.InthemountainswerethehugeTrolls,powerfulandferocious,butquitecontentwithwhattheyhad.In

thehillsandforestswerethesmallandcunningcreatureswenowcallGnomes.ManyabattlewasfoughtbetweenMenandGnomesfortherightstolandduringthe years following the GreatWars, and the battles hurt both races. But theyfoughttosurvive,andreasonhasnoplaceinthemindofacreaturefightingforitslife.“Manalsodiscoveredthat therewasanotherrace—araceofmenwhohad

fledbeneaththeearthtosurvivetheeffectsoftheGreatWars.Yearsoflivinginthehugecavernsbeneath theearth’scrustawayfromthesunlightaltered theirappearance.Theybecameshortandstocky,powerfulinthearmsandchest,withstrong, thick legs for climbingand scramblingunderground.Their sight in thedarkbecamesuperiortothatofothercreatures,yetinthesunlighttheycouldseelittle.Theylivedbeneaththeearthformanyhundredsofyears,untilatlasttheybegantoemergetoliveagainonthefaceoftheland.Theireyeswereverybadatfirst,andtheymadetheirhomesin thedarkestforestsof theEastland.Theydeveloped their own language, though they later reverted to the language ofMan.WhenMan first discovered remnants of this lost race, they called themDwarfs,afterafictionalraceoftheolddays.”Hisvoice trailedoffandhe remainedsilent fora fewminutesstaringoutat

thetipsofthehillsshowingbrilliantgreeninthesunlight.Sheaconsideredthehistorian’scomments.HehadneverseenaTroll,andonlyoneortwoGnomesandDwarfs,andthosehedidnotrememberverywell.“WhatabouttheElves?”heaskedfinally.Allanonlookedbackthoughtfullyandbowedhisheadalittlemore.“Ah, yes, I had not forgotten. A remarkable race of creatures, the Elves.

Perhapsthegreatestpeopleofall, thoughnoonehaseverfullyrealizedit.ButthetaleoftheElvenpeoplemustwaitforanothertime;sufficetosaythattheywere always there in the great forests of theWestland, though the other racesseldomencounteredthematthisstageofhistory.“NowweshallseehowmuchyouknowofthehistoryoftheNorthland,my

young friend. Today, it is a land inhabited by almost no one other than theTrolls, a barren and forbidding countrywhere few people of any race care totravel, let alone settle.TheTrolls, of course, arebred to survive there.Today,MenliveinthewarmthandcomfortoftheSouthland’smildclimateandgreenlands.TheyhaveforgottenthatoncetheNorthland,too,wassettledbycreaturesofall the races,notonly theTrolls in themountain regions,butMen,Dwarfs,andGnomesinthelowlandsandforests.Thiswasintheyearswhenalltheraceswerejustbeginningtorebuildanewcivilizationwithnewideas,newlaws,and

many new cultures. It was a very promising future, but Men today haveforgotten that those times ever existed— forgotten that they aremore than abeatenracetryingtoliveapartfromthosewhodefeatedthemandcrippledtheirpride. Therewas no division of countries then. It was an earth reborn,whereeachracewasbeinggivenasecondchanceatbuildingaworld.Ofcourse,theydidnotrealizethesignificanceoftheopportunity.Theyweretooconcernedwithholdingwhattheyconsideredtheirsandbuildingtheirownprivatelittleworlds.Eachracewascertainthatitwasdestinedtobethedominantpowerintheyearsahead—gatheredtogetherlikeapackofangryratsguardingastale,sorrypieceofcheese.AndMan,oh,yes,inallhisglory,wasgrovelingandsnappingatthechancejustliketheothers.Didyouknowthat,Shea?”The Valeman shook his head slowly, unable to believe that what he was

hearing could be the truth.He had been told thatMan had been a persecutedpeopleeversincetheGreatWars,fightingtokeepalivehisdignityandhonor,toprotectthelittlelandthatwashisinthefaceofcompletesavageryonthepartofthe other races.Man had never been the oppressor in these battles; always hewas the oppressed. Allanon smiled grimly, his lips curling with mockingsatisfactionashesawtheeffectofhiswords.“Youdidn’trealizethatitwasthisway,Isee.Nomatter—itwillbetheleast

ofthesurprisesIhaveinstoreforyou.Manhasneverbeenthegreatpeoplehehas fancied himself. In those days Men fought like the rest, although I willconcedethatperhapstheyhadahighersenseofhonorandaclearerpurposetorebuild than some of the others, and they were slightly more civilized.” Hetwistedthewordmeaningfullyashespokeit,lacingitwithundisguisedsarcasm.“Butallthiscommentaryhaslittletodowiththemainpointofourdiscussion,whichIhopetomakecleartoyoushortly.“Itwasaboutthissametime,whentheraceshaddiscoveredoneanotherand

were fighting for dominance, that the Druid Council first opened the halls ofParanor in the lowerNorthland.History is rather vague about the origins andpurposes of the Druids, though it is believed they were a group of highlyknowledgeablemenfromalltheraces,skilledinmanyofthelostartsoftheoldworld.Theywerephilosophersandvisionaries,studentsoftheartsandscienceallatonce,butmorethanthis,theyweretheteachersoftheraces.Theywerethegiversofpower—thepowerofnewknowledgeinthewaysoflife.Theywereled by a man named Galaphile, a historian and philosopher like myself, whocalledthegreatestmenofthelandtogethertoformacounciltoestablishpeaceandorder.Hereliedontheirlearningtoholdswayovertheraces,theirabilityto

giveknowledgetogainthepeople’sconfidence.“TheDruidswere a very powerful force during those years and the plan of

Galaphile seemed to beworking as anticipated.But as timepassed, it becameapparent that some of themembers of the Council had powers far surpassingthoseoftheothers,powersthathadlaindormantandgatheredstrengthinafewphenomenal,geniusminds.Itwouldbedifficulttodescribethosepowerstoyouwithouttakingquitesometime—moretimethanwehaveavailabletous.WhatisimportantforourpurposesistorecognizethatsomeamongtheCouncilwhopossessedtheverygreatestmindsbecameconvincedthattheyweredestinedtoshape the futureof the races. In theend, theybroke from theCouncil to formtheirowngroupandforsometimedisappearedandwereforgotten.“Aboutonehundred and fiftyyears later, thereoccurred a terrible civilwar

within the race of Man, which eventually widened into the First War of theRaces,asthehistoriansnamedit.Itscausewasuncertaineventhen,andhasnowalmost been forgotten. In simple terms, a small sector of the race of Manrevolted against the teachings of theCouncil and formed a very powerful andhighlytrainedarmy.Theproclaimedpurposeoftheuprisingwasthesubjugationof the rest ofMan under a central rule for the betterment of the race and thefurtheringof itspride as apeople.Eventually, almost all segmentsof the raceralliedtothenewcauseandwarwasbegunupontheotherraces,ostensiblytoaccomplish thisnewgoal.Thecentral figurebehind thewarwasamancalledBrona—anarchaicGnometermfor‘Master.’ItwassaidthathewastheleaderoftheDruidsofthefirstCouncilwhohadbrokenawayanddisappearedintotheNorthland.Noreliablesourceeverreportedseeinghimortalkingwithhim,andintheenditwasconcludedthatBronawasmerelyaname,afictitiouscharacter.Therevolt,ifyoucaretocallitsuch,wasfinallycrushedbythecombinedpoweroftheDruidsandtheotheralliedraces.Didyouknowofthis,Shea?”TheValemannoddedandsmiledslightly.“Ihaveheardof theDruidCouncil,of itspurposesandwork—all ancient

historysincetheCouncildiedoutlongago.IhaveheardoftheFirstWaroftheRaces,thoughnotinthesamewayasyoutellit.Prejudiced,Ibelieveyouwouldcallmyversion.ThewarwasabitterlessonforMan.”Allanonwaitedpatiently anddidnot speakasSheapaused to reflectonhis

ownknowledgeofthepastbeforecontinuing.“Iknowthat thesurvivorsofourracefledsouthafter thewarwasoverand

haveremainedthereeversince,rebuildingagainthehomesandcitieslost,tryingtocreateliferatherthandestroyit.Youseemtothinkofitasanisolationbornof

fear.ButIbelieve itwasandstill is thebestwayto live.Centralgovernmentshavealwaysbeenthegreatestdangertomankind.Nowtherearenone—smallcommunities are the new rule of life. Some things are better left alone byeveryone.”Thetallmanlaughed,adeepmirthlesschucklethatmadeSheafeelsuddenly

foolish.“Youknowsolittle,thoughwhatyousayistrueenough.Truisms,myyoung

friend,aretheuselesschildrenofhindsight.Well,Idon’tproposetoarguewithyou nowon the fine points of social reform, let alone political activism.Thatwill have to wait until another time. Tell me what you know of the creaturecalledBrona.Perhaps...no,waitamoment.Someoneiscoming.”Thewordswere scarcelyoutofhismouthbefore the stocky figureofFlick

appearedaroundthecorneroftheinn.TheValemanstoppedabruptlyashesawAllanon and hesitated until Shea waved to him. He came over slowly andremainedstanding,hiseyesonthedarkfaceasthebigmansmiledslowlydownathim,thefamiliarenigmatictwistatthecornersofhismouth.“I was just wondering where you had gone,” Flick began, speaking to his

brother,“anddidn’tmeantointerrupt...”“You are not interrupting anything,” Shea replied quickly. But Allanon

seemedtodisagree.“This conversation was for your ears alone,” he declared flatly. “If your

brotherchoosestostay,hewillhavedecidedhisownfateinthedaystocome.Iwouldstronglysuggestthathenotremaintoheartherestofourdiscussion,butforgetthatweevertalked.Still,itishisownchoice.”The brothers looked at each other, unable to believe that the tall man was

serious.Buthisgrim face indicated that hewasnot joking, and for amomentbothmenhesitated,reluctanttosayanything.FinallyFlickspoke.“I have no ideawhat you’re talking about, but Shea and I are brothers and

whathappenstoonemusthappentoboth.Ifhe’sinanytrouble,Ishouldshareitwithhim—it’smyownchoice,I’msure.”Shea stared at him in amazement. He had never heard Flick sound more

positiveaboutanythinginhisentirelife.Hefeltproudofhisbrotherandsmiledup at him gratefully. Flickwinked back quickly and sat down, not looking atAllanon. The tall traveler stroked his small, dark beard with a lean hand andsmiledquiteunexpectedly.“Indeed, thechoice isyourown,andyouhaveprovenyourselfabrotherby

yourwords.Butitisdeedsthatmakethedifference.Youmayregretthechoice

inthedaystocome....”Hetrailedoff,lostinthoughtashestudiedthebowedheadofFlickforseveral

longmomentsbeforeturningtoShea.“Well, I cannot beginmy story again just for your brother.Hewill have to

followasbesthecan.NowtellmewhatyouknowofBrona.”Sheathoughtsilentlyforafewminutesandthenshrugged.“Ireallydon’tknowmuchofanythingabouthim.Hewasamyth,asyousaid,

the fictional leader of the uprising in the First War of the Races. He wassupposedtohavebeenaDruidwholefttheCouncilandusedhisownevilpowerto master the minds of his followers. Historically, he was never seen, nevercaptured,orkilledinthefinalbattle.Heneverexisted.”“Historically accurate, I’m sure,”mutteredAllanon. “What doyouknowof

himinconnectionwiththeSecondWaroftheRaces?”Sheasmiledbrieflyatthequestion.“Well,legendhasitthathewasthecentralforcebehindthatwaralso,butit

turnedouttobejustanothermyth.HewassupposedtobethesamecreaturewhohadorganizedthearmiesofManinthefirstwar,exceptinthisonehewascalledtheWarlockLord—theevilcounterparttotheDruidBremen.IbelieveBremenwassupposed tohavekilledhim in thesecondwar,however.Butall thatwasonlyfantasy.”Flickhastened tonodhis agreement, butAllanon saidnothing.Sheawaited

forsomeformofconfirmation,openlyamusedbythewholesubject.“Whereisallthistalktakingusanyway?”heaskedafteramoment.Allanonglanceddownathimsharply,cockingonedarkeyebrowinwonder.“Yourpatienceisremarkablylimited,Shea.Afterall,wehavejustcoveredin

amatterofminutesthehistoryofathousandyears.However,ifyouthinkyoucanrestrainyourselfforafewmomentslonger,IbelieveIcanpromiseyouthatyourquestionwillbeanswered.”Shea nodded, feeling no littlemortification at the reprimand. Itwas not the

words themselves that hurt; it was the way Allanon said them — with thatmockingsmileandill-concealedsarcasm.TheValemanregainedhiscomposurequickly,though,andshruggedhiswillingnesstoallowthehistoriantocontinueathisownpace.“Verywell,”theotheracknowledged.“Ishalltrytocompleteourdiscussion

quickly.WhatwehavespokenofuptothispointhasbeenbackgroundhistorytowhatIwilltellyounow—thereasonwhyIcametofindyou.IrecalltoyourmemorytheeventsoftheSecondWaroftheRaces—themostrecentwarinthe

newhistoryofMan, fought less than fivehundredyearsago in theNorthland.Manhadnopartinthiswar;Manwasthedefeatedraceofthefirst,livingdeepintheheartoftheSouthland,afewsmallcommunitiestryinghardtosurvivethethreatoftotalextinction.Thiswasawarofthegreatraces—theElvenpeopleand theDwarfs fighting against the power of the savageRock Trolls and thecunningGnomes.“After the completion of the First War of the Races, the known world

partitioned into theexisting four lands,and the raceswereatpeace forquitealong time. During this period, the power and influence of the Druid Councildiminishedgreatlyastheapparentneedforitsassistanceseemedtohaveceased.ItisonlyfairtoaddthattheDruidshadgrownlaxintheirattentiontotheraces,andoveraperiodofyearsthenewmemberslostsightoftheCouncil’spurposesandturnedawayfromthepeoples’problemstomorepersonalconcerns,leadingamore isolated existenceof study andmeditation.TheElvenpeoplewere themostpowerfulrace,butconfinedthemselvestotheirisolatedhomelanddeepinthewestwhere theywere content to remain in relative isolation— amistakethey were to regret deeply. The other peoples scattered and developed intosmaller,lessunifiedsocieties,primarilyintheEastland,thoughsomegroupsdidsettleinpartsoftheWestlandandNorthlandinthebordercountries.“TheSecondWaroftheRacesbeganwhenahugearmyofTrollscamedown

out of the Charnal Mountains and seized all of the Northland, including theDruidfortressatParanor.TheDruidshadbeenbetrayedfromwithinbyseveralof their ownpeoplewho had beenwon over by promises and offers from theenemy commander, who at this time was unknown. The remaining Druids,exceptforaveryfewwhoescapedorwereaway,werecapturedandthrownintothedungeonsoftheKeepandneverseenagain.Thosewhohadescapedthefateof theirbrothersscatteredabout thefour landsandwent intohiding.TheTrollarmy immediately moved against the Dwarf people in the Eastland with theobviousintentofcrushingallresistanceasquicklyaspossible.ButtheDwarfsgathereddeepwithin thehuge forestsof theAnar,whichonly theyknowwellenough to survive in for any length of time, and there held firm against theadvancesoftheTrollarmiesdespitetheaidbeinggivenbyafewoftheGnometribeswhohadjoinedtheinvasionforce.TheDwarfKing,Raybur,recordedinhisownpeoples’historywhomhehaddiscovered therealenemytobe—therebelDruid,Brona.”“How could the Dwarf King believe this?” Shea interjected quickly. “If it

weretrue,theWarlockLordwouldbeoverfivehundredyearsold!Atanyrate,I

should think that some ambitiousmysticmust have suggested the idea to thekingwiththethoughtofrevivinganold,outdatedmyth—perhapstobetterhisownpositioninthecourtorsomething.”“That is a possibility,” Allanon conceded. “But let me continue the story.

After longmonthsof fighting, theTrollswereevidently led tobelieve that theDwarfshadbeenbeaten,sotheyturnedtheirwarlegionstothewestandbegantomarchagainstthepowerfulElvenkingdom.ButduringthemonthstheTrollshadbattledtheDwarfpeople,thefewDruidswhohadescapedfromParanorhadbeenassembledbythefamousmysticBremen,anoldandhighlyesteemedelderoftheCouncil.HeledthemtotheElvenkingdomintheWestlandtowarnthepeoplethereofthisnew,threatandtoprepareforthealmostcertaininvasionoftheNorthlanders.TheElvenKinginthatyearwasJerleShannara—thegreatestofalltheElvenkings,perhaps,withtheexceptionofEventine.Bremenwarnedthe King of the probable assault on his lands, and the Elven ruler quicklypreparedhisarmiesbeforetheadvancingTrollhordeshadreachedtheirborders.I’msure thatyouknowyourhistorywellenough to rememberwhathappenedwhen the battle was fought, Shea, but I want you to pay attention to theparticularsofwhatItellyounext.”BothSheaandanexcitedFlicknodded.

“The Druid Bremen gave to Jerle Shannara a special sword for the battleagainst the Trolls.Whoever held the swordwas supposed to be invincible—evenagainst theawesomepowerof theWarlockLord.WhentheTroll legionsenteredtheValleyofRhennintheborderlandsoftheElvenkingdom,theywereattacked and trapped by the armies of the Elven people fighting from highergroundandwerebadlybeateninatwo-day,pitchedbattle.TheElveswereledby the Druids and Jerle Shannara, who carried the great sword given him byBremen.Theyfought togetheragainst theTrollarmies,whoweresaid tohavehadtheaddedmightofbeingsfromthespiritworldunderthedominationoftheWarlockLord.ButthecourageoftheElvenKingandthepowerofthefabuloussword overwhelmed the spirit creatures and destroyed them. When theremainder of the Troll army attempted to escape back to the safety of theNorthlandacross thePlainsofStreleheim, itwas caughtbetween thepursuingarmyofElvesandanarmyofDwarfsapproachingfromtheEastland.TherewasaterriblebattlefoughtinwhichtheTrollarmywasdestroyedalmosttothelast

man.During thebattle,Bremendisappearedwhile incombatat thesideof theElvenKing, facing theWarlockLordhimself. Itwas recorded thatbothDruidandWarlockwerelostinthefightingandneitherwaseverseenagain.Noteventhebodieswerefound.“Jerle Shannara carried the famous sword given him until his death some

yearslater.HissongavetheweapontotheDruidCouncilatParanor,wherethebladewassetinahugeblockofTre-StoneandplacedinavaultintheDruid’sKeep.I’msureyouarequitefamiliarwiththelegendoftheswordandwhatitstandsfor,whatitmeanstoalltheraces.ThegreatswordreststodayatParanor,just as it has for five hundred years. Have I been sufficiently lucid in mynarration,Valemen?”Flicknoddedindumbfoundedwonder,stillcaughtupintheexcitementofthe

history. But Shea suddenly decided that he had heard enough. Nothing thatAllanonhad told themof thehistoryof the raceswas fact—not ifhewas tobelievewhathehadbeentaughtbyhisownpeoplesincehewasachild.Thebigmanhadsimplyrelatedtothemachildhoodfantasythathadbeenpasseddownthrough the ages from parents to small children. He had listened patiently toeverything Allanon had falsely represented to be the truth about the races,humoringhimoutofrespectforhisreputation.Buttheentiretaleoftheswordwasridiculous,andSheawasthroughbeingplayedforafool.“WhathasallthisgottodowithyourcomingtoShadyVale?”hepersisted,a

faintsmilebetrayinghisdisgust.“We’veheardallaboutabattlethattookplacesome five hundred years ago— a battle that did not even concernMan, butTrollsandElvesandDwarfsandgoodnessknowswhatelse,asyoutellit.Didyousaytherewerespiritsorsomething?I’msorryifIsoundincredulous,butIfind this whole tale a little hard to swallow. The story of the Sword of JerleShannara is well known to all the races, but it’s only fiction, not fact — aglorified storyof heroismcreated to stir up a senseof loyalty andduty in theraces that have a part in its history. But the legend of Shannara is a tale forchildrenthatadultsmustoutgrowastheyaccepttheresponsibilitiesofmanhood.Why did you waste time relating this fairy tale when all I want is a simpleanswertoasimplequestion?Whyareyoulookingfor...me?”SheastoppedshortashesawAllanon’sdarkfeaturestightenandgrowblack

withanger, thegreatbrowsknittingoversuddenpinpointsof light in thedeepshadowsthathidtheeyes.Thetallmanseemedtobefightingtocontainsometerriblefurywithin,andforamomentitappearedtoSheathathewasabouttobestrangledbythehugehandsthatlockedbeforehisfaceasthemanglaredin

openrage.Flickmovedbackhastilyandtrippedoverhisownfeetintheprocess,fearwellingupinside.“Fool...you fool,” rasped thegiant inbarelycontrolled fury.“Youknowso

little... children!Whatdoes the raceofManknowof truth—wherehasManbeenbuthiding,creepinginterrorunderpiteoussheltersinthedeepestregionsoftheSouthlandlikefrightenedrabbits?YoudaretotellmethatIspeakoffairytales—you,whohaveneverknown strife, safehere inyourpreciousVale! Icame to find the bloodline of kings, but I have found a little boy who hideshimselfinfalsehoods.Youarenothingbutachild!”Flickwasferventlywishinghecouldsinkintothegroundbeneathhisfeetor

perhapssimplyvanish,when tohisutterastonishmenthesawShea leap tohisfeetbeforethetallman,hisleanfeaturesflushedinfuryandhishandsknottedintofistsashebracedhimself.TheValemanwassoovercomewithangerthathecould not speak, and stood before his accuser, shaking with rage andhumiliation.ButAllanonwasnotimpressedandhisdeepvoicesoundedagain.“Hold,Shea.Donotbeagreater fool!Payattention towhat I tellyounow.

AllthatItoldyouhascomedownthroughtheagesaslegendandwassotoldtotheraceofMan.Butthetimeforfairytalesisended.WhatIhavetoldyouisnotlegend; it is the truth. The sword is real; it rests today at Paranor. But mostimportantofall,theWarlockLordisreal.HelivestodayandtheSkullKingdomishisdomain!”Sheastarted,suddenlyrealizingthatthemanwasnotdeliberatelylyingafter

all— that he did not believe this to be a fairy tale.He relaxed and sat downslowly, his gaze still riveted on the dark face. Abruptly he recalled thehistorian’swords.“Yousaidking...youwerelookingforaking?”“What is the legend of the Sword of Shannara, Shea? What does the

inscriptioncarvedintotheblockofTre-Stoneread?”Sheawasdumbfounded,unabletorecallanylegendatall.“I don’t know... I can’t remember what it said. Something about the next

time...”“A son!” spoke upFlick suddenly from the other side. “When theWarlock

Lord appeared again in theNorthland, a son of theHouse of ShannarawouldcomeforthtotakeuptheSwordagainsthim.Thatwasthelegend!”Shea lookedoverathisbrother, remembering thenwhat the inscriptionwas

supposedtoread.HelookedbackatAllanon,whowaswatchinghimintently.“Howdoesthisconcernme?”heaskedquickly.“I’mnotasonoftheHouse

of Shannara— I’m not even Elven. I’m a half-blood, not an Elf, not a king.EventineistheheirtotheHouseofShannara.AreyoutellingmethatI’malostson—amissingheir?Idon’tbelieveit!”He looked quickly to Flick for support, but his brother appeared to be

completely lost, staring inbewilderment at the faceofAllanon.Thedarkmanspokequietly.“You do have Elven blood in you, Shea, and you are not the true son of

Curzad Ohmsford. That you must know. And Eventine is not directly of thebloodofShannara.”“IhavealwaysknownthatIwasanadoptedson,”theValemanadmitted,“but

surelyIcouldnothavecomefrom...Flick,tellhim!”Buthisbrotherjuststaredathiminastonishment,unabletoframeananswer

to thequestion.Shea stopped speakingabruptly, shakinghishead indisbelief.Allanonnodded.“YouareasonoftheHouseofShannara—ahalfsononly,however,andfar

removedfromthedirectlineofdescentthatcanbetraceddownthroughthelastfivehundredyears.Iknewyouasachild,Shea,beforeyouweretakenintotheOhmsford household as their own son. Your fatherwas Elven— a very fineman.YourmotherwasoftheraceofMan.Theybothdiedwhenyouwerestillveryyoung, andyouweregiven toCurzadOhmsford to raise ashisownson.ButyouareasonofJerleShannara,albeitadistantsonandnotofpureElvenblood.”Shea nodded absently at the tall man’s explanation, confused and still

suspicious.Flickwaslookingathisbrother.asifhehadneverseenhimbefore.“Whatdoesallthismean?”heaskedAllanoneagerly.“WhatIhavetoldyouisknownalsototheLordofDarkness,thoughhedoes

notyetknowwhereyou liveorwhoyouare.Buthisemissarieswill findyousoonerorlater,andwhentheydo,youwillbedestroyed.”Shea’sheadjerkedup,andhelookedatFlickfearfully,rememberingthetale

ofthehugeshadowseennearthelipoftheVale.Hisbrother,too,feltasuddenchill,recallingthatawfulfeelingofterror.“Butwhy?”askedSheaquickly.“WhathaveIdonetodeserve,that?”“You must understand many things, Shea, before you can understand the

answer to that question,” repliedAllanon, “and I have not the time to explainthemallnow.YoumustbelievemewhenItellyouthatyouaredescendedfromJerleShannara,thatyouareofElvenblood,andthattheOhmsfordsareafosterfamilytoyou.YouwerenottheonlysonoftheHouseofShannara,butyouare

theonlysonwhosurvives today.TheotherswereElven,and theywereeasilyfoundanddestroyed.ThatiswhatpreventedtheDarkLordfromfindingyouforsolong—hewasunawarethattherewasahalfsortaliveintheSouthland.TheElvenkinheknewoffromthefirst.“Butknow this,Shea.Thepowerof theSword isunlimited—it is theone

great fear with which Brona lives, the one power hemay not withstand. Thelegendof theSwordisapowerfulamulet in thehandsof theraces,andBronameanstoputanendtothelegend.HewilldothisbydestroyingtheentirehouseofShannara,sothatnosonwillcomeforthtodrawtheSwordagainsthim.”“ButIdidnotevenknowoftheSword,”protestedShea.“Ididnotevenknow

whoIwas,oranythingabouttheNorthlandorabout...”“Itdoesnotmatter!”cutinAllanonsharply.“Ifyouaredead,therecanbeno

doubtaboutyou.”Hisvoicediedaway inawearymurmur,andhe turned to lookagainat the

distantmountaintopsbeyondthefringeoftallelms.Shealaybackslowlyonthesoftgrass, staringat thepaleblueof the latewinter sky lacedwith small, softwispsofwhitecloudthatdriftedfromthetallhills.Forafewpleasantmomentsthe presenceofAllanon and the threat of deathwere submerged in the sleepywarmthoftheafternoonsunandthefreshsmellofthelofty,treestoweringoverhim.HeclosedhiseyesandthoughtofhislifeintheVale,oftheplansthathehad made with Flick, of their hopes for the future. They would all go up insmoke if what he had been told were true. He lay quietly considering thesethings,andfinallysatup,hisarmsbracedbehindhim.“I’mnotsurewhattothink,”hebeganslowly.“TherearesomanyquestionsI

havetoaskyou.IfeelconfusedbythewholeideaofbeingsomeoneotherthananOhmsford—someonethreatenedwithdeathatthehandsofa...amyth.WhatdoyousuggestthatIdo?”Allanonsmiledwarmlyforthefirsttime.“For themoment, do nothing. There is no immediate danger to you. Think

aboutwhatIhavetoldyouandwewillspeakfurtheroftheimplicationsanothertime.Ishallbegladtoanswerallyourquestionsthen.Butdonottalkaboutthistoanyoneelse,notevenyourfather.Actasifthisconversationhadnevertakenplaceuntilwehaveachancetoworkouttheproblemsfurther.”The young men looked at each other and nodded in agreement, though it

wouldbedifficult topretend thatnothinghadhappened.Allanon rosesilently,stretchinghistallframetorelievecrampedmuscles.Thebrothersrosewithhimandstoodquietlyashelookeddownatthem.

“Legends and myths that did not exist in yesterday’s world will exist intomorrow’s. Things of evil, ruthless and cunning, after lying dormant forcenturies, will now awaken. The shadow of theWarlock Lord begins to fallacrossthefourlands.”Hetrailedoffabruptly.“Ididnotmeantobeharshwithyou,”hesmiledgently,quiteunexpectedly,

“but if this is theworst thing thathappens in thedays tocome,youshouldbeglad indeed.Youare facedwithavery real threat,not a fairy tale that canbelaughedaway.Nothingaboutanyofthiswillbefairtoyou.Youwilllearnmuchaboutlifethatyouwillnotlike.”Hepaused,atallgrayshadowagainstthegreenofthedistanthills,hisrobes

gatheredcarefully abouthisgaunt frame.Onegreat hand reachedover togripfirmly Sheds lean shoulder, and for an instant bound them together as oneperson.Thenheturnedawayandwasgone.

ChapterThree

Allanon’splanforfurtherdiscussionsattheinndidnotworkout.Heleftthebrotherssittinginhushedconversationbehindtheinnandreturnedtohisroom.Shea and Flick finally went back to their chores and shortly thereafter weredispatched on an errand by their father that took them out of theVale to thenorthendofthevalley.Itwasdarkbythetimetheyreturned,andtheyhastenedto the dining room, hoping to question the historian further, but he did notappear. They ate dinner hurriedly, unable to speak to each other about theafternoon while their father was present. After eating, they waited almost anhour, but still he did not appear and eventually, long after their father haddeparted for the kitchen, they decided to go to Allanon’s room. Flick wasreluctant to go looking for the dark stranger, especially after hismeetingwithhimontheValeroadthepreviousnight.ButSheawassoinsistentthatatlasthisbrotheragreedtogoalong,hopingthattheremightbesafetyinnumbers.When they reached his room, they found the door unlocked and the tall

wanderergone.The room lookedas ifnoonehadevenused it recently.Theymadeahastysearchof the innand thesurroundingpremises,butAllanonwasnot to be found.At last theywere forced to conclude that for some unknownreasonhehaddepartedfromShadyVale.SheawasopenlyangeredthatAllanonhadleftwithoutevenapartingword,yetatthesametimehebegantoexperienceagrowing apprehension that hewasno longer under the historian’s protectivewing.Flick,ontheotherhand,wasjustashappythatthemanwasgone.Ashesat with Shea in the tall, hard-backed chairs before the fire in the big loungeroomof theinn,hetriedtoassurehisbrother thateverythingwasworkingoutfor the best. He had never completely believe the historian’s wild tale of theNorthlandwars and theSwordofShannara,heargued, andeven if someof itweretrue,certainlythepartaboutShea’slineageandthethreatfromBronawascompletelyexaggerated—aridiculousfairytale.ShealistenedinsilencetoFlick’smuddledrationalizationofthepossibilities,

offeringonlyanoccasionalnodofacquiescence,hisownthoughtsconcentratedondecidingwhatheshoulddonext.HehadseriousdoubtsaboutthecredibilityofAllanon’stale,Afterall,whatpurposedidthehistorianhaveincomingtohiminthefirstplace?Hehadappearedconveniently,itseemed,totellSheaabouthisstrange background, and to warn him that he was in danger, then had

disappearedwithoutawordabouthisowninterest in thisbusiness.HowcouldShea be sure thatAllanon had not come on some hidden purpose of his own,hopingtousetheValemanashiscat’s-paw?Thereweretoomanyquestionsthathedidn’thavetheanswersto.Eventually,Flickgrewtiredofofferingadvice to thesilentSheaandfinally

ceasedtospeakofthematter,slumpingdowninhischairandgazingresignedlyintothecracklingfire.SheacontinuedtoponderthedetailsofAllanon’sstory,tryingtodecidewhatheshoulddonow.Butafteranhourofquietdeliberation,hethrewuphishandsindisgust,feelingasconfusedasbefore.Stalkingout,ofthelounge,heheadedforhisownroom,thefaithfulFlickclosebehind.Neitherfeltinclinedtodiscussitfurther.Uponreachingtheirsmallbedroomintheeastwing,Sheadroppedintoachairinmoodysilence.Flickcollapsedheavilyonthebedandstareddisinterestedlyattheceiling.The twin candles on the small bedside table cast a dimglowover the large

room, and Flick soon found himself on the verge of drifting off to sleep. Hehastily jerked awake and, stretching his hands above his head, encountered along piece of folded paper which had partially slipped down between themattressandheadboard.Curiously,hebroughtitaroundinfrontofhiseyesandsawthatitwasaddressedtoShea.“What’sthis?”hemutteredandtosseditacrosstohisprostratebrother.Shearippedopenthesealedpaperandhurriedlyscannedit.Hehadscarcely

begunbeforeheletoutalowwhistleandleapedtohisfeet.Flicksatupquickly,realizingwhomusthaveleftthenote.“It’s fromAllanon,”Sheaconfirmedhisbrother’s suspicion.“Listen to this,

Flick:I have no time to find you and explain matters further. Something of the

greatestimportancehasoccurred,andImustleaveimmediately—perhapsevennowIamtoolate.YoumusttrustmeandbelievewhatItoldyou,eventhoughIwillnotbeabletoreturntothevalley.Youwill not longbe safe inShadyVale, andyoumust beprepared to flee

quickly.Shouldyoursafetybe threatened,youwill findshelteratCulhaven inthe forests of theAnar. I will send a friend to guide you. Place your trust inBalinor.Speakwithnooneofourmeeting.Thedangertoyouisextreme.Inthepocket

ofyourmaroontravelcloak,Ihaveplacedasmallpouchwhichcontains threeElfstones. They will provide you with guidance and protection when nothingelsecan.Becautioned—theyareforSheaaloneandtobeusedonlywhenall

elsefails.ThesignoftheSkullwillbeyourwarningtoflee.Mayluckbewithyou,my

youngfriend,untilwemeetagain.”Shealookedexcitedlyathisbrother,butthesuspiciousFlickshookhishead

indisbeliefandfrowneddeeply.“I don’t trust him. Whatever is he talking about anyway — Skulls and

Elfstones?IneverevenheardofaplacecalledCulhaven,andtheAnarforestsaremilesfromhere—daysanddays.Idon’tlikeit.”“Thestones!”Sheaexclaimed,andleapedforthetravelingcloakwhichhung

inthelongcornercloset.HerummagedthroughhisclothesforseveralminuteswhileFlickwatchedanxiously,thencarefullysteppedbackwithasmallleatherpouch balanced gently in his right hand. He held it up and tested its weight,displaying it tohisbrother, and thenhurriedback to thebed and sat down.Amomentlaterhehadthedrawstringsopenandwasemptyingthecontentsofthepouchintohisopenpalm.Threedarkbluestonestumbledout,eachthesizeofanaveragepebble,finelycutandglowingbrightlyinthefaintcandlelight.Thebrothers peered curiously at the stones, half expecting that they wouldimmediately do something wondrous. But nothing happened. They laymotionless inShea’spalm,shimmering likesmallbluestarssnatchedfromthenight, soclear that itwasalmostpossible tosee through them,as if theyweremerelytintedglass.Finally,afterFlickhadsummonedenoughcouragetotouchone,Sheadroppedthembackintothepouchandstuffeditintohisshirtpocket.“Well,hewasrightaboutthestones,”venturedSheaamomentlater.“Maybe yes, maybe no — maybe they’re not Elfstones,” suggested Flick

suspiciously. “Howdoyouknow—ever seeone?What about the rest of theletter? IneverheardofanyonenamedBalinorand IneverheardofCulhaven.Weoughttoforgetthewholebusiness—especiallythatweeversawAllanon.”Sheanoddeddoubtfully,unabletoanswerhisbrother’squestions.“Whyshouldweworrynow?Allwehavetodoistokeepoureyesopenfor

the signof theSkull,whatever thatmaybe,or forAllanon’s friend toappear.Maybenothingwillhappenafterall.”Flick continued to voice his distrust of the letter and its author for several

minutesmore before losing interest.Both brotherswereweary anddecided tocallitanight.Asthecandleswereextinguished,Shea’slastactwastoplacethepouchcarefullybeneathhispillowwherehecould feel its smallbulkpressingagainstthesideofhisface.NomatterwhatFlickmightthink,hehadresolvedtokeepthestonescloseathandinthedaysahead.

Thenextday,itbegantorain.Huge,toweringblackcloudsrolledinfromthenorthquitesuddenlyandsettledovertheentirevalley,blottingoutalltracesofsunandskyastheyreleasedtorrentsofshatteringrainwhichsweptthroughthetinyhamletwithunbelievableferocity.Allworkinthefieldscametoanabrupthaltandtraveltoandfromthevalleyceasedentirely—firstforone,thentwo,and finally threecompletedays.Thedownpourwasa tremendousspectacleofblinding streaks of lightning lacing the darkly clouded sky and deeply rollingthunderbreakingoverthevalleywithearthshakingblaststhatfollowedoneaftertheotheranddiedintoslower,moreominousdistantrumblingsfromsomewherebeyond the blackness to the north. For the entire three days it rained, and theValepeoplebegantogrowfearfulthatflashfloodsfromthehillsallaboutthemwouldwashdownwithdevastatingeffectontheirsmallhomesandunprotectedfields.ThemengathereddailyintheOhmsfordinnandchattedworriedlyovertheir mugs of beer, casting apprehensive glances at the sheets of rain fallingsteadily beyond the dripping windows. The Ohmsford brothers watched insilence, listening to the conversation and scanning the worried faces of theanxiousValemenhuddledtogetherinsmallgroupsaboutthecrowdedlounge.Atfirsttheyheldouthopethatthestormwouldpassover,butafterthreedaystherewasstilllittlesignofclearingintheweather.Nearmiddayonthefourthday,therainlessenedfromasteadydownpourtoa

muggydrizzlemixedwithheavyfogandasticky,humidheatthatlefteveryonethoroughlydisgruntled anduncomfortable.The crowdat the innbegan to thinoutasthemenlefttoreturntotheirjobs,andsoonSheaandFlickwereoccupiedwith repairs andgeneral cleaning chores.The stormhad smashed shutters andtorn the wooden shingles from the roof, scattering them all about thesurroundingpremises.Largeleakshaddevelopedintheroofandwallsoftheinnwings,andthesmalltoolshedintherearoftheOhmsfordpropertyhadbeenallbut flattened by a falling elm, uprooted by the force of the storm.The youngmenspentseveraldayspatchingupleaks,repairingtheroof,andreplacinglostor broken shingles and shutters. It was tedious work, and time dragged byslowly.Aftertendays,therainsceasedaltogether,thehugecloudsrolledon,andthe

darkskyclearedandbrightenedintoafriendlylightbluestreakedwithtrailingwhiteclouds.Theexpectedfloodsdidnotcome,andastheValemenreturnedtotheir fields, thewarm sun reappeared and the land of the valley began to dryfrom soggy mud to solid earth, spattered here and there by small puddles ofmurkywaterthatsatdefiantlyuponanalwaysthirstyland.Eventuallyeventhe

puddlesdisappearedandthevalleywasasithadbeen—thefuryofthepassingstormonlyadimmemory.SheaandFlick,intheprocessofrebuildingthesmashedtoolshed,theirother

repairworkontheinncomplete,heardsnatchesofconversationfromValemenand inn guests about the heavy rain.No one could ever remember a storm ofsuchferocityatthatparticulartimeoftheyearintheVale.Itwasequivalenttoawinter windstorm, the kind that caught unsuspecting travelers in the greatmountainstothenorthandsweptthemfromthepassesandtheclifftrails,nevertobeseenagain.ItssuddenappearancecausedeveryoneinthehamlettopauseandreflectonceagainonthecontinuingrumorsofstrangehappeningsfartotheNorth.The brothers paid close attention to such talks, but they learned nothing of

interest.OftentheyspokequietlytogetheraboutAllanonandthestrangetalehehadtoldthemofShea’sheritage.ApragmaticFlickhadlongsincedismissedthewhole business as either foolishness or a bad joke. Shea listened tolerantly,thoughhewaslesswillingthanhisbrothertoshrugthematteroff.Yetwhilehewasunwillingtodismissthetale,hewasatthesametimeunabletoacceptit.Hefelt there was too much still hidden from him, too much about Allanon thatneitherFlicknorheknew.Untilhehadall the facts,hewascontent to let thematterlie.HekeptthepouchcontainingtheElfstonesclosetohimatalltimes.WhileFlickmumbledon,usuallyseveral timesaday,abouthis foolishness incarryingthestonesandbelievingthatanythingAllanonhadtoldthemwastrue,SheacarefullywatchedallstrangerspassingthroughtheVale,eagerlyperusingtheirbelongingsforanysignofaSkullmarking.Butastimepassed,heobservednothing and eventually felt obliged to scratch the whole matter off as anexperienceinthefineartofgullibility.Nothing occurred to change Shea’smind on thematter until one afternoon

morethanthreeweeksafterAllanon’sabruptdeparture.Thebrothershadbeenout all daycutting shingles for the inn roof, and itwas almost eveningby thetimetheyreturned.Theirfatherwassittinginhisfavoriteseatatthelongkitchencounterwhentheyentered,hisbroadfacebentoverasteamingplateoffood.Hegreetedhissonswithawaveofhishand.“A letter came for you while you were gone, Shea,” he informed them,

holdingoutalong,whitefoldedsheetofpaper.“It’smarkedLeah.”Shea let out an exclamation of surprise and reached eagerly for the letter.

Flickgroanedaudibly.“Iknewit, Iknewit; itwastoogoodtobetrue,”hemuttered.“Thebiggest

wastrel in the entire Southland has decided it’s timewe suffered somemore.Tearuptheletter,Shea.”ButSheahadalreadyopened thesealedsheetofpaperandwasscanning its

contents, totallydisregardingFlick’s comments.The latter shrugged indisgustandcollapsedonastoolnexttohisfather,whohadreturnedtohiseveningmeal.“Hewantstoknowwherewe’vebeenhiding,”laughedShea.“Hewantsusto

comeseehimassoonaswecan.”“Oh,sure,”mutteredFlick.“He’sprobably in troubleandneedssomeone to

blameiton.Whydon’twejustjumpoffthenearestcliff?Yourememberwhathappened the last timeMenion Leah invited us to visit?Wewere lost in theBlackOaksfordaysandnearlydevouredbywolves!I’llneverforgetthatlittleadventure.TheShadeswillgetmebeforeIacceptanotherinvitationfromhim!”HisbrotherlaughedandclappedanarmaroundFlick’sbroadshoulders.“YouareenviousbecauseMenionisthesonofkingsandabletoliveanyway

hechooses.”“Akingdomthesizeofapuddle,”wasthequickretort.“Androyalbloodis

cheapstuffthesedays.Lookatyourown...”He caught himself and clamped his mouth shut quickly. Both shot hurried

glancesattheirfather,butheapparentlyhadn’theardandwasstillabsorbedineating. Flick shrugged apologetically; and Shea smiled at his brotherencouragingly.“There’s a man in the inn looking for you, Shea,” Curzad Ohmsford

announced suddenly, looking up at him. “Hementioned that tall stranger thatwashereseveralweeksbackwhenheaskedforyou.NeverseenhimbeforeintheVale.He’soutinthemainloungenow.”Flickstoodupslowly,feargrippingathim.Sheawasmomentarilycaughtoff

balancebythemessage,butmotionedhurriedlytohisbrother,whowasabouttospeak. If this new stranger were an enemy, he had to find out quickly. Heclutchedathisshirtpocket,reassuringhimselfthattheElfstoneswerestillthere.“Whatdoesthemanlooklike?”heaskedquickly,unabletothinkofanyother

wayoffindingoutabouttheSkullmark.“Can’treallysay,son,”wasthemuffledreplyashisfathercontinuedtochew

onhisdinner,facebenttotheplate.“He’swrappedinalonggreenforestcloak.Justrodeinthisafternoon—beautifulhorse.Hewasveryanxioustofindyou.Bettergoseewhathewantsrightaway.”“Didyouseeanymarkings?”askedtheexasperatedFlick.Hisfatherstoppedchewingandlookedupwithapuzzledfrown...

“Whatareyoutalkingabout?WouldyoubesatisfiedifIpresentedyouwithachalkdrawing?What’swrongwithyouanyway?”“It’snothing,really,”interjectedSheaquickly.“Flickwasjustwonderingif...

ifthemanlookedanythinglikeAllanon...Youremember?”“Oh, yes,” his father smiled knowingly, as Flick suppressed a swallow of

relief.“No,Ididn’tnoticeanyrealsimilarity,thoughthismanisbig,too.Ididseealongscarrunningdowntherightcheek—probablyfromaknifecut.”SheanoddedhisthanksandquicklypulledFlickafterhimashemovedoutto

the hallway and started for themain lounge. They hurried to thewide doubledoors and halted breathlessly.Cautiously, Shea pushed one door open a crackandpeeredintothecrowdedloungearea.ForamomenthesawnothingbuttheordinaryfacesoftheusualcustomersandaverageValetravelers,butamomentlaterhestartedback,andletthedoorswingshutashefacedtheanxiousFlick.“He’soutthere,nearthefrontcornerbythefireplace.Ican’ttellwhoheisor

what he looks like fromhere; he’swrapped in the green cloak, just as Fathersaid.We’vegottogetcloser.”“Outthere?”gaspedFlick.“Haveyoulostyourmind?Hewouldspotyouina

secondifheknowswhohe’slookingfor.”“Thenyougo,”Sheaorderedfirmly.“Makesomepretenseofputtinglogson

thefireandgetaquicklookathim.SeeifhebearsthemarkingsofaSkull.”Flick’seyeswentwide,andheturnedtoescape,butSheacaughthisarmand

pulled him back, forcibly shoving him through the doors into the lounge andquicklyduckingbackoutofsight.Amomentlaterheopenedonedooracrackand peeped out to see what was happening. He saw Flick move uncertainlyacross the room to the fireplace and begin to poke the glowing embers idly,finallyaddinganotherlogfromthewoodbox.TheValemanwastakinghistime,apparentlytryingtogetinapositionwherehecouldcatchaglimpseofthemanwrappedinthegreencloak.Thestrangerwasseatedatatableseveralfeetawayfromthefireplace,hisbacktoFlickbutturnedslightlytowardthedoorbehindwhichSheahadconcealedhimself.Suddenly, just as it appeared that Flick was ready to return, the stranger

movedslightlyinhisseatandmadeaquickcommentandFlickwentstiff.Sheasaw his brother turn toward the stranger and reply, glancing hurriedly towardShea’splaceofconcealment.Sheaslippedbackfurtherintotheshadowsofthehallandletthedoorswingshut.Somehow,theyhadgiventhemselvesaway.Asheponderedwhethertoflee,Flickabruptlypushedthroughthedoubledoors,hisfacewhitewithfear.

“Hesawyouatthedoor.Themanhastheeyesofahawk!Hetoldmetobringyouout.”Sheathoughtamomentandfinallynoddedhopelessly.Afterall,wherecould

theyruntothattheywouldn’tbefoundinamatterofminutes?“Maybe he doesn’t know everything,” he suggested hopefully. “Maybe he

thinksweknowwhereAllanonhasgone.Becarefulwhatyoutellhim,Flick.”Heledthewaythroughthewide,swingingdoorsandacrosstheloungetothe

table where the stranger sat. They stopped just behind him and waited, butwithoutturning,hebeckonedthemtoseatsaroundthetablewithasweepofhishand. They reluctantly obeyed the unspoken command and the three sat insilenceforafewmomentslookingatoneanother.Thestrangerwasabigmanwithabroadframe,thoughhedidnothaveAllanon’sheight.Thecloakcoveredallofhisbody,andonlyhisheadwasvisibletothem.Hisfeatureswereruggedandstrong,pleasanttotheeyeexceptforthedarkscarthatranfromtheoutsidetipoftherighteyebrowdownacrossthecheekjustabovethemouth.TheeyesseemedcuriouslymildtoSheaastheystudiedtheyoungValemen,ahazelcolorthathintedatagentlenessbeneaththehardexterior.Theblondhairwascutshortandlayscatteredlooselyaboutthebroadforeheadandaroundthesmallears.AsSheaviewedthestranger,hefoundithardtobelievethatthismancouldbetheenemy Allanon had warned might come to the valley. Even Flick seemedrelaxedinhispresence.“Thereisnotimeforgames,Shea,”thenewcomerspokesuddenlyinamild,

butwearyvoice.“Yourcautioniswelladvised,butIamnotabeareroftheSkullmark. I am a friend of Allanon. My name is Balinor. My father is RuhlBuckhannah,theKingofCallahorn.”The brothers recognized his name instantly, but Shea was not taking any

chances.“HowdoIknowthatyouarewhoyousayyouare?”hedemandedquickly.Thestrangersmiled.“Thesameway Iknowyou,Shea.By the threeElfstonesyoucarry inyour

shirtpocket—theElfstonesgivenyoubyAllanon.”TheValeman’sstartlednodwasbarelyperceptible.Onlysomeonesentbythe

tallhistoriancouldhaveknownaboutthestones.Heleanedforwardcautiously.“WhathashappenedtoAllanon?”“Icannotbesure,”thebigmanrepliedsoftly.“Ihavenotseennorheardfrom

himinovertwoweeks.WhenIlefthim,hewastravelingtoParanor.TherewasrumorofanattackagainsttheKeep;hewasafraidforthesafetyoftheSword.

He sentme here to protect you. I would have reached you sooner, but I wasdelayedbytheweather—andbythosewhosoughttofollowmetoyou.”HepausedandlookeddirectlyatShea,hishazeleyessuddenlyhardas they

boredintotheyoungman.“Allanon revealed to you your true identity and told you of the danger you

would someday face.Whether you believed him or not is of no consequencenow.Thetimehascome—youmustfleethevalleyimmediately.”“Justpickupandleave?”exclaimedtheastoundedShea.“Ican’tdothat!”“You can and you will if you wish to stay alive. The bearers of the Skull

suspectyouareinthevalley.Inaday,perhapstwo,theywillfindyouandthatwill be the end if you are still here.Youmust leave now.Travel quickly andlightly;stickwithtrailsyouknowandtheshelteroftheforestwhenyoucan.Ifyou are forced to travel in the open, travel only by day when their power isweaker.Allanonhas toldyouwhereyouare togo,butyoumust trust toyourownresourcefulnesstogetyouthere.”The astonishedShea stared at the speaker for amoment and then turned to

Flickwhowasspeechlessatthisnewturnofevents.Howcouldthemanexpecthimjusttopackupandrun?Itwasridiculous.“Ihavetoleave,”thestrangerrosesuddenly,hisgreatcloakwrappedtightly

about his broad frame. “Iwould takeyouwithme if I could, but I havebeenfollowed. Those who seek to destroy you will expect me to give you awayeventually.Iwillserveyoubetterasadecoy;perhapstheywillfollowmestillfarther, and I will be able to give you a chance to slip away without beingnoticed.Iwillridesouthforawhile,andthenswingbacktowardCulhaven.Wewillmeetagainthere.RememberwhatIsaid.DonotlingerintheVale—fleenow,tonight!DoasAllanonhassaidandguardtheElfstoneswithcare.Theyareapowerfulweapon.”SheaandFlickrosewithhimandshook theextendedhand,noticingfor the

firsttimethattheexposedarmwascoveredwithgleamingchainmail.Withoutfurther comment, Balinor moved swiftly across the room and disappearedthroughthefrontdoorintothenight.“Well,nowwhat?”Flickaskedashecollapsedbackintohisseat.“How should I know?” repliedSheawearily. “I’mno fortune-teller. I don’t

have the vaguest idea if what he told us was the truth any more than whatAllanonsaid!Ifheisright,andIhaveanuneasysuspicionthatthereisatleastsometruthinwhathesays,thenforthesakeofeveryoneconcerned,I’vegottogetoutofthevalley.Ifsomeoneisafterme,wecannotbesurethatothers,like

yourselfandFather,won’tbehurtifIstay.”Hegazeddespondentlyacrosstheroom,hopelesslyentangledbythetaleshe

hadbeentold,unabletodecidewhathisbestmovewouldbe.Flickwatchedhimsilently, knowing he could not help, but sharing his brother’s confusion andworry.Finally,heleanedacrossandputhishandonShea’sshoulder.“I’mgoingwithyou,”heannouncedsoftly.Shealookedaroundathim,plainlystartled.“Ican’thaveyoudoingthat.Fatherwouldneverunderstand.Besides,Imay

notbegoinganywhere.”“Remember what Allanon said — I’m in this with you,” Flick insisted

stubbornly.“Besides,you’remybrother.Ican’tletyougoalone.”Sheastaredathimwonderingly,thennoddedandsmiledhisthanks.“We’lltalkaboutitlater.Atanyrate,Ican’tleaveuntilIdecidewhereIam

goingandwhatIwillneed—ifIevengo.I’vegottoleavesomekindofnoteforFather—Ican’tjustwalkout,despitewhatAllanonandBalinorthink.”Theyleftthetableandretiredtothekitchenfordinner.Theremainderofthe

eveningwasspentrestlesslywanderingabouttheloungeandkitchenarea,withseveralsidetripstothesleepingquarters,whereShearifledthroughhispersonalbelongings,absentlynotingwhatheownedandsettingasidestray items.Flickfollowedhimaboutsilently,unwilling to leavehimalone, inwardlyafraid thathisbrothermightdecidetodepartforCulhavenwithouttellinghim.HewatchedShea push clothing and camping equipment into a leather pack, andwhen heaskedhisbrotherwhyhewaspacking,hewastoldthatthiswasjustaprecautionincasehedidhavetofleesuddenly.Sheaassuredhimthathewouldnotleavewithout telling him, but the reassurance did not make Flick any easier in hismind,andhewatchedSheaallthemoreclosely.ItwaspitchblackwhenSheawasawakenedbythehandonhisarm.Hehad

been sleeping lightly, and the cold touch woke him instantly, his heart.pounding.Hestruggledwildly,unable toseeanything in thedarkness,andhisfree hand reached out to clutch his unseen attacker. A quick hiss reached hisears,andabruptlyhe recognizedFlick’sbroadfeaturesvaguelyoutlined in thedim light of the cloud-masked stars and a small crescent moon that shonethroughthecurtainedwindow.Thefeareased,replacedbysuddenreliefat thefamiliarsightofhisbrother.“Flick!Youscared...”HisreliefwascutshortasFlick’sstronghandclampedoverhisopenmouth

andthewarninghushsoundedagain.Inthegloom,Sheacouldseedeeplinesof

fear inhisbrother’sfare, thepaleskindrawntightlywiththecoldof thenightair.Hestartedup,butthestrongarmsholdinghimgraspedhimtighteranddrewhisfaceneartightlyclenchedlips.“Don’t speak,” the whisper sounded in his ears, the voice trembling with

terror.“Thewindow—quietly!”Thehandsloosenedtheirgripandgently,hastilypulledhimfromthebedand

downalongtheflooruntilbothbrotherswerecrouchedbreathlesslyonthehardwoodenplanksdeepwithin theshadowsof the room.ThenSheacrawledwithFlicktowardthepartlyopenwindow,stillcrouching,notdaringeventobreathe.Whentheyreachedthewall,FlickpulledSheatoonesideofthewindowwithhandsthatwerenowshaking.“Shea,bythebuilding—look!”Frightened beyond description, he raised his head to the windowsill and

carefullypeeredoverthewoodenframeintotheblacknessbeyond.Hesawthecreaturealmost immediately—ahuge, terribleblackshape,stooped inahalf-crouchasitcrawled,draggingitselfslowlythroughtheshadowsofthebuildingsacrossfromtheinn,itshumpedbackcoveredbyacloakthatroseandbillowedsoftly as something beneath pushed and beat against it. The hideous raspingsoundof itsbreathingwasplainlyaudibleevenfromthatdistance,and its feetemitted a curious scraping sound as it moved across the dark earth. Sheaclutchedthesilltightly,hiseyeslockedontheapproachingcreature,andintheinstantbeforeheduckedbelowtheopenwindow,hecaughtaclearglimpseofasilverpendantfashionedintheshapeofagleamingSkull.

ChapterFour

Sheacollapsedwordlesslynexttothedarkformofhisbrother,andtheysathuddled together in the blackness. They could hear the creature moving, thescrapingsoundgrowinglouderasthesecondspassed,andtheywerecertaintheyhadheededBalinor’swarningtoolate.Theywaited,notdaringtospeak,eventobreathe as they listened, Shea wanted to run, torn by the knowledge that thethingoutsidewouldkillhimifitfoundhimnow,butafraidthatifhemovedhewouldbeheardandcaughtonthespot.Flicksatrigidbesidehim,shakinginthecool of the blowing, night wind that whipped the curtains about the windowframe.Suddenlytheyheardthesharpbarkofadogsoundagainandagain,thenshift

to a hoarse growl of mingled fear and hatred. Cautiously, the brothers raisedtheirheadsabovethewindowsillandlookedout,squintinginthedimlight.Thecreature bearing theSkullmarkwas crouched against thewall of the buildingdirectlyacrossfromtheirwindow.Sometenfeetawaywasahugewolfdog;ahunterforoneoftheValemen,itswhitefangsbaredandgleamingasitwatchedtheintruder.Thetwoshapesfacedeachotherinthenightshadows,thecreaturebreathing in the same slow, rasping wheeze, and the dog growling low andsnappingtheairbeforeit,inchingforwardinahalfcrouch.Then,withasnarlofrage,thebigwolfdogsprangattheintruder,itsjawsopenandreachingfortheblackenedhead.Butthedogwascaughtsuddenlyinmidairbyaclawlikelimbthatwhippedoutfrombeneaththebillowingcloakandjerkedatthethroatofthehaplessanimal, smashinghim lifeless to theground. Ithappened inan instant,andthebrothersweresoastonishedthattheyalmostforgottoduckdownagaintoavoidbeingseen.Amoment later, theyheard thestrangescrapingsoundasthecreaturebegantodragitselfalongthewallof theadjacentbuildingbut thesoundgrewfainterandappearedtobemovingawayfromtheinn.Longmomentspassedas thebrotherswaitedbreathlessly in the shadowsof

theroom,shiveringuncontrollably.Thenightgrewquietaroundthem,andtheystrainedtheirearsforsomeindicationofthecreature’sposition.EventuallySheaworkedupenoughcourage topeeroncemoreover theedgeof thewindowsillinto the darkness beyond. By the time he ducked down again, the frightenedFlickwas ready toscramble for thenearestexit,butahurriedshakeofShea’sheadassuredhimthatthecreaturewasgone.Hehastenedbackfromthewindow

tothewarmthofhisbed,butcaughthimselfhalfwayunderthecoversashesawSheabegintodresshurriedlyinthedarkness.Hetriedtospeak,butShearaiseda finger to his lips. Immediately, Flick began pulling on his own clothes.WhateverSheahad inmind,wherever hewasgoing,Flickwasdetermined tofollow. When they were both dressed, Shea pulled his brother close andwhisperedsoftlyinhisear.“Everyonein theValewillbe indangeras longasweremain.Wemustget

outtonight—now!Areyoudeterminedtogowithme?”FlicknoddedemphaticallyandSheacontinued.“We’llgotothekitchenandpacksomefoodtotakewithusjustenoughtoget

byonforafewdays.I’llleaveanoteforFatherthere.”Without another word, Shea picked up his small bundle of clothing from

insidetheclosetanddisappearednoiselesslyintothepitch-blackhallwaythatledto the kitchen. Flick hurriedly followed, groping his way from the bedroombehindhisbrother.Itwasimpossibletoseeanythinginthehallway,andittookthemseveralminutestofeeltheirwayalongthewallsandaroundthecornerstothebroadkitchendoor.Onceinsidethekitchen,ShealitacandleandmotionedFlick over to the foodstuffs while he scratched out a note for his father on asmall sheetofpaperandstuck itunderabeermug.Flick finishedhis job inafewminutesandcamebacktohisbrother,whoquicklyextinguishedthesmallcandleandmovedtothereardoorwherehestoppedandturned.“Oncewe’reoutside,don’tspeakatall:Justfollowmeclosely.”Flick nodded doubtfully,more than a little concerned about whatmight be

waitingforthembeyondthecloseddoor—waitingtoripouttheirthroatsasithad thewolfdog’sa fewminutesbefore.But therewasno time forhesitationnow, and Shea swung open the wooden door carefully and peered out into abrightlymoonlit yard bordered by heavy clumps of trees.Amoment later, hemotioned toFlick,and theysteppedcautiously from thebuilding into thecoolnight air, closing the door carefully behind them. It was brighter outside thebuildinginthesoftlightofthemoonandstars,andaquickglancerevealedthatnoonewasaround.Therewasonlyanhourortwountildawn,whenthehamletwouldbegintoawaken.Thebrotherspausednexttothebuildingastheylistenedfor any sound thatwouldwarn of danger.Hearing nothing; Shea led thewayacrosstheyard,andtheydisappearedintotheshadowsofanadjacenthedgerow,Flickcastingalast,wistfulglancebackatthehomehemightneverseeagain.Shea silently picked his way through the buildings of the hamlet. The

ValemanknewthattheSkullBearerwasuncertainwhohewasoritwouldhave

caughtthemattheinn.ButitwasagoodbetthatthecreaturesuspectedhelivedwithinthevalleyandsohadcomeintothesleepingtownofShadyValeonanexploratorysearchfor themissinghalfsonof thehouseofShannara.Shearanbackovertheplanoftravelhehadhastilyformedat theinn.If theenemyhaddiscoveredwhere hewas, asBalinor hadwarned, then all the possible escaperouteswouldbewatched.Moreover,oncetheydiscoveredhewasmissing,theywouldlosenotimeintrackinghimdown.Hehadtoassumethattherewasmorethanoneofthesefrighteningcreatures,andthattheywereprobablywatchingthewhole valley. Flick and he would have to seize the advantage of stealth andsecrecy to get out of the valley and the country immediately surrounding itwithinthenextdayorso.Thatmeantaforcedmarchwithveryfewhours’sleep.Thiswouldbe toughenough,but therealproblemwaswhere theywouldflee.Theyhadtohavesupplieswithinafewdays,andatriptotheAnarwouldtakeweeks.ThecountrybeyondtheValewasunfamiliartobothbrothers,exceptforafewwell-traveledroadsandhamletsthattheSkullBearerswouldcertainlybewatching.Giventheirpresentsituation,itwouldbeimpossibletodomuchmorethan choose a general direction. But which way should they run? Whichdirectionwouldtheprowlingcreaturesleastexpectthemtogo?Sheaconsideredthealternativescarefully,thoughhehadalreadymadeuphis

mind.WestoftheValewasopencountryexceptforafewvillages,andiftheywent that way, they would be moving away from the Anar. If they traveledsouth, they would eventually reach the comparative safety of the largerSouthlandcitiesofPiaandZolomachwheretherewerefriendsandrelatives.Butthiswas the logicalroutefor themto take toescapetheSkullBearers,andthecreatureswould be carefullywatching roads south of theVale.Moreover, thecountrybeyondtheDulnforestswasbroadandopen,offeringlittlecoverforthefugitivesandpromisingalongjourneytothecities,duringwhichtheycouldbeeasily caught and killed.North of theVale and beyond theDulnwas a broadsweep of land encompassing theRappahalladranRiver and the hugeRainbowLake andmiles of wild, unsettled land that led eventually to the kingdom ofCallahorn.TheSkullBearerswouldhavepassedthroughitontheirjourneyfromtheNorthland.TheywouldinalllikelihoodknowitfarbetterthanthebrothersandwouldbewatchingitcloselyiftheysuspectedthatBahnorhadcometotheValefromTyrsis.TheAnarlaynortheastoftheVale,throughmilesandmilesoftheroughest,

mosttreacherouscountryinallofthevastSouthland.Thisdirectroutewasthemost dangerous one, but the one in which the enemy searchers would least

expecthimtorun.Itwoundthroughmurkyforests,treacherouslowlands,hiddenswampsandanynumberofunknowndangersthatclaimedthelivesofunwarytravelers every year. But there was something else that lay east of the Dulnforests that even the SkullBearers could not know about— the safety of thehighlandsofLeah.TherethebrotherscouldseektheaidofMenionLeah,Shea’sclosefriendand,despiteFlick’sfears,theonepersonwhomightbeabletoshowthem a way through the dangerous lands that led to the Anar. For Shea, thisseemedtheonlyreasonablealternative.The brothers reached the southeast edge of town and halted breathlessly

beside an old woodshed, their backs to the coarse boarding. Shea lookedcautiouslyahead.HehadnoideawheretheprowlingSkullcreaturemightbebythistime.Everythingwasstillhazyinthecloudedmoonglowofthedyingnight.Somewhereoff to their left, severaldogsbarked furiously,andscattered lightsappearedinthewindowsofnearbyhousesassleepyownerspeeredoutcuriouslyinto theblackness.Dawnwasonlya littleover anhour away, andSheaknewtheywouldhave to chancediscovery and run for the lipof thevalley and theconcealmentoftheDulnforests.Iftheywerestillinthevalleywhenitbecamelight,thecreaturesearchingforthemwouldseethemclimbingtheslopesoftheopenhills,andtheywouldbecaughttryingtoescape.Shea clappedFlickon theback andnodded, breaking into a slow jog ashe

movedawayfromtheshelteroftheValehomesintotheheavyclumpsoftreesandbrushthatdottedthevalleyfloor.Thenightwassilentaroundthemexceptforthemuffledsoundoftheirfeetpaddingonthelonggrassthatwaswetwithearly-morningdew.Leafybrancheswhippedatthemastheyran,slappingtheirunprotectedhandsandfacesinsmall,stingingswipesthatleftthedewclingingto their skin.They ranhurriedly for thegentle, brush-coveredeastern slopeoftheVale, dodging in and out of the heavy oaks and hickories, bounding overloose nut shells and fallen twigs that were scattered beneath the wide limbsribbing the deep sky overhead. They reached the slope and scampered up theopengrassland as quickly as their legswould carry them, not pausing to lookbackorevendowninthedarkness,butonlyaheadtothegroundthatrushedbythem in sudden bounds and disappeared into the Vale behind. Slippingfrequentlyonthedampgrass,theyreachedthelipoftheVale,wheretheireyesweregreetedwithaclearviewofthegreatvalleywallstotheeast,studdedwithshapeless boulders and sparse shrubbery, looming like a great barrier to theworldbeyond.Sheawas inexcellentphysical condition, andhis light form flewacross the

unevenground,movingagilelyamongtheclumpsofbrushandsmallbouldersthat blocked his path. Flick followed doggedly, the stout muscles of his legsworking tirelessly to keep his heavier frame evenwith the fleet figure ahead.Onlyoncedidheriskaquickglanceback,andhiseyesrecordedonlyablurredimage of mingled treetops that rose above the now hidden town and wereoutlined in the glow of the fading night stars and cloudedmoon.HewatchedShea run ahead of him, bounding lightly over small rises and scattered rocks,apparentlyintentonreachingthesmallwoodedareanearthebaseoftheeasternslopeof thevalleyaboutamileahead.Flick’s legswerebeginning to tire,buthis fear of the creature somewhere behind them kept him from lagging. Hewonderedwhatwouldhappento themnow,fugitivesfromtheonlyhometheyhadknown,pursuedbyan incrediblyviciousenemythatwouldsnuffout theirliveslikeasmallcandle’sflameiftheywerecaught.Wherecouldtheygothatthey wouldn’t be found? For the first time since Allanon had departed, Flickwishedferventlythatthemysteriouswandererwouldreappear.Theminutes passed quickly and the small woods ahead grew closer as the

brothersranonwearily,silentlythroughthechillnight.Nosoundreachedtheirears; nothingmoved in the land ahead. Itwas as if theywere the only livingcreatures inavastarena,aloneexcept for thewatchfulstarswinkingsolemnlyoverheadinquietcontentment.Theskywasgrowinglighterasthenightcametoawistfulclose,andthevastaudienceaboveslowlydisappearedonebyoneintothemorning light.Thebrothersranon,oblivious toeverythingbut theneed torun faster— to escape being caught in the revealing light of a sunrise onlyminutesaway.Whentherunnersfinallyreachedthewoodedarea,theycollapsedbreathlessly

onthetwigcoveredgroundbeneathastandoftallhickories,theirearsandheartspounding wildly from the strain of running. They lay motionless for severalminutes,breathingheavilyinthestillness.ThenSheadraggedhimselftohisfeetandlookedbackinthedirectionoftheVale.Nothingwasmovingeitherontheground or in the air, and it appeared the brothers had gotten this far withoutbeingspotted.But theywerestillnotoutof thevalley.Shea reachedoverandforcibly draggedFlick to his feet, pulling him along as hemoved through thetreesandbegantoascendthesteepvalleyslope.Flickfollowedwordlessly,nolongereventhinking,butconcentratinghisebbingwillpoweronputtingonefootbeforetheother.Theeasternslopewasruggedandtreacherous,itssurfaceamassofboulders,

fallen trees, prickly shrubbery, andunevenground thatmade the climba long

anddifficultone.Sheasetthepace,movingoverthelargeobstaclesasfastashecould, while Flick followed in his footsteps. The young men scrambled andclawed their way up the slope. The sky began to grow lighter and the starsdisappearedaltogether.Aheadofthem,abovethelipofthevalley,thesunwassending its first faintglowinto thenightskywith tingesoforangeandyellowthatreflectedvaguelytheoutlineofthedistanthorizon.Sheawasbeginningtotire, his breath coming in short gulps, as he stumbled on. Behind him, Flickforcedhimselftocrawl,dragginghisexhaustedbodyafterhislighterbrother,hishandsandforearmsscratchedandcutbythesharpbrushandrocks.Theclimbseemedendless.Theymovedatasnail’spaceovertheruggedterrain,thefearofdiscoveryaloneforcingtheirtiredlegstocontinuemoving.Iftheywerecaughthere,intheopen,afterallthiseffort...Suddenly, as they reached the three-quartermarkof their climb,Flick cried

outsharply inwarningandfellgaspingagainst theslope.Sheawhirledaroundfearfully, his eyes instantly catching sight of the huge black object that roseslowlyfromthedistantVale—climbinglikeagreatbirdintothedimnessofthemorningsunrise inwideningspirals.TheValemandroppedflatamidtherocksandbrush,motioninghisfallenbrothertocrawlquicklyfromsightandprayingthecreaturehadnotseenthem.TheylayunmovingonthemountainsideastheawesomeBearerof theSkull rosehigher, itscircleof flightgrowingwider, itspath carrying it closer to where the brothers lay. A sudden chilling cry burstfromthecreature,drainingfromthetwoyoungmenthelastfainthopethattheymight escape.Theywere gripped by the same unexplainable feeling of horrorthathadimmobilizedFlick,hiddeninthebrushwithAllanonbeneaththehugeblack shadow. Only this time there was no place to hide. Their terror grewrapidly into the beginning stages of hysteria as the creature soared directlytowardthem,andinthatfleetingmomenttheyknewtheyweregoingtodie.Butin the next instant, the black hunter wheeled in flight and glided north in anunaltering line, receding steadily into the horizon until it was lost from theirsight.The Valemen lay petrified, buried in the scant brush and loose rock for

endlessminutes,afraid thecreaturewouldcomewingingback todestroy themtheminutetheytriedtomove.Butwhentheterrible,unreasoningfearhadebbedaway,theyclimbedshakenlytotheirfeetandinexhaustedsilenceresumedthewearyclimbtothesummitofthevalley.Itwasashortdistancetothelipoftherugged slope, and they hurried across the small, open field beyond to theconcealmentoftheDulnforest.Withinminutestheywerelostinthegreattrees,

andtherisingmorningsuninitsfirstglowfoundthelandthatstretchedbacktotheValecountrysilentandempty.TheyoungmenslowedtheirpaceastheyenteredtheDuln,andfinallyFlick,

whostillhadnoideawheretheyweregoing,calledaheadtoShea.“Whyarewegoingthisway?”hedemanded.Hisownvoicesoundedstrange

afterthelongsilence.“Wherearewegoinganyway?”“WhereAllanontoldus—totheAnar.Ourbestchanceistogothewaythe

SkullBearers least expect us to take. Sowe’ll go east to theBlackOaks andfromtheretravelnorthwardandhopewecanfindhelpalongtheway.”“Waitaminute!”exclaimedFlickinsuddenunderstanding.“Whatyoumean

is we’re going east through Leah and hope Menion can help us. Are youcompletely out of your mind? Why don’t we just give ourselves up to thatcreature?Itwouldbequickerthatway!”Sheathrewuphishandsandturnedwearilytofacehisbrother.“Wedonothaveanyotherchoice!MenionLeahistheonlyonewecanturn

to forhelp.He’s familiarwith thecountrybeyondLeah.HemayknowawaythroughtheBlackOaks.”“Oh, sure,” nodded Flick gloomily. “Are you forgetting that he got us lost

there last time? Iwouldn’t trusthimany farther than Icould throwhim,and IdoubtIcanevenlifthim!”“Wehavenochoice,”repeatedShea.“Youdidn’thavetocomeonthis trip,

youknow.”Hetrailedoffsuddenlyandturnedaway.“SorryIlostmytemper.Butwehavetodothisthingmyway,Flick.”He started walking again in dejected silence, and Flick followed glumly,

shakinghisheadindisapproval.Thewholeideaofrunningawaywasabadonetobeginwith,eventhoughtheyknewthatmonstrouscreaturewasprowlingthevalley.ButtheideaofgoingtoMenionLeahwasworsestill.Thatcockyidlerwould lead them right into a trap if he didn’t get them lost first.MenionwasonlyinterestedinMenion,thegreatadventurer,offonanotherwildexpedition.Thewholeideaofaskinghimforhelpwasridiculous.Flickwasadmittedlybiased.HedisapprovedofMenionLeahandeverything

herepresented—hehaddonesofromthetimetheymetfiveyearsearlier.Theonlysonofafamilythatforcenturieshadgovernedthelittlehighlandkingdom,Menion had spent his entire life involving himself in onewild escapade afteranother.Hehadneverworkedforalivingand,asfarasFlickcouldtell,hehadneverdoneanythingworthwhile.Hespentmostofhistimehuntingorfighting,

pursuits thathardworkingValemenwouldconsider idlerecreation.Hisattitudewasequallydisturbing.Nothingabouthislife,hisfamily,his,homeland,orhiscountryseemedtobeofverygreatimportancetohim.Thehighlanderseemedtofloat through life very much the same as a cloud in an empty sky, touchingnothing,leavingnotraceofhispassing.It,wasthiscarelessapproachtolifethathadnearlygothemkilledayearagointheBlackOaks.YetSheawasdrawntohim; and in his flippant way, the highlander seemed to respondwith genuineaffection.ButFlickhadneverbeenconvincedthatitwasafriendshiphecoulddependendupon,andnowhisbrotherproposedtoentrusttheirlivestothecareofamanwhodidnotknowthefirstthingaboutresponsibility.Hemulled the situationover inhismind,wonderingwhat couldbedone to

prevent the inevitable. Finally he concluded that his best chance would be towatch Menion carefully and warn Shea as tactfully as possible when hesuspectedtheyweredoingthewrongthing.Ifhealienatedhisbrothernow,hewould have no chance later of contradicting the bad advice of the Prince ofLeah.Itwaslateafternoonwhenthetravelersfinallyreachedthebanksofthegreat

Rappahalladran.Shealedthewaydowntheriverbankforaboutamileuntiltheyreachedaplacewhere the far bankcut toward themand the channelbegan tonarrowconsiderably.Heretheystoppedandgazedacrossattheforestsbeyond.The sun would be down in another hour or so, and Shea did not want to becaughtonthenearbankthatnight.Hewouldfeelsaferwiththewaterbetweenhim and any pursuers.He explained to Flick,who agreed, and they set aboutmaking a small raft, using their hand axes and hunting knives. The raft wasnecessarilyasmallone,itsonlypurposetocarrytheirpacksandclothing.Therewasnotimetoconstructaraftlargeenoughtocarrythem,andtheywouldhavetoswimtheriver,towingtheirbelongings.Theycompletedthejobinshortorderand,strippingoff theirpacksandclothes, tied themdownin themiddleof theraftandslippedintothechillingwatersoftheRappahalladran.Thecurrentwasswift,butnotdangerousatthistimeoftheyear,thespringthawshavingalreadypassed.The only problemwas finding a suitable landing place along the highbanksoftheothershoreaftertheirswimwasover.Asithappened,thecurrentswept them along for almost half a mile as they struggled to tow thecumbersomeraft,andwhenthecrossinghadfinallybeencompleted,theyfoundtheywere close to anarrow inlet in the farbank that offered an easy landing.They scrambled out of the coldwater, shivering in the early evening air, andafterdragging theraftoutafter them,quicklydriedoffanddressedagain.The

entireoperationhadtakenalittleoveranhour,andthesunwasnowlostfromsight beneath the tall trees, leaving only a dull reddish glow to light theafternoonskyintheminutesthatremainedbeforedarkness.Thebrotherswerenotreadytoquitfortheday,butSheasuggestedtheysleep

for severalhours to regain their strengthand then resume their journeyduringthenighttoavoidanychanceofbeingseen.Theshelteredinletseemedsafe,sotheycurledupintheirblanketsbeneathagreatelmandwerequicklyasleep.ItwasnotuntilmidnightthatSheawokeFlickwithalightshake,andtheyquicklypacked their gear and prepared to resume their hike through theDuln.At onepoint, Shea thought he heard something prowling about on the far shore andhurriedly warned Flick. They listened in silence for long minutes, but coulddetect nothing moving in the blackness of the massive trees and finallyconcludedthatSheamusthavebeenmistaken.Flickwasquicktopointoutthatnothing could be heard anyway above the sound of the surging river, and theSkull creaturewasprobably still looking for them in theVale.His confidencehad been bolstered considerably by the mistaken belief that they hadmomentarilyoutsmartedanypursuers.Theywalkeduntilsunrise,tryingtomoveinaneasterlydirection,butunable

to see much from their low vantage point. Any clear view of the stars wasmasked by a confusing network of heavy branches and rustling leavesinterlockedabovethem.Whentheyfinallystopped, theywerestillnotclearoftheDuln,andhadnoideahowmuchfarthertheyhadtowalkbeforereachingthebordersofLeah.Sheawasrelievedat theappearanceof thesunrisingdirectlybefore them; theywere still heading in the right direction. Finding a clearingnestled in a cluster of great elms sheltered on three sides by thick brush, theyoungmen tossed down their packs and quickly fell asleep, totally exhaustedfrom the strenuous flight. It was late afternoon before they awoke and beganpreparations for the night walk. Unwilling to start a fire that might attractattention, they contented themselves with munching on dried beef and rawvegetables,completingthemealwithsomefruitandalittlewater.Astheyate,Flickagainbroughtupthequestionoftheirdestination.“Shea,”hebegancautiously,“Idon’twanttodwellonthematter,butareyou

surethisisthebestwaytogo?Imean,evenifMenionwantstohelp,wecouldeasilygetlostintheswampsandhillsthatliebeyondtheBlackOaksandnevergetout.”Sheanoddedslowlyandthenshrugged.“It’sthatorgofarthernorthwherethereislesscoverandthecountrywould

beunfamiliareventoMenion.Doyouthinkwehaveabetterchoice?”“Isupposenot,”Flickrespondedunhappily.“ButIkeepthinkingaboutwhat

Allanon told us—you remember, about not telling anyone and being carefulabouttrustinganyone.Hewasverydefiniteaboutthat.”“Let’s not start that again,” Shea flared up. “Allanon isn’t here and the

decisionismine.Idon’tseehowwecanhopetoreachtheAnarforestswithoutthehelpofMenion.Besides,he’salwaysbeenagoodfriend,andhe’soneofthefinestswordsmenIhaveeverseen.We’llneedhisexperienceifwe’reforcedtostandandfight.”“Whichwearecertaintohavetodowithhimalong,”Flickfinishedpointedly.

“Besides,what chance dowehave against something like thatSkull creature?Why,itwouldtearustobits!”“Don’tbesogloomy,”Shealaughed,“wearen’tdeadyet.Don’tforget—we

havetheprotectionoftheElfstones.”Flickwasnotparticularlyconvincedbythisargument,butfeltthatthewhole

matterwas best left alone for the present.He had to admit thatMenionLeahwouldbeagoodmantohavearoundinafight,butatthesametimehewasnotsure whose side the unpredictable fellow would decide to take. Shea trustedMenion because of the instinctive liking he had developed for the flashyadventurerduringtripstoLeahwithhisfatheroverthepastfewyears.ButFlickdidnotfeelthathisbrotherwasentirelyrationalinhisanalysisofthePrinceofLeah.LeahwasoneofthefewremainingmonarchiesintheSouthland,andSheawas an outspoken advocate of decentralized government, an opponent ofabsolutepower.Nevertheless,heclaimedfriendshipwiththeheirtoamonarch’sthrone—factswhichinFlick’sopinionseemedentirelyinconsistent.Eitheryoubelieved insomethingoryoudidn’t—youcouldn’thave itbothwaysandbehonestwithyourself.Themeal was finished in silence as the first shadows of evening began to

appear.Thesunhadlongsincedisappearedfromviewanditssoftgoldenrayshadchangedslowly toadeepredminglingwith thegreenboughsof thegianttrees. The brothers quickly packed their few belongings and began the slow,steady march eastward, their backs to the fading daylight. The woods wereunusuallystill,evenforearlyevening,andthewaryValemenwalkedinuneasysilence through the shrouded gloom of the forest night, the moon a distantbeacon thatappearedonlyatbrief intervals through thedarkboughsoverhead.Flickwasparticularlydisturbedby theunnatural silenceof theDuln,a silencestrangetothishugeforest—butuncomfortablyfamiliartothestockyValeman.

Occasionally, theywouldpause in thedarkness, listening to thedeepstillness;then,hearingnothing,theywouldquicklyresumethetiringmarch,searchingfora break in the forest ahead thatwould open onto the highlands beyond. Flickhatedtheoppressivesilenceandoncebeganwhistlingsoftlytohimself,butwasquicklystilledbyawarningmotionfromShea.Sometime during the early hours of the morning, the brothers reached the

edge of the Duln and broke through into the shrub-covered grasslands thatstretchedbeyondformilestothehighlandsofLeah.Themorningsunwasstillseveralhoursaway,sothetravelerscontinuedtheirjourneyeastward.BothfeltimmenselyrelievedtobefreeoftheDuln,awayfromthestiflingclosenessofitsmonstrous trees and from the unpleasant silence. They may have been saferwithin the concealing shadows of the forest, but they felt considerably betterequipped todealwithanydanger that threatened themon theopengrasslands.Theyevenbegan to speakagain in lowvoices as theywalked.About anhourbeforedaybreak,theyreachedasmall,brush-coveredvalewheretheystoppedtoeatandrest.TheywerealreadyabletoseethedimlylightedhighlandsofLeahto the east, a journey of yet another day. Shea estimated that if they startedwalking again at sundown they could easily reach their destination beforeanother sunrise. Then everything would depend on Menion Leah. With thisunspokenthoughtinmind,hequicklyfellasleep.Only minutes passed and they were awake again. It was not something

movingthatcausedthemtoriseinsuddenapprehension,butadeathlyquietthatsettledominouslyoverthegrasslands.Immediatelytheysensedtheunmistakablepresenceofanotherbeing.Thefeelingstruckthematthesameinstantandbothcametotheirfeetwithastart,withoutaword,theirdrawndaggersgleaminginthefaintlightastheylookedcautiouslyabouttheirsmallcover.Nothingmoved.Sheamotionedhisbrothertofollowashecrawleduptheshrub-coveredslopeofthelittlevaletowheretheycouldviewthelandbeyond.Theylaymotionlessinthebrush, peering into the early-morninggloom, eyes straining to detectwhatlurked beyond. They did not question the fact that something was out there.Therewasnoneed—bothhadknown the feelingbefore thewindowof theirbedroom.Nowtheywaited,scarcelydaringtobreathe,wonderingifthecreaturehad found themat last, praying theyhadbeen careful enough to conceal theirmovements.Itseemedimpossiblethattheycouldbefoundnowaftertheirhardstruggletoescape,wrongthatdeathshouldcomewhenthesafety,ofLeahwasonlyafewhoursaway.Then with a sudden rush of wind and leaves, the black shape of the Skull

Bearerrosesoundlesslyfromalonglineofscrubtreesfar to their left. Itsdimbulkseemedtoriseandhangheavilyabovetheearthforseverallongmoments,asifunabletomove,silhouettedagainstthefaintlightofanapproachingdawn.The brothers lay flat against the edge of the rise, as silent as the brush aboutthem,waiting for thecreature tomove.How ithad tracked them this far—ifindeedithad—theycouldonlyguess.Perhapsitwasonlyblindluckthathadbrought themall together in this single, emptypieceofgrassland,but the factremainedthattheValemenwerehuntedcreaturesandtheirdeathhadbecomeavery real possibility. The creature hungmotionless against the sky amomentlonger, then slowly, sluggishly, the greatwings reaching outward, it began tomovetowardtheirplaceofconcealment.Flickgaveanaudiblegaspofdismayandsankfartherbackintothesurroundingbrush,hisfaceasheninthegraylight,hishandgrippingShea’sslimarm.Butbeforereachingthem,whilestillseveralhundred feet away, the creature dropped into a small grove of trees and wasmomentarily lost fromsight.Thebrotherspeereddesperately in thehazy light,unable,toseetheirpursuer.“Now,” Shea’s determined voice whispered urgently in his brother’s ear,

“whilethecreaturecan’tseeus.Makeforthatlineofbrushahead!”Flickdidnotneedtobetoldtwice.Oncetheblackmonsterfinishedwiththe

treesthatnowoccupieditsattention,thenextstopwouldbetheirhidingplace.TheValemanscamperedfearfullyfromhisplaceofconcealment,halfrunning,half crawling along thewetmorning grass, his touseled head jerking in quickglimpsesoverhisshoulder,expectingtheSkullBearertoriseanymomentfromthe grove and spy him.Behind him ranShea, his lithe body bent close to theground as he darted across the open grassland, zigzagging his way silentlybehindhisbrother’sstockyfigure.Theyreachedthebrushwithoutmishap,andthenShearememberedtheyhadforgottentheirpacks—thepacksthatnowlayat thebottomof thevale theyhadjust left.Thecreaturecouldnotmissseeingthem and,when it did, the chasewould be over and therewould be nomoreguessingwhichwaytheyhadgone.Sheafelthisstomachsink.Howcouldtheyhavebeensostupid?HegrabbedFlick’sshoulderindesperation,buthisbrotherhadalso realized theirerrorandslumpedheavily to theground.Sheaknewhehadtogobackforthetelltalepacks,evenifhewereseen—therewasnootherchoice.Butevenashe rosehesitantly, theblackshapeof thehunterappeared,hangingmotionlessinthebrighteningsky.Thechancewasgone.Once again they were saved by the coming of dawn. As the Skull Bearer

poised silently above thegrasslands, thegolden rimof themorning sunbroke

from its resting place in the eastern hills and sent its first emissaries of theapproachingdayshootingforthtolightthelandandskyintheirwarmglow.Thesunlightbrokeoverthedarkbulkofthenightcreature,andseeingthatitstimewas gone, it rose abruptly into the sky, wheeling about the land in great,wideningcircles.Itscreameditsdeathlikecrywithchillinghatred,freezingforonequickmomentallthegentlesoundsofmorning;thenturningnorth,itflewswiftly from sight.Amoment later itwasgone, and twograteful, unbelievingValemenwereleftstaringmutelyintothedistant,emptymorningsky.

ChapterFive

By late afternoon of that same day, theValemen had reached the highlandcityofLeah.Thestoneandmortarwallsthatboundedthecitywereawelcomehaven to theweary travelers, even though thebright afternoon sunmade theirhot,dull-graymassappearasunfriendlyas low-heated iron.TheverysizeandbulkofthewallswererepugnanttotheValemen,whopreferredthefreedomothe more pregnable forest lands surrounding their own home, but exhaustionquicklypushedanydislikesasideandtheypassedwithouthesitatingthroughthewestgatesandintothenarrowstreetsofthecity.Itwasabusyhour,withpeoplepushingandshoving theirwaypast thesmall shopsandmarkets that lined theentrywaytothewalledcityandraninwardtowardMenion’shome,astatelyoldmansionscreenedbytreesandhedgesthatborderedcarefullymanicuredlawnsand fragrant gardens. Leah appeared to be a great metropolis to the men ofShadyVale,thoughitwasinfactcomparativelysmallwhenoneconsideredthesizeof thegreatcitiesof thedeepSouthlandoreventhebordercityofTyrsis.Leahwasacitysetapartfromtherestoftheworld,andtravelerspassedthroughitsgatesonlyinfrequently.Itwasself-contained,existingprimarilytoservetheneedsofitsownpeople.ThemonarchythatgovernedthelandwastheoldestintheSouthland.Itwastheonlylawthatitssubjectsknew—perhapstheonlyonetheyneeded.Sheahadneverbeenconvincedofthis,thoughthehighlandpeoplefor the most part were content with the government and the way of life itprovided.As the Valemen maneuvered their way through the crowds, Shea found

himselfreflectingonhisimprobablefriendshipwithMenionLeah.Itwouldhavetobetermedimprobable,hemused,becauseonthesurfacetheyseemedtohaveso little incommon.Valemanandhighlander,withbackgroundssocompletelydissimilar as to defy anymeaningful comparison.Shea, the adopted sonof aninnkeeper,hardheaded,pragmatic,andraisedinthetraditionoftheworkingman.Menion,theonlysonoftheroyalhouseofLeahandheirtothethrone,bornintoalifefilledwithresponsibilitieshepointedlyignored,possessedofabrashself-confidencethathetriedtoconcealwithonlymoderatesuccess,andblessedwithanuncannyhunter’sinstinctthatmeritedgrudgingrespectevenfromsosevereacriticasFlick.Theirpoliticalphilosophieswereasunlikeastheirbackgrounds.Sheawas staunchly conservative, an advocate of the oldways,whileMenion

was convinced that the old ways had proved ineffective in dealing with theproblemsoftheraces.Yet for all their differences, they had formed a friendship that evidenced

mutualrespect.Menionfoundhissmallfriendtobeanachronisticinhisthinkingat times, but he admired his conviction and determination. The Valeman,contrary to Flick’s oft-expressed opinion, was not blinded to Menion’sshortcomings,buthesawinthePrinceofLeahsomethingotherswereinclinedtooverlook—astrong,compellingsenseofrightandwrong.At the present time,Menion Leah was pursuing life without any particular

concernforthefuture.Hetraveledagooddeal,hehuntedthehighlandforests,butforthemostpartheseemedtospendhistimefindingnewwaystogetintotrouble.Hishard-earnedexpertisewith thelongbowandasa trackerachievednousefulpurpose.Onthecontrary,itmerelyservedtoaggravatehisfather,whohadrepeatedlybutunsuccessfullyattemptedtointeresthissonandonlyheirintheproblemsofgoverninghiskingdom.Oneday,Menionwouldbeaking,butSheadoubted thathis lighthearted friendevergave thepossibilitymore thanapassingthought.Thiswasfoolish,ifsomewhatexpected.Menion’smotherhaddied several years ago, shortly after Shea had first visited the highlands.Menion’sfatherwasnotanoldman,butthedeathofakingdidnotalwayscomewithage,andmanyformerrulersofLeahhaddiedsuddenlyandunexpectedly.If something unforeseen should befall his father,Menionwould become kingwhetherhewaspreparedornot.Therewouldbesomelessonslearnedthen,Sheathoughtandsmiledinspiteofhimself.The Leah ancestral home was a wide, two-story stone building nestled

peacefullyamidaclusterofspreadinghickoriesandsmallgardens.Thegroundswerescreenedawayfromthesurroundingcitybyhighshrubbery.Abroadparklaydirectlyacrossfromasmallwalkwayfrontingthehome,andastheValemencrossedwearily to the front gates, children splashed playfully through a smallpondatthehubofthepark’sseveralpaths.Thedaywasstillwarm,andpeoplehurriedpast the travelerson theirway tomeet friendsor to reach theirhomesandfamilies.Inthewest,thelateafternoonskywasdeepeningintoasoftgoldenhaze.The tall iron gates were ajar, and the Valemen walked quickly toward the

front door of the home, winding through the long stone walkway’s highshrubberyandgardenborders.Theywerestillapproachingthestonethresholdatthefrontofthehome,whentheheavyoakdooropenedfromwithinandthere,unexpectedly,wasMenion Leah.Dressed in amulticolored cloak and vest of

greenandpaleyellow,hislean,whip-likeframemovedwiththegracefuleaseofacat.Hewasnotabigman,thoughseveralinchestallerthantheValemen,buthewasbroadthroughtheshouldersandhislongarmsgavehimarangylook.Hewasonhiswaydownasidepath,butwhenhecaughtsightofthetworagged,dusty figures approaching along the main walk, he stopped short. A momentlaterhiseyeswentwidewithsurprise.“Shea!”heexclaimedsharply.“What in thenameofall...whathappened to

you?”Herushedoverquicklytohisfriendandgrippedtheslimhandwarmly.“Goodtoseeyou,Menion,”Sheasaidwithasmile.Thehighlandersteppedbackapace,andhisgrayeyesstudiedthemshrewdly.“Ineverexpectedthatmyletterwouldgetresultsthisquickly...”Hetrailedoff

andstudiedtheother’swearyface.“Ithasn’t,hasit?Butdon’ttellme—Idon’twant tohear it. I’d ratherassumefor thesakeofour friendship thatyoucamejusttovisitme.AndbroughtdistrustfuloldFlick,too,Isee.Thisisasurprise.”HegrinnedquicklypastSheaatthescowlingFlick,whonoddedcurtly.“Thiswasn’tmyidea,youmaybesure.”“Iwishthatourfriendshipalonewerethereasonfor thisvisit.”Sheasighed

heavily.“IwishIdidn’thaveto involveyouinanyof this,butI’mafraidthatwe’re inserious troubleandyouare theonepersonwhomightbeable tohelpus.”Menionstartedtosmile,thenchangedhismindquicklyashecaughtthemood

reflectedintheother’sdrawnfaceandnoddedsoberly.“Nothingfunnyaboutthis,isthere?Well,ahotbathandsomedinnerarethe

firstorderofbusiness.Wecandiscusswhatbroughtyouherelater.Comeonin.Myfather’sengagedontheborder,butI’matyourdisposal.”Onceinside,MeniondirectedtheservantstotakechargeoftheValemen,and

theywereledofftoawelcomebathandachangeofclothes.Anhourlater,thethreefriendsgatheredinthegreathallforadinnerthatwouldordinarilyhavefedtwice their number, but on this night barely satisfied them.As they ate, Shearelated to Menion the strange tale behind their flight from Shady Vale. Hedescribed Flick’s meeting with the mysterious wanderer Allanon and theinvolved story behind the Sword of Shannara. It was necessary, despiteAllanon’sorderofsecrecy,ifhemustaskMenion’shelp.HetoldofthecomingofBalinorwithhis tersewarning,of theirnarrowescape from theblackSkullcreature, and finally of their flight to the highlands. Shea did all the talking.Flickwas unwilling to enter into the conversation, resisting the temptation he

felttoelaborateonhisownpartintheeventsofthepastfewweeks.Hechosetokeepquiet becausehewasdeterminednot to trustMenion.Hewas convincedthatitwouldbebetterfortheValemenifatleastoneofthemkepthisguardupandhismouthclosed.Menion Leah listened quietly to the long tale, evincing no visible surprise

until thepart aboutShea’sbackground,withwhichheappeared immeasurablypleased.His lean brown face remained for themost part an inscrutablemask,brokenonlybythatperpetualhalfsmileandthesmallwrinklesatthecornersofthesharpgrayeyes.HerecognizedquicklyenoughwhytheValemenhadcometohim.Theycoolneverexpect tomake it fromLeah through the lowlandsofCleteandfromtherethroughtheBlackOakswithoutassistancefromsomeonewhoknewthecountry—someonetheycouldtrust.Correction,Menionthought,smilinginwardly—someoneSheacouldtrust.HeknewthatFlickwouldneverhave agreed to come toLeah unless his brother had insisted.There had neverbeenmuchofafriendshipbetweenFlickandhimself.Still,theywerebothhere,bothwillingtoseekhishelp,whateverthereason,andhewouldneverbeabletorefuseanythingtoShea,evenwheretherewasrisktohisownlife.Shea finished his story and waited patiently for Menion’s response. The

highlanderseemedlostinthought,hiseyesfixedonthehalf-filledglassofwipeathiselbow.Whenhespoke,hisvoicewasdistant:“TheSwordofShannara. Ihaven’theard that story inyears—never really

believed itwas true.Nowout of complete obscurity it reappearswithmy oldfriendSheaOhmsfordas theheir apparent.Orareyou?”Hiseyes snappedupsuddenly.“Youcouldbearedherring,adecoyfortheseNorthlandcreaturestochase and destroy.How canwe be sure aboutAllanon? From the tale you’vetoldme, he seems almost as dangerous as the things hunting you— perhapsevenoneofthem.”Flickstartednoticeablyatthissuggestion,butSheashookhisheadfirmly.“Ican’tbringmyselftobelievethat.Itdoesn’tmakeanysense.”“Maybenot,”continuedMenionslowly, inwardlymusingover theprospect.

“Could be I’m getting old and suspicious. Frankly, this whole story is prettyimprobable. If, it’s true,youarefortunate tohavegotten this faronyourown.There are a great many tales of the Northland, of the evil that dwells in thewilderness above the Streleheim Plains — power, they say; beyond theunderstandingofanymortalbe—”Hetrailedoffforamoment,thensippedgingerlyathiswine.“TheSwordofShannara...justthepossibilitythatthelegendmightbetrueis

enoughto...”Heshookhisheadandgrinnedopenly.“HowcanIdenymyselfthechance to findout?You’ll need a guide to get you to theAnar, and I’myourman.”“I knewyouwouldbe.”Shea reachedover andgrippedhis hand in thanks.

Flickgroanedsoftly,butmanagedafeeblesmile.“Nowthen,let’sseewherewestand.”Meniontookchargequickly,andFlick

wentbacktodrinkingwine.“WhatabouttheseElfstones?Let’shavealookatthem.”Sheaquicklyproducedthesmallleatherpouchandemptiedthecontentsinto

his open palm. The three stones sparkled brightly in the torchlight, their blueglowdeepandrich.Meniontouchedonegentlyandthenpickeditup.“They are indeed beautiful,” he acknowledged approvingly. “I don’t know

whenI’veseentheirlike.Buthowcantheyhelpus?”“Idon’tknowthatyet,”admittedtheValemanreluctantly.“Ionlyknowwhat

Allanontoldus—thatthestoneswereonlytobeusedinemergencies,andthattheywereverypowerful.”“Well,Ihopethathewasright,”snortedtheother.“Iwouldhatetodiscover

thehardway thathewasmistaken.But I supposewe’llhave to livewith thatpossibility.” He paused for amoment andwatched as Shea placed the stonesbackinthepouchandtuckedtheleathercontainerintohistunicfront.WhentheValemanlookedupagain,hewasstaringblanklyintohiswinelass.“IdonowsomethingofthemancalledBalinor,Shea.Heisafinesoldier—I

doubtwecouldfindhisequalinthewholeoftheSouthland.Wemightbebetterofftoseektheaidofhisfather.YouwouldbebetterprotectedbythesoldiersofCallahorn thanby theforest-dwellingDwarfsof theAnar. Iknowtheroads toTyrsis, all of them safe. But almost any path to the Anar will run directlythroughtheBlackOaks—notthesafestplaceintheSouthland,asyouknow.”“Allanon told us to go to the Anar,” persisted Shea. “Hemust have had a

reason,anduntilIfindhimagain,I’mnottakinganychances.Besides,Balinorhimselfadvisedustofollowhisinstructions.”Menionshrugged.“That’s unfortunate, because even if we manage to get through the Black

Oaks, I really don’t know much about the land beyond. I’m told that it’srelativelyunsettledcountryall thewayto theAnarforests.Theinhabitantsaremostly Southlanders and Dwarfs, who should not prove dangerous to us.Culhaven is a smallDwarf village on theSilverRiver in the lowerAnar— Idon’tthinkwe’llhavemuchtroublefindingit,ifwegetthatfar.First,wehave

tonavigatetheLowlandsofClete,whichwillbeespeciallybadwiththespringthaws, and then the BlackOaks. That will be themost dangerous part of thetrip.”“Can’twefindawayaround...?”Sheaaskedhopefully.MenionpouredhimselfanotherglassofwineandpassedthedecantertoFlick

whoaccepteditwithoutblinking.“Itwouldtakeweeks.NorthofLeahistheRainbowLake.Ifwegothatway,

wehavetocircletheentirelaketothenorththroughtheRunneMountains.TheBlackOaksstretchsouthfromthelakeforahundredmiles.Ifwetrytogosouthandcomenorthagainontheotherside,itwilltakeusatleasttwoweeks—andthat’sopencountryalltheway.Nocoveratall.Wehavetogoeastthroughthelowlands,thencutthroughtheoaks.Flick frowned; recalling how on their last visit to Leah, Menion had

succeededinlosingthemforseveraldaysinthedreadedforest,wheretheyweremenacedbywolvesandravagedbyhunger.Theyhadbarelyescapedwiththeirlives.“Old Flick remembers the Black Oaks,” laughed Menion as he caught the

other’sdarkexpression.“Well,Flick,thistimeweshallbebetterprepared.It’streacherouscountry,butnooneknowsitbetterthanIdo.Andwearen’tlikelytobefollowedthere.Still,we’lltellnoonewherewe’regoing.Simplysaythatweareoffforanextendedhuntingtrip.Myfatherhashisownproblemsanyway—hewon’tevenmissme.He’susedtohavingmegone,evenforweeksatatime.”I He paused for a moment and looked to Shea to see if he had forgotten

anything.TheValemangrinnedatthehighlander’sundisguisedenthusiasm.“Menion,Iknewwecouldcountonyou.Itwillbegoodtohaveyoualong.”Flicklookedopenlydisgusted;andMenion,catchingthelook,couldnotallow

theopportunityforalittlefunattheother’sexpensetopass.“Ithinkweoughttotalkforaminuteaboutwhat’sinthisforme,”hedeclared

suddenly. “I mean, what do I get out of all this if I do guide you safely toCulhaven?”“Whatdoyouget?”exclaimedFlickwithoutthinking.“Whyshouldyou...”“It’sallright,”theotherinterruptedquickly.“Ihadforgottenyou,oldFlick;

butyoudon’tneedtoworry;Idon’tintendtotakeanythingfromyourshare.”“Whatareyou talkingabout,slyone?”ragedFlick.“Ididnotmeanever to

takeanything...”“That’s enough!” Shea leaned forward, his face flushed. “This cannot

continue ifweare to travel together.Menion,youmustceaseyourattempts to

baitmybrotherintoanger;andyou,Flick,mustputaside,onceandforall,yourpointlesssuspicionsofMenion.Wemusthavesomefaithinoneanother—andwemustbefriends!”Menionlookeddownsheepishly,andFlickwasbitinghislipindisgust.Shea

satbackquietlyastheangerdrainedoutofhim.“Well spoken,” acknowledged Menion after a moment. “Flick, here is my

handonit.Letusmakeatemporarytruce,atleast—forShea.”Flicklookedattheextendedhandandthenslowlyacceptedit.“Wordscomeeasilyforyou,Menion.Ihopeyoumeanthemthistime.”Thehighlanderacceptedtherebukewithasmile:“Atruce,Flick.”HereleasedtheValeman’shandanddrainedhiswineglass.Heknewhehad

convincedFlickofnothing.Itwasgrowinglatenow,andallthreewereeagertocompletetheirplansand

retire for the night. They quickly decided that they would leave early thefollowingmorning.Menionarrangedtohavethemoutfittedwithlightcampinggear, including backpacks, hunting cloaks, provisions, and weapons. HeproducedamapofthecountryeastofLeah,butitwaspoorlydetailedbecausethe landswereso littleknown.TheLowlandsofClete,whichspread from thehighlandseastwardtotheBlackOaks,wasadismal,treacherousmoor—yetonthemap,itwasnomorethanablankwhiteareawiththenamewrittenin.TheBlackOaksstoodoutprominently,adensemassofforestlandrunningfromtheRainbowLakesouthward,standinglikeagreatwallbetweenLeahandtheAnar.Menion discussed briefly with the Valemen his knowledge of the terrain andweatherconditionsatthistimeoftheyear.Butlikethemap,hisinformationwassketchy.Mostofwhatthetravelerswouldfindcouldnotaccuratelyanticipated,andtheunexpectedcouldbemostdangerous.Bymidnight, the threewere inbed, theirpreparations for the journey to the

Anarcomplete.IntheroomhewassharingwithFlick,Shealaybackwearilyinthe softnessof thebeddingand studied for amoment thedarknessbeyondhisopen window. The night had clouded over, the sky a mass of heavy, rollingblacknessthatsettledominouslyaboutthemistyhighlands.Gonewastheheatofthe day, blown east by the cooling night breezes, and throughout the sleepingcity there was a peaceful solitude. In the bed next to him, Flick was alreadyasleep,hisbreathingheavyandregular.Sheawatchedhimthoughtfully.Hisownhead was heavy and his body weary from the struggle to reach Leah, yet heremainedawake.Hewasbeginningtorealizeforthefirsttimethetruthabouthis

predicament.TheflighttoreachMenionwasonlythefirststepinajourneythatmight very possibly go on for years. Even if theymanaged to reach theAnarsafely,Sheaknewthateventuallytheywouldbeforcedtorunagain.Thesearchtofind themwouldcontinueuntil theWarlockLordwasdestroyed—orSheawasdead.Untilthen,therewouldbenogoingbacktotheVale,tothehomeandfatherhehadleft,andwherevertheywere,theirsafetywouldlastonlyuntilthewingedhuntersfoundthemonceagain.Thetruthwasterrifying.Inthesilentdarkness,SheaOhmsfordwasonewith

hisfear,anddeepwithinhimself,hefoughtbackagainstarisingknotofterror.Hetookalongtimefinallytofallasleep.Itwas a dull, sunless day that followed, a day damp and chilling to human

fleshandbone.Sheaandhistwocompanionsfounditdevoidofanywarmthandcomfort as they journeyed eastward through themisty highlands of Leah andbegan a slow descent toward the cheerless climate of the lowlands beyond.Therewasnotalkingamongthemastheyhikedinsinglefiledownthenarrowfootpathswhichwound tediously about gray, hulking boulders and clumps ofdying,formlessbrush.Menionled,hiskeeneyescarefullypickingouttheoftenobscure traces of a trail; his stride long and relaxed as he moved almostgracefullyoverthegraduallyrougheningterrain.Acrosshisleanbackhecarriedasmallpacktowhichhehadattachedagreat

ashbowandarrows.Inaddition,beneaththepackandfastenedtohisbodybyalongleatherstrapwastheancientswordwhichhisfatherhadgivenhimwhenhehad reached theageofmanhood— the swordwhichwas thebirthrightof thePrinceofLeah.Itscold,grayironglimmeredfaintlyinthedimlight;andShea,whofollowedseveralpacesback,foundhimselfwondering if itwasatall likethefabledSwordofShannara.HisElveneyebrowsliftedquizzicallyashetriedtopeerintotheendlessgloomofthelandahead.Nothingseemedalive.Itwasadead land for dead things, and the living were trespassers here. Not a verystimulating idea;hegrinned faintly tohimselfashe forcedhismind to turn toothermatters.Flickbroughtuptherear,hissturdybackbearingthebulkoftheprovisionsthatwouldhavetosustainthemuntiltheywerethroughtheLowlandsofCleteandtheforbiddingBlackOaks.Oncetheyhadgottenthatfar—iftheygot that far— they would be forced to buy or trade for food from the fewscatteredinhabitantsofthecountrybeyond,orasalastresort,seeknourishmentfromthelanditself,aprospectthatFlickdidnotparticularlyrelish.Althoughhefelt somewhat more secure in his mind now that Menion was genuinelyinterestedinhelpingthemonthisjourney,hewasneverthelessstillunconvinced

ofthehighlander’sabilitytodoso.Theeventsoftheirlasttripwerestillfreshinhismind,andhewantednopartofanotherhair-raisingexperiencelikethatone.Thefirstdayworeonquicklyasthethreetraveledpasttheboundariesofthe

kingdom of Leah and by nightfall had reached the fringes of the dismalLowlands ofClete.They found shelter for the night in a small vale under thenegligibleprotectionofafewscruffytreesandsomeheavybrush.Thedampnessof themist had soaked their clothing completely through, and the chill of the,descendingnightleftthemshiveringwithcold.Abriefattemptwasmadetostartafire inaneffort togainsomesmallwarmthanddryness,but thewoodintheareawassothoroughlysaturatedwithmoisturethatitwasimpossibletogetittoburn.Eventually,theygaveuponthefireandsettledforsomecoldrationswhilewrapped in blanketswhich had carefully beenwaterproofed at the start of thejourney.Littlewassaidbecausenoonefeltmuchliketalkingbeyondmumblingcurses upon the general weather conditions. There was no sound from thedarknessbeyondwhere theysathuddledwithin thebrush; itwasapenetratingstillnessthatproddedthemindwithsudden,unexpectedapprehension,forcingittolisteninafrightenedeffort tocatchsomefaint,reassuringrustleof life.Buttherewasonly the silenceand theblackness, andnot even thewispof abriefwind touched theirchilled facesas they layquietly in theblankets.Eventuallythewearinessoftheday’smarchstoleoverthem,andonebyonetheydroppeduneasilyofftosleep.Thesecondandthirddaywereunimaginablyworsethanthefirst.Itrainedthe

entire time — a slow, chilling drizzle that soaked first the clothing, thenpenetratedintotheskinandbone,andfinallyreachedtheverynervecenters,sothat the only feeling the weary body would permit was one of thorough,discomfortingwetness.Theairwasdampandcoldintheday,droppingofftoanearfreezeatnight.Everythingaroundthethreetravelersseemedtotallybeatendown by this lingering coldness; what little brush and small foliage could beseenwastwistedanddying,formlessclumpsofwoodandwitheredleavesthatsilentlywaited tocrumbleanddisappearaltogether.Nohumanoranimal livedhere—eventhesmallestrodentwouldhavebeenswallowedupandconsumedbytheclutchingsoftnessofanearthseepedthroughwiththechillingdampnessoflong,sunless,lifelessdaysandnights.Nothingmoved,nothingstirredasthethreewalked eastward through shapeless countrywhere therewas no trail, nohintthatanyoneoranythinghadeverpassedthatwaybefore,orwouldeverdosoagain.Thesunneverappearedduringtheirmarch,nofainttraceofitsdirectrays flickeringdownward to show that somewherebeyond thisdead, forgotten

landwasaworldoflife.Whetheritwastheperpetualmistortheheavycloudsor a combination of both that so completely blotted out the sky remained anunanswered question. Their only world was that cheerless, hateful gray landthroughwhichtheywalked.By the fourth day, they began to despair. Even though there had been no

furthersignofthewingedhuntersoftheWarlockLordanditappearedthatanypursuit had been abandoned, the possibility offered little solace as the hoursdraggedbyand the silencegrewdeeper, the landmore sullen.EvenMenion’sgreatspiritbegan towaveranddoubtwormeditsstealthyway intohisusuallyconfidentmind.Hebegan towonder if, theyhad lost the direction, if perhapstheyhadeventraveledinacircle.Heknewthelandwouldnevertellthem,thatonce lost in this bleak country, theywere lost forever.Shea andFlick felt thefear even more deeply. They knew nothing of the lowlands and lacked thehunter’s skill and instinct that Menion possessed. They relied completely onhim, but sensed that something was wrong even though the highlander hadpurposelykeptsilentabouthisowndoubtssoasnottoworrythem.Thehourspassed,andthecoldandthewetandthehatefuldeadnessofthelandremainedunchanged. They felt their last shred of confidence in one another and inthemselvesbegintoslipslowly,agonizinglyaway.Finally,asthefifthdayofthejourney drew to a close and still the lowland bleakness stretched on with novisible sign of the desperately sought afterBlackOaks, Sheawearily called ahalt to, the endlessmarch and dropped heavily to the ground, his questioningeyesonthePrinceofLeah.Menionshruggedand lookedabsentlyat themisty lowlandsabout them,his

handsomefacedrawnwiththechilloftheair.“I won’t lie to you,” hemurmured. “I can’t be sure that we have kept our

senseofdirection.Wemayhavetraveledinacircle;wemayevenbehopelesslylost.”Flick dropped his pack disgustedly and looked at his brother with his own

special“I toldyouso” look.Sheaglancedathimand turnedhurriedlyback toMenion.“I can’t believewe’re completely lost! Isn’t there anywaywe can get our

bearings?”“I’m open to suggestions.”His friend smiled humorlessly, stretching as he,

too, dropped his pack to the rough ground and sat down beside the broodingFlick.“What’sthetrouble,oldFlick?HaveIgottenyouintoitagain?”Flickglancedoverathimangrily;butlookingintothegrayeyes,hequickly

reconsideredhisdislikeoftheman.Therewasgenuineconcernthere,andevenatraceofsadnessatthethoughtthathehadfailedthem.Withrareaffection,Flickreached over and placed a comforting hand on the other’s shoulder, noddingsilently. Suddenly, Shea leaped up and flung off his own pack, hastilyrummagingthroughitscontents.“Thestonescanhelpus,”hecried.For a moment the other two looked blankly at him and then in sudden

understandingroseexpectantlytotheirfeet.Amomentlater,Sheaproducedthesmall leather pouch with its precious contents. They all stared at the worncontainerinmuteanticipationthattheElfstoneswouldatlastprovetheirvalue,thattheywouldsomehowaidtheminescapingthewastelandofClete.EagerlySheaopenedthedrawstringsandcarefullydroppedthethreesmall,bluestonesintohisupturnedpalm.Theylaytheretwinklingdimlyasthethreewatchedandwaited.“Holdthemup,Shea,”urgedMenionafteramoment.“Perhapstheyneedthe

light.”TheValemandidashewastold;watchingthebluestonesanxiously.Nothing

happened.Hewaited amoment longer before lowering his hand.Allanon hadcautionedhimagainstuseoftheElfstonesexceptinthegravestofemergencies.Perhapsthestoneswouldonlycometohisaidinspecialsituations.Hebegantodespair.Whateverthecase,hewasfacedwiththehardfactthathehadnoideahowthestonesweretobeused.Helookeddesperatelyathisfriends.“Well,trysomethingelse!”exclaimedMenionheatedly.Shea took the stones between his hands and rubbed them together sharply,

then shook them and cast them like dice. Still nothing happened. Slowly heretrievedthemfromthedampearthandcarefullywipedthemclean.Theirdeepbluecolorseemed todrawhimto them,andhepeeredclosely into theirclear,glasslikecoreasifsomehowtheanswermightbefoundthere.“Maybe you should talk to them or something... Flick’s voice trailed off

hopefully.A mental picture of Allanon’s dark face, bowed and locked in Seep

concentration, flashed sharply in Shea’s mind. Perhaps the secret of theElfstones could be unlocked in a differentway, he thought suddenly.Holdingthemoutinhisopenpalm,thelittleValemanclosedhiseyesandconcentratedhis thoughts on reaching into the deep blueness, searching for the power thattheysodesperatelyneeded.Silently,heurgedtheElfstonestohelpthem.Longmoments passed, seemingly hours. He opened his eyes and the three friends

watchedandwaitedwhilethestonesrestedinShea’spalm,theirbluegleamdullinthedarknessanddampofthemist.Then,withferocioussuddenness, theyflaredupinablindingblueglarethat

causedthetravelerstoreelbackfromthebrightness,shieldingtheirunprotectedeyes. So powerful was the aura that Shea nearly dropped the small gems inastonishment. The sharp glow became steadily brighter, lighting up the deadlandaboutthemasthesunhadneverbeenabletodo.Thebrightnessintensifiedfromthedeepbluetoabrightbluesodazzlingthattheawestruckwatcherswereactually hypnotized. It grew, steadied, and abruptly shot forward like a hugebeacon, traveling to their left, cutting effortlessly through the mist-coveredgraynesstorestatlast,somehundreds,perhapsthousandsofyardsaheaduponthegreatgnarledbolesof theancientBlackOaks.The lightheld foronebriefmoment, and then itwasgone.Thegraymist returnedwith itschilldampnessandthethreesmallbluestonesgleamedquietlyastheyhadbefore.Menion recovered quickly, clapping Shea sharply on the back and grinning

broadly. Inonequickmotion,hehadhispackback inplaceandwas ready totravel,hiseyesalreadyscanningthenow-invisiblespotthroughwhichthevisionof the Black Oaks had appeared. Shea hastily returned the Elfstones to thepouch,andtheValemenstrappedontheirpacks.Notawordwasspokenastheywalked rapidly in the direction the beaconhad flashed, eachwatching eagerlyfor the long-expectedforest.Gonewas thechillof thegraydarknessandslowdrizzleofthepastfivedays.Gonewasthedespairtheyhadfeltsostronglyonlyminutesbefore.Therewasonly the conviction that escape from thesedreadedlowlandswasatlastathand.Theydidnotquestion,didnotdoubtthevisionthestoneshadrevealedtothem.TheBlackOakswasthemostdangerousforestinthe Southland, but at this particular moment, it seemed a haven of hopecomparedtothelandofClete.The timeseemedendlessas theypushedahead. Itcouldhavebeenhoursor

perhapsonlyminuteslaterwhensuddenlythegrayingmistgrudginglygavewaytohuge,moss-coveredtrunkswhichrosehulkinglyintotheairtobelostinthehazeabove.Theexhausted triohalted together, their tiredeyesgazing joyfullyon the cheerlessmonsters that stoodevenly, endlesslybefore them, their greatmassanimpenetrablewallofdamp,scarredbarkonwide,deep-rootedbasesthathadstood there forcountlessagesofmanandwouldvery likelybe thereuntilthedestructionofthelanditself.Itwasanawesomesight,eveninthedimlightof themisty lowlands, and thewatchers felt theundeniablepresenceof a life-force in those woods so incredibly ancient that it almost commanded a deep,

grudging respect for its years. Itwas as if they had stepped into another age,anotherworld, and all that stood so silently before them had themagic of anenticinglydangerousfairytale.“Thestoneswereright,”murmuredSheasoftly,aslowsmilespreadingover

histired,buthappyface.Hebreatheddeeplywithreliefandflashedaquickgrin.“TheBlackOaks,”pronouncedMenioninadmiration.“Herewegoagain,”sighedFlick.

ChapterSix

TheyspentthatnightcampedwithintheprotectivefringesoftheBlackOaksin a small clearing, sheltered by the great trees and dense shrubbery whichblotted out the dreariness of the lowlands ofClete less than fifty yards to thewest. The heavymist dissipatedwithin the forest, and itwas possible to lookskyward to themagnificent canopy of interlocking boughs and leaves severalhundred feet above them.Where there had been no sign of life in the deathlylowlands, within the giant oaks the mingled sounds of insect and animal lifewhisperedthroughthenight.Itwaspleasanttohearlivingthingsagain,andthethreeweary travelersfeltateasefor thefirst timeindays.But lingeringin thebackof theirmindswas thememoryof their prior journey to this deceptivelypeaceful haven, when they had been lost for several long days and nearlydevoured by the ravenous wolves that prowled deep within its confines.Moreover,thetalesofunfortunatetravelerswhohadattemptedtopassthroughthissameforestweretoonumeroustobedisregarded.However, the young Southlanders felt reasonably secure at the edge of the

BlackOaksandgratefullymadepreparationstostartafire.Woodwasplentifulanddry.Theystrippedtotheskinandhungtheirsoggygarmentsonalinenearthesmallblaze.Amealwasquicklyprepared—thefirsthotoneinfivedays—and devoured in minutes. The floor of the forest was soft and smooth, acomfortablebedcompared to thedampenedearthof the lowlands.As they layquietlyontheirbacksgazingskywardatthegentlyswayingtreetops,thebrightlightofthefireseemedtoshootupwardinfaintstreaksoforangethatgavetheimpression of an altar burning in some great sanctuary. The light danced andglittered against the rough bark and the soft, green moss that clung in darkpatchestothemassivetrees.Theforestinsectsmaintainedtheirsteadyhungincontentment. Occasionally one would fly into the flames of the fire andextinguishitsbrieflifewithadazzlingflash.Onceortwicetheyheardtherustleofsomesmallanimaloutsidethelightofthefire;watchingfromtheprotectiveblackness.Afterawhile,MenionrolledoveronhissideandlookedcuriouslyatShea.“What is thesourceof thepowerof thosestones,Shea?Can theygrantany

wish?I’mstillnotsure...”His voice trailed off and he shook his head vaguely. Shea continued to lie

motionlessonhisback,staringupwardforafewmomentsashethoughtbackonthe events of that afternoon.He realized that none of themhad spoken of theElfstonessincethemysteriousvisionoftheBlackOaksinthatawesomedisplayof incomprehensible power.He glanced over at Flick,whowaswatching himclosely.“I don’t think that I have that much control over them,” he announced

abruptly. “It was almost as if they made the decision...” He paused, and thenaddedabsently,“Idon’tthinkIcancontrolthem.”Menionnoddedthoughtfullyandlaybackagain.Flickclearedhisthroat.“What’sthedifference?Theygotusoutofthatdismalswamp,didn’tthey?”MenionglancedsharplyatFlickandshrugged.“Itmightbehelpfultoknowwhenwecancountonthatkindofsupport,don’t

youthink?”Hebreatheddeeplyandclaspedhishandsbehindhishead,hiskeengaze shifting to the fire at his feet. Flick stirred uneasily across from him,glancingfromMeniontohisbrotherandbackagain.Sheasaidnothing,hisgazefocusedonsomeimaginarypointoverhead.Longmomentspassedbeforethehighlanderspokeagain.“Well,at leastwe’vemade it this far,”hedeclaredcheerfully.“Nowfor the

nextlegofthetrip!”Hesatupandbegantosketchaquickmapoftheareainthedryearth.Shea

andFlicksatupwithhimandwatchedquietly.“Here we are,”Menion pointed to a spot on the dirt map representing the

fringe of the Black Oaks. “At least that’s where I think we are,” he addedquickly.“Tothenorthis theMistMarshandfarthernorthofthat theRainbowLake,outofwhichrunstheSilverRivereasttotheAnarForests.OurbestbetistotravelnorthtomorrowuntilwereachtheedgeoftheMistMarsh.Thenwe’llskirttheedgeoftheswamp,”hetracedalongline,“andcomeoutontheothersideoftheBlackOaks.Fromthere,wecantravelduenorthuntilwerunintotheSilverRiver,andthatshouldgetussafelytotheAnar.”Hepausedandlookedoverattheothertwo.Neitherseemedtobehappywith

theplan.“What’sthematter?”heaskedinbewilderment.“Theplanisdesignedtoget

us past theBlackOakswithout forcing us to go directly through them,whichwas thecauseofall the trouble the last timewewerehere.Don’t forget thosewolvesarestillintheresomewhere!”Sheanoddedslowlyandfrowned.“It’snotthegeneralplan,”hebeganhesitantly,“butwe’veheardtalesofthe

MistMarsh...”Menionclappedhishandtohisforeheadinamazement.“Oh,no!Nottheoldwives’taleaboutaMistWraiththatlurksontheedgesof

themarshwaitingtodevourstraytravelers?Don’ttellmeyoubelievethat!”“That’s fine, coming fromyou,”Flickblazedupangrily. “I supposeyou’ve

forgottenwhoitwasthattoldushowsafetheBlackOakswerejustbeforethatlasttrip!”“Allright,”soothedtheleanhunter.“I’mnotsayingthatthisisasafepartof

thecountryandthatsomeverystrangecreaturesdon’tinhabitthesewoods.Butnoonehaseverseenthisso-calledcreatureofthemarsh,andwehaveseenthewolves.Whichdoyouchoose?”“I suppose that your plan is the best one,” interjected Shea hastily. “But I

wouldpreferitifwecouldcutasfareastaspossiblewhiletravelingthroughtheforesttoavoidasmuchoftheMistMarshaspossible.”“Agreed!”exclaimedMenion.“Butitmayprovetobeabitdifficultwhenwe

haven’tseenthesuninthreedaysandcan’treallybesurewhichwayiseast.”“Climbatree,”Flicksuggestedcasually.“Climb a...” stuttered the other in unabashed amazement. “Why, of course!

Whydidn’tIthinkofthat?I’lljustclimbtwohundredfeetofslick,damp,moss-covered tree barkwithmy bare hands and feet!”He shook his head inmockwonderment.“Sometimesyouappallme.”He glanced wearily over at Shea for understanding, but the Valeman had

boundedexcitedlytohisbrother’sside.“Youbroughttheclimbingequipment?”hedemandedinastonishment;when

theothernodded,heclappedhimheartilyonhisbroadback.“Special boots and gloves and rope,” he exclaimed quickly to a bewildered

PrinceofLeah.“FlickisthebestclimberintheVale,andifanyonecanmakeituponeofthesemonsters,hecan.”Menionshookhisheaduncomprehendingly.“Thebootsandglovesarecoatedwithaspecialsubstancejustbeforeusethat

makesthesurfaceroughenoughtogripevendamp,mossybark.He’llbeabletoclimboneoftheseoakstomorrowandcheckthepositionofthesun.”Flickgrinnedsmuglyandnodded.“Yes,indeed,wonderofwonders.”Menionshookhisheadandlookedoverat

thestockyValeman.“Eventheslow-wittedarestartingtothink.Myfriends,wemaymakeityet.”Whentheyawokethefollowingmorning,theforestwasstilldark,withonly

fainttracesofdaylightfilteringthroughatthetopsofthegreatoaks:Athinmisthad drifted in off the lowlands which, when glimpsed from the edges of theforest,appearedassunlessanddismalasever.Itwascoldinthewoods—notthe damp, penetrating chill of the lowland country, but rather the brisk, crispcoolofaforest’searlymorn.Theyateaquickbreakfast,andthenFlickpreparedtoclimboneof the toweringoaks.Hepulledon theheavy, flexibleboots andgloves, which Shea then coated with a thick pasty substance from a smallcontainer. Menion looked on quizzically, but his curiosity changed toastonishmentasthestockyValemangraspedthebaseofthegreattreeand,witha dexterity that belied both his bulky size and the difficulty of the task,proceeded to climb rapidly toward the summit. His strong limbs carried himupward through the tangleofheavybranchesand theclimbingbecameslowerandmore difficult. Hewas briefly lost from sight upon reaching the topmostbranches, then reappeared, hastening down the smooth trunk to rejoin hisfriends.Quickly the climbing gear was packed and the group proceeded in a

northeasterly direction. Based on Flick’s report of the sun’s present position,their chosen route shouldbring themout at a point along the east edgeof theMistMarsh.Menionbelievedthattheforesttrekcouldbecompletedinoneday.Itwas now earlymorning, and theywere determined to be through theBlackOaksbeforedarknessfell.Sotheymarchedsteadily,at timesrapidly, insinglefile.Thekeen-eyedMenionled,pickingoutthebestpath,relyingheavilyonhissense of direction in the semidarkness. Shea followed close behind him, andFlickbroughtup the rear,glancingoccasionallyoverhisshoulder into thestillforests.Theystoppedonly three times to restandoncemoreforabrief lunch,each timequickly resuming theirmarch.They spoke infrequently, but the talkwas lighthearted and cheerful. The daywore quickly away, and soon the firstsignsofnightfallwerevisible.Stilltheforeststretchedonbeforethemwithnoindication of a break in the great trees. Worse than this, a heavy grayingmistinesswasonceagainseepingintoviewingraduallythickeningamounts.Butthiswasanewkindofmist.Itlackedtheinconsistencyofthelowlandmist;thiswasanalmostsmokelikesubstance thatonecouldactually feelclinging to thebody and clothes, gripping in its own peculiarly distasteful fashion. It feltstrangelyliketheclutchingofhundredsofsmall,clammy,chilledhandsseekingtopullthebodydown,andthethreetravelersfeltanunmistakablerevulsionatitsinsistent,touch.Menionindicatedthattheheavy,foglikesubstancewasfromtheMistMarsh,andtheywereveryclosetotheendoftheforest.

Eventually,themistgrewsoheavythatitwasimpossibleforthethreetoseemore than a few feet. Menion slowed his pace to a crawl because of theincreasingly poor visibility, and they remained close to each other to avoidseparation.Bythistime,thedaywassofargonethatevenwithoutthemisttheforestwouldhaveappearedalmostblack;butwiththeaddeddimnesscausedbytheswirlingwallofheavymoisture,itwasnearlyimpossibletopickoutanysortofpath. Itwas almost as if the threewere suspended in a limboworld,whereonlythesolidityoftheinvisiblegroundonwhichtheytrodofferedanyevidenceof reality. It finallybecamesodifficult tosee thatMenion instructed theothertwo to bind themselves together and to him by a length of rope to preventseparation.Thiswasquicklydoneand theslowmarch resumed.Menionknewthat they had to be very near the Mist Marsh and carefully peered into thegraynessaheadinanefforttocatchaglimpseofabreakthrough.Even so,whenat last hedid reach the edgeof themarshlandbordering the

northfringesof theBlackOaks,hedidnotrealizewhathadhappeneduntilhehadalreadysteppedknee-deep into the thickgreenwaters.Thechill,deathlikeclutching of the mud beneath, coupled with his surprise, caused him to slipfartherdown,andonlyhisquickwarningsavedSheaandFlick fromasimilarfate.Respondingtohiscry,theyhauledinontheropethatboundthemtogetherand hastily pulled their comrade from the bog and certain death. The sullen,slime-covered waters of the great swamp covered only thinly the bottomlessmudbeneath,whichlackedtherapidsuctionofquicksand,butaccomplishedthesameresultinaslightlylongertimespan.Anythingoranyonecaughtinitsgripwas doomed to a slow death by suffocation in an immeasurable abyss. Foruntold ages its silent surface had fooled unwary creatures into attempting tocross,or toskirt,orperhapsonly to test itsmirrorlesswaters,and thedecayedremainsofalllayburiedtogethersomewherebeneathitsplacidface.Thethreetravelersstoodsilentlyonitsbanks,lookingatitandexperiencinginwardlythehorror of its dark secret. EvenMenion Leah shuddered as he remembered itsbrief, clutching invitation to him to share the fate of somany others. For onespellboundsecond,thedeadparadedasshadowsbeforethemandweregone.“What happened?” exclaimedShea suddenly, his voice breaking the silence

withdeafeningsharpness.“Weshouldhaveavoidedthisswamp!”Menionlookedupwardandaboutforafewsecondsandshookhishead.“We’vecomeouttoofartothewest.We’llhavetofollowtheedgeofthebog

aroundtotheeastuntilwecanbreakfreefromthismistandtheBlackOaks.”Hepausedandconsideredthetimeofday.

“I’m not spending the night in this place,” Flick declared vehemently,anticipating theother’squery.“I’dratherwalkallnightandmostof tomorrow—andprobablythenextday!”Theirquickdecisionwastocontinuealongtheedgeof theMistMarshuntil

they reached open land to the east and then stop for the night. Sheawas stillconcerned about being caught in open country by the Skull Bearers, but hisgrowing dread of the swamp overshadowed even this fear, and his foremostthoughtwastogetasfarawayaspossible.Thetriotightenedtheropeabouttheirwaistsandinsinglefilebegantomovealongtheunevenshorelineofthemarsh,their eyes glued to the faint path ahead. Menion guided them cautiously,avoidingthetangleoftreacherousrootsandweedsthatgrewinabundancealongtheswamp’sedge,theirtwisted,knottedformsseeminglyaliveintheeeriehalf-lightoftherollinggraymist.Attimesthegroundbecamesoftmud,dangerouslylike that of themarsh itself, and had to be skirted. At other times huge treesblocked the path, their great trunks leaning heavily toward the dull, lifelesssurfaceoftheswamp’swaters,theirbranchesdroopingsadly,motionlessastheywaited for the death that lay only inches below. If theLowlands ofClete hadbeen a dying land, then this marsh was the death that waited— an infinite,ageless death that gave no sign, no warning; no movement as it crouched,concealed within the very land it had so brutally destroyed. The chillingdampnessof the lowlandswashere,butcoupledwith itwas theunexplainablefeelingthattheheavy,stagnantslimeoftheswampwaterspermeatedthemistaswell, clutching eagerly at the weary travelers. The mist about them swirledslowly, but there was no sign of wind, no sound of a breeze rustling the tallswampgrassordyingoaks.Allwasstill,asilenceofpermanentdeaththatknewwellwhowasmaster.TheyhadwalkedforperhapsanhourwhenSheafirstsensedthatsomething

waswrong.Therewasnoreasonforthefeeling;itstoleoverhimgraduallyuntilevery sensewas keyed, trying to findwhere the trouble lay.Walking silentlybetweentheothertwo,helistenedintently,peeringfirstintothegreatoaks,thenoutovertheswamp.Finally,heconcludedwithchillingcertaintythattheywerenotalone—thatsomethingelsewasoutthereintheinvisiblebeyond,lostinthemisttotheirpoorvision,butabletoseethem.ForonebriefmomenttheyoungValemanwassoterrifiedbythethoughtthathewasunabletospeakoreventogesture.Hecouldonlywalkahead,hismindfrozen,waitingfortheunspeakabletohappen.Butthen,withasupremeefforthecalmedhisscatteredthoughtsandbroughttheothertwomentoanabrupthalt.

Menionlookedaroundquizzically,andstartedtospeak,butSheasilencedhimwithafingertohisownlipsandagesturetowardtheswamp.Flickwasalreadylookingcautiously in thatdirection,hisownsixthsensehavingwarnedhimofhis brother’s fear. For longmoments they stoodmotionless at the edge of themarsh, their eyes and ears concentrated on the impenetrable mist movingsluggishlyabovethesurfaceofthedeadwater.Thesilencewasoppressive.“Ithinkyouweremistaken,”Menionwhisperedfinallyasherelaxedhisvigil.

“Sometimeswhenyouarethistired,itiseasytoimaginethings.”SheashookhisheadnegativelyandlookedatFlick.“Idon’tknow,”theotherconceded.“IthoughtIsensedsomething...”“AMistWraith?”chidedMeniongrinning.“Maybeyou’re right,”Shea intercededquickly.“Iampretty tiredandcould

imagineanythingatthispoint.Let’skeepmovingandgetoutofthisplace.”Theyhastilyresumedthedrearytrek,butforthenextfewminutesremained

alert for anything unusual. When nothing happened, they began to let theirthoughts drift to othermatters. Shea had just succeeded in convincinghimselfthathehadbeenmistakenandthevictimofanoveractiveimaginationbroughtaboutbylackofsleep,whenFlickcriedout.Immediately Shea felt the rope that bound them together jerk sharply and

begintodraghiminthedirectionofthedeadlyswamp.Helosthisbalanceandfell, unable to distinguish anything in the mist. For one fleeting moment hethoughtheglimpsedhisbrother’sbodysuspendedseveralfeetintheairovertheswamp,theropestilltiedtohiswaist.Inthenextsecond,Sheafeltthechilloftheswampgrappleathislegs.Theymight have all been lost had it not been for the quick reflexes of the

PrinceofLeah.Atthefirstsharpjerkoftherope,hehadinstinctivelygraspedattheonlythingnearenoughtokeephimonhisfeet.Itwasahuge,sinkingoak,itstrunkembeddedsofar intothesoftgroundthat itsupperbrancheswerewithinreach,andMenionrapidlyhookedonearmaboutthenearestboughandwiththeothergraspedtheropeabouthiswaistandtriedtopullback.Shea,nowuptohiskneesintheswampmud,felttheropegotautonMenion’sendandtriedtobracehimself toaid.Flickwascryingout sharply in thedarknessabove the swamp,andbothMenionandSheashoutedencouragement.Suddenly,theropebetweenFlick and Shea went slack, and out of the gray mistiness emerged the stout,strugglingformofFlickOhmsford,stillsuspendedabovethewater’ssurface,hiswaistgrippedbywhatappeared tobeasortofgreenish,weed-coated tentacle.His right hand held the long, silver dagger, which gleamed menacingly as it

slashed in repeatedcutsat the thingwhichheldhim.Sheayankedhardon theropewhichboundthem,tryingtoaidhisbrotherinbreakingfree,andamomentlaterhesucceededasthetentaclewhippedbackintothemist,releasingthestill-strugglingFlick,whopromptlyfellintothemarshbelow.Sheahadbarelypulledhisexhaustedbrotherfromtheclutchesoftheswamp,

freedhimfromtherope,andhelpedhimtohisfeetbeforeseveralmoreof thegreenish arms shot out of themisty darkness. They knocked the shaken Flicksprawling and one closed about the left arm of an astonished Shea before hecouldthinktododge.Hefelthimselfdrawntowardtheswampanddrewhisowndagger tostrike fiercelyat theslime-covered tentacle.Ashe fought,hecaughtsightofsomethinghugeoutinthemarsh,itsbulkcoveredbythenightandtheswamp. To one side, Flick, again became entangled in the grip of two moretentacles,andhisstockyformwasdraggedrelentlesslytowardthewater’sedge.Valiantly,Sheabrokefreefromthetentaclethatheldhisarm,slashingthroughthe repulsive limb with one great cut; struggling to reach his brother, he feltanothertentaclegrasphisleg,knockinghisfeetoutfromunderhim.Ashefell,hisheadstruckanoakroot,andhelostconsciousness.AgaintheyweresavedbyMenion,hislitheformleapingoutofthedarkness

behind,thegreatswordflashingdullyinawidearcasitseveredinonepowerfulswing the tentacle which held the unconscious Shea. A second later, thehighlanderwasatFlick’sside,cuttingandchoppinghiswaypastthearmswhichsuddenlyreachedforhimoutofthedarkness,andwithaseriesofquick,well-placedblowsfreedtheotherValeman.Foramomentthetentaclesdisappearedback into the mist of the swamp, and Flick andMenion hastened to pull theunconsciousSheabackfromtheunprotectededgeofthewater.Butbeforeanyofthemcouldreachthesafetyofthegreatoaks,thegreenisharmsagainshotoutofthedarkness.Withouthesitation,MenionandFlickplacedthemselvesinfrontof theirmotionless friend and struckout at the encircling arms.The fightwassilent,saveforthelaboredbreathingofthemenastheystruckagainandagain,chopping off bits and pieces and sometimes whole ends of the graspingtentacles.Butanydamagetheycauseddidnotseemtoaffectthemonsterintheswamp,whichattackedwithrenewedfuryateachstroke.Menioncursedhimselffor not remembering to drag the great ash bowwithin reach so that hemighthavetakenashotatwhateveritwasthatlaybeyondthemist.“Shea!” he yelled desperately. “Shea, wake up, or for the love of heaven,

we’redonefor!”Thesilentformbehindhimstirredslightly.

“Get up, Shea!” pleaded Flick hoarsely, his own arms exhausted from thegreatstrainoffightingoffthetentacles.“Thestones!”yelledMenion.“GettheElfstones!”Shea struggled to akneelingposition, but hewasknocked flat againby the

forceof thebattle infrontofhim.HeheardMenionshouting,anddazedlyfeltforhispack,realizingalmostimmediatelythathehaddroppeditwhilehelpingFlick.Hesawitnow,severalyardstotheright,thetentacleswavingmenacinglyoverit.Menionseemedtorealizethisatthesamemomentandchargedforwardwith awild cry, his long sword cutting a path for the others. Flickwas at hisside,thesmalldaggerstillinhishand.Withafinalsurgeofhisfadingstrength,Shea leaped to his feet and launched himself toward the pack containing thepreciousElfstones.Hisslimformslippedbetweenseveralofthegraspingarms,andhethrewhimselfonthepack.Hishandwasinside,gropingfor thepouch,whenthefirsttentaclereachedhisunprotectedlegs.Kickingandstruggling,hefoughttokeephisfreedomforthefewsecondsheneededtofindthestones.Foramoment he thought he had lost them again. Then his hand closed over thesmall pouch, and he yanked it from his fallen pack.A sudden blow from thewrithingtentaclesalmostcausedhimtodropit,andheclutchedittightlytohischest as he loosened the drawstrings with numbing slowness. Flick had beenforced back so far that he stumbled against Shea’s outstretched body and felloverbackward, the tentaclescomingdownon topof themboth.Nowonly thelean form of Menion stood between them and the giant attacker, both handsgrippingtightlythegreatswordofLeah.Almostwithoutrealizingit,Sheafoundthethreebluestonesinhishand,free

from thepouchat last.Scramblingbackward, struggling tohis feet, theyoungValeman let out a wild cry of triumph and held forth the faintly glowingElfstones.Thepowerlockedwithinflaredupimmediately,floodingthedarknesswith dazzling blue light. Flick and Menion leaped back, shielding their eyesfromtheglare.Thetentaclesdrewbackhesitantly,uncertainly,andasthethreemen riskeda secondquickglance, they saw thebrilliant lightof theElfstonesstreakoutwardintothemistabovetheswamp,cuttingthroughitsvaporwiththekeenness of a knife. They saw it strike with shattering impact the huge,unspeakablebulkthathadattackedthemasitwassinkingsluggishlybeneaththeslime-covered waters. At that same instant the glare above the disappearingmonster reached the intensity of a small sun and thewater steamedwith blueflamesthatsearedupwardintotheshroudedsky.Onemomenttheburningglareandtheflameswerethereandthenexttheyweregone.Themistandthenight

returned, and the three companions were alone again in the blackness of themarshland.Theyquicklysheathedtheirweapons,pickedupthefallenpacksanddropped

backamongthehugeblackoaks.Theswampremainedassilentasithadbeenbeforetheunexpectedattack,itsdullwatersdisturbinglyplacidbeneaththegrayhaze.Forseveralmoments,noonespokeas theycollapsedsilentlyagainst thetrunks of the great trees and breathed deeply, grateful to be alive. Thewholebattlehadhappenedquickly,likethepassingofabrief,horribleinstantinanall-too-real nightmare. Flickwas completely drenched by the swampwaters, andSheawassoakedfromthewaistdown.Bothshiveredinthechillnightair;afteronlyafewsecondsofrest,theybeganmovingslowlyaboutinanefforttowardoff,thenumbingcold.Realizing that theyhad toget freeof themarshlandquickly,Menionswung

his tiredbodyaway from its restingplaceagainst the rough,bark-coveredoaktrunkand inonesmoothmotionswunghispack intoplaceoverhisshoulders.Shea and Flick were quick to follow, though somewhat less eager. Theyconferred briefly to decide what direction it would be best to take now. Thechoicewassimple:proceedthroughtheBlackOaksandriskbecominglostandbeing set uponby thewanderingwolfpacksor follow the edgeof the swampandchanceasecondencounterwiththeMistWraith.Neitherchoiceheldmuchappeal,but thebattlewith thecreature from theMistMarshwas too recent topermitanyof them to riska repeatperformance.So thedecisionwasmade tostick to the woods, to try to follow a course parallel to the shoreline of theswampandhopefullygain theopen countrybeyondwithin a fewhours.Theynow had reached the point where the long hours of traveling with the keenanticipation of danger had chipped andworn away the clear reasoning of themorning.Theywere tiredand frightenedby the strangeworld intowhich theyhadjourneyed,andtheoneclearthoughtleftintheirnumbedmindswastobreakthrough this stifling forest that theymight finda fewhoursofwelcome sleep.With that dominating their thoughts and overriding the caution that was sodesperatelyneeded,theyforgottotiethemselvestogetheragain.Thejourneycontinuedasbefore,withMenioninthelead,Sheaafewpaces

backandFlicktrailing,allwalkingsilentlyandsteadily,theirmindsfixedonthereassuring thought that ahead lay the sunlit, open grasslands that would takethem to the Anar. The mist seemed to have dissipated slightly, and whileMenion’s formwas only a shadow, Shea couldmake him outwell enough tofollow. Yet at times both Shea and Flick would lose sight of the person

immediately infrontandwouldfindtheireyesstrainingwearily tokeepto thepathMenionwasmakingforthem.Theminutespassedwithagonizingslownessand the sharpness of eachman’s eyesight began to lessenwith the increasingneed for sleep. Minutes lengthened into long, endless hours and still theyplodded slowlyonward through themistyhazeof thegreatBlackOaks.Theyfound it impossible to tell how far they had traveled or how much time hadpassed.Soonitfailedtomatteratall.Theybecamesleepwalkersinaworldofhalf-dreamsand rambling thoughtswithnobreak in thewearingmarchor thenever-ending, silentblack trunks that cameandpassed in countless thousands.The only change was a gradual building of the wind from somewhere in theshrouded night, whispering its first faint cry, then growing to a numbingcrescendo of sound that gripped the tired minds of the three travelers withspellbindingmagic. It called to them, reminding them of the briefness of thedaysbehindandthoseahead,warningthemthattheyweremortalcreaturesofnoconsequenceinthatland,cryingtothemtoliedowninthepeacefulnessofsleep.Theyheardandfoughtagainst thetemptingpleawiththelastoftheirstrength,concentrating mindlessly on putting one foot before the other in an endlesssuccessionoffootsteps.Oneminutetheywereallthereinaraggedline;thenext,ShealookedaheadandMenionwasgone.Atfirst,hecouldnotacceptthefact,hisnormallykeenmindhazywithlackof

sleep, andhecontinued towalk slowlyahead, lookingvainly for the shadowyform of the tall highlander. Then, abruptly he stopped as he realized withstabbingfearthattheyhadsomehowbecomeseparated.HeclutchedwildlyforFlick and grabbed his brother’s loose tunic as the fatiguedValeman stumbledintohim,deadonhis feet.Flick lookedunthinkinglyathim,notknowing,notevencaringwhy theyhadstopped,hisonlyhope thathecouldcollapseat lastandsleep.Thewindin thedarknessof theforestseemedtohowlinwildglee,andSheacalleddesperatelyforthehighlandprinceandheardonlytheechoesofhisownfutilecry.Hecalledagainandagain,hisvoicerisingtoanearscreamofdesperationandfear,butnothingcamebackexceptthesoundofhisownvoice,muffledanddistortedbythewildwhistlingofthewindthroughthegreatoaks,whisking and wrapping about the silent trunks and limbs, and filtering outamong the rustling leaves. Once he thought he heard his own name called;answeringeagerly,hedraggedhimselfandtheexhaustedFlickthroughthemazeof trees toward the sound of the cry. But therewas nothing. Dropping to theforest floor, he called until his voice gave out, but only the wind replied inmockinglaughtertotellhimthathehadlostthePrinceofLeah.

ChapterSeven

When Shea awoke the following day, it was noon. The bright sunlightstreamedintohishalf-openeyeswithburningsharpnessashelayonhisbackinthe tallgrass.At firsthecould remembernothingof thepreviousnightexceptthathe andFlickhadbecome separated fromMenion in theBlackOaks.Halfawake, he raised himself on one elbow, looked about sleepily, anddiscoveredthathewasinanopenfield.BehindhimrosetheforbiddingBlackOaks,andheknew that somehow, after losing Menion, he had managed to find his waythroughthedreadforestbeforecollapsinginexhaustion.Everythingwashazyinhismindaftertheirseparation.Hecouldnotimaginehowhehadsummonedthestrength to finish the march. He could not even recall breaking free of theendless forest to find thegrass-covered lowlandshenowsurveyed.Thewholeexperience seemed strangely distant as he rubbed his eyes and sighedcontentedly in thewarm sunlight and fresh air. For the first time in days, theAnarforestsseemedtobewithinreach.Suddenly,herememberedFlick,andlookedanxiouslyaboutforhisbrother.A

momentlaterhespottedthestockyformcollapsedinsleepseveralyardsaway.Sheaclimbedslowlytohisfeetandstretchedleisurely,takingtimetolocatehispack. He bent down and rummaged through its contents until he located thepouch containing the Elfstones, reassuring himself that they were still safelywithinhispossession.Thenpickingupthepack,hetrudgedovertohissleepingbrother and gently shook him. Flick stirred grudgingly, clearly unhappy thatanyonewoulddisturbhisslumber.Sheawasforcedtoshakehimseveral timesbeforeheatlastreluctantlyopenedhiseyesandsquintedupsourly.UponseeingShea,heraisedhimselftoasittingpositionandlookedslowlyabout.“Hey,wemadeit!”heexclaimed.“ButIdon’tknowhow.Idon’tremember

anythingafterlosingMenionexceptwalkingandwalkinguntilIthoughtthatmylegswoulddropoff.”Shea grinned in agreement and clapped his brother on the back. He felt a

measureofgratitudewhenhethoughtofalltheyhadbeenthroughtogether.Somany hardships and dangers, and still Flick could laugh about it. He felt asudden,keensenseofloveforFlick,abrotherwho,whilenotrelatedbyblood,wasevencloserforhisdeepfriendship.“Wemadeitallright,”hesmiled,“andwe’llmakeittherestoftheway,too,

ifIcangetyouofftheground.”“Themeannessinsomepeopleisunbelievable.”Flickshookhisheadinmock

disbeliefand thenclimbedheavily tohis feet.He lookedquestioninglyoveratShea.“Menion..?”“Lost...Idon’tknowwhere...”Flick looked away — sensing his brother’s bitter disappointment, but

unwillingtoadmittohimselfthattheywerenotbetteroffwithoutthehighlandprince.HeinstinctivelydistrustedMenion,yetthehighlanderhadsavedhislifeback in the forest and that was not something Flick would forget easily. Hethought about it aminuteor so longer, then clappedhis brother lightlyon theshoulder.“Don’tworryaboutthatrogue.He’llturnup—probablyatthewrongtime.”Sheanoddedquietly,andtheconversationquicklyturnedtothetaskathand.

Theyagreedthatthebestplanwastojourneynorthwarduntil theyreachedtheSilverRiverwhichflowedintotheRainbowLake,andfollowitupstreamtotheAnar.Withanyluck,Menionwouldalsofollowtheriverandcatchuptothemwithin a few days, His skill as a woodsman should enable him to escape theBlackOaksandatsomepointbeyondfindtheirtrailandfollowit towherevertheywere.Sheawasreluctanttoleavehisfriend,butwaswiseenoughtorealizethatanyattemptatasearchforhimintheBlackOakscouldonlyresultintheirown entanglement. Moreover, the danger they faced if discovered by thesearchingSkullBearersfaroutweighedanyrisksMenionmightencounter,eveninthatforest.Therewasnothingforthemtodobuttocontinueon.Thepairwalkedrapidlythroughthegreen,quietlowlands,hopingtoreachthe

SilverRiverbynightfall.Itwasalreadymidafternoon,andtheyhadnowayofknowinghowfartheymightbefromtheriver.Withthesuntoserveasaguide,theyfeltmoreconfidentoftheirpositionthantheyhadinthemistyconfinesoftheBlackOaks,wheretheyhadbeenforcedtodependontheirownunreliablesenseofdirection.Theytalkedfreely,brightenedbythesunlight thathadbeenabsentforsomanydaysandbyanunspokenfeelingofgratitudethattheywerestill alive following the harrowing experiences of the Mist Marsh. As theywalked,smallanimalsandhigh-flyingbirdsscatteredattheirappearance.Once,in the fading light of the afternoon sun, Shea thought he caught sight of thesmall, hunched-over form of an old man some distance to the east, movingslowly away from them.But in that light and at that distance he could not becertainandan instant later foundhecouldseenooneafterall.Flickhadseennothingandtheincidentwasforgotten.

Bydusk theysighteda lone, ribbon-thinstreamofwater to thenorthwhichthey quickly identified as the fabled SilverRiver, the source of thewondrousRainbowLaketothewestandofathousandfirelighttalesofadventure.Itwassaid that there was a legendary King of the Silver River, whose wealth andpower was beyond description, but whose only concern was in keeping thewatersofthegreatriverrunningfreeandcleanformanandanimalalike.Hewasseldomseenbytravelers,thestoriesrelated,buthewasalwaystheretoofferaid,shouldanyrequireit,ortodealoutpunishmentforviolationofhisdomain.Onsightingtheriver,SheaandFlickcouldonlytellthatitappearedverybeautifulinthefadinglight,thesortoffaintsilvercolorthatthenameimplied.Whentheyfinallyreacheditsedge,theeveninghadbecometoodarktopermitthemtoseehowclearthewatersreallywere,butupontastingittheyfounditcleanenoughtodrink.They found a small, grass-covered clearing on the south bank of the river,

beneaththespreadingshelteroftwobroad,oldmapletreesthatofferedanidealcampsiteforthenight.Eventheshortjourneyofthatafternoonhadtiredthem,and they preferred not to riskmoving about in the dark in this open country.Theyhadjustaboutexhaustedtheirsupplies,andafterthisevening’smealtheywouldhavetohuntforfood.Thiswasaparticularlydishearteningthoughtwhenthey recalled that the only weapons they had between them for killing gamewere the short and highly ineffectual hunting knives.Menion carried the onlylong bow. They ate the last of their supplies in silence without the use of acookingfire,whichmighthavecalledattentiontotheirpresence.Themoonwashalf full and thenight cloudless, so that the thousandsof stars in the limitlessgalaxyshoneindazzlingwhite,lightinguptheriverandthelandbeyondinaneeriedeep-greenbrightness.Aftertheirmealwascompleted,Sheaturnedtohisbrother.“Have you thought about this trip, about this whole business of running

away?”hequeried.“Imean,whatarewereallydoing?”“You’reafunnyonetoaskthat!”exclaimedtheothershortly.Sheasmiledandnodded.“Isuppose Iam.But Ihave to justify itall tomyselfand that’snotaneasy

task.IcanunderstandmostofwhatAllanontoldus,aboutthedangertotheheirsof the Sword. But what good will it do for us to hide out in the Anar? ThiscreatureBronamustbeaftersomethingbesidestheSwordofShannaratogotoallthistroubletosearchfortheheirsoftheElvenHouse.Whatisithewants...whatcoulditbe...?”

Flickshruggedandtossedapebbleintotheswiftcurrentofthelappingriver,hisownmindmuddled,unabletoofferanysensibleanswer.“Maybehewantstotakeover,”hesuggestedvaguely.“Doesn’teveryonewho

getsalittlepower,soonerorlater?”“Nodoubt,”agreedSheauncertainly,thinkingthatthisspecialformofgreed

hadbroughttheracestowheretheyweretoday,followingthelong,bitterwarsthathadnearlydestroyedalllife.Butithadbeenyearssincethelastwarandtheappearanceofseparateanddisassociatedcommunitiesseemedtohaveprovidedapartialanswertothelongquestforpeace.HeturnedbacktoawatchfulFlick.“Whatarewegoingtodooncewegettowherewe’regoing?”“Allanonwilltellus,”hisbrotheransweredhesitantly.“Allanoncan’ttelluswhattodoforever,”repliedSheaquickly.“Besides,I’m

stillnotconvincedthathehastoldusthetruthabouthimself.”Flicknoddedhisagreement,thinkingbacktothatfirstchillingencounterwith

thedarkgiantwhohadtossedhimaboutlikearagdoll.HisbehaviorhadalwaysstruckFlickasthatofamanwhowasusedtohavinghiswayandhavingitwhenandhowhechose.Heshiveredinvoluntarily,recallinghisfirstneardiscoverybytheshadowySkullBearer,andfoundhimselfconfrontedwiththefactthatitwasAllanonwhohadsavedhim.“I’mnotsureIwanttoknowthetruthaboutanyofthis.I’mnotsureIwould

understand,”Flickmurmuredsoftly.Sheawas startledby thecommentand turnedback to themoonlitwatersof

theriver.“WemaybeonlylittlepeopletoAllanon,”heacknowledged,“butfromnow

on,Idon’tmovewithoutareason!”“Maybeso,”hisbrother’svoicedrifteduptohim.“Butmaybe...”Hisvoicetrailedoffominouslyintothequietsoundsofthenightandtheriver,

andSheachosenottopursuethematter.Bothlaybackandwerequicklyasleep,their tired thoughts flowing sluggishly into the bright, colorful dreams of themomentaryworld of sleep. In that secure, drifting dimension of fantasy, theirwearymindscould relax, releasing thehidden fearsof tomorrow toemerge inwhatever form they wished, and there, in that most distant sanctuary for thehuman soul, be faced privately and overcome. But even with the reassuringsounds of life all about them and the peaceful rushing of the gleaming SilverRiver to soothe their cares, an inescapable, gnawing specter of apprehensionwormed its stealthyway into their dreamworld and there, in full view of themind’seye,itperchedandwaited,smilingdully,hatefully—knowingwellthe

limits of their endurance. Both sleepers tossed fitfully, unable to shake thepresence of this frightening apparition entrenched deep within them, morethoughtthanform.Perhapsitwasthatsameshadowofwarning,radiatingitsspecialscentoffear,

thatlockedsimultaneouslyintherestlessmindsoftheValemenandcausedbothtowakeninthesamestartledinstant,thesleepgonefromtheireyesandtheairfilled with stark, chilling madness that gripped them tightly and began tosqueeze.Theyrecognizeditinstantly,andpanicshonedullyintheireyesastheysat motionless, listening to the soundless night.Moments passed and nothinghappened. Still they remained immobile, their senses straining for the soundstheyknewmustcome.Thentheyheardthedreadedflappingofthegreatwingsandtogetherlookedtotheopenrivertoseethehulking,silentformoftheSkullBearerswoopalmostgracefullyfromoutofthelowlandsacrosstherivertothenorth and settle into a long glide; bearing directly toward their place ofconcealment. The Valemen were frozen with terror, unable even to think, letalonemove, as theywatched the creature begin to close the distance betweenthem.Itdidnotmatterthatithadnotyetseenthem,perhapsdidnotevenknowthattheywerethere.Itwouldknowinthenextfewseconds,andforthebrotherstherewasno time to run, noplace to hide, no chance to escape.Shea felt thedrynessofhismouthandsomewherewithinhisscatteredthoughtsrememberedtheElfstones, but hismindhadgonenumb.He sat paralyzedwith his brotherandwaitedfortheend.Miraculously, it did not come. Just when it seemed that the servant of the

WarlockLordmustsurelyfindthem,aflashoflightfromtheotherbankcaughtitsattention.Swiftly,itwingedawaytowardthelightandthentherewasanotherabitfartherdownandthenanother—orwasitmistaken?Itflewswiftlynow,searchingeagerly, itscunningmindtellingit that thesearchwasatanend, thelonghuntoveratlast.Yetitcouldnotfindthesourceofthelight.Suddenlythelight flashed again, only to disappear in the swiftness of a blinking eye. Themaddenedcreatureswooped toward it,knowing itwasdeeper in theblacknessacross the river, lost somewhere in the thousandsof smallgulliesanddalesofthe lowlands. The mysterious light flashed again and then again, each timemovingfartherinland,taunting,daringtheangeredbeasttofollow.Ontheotherbank, the petrified figures of the two Valemen remained concealed in thedarkness as their frightened eyeswatched the flying shadowmove evermoreswiftlyawayfromthemuntilitcouldnolongerbeseen.Theyremainedimmobileafter thedepartureoftheSkullBearer.Onceagain

they had come close to death andmanaged to elude its fatal touch. They satquietlyandlistenedasthemingledsoundsof insectandanimalreturnedtothenight.Minutes passed and they began to breathemore easily, their stiff posesrelaxing intomorecomfortableslumpsas they lookedateachother inamazedrelief, knowing the creature had gone, but unable to comprehend how it hadhappened.Then, before they had any chance at all to speak of thematter, themysteriouslightthathadflashedfromacrosstheriverreappearedsuddenlyonariseseveralhundredyardsinbackofthem,disappearedforaninstantandthenflashedagain, closer thanbefore.SheaandFlickwatched inwondermentas itmovedtowardthem,weavingslightly.Momentslaterthefigureofanold,oldmanstoodbeforethem,bentwithage

andclothedinwoodsman’sgarb,hishairsilverinthestarlight,hisfaceframedbyalong,whitebeardneatlytrimmedandcombed.Thestrangelightinhishandappearedfiercelybrightatthisclosedistance,andtherewasnohintofaflameinits center. Suddenly it disappeared and in its place was a cylindrical objectgrippedintheoldman’sgnarledhand.Helookedatthemandsmiledagreeting.Shea looked quietly at his ancient face, sensing that the strange old mandeservedhisrespect.“Thelight,”Sheaspokefinally,“how...?”“Atoyofpeoplelongsincedeadandgone.”Thevoicerolledoutinasteady

whisperthatdriftedonthecoolair.“Goneliketheevilcreatureoutthere...”Thewords trailed off and he pointed in the direction of the departed Skull Bearerwithathin,wrinkledarmthatseemedtohanginthenightlikesomebrittlestickof deadwood. Shea looked doubtfully at him, unsure ofwhat should be donenext.“Wearetravelingeastward...”Flickvolunteeredabruptly.“To theAnar.”Thegentle voice cut him short, the elderly headnodding in

understanding,thewrinkledeyessharpinthesoftmoonlightastheylookedfromonebrothertotheother.Suddenlyhemovedpastthemtotheedgeoftheswiftriverandthenturnedbacktothemandmotionedforthemtosit.SheaandFlickdidsowithouthesitation,unabletodoubttheoldman’sintentions.Astheysattheyfeltagreatwearinessstealovertheirbodies,theireyessuddenlyunabletoremainopen.“Sleep, young travelers, that your journey may be shortened.” The voice

became stronger in theirminds,more commanding. They could not resist thefeelingofweariness,sopleasantandwelcome,andtheystretchedoutonthesoftgrassybank inobedience.Thefigurebefore thembegan tochangeslowly into

something new, and through vague, blurred eyes and half-closed eyelids, itappeared that the oldmanwas growing younger and his clotheswere not thesame.Sheabegan tomutterslightly, trying tostayawake, tounderstand,butamomentlaterbothValemenwereasleep.As they slept they drifted cloudlike through forgotten days of sunlight and

happinessinthepeacefulwoodlandhometheyhadleftsomanydaysago.OnceagaintheyroamedthefriendlyconfinesoftheDulnForestandswaminthecoolwaters of the mighty Rappahalladran River, the fears and cares of a lifetimesweptawayinaninstant.Theymovedthroughthewoodedhillsandvalesofthecountryside with freedom unlike anything they had ever experienced. In theirsleeptheytouched,asifforthefirsttime,eachplantandanimal,birdandinsectwithnewunderstandingof its importanceasa living thing,howeversmallandinsignificant.Theyfloatedanddriftedlikethewind,abletosmellthefreshnessoftheland,abletoseethebeautyofthelifenaturehadplacedthere.Everythingwas a kaleidoscopeof color and smell,withonlygentle sounds reaching theirtiredminds—soundsoftheopenairandthequietcountryside.Forgottenwerethe long, hard days of travel through themist-coveredLowlands ofClete, thesunless dayswhere lifewas a lost soulwandering hopelessly in a dying land.ForgottenwasthedarknessoftheBlackOaks,themadnessoftheendless,gianttrees hiding them from the sun and sky. Gone was the memory of the MistWraith and the pursuing Skull Bearer, constant, relentless in its search. TheyoungValemenmovedinaworldwithoutthefearsandcaresoftherealworldandforthosehours,timedissipatedintopeacewiththemomentarybeautyofarainbowattheendofasudden,violentstorm.Theydidnotknowhowlongitwasthattheywerelosttotheworldofdreams

nordidtheyknowwhatitwasthathadhappenedtotheminthattime.Theyonlyknew, as they stirred into gentlewakefulness, that theywere no longer at theedgeoftheSilverRiver.Theyknewaswellthatthetimewasnewandsomehowdifferent;thefeelingwasexcitingbutverysecure.As his vision slowly returned, Shea was aware that there were people all

aroundhim,watchingandwaiting.Heraisedhimselfslowlyupononeelbow,hishazyvisiondisclosinggroupsofsmallfiguresstandingabout,bendingoverin an anxious manner. From out of the vague background emerged a tall,commandingfigureinloose-fittingclothes, leaningdowntohim,abroadhandonhisslimshoulder.“Flick?”hecriedapprehensively,rubbinghissleep-filledeyeswithonehand

ashesquintedtomakeoutthefeaturesoftheshroudedfigure.

“You’resafenow,Shea.”Thedeepvoiceseemedtorolloutoftheshadowyfigure.“ThisistheAnar.”Shea blinked quickly, struggling to rise as the broad hand held him gently

down.Hiseyesbegantoclear,andhesawinaglimpsethehalf-raisedfigureofhisbrothernexttohim,justwakingfromhisdeepslumber.Aroundthemwerethe squat, heavyset figures ofmen Shea instantly knew to be Dwarfs. Shea’seyes caught the strong face of the figure at his side, and at themoment theycametorestonthegleamingchainmailencasingthehandandforearmstretchedout to grasphis shoulder lightly, heknew the journey to theAnarwas ended.TheyhadfoundCulhavenandBalinor.MenionLeahhadnot found the last legof the journey to theAnarquite so

simple.WhenhefirstrealizedhehadbecomeseparatedfromthetwoValemen,panicsetin.Hewasnotafraidforhimself,buthefearedtheveryworstfortheOhmsfordsif leftalonetofindtheirwayoutofthemist-shroudedBlackOaks.He,too,hadcalledhopelessly,futilely,stumblingblindlyaboutintheblacknessuntilhisvoicewascracked.Butintheendhewasforcedtoadmittohimselfthatthesearchwasuselessundersuchconditions.Exhausted,hepushedonthroughthe woods in what he believed to be the general direction of, the lowlands,consolinghimselfslightlywiththepromisethathewouldfindtheothersinthedaylight.Hewas in the forest a longer time than he had anticipated, breakingfreeneardawnandcollapsingattheedgeofthegrasslands.Thoughhedidnotknowit then,hehademergedatapointsouthofthesleepingbrothers.Bythistime his endurance had been pushed to the limit and sleep came over him soquicklythathecouldnotrememberanythingaftertheslow,featherlightfeelingoffallingashecollapsedinthetalllowlandgrass.Itseemedtohimthathesleptaverylongtime,butinfactheawakenedonlyseveralhoursafterSheaandFlickhad begun their journey toward the Silver River. Believing that he was aconsiderabledistancesouthofthepointthegrouphadbeenmakingforwhileintheBlackOaks,Menionquicklychose to travelnorthandtry tocutacross thetrailofhiscompanionsbeforereachingtheriver.Ifhefailedtofindthembythattime,heknewhewouldbeconfrontedwiththeunpleasantprobabilitythattheywerestilllostintheentanglementofthewoods.Hurriedly,thehighlanderstrappedonhislightpack,shoulderedthegreatash

bow and the sword of Leah and began to march rapidly northward. The fewhours of afternoon daylight remaining disappeared quickly as he walked, hissharpeyessearchingcarefullyforanysignofhumanpassage.Itwasalmostduskwhenhefinallypickedupthesignsofsomeonetravelinginthedirectionofthe

Silver River. He found the trail to be several hours old, and he could bereasonablycertainthattherewasmorethanoneperson.Buttherewasnowaytotellwho the travelerswere, soMenionpushedonhurriedly in thehalf-lightofdusk,hoping tocatch therewhen theystoppedfor thenight.Heknew that theSkull Bearers would also be searching for them, but brushed his fears aside,rememberingthattherewasnoreasontoconnecthimwiththeValemen.Inanyevent,itwasacalculatedriskhehadtotakeifheexpectedtobeofanyservicetohisfriends.Shortlythereafter,justbeforethesundroppedbehindthehorizoncompletely,

Menion caught sight of a figure to the east of him traveling in the oppositedirection.Menion quickly called out to the other,who seemed startled by thehighlander’s sudden, appearance and tried to move away from him. Menionquickly took up the chase, running after the frightened traveler and calling tohimthathemeantnoharm.Afterseveralminuteshecaughttheman,whoturnedouttobeapeddlersellingcookingwaretooutlyingvillagesandfamiliesintheselowlands.Thepeddler,abent, timid individualwhohadbeenfrightenedbadlybytheunexpectedpursuit,wasnowthoroughlyterrifiedbythesightofthetall,sword-bearing highlander facing him at nightfall in the middle of nowhere.Menionhastilyexplainedthathemeantnoharm,butwaslookingfortwofriendsfromwhomhehadbecome separatedwhile traveling through theBlackOaks.Thisprovedtobetheworstthinghecouldhavetoldthelittleman,whowasnowthoroughly convinced the strangerwas insane.Menion considered telling himthathewas thePrinceofLeah,butquicklydiscardedthat idea. In theend, thepeddler revealed to him that he had seen two travelers fitting the generaldescription of the Valemen from a distance earlier in the afternoon. Menioncouldnottellifthemanhadtoldhimthatmuchforfearofhislifeortohumorhim,butheacceptedthetaleandbadegoodeveningtothelittleman,whowasobviouslydelighted tobe letoffsoeasily,andmadeahastyescapesouthwardintotheshelteringdarknessofevening.Menionwasforcedtoadmittohimselfthatitwasnowtoodarktoattemptto

followthetrailofhisfriends,sohecastaboutforalikelycampsite.Hefoundapairof largepines thatappeared tobe thebest shelteravailableandhemovedintothem,glancinganxiouslyattheclearnightsky.TherewassufficientlighttoenableaprowlingNorthlandcreaturetofindanycampedtravelerswithrelativeease, and he inwardly prayed that his friends hail sense enough to pick acarefully hidden spot to spend the night. He tossed down his own pack andweaponsbeneathoneofthespreadingpinesandcrawledundertheshelterofits

low-hangingbranches.Famishedfromthepasttwodays’journey,hedevouredthe lastofhissupplies, thinkingashedidso that theValemenwouldbefacedwiththesamefoodshortageinthedaysahead.Grumblingaloudatthebadluckthathadseparatedthem,hereluctantlywrappedhimselfinhislightblanketandwas quickly asleep, the great sword of Leah unsheathed at his side, gleamingdullyinthemoonlight.Unaware of the events that had transpired that nightwhile he slept soundly

severalmiles southof theSilverRiver,MenionLeah rose thenextdaywithanewplan inmind. Ifhecouldcutacrosscountry, travelingnortheast,hecouldcatchupwiththeValemenmuchmoreeasily.HewascertainthattheywouldbefollowingtheedgeoftheSilverRiverasitwounditswayeastwardintotheAnarForests,sotheirpathshadtocrossfartherupriver.Abandoningthefainttracesofthetrailleftthepreviousday,Menionbegantojourneyacrossthelowlandsinan easterly direction, thinking to himself that if he did not come across somesignof themupriverwhenhe reached thewater’s edge, he coulddoublebackdownstream.Healsoentertainedhopesofsightingsomesmallgamethatwouldprovide meat for the evening meal. He whistled and sang, to himself as hewalked,hisleanfacerelaxedandcheerfulattheprospectofareunionwithhislostcomrades.HecouldevenpicturethestoliddisbeliefonoldFlick’ssternfaceatthesightofhisreturn.Hewalkedeasilywithlong,lopingstridesthatcoveredthegroundquicklyandevenly,theswinging,measuredstepoftheexperiencedwoodsmanandhunter.Ashetraveled,histhoughtsdriftedbacktotheeventsofthepastseveraldays,

andheponderedthesignificanceofallthathadtranspired.HeknewlittleaboutthehistoryoftheGreatWarsandthereignoftheDruidCouncil,themysteriousappearanceoftheso-calledWarlockLordandhisdefeatbythecombinedmightofthreenations.Mostdisturbingofallwashisalmosttotallackofknowledgeofthe legendbehind theSwordofShannara, the fabledweapon that for somanyyearshadbeenawatchwordsymbolicoffreedomthroughcourage.Nowitwasthe birthright of an unknown orphan, half man, half elf. The thought was sopreposterousthathestillfounditimpossibletoconceiveofSheainthatrole.Heknewinstinctivelythatsomethingwasmissingfromthepicture—somethingsobasictothewholepuzzleofthegreatSwordthat,withoutknowingwhatitwas,thethreefriendsweresomanywindblownleaves.Menion also knew that hewas not a part of this adventure for the sake of

friendship alone. Flick had been right about that. Even now he was unsureexactlywhyhehadbeenpersuadedtoundertakethisjourney.Heknewhewas

lessthanaPrinceofLeahshouldbe.Heknewthathisinterestinpeoplehadnotbeendeepenough,andhehadneverreallywantedtoknowthem.Hehadnevertriedtounderstandtheimportantproblemsofgoverningjustlyinasocietywherethemonarch’swordwastheonlylaw.Yethefeltthatinhisownwayhewasasgoodasanymanalive.Sheabelievedhewasamantobelookedupto.Perhapsso,he thought idly,buthis life todateappeared toconsistofone long lineofharrowing experiences and wild escapades that had served little or noconstructivepurpose.Thesmooth,grass-coveredlowlandschangedtorough,barrenground,rising

abruptly in small hills and dropping sharply into steep, trenchlike valleys thatmade travel slow and almost hazardous in places. Menion looked anxiouslyaheadforsomeindicationofmorelevelterrain,butitwasimpossibletoseeveryfar, even from the top of the steep rises. He plodded on, deliberately andsteadily,ignoringtheroughnessofthegroundandsilentlyberatinghisdecisiontocomethatway.Hismindwanderedbriefly,thensuddenlysnappedbackashecaughtthesoundofahumanvoice.Helistenedintentlyforseveralseconds,butcould hear nothing further and dismissed it as thewind or his imagination.Amoment later he heard it again, only this time it was the clear sound of awoman’s voice, singing softly somewhere ahead of him, faint and low. Hewalkedmorequickly,wonderingifhisearswereplayingtricksonhim,butallthe time hearing thewoman’smellow voice grow louder. Soon themesmericsoundofhersingingfilledtheairinagay,almostwildabandonthatreachedintothe innermostdepthsof thehighlander’smind,biddinghimtofollow, tobeasfreeasthesongitself.Almostinatrancehewalkedsteadilyon,smilingbroadlyattheimagesthehappysongconjureduptohim.Vaguely,hewonderedwhatawoman would be doing in these bleak lowlands, miles from any kind ofcivilization;but thesongseemedtodispelallhisdoubts in itswarmassurancethatitcamefromtheheart.Atthepeakofaparticularlybleakrise,somewhathigherthanthesurrounding

hillocks, Menion found her sitting beneath a small twisted tree with, long,gnarledbranchesthatremindedhimofwillowroots.Shewasayounggirl,verybeautifulandobviouslyverymuchathomeintheselandsasshesangbrightly,seeminglyoblivioustoanyonewhomightbeattractedbythesoundofhervoice.Hedidnotconcealhisapproach,butmovedstraighttoherside,smilinggentlyatherfreshnessandyouth.Shesmiledbackathim,butmadenoefforttorisenortogreethim,continuingthegaystrainsofthetuneshehadbeensingingallthistime. The Prince of Leah came to a halt several feet away from her, but she

quicklybeckonedhimtocomecloserandsitnexttoherbeneaththeodd-shapedtree. Itwas then that fromsomewheredeepwithinhima smallwarningnervetwinged,somesixthsensenotyetentrancedbyhervibrantsongtuggedathimanddemandedtoknowwhythisyounggirlshouldaskacompletestrangertositwith her.Therewas no reason for his hesitation other than perhaps the innatedistrustthehunterhasforallthingsoutofplaceandtimeinnature;butwhateverthereason,itcausedthehighlandertopause.Inthatinstantthegirlandthesongdisappeared intovapor, leavingMenion to face thestrange-looking treeon thebarrenrise.Forone secondMenionhesitated, unable tobelievewhathad just occurred,

andthenhastilymovedtowithdraw.Buttheloosegroundabouthisfeetopenedevenashepaused,releasingaheavyclusterofthick-gnarledrootswhichwoundthemselves tightly about the young man’s ankles, holding him fast. Menionstumbled over backward trying to break free. For a moment he found hispredicamenttobeludicrous.Buttryashemight,hecouldnotworkfreeofthoseclingingroots.Thestrangenessofthesituationincreasedalmostimmediatelyashe glanced up to see the strange root-limbed tree, previously immobile,approaching ina slow, stretchingmotion, its limbsextended towardhim, theirtips containing small but deadly-looking needles. Thoroughly aroused now,Menion dropped his pack and bow in one motion and unsheathed the greatsword, realizing that the girl and the song had been an illusion to draw himwithinreachofthisominoustree.Hecutbrieflyattherootswhichboundhim,severing them in places, but theworkwas slow because theywerewound sotightlyabouthisanklesthathecouldnotriskbroadstrokes.Suddenpanicsetinasherealizedhecouldnotgetfreeintime,butheforcedthefeelingdownandshouted his defiance at the plant, which by now was almost on top of him.Swinging in fury as it camewithin reach, hequickly severed anumberof theclutching limbs and it withdrew slightly, its whole frame shuddering in pain.Menionknewthatwithitsnextapproachhehadtostrikeitsnervecenter ifheexpectedtodestroyit.Butthestrangetreehadotherideas;coilingitslimbsintoitself,itthrustthemtowardtheimprisonedtraveleroneatatime,showeringhimwiththetinyneedlesthatflewofftheends.Manyofthemmissedaltogetherandsomebouncedharmlessly off his heavy tunic andboots.But others struck theexposed skin of his hands and head and embedded themselves with smallstinging sensations. Menion tried to brush them off, while protecting himselffromfurtherassault,butthelittleneedlesbrokeoff,leavingtheirtipsembeddedin his skin. He felt a kind of slow drowsiness begin to steal over him and

portionsofhisnervous systembegin togonumb.He realizedatonce that theneedlescontainedsomesortofdrugthatwasdesignedtoputtheplant’svictimtosleep,torenderithelplessforeasydisposition.Wildly,hefoughtthefeelingseepingthroughhissystem,butsoondroppedhelplesslytohisknees,unabletofightit,knowingthatthetreehadwon.Butamazingly, thedeadly treeappeared tohesitateand then to inchslightly

backward, coiling again in attack. Slow, heavy footsteps sounded behind thefallenprince,approachingcautiously.Hecouldnot turnhishead toseewhoitwas,andadeepbassvoicewarnedhimabruptlytoremainmotionless.Thetreecoiledexpectantlytostrike,butaninstantbeforeitreleaseditsdeadlyneedles,itwasstruckwithshatteringimpactbyahugemacethatflewovertheshoulderofthe fallen Menion. The strange tree was completely toppled by the blow.Obviouslyinjured,itstruggledtoraiseitselfandfightback.Behindhim,Menionheardthesharpreleaseofabow-stringandalongblackarrowembeddeditselfdeepwithintheplant’sthicktrunk.Immediatelytherootsabouthisfeetreleasedtheir grip and sank into the earth and themain portion of the tree shudderedviolently, limbs thrashing the air and showering needles in all directions. Amoment later, it drooped slowly to the earth. With a final spasm, it laymotionless.Still heavily drugged from the needles,Menion felt the strong hands of his

rescuergriphis shoulders roughlyand forcehim intoapronepositionwhileabroad hunting knife severed the few remaining strands binding his feet. ThefigurebeforehimwasapowerfullybuiltDwarf,dressedinthegreenandbrownwoodsman’sclothingwornbymostofthatrace.HewastallforaDwarf,alittleover five feet, and carried a small arsenal of weapons bound about his broadwaist.HelookeddownatthedruggedMenionandshookhisheaddubiously.“Youmust be a stranger to do a dumb thing like that,” he reprimanded the

other in his deep bass voice. “Nobody with any sense plays around with theSirens.”“IamfromLeah...tothewest,”Menionmanagedtogaspout,hisvoicethick

andstrangetohisownears.“A highlander — I might have known.” The Dwarf laughed heartily to

himself.“You’dhavetobe,Isuppose.Well,don’tworry,you’llbefineinafewdays.Thatdrugwon’tkillyouifwegetittreated,butyou’llbeoutforawhile.”He laughed again and turned to retrieve his mace. Menion, with his final

ounceofstrength,graspedhimbythetunic.“I must reach... the Anar... Culhaven,” he gasped sharply. “Take me to

Balinor...”The Dwarf looked back at him sharply, but Menion had lapsed into

unconsciousness.Muttering tohimself, theDwarf pickeduphis ownweaponsandthoseofthefallenhighlander.Thenwithsurprisingstrength,heheavedthelimp form of Menion over his broad shoulders, testing the load for balance.Satisfiedatlastthatallwasinplace,hebegantrudgingsteadily,mutteringallthewhile,movingtowardtheforestsoftheAnar.

ChapterEight

FlickOhmsfordsatquietlyonalongstonebenchinoneoftheupperlevelsofthe lavishly beautiful Meade Gardens in the Dwarf community known asCulhaven.He had a perfect view of the amazing gardens stretching down therockyhillside in systematic levels that taperedoffabout theedges incarefullylaidpiecesofcutstone, reminiscentofa longwaterfall flowingdownagentleslope. The creation of the gardens on this once barren hillside was a trulymarvelous accomplishment. Special soils had been hauled from more fertileregionstobeplacedonthegardensite,enablingthousandsofbeautifulflowersandplantstoflourishyearroundinthemildclimateofthelowerAnar.Thecolorwas indescribable.Tocompare themyriadhuesof the flowers to thecolorsoftherainbowwouldhavebeenagreatinjustice.Flickattemptedbrieflytocountthevariousshades,a taskhesoonfoundtobe impossible.Hegaveupquicklyand turned his attention to the large clearing at the foot of the gardenswheremembers of the Dwarf community were passing on their way to or fromwhateverworktheywereengagedin.Theywereacuriouspeople,itseemedtoFlick, so dedicated to hardwork and awell-guarded order of life. Everythingtheydidwasalwayscarefully,plannedinadvance,meticulouslythoughtouttoapointwhereeventhecautiousFlickwasnettledbythetimespentinpreparation.But thepeoplewerefriendlyandeager tobeofservice,akindnessnot lostoneither of the visiting Valemen, who felt more than a bit out of place in thisstrangeland.TheyhadbeeninCulhavenfortwodaysnow,andstilltheyhadnotbeenable

tolearnwhathadhappenedtothem,whytheywerethere,orhowlongtheirstaywouldbe.Balinorhadtoldthemnothing,advisingthemthatheknewverylittlehimselfandthatallwouldberevealedinduetime,acommentFlickfoundtobenotonlymelodramaticbutaggravating.TherewasnosignofAllanon,nowordofhiswhereabouts.Worstofall, therewasnonewsoftheabsentMenion,andthebrothershadbeenforbiddentoleavethesafetyoftheDwarfvillageforanyreason. Flick glanced to the floor of the gardens again to see if his personalbodyguardwasstillthere,andquicklyspiedhimofftooneside,histirelessgazefixedon theValeman.Sheahadbeen infuriatedby this treatment, butBalinorwasquicktopointoutthatsomeoneshouldbewiththematalltimesincaseofan attempt on their lives by one of the rovingNorthland creatures. Flick had

acquiescedreadily,rememberingalltoowelltheclosecallshehadalreadyhadwiththeSkullBearers.HeputasidehisidlethoughtsattheapproachofSheaonthewindinggardenpath.“Anything?”Flickaskedanxiouslyastheotherreachedhissideandsatdown

quietlynexttohim.“Notoneword,”cametheshortreply.Sheafeltvaguelyexhaustedalloveragain,eventhoughhehadhadtwodays

to recover from thestrangeodyssey thathadbrought themfrom theirhome inShadyValetotheForestsofAnar.Theirtreatmenthadbeendecentifsometimesa bit overdone, and the people seemed genuinely concerned for theirwelfare.Buttherehadbeennowordgivenoutastowhatwastohappennext.Everyone,includingBalinor,seemedtobewaitingforsomething,perhapsthearrivalofthelong-absentAllanon.BalinorhadbeenunabletoexplaintothemhowtheyhadreachedtheAnar.Respondingtoamysteriousflashinglight,hehadfoundthemlyingonalowriverbankjustoutsideofCulhaventwodaysago,andhadbroughtthem to the village. He knew nothing of the old man nor of how they hadtraveled that long distance upstream. When Shea mentioned the legendsconcerningaKingoftheSilverRiver,Balinorshruggedandnonchalantlyagreedthatanythingwaspossible.“NonewsofMenion...?”Flickaskedhesitantly.“Only that the Dwarfs are still out looking for him, and it may take some

time,”Sheaansweredquietly.“Idon’tknowwhattodonext.”Flickinwardlyconcededthatthislastadmissionhadprovedtobethestoryof

theentireouting.HeglanceddownwardtothefootoftheMeadeGardenswherea small cluster of heavily armed Dwarfs were congregating around thecommanding figure of Balinor, who had suddenly appeared from the woodsbeyond.Evenfromtheirvantagepointatopthegardens,theValemencouldtellthathestillworethechainmailbeneaththelonghuntingcloaktheyhadcometorecognize sowell.He spoke earnestlywith theDwarfs for a fewminutes, hisface lined in thought. Shea and Flick knew very little about the Prince ofCallahorn, but the people of Culhaven seemed to have the highest regard forhim. Menion, too, had spoken well of Balinor. His homeland was thenorthernmostkingdomofthesprawlingSouthland.Commonlyreferredtoastheborderlands, it servedas abuffer zone fronting the southernboundariesof theNorthland. The citizens ofCallahornwere predominantlyMen, but unlike themajorityofthepeopleoftheirrace,theymingledfreelywiththeotherracesanddidnotpursueapolicyofisolationism.ThehighlyregardedBorderLegionwas

quartered in that distant country, a professional army commanded by RuhlBuckhannah,KingofCallahornandthefatherofBalinor.Historically,theentireSouthlandhadreliedonCallahornandtheLegiontoblunttheinitialthrustofaninvadingarmy,givingtherestofthelandachancetoprepareforbattle.Inthefive hundred years since its formation, the Border Legion had never beendefeated.Balinor had begun a slow assent to the stone benchwhere theValemen sat

patiently waiting. He smiled a greeting as he carne up to them, aware of thediscomfort they felt in not knowing what was to happen to them and of theanxiety they were experiencing for the safety of their missing friend. He satdownnexttothemandwassilentforafewminutesbeforespeaking.“Iknowhowdifficultthismustbeforyou,”hebeganpatiently.“Ihaveevery

availableDwarfwarrioroutlookingforyourlostfriend.Ifanyonecanfindhiminthisregion,theywill—andtheywon’tgiveup,Ipromiseyou.”ThebrothersnoddedtheirunderstandingofBalinor’sefforts tohelp themin

anywaypossible.“Thisisaverydangeroustimeforthesepeople,thoughIsupposeAllanondid

notspeakofit.TheyarefacingthethreatofaninvasionthroughtheupperAnarbyGnomes.TherehavealreadybeenskirmishesallalongtheborderandsignsofahugearmymassingsomewhereabovetheStreleheimPlains.YoumayhaveguessedthatallofthisistiedinwiththeWarlockLord.”“DoesthismeanthattheSouthlandisindanger,too?”askedananxiousFlick.“Undoubtedly:” Balinor nodded. “That’s one reason why I’m here — to

arrangeacoordinateddefensivestrategywiththeDwarfnationincaseofanall-outassault.”“Butwhere isAllanon then?” asked Shea quickly. “Is he going to get here

soon enough to help us?What has the Sword of Shannara got to dowith allthis?”Balinorlookedatthepuzzledfacesandshookhisheadslowly.“Imusthonestlyconfess that I cannotgiveyou theanswers toanyof those

questions.Allanonisaverymysteriousfigure,butawisemanwhohasbeenadependableallywheneverwehaveneededhiminthepast.WhenIsawhimlast,severalweeksbeforeIspoketoyouinShadyVale,wesetadatetomeetintheAnar.Heisalreadythreedaysoverdue.”Hepausedinquietspeculation,lookingdownatthegardensandbeyondtothe

greattreesoftheAnarForests,listeningtothesoundsofthewoodsandthelowvoicesoftheDwarfsmovingaboutintheclearingbelow.Thenabruptlyashoutwent up from a cluster of Dwarfs at the foot of the gardens, joined almost

immediately by the shouts and cries of othersmingled inwith a huge clamorswellingfromthewoodsbeyondthevillageofCulhaven.Themenonthestonebenchroseuncertainly,lookingquicklyaboutforsomesignofdanger.Balinor’sstronghandcame toreston thepommelofhisbroadsword,strapped tightlyathis side beneath the hunting cloak. Amoment later one of theDwarfs belowcamerushingupthepath,shoutingwildlyasheran.“Theyfoundhim,theyfoundhim!”heyelledexcitedly,almoststumblingin

hishastetoreachthem.SheaandFlickexchangedstartledlooks.Therunnercametoabreathlessstop

beforethem,andBalinorgrippedhisshoulderexcitedly.“HavetheyfoundMenionLeah?”hedemandedquickly.TheDwarfnoddedhappily,hisshort,stockyframeheavingwiththeexertion

ofthedashtoreachthemwiththegoodnews.Withoutaword,Balinorboundeddownthepathtowardtheshouting,SheaandFlickbehindhim.Theyreachedtheclearingbelowinamatterofsecondsandranalong themainpath throughthewoodsleadingtothevillageofCulhavenseveralhundredyardsbeyond.Aheadof them they could hear the excited shouting of the Dwarf populationcongratulating whomever it was who had found the lost highlander. Theyreached the village and, pushing through the throngs of Dwarfs blocking theway,madestraightforthecenterofalltheexcitement.Aringofguardspartedtolet themintoasmallcourtyardformedbybuildingsontherightandleftandahighstonewallintherear.OnalongwoodentablelaythemotionlessbodyofMenionLeah,hisfacepaleandseeminglylifeless.AteamofDwarfdoctorsbentdutifullyovertheinertform,apparentlytreatinghimforsomeinjury.Sheagaveasharpcryandtriedtorushforward,butBalinor’sstrongarmheldhimbackasthewarriorcalledouttooneofthenearbyDwarfs.“Pahn,what’shappenedhere?”Thesolid-lookingDwarf,dressedinarmorandapparentlyoneofthereturning

searchparty,hastenedtotheirside.“He’ll be all right after he’s treated.Hewas found entangled in one of the

Sirens out in themiddle of theBattlemound lowlands below theSilverRiver.Oursearchpartydidn’tfindhim.ItwasHendel,returningfromthecitiessouthofAnar.”Balinornoddedandlookedaboutforsomesignoftherescuer.“Heleftfortheassemblyhalltomakehisreport,”theDwarfrespondedtothe

unaskedquestion.MotioningthetwoValementofollowhim,Balinormadehiswayoutof the

courtyard through the crowd and across themain street to the large assemblyhall. Inside were the offices of the governing officials of the village and theassemblyroom,inwhichtheyfoundtheDwarfHendelsittingononeofthelongbenches,eatingravenouslywhileascribetookdownhisreport.Hendel lookedupastheyapproached,glancedcuriouslyattheValemenandnoddedbrieflytoBalinor, continuing todevourhismealwithout interruption.Balinordismissedthescribe,andthethreemensatdownacrossfromthedisinterestedDwarf,whoappearedbothexhaustedandstarved.

“Whatanidiot,tacklingoneofthoseSirenswithasword,”hemuttered.“Gotspunkthough.Howishe?”“He’llbefineafterhe’streated,”repliedBalinorgrinningreassuringlyatthe

uneasyValemen“Howdidyoufindhim?”“Heard him yelling.” The other continued to eatwithout pausing. “I had to

carryhimalmostsevenmilesbeforeIranintoPahnandthesearchpartyalongtheSilverRiver.”HepausedandlookedagainatthetwoValemen,whowerelisteningintently.

The Dwarf appraised them curiously and looked back at Balinor, eyebrowsraised.“Friends of the highlander — and of Allanon,” responded the borderman,

cockinghisheadmeaningfully.Hendelmerelynoddedtothemcurtly.“I’d never have known who he was if he hadn’t mentioned your name,”

Hendel informed them shortly, indicating the tall borderman. “It might helpmatters ifnowand thensomeonewould tellmewhatwasgoingonbefore it’shappened,notafter.”He declined to comment further, and an amusedBalinor smiled over to the

puzzled brothers, shrugging slightly to indicate the Dwarf was irascible bynature.SheaandFlickwereabituncertainaboutthefellow’stemperamentandhadpurposelykeptsilentwhile theother twoconversed, thoughbothValemenwereeagertohearthefullstorybehindMenion’srescue.“What’syourreportonSterneandWayford?”Balinoraskedfinally,referring

tothelargeSouthlandcitiesimmediatelysouthandwestoftheAnar.Hendelceasedeatingandlaughedabruptly.“Theofficialsofthosetwofinecommunitieswillconsiderthematterandsend

alongareport.Typicalbunglingofficials,electedbythedisinterestedpeopletojuggle the ball until it can be passed onto some other fool. I could tell fiveminutesafterIopenedmymouththattheythoughtIwascrazy.Theydon’tseethe danger until the sword is at their own throats — then they scream forassistancefromthoseofuswhoknewitallalong.”Hepausedandresumedhismeal,obviouslydisgustedwiththewholesubject.“Ishouldhaveexpectedthat,Isuppose.”Balinorsoundedworried.“Howcan

weconvincethemofthedanger?Therehasn’tbeenawarinsomanyyearsthatnoonewantstobelieveitcouldhappennow.”“That’snot,therealproblem,asyouwellknow,”interjectedtheirateHendel.

“They simply don’t feel they should be involved in the matter. After all, thefrontiersareprotectedbyDwarfs,nottomentionthecitiesofCallahornandtheBorderLegion.We’vebeendoingituptonow—whycan’twekeepdoingit?Thosepoorfools...”He trailedoff slowly, finishedwithhis statementandhismeal, feeling tired

from the long trip home. He had been on the road for almost three weeks,traveling to the cities of the Southland, and it all seemed to have been fornothing.Hefeltkeenlydiscouraged.“Idon’tunderstandwhat’shappened,”Sheaannouncedquietly.“Well,that’stwoofus,”Hendelrepliedsullenly.“I’mgoingtobedforabout

twoweeks.Seeyouthen.”He stood up abruptly andwalked out of the assembly roomwithout even a

shortfarewell,hisbroadshouldersstoopedwearily.Thethreemenwatchedhimgowithoutspeaking,theireyesfixedonhisdepartingsilhouetteuntilitwaslostfromsight.ThenSheaturnedquestioninglytoBalinor.“It’stheage-oldtaleofcomplacency,Shea.”Thetallwarriorsigheddeeply

andstretchedasherose.“Wemaybestandingonthebrinkofthegreatestwarinathousandyears,butnoonewantstoacceptthefact.Everyonegetsinthesamerut—letafewtakecareofthegatestothecitywhiletherestforgetandgoback

totheirhomes.Itbecomesahabit—dependingonafewtoprotecttherest.Andthenoneday...thefewarenotenough,andtheenemyiswithinthecity—rightthroughtheopengates...”“Istherereallygoingtobeawar?”Flickasked,almostfearfully.“Thatisthequestionexactly,”Balinorrespondedslowly.“Theonlymanwho

cangiveustheanswerisabsent...andoverdue.”In the excitement of finding Menion alive and well, the Valemen had

temporarilyforgottenAllanon,themanwhowasthereasonfortheirbeingintheAnarinthefirstplace.Thebynowfamiliarquestionsagainflashedthroughtheirmindswithnewpersistency,buttheValemenhadlearnedtolivewiththemoverthe past few weeks and all doubts were reluctantly shoved aside once more.Balinor caught their attention as he moved toward the open door, and theyquicklyfollowed.“Youmustn’tmindHendel, you know,” he reassured them as theywalked.

“He’sgrufflikethatwitheveryone,buthe’soneofthefinestfriendsyoucouldaskfor.HehasfoughtandoutwittedtheGnomesalongtheupperAnarforyears,protecting his people and the complacent citizens of the Southland who soquicklyforgetthecrucialroletheDwarfsplayasguardiansoftheseborders.TheGnomeswouldliketogettheirhandsonhim,Icantellyou.”SheaandFlicksaidnothing,ashamedofthefactthatthepeopleoftheirown

race could be so selfish, yet realizing that they, too, had been ignorant of thesituationin theAnarbeforehearingof it fromBalinor.Theywerebotheredbythe thought of renewed hostilities between the races, recalling their historylessons on the old racewars and the terrible hatred of those bitter years. Thepossibilityofathirdwaroftheraceswaschilling.“Why don’t you two go on back to the gardens,” advised the Prince of

Callahorn.“I’llhaveamessagesentassoonasIhearofanychangeinMenion’scondition.”The brothers reluctantly agreed, knowing they had no other choice in the

matter anyway. Before turning in that night, they stopped by the roomwhereMenionwasbeingkept,onlytobetoldbytheDwarfsentrythattheirfriendwasasleepandshouldnotbedisturbed.Butby the followingafternoon, thehighlanderwasawakeandbeingvisited

by the anxiousValemen. Even Flickwas grudgingly relieved to see the otheraliveandwell,thoughhesolemnlyintonedthathehadcorrectlypredictedtheirmisfortunemanydaysinadvancewhentheyfirstdecidedtojourneythroughtheBlackOaks.MenionandSheabothlaughedatFlick’seternalpessimism,butdid

notarguethepoint.SheaexplainedhowMenionhadbeenbroughttoCulhavenbytheDwarfHendel,andthenwentontorelatethemysteriouswayinwhichheandFlickhadbeenfoundneartheSilverRiver.Menionwasasmystifiedastheyovertheirstrangejourneyandcouldoffernologicalexplanation.SheacarefullyrefrainedfrommentioningthelegendofaKingoftheSilverRiver,knowingfullwellwhat thehighlander’s responsewouldbe toanyspeculation that involvedanoldfolktale.That same day, in the early hours of the evening, word reached them that

Allanonhad returned. Shea andFlickwere about to leave their rooms to visitMenionwhen theyheard the excited shoutsofDwarfs rushingpast their openwindows toward the assembly hall where some sort of meeting was about tobegin. The anxious Valemen had not taken two steps beyond their doorwaywhentheyweresurroundedbyateamoffourDwarfguardsandhustledquicklythrough the pushing crowds, past the open doors of the large assembly into asmall adjoining room,where theywere told to remain.TheDwarfs closed thedoor wordlessly as they exited, slid the lock bolts into place, and assumedpositions immediately outside. The room was brightly lit and furnished withseverallongtablesandbenches,atwhichthebewilderedValemensilentlyseatedthemselves.Thewindowsto theroomwereclosedandevenwithoutchecking,Shea knew they would be barred like the door. From the assembly hall theycouldhearthedeepvoiceofasinglespeaker.Severalminutes later the door to the chamber opened andMenion, looking

flushedbutotherwisequitewell,wasbrisklyushered inby twoDwarfguards.Whentheywereleftalone,thehighlanderexplainedthattheyhadcomeforhimthesameasfortheValemen.Fromsnatchesofconversationhehadheardonthewayover,itappearedthattheDwarfsinCulhavenandprobablyalloftheAnarwerepreparingforwar.WhatevernewsAllanonhadbroughtbackwithhimhadthrownmattersintoastateofconfusionintheDwarfcommunity.HethoughthehadcaughtaquickglimpseofBalinor throughtheopendoorsof theassemblyhall, standing on the platform at the front of the building, but the guards hadrushedhimpastandhecouldn’tbesure.Thevoicesfromthecongregationnextdoorroseinathunderousroar,andall

three paused expectantly. Seconds passed as the shouting continued to rollthroughthelargehall,spreadingtotheopengroundsoutsidewhereitwastakenupbytheDwarfsthere.Atthedeafeningpeakoftheshouting,thedoortotheirroomsuddenlyburstopentoadmitthedark,commandingfigureofAllanon.HewalkedovertotheValemenquickly,shooktheirhands,andcongratulated

themon their successful journey toCulhaven.Hewasdressed ashehadbeenwhenFlickhadfirstencounteredhim,hisleanfacehalfhiddeninthelongcowl,hiswholeappearancedarkandforeboding.HegreetedMenioncourteouslyandmovedtotheheadofthenearesttable,motioningtheotherstobeseated.Hehadbeen followed into the room by Balinor and a number of Dwarfs who wereapparentlyleadersinthecommunity,amongthemtheirascibleHendel.Bringinguptherearofthisprocessionweretwoslim,almostshadowyfiguresincurious,loose-fittingwoodsmangarb,whoquietlytookseatsnearAllanonattheheadofthe table. Shea could see them clearly from his position at the other end, andconcluded after a quick observation that they were Elves from the distantWestland.Theirkeenfeatures, fromthesharplyraisedeyebrowsto thestrangepointed ears, marked them distinctively. Shea turned back and saw that bothFlickandMenionwerelookingathimcuriously,obviouslyappraisinghisownstrong resemblance to the strangers. None of them had ever seen an Elf, andwhiletheyknewthatSheawashalfElfandhadhearddescriptionsgivenoftheElvenpeople,nonehadeverhadachancetocomparetheValemantoone.“My friends.” The deep voice of Allanon boomed out in the slight stir of

voicesasherosecommandinglytohisfullheightofsevenfeet.Theroomwasinstantlysilentasallfacesturnedinhisdirection.“Myfriends,ImustnowtellyouwhatIhaveasyettoldnooneelse.Wehavesufferedatragicloss.”Hepausedandlookedattheanxiousfacesinturn.“Paranorhasfallen.AdivisionofGnomehuntersunderthecommandofthe

WarlockLordhasseizedtheSwordofShannara!”TherewasdeadsilenceforabouttwosecondsbeforetheDwarfswereontheir

feet,shoutinginanger.Balinorrosequicklyinanefforttoquietthem.SheaandFlicklookedateachotherindisbelief.OnlyMenionseemedunsurprisedbytheannouncement,hisleanfacecarefullyscrutinizingthedarkfigureattheheadofthetable.“Paranorwastakenfromwithin,”Allanoncontinuedaftersomesemblanceof

order had been restored. “There is little question as to the fate of those whoguarded the fortress and the Sword. I am told that allwere executed.No oneknowsexactlyhowithappened.”“Haveyoubeenthere?”Sheaaskedsuddenly,feelingalmostimmediatelythat

itwasastupidquestion.“I left your home in theVale so suddenly because I receivedword that an

attemptwouldbemadetosecureParanor.Iarrivedtoolatetohelpthosewithinandbarelyescapeddetectionmyself.That isoneof thereasonsIamsolate in

reachingCulhaven.”“But if Paranor has fallen and the Sword been taken...?”Flick’s whispered

questiontrailedoffominously.“Thenwhatcanwedonow?”Allanonfinishedharshly.“Thisistheproblem

facingus, theonewemustprovidean immediateanswerfor—thereasonforthiscouncil.”Allanon suddenly left his position at the head of the long table andmoved

arounduntilhewasstandingdirectlybehindShea.Heplacedonegreathandontheslimshoulderandfacedhisattentiveaudience.“TheSwordofShannara isuseless in thehandsof theWarlockLord.Itcan

onlyberaisedbyasonoftheHouseofJerleShannara—thisalonepreventstheevil one from striking now. Instead, he has systematically hunted down anddestroyedallmembersofthatHouse,oneatatime,oneafteranother,eventhoseItriedtoprotectallwhomIcouldfind.Nowtheyarealldead—allsaveone,andthatoneisyoungShea.SheaisonlyhalfElf,butheisadirectdescendantoftheKingwhoearnedthegreatSwordsomanyyearsbefore.Nowhemustraiseitonceagain.”Sheawould have bolted for the door if it had not been for the strong hand

grippinghisshoulder.HelookeddesperatelyatFlickandsawthefearinhisowneyesmirrored in those of his brother’s.Menion had notmoved, but appearedvisiblyimpressedbythisgrimdeclaration.WhatAllanonseemedtoexpectfromSheawasmorethananymanhadtherighttoask.“Well, I think we have shaken our young friend a bit.” Allanon laughed

shortly.“Donotdespair,Shea.Thingsarenotasbadastheymayseemtoyourightnow.”Heturnedabruptly,walkedbacktotheheadofthetableandfacedtheothers.“WemustrecovertheSwordatallcosts.Thereisnootherchoicelefttous.If

wefailtodothis,thewholeofthelandwillbeplungedintothegreatestwartheraceshave seen since theneardestructionof life two thousandyearsago.TheSword is the key. Without it, we must fall back on our mortal strength, ourfighting prowess — a battle with iron and muscle that can only result inuncountablethousandsdyingonbothsides.TheevilistheWarlockLord,andhecannotbedestroyedwithout theaidof theSword—and thecourageofa fewmen,nottheleastofwhommustbethoseofusinthisroom.”Againhepausedtomeasuretheforceofhiswords.Therewasabsolutesilence

ashelookeddoubtfullyatthesilentgalleryofgrimfacesstaringback.SuddenlyMenion,Leahroseatthefarendofthetableandfacedthegiantspeaker.

“WhatyouaresuggestingisthatwegoaftertheSword—toParanor.”Allanonnoddedslowly,ahalfsmileplayingoverhisthinlipsashewaitedfor

areactionfromthestartledlisteners.Hisdeep-seteyestwinkledblacklybeneaththegreatbrow,watchingcarefullythefacesabouthim.Menionsatdownslowly,totaldisbeliefshowingplainlyonhishandsomefeatures,asAllanoncontinued.“The Sword is still at Paranor; there is an excellent possibility that it will

remainthere.NeitherBronanortheBearersoftheSkullcanpersonallyremovethe talisman— its mere physical presence is an anathema to their continuedexistence in the mortal world. Any form of exposure for more than severalminuteswouldcauseexcruciatingpain.Thismeansthatanyattempttotransportthe Sword north to the Skull Kingdom must be accomplished by use of theGnomesthatholdParanor.“Eventine andhisElvenwarriorsweregiven the taskof securing theDruid

strongholdandtheSword.WhileParanorhasbeenlosttous,theElvesstillholdthe southern stretchof theStreleheimnorthof the fortress, andanyattempt totravel north to the Dark Lord would require breaking through their patrols.ApparentlyEventinewasnotatParanorwhenitwastaken,andIhavenoreasonto believe that hewill not endeavor to regain the Sword or, at the very least,thwartanyattempttoremoveit.TheWarlockLordwillbeawareofthis,andIdonotthinkhewillrisklosingtheweaponbyhavingtheGnomescarryitout.Instead,hewillentrenchatParanoruntilhisarmymovessouth.“ThereisapossibilitythattheWarlockLorddoesnotexpectustoattemptto

regain the Sword. He may believe that the House of Shannara has beenexterminated. Hemay expect us to concentrate on strengthening our defensesagainsthisforthcomingassault.Ifweactimmediately,asmallpartymaybeableto slip into theKeep undetected and retrieve the Sword. Such an undertakingwouldbedangerous,butifthereiseventheremotestchanceofsuccess,theriskisworthit.”Balinor had risen and indicated he wished to speak to those assembled.

Allanonnoddedandsatdown.“IdonotunderstandthepoweroftheSwordovertheWarlockLord—thatmuchIfreelyadmit,”thetallwarriorbegan.“ButIdoknowthethreatthatweallfaceifBrona’sarmyinvadestheSouthlandandtheAnarasourreportsindicateitispreparingtodo.Myhomelandwillbethefirsttofacethisthreat,andifIcanpreventitinanyway,thenIcannotdootherwise.IwillgowithAllanon.”TheDwarfs leaped up again at this point and enthusiastically shouted their

support.Allanonstoodupandraisedhislongarminapleaforsilence.

“These two young Elves at my side are cousins of Eventine. They willaccompanyme, for their stake in thismatter is at least as great as your own.Balinorwillgoaswell,andIwilltakeoneoftheDwarfchieftains—nomore.Thismustbeasmall,highlyskilledpartyofhuntersifwearetosucceed.Pickthebestmanamongyouandlethimcomewithus.”He looked to the end of the table, where Shea and Flick sat watching in a

mixedstateofshockandconfusion.MenionLeahponderedquietly, lookingatnooneinparticular.AllanonglancedexpectantlyatShea,hisgrimfacesuddenlysofteningashesawthefrightenedeyesoftheyoungValemanwhohadcomesofar, through somanydangers to this apparent havenof safety, only to be toldthathewasexpected to leave it foranevenmoreperilous tripnorthward.Buttherehadbeenno time tobreak thenews to theValeman inagentleway.Heshookhisheaddoubtfullyandwaited.“IthinkIhadbettergo.”TheabruptdeclarationcamefromMenion,whohad

againrisentohisfeettofacetheothers.“IcamewithSheathisfartobecertainhe reached the safety of Culhaven, which he has done. My duty to him isfinished,butIoweittomyhomelandandtomypeopletoprotecttheminanywayIcan.”“What can you offer then?” asked Allanon abruptly, astonished that the

highlanderwouldvolunteerwithoutfirstspeakingtohisfriends.SheaandFlickwereclearlydumbfoundedbythisunexpectedannouncement.“I’m the best bowman in the Southland,” Menion answered smoothly.

“Probablythebesttrackeraswell.”Allanonseemedtohesitateforamoment,thenlookedtoBalinor,whoquietly

shrugged.ForabriefmomentMenionandAllanonlockedgazes,asiftojudgeeachother’sintentions.Menionsmiledcoldlyatthegrimhistorian.“WhyshouldIanswertoyou?”hequeriedshortly.Thedarkfigureattheotherendofthetablestaredathimalmostcuriouslyand

adeathlysilencesettledoverthecompany.EvenBalinorsteppedbackoneshortpaceinshock.SheaknewinstantlythatMenionwasaskingfortroubleandthateveryone at the table except the three companions knew something about theforebodingAllanon theydidnot.The frightenedValemanshotaquick lookatFlick, whose flushed face had gone pale at the thought of a confrontationbetween the twomen.Desperate toavoidany trouble,Sheastoodupsuddenlyand cleared his throat. Everyone looked in his direction, and his mind wentblank.“Youhavesomethingtosay?”demandedAllanonblackly.Sheanoddedand

his mind raced desperately, knowing what was expected. He looked again toFlick,whomanagedabarelyperceptiblenodindicatingthathewouldgoalongwithwhateverhisbrotherdecided.Sheaclearedhisthroatasecondtime.“MyspecialskillappearstobethatIwasborninthewrongfamily,butIhad

betterseethismatterthrough.FlickandI—Menion,too—willgotoParanor.”Allanon nodded his approval and even managed a slight smile, inwardly

pleasedwith theyoungValeman.Shea,more thananyof theothers,hadtobestrong.Hewas the last sonof thehouseofShannara,and the fateof somanywoulddependonthatsingle,smallchanceofbirth.Attheotherendofthetable,MenionLeahrelaxedquietlyinhisseat,abarely

audiblesighof reliefescapinghis lipsashesilentlycongratulatedhimself.HehaddeliberatelyprovokedAllanon,andinsodoinghadforcedSheatocometohisrescuebyagreeingtogotoParanor.Ithadbeenadesperategambletoinducethe little Valeman to make up his mind that he was going with them. Thehighlanderhadcomeclose towhatmighthavebeena fatal confrontationwithAllanon.Hehadbeen lucky.Hewondered if luckwould smileonallof themduringthejourneyahead.

ChapterNine

Sheastoodquietlyinthedarknessoutsidetheassemblyhallandletthenightairwashoverhishotfaceincoolwaves.Flickwasimmediatelytohisright,thebroad facegrim in the shadowedmoonlight.Menion leaned idly against a talloak someyardsoff to their left.Themeetinghadconcluded, andAllanonhadasked them to wait for him. The tall wanderer was still inside makingpreparations with the Dwarf elders to counter the expected invasion from theupper Anar. Balinor was with them, coordinating the defense of the famedBorderLegionindistantCallahornwiththatoftheDwarfarmyoftheEastland.Sheawas relieved to be out of the stuffy little room—out in the open nightwherehecouldconsidermoreclearlyhishastydecisiontogowiththecompanytoParanor.Heknew—andheguessedFlickmusthaveknownaswell—thattheycouldnotexpecttostayoutoftheinevitableconflictcenteringaroundtheSword of Shannara. They could have stayed in Culhaven, living almost likeprisoners,hopingthattheDwarfpeoplewouldprotectthemfromthesearchingSkullBearers.Theycouldhavestayed in this strange land,apart fromallwhoknew them, perhaps forgotten in time by everyone except theDwarfs. But toalienatethemselvesthatwaywouldhavebeenworsethananyimaginablefateatthehandsoftheenemy.ForthefirsttimeShearealizedthathemustacceptthefact,finallyandforever,thathewasnolongermerelytheadoptedsonofCurzadOhmsford.HewasasonoftheElvenHouseofShannara,thesonofkingsandtheheirtothefabledSword,andthoughhewouldhavewisheditotherwise,hemustacceptwhatchancehaddecreedforhim.He looked quietly at his brother, who stood lost in thought, staring at the

darkened earth, and he felt a keen pang of sorrow at the remembrance of theother’s loyalty.Flickwascourageousand lovedhim,buthehadnotbargainedfor this unexpected turn of events that would take them into the heart of theenemy’scountry.SheadidnotwantFlicktobeinvolvedinthismatter—itwasnothisresponsibility.HeknewthatthestockyValemanwouldneverdeserthimso longashe felthecouldhelp,butperhapsnowFlickcouldbepersuaded toremainbehind,eventoreturntoShadyValetoexplaintotheirfatherwhathadbefallenthem.Butevenashetoyedwiththeidea,hediscardedit,knowingthatFlickwouldneverturnback.Whateverelsehappened,hewouldseethismatterthrough.

“There was a time,” Flick’s quiet voice broke into his thoughts, “when IwouldhaveswornthatIwouldliveoutmylifeinuneventfulsolitudeinShadyVale.NowitappearsthatIwillbeapartofanefforttosavemankind.”“DoyouthinkIshouldhavechosenotherwise?”Sheaaskedafteramoment’s

silentthought.“No,Idon’tthinkso.”Flickshookhishead.“Butrememberwhatwetalked

about on the trip hereabout things being beyond our control, even ourunderstanding?Youseehowlittlecontrolwenowhaveoverwhat’stobecomeofus.”Hepausedandlookedsquarelyovertohisbrother.“Ithinkyoumadetheright

choice,andwhateverhappens,I’llbewithyou.”Shea smiled broadly and placed a hand on the other’s shoulder, thinking to

himself that thiswas exactlywhat he had predictedFlickwould say. Itwas asmall gesture perhaps, but one that meant more to him than any other couldhave.HewasawareofthesuddenapproachofMenionfromtheothersideandturnedtofacethehighlander.“I suppose you think me some sort of fool after what happened in there

tonight,” Menion stated abruptly. “But this fool stands along with old Flick.Whateverhappens,we’llfaceittogether,beitmortalorspirit.”“Youcaused that scene in there togetShea toagree togo,didn’tyou?”an

irateFlickdemanded.“That’sthelowesttrickIhaveeverwitnessed!”“Nevermind,Flick,”Sheacuthimshort.“Menionknewwhathewasdoing,

andhedidtherightthing.Iwouldhavedecidedtogoanyway—atleastI’dliketobelieveIwould.Nowwe’vegottoforgetthepast,forgetourdifferences,andstandtogetherforourownpreservation.”“AslongasIstandwhereIcanseehim,”retortedhisbrotherbitterly.The door to the conference room opened suddenly and the broad figure of

Balinorwassilhouettedinthetorchlightfromwithin.Hesurveyedthethreemenstandingjustbeyondhiminthedarkness,thenclosedthedoorandwalkedovertothem,smilingslightlyasheapproached.“I’mgladyoudecidedtocomewithus,allofyou,”hestatedsimply.“Imust

add,Shea,thatwithoutyou,thetripwouldhavebeenpointless.WithouttheheirofJerleShannara,theSwordisonlysomuchmetal.”“Whatcanyoutellusaboutthismagicweapon?”Menionaskedquickly.“I’llleavethattoAllanon,”repliedBalinor.“Heplanstospeakwithyouhere

injustafewminutes.”Menion nodded, inwardly disturbed at the prospect of encountering the tall

managainthatevening,butcurioustohearmoreaboutthepoweroftheSword.SheaandFlickexchangedquickglances.AtlasttheywouldlearnthefullstorybehindwhatwashappeningintheNorthland.“Whyareyouhere,Balinor?”Flickaskedcautiously,notwishingtopryinto

theborderman’spersonalaffairs.“It’saratherlongstoryyouwouldnotbeinterested,”repliedtheotheralmost

sharply, immediately causing Flick to believe he had overstepped his bounds.Balinorsawhischagrinedlook,andsmiledreassuringly.“MyfamilyandIhavenot been on very good terms lately. My younger brother and I had a...disagreement, and Iwanted to leave thecity forawhile.Allanonaskedme toaccompanyhimtotheAnar.Hendelandotherswereoldfriends,soIagreed.”“Sounds like a familiar tale,” commented Menion dryly. “I’ve had some

problemslikethatmyselffromtimetotime.”Balinornoddedandmanagedahalfsmile,butSheacould tell fromhiseyes

that he did not consider this a laughing matter.Whatever had caused him toleaveCallahornwasmoreseriousthananythingMenionhadeverencounteredinLeah.Sheaquicklychangedthesubject.“What can you tell us about Allanon? We seem to be placing an unusual

amount of trust in him, and we still know absolutely nothing about theman.Whoishe?”Balinor archedhis eyebrowsand smiled, amusedby thequestion andat the

same time uncertain as to how it should be answered. Hewalked away fromthema little, thinking tohimself, and then turnedback abruptly andmotionedvaguelytowardtheassemblyhall.“I reallydon’tknowmuchaboutAllanonmyself,”headmittedfrankly.“He

travelsagreatdeal,exploringthecountry,recordinginhisnotesthechangesandgrowthofthelandanditspeople.He’swellknowninallthenations—Ithinkhe has been everywhere. The extent of his knowledge of this world isextraordinary—mostofitisn’tinanybook.Heisveryremarkable...”“Butwho ishe?”Sheapersistedeagerly, feeling thathemust learn the true

originofthehistorian.“Ican’tsayforcertain,becausehehasneverconfidedcompletelyeveninme,

andIamalmostlikeasontohim,”Balinorstatedveryquietly,sosoftlyinfactthattheyallmovedabitclosertobecertaintheymissednothingofwhatwastofollow. “The elders of theDwarfs and ofmy own kingdom say that he is thegreatestof theDruids, thatalmost forgottenCouncil thatgovernedmenoverathousandyearsago.TheysaythatheisadirectdescendantoftheDruidBremen

—perhapsevenofGalaphilehimself.Ithinkthereismorethanalittletruthinthat statement, because hewent to Paranor often and stayed for long periods,recordinghisfindingsinthegreatrecordbooksstoredthere.”He paused for a moment and his three listeners glanced at each other,

wondering if the grim historian could actually be a direct descendant of theDruids, thinking in awe of the centuries of history behind theman. Shea hadsuspected before thatAllanonwas one of the ancient philosopher— teachersknown as Druids, and it seemed apparent that the man possessed a greaterknowledgeoftheracesandtheoriginsofthethreatfacingthemthandidanyoneelse.HeturnedbacktoBalinor,whowasspeakingagain.“Ican’texplainit,butIdon’tbelievewecouldbeinbettercompanyforany

peril,evenwerewetocomefacetofacewiththeWarlockLordhimself.ThoughIhaven’toneshredofconcreteevidencenorevenanexample tociteyou,I’mcertainthatAllanon’spowerisbeyondanythingwehaveeverseen.Hewouldbeavery,verydangerousenemy.”“Ofthat,Ihaven’ttheslightestdoubt,”Flickmuttereddryly.Only minutes later, the door of the conference room opened and Allanon

stepped quietly into view. In the half-light of the moon, he was huge andforbidding,almosta replicaof thedreadedSkullBearers they fearedsomuch,thedarkcapebillowingslightlyashemovedtowardthem,hisleanfacehiddeninthedepthsofthelongcowlabouthishead.Theyweresilentasheapproached,wonderingwhathewould tell them,what itwouldmean for them in thedaysahead.Perhapsheknewtheirthoughtsinstinctivelyashewalkeduptothem,buttheir eyes could not pierce the mask of inscrutability that cloaked his grimfeatures and sheltered theman buriedwithin.They could only see the suddenglintofhiseyesashestoppedbeforethemandlookedslowlyfromonefacetothenext.Adeepsilencesettledominouslyoverthelittlegroup.“The time has come for you to learn the full story behind the Sword of

Shannara, to learn thehistoryof the races asonly I know it tobe.”His voicereached out and drew them commandingly to him. “It is essential that Sheashouldunderstand,andsincetherestofyousharetherisksinvolved,youshouldalsoknowthetruth.WhatyouwilllearntonightmustbekeptinconfidenceuntilItellyouitnolongermatters.Thiswillbehard,butyoumustdoit.”He motioned for them to follow him and moved away from the clearing,

drawing them deeper into the darkness of the trees beyond.When they wereseveral hundred feet into the forest, he turned into a small, almost hiddenclearing.Heseatedhimselfonthewornstubofanancient trunkandmotioned

the others to find a place. They did so quickly and waited in silence as thefamoushistoriangatheredhisthoughtsandpreparedtospeak.“Averylongtimeago,”hebeganfinally,stillconsideringhisexplanationas

hespoke,“beforetheGreatWars,beforetheexistenceoftheracesasweknowthem today, the land was — or was thought to be populated only by Man.Civilization had developed even before then for many thousands of years—yearsofhardtoilandlearningthatbroughtMantoapointwherehewasonthevergeofmastering the secretsof life itself. Itwasa fabulous, exciting time tolive in, so expansive that much of it would be totally beyond yourcomprehension were I empowered to draw you the most perfect picture. Butwhile Man worked all those years to discover the secrets of life, he nevermanaged to escape his overpowering fascination for death. It was a constantalternative, even in the most civilized of the nations. Strangely enough, thecatalyst of each new discovery was the same endless pursuit— the study ofscience.Not the science the racesknow today—not the studyof animal life,plant life, the earth and the simple arts. This was a science of machines andpower, one that divided itself into infinite fields of exploration, all of whichworkedtowardthesametwoends—discoveringbetterwaystoliveorquickerwaystokill.”Hepausedandlaughedgrimlytohimself,cockinghisheadinthedirectionof

theattentiveBalinor.“Verystrange indeed,whenyou thinkabout it—thatManshouldspendso

much time working toward two such obviously different goals. Even nownothinghaschanged—evenafteralltheseyears...”HisvoicetrailedoffforamomentandSheariskedabrieflookattheothers,

buttheireyeswerefixedonthe,speaker.“Sciencesofphysicalpower!”Allanon’ssuddenexclamationbroughtShea’s

headaroundwithasnap.“Thesewerethemeanstoalltheendsofthatera.Twothousand years ago the achievements of the human race were unparalleled inearth’s history.Man’s age— old enemy, Death, could now claim only thosewhohadlivedout theirnatural lifetime.Sicknesswasvirtuallyeliminatedand,givenabitmoretime,Manwouldevenhavefoundawaytoprolonglife.Somephilosophersclaimedthat thesecretsof lifewereforbiddentomortals.Noonehadeverprovedotherwise.Theymighthavedoneso,buttheirtimeranoutandthesameelementsofpowerthathadmadelifefreefromsicknessandinfirmitynearlydestroyed it altogether.TheGreatWars began, buildinggradually fromsmaller disputes between a few peoples and spreading steadily, despite the

realization of what was happening— spreading from little matters into basichatreds: race, nationality, boundaries, creeds... in the end, everything. Thensuddenly, so suddenly that few knew what happened, the entire world wasenveloped in a series of retaliatory attacks by the different countries, all veryscientifically planned and executed. In a matter of minutes, the science ofthousands of years, the learning of centuries, culminated in an almost totaldestructionoflife.“The Great Wars.” The deep voice was grim, the glint of the dark eyes

watching carefully the faces of his listeners. “Very apt name. The powerexpendedinthosefewminutesofbattlenotonlysucceededinwipingoutthosethousandsofyearsofhumangrowth,butitalsobeganaseriesofexplosionsandupheavals that completely altered the surfaceof the land.The initial forcedidmostofthedamage,killingeverylivingthingoverninetypercentofthefaceofthe earth, but the aftereffects carriedon the alteration and extinction, breakingthecontinentsapart,dryingupoceans,makinglandsandseasuninhabitableforseveralhundredyears.Itshouldhavebeentheendofalllife,perhapstheendoftheworlditself.Onlyamiraclepreventedthatend.”“Ican’tbelieve it.”Thewords slippedoutbeforeSheacouldcatchhimself,

andAllanonlookedtowardhim,thefamiliarmockingsmilespreadingoverhislips.“That’syourhistoryofcivilizedman,Shea,”hemurmureddarkly.“Butwhat

happened thereafter concerns us more directly. Remnants of the race ofManmanagedtosurviveduringtheterribleperiodfollowingtheholocaust,livinginisolated sectors of the globe, fighting the elements for survival. This was thebeginningof the development of the races as they are today—Men,Dwarfs,Gnomes,Trolls,andsomesaytheElves—buttheywerealwaysthereandthat’sanotherstoryforanothertime.”AllanonhadmadeexactlythesamecommentconcerningtheElvenpeopleto

theOhmsfordbrothersinShadyVale.Sheawantedbadlytostopthe,narrationat that point to ask about the race of Elves and about his own origin. But heknew better than to irritate the tall historian by breaking in as he had severaltimesduringtheirfirstmeeting.“Afewmenrememberedthesecretsofthesciencesthathadshapedtheirway

of lifeprior to thedestructionof theoldworld.Onlyafewremembered.Mostwere littlemore thanprimitivecreatures, and the fewcould recollectonlybitsandpiecesofknowledge.But theyhadkept theirbooksof learning intact andthese could tell themmost of the secrets of the old sciences. They kept them

hidden and secure during that first several hundred years, unable to put thewords to practical use,waiting for the timewhen theymight. They read theirprecioustextsinsteadandthen,asthebooksthemselvesbegantocrumblewithageand therewasnowaytopreserve themorcopy them, thosefewmenwhopossessed thebooksbegan tomemorize the information.Theyearspassedandthe knowledgewas passeddown carefully from father to son, eachgenerationkeeping the knowledge safely within the family, guarding it from those whodidn’tuse itwisely,whomight create aworld inwhich theGreatWars couldhappena second time. In the end, evenafter it once againbecamepossible torecord the information in those irreplaceable books, the men who hadmemorizedthemdeclinedtodoso.Theywerestillafraidof theconsequences,afraidofeachotherandeventhemselves.Sotheydecided, individuallyfor themostpart,towaitfortherighttimetooffertheirknowledgetothegrowingnewraces.“The years passed in this way as the new races slowly began to develop

beyondthestageofprimitivelife.Theybegantounifyintocommunities,tryingtobuildanewlifeoutofthedustoftheoldbutasyouhavealreadybeentold,theydidnotprove equal to the task.Theyquarreledviolentlyover land,pettydisputes which soon turned to armed conflict between the races. It was then,when the sons of thosewho had first kept the secrets of the old life, the oldsciences, saw thatmatterswere steadily regressing toward the very thing thathaddestroyedtheoldworld,thattheydecidedtoact.ThemancalledGalaphilesawwhatwashappeningandrealizedthatifnothingweredone,theraceswouldsurelybeatwar.Sohecalledtogetheraselectgroupofmen,allhecouldfindwhopossessedanyknowledgeoftheoldbooks,toacouncilatParanor.”“SothatwasthefirstDruidCouncil,”murmuredMenionLeahinwonder.“A

councilofalltheknowledgeablemenofthatera,poolingtheirlearningtosavetheraces.”“A very praiseworthy effort at explaining a desperate attempt to prevent

exterminationoflife,”laughedAllanonshortly.“TheDruidCouncilwasformedwiththebestintentionsonthepartofmost,perhapsallatfirst.Theyexertedatremendous influence over the races because theywere capable of offering somuchtomakelifeconsiderablybetterforeveryone.Theyoperatedstrictlyasagroup,eachmancontributinghisknowledgeforthebenefitofall.Althoughtheysucceeded in preventing an outbreak of totalwar, and kept peace between theracesat first, theyencounteredunexpectedproblems.Theknowledge thateachpossessed had become unavoidably altered in small ways in the telling from

generationtogeneration,sothatmanyofthekeyunderstandingsweredifferentthantheyhadbeen.“Complicatingthesituationwasanunderstandableinabilitytocoordinatethe

different materials, the knowledge of the different sciences. For many of thecouncilmembers, the learning passed down to them by their ancestors lackedmeaning in practical terms and much of it appeared to be so many jumbledwords. So while the Druids, as they called themselves after an ancient groupwhosoughtunderstanding,wereabletoaidtheracesinmanyways,theyfoundthemselvesunabletopiecetogetherenoughoutofthetextstheyhadmemorizedto master readily any of the important concepts of the great sciences, theconceptstheyfeltcertainwouldhelpthecountrytogrowandprosper.”“ThentheDruidswantedtheoldworldrebuiltontheirterms,”spokeupShea

quickly.“Theywantedtopreventthewarsthathaddestroyedthemthefirsttime,yetre-createthebenefitsofalltheoldsciences.”Flick shookhishead inbewilderment, unable to seewhat all thishad todo

withtheWarlockLordandtheSword.“Correct,”Allanonnoted.“ButtheDruidCouncil,forall itsvastknowledge

andgoodintentions,overlookedabasicconceptofhumanexistence.Wheneveran intelligent creature possesses an innate desire to improve its conditions, tounlockthesecretsofprogress, itwill find themeans todoso—ifnotbyonemethod,thenbyanother.TheDruidssecludedthemselvesatParanor,awayfromtheracesoftheland,whiletheyworkedaloneorinsmallgroupstomasterthesecretsoftheoldsciences.Mostreliedonthematerialathand,theknowledgeofindividualmembers related to that of the entire Council to try to rebuild andreconstructtheoldmeansofharnessingpower.Butsomewerenotcontentwiththis approach. A few felt that, instead of trying to understand the words andthoughts of the ancient recollections better, such knowledge as could beimmediately grasped should be acted upon and developed in connection withnewideas,newrationalizations.“Soitwasthatafewmembersofthecouncil,actingundertheleadershipof

onecalledBrona,begantodelveintotheancientmysterieswithoutwaitingforafullunderstandingoftheoldsciences.Theyhadphenomenalminds,geniusinafew instances, and theywere eager to succeed, impatient tomaster the powerthat would be so useful to the races. But by a strange quirk of fate, theirdiscoveriesandtheirdevelopmentsledthemfurtherandfurtherfromthestudiesoftheCouncil.Theoldscienceswerepuzzleswithoutanswersforthem,andsothey deviated into other fields of thought, slowly and relentlessly intertwining

themselves in a realm of study that none had ever mastered and none calledscience. What they began to unveil was the infinite power of the mystic —sorcery! They mastered a few of the secrets of the mystic before they werediscoveredbytheCouncilandcommandedtoabandontheirwork.Therewasaviolent disagreement and the followers of Brona left the Council in anger,determinedtocontinuetheirownapproach.Theydisappearedandwerenotseenagain.”He paused for a moment, considering his explanation. His listeners waited

impatiently.“We know now what happened in the years that followed. During his

prolongedstudies,Bronauncoveredthedeepestsecretsofsorceryandmasteredthem.Butintheprocesshelosthisownidentity,eventuallyevenhisownsoultothepowershehadsoughtsoeagerly.Forgottenweretheoldsciencesandtheirpurposeintheworldofman.ForgottenwastheDruidCouncilanditsgoalofabetterworld.Forgottenwaseverythingbutthedrivingurgetolearnmoreofthemystic arts, the secrets of themind’s power to reach into otherworlds.Bronawasobsessedwiththeneedtoextendhispowertodominatemenandtheworldtheyinhabitedthroughmasteryofthisterribleforce.TheresultofthisambitionwastheinfamousFirstWarof theRaces,whenhegaineddominationover theweak and confusedminds of the race ofMan, causing that hapless people tomakewarontheotherraces,subjectingthemtothewillofthemanwhowasnolongeraman,whowasnolongereventhemasterofhimself.”“Andhisfollowers...?”askedMenionslowly.“Victimsofthesame.Theybecameservantstotheirleader,allslavesofthe

strange power of sorcery...” Allanon trailed off hesitantly, as if to addsomething.butuncertainof its effectonhis listeners.Thinkingbetterof it, hecontinued. “The fact that these unfortunate Druids stumbled onto the veryopposite ofwhat theywere seeking is in itself a lesson toMan. Perhapswithpatience, theymighthavepieced together themissing links to theoldsciencesratherthanuncoveringtheterriblepowerofthespiritworldthatfedeagerlyontheir unprotected minds until they were devoured. Human minds are notequipped to face the realitiesof nonmaterial existenceon this sphere. It is toomuchforanymortaltobearforlong.”Againhe trailedoff intoominous silence.The listenersnowunderstood the

natureoftheenemytheyweretryingtooutwit.Theywereupagainstamanwhowasnolongerahuman,buttheprojectionofsomegreatforcebeyondtheirowncomprehension, a force so powerful that Allanon feared it could affect the

humanmind.“The rest you already know,” Allanon began again rather sharply. “The

creature called Brona, who no longer resembled anything human, was thedirecting force behind both of the Race Wars. The Skull Bearers are thefollowersof theiroldmasterBrona, thoseDruidsoncehuman in form,onceapartof theCouncilatParanor.Theycannotescapetheirfateanymorethanhecan.Theveryformstheytakeareanembodimentoftheeviltheyrepresent.Butmoreimportantforourpurposes,theyrepresentanewageformankind,forallthepeopleof the four lands.While theold scienceshavedisappeared intoourhistory, forgotten now as completely as the years when machines were thegodsendofaneasylife,theenchantmentofsorceryhasreplacedthem—amorepowerful,moredangerousthreattohumanlifethananybeforeit.Donotdoubtme,my friends.We live in the age of the sorcerer and his power threatens toconsumeusall!”There was a moment of silence. A deep stillness hung oppressively in the

forest night as Allanon’s final words seemed to echo back with ringingsharpness.ThenSheaspokesoftly.“WhatisthesecretoftheSwordofShannara?”“In the FirstWar of the Races,” Allanon replied in almost a whisper, “the

poweroftheDruidBronawaslimited.Asaresult, thecombinedmightofthe,otherraces,coupledwiththeknowledgeoftheDruidCouncil,defeatedhisarmyofMenanddrovehim intohiding.Hemighthaveceased tobeand thewholeincident beenwritten off asmerely another chapter in history— anotherwarbetweenmortals—exceptthathemanagedtounlockthesecretofperpetuatinghisspiritualessencelongafterhismortalremainsshouldhavedecomposedandturnedtodust.Somehowhepreservedhisownspirit,feedingitonthepowerofthemysticforceshenowpossessed,givingitalifeapartfrommateriality,apartfrommortality.Henowwasabletobridgethetwoworlds—theworldweliveinandthespiritworldbeyond,wherehesummonedtheblackwraiths thathadforcenturieslaindormant,andwaitedforhistimetostrikeback.Ashewaited,hewatchedtheracesdriftapartasheknewtheymustintime,andthepoweroftheDruidCouncilwaneastheirinterestintheracesgrewlax.Aswithallthingsevil, hewaited until the balance of hatred, envy, greed— the human failingscommontoalltheraces—outweighedthegoodnessandkindness,andthenhestruck.Gainingeasycontroloftheprimitive,warlikeRockTrollsoftheCharnalMountains,hereinforcedtheirnumberswithcreaturesofthespiritworldhenowserved,andhisarmymarchedonthedividedraces.

“Asyouknow,theycrushedtheDruidCouncilanddestroyedit—allsaveafewwho fled to safety.Oneof thosewhoescapedwasanagedmysticnamedBremen,whohadforeseenthedangerandinvainattemptedtowarntheothers.As aDruid, hewas originally a historian and in that capacity had studied theFirstWaroftheRacesandlearnedofBronaandhisfollowers.Intriguedbywhattheyhadattemptedtodo,andsuspiciousthatperhapsthemysteriousDruidhadacquiredpowersthatnoonehadknownaboutnorcouldhavehopedtocombat,Bremenbeganhisownstudyofthemysticarts,butwithgreatercareandrespectfor the possible power he felt he might unlock. After several years of thispursuit, hebecameconvinced thatBronawas indeed still existent and that thenextwarupon thehumanracewouldbestartedandeventuallydecidedby thepowersofsorceryandblackmagic.Youcanimaginetheresponsehereceivedtothis theory— he was practically thrown from the confines of Paranor. As aresult, he began tomaster themystic arts on his own and sowas not presentwhen the castle at Paranor fell to the Troll army. When he learned that theCouncilhadbeentaken,heknewthat ifhedidnotact, theraceswouldbeleftdefenseless against the enchantment Brona had mastered, power that mortalsknew nothing about. But he was faced with the problem of how to defeat acreaturewhocouldnotbetouchedbyanymortalweapon,onewhohadsurvivedfor over five hundredyears.Hewent to the greatest nationof his time— theElven people under the command of a courageous young King named JerleShannara—andofferedhisassistance.TheElvenpeoplehadalwaysrespectedBremen,becausetheyunderstoodhimbetterthanevenhisfellowDruids.Hehadlived among them for years prior to the fall of Paranor, while studying thescienceofthemystic.”“There is something I don’t understand.” Balinor spoke up suddenly. “If

Bremenwasamasterofthemysticarts,whycouldhenothimselfchallengethepoweroftheWarlockLord?”Allanon’sresponsewassomehowevasive.“HedidconfrontBronaintheend

onthePlainsofStreleheim,thoughitwasnotabattlethatwasvisibletomortaleyes,andbothdisappeared.ItwaspresumedthatBremenhaddefeatedtheSpiritKing, but timehasprovenotherwise, andnow...”Hehesitatedonly an instantbeforequicklyreturningtohisnarrative,buttheemphasisonthepausewasnotlostonanyofhislisteners.“Inanyevent,Bremenrealizedthatwhatwasneededwasatalismantoserve

asashieldagainstthepossiblereturnofonesuchasBronaatanothertimewhentherewasnoonefamiliarwiththemysticartstoofferassistancetothepeoples

ofthefourlands.SoheconceivedtheideaoftheSword,aweaponwhichwouldcontain the power to defeat the Warlock Lord. Bremen forged the Sword ofShannarawiththeaidofhisownmysticprowess,shapingitwithmorethanthemeremetalofourownworld,givingitthatspecialprotectivecharacteristicofalltalismans against the unknown. The Swordwas to draw its strength from themindsof themortals forwhomitactedasashield—thepowerof theSwordwastheirowndesiretoremainfree,togiveupeventheirlivestopreservethatfreedom.ThiswasthepowerwhichenabledJerleShannaratodestroythespirit-dominatedNorthlandarmythen;itisthesamepowerthatmustnowbeusedtosend the Warlock Lord back into the limbo world to which he belongs, toimprison him there for all eternity, to cut off entirely his passage back to thisworld. But as long as he has the Sword, then he has a chance to prevent itspowerfrombeingusedtodestroyhim—forever,andthat,myfriends,istheonethingthatmustnotbe.”“ButthenwhyisitthatonlyasonoftheHouseofShannara...?”Thequestion

formedonShea’sfumblinglips,hisownmindreelingconfusedly.“Thatisthegreatestironyofall!”exclaimedAllanonbeforethequestionwas

evencompleted.“IfyouhavefollowedallthatIhaverelatedaboutthechangeoflifefollowingtheGreatWars,thegivingwayoftheoldmaterialisticsciencestothe science of the present age, the science of the mystic, then you willunderstand what I am about to explain — the strangest phenomenon of all.Whilethesciencesofoldoperatedonpracticaltheoriesbuiltaroundthingsthatcouldbeseenandtouchedandfelt,thesorceryofourowntimeoperatesonanentirelydifferentprinciple.Itspowerispotentonlywhenitisbelieved,foritispower over the mind which can neither be touched nor seen through humansenses.Iftheminddoesnottrulyfindsomebasisforbeliefinitsexistence,thenitcanhavenorealeffect.TheWarlockLordrealizesthis,andthemind’sfearofandbeliefintheunknown—theworlds,thecreatures,alltheoccurrencesthatcannotbeunderstoodbymen’s limited senses—offerhimmore thanenoughbasisuponwhichtopracticethemysticarts.Hehasbeenrelyingonthispremiseforoverfivehundredyears.Inthesameway,theSwordofShannaracannotbean effectiveweapon unless the one holding it believes in his power to use it.WhenBremengavetheswordtoJerleShannara,hemadethemistakeofgivingitdirectlytoakingandtothehouseofaking—hedidnotgiveittothepeopleofthelands.As a result, through humanmisunderstanding and historical misconception,

theuniversalbeliefgrewthattheSwordwastheweaponoftheElvenKingalone

andthatonlythosedescendedofhisbloodcouldtakeuptheSwordagainsttheWarlockLord.Sonow,unlessitisheldbyasonoftheHouseofShannara,thatperson can never fully believe in his right to use it. The ancient tradition thatonlysuchaonecanwielditwillmakeallothersdoubt—andtheremustbenodoubt, or it will not operate. Instead, it will becomemerely another piece ofmetal. Only the blood and belief of a descendant of Shannara can invoke thelatentpowerofthegreatSword.“Heconcluded.Thesilencethatfollowedwashollow.Therewasnothingleft

to tell the four that could be told. Allanon reconsidered briefly what he hadpromisedhimself.Hehadnottoldthemeverything,purposelyholdingbackthelittlemorethatwouldhaveprovedthefinalterrorforthem.Heinwardlyfelttornbetween thedesire tohave it all out and thegnawing realization that itwoulddestroy any chance of success; their successwas of paramount importance—onlyheknewthefulltruthofthatfact.Sohesatinsilence,bitterinhisprivateknowledgeandangeredbytheself-imposedlimitshehadsetforhimself—thelimitsthatforbadeacompleterevelationtothosewhohadcometodependuponhimsoveryheavily.“ThenonlySheacanusetheSwordif...”Balinorbrokethesilenceabruptly.“OnlySheahasthebirthright.OnlyShea.”Itwassoquietthateventhenightlifeoftheforestseemedtohavestilledits

incessantchatterinsobercontemplationofthegrimhistorian’sreply.Thefuturecame down to each as a simple declaration of existence — succeed or bedestroyed.“Leavemenow,”commandedAllanonsuddenly.“Sleepwhileyoucan.We

leavethishavenatsunriseforthehallsofParanor.”

ChapterTen

Themorningcamequicklyforthesmallcompany,andthegoldenhalf-lightofdawnfoundthempreparingtobegintheirlongjourneywithsleep-filledeyes.Balinor,Menion,andtheValemenwaitedfortheappearanceofAllanonandthecousinsofEventine.Noonespoke,partlybecauseeachwasstillhalfasleepandhadverylittletorecommendhiminthewayofgoodhumor,andpartlybecauseeachwas inwardly thinking about the hazardous trip that lay ahead. Shea andFlick sat quietly on a small stone bench, not looking at each other as theyconsidered the taleAllanonhad related to them thepreviousnight,wonderingwhat possible chance they had of recovering the Sword of Shannara, using itagainst the Warlock Lord to destroy him, and still returning alive to theirhomeland.Shea,particularly,hadpassedthepointwherehischiefemotionwasfear;nowhefeltonlyasenseofnumbnessthatdulledhismindintoself-imposedsurrender, a robot-like acceptance of the fact that he was being led to theproverbialslaughter.YetinspiteofthisresignedattitudetowardthejourneytoParanor, somewhere in thebackofhis confusedmindwas the lingeringbeliefthat he could work out all of these seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Hecould feel it lurking there,waiting for amore opportunemoment to arise anddemandsatisfaction.Butfor themomentheallowed,himself to lapsedutifullyintonumbedacquiescence.TheValemenweredressedinwoodsmangarbprovidedbytheDwarfpeople,

includingwarmhalf-cloaksinwhichtheynowwrappedthemselvestowardoffthechilloftheearlymorning.Inaddition,theycarriedtheshorthuntingknivestheyhadbroughtwith them from theVale, tucked in their leather belts.Theirpackswerenecessarilycompact, inaccordwith theValemen’ssmall size.Thecountry they would pass through offered some of the best hunting in all theSouthland,andtherewereseveralsmallcommunitiesfriendlytoAllanonandtheDwarfs. But it was also the home of the Gnome people, the longtime, bitterenemiesof theDwarfs.Therewas somehope the littlebandwouldbe able tomaintain an advantage of stealth and secrecy in their travel and avoid anyconfrontation with Gnome hunters. Shea had carefully packed away theElfstones in their leather pouch, showing them to no one. Allanon had notmentionedthemsincehehadarrivedinCulhaven.Whetherthiswasanoversightor not, Shea was not about to give up the one really potent weapon that he

possessedandkeptthepouchhiddenwithinhistunic.Menion Leah stood several yards away from the brothers, pacing idly. He

woreparticularlynondescripthuntingclothes,loose-fittingandcoloredtoblendwith the land to make his task as tracker and huntsman as uncomplicated aspossible.Hisshoesweresoftleather,toughenedbycertainoilstoenablehimtostalkanythingwithoutbeingheardandstill travel the toughestgroundwithoutinjuring the soles of his feet. Strapped to his lean back was the great sword,sheathed now, its strong hilt glinting dully in the early light as he shiftedrestlesslyabout.Acrosshisshoulderhecarriedthelongashbowanditsarrows,hisfavoriteweapononhuntingtrips.Balinorwore the familiar longhuntingcloakwrappedcloselyabouthis tall,

broad frame, the cowl pulled up around his head. Beneath the cloak was thechain mail which could be seen glinting sharply ever so often as his armsemergedinbriefgesturesfrombeneaththeshieldingofthegarment.HecarriedinhisbeltalonghuntingknifeandthemostenormousswordthattheValemenhadeverseen.Itwassohugethatitappearedtothemthatonesweepofitsgreatbladewouldcut throughamancompletely. Itwashiddenbeneath thecloakatthemoment,butthebrothershadseenhimstrapittohissideashecameouttothemearlierthatmorning.Their waiting finally came to an end as Allanon approached from the

assembly hall, accompanied by the lithe figures of the two Elves. Withoutstopping,hebadethemallgoodmorninganddirectedthemtofallintolineforthe trip,warning sharply that once they crossed theSilverRiver severalmilesahead,theywouldbeincountrytraveledbyGnomesandthatconversationmustbekepttoaminimum.Theirroutewouldtakethemfromtheriverdirectlynorththrough the Anar Forests into the mountains that lay beyond. There was lesschance that theywould be detected traveling through this rough country thanacross the plains that lay fartherwest,where the terrainwas admittedlymoreevenandaccessible.Secrecywasthekeytotheirsuccess.Ifthepurposeoftheirjourneybecameknownto theWarlockLord, theywerefinished.Travelwouldbe restricted to thedaylighthourswhile theywerecamouflagedby the forestsandmountains, and theywould resort tonight travel and riskdetectionby thesearching SkullBearers onlywhen theywere forced to cross the plainsmanymilestothenorth.As their representative on the expedition, the Dwarf chieftain had chosen

Hendel,theclosemouthedFellowwhohadsavedMenionfromtheSiren.Hendelled thecompanyoutofCulhaven,sincehewasmost familiarwith thispartof

thecountry.AthissidewalkedMenion,talkingonlyoccasionally,concentratingmostly on staying out of the sullenDwarf’sway and trying to avoid drawingattention to his presence, something the Dwarf felt was totally unnecessary.Severalpacesback fromthemwere the twoElves, their slimfigures likebriefshadows as they moved gracefully, effortlessly, speaking with each other inquiet musical voices that Shea found reassuring. Both carried long ash bowssimilar to Menion’s. They wore no cloaks — only the strange, close-fittingoutfits theyhadwornat thecouncil thenightbefore.SheaandFlick followedthem,andbehindtheValemenwalkedthesilentleaderofthecompany,hislongstridescoveringthegroundwithease,hisdarkfaceloweredtothetrail.Balinorbroughtuptherear.BothSheaandFlickwerequicktorealizethattheirpositionin the center of the company was to assure their maximum protection. Sheaknewhowvaluabletheothersfelthewastothesuccessof themission,buthewas also painfully aware that they considered him incapable of defendinghimselfincaseofanyrealdanger.ThecompanyreachedtheSilverRiverandcrossedatanarrowspotwherethe

windingthreadofgleamingwaterwasspannedbyasturdywoodenbridge.Alltalking ceased once the had passed over, and all eyes went to the dense restaboutthem,watchinguneasily.Thegoingwasstillrelativelysmooth;thegroundwas level as the path wound sharply through the great forest, leading themsteadily northward. The light of the morning sun shone in long streamersthroughcracksintheheavybranches,occasionallycuttingacrosstheirpathandcatchingtheirfacesastheywalked,warmingthembrieflyinthecoolairoftheforest.Beneaththeirfeet,thefallenleavesandtwigsweresoakedwithaheavydew,makingacushion thatmasked the soundof their footstepsandhelped topreserve the quiet of the day. All about them they could hear sounds of life,though they saw only multicolored birds and a few squirrels that scamperedeagerlyabouttheirtreetopdomains,sometimesrainingthetravelersbelowwithtorrents of nuts and twigs as they leaped from branch to branch. The treesprevented the members of the company from seeing much of anything, theirgreat girth ranging from three to ten feet in diameter, and their huge rootsstretching out from the trunks like mammoth fingers, digging their wayrelentlesslyintotheearthoftheforestfloor.Theviewfromeverydirectionwasmasked, and the company had to content itself with relying on Hendel’sfamiliaritywith thecountryand thepathfindingknowledgeofMenionLeah toguidethemthroughthemazeofvegetation.The first day passedwithout incident, and they spent the night beneath the

giant trees, somewhere north of the Silver River and Culhaven. Hendel wasapparently the only one who knew exactly where they were, though AllanonconversedbrieflywiththetaciturnDwarfconcerningtheirwhereaboutsandtheroutetheyweretaking.Thecompanyateitsdinnercold,fearingthatafiremightattract attention. But the general mood was light and the conversation wasenjoyable.Shea took this opportunity to speakwith the twoElves.Theywerecousins of Eventine, chosen to accompany Allanon as representatives of theElvenkingdomand to aid him in his search for theSwordofShannara.Theywere brothers, the elder called Durin, a slim, quietWestlander who gave theinstant impression toShea and the ever-presentFlick that hewas aman tobetrusted. The younger brother was Dayel, a shy, extremely likable fellowwhowasseveralyearsthejuniorofShea.Hisboyishcharmwasstrangelyappealingto the eldermembers of the company, particularlyBalinor andHendel, battle-hardened veterans of so many years of protecting the frontiers of theirhomelands,whofoundhisyouthandfreshoutlookonlifealmostlikeasecondchanceforthemtoregainsomethingthathadpassedthembyyearsbefore.DurininformedSheathathisbrotherhadlefttheirElvenhomeseveraldayspriortohismarriagetooneofthemostbeautifulgirlsinthatcountry.SheawouldnothavebelievedDayel old enough tomarry, and found it difficult to understandwhyanyonewould leaveon the eveof hismarriage.Durin assuredhim that it hadbeenhisbrother’sownchoice,butSheatoldFlicklaterthathebelievedthathisrelationship to the king had much to do with that decision. So now as themembersofthecompanysatquietlyandspokeinlowtonestooneanother,allsavethesilent,aloofHendel,SheawonderedhowmuchtheyoungElfregrettedhis decision to leave his bride-to-be to come on this hazardous journey toParanor.HefoundhimselfwishinginwardlythatDayelhadnotchosentobeamemberof theirparty,buthadremainedsafewithin theprotectiveconfinesofhisownhomeland.Later that evening,Shea approachedBalinor and askedhimwhyDayel had

beenallowedtocomeonsuchanexpedition.ThePrinceofCallahornsmiledattheValeman’sconcern, thinkingtohimself that thedifferenceinagesbetweenthe two was hardly noticeable to him. He told Shea that in a time when thehomelandsofsomanypeoplewerethreatened,noonestoppedtoquestionwhyanotherwas there toaid them—itwasmerelyaccepted.Dayelhadchosen tocomebecause hisKinghad asked it and because hewould have felt less of amaninhisownmindhadhedeclined.BalinorexplainedthatHendelhadbeenwagingaconstantbattlewiththeGnomesforyearstoprotecthishomeland.The

responsibilitywasdelegatedtohimbecausehewasoneofthemostexperiencedand knowledgeable bordermen in the Eastland. He had a wife and family athomethathehadseenonceinthepasteightweeksandcouldnotexpecttoseeagain for many more. Everyone on the journey had a great deal to lose, heconcluded,perhapsevenmore thanShearealized.Withoutexplaininghis finalremark, the tall bordermanmovedoff to speakwithAllanononothermatters.Somewhatdiscontentedby theabrupt finish to theirconversation,SheamovedbacktojoinFlickandtheElvenbrothers.“What kind of person is Eventine?” Flick was asking as Shea joined the

group.“I’vealwaysheardthatheisconsideredthegreatestoftheElvenkings,respectedbyeveryone.Whatishereallylike?”Durin smiled broadly andDayel laughedmerrily at the question, finding it

somehowamusingandunexpected.“Whatcanwesayaboutourowncousin?”“HeisagreatKing,”respondedDurinseriouslyafterafewmoments.“Very

young for a king, the other monarchs and leaders would say. But he hasforesight, and most important of all, he gets things done before the time fordoing themhaspassed.Heholds the love andesteemof all theElvenpeople.Theywouldfollowhimanywhere,doanythingheasked,whichisfortunateforallofus.Theeldersofourcouncilwouldprefertoignoretheotherlands,totryto remain isolated. Sheer foolishness, but they’re afraid of another war. OnlyEventine stands against them and that policy.He knows that the onlyway toavoidthewartheyallfearistostrikefirstandcutofftheheadofthearmywhichthreatens.Thatisonereasonwhythismissionissoimportant—toseethatthisinvasionischeckedbeforeithastimetodevelopintoafull-scalewar.”Menion had sauntered over from the other side of the small campsite and

seatedhimselfwiththemjustintimetohearthelastcomment.“WhatdoyouknowoftheSwordofShannara?”heaskedcuriously.“Verylittleactually,”admittedDayel,“althoughforusit’samatterofhistory

rather than legend. The Sword has always represented a promise to theElvenpeoplethattheyneedneveragainfearthecreaturesfromthespiritworld.Itwasalwaysassumed that the threatwasfinishedwith theconclusionof theSecondWaroftheRaces,sonoonereallyconcernedhimselfwiththefactthattheentireHouseofShannaradiedoutovertheyears,exceptforafewsuchasSheawhomno one knew about. Eventine’s family, our family, became rulers almost ahundredyearsago—theElessedils.TheSwordremainedatParanor,forgottenbynearlyeveryoneuntilnow.”

“What is thepowerof theSword?”persistedMenion, a little tooeagerly tosuitFlick,whoshotSheaawarningglance.“I don’t know the answer to that question,” Dayel admitted and looked to

Durinwho shrugged in response and shookhis head. “OnlyAllanon seems toknowthat.”They all looked momentarily toward the tall figure seated in earnest

conversationwithBalinoracrosstheclearing.ThenDurinturnedtotheothers.“ItisfortunatethatwehaveShea,asonoftheHouseofShannara.Hewillbe

abletounlockthesecretoftheSword’spoweroncewehaveitinourpossession,andwiththatpowerwecanstrikeattheDarkLordbeforehecancreatethewarthatwoulddestroyus.”“If we get the Sword, you mean,” corrected Shea quickly. Durin

acknowledged this commentwith a short laughof agreement and a reassuringnod.“Theresstillsomethingaboutallthisthatdoesn’tsetright,”Meniondeclared

quietly, rising abruptly andmovingoff to find a place to sleep.Sheawatchedhimgoandfoundhimself inagreementwiththehighlander,butwasunable toseewhattheycouldhopetodoabouttheirdissatisfaction.Rightnowhefeltthattherewassolittlehopeoftheirsucceedingintheirquesttoregaintheswordthatfor the moment he would concentrate on simply completing the journey toParanor.Fornow,hedidnotevenwanttothinkaboutwhatmighthappenafterthat.Thecompanywasawakeandbackonthewindingpathwiththebreakingof

the dawn, led by awatchfulHendel.TheDwarfmoved themalong at a rapidpace through the mass of great trees and heavy foliage that had grownincreasingly dense as they penetrated deeper into the Anar. The trail wasbeginning to slope upward, an indication that they were approaching themountains that ran the lengthof the centralAnar.At somepoint farther norththeywouldbeforcedtocross thesebroadpeaksinorder toreachtheplains tothewestthatlaybetweenthemandthehallsofParanor.TensionbegantomountastheymovedmoredeeplyintothedomainoftheGnomepeople.Theybegantoexperiencetheunpleasantsensationthatsomeonewasconstantlywatchingthem,hidden in the denseness of the forest, waiting for the right moment to strike.Only Hendel seemed unconcerned as he led them, his own fears apparentlyeasedbyhisfamiliaritywiththeterrain.Noonespokeastheymarched,alleyessearchingthesilentforestaboutthem.About midday, the path turned sharply upward and the company began to

climb. The trees now grew farther apart and the scrub foliage was lesscongested. The sky became clearly visible through the trees, a deep blueunbroken by even the faintest trace of a cloud wisp. The sun was warm andbright,shiningbravelythroughthescatteredtreestolightthewholeoftheforest.Rocksbegantoappearinsmalldustersandtheycouldseethelandaheadriseintallpeaksandjuttingridgesthatsignaledthebeginningofthesouthernsectorofthe mountains in the central Anar. The air became steadily cooler as theyclimbedandbreathingbecamemoredifficult.Afterseveralhours,thecompanyreachedtheedgeofaverydenseforestofdeadpines,clusteredsocloselythatitwasimpossibletoseeformorethantwentyorthirtyfeetaheadatanyoneplace.Onbothsidesoftheirpath,tall,slab-rockcliffsrosehundredsoffeetintotheairand peaked against the blueness of the afternoon sky. The forest stretchedseveralhundredyardsineitherdirection,endingatthecliffwalls.Attheedgeofthepines,HendelcalledabriefhaltandspokeforseveralminuteswithMenion,pointing to the forest and then the cliffs, apparently questioning something.Allanon joined them, then motioned the remainder of the company to gatheraroundinaclosecircle.“Themountainswe are about to cross into are theWolfsktaag, a no-man’s-

landforbothDwarfandGnome,”Hendelexplainedquietly.“Wechosethiswaybecause there was less chance of meeting up with a Gnome hunting patrol,something that would certainly result in a pitched battle. The WolfsktaagMountainsaresaid tobe inhabitedbycreatures fromanotherworld—agoodjoke,isn’tit?”“Gettothepoint,”Allanonbrokein.“Thepoint is,”Hendelcontinued, seeminglyobliviousof thedarkhistorian,

“we were spotted about fifteen minutes back by one or possibly two Gnomescouts.Theremaybemorearound,wecan’tbecertain—thehighlandersayshesawsignsofalargeparty.Inanyevent,thescoutswillreportusandbringbackhelpinahurry,sowe’llhavetomovefast.”“Worse than that!” declared Menion quickly. “Those signs said there are

Gnomesaheadofussomewhere—throughthosetreesorinthem.”“Maybeso,maybenot,highlander,”Hendelcutbackinsharply.“Thesetrees

runlikethisforalmostamileandthecliffscontinueonbothsides,butnarrowsharply beyond the forest to form the Pass of Noose, the entrance to theWolfsktaag.Thatisthewaywehavetogo.Totryanyotherroutewouldcostustwomoredays,andwewouldberiskinganalmostcertainrun-inwithGnomes.”“Enough debate,”Allanon said fiercely. “Let’smove out quickly.Oncewe

reachtheothersideofthepass,we’llbeinthemountains.TheGnomeswillnotfollowusthere.”“Encouraging,I’msure,”mutteredFlickunderhisbreath.The company moved into the thickly clustered trees of the pine forest,

followingoneanotherinsinglefile,weavingamongtherough,disjointedtrunks.Deadneedleslayinheapsoverthewholeoftheearthenforestfloor,creatingasoftmattingonwhichthepassingoffeetmadenosound.Thewhite-barktreesrose tall and lean, touching near their skeletal tops like some intricate spiderweb,lacingthebluenessoftheclearskyinfascinatingdesigns.Thepartywoundsteadily forward through the maze of trunks and limbs behind Hendel, whochose their routequicklyandwithouthesitation.Theyhadnotgonemore thanseveral hundred yardswhenDurin brought them up sharply andmotioned forsilence,lookingquestioninglyabout,apparentlysearchingtheairforsomething.“Smoke!”heexclaimedsuddenly.“They’vesetfiretotheforest!”“Idon’tsmellanysmoke,”declaredMenion,sniffingtheairtentatively.“Youdon’thavethesharpenedsensesofanElfeither,”Allanon.statedflatly.

HeturnedtoDurin.“Canyoutellwherethey’vefiredit?”“I smell smoke, too,” declared Shea absently, amazed that his own senses

wereassharpasthoseoftheElves.Durin cast about for aminute, trying to catch the scent of smoke fromone

particulardirection.“Can’ttell,butitappearsthatthey’vefireditinmorethanoneplace.Ifthey

have,theforestwillgoupinamatterofminutes!”Allanon hesitated for one brief second, thenmotioned for them to continue

towardthePassofNoose.Thepacepickedupconsiderablyastheyhastenedtoreachtheothersideofthefiretrapinwhichtheywereencased.Ablazeinthosedrywoodswouldquicklycutoffanychanceofescapeonceitspreadthroughthetreetops.ThelongstridesofAllanonandthebordermanforcedSheaandFlicktorun to keep from falling behind.Allanon shouted something toBalinor at onepointintherace,andthebroadfiguredroppedbackintothetreesandwaslostfromsight.Aheadofthem,MenionandHendelhaddisappeared,andtherewereonly fleeting glimpses of the Even brothers dashing smoothly between theleaningpines.OnlyAllanonstayedclearlyinview,afewpacesbehind,callingtothemtorunfaster.Thickcloudsofheavywhitesmokewerebeginningtoseepbetweenthecloselybunchedtrunkslikeaheavyfog,obscuringthepathaheadandmaking it steadilymoredifficult tobreathe.Therewas stillnosignof theactualfire.Ithadnotyetgrownstrongenoughtospreadthroughtheintertwining

boughsandcutthemoff.Thesmokewaseverywhereinamatterofminutes,andbothSheaandFlickcoughedheavilywitheverybreath,theireyesbeginningtosting from the heat and irritation. Suddenly Allanon called to them to halt.Reluctantly they stopped and waited for the order to continue, but Allanonappearedtobelookingbackforsomething,hislean,darkfacestrangelyasheninthe thickwhite smoke. Soon the broad figure of Balinor reappeared from theforestbehindthem,wrappedtightlyinthelonghuntingcloak.“Youwere right, they’re behindus,” he informed the historian, gaspingout

thewordsashefoughtforbreath.“They’vefiredtheforestallalongourbacks.ItlookslikeatraptodriveusintothePassofNoose.”“Stay with them,” Allanon ordered quickly, pointing to the frightened

Valemen.“I’vegottocatchtheothersbeforetheyreachthepass!”Withincrediblespeedforamansobig,thetallleaderleapedawayanddashed

intothetreesahead,disappearingalmostimmediately.BalinormotionedfortheValementofollowhim,andtheyproceededatarapidpaceinthesamedirection,fighting to see and to breathe in the choking smoke. Then, with frighteningsuddenness,theyheardthesharpcrackleofburningwoodandthesmokebeganto billow past them in huge, blinding clouds of white heat. The fire wasovertaking them. In a few minutes it would reach them and they would beburnedalive!Coughingfuriously,thethreecrashedheedlesslythroughthepines,desperatetoescapetheinfernoinwhichtheyhadbeencaught.Sheashotaquickglanceskyward,andtohishorrorsawtheflamesleapingmadlyfromthetopsofthetallpinesaboveandbeyondthem,burningtheirglowingwaysteadilydownthelongtrunks.Thenabruptly,theimpenetrablestonewallofthecliffsappearedthroughthe

smokeandthetrees,andBalinormotionedtheminthatdirection.Minuteslater,as they groped their way along the cliff face, they saw the remainder of thecompanycrouched inaclearingbeyond the fringeof theburning trees.Aheadlay an open trail that wound upward into the rocks between the cliffs anddisappeared into thePassofNoose.The threequickly joined theothers as theentireforestwasenvelopedinflames.“They’re trying to forceus tochoosebetweenroasting in thatpine forestor

trying to get through the pass,” shouted Allanon over the crackle of burningwood,lookinganxiouslytowardthetrailahead.“Theyknowwehaveonlytwoways to go, but they’re facing the same choice and that’swhere they lose theadvantage.Durin,goonaheadintothepassalittlewayandseeiftheGnomeshavesetanambush”

TheElfdartedawaywithoutasound,crouchinglowandkeepingclosetothecliffwall.Theywatchedhimuntilhehaddisappearedfartherupthetrailintotherocks.Sheahuddledwiththeothers,wishingthattherewassomethinghecoulddotohelp.“TheGnomesarenot fools.”Allanon’svoicecut intohis thoughtsabruptly.

“Those in the pass know that they are cut off from thosewho fired the forestunlesstheycangetbyusfirst.Theywouldn’triskhavingtoretreatbackthroughthe Wolfsktaag Mountains for any reason. Either there is a large force ofGnomesinthepassahead,whichDurinshouldbeabletotellus,orthey’vegotsomethingelseinmind.”“Whateveritis,they’llprobablytryitinthesectioncalledtheKnot,”Hendel

informed them.“At thatpoint the trailnarrowsso thatonlyonemanata timecanget throughthepathformedby theconvergingcliffsides.”Hepausedandappearedtobeconsideringsomethingfurther.“Idon’tunderstandhowtheyplantostopus,”Balinorcutinquickly.“These

cliffs are almost vertical — no one could scale them without a long andhazardous climb. The Gnomes haven’t had time to get up there since theyspottedus!”Allanonnoddedthoughtfully,obviouslyinagreementwiththebordermanand

unable to see what the Gnomes had in store for them. Menion Leah spokequietlytoBalinor,thenabruptlyleftthegroupandmovedaheadtotheentranceof thepasswhere thecliffwallsbegantonarrowsharply,scanningthegroundintently.Theheatof theburningwoodshadbecomeso intense that theywereforcedtomovefartherintothemouthofthepass.Everythingwasstillobscuredby thecloudsofwhite smokewhich rolledoutof thedyingwoods likeawalland dispersed sluggishly into the air. Long moments passed while the sixawaitedthereturnofMenionandDurin.Theycouldstillseetheleanhighlanderstudying the ground at the entrance to the pass, his tall form shadowy in thesmoke-filled air. Finally, he stood up andmoved back to them, joined almostimmediatelybythereturningElf.“There were footprints, but no other sign of life in the pass ahead,” Durin

reported. “Everything is apparently undisturbed up to the narrowest point. Ididn’tgobeyond.”“Thereissomethingelse,”Menioncutinquickly.“Attheentrancetothepass,

Ifoundtwoclearsetsoffootprintsleadinginandtwosetsout—Gnomefeet.”“Theymusthaveslippedinaheadofusandthen,outagainbystayingcloseto

thecliffwallswhileweblunderedupthemiddle,”Balinorsaidangrily.“Butif

theywereinthereaheadofus,what...?”“Wewon’t findoutbysittinghereanddiscussing it!”Allanonconcluded in

disgust.“Wewouldonlybeguessing.Hendel,taketheleadwiththehighlanderandwatchyourself.Thereststayinformationasbefore.”ThestockyDwarfmovedoutwithMenionathisside,theirsharpeyeskeyed

inoneveryboulder that lined thewindingpathas itnarrowedinto thePassofNoose.Theothersfollowedseveralpacesback,castingapprehensiveglancesattheruggedterrainsurroundingthem.Sheariskedonequicklookbehindhimandnoticedthat,whileAllanonwascloseonhisheels,Balinorwasnowhereinsight.Apparently,Allanonhadagain left theborderman toactasa rearguardat theedge of the burning pine forest, to watch for the inevitable approach of theGnome hunters lurking somewhere beyond. Shea knew instinctively that theywerecaughtinatrapcarefullyarrangedforthembythefurtiveGnomes,andallthatremainedwastodiscoverwhatformitwouldtake.Thepathaheadrosesharplyforthefirsthundredyardsorso,thentaperedoff

graduallyandnarrowedtosuchanextent that therewasonlyenoughroomforoneperson topassbetween thecliff sides.Thepasswasnomore thanadeepniche in the face of the cliff, the sides slanting inward and almost closing farabovethem.Onlyathinribbonoflightfromtheblueskystreameddownwardtoreach them, faintly lighting the winding, boulder-laden path ahead. Theirprogress slowed perceptibly as the lead men searched for traps left by theGnomes.SheahadnoideahowfarDurinhadgoneinhisscoutingmission,butapparentlyhehadnotventuredintowhatHendelhadreferredtoastheKnot.Hecouldguesswherethenamehadoriginated.Thenarrownessofthepassageleftthesharpimpressionofbeingdrawnthroughtheknotofahangman’snoosetothe same fate as that which awaited the condemned. He could hear Flick’slabored breathing almost in his ear and experienced an unpleasant feeling ofsuffocationattheclosenessoftherockwalls.Thegroupmovedslowlyonward,slightly bent to avoid the narrowed cliff sides and their razor-sharp stoneprojections.Suddenly, the pace slowed further and the whole line crowded together.

Behindhim,SheaheardthedeepvoiceofAllanonmutteringangrily,demandingtoknowwhathadhappened,askingexcitedlytobelettothefront.Butintheseclosequartersitwasimpossibleforanyonetogiveway.Sheapeeredaheadandnoticed a sharp ray of light beyond the leaders. Apparently the path waswideningat last.Theywerenearlyfreeof thePassofNoose.But then, justasShea felt they had reached the safety of the other end, there were loud

exclamations and the entire line came to a complete stop.Menion’s voice cutthroughthesemidarknessinsurpriseandanger,causingAllanontomutteralowoath of fury and order the company to move ahead. For a moment nothinghappened.Thenslowlythecompanybegantoinchforward,movingintoawideclearing shadowed by the cliff sides as they parted abruptly into a sky ofsunshine.“I was afraid of this,” Hendel was muttering to himself as Shea followed

Dayeloutoftheniche.“IhadhopedthattheGnomeshadfailedtoexplorethisfarintotheirtabooland.Itappears,highlander,thattheyhaveustrapped.”Sheasteppedout into the lightona level rockshelfwhere theothers in the

company stood talking in hushed tones of anger and frustration. Allanonemerged at almost the same moment, and together they surveyed the scenebeforethem.Therockshelfonwhichtheystoodextendedoutfromtheopeningof the Pass of Noose about fifteen feet to form a small ledge that droppedabruptly into a yawning chasm hundreds of feet deep. Even in the brightsunlight,itappearedtobebottomless.Thecliffwallsspreadoutwardfromtheirbacks to formahalf circle around the chasmand then slanted awaybrokenly,givingway to theheavy forests thatbeganseveralhundredyardsbeyond.Thechasm,a trickofnaturebyallappearances,bore thedistinctshapeofa jaggednoose.Therewasnowayaroundit.Ontheothersideofthefissuredangledtheremainsofwhathadpreviouslybeensomesortofropeandwoodbridgewhichhadservedastheonlymeansbywhichtravelerscouldcross.Eightpairsofeyesscanned the sheer walls of the cliffs, seeking a means to scale their slicksurfaces. But it was all too apparent that the only way to the other side wasdirectlyacrosstheopenpitbeforethem.“TheGnomesknewwhat theyweredoingwhentheydestroyedthebridge!”

Menion fumed tonoone inparticular. “They’ve left us trappedbetween themand this bottomless hole.Theydon’t evenhave to come in after us.They canwaituntilwestarvetodeath.Howstupid...”He trailed off in fury. They all knew they had been foolish in allowing

themselvestobetrickedintoenteringsuchasimple,buteffectivetrap.Allanonmovedtotheedgeofthechasm,peeredintentlyintoitsdepthsandthenscannedtheterrainontheotherside,searchingforameanstocross.“IfitwereabitmorenarroworifIhadalittlemorerunningroom,Imightbe

abletojumpit,”volunteeredDurinhopefully.Sheaestimatedthedistanceacrossto be easily thirty-five feet.He shook his head doubtfully. Even ifDurin hadbeen the best jumper in theworld, hewould have questioned such an attempt

undertheseconditions.“Wait a minute!” Menion cried suddenly, leaping to Allanon’s side and

pointingofftothenorth.“Howaboutthatoldtreehangingoffthecliffsideontheleft?”Everyone looked eagerly, unable to understand what the highlander was

suggesting.The treeofwhichhespokegrewembedded in thecliff face to theleft almost a hundred and fifty yards away from them. Its gray shape hungstarkly against the clear sky, its branches leafless and bare, dipping heavilydownward like the tired limbsofsomewearygiant frozen inmidstride. Itwastheonlytreethatanyonecouldseeontherock-strewnpaththatledawayfromthe chasm and disappeared below the cliff sides into the forests beyond. Shealookedwiththeothersbutcouldseenohelpfromthatcorner.“IfIcouldputanarrowintothattreewithalinetiedtoit,someonelightcould

goacrosshandoverhandandsecure theropefor therestofus,” thePrinceofLeahsuggested,grippinginhislefthandthegreatashbow.“Thatshotisoverahundredyards,”repliedAllanontestily.“Withtheadded

weightofalinetiedtothearrow,youwouldhavetomaketheworld’sgreatestshotjusttogetitthere,nottomentionembeddingitinthetreedeepenoughtoholdaman’sweight.Idon’tthinkitcanbedone.”“Well,wehadbettercomeupwithsomethingorwecanforgettheSwordof

Shannara and everything else,” growled Hendel, his craggy face flushed withanger.“Ihaveanidea,”Flickventuredsuddenly,takingastepforwardashespoke.

Everyonelookedat thestockyValemanasif theywerejustseeinghimforthefirsttimeandhadforgottenthathewasevenalong.“Well, all right, don’t keep it to yourself!” exclaimedMenion impatiently.

“Whatisit,Flick?”“If there were an expert bowman in the group —” Flick shot Menion a

venomouslook“—hemightbeabletoputanarrowwithalineintothewoodfragmentsofthebridgehangingontheothersideandpullitbackacrosstothisside.”“Thatisanideaworthtrying!”agreedAllanonquickly.“Nowwho...”“Icanhandleit,”Menionsaidquickly,glaringatFlick.Allanon nodded shortly, and Hendel produced a stout cord which Menion

Leahfastenedsecurelyaboutthetipofanarrow,tyingthelooseendtohiswideleatherbelt.Hefittedthearrowtothegreatashbowandsighted.Alleyespeeredacross the chasm to the length of rope secured at the edge on the other side.

Menionfollowedthelengthofropedownwardintothedarknessofthepituntilhespottedapieceofwoodhangingaboutthirtyfeetbelow,stillfastenedtothebrokenbridgetie.Thecompanywatchedbreathlesslyashedrewbackthegreatashbow,sightedquickly,surely,andreleasedthearrowwithasharpsnap.Thearrowshot into thecavernandembedded itself in thewood, thecorddanglinglimplyfromthetip.“Nice shooting, Menion,” Durin approved at his shoulder, and the lean

highlandersmiled.Carefully,thebridgewaspulledbackacrossuntiltheseveredropeendswere

gatheredin.Allanonlookedinvainforsomethingtosecureit,butthespikesthathad held it had been removed by the Gnomes. Finally, Hendel and AllanonbracedthemselvesattheedgeofthechasmandpulledthebridgeropetautwhileDayelworkedhiswayhandoverhandacrosstheyawningpit,carryingasecondropeathis;waist.Therewereafewanxiousmomentsasthe,black-robedgiantand the silent Dwarf held firm against the strain, but in the end Dayel stoodsafelyontheotherside.BalinorreappearedandinformedthemthatthefirewasbeginningtoburnitselfoutandtheGnomehunterswouldsoonbemakingtheirwayintothePassofNoose.Hastily,theropethatDayelcarriedwasthrownbackacrossafterhehadfinishedsecuring,hisend,anditslongerlengthwasrunbackinto the jutting rocks at the entrance of the pass and fastened in place; Theremainingmembersof thecompanyproceeded tocross thechasm in thesamefashionasDayel,onebyone,handoverhandinsuccession,untilallstoodsafelyon the far side.Then the ropewascutanddropped into thepitalongwith theremainderoftheoldbridge,tomakecertainthattheycouldnotbefollowed.Allanon ordered the company to move out quietly to avoid warning the

approachingGnomes that they hadmade good their escape from the carefullylaidtrap.Beforetheyleft,however,thetallhistorianapproachedFlick,placedalean,darkhandonhisshoulder,andsmiledgrimly.“Today,myfriend,youhaveearnedtherighttobeamemberofthiscompany

—arightaboveandbeyondyourkinshipforyourbrother.”HeturnedawayabruptlyandsignaledHendeltotakethelead.Shealookedat

Flick’sflushedandhappyface;andclappedhisbrotherwarmlyontheback.Hehad indeedearned the right tostandalongwith theothers—a right thatSheahadperhapsnotyetacquired.

ChapterEleven

The company journeyed another ten miles into the Wolfsktaag Mountainsbefore Allanon called a halt. The Pass of Noose and the danger of attack byGnomes had long since been left behind, and theywere now deepwithin theforests.Theirtravelhadbeenfastandunhindereduptothispoint,thepathswideandclearandthe terrain leveleventhoughtheywereseveralmileshighin themountains.Theairwascrispandcool,whichmadethemarchalmostenjoyable,andthewarmafternoonsunbeameddownonthecompanywithaglowthatkepttheir spirits high. The forests were scattered in these mountains, cut apart byjutting ridges of slab rock and peaks which were barren and snowcapped.Althoughthiswashistoricallyaforbiddencountry,evenfortheDwarfs,noonecould find an indication of anything out of the ordinary which might signaldanger for them. All the normal sounds of the forest were there, from theresonantchirpingof insects to thegaysongsofahugevarietyofmulticoloredbirdsofallshapesandsizes.Itseemedthattheyhadchosenawisewayinwhichtoapproachthestill-distanthallsofParanor.“Wewill stop for the night in several hours,” the tall wanderer announced

after he hadgathered themabout him. “But Iwill be leavingyou in the earlymorning to scout aheadbeyond theWolfsktaag for signsof theWarlockLordandhisemissaries.Oncewecompleteourjourneythroughthesemountainsandthrough a short stretch of the Anar Forests, we still have to cross the plainsbeyond to the Dragon’s Teeth, just below Paranor. If the creatures of theNorthlandortheirallieshaveblockedofftheentrance,Imustknownowsothatwemayquicklydecideonanewroute.”“Willyougoalone?”askedBalinor.“I think it safer forallofus if Ido. I’m in littledanger, andyoumayneed

everyonewhenyoureachthecentralAnarforestsagain.IhavelittledoubtthattheGnomehuntingpartieswillbewatchingall thepasses leadingoutof thesemountains tobecertain thatyoudonot leave themalive.Hendelcan leadyouthroughthosepitfallsaswellasIcould,andIwill trytomeetyousomewherealongthewaybeforeyoureachtheplains.”“Whichwayoutwillyoubetaking?”askedthetaciturnDwarf.“The Pass of Jade offers the best protection. I’llmark thewaywith bits of

cloth—aswe’vedonebefore.Redwillmeandanger.Keepwiththewhitecloth

andallwillbewell.Nowlet’scontinueonwhilewestillhavesomedaylight.”TheytraveledsteadilythroughtheWolfsktaaguntilthesunsankbeneaththe

rimof themountains in thewestand itwasno longerpossible tosee thepathaheadclearly.Itwasamoonlessnight,thoughthestarscastadimglowovertheruggedlandscape.Thecompanymadecampbeneathatall,jaggedcliffsidethatroseseveralhundredfeetabovethemlikesomegreatbladecuttingsharplyintothe dark sky. On the open edges of the campsite were tall stands of pinesenclosingthemagainstthecliffsideinahalfcirclethatprovidedthemwithgoodprotectiononallsides.Theyateacolddinnerforanotherevening,stillunwillingtoriskafirewhichmightdrawattentiontotheirpresence.Hendelarrangedforthepostingofacontinuousguard throughout thenight,apracticehefelt tobeessential in unfriendly country. The members of the group took turns, eachsittingwatch for severalhourswhile the restof the company slept.Therewaslittletalkafterthemeal,andtheyrolledthemselvesintotheirblanketsalmostatonce,tiredfromthelongdayofmarching.Sheavolunteeredtositthefirstwatch,eagertoparticipateasamemberofthe

company,stillfeelingthathehadcontributedlittlewhilealloftheotherswereriskingtheir livesforhisbenefit.Shea’sattitudetowardthejourneytoParanorhadalteredconsiderablyduringthepast twodays.HewasbeginningtorealizenowhowimportantitwasthattheSwordbeobtained,howmuchthepeopleofthefourlandsdependedonitforprotectionagainsttheWarlockLord.Before,hehadrunawayfromthedangeroftheSkullBearersandhisheritageasasonofthe house of Shannara. Now hewas running toward an even greater threat, aconfrontationwithapowersoawesomethatitslimitshadneverbeendefined—andwith littlemore than the courage of sevenmortalmen for protection.Butevenwiththatknowledgeconfrontinghim,Sheafeltdeeplythattorefusetogoon, to hold backwhat little he had to offer, would be a bitter betrayal of hiskinship tobothElfandManandacallousdenialof thepridehe felt incaringaboutthesafetyandfreedomofallmen.Heknewthatifheweretoldevennowthathecouldnotsucceed,hewouldhavetotryanyway.Allanonhadturnedinwithoutawordtoanyoneandwasasleepinamatterof

seconds.Sheawatchedhis still formduringhis own two-hourwatch and thenretiredasDurintookover.ItwasnotuntilFlickawokeaftermidnighttotakehisturn that the tall formof their leaderstirredslightly, thenrose inasinglefluidmotion,wrappedominously in thegreatblackcape, just ashehadbeenwhenFlick had first encountered him on the road to Shady Vale. He stood for amoment looking at the sleepingmembers of the company and at Flick sitting

motionlessonaboulderofftoonesideoftheclearing.Thenwithoutawordoragesture,heturnednorthonthepathleadingawayfromthemanddisappearedintheblacknessoftheforest.Allanonwalkedfortheremainderofthenightwithoutpausinginhisjourney

toreachthePassofJade,thecentralAnar,andbeyondthat,theplainlandstothewest. His dark figure passed through the silent forestwith the quickness of afleeting shadow, touching the land only momentarily, then hastening on. Hisformseemedsubstanceless,passingover the livesof littlebeings thatsawhimbriefly and forgot, neither changing nor yet leaving them quite the same, hisindelibleprintfixedintheiruncomprehendingminds.Oncemorehereflectedonthe journey theyweremaking to Paranor, ponderingwhat he knew that noneothercouldknow,andhefeltstrangelyhelplessinthefaceofwhatwassurelythe passing of an age. The others only suspected his own role in all that hadhappened,inallthatyetlayahead,buthealonewasforcedtolivewiththetruthbehindhisowndestinyandtheirs.Hemutteredhalfaloudatthethought,hatingwhat was happening, but knowing that there was no other choice for him tomake. His long, lean face appeared a black mask of indecision to the silentwoodshepassedonhislonelymarch,afacelineddeeplywithworry,buthardwithaninnerresolutionthatwouldsustainthesoulwhentheheartwasgone.Daybreak found himmoving through a particularly dense stretch of woods

thatranforseveralmilesoverhillyterrainstrewnwithbouldersandfallenlogs.Henoticedatoncethatthispartoftheforestwasstrangelysilent,asifaspecialkind of death had placed its chill hand upon the earth. The trail behind wascarefullymarkedwithsmallstripsofwhitecloth.Hewalkedmoreslowly.Therehadbeennothingup to thispoint tocausehimconcern,butnowasixthsenserearedupwithinhisquickmind,warninghimthatallwasnotasitshouldbe.Hereachedabreakinthemainpaththatsplitintotwobranches.One,awide,clearpaththat lookedas if ithadoncebeenamajorroad,ranto theleft,downwardintowhatappearedtobeahugevalley.Itwasdifficulttotellbecausetheforestshadovergrowneverything,obscuringfromviewthetrailbeyondthefirstseveralhundredyards.Thesecondpathwaschokedbyheavyunderbrush.Nomorethanone person at a time could pass that way without cutting a wider trail. ThenarrowpathledupwardtowardahighridgewhichranatanangleawayfromthePassofJade.Suddenly the grim historian stiffened as he sensed the presence of another

being,anundeniablyevillifeformsomewherefartherdownthetrailleadingintothe invisible valley. There was no sound of movement. Whatever it was, it

preferredtolieinwaitforitsvictimsalongthelowertrail.Allanonquicklytoreofftwostripsofcloth,oneredandonewhite,tyingtheredclottothewidertrailleadingintothevalleyandthewhiteclothalongthesmallertrailleadingtotheridge.Whenhehadcompletedthistask,hepausedandlistenedagain,butwhilehecouldstillsensethepresenceofthecreaturedownthevalleypath,hecoulddetect no movement. Its power was no match for his own, but it would bedangerous to the men following. Checking the cloth strips one final time, hesilently moved upward along the narrow ridge path and disappeared into theheavyunderbrush.Almostanhourpassedbeforethecreaturethatlayinwaitonthepathleading

intothevalleydecidedtoinvestigate.Itwashighlyintelligent,apossibilitythatAllanonhad not considered, and it knew thatwhoever itwaswhohadpassedabovehadsenseditspresenceandpurposelyavoidedthatapproach.Itknewaswellthatthissamemanhadpowersfargreaterthanitsown,soitlaynoiselesslyin the forest andwaited for him to go away.Now it hadwaited long enough.Minuteslateritgazedintentlyatthesilentforkinthemaintrailwherethetwosmallstripsofclothflutteredbrightlyinthelightforestbreeze.Howstupidsuchmarkerswere, thought the creature slyly, andwithponderous footstepsmoveditsgreat,misshapenbulkforward.Balinorhad the finalwatchof theevening, andas thedawnbegan tobreak

sharply in dazzling golden rays over the eastern mountain horizon, the, tallbordermangentlyawakened the remainderof thecompanyfromtheirpeacefulslumbertothechilloftheearlymorning.Theyturnedouthastily,gulpeddownashortbreakfastwhile attempting towarm themselves in theyet cool air of thesunny day, silently packed their gear, and prepared to begin the day’smarch.SomeoneaskedaboutAllanon,andFlicksleepilyrepliedthat thehistorianhaddeparted sometime around midnight but said nothing to him. Nobody wasparticularlysurprisedthathehadleftsoquietly,andlittlemorewassaidaboutthematter.Withinhalfanhour,thecompanywasonthepathleadingnorthwardthrough

theforestsoftheWolfsktaag,movingsteadily,withoutconversationforthemostpart,inthesameorderasbefore.Hendelhadrelinquishedhisspotaspointmanto the talented Menion Leah, who moved with the noiseless grace of a catthrough the tangledboughsandbrushover the leaf-strewn floor.Hendel felt acertainrespectforthePrinceofLeah.Intimehewouldbeunsurpassedbyanywoodsman.ButtheDwarfknewaswellthatthehighlanderwasbrashandstillinexperienced, and that in these lands only the cautious and the seasoned

survived. Nevertheless, practice was the only way to learn, so the Dwarfgrudginglyallowedtheyoungtrackertoleadtheparty,contentinghimselfwithdoublecheckingeverythingthatappearedonthepathbeforethem.One particularly disturbing detail caught the Dwarfs attention almost

immediately, although it completely escaped thenoticeofhis companion.Thetrail failed to reveal any sign of themanwho had come this way only hoursearlier. Although he scanned the ground meticulously, Hendel was unable todiscerneven the slightest traceofahuman footprint.The stripsofwhiteclothappearedat regular intervals, justasAllanonhadpromisedtheywouldbe.Yettherewas no sign of his passage.Hendel knew the tales about themysteriouswanderer and had heard that he possessed extraordinary powers. But he hadnever dreamed that the man was such an accomplished tracker that he couldcompletelyhidehisowntrail.TheDwarfcouldnotunderstandit,butdecidedtokeepthemattertohimself.At the rear of the procession, Balinor, too, had been wondering about the

enigmaticmanfromParanor,thehistorianwhoknewsomuchthatnooneelsehadevensuspected,thewandererwhoseemedtohavebeeneverywhereandyetaboutwhomso littlewasknown.HehadknownAllanonoffandon formanyyearswhilegrowingup inhis father’skingdom,but couldonlyvaguely recallhim,adarkstrangerwhohadcomeandgonewithoutwarning,whohadalwaysseemed so kind to him, yet had never offered to reveal his own mysteriousbackground. The wisemen of all the lands knewAllanon as a scholar and aphilosopherwithoutequal.Othersknewhimonlyasatravelerwhopaidhiswaywithgoodadviceandwhopossessedakindofgrimcommonsensewithwhichnoonecouldfindfault.Balinorhadlearnedfromhimandhadcometotrustinhimwithwhatcouldalmostbedescribedasblindfaith.Yethehadneverreallyunderstoodthehistorian.Heponderedthatthoughtforawhile,andtheninwhatcameasanalmostcasualrevelation,herealizedthatinallthetimehehadspentwithAllanon,hehadneverseenanysignofachangeinhisage.The trailbegan to turnupwardagainand tonarrowas thegreat forest trees

andheavyunderbrushclosedinlikesolidwalls.Menionhadfollowedthestripsof cloth dutifully and had little doubt that they were on the right path, butautomatically began to doublecheck himself as the going became noticeablytougher thanbefore. Itwasalmostnoonwhen the trailbranchedunexpectedly,andasurprisedMenionpaused.“Thisisstrange.Aforkinthetrailandnomarker—Ican’tunderstandwhy

Allanonwouldfailtoleaveasign.”

“Something must have happened to it,” concluded Shea, sighing heavily.“Whichroutedowetake?”Hendelscannedthegroundcarefully.Onthepathleadingupwardtowardthe

ridge, there were indications of someone’s passage from the bent twigs andrecentlyfallenleaves.Onthelowertrail,however,thereweresignsoffootprints,thoughtheywereveryfaint.Instinctivelyheknewthatsomethingdangerouslayalongoneandmaybebothofthetrails.“I don’t like it — something’s wrong here,” he grumbled to no one in

particular.“Thesignsareconfused,perhapsonpurpose.”“Perhaps all the talk about this being taboo landwasn’t nonsense after all,”

suggestedFlickdryly,parkinghimselfonafallentree.Balinor came forward and conferred with Hendel briefly concerning the

directionofthePassofJade.Hendeladmittedthatthelowertrailwouldbethequickestway,anditclearlyappearedtobethemainpassage.ButtherewasnowaytotellwhichtrailAllanonhadchosen.FinallyMenionthrewuphishandsinexasperationanddemandedthatachoicebemade.“WeallknowthatAllanonwouldnothavepassedthiswaywithoutleavinga

sign,sotheobviousconclusionisthateithersomethinghappenedtothesignsorsomethinghappenedtohim.Ineithercase,wecan’tsithereandexpecttofindtheanswer.HesaidwewouldmeetatthePassofJadeorbeyondintheforests,soIvotewetakethelowerroad—thequickestway!”Hendel again voicedhis confusionover the signs on the lower trail andhis

naggingfeeling thatsomethingdangerous layahead,a feelingwhichSheahadbeguntosharetheminutetheyarrivedatthispointwithoutfindingthestripsofcloth. Balinor and the others debated heatedly for a few minutes and finallyagreedwith thehighlander.Theywouldfollowthequickest route,butkeepanespeciallyclosewatchuntiltheywereoutofthesemysteriousmountains.ThelineofmarchreformedwithMenionleading.Theystartedrapidlydown

thegentlyslopinglower trailwhichappearedtobedrawingthemintoavalleyheavily camouflaged by great trees that grew limb to limb for miles in alldirections.Remarkably,theroadbegantowidenafteronlyashortdistance,thetreesandscrubbrushtomoveback,andthegeographytoleveloffintoabarelyperceptibledownwardslope.Theirfearsbegantodissipateastravelgreweasier,anditbecamereadilyapparentthatinyearslongsincegone,theroadhadbeenamajorthoroughfarefortheinhabitantsofthisland.Theywalkedforlessthananhour’s timebefore reaching thevalley floor. Itwasdifficult to tellwhere theywereinrelationtothemountainrangessurroundingthem.Thetreesoftheforest

obscuredeverythingfromviewbutthepathimmediatelyaheadandthecloudlessblueskyabove.Afterashorttimeoftravelingacrossthevalleyfloor,thepartycaughtsightof

anunusualstructurethatrosethroughthetreeslikeahugeframework.Itseemedapartof the forest about it, save for theunusual straightnessof its limbs, andwithin moments they were close enough to see that it was a series of giantgirders, covered with rust and framing square portions of the open sky. Thecompanyslowedautomatically, lookingcautiouslyabout tobecertain that thiswasnotsomekindoftrappreparedforunwarytravelers.Butnothingmoved,sothey continued their approach, intrigued by the structure that waited silentlyahead.Suddenly the road ended and the strange framework stood completely

revealed, the great metal beams decaying with age, but still straight andseeminglyassturdyastheyhadbeeninagespast.Theywerepartofwhathadoncebeenalargecitybuiltsolongagothatnoonerecalleditsexistence,acityforgotten like the valley and the mountains in which it rested — a finalmonument to a civilization of vanished beings. The metal framework wassecurely set in huge foundations of something like stone, now crumbling andchipped by theweather and time. In places, remnants ofwhat had once beenwalls were visible. A large number of these dying buildings were clusteredtogether,pushingoutforseveralhundredyardsbeyondthetravelersandendingwhere thewallof the forestsmarked theendofman’s feeble invasion into anindestructible nature. Within the structures, and through the foundation andframework,grewbrushandsmalltreesinsuchabundancethatthecityappearedtobechokingtodeathratherthancrumblingwithtime.Thepartystoodinmutesilenceat thisstrangetestimonial toanotherera, theaccomplishmentofpeoplelikethemselves,somanyyearsbefore.Sheafeltanundeniablesenseoffutilityatthesightofthegrimframes,rustingtheirwearylivesaway.“Whatplaceisthis?”heaskedquietly.“Theremainsofsomecity,”shruggedHendel,turningtotheyoungValeman.

“Noonehasbeenhereforcenturies,Iimagine.”Balinorwalkedovertotheneareststructureandrubbedthemetalgirder.Huge

flecks of rust and dirt cameoff in a shower, leaving beneath a dull steel-graycolorthattoldofthestrengthstillleftinthebuilding.Theothersofthecompanyfollowed the borderman as he walked slowly about the foundation, lookingcarefullyat the stone-like substance.Amoment laterhe stoppedatonecornerandbrushedawaythesurfacedirtandgrimetorevealasingledatestilllegiblein

thedecayingwall.Theyallbentclosertoreadit.“WhythiscitywasherebeforetheGreatWars!”Sheasaidinamazement.“I

can’tbelieveit—itmustbetheoldeststructureinexistence!”“I remember what Allanon told us of the men who lived then,” declared

Menion in a raremoment of dreamy recollection. “Thatwas the great age, hesaid,andevenso,thisisallithastoshowus.Nothingbutafewmetalgirders.”“Howaboutafewminutesrestbeforeweleave?”suggestedShea.“I’dliketo

takeaquicklookattheotherbuildings.”Balinor and Hendel felt somewhat uneasy about stopping, but agreed to a

short rest as long as everyone kept together. Shea wandered over to the nextbuilding,accompaniedbyFlick.Hendelsatdownandlookedwarilyatthehugeframes,dislikingeverymomenttheyspentinthismetaljunglesoforeigntohisown forest homeland. The others followed Menion to the other side of thebuildingonwhichtheyhadjustfoundthedate,discoveringaportionofanameonafallenchunkofwall.NomorethanafewminuteshadpassedwhenHendelcaught himself daydreaming of Culhaven and his family and jerked intoimmediatewatchfulness.Everyonewasinview,butSheaandFlickhadmovedfarther off to the left of the dead city, still looking curiously at the decayingremnantsandsearchingforsignsof theoldcivilization. In thesame instantherealizedthatexceptforthelowvoicesofhiscompanions,thesurroundingforesthadgonedeathlyquiet.Noteven thewindstirred through thepeacefulvalley,not a bird flew over them, not a single insect’s vibrant humwas audible.Hisownheavybreathingwashoarseinhisstrainingears.“Something’swrong.”Thewordscameoutashereachedinstinctivelyforhis

heavybattlemace.Atthatmoment,Flickcaughtsightofsomethingdullwhiteonthegroundoff

toonesideofthebuildingthatSheaandhewereexamining,partiallyhiddenbythefoundation.Curiously,heapproachedtheobjectswhichappearedtobesticksofvarioussizesandshapesscatteredaimlesslyabout.Shea failed tonoticehisbrother’sinterestandmovedawayfromthebuilding,staringinfascinationattheremainsofanotherstructure.Flickcamecloser,butstillwasunabletotellfromevenafewfeetawaywhatthewhitestickswere.Itwasnotuntilhestoodoverthemandsawthemshiningdullyagainstthedarkearthinthenoondaysunthatherealizedwithasickeningchilltheywerebones.ThejunglebehindthestockyValemanburstapartwithathunderousthrashing

of limbs and brush. Forth from its place of concealment emerged a grayish,multi-leggedhorrorofmonstroussize.Anightmaremutationoflivingfleshand

machine,itscrookedlegsbalancedabodyformedhalfofmetalplating,halfofcoarse-haired flesh. An insect-like head bobbed fitfully on a neck of metal.Tentacles tipped with stingers dipped slightly above two glowing eyes andsavagejawsthatsnappedwithhunger.Bredbythemenofanothertimetoservetheneedsofitsmasters, ithadsurvivedtheholocaustthathaddestroyedthem,but insurvivingandinpreservingitscenturies-oldexistencewithbitsofmetalgraftedtoitsdecayingform,ithadevolvedintoamisshapenfreak-andworse,aneaterofflesh.Itwasuponitshaplessvictimbeforeanyonecouldmove.Sheawasclosestas

themammothcreaturestruckhisbrotherwithanoutstretchedleg,knockinghimflat and pinning him helplessly to the ground, rasping as its jaws reacheddownward. Shea never stopped to think, he yelled fiercely and drewhis shorthunting knife, brandishing the insignificant weapon as he rushed to Flick’srescue.Thecreaturehad justgrasped itsunconsciousvictimwhen itsattentionwasdirectedtotheotherhumanchargingwildlytotheattack.Hesitatingatthisunexpectedassault,itreleaseditsdeadlygripandtookacautiousstepbackward,itshugebulkpoisedtostrikeasecondtimeasitsbulginggreeneyesfixedonthetinymanbeforeit.“Shea,don’t...!”yelledMenioninterrorastheValemanstruckfutilelyatone

ofthecreature’stwistedlimbs.Araspoffurycameboilingoutofthedepthsofthemonster’sgreatbody,anditswipedatSheawithanextendedlegtopinhimtotheground.ButShealeapedtosafetybyscantinchesandstruckagainfromanotherpointwithhistinyweapon.Then,beforethehorrifiedeyesoftheothertravelers, the nightmare from the jungle rushed the unfortunate Valeman in aflurry of legs and hair. Just as Shea was about to seize Flick to drag him tosafety,thecreaturebowledhimover,andforasecondeverythingdisappearedinacloudofdust.Ithadallhappenedsofastthatnooneelsehadyethadtimetoact.Hendelhad

never seen a creature of this size and ferocity, a creature that apparently hadlived in thesemountains foruntoldyears, lying inwait for itshaplessvictims.TheDwarfwas the farthest fromthesceneof thebattle,butmovedquickly toaid the fallenValemen.At the samemoment, the others reacted aswell. Theinstant the dust settled enough to reveal the hideous head, three bowstringssoundedinharmonyandthearrowsburiedthemselvesdeeplyintheblack,hair-coveredbulkwithaudiblethuds.Thecreatureraspedinfuryandraiseditsbodyupward,forelegsextended,searchingoutitsnewattackers.The challenge did not go unanswered.MenionLeah discarded the ash bow

anddrewthegreatswordfromitssheath,grippingitinbothhands.“Leah! Leah!” The battle cry of a thousand years burst forth as the Prince

charged wildly across crumbling foundations and fallen walls to reach themonster.Balinorhaddrawnhisownsword,thehugebladegleamingfiercelyinthe bright sunlight, and rushed to the aid of the highlander. Durin andDayelfiredvolleyaftervolleyintotheheadofthegiantbeastasitraspedinfury,usingits forelegs to brush at the arrows and knock them loose from its thick skin.MenionreachedtheabominationaheadofBalinorandwithonegreatswingofhisswordcutdeeplyintotheclosestleg,feelingtheironstrikebonewithjarringimpact. As the monster reared-back and knockedMenion aside, it received apowerful blow to the head;Hendel’swarmace struckwith stunning force.Asecond later,Balinor stood solidly before the huge creature, the hunting cloakthrownbackandbillowingoutbehindtheflashingchainmail.Withaseriesofquick, powerful cuts of the great sword, the Prince of Callahorn completelysevereda second leg.Thebeast struckback savagely, tryingunsuccessfully topinoneof itsattackerstotheearthtocrushthelifeoutofhim.Thethreemensoundedtheirbattlecriesandstruckferociously,desperatelytryingtodrivethemonster back from its fallen victims.They attackedwith precision, striking attheunprotected flanks,anddrawing thebehemoth first toonesideand then totheother.DurinandDayelmovedincloserandcontinuedtorainarrowsonthemassive target. Many were deflected by the metal plating, but the relentlessassault constantly distracted the maddened creature. At one point, Hendelreceivedsosevereablowthathewasknockedsenselessforafewsecondsandthenightmareattackerquicklymoved to finishhim.ButadeterminedBalinor,mustering every ounce of strength at his command, struck so savagely andrelentlesslythatitcouldnotreachthefallenDwarfbeforehehadbeenpulledtohisfeetbyMenion.Finally the arrows ofDurin andDayel partially blinded the creature’s right

eye. Bleeding profusely from its stricken eye and from a dozen other majorwounds,themonsterknewthatithadlostthebattleandwouldprobablyloseitslife if itdidnotescapeatonce.Makingashort feintat theclosestassailant, itsuddenlywheeledaboutwithsurprisingdexterityandmadeaquickrushforthesafetyofitsforestlair.Meniongaveabriefpursuit,butthecreatureoutdistancedhimanddisappearedwithinthegreattrees.Thefiverescuersquicklyturnedtheirattention to the two fallen Valemen, who lay crumpled and unmoving in thetrampledearth.Hendelexaminedthem,havinghadsomeexperienceintreatingbattle wounds over the years. There were numerous cuts and bruises, but

apparentlynobrokenbones.Itwasdifficulttotelliftherehadbeenanyinternal,damage.Bothhadbeenstungbythecreature,FlickonthebackoftheneckandSheaon theshoulder; theugly,deep-purplemarks indicatedpenetrationof theexposed skin. Poison! The two men remained unconscious after repeatedattempts to revive them, their breathing shallow and their skin pale andbeginningtoturngray.“I can’t treat them for this,” Hendel declaredworriedly. “We’ve got to get

them toAllanon.Heknows something about thesematters; he couldprobablyhelpthem.”“They’redying,aren’tthey?”Menionaskedinabarelyaudiblewhisper.Hendel nodded faintly in the hushed silence that followed. Balinor

immediately tookcommandof thesituation,orderingDurinandMeniontocutpoles tomakestretchers,whileHendelandhepreparedhammocks tohold theValemeninplace.Dayelwasplacedonguardincasethecreatureshouldreturnunexpectedly. Fifteen minutes later the stretchers were completed, theunconsciousmenweresecurelyfastened inplaceandcoveredwithblankets toprotectthemfromthecoldoftheapproachingnight,andthecompanywasreadytomarch.Hendeltookthelead,withtheotherfourcarryingthestretchers.Thepartyquicklycrossed through theruinsof thedeathlystillcityandaftera fewminutes locateda trail leadingoutof thehiddenvalley.Thegrim facesof theDwarf in the leadand thebearersof theunconscious formsstrapped tightly tothemakeshiftstretchersglancedbackinfutileangeratthestill-visiblestructuresrisingoutof the forest.Abitter feelingofhelplessnesswelledup inside them.They had come into the valley a strong; determined company, filled withconfidence in themselves and belief in the mission which had brought themtogether. But as they left now, their bearing was that of beaten, discouragedvictimsofacruelmisfortune.Theymovedhurriedlyoutofthevalley,upthegentleslopesoftheenclosing

mountain range, up the broad, winding path shrouded by tall, silent trees,thinkingonlyofthewoundedmentheycarried.Thefamiliarsoundsoftheforestreturned, indicating that the danger of the valleywas past.None of them hadtimetonoticenowsavethetaciturnDwarf,whosebattle-trainedmindregisteredthe changes of his forest homeland automatically.He thought backbitterly onthechoicethathadbroughtthemintothevalley,wonderingwhathadhappenedtoAllanonandtothepromisedmarkers.Almostwithoutconsideringit,heknewthatthetallwanderermusthaveplacedmarkersbeforetakingthehightrail,andthat someone or something, perhaps the creature they had encountered, had

realizedwhatthemarkerswereforandremovedthem.Heshookhisheadathisownstupidityinfailingtorecognizethetruthatonceandstampedharderonthegroundpassingbeneathhisbootedfeet,grindinghiswrathinbitsandpieces.Theyreachedthelipofthevalleyandcontinuedon,withoutpausing,through

theforests thatstretchedahead inanunbrokenmassofgreat trunksandheavylimbs,tangledandwoventogetherasiftoshutoutthemountainsky.Thepathgrew narrow once more, forcing them to, proceed in single file with thestretchers.Theafternoonskywasrapidlychangingfromadeepbluetoamixedblood-red and purple thatmarked the close of another day.Hendel calculatedthat they could expect nomore than another hour of sunlight.Hehadno ideahowfartheywerefromthePassofJade,buthewasfairlycertainthatitcouldnotbefarfromwheretheywerenow.Allofthemknewthattheywouldnotstopatnightfall,couldnotgetanysleep thatnightorpossiblyeven thenextday iftheyexpectedtosavethelivesoftheValemen.TheyhadtofindAllanonquicklyand have the injuries of the brothers treated before the poison reached theirhearts.No one voiced any opinion and no one felt it necessary to discuss thematter.Therewasonlyonechoiceandtheyacceptedit.Asthesundroppedbehindthewesternmountainridgesanhourlater,thearms

of the four bearers had reached the limit of their endurance, stiff and strainedfromtheuninterruptedhauloutofthevalley.Balinorcalledabriefrestandthegroup collapsed in a heap, breathing heavily in the early evening quiet of theforest.With thecomingofnight,Hendel relinquishedhispositionas leaderofthe company to Dayel, whowas obviously themost exhausted from carryingFlick’s stretcher. TheValemenwere still unconscious,wrapped in the layeredblanketsforwarmth,theirdrawnfacesasheninthefadinglightandcoveredwitha thin layer of perspiration.Hendel felt their pulse and could barely discern aflickeroflifeinthelimparms.Menionstormedaudiblyabouttherestareainanuncontrolledfury,swearingvengeanceagainsteverythingthatcametomind,hislean face flushed redwith theheatof thepastbattle and theburningdesire tofindsomethingfurtheronwhichtoventhiswrath.Thecompanyresumeditsforcedmarchafterashorttenminutes’rest.Thesun

haddisappearedentirely,leavingtheminblacknessbrokenonlybythepalelightof the starsanda sliverofnewmoon.Theabsenceofany real lightmade thetraveling slowandhazardousover thewindingandoftenunevenpath.HendelhadtakenupDayel’spositionattheendofFlick’sstretcher,whiletheslimElfutilizedhishighlydevelopedsensestolocatethetrailthroughthedarkness.TheDwarfthoughtruefullyoftheclothstripsAllanonhadpromisedhewouldleave

toguidethemoutoftheWolfsktaag.Now,morethananytimepreviously,theywere needed to mark the proper route — not for himself, but for the twoValemen,whoselivesdependedonspeed.Ashewalked,hisarmsnotyetfeelingthe strain of carrying the stretcher, hismindmulling over the situation facingthem,hefoundhimselfgazingalmostabsentlyattwotallpeakswhichbrokethesmoothnessofthenightskytohisleft.ItwasseveralminutesbeforeherealizedwithastartthathewaslookingattheentrancetothePassofJade.Atthesamemoment,Dayelannouncedtothegroupthatthetrailsplitinthree

directions just ahead. Hendel quickly informed them that the pass would bereachedby following the left path.Without pausing, theymovedonward.Thetrailbegantoleadthemdownwardoutof themountainsinthedirectionof thetwin peaks. Reassured that the end was in sight, they marched faster, theirstrengthrenewedwiththehopethatAllanonwouldbewaiting.SheaandFlickwerenolongerlyingmotionlessonthestretchers,butwerebeginningtotwitchuncontrollablyandeventhrashviolentlybeneaththetightenedblankets.Abattlewaswagingwithinthepoisonedbodiesbetweenthetighteninggripofdeathanda strongwill to live.Hendel thought to himself that itwas a good sign.Theirbodieshadnotyetgivenupthestruggletosurvive.Heturnedtotheothersinthecompanyanddiscoveredthattheyweregazingintentlyatwhatappearedtobealightgleamingsharplyagainst theblackhorizonbetween the twinpeaks.Thentheir own ears caught the distant sounds of a heavyboomingnoise and a lowhumof voices coming from the location of the light.Balinor ordered them tokeepmoving,buttoldDayeltoscoutaheadandtokeephiseyesopen.“Whatisit?”askedMenioncuriously.“I can’t be sure from this distance,”Durin answered. “It sounds like drums

andmenchantingorsinging.”“Gnomes,”declaredHendelominously.Anotherhour’stravelbroughtthemcloseenoughtodeterminethatthecurious

lightwascausedbytheburningofhundredsofsmallfires,andthenoiseswereindeed theboomingofdozensofdrumsand thechantingofmany,manymen.Thesoundshadgrowntodeafeningproportions,andthetwopeaksmarkingtheentranceof thePassofJade loomed likehugepillars in frontof them.BalinorfeltcertainthatifthecreaturesaheadwereGnomes,theywouldnotventureintotheir taboolandtopostguards,sothecompanywouldbereasonablysafeuntilthey reached the pass. The sound of the drums and the chanting continued tovibratethroughtheheavyforesttrees.Whoeverwasblockingthepasswastheretostayforawhile.Onlymomentslater, thegrouphadreachedtheedgeofthe

PassofJade,justbeyondreachofthefirelight.Movingsilentlyoffthepathintotheshadows,thecompanyheldabriefconference.“What isgoingon?”BalinoraskedanxiouslyofHendel,whentheywereall

crouchedintheprotectionoftheforest.“It’s impossible to tell from back here, unless you’re a mind reader!” the

Dwarf growled irately. “The chanting sounds likeGnomes, but thewords areblurred.Ihadbettergoaheadandcheckitout.”“I don’t think so,” Durin advised quickly. “This is a, job for an Elf, not a

Dwarf.Icanmovemorequicklyandquietlythanyou,andI’llbeabletosensethepresenceofanyguards.”“Thenithadbetterbeme,”Dayelsuggested.“I’msmaller,lighter,andfaster

thananyofyou.Bebackinaminute.”Withoutwaitingforananswer,hefaded into theforestandhaddisappeared

before anyone could voice an objection. Durin swore silently, fearing for hisyoung brother’s life... If there were indeedGnomes in the Pass of Jade, theywouldkillanystrayElftheycaughtprowlingaboutinthedark.HendelshruggedindisgustandsatbackagainstatreetowaitforDayel’sreturn.Sheahadbegunto moan and thrash more violently, throwing aside his blankets and nearly.rolling off the stretcher. Flickwas behaving in the samemanner, though lessforcibly,groaninginlowtones,hisfacefrighteninglydrawn.MenionandDurinmovedquickly towrap theblanketsbackaround theValemen, this time tyingthemsecurelyinplacewithlongstripsofleather.Themoanscontinued,butthecompanyhad little fear of discoverywith all the noise coming from the othersideof thepass.TheysatbackquietlywaitingforDayel, lookinganxiouslyatthebrighthorizonandlisteningtothedrums,knowingthatsomehowtheywouldhave to find a way past whomever was blocking the entrance. Long minutesslippedby.ThenDayelappearedsuddenlyoutofthedarkness.“AretheyGnomes?”askedHendelsharply.“Hundredsofthem,”theElfrepliedgrimly.“They’respreadoutallacrossthe

entrancetothePassofJadeandtherearedozensoffires.Itmustbesomesortofceremonyfromthewaythey’rebeatingthedrumsandchanting.Theworstofitisthattheyareallfacingrightintothepass.Noonecouldpossiblygoinoroutwithoutbeingseen.”He paused and looked briefly at the pain-wracked forms of the injured

ValemenbeforeturningbacktofaceBalinor.“Iscoutedtheentireentranceandbothsidesofthepeaks.Thereisnowayout

exceptstraightthroughtheGnomes.Theyhaveustrapped!”

ChapterTwelve

Dayel’s bleak report brought an immediate reaction.Menion leaped to hisfeet, reaching for his sword and threatening to fight hisway out or die in theattempt. Balinor tried to restrain him, or at least to quiet him, but there wascompletebedlamforseveralminutesastheothersjoinedtheshoutinghighlanderinhisvow.Hendelquestioned the somewhat shakenDayel aboutwhathehadseenat theentrance to thepass,andaftera fewbriefquestions loudlyorderedeveryonetobesilent.“TheGnomechieftainsareout there,”he informedBalinor,whohadfinally

managedtorestrainMenionlongenoughtolistentotheDwarf.“Theyhaveallthe high priests and, members of surrounding villages here for a specialceremony that takes place once each month. They come at sunset and singpraises to their gods for protecting them from the evils of the taboo land, theWolfsktaag. Itwill last all night, andbymorningwecan forget abouthelpingouryoungfriends.”“Wonderfulpeople, theGnomes!”explodedMenion.“Theyfear theevilsof

this place, but they align themselves with the Skull Kingdom! I don’t knowabouttherestofyou,butI’mnotgivingupbecauseofafewhalf-witGnomeschantinguselessspells!”“Noone isgivingup,Menion,”Balinor saidquickly. “We’regettingoutof

thesemountainstonight.Rightnow.”“How do you propose to do that?” demandedHendel. “Walk right through

halftheGnomenation?Orperhapswe’llflyout?”“Wait a minute!” Menion exclaimed suddenly and leaned over the

unconsciousShea,searchingeagerlythroughhisclothinguntilheproducedthesmallleatherpouchcontainingthepowerfulElfstones.“TheElfstoneswillgetusoutofhere,”heannouncedtotheothers,grasping

thepouch.“Has he lost his mind?” asked Hendel, incredulous at the sight of the

highlandereagerlywavingtheleatherpouch.“Itwon’twork,Menion,” declaredBalinor quietly. “The only onewith the

powertousethestonesisShea.Besides,Allanononcetoldmetheycouldonlybeusedagainstthingswhosepowerliesbeyondsubstance,dangersthatconfusethemind.ThoseGnomesaremortalfleshandblood,notcreaturesof thespirit

worldortheimagination.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do know that these stones

workedagainstthatcreaturefromtheMistMarsh,andIsawitwork...”Meniontrailedoffdespondently, reflectingonwhathewassaying,andfinally loweredthepouchanditspreciouscontents.“What’stheuse?Youmustberight.Idon’tevenknowwhatI’msayinganymore.”“Therehastobeaway!”Durincameforward,castingaboutforsuggestions.

“Allweneedisaplantodrawattentionawayfromusforaboutfiveminutesandwecouldslipbythem.”Menion perked up at the suggestion, apparently finding some merit in the

idea,butunable to thinkof away todistract the attentionof several thousandGnomes.Balinorpacedaboutforafewminutes,lostinthoughtwhiletheothersthrew out random suggestions.Hendel suggested in bitter humor that hewalkintotheirmidstandlethimselfbecaptured.TheGnomeswouldbesooverjoyedatgettingtheirhandsonhim,themantheyhadtriedsohardtodestroyalltheseyears, that theywould forget about anything else.Menion thought little of thejokeandwasallforallowinghimtodowhathesuggested.“Enoughtalk!”roaredthePrinceofLeahfinally,losinghistemperaltogether.

“Whatweneednowisaplan,onethatwillgetusoutofhererightaway,beforetheValemenarecompletelybeyondhelp.Nowwhatdowedo?”“Howwideisthepass?”askedBalinorabsently,stillpacing.“About two hundred yards at the point the Gnomes are gathered,” Dayel

replied,avoidingaconfrontationwithMenion.Hethoughtaminutelonger,andthensnappedhisfingersinrecollection.“Therightsideofthepassiscompletelyopen,butontheleftsidetherearesmalltreesandscrubbrushgrowingalongthecliffface.Theywouldgiveussomecover.”“Notenough,”interruptedHendel.“ThePassofJadeiswideenoughtomarch

an army through, but trying to get pastwith the little cover offeredwould besuicidal.I’veseenitfromtheotherside,andanyGnomelookingwouldspotyouinaminute!”“Then they’ll have to be looking somewhere else,” Balinor growled as the

faint glimmer of a plan began to form in hismind.He stopped suddenly, andkneelingontheforestfloordrewacrudediagramofthepassentrance,lookingto Dayel and Hendel for approval. Menion had stopped complaining longenoughtojointhem.“Fromthedrawing,itappearsthatwecanstayundercoverandoutofthelight

untilwe reach here,”Balinor explained, indicating a point of ground near the

line representing the left cliff face. “The slope isgentle enough toallowus toremainabove theGnomesandwithin the coverof thebrush.Then there is anopen space for about twenty-fiveor thirtyyardsuntil the forestsbegin againstthesteeperclifffacebeyond.Thatisthepointofdiversion,thepointwherethelightwillshowusclearlytoanyonelooking.TheGnomeswillhavetobeturnedanotherwaywhenwecrossthatopenspace.”Hepausedandlookedatthefouranxiousfaces,wishingferventlythathehad

abetter plan, but knowing therewas no time to comeupwith another if theywere to preserve any chance of recovering the Sword of Shannara.Whateverelsewasatstakenow,nothingwasofsuchparamountimportanceasthelifeofthe frail-looking Valeman who was heir to the Sword’s power and the onechancelefttothepeopleofthefourlandstoavoidaconflictthatwouldconsumethemall.Theirownlivescouldbesoldcomparativelycheaply topreserve thatsinglehope.“ItwilltakethebestbowmanintheSouthland,”thetallbordermanannounced

quietly.“ThatmanwillhavetobeMenionLeah.”Thehighlanderlookedupinsurpriseattheunexpecteddeclaration,unabletohidethesenseofpridehefelt.“Therewill be only one shot,” continued thePrince ofCallahorn. “If it is notexactlyontarget,wewillbelost.”“Whatisyourplan?”interruptedDurincuriously.“Whenwereach theendofourcoverat theopenspace,Menionwill locate

oneof theGnomechieftains to the far sideof thepass.Hewillhaveoneshotwiththebowtokillhim,andintheconfusionthatfollows,wecanslipby.”“It won’t work, my friend,” growled Hendel. “The minute they see their

leaderstruckbythearrow,they’llbealloverthatpassentrance.You’llbefoundinminutes.”Balinorshookhisheadandsmiledfaintly,butunconvincingly.“No, we won’t, because they will be after someone else. The minute the

Gnomechieftainfalls,oneofuswillshowhimselfbackinthepass.TheGnomeswillbesoincensedandsoeagertogettheirhandsonhim,thattheywon’ttakethetimetosearchforanyoneelse,andwecanslipbyintheconfusion.”Silence greeted his appraisal of the situation, and the anxious faces looked

fromonepersontothenext,thesamethoughtineverymind.“It sounds just fine for everyone but the man who stays behind to show

himself,”brokeinMenionindisbelief.“Whogetsthatsuicidalchore?”“Itwasmy plan,” declaredBalinor. “Itwill bemy duty to stay behind and

leadtheGnomesintotheWolfsktaag,untilIcancirclebackandjoinyoulaterat

theedgeoftheAnar.”“YoumustbeinsaneifyouthinkI’mlettingyoustaybehindandclaimallthe

credit,”Meniondeclared.“If Imake theshot, I stay to take thebows,and if Imiss...”Hetrailedoffandsmiled,shruggingcasually,clappingDurinontheshoulder

as theother lookedonincredulously.Balinorwasabout toobjectfurtherwhenHendelsteppedforwardshakinghisbroadheadindisagreement.“Theplan is fineas itgoes,butweallknowthat themanwhostaysbehind

will have several thousandGnomes attempting to track him down, or at best,waitingforhimtocomeoutoftheirtabooland.Themanwhostaysmustbeamanwhoknows theGnomes, theirmethods, how to fight and survive againstthem. In this case, that man is a Dwarf with a lifetime of battle knowledgebehindhim.Itmustbeme.“Besides,”headdedgrimly,“Itoldyouhowbadlytheywantmyhead.They

won’tpassupthechanceaftersuchanaffront.”“AndI’vealreadytoldyou,”insistedMenionagain,“that’smy...”“Hendel is right,” Balinor cut in sharply. The others looked at him in

amazement. Only Hendel knew that the decision the borderman had made,howeverdistasteful,wasthesameonehewouldhavemadehadtheirpositionsbeenreversed.“Thechoicehasbeenmade,andwewillabidebyit.Hendelwillhavethebestchancetosurvive.”HeturnedtothestockyDwarfwarriorandextendedabroadhand.Theother

gripped it tightly for a brief moment, then turned quickly from them anddisappearedupthetrailataslowtrot.Theotherswatched,buthewasgoneinamatterofseconds.Theboomingof thedrumsand thechantingof theGnomesrolleddeeplyoutofthelightedskytothewest.“GagtheValemensotheycannotcryout,”orderedBalinor,startlingtheother

threewiththesharpnessofthesuddencommand.WhenMenionfailedtomove,butremainedrootedtothespot,lookingsilentlyupthepathHendelhadtakenamoment before, Balinor turned to him and placed a reassuring hand on hisshoulder.“Becertain,PrinceofLeah,thatyourshotisworthyofhissacrificeforus.”The still-twisting bodies of the two Valemen were quickly secured to the

makeshift stretchers and their low cries effectively muffled by tightly boundclothgags.Thefourremainingmenpickeduptheirgearandthestretchersandmovedoutof thecoverof the trees towardthemouthof thePassofJade.TheGnomefiresblazedupbeforethem,lightingthenightskyinabrilliantauraof

yellow and orange flame.The drums crashed out in steady rhythm, the sounddeafeningintheearsofthefourastheydrewcloser.Thechantinggrewlouderuntil it seemed as if the entire Gnome nation must be gathered. The overallsensationwasoneofeerieunreality,asiftheywerelostinthatprimitiveworldofhalf-dreamstraversedbymortalandspiritalikeinstrangeritualsthathavenorecognizable purpose. The walls of the towering cliffs rose jaggedly into thenightskyoneitherside,distantbutominouslyhugeintrudersonthelittlescenetakingplaceatthehighentrancetothePassofJade.Rockwallsglimmeredinashower of color— red, orange, and yellow blended into an overriding deepgreenthatdancedandflickeredintheman-madefirelight.Thecolorreflectedoffthe hardness of the rock andmirrored softly in the grim-set faces of the fourstretcherbearers,touchingmomentarilythefeartheyweretryingtoconceal.Finallythemenstoodwithinthecorridorofthepass,justoutofsightofthe

chantingGnomes. The slopes rose steeply on either side, the northern inclineoffering little or no cover whatsoever, while the southern fairly bristled withsmalltreesanddensescrubbrushthatgrewsothicklyitwaschokingonitself.Balinorsilentlysignaledtheotherstomaketheirwayupthesideofthisslope.Hetooktheleadhimself,searchingout thesafestapproach,movingcautiouslyupward toward the small trees thatgrewhigheron themountain. It took themquiteawhiletoreachthesafetyofthetrees,andBalinormotionedthemslowlyahead into themouthof thepass.As they inched forward,Menioncould lookthroughbreaksinthetreesandbrushtocatchquickglimpsesofthefiresburningbelow,stillaheadofthem,theirbrightflamesalmostcompletelymaskedbythehundreds of small, gnarled figures who moved rhythmically in the light,chanting in a deep, soul-searching drone to the spirits of theWolfsktaag. Hismouth felt dry as he visualized what would happen to them if they werediscovered,andhe thoughtgrimlyofHendel.Hewassuddenlyveryafraid fortheDwarf.Thebrushandtreesbegantothinout,risinghigherontheslope,andthe four crept upward under their cover, but slower now, more hesitantly, asBalinorkeptoneeye fixedon theGnomesbelow.DurinandDayelwalkedoncat feet, their lightElvenframesmovingsoundlessly throughdry,brittle limbsand twigs, blending into the natural terrain about them.AgainMenion peeredworriedlyattheGnomes,closerthanbefore,theiryellowishbodiesweavingtothe drums, gleaming with the sweat of hours spent calling on their gods andprayingtothemountains.Then the four reached the end of their cover. Balinor pointed ahead to the

yards of open space that lay between them and the dense forests of theAnar

standingdarklybeyond.Itwasalongdistance,andtherewasnothingbetweenthemenandthefloorofthepassbutthescrubbrushandafewsparsebladesofgrass,driedfromthesun.DirectlybelowwerethechantingGnomes,swayinginthe fire’s glowand in a perfect position to see anyone attempting to cross thebrightly lighted open spaces of the southern slope.Dayel had been correct; itwouldhavebeensuicidetoattempttosneakpastunderthoseconditions.Menionlookedupandquicklysaw that furtherefforts to reachhighergroundwith thetwowoundedValemenwereeffectivelypreventedbyasheerclifffacethatroseabruptlyseveralhundredfeet into theair,bankingonlyslightlyas itcontinuedupwardtoitsinvisiblepeak.Heturnedbacktolookagainattheopenspace.Itappeared farther across than before. Balinor motioned the others into a tightcircle.“Menioncanmovetotheedgeofthecover,”hewhisperedcautiously.“After

hepickshistargetandtheGnomeishit,Hendelwillfocustheirragebycallingattention to himself inside the pass, high on the other slope. He should be inplacebythistime.WhentheGnomesrushhim,wemoveacrosstheopenspaceasquicklyaspossible.Don’tstoptolook—keepmoving.”Theother threenoddedandall eyes restedonMenion,whohadunstrapped

thegreatashbowfromhisbackandwastestingitspull.Hepickedoutasinglelong,blackarrow, sighting it foraccuracy,andhesitated foraminute, lookingdownward through theveiledcoveringof the trees to thehundredsofGnomesonthevalleyfloor.Suddenlyherealizedwhatwasexpectedofhim.Hewastokillaman,notinbattleorinfaircombat,butfromambush,withstealth,andthatmanwouldneverhaveachance.Heknewinstinctivelythathecouldnotdoit,thathewasnot theseasonedfighter thatBalinorwas, thathedidnothave thecolddeterminationofHendel.Hewasbrashandevenbraveattimesandreadytostandagainstanyoneinopencombat,buthewasnotakiller.Heglancedbackmomentarilyattheothers,andtheysawitatonceinhiseyes.“Youmust do it!” whispered Balinor harshly, his eyes burning with fierce

determination.Durin’s face was averted slightly in the half-light, grim and frozen with

uncertainty.DayelstareddirectlyatMenion,hisElveneyeswide,frightenedbythechoicethehighlanderfaced,theyouthfulcountenanceashenandghostlike.“Icannotkillamanthisway,”Menionshookinvoluntarilyathisownwords,

“eventosavetheirlives...”HepausedandBalinorcontinuedtostareathim,waitingforsomethingmore.“Icando the job,”Menionannounced suddenlyafter amoment’s reflection

andasecondlooktothevalleybelow.“Butitshallbedoneadifferentway.”Withoutfurtherexplanationhemovedforwardthroughtheclumpoftreesand

crouched silently on the fringe, almost beyond its sparse protection. His eyesscannedhurriedly the formsof theGnomesbelow, finallycoming to restonachieftainon the far sideof thepass.TheGnomestoodbeforehis subjects,hiswizened yellow face uplifted, his small hands extended, holding in offering alongbowlofglowingembers.Hestoodmotionlessasheledthechantingwiththe other Gnome chieftains, his face turned toward the entrance to theWolfsktaag.Menionwithdrewasecondarrowfromthequiverandlaiditinfrontof him.Thenononeknee, he inched from the safetyof the small treehehadpositioned himself behind, fitted the first arrow to the bow and sighted. Theother threewaitedgrimly, breathlesswithin the edgesof the foliage,watchingthe bowman. For one split second everything seemed to come to a completestandstill, and then the tautbowstringwas releasedwithanaudible twangandthe arrow flew invisibly to its target.Almost as if a part of the samemotion,Menion fitted the second arrow to the string, sighted and fired with blindingrapidity,thendroppedmotionlessintothecoveroftheclosesttree.It happened so fast that no one saw it all, but each caught glimpses of the

bowman’s action and the scene that followed in themidst of theunsuspectingGnomes.The first arrowstruck the longbowl in theoutstretchedhandsof thechantingGnomechieftainandsentitspinninginanexplosionofwoodsplinters.Gleamingredcoalsflewupwardinashowerofsparks.Inthenextinstant,whiletheastonishedGnomeandhisstill-mystifiedfollowerswerecaughtmomentarilyfrozenwithuncertainty,thesecondarrowembeddeditselfpainfullyinthehalf-turnedandhighlyvulnerableposteriorof thechieftain,whogaveanagonizinghowlthatcouldbeheardthelengthandbreadthofthefirelitPassofJade.Thetimingwasabsolutelyperfect.Ithappenedsoquicklythateventheunfortunatevictim had no time, nor inclination for that matter, to decide where theembarrassingassaulthadcomefromorwhothedeceitfulperpetratormighthavebeen. The Gnome chieftain leaped about in terror and pain for several wildmoments as his fellow Gnomes looked on in mixed bewilderment andapprehension,emotions thatquicklychanged.Theirceremonyhadbeenrudelyinterrupted and one of their chieftains had been treacherously struck fromambush.Theywerehumiliatedanddangerouslyangered.Withinsecondsafter thearrowsstruck their targets,beforeanyonehadbeen

givenachancetocollecthissenses,atorchappearedfarawayinsidethepassontheupperreachesofthenorthernslope,touchingoffagiantbonfirethatblazed

intothenightskyasiftheearthitselfhaderuptedinanswertothecriesofthevengefulGnomes.Before the risingblaze stood thebroad, immobile figure oftheDwarf Hendel, his arms raised in challenge, one great hand clutching thestone-shatteringmace inmenacing defiance of allwho looked up at him.Hislaughechoeddeafeninglyoffthecliffwalls.“Come face me, Gnomes — worms of the earth!” he roared mockingly.

“Stand and fight— it’s plain you won’t be caught sitting for a while. YourfoolishgodscannotsaveyoufromthepowersofaDwarf,letalonethespiritsoftheWolfsktaag!”TheroaroffurythatwentupfromtheGnomeswasfrightening.Almosttoa

man, theysurgedforwardintothePassofJadetoreachthemockingfigureonthe slope above them, determined to tear his heart out for the shame andhumiliation inflictedupon them.TostrikeaGnomechieftainwasbadenough,buttoinsulttheirreligionandtheircourageinthesamebreathwasunforgivable.SomeoftheGnomesrecognizedtheDwarfimmediatelyandshoutedhisnametotheothers,cryingoutforhisinstantdeath.AstheGnomeschargedblindlyaheadintothepass,theirceremonyforgotten,thefiresburninguntended,thefourmenon the slope leaped to their feet, clutching tightly the stretchers and theirprecious cargo, and raced in a low crouch across the open and unprotectedsouthern slope, fully exposed by the glare of the blaze below, their shadowsappearingashugephantomsagainst thecliffsideabovetheirfleeingforms.NoonepausedtochecktheprogressoftheanGnomes;theychargedmadlyahead,eyesgluedtotheshelteringblacknessoftheAnarforestloominginthedistance.Miraculously, they made it to the safety of the forest. There they paused,

breathingheavilyinthecoolshadowsofthegreattrees,listeningtothesoundsinthepass.Belowthem,thefloorofthepassentrancewasdesertedexceptforasmall cluster of Gnomes, one of whom was engaged in aiding the woundedchieftainbyextractingthepainfularrow.Menionchuckledinwardlyatthesight,a slowsmile spreadingoverhis lean face. Itquicklyvanished,however, ashelookedintothepasswherethebonfireonthenorthernslopestillburnedfiercely.ThemaddenedGnomeswere climbing upward from all directions, an endlessnumberofsmallyellowishbodies,theforemostofwhichhadalmostreachedtheblaze.Therewas no sign ofHendel, but from all appearances hewas trappedsomewhereontheslope.Thefourwatchedforonlyaminute,andthenBalinorsilentlysignaledforthemtomoveout.ThePassofJadewasleftbehind.Itwasdarkintheheavyforestsoncethecompanyhadgonebeyondthelight

of the Gnome fires. Balinor placed the Prince of Leah in the fore with

instructionstomovedownwardfromthesouthernslopetofindatrailthatwouldtake themwest. It did not take long to reach such a trail, and the little bandmoved into thecentralAnar.The forests about themshutoutmostof thedimlight of the distant stars, and the great trees framed the path ahead like blackwalls. The Valemen were thrashing violently on the stretchers again andmoaningpainfully,eventhroughtheheavygags.Thecarrierswerebeginningtolosehopefortheiryoungfriends.Thepoisonwasseepingslowlythroughtheirsystems and when enough of it reached their hearts, the end would comeabruptly.Therewasnowaythefourmencouldknowhowmuchtimewasleftthe brothers, and noway to estimate how far theymight be from any sort ofmedicalassistance.TheonemanwhoknewthecentralAnarwasbehindthem,trappedintheWolfsktaagandfightingforhislife.Suddenly, so quickly that the four. had no time to get off the trail to avoid

detection,agroupofGnomesappearedfromoutofthewalloftreesonthepathahead.Foramomenteveryonestoodmotionless,eachgroupsquintingthroughthedimlight.Itonlytookaninstantforeachtorealizewhotheotherwas.Thefourmen quickly put down the cumbersome stretchers andmoved forward tostand in a line across the trail. The Gnomes, numbering ten or twelve in all,clusteredtogetherforamomentandthenoneofthemdisappearedbackintothetrees.“They’vesentforhelp,”Balinorwhisperedtotheothers.“Ifwedon’tgetby

themquickly,theywillhavereinforcementsheretofinishusoff.”He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth before the remaining

Gnomes let out a chilling battle cry and charged toward the four, their short,wicked-lookingswordsgleamingdully.ThesilentarrowsofMenionandtheElfbrothersdroppedthreeoftheminmidstridebeforetherestswarmedoverthemlikesavagewolves.Dayelwascompletelybowledoverbytheassaultandforamomentwaslostfromsighttotherear.Balinorstoodfirmashishugebladecuttwoof theunfortunateGnomes inhalfwithonegreat sweep.Thenextseveralminuteswerefilledwithsharpcriesandlaboredbreathingasthefightersbattledbackandforthacrossthenarrowtrail,theGnomesseekingtogetunderthelongreach of the men before them, the four defenders maneuvering to keepthemselvesbetweenthefierceattackersandtheirtwoinjuredcompanions.Intheend, theGnomesall laydeadon thebloodied trail, theirbodiessmallheaps inthedimlightofthewatchingstars.Dayelhadreceivedaseriousslashintheribsthat had to be bound, andMenion andDurin had received a number of smallwounds.Balinorwasuntouched,hisbodyprotectedfromtheGnomeswordsby

thelightweightchainmailbeneathhisshreddedcloak.The four paused only long enough to bind up Dayel’s rib wound before

pickingupthestretchersandcontinuingatanevenfasterpacealongthedesertedpath.Theyhadfurtherreasontohastennow.Gnomehunterswouldbequicklyon their trail once they found their slain comrades.Menion tried to guess thehourfromthepositionofthestarsandbyestimatingtheirtimeoftravelsincethesunhadsetback in theWolfsktaagMountains,butcouldonlyconclude itwassomewhere in the early-morning hours. The highlander felt the final signs offatiguebegintocreepthroughhisachingarmsandstrainedbackmusclesashewalkedrapidlybehindthebroadformofBalinor,whohadtakenthelead.Theywereall close to exhaustion, theirbodiesworn from theday’s travel and theirencounterswithfirstthemonsterintheWolfsktaagandthentheGnomes.TheywerekeptontheirfeetprimarilybecausetheyknewwhatwouldhappentotheValemeniftheystopped.Nevertheless,thirtyminutesafterthebriefbattlewiththeGnomerearguard,Dayelsimplycollapsed inmidstride fromlossofbloodand exhaustion. It took the others several minutes to revive him and get himbackonhisfeet.Eventhen,thepaceslowednoticeably.Balinorwasforcedtocallasecondhaltonlyminuteslatertoallowthemalla

much-needed rest.Theyhuddledquietly at the sideof the trail and listened indismaytothegrowingtumultallaboutthem.Shoutingandmuffleddrums,stilldistant, had begun again since their encounter on the trail. Apparently theGnomes were alerted sufficiently to their presence to have called out a largenumberofhuntingparties to trackthemdown.Itsoundedas if theentireAnarforestwerealivewithangeredGnomes,stalkingthesurroundingwoodsandhillsinanefforttofindtheenemythathadslippedbythemonthetrailandkilledtenorsooftheirnumberinavoidingcapture.Menionglanceddownwearilyattheyoung Valemen, their faces white and covered with a heavy sheet ofperspiration.Hecouldhearthemmoaningthroughtheclothgags,seetheirlimbsconvulse as the poison seeped relentlessly through their failing systems. Helookedatthemandfeltsuddenlythathehadsomehowletthemdownwhentheyneeded him most, and that now they would pay the price for his failure. Itangered him when he thought about the whole crazy idea of journeying toParanor to retrieve a relic of another age on the offhand chance that itwouldsavethem,orsaveanyoneforthatmatter,fromacreatureliketheWarlockLord.Yetheknew,evenashefinishedthethought,thatitwaswrongtoquestionnowsomething they had accepted from the first as little more than a remotepossibility.He looked at Flickwearily andwonderedwhy they couldn’t have

beenbetterfriends.Durin’s suddenwhisper ofwarning sent them all scurrying off the exposed

pathwiththecumbersomestretcherstotheseclusionofthegreattrees,flatteningthemselves against the earth and waiting breathlessly. A moment later thedistinctsoundofheavybootsreverberatedalongthedesertedtrailand,fromthedirectioninwhichtheyhadcome,apartyofGnomewarriorsmarchedoutofthedarkness toward their hiding place. Balinor immediately knew there were toomanyfor themtofightandplacedarestraininghandontheexcitedMeniontokeephimfrommakinganysuddenmovement.TheGnomesmarchedalongthetrailinformation,theiryellowfacesstonyinthestarlightastheirwide-seteyesglanced uneasily about at the dark forest. They reached the point where thecompanycrouchedinhidingandmovedonupthetrailwithoutpausing,unawarethat theirquarrywaswithina fewfeet.When theyhaddisappearedfromsightandtherewasnofurthersoundofthem,MenionturnedtoBalinor.“We are finished if we don’t find Allanon. We won’t get another mile

carryingSheaandFlickundertheseconditionsunlesswehavehelp!”Balinornoddedslowly,butmadenocomment.Heknew their situation.But

he knew aswell that stopping nowwould beworse than capture or a secondencounterwith theGnomes.Nor could they leave thebrothers in thesewoodsandhopetheycouldfindthemafter theygothelp—itwasclearlytoogreatarisk.Hemotionedtheotherstotheirfeet.Withoutspeaking,theypickedupthestretchersand resumed thewearingmarchalong the forestpath,knowingnowthat the Gnomes were in front of them as well as behind.Menion wonderedagainwhathadbefallenthegallantHendel. Itseemedimpossible thateventheresourcefulDwarfwithallhisskillinmountainfightingcouldhavemanagedtoevade those enragedGnomes for any length of time. In any event, theDwarfcould not be inmuchworse shape than theywere,wandering about theAnarwith wounded men and no help in sight. If the Gnomes did find them againbeforetheyreachedsafety,Menionhadlittledoubtastotheoutcome.Again Durin’s sharp ears picked up the sound of approaching feet and

everyoneleapedtothesafetyofthegreattrees.Theyhadbarelygottenclearofthe open trail and flattened themselves amidst the brush of the forest whenfigures appeared through the trees ahead. Even in the faint light of the stars,Durin’s sharp eyes immediately picked out the leader of the small party as agiantofamancloakedinalongblackrobewoundlooselyabouthisleanbody.Amomentlatertheotherssawhimaswell.ItwasAllanon.ButDurin’ssuddenwarninggesturestifledtheexclamationsofrelief thatwereformingonthelips

of Balinor andMenion. They squinted through the darkness and saw that thesmall, white-cloaked figures accompanying the historian were unmistakablyGnome.“He’s betrayed us!” whispered Menion harshly, his hand instinctively

reachingforthelonghuntingknifeathisbelt.“No,waitaminute,”orderedBalinorquickly,motioningthemalltolieflatas

thepartycameclosertotheirhidingspot.Allanon’s tall figureapproachedslowlyalong the trail innoapparenthurry,

the deep-set eyes turned straight ahead as he walked. His dark brow wasfurrowedinconcentration.Menionknewinstinctivelythattheywouldbefoundand tensed hismuscles for the leap onto the trail where his first blowwoulddestroythetraitor.Heknewhewouldhavenosecondchance.Thewhite-garbedGnomesfollowedtheirleaderdutifully,notmarchinginanyparticularorderastheyshuffledalonginapparentdisinterest.SuddenlyAllanonhaltedandlookedaround in startled realization, as if sensing their presence.Menionprepared tospring, but a heavy hand grasped his shoulder, holding him firmly against theearth.“Balinor,” called the tall wanderer evenly, moving neither forward nor to

eithersideashelookedaboutexpectantly.“Releaseme!”demandedMenionfuriouslyofthePrinceofCallahorn.“Theyhavenoweapons!”Balinor’svoicecutthroughhisanger,causinghim

to scan again the white-robed Gnomes at the tall man’s side. There were noweaponsvisible.Balinor stood up slowly and advanced into the clearing, his great sword

grippedtightlyinonehand.Menionwasrightbehindhim,notingtheleanfigureofDurin justwithin the trees,anarrowfitted tohisbow in readiness.Allanoncame forward with a sigh of relief and reached for Balinor’s hand, stoppingquickly as he saw the faint distrustmirrored in the borderman’s eyes and theoutright bitterness registeredon the faceof thehighlander.He seemedbaffledfor a moment, and then looked back suddenly at the small figures standingmotionlessbehindhim.“No, it’s all right!” he exclaimed hastily. “These are friends. They have no

weaponsandnohatredtowardyou.Theyarehealers,physicians.”Foramomentnoonemoved.ThenBalinorsheathedthegreatswordandtook

Allanon’sextendedhand inwelcome.Menion followedsuit, stilldistrustfuloftheGnomeswaitingupthetrail.“Nowtellmewhathashappened,”orderedAllanon,onceagainincommand

ofthewearycompany.“Wherearetheothers?”Quickly Balinor recountedwhat had befallen them in theWolfsktaag, their

incorrect choice of the trail at the fork, the battle that had followed with thecreaturein thecityruins, their journeytothepassandtheplanthathadgottenthem past the assembled Gnomes. Upon hearing of the Valemen’s injuries,Allanon immediately spoke to the Gnomes who had accompanied him,informingthesuspiciousMenionthattheycouldtreatthewoundshisfriendshadincurred.Balinorcontinuedhis talewhile thewhite-robedGnomeshastened tothe side of the injured Valemen and hovered over them in obvious concern,applying a liquid from some vials they carried.Menion looked on anxiously,wondering to himselfwhy theseGnomeswere anydifferent from the rest.AsBalinorconcluded,Allanonshookhisheadindisgust.“Itwasmyfault,mymiscalculation,”hemutteredangrily.“Iwaslookingtoo

faraheadinthejourneyandnotwatchingcloselyenoughforimmediatedangers.Ifthosetwomendie,thewholetripwillhavebeenfornothing!”HespokeagaintothescurryingGnomes,andoneofthemdepartedatahasty

walkupthetrailtowardthePassofJade.“IsentoneofthembacktoseewhathecouldlearnaboutHendel.Ifanything

hashappenedtohim,I’llbetheonlyonetoblame.”He ordered the Gnome physicians to pick up the Valemen and the whole

groupmovedbackontothetrail,headingwestward,thestretcherbearersintheleadandthewearymembersofthecompanytrailingbehind.Dayel’sribwoundhad been attended to, and he was able to walk without assistance. As thecompanytraveledalongthedesertedtrail,AllanonexplainedtothemwhytheywouldnotencounterGnomehuntingpartiesinthisregion.“WeareapproachingthelandoftheStors,theseGnomesthatcamewithme,”

he informed them. “They are healers, separate from the rest of the Gnomenations and all other races, dedicated to helping those in need of sanctuary ormedical aid. They govern themselves, live apart from the petty bickerings ofother nations— somethingmostmen could nevermanage to do.Everyone inthispartoftheworldrespectsandhonorsthem.Theirland,whichwewillentersoon, is called Storlock. It is hallowed ground that no Gnome hunting partywoulddaretocrossintounlessinvited.Youmayrestassuredthatinvitationsareatapremiumthisnight.”Hewentontoexplainthathehadbeenafriendtotheseharmlesspeoplefor

manyyears,sharingtheirsecrets,livingwiththemforaslongasseveralmonthsat a time. The Stors could be counted on, he guaranteed Menion, to cure

whatever might be wrong with the young Valemen. They were the foremosthealers in theworld,anditwasnoaccident that theyhadcomealongwith thehistorianwhen he had returned through theAnar tomeet the company at thePass of Jade. Hearing of the strange events that had taken place from afrightenedGnomerunnerhehadencounteredonthetrailattheedgeofStorlock,whobelievedthespiritsofthetaboolandhadsalliedforthtoconsumethemall,hehad asked theStors to comewithhim in searchof his friends, fearing thattheymighthavesustainedinjuriesatthepass.“IhadnoideathatthecreaturewhosepresenceIdetectedinthatvalleyinthe

Wolfsktaagwouldhave the intelligence to remove the trailmarkersafter Ihadpassed,” he admitted angrily. “I should have suspected, though, and left othersigns to be certain that you bypassed that place. Worse still, I passed rightthroughthePassofJadeintheearlyafternoonwithoutrealizingthattheGnomeswould be gathering that evening for the purging of the mountain spirits. ItappearsIhavefailedyoubadly.”“Wewereall at fault,”Balinordeclared,althoughMenion, listeningsilently

fromtheotherside,wasnotsowillingtobelievehewasright.“Hadweallbeenmorealert,noneofthiswouldhavehappened.WhatmattersiscuringSheaandFlickandtryingtodosomethingaboutHendelbeforetheGnomehuntingpartiesfindhim.”Theywalkedoninsilenceforawhile,dejectedmentootiredtothinkfurther

on thematter, concentratingonlyonputtingone foot in frontof thenextuntilthey reached thepromised safetyof theStorvillage.The trail seemed towindendlesslythroughthetreesoftheAnarforest,andafterawhilethefourlostallsenseoftimeandplace,theirmindsdulledintosleeplessexhaustion.Thenightslowly passed away, and finally the first tinges of the dawn’s light appearedunexpectedlyontheeasternhorizon;stilltheyhadnotreachedtheirdestination.ItwasanhourlaterwhentheyfinallysawthelightofnightfiresburningintheStorvillage,reflectingoffthetreesencirclingthetiredtravelers.Allatoncetheywere in thevillage, surroundedbyghostlikeStors,wrapped in the samewhitecloaks, lookingat themenwithsad,unblinkingexpressionsas theyhelped theexhaustedtravelersintotheshelterofoneofthelowbuildings.Oncewithin, themembers of the company collapsedwordlessly on the soft

beds provided, too tired towash or even undress. All were asleep in secondsexcept for Menion Leah, whose high-strung temperament fought back theclutches of a soothing sleep long enough to allow his bleary eyes to searchsilently about the room forAllanon.Uponnot findinghim,he rose sluggishly

from the softnessof thebedandstumbledwearily to theclosedwoodendoor,whichhedimlyrecalledledtoasecondroombeyond.Leaningheavilyagainstthedoor,hisearpressedcloselytothecrackinthejamb,helistenedtosnatchesofconversationbetweenthehistorianandtheStors. Inadazeofhalf-sleep,heheardabriefdigressionconcerningSheaandFlick.ThestrangelittlepeoplefeltthattheValemenwouldrecoverwithrestandspecialmedication.Thenabruptlya door beyond opened to admit several people, and their voices blendedmeaninglessly in exclamations of dismay and shock.Allanon’s deepvoice cutthroughinicyclearness.“Whathaveyoudiscovered?”hedemanded.“Isitasbadaswefeared?”“They caught somebody in themountains,” came the timid answer. “Itwas

impossibletotellwhoitwasorevenwhatitwasbythetimetheywerefinished.Theytorehimtopieces!”Hendel!Stunned, even in his exhausted condition, the highlander pushed himself

upright and stumbled back to hiswaiting bed, unable to believe he had heardthemcorrectly.Deepwithinhim,agreatemptyspaceopened.Helplesstearsofangerwelledup,unable toreachhisstill-dryeyes,andhungpoised thereuntilthePrinceofLeahfinallydroppedoffintocomfortingsleep.

ChapterThirteen

When Shea finally opened his eyes, it was midafternoon of the followingday.He foundhimself restingcomfortably ina longbed, tucked inwithcleansheets and blankets, his hunting clothes replaced by a loose white gown tiedabouthisneck.Onthebednexttohimlaythestill-sleepingFlick,hisbroadfacenolongerdrawnandpale,butaliveoncemorewiththecoloroflifeandpeacefulinslumber.Theywereinasmall,plaster-walledroomwithaceilingsupportedbylongwoodenbeams.Throughthewindows,theyoungValemancouldseethetreesoftheAnarandtheshiningbluenessoftheafternoonsky.Hehadnoideahow long he had been unconscious orwhat had happened during that time tobring him to this unknown place. But he felt certain that the creature of theWolfsktaaghadnearlykilledhim,andthatFlickandheowedtheirlivestothemenofthecompany.HisattentionwasquicklydrawntotheopeningdooratoneendofthesmallroomandtheappearanceofananxiousMenionLeah.“Well,oldfriend,Iseethatyou’vecomebacktotheworldoftheliving.”The

highlandersmiledslowlyashecameovertothebedside.“Yougaveusquiteascarethereforawhile,youknow.”“Wemadeit,didn’twe?”Sheagrinnedhappilyatthefamiliarjokingvoice.Menion nodded briefly and turned to the supine figure of Flick, who had

stirred slightly beneath the covers and was beginning to awake. The stockyValemanopenedhiseyesslowlyand lookeduphesitantly, seeing thegrinningfaceofthehighlander.“Iknewitwastoogoodtobetrue,”hegroanedpainfully.“Evendead,Ican’t

escapehim.It’sacurse!”“OldFlickhasfullyrecoveredaswell.”Menionlaughedshortly.“Ihopehe

appreciatestheworkittooktocarrythatcumbersomebodyofhisallthisway.”“Thedayyoudoanyhonestwork,I’llbeamazed,”mumbledFlick,tryingto

clearhissleep-foggedeyes.HelookedoveratasmilingSheaandgrinnedbackwithashortwaveofgreeting.“Where areweanyway?” askedShea curiously, forcinghimself to sit up in

bed.Hewasstillfeelingweak.“HowlonghaveIbeenunconscious?”Menionsatdownontheedgeofthebedandrepeatedtheentiretaleoftheir

journeyafterescaping thecreature in thevalley.He told themof themarch tothePassofJadeandtheencounterwiththeGnomesthere,theplantogetthem

by, and the results. He faltered a bit retelling of Hendel’s sacrifice to thecompany. Shocked looks registered on theValemen’s faces on hearing of thegallant Dwarf’s grisly death at the hands of the enraged Gnomes. Menionquickly continued with the remainder of the story, explaining how they hadwanderedthroughtheAnaruntildiscoveredbyAllanonandthestrangepeoplecalledStors,whohadtreatedtheirwoundsandbroughtthemtothisplace.“This land is called Storlock,” he concluded finally. “The people here are

Gnomeswhohavededicatedtheirlivestohealingthesickandinjured.It’sreallyamazingwhat theycando.Theyhaveasalvewhich,whenapplied toanopenwound,closesitupandhealsitoverintwelvehours.IsawitworkmyselfonaninjuryDayelreceived.”Sheashookhisheadindisbeliefandwasabouttoaskforfurtherdetailswhen

thedooragainopenedtoadmitAllanon.Forthefirst timehecouldremember,Shea thought thedarkwandereractuallyseemedhappy,anddetectedasinceresmile of relief on the grim face. The man walked quickly over to them andnoddedinsatisfaction.“Iamcertainlypleasedthatyouhavebothrecoveredfromyourwounds.Iwas

gravelyconcernedaboutyou,butitappearstheStorshavedonetheirworkwell.Doyoufeelrecoveredenoughtogetoutofbedandwalkaroundabit,perhapstohavesomefood?”ShealookedinquiringlyoveratFlick,andtheybothnodded.“Verywell,then,goalongwithMenionandtestyourstrength,”thehistorian

suggested.“Itisimportantthatyoufeelwellenoughtotravelagainsoon.”Withoutfurtherword,heleftbythesamedoor,shuttingitsoftlybehindhim.

Theywatchedhimgo,wonderinghowhecouldcontinuetobesocoldlyformalinhisattitudetowardthem.Menionshrugged,advisingthemthathewouldfindtheirhuntingclotheswhichhadbeentakenoutandcleaned.tieleftandquicklyreturned with their clothing, whereupon the Valemen rose weakly from theirbeds and dressed while Menion told them a little more about the Stors. HeexplainedthathehadmistrustedthematfirstbecausetheywereGnomes,buthisfearshadrapidlyvanisheduponwatchingthemcarefortheValemen.Theothersin the company had slept well into the morning before waking and werescattered now about the village, enjoying their brief respite on the journey toParanor.The three left the room shortly thereafter and entered another building that

servedasadininghallforthevillage,wheretheyweregivengenerousportionsof hot food to appease their ravenous appetites. Even with their injuries, the

Valemenfoundthemselvesabletoputawayseveralhelpingsof thenourishingmeal.Afterfinishing,Menionled themoutsidewhere theyencounteredafullyrecuperatedDurinandDayel,bothdelighted to see theValemenbackon theirfeet.AtMenion’ssuggestion,thefivewalkedtothesouthendofthevillagetoseethewondrousBluePondthatthehighlanderhadbeentoldaboutbytheStorsearlierintheday.Ittookonlyafewminutesforthemtoreachthesmallpond,andtheysatatitsedgebeneathahugeweepingwillowandgazedinsilenceatthe placid blue surface.Menion told them that the Stors made many of theirsalvesandbalmsfromthewatersofthatpond,whichweresaidtohavespecialhealingelementsthatcouldbefoundnowhereelseintheworld.Sheatastedthewaterandfounditdifferentfromanythinghehadeverencountered,butnotatalldispleasing to drink. The others tried it aswell andmurmured their approval.TheBluePondwassuchapeacefulplacethatforamomenttheyallsatbackandforgot theirhazardous journey, thinkingabout theirhomesand thepeople theyhadleftbehind.“ThispondremindsmeofBeleal,myhomeintheWestland.”Durinsmiledto

himself ashe rana finger through thewater, tracingout some image fromhismind.“There,youcanfindthesamesortofpeacewehavehere.”“We’ll be back there before youknow it,”Dayel promised, and then added

eagerly,almostboyishly,“AndI’llbemarried toLynlissandwe’llhavemanychildren.”“Forgetit,”declaredMenionabruptly.“Staysingleandstayhappy.”“You haven’t seen her,Menion,”Dayel continued brightly. “She is like no

oneyouhaveseen—agentle,kindgirl,asbeautifulasthispondisclear.”Menion shook his head in mock despair and slapped the frail Elf on his

shoulder lightly, smiling his understanding of the other’s deep feeling for theElvengirl.Noonespokeforafewminutesastheycontinuedtogazewithmixedfeelings at the blue waters of the Stor pond. Then Shea turned to themquestioningly.“Doyouthinkwearedoingtherightthing?Imeangoingonthistripandall.

Doesitallseemworth,ittoyou?”“That seems funny coming from you, Shea,” remarked Durin thoughtfully.

“ThewayIseeit,youhavethemosttolosebycomingalong.Infact,youarethewholepurposeofthisjourney.Doyoufeelit’sworthit?”Sheaconsideredforamomentwhiletheotherslookedonsilently.“That’snotreallyafairquestiontoaskhim,”defendedFlick.“Yes,itis,”Sheacutinsoberly.“Theyareallriskingtheirlivesforme,and

I’ve been the only one expressing any doubts about what we’re doing. But Ican’tanswermyownquestion,eventomyself,becauseIfeelIstilldon’tknowexactlywhat’shappening.Idonotthinkthatwehavethewholepicturebeforeus.”Iknowwhatyoumean,“Menionagreed.”Allanonhasn’t tolduseverything

about what we’re doing on this trip. There’s more to this business about theSwordofShannarathanweknow.““HasanybodyeverseentheSword?”Dayelaskedsuddenly.Theothersshook

theirheadsnegatively.“MaybethereisnoSword.”“Oh, I think that the Sword exists, all right,” Durin declared quickly. “But

oncewegetit,whatdowedowithit?WhatcanSheadoagainstthepoweroftheWarlockLord,evenwiththeSwordofShannara?”“I think we must trust to Allanon to answer that when the time comes,”

anothervoicesaid.The newvoice came frombehind the five, and they turned around sharply,

breathinganaudiblesighofreliefwhenitwasBalinorwho,appeared.Evenashe watched the Prince of Callahorn stroll over to them, Shea wondered tohimself why it was that they all still felt an unspoken fear of Allanon. Theborderman smiled a greeting to Shea and Flick and seated himself with theothers.“Well,itappearsthatourhardshipsincomingthroughthePassofJadewere

worthitafterall.I’mgladtoseethatyou’reallright.”“I’msorryaboutHendel.”Sheasoundedawkwardtohimself.“Iknowhewas

aclosefriend.”“Itwasacalculatedriskthatthesituationdemanded,”repliedBalinorsoftly.

“Heknewwhathewasdoingandwhatthechanceswere.Hediditforallofus.”“Whathappensnext?”askedFlickafteramoment.“WewaitforAllanontodecideonourrouteforthelastlegofthejourney,”

repliedBalinor. “Incidentally, Imeantwhat I said about trusting him.He is agreatman, a goodman, though itmay appear otherwise at times. He tells uswhathefeelsweoughttoknow,butbelieveme,hedoestheworryingforusall.Donotbetooquicktojudgehim.”“Youknowthathehasn’ttolduseverything,”Menionstatedsimply.“Iamcertainhehastoldusonlypartofthetale.”Balinornodded.“Butheis

theonlyonewhorealizedthethreattothefourlandsinthefirstplace.Weowehimagreatdeal,andtheveryleastofthatisalittletrust.”The others nodded slowly in agreement, more for the reason that they all

respected theborderman thanbecause they felt convincedbyhis reassurances.ThiswasespeciallytrueofMenion,whorecognizedthatBalinorwasamanofgreatcourage,thekindofmanwhomMenionlookedtoasaleader.Theyspokeno more on the matter, but turned to a further discussion of the Stors, theirhistoryasabranchoftheGnomenationsandtheirlong,abidingfriendshipwithAllanon.ThesunwassettingwhenthetallhistorianappearedunexpectedlyandjoinedthembytheBluePond.“AfterIamfinishedwithyouIwanttheValemenbackinbedforafewhours’

rest.Itprobablywouldn’thurttherestofyoutogetsomesleepaswell.Wewillleavethisplacesometimearoundmidnight.”“Isn’tthisalittlesuddenafterthewoundsSheaandFlickreceived?”Menion

askedcautiously.“Thatcannotbehelped,highlander.”Thegrimfaceseemedblackeveninthe

fadingsunlight.“Weareallrunningoutoftime.Ifwordofourmission,orevenourpresence in thispartof theAnar, reaches theWarlockLord,hewill try tomovetheSwordimmediately,andwithoutitthisjourneyispointless.”“FlickandIcanmakeit,”Sheadeclaredresolutely.“Whatwillbetheroute?”Balinorasked.“WewillcrosstheRabbPlainstonight,amarchofaboutfourhours.Ifweare

lucky,wewillnotbecaughtoutintheopen,althoughIamquitesuretheSkullBearerswillstillbesearchingforbothSheaandmyself.Wecanonlyhopetheyhaven’tmanagedtotraceusintotheAnar.Ihadn’ttoldyoubefore,becauseyouhadenoughtoconcernyou,butanyuseoftheElfstonespinpointsourpositiontoBronaandhishunters.Themysticalpowerofthestonescanbedetectedbyanycreatureofthespiritworld,warninghimthatsorcerysimilartohisownisbeingused.”“Then, when we used the Elfstones in the Mist Marsh...” Flick began in

horror.“YoutoldtheSkullBearersexactlywhereyouwere,”Allanonfinishedwith

that infuriating smile. “Ifyouhadn’t lostyourselves in themist and theBlackOaks,theymighthavehadyourightthere.”Sheafeltasuddenchillsweepoverhimasherecalledhowclosetheyhadfelt

todeathat the time, little realizinghowmuchdanger theywere really in fromthecreaturestheyfearedthemost.“Ifyouknewthatuseofthestoneswouldattractthespiritcreatures,thenwhy

didn’tyoutellus?”demandedSheaangrily.“Whydidyougivethemtoustouseforprotectionwhenyouknewwhatwouldhappen?”

“Youwere cautioned,myyoung friend,” came the slow, growling responsethat always indicated Allanon’s temper was shortening. “Without them, youwould have been at the mercy of other equally dangerous elements. Besides,theyareprotectionenoughinthemselvesagainstthewingedones.”Hewavedofffurtherquestions,indicatingthatthesubjectwasclosed,causing

Sheatobecomeevenmoresuspiciousandangered.AwatchfulDurinsawallthesignsandplaceda restraininghandon theyoungValeman’sshoulder, shakinghisheadinwarning.“Ifwemayreturntothematterathand,”Allanoncontinuedonamoreeven

tone, “let me explain further the chosen route for the next few days withoutinterruption.The journey across theRabbPlainswill put us at the foot of theDragon’sTeethatdaybreak.Thosemountainsoffer all theprotectionweneedfrom anyone searching for us. But the real problem is getting over them anddown the other side to the forests surrounding Paranor.All the known passesthroughtheDragon’sTeethwillbecloselyguardedbythealliesoftheWarlockLord, and any attempt to scale those peaks without using one of the passeswould get half of us killed. Sowe’ll go through themountains by a differentroute,onethattheywon’tbeguarding.”“Waitaminute!”exclaimedBalinorinastonishment.“Youdon’tplantotake

usthroughtheTomboftheKings!”“Thereisnootheralternativeopentousifwewishtoavoidbeingdiscovered.

We can enter the Hall of Kings at sunrise and be completely through themountains and outside Paranor by sundown without the guards at the passesbeinganythewiser.”“But the stories say no one has ever gotten through those caverns alive!”

insisted Durin, coming quickly to Balinor’s aid in discounting the suggestedplan.“Noneofusisafraidoftheliving,butthespiritsofthedeadinhabitthosecavesandonly,thedeadmaypassthroughunharmed.Nolivingpersonhaseverdoneit!”Balinor nodded his head slowly in agreement, while the others looked on

anxiously.MenionandtheValemenhadneverevenheardoftheplaceofwhichtheothersseemedsodeathlyafraid.AllanonwasactuallygrinningstrangelyatDurin’s last comment, his eyes dark beneath the heavy brows, hiswhite teethshowinginmenacingfashion.“Youarenotentirelycorrect,Durin,”herepliedafteraminute.“Ihavebeen

throughtheHallofKings,andItellyouthatitcanbedone.Itisnotajourneytobemadewithoutrisk.Thecavernsareindeedinhabitedbythespiritsofthedead,

anditisonthisthatBronareliestopreventtheentryofhumans.Butmypowershouldbesufficienttoprotectus.”MenionLeahhadnoideawhatitwasaboutthecavernsthatcouldcauseeven

aman likeBalinor tohave second thoughts,butwhatever itwas,he felt therewasagoodreasontofearit.Moreoverhewasthroughquestioningwhathehadcalled old wives’ tales and foolish legends, since the encounters in the MistMarsh and theWolfsktaag.What really concerned him nowwaswhat sort ofpowersthemanwhoproposedtoleadthemthroughthecaves,oftheDragon’sTeethmightpossessthatcouldprotectthemfromspirits.“Theentire journeyhasbeena calculated risk.”Allanonwas speakingonce

again.“Weallknewwhatthedangerswerebeforewebeganit.Areyoureadytoturnbackatthispoint,ordoweseethematterthroughtotheend?”“We will follow you,” Balinor declared after only a moment’s hesitation.

“You knew we would. The risk is worth it if we can lay our hands on theSword.”Allanon smiled slightly, his deep-set eyes traveling over the faces of the

others, meeting each gaze piercingly, coming to rest at last on Shea. TheValeman stared back unfalteringly, though his heart felt twinges of fear anduncertaintyasthoseeyesboredintohisinnermostthoughts,seeminglyawareofeverysecretdoubttheValemanhadtriedtoconceal.“Verywell.”Allanonnoddeddarkly.“Gonowandrest.”HeturnedabruptlyandwalkedbacktowardtheStorvillage.Balinorhastened

after the departing figure, apparently wishing to ask something further. Theotherswatchedbothuntil theywereoutofsight.Then, for thefirst time,Shearealizeditwasalmostdark,thesunsinkingslowlybeneaththehorizonandthetwilight a softwhite light in the deepening purple sky. For amoment no onemoved, and then silently they climbed to their feet and retired to the peacefulvillagetosleepuntiltheappointedhourofmidnight.ItseemedtoSheathathehadjustfallenasleepwhenhefelttheroughgripof

astronghandshakinghimawake.Amomentlater,thesharpglareofaburningtorch flickered through the darkened room, causing him to squint protectivelywhilehissleep-filledeyesadjustedtothisnewlight.Throughamistofsleep,hesawthedeterminedfaceofMenionLeah, theanxiouseyestellinghimthat thehourhadcomeforthemtodepart.Heroseunsteadilyinthecoldnightairand,afteramoment’shesitation,hastenedtodress.Flickwasalreadyawakeandhalfdressed, the stolid face awelcome sight in the eerie silenceofmidnight.Sheafelt strongonceagain, strongenough tomake the longmarchacross theRabb

Plains to theDragon’sTeethandbeyondifnecessary—anything toreach theendofthejourney.Minutes later, the three companions were making their way through the

sleepingStorvillagetomeettheothermembersofthecompany.Thedarkenedhouses were black, squarish bulks in the dim light of a night sky which wasmoonless and screened by a heavy blanket of clouds that moved sluggishlytowardsomeundetermineddestination.Itwasagoodnighttotravelintheopen,andSheafeltreassuredbytheideathatanysearchingemissariesoftheWarlockLordwouldhaveaverydifficulttimespottingthem.Astheywalked,hefoundthat he could barely detect the tread of their light hunting boots on the dampearth.Everythingseemedtobeworkingintheirfavor.When they reached thewesternboundaryofStorlock, they found theothers

waiting,exceptforAllanon.DurinandDayelappearedlikeemptyformsintheblackness, theirslightfiguresonlyshadowsas theypacedwordlessly, listeningtothesoundsofthenight.Passingclosetothematonepoint,Sheawasstruckbythe distinctive Elven features, the strange pointed ears and. the pencil-thineyebrows arching upward onto the forehead. He wondered if other humanslooked at him theway he now looked at the Elven brothers.Were they trulydifferentcreatures?HewonderedagainaboutthehistorybehindtheElfpeople,the history that Allanon had referred to once as remarkable, but had neverdescribedfurther.Theirhistorywashisown,heknewnowwhathehadalwayssuspected. It was something he wanted to know more about, perhaps if onlybettertounderstandhisownheritageandthetaleoftheSwordofShannara.Helookedovertothetall,broadfigureofBalinorstandinglikeastatuetoone

side, his face featureless in the dark. Balinor was unquestionably the mostreassuringthingaboutthewholeexpedition.Therewassomethingverydurableabouttheborderman,aqualityofindestructibilitythatlentitselffreelytoallofthe members of the company and gave them courage. Even Allanon did notinspire them inquite thisway,althoughShea felt. thathewaseasily themorepowerfulofthetwo.PerhapsAllanon,inhisseeminglyinfiniteawarenessofallmatters, knewwhatBalinor did for othermen and had brought him along forpreciselythatreason.“Quite so, Shea.” The soft voice was so close to his ear that the Valeman

leapedviolentlyinsurpriseastheblack-cloakedwandererstrolledpasthimandmotionedtheotherstohisside.“Thejourneymustbemadewhilewehavethecoverof thenight.Stay togetherandkeepyoureyeson themenahead.Therewillbenotalking.”

Withoutfurthergreeting,thedarkgiantledthemintotheAnarForestsalonganarrow trail that ran directly west out of Storlock. Shea fell into step behindMenion, his heart still in his throat from the fright he had received, hismindracingmadlybackoverthepastencounterswiththestrangeman,wonderingifwhat,hehadsuspectedallalongweretrueafterall.Inanyevent,hewouldkeephisthoughtstohimselfanytimeAllanonwasclose,howeverdifficult that taskmightprovetobe.The company reached the western edges of the Anar Forests and the

beginning of the Rabb Plains sooner than Shea had expected. Despite theblackness of the night sky, the Valemen could sense the presence of theDragon’sTeeth looming in the distance;without speaking, they looked at oneanotherbriefly,thenturnedbacktopeeranxiouslyintohedarkness.Allanonledthem across the empty plainland without pausing and without slackening thepace. The Plainswere completely flat, totally free of natural obstructions andvisibly lifeless. The only things growing were small scrub trees and bits ofscatteredbrush thatwerebareandskeletonlike inappearance.Thefloorof theplainwas hard-packed earth, so dry in parts that it split apart in long, jaggedcrevices. Nothingmoved about the travelers as theymarched in silence, theireyesandearsalerttoanythingoutoftheordinary.Atonepoint,whentheywerealmost three hours into theRabb Plains,Dayel brought them upwith a quickgesture, indicating that he had heard something behind them, far back in theblackness.Theycrouchedsoundlessandimmobileforseverallongminutes,butnothinghappened.AtlastAllanonshruggedandmotionedthembackintoline,andtheyresumedtheirmarch.They reached the Dragon’s Teeth just before daybreak, the night sky still

black and clouded as they halted at the foot of the forbiddingmountains thatspreadupwardacrosstheirpathlikemonstrousspikesonanirongate.BothSheaand Flick felt strong, even after the longmarch, and quickly indicated to theothersthattheywerereadytocontinuewithoutarest.Allanonseemedeagertomoveonimmediately,almostasifheweredeterminedtokeepanappointment.He took them straight into the treacherous-lookingmountains along a pebble-strewntrailthatwoundgentlyupwardintowhatappearedtobeapocketinthefaceof thecliffs.Flickfoundhimself lookingupat thepeaksoneithersideofthetrailashewalked,craninghisstoutneckatrightanglestocatchoccasionalglimpsesofthejaggedtips.TheDragon’sTeethseemedanappropriatename.Themountainsoneithersidebegan tofoldabout themas theyworked their

waytowardthecliffpocket.Beyondthatshallowpass,theycouldglimpseother

mountains,higherthantheseandclearlyinsurmountablebyanythingthatcouldnot fly.Sheapausedmomentarily at onepoint, pickedup apieceof the looserockfrombeneathhisfeet,andexamineditcuriouslyasheresumedwalking.Tohissurprise,itwassmoothonitsfiatsurfaces,almostglassyinappearance,anditscolorwasadeep,mirroringblackthatremindedtheValemanofthecoalhehad seen burned as fuel in some of the Southland communities. Yet thisappearedtobemoredurablethancoal,asifithadbeenpressuredandpolishedto reach its present state. He handed. it to Flick, who glanced at it, shruggeddisinterestedlyandtosseditaside.Thetrailbegantotwist throughhugeclustersoffallenboulders,causingthe

travelers momentarily to lose all sight of the surrounding mountains. Theywound about in the tangle of rock for a long time, still climbing toward thepocket,theirdarkleaderapparentlyoblivioustothefactthatnoonehadanyideawheretheyweregoing.Finallytheyreachedaclearingintherockswheretheycould see enough of the high cliffs about them to tell that they were at theopeningtothepocketandevidentlyclosetothesummitofthetrail,whichwouldtheneitherhave to turndownwardor leveloff into themountains. ItwasherethatBalinorbrokethesilencewithalowwhistle,bringingthecompanytoahalt.He spokemomentarilywithburin,whohad fallenbackwith thebordermanatthefootofthemountains,thenquicklyturnedtoAllanonandtheotherswithastartlelookonhisface.“Duriniscertainheheardsomeonefollowingusonthetrailup!”heinformed

themtensely.“There’snoquestionaboutitthistime—someoneisbackthere.”Allanon glanced up hurriedly at the night sky. His dark brow furrowed in

concern, the lean face revealing thathewasdeeplyworriedby this report.HelookedatDurinuncertainly.“I’msurethereissomeonebackthere,”Durinaffirmed.“Icannotstopheretodealwiththismyself.Ihavetobeinthevalleyahead

before the break of day,”Allanon declared abruptly. “Whatever is back theremustbedelayeduntil Ihave finished—it isessential!”Sheahadneverheardthe man sound so determined about anything, and he caught the looks ofconsternationonbothFlick’sandMenion’sfacesastheyglancedquicklyatoneanother.WhateveritwasAllanonhadtodointhevalley,itwascriticaltohimthathenotbeinterrupteduntilhehadfinished.“I’llstaybehind,”Balinorvolunteered,drawinghisgreatsword.“Waitforme

inthevalley.”“Notalone,youwon’t,”Menionspokeupquickly.“I’mstaying, too, just in

case.”Balinor smiled briefly and nodded his approval to the highlander. Allanon

lookedathimforamomentasiftoobject,thennoddedcurtlyandmotionedtheothers to follow him. The Elven brothers hastened up the trail behind the tallleader, but Shea and Flick hung back uncertainly, untilMenionmotioned forthemtogetgoing.Sheawavedbriefly,reluctanttodeserthisfriend,butrealizingthathewouldbeoflittlehelpinstaying.Heglancedbackonlyonceandsawthetwomenpositioning themselves among the rockson either sideof thenarrowtrail,theirswordsgleamingdullyinthefaintstarlight,theirdarkhuntingcloaksblendingwiththeshadowsoftherocks.Allanon led the remaining fourmembersof the companyahead through the

jumbled mass of boulders where the cliff face split apart, climbing steadilyupwardtowardwhatappearedtobetherimofthemysteriousvalley.Itwasonlyafewshortminutesbeforetheystoodquietlyatitsedge,gazingwonderinglyatwhatlaybeforethem.Thevalleywasabarbaricwildernessofcrushedrockandbouldersstrewnaboutthesidesandfloor,blackandglisteningliketherockSheahadexaminedonthetrail,theplacewascompletelycoveredwiththem.Nothingelsewasvisibleexceptforasmalllakewithmurkywatersthatglistenedadullgreenish-blackandmoved insmallsluggishswirlsas ifpossessinga lifeof itsown. Shea was immediately struck with the strange movement of the water.Therewasnowindwhichmightcausetheslowrippling.HelookedatthesilentAllanon and was shocked to see a strange glow radiating from his dark,forbiddingface.Thetallwandererseemedmomentarilylostinhisthoughtsashegazeddownwardatthelake,andtheValemancouldsenseapeculiarwistfulnessabouttheman’sunbrokenstudyoftheslowlychurningwaters.“ThisistheValleyofShale,thedoorsteptotheHallofKingsandthehomeof

thespiritsoftheages.”Thedeepvoicerolledsuddenlyoutofthedepthsofthegreatchest.“ThelakeistheHadeshorn—itswatersaredeathtomortals.Walkwithmetothefloorofthevalley,andthenImustgoonalone.”Withoutwaitingforaresponse,hestartedslowlydowntheslopeofthevalley,

steppingsurefootedlythroughthelooserock,hisgazefixedonthelake,beyond.Theothers followed inmystified silence, sensing that thiswas going to be animportant moment for them all, that here more than anywhere else in all thelands,Allanonwasking.Withoutbeingabletoexplainwhy,Sheaknewthatthehistorian, the wanderer, the philosopher, and the mystic, the man who hadbrought them through countless dangers on a wild gamble that only he fullyunderstood, themysteriousmantheyknewasAllanon,hadat lastcomehome.

Momentslater,whentheystoodtogetherontheflooroftheValleyofShale,heturnedtothemagain.“Youwillwaitformehere.Nomatterwhathappensnext,youwillnotfollow

me.YouwillnotmovefromthisspotuntilIhavefinished.WhereIgo,thereisonlydeath.”They stood rooted in place as hemoved away from them across the rocky

floortowardthemysteriouslake.Theywatchedhistall,blackformwalksteadilyaheadwithout variation in either speed or direction, the great cloak billowingslightly.SheashotaquickglanceatFlick,whosetensefacerevealedhisfearofwhatwouldhappennext.ForasplitsecondSheaconsideredgettingoutofthere,butrealizedimmediatelywhatafoolhardydecisionthatwouldbe.Instinctivelyhe clutched his tunic, feeling the reassuring bulk of the small pouch thatcontained the Elfstones. Their presence made him feel safer, even though hedoubtedthattheywouldbeofmuchuseagainstanythingthatAllanoncouldnothandle. He glanced anxiously at the others as they watched the diminishingfigure, then turning back, saw that Allanon had reached the edge of theHadeshorn, where he was apparently awaiting something. A deathly silenceseemedtogriptheentirevalley.Thefourwaited,theireyeslockedonthedarkfigurewhostoodmotionlessatthewater’sedge.Slowly, the tall wanderer raised his black-caped arms to the, sky and the

amazed men saw the lake begin to stir rapidly and then churn in deepdissatisfaction. The valley shuddered heavily, as if some form of hidden,sleepinglifehadbeenawakened.Theterrifiedmortalslookedaboutindisbelief,fearing they were about to be swallowed by the rock-strewn maw of somenightmare disguised as the valley. Allanon stood firm at the shoreline as thewaterbegantoboilfiercelyatitscenter,aspraymistrisingtowardthedarkenedheavens with a sharp hiss of relief at its newfound freedom from the depths.From out of the night air came the sound of low moaning, the cries ofimprisonedsouls,theirsleepdisturbedbythemanattheedgeoftheHadeshorn.Thevoices, less thanhumanandchillwithdeath,cut through the rawedgeofsanityofthefourwhoshiveredandwatchedatthevalley’sedge,strainingtheirfrightenedmindsand twistingwithunmercifulcrueltyuntil it seemed the littlecouragethatremainedmustsurelybewrestedfromthem,leavingthemstrippedcompletelyofalldefenses.Unabletomove,tospeak,eventothink,theystoodfrozeninterrorasthesoundsofthespiritworldreacheduptothemandpassedthrough their minds, warning of the things that lay beyond this life and theirunderstanding,

In themidst of the chilling cries,with a low rumble that sounded from theheart of the earth, the Hadeshorn opened at its center in the manner of athrashingwhirlpoolandfromoutofitsmurkywatersrosetheshroudofanoldman,bowedwithage.Thefigurerosetofullheightandappearedtostandonthewaters themselves, the tall, thin body a transparent gray of ghostlike hue thatshimmered like the lake beneath it. Flick turned completely white. Theappearanceofthisfinalhorroronlyconfirmedhisbeliefthattheirlastmomentsonearthwereathand.Allanonstoodmotionlessattheedgeofthelake,hisleanarmslowerednow,theblackcloakwrappedcloselyabouthisstatuesquefigure,hisface turnedtoward theshadewhichstoodbeforehim.Theyappeared tobeconversing, but the four onlookers could hear nothing beyond the continual,maddeningsoundoftheinhumancriesthatrosepiercinglyoutofthenighteachtime the figure from the Hadeshorn gestured. The conversation, whatever itsnature,lastednomorethanafewbriefminutes,endingwhenthewraithturnedtoward themsuddenly, raised its tatteredskeletalarm,andpointed.Shea feltachillslicethroughhisunprotectedbodythatseemedtocuttothebones,andheknew that for a brief second he had been touched by death. Then the shadeturnedawayand,withafinalgestureoffarewell toAllanon,sankslowlybackinto the darkwaters of theHadeshorn andwas gone.As he disappeared fromview, thewaters again churned sluggishly, and themoans and cries reached anewpitchbeforedyingoutinalowwailofanguish.Thenthelakewassmoothandcalmandthemenwerealone.As sunrise broke on the eastern horizon, the tall, black figure on the lake’s

edgeseemedtoswayslightlyandthencrumpletotheground.Forasecondthefourmenwatching hesitated, then dashed across the valley floor toward theirfallen leader, slippingandstumblingon the loose rock.Theyreachedhiminamatterofsecondsandbentcautiouslyoverhim,uncertainwhattheyshoulddo.Finally,Durinreacheddownandshookthestillformgingerly,callinghisname.Shea rubbed the great hands, finding the skin ice-cold to his touch andalarminglypale.ButtheirfearswererelievedwhenafterafewminutesAllanonstirredslightlyandthedeep-seteyesopenedoncemore.Hestaredatthemforafewseconds,andthensatupslowlyastheycrouchedanxiouslynexttohim.“The strainmust have been too great,” hemuttered to himself, rubbing his

forehead.“BlackedoutafterIlostcontact.I’llbefineinamoment.”“Whowasthatcreature?”Flickaskedquickly,afraidthatitmightreappearat

anymoment.Allanonseemedtoreflectonhisquestion,staringintospaceashisdarkface

twistedinanguishandthenrelaxedsoftly.“A lost soul, a being forgotten by this world and its people,” he declared

sadly.“Hehasdoomedhimselftoanexistenceofhalf-lifethatmaynotendforalleternity.”“Idon’tunderstand,”Sheasaid.“It’snot important rightnow.”Allanonbrushed thequestionasideabruptly.

“Thatsadfigure towhomI justspoke is theShadeofBremen, theDruidwhooncefoughtagainsttheWarlockLord.IspoketohimoftheSwordofShannara,of our trip toParanor, andof the, destinyof this company. I could learn littlefromhim,anindicationthatourfortunesarenottobedecidedintheverynearfuture,butthatthefateofusallwillbedecidedindaysstillfaraway—thatis,allbutone.”“Whatdoyoumean?”Sheademandedhesitantly.Allanon climbedwearily to his feet, gazed about the valley silently as if to

assurehimselfthattheencounterwiththeghostofBremenwasended,andthenturnedbacktotheanxiousfaceswaitingonhim.“Thereisnoeasywaytosaythis,butyou’vecomethisfar,almosttotheend

ofthequest.Youhaveearnedtherighttoknow.TheShadeofBremenmadetwoprophesiesonthedestinyofthiscompanywhenIcalledhimupfromthelimboworld towhich he is confined.Hepromised thatwithin twodawnswewouldbehold the Sword of Shannara. But he also foresaw that one member of ourcompanywouldnotreachthefarsideoftheDragon’sTeeth.Yethewillbethefirsttolayhandsuponthesacredblade.”“I still don’t understand,” Shea admitted after amoment’s thought. “We’ve

alreadylostHendel.Hemusthavebeenspeakingofhiminsomeway.”“No,youarewrong,myyoungfriend.”Allanonsighedsoftly.“Uponmaking

thelastpartoftheprophesy,theshadepointedtothefourofyoustandingattheedgeofthevalley.OneofyouwillnotreachParanor!”Menion Leah crouched silently in the cover of the boulders along the path

leading upward to theValley of Shale,waiting expectantly for themysteriousbeingwho had been trailing them into theDragon’s Teeth.Across from him,hidden in theblacknessof theshadows,was thePrinceofCallahorn,hisgreatswordbalancedbladedownwardintherocks,onebighandrestinglightlyonthepommel.Meniongrippedhisownweaponandpeeredintothedarkness.Nothingwasmoving.Hecouldseeforonlyaboutfifteenyardsbeforeanabrupttwistinthe trail concealed the remainder of the pathway behind a cluster of massiveboulders.Theyhadbeenwaiting forat leasthalfanhourandstillnothinghad

appeared, despite Durin’s assurance that something was following. MenionwonderedforamomentifperhapsthecreaturewhohadbeentrailingthemwasoneoftheemissariesoftheWarlockLord.ASkullBearercouldtaketotheairandgetbehindthemtoreachtheothers.Theideastartledhim,andhewasabouttosignalBalinorwhenasuddennoiseonthetrailbelowcaughthisattention.Heimmediatelyflattenedhimselfagainsttherocks.The sound of someone picking his way up the twisting pathway, threading

slowlyamongthegreatbouldersinthedimlightoftheapproachingdawn,wasclearlyaudible.Whoeverorwhateveritwas,heapparentlydidnotsuspecttheywerehiddenabove,orworse,didnotcare,becausehewasmakingnoefforttomaskhisapproach.Scantsecondslater,adimformappearedonthepathwayjustbelowtheirhidingplace.Menionriskedaquickglanceandforonebriefsecondthe squat shape and shuffling gait of the figure approaching reminded him ofHendel.Hegripped the swordofLeah inanticipationandwaited.Theplanofattack was simple. He would leap in front of the intruder, barring his pathforward.Inthesamemoment,Balinorwouldcutoffhisretreat.With a lightning-quick spring, the highlander shot out of the rocks to stand

face to facewith themysterious intruder, his sword held poised as he gave asharpcommandtohalt.Thefigurebeforehimwent intoa lowcrouchandonepowerful arm came up slightly to reveal a huge, iron-headed mace, glintingdully. One second later, as the eyes of the combatants came to rest on oneanother, the arms dropped in shocked recognition, and a cry of surprise burstfromthelipsofthePrinceofLeah.“Hendel!”Balinorcameoutoftheshadowstotherearofthenewcomerintimetoseean

elatedMenion leap into theairwithawildshoutandchargedowntoembracethe smaller, stockier figure with unrestrained joy. The Prince of Callahornsheathedthegreatswordinrelief,smilingandshakinghisheadinwonderatthesight of the ecstatic highlander and the struggling, muttering Dwarf they hadpresumed dead. For the first time since they had escaped through the Pass ofJadefromtheWolfsktaag,hefeltthatsuccesswaswithintheirgraspandthatthecompanywouldsurelystandtogetheratParanorbeforetheSwordofShannara.

ChapterFourteen

DawnhungabovethesweepingridgesandpeaksoftheDragon’sTeethwithacold,graydetermination thatwasneithercheerfulnorwelcome.Thewarmthandbrightnessoftherisingsunwasentirelyscreenedawaybylowcloudbanksandheavymistthatsettledintotheominousheightsanddidnotstir.Thewindsblewwith vicious force over the barren rocks,whipping through canyons andcraggy drops, across slopes and ridges, cutting into the scant vegetation andbending it close to the point of breaking, yet slipping through themixture ofcloudsandmistwithelusivequickness, leaving itunexplainablyand strangelymotionless.Thesoundofthewindwaslikethedeeproaroftheoceanbreakingonanopenbeach,heavyand rolling,blanketing theemptypeaks inapeculiardrone that,whenonehadbeenenveloped forawhile,created itsown levelofsilence. Birds rose and fell with the wind, their cries scattered and muffled.There were few animals at this height isolated, herds of a particularly toughbreed of mountain goat and small, furry mice that inhabited the innermostrecesses of the rocks. The airwasmore than chill; itwas bitterly cold. SnowcoveredtheupperreachesoftheDragon’sTeeth,andchangesintheseasonshadlittleeffectatthisaltitudeonatemperaturethatseldomreachedthirtydegrees.Theseweretreacherousmountains,vast,toweringandincrediblymassive.On

thismorningtheyseemedshroudedwithastrangeexpectancy,andtheeightmenwhocomprisedthelittlecompanyfromCulhavencouldnotignorethefeelingofuneasiness thatpreoccupied their thoughtsas they trudgeddeeper into thecoldand thegray. Itwasmore than thedisturbingprophecyofBremenoreven theknowledge that theywouldsoonattempt topass through the forbiddenHallofKings. Something was waiting for them, something that had patience andcunning, a life force that lay hidden in the barren, rocky terrain they werepassing through, filled with vindictive hatred of them, watching as theystruggleddeeperintothegiantmountainsthatshutawaytheancientkingdomofParanor.They trudgednorthward ina ragged line,strungoutagainst themistyskyline,theirbodieswrappedtightlyinwoolencloaksforprotectionagainstthecold, their faces bent before the wind. The slopes and canyons were coveredwith loose rock and split by hidden crevices thatmade the footing extremelyhazardous.Morethanonce,amemberofthelittlebandwentdowninashoweroflooserockanddirt.Butstillthethingconcealedinthelandchosenottoshow

itself,contentmerely to let itspresencebeknownand towait for theeffectofthat knowledge to wear away at the resistance of the eight men. The hunterswouldthenbecomethehunted.Itdidnot takelong.Doubtsbegantognawquietly,persistentlyat their tired

minds — doubts that rose phantomlike from the fears and secrets the menconcealeddeepwithin.Lockedawayfromeachotherbythecoldandtheroaroftherisingwind,eachmanwascutofffromhiscompanions,andtheinabilitytocommunicate onlyheightened thegrowing feelingof uneasiness.OnlyHendelwasimmune.His taciturn,solitarynaturehadhardenedhimagainstself-doubt,andhisharrowingescape from themaddenedGnomes in thePassof Jadehaddrained him at least temporarily of any fear of death. He had come close todying, so close that in the end only instinct had saved him. TheGnomes hadcomeathimfromeverydirection,swarminguptheslopeinrecklessdisregard,enragedtothepointwhereonlybloodshedwouldquiettheirhatred.Hehadbeenquick,slippingbackintothefringesoftheWolfsktaag,motionlessinthebrush,coolly letting the Gnomes overextend themselves until one had come withinreach. It had taken only seconds to stun the unsuspecting hunter, to cloak hiscaptive inhis owndistinctiveDwarf habit, and thenyell for assistance. In thedarkness, flushedwith the excitementof thehunt, theGnomeswereunable torecognize anything except the cloak. They tore their own brother to pieceswithoutrealizingit.Hendelhadstayedhiddenandslippedthroughthepassthefollowingday.Hehadsurvivedonceagain.The Valemen and the Elves did not possess Hendel’s strong sense of self-

reliance. The prophecy of the Shade of Bremen had left them stunned. Thewordsseemed to repeat themselvesoverandover in thehowlof themountainwinds.Oneofthemwasgoingtodie.Oh,thewordsoftheprophecyhadphrasedit differently than that, but the implication was unmistakable. It was a bitterprospecttoface,andnoneofthemcouldreallyacceptit.Somehowtheywouldfindawaytoprovethepredictionwrong.Farinthelead,hisgreatframebentagainstthedrivingforceofthemountain

winds,AllanonwasmullingovertheeventsthathadtranspiredintheValleyofShale.Heconsideredfor thehundredth timehisstrangeconfrontationwith theShadeofBremen,theagedDruiddoomedtowanderinlimbountiltheWarlockLordwasfinallydestroyed.Yet itwasnot theappearanceof thedrivenwraiththat so disturbed him now. It was the terrible knowledge which he carried,burieddeepamonghisblackesttruths.Hisfootstruckaprojectingrock,causinghim to stumble slightly, and he fought to keep his balance.Awheeling hawk

screamed shrilly in the grayness and shot down out of the sky over a distantridge.TheDruidturnedslightlyasthethinlinefollowingstruggledtokeeppace.HehadlearnedmorefromtheShadethanthewordsoftheprophecy.Buthehadnottoldtheothers,thosewhohadtrustedhim,thewholetruth,justashehadnottold,themthewholestorybehindthelegendarySwordofShannara.Hisdeep-seteyesblazedwithinnerfuryatthepredicamentinwhichhehadplacedhimselfinnot telling them everything, and for a moment he even considered doing so.Theyhadgivensomuchofthemselves,andthegivinghadonlybegun...Butamoment later,hewrenched the idea fromhis thoughts.Necessitywasahighergodthantruth.The grayness of dawn passed slowly into the grayness of midday, and the

march into the Dragon’s Teeth wore on. The ridges and slopes appeared andfadedwith a dreary sameness that created the impression in theminds of thelaboringtravelersthatnoprogresswasbeingmade.Ahead,avast,toweringlineof peaks rose bleakly against themisty northern horizon, and it appeared thattheyweremovingdirectlyintoawallofimpenetrablestone.Thentheyenteredabroadcanyonwhichwoundsharplydownwardintoanarrow,twistingpaththatbrokebetweentwohugecliffsandfadedintotheheavymist.Allanonledtheminto the swirling grayness as the horizon disappeared and the wind died intostillness. The silence was abrupt and unexpected, sounding almost like a softwhisperthroughthetoweringmassofrock,speakinginhushed,cautiouswordsintheearsofthegropingtravelers.Thenthepasswidenedslightlyandthemistcleared to a faint haze, revealing a high, cavernous opening in the cliff facewherethewindingpassageended.TheentrancetotheHallofKings.Itwasawesome,majestic,frightening.Oneithersideoftherectangularblack

entrywaystoodtwomonstrousstonestatuescarvedintotherockandrisingwellover a hundred feet against the dark cliff face. The stone sentries had beenfashioned in the shapeofarmor-cladwarriors, standingwatchfully in thedeepgloom, hands gripping the pommels of huge swords which rested bladedownwardattheirfeet.Theirweathered,beardedfaceswerescarredbytimeandthewind,yettheeyesseemedalmostalive,fixedcarefullyontheeightmortalswho stood at the threshold of the ancient hall they guarded. Above the greatentryway, scrolled into the rock, three words of a language centuries old andlong forgotten servedasawarning to thosewhowouldenter that thiswas thetombofthedead.Beyondthevastopening,allwasblacknessandsilence.Allanongatheredthemcloselyaroundhim.

“Years ago,before theFirstWarof theRaces, a cult ofmenwhoseoriginshave been lost in time, served as priests for the gods of death.Within thesecaverns, they buried themonarchs of the four lands alongwith their families,servants, favorite possessions andmuch of theirwealth. The legend grew thatonly the dead could survivewithin these chambers, and only the priestswerepermittedtoseethatthedeadrulerswereinterred.Allotherswhoenteredwereneverseenagain.In time, thecultdiedout,but theevil instilled in theHallofKings continued to exist, blindly to serve the priests whose bones had yearsbeforereturnedtotheearth.Fewmenhaveeverpassed...”Hecaughthimself,seeingintheeyesofhislistenerstheunaskedquestion.“IhavebeenthroughtheHallofKings—Ialonefromthisage,andnowyou.

IamaDruid,thelasttowalkthisearth.LikeBremen,likeBronabeforehim,Ihavestudiedtheblackarts,andIamasorcerer.IdonotpossessthepoweroftheDarkLord—butIcangetussafelythroughthesecavernstotheothersideoftheDragon’sTeeth.”“Andthen?”Balinor’squestioncamesoftlyoutofthemist.“Anarrowcliff-trailmencalltheDragon’sCreaseleadsdownwardoutofthe

mountains.Oncethere,wewillbewithinsightofParanor.”Therewasa long,awkwardsilence.Allanonknewwhat theywere thinking;

disregardingit,hecontinued.“Beyondthisentrance,thereareanumberofpassagesandchambers,amaze

toonewhodoesnotknowtheway.Someofthesearedangerous,somearenot.Soonafterweenter,wewillreachthetunneloftheSphinxes,giantstatueslikethesesentries,butcarvedashalfman,halfbeast.Ifyoulookintotheireyes,youwill be turned to stone instantly. So youmust be blindfolded. In addition youwillberopedtooneanother.Youmustconcentrateonme,thinkonlyofme,fortheirwill, theirmentalcommand, is strongenough to forceyou to tearoff theblindfoldsandgazeintotheireyes.”Thesevenmenlookedatoneanotherdoubtfully.Alreadytheywerebeginning

toquestionthesoundnessofthiswholeapproach.“Oncepast theSphinxes, there are several harmless passages leading to the

Corridor of theWinds, a tunnel inhabited by invisible beings calledBansheesafterthelegendaryastralspirits.Theyarenomorethanvoices,butthosevoiceswilldrivemortalmeninsane.Yourearswillbeboundforprotection,butagaintheimportant thingforyoutodois toconcentrateonme, letmymindblanketyourstopreventitfromreceivingthefullforceofthosevoices.Youmustrelax;donotfightme.Doyouunderstand?”

Hecountedsevenbarelyperceptiblenods.“Once beyond the Corridor of the Winds, we will be in the Tomb of the

Kings.Thentherewillbeonlyonemoreobstacle...”He stopped talking, his eyes turned warily to the cavern entrance. For a

moment it seemedhemight finish the sentence,but insteadhemotioned themtoward the dark entryway. They stood uneasily between the stone giants, thegrayingmistcloudingthehighcliffwallssurroundingthem,theblack,yawningopening before themwaiting like the openmaw of some great beast of prey.Allanon produced a number of wide cloth strips and gave one to each man.Utilizingaheavylengthofclimbingrope, thelittlegroupboundthemselves toone another, the surefooted Durin taking the lead position, the Prince ofCallahornagainassuminghispost as rearguard.Theblindfoldswere securelyfastened inplace andhandswere joined to forma chain.Amoment later, thelinemovedcautiouslythroughtheentrancetotheHallofKings.Therewas a deep, hushed stillness in the caverns,magnified by the sudden

dying of the winds and the echoing of their footfalls along the rockypassageway.Thetunnelfloorwasstrangelysmoothandlevel,butthecoldthathad settled into the aged stone fromcenturiesof constant temperatures seepedquickly through their tensed bodies and left them chill and shaking. No onespoke,eachmantryingtorelaxasAllanonledthemcarefullythroughaseriesofgentlywinding turns. In themiddleof thegroping line,Shea feltFlick’shandgrip his own tightly in the blackness that surrounded them. They had drawncloser to each other since their flight from the Vale, bound now by ties ofexperiencessharedmorethanbykinship.Whateverhappenedtothem,Sheafeltthey would never lose that closeness. Nor would he forget whatMenion haddone for him. He thought about the Prince of Leah for a moment and foundhimselfsmiling.Thehighlanderhadchangedsomuchduringthepastfewdaysthathewasalmostadifferentperson.TheoldMenionwasstillinevidence,buttherewasanewdimensiontohimthatSheafounddifficulttodefine.Butthenallofthem,Menion,Flickandhimself,hadchangedinlittlewaysthatcouldnotbereadilydetecteduntileachmanwasconsideredasawhole.Hewondered ifAllanonhadseen thechanges inhim—Allanon,whohadalways treatedhimsomehowaslessthanaman,moreaboy.They came to an unsteady halt, and in the deep silence that followed the

commanding voice of the Druid leader whispered soundlessly in the mind ofeachman:Remembermywarning,letyourthoughtsturntome,concentrateonlyonme.Then the linemoved forward, thebooted feet echoinghollowlyon the

cavern floor. Immediately the blindfolded men could sense the presence ofsomething waiting ahead of them, watching silently, patiently. The secondsflitted away as the companymoved deeper into the cavern. Themen becameawareofhuge,stillformsrisinguponeitherside—imagescarvedofstonewithfaces that were human, but attached to the crouched bodies of indescribablebeasts.TheSphinxes.Intheirmindsthemencouldseethoseeyes,burningpastthe fading image of Allanon, and they began to feel the strain of trying toconcentrateonthegiantDruid.Theinsistentwillofthestonemonsterspushedinto their brains, weaving and tangling into their scattered thoughts, workingtenaciouslytowardthemomentwhenhumaneyeswouldmeettheirownlifelessgazerEachmanbegantofeelarapidlygrowingurgetoripawaytherestrainingclothwhichshackledhissight,tostripawaythedarknessandgazefreelyonthewondrouscreaturesstaringsilentlydownonhim.ButjustwhenitseemedthattheprobingwhisperoftheSphinxesmustatlast

break through the waning resolve of the beleaguered men and draw theirthoughts completely away from the fading image ofAllanon, his iron thoughtcut through to themwith thesharpnessofaknife,soundlesslycalling to them.Thinkonlyofme.Theirmindsobeyedinstinctively,wrenchingfreeofthealmostoverpowering urge to gaze upward into thewatching stone faces. The strangebattleworeonwithoutrespiteasthelineofmen,sweatingandbreathingharshlyin the stillness, groped its way through the tangled maze of unseen images,bound together by the rope about their waists, the chain of tightly clenchedhands,and thecommandingvoiceofAllanon.Noone losthisgrip.TheDruidled them steadily down the row of Sphinxes, his own eyes locked onto thecavern floor, his indomitable will fighting to hold the minds of his sightlesscharges.Thenatlastthefacesofthestonecreaturesbegantofadeandfallaway,leavingthemortalsaloneinthesilenceanddarkness.Theykeptmoving,windingthroughalongseriesoftwistingpassages.Then

onceagainthelinestopped,andAllanon’slowvoicecutthroughtheblackness,ordering them to remove, the blindfolds. They did so hesitantly and foundthemselvesinanarrowtunnelwheretheroughstonegaveoffapeculiargreenishlight.Theirdrawnfacesbathedinthestrangeglow,themenglancedquicklyatoneanothertoreassurethemselvesthattheywereallpresent.Thedarkfigureofthe Druid passed noiselessly down the line, testing the rope that bound theirwaistsandwarningthemthattheCorridoroftheWindsstilllayahead.StuffingbitsofclothintheirearsandbindingthemwiththeloosenedblindfoldstomaskthesoundsoftheinvisiblebeingsAllanonhadnamedBanshees,themenjoined

handsoncemore.Thelinewoundslowlythroughthefaintgreenlightofthenarrowtunnel,their

footsteps barely perceptible to their tightly covered ears. This section of thecaverns ran formore than amile, then faded abruptly as the passagewidenedandgrew into a towering corridor thatwas totallyblack.The rockwalls drewaway and the ceiling rose until both had disappeared altogether, leaving thecompany alone in a strange limbo of darknesswhere only the smooth cavernfloorofferedanyreassurance that theearthhadnotdissolvedentirely.Allanonledthemintotheblackness,showingnosignsofhesitancy.Then abruptly, the sound began. Its incredible fury caught them completely

unprepared, and for a moment there was panic. The initial shock grew to anenormousroarlikethesoundofathousandwindscombinedinfuryandbitingforce. But beneath this was the horrifying cry of souls screaming in anguish,voices scraping and twisting their tortured way through all the imaginablehorrors of inhumanity in utter despair of any hope for salvation. The roarclimbed to a shriek, reaching a pitch so far beyond the comprehension of themortals’stunnedmindsthattheirsanitybegantobreakapart.Theterriblesoundswashed over them, mirroring their own growing despair, driving relentlesslyinward and stripping away the tattered nerve ends like layers of skin until theverybonewaslaidbare.Ithadtakenonlyaninstant.Inanotherinstant,theywouldhavebeenlost.But

for thesecondtimethehopelesslynumbedhumansweresaved, this timefromcomplete madness, as the powerful will of Allanon broke through the crazedsound to cloak them with protective reassurance. The screams and the roarseemedtolessenandfadeintoastrangebuzzingasthegrim,darkfaceprojecteditself into the seven feverish minds and the iron thoughts spoke soothingly,commandingly:Let your minds relax— think only of me. Themen stumbledmechanically through theheavydarknessof the tunnel, theirmindsgropingatthesafetylineofcoherenceandcalmthattheDruidheldouttothem.Thewallsofthecorridorreverberatedwiththestillaudibleshrieks,andthemassivestoneof thecavernrumbledfrighteningly.Onefinal timethevoicesof theBansheesroseinfeverishpitch,screechingviolentlyinadesperateefforttobreakthroughthesubconsciouswallerectedbytheDruid’spowerfulmind,butthewallwouldnot yield and the power of the voices spent itself and faded into a deathlywhisper.Amomentlater,thepassagewaynarrowedoncemore,andthecompanywasclearoftheCorridoroftheWinds.Visibly shaken, their faces streaked with sweat, the men stood dumbly as

Allanon brought the line to a halt. Shaking their scattered thoughts into somesemblance of order, they removed the rope about their waists and the clothbinding their ears. They were in a small cave, facing toward two huge stonedoors laced by iron bindings. The rock walls around them emitted the samepeculiar greenish light. Allanon waited patiently until everyone had fullyrecovered, then beckoned them forward. He paused before the stone portals.Withonlyaslightshovefromthe leanhand, themassivedoorsswungsilentlyopen.TheDruid’sdeepvoicewasonlyawhisperinthestillness.“TheHallofKings.”Foroverathousandyears,nonebutAllanonhadenteredtheforbiddentomb.

All that time it had remained otherwise undisturbed— a mammoth, circularcavern, thegreatwallssmoothandpolished, theceilingshimmeringinagreenglow similar to that reflected by the tunnels they had already passed through.Along the circular wall of the giant rotunda, standing with the same prouddefiance theypresumablyhad exhibited in life,were stone statuesof thedeadrulers, each facing toward the center of the chamber and the strange altar thatroseupward in the shapeofacoiled serpent.Beforeeachstatuewaspiled thewealth of the dead, casks and trunks of precious metals and jewels, furs,weapons,all thefavoritepossessionsofthedeceased.Inthewallsimmediatelybehind each statue were the sealed, rectangular openings in which rested theremains of the dead—kings, their families, their servants. Inscriptions abovethe sealed crypts gave the history of the rulers interred there, frequently inlanguages unfamiliar to any of the wonderingmembers of the company. Theentirechamberwasbathedinthedeepgreenlight.Themetalandstoneseemedtoabsorbthecolor.Dustcoveredeverything,adeeprockpowderthathadsettledover the centuries and now rose in small clouds as the footsteps of the mendisturbeditslongrest.Foroverathousandyears,noonehadviolatedthepeaceofthisancientchamber.Noonehadtamperedwithitssecretsnorattemptedtounlock the doors that guarded the dead and their possessions. No one butAllanon.Andnow...Sheashiveredviolently,unexplainably.Heshouldn’tbehere;hecouldfeela

small,distantvoice tellinghimheshouldn’tbehere. Itwasn’t that theHallofKings was sacred or forbidden. But it was a tomb— it was a tomb for theancientdead.Itwasnoplacefortheliving.Somethinggrippedhim,andwithastartherealizeditwasAllanon’shandtouchinghisshoulder.TheDruidfrowneddarkly at him, then called softly to the others. They huddled silently in thegreenishlightasheaddressedtheminhushedtones.

“ThroughthosedoorsatthefarendoftheHallistheAssembly.”Hedirectedtheirgazetotheotherendoftherotundawhereasecondsetofhugestonedoorsstoodclosed.“Awidesetofstonestairsleadsdownwardtoalongpoolfedbyaspringsomewheredeepbeneaththemountain.Atthefootofthestairs,directlybeforethepool,standsthePyreoftheDead,wherethemonarchsburiedherelayin state for a certain number of days, depending on their rank and wealth,presumably so that their souls could escape to the life beyond.Wemust passthrough thatchamber inorder to reach thepassageway thatwill takeus to theDragon’sCreaseontheothersideofthemountains.”Hepausedandbreatheddeeply.“WhenItraveledthroughthesecavernsbefore,Iwasabletohidemyselffrom

theeyesofthecreaturesputheretodestroyintruders.Icannotdothisforyou.There issomething in theAssembly,somethingwhosepowermayprove tobegreaterthanmyown.Thoughitcouldnotsensemypresence,Iwasconsciousofithiddenbeneaththedeepwatersofthepool.Belowthestairs,toeithersideofthepool,arenarrowwalkwaysleadingtotheotherendofthechamberandtheopeningtothepassagesbeyond.Thesewalkwaysaretheonlywaypastthepool.WhateveritisthatguardsthePyreoftheDeadwillstrikeatusthere.Whenwegetintotheroom,Balinor,Menion,andIwillmoveontothewalkwaytotheleft.Thatshoulddrawthecreatureoutfromhishidingplace.Whenweareattacked,Hendelwilltaketherestofyoualongtherightwalkwaythroughtheopeningatthe far end. Don’t stop until you reach the Dragon’s Crease. Do youunderstand?”Theynoddedslowly.Sheafeltstrangelytrapped,buttherewasnothingtobe

gainedbytalkingaboutitnow.Allanonstraightenedtohisfullseven-footheightand grinned menacingly, his strong teeth gleaming. The little Valeman felt achillrunthroughhimthatmadehimgladtentimesoverhewasnottheenemyofthe mystic. In one effortless motion, Balinor drew forth his great sword, themetalbladeringingsharplyasitclearedthesheath.Hendelwasalreadymovingacross the Hall, the heavy mace held tightly in one hand. Menion started tofollow,thenhesitated,gazingdoubtfullyonthestoresoftreasureheapedaboutthe tombs.Would ithurt to takea few?TheValemenandElvesweremovingafterHendelandBalinor.Allanonstoodwatchingthehighlander,hislongarmsfolded into the black cloak. Menion turned and looked questioningly at themystic.“Iwouldn’t if Iwereyou,” theotherwarned shortly. “It’s all coatedwith a

substancepoisonoustotheskinoflivingthings.Touchitandyouwillbedeadin

lessthanaminute.”Menionstaredathimincredulouslyforamoment,shotaquickglancebackat

thetreasure,thenshookhisheadresignedly.Hewashalfwayacrossthechamberwhen,onsuddeninspiration,hewhippedouttwolongblackarrowsandwalkedovertoanopenchestofgoldpieces.Carefully,herubbedthemetaltipsintheprecious metal, making certain that his hands did not touch anything but thefeatheredends.Grinningwithperversesatisfaction,herejoinedtheothersacrossthe room.Whateverwaitedbeyond the stonedoorswasgoing to begiven theopportunity to test its resistance to this poison thatwould supposedly kill anylivingcreature. Ina tight cluster, thecompany,gatheredaroundAllanon, theirmetalweapons glinting coldly.A stillness settled over the great room, brokenonlybytheexpectantbreathingoftheeightmenhuddledaboutthecloseddoors.Shea glanced back for just amoment at theHall ofKings. The tomb seemedundisturbedsavefortheraggedtrailoffootprintsinthedustleadingacrossthechamber.Adeephazeofthisdusthungswirlinginthegreenishlight,stirredbythe intruders’ footsteps,butsettlingslowlyback to theancientcavernfloor. Intime,all evidenceof theirpassingwouldbeerasedas the trackswerecoveredoverentirely.AtAllanon’s touch, the stone portals swung open and the companymoved

noiselessly into theAssembly.Theywereon a highplatform that ran forwardinto awide alcove and then descended in a series of broad stairs. The cavernbeyond was enormous, a vast, towering cave that still exhibited the full,unalteredsplendorofitsrough,naturalcreationbynature’scarefulhands.Fromthe high ceiling hung jagged stalactites, stone icicles formed by water andmineraldepositsoverthousandsofyears.Beneaththesesculpturedstonespearslay a long, rectangular pool of deep green water, the surface smooth andglasslike.Whena singledropofwater fellheavily fromanoverhanging stoneprojection,theplacidsurfacerippledoutwardonceandwasstill.Thewarymenmovedforwardtotheedgeoftheplatformandlookeddownonthehighstonealtarsetat thefootofthestairsbeforethepool, itsancientsurfacescarredandpockedandinplacesalmostcrumbling.Thecavernwasdimlylitbystreaksofphosphorescence that ran brokenly through its rocky walls, giving an eerie,fluorescentglowtotheancientchamber.Slowly the men moved down the stairway, their eyes picking out a single

wordinscribedinthestonesurfaceofthealtar.Afewknewitsmeaning.Valg—aword taken from the ancientGnome tongue. ItmeantDeath.Their footstepsreverberated in muffled echoes through the vast cavern. Nothing moved.

Everythingwas shrouded in age and silence.On reaching the foot of the longstairway, they hesitated for a second, eyes fastened on the silent pool.Impatiently, AllanonmotionedHendel and his charges to the right, thenwithMenion and Balinor following, he moved quickly onto the left walkway. Amisstepnowwouldprove fatal. Fromacross the pool, Sheawatched the threefiguresedge theirwaysilentlyalong the roughstonewall,keepingwell to therearof theopenwalkway.Therewasnomovement in theplacidwaters.Theywereaboutmidwaynow,andSheabreathedforthefirsttime.Then the still surface of the dark pool surged upward and from out of the

depths emerged anightmare.Serpentine in appearance, the loathsomemonsterseemedtofillthecavern,itsslime-coveredbulkraisingskyward,shatteringtheancientstalactites.ItsshriekoffuryboomedthroughtheAssembly.Themassivebodytwistedandflexedasitrearedoutofthewater.Longfrontlegstippedwithdeadlyhookedclawsclutchedtheemptyair,andthegreatjawsclashedsharply,grinding together the blackened, pointed teeth that lined the edges. Thewide,staringeyesburnedredamidaclusterofbumpsandstuntedhornsthatcoveredthemisshapenhead.Theentirebulkofthecreaturewascoveredwithareptilianskin that dripped with scum and waste that must have been carried from thenetherworld’sblackestpits.Themouthoozedvenomthatfellintothewaterandrosewithfainttracesofsteam.Themonstrousthingglaredatthethreehumanson the walkway and hissed with unbridled hatred. Jaws wide, screeching inanticipationofthekill,itattacked.Everyonereactedinstantly.MenionLeah’sgreatashbowsoundedinstaccato

pings as the poisoned arrows flew with deadly accuracy, burying themselvesdeeply within the unprotected inner flesh of the serpent’s gapingmouth. Thecreaturerearedbackinpain,andBalinorquicklyseizedtheinitiative.Movingtotheedgeofthewalkway,thegiantbordermanstruckpowerfullyattheexposedforearmofthemonster.Buttohisshock,thegreatswordonlybarelyscratchedthe scaly hide, glancing off the heavy coating of slime. The second forearmmade a quick swipe at the attacker,missing by inches as the intended victimdove toone side.On theoppositewalkway,Hendelmade a rush for theopenpassageatthefarendofthepool,shovingtheValemenandtheElvenbrothersbeforehim.Butoneofthemtriggeredahiddenrelease,andaheavystoneslabcollapsed in the opening, sealing off the escape route. In desperation, Hendelthrewhispowerfulbodyagainstthestonebarricade,butitrefusedtobudge.Theserpenthadbeenattractedbythesoundofthefallingstone.Turningaway

fromitsbattlewithMenionandBalinor,itmovedeagerlytowardthesesmaller

foes.Thatwouldhavebeenthefinishifnotforthequickreactionsofthebattle-hardened Dwarf. Forgetting the stone slab and disregarding his own safetyentirely,Hendelchargedatthehugemonsterbearingdownonhimanddrovetheheavy ironmacedirectly into theclosestburningeye.Theweaponstruckwithsuch force that it smashed the glowing orb. The serpent reared upward inexcruciatingpain, crashingheavily into the jagged stalactites as itwhipped itsbulk from side to side. Deadly rock fragments showered the entire chamber.Flickwentdownwithasharpblowtothehead.Attheedgeofthepool,Hendelwas buried under a cascade of crumbling stone and laymotionless. The otherthree fell back against the blocked entryway as the massive attacker loomedabovethem.AtlastAllanonjoinedtheunequalbattle.Raisingbotharms,heextendedhis

leanhands,andhisfingersseemedtolightuplikesmallglowingballs.Streaksof blinding, blue flame shot out of the tips and struck the head of the ragingcreature. The force of this new attack completely stunned the unpreparedserpent,who thrashedwildly above theboilingwater of thepool, shrieking inpainandfury.Movingquicklyaheadonthewalkway,theDruidstruckasecondtime, theblueflamesflashingagainst theheadoftheenragedbeast, twistingitcompletely around. This second strike threw the great scaled body backwardagainst the cavernwall where, thrashing in an uncontrollable frenzy, it jarredloose the stone slab that blocked the passageway out. Shea and the Elvenbrothers had barelymanaged to drag the unconscious Flick out of theway intimetoavoidbeingcrushedbythemassivebody.Theyheardthestoneslabdropforwardwithanaudiblethudand,spyingtheopenpassage,yelledwildlytotheother fighters. Balinor had reattacked the writhing monster as it again camewithinreach,strikingvainlyfortheheadasitswungdownathim,stillstunnedbytheforceofAllanon’sbolts.Allanonhadhiseyesfixedontheserpent,andonlyMenion sawwhat the others were yelling about and waved themmadlytowardtheopening.DayelandSheapickedupthefallenFlickandcarriedhimintothetunnelbeyond.Durinstartedtofollow,but thenhesitatedashecaughtsightoftheunconsciousHendel,stillburiedbeneaththeshatteredstonerubble.Turningback,herushedto thepool’sedge,graspedtheDwarf’s limparmandvainlyattemptedtopullhimclearofthedebris.“Getout!”roaredAllanon,whohadsuddenlyspottedtheElfneartheopening.Choosing this moment of distraction, the serpent struck back. With one

mighty sweep of its clawed arm it brushed Balinor aside, knocking himwithcrushingforceagainstthechamberwall.Menionleapedinfrontofthemonster,

but itssuddenrushbowled thePrinceofLeahover,andhewasknockedfromsight.Theserpent,stillingreatpainfromitsmultiplewounds,couldthinkonlyofreachingthetallfigureintheblackrobesandcrushingthelifeoutofhim.Thebeasthadonemoreweaponinitsarsenal,andituseditnow.Thevenom-tippedjaws gaped wide at the sight of the intended victim, standing alone andunprotected,andgreatsheetsofflameshotforth,completelyencasingtheDruid.Durin,whowas inposition toseeeverythinghappeningon thewalkway,gaveanaudiblegaspofdismay.SheaandDayel,standingjustbeyondtheentrancetothe tunnel leading from the Assembly, watched in mute horror as the flamescovered the tall mystic. But a second later the fire died, and Allanon stooduntouchedbeforetheastonishedonlookers.Hishandsraisedandthebluestreaksof flameshotoutofhisextendedfingers, striking theheadof theserpentwithterrific force, sending the scaled body reeling back once again. Steam rose ingreatcloudsfromthethrashingwatersofthepool,minglinginaheavymistwiththe dust and smoke stirred by the battle until everything was obscured fromview.Then, fromoutof thehaze,BalinorappearedatDurin’s side,hiscloak torn

and shredded, the shining chain mail chipped and battered, the familiar facestreakedwith sweat andblood.Together theypulledHendel frombeneath therocks.Withonegreatarm,thePrinceofCallahornliftedthesilentformoverhisshoulder andmotionedDurin ahead of him into the passagewhereDayel andShea still lingered with the unconscious Flick. The giant borderman orderedthemtopickupthefallenValeman,andwithoutwaitingtoseeiftheyobeyed,disappeared down the darkened corridor, Hendel over one shoulder, the greatbroadswordheldtightlyinhisfreehand.TheElvenbrothersquicklydidastheyweretold,butSheahesitated,searchingworriedlyforsomesignofMenion.TheAssemblywasashambles,thelongrowsofstalactitessmashed,thewalkwaysamassofrubble,thewallscrackedandshattered,andeverythingobscuredbydustandsteamfromtheboilingpool.Toonesideofthecavern,themassiveformoftheserpentwasstillvisible,thrashinginagonyagainstthebrokenwall,itsgreatbulkawrithingmassof scalesandblood.NeitherMenionnorAllanonwas inview. But a moment later both appeared from out of the thick haze,Menionlimping slightly, but still clutching the ash bow and the sword of Leah,Allanon’sdark form tatteredand layeredwithdustandash.Withoutspeaking,theDruidwaved theValeman aheadof them, and together the three stumbledthroughthepartiallyblockedopening.What happened after was vague in everyone’s mind. Numbly, the battered

groupburnedalongthetunnel,carryingthetwowoundedandunconsciousmen.Timedraggedagonizinglyaway,thenabruptlytheywereoutside,blinkinginthebrightlightoftheafternoonsun,standingattheedgeofadangerouslysteepcliffface.Totheirright, theDragon’sCreasewounditswaydownwardtotheopenhillcountrybelow.Suddenlythewholemountainbegantorumblemenacingly,shaking in short tremors beneath their feet. With a sharp command, Allanonorderedthemdownthenarrowtrail.Balinorledtheway,carryingthestillformofHendel,MenionLeah a couple of steps behind.Durin andDayel followed,carrying Flick. Behind them came Shea and finally Allanon. The sinisterrumbling continued somewhere deep within the mountain. Slowly the littlegroupmovedalongthenarrowpathway.Thetrailwoundunevenlyamidjaggedoverhangs and sudden drops, and the men were forced to flatten themselvesagainsttheclifffaceatregularintervalstoavoidlosingtheirbalanceandfallingtotherockshundredsoffeetbelow.TheDragon’sCreasewaswellnamed.Thecontinualtwistsandturnsinthepathrequiredconcentratedskillandcautiontonavigatesuccessfully,andtherecurringtremorsmadethetaskdoublyhazardous.They had progressed only a short distance along the treacherous pathway

when a new sound became audible, a deep roar that quickly drowned out therumblingsinthemountain.Shea,lastinlinewithAllanon,wasunabletodefinethesourceoftheroaruntilhewasalmostontopofitsorigin.Roundingasharpcut in the side of the mountain, which brought him onto a ledge facingnorthward, he discovered an enormous waterfall directly across from theirpositiononthemountainside.TonsofcascadingwatercrashedwithadeafeningroarintoagreatriverhundredsoffeetbelowthatsweptbetweenthemountainrangesandpouredintoaseriesofrapidsthanraneastwardtotheRabbPlains.The mighty river swept directly below the ledge on which he stood and thenarrowtrailahead,itswhitewaterschurningandslappingagainsttheconfiningsidesof the twopeaks thathemmed it in.Shea lookedat it foramoment,andthenhastenedondownthetrailatAllanon’scommand.Therestofthecompanyhadgoneagooddistanceaheadofthemandforamomentwerelostfromviewintherocks.Shea had gone about a hundred feet past the ledge when a sudden tremor,

moreviolent than theothers, shook themountain to its core.Withoutwarningthe sectionof the trailonwhichhewas standingbrokeawayandslid steadilydownthemountainside,carryingthehaplessValemanwithit.Hegaveacryofdismay, fighting to break his fall as he saw himself sliding toward a steepoverhangwhichdroppedoffsharplyintoalong,longfalltotheragingriveron

thevalleyfloor.AllanonrushedforwardastheValemanslidwildlyinacloudofdustandrocktowardthewaitingoverhang.“Grabsomething!”roaredtheDruid.“Catchyourself!”Sheaclutchedvainly,clawingatthesheerfaceofthecliff,andjustattheedge

ofthedrop-offcaughthimselfonaprojectingrock.Helayflatagainstthenearlyvertical surface, not daring to try to climb back up, his arms nearly breakingfromtheexertion.“Hold on, Shea!”Allanon encouraged him. “I’ll get a rope.Don’tmove an

inch!”Allanon called down the trail for the others, but whether they could have

helped, Shea never discovered.As theDruid shouted for assistance, a secondtremor shook themountainand jarred loose theunfortunateValeman fromhisprecariousperch,sendinghimslidingoutbeyondtheoverhangbeforehecouldeven think tocatchhimself.Armsand legsflyingmadly,hefellheadlong intotheswiftlyflowingwatersoftheriverbelow.AllanonwatchedhelplesslyastheValemanstruckwithcrushingforce,bobbedtothesurface,andwassweptawayeastwardtowardtheplainsbeyond,tossingandturningintheboilingriverlikeasmallcorkuntilhewaslostfromsight.

ChapterFifteen

FlickOhmsford stood quietly at the foot of theDragon’s Teeth and staredintospace.Thefadingraysof the lateafternoonsuncrossedhis frameinfaintglimmers,castinghisshadowontothecoolingrocksofthegiantmountainathisback.Helistenedforamomenttothesoundsabouthim,themuffledvoicesofsomebodyfromthecompanyofftohisleft,thechirpingcriesofthebirdsintheforestahead.InhisownmindheheardShea’sdeterminedvoiceforaninstant,andherecalledhisbrother’sgreatcouragein thefaceof thecountlessdangerstheyhadencounteredtogether.NowSheawasgone,probablydead,washedoutbythatunknownrivertotheplainsontheothersideofthemountainstheyhadbattled so hard to cross through.He rubbedhis headgently, feeling the bumpand the dull pain from the blow of the rock fragment that had knocked himsenseless,preventinghimfrombeingabletohelpwhenhisbrotherhadneededhim the most. They had been ready to face death at the hands of the SkullBearers,readytoperishbytheswordsoftherovingGnomes,andevenreadytosuccumbtotheterrorsoftheHallofKings.Butforitalltobeendedbyaflukeofnatureonanarrowcliffledge,whentheyweresoclosetoescaping,wastoomuch foranyone toaccept.Flick felt suchbitinghurt inside thathewanted tocry out his bitterness. But even now, he could not.His insides knotted at theangerhecouldnotmanage,andhefeltinsteadonlyagreatsenseofwaste.MenionLeah seemed inmarked contrast as he paced in furious desperation

severalyardsawayfromtheValeman,hisleanfigurebentinwhatcouldonlybedescribedasawoundedcrouch.Hisownthoughtsburneddeepwithanger, thekindoffutileragethatacagedbeastdisplayswhenthereisnohopeofescape,andonly itsprideand itshatredofwhathashappened to it remain.TherewasnothinghecouldhavedonetohelpShea,heknew.ButthatdidlittletoeasethesenseofguilthefeltatnothavingbeentherewhenthecliffledgegavewayandtheValemanwasthrowntothechurningwatersoftherapidsbelow.Somethingmighthavebeendone toprevent ithadhenot leftSheaalonewith theDruid.Yet he knew it was not Allanon’s fault; he had done everything possible toprotectShea.Menionmovedwith long, angry strides, digging into thegroundwiththesharpheelsofhisboots.Herefusedtoadmitthatthequestwasended,that theywouldbeforcedtoadmitdefeatwhentheSwordofShannarawassonearlywithintheirgrasp.Hepausedandconsideredforamomenttheobjectof

theirsearch.Itstilldidn’tmakeanysensetothehighlander.EveniftheygottheSword,whatcouldaman,notyetmorethanagrownboy,hopetodoagainstthepower of a creature like theWarlockLord?Now theywould never know, forSheawasprobablydead,evenifhewasn’tdead,hewas lost to them.Nothingseemedtomakemuchsenseanymore,andMenionLeahrealizedsuddenlyhowverymuch that casual, relaxed friendship between them hadmeant. They hadneverspokenofit,neverreallyopenlyacknowledgedit,butithadbeenthereallthesame,andithadbeendeartohim.Nowitwasended.Menionbitdownonhislipinhelplessangerandcontinuedtopace.The others in the company were gathered near the foot of the Dragon’s

Crease, which ended just yards behind them. Durin and Dayel spoke to eachotherinhushedtones,theirfineElvenfeatureswrinkledwithconcern,theireyeslowered,lookingateachotheronlyoccasionally.Closeathand,hissolidframepropped against a massive boulder, rested Hendel, who, while alwaysclosemouthed,wasnowmoodyandunapproachable.Hisshoulderandlegwerebandaged,hisstolidfacescarredandbruisedfromthebattlewiththeserpent.Hethoughtbrieflyofhishomeland,hiswaitingfamily,andforaninstantwishedhecouldseethegreenofCulhavenoncemorebeforetheend.HeknewthatwithouttheSwordofShannara,andwithoutSheatowieldit,hislandwouldbeoverrunby the Northland armies. Hendel was not alone in his thoughts. Balinor wasthinkingmuchthesamething,hiseyesonthesolitarygiantstandingmotionlessinasmallgroveoftreessomedistanceawayfromtheothers.Heknewthattheynowfacedan impossibledecision.Either theymustgiveup thequestand turnbackinanefforttoreachtheirhomelandsandperhapslocateShea,ortheymustcontinueontoParanorandseizetheSwordofShannarawithoutthecourageousValeman. Itwasadifficultchoice tomake,andnoonewouldbeverypleasedeitherway.Heshookhisheadsadlyasthememoryofthebitterquarrelbetweenhisbrotherandhimselfpassedmomentarily throughhismind.HehadhisowndecisiontomakewhenhereturnedtothecityofTyrsis—anditwouldnotbepleasant. He had not spoken to the others about it, and at the moment, hispersonalproblemswereofsecondaryimportance.Suddenly theDruidwheeled about and started back to them, his ownmind

evidentlydecided.Theywatchedhimapproach,theblackrobeflowinggentlyashe came, the fierce dark face resolute even in this moment of bitter defeat.Menion had frozen in his tracks, his heart beating madly as he awaited theconfrontationheknewmustcomebetweenthem,forthehighlanderhadchosenhisowncourseofaction,andhesuspecteditwouldnotbethatofAllanon.Flick

caught thehintof fear in the faceof thePrinceofLeah,but saw there, too, astrangecourageasthemanbracedhimself.Allofthemrosehesitantlyandcametogether as thedark formdrewcloser, their tired,discouragedminds suddenlyregenerated with a fierce determination not to admit defeat. They could notknowwhatAllanonwouldcommand,buttheyknewtheyhadcometoofarandsacrificedtoomuchtogiveupnow.He stood before them, the deep eyes burning with mixed feelings, the

shadowedfaceagranitewallofstrength,wornandscarred.Whenhespoke,thewordswerefrostedandsharpinthesilence.“Itmaybethatwearebeaten,buttoturnbackwouldbetodishonorourselves

inourowneyesasmuchasintheeyesofthosewhodependonus.IfwearetobedefeatedbytheevilintheNorthland,bythingsbornofthespiritworld,thenwe must turn and face it. We cannot back away and hope for some elusivemiracle tostandbetweenusandwhatmost surelymovesevennow toenslaveanddestroyus. If death comes, it should finduswithweaponsdrawnand theSwordofShannarainourhands!”HebitoffthelastsentencewithsuchicydeterminationthatevenBalinorfelta

slightshiverofexcitementcoursethroughhim.AllstoodinmuteadmirationoftheDruid’sunflaggingstrength,andtheyfeltasuddenprideinbeingwithhim,beingapartofthelittlegrouphehadchosenforthisdangerousandcostlyquest.“WhataboutShea?”Menionspokeoutsuddenly,perhapsabitsharply,asthe

Druid’spenetrating eyes turnedonhim. “WhathasbecomeofShea,whowasthereasonforthisexpeditioninthefirstplace?”Allanonshookhisheadslowly,consideringonceagaintheValeman’sfate.“Icannotguessanybetterthanyou.Hewaswashedouttotheplainsbythat

mountain river. Perhaps he lives, perhaps not, butwe can do nothing for himnow.”“Whatyouareproposing is thatwe forgethimandgoafter theSword—a

uselesspieceofmetalwithouttherightfulbearer!”Menionshoutedinanger,hispent-upfrustrationcomingtotheforeatlast.“Well,IgonofartheruntilIknowwhathashappenedtoShea,evenifitmeansgivingupthequestandsearchinguntilIfindhim.Iwillnotdesertmyfriend!”“Watchyourself,highlander,”warnedtheslow,mockingvoiceofthemystic.

“Donotbefoolish,ToblamemeforthelossofSheaispointless,forImostofall would wish him no harm. What you suggest lacks any resemblance toreason.”“Enoughwisewords,Druid!”stormedMenion,steppingforwardinabsolute

disregardforwhatmighthappennext,hishottemperdriventothebrinkbythetall wanderer’s impassive acceptance of the loss of the Valeman. “We havefollowed you for weeks, through a hundred lands and perils without oncequestioningwhat you ordered. But this is toomuch forme. I am a Prince ofLeah,notsomebeggarwhodoeswhatheistoldwithoutquestion,caringfornoonebuthimself!MyfriendshipwithSheawasnothingtoyou,butitwasmoretome than a hundred Swords of Shannara. Now stand aside! I will gomy ownway!”“Fool, you are less a prince andmore a clown to speak like this!”Allanon

raged,hisfacetightening,intoamaskofanger,thegreathandsballingintofistsandclenchingbeforehim.Theotherspaledasthetwoopponentslashedverballyateachotherinunbridledfury.Thensensingthephysicalcombatthatwasabouttoensue,theysteppedbetweenthem,talkingquickly,tryingtocalmthemwithreason, fearful that a split in the company now would mark the end of anychanceforsuccess.Flickalonehadmadenomove,hisownthoughtsstillonhisbrother,disgustedbythehelplessnesshefeltatbeingpowerlesstodoanythingbutfeelinadequate.TheminuteMenionhadspoken,heknewthatthehighlanderhadexpressedhisownfeelings,andhewouldnot leaveherewithoutknowingwhathadbefallenShea.ButitalwaysseemedthatAllanonknewsomuchmorethantherestofthem,thathisdecisionswerealwaystherightones.TodisregardtheDruid’swordscompletelynowseemedsomehowwrong.Hestruggledwithinhisownmindforamoment,tryingtothinkwhatSheawoulddointhissituation,whathemightsuggest totheothers.Thenalmostwithoutrealizingit,heknewtheanswer.“Allanon, there is away,”hedeclared abruptly, shouting tobeheard above

thenoise.Theyalllookedoverathimatonce,surprisedbythedeterminedlookonthestockyValeman’sface.Allanonnoddedtoindicatehewaslistening.“You have the power to speak to the dead.We saw you do it back in the

valley.CanyounottellifShealives?Yourpowerisgreatenoughtoseekoutthelivingifyoucanraisethedead.Youcantellwhereheis,can’tyou?”EveryonelookedbackattheDruid,waitingtoseewhathewoulddo.Allanon

sighed heavily and looked downward, his anger for Menion forgotten as heponderedtheValeman’squestion.“Icoulddo this,”heresponded toeveryone’samazementandgeneral relief,

“butIwillnot.IfIusemypowertofindoutwhereSheais,whetherheisdeadoralive,IwillmostcertainlyrevealourpresencetotheWarlockLordandtotheSkullBearers.TheywouldbealertedandwaitingforusatParanor.”

“IfwegotoParanor,”Menioncutindarkly,whereuponAllanonwheeledonhiminfury,hislaggingangerrevived.Againeveryoneleapedtoseparatethem.“Stop it, stop it!”Flickorderedangrily.“This ishelpingnoone, leastofall

Shea.Allanon,Ihaveaskedfornothingduringthisentiretrip.Ihadnorighttoask; I camebymyown choice.But I have the right nowbecauseShea ismybrother,perhapsnotbybloodorrace,butbystrongerbondsstill.Ifyouwillnotuseyourpowertofindoutwhereheisandwhathashappenedtohim,thenIwillgowithMenionandsearchuntilSheaisfound.”“Heisright,Allanon.”Balinornoddedslowly,onegreathandcomingtorest

lightlyonthelittleValeman’sshoulder.“Whateverbefallsus,thesetwohavearighttoknowwhetherthereisanychanceforShea.Iknowwhatitmeansifwearediscovered,butIsaywemusttakethatchance.”DurinandDayelnoddedvigorously inagreement.TheDruidmystic looked

aside to Hendel for his opinion, but the taciturn Dwarf made no movement,staringintotheother’sblackeyes.Allanonlookedatthemonebyone,perhapsassessing their true feelings as he thought of the risk involved, weighing theworthoftheSwordagainstthelossoftwoofthecompany.Hestaredabsentlyatthe fading sun as the twilight of early evening settled into themountainswithslowripplesofdarknessblendingintotheredandpurpleofthepassingday.Ithadbeenalong,hardtrip,andtheyhadnothingtoshowforit—onlythelossofthemanforwhomthewholejourneyhadbeenmade.Itseemedsowrong,andhecould appreciate their reluctance to continuenow.Henodded tohimself inunderstanding,thenlookedbackat theothersandsawtheireyesturnsuddenlybright,believinghim tobenoddinghis agreement toFlick’sdemand.Withoutevenasmallsmileofacquiescence,thetallwanderershookhisheadfirmly.“Thechoiceisyours.Iwilldoasyouask.Standbackanddonotspeaktome

orapproachmeuntilItellyou.”The members of the company backed away while he remained quietly in

place, head bent in concentration, the long arms clasped before himwith thegreathandsburied in the long cloak.Only thedistant soundsof eveningwereaudible in the deepening gloom. Then the Druid stiffened and a white glowspreadoutfromhistensedbody,ablindingauraoflightthatcausedtheotherstosquint, then shield their eyes protectively. One moment the glow waseverywhereandthedarkformofAllanonwaslostfromsight,andinthenextitflashed brilliantly and was gone. Allanon stood as he had before, motionlessagainstthedarkness,thenslowlyslumpedtotheground,oneleanhandpressedtightlytohisforehead.Theothershesitatedforonlyamoment,thendisregarded

his earlier command and rushed forward, afraid that he had been injured.Allanonlookedupindisapproval,angeredthattheyhaddisobeyedhim.Thenhesawinthebentfacestheirdeepconcern.Hestaredindisbeliefandwithsuddenunderstanding as they gathered about in silence. He was deeply touched, astrangewarmthspreadingthroughhimasherealizedtheloyaltythesesixmenofdifferentraces,differentlands,differentlivesfeltforhim,evenafterallthathadhappened.ForthefirsttimesincethelossofShea,Allanonfeltasenseofrelief.Heclimbedshakilytohisfeet,leaningslightlyonthestrongarmofBalinor,stillweakfromthestrainofseekingShea.Hestoodquietlyforamomentandthensmiledfaintly.“Our young friend is indeed alive, though it’s amiracle I cannot explain. I

locatedhislife-forceontheothersideofthesemountains,probablysomewhereneartheriverthatcarriedhimouttotheeastplains.Therewereotherswithhim,but I could not determine what their purpose was without an extensive mindprobe.Thatwouldsurelygiveourpositionawayandweakenmetothepointofuselessness.”“Butheisalive,you’recertain?”Flickdemandedeagerly.Allanon nodded his assurance. The entire group broke into broad smiles of

relief.MenionslappedtheelatedFlickonhisbroadbackanddidasmalldancestepandleap.“Thentheproblemhasresolveditself,”thePrinceofLeahexulted.“Wehave

to go back over the Dragon’s Teeth and find him, then continue the trip toParanortogettheSword.”His smiling face fell abruptly and the slow bum of anger replaced it as

Allanon shook his head negatively. The others stared in astonishment, certainthatthiswaswhattheDruidhimselfwouldhavesuggested.“SheaisinthehandsofaGnomepatrol,”themysticstatedpointedly.“Heis

being taken northward, more than likely to Paranor.We could not reach himwithoutfightingourwaybackthroughtheguardedpassesoftheDragon’sTeethand trailing him over thoseGnome-infested plains.Wewould be diverted fordays,perhapslonger,andourpresencewouldbedetectedinnotime.”“There’s no guarantee they don’t already know about us,”Menion shouted

irately.“Yousaidthatyourself.WhatgoodwillwebetoSheaifhefallsintothehands of the Warlock Lord? What good will the Sword do us without thebearer?”“Wecannotdeserthim,”pleadedFlick,steppingforwardoncemore.The others said nothing, but stood mutely, waiting to hear Allanon’s

explanation.Darknesshadcompletelyenfoldedthehighmountaincountry,andthemencouldbarelymakeoutoneanother’s faces in thedim light; themoonwashiddenfromviewbythemonstrouspeaksthatrosebehindthem.“Youhaveforgottentheprophecy,”admonishedAllanonpatiently.“Thelast

partpromisedthatoneofuswouldnotseetheothersideoftheDragon’sTeeth,butthathewouldbefirsttoplacehandsontheSwordofShannara.ThatonewenowknowtobeShea.Furthermore,theprophecysaidthatwewhoreachedtheother side of themountainswould view the Sword before the passing of twonights.Itwouldseemthatfatewillbringusalltogether.”“Thatmay be good enough for you, but not forme,” statedMenion flatly,

withFlicknoddinginvigorousagreement.“Howcanweplaceourtrustinsomecrazypromisemadebyaghost?You’reaskingustoriskShea’slife!”Allanonseemedtosmolderinfuryforamoment,fightingtocontrolhisquick

temper,thencalmlyhelookedatthetwoandshookhisheadindisappointment.“Have you not believed in a legend from the very start?” he asked quietly.

“Have you not yourself seen the foothold that the spirit world has secured inyourworldoffleshandblood,earthandstone?Havewenotfromthebeginningbeen fighting against beings born of this other existence, beings who possesspowers that surely do not belong to mortal men? You have witnessed thepotency of the Elfstones.Whywould you now turn your back on all that, infavorofwhatyourcommonsensetellsyou—areasoningprocessthatreliesonfact and stimuli accumulated in this world, your material world, unable totransposeitselftoanexistencewhereevenyourmostbasicunderstandingshavenomeaning.”They stared at himwordlessly, realizing that hewas right, but unwilling to

abandontheirplantofindShea.Thewholejourneyhadbeenpremisedonhalfdreams andold legends, not on common sense, and suddenly todecide itwastimetobepracticalonceagainwasindeedaludicrousidea.FlickhadgivenupbeingpracticalthedayhehadfirstruninfearfromShadyVale.“I would not be concerned, my young friends,” Allanon soothed, suddenly

next to them, a lean hand on each shoulder, strangely comforting even now.“SheastillcarriestheElfstones,andtheirpowerwillgivehimgreatprotection.Theymayalsoguidehim toward theSword,since theyareattuned to it.Withluck,wewillfindhimwhenwefindtheSwordatParanor.AllroadsnowleadtotheDruid’sKeep,andwemustbecertainwearetheretogivewhataidwecantoShea.”Theothermembersofthecompanyhadgathereduptheirweaponsandsmall

packs and stood ready, their silhouettes shadowlike in thedim starlight, finelyetched pencil lines against the blackness of the mountains. Flick gazednorthwardtothedarkforestthatblanketedthelowcountrybeyondtheDragon’sTeeth.Initsmidst,risingupwardlikeanobelisk,werethecliffsofParanor,andthereattheapex,theDruid’sKeepandtheSwordofShannara.Theendofthequest. Flick looked quietly for a few moments at the solitary pinnacle, thenturnedtoMenion.Thehighlandernoddedreluctantly.“We’llgowithyou.”Flick’svoicewasahushedwhisperinthestillness.Theswirlingwatersof the rushing riverdashedmadlyagainst theconfining

wallsoftheirmountainchannel,beatingandragingtheirwayeastward,draggingwith them stray debris and driftwood that had fallen into their restless grasp.They rushed down out of themountains in heavy rapids that churned fiercelyaround smooth-surfaced rocks and sudden bends, winding slowly toward thecalm of the quiet rivers that branched into the hilly lowlands above theRabbPlains.Itwasinoneofthesesmall,quiettributariesthattheman,stillboundtothe splintered log by his leather belt, finally washed up on a mud riverbank,unconscious and nearly drowned. The clothes he wore were ripped andshredded, the leather boots lost, the damp face ashen and bloodied from thebeatingsustainedwhenhehadbeensweptthroughtheseriesofrapidsdowntheriverthathadcarriedhimtothisplace.Heawakened,realizingthathehadatlastreachedland.Feeblyuntyinghimselffromthebeachedlog,hedraggedhimselfonhandsandkneesfartherontotheshoreandintothedeepgrassofalowhill.As ifbyreflex,hisbatteredhandsfelt for thesmall leatherpouchathiswaist,and to his relief it was still there, securely bound by the leather thongs. Amoment later, the lastofhis remainingstrengthexhausted,he fell intoadeep,welcomesleep.Hesleptsoundlyinthewarmthandquietofthedayuntillateafternoon,when

thecoolinggrasswhippingagainsthis face inabuildingbreezecausedhimtostir slightly. There was something else as well, something in his now-restedmindthatwarnedhimsuddenlythathewasindanger.Buthecouldbarelyrousehis sluggishbody to a half-sittingposition as a groupof tenor twelve figuresappearedatthecrestofthehillabovehim,pausedinastonishmentastheysawhisraisedfigure,thenhasteneddownthehilltoreachhim.Insteadofcarefullyturninghisbatteredbody tocheck for injuries, they flunghimflatonceagain,grippinghishelplessarmsbehindhisbackandtyingthemsecurelywithleatherthongsthatbitintotheunprotectedskin.Hisfeetwereboundaswell,andatlasthewasturnedfaceupwherehecouldfinallyfocusonhiscaptors.Hisworstfears

wereimmediatelyconfirmed.Thegnarledyellowframes,clothedinforestgarband armed with short swords, were easily recognizable after Menion’sdescriptionof the incident thathadtakenplaceonlydaysbefore in thePassofJade.He looked fearfully into the sharpGnomeeyesas theygazedwith someamazementathishalf-man,half-ElffeaturesandattheremnantsofhisunusualSouthland garb. Finally, the leader reached down and began to search himthoroughly.Shea struggled, butwas slappedhard several times and at last laymotionless as the Gnome removed the small leather pouch containing thepreciousElfstones.The Gnomes gathered around curiously as the three blue stones, shining

brightly in thewarmsunlight,wereemptied into thehandof the leader.Therewasabriefdiscussion,noneofwhichthecaptivewasabletofollow,concerningwhathewasdoingwiththestonesandwherehecouldhavefoundthem.Atlastitwasdecidedthatboththecaptiveandthestonesshouldbetakentothemainencampment at Paranor where higher authorities could be consulted. TheGnomesdraggedtheircaptivetohisfeet,cuttingthethongsthatboundhislegs,andproceededtomarchhimnorthward,pushinghimfromtimetotimewhenheslowedfromexhaustion.Theywerestillmovingnorthwardatsunsetwhen,ontheothersideof themountainbarrierknownas theDragon’sTeeth, theDruidleaderofasmallbandofdeterminedseekersstruggledwithinhisownmindtopinpointthemissingSheaOhmsford.It was in the early-morning hours, wrapped with the blanket silence of

darknessandhiddenbytheshadowsoftheheavyforeststhatsocompletelyshutout the reassuring light of themoon and stars, that the company stood at lastbefore the cliffs of Paranor. It was amoment that would last forever in theirminds,asexpectanteyestraveledupwardoverthesteeprockwalls,unbrokenbytrailorledge,upwardpastthedwarfedheightofthetallpinesandoaks,whichendedabruptlyasthecliffsbegan,upwardstillfarthertotheman-madestructureat its apex — the Druid’s Keep. The Keep was castlelike, age-old walls ofblocked stone rising to peaked turrets and spiraled towers that cut the sky inprouddefiance.Itwasunmistakablyafortressbuilt towithstandassaultbythestrongest army, the ancient home and protectorate of the all but extinguishedraceofmencalledDruids.Withintheheartofthisstrongholdofstoneandironhad long rested the memorial of Man’s triumph over the forces of the spiritworld, the symbol of the courage and hope of the races in times long past,forgottenovertheyearsasgenerationspassedawayandoldlegendsdied—thewondrousSwordofShannara.

As the seven men stood there surveying the Druid’s Keep, Flick’s mindtraveled back over the events that had taken place since the company haddepartedtheDragon’sTeethatsunset.Theyhadtraveledquicklyovertheopengrasslands separating them from the forest surrounding Paranor, reaching theseclusionofitsdarkperimeterwithoutincidentinonlyafewshorthours.Atthattime, Allanon briefed them on what to expect next. The forest, he said, wasimpenetrable unless one knew how to avoid the dangerous obstacles that theWarlockLordhadcreatedtodiscourageanyattempttoreachtheDruid’sKeep.Wolves prowled the entire woodland, huge, gray beasts that could catchanything on two or four feet and tear it to pieceswithin seconds.Beyond thewolves,surroundingthebaseofthecliffsbeneaththeKeep,wasanimpregnablebarrierofthorns,coatedwithapoisonforwhichtherewasnoknowncure.Butthe resourcefulDruidwasprepared.Theymovedquickly into theblack forest,notbotheringtochooseanyapproachbutthedirectone,theirpathtakingthemstraight for the fortress. Allanon warned them to stay close to him, but thewarningwas quite unnecessary.OnlyMenion seemed eager to forge ahead ofthe group, and the highlander rejoined them instantly at the first sound of themaraudingwolves.Thegreat,graybeastsattackedwithinminutesafterthemenenteredtheforest,theireyesbloodredinthedarkness,theirhugejawssnappinginblindhatred.Butbeforetheycouldreachthealarmedgroup,Allanonplacedastrangewhistle to his lips and blew softly. A sound so high pitched as to beindistinguishable to the men was emitted and the snarling wolves scatteredbrokenly, wheeling about and scurrying off with loud cries of dismay, theirfrightenedwhimpersstill.audiblelongaftertheywerelostfromsight.Thewolvesappearedtwicemoreduringtheremainderofthetrekthroughthe

forest, although itwas impossible to tell if itwas thesamepackoradifferentone.Flickwasinclinedtobelievetheyweredifferentpacksafterobservingtheeffectofthestrangewhistle.Eachtimethewolvescringedinterror,leavingthetravelersuntouched.Thecompany reached the thornbarrierwithoutdifficulty.But the bristlingmass of poisonous spikes that confronted them seemed trulyimpenetrable, evenby the redoubtableAllanon.Once againhe reminded themthatthiswasthehomelandoftheDruids,nottheWarlockLord.Leadingthemtotheright,heskirtedtheedgeofthebarrieruntilhereachedapointthatseemedtosatisfyhim.QuicklypacingoffadistancefromanearbyoakthatlookedforalltheworldtoFlicklikeanyotheroak,theDruidmarkedaspotonthegroundbeforethethornyobstruction,noddingtotheothersthatthiswastobethespotof entry. Then to their amazement, the grimmystic simply walked up to therazor-shaip spikes and disappeared into the vegetation, only to reappear amomentlaterunharmed.Inhushedtonesheexplainedtothemthatatthispointthebarrierwas fakeandquiteharmless,a secretpassage to the fortress.Therewereothersaswell,allindistinguishabletoanyhumaneyeunawareofwhattolook for.And so the companypassed through thebarrier, discovering that thespikeswereindeedharmless,andstoodatlastbeforethewallsofParanor.It seemed impossible somehow toFlick that they shouldbehere at all.The

journey had been an endless one while they were making it, the dangersencounteredby themnever conquered,onlyevadedandultimately substituted,oneforanother.Yetheretheywere.Allthatremainedwastoscalethecliffsandseize the Sword, no simple task, but nevertheless no more difficult than theotherstheyhadfacedandsuccessfullycompleted.Hegazedupwardtothecastlebattlements, studying briefly the spaced torches that lit the ramparts, knowingthattheenemyguardedthosewallsandtheSwordwithin.Hewonderedwhotheenemywas,whatitwas.NottheGnomesortheTrolls,buttherealenemy—thecreature thatbelonged inanotherworld,but thathad invaded thisone insomeinexplicablewaytoenslavethehumanswhoinhabitedit.Hewonderedvaguelyif he would ever know the reason behind all that had happened to them, thereasonwhytheystoodherenow,huntersforthelegendarySwordofShannara,ofwhich none of them save theDruidmystic knew anything.He sensed thattherewasalessonsomewheretobelearned,butatthemomentiteludedhim.Heonlywantedtogetthematteroverwithandgetoutoftherealive.His thoughts ended abruptly as Allanon motioned them forward along the

steepwallsofthecliff.Again,theDruidseemedtobesearchingforsomething.Afewminuteslaterhehaltedbeforeasmoothportionofthecliffface,touched

something in the rock, and a concealed door swung open to reveal a hiddenpassageway. Allanon stepped inside for a moment and returned with unlittorches, giving one to each of the company and indicating that they were tofollow him. They moved silently inside, halting momentarily in the smallentrywayasthestonedoorclosednoiselesslybehindthem.Squintinginthenearblackness,theysawavagueoutlineofstonestepsleadingupwardintotherock,barelyvisibleinthedimlightofalonetorchflickeringjustaheadinthepassage.They climbed carefully to that torch and eachman lit his own to provide thenecessarylightfor theascent to thecastle.Puttingasinglefinger tohis lips toindicatethatheexpectedabsolutesilence,thedarkfigureoftheirleaderturnedandbegantoclimbthedampstonesteps,hisblackcloakbillowingslightlyashewalked, filling the entire passageway ahead with its shadow. The othersfollowedwithoutaword.TheassaultoftheDruid’sKeephadbegun.Thestaircaserose inacontinualspiral,windingand twistinguntilat lastno

one knew how far they had come. The air in the passage became graduallywarmer andmore comfortable to breathe, and the dampness of the walls andsteps diminished until it was entirely gone. Their heavy leather hunting bootsscraped faintly against the stone, echoing through the deep silence of thecaverns.Hundreds of steps andmanyminutes later, the company reached theendofthetunnel.Amassivewoodendoor,boundwithironandfastenedintotherock,blockedtheirpassage.Allanonagainprovedthatheknewthewaywell.Asingletouchonthebindingandthedoorswungsilentlyopentoadmitthemenintoalargechamberwithnumerouspassagesleadingoutofit,allofthemwelllitbyburningtorches.Aquicklookaroundrevealednooneinsight,soAllanonbroughtthecompanyaroundhimonceagain.“We are directly below the castle proper,” he explained in a barely audible

whisperastheotherscrowdedclose.“IfwecanreachtheroomwheretheSwordofShannararestswithoutbeingseen,thenwemaybeabletoescapewithoutafight.”“Something’swrong,”Balinorcautionedshortly.“Wherearetheguards?”Allanonshookhisheadtoindicatehecouldn’tanswer,buttheotherssawthe

concerninhiseyes.Somethingwasamiss.“Thepassagewewilltakerunstothemainheatingductsandabackstairway

thatleadstothecentralhall.Saynothingmoreuntilwearethere,butkeepyoureyesopen!”Withoutwaitingforanyresponse,heturnedandmovedquicklytowardoneof

the open tunnels, and the others followed hastily. The passage led upward,twistingtightlyaroundafterashortdistanceuntilitseemedtheymustbecuttingbackonthemselves.Balinorhaddiscardedhistorchanddrawnhisbroadswordafteronlyafewsteps,thentherestofthecompanywasquicktofollowhislead.Theflickeringlightfromthetorches,fastenedinironrackstothebedrockofthecavern, cast their crouched shadows against the stone walls, their reflectedimages moving like furtive creatures seeking to escape the light. They creptwarilythroughthoseancienttunnels—theDruid,thetwoPrinces,theValeman,theElvenbrothersandtheDwarf—allwatchingexpectantly,caughtupintheguarded excitement that comes with the end of a long hunt. Apart from oneanother,spreadoutalongthewallsofthepassage,weaponsheldready,eyesandears straining for any hint of danger, they moved steadily forward, fartherupward,deeperintothecoreoftheDruid’sKeep.Thenthesilenceslowlyfaded,andtherewasamuffledsoundlikeheavybreathingandtheheatbecamemoreintense. Ahead, the passageway ended and a stone door with an iron handlecameintoview,itsedgesoutlinedsharplybyapiercinglightfromthechamberjustbeyond.Themysterioussoundincreasedinvolumeandbecameidentifiable.It was the throbbing hum of machinery lodged in the rock beneath them,pumping with steady rhythm. Apprehensively, the members of the companyapproachedthecloseddooronAllanon’ssilentcommand.AsthegiantDruidopenedtheheavystonebarrier,theunsuspectingmenwere

struckbyablastofhotairthatsurgedviolentlythroughtheirlungstolodgeinthe pits of their stomachs. Gasping for air, they momentarily hesitated, thenmovedreluctantlyintotheroom.Thedoorswungshutbehindthem.Theyknewwheretheywereinaninstant.Theroomwasactuallylittlemorethanacircularcatwalkaboveahugepitthatdroppedoffintotherockforwelloverahundredfeet.Atthebottomburnedafierceblaze,fedbysomeunknownsource,itsred-orange flames leaping into theair toward the topof thedeepwell.Thepitcutawaythegreaterportionofthechamber,leavingonlythesmallwalkwayseveralfeetwidewithashortironguardrailthatrimmeditsinneredge.Fromtheceilingandwallsranvariousheatingductswhichcarriedthehotairtootherpartsofthestructure.Aconcealedpumpingsystemcontrolledtheamountofheatgeneratedby theopen furnace.Because itwasnight, thepumping systemhadbeen shutdown,andthetemperaturelevelalongthecatwalkwasstilltolerable,despitetheintenseheatofthepitfirebelow.Whenthebellowswereinfulloperation,anyhumanpassingthroughthechamberwouldbefriedinamatterofseconds.Menion,FlickandtheElvenbrotherspausedbytherailingtogetacloserlook

atthesystem.Hendelhungback,uncomfortableinthisconfiningrockstructure,comparing it unfavorably to the openwoodlandswithwhich hewas familiar.Allanonmoved toBalinor’s side and conversedwith him for a fewmoments,glancing uneasily at the several closed doors leading into the chamber andpointing to the open spiral staircase that led to the upper halls of the castle.Finally, the two seemed to settle on something, nodding in agreement, andsignaledtheotherstocatchup.Hendelwasonlytoogladtocomply.MenionandtheElvenbrothersmovedawayfromtherailingtojoinhim.OnlyFlicklingereda second, strangely attracted by the fascinating blaze below. This slight delayproducedanunexpectedresult.Asheliftedhiseyeswithapartingglancetotheothersideofthechamber,hesawthedarkfigureofaSkullBearerappearoutofnowhere.Flick froze instantly.The creature remained in a half-crouch directly across

thepitfromhim,itsbodyablackmasseveninthelightofthepitfires,thecagedwingsbillowingoutslightlybehindit.Itslegswerecrooked,thefeetendingincruel-looking claws that seemed capable of rending the stone itself. Hunchedlowbetweenthemassiveshoulders,theheadandfaceboreavagueresemblanceto scarred coal. The wicked eyes fastened on the speechless Valeman, theirdepths drawing him closer to the reddish glow that burned within, an openinvitationtodeath.Withslow,draggingsteps,itbegantomakeitswayaroundthe chamber, its breath rasping with every labored step as it drew closer andclosertothespellboundFlick.Hewantedtocryout,runaway,doanythingbutstaywherehewas,yet thestrangeeyesheldhimmotionless.Heknewhewasfinished.But theothershadnoticedhis immobileform;followinghisfrightenedgaze

across the chamber, they had discovered. the black Skull Bearer creepingnoiselesslyaroundtherimofthepit.Inaflash,AllanonleapedinfrontofFlick,yanking him around to break the spell of the creature’s terrible eyes. Dazed,Flick stumbledbackward into thewaitingarmsofMenion,whohad rushed tohisassistance.TheothersstoodjustbehindtheDruid,theirweaponsheldready.Thecreature stopped several yards fromAllanon, still in ahalf-crouch, hidingthehideousfacefromthefire’sglowwithoneraisedwingandclawedhand.Itsbreathsoundedinslow,steadyraspsasitscrueleyesrestedonthetallfigurethatstoodbetweenitandthelittleValeman.“Druid,youareafooltoopposeme.”Thevoicehissedfromsomewheredeep

within the creature’s formless face. “You are all doomed. You were doomedfrom themoment you chose to come after the Sword. TheMaster knew you

wouldcome,Druid!Heknew.”“Get away while you can, hateful one!” Allanon commanded in the most

menacing tone any of the members of the company had ever heard him use.“Youfrightennoonehere.WewilltaketheSword,andyouwillnotstandinourway.Stepaside,lackey,andletyourMastershowhimself!”Thewordsburnedintotheair,cuttingthroughtotheSkullBearerlikeknives.

Thecreaturehisseditsfury,theraspingbreathcominginquickgaspsasittookanotherstep,crouchinglower,itseyesfrightfultolookintoastheyblazedwithnewhatred.“Iwilldestroyyou,Allanon.Thennoonewillbeleft toopposetheMaster!

You have been our pawn from the start, though you could not have guessed.Nowwehaveyouwithinourreach,alongwithyourmostvaluableallies.Andlookwhatyouhavebroughtus,Druid—thelastheirofShannara!”To theshockofeveryone, theclawlikehandpointed toanastonishedFlick.

ThecreaturedidnotseemtorealizethatFlickwasnottheheirorthatSheahadbeenlosttothemontheDragon’sTeeth.Foramomentnoonespoke.Thefireroared in the pit below, billowing up suddenlywith a gust of boiling air thatsingedtheunprotectedfacesofthemortals.Theclawsoftheblackspiritcreatureseemedtoreachtowardthem.“Now,fools,”thehate-filledvoiceraspedatthem,“youshallreceivethekind

ofdeathyourspeciesdeserves!”

ChapterSixteen

As the final words of the black creature hissed away in the flame-lit air,everything seemed tohappenatonce.Withadramatic sweepofone leanarmand a command so sharp it jarred themall into instant action, the giantDruidsentthetensedmembersofhislittlecompanychargingtowardtheopenstaircasethatledtothemainhalloftheDruid’sKeep.Asthesixmenbrokeinamaddashforthewindingstairwaybehindthem,theSkullBearerlungedforAllanon.Thethuddingimpactoftheircollisioncouldbeheardevenbythefleeingmen,whowerealreadystartingupthestaircase—saveforone.Flickhesitated,tornbythedesire to escape, but held spellbound by the titanic struggle between the twopowerfulbeingslockedincombatonlyinchesfromtherisingflamesofthegreatopenfurnace.Hestoodat thebottomof thestaircase,hearingthedisappearingfootfallsofhiscompanionsastheyracedfortheupperhall.Amomentlaterthefootsteps were gone, leaving him the sole witness to the incredible strugglebetweenDruidandSkullBearer.The black-garbed figureswere immobile at the edge of the furnace, statues

frozeninplacewiththegreatstrainoftheirbattle,darkfacesonlyinchesapart,theleanarmsofthegiantDruidholdingfirmtheclaw-tippedlimbsofthedeadlyspiritcreature.TheSkullBearerwasattempting tobringhis razor-sharphandscloseenoughtothemystic’sunprotectedthroattoripthelifeoutofhimandendthebattlequickly.Theblackwingsheavedwiththeexertion,flappinginfurytoaddmomentumtotheassault,theunmistakableraspofitsbreathingcuttingtheheatedairwithraggeddesperation.ThensuddenlytheNorthlandcreature’swirylegshotout, trippingtheDruidsothathefellbackwardontothestoneflooratthe edge of the pit. Like a shot, the attackerwas upon him, one clawed handsweeping downward for the kill. But the victim was too quick, rolling deftlyaway from the deadly talons and free from the creature’s grasp.Nevertheless,Flicksawtheblowcatchaportionoftheshoulderandheardthedistinctrendingofclothas firstbloodwasdrawn.Flickgaveagaspofdismay,but amomentlater theDruidwasonhis feet, showingno signof injury.Twinbolts of blueflame shot out of the extended fingers of his hands, striking the rising SkullBearerwith shattering force, throwing the infuriated creature back against therailing.ButwhilethemysticboltshadvisiblyhurttheserpentduringthebattleintheHallofKings,theydidlittlemorethanslowtheNorthlandcreaturefora

few brief seconds. Roaring in fury, it counterattacked. Blazing red bolts shotfrom itsburningeyes.Allanonbroughthiscloakup ina sweepingmovement,and the bolts appeared to deflect into the stone walls of the chamber. For amoment,thecreaturehesitated,andthetwoopponentscircledeachotherwarilyin the manner of two beasts of the forest, locked in a life-and-death strugglewhichonlyonecouldsurvive.For the first time, Flick noticed that the temperature was rising. With the

approachofdawn,thefurnacetendershadrisentocarefortheheatingneedsofthe awakening castle. Unaware of the battle taking place in the walkwayoverhead,theyhadactivatedthedormantbellowsmachineryatthebottomofthepit,stokingthefiretobuildituptoanintensitywhichwouldenableheatedairtowarmallthechambersoftheDruid’sKeep.Asaresult,flameswerenowvisibleabove,theedgeofthepitandthetemperatureofthechamberwasrisingsteadily.Flick felt the sweat pouring down over his face, soaking through his warmhunting outfit. But still he would not leave. He sensed that if Allanon weredefeated, they would all be doomed, and he was determined to know theoutcome.TheSwordofShannarawouldmeannothingtothemifthemanwhohadbroughtthemtothisfinalbattlegroundweredestroyed.Withraptfascinationcloudinghisstockyface,FlickOhmsfordwatchedwhatmightbethefateoftheraces and the lands being decided by the two seemingly indestructibleprotagonistsofmortalmanandSpiritLord.Allanonhadattackedagainwiththeflashingbluebolts,strikingatthecircling

SkullBearerinbrief,bitingblows,tryingtoforceitintoahastymove,tryingtocauseit toslip, tomakeasinglefatalmistake.Thespiritcreaturewasnofool,butanevilspawnedofahundredhuntsinwhichitalonehadbeenthevictorandthe victims all lay forgotten beyond the world of mortal men. It dodged andtwisted with frightening ease, always coming back to the same tense crouch,watchingandwaitingforitsownmomenttostrike.Then,inatotallyunexpectedmove, the blackwings spreadwide and it circled into the air in a sweep thatcarrieditsoaringaroundtheflamesofthefurnaceanddownagainwithviciousspeedonto the tall figureofAllanon.Theclawedhands rakeddownward, andforamomentFlickthoughtallwassurelylost.Miraculously,theflooredDruidescapedthedeadlyhands, throwingtheSkullBearercompletelyoverhimwithone mighty heave of his powerful arms. The hapless creature flew wildlythroughtheairandcrashedwithanaudible thudintothestonewallbeyond.Itstruggledtoitsfeetinaninstant,buttheforceoftheblowhadshakenit,slowingitdownjustenough,andbeforeitcouldescape,thegiantDruidwasuponit.

Thetwoblackfiguresthrashedaboutagainstthewallasifinextricablyjoined,their limbs lockedonto each other like twisted branches.When they reared tofullheight,FlickcouldseethatAllanonwasbehindthestrugglingSkullBearer,his mighty arms locked viselike about the head of the creature, the strainingmuscles slowly crushing the life away. The victim’s wings beat madly, itshooked arms clutching vainly for something to break the hold that wasdestroying it. The fire-red eyes burnedwith the fury of the furnace pit itself,shooting forth bolts of fire that tore into the stone walls, leaving gaping,blackenedholes.Thecombatantslurchedawayfromthewallandrockedwildlytowardtheblazingpitatthecenteroftheheatedchamberuntiltheywereagainstthe low iron railing.For amoment it appeared to thewide-eyedValeman thatbothwould lose their balance and plunge into the flames below.But abruptlyAllanon straightenedwith amighty effort, dragging his captive back from therailingafewscantfeet.Itwasthissuddenmovementthatbroughttheentangledspiritcreatureabout, itshate-filledeyescomingtorestdirectlyonthepartiallyhiddenValeman.GraspingatanyopportunitytodiverttheclingingDruidfortheinstant thatwouldpermit it a chance tobreak freeof thosecrushingarms, theSkullBearerstruckattheunpreparedFlick.Twinboltsofflameshotoutoftheburningeyes,shatteringthestoneblocksof thestaircaseintodeadlyfragmentswhichflewinalldirectionslikelittleknives.Flickactedinstinctively,divingoutof thestaircaseonto thewalkway,hishandsandfacecutby thestone,buthislife savedbyhisquickness.Ashe leapedclear, theentireentrywayshudderedabruptlyandcollapsedinacascadeofbrokenstoneblocksthatcompletelyshutoffthepassageupward,thedustbillowingoutoftherubbleinheavyclouds.Inthatsameinstant,asFlicklayfrightenedandshakenbutstillconsciouson

the stone floor of the furnace chamber, with the flames from the roaring pitrisinghighertomeetthecloudsofdustfromtheblockedpassage,Allanon’sgriprelaxedjustenoughtopermitthecraftyspiritcreaturetobreakloose.Whirlingaboutwithacryofhatred,itstruckthedistractedDruidacrushingblowonthehead,knockingthetallwanderertohisknees.TheNorthlandermovedinforthekill,butsomehowthedazedmysticwasonhisfeetagain,theblueboltsfromtheleanhandsflashingfiercelyastheystrucktheunprotectedheadoftheattacker.Powerful fists rained resounding blows on both sides of the creature’s blackhead,turningthebatteredfigureaboutonceagainasthegreatarmswoundwithcrushing force about its chest, pinning thewings and claw tipped hands backagainstthewrithingbody.Holdingthecreaturethus,thesteel-eyedDruidgrittedhisgleamingteethinfuryandsqueezed.Flick,stilllyingonthefloorasthetwo

combatants loomed above him several yards away, heard a horrible crunchingsoundassomethingsnappedinsidetheSkullBearer.Thenwithalurchthetwofigureswere again next to the low iron railing, every straining feature clearlyrevealedintheflames,thethunderoftheburningpitmatchedinitspoweranditsfurybythewailofagonyfromtheshatteredvictimastheblack,hookedbodyshudderedonce.Fromsomedeepwellofstrengthandhatredburiedwithin,theSkullBearersummonedonelastdesperatesurgeofpower,throwingitselfovertheironrailing,itsclutchingfingersembeddedintheblack-cloakedattackerasitfell,draggingitshatedenemywithit,andbothfigureswerelostintheglowofthehungryflames.ThefallenFlickclimbeddazedlytohisfeet,shockslowlyspreadingoverhis

batteredface.Hetotteredunsteadilytowardtheedgeofthefurnacepit,buttheheatwassointensethathewasforcedback.Hetriedoncemorewithoutsuccess,the sweat pouring down from his forehead into his eyes andmouth,minglingslowlywith tears of helpless anger.The flames from the pit soared above thelowironrailing,lickinghungrilyatthestoneandcracklingwithnewlifeasiftoacknowledge the addition of the two black-garbed creatures to the fuel itgreedilyconsumed.Throughthemistthatcoatedhisburningeyes,theValemangazedfixedlytowardthebottomlesspit.Therewasnothingbeyondtheredglowof the flames and the unbearable heat. Hopelessly, he called out the Druid’snameoverandoverinfutiledesperation,eachcallsendingtheechoesbouncingoff the stone walls and dying in the heat of the fire. But the Valeman foundhimselfalonewiththeroaroftheflames,andheknewatlastthattheDruidwasgone.Hepanicked then. In amaddash, he scrambledback from the fierypit.He

reached the rubble of the stairway before he remembered that it had beenblocked,andhecollapsedforamomentamidthebrokenrock.Shakinghisheadto clear his muddled brain, he felt the full intensity of the fire. He knewinstinctively that if he did not escape the chamber in amatter ofminutes, theheatwould bake him alive.He bounded up and ran to the closest stone door,pushingandpullingonitindesperation.Butthedoordidnotmove,andatlasthestopped,hishandsbloodyfromtheeffort.Helookeddownthewall,hiseyesfindingaseconddoor.Hestumbledontothisone,butit,too,wassecuredfromtheotherside.Hefelthishopesdimintonothingness,certainnowthathewastrapped.Woodenly,he forcedhimself tomoveon to the third. Itwaswith thelastofhis fading strength, ashepushedandpulled franticallyon the stubbornbarricade, that he touched something hidden in the rock. and triggered the

mechanismthatpermittedittoopen.Withacryofrelief,thebatteredValemanfellthroughtheopeningintothepassagewaybeyond,kickingthestonedoorshutashelayinthesemidarkness,lockinghimselfawayfromtheheatandthedeaththatremainedbehind.Formany longminuteshe layexhausted in thedarknessof thecorridor,his

burning body soaking up the cool of the stone floor and the soothing air. Hedidn’t trytothink,didn’tcaretoremember,butwishedonlytolosehimself inthepeaceandquietof the tunnelrock.At lastheforcedhimselfwearily tohisknees,thentohisfeetinafinaleffort,leaningdazedlyagainstthecoldstoneofthepassagewallashewaitedforhisstrengthtoreturn.Herealizedforthefirsttimethathisclothingwastornandburnedalmostbeyondrecognition,hishandsand face singed and blackened from the heat. He looked around slowly, hisstockyframestraighteningitselfashepushedawayfromthewall.Thedimlightof the torch on the wall ahead indicated the direction in which the windingcorridor ran, and he stumbled forward until hewas able to grasp the burningpiece ofwood from its rack.He shuffled along slowly, the torch extended tolight his way. Somewhere ahead he heard shouting, and instinctively his freehandwenttothehandleofhisshorthuntingknife,drawingtheweaponfromitssheath.Afterseveralminutes,thenoiseseemedtomovefartherawayandatlastdieoutaltogether,andstilltheValemanhadseennothing.Thecorridorwoundthroughtherockincuriousfashion,takingFlickpastseveraldoors,allofwhichwereclosedandbarred,butneverleadingupwardandneverbranchingoffintoother passageways. Ever so often the darkness ahead was broken by the dimlightofaburningtorchsecurelyfastenedtothestone,itsyellowlightcastinghisshadowagainstthefarwalllikeamisshapenwraithfleeingintothedarkness.Thenabruptly thepassagewidenedand the lightaheadgrewstronger.Flick

hesitatedamoment,graspinghisweapontightly,hisfacestreakedwithlinesofsmoke and sweat, but grimlydetermined in the flickeringglow.Therewasnosoundasheinchedhiswayforward.HeknewthatsomewheretherehadtobeastairwayleadingtothemainhalloftheDruid’sKeep.Sofar,ithadbeenalongandfutilesearch,andhewasbecomingexhausted.Hewishedbelatedlythathehadn’tbeensoeagertoremainbehind,allowinghimselftobecutofffromthemainparty.NowhewastrappedintheseunfathomablecorridorsatthecenterofParanor.Anything couldhavehappened to the others by this time, he thoughtdismally,andhemightneverfindthemwanderingthroughthismaze.Heedgedhisway a little farther around a bend in the rock, hismuscles tensed, peeringcarefully into the light. To his surprise he found himself at the entrance to a

round chamber with numerous other passages leading into it. A dozen or sotorches burned cheerfully from the circular wall. He breathed a sigh of reliefwhen he saw that the rotunda was deserted. Then he realized that he was nobetter off thanhehadbeenbefore.Theotherpassages lookedexactly like theone he had come through. There were no doors leading to other rooms, nostairwaysleadingtotheupperlevel,andnoindicationastowhichwayheshouldgo. He looked around in bewilderment, desperately trying to identify onepassage from another, his hope fading with each passing second and eachrepeatedsurvey.At lasthe shookhishead inconfusion.Moving tooneof thewalls,hesatdownwearily,closinghiseyesashe forcedhimself toaccept thebitterfactthathewashopelesslylost.OnAllanon’s command, the remainder of the company had broken for the

stairway. Durin and Dayel were closest to the stone passage and, being thefastestinthegroup,foundthemselveshalfwayupthestepsbeforetheothershadevenbeguntheshortclimb.TheirlitheElvenlimbsearnedthenuptheflightofstairsingliding,boundingleaps,barelytouchingthestoneastheyran.Hendel,Menion,andBalinorcameinarushbehind,theirprogresspartiallyimpededbytheirheavyweaponsandgreaterweight,andpartiallybyeachotherastheytriedtoavoidstumblingoveroneanother in thenarrow,windingstaircase. Itwasawild, disorganized charge to the upper hall, eachman scrambling to reach theobjectofthelongquestandtoescapetheterrifyingspiritcreature.Intheirhastetoaccomplishbothends,thehaplessFlickwasnoteven,missed.Durin was first through the stairway entrance of the Druid’s Keep, nearly

stumbling into thegreathallashebrokeclear, thesmaller formofhisbrotherclosebehind.Thehallwas lavishly impressive,ahuge,high-ceilingedcorridorwhose great walls were solid wood, polished until they shonewith burnishedmagnificenceinthemixedyellowlightofburningtorchesandthereddishtingesof thedawn seeping throughhigh, slantedwindows.Thepanelswere adornedwithpaintings,carvedfiguresofstoneandwoodonmosaicdisplaystandsandlong,handwoven tapestries thathung in folds to thepolishedmarble floor thatran the lengthof the corridor.At various intervals, thereweregreat statuesofiron and fine stone, sculptures of another age preserved through the longcenturiesbytheshelterofthistimelessrefuge.Theyseemedtobeguardingtheheavy, carvedwoodendoors thatwerebeautifullyornamentedwithhandlesofcopper-coloredbrassheldfastbyironstuds.Afewofthesestoodopen,andinthe chambers that lay beyond could be seen the same carefully designedsplendor, glowing radiantly as tall, open glasswindows let in the sunshine in

longstreamsoflingeringcolor,freshwiththenewday.TheElvenbrothershadlittletimetoadmiretheagelessbeautyofParanor.An

instantaftertheywerethroughtheopenstaircase,theyweresetuponbyGnomeguards, who seemed to come from everywhere at once, the gnarled, yellowbodies sliding from concealment behind doors, statues, the walls themselves.Durinmettherushwithhislonghuntingknifeandwithstoodtheassaultonlyamomentbeforetheywereonhim.Dayelcametohisbrother’srescue,swinginghis long bow as a weapon, knocking the attackers aside until the sturdy ashbrokewithanaudiblesnap.Foramomentitseemedtheywouldbetorntopiecesbefore their stronger comrades could come to their aid, untilDurin broke freeand snatcheda long,wicked-lookingpike froman ironwarriorof another ageandscatteredthescramblingGnomeswithsweepingcuts,knockingthemawayfromhisstrugglingbrother.But theywerereinforced inan instantandquicklyreassembled for a second charge. The Elven brothers had moved back to thewall, panting with the strain and covered with slashes and the blood of theirattackers.TheGnomesgathered together in ayellowgroup, their deadly shortswords held before them, intent on breaking past Durin’s swinging pike andhackingbothElvestopieces.Withawildpiercingcry, theychargedinfor thekill.

UnfortunatelyfortheGnomes,theyhadforgottentowatchtheopenstairwayagainst the possible chance that the Elveswere not alone.At the instant theyrushedDurinandDayel,theotherthreemembersofthecompanyburstthroughthedoorwayandfellupontheunpreparedattackers.TheGnomeshadnever intheir lives encountered men such as these. In the center came the hugeborderman from Callahorn, his gleaming sword cutting a path through theshorterswordswithsuchferocitythattheGnomesfellovereachothertryingtoescape. On one side they ran headlong into the bludgeoning mace of thepowerfulDwarf,whileontheothertheyfacedthequickbladeoftheswift,agilehighlander.Foramomenttheystoodandfoughtagainstthefivemadmen,thenwavered slightly as the attack pressed ahead, and finally broke and ran, allthoughts of winning abandoned. Without a word, the five battered warriorscharged down themagnificent hall, leaping over thewounded and dead, theirhunting boots ringing on the polished marble. The few Gnomes who stoodagainst them as they came soon went down before the rush, to lie in silent,unmovingheaps.Afterallthattheyhadsufferedandlost,thefivewhoremainedfrom the little companywould not be denied any longer the victory they had

soughtsodesperately.Near the end of the ancient corridor, now littered with dead and wounded

Gnomes,thetapestriesandpaintingstornandscatteredfromthesharpbattle,alastdesperatebandofguardscrowdedtogetherintightformationbeforeasetoftall, carved wooden doors that stood closed and barred. Their short huntingswordsheldbeforethemlikeawallofspikes,thedeterminedGnomespreparedtomakeafinalstand.Theattackersmadeasortrushatthedeadlywall,tryingtobreakthroughatthecenterbehindthelongswordsofBalinorandMenion,butthe battle-hardened guards repulsed the assault after several minutes of bitterfighting.Thefivewithdrewinexhaustion,pantingandsweatingfreelywiththeexertion,theirbodiescutandbattered.Durindroppedheavilytooneknee,bothan arm and a leg badly slashed byGnome swords.Menion had been clippedalongonesideofhisheadbyapikeedge,andthebloodrosetothewoundinavivid red streak.Thehighlander seemedunawareof the injury.Again the fiveattackedandagain,afterlongminutesofbitterhand-to-handcombat,theywererepulsed.ThenumberofGnomeshaddiminishedbyalmosthalf,but timewasrunningoutforthemenofthecompany.TherewasnosignofAllanon,andtheGnomes would have reinforcements on the way to protect the Sword ofShannara, if indeed it did stand within the chamber they now so desperatelysoughttohold.Then, inanamazingdisplayof rawstrength, the toweringBalinor rushed to

the other side of the hall andwith onemighty heave overturned a huge stonepillar,atthetopofwhichwasaffixedametalurn.Pillarandurnstruckthestonefloor with a crash that jarred everyone to the bone, the echoes reverberatingthrough thebloodiedhall.Stoneshouldhaveshattered,but thepillar remainedwhole.With the aidofHendel, thegiantbordermanbegan to roll the roundedbatteringramsidewaystowardthewedgeofGnomesandthecloseddoorstothechamber beyond, the monstrous roller gathering speed and power with eachrevolution as it thundered toward the hapless guards. For an instant the wiryyellowcreatureshesitated,theirshortswordsheldreadyasthecrushingweightofthestonepillarboredownonthem.Thentheybroke,boltingforsafety,theirspiritgone, thebattle lost.Evenso,severalwerenotfastenoughtoescape themakeshift ram and were caught beneath its great bulk as it crashed amid ashowerofstoneandwoodsplintersintothebarreddoors.Thedoorsshudderedandbuckledwiththeblow,thewoodcrackingandtheironfasteningssnappinglikethecrackofawhip,yetsomehowtheywithstoodtheforceoftheram.Butaninstantlatertheyflewofftheirhingeswitharesoundingcrashastheweight

ofthePrinceofCallahornstruckthem,andthefivemenrushedintothechamberbeyondtoclaimtheSwordofShannara.To their amazement, the room stood empty. There were tall windows and

long,flowingcurtains,masterfulpaintingsthatlinedthewalls,andevenseveralsmall pieces of ornate furniture placed carefully about the large chamber.ButnowherewasthereanytraceofthecovetedSword.Inshockeddisbelief,thefivegazedslowlyabouttheclosedroom.Durindroppedheavilytohisknees,weakfrom loss of blood and close to passing out. Dayel came quickly to his aid,tearingup stripsof cloth tobind theopenwounds, thenhelpinghisbrother toone of the chairs,where he collapsed in exhaustion.Menion looked fromonewalltothenext,searchingforanotherexittotheroom.ThenBalinor,whohadbeenpacingthefloorofthechamberinslowscrutinyofitsmarblefinish,gavealow exclamation. A portion of the floor at the very center of the room wasscarredanddiscoloredbeneathapoorattempttoconcealthefactthatsomethinglargeandsquarehadstoodthereformanyyears.“TheblockofTre-Stone!”exclaimedMenionquickly.“Butifithasbeenmoved,itmusthavebeenrecently,”Balinorspeculated,his

breathinglabored,hisvoicewearyashetriedtothink.“SowhydidtheGnomestrytokeepusout...?”“Maybetheydidn’tknowithadbeenmoved,”suggestedMeniondesperately.“Perhapsadecoy...?”venturedHendelabruptly.“Butwhywastetimewitha

decoyunless...?”“Theywantedtokeepusbusyhere,becausetheSwordwasstillinthecastle

and they hadn’t gotten it out!” finished Balinor excitedly. “They haven’t hadtimetogetitout,sotheytriedtodecoyus!ButwhereistheSwordnow—whohasit?”Foramomentallthreewereataloss.HadtheWarlockLordknownthatthe

company was coming all along, just as the Skull Bearer in the furnace hadseemedtoindicate?Iftheirattackhadcaughteveryonebysurprise,whatcouldhavehappenedtotheSwordsinceAllanonhadlastseenitinthischamber?“Wait!” exclaimedDurinweakly fromacross the room, rising slowly tohis

feet. “When I came through the staircase, there was something happening onanothersetofstairsdownthehall—menmovingupthosestairs.”“Thetower!”shoutedHendel,racingfortheopendoorway.“They’vegotthe

Swordlockedinthetower!”BalinorandMenionhurriedafterthedisappearingDwarf,thewearinessgone.

TheSwordofShannarawas stillwithin reach.Durin andDayel followed at a

slowerpace,theformerstillweakandleaningheavilyonhisyoungerbrotherforsupport, but their eyes bright with hope. A moment later, the chamber stoodempty.Flickclimbeddespondently tohis feetaftera fewminutes’ restanddecided

thattheonlycourseofactionlefttohimwastochooseoneofthepassagewaysand follow it to the end, hoping that it would take him to a stairway leadingupward to the fortress. He thought briefly of the others, somewhere in thecorridors above, perhaps already in possession of the Sword. They could notknowofAllanon’sfallnorofhisownfate,lostintheseimpossibletunnels.Hehopedtheywouldsearchforhim,butrealizedatthesametimethat,iftheydidget theSword, therewould be no time towaste looking for him.TheywouldhavetomaketheirescapebeforetheWarlockLordcouldsendtheSkullBearerstoretrievethecovetedblade.HewonderedwhathadbecomeofShea,ifhehadbeen found alive, if hehadbeen rescued.Somehowheknew thatSheawouldnever leave Paranorwhile Flickwas alive, but then therewas noway for hisbrother to know that he hall not perished in the furnace chamber. He had toadmitthathisownsituationlookedprettyhopeless.Atthatinstanttherewasaloudclamorfromoneofthetunnels,thesoundof

bootsthuddingonthestonefloor,ofmenrushingdirectlytowardtherotunda.Ina flash, theValeman crossed the roomandhastened into concealment downadifferent tunnel, keeping flat against the rock in the protective shadows. Hepausedjustwithinsightofthelightedrotundaanddrewhisshorthuntingknife.A few moments later a swarm of fleeing Gnome guards charged into theconnecting room and disappeared down another of the passageways withoutpausing.Thesoundsoftheirflightweresoonlostinthebendsandturnsoftherock.Flickhadnoideawhattheywererunningfromorperhapsrunningto,butwherevertheyhadbeenwaswherehewantedtobe.ItwasagoodbetthattheyhadcomefromtheupperchambersoftheDruids’Keep,andthatwastheplacetheValemanhad toreach.Hemovedcautiouslyback into the lightedchamberandcrossedtothetunnelfromwhichtheGnomeshadcome.Backtrackingtheirpath of flight, he entered the now-deserted corridor and disappeared into thedarkness,beyond.Heheldhisknifebeforehim,gropingiswayalongthedimlylitwallstowardthefirsttorchrack.Freeingtheburningwoodfromitsclasp,heproceededdeeper into thepassage,hiseagereyesscanningtheroughwallsforsignsof adooror anopen stairway.Hehadonlygoneabout ahundredyardswhenwithoutwarningaportionoftherockslidopenalmostathiselbow,andasingleGnomesteppedintoview.

Itwasdisputableastowhichofthetwowas,moresurprisedattheappearanceoftheother.TheGnomeguardwasastragglerfromthelargergroupfleeingthebattle in the halls above, and the sight of another of the invaders here in thetunnels momentarily startled him. Although smaller than the Valeman, theGnomewaswiryandarmedwithashortsword.Heattackedimmediately.Flickdodgedinstinctivelyasthesweepingbladewentwideofthemark.TheValemanleapedonto theGnomebeforehecould recoverandwrestledhim to the stonefloor, trying vainly to take the sword away from his agile opponent, his ownknife lost in thescuffle.Flickwasnot trained inhand-to-handcombat,but theGnomewas, and this gave the little yellowman a distinct advantage.He hadkilled before and would do so again without a second thought, while Flicksoughtonlytodisarmhisattackerandescape.Theyrolledandfoughtacrossthefloor for several longminutes before theGnome again broke free and took avicious cut at his adversary, barely missing the exposed head. Flick threwhimselfback,desperatelylookingforhisknife.Thelittleguardchargedathimjust as his groping fingers closed over the heavy wood of the torch he haddropped at the first assault. The short sword care down, glancing off Flick’sshoulder and cutting into the exposed flesh of his arm painfully.At the samemoment,thestunnedValemanbroughtthetorchupwithapowerfulswingandfelt it strike theGnome’s raisedheadwith jarring impact.Theguard sprawledforward with the force of the blow and did not move again. Flick slowlyregainedhis footingand recoveredhisknifeafter amoment’s search.His armthrobbed painfully and the blood had soaked into his hunting tunic, runningdownhisarmandintohishandwherehecouldclearlyseeit.Afraidthathewasbleeding to death, he quickly tore up strips of cloth from the fallenGnome’sshort cloak and bound them about the injured limb until the bleeding hadstopped.Pickinguptheother’ssword,hemovedovertothestillpartiallyopenrockslabtoseewhereitled.Tohisrelief,hefoundawindingstaircasebeyondthedoorwaythatspiraled

upward. He slipped into the passage, closing the rock slab behind him withseveral pulls of his good arm. The stairs were dimly outlined by the familiartorchlight,andheproceededtoclimbwithslow,cautioussteps.Allwasquietinthepassageashemovedsteadilyupward,thelongtorchesinironracksgivinghimenoughlighttopickouthisfootingontheroughstone.Hereachedacloseddooratthetopofthestairwayandpausedtheretolisten,hisearplacednexttothe cracks between the iron bindings. There was only silence beyond.Cautiously,hepushed thedooropenabit andpeered through into the ancient

hallsofParanor.Hehadreachedhisgoal.Heopenedthedoorabitfartherandsteppedwatchfullyintothesilentcorridor.Thenthesteelgripofaleandarkhandcamedownonhisextendedswordarm

andyankedhimintotheopen.Hendelpausedhesitantlyatthebottomofthestairwaythatledtothetowerof

theDruids’Keep,peeringupwardintothegloom.Theothersstoodquietlyathisback,followinghisgazeintently.Thestairwayconsistedoflittlemorethanasetof open stone steps, narrow and treacherous-looking, thatwound upward in aspiral along thewalls of the rounded turret.The entire towerwas shrouded ingloomydarkness,unlightedbytorchesoropeningsinthedarkstone.Fromtheirpoorvantagepoint,themembersofthecompanycouldseelittlebeyondthefirstfew turns in the staircase. The open stairwell dropped away fromwhere theystoodintoablackenedpit.Menioncrossedtotheedgeofthelandingandpeereddownward, mindful of the absence of any guard rail either here or along thestairs.Hedropped a small pebble into theblack abyss andwaited for it to hitbottom.Nosoundcamebacktohim.Heglancedagainattheopenstairsandthegloomabove,thenturnedtotheothers.“Lookslikeanopeninvitationto,atrap,”hedeclaredpointedly.“Very likely,” Balinor agreed, stepping forward for a closer look. “But we

havetogetupthere.”Menion nodded, then shrugged casually, moving toward the stairway. The

othersfollowedwithoutaword,Hendelrightat thehighlander’sheels,BalinornextandtheElvenbrothersbringinguptherear.Theymovedcautiouslyupthenarrowstonesteps,alertforanysignofatrap,theirshouldersclosetothewall,awayfromthedangerousopenedgeofthestairwell.They wound their way steadily through the musty gloom. Menion studied

eachstepashewent,hiskeeneyessearchingtheseamsofthestone-blockwallforhiddendevices.Fromtimetotime,hetossedstonesontothestepsaheadofthem,testingfortrapsthatmightbereleasedbyanysuddenweightonthesteps.But nothing happened. The abyss below was a silent black hole cut into theheavygloomofthetowerair,nosoundpenetratingitsdarkserenitysavethesoftscraping of hunting boots ascending theworn steps.At last, the faint light ofburning torches cut through the darkness far above them, the small firesflickeringbrisklywiththegustingofanunknownsourceofwindfromtheturretpeak.Asmalllandingcameintoviewatthesummitofthestaircase,andbeyond,thedimshapeofahugestonedoor,boundwith ironandstandingclosed.ThetopoftheDruids’Keep.

ThenMenionsprangthefirsthiddentrap.Aseriesoflong,barbedspikesshotout of the stonewall, triggered by the pressure ofMenion’s foot on the stonestairway. Had Menion still been on the step, they would have cut into hisunprotected legs, crippling him and forcing him over the edge of the openstairwell into the black abyss below. But Hendel had heard the click of thereleasedspringan instantbefore the trapopened.Withaquickpullheyankedtheastonishedhighlanderbackwardtotheothers,almostknockingthemalloffthe narrow steps. They staggeredwildly in the heavy gloom, inches from thesharpened steel spikes. Regaining their footing, the five remained flattenedagainstthewallforseverallongminutes,breathingaudiblyinthestilldarkness.Then the taciturn Dwarf smashed the spikes before them with several well-placedblowsofhisgreatmace,opening the routeoncemore.Nowhe led theway in alert silence, while the shakenMenion dropped back behind Balinor.QuicklyHendelfoundasecondtrapofthesametypeandtriggeredit,breakingthespikesandmovingon.Theywere almost to the landing now, and it appeared theywould reach it

withoutfurtherdifficultywhenDayelcalledoutsharply.HiskeenElvenhearinghadcaughtsomethingthattheothershadmissed,asmallclickthatsignaledthetriggeringofstillanothertrap.Foramomenteveryonefrozeinpositionasalerteyes searched thewalls and steps.But they found nothing, and at lastHendelventuredasinglestepfartheronthestairs.Surprisingly,nothinghappened,andthe cautious Dwarf proceeded to the top of the stairway while the othersremained in position. Once he had safely reached the landing, the othershastened after him until at last all five stood together at the top, lookinganxiouslydownthewindingstaircaseintotheblackpit.Howtheyhadmanagedtoescapethethirdtraptheycouldnotimagine.Balinorwasoftheopinionthatithadfailedtofunctionproperlyduetolongyearsofneglect,butHendelwasnotso easily persuaded. He could not shake the feeling that somehow they hadoverlookedtheobvious.The tower hung like a huge shadow over the open stairwell, its dark stone

chillandwettothetouch,amassofgiantblocksthathadbeenassembledagesagoandhadstubbornlywithstoodtheravagesoftimewiththeenduranceoftheearthitself.Thehugedooratthelandingappearedtobeimmovable,itssurfacescarred, the ironbindings as sturdy as the day theyhadbeen imbedded in therock.Great iron spikes, hammered into the stone, held the hinges and lock inplace,and itappeared to the fivewhostoodbefore it thatnothing less thananearthquakecouldforce themonstrousslabofstoneopenevenan inch.Balinor

approachedtheformidablebarriercautiouslyandranhishandsalongtheseamsand lock, trying to find somehiddendevice thatmight release it.Gingerly,heturnedtheironhandleandpushedforward.Totheastonishmentofall,thestoneslabslidpartiallyopenwithashudderandagrindingofrustediron.Amomentlater,themysteryofthetowerwasrevealedasthedoorswungopenalltheway,strikingtheinnerwallswithasharpcrash.Intheexactcenteroftheroundedchamber,setinthepolishedblacksurface

ofthegiantTre-Stoneblock,bladedownwardsothatitrosebeforethemlikeagleamingcrossofsilverandgold,theybeheldthelegendarySwordofShannara.Itslongbladeflashedbrightlyinthelightofthesunstreamingthroughthehigh,iron-barredwindowsofthetower,reflectingsharplyoffthemirrorfinishofthesquarestone.NoneofthefivehadeverseenthefabulousSword,buttheywereinstantlysure thiswas it.Foramoment theyremainedframedin thedoorway,gazing in astonishment, enable to believe that at last, after all their effort, theendless marches, the miserable days and nights of hiding, there before themstood the ancient talisman they had risked everything to find. The Sword ofShannarawas theirs!Theyhadoutwitted theWarlockLord.Slowly they filedintothestonechamber,smilesontheirfaces,thewearinessgone,theirwoundsforgotten.Theystoodforlongmomentsstaringatit,silent,wondering,grateful.Theycouldnotbringthemselvestostepforwardandtakethetreasurefromthestone.Itseemedtoosacredformortalhands.ButAllanonwasmissing,andSheawaslostaswell,andwhere...“WhereisFlick?”Dayelvoicedthequestionsuddenly.Forthefirsttimethey

realizedthathewasmissing.Theyglancedaboutthechamber,lookingblanklyatoneanotherforanexplanation.ThenMenion,whohadturnedapprehensivelybacktothegleamingSword,watchedtheimpossiblehappen.ThegreatblockofTre-Stone and its precious display began to shimmer and dissolve before hisastonished eyes. It tookonly seconds for the entire image to fade into smoke,then into a heavy haze, and at last into the air itself, until the fivemen stoodaloneinanemptyroomstaringintospace.“Atrap!Thethirdtrap!”roaredMenion,recoveringfromtheinitialshock.Butbehindhim,hecouldalreadyhearthehugerockslabswingshutontheir

inescapableprison,creakingandgroaningsharplyastherustedhingesgavewayunderthemonstrousweightofthestone.Thehighlanderlaunchedhimselfacrosstheroom,crashingintothedoorjustasitclosedonthem,thesharpsnapofitslocksclickingfirmlyintoplace.Hecollapsedslowlytothewornstonefloor,hisheart beating violently in rage and frustration. The others had notmoved, but

stoodinsilentdespairastheywatchedtheslimfigureatthedoorburyhisfaceinhis hands. The faint but unmistakable sound of muffled laughter echoedbrokenly off the chillwalls in long peals,mocking their foolishness and theirbitter,inevitabledefeat.

ChapterSeventeen

ThecheerlesscoldoftheNorthlandskyhunginthinstripsofgrayfogagainstthedulledgesthatformedthepeaksofthesolitarymountainofpittedblacknessthatwasthecastleoftheWarlockLord.AboveandbelowthesurroundingplainoftheSkullKingdom,standinglikerustedsawteeth,werethebluntedtipsoftheRazor Mountains and the Knife Edge, an impenetrable barrier to mortal life.BetweenthemstoodthedyingmountainoftheSpiritLord,forgottenbynature,spurned by the seasons as it wasted slowly away. The shroud of death thatclaimed its tall peaks, clinging with pitiless certainty to its shattered faces,spread its evil aura across the entire landwithunmistakablehatred toward thefew vestiges of life and beauty that had somehow managed to survive. AdoomederawaitedquietlyintheNorthlandkingdomoftheWarlockLord.Nowwasthehourofdeath,thelastsignsoflifeslowlyfadingbackintothegroundasonlytheshellofnature’stouch,oncebrightandmagnificent,remained.Withintheskullofthelonemountainranhundredsoftimelesscaverns,their

enduringrockwallssunless in thenever-changinggraynessof theskybeyond.They wound about with the ruthless coiling of a cornered snake, twistingviolentlythroughthecoreoftherock.Allwassilenceanddeathinthegraymistofthespiritkingdom,apermeatingsomberairthatmarkedthetotalextinctionofhope, the complete burial of gaiety and lightness. There wasmovement evenhere,however,but itwaslifeunlikeanythingknowntomortalman.Itssourcewas the single, black chamber at thepeakof themountain, amonstrous roomwith its north face open to the dim light of the cheerless sky beyond and theendless stretch of forbidding mountains that formed the north gate to thekingdom.In thiscavernousroom, itswallswetwith thecold thatcutknifelikethrough the rock, scurried the inkyminionsof theWarlockLord.Their small,blackformscrawledaboutthefloorofthesilentchamber,theirspinelessframesbentandshatteredwiththeterrible,wrenchingpowertheirMasterwieldedoverthem.Evenwalkingwouldhavebeenredemptionintheirexistence.Theyweremindless wraiths, kept only to serve the one who held them enslaved. Theymuttered as they hustled about, small cries and weepings that sounded ofunforgettableagony.In thecenterof theroomrosea largepedestal thatheldabasinofwater,itsmurkysurfaceplacidanddeathly.Fromtimetotime,oneofthelittlecrawlingcreatureswouldhastentoitsedgeandpeercautiouslyintothe

cold water, eyes darting furtively about, waiting, watching expectantly. Amomentlater,withasmallwhimper,itwouldscurryawaytoblendbackintheshadowsofthecavern.“WhereistheMaster,whereistheMaster?”thesoundswould cry like whispers in the grayness as the little beings moved aboutuneasily.“Hewillcome,hewillcome,hewillcome,”theanswerechoedbackhatefully.Thentheairstirredviolentlyasifwrenchingfreeofthespacethatheldit,and

themistseemedtocometogetherinahugeblackshadowthattightenedslowlyintomaterial format theedgeof thebasin.ThemistgatheredandswirledandbecametheSpiritLord,ahuge,cloakedfigureofblackthatseemedtohanginthe air. The sleeves rose, but therewere no armswithin, and the folds of thetrailing robes covered nothing but the floor. “The Master, the Master,” theterrified creatures’ voices sounded in unison, and their bent shapes groveledobedientlybeforehim.Thefacelesscowlturnedtothemandlookeddown,andthey could see within the blackness the tiny glints of flame that burned withsatisfiedhatred, flashingsparklike inahazygreenmist thathungallabout theinnerrecessesoftheshroud.ThentheWarlockLordturnedfromthem,andtheywereforgottenashegazedsteadilyintothewatersofthestrangebasin,waitingfor the commanded mental picture to appear. Seconds later the darkness wasgone and in its placewas the furnace room at Paranorwhere the company ofAllanonagainstoodfacetofacewiththedreadedSkullBearer.Thefieryeyesinthegreenmiststaredfirstat theValeman, thenwatchedthebattlebetweenthetwodarkfiguresuntilbothtumbledovertheedgeofthepitandwerelostintheflamesbelow.AtthatmomentasuddennoisebehindhimcausedtheSpiritLordtopauseandturnslightly.TwoofhisSkullBearersenteredtheroomfromoneofthedarktunnelsofthemountaintostandsilently,awaitinghisattention.Hewasnotreadyfor them,andsoreturnedto thewatersof thebasin.Again theycleared, forming a picture of the tower,where the astonishedmembers of thecompanystoodfrozeninexcitedreliefbeforetheSwordofShannara.Hewaiteda fewseconds, toyingwith them,enjoyinghismasteryof the situationas theymovedclosertotheSwordlikemicetothebaitedtrapofcheese.Secondslater,the trapwas sprung as he dissolved his illusion before their startled eyes andwatchedthetowerdoorflyshut,trappingtheminthekeepforeternity.Behindhim,thetwowingedservantscouldsensethechillinglaughthatrolledthroughhissubstancelessframeintothecavernair.Withoutturningtofacethem,theWarlockLordgesturedabruptlytowardthe

openwallfacingnorth,andtheSkullBearersmovedoffwithouthesitation.They

knewwithoutaskingwhatwasexpectedofthem.TheywouldflytoParanoranddestroythecapturedsonofShannara,thesoleheirtothehatedSword.Withthelastmember of theHouse of Shannara dead and the Sword itselfwithin theirgrasp, theyno longerneed fearamysticalpowergreater than theirown.Evennow,thepreciousSwordwasenroutefromthehallsofParanortotheNorthlandkingdomwhere itwouldbeburiedand forgotten in the endless cavernsof theSkullMountain. TheWarlock Lord turned slightly to watch his two servantsshuffle awkwardly across the dark chamber until they reached the open wall,where they roseheavily into thegrayskyandwheeledsouthward.Tobesure,theElfking,Eventine,wouldattempttointercepttheSword,toregainitforhisownpeople.Buttheattemptwouldfail,andEventinewouldbetaken—thelastgreat leader of the free lands, the last hope of the races. With Eventine hisprisoner, the Sword in his possession, the last heir to the House of Shannaradead, and the most hated enemy of all, the Druid Allanon, destroyed in thefurnaceatParanor,thebattlewasendedbeforeithadbegun.TherewouldbenodefeatintheThirdWaroftheRaces.Hehadwon.Awaveofhiscloaksleeveandthewateragainturnedmurky,thepictureof

theDruids’Keep and the trappedmortals gone. Then the air rushed violentlyabout theblackspirit andhis formbegan todissolveback into themistof thechamber, fading gradually until there was nothing left but the basin and theemptyroom.Longmomentspassedinsilenceuntilatlastthegrovelingminionsof theWarlock Lordwere certain theMaster had again gone from them, andtheycameforthfromtheshadows,theirsmall,blackshapescreepingeagerlytothebasinedgewheretheypeeredcuriously,cryingandwhimperingtheirmiserytotheplacidwaters.InthehightowerofParanor,intheremoteandnowinaccessibleroomofthe

Druids’Keep, four silent, tiredmembers of the little company fromCulhavenpaceddejectedlyabout theirprison.OnlyDurinsatquietlyagainstonewallofthe tower, hiswound so painful that he could no longermove about. Balinorrocked slightlyonhisheels ashe stoodclose toahigh,barredwindowof theKeep,watchingthefaintraysofthesunfilterdowninlongstreamersoffloatingdust to light theotherwisegloomychamberwithsmallsquaresofsunlight thatfellcarelesslyacrossthestoneslabsofthefloor.Theyhadbeenthereforoveranhour now, hopelessly imprisoned behind the mammoth, ironbound door. TheSwordwaslosttothemandwithittheirhopesofanyvictory.Atfirsttheyhadwaited patiently in the belief that Allanon would soon reach them, smashingthrough thegreat stonebarrier thatbarred theway to freedom.Theyhadeven

calledhisname,hopinghecouldhearthemandfollowtheirvoicestothetower.Menion had reminded them that Flick was still missing, possibly wanderingabout thehallsofParanor searching for them.Butbeforevery long their faithfaltered and at last faded entirely, as each forced himself to admit inwardly,though none would speak the words, that there would be no rescue, that thecourageous Druid and the little Valeman had fallen prey to the deadly SkullBearer,thattheWarlockLordhadwon.Menionwas thinking once again of Shea,wonderingwhat had befallen his

friend.Thecompanyhaddoneall itcould,but ithadnotevenbeenenoughtosavethelifeofonesmallhumanbeing,andnownoonecouldguesswhatendhehad come to, left alone in thewilds of the Eastland border plains to fend forhimself.Sheawasgone,probablydead.Allanonhadbelieved theywould findSheawhentheyfoundtheSword,buttheSwordhadbeenlostandtherewasnosignof themissingheir.NowAllanonwasgoneaswell, killed in the furnaceroom of the Druids’ Council, ancestral home — or if not killed, then takenprisoner,chainedandshackledinsomedungeonjustastheywerelockedinthistower.Theywouldbe left to rot,orworse,and ithadallbeenfornothing.Hesmiledgrimlyasheconsideredtheirfate,wishinghecouldhavehadatleastoneopportunitytoconfronttherealenemy,totakeoneswiftcutattheall-powerfulWarlockLord.Suddenlyashorthushofwarningfromtheever-alertDayelcausedtheothers

to freezewhere theywere,eyes fixedon thegreatdoor, listeningguardedly tothesoundoffaintfootfallsonthestonestepsbeyond.Meniondroppedhishandto the swordofLeah resting in the leather sheathon the floor andnoiselesslypulled it free. The giant borderman at his elbow already held his drawnbroadsword.Allmovedinshort,hurriedstepstoencircletheentrance.EventhewoundedDurin staggered to his feet, limping painfully over to standwith hiscompanions. The footsteps reached the landing and stopped. There was amomentofominoussilence.Thenthegreatstonedoorsuddenlyopened,swingingponderouslyinward,its

ironhingesgroaningonlyslightlyastheytookthefullweightoftherockslab.From out of the darkness beyond appeared the frightened features of FlickOhmsford,hiseyesdartingwildlyashebeheldhisimprisonedfriendsarmedandready to strike. Swords and maces lowered slowly as if the astonished menholding themweremechanical toys.The littleValemanmovedreluctantly intothedimlightofthetower,partiallyshadowedbythetallblackfigurefollowing.ItwasAllanon.

Theystaredathimwordlessly.Streakedwithsweat,hisdarkformcoatedwithseverallayersofashandsoot,hemovedsilentlyintotheirmidst,onegreathandrestinggentlyonFlick’ssmallshoulder.Hesmiledattheirreaction.“I’mallright,”heassuredthem.FlickwasstillshakinghisheadindisbeliefathavingbeenfoundbyAllanon.“Isawhimfall...”hetriedtoexplaintotheothers.“Flick,I’mallright.”AllanonpattedthelittleValeman’sshoulder.Balinor came a step closer, as if to convince himself that this was indeed

Allanonandnotanotherapparition.“Wethoughtyouwere...lost,”hemanaged.Thefamiliarmockinggrinappearedontheleanface.“Theblameforthatliesinpartatleastwithouryoungfriendhere.Hesawme

tumbleintothefurnacepitwiththeSkullBearerandpresumedmedead.Whathe did not realize is that the furnace is equipped with a series of iron rungs,whichallowworkmentodescendintothepitforthepurposeofmakingrepairs.SinceParanorhasforcenturiesbeentheancestralhomeoftheDruids,Iknewoftheexistenceof the rungs.When I felt theevilonepullmeover the railing, Ireachedforthemandcaughtmyselfseveralfeetbelowtherim.Flick,ofcourse,couldseenoneofthis,andtheroarofthefiredrownedoutmyvoiceasIcalledouttohim.”Hepausedtobrushsomeofthedirtfromhisrobe.“Flickwasfortunateenoughtoescapethechamber,butthenhelosthiswayin

thetunnels.ThebattlewiththeSkullBearerleftmeweakened,andeventhoughIenjoyspecialprotectionfromfire,ittookmequitesometimetopullmyselfoutofthepit.IwentlookingforFlick,lost inthatmazeofundergroundcorridors,foundhimat last and frightenedhimhalf todeathwhen I pulledhim into thelight.Thenwecameaftertherestofyou.Butnowwemustleave—quickly.“TheSword...?”Hendelaskedsharply.“Gone — removed sometime earlier. We can speak of that later. It is

dangerous for us to remain here any longer. The Gnomes will sendreinforcements tosecureParanorand theWarlockLordwilldispatchothersofhis winged bearers to be certain you cause him no further trouble. With theSword of Shannara still in his possession and believing you trapped in theDruids’Keep,hewillquickly turnhisattention tohisplans foran invasionofthe four lands. If he can seize Callahorn and the border countries quicklyenough,therestoftheSouthlandwillfallwithoutastruggle.”“Thenwe’retoolate—we’velost!”exclaimedMenionbitterly.

Allanonshookhisheademphatically.“We have only been outmaneuvered, not defeated, Prince of Leah. The

WarlockLordrestseasyinthebeliefthathehaswon,thatwearedestroyedandno longera threat.Perhapswecanuse thatagainsthim.Wemustnotdespair.Nowcomewithme.”He led themquickly through the open doorway.Amoment later, the tower

chamberstoodempty.

ChapterEighteen

The little band of Gnomes marched Shea northward until sunset. TheValemanwasexhaustedwhenthemarchbeganandbythetimethegroupfinallyhaltedforthenight,heimmediatelycollapsedandwasasleepbeforetheGnomeshadevenfinishedbindinghis legs.The long trek took themfromthebanksofthe unknown river northward into hill country west of the upper Anar Forestbordering on the Northland. Travel became considerably rougher, the terrainchanging from the flat grasslands of the Rabb Plains into choppy, rollinghillocks.Afteratime,thebandfounditselfdoingmoreclimbingthanwalking,with constant changes of direction made to avoid the bigger hills. It wasbeautifulcountry,grasslandspatchedwithsmallforestsofagedshadetrees,theirbendinglimbsgracefulinthelightspringwinds.ButitsbeautywaslostontheexhaustedValeman,whocouldonlyconcentrateonputtingonefootaheadoftheotherashisdisinterestedcaptorspushedhimalongwithoutrest.Bynightfall,thegroupwasdeepintothehillcountry,andhadSheabeenabletoconsultamapofthe region, he would have discovered that they were camped directly east ofParanor. As it was, sleep came to him so fast that he could only rememberdroppingwearilytothegrassyearthandthennothingmore.TheindustriousGnomesfinishedtyinghimandthenpreparedafirefortheir

meagerdinner.OneGnomewasplacedonsentryduty,mostlyoutofhabit,sincetheyfelt therewas little tofear this far into theirownhomeland,andasecondwasorderedtokeepaclosewatchoverthesleepingcaptive.TheGnomeleaderstill did not realize who Shea was, nor did he realize the importance of theElfstones,thoughhewasintelligentenoughtoconcludethattheymustbeworthsomething.HisplanwastotaketheValemantoParanorwherehecouldconsultwithhissuperiorsconcerningthefateofboththeyouthandthestones.Perhapstheywouldknowthesignificanceof thesematters.TheGnome’sonlyconcernwasdoingtherightthinginaccordancewithhisorderstopatrolthisregion,andbeyondthatduty,hedidnotcaretoknowanything.Thefirewascompletedinshortorder,andtheGnomesateahastilyprepared

meal of bread and strippedmeat.When themeal was finished, they gatheredeagerly about the warm blaze and contemplated curiously the three smallElfstoneswhichtheleaderhadproducedforinspectionathisfollowers’urging.Thewizenedyellowfacesbentclosertothefireandtotheoutstretchedhandof

the leaderwhere the stones twinkled brightly in the glowing light. One eagerfollower tried to touch one, but a stinging blow from his superior sent himsprawling back into the shadows. The Gnome leader touched the stonescuriously and rolled them about in his open palm as the others watched infascination.Finally,theGnomestiredofthesport,andthestoneswereputbackinthesmallleatherpouchandreturnedtotheleader’stunic.Abottleofalewasbroken out to ward off the chill in the night air as well as to aid the wearyGnomes in forgetting their immediate troubles. The bottle was passed aroundfreely,andthelittleyellowsoldierslaughedandjokedfarintothenight,keepingthefireblazingforwarmth.Eventhelonesentrywanderedin,knowingthathisguard dutywas unnecessary.At last the alewas gone, and theweary huntersturned in, pulling up their blankets in a tight circle about the fire. The sentryevenhadpresenceofmindenoughtothrowablanketoverthesleepingcaptive,concludingthatitwoulddonogoodtobringhimintoParanorsufferingfromafever.Moments later, the campsite was silent, all asleep save the sentry whostooddrowsily in the shadows justbeyond the lightof the smallcampfire thatwasdyingslowlyintocoals.Shea slept fitfully, his slumber disturbed by recurring nightmares of his

harrowingflightwithFlickandMeniontoreachCulhaven,andfromthere,theill-fated journey to reachParanor.He relived inhisdreams thebattlewith theMistWraith, feeling its cold, slimygripabouthisbody, experiencing terror atthetouchofthedeadlyswampwaterslappingabouthislegs.HefeltdesperationcreepingallthroughhimasthethreeagainbecameseparatedintheBlackOaks,only this timehewasalone in thegreat forest,andheknewtherewasnowayout.Hewouldwanderuntilhediedthere.Hecouldhearthecriesofthehuntingwolvesclosinginabouthimashestruggledtorun,dodgingmadlythroughtheendlessmazeofgianttrees.Amomentlaterthescenechanged,andthecompanystoodintheruinsof thecityinthemiddleof theWolfsktaagMountains.Theywere looking curiously at the metal girders, unaware of the danger lurkingsilently in the junglebeyond.OnlySheaknewwhatwas about tohappen, butwhenhetriedtowarntheothers,hefoundhecouldnotspeak.Thenhesawthegiant creature creeping forth from its concealment to strike the unsuspectingmen,andhecouldnotmovetowarnthem.Theyseemedunawareofwhatwasabouttohappen,andthecreatureattacked,amassofblackhairandteeth.ThenSheawasintheriver,tossingandturningmadlyashesoughtfutilelytokeephishead above the swift waters, to breathe the life-giving air. But he was beingpulleddown,andheknewhewassuffocating.Desperatelyhesoughttofightit,

thrashingwildlyashewaspulledfartherandfartherdown.Then suddenly he was awake and staring into the first faint tinges of light

fromtheapproachingdawn,hishandsandfeetcoldandnumbfromthebitingleather thongs that bound him. He looked anxiously about the clearing at thedying coals of the fire and the motionless Gnome bodies huddled in deepslumber. The hillswere silent in the semidarkness, so quiet that theValemancouldhearhisownbreathing,raspingheavilyinthestillness.Toonesideofthecampsitewasthelonefigureofthesentry,hissmallformadimshadowonthefaredgesoftheclearing,nearsomeheavybrush.HisfigurewassovagueinthemistinessofthedyingnightthatforseveralsecondsSheawasnotreallysurehewasnotapartof thebrush.Sheaglancedaboutthesilentcampasecondtime,twisting himself up on one elbow and wiping the sleep from his eyes as hepeeredcautiouslyabout.Briefly,hetriedtoworkonthethongsthatboundhim,hopingvaguelythathemightbeabletoworkhimselflooseandmakeadashforfreedombeforethesleepingGnomescouldcatchhim.Butafterlongminutesoftrying to free himself, hewas forced to give up the idea.The bondswere toowelltiedtobeworkedloose,andhedidnothavethestrengthtobreakthem.Foramomenthestaredhelplesslyat thegroundinfrontofhim,convincedthathehadreachedtheendoftheline,thatoncetheGnomesreachedParanor,hewouldbeturnedovertotheSkullBearersanddisposedofquickly.Thenhe heard something. Itwas only a faint rustle from somewhere in the

darknessbeyondtheclearing,butitcausedhimtolookupalertly,listeningforsomething further. His Elven eyes traveled quickly over the campsite and theGnomes; but nothing seemed out of place. It took him several moments torelocatetheloneguardattheedgeofthebrush,butthemanhadnotmovedfromhisposition.Thenahugeblackshadowdetacheditselffromthebrush,andthesentrywas enveloped and suddenly gone. Shea blinked in disbelief, but therewasnomistake.Wherethefigureofthesentryhadstoodamomentbefore,therewas nothing. Long moments passed as Shea waited for something further tohappen. Itwas sunrisenow.The last tracesof thenight faded rapidly,and theedgeofthegoldenmorningsunappearedonthetipsofthedistanteasternhills.Therewasasoftsoundofftohisleft,andtheValemantwistedaboutsharply.

Frombehind the cover of a small groveof trees emergedoneof the strangestsights that theyouthhadeverseen.Itwasamancladall inscarlet, thelikeofwhichnooneinShadyValehadeverencountered.AtfirsttheValemanthoughtitmightbeMenion,recallinganoutlandishredhuntingoutfithehadonceseenthe highlander wearing. But it became apparent almost immediately that this

stranger was notMenion, nor in any way like him. The size, the stance, themannerofapproachwerealldifferent.Itwasimpossibletomakeouthisfeaturesinthedimlight.Inonehandhecarriedashorthuntingknifeandintheotherwasa strange pointed object. The scarlet figure crept slowly over to is side andmovedinbackofhimbeforehecouldgetagoodlookathisface.Thehuntingknife went through the leather bonds silently and easily, freeing the captiveValeman.Thentheotherhandcamearoundinfrontofhisface,andShea’seyeswentwide in shockashe saw that theman’s left handwasmissingand in itsplaceadeadlylookingironpikeprotruded.“Notaword,”theleather-edgedvoicesoundedinhisear.“Don’tlook,don’t

think,justmoveoutforthetreestotheleftandwaitthere.Nowmove!”Shea did not stop to ask questions, but quickly did as he was told. Even

withoutseeingthefaceoftherescuer,hecouldguessfromtheroughvoiceandtheseveredlimbthatitwouldbewisetodoashewastold.Hescurriedsilentlyfrom the camp, running in a lowcrouchuntil hehad reached the coverof thetrees. He stopped there and turned back to wait for the other, but to hisastonishmentthescarletfigurewasprowlingnoiselesslythroughthemidstofthesleepingGnomes, apparently searching for something. The sun had risen intofullview in theeastnow,and its light framed thestrangerashebentover thehuddledformofthesleepingGnomeleader.OneglovedhandreachedcautiouslyintotheGnome’stunic,fumbledaboutforamoment,andcameforthholdingthesmall leather pouch with the precious Elfstones. As the hand with the pouchremained poised for an instant, theGnome awakened, one hand coming up toseizethestranger’swristastheotherwhippedashortswordaroundtofinishthethiefwithoneblow.ButShea’s rescuerwas tooquick tobecaughtoffguard.The long ironpikeblocked theblow ina sharpclashofmetal, and thencamebackinalongswipeacrosstheGnome’sexposedthroat.Asthestrangerrosetohisfeetandboundedawayfromthelifelessbody,theentirecampcameawakewith the sound of the struggle. The Gnomes were on their feet in an instant,swords in hand, charging after the intruder before he couldmake a completeescape.Thescarletrescuerwasforcedtoturnandfight, theshortknifeheldinonehandashefacedadozenattackers.Sheawascertain that thiswas theend for theman,andheprepared to leap

fromthecoverofthetreestotrytoaidhim.Buttheamazingstrangershruggedoff the firstonslaughtofGnomehuntersas if theyweremice, cutting throughtheir disorganized assault and leaving two writhing on the earth with fatalwounds.Thenhegaveasharpcryasthesecondwaveofattackersmovedin,and

fromoutoftheshadowsontheothersideofthecampchargedamassiveblackfigurebearingahugeclub.Withoutslowingonce,theblackshapetoreintothesurprisedGnomeswith indescribable fury, scattering themwithgreatblowsofthemaceasiftheywerenomorethanfragileleaves.InlessthanaminutealltheGnomeslaymotionlessontheground.Sheawatchedinastonishmentattheedgeof the trees as the huge figure approached Shea’s rescuer, somewhat in themannerofafaithfuldogseekingitsmaster’sapproval.Thestrangerspokesoftlyto the giant for several moments, and then sauntered over to Shea while hiscompanionremainedtolookaftertheGnomes.“Ithinkthat’saboutallofit,”thevoicerolledoutasthescarletfigurecame

uptotheValeman,heftingtheleatherpouchinhisgoodhand.Shea took a moment to study theman’s face, still uncertain as to who his

benefactor might be. The way the man swaggered, there was no question inShea’smindbutthathewasanarrogantfellowwhoseunshakableconfidenceinhimself was probablymatched only by his undeniable efficiency as a fighter.Thetanned,wornfacewasclean-shavenexceptforasmallmustachecutevenlyabovetheupperlip.Hehadoneofthosefacesthatdefiedage,helookedneitherold nor young, but somewhere in between.Yet hismannerwas youthful, andonlytheleatheryskinanddeepeyesrevealedthathewouldneverseefortyyearsagain. The dark hair seemed flecked slightly with bits of gray, though in themisty dawn light it was difficult to be certain. The face was broad and hisfeatures prominent, particularly thewide, friendlymouth. It was a handsome,beguilingtypeofface,butonethatSheainstinctivelyfeltwasacarefullywornmask that hid the true nature of theman.The stranger stood easily before theuncertain Valeman, smiling and waiting for some indication of his attitudetowardhisrescuers,apparentlyunsureofwhatitmightbe.“Iwant to thankyou,”Sheaquicklysputtered.“Itwouldhavebeenallover

formeifyouhadn’t...”“Quite all right,quite all right.Rescuingpeople isnot exactlyourbusiness,

butthosedevilswouldcutyouupforsport.I’mfromtheSouthlandmyself,youknow.Haven’tbeenbackinquiteawhile,butit’smyhomenevertheless.You’refromthere,Icantell.Oneofthehillcommunities,maybe?Ofcourse,youhaveElvenbloodinyou,too...”He trailedoffabruptly,andforan instantSheawascertain that themannot

onlyknewwhohewas,butwhathewas,andthathehadsteppedfromthefryingpanintothefire.Aquicklookbackat thehugecreaturebythefallenGnomeswasnecessarytoreassuretheyouththatthiswasnotaSkullBearer.

“Who are you, friend, and where are you from?” the stranger demandedsuddenly.SheagavehimhisnameandexplainedthathewasfromShadyVale.Hetold

himthathehadbeenexploringonarivertothesouthwhenhisboatoverturned,andhehadbeenwasheddownstreamandleftunconsciousonabankwheretheband ofGnomes had found him. The fabricated talewas close enough to thetruth so that themanmight believe him, and Sheawas not yet ready to truststrangerswiththewholetruthuntilheknewmorethanheknewaboutthesetwo.HeconcludedhisstorybystatingthattheGnomeshadfoundhimanddecidedtotakehimprisoner.Themanlookedathimforalongmoment,anamusedsmilecrossinghislipsasheplayedidlywiththeleatherpouch.“Well, I doubt that you have toldme thewhole truth.”He laughed shortly.

“But I can’tblameyou. If Iwere inyourplace, Iwouldn’t tellmeeverythingeither. There will be time enough for the truth later. My name is PanamonCreel.”HeextendedhisonebroadhandwhichSheaacceptedandshookheartily.The

strangerhadagriplikeironandtheValemanwincedinvoluntarilyatthestronghandshake.Theman smiled faintly and released his grip, pointing to the darkgiantbehindthem.“Mycompanion,Keltset.We’vebeentogetherforalmosttwoyearsnowandI

neverhadabetterfriend,althoughIcouldhavewishedforamoretalkativeone,perhaps.Keltsetisamute.”“Whatishe?”askedSheacuriously,watchingthegreatfigurelumberslowly

aboutthelittleclearing.“Youcertainlyareastrangertothispartoftheworld.”Theotherlaughedin

amusement. “Keltset is aRockTroll.Hishomewas in theCharnalMountainsuntil his peoplemade anoutcast ofhim.We’rebothoutcasts in this thanklessworld,but lifedealsadifferenthandtoeach,Isuppose.Wehavenochoiceinthematter.”“ARockTroll,” Shea repeatedwonderingly. “I’ve never seen aRockTroll

before.Ithoughttheywereallsavagecreatures,almostlikeanimals.Howcouldyou...?”“Watch your tongue, friend,” the stranger warned sharply. “Keltset doesn’t

likethatkindoftalk,andheisjustsensitiveenoughtosteponyouforusingit.Yourproblemis thatyou lookathimandseeamonster,amisshapencreatureunlikeyouorme,andyouwonderifhe’sdangerous.ThenItellyouthathe’saRockTroll,andyou’retwiceascertainhe’smoreanimalthanman.Partofyour

limitededucationand lackofpracticalexperience, Iwarrant.Youshouldhavetraveledwithmeduring the last fewyears—ha,youwouldhave learned thatevenafriendlysmileshowstheteethbehind!”ShealookedcloselyatthegiantRockTrollasKeltsetbentidlyoverthefallen

Gnomes, glancing about for anything he might have missed in his extensivesearchoftheirgarmentsandpacks.Keltsetwasbasicallyman-shaped,dressedinknee-length pants and a tunic belted with a green cord. About the neck andwrists he wore protective metal collars. His really different feature was thestrange,almostbarklikeskinthatcoveredtheentirebody,coloringitsomethingon the order ofmeatwell done, but not yet charred.The dark facewas smallfeatured, blunt and nondescript, with a heavy brow and deep-set eyes. Theextremitieswere thesameasaman’sexceptfor thehands.Therewasno littlefingeroneitherhand—onlyathumbandthreestout,powerfulfingersnearlyaslargeastheValeman’ssmallwrists.“Hedoesn’tlookverytametome,”Sheadeclaredquietly.“There you are! The perfect example of a hasty opinion totally without

foundation. Just because Keltset doesn’t look civilized and doesn’t appear anintelligentcreatureonthefaceofthings,youlabelhimananimal.Shea,myboy,youmaybelievemewhen I say thatKeltset is a sensitivemanwith the samefeelings as you or I. Being a Troll in theNorthland is every bit as normal asbeinganElfintheWestlandandsoon!YouandIarethestrangersinthispartoftheworld.”Shealookedcarefullyatthebroad,reassuringface,theeasysmilethatseemed

to come so naturally, and he instinctively distrusted theman.These twoweremorethantravelerspassingthroughthiscountrywhohadseenhisplightandhadcome tohisaidoutof love for their fellowman.Theyhadstalked thatGnomeencampmentwithskillandcunning,andwhendiscovered,destroyedtheentireGnomepatrolwithruthlessefficiency.AsdangerousastheRockTrollappeared,SheawascertainthatPanamonCreelwastwiceasdeadly.“YouaremostcertainlybetterinformedonthematterthanI,”admittedShea,

choosing hiswords carefully. “Being from theSouthland, and having traveledlittle outside of its borders, I am unfamiliar with all life in this region of theworld.Ioweyoubothmylife,andmythanksgotoKeltsetaswell.”Thedashingstrangersmiledhappilyattheexpressionofgratitude,obviously

pleasedattheunexpectedcompliment.“Nothanksarenecessary;Itoldyouthat,”hereplied.“Comeoverhereandsit

withmeforamomentwhilewewaitforKeltsettofinishhistask.Wemusttalk

moreaboutwhatbroughtyoutothispartofthecountry.It’sverydangerousintheseparts,youknow,especiallytravelingalone.”Heledthewayovertothenearesttreewherehesatdownwearily,restinghis

backagainsttheslendertrunk.HestillheldthepouchwiththeElfstonesinhisonegoodhand,andSheadidnot feel thathe shouldbring that subjectup justyet. Hopefully, the strangerwould ask if they belonged to him, and he couldrecoverthemandbeonhiswaytoParanor.Theothersinthecompanywouldbelookingforhimbynow,eitheralongtheeasternedgeoftheDragon’sTeethorfartherupnearParanor.“WhyisKeltsetsearchingthoseGnomes?”theyouthaskedafteramoment’s

silence.“Well, theremight be some indication of where they are from, where they

weregoing.Theymighthavesomefood,whichwecoulduse rightnow.Whoknows,theymightevenhavesomethingvaluable...?”He trailedoffsharplyand lookedquestioninglyatShea,onehandbalancing

the leatherpouchwith theElfstonesbefore theValeman’seyes,holding it likebait before the hunted animal. Shea swallowed hard and hesitated, realizingsuddenlythemanhadsensedallalongthatthestonesbelongedtohim.Hehadtodosomethingquickly,orhewouldgivehimselfaway.“Theybelongtome.Thepouchandthestonesaremine.”“Aretheynow?”PanamonCreelgrinnedwolfishlyattheyouth.“Idon’tsee

yournameonthepouch.Howdidyoucomebythem?”“Theyweregiventomebymyfather,”Shealiedquickly.“I’vehadthemfor

years.Icarrythemeverywhere—asortofgood-luckpiece.WhentheGnomescapturedme,theysearchedmeandtookthepouchandthestonesaway.Buttheyaremine.”The scarlet-clad rescuer smiled faintly and opened the pouch, pouring the

stonesintohisopenpalm,holdingthepouchwiththewicked-lookingpike.Hehefted them and held them up to the light, admiring their brilliant blue glow.ThenheturnedbacktoShea,raisinghiseyebrowsquizzically.“What you saymay be true, but it may be that you stole them. They look

rathervaluabletobecarryingaroundasagood-luckcharm.IthinkIshouldkeepthemuntilIamsatisfiedthatyouarethetrueowner.”“ButIhavetogo—Ihavetomeetmyfriends,”Sheasputtereddesperately.

“Ican’tstaywithyouuntilyou’recertainIownthestones!”PanamonCreel rose slowly to his feet and smiled down, tucking the pouch

anditscontentsintohistunic.

“That should pose no problem. Just tellmewhere I can reach you, and I’llbringthestones toyouthereafterI’vecheckedoutyourstory.I’llbedownintheSouthlandinseveralmonthsorso.”Sheawasabsolutelybesidehimselfwithanger,andheleapedtohisfeetina

rage.“Why, you’re nothing but a thief, a common highwayman!” he stormed,

bracingtheotherdefiantly.PanamonCreeleruptedsuddenlyintoafitofuncontrollablelaughter,holding

his sides inmirth.He finally regained control of himself, shaking his head indisbelief as the tears rolled down his broad face. Shea looked on inastonishment,unable toseewhatwassohumorousabout theaccusation.EventhehugeRockTroll had stoppedmomentarily and turned to look at them, hisplacidfacedarkandexpressionless.“Shea,Ihavetoadmireamanwhospeakshismind,”exclaimedthestranger,

stillchucklingindelight.“Noonecouldaccuseyouofbeingunperceptive!”The irate Valeman started to make a hasty retort and then caught himself

quickly as the facts of the situation recalled themselves sharply inhis puzzledmind. What were these two strange companions doing in this part of theNorthland?Whyhad they bothered to rescue him in the first place?Howhadtheyevenknownhewasaprisonerof thesmallbandofGnomes?Herealizedthetruthinaninstant;ithadbeensoobviousthathehadoverlookedit.“Panamon Creel, the kind rescuer!” he mocked bitterly. “No wonder you

foundmyremarksoamusing.YouandyourfriendareexactlywhatIcalledyou.You are thieves, robbers, highwaymen! It was the stones you were after allalong!Howlowcanyoube...?”“Watchyourtongue,youngster!”Thescarletstrangerleapedinfrontofhim,

brandishing the iron pike. The broad face was distorted in sudden hate, theconstantsmilesuddenlyvillainousbeneaththesmallmustacheasangerflashedsharply in the dark eyes. “What you may, think of us had best be kept toyourself. I’ve come a longway in this world, and no one has ever givenmeanything!Sincethisisso,Iletnomantakeanythingaway!”Sheabackedawayguardedly, terrified that hehad foolishlyoversteppedhis

bounds with the unpredictable pair. Undoubtedly, his own rescue had beenalmostanafterthoughtontheirpart,theirprimaryconcernhavingbeenthetheftof the Elfstones from the Gnome raiders. Panamon Creel was no one to foolaround with, and a reckless tongue at this stage of the game could cost theValeman his life. The tall thief stared balefully at his frightened captive a

momentlongerandthensteppedbackslowly,theangeredfeaturesrelaxingandafainthintofhisformergood-naturednessreturninginaquicksmile.“Whyshouldwedenyit,KeltsetandI?”Heswaggeredbackwardandaround

afewpaces,wheelingabruptlyonSheaagain.“Wearewayfarersoffortune,heandI.Menwholivebytheirwitsandbytheircunning—yetwearenodifferentthanothermen,saveinourmethods.Andperhapsourdisdainforhypocrisy!Allmenarethievesinonewayoranother;wearesimplytheold-fashionedtype,thehonesttypewhoarenotashamedofwhattheyare.”“How did you happen on this camp?” Shea asked hesitantly, fearful of

aggravatingthetemperamentalmanfurther.“We came across their fire last night, just after sunset,” the other replied

easily,alltracesofhostilitygone.“Icamedowntotheedgeoftheclearingforacloserlookandsawmylittleyellowfriendsplayingwiththosethreebluegems.Isawyouaswell,alltrussedupfordelivery.SoIdecidedtobringKeltsetdownandkilltwobirdswithonestone—ah,ha,yousee,Iwasn’tlyingwhenItoldyouthatIdidnotliketoseeafellowSouthlanderinthehandsofthosedevils!”Sheanodded,happytobefree,butunsurewhetherhewasbetteroffnowthan

whenhehadbeenaprisoneroftheGnomes.“Quitworrying, friend.”PanamonCreel recognized theunspoken fear. “We

don’t mean you any harm.We only want the stones— they’ll bring a goodprice, andwe can use themoney.You’re free to go back towhere you camefromanytime.”He turned away abruptly andwalked over to thewaitingKeltset, whowas

standingobedientlynexttoasmallpileofarms,clothing,andassortedarticlesofvaluethathehadcollectedfromthefallenGnomes.The huge frame of the Troll dwarfed the normally large figure of his

companion; the dark, barklike skinmade him appear somewhat like a gnarledtreecasting itsshadowover thescarlet-cladhumanThe twoconversedbriefly,Panamonspeakingin lowtones tohisgiantfriendwhile theotherrepliedwithsign language and nods of his broad head. They turned to the pile of goods,which the man shuffled through quickly, casting most of the effects aside asuselessjunk.Sheawatchedmomentarily,uncertainwhatheshoulddonext.Hehadlostthestones,andwithoutthemhewasvirtuallydefenselessinthissavageland. He had lost his companions in the Dragon’s Teeth, the only ones whowould stand with him, the only ones who could really help him recover thestones.Hehadcomesofarthatitwasunthinkabletoturnbacknow,evenifhethoughthecoulddososafely.Theothersinthecompanydependedonhim,and

hewouldneverdesertFlickandMenionwhateverthedangersinvolved.PanamonCreelcastashortglanceoverhisshouldertoseeiftheValemanhad

madeanymovetoleave,andafainttraceofsurpriseregisteredonhishandsomefacewhenhesawtheyouthstillstandingwherehehadlefthim.“Whatareyouwaitingfor?”Sheashookhisheadslowly,indicatingthathewasn’tquitesure.Thetallthief

watchedhimamomentlonger,andthenwavedhimoverwithashortsmile.“Comeonandhaveabite toeat,Shea,”he invited.“The leastwecando is

feedyoubeforeyoustartbackfortheSouthland.”Fifteenminuteslaterthethreewereseatedaroundasmallcampfire,watching

stripsofdriedbeefwarmenticingly in thesmokingheat.ThemuteKeltset satsilentlynexttothelittleValeman,thedeepeyesfixedonthesmokingmeat,thehugehandsclaspedchildlikeashe squattedbefore the small fire.Sheahadanuncontrollableurgetoreachoutandtouchthestrangecreature,tofeeltherough,barklikeskin.ThefeaturesoftheTrollwereindescribablyblandevenfromthisclose distance. The Troll never moved while the meat was cooking, but satabsolutely still like some immobile rock that time and the ageshadpassedbywithoutchanging.PanamonCreelglancedoveronceandnoticedSheacastingawatchfuleyeonthehugecreature.Hesmiledbroadly,onehandcomingacrosstoclapthestartledValemanontheshoulder.“Hewon’tbite—longashegetsfed!Ikeeptellingyouthesamething,but

youdon’tlisten.That’syouthforyou—wildandfancyfreeandnotimefortheoldfolks.Keltsetisjustlikeyouandme,onlybiggerandquieter,whichiswhatIlikeinapartnerinthislineofwork.HedoeshisjobbetterthananymanI’veeverworkedwith,andI’veworkedwithquiteafew,Icantellyou.”“Hedoeswhatyoutellhim,Isuppose?”Sheaaskedshortly.“Surehedoes,surehedoes,”camethequickanswer, then thescarlet figure

bentclosertotheother’spaleface,theironpikecomingupsharplyinemphasis.“But don’t getmewrong, boy, because I don’tmean to say he’s any kind ofanimal.Hecanthinkforhimselfwhenit’sneeded.ButIwashisfriendwhennooneelsewouldevenlookhisway—noone!He’sthestrongestlivingthingI’veeverseen.Hecouldcrushmewithouthalf thinkingabout it.Butdoyouknowwhat?Ibeathim,andnowhefollowsme!”He paused to judge the other’s reaction, eyes wide with delight at the

Valeman’s startled lookof disbelief.He laughedmerrily and slappedhis kneewithexaggeratedhumoratthereactionhehaddrawn.“I beat himwith friendship, not strength! I respected him as aman, treated

himasanequal,andforthatcheapprice,Iwonhisloyalty.Hah,surprisedyou!”Stillchucklingathis thinattemptathumor, thethief liftedthestripsofbeef

fromthefireandheldoutthestickonwhichtheyrestedtothesilentTroll,whoremoved several and began munching hungrily. Shea helped himself slowlywhen offered and suddenly realized that he was starving. He couldn’t evenremember when he had eaten last, and gnawed ravenously at the tasty beef.PanamonCreelshookhisheadinamusementandofferedtheValemanasecondpiece before taking one himself. The three ate in silence for several minutesbeforeSheaventuredafurtherinquiryconcerninghiscompanions.“Whatmadeyoudecidetobecome...robbers?”heaskedguardedly.PanamonCreelshotaquicklookathim,archinghiseyebrowsinsurprise.“Whatdoyoucarewhatthereasonswere?Planonwritingourlifestory?”He

paused and caught himself suddenly, smiling quickly at his own irritability.“There’snosecrettoit,Shea.I’veneverbeenmuchatmakinganhonestliving,neververygoodatcommonwork.Iwasawildkid,lovedadventure,lovedtheoutdoors—hatedwork.ThenIlostmyhandinanaccident,anditbecameevenharder to findwork thatwouldmakeme a comfortable living, getmewhat Iwanted. I was deep in the Southland then, living in Talhan. I got in a littletroubleandthenalotmore.ThenextthingIknewIwasroamingthefourlandsrobbing for a living. The funny thingwas I foundmyself so good at it that Icouldn’tquit.And I enjoyed it—all of it!Sohere I am,maybenot rich,buthappyintheprimeofmyyouth—oratleast,mymanhood.”“Don’t you ever think about goingback?”Sheapersisted, unable tobelieve

themanwas being honestwith himself. “Don’t you ever think about a homeand...?”“Please,let’snotbemaudlin,lad!”Theotherroaredinlaughter.“Keepthisup

andyou’llhavemeintears,beggingforforgivenessonmytiredoldknees!”He broke into such an uncontrollable fit of raucous guffaws that even the

silentTrollglancedoverinquietcontemplationforamomentbeforereturningtohis meal. Shea felt a fierce flush of indignation spreading over his face andturned slowly back to his food, chewing the beefwith grinding bites of angerand embarrassment. After several moments the laughter died into smallchuckles,thethiefshakinghisheadinamusementashetriedtoswallowalittlefood. Thenwithout further prompting, he continued his narration in a quietertoneofvoice.“Keltsethasadifferent story thanmine, Iwant tomake thatclear. Ihadno

reasontotakeupthiskindoflife,buthehadeveryreason.Hewasamutesince

birth,andtheTrollsdon’tlikedeformedpeople.Kindofajokeonthem,Iguess.Sotheymadelifeprettyroughforhim,kickedhimaroundandbeathimwhentheyweremadatanythingthattheycouldn’ttaketheirangeroutondirectly.Hewasthebuttofeveryjoke,butheneverfoughtbackbecausethosepeoplewereallhehad.Thenhebecamebig,sobigandstrongthattheotherswerefrightenedofhim.Onenightsomeoftheyoungonestriedtohurthim,reallyhurthimsohemight go away, even die.But it didn’twork out quite as they expected.Theypushedhimtoofar,andhefoughtbackandkilledthreeofthem.Asaresulthewasdrivenfromthevillage,andanoutcastTrollhasnohomeonceoutsidehisowntribeorwhatevertheyare.SohewanderedaroundonhisownuntilIfoundhim.”He smiled faintly and looked over at themassive, placid face bent intently

overthelastseveralstripsofbeef,eatinghungrily.“He knows what we’re doing, though, and I guess he knows that it’s not

honestwork.Buthe’slikeachildwho’sbeensobadlymistreatedthathehasnorespectforotherpeoplebecausetheyneverdidhimanygood.Besides,westayinthispartof thecountrywhere there’sonlyGnomesandDwarfs—aTroll’snaturalenemies.WesteerawayfromthedeepNorthlandandseldomgetsouthveryfar.Wedoallright.”Hereturnedtohispieceofbeef,munchingabsentlyashestaredintothedying

embersofthefire,pokingthemwiththetoeofhisleatherboot,thesparksrisingin small showers and fading into dust. Shea finished his own food withoutfurthercomment,wonderingwhathecouldpossiblydotoregaintheElfstones,wishing that he knew where the other members of the company were now.Moments later the meal was ended, and the scarlet-clad thief rose abruptly,scatteringtheembersofthefirewithaswiftkickofhisboot.ThemassiveRockTroll rosewith him and stood quietlywaiting for his friend tomake the nextmove,hisgreatbulktoweringoverShea.TheValemanstoodatlastandwatchedPanamonCreelgatherupseveralsmalltrinketsandafewweaponstoplaceinasackwhichhehandedtoKeltsettocarry.Thenheturnedtohissmallcaptiveandnoddedshortly.“It’sbeeninterestingknowingyou,Shea,andIwishyougoodluck.WhenI

thinkof the littlegems in thispouch, I shall thinkofyou.Toobad it couldn’twork out so that you could save them, but at least you saved your life— orrather,Isavedit.Thinkofthestonesasagiftforservicesrendered.Itmaymakelosingthemeasier.Nowyou’dbetterbemovingalongifyouplantoreachthesafetyoftheSouthlandinthenextseveraldays.ThecityofVarfleetliesjustto

thesouthandwest,andyou’llfindhelpthere.Juststicktotheopencountry.”He turned to leave,motioningKeltset to follow and had taken several long

stridesbeforeheglancedbackoverhisshoulder.TheValemanhadnotmoved,butwaslookingafterthedepartingmenasifinatrance.PanamonCreelshookhis head in disgust and walked a bit farther, then stopped in annoyance andwheeledabout,knowingtheotherwasstillstandingimmobilewherehehadlefthim.“What’sthematterwithyou?”hedemandedangrily.“Nowdon’ttellmethat

you have any foolish ideas about trailing us and trying to get the gems back?ThatwouldspoilaverynicerelationshipbecauseI’dhavetocutyourearsoff—maybeworse!Nowgetgoing,getoutofhere!”“Youdon’tunderstandwhatthosestonesmean!”Sheashouteddesperately.“IthinkIdo,”camethequickreply.“TheymeanthatforawhileKeltsetandI

will bemore thanmerelypoverty-stricken thieves. Itmeanswewon’t have tostealorbegforahandoutforquitesometime.Itmeansmoney,Shea.”Desperately,Sheadashed after the two robbers, unable to thinkof anything

butrecoveringthepreciousElfstones.PanamonCreelwatchedhimapproachinastonishment, certain that the Valeman was crazed to the point of daring toattack them to regain possession of the three blue gems. Never had heencounteredsuchapersistentfellowinallhisdays.Hehadsparedthelad’slifeandgraciouslygivenhimhis freedom,but still it didn’t seem tobe enough tosatisfy him.Shea came to a pantinghalt several yards away from the two tallfigures,andthethoughtflashedthroughhismindthathehadreachedtheendofhis rope. Their patience was exhausted and now they would dispose of himwithoutfurtherconsideration.“I didn’t tell you the truth before,” he gasped finally. “I couldn’t... I don’t

knowitallmyself.Butthestonesareveryimportant—notonlytome,buttoeveryoneinallthelands.Eventoyou,Panamon.”Thescarlet robber lookedathimwithamixtureofsurpriseanddistrust, the

smile gone, but the dark eyes still free of anger. He said nothing, but stoodmotionlesswaitingfortheexasperatedValemantospeakfurther.“You’ve got to believeme!”Shea exclaimed vehemently. “There’smore to

thisthanyourealize.”“Youcertainlyseemtobelieveso,”admittedtheotherflatly.Helookedover

at the huge Keltset, who stood at his elbow, and shrugged his incredulity atShea’sstrangebehavior.TheRockTrollmadeaquickmovetowardShea,andthe Valeman shrank back in terror, but Panamon Creel stopped his massive

companionwitharaisedhand.“Look, just grantme one favor,” Shea pleaded desperately, grasping at any

chancetogainalittletimetothink.“TakemenorthwithyoutoParanor.”“Youmustbemad!”criedthethief,aghastatthesuggestion.“Whatpossible

reasoncouldyouhaveforgoingtothatblackfortress?It’sextremelyunfriendlycountry. You wouldn’t last five minutes! Go home, boy. Go home to theSouthlandandleavemeinpeace.”“I’vegottogettoParanor,”theotherinsistedquickly.“ThatwaswhereIwas

goingwhentheGnomescapturedme.Ihavefriendsthere—friendswhowillbesearchingforme.IhavetojointhematParanor!”“Paranor isanevilplace, a spawningground forNorthlandcreatureseven I

wouldbeafraid torun into!”Panamonsaidheatedly.“Besides, ifyoudohavefriendsthere,youprobablyplantoleadKeltsetandmeintosomesortoftrapsoyoucangetyourhandsonthestones.That’syourplan, isn’t it?Forget itrightnow.Takemyadviceandturnsouthwhileyoustillcan!”“You’reafraid,aren’tyou?”Sheasputteredangrily.“You’reafraidofParanor

andafraidofmyfriends.Youhaven’tthecourage...”He trailed off sharply as the deep fires of anger kindled explosively in the

scarlet thief, thebroad face flushingheatedly at the accusation.For amomentPanamon Creel stood motionless, his entire frame quivering with rage as heglaredatthesmallValeman.Sheastoodhisground,gamblingeverythingonthisfinalplea.“Ifyouwon’t takemewithyou—just toParanor—thenI’llgoaloneand

takemy chances,” he promised. Hewatched their reaction for amoment andthencontinued.“All I’masking is tobe taken just to thebordersofParanor. Iwon’taskyoutogobeyond,Iwon’tleadyouintoatrap.”PanamonCreel shookhisheadonceagain indisbelief, theangergone from

hiseyesandafaintsmileplayingoverhis tightenedlipsasheturnedfromtheValemantolookatthegiantRockTroll.Heshruggedshortlyandnodded.“Why shouldwebeworried?” hemusedmockingly. “It’s your neck on the

block.Comeonalong,Shea.”

ChapterNineteen

The three strange companions journeyed northward through the rough hillcountry untilmidday,when they paused for a quickmeal and a fewwelcomeminutesof rest.The terrainof thecountryhadremainedchangelessduring themorning’smarch,aconsistentlyruggedseriesofelevationsanddepressionsthatmade traveling extremely difficult. Even the powerful Keltset was forced toclimb and scramble with the two men, unable to find sure footing or levelground thatwouldpermithimtowalkupright.The landwasnotonlyhumpedandmisshapen, but also rather barren and unfriendly in appearance. The hillsweregrass-coveredanddottedwithbrushandsmall trees,buttheyconveyedalonelyandwildemptiness to the travelers thatcaused them to feeluneasyandmoody.Thegrasswasatall,whiplikeweedsostrongthatitslappedatthemen’spantslegswithstingingswipes.Whencrusheddownbytheirheavyboots,itlaymattedonlysecondsbeforespringingbackintoplace.Uponlookingbackinthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadcome,Sheacouldnottellfromtheappearanceofthelandthatanyonehadpassedthatway.Thescatteredtreesweregnarledandbent, filledwith small leaves,butgiving theoverall impression that theywerenature’sstepchildren,stuntedatbirthandlefttosurviveinthislonelycountryasbest theycould.Therewasno signat all of anyanimalorbird life, and sincedawn,thethreemenhadneitherseennorheardanotherlivingcreature.Conversationwasnotlacking,however.Infact,therewereseveraltimeswhen

SheawishedthatPanamonCreelwouldtireofhisownvoiceforafewminutes.The tall thief carried on a steady conversation with his companions, withhimself, andonoccasionwithnoone inparticular, for theentiremorning.Hetalkedabouteverythingimaginable,includingagoodmanythingsaboutwhichhe seemed to know nothing. The one topic of conversation he scrupulouslyavoidedwasShea.HeactedasiftheValemanweremerelyacomradeinarms,afellow thiefwithwhomhe could freely speak abouthis ownwild experienceswithout fear of reprimand. But he meticulously avoided mentioning Shea’sbackground, the Elfstones, or the purpose of this journey. Apparently he hadconcluded that the best way to handle the matter was to get the bothersomeValeman to Paranor as quickly as possible, reunite him with his friends, andwithoutfurtherdelaycontinueon.Sheahadnoideawherethetwohadintendedtotravelbeforeencounteringhim.Perhapseventheyhadbeenuncertainoftheir

destination. He listened attentively while the thief rambled on, interjectingcomments of his own when he thought it appropriate or the other seemedinterestedinhisopinion.Butfor themostpart,heconcentratedonthe journeyandtriedtodecidethebestwaytogoaboutrecoveringthestones.Thesituationwassomewhatuntenablenomatterhowhewentaboutit,boththethievesandheknew that he was going to try to get the stones away from them. The onlyquestionremainingwas themethodhewould try.Sheawasconvinced that thecleverPanamonCreelwouldmerelytoywithhim,givehimenoughropetofindouthowheplannedtogetthestones,andthengailyhaulinthenooseabouttheValeman’sneck.Occasionally while they walked and conversed, Shea glanced at the silent

Rock Troll, wondering what sort of person lay beneath the expressionlessexterior.PanamonhadsaidtheTrollwasamisfit,acreaturespurnedbyhisownpeople, a companion to the flashy thief because themanhadproved tobehisfriend.Thiscouldbetrue,astriteasthetaleseemedonfirstappraisal,buttherewas something about the Troll’s bearing that caused theValeman to questionthathewasanexiledrivenoutbyhisownpeople.TheTrollcarriedhimselfwithundeniable dignity, head erect, the massive frame ramrod straight. He neverspoke,apparentlybecausehereallywasmute.Yet therewasan intelligence inthedeep-seteyesthatledSheatobelieveKeltsetwasfarmorecomplexthanhiscompanion had indicated. Just aswithAllanon, Shea felt that PanamonCreelhad not told him the whole truth. But unlike the Druid, the clever thief wasprobably a liar, and the youth felt that he should not believe anything he hadbeentold.HewascertainthathedidnotknowthewholestorybehindKeltset,whetherbecausePanamonhad liedorbecause theman simplydidn’tknow it.He was equally sure that the scarlet-clad adventurer, who had in one instantsavedhislifeandinthenextcalmlystolenthepreciousElfstones,wasmorethananordinaryroadagent.They finished themiddaymealquickly.AsKeltsetpackedup their cooking

implements, Panamon explained to Shea that they were not far from theJannisson Pass at the northern borders of the hill country. Once through thispass, theywould cross the Plains of Streleheim to thewest to reach Paranor.Theretheywouldpartways, thethiefdeclaredpointedly,andSheacouldmeetwithhisfriendsorgototheDruids’Keepashesawfit.TheValemannoddedhisunderstanding,catchingthehintofeagernessintheother’svoice,knowingthattheyexpectedhimtomakehismovetorecoverthestonessoon.Hesaidnothing,however, and gave no indication that he suspected theywere baiting him, but

pickedupwhat littlegearhe still had, to continue the journey.The threemenwoundtheirwayslowlythroughthefoothillstowardthelowmountainsthathadappeared ahead. Shea was certain the distant mountains on his left were anextension of the formidable Dragon’s Teeth, but this new set of mountainsappearedtobeacompletelydifferentrange,anditwasbetweenthetwochainsthattheJannissonPassmustlie.TheywereveryneartheNorthlandnow,andfortheValemantherewasnoturningback.Panamon Creel had launched into another in the seemingly never-ending

series of tales about his adventures. Strangely, he seldom mentioned Keltset,anotherindicationtoSheathatthethiefknewlessabouttheRockTrollthanheprofessed.ItwasbeginningtoappeartoSheathatthegiantTrollwasasmuchamysterytohiscompanionashewastotheValeman.Iftheyhadlivedtogetherasthievesfortwoyears,asPanamonhadclaimed,thensomeofthetalescertainlyoughttoincludeKeltset.Moreover,whileatfirstithadseemedtoSheathattheTrollwasadoglikefollowerofthecrimsonthief,itwasbeginningtoappearoncloserobservationthathetraveledwiththemanforentirelydifferentreasons.ItwasnotaconclusionSheaarrivedatsomuchbylisteningtoPanamonasfromobserving the mute conduct of the Troll. Shea was mystified by his proudbearing and detached attitude. Keltset had been swift and deadly in hisexterminationoftheGnomehuntingparty,butinretrospectitseemedalmostasifhehaddoneitbecauseithadtobedone—nottopleasehiscompanionortogain possession of the stones. Shea found it difficult to surmise who Keltsetmightbe,buthewascertainthathewasnotadowntrodden,shunnedmisfitwhohadbeendrivenfromhispeopleasahatedoutcast.Itwas a particularlywarm day, and Sheawas beginning to perspire freely.

The terrain had failed to level off at all, and traversing the stubborn,windinghillswas laborious and slow.PanamonCreel talkedonall thewhile, laughingandjokingwithSheaasiftheywereoldfriends,companionsontheroadtohighadventure.Hetoldhimaboutthefourlands;hehadtraveledthemall,seentheirpeople,studiedtheirwaysoflife.SheathoughtheseemedabitvagueabouttheWestland,andseriouslydoubtedthatthethiefhadlearnedmuchabouttheElvenpeople, but decided it would be unwise to pursue the matter. He listeneddutifullytothetalesofthewomenPanamonhadmetinhistravels,includingastandard narration about a beautiful king’s daughter whom he hid saved andfalleninlovewith,onlytoloseherwhenherfathersteppedbetweenthemandspiritedher away to distant lands.TheValeman sighedwith exaggeratedpity,inwardlychucklingatthetale,astheanguishedthiefendedbyconfidingthatto

thisdayhecontinuedhissearchforher.ShearemarkedthathehopedPanamonwouldfindherandshemightpersuadehimtogiveupthiswayoflife.Themanlookedathimsharply,studyingtheseriousface,andforafewmomentshewassilentashemulledtheprospectover.TheyreachedtheJannissonPassabouttwohourslater.Thepasswasformed

byabreakatthemeetingofthetwomountainchains,awide,easilyaccessiblepassage leading to the broad plainland beyond. The great mountain rangecomingupfromthesouthwasanextensionofthetoweringDragon’sTeeth,butthenorthernrangewasunfamiliartoShea.HeknewthattheCharnalMountains,thehomeofthehugeRockTrolls,laysomewheretothenorthofthem,andthissecond range could be a southerly extension. Those desolate and relativelyunexploredpeakshadforcenturiesremainedavastwildernessinhabitedsolelyby the ferocious and warlike Troll colonies.While the Rock Trolls were thelargestofthatbreed,therewereseveralothertypesofTrollslivinginthatsectorof the Northland. If Keltset were any example of the Rock Trolls, then Sheaimaginedtheymustbeamoreintelligentpeople thanSouthlandersbelieved.Itseemed somehow strange that his own countrymen should be somisinformedaboutanotherraceinhabitingthesameworld.Eventhetextbookshehadstudiedwhen he was younger had described the Troll nations as ignorant anduncivilized.Panamon called a sudden halt at the entrance to thewide pass andwalked

ahead several yards, peering cautiously up into the high slopes to either side,obviouslywaryofwhatmightbewaitingthere.Afterseveralminutes’perusal,heorderedthestolidKeltsettoinvestigatethepasstobecertainitwassafeforthem to proceed.Quickly the giantTroll lumbered forward andwas soon lostbetweenthehillsandrocks.PanamonsuggestedSheasitdowntowait,smilingthatunforgivablysmugsmilethatindicatedthethiefthoughthewasincrediblyclevertotakethisaddedprecautiontoavoidanytrapsthatfriendsofSheamighthavearrangedforhim.WhilehefeltsafeenoughkeepingSheawithhim,beingreasonablycertainthatSheaposednothreatbyhimself,hewasconcernedthattheValemanmighthavefriendspowerfulenoughtocausetroubleiftheyfoundthe opportunity. While waiting for his companion to return, the garrulousadventurerdecidedtolaunchintostillanotherwildtaleofhishair-raisinglifeasa road agent. Shea found this one, like the others, incredible and obviouslyexaggerated. Panamon seemed to enjoy telling these stories far more thananyonecouldpossiblyenjoylistening,asifeachweretheveryfirstandnotthefivehundredth.Sheaenduredthetaleinstoicsilence,tryingtolookinterestedas

he thoughtaboutwhat layahead.Theyhad tobequiteclose to thebordersofParanornow,andoncetheyreachedthatpoint,hewouldbeleftonhisown.Hewouldhavetofindhisfriendsquicklyifheexpectedtostayaliveinthisregionofthecountry.TheWarlockLordandhishunterswouldbesearchingtirelesslyforanytraceofhim,andiftheyreachedhimbeforehegainedtheprotectionofAllanonandthecompany,hisdeathwascertain.Still,itwaspossiblethatbythistime they had taken possession of the Druid’s Keep and seized the preciousSwordofShannara.Perhapsthevictorywasalreadywon.Keltsetappearedsuddenlyinthepassandsignaledforthemtocomeforward.

They hastened to his side and together the three proceeded. There was littlecoverintheJannissonPassthatwouldhideanambushparty,anditwasapparentthat therewouldbeno troubleat thispoint.Therewerea fewstrayclumpsofbouldersanda fewnarrowhillocks,butnoneof thesewasbigenough tohidemore than one or two men. The pass was quite long, and it took the threetravelersalmostanhourtoreachtheotherend.Butitwasapleasantwalkandthe timepassed quickly.When they reached the northern entrance, they couldsee plains stretching northward and beyond these still anothermountain rangewhichappeared to run toward thewest.The travelersmarchedoutof thepassonto the smooth floorof theplainswhichwere set inapocket, surroundedonthreesidesinhorseshoefashionbymountainsandforestsandopeningouttothewest.Theplainsweresparselycoveredwithathin,palegreengrasswhichgrewin shaggy tufts over the dry earthen land. There were small bushes, all onlyknee-high onShea, and thesewere bent and gaunt in appearance.Apparently,evenin thespring, theseplainswereneververygreen,andlittle lifeexistedinthelonelyexpanseofcountrybeyondParanor.SheaknewtheywerenearingtheirdestinationwhenPanamonturnedthelittle

groupwestward,keepingtheirlineofmarchseveralhundredyardsnorthoftheforestandmountainborderingtotheirleft,carefultoprotectagainstanysurpriseassaults.When theValeman asked the scarlet-clad leader where theywere inrelationtoParanor,thethiefonlysmiledslylyandassuredhimtheyweregettingcloser all the time. Further questioning was pointless, and the youth resignedhimselftobeingkeptinthedarkastowheretheywereuntiltheotherdecidedhewas ready to let his uninvited guest go on alone. Instead, Shea tarried hisattention to theplainsahead, theirbarrenvastnessawesomeand fascinating tothe Southlander. It was an entirely new world for him, and while he wasunderstandablyafraidforhislife,hewasdeterminedthathewouldmissnothing.This was the fabulous odyssey Flick and he had always dreamed they would

somedaymake,andwhileitsendmightfindthembothdeadandforgotten,thequestafailureandtheSwordlost,stillhewouldseeitallinthetimeremainingtohim.Bymidafternoon,thethreeweresweatingandtempersweregrowingshortin

the steady heat of the open plainlands.Keltsetwalked slightly apart from theother two, his pace steady and unwavering, his rough face expressionless, hiseyesdarkandunfriendlyinthehot,whitesunlight.Panamonhadstoppedtalkingandwas interestedonly in completing the day’smarch andbeing rid ofShea,whom he had begun to regard as an unnecessary burden. Shea was tired andsore,hislimitedstaminagreatlysappedbythetwolongdaysofconstanttravel.The threewerewalkingright into thefaceof theburningsun,unprotectedandunshadedontheopenplains,theireyessquintingsharplyinthepiercinglight.Itbecameincreasinglyhardertodistinguishthelandaheadasthesunmovedclosertoward thewesternhorizon, and after awhileSheagaveup trying, relyingonPanamon’sskilltogetthemtoParanor.Thetravelersweredrawingclosertotheendofthemountainrangenorthwardontheirright,anditappearedthatwherethemountainpeaksceasedtheplainsopenedintoanendlessexpanse.ItwassovastthatSheacouldseethelaterallineofthehorizonwheretheskydroppedtothe parched earth.When he asked at last if thesewere the Streleheim Plains,Panamon gave no immediate answer, but after a fewmoments’ considerationnoddedshortly.Nothing further was said about their preset location or Panamon Creel’s

unspoken plans for Shea. They passed out of the horseshoe valley onto theeastern borders of the Streleheim Plains, awide, flat expanse extending northandwest.The land immediatelybefore them, runningparallel to the cliff faceandforestlandontheirleft,wassurprisinglyhilly.Itwasnotachangeinterrainthat couldbedistinguishedbyone still in thevalley, but becamedistinct onlywhen onewas nearly on top of it. Therewere even groves of small trees anddensestretchesofbrushfartheron,and...somethingelse,somethingforeigntothe land. All three travelers spotted it at the same moment, and Panamonsignaledasharphalt,peeringsuspiciouslyintothedistance.Sheasquintedintothestronglightoftheafternoonsun,shadinghiseyeswithonehand.Hesawaseriesofstrangepolesset in theearth,andscatteredabout forseveralhundredyardsineverydirectionwereheapsofcoloredclothandbitsofshiningmetalorglass.Hecould,justbarelymakeoutthemovementofanumberofsmall,blackobjects amid the cloth and debris. Finally Panamon called out loudly towhomever might be up ahead of them. To their shock, there was a flurried

rushingofraven-blackwings,accompaniedbyafrightfulshriekingofdisruptedscavengersastheblackobjectsturnedsuddenlyintogreatvulturesrisingslowlyand reluctantly as they scattered into the brilliant sunlight. Panamon andSheastood rooted in mute astonishment as the giant Keltset moved several yardscloser and peered carefully ahead. A moment later, he wheeled about andmotionedsharplytohiswatchfulcomrade.Thescarletthiefnoddedsoberly.“There’sbeen abattle of some sort,” he announced curtly. “Those aredead

menupthere!”The threemoved forward toward thegrisly sceneofbattle.Sheahungback

slightly, suddenly afraid that the still, tattered formsmight behis friends.Thestrange poles becamedistinct after themenhad gone only several yards; theywere lancesandstandardsofbattle.Thebrightbitsof lightwere thebladesofswordsandknives,somediscardedbyfleeingmen,othersstillclenchedbythedead hands of their fallen owners. The cloth heaps became men, their still,bloodsoakedformssprawledindeath,bakingslowlyinthewhiteheatofthesun.Sheachokedas the smellofdeath struckhisnostrils for the first timeandhisears caught the sound of flies buzzing busily about the human carcasses.Panamonlookedbackandsmiledgrimly.HeknewthattheValemanhadneverbeforeseendeathatcloserange,anditwouldbealessonhewouldnotforget.Shea fought the sickening feeling creeping through his stomach and forced

himself to move with the other two onto the battleground. Several hundredbodieslayonthelittlestretchofrollingland,sprawledcarelesslyindeath.Therewasnomovementanywhere;theywerealldead.Fromtherandomscatteringofthe bodies and the lack of any single concentration ofmen, Panamon quicklyconcludedinhisownmindthatithadbeenalong,bitterstruggletothedeath—no quarter asked and none given. He recognized the Gnome standardsimmediately, and thegnarledyellowbodieswere easilydistinguishable.But itwasnotuntilhehadlookedcloselyatseveralhuddledformsthatherealizedthattheopposingforcehadbeencomposedofElvenwarriors.Finally Panamon halted in the middle of the slain men, uncertain what he

shoulddonext.Sheacouldonlystareinhorroratthecarnage,hisshockedgazemovingrobotlikefromonedeadfacetothenext,fromGnometoElf,fromtheraw,openwoundstothebloodiedground.Atthatmoment,heknewwhatdeathreally meant and he was afraid. There was no adventure in it, no sense ofpurposeorchoice,nothingbutasickeningdisgustandshock.Allthosemenhaddiedforsomesenselessreason,diedperhapswithouteverknowingexactlywhatthey had fought to accomplish. Nothing was worth such terrible slaughter—

nothing.AsuddenmovementbyKeltsetsnappedhisattentionbacktohiscompanions,

andhesawtheTrollpickupafallenstandard,itspennanttornandbloodied,thepole broken in half. The insignia on the pennant was a crown seated over aspreading tree surroundedbyawreathofboughs.Keltset seemedveryexcitedandgesturedvigorously toPanamon.Theother frowned sharplyandhurriedlymadeaquickstudyofthefacesofthenearbybodies,workinghiswayoutwardfrom his companions in a widening circle. Keltset looked around anxiously,suddenly stopping as his deep-set eyes came to rest on Shea, apparentlyfascinated by something he saw in the little Valeman’s face. Amoment laterPanamon was back at his side, an unusually worried expression clouding hisbroadfeatures.“We’ve got real trouble here, friend Shea,” he announced solemnly, resting

hishandsdeterminedlyonhishipsandplantinghis feet. “That standard is thebanneroftheroyalElvenhouseofElessedil—thepersonalstaffofEventine.Ican’tfindhisbodyamongthedead,butthatdoesn’tmakemefeelanyeasier.Ifanything has happened to the Elven king, it could start awar of unbelievableproportions.Thewholecountrywillgoupinsmoke!”“Eventine!”exclaimedSheafearfully.“Hewasguardingthenorthernborders

ofParanorincase...”He caught himself abruptly, afraid that he had given himself away, but

PanamonCreelwasstilltalkingandapparentlyhadn’theard.“It doesn’t make any sense— Gnomes and Elves fighting out here in the

middle of nowhere. What would bring Eventine this far away from his ownland?Theymusthavebeenfightingforsomething.Ican’tunder...”Hepausedwith the thought left hanging, unspoken in the silence. Suddenly he stared atShea.“Whatdidyoujustsay?WhatwasthataboutEventine?”“Nothing,”theValemanstammeredfearfully.“Ididn’tsay...”Thetall thiefsnatchedthehaplessValemanbyhis tunicfront,dragginghim

closeand raisinghimbodilyoff theground,until their faceswereonly inchesaway.“Don’ttrytobeclever,littleman!”Theflushed,angeredfaceseemedgigantic

andthefierceeyeswerenarrowedwithsuspicion.“Youknowsomethingaboutallofthis—nowtalk.AllalongI’vesuspectedyouknewalotmorethanyouwere telling about those stones and the reason thoseGnomesbothered to takeyouprisoner.Nowyourtimeforfoolingaroundisover.Outwithit!”

ButSheawouldneverknowwhathisresponsewouldhavebeen.Ashehunginmidair, struggling violently in the powerful thief’s ironhanded grip, a hugeblackshadowsuddenlyfelloverthemandthenpassedoninagreatrustlingofwingsasamonstrousshapedescended from the lateafternoonskies. Itsgiant,blackbulk swoopedslowly,gracefully to thebattlefieldonlyyardsaway fromthem,andinhorrorSheafeltthefamiliarchillingfearsurgethroughhimatthesightofitsdeathlikeform.PanamonCreel,stillangered,butnowbewilderedbythesuddenappearanceof thiscreature, loweredShea to theearthabruptlyandturned to face the strange newcomer. Shea stood on shaking legs, his bloodturned to ice, his senses raw and distortedwith terror, the last vestiges of hiscouragegone.ThecreaturewasoneofthedreadedSkullBearersoftheWarlockLord!Therewasnotimelefttorun;theyhadfoundhimatlast.ThecruelredeyesofthecreaturepassedquicklyoverthegiantTroll,whohad

remainedmotionlesstooneside,stoppedforamomentonthescarletthief,thenpassedontothelittleValeman,burningintohim,probinghisscatteredthoughts.PanamonCreel,whilestillbewilderedat thesightof thiswingedmonster,wasnevertheless not in the least panicked. He turned fully about to face the evilbeing,thebroad,devilishgrinspreadingslowlyoverhisflushedcountenanceasheraisedonearmandpointedinwarning.“Whatevermannerofcreatureyoumightbe,keepyourdistance,”hewarned

sharply.“Myconcerniswiththismanalone,andnot...”Theburningeyes fastenedhatefullyonhim,and suddenlyhewasunable to

continue.Hestaredattheblackcreatureinshockandsurprise.“WhereistheSword,mortal?”thevoiceraspedmenacingly.“Icansenseits

presence.Giveittome!”Panamon Creel stared uncomprehendingly at the dark speaker for a long

moment,thenshotasharplookatthefrightenedfaceofShea.Forthefirsttime,he realized that for some unknown reason this terrible creature was theValeman’senemy.Itwasadangerousmoment.“It is useless todenyyouhave it!”Thegratingvoicepierced thedistressed

mindofthethief.“Iknowitishereamongyou,andImusthaveit.Itisuselesstofightme.Thebattleisoverforyou.ThelastheirtotheSwordhaslongsincebeentakenanddestroyed.YoumustgivemetheSword!”Foronce,PanamonCreelwasspeechless.Hehadnoideawhatthehugeblack

creaturewastalkingabout,butherealizedthattherewasnopointintryingtotellhimthat.Thewingedmonsterwasdeterminedtofinishthemallanyway,andthetimeforanyexplanationswaspast.Thetallthiefraisedhislefthandandstroked

thetipsofhissmallmustachewiththedeadlypike.Hesmiledbravely,lookingasidefleetinglyatthemotionlessformofhisgiantcompanion.Theybothknewinstinctivelythatthiswouldbeabattletothedeath.“Donotbefoolish,mortals!”Thecommandrangoutinasharphiss.“Icare

nothingforyou—onlytheSword.Icandestroyyoueasily—evenindaylight.”SuddenlySheasawaglimmerofhope.Allanonhadoncesaidthatthepower

oftheSkullBearersfadedwiththelightofday.Perhapstheywerenotinvinciblewhile the sun shone. Perhaps the two battle-hardened thieves would have achance.Buthowcouldtheyexpecttodestroysomethingthatwasnotmortal,butonly the spirit of a dead soul, a wraith of deathless existence embodied inphysicalform?Forafewmomentsnoonemoved,andthenabruptlythecreaturetookastepforward.ImmediatelyPanamonCreel’sgoodrighthandunsheathedthebroadswordathisside ina lightninglikemotionand the thiefcrouchedforthe attack. The great form ofKeltsetmoved forward a few paces at the sameinstant,changingfromamotionlessstatueintoanironmuscledfightingmachine,the heavymace in one hand, the thick legs braced for the assault. The SkullBearerhesitatedandhisburningeyes fastenedmomentarilyon the faceof theapproachingRockTroll,studyingthehugebeingcloselyforthefirsttime.Thenthecrimsoneyeswentwideinastonishment.“Keltset!”Only an instant remained to ponder how the Bearer could have known the

mute giant — a split second of astonished disbelief in the creature’s eyes,mirroringsimilar incomprehension in theeyesofPanamonCreel,and then thehuge Troll attacked with blinding speed. The mace hurtled through the air,poweredbyKeltset’smassiverightarm,strikingtheblackSkullcreaturedirectlyinthechestwithasickeningcrunch.Panamonwasalreadyleapingforward,pikeandswordblade sweepingdownward toward theBearer’schest andneck.ButthedeadlyNorthlandcreaturewasnottobesoeasilyfinished.Recoveringfromthe blow dealt by the mace, it parried Panamon’s weapons with one clawedhand,knockingthemansprawling.Inthenextinstanttheburningeyesbegantosmolder, and bolts of searing red light shot out at the dazed thief. He lungedquicklytooneside,andtheboltscaughthimonlyaglancingblow,singeinghisscarlet tunic andknockinghimdownagain.Before the attacker could findhistargetforasecondassault,thehugeformofKeltsetwasuponhim,bearinghimheavily to the earth.Even the comparatively large size of thewingedmonsterwas dwarfed in comparison to the massive Rock Troll as the two rolled andbattledover thebloodiedground.Panamonwas still onhisknees, shakinghis

dazedhead, trying toregainhissenses.Realizing thathehadtodosomething,Shearushedtothefallenthiefandgrabbedonearmindesperation.“Thestones!”hebeggedwildly.“Givemethestones,andIcanhelp!”Thebatteredfaceturneduptohimforamoment,andthenthefamiliarlookof

angercreptintohiseyes,andheshovedtheValemanrudelyaway.“Shutupandkeepoutofthis,”heroared,climbingunsteadilytohisfeet.“No

tricksnow,friend.Juststayput!”Retrieving his fallen sword, he rushed to the aid of his giant companion,

tryingvainlytostrikeasolidblowatthecapedSkullBearer.Forlongminutesthe three struggled fiercely back and forth across the rolling battleground,thrashingmadlyoverthestillbodiesofthefallenGnomesandElves.Panamonwas not nearly as strong as the other two, but he was quick and extremelydurable, bouncing away from the blows struck at him, dancing nimbly asidewhen the Northlander sent the reddish bolts flashing his way. The incrediblestrengthofKeltsetwasprovingtobeamatchforeventhespiritpowersoftheSkullcreature,andtheevilbeingwasbecomingdesperate.TheroughTrollskinwassingedandburnedinadozenplacesfromthefirethatstruckit,butthegiantmerelyshruggedthepowerfuljoltsasideandfoughton.Sheadesperatelywantedto help, but he was dwarfed by their power and size, and his weapons wereridiculouslyinadequate.Ifonlyhecouldgetthestones...Atlastthetwomortalsbegantotireinthefaceoftherepeated,inexhaustible

assaultsfromthespiritcreature.Theirblowswerenothavinganylastingeffectandtheybeganslowlytorealizethathumanstrengthalonecouldnotdestroytheattacker.Theywerelosingthebattle.SuddenlythevaliantKeltsetstumbledandfell tooneknee. Instantly theSkull creature lashedoutwithone clawed limb,slashingtheunprotectedTrollfromnecktowaist,knockinghimbackwardtotheearth.Panamoncriedoutinfuryandstruckwildlyatthespiritcreature,buthisblows were parried, and in his haste he dropped his guard and left himselfmomentarilyvulnerable.TheemissaryoftheWarlockLordstruckviciously,onearmknockingasidethethief’spikedhandasthenarrowedeyessenttheirfieryblastsdirectlyintotheman’schest.ThedeadlyboltssearedthehaplessPanamonCreelaboutthefaceandarms,andburnedrightthroughthechestcoveringwithsuch force that he was knocked unconscious. The Skull Bearer would havefinishedhimthenhadnotShea,disregardinghisownfearsattheother’sgraveperil,thrownapieceofalanceattheattacker’sunprotectedhead,strikingitfullintheevilface.Theclawedhandscameuptoolatetowardoffthepainfulblow,and they gripped the blackened visage in fury, trying angrily to recover.

Panamonwasstill lyingmotionlesson theground,but thedurableKeltsetwasbackonhisfeet,seizingtheSkullcreatureinanagonizingheadlock,desperatelytryingtocrushthelifeoutofit.Therewereonlysecondslefttoactbeforethedeadlymonsterwasfreeagain.

Shea rushed toPanamonCreel’s side, shouting at him to get up.Thebatteredfigure respondedwith inhumancourage, but fell back amoment later, blindedandexhausted.Sheapleadedwithhim,shakinghimintoconsciousness,begginghimtogivehimthestones.Onlythestonescouldhelpnow,theValemancrieddesperately!Theyweretheonlychanceforsurvival!Heglancedbackatthetwodarkcombatants,andtohishorrorhesawthatKeltsetwasslowlylosinghisholdonthespiritcreature.Insecondstheevilbeingwouldbefree,andtheywouldallbefinished.ThenabruptlythelittleleatherpouchwasthrustintohishandbythebloodiedfistofPanamon,andhehadthepreciousstonesoncemore.Leapingclearofthefallenthief,thelittleValemantoreopenthedrawstrings

totheleatherpouchandemptiedthethreebluestonesintohisopenhand.AtthatmomenttheSkullBearerbrokefreefromKeltset’spowerfulgripandturnedtofinishthebattle.Sheayelledwildly,holdingthestonesstretchedforthtowardtheattacker,prayingfortheirstrangepowertoaidhimnow.Theblindingblueglowspreadoutwardjustasthecreatureturned.ToolatetheSkullBearersawtheheirto Shannara bring the power of the Elfstones to life. Too late he focused hisburningeyesontheValeman,theredboltsofsearingfireflashingmenacingly.The great blue light blocked and shattered the attack, slicing through in apowerful, blazing surge of energy to reach the crouched black figure beyond.The lightstruck the immobileSkullcreaturewithasharpcrackle,holdinghimfastanddrainingthedarkspiritfromthemortalshellasthecreaturewrithedinagonyandscreameditsloathingofthepowerdestroyingit.Keltsetcametohisfeetinabound,pickedupafallenlance,rearedbackhisgiantframe,thearmsextended high, and with a lunge shoved the spear completely through thecreature’s caged back. The Northlander shuddered horribly, twisting almostcompletely about with one final shriek, and then slid slowly to the earth, theblackbodycrumbling intodust as it sank. In another second itwasgone, andonly a small pile of black ashes remained. Shea stood motionless, the stonesextended, theirpiercingblue light still concentratedon thedust.Then theduststirredinstillanothershudderandfromitsmidstroseawhipishblackcloudthatshotupwardlikeathinstreamofsmokeanddisappearedintotheair.Thebluelightabruptlyceasedandthebattlewasended,thethreemortalspositionedlikestatuesinthesilenceandemptinessofthebloodiedground.

For long seconds no onemoved, still stunned by the sudden finality of theviolentcombat.SheaandKeltsetstoodstaringatthesmallpileofblackashesasifwaitingforittocomebacktolife.PanamonCreellaywearilyontheearthtooneside,proppedupononeelbow,hissingedeyestryingvainlytograspwhathad just transpired. Finally Keltset stepped forward gingerly and prodded theashesof theSkullBearerwithone foot, stirring themabout to see if anythinghad been missed. Shea watched quietly, mechanically replacing the threeElfstones in the leatherpouchanddropping it back into the frontofhis tunic.RememberingPanamon,heturnedquicklytocheckontheinjuredthief,butthedurableSouthlanderwasalreadystrugglingtoasittingposition,hisdeepbrowneyesfixedwonderinglyontheValeman.Keltsethastenedoverandgentlyraisedhiscompaniontohisfeet.Themanwasburnedandcut,hisfaceandbaredchestblackened and raw in places, but nothing seemed to be broken. He stared atKeltset as well for a moment, then shrugged off the other’s strong arm andtotteredovertoawaitingShea.“Iwas rightaboutyouafterall,”hegrowled,breathingheavilyandshaking

hisbroadhead.“Youdidknowa lotmore thanyouwere telling—especiallyaboutthosestones.Whydidn’tyoutellmethetruthfromthestart?”“Youwouldn’t listen,”Sheaalibiedshortly.“Besides,youdidn’t tellmethe

truth about yourself— orKeltset either.” He paused to glance sharply at themassiveTroll.“Idon’tthinkyouknowverymuchabouthim.”Thebattered face staredat theValeman incredulously, then thebroad smile

slowlyspreadoverhishandsomefeatures.Itwasasifthescarletthiefsuddenlysaw new humor in the whole situation, but Shea thought he caught a hint ofgrudgingrespectinthedarkeyesforhiscandidevaluation.“Youmayberight.I’mbeginningtothinkIdon’tknowanythingabouthim.”

Thesmileturnedintoaheartylaugh,andthethieflookedsharplyattherough,expressionlessfaceofthegreatRockTroll.ThenhelookedbacktoShea.“Yousavedourlives,Shea,andthat’sadebtwecanneverrepay.ButI’llstart

by saying that the stones are yours to keep. I’ll never argue that point again.Morethanthat,youhavemypromisethatshouldtheneedeverarise,myswordandmyskill,suchasitis,shallbeinyourserviceataword.”Hepausedwearily to catchhisbreath, still shakenbadly from theblowshe

had received.Sheasteppedhurriedly forward toofferhisaid,but the tall thiefheldhimaway,shakinghisheadnegatively.“Iassumethatweshallbegreatfriends,Shea,”hemurmuredseriously.“Still,

wecannotbefriendwhenwehidethingsfromeachother.Ithinkyouoweme

somesortofexplanationabout thosestones,about thatcreature thatnearlyputan end to my illustrious career, and about this confounded sword I’ve neverseen.Inreturn,Ishallenlightenyouonafew,ah,misunderstandingsconcerningKeltsetandmyself.Doyouagree?”Shea frowned at him suspiciously, trying to readbehind the batteredvisage

intothemanhimself.Finallyhenoddedaffirmativelyandevenmanagedashortsmile.“Goodforyou,Shea,”Panamoncommendedheartily,clappingtheValeman

onhisslendershoulder.Asecondlater,thetallthiefhadcollapsed,weakenedbylossofbloodanddizzy from trying tomoveabout tooquickly.Theother tworushed to his side, and despite protestations that hewas quite all right, forcedhimtoremaininasupinepositionwhilethegiantKeltsetcleanedhisfacewithawettedclothlikeanymotherwouldasmall, injuredchild.Sheawasamazedatthe Troll’s quick change from a nearly indestructible fighting machine to agentle,concernednurse.Therewassomethingveryextraordinaryabouthim,andShea was certain that in some strange way Keltset was connected with theWarlockLordandthequestfortheSwordofShannara.IthadbeennoaccidentthattheSkullBearerhadknowntheRockTroll.Thetwohadencounteredeachotherbefore—andhadnotpartedasfriends.Panamonwas not unconscious, but it was clear that hewas not yet in any

conditiontotravelveryfaronhisownlegs.Hetriedvainlytoriseseveraltimes,but the watchful Keltset gently pushed him back. The irascible thief sworevehemently and demanded to be let to his feet, all to no avail. Finally, herealizedthathewasgettingnowhereandaskedthathebetakenoutofthesuntorestforawhile.Shealookedaroundthebarrenplainlandandquicklyconcludedthey would find no shelter there. The only shade within reasonable walkingdistancewastothesouth—theforestssurroundingtheDruids’Keepwithintheborders of Paranor. Panamon had previously indicated that he would not goanywhere near Paranor, but the decision was no longer entirely his to make.Shea pointed to the forests to the south, less than a mile’s walk, and Keltsetnoddedhisagreement.TheinjuredmansawwhatSheawassuggestingandcriedoutfuriouslythathewouldnotbecarriedintothoseforestsevenifitmeanthewoulddiewherehe lay.Shea tried to reasonwithhim,assuringhim that theywouldfacenodanger fromhiscompanions ifbychance theymanaged to findthem,but the thiefseemedmoredisturbedby thestrange rumorshehadheardconcerningParanor.Sheahadtolaughatthis,recallingPanamon’sboastsofallthe past hair-raising perils he had survived. While the two men conversed,

Keltset had risen slowly to his feet and was scanning the land about them,apparentlyinidlespeculation.Thetwowerestilltalkingwhenhebentdowntothemandgave a sharp signal toPanamon.The thief started, the color drainedfromhisfaceashenoddedshortly.Sheastartedtoriseinapprehension,butthethief’sstronghandheldhimdown.“Keltsethasjustspottedsomethingmovinginthebrushtothesouthofus.He

can’t tell fromherewhat it is; it’s just on the fringesof this battlefield, abouthalfwaybetweenusandtheforest.”Sheaimmediatelyturnedashen.“Getyourstonesready incaseweneed them,” theotherorderedquietly,an

unmistakable indication that he thought it might be a second Skull Bearerlurking in the cover of the brush,waiting for sundown and a chance to catchthemoffguard.“Whatarewegoingtodo?”Sheaaskedfearfully,clutchingthelittlepouch.“Get him before he gets us— what other choice do we have?” Panamon

declaredirritably,motioningtoKeltsettopickhimup.TheobedientgiantbentdownandcarefullyliftedPanamoninthecradleofhis

twomassive arms. Shea retrieved the wounded thief’s fallen broadsword andfollowed the slowlydeparting formofKeltset,whoproceeded southwardwithrelaxed,easystrides.Panamontalkedsteadilyastheywalked,callingonSheatohurry,chidingKeltsetonbeingtooroughinhisdutyasbearerofthewounded.Shea could not bring himself to be quite so relaxed, and was content withbringing up the rear, glancing uneasily from side to side as they movedsouthward, searching vainly for some sign of movement that might indicatewherethedangerlay.Inhisrighthandheclutchedtightlytheleatherpouchwiththe invaluable Elfstones, their onlyweapon against the power of theWarlockLord.Theywereaboutahundredyards fromthesceneof theirbattlewith theSkull Bearer when Panamon called a sudden halt, complaining bitterly of aninjuredshoulder.Gently,Keltsetloweredhisburdentothegroundandstoodup.“Myshoulderisnevergoingtostandsuchwantondisregardofitstissuesand

bones,”growledPanamonCreelirritably,andlookedmeaningfullyatShea.InstantlytheValemanknewthatthiswastheplace,andhishandsshookashe

loosened thestringson thepouchandwithdrewtheElfstones.Amoment laterKeltset stood leisurely beside the still-muttering thief, the great mace heldloosely in one hand. Shea glanced around hastily, his eyes coming to restdirectlyonthehugeclumpofbrushimmediatelytotheleftoftheothertwo.Hisheartjumpedtohisthroatasonesectionofthebrushmovedeversoslightly.

ThenKeltsetmadehismove.Withasharplungehewhirledabout,leapedintothecenterofthebrush,andwaslostfromview.

ChapterTwenty

What followedwas complete pandemonium.A terrible high-pitched shrieksounded from the bushes and the entire mass of shrubbery shook violently.Panamonstruggledwildly tohisknees, calling toShea to throwhim thegreatbroadswordwhichthefear-struckValemanstillclutchedtightlyinhislefthand.Shea stood frozen in place, his other hand clasping the powerful Elfstones inreadiness, waiting in terror for the assault that surely would come from theunknown creature in the brush. Panamon finally fell back in hopelessexhaustion, unable to get Shea’s attention and incapable of walking over towherehestood.Therewereafewmorecriesfromtheheavybushes,somevaguethrashingwithin,andthensilence.AmomentlaterthedurableKeltsetemerged,theheavymacestillheldinoneloweredhand.Intheotherwasthesquirming,twistingbodyofaGnome,hisneck,heldfastintheirongripoftheTroll.Thegnarledyellowbodyappearedchildlikenexttothehugeframeofitscaptor,thearms and legsmoving all at once indifferent directions like snakes caught bytheirtails.TheGnomewasoneofthefamiliarhunters,clothedinaleathertunic,hunting boots, and sword belt. The sword was missing, and Shea correctlysurmised that the struggle in the bushes involved the disarming of the littlefellow.KeltsetcameovertoPanamon,whohadmanagedtoraisehimselfbackup to a sitting position, and dutifully held forth the struggling captive forinspection.“Letmego, letmego, curseyou!” the thrashingGnomecriedvenomously.

“Youhavenoright!Ihavedonenothing—I’mnotevenarmed,Itellyou.Letmego!”PanamonCreel lookedat the littlecreaturehumorously, shakinghishead in

relief.Finally,astheGnomecontinuedtoplead,thethiefburstoutlaughing.“Whataterriblefoe,Keltset!Why,hemighthavedestroyedusallhadyounot

capturedhim.Thatmusthavebeenafearfulstruggle!Ha,ha,Ican’tbelieveit.Andwewereafraidofanotherofthosewingedblackmonsters!”Sheawasnotquitesoinclinedtobeamusedbytheincident,recallingclearly

theclosecallsthecompanyhadalreadyhadwiththelittleyellowcreatureswhiletravelingthroughtheAnar.Theyweredangerousandcrafty—afoewhomhedidnotregardasharmless.Panamonlookedoverand,uponspyingtheseriouscountenance,ceasedhischidingofthecaptiveandturnedhisattentiontoShea.

“Donotbeangry,Shea.It’smorehabit thanstupiditywhenI laughat thesethings.Ilaughatthemtostayasaneman.Butenoughofallthis.Whatdowedowithourlittlefriend,eh?”TheGnomestaredfearfullyatthenolongerlaughingman,thelargeeyeswide

astheinsistentvoicediedawaytoalowwhine.“Please,letmego,”hebeggedsubserviently.“Iwillgoawayandsaynothing

toanyoneaboutyou.Iwilldowhateveryousay,goodfriends.Justletmego.”KeltsetstillheldthehaplessGnomebythescruffofhisneckaboutafootoff

thegroundinfrontofSheaandPanamon,andthelittlefellowwasbeginningtochoke violently from the tight clasp. Seeing the prisoner’s plight, Panamon atlastmotionedfortheRockTrolltolowerhisvictimtothegroundandreleasehisgrip.Pausingforamoment’sseriouscontemplationoftheGnome’seagerplea,the thief looked over at Shea andwinked quickly, turning back to the captivesharplyandsnappingthepikeattheendofhisleftarmuptotheyellowthroat.“Icanseenoreasonforpermittingyoutolive,letalonegofree,Gnome,”he

announcedmenacingly.“I think itwouldbebest forallconcerned if I justcutyourthroatrighthereandnow.Thennoneofuswouldhavetoworryaboutyoufurther.”Sheadidnotbelievethethiefwasserious,buthisvoicesoundedasifhewere

indeadlyearnest.TheterrifiedGnomegulpedandheldforthhishandsinafinaldesperatecryformercy.HewhinedandcriedsothatSheafinallybecamealmostembarrassedforhim.Panamonmadenomove,butonlysattherestaringintotheunfortunatefellow’shorror-strickenface.“No,no,Ibegyou,don’tkillme,”thefranticGnomepleaded,hiswidegreen

eyesshiftingfromonefacetothenext.“Please,pleaseletmelive—Icanbeofusetoyou—Icanhelp!IcantellyouabouttheSwordofShannara!Icanevengetitforyou.”Shea started involuntarily at the unexpected mention of the Sword, and he

placedarestraininghandonPanamon’swideshoulder.“So you can tell us about the Sword, can you?” The icy voice of the thief

sounded only slightly interested, and he ignored Shea completely. “What canyoutellus?”Thewiryyellowframerelaxedslightly,andtheeyesreturnedtonormalsize,

shifting about eagerly, seizing on any chance to stay alive. Yet Shea sawsomethingelsethere,somethinghecouldnotquitedefine.Itwasalmostafervidcunning, revealed as the Gnome momentarily relaxed his carefully maskedfeelings.Asecondlateritwasgone,replacedbyalookoftotalsubjugationand

helplessness.“IcanleadyoutotheSwordifyouwish,”hewhisperedharshlyasifhewere

afraidsomeonewouldhear.“Icantakeyoutowhereitis—ifyouletmelive!”Panamonmovedthesharpirontipofhispikedhandbackfromthethroatof

the cringing Gnome, leaving just a small trace of blood on the yellow neck.Keltsethadnotmovedandgaveno indication thathehadany interest inwhatwashappening.SheawantedtowarnPanamonhowimportantthatGnomemightbeiftherewaseventheslightestchanceoffindingtheSwordofShannara,butherealizedthethiefpreferredtokeepthecaptiveGnomeguessing.TheValemancouldnotbesurehowmuchPanamonCreelknewabout the legend;sofar,hehadshownlittleconcernwiththeracesgenerallyandhadnotindicatedheknewanythingabout thehistoryof theSwordofShannara.Thegrimfeaturesof thethief relaxed briefly and a faint smile crossed his lips as he eyed the stillquiveringcaptive.“IsthisSwordvaluable,Gnome?”hequeriedeasily,almostslyly.“CanIsell

itforgold?”“It is priceless to the right people,” the other promised, nodding eagerly.

“Therearethosewhowouldpayanything,giveanythingtogetpossessionofit.IntheNorthland...”Heceasedtalkingabruptly,afraidthathehadalreadysaidtoomuch.Panamon

smiledwolfishlyandnoddedtoShea.“ThisGnomesays itcouldbeworthmoneytous,”hemockedquietly,“and

the Gnome wouldn’t lie, would you, Gnome?” The yellow head shookvehemently.“Well, then,perhapsweshould letyou live longenough toproveyouhavesomethingofvaluetobarterforyourworthlesshide.Iwouldn’twanttothrowawayachancetomakemoneysimplytosatisfymyinborndesiretocutthe throat of a Gnome when I get one within my grasp.What do you think,Gnome?”“You understand perfectly, you know my value,” whined the little fellow,

fawningatthekneesofthesmilingthief.“Icanhelp;Icanmakeyourich.Youcancountonme.”Panamonwassmilingbroadlynow,hisbigframerelaxedandhisgoodhand

ontheGnome’ssmallshoulderasiftheywereoldfriends.Hepattedthestoopedshouldera fewtimes,as if toput thecaptiveatease,andnoddedreassuringly,looking from the Gnome to Keltset to Shea and back again for several longseconds.“Tell us what you’re doing way out here by yourself, Gnome,” Panamon

urgedamomentlater.“Bytheway,whatareyoucalled?”“IamOrlFane,awarriorofthePelletribeoftheupperAnar,”heanswered

eagerly. “I... Iwas on a couriermission fromParanorwhen I came upon thisbattlefield.Theywereall dead, all of them,and therewasnothing I coulddo.ThenIheardyouandIhid.Iwasafraidyouwere...Elves.”He paused and looked fearfully at Shea, noting the youth’s Elven features

withdismay.Sheamadenomove,butwaited toseewhatPanamonwoulddo.Panamon just looked understandingly at the Gnome and smiled in friendlyfashion.“OrlFane—ofthePelletribe,”thetallthiefrepeatedslowly.“Agreattribe

ofhunters,bravemen.”Heshookhisheadasifdeeplyregrettingsomethingandturned again to themystifiedGnome. “OrlFane, ifwe aregoing tobeof anyservice to one another, we must have mutual trust. Lies can only hinder thepurpose binding our new partnership. There was a Pelle standard on thebattlefield— the standard of your tribe in theGnome nation.Youmust havebeenwiththemwhentheyfought.”The Gnome stood speechless, a mixture of fear and doubt creeping slowly

backintohisshiftinggreeneyes.Panamoncontinuedtosmileeasilyathim.“JustlookatyourselfOrlFane—coveredwithspecksofbloodandabadcut

onyourforeheadatthehairline.Whyhidethetruthfromus?Youhadtobehere,isn’tthatright?”Thepersuasivevoicecoaxedaquicknodoutoftheother,andPanamon laughed almost merrily. “Of course you were here, Orl Fane. AndwhenyouweresetuponbytheElfpeople,youfoughtuntilyouwerewounded,perhaps knocked unconscious, eh, and you lay here until just beforewe camealong.That’sthetruthofthematter,isn’tit?”“Yes,that’sthetruth,”theGnomeagreedeagerlynow.“No,that’snotthetruth!”Therewasamomentofstunnedsilence.Panamonwasstillsmiling,andOrl

Fanewas caughtbetweenemotions, a traceofdoubt still in eyes, ahalf-smileformingonhislips.Shealookedatbothcuriously,unabletofollowexactlywhatwashappening.“Listentome,youlyinglittlerodent.”ThesmilewasgonefromPanamon’s

face,thefeatureshardenedashespoke,thevoicecoldandmenacingoncemore.“You have lied from the beginning!Amember of the Pellewouldwear theirinsignia youwear none.Youweren’twounded in battle; that little scratch onyourforeheadisnothing!Youareascavenger—adeserter,aren’tyou?Aren’tyou?”

ThethiefhadseizedtheterrifiedGnomebythefrontofhishuntingtunicandwasshakinghimsohardthatSheacouldhearhisteethrattlewiththeforce.Thewiry captive was struggling to catch his breath, gasping in disbelief at thissuddenturnofevents.“Yes, yes!” The admission was throttled out of him at last, and Panamon

releasedhimwithaquickthrustbackwardintothegripofthewatchfulKeltset.“Adeserterfromyourownpeople.”Panamonspatthewordsoutindistaste.

“The lowest form of life that walks or crawls is a deserter. You’ve beenscavenging this battlefield for valuables from the dead. Where are they, OrlFane?Shea,checkinthosebusheswherehewashiding.”As Shea moved toward the brush, the struggling Gnome let out the most

frightfulshriekofdismayimaginable,causing theyouth tobelieveKeltsethadtwistedhisneckoff.ButPanamon just smiledandnodded for theValeman toproceed,certainnowthattheGnomehadindeedhiddensomethinginthebushes.Shea pushed his way past the thick branches into the center of the clump,searching carefully for any sign of a cache. The ground and the limbs in thecenterwerebadlytornupfromthestrugglebetweenKeltsetandtheGnome,andthere was nothing immediately visible. He hunted about unsuccessfully forseveralminutes.Hewasjustabouttogiveup,whenhiseyecaughtaglimpseofsomethinghalfburiedatthefarendofthebushesbeneathleaves,branches,anddirt.Usinghis shorthuntingknifeandhishands,hequicklyuncovereda longsackcontainingmetalobjectsthatrattledagainstoneanotherasheworked.HecalledouttoPanamonthathehaddiscoveredsomething,whichimmediatelysetoff another seriesofwhiningcries from thedistraught captive.When the sackwasuncovered,hepulled itoutof thebrush into the fadingafternoonsunlightand dropped it before the others. Orl Fane was in a frenzy by this time, andKeltsetwasforcedtousebothhandsjusttoholdhim.“Whatever’s in here is certainly important to our little friend.” Panamon

grinnedatSheaandreachedforthesack.Shea moved to his side and peered over the broad shoulders as Panamon

untied the leather thong binding the top and reached eagerly into the darkinterior. Changing hismind suddenly, the scarlet thief removed his hand and,grabbing the other end of the sack, turned it upside down and poured thecontentsontotheopenearth.Theothersstaredatthecache,lookingfromitemtoitemcuriously.“Junk,” growledPanamonCreel after amoment’s consideration. “Just junk.

TheGnomeistoostupideventobotherwithvaluablethings.”

Shea looked at the contents of the sack without answering. Nothing butassorteddaggers,knives,andswordsinthecollection,somestillintheirleathersheaths.Afewpiecesofcheapjewelrysparkledinthesunlight,andtherewereone or two Gnome coins, practically worthless to anyone but a Gnome. Itcertainly appeared to be useless junk, but thewhiningOrl Fane had evidentlyconsidereditworthsomethingtohim.SheashookhisheadinpityforthelittleGnome.Hehadlosteverythingwhenheturneddeserter,andallhehadtoshowfor it were these few worthless pieces of metal and cheap jewelry. Now itseemedcertainthathewouldlosehislifeaswellforhavingdaredtolietothevolatilePanamonCreel.“Hardly worth dying for, Gnome,” Panamon growled, nodding shortly to

Keltset,whoraisedtheheavymacetofinishthehaplessfellow.“No,no,wait,waitaminute,please,”theGnomecried,hisvoiceedgedwitha

harshnoteofdesperation.Itwastheendforhim;thiswashisfinalplea.“Ididn’tlieabout theSword—IswearIdidn’t!Icanget it foryou.Don’tyourealizewhattheSwordofShannaraisworthtotheDarkLord?”Without thinking, Shea put out a hand to graspKeltset’smassive arm.The

giant Troll seemed to understand. Slowly he lowered the mace and lookedcuriouslyatShea.PanamonCreelopenedhismouthangrilyandthenhesitated.Hewanted to learn the truthbehindShea’spresence in theNorthland,and thesecretofthisSwordevidentlyhadmuchtodowithit.HestaredmomentarilyattheValeman,thenturnedbacktoKeltsetandshruggeddisinterestedly.“We can always kill you later,Orl Fane, if this is another deception. Put a

ropearoundhisworthlessneckandbringhimalong,Keltset.Shea,ifyouwouldgivemeahandupandanarm to leanon, I think Icanmake it to thewoods.Keltsetwillkeepaclosewatchoverourcleverlittledeserter.”Shea helped the injuredPanamon to his feet and tried to support him as he

tookafewcareful teststeps.Keltset tiedOrlFaneandplaceda lengthofropeabouthisnecksothathecouldbeled.TheGnomeallowedhimselftobeboundwithout complaining, though hewas visibly distraught about something. SheaimaginedthatthefellowwasstilllyingwhenhesaidheknewwheretheSwordcouldbefoundandwasdesperatelytryingtofigureouthowhewouldgetfreefromhiscaptorsbeforetheydiscoveredhistreacheryandkilledhim.WhileSheawouldnothimselfkilltheGnome,norevenagreetohaveitdone,neverthelesshe felt little compassion for the deceitful creature. Orl Fane was a coward, adeserter,ascavenger—amanwithoutapeopleoracountry.Sheawascertainnowthatthewhining,grovelingattitudetheGnomehaddisplayedearlierwasa

carefullystudiedshieldforthecrafty,desperatecreaturethatlayhiddenbeneath.OrlFanewouldcuttheirthroatswithouttheslightestcompunctionifhethoughttherewouldbenodangertohimself.SheaalmostwishedthatKeltsethadendedtheirworriesafewminutesearlierbyfinishingthefellow.Sheawouldhavefelteasierinhisownmind.Panamon signaled that he was ready to proceed toward the woodland, but

before they had taken two steps, the whining pleas of Orl Fane had stoppedthem.TheunhappyGnomerefusedtogofartherifhewerenotallowedtokeephis sack and its treasures. He set up such a stubborn howl of protest thatPanamonwasagainonthevergeofbashinginthehatefulyellowhead.“Whatdoesitmatter,Panamon?”Sheafinallyaskedinexasperation.“Lethim

havehistrinketsifitwillmakehimhappy.Wecangetridofthemlaterafterhequietsdown.”Panamon shook his handsome face in dismay, finally nodding his reluctant

acquiescence.HewasfedupwithOrlFanealready.“Verywell,I’llgiveinjustthisonce,”thethiefagreed.OrlFaneimmediately

quieteddown.“However,ifheopenshismouthlikethatoncemore,I’llcutouthistongue.Keltset,youkeephimawayfromthatsack.Idon’twanthimgettinghold of one of those weapons long enough to cut himself free and do us in!Worthlessbladesprobablywouldn’tdoaneat jobof itanyway,andI’ddieofbloodpoisoning.”Shea had to laugh in spite of himself. They were poor-looking weapons,

thoughheratherfanciedtheslimbroadswordwiththeextendedarmandburningtorch cut into the hilt. Even that one was rather gaudy, the cheap gold paintchippedandfleckedaboutthehilt.Likeseveraloftheothers,itrestedinawornleathersheathsoitwasdifficulttotellwhatconditiontheblademightbein.Atany rate, it could prove dangerous in the hands of thewilyOrl Fane.Keltsethoistedthesackanditscontentsoveroneshoulder,andthepartycontinuedonitswaytowardthewoodland.Itwasacomparativelyshorthike,butbythetimetheyreachedtheperimeter

of the forest Shea was exhausted from supporting the weight of the injuredPanamon.The littlegroupstoppedon the thief’scommand,asanafterthought,hesentKeltsetbacktocovertheirtrailandtocreateanumberoffalsetrailsthatwouldconfuseanyonefollowing.Sheadidnotobject,foralthoughhehopedthatAllanonandtheothersweresearchingforhim,therewasadangerouspossibilitythatpatrollingGnomehuntersor,worsestill,anotherSkullBearermightcomeacrosstheirtracksinstead.

AftertyingthecaptiveOrlFanetoatree,theRockTrollbacktrackedontothebattlefieldtoeraseanysignoftheirpassageinthisdirection.Panamoncollapsedwearilyagainstabroadmaple,andthetiredValemantookupapositionoppositehim, lying peacefully back on a small, grassy knoll, staring absently into thetreetopsandbreathingdeeplytheforestair.Thesunwasfadingrapidlynowwiththe close of the afternoon and the faint beginnings of evening crept into thewestern sky in streaks of purple and deep blue.Less than an hour of sunlightremained, and the night would help to hide them from their enemies. Sheaferventlywishednowfortheaidofthecompany,forthestrong,wiseleadershipand fantastic mystical prowess of Allanon, for the courage of the others —Balinor,Hendel,Durin,Dayel,andthefieryMenionLeah.MostofallhewishedFlickwerewithhim—Flick,withhisunwavering,unquestioning loyalty andtrust.PanamonCreelwasagoodmantohaveonhisside,buttherewerenorealties between them. The thief had lived too long by his wits and cunning tounderstandbasichonestyandtruth.AndwhataboutKeltset—anenigma,eventoPanamon?“Panamon, you said back there you would explain about Keltset,” Shea

remarkedquietly.“AbouthowtheSkullBearerknew,him.”Foramomenttherewasnoanswer,andShearaiseduptoseeifthemanhad

heardhim.Panamonwasstaringquietlyathim.“SkullBearer?Youseemtoknowagreatdealmoreaboutthiswholematter

thanI.Youtellmeaboutmygiantcompanion,Shea.”“Thatwasn’t thetruthyoutoldmewhenyousavedmefromthoseGnomes,

wasit?”Sheaaskedhim.“Hewasn’tafreakdrivenfromhisvillagebyhisownpeople.Hedidn’tkillthemforattackinghim,didhe?”Panamonlaughedmerrily,thepikecominguptoscratchthesmallmustache.“Maybeitwasthetruth.Maybethosethingsdidhappentohim.Idon’tknow.

Italwaysseemedtomethatsomethingofthesortmusthavehappenedtohimtomakehimtakeupwithsomeonelikemyself.He’snothief;Idon’tknowwhatheis.Butheismyfriend—heisthat.Ididn’tlietoyouwhenIsaidthat.”“Wheredidhecomefrom?”Sheaaskedafteramoment’ssilence.“Ifoundhimnorthofhereabouttwomonthsago.Hewandereddownoutof

the CharnalMountains, battered, beaten, just barely alive. I don’t knowwhathappenedtohim;henevervolunteeredtheinformation,andIdidn’task.Hewasentitledtokeephispasthidden,justasI.Itookcareofhimforseveralweeks.Iknewa little sign language,andheunderstood it, sowecouldcommunicate. Iguessedhisnamefromhiswordsigns.Welearneda littleabouteachother—

onlyalittle.Whenhewaswell,Iaskedhimtocomealongandheagreed.We’vehadsomegoodtimes,youknow.Toobadhe’snotreallyathief.”Sheashookhisheadandchuckledsoftlyatthatlastremark.Panamon.Creel

wouldprobablynever change.Hedidn’t understandanyotherwayof life anddidn’twantto.Theonlypeoplewhomadeanysensetohimwerethosewhotoldthe world to hang by its thumbs and took by force what they needed forthemselves.Yetfriendshipremainedaprizedcommodity,evenforathief,anditwassomethingthatwouldnotbetossedasidelightly.EvenSheawasbeginningto feel a strange sort of friendship for the flamboyant Panamon Creel, afriendship thatwas improbable because their characters and their valueswerecompleteopposites.Buteachhadanunderstandingofwhattheotherfelt,thoughnotwhyhe felt it, and therewas the experience of the battle shared against acommon enemy. Perhaps that was all that anyone ever needed as a basis forfriendship.“HowcouldtheSkullcreaturehaveknownhim?”Sheapersisted.Panamon shrugged casually, indicating he neither knew nor cared. The

watchful Valeman felt the latter was not the case, and Panamon would verymuchliketofindoutthetruthbehindKeltset’sappearancetwomonthsearlier.His hidden past had something to do with the spirit creature’s unexplainedrecognitionofthegiantTroll.Therehadbeenatraceoffearinthosecrueleyes,and Shea found it difficult to imagine how anything mortal could havefrightenedthepowerfulSkullBearer.Panamonhadseenit,too,andcertainlyhemustbeaskinghimselfthesamequestion.By the timeKeltset rejoined them, itwas sundownand the faint raysof the

lateafternoonsunonlybarelylit‘thedarkforest.TheTrollhadcarefullyerasedall signs of their passing from the battlefield, leaving a number of confusingfalse trails for anyone who attempted to follow. Panamon was feeling wellenoughtomaneuveronhisownstrength,butrequestedthatKeltsethelpsupporthim until they reached a suitable campsite because it was becoming dark tooquicklyfortravel.SheawasgiventhetaskofleadingthedocileOrlFanebytheropeleash,achorehedidnotrelish,butwhichheacceptedwithoutcomplaint.Again, Panamon tried to leave theworn sack and its contents behind, butOrlFanewasnot tobedeprivedof his treasures so easily.He immediately set upsuchahowlofanguishthat the thieforderedhimboundabout themouthuntiltheonlysoundthehaplessGnomecouldmakewasamuffledgroan.Butwhenthey tried tomove into the forest, the desperate captive threw himself on theground and refused to rise, evenwhen kicked painfully by a thoroughly irate

Panamon.Keltset could have carried theGnome and supportedPanamon, too,but that was more trouble than it was worth. Muttering dire threats at thewhiningGnome,thethiefatlasthadKeltsetpickupthesack,andthefourbegantheirjourneyintothedarkeningwoods.When it became too dark to tellwith any certaintywhere theywere going,

Panamoncalledahaltinasmallclearingbetweengiantoakswhoseinterlockingboughs formedaweblike roof for shelter.OrlFanewas tied tooneof the talloakswhiletheotherthreesetaboutbuildingafireandpreparingameal.Whenthe foodwas ready,OrlFanewasunfettered longenough toallowhim toeat.WhilePanamondidnotknowexactlywhere theywere,he felt safeenough topermita fire, relativelycertain thatnoonewouldbe trailing thematnight.Hemight have felt a little less secure had he known of the dangers of theimpenetrableforeststhatsurroundedthedarkcliffsofParanor.Asithappened,the four men were in an adjoining forest east of the dangerous woodlandsringingParanor.ThesectionofwoodsinwhichtheywerecampedwasseldomtraveledbytheminionsoftheWarlockLord,andtherewaslittlepossibilitythatanyonewouldhappenalongtodiscoverthem.Theyateinsilence,ahungryandtiredgroupafter the longday’s travel.Even thewhinesof thebothersomeOrlFane were temporarily stilled as the little Gnome ate ravenously, his craftyyellow face bent close to thewarmth of the small fire as the dark green eyesshiftedwarily fromone face to thenext.Sheapaidnoattention, concentratinginsteadonwhatheshouldtellPanamonCreelabouthimself,thecompany,andmost important of all, the Sword of Shannara. He had notmade up hismindwhendinnerwascompleted.Thecaptivewasagainboundtothenearestoakandpermittedtobreathewithoutthegagafterhissolemnpromisethathewouldnotbeginwhiningandcryingagain.Thenplacinghimselfcomfortablyclosetothedyingfire,PanamonturnedhisattentiontotheexpectantValeman.“Thetimeishere,Shea,foryoutotellmewhatyouknowaboutallthisSword

business,” he began briskly. “No lies, no half-truths, and leave nothing out. Ipromisedmyhelp,butwemusthavemutualtrust—andnotthekindIspokeoftothispitifuldeserter.Ihavebeenfairandopenwithyou.Dolikewiseforme.”SoShea toldhimeverything.Hedidn’tmean towhenhestarted.Hewasn’t

reallysurehowmuchheshouldtell,butonethingledtoanotherandbeforeheknewitthewholetalewasoutintheopen.HetoldaboutthecomingofAllanon,andthesubsequentappearanceoftheSkullBearerwhichforcedthebrotherstofleefromShadyVale.HerelatedtheeventssurroundingthejourneytoLeahandthemeetingwithMenion,followedbytheterribleflightthroughtheBlackOaks

toCulhaven,where they joined therestof thecompany.Heskimmedover thedetailsofthejourneytotheDragon’sTeeth,agreatpartofwhichwasstillhazyinhisownmind.HeconcludedbyexplaininghowhehadfallenfromtheCreaseintotheriverandbeenwashedoutontotheRabbPlainwherehewascapturedby the Gnome hunting party. Panamon listened without interruption, his eyeswideinastonishmentatthetale.Keltsetsatnexttohiminimpenetrablesilence,therough-hewnbut intelligentfacegazingintentlyat thelittleValemanduringthe entire narration. Orl Fane shifted about uneasily, groaning and mutteringunintelligiblyashelistenedwiththeothertwo,hiseyesdartingwildlyaboutthecampsiteasifexpectingtheWarlockLordhimselfatanyminute.“ThatisthemostfantastictaleIhaveeverheard,”Panamonannouncedatlast.

“It’ssoincrediblethatevenIfindithardtobelieve.ButIdobelieveyou,Shea.IbelieveyoubecauseI’vefoughtthatblackwingedmonsterontheplainlandsandbecauseI’veseenthestrangepoweryouhaveoverthoseElfstones,asyoucallthem.ButthisbusinessabouttheSwordandyourbeingthelostheirofShannara—Idon’tknow.Doyoubelieveityourself?”“Ididn’tatfirst,”Sheaadmittedslowly,“butnowIdon’tknowwhattothink.

Somuchhashappened that Ican’tdecidewhoorwhat tobelieveanymore. Inany case, I’ve got to rejoin Allanon and the others. Theymay even have theSword by this time. They may have the answer to this whole riddle of myheritageandthepoweroftheSword.”OrlFanesuddenlydoubleduplaughing,hisvoicehigh-pitchedandfrenzied.“No,no,theydon’thavetheSword,”heshriekedlikeafoolcaughtupinhis

ownmadness. “No, no, only I can showyou the Sword! I can lead you to it.OnlyI.Youcansearchandyoucansearchandyoucansearch,ha,ha,ha—goahead.ButIknowwhereitis!Iknowwhohasit!OnlyI!”“I think he’s losing his mind,” Panamon Creel muttered humorlessly, and

orderedKeltsettoregagthebothersomeGnome.“We’llfindoutexactlywhatheknows in the morning. If he knows anything about the Sword of Shannara,whichIseriouslydoubt,he’lltellusorwishhehad!”“Doyouthinkhemightknowwhohasit?”Sheaaskedsoberly.“ThatSword

couldmean somuch, not only to us, but to all the peoples of the four lands.We’vegottotrytofindoutwhathereallyknows.”“Youbringtearstomyeyeswiththatpleaforthepeople,”Panamonmocked

disdainfully.“TheycangohangforallIcare.They’veneverdoneanythingforme— except travel alone, unarmed, with fat purses, and that’s been all tooinfrequently.” He looked up at Shea’s disappointed face and shrugged

nonchalantly.“Still,IamcuriousabouttheSword,soImightbewillingtohelpyou.Afterall,Ioweyouagreatfavor,andI’mnotonetoforgetafavor.”Keltset finished gagging the babblingGnomeonce again and rejoined them

next to the small fire.OrlFanehad lapsed into a seriesof small, shrill laughscoupledwith incoherentmumblings thateventheclothgagdidnotcompletelymuffle.Sheaglanceduneasilyatthelittlecaptive,watchingthegnarledyellowbodytwistaboutas ifpossessedbysomedevil, thedarkeyeswideandrollingwildly.Panamongallantlyignoredthemoansforabrieftime,butatlast,losingallpatience, leaped tohis feetanddrewhisdagger tocut theGnome’s tongueout.OrlFaneimmediatelyquieteddownandforawhiletheyforgotabouthim.“Why do you suppose,” Panamon began after a moment, “that Northland

creature believed we were hiding the Sword of Shannara? It was strange hewouldn’tevenargue thepoint.Hesaidhecouldsense thatwehad it.Howdoyouexplainthat?”Sheathoughtforamomentandfinallyshruggeduncertainly.“ItmusthavebeentheElfstones.”“You may be right,” Panamon agreed slowly, thoughtfully, his good hand

rubbinghischin.“I franklydon’tunderstandanyof this.Keltset,whatdoyouthinkaboutit.”ThegiantRockTroll regarded themsolemnly for amoment and thenmade

several brief signs with his hands. Panamon watched intently, then turned toSheawithadisgustedlook.“Hethinks theSword isvery importantand that theWarlockLord isavery

greatdangertousall.”Thethieflaughedhumorously.“He’sagreathelp,Imustsay!”“The Sword is very important!” Shea repeated, his voice trailing off in the

darkness,andtheysatquietly,lostinthought.Itwaslateeveningnow,thenightaroundthemblackbeyondthefaintlightof

thefire’sreddishembers.Thewoodswereawallofconcealment,shuttingtheminto the little clearing, surrounding them with the sharp sounds of the insectworldandtheoccasionalcryofsomefarawaycreature.Theskyaboveshowedthroughtheboughsof thegreat trees inpatchesofdarkbluebrokenbyoneortwodistantstars.Panamontalkedonquietlyforafewminutesmoreasthecoalsdiedintoashes.Thenherose,kickingtheashesandgrindingthemintotheearth,bidding good night to his companionswith a finality that discouraged furtherattemptsatconversation.KeltsetwaswrappedinablanketandsleepingbeforeShea had even selected a suitable patch of forest earth. The Valeman felt

incrediblywearyfromthestrainofthelongday’smarchandthebattlewiththeSkull Bearer. Dropping his blanket, he lay down on his back, kicked off thehuntingbootsandstaredaimlesslyattheblacknessabovehimthroughwhichhecouldjustbarelydiscernthelimbsofthetreesandtheshadowsofthesky.Shea thought about all that had happened to him, once again retracing

mentallyhis long, endless journey fromShadyVale.Somuchof itwas still amystery.Hehadcomesofar,enduredsomuch,andstillhedidn’tknowwhatitwasallabout.ThesecretoftheSwordofShannara,theWarlockLord,hisownheritage — it was no clearer now than before. The company was out theresomewherelookingforhim,ledbythesecretive,mysticAllanon,whoseemedtobetheonlymanwiththeanswerstoalltheunansweredquestions.WhyhadhenottoldSheaeverythingfromthebeginning?Whyhadheinsistedongivingthecompany only a piece of the story at a time, always reserving that small bit,always holding back the key to their complete understanding of the unknownpowerlockedintheelusiveSwordofShannara?Herolledoveronhisside,peeringthroughthedarknesstothesleepingform

of Panamon Creel just a few feet away. Beyond and to the other side of theclearinghecouldheartheheavybreathingofKeltsetblendinginwiththesoundsoftheforestnight.OrlFanesatwithhisbackstraightagainstthetreetowhichhewasbound,hiseyesshininglikeacat’sinthedark,unmovingastheystaredfixedly at Shea. The Valeman stared back for a moment, unnerved by theGnome’sgaze,butfinallyheforcedhimselftoturntheotherwayandclosedhiseyes,droppingofftosleepinamatterofseconds.ThelastthingherememberedwasclutchingthesmallbulkoftheElfstonesclosetohischestwithinthetunic,wonderingiftheirpowerwouldcontinuetoprotecthiminthedaysahead.Sheawasawakenedabruptlytothegraylightofanearlyforestmorningbya

long string of venomous oaths of dismay and frustration from a wrathfulPanamon Creel. The thief was stamping about the campsite in absolute fury,shouting and cursing all at the same time. Shea could not decide what hadhappenedrightaway,anditwasseveralminutesbeforehehadwipedthesleepfromhis eyes and propped himself up on one elbow, squintingwearily in thegloom.Hefeltasifhehadsleptnomorethanafewminutes,hismusclessoreand strained, his mind hazy. Panamon continued to storm about the smallclearing as Keltset knelt silently next to one of the great oaks. Then Shearealized that Orl Fane was missing. He leaped to his feet and rushed over,suddenlyafraid. Inamomenthisworst fearswere realized; the ropes thathadbound the crafty Gnome lay in pieces about the base of the huge trunk. The

Gnome had escaped, and Shea had lost his one chance to find the missingSword.“Howdidhegetaway?”Sheademandedangrily.“Ithoughtyoutiedhimup,

awayfromanythingthatmightcuthisbonds!”PanamonCreellookedathimasifhewereanidiot,disgustregisteredallover

theflushedcountenance.“Do I look like a complete fool? Of course I tied him up away from any

weapons.Ieventiedhimtotheconfoundedtreeandhadhimgaggedasanaddedprecaution.Wherewereyou?Thelittledevildidn’tcuttheseropesandthatgag.Hechewedhiswaythroughthem!”NowitwasShea’sturntobeamazed.“I’mdeadserious,Iassureyou,”Panamoncontinuedangrily.“Theropeswere

chewed through by teeth.Our little rodent friendwasmore resourceful than Iimagined.”“Or perhaps more desperate,” the Valeman added thoughtfully. “I wonder

whyhedidn’ttrytokillus.Hehadreasonenoughtohateus.”“Veryuncharitableofyoutosuggestsuchathing,”theotherdeclaredinmock

disbelief. “I’ll tell youwhy, though, since you asked.Hewas terrified that hemightbecaughtintheact.ThatGnomewasadeserter—acowardofthelowestorder.Hedidn’thavethecouragetodoanythingbutrun!Whatisit,Keltset?”The huge Rock Troll had lumbered silently over to his comrade andmade

severalquickgestures,pointingtothenorth.Panamonshookhisheadindisgust.“Thespinelessmousehasbeengonesinceearly thismorning—hoursago.

Worsestill,thefoolflednorthward,anditwouldnotbehealthyforustochasehiminthatcountry.Hisownpeoplewillprobablyfindhimanddisposeofhimforus.Theywon’tshelteradeserter.Bah,lethimgo!We’rebetteroffwithouthim,Shea.HewasprobablylyingabouttheSwordofShannaraanyway.”Shea nodded doubtfully, unconvinced that theGnomehad been lying about

everythinghehadtoldthem.Asunbalancedasthelittlefellowhadseemed,hehadneverthelessappearedcertainthatheknewwheretheSwordcouldbefoundandwhohadpossessionof it.Thewhole idea thatheknewsucha secretwasunnerving to theValeman.Supposehehadgoneafter theSword?Supposeheknewwereitwas?“Forget thewholematter, Shea,” Panamon interjected in resignation. “That

Gnomewasscaredtodeathofus,hisonlythoughtwastoescape.Thestoryofthe Swordwasmerely a trick to keep us from killing him until he found theopportunity toescape.Lookat this!Heleft insuchahurry,heevenforgothis

precioussack.”ForthefirsttimeSheanoticedthesacklyingpartiallyopenattheothersideof

the clearing. Itwas strange indeed thatOrl Fane should abandonhis treasuresaftergoingtosomuchtroubletopersuadehiscaptorstobringthemalong.Thatuseless sack had been so important to him, and yet there it lay forgotten, itscontents still visible as small bulks beneath the cloth. Sheawalked over to itcuriously,staringat itwithvisiblesuspicion.Heemptiedthecontentsonto theforest earth, the swords and the daggers and the jewelry clattering together asthey tumbled out in a heap.Shea stared at them, aware that the giant formofKeltsetwasathisside,thedark,expressionlessfacebentnexttohis.Theystoodtogether, studying the Gnome’s abandoned hoard as if somehow it held amysterioussecret.Theircompanionwatchedforafewseconds,thenmutteredindisgust and strolled over to join them, glancing down at the weapons andjewelry.“Let’s beonourway,” he advised lightly. “We’vegot to findyour friends,

Shea, and perhapswith their helpwe can locate this elusiveSword.What areyoustaringat?You’vealreadyseenthatworthlessjunkonce.Ithasn’tchanged.”ThenSheasawit.“It’snotthesame,”heannouncedslowly.“It’sgone.He’stakenit.”“What’sgone?”snappedPanamonirritably,kickingatthepileofjunk.“What

areyoutalkingabout?”“Thatoldswordintheleatherscabbard.Theonewiththearmandthetorch.”Panamonlookedquicklyattheswordsinthelittleheap,frowningcuriously.

Keltset straightened abruptly and looked at Sheawith those deeply intelligenteyesfixedonthelittleValeman.Herealizedthetruthaswell.“Sohe tookonesword,”Panamongrowledwithoutstopping to think.“That

doesn’t mean he...” He caught himself, his jaw dropping open in dismay, hiseyesrollingbackindisbelief.“Oh,no!Thatcan’tbe—itcan’t.Youmeanhehas...?”Hecouldn’tfinishthethought,butchokedonhiswords.Sheashookhishead

inquietdespair.“TheSwordofShannara!”

ChapterTwenty-One

ThesamemorningthatfoundSheaandhisnewcompanionsfacingtheawfultruthaboutthefleeingOrlFaneandtheSwordofShannaraalsofoundAllanonand the remainingmembers of the company embroiled in difficulties of theirown. They had escaped from the Druids’ Keep under the aged mystic’s sureguidance, winding downward through the maze of tunnels in the core of themountaintotheforestlandbelow.Theyhadencounterednoinitialresistancetotheirescape,findingonlyafewscatteredGnomesscurryingaboutthepassages,remnantsofthebrokenpalaceguardthathadfledearlier.Itwasearlyeveningbythetimethelittlebandwasdearoftheforbiddingheightsandmovingnorthwardthrough the forests. Allanon was certain that the Gnomes had removed theSwordofShannarafromtheKeepsometimebeforetheencounterwiththeSkullBearer in the furnace room, but it was impossible to tell exactly when theremovalhadbeenaccomplished.Eventinewaspatrollingthenorthernperimeterof Paranor and any attempt tomove the Swordwould bemetwith resistancefromhissoldiers.Perhaps theElvenkinghadalreadygainedpossessionof theSword. Perhaps he had even intercepted the missing Shea. Allanon wasextremelyworriedaboutthelittleValeman,whomhehadexpectedtofindattheDruids’Keep.TherehadbeennomistakewhenhehadmadehismentalsearchfortheyouthbackatthefootoftheDragon’sTeeth.Sheawasinthecompanyofothers, and they were moving northward toward Paranor. Something haddivertedthem.Still,Sheawasaresourcefulfellow,andhehadthepoweroftheElfstonestoprotecthimfromtheWarlockLord.TheDruidcouldonlyhopethatsomehow they would find each other without further complications, and thatwhentheydid,Sheawouldbesafeandunharmed.Allanon had other worries, however, which demanded his immediate

attention.Gnomereinforcementsbegantoarriveinlargenumbers,anditdidnottakethemlongtoconcludethatAllanonandhislittlebandofinvadershadfledthecastleandweresomewhereinthedangerousImpregnableForestsurroundingParanor.Intruth, theGnomeshadnoideaforwhomtheyweresearching,theyonlyknewthatthecastlehadbeeninvaded,andtheintrudershadtobecapturedordestroyed.TheemissariesoftheWarlockLordhadnotarrived,andtheSkullKinghimselfdidnotyetrealizehispreyhadescapedhimonceagain.Herestedcontentedly in the dark recesses of his domain, assured that the troublesome

AllanonhadbeendestroyedinthefurnacesofParanor,thattheheirofShannaraand the others with him were prisoners and that the Sword of Shannara wassafely on itsway to theNorthland, intercepted by this time by aSkullBearerwhomhehaddispatchedadayearliertobecertainthepreciousSwordwasnotretaken. So the newly arrivedGnomes began to comb the forests surroundingParanorinanefforttofindtheunknownintruders,believingthattheywouldfleesouthandsendingthemajorityoftheirhuntersinthatdirection.Allanonandhissmallbandweremovingsteadilynorthwardbutprogresswas

slowed from time to timewith the appearance of largeGnome search partiespatrolling the woodlands. The little company would never have escapedundetected had they proceeded south, but the enemy numbers were reducedenough to the north that theymanaged to elude the hunting parties by hidinguntil they had passed and then pressing onward. Itwas light by the time theyfinally reached the fringes of the forest and could look northward over theawesomePlainsofStreleheim,theirpursuersmomentarilybehindthem.Allanonturnedtothem,hisdarkcountenancewornandgrim,buttheeyesstill

brightwithdetermination.Hiscompanionswaitedashestudiedthemonebyoneasifhewereseeingeachforthefirsttime.Finallyhespoke,thewordsslowandreluctant.“Wehavereachedtheendoftheroad,myfriends.ThejourneytoParanoris

atanend,anditistimeforthecompanytodisbandandeachofustogohisownway.WehavelostourchancetogainpossessionoftheSword—atleastforthemoment.Sheaisstillmissing,andwecannot tellhowlongitmaytaketofindhim. but the greatest threat facing us is an invasion from the north.Wemustprotectourselvesand thepeoplesof the landssouth,east,andwestofus fromthat.Wehaveseennosignof theElvenarmiesofEventine, though theyweresupposedtobepatrollingthisregion.Itappearstheyhavebeenwithdrawn,andthis would only be done if theWarlock Lord had begun to move his armiessouthward.”“Thentheinvasionhasbegun?”Balinoraskedshortly.Allanonnoddedsolemnly,andtheothersexchangedstartledlooks.“WithouttheSwordwecannotdefeattheWarlockLord,sowemustattempt

tostophisarmies.Todothis,wemustunitethefreenationsquickly.Wemayalready be too late. Brona will use his armies to seize all of the centralSouthland. To do this he need only destroy the Border Legion of Callahorn.Balinor,theLegionmustholdthecitiesofCallahorntogivethenationsenoughtime tounite their armies and strikebackat the invader.Durin andDayel can

accompany you to Tyrsis and from there travel westward to their own land.EventinemustbringhisElvenarmiesacrossthePlainsofStreleheimtoreinforceTyrsis. If we lose there, the Warlock Lord will have succeeded in driving awedgebetweenthearmies,andtherewillbelittlechanceofunitingthem.Worsestill,theentireSouthlandwilllieopenandunprotected.Menwillneverbeabletoformtheirarmiesintime.TheBorderLegionofCallahornistheonlychancetheyhave.”BalinornoddedinagreementandturnedtoHendel.“WhatsupportcantheDwarfsgiveus?”“The city ofVarfleet is the key to the eastern sector ofCallahorn.”Hendel

pondered the situation carefully. “My peoplemust protect against any assaultthroughtheAnar,butwecanspareenoughmentohelpdefendVarfleetaswell.ButyoumustholdthecitiesofKernandTyrsisyourself.”“TheElvenarmieswillhelpyouonthewest,”Durinpromisedquickly.“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Menion incredulously. “What about Shea?

You’vekindofforgottenabouthim,haven’tyou?”“Still allowing your words to precede your thinking, I see,” Allanon said

darkly.Menionturnedscarletwithanger,butwaitedtoseewhatthemystichadtosay.“I’mnotabandoningthesearchformybrother,”Flickannouncedquietly.“Nor am I suggesting you should, Flick.” Allanon smiled at the other’s

concern.“YouandMenionandIshallcontinue tosearchforouryoungfriendandfor themissingSword.Isuspect thatwherewefindone,weshallfindtheother.RememberthewordsspokentomebytheShadeofBremen.SheashallbethefirsttolayhandsontheSwordofShannara.Perhapshehasalreadydoneso.”“Thenlet’sgetonwiththesearch,”suggestedMenionirritably,avoidingthe

eyesoftheDruid.“Weshall leavenow,”Allanonannounced,addingpointedly,“butyoumust

see that you keep a closer guard over your tongue. A Prince of Leah shouldspeakwithwisdomandforesight,withpatienceandunderstanding—notwithfoolishanger.”Menion nodded grudgingly. The seven said their farewells with mixed

emotionsandparted.Balinor,Hendel, and theElvenbrothers turnedwestwardpasttheforestinwhichSheaandhiscompanionshadspentthenight,hopingtocircletheimpregnableForestandpassdownthroughthehillcountrynorthoftheDragon’sTeethandtherebyreachKernandTyrsiswithintwodays.Allanonandhistwoyouthfulcompanionsmovedeastward,searchingforsomesignofShea.

AllanonwasconvincedthattheValemanmusthaveeventuallycomenorthwardtowardParanorandperhapswasaprisonerinoneof theGnomecampsinthatregion.Rescuinghimwouldnotbeeasy,but theDruid’sgreatestfearwasthattheWarlockLordwouldlearnofhiscaptureandfindoutwhohewas,thenhavehim immediately executed. If that happened, theSwordofShannarawouldbeworthless to them anyway, and theywould have no choice but to rely on thestrengthofthedividedarmiesofthethreebesiegedlands.Itwasnotapromisingthought, and Allanon quickly turned his attention to the land ahead. Menionwalkedslightlyinfrontastheytraveled,hiskeeneyespickingoutthetrailsandstudyingthefootprintsofallwhohadpassed.Hisconcernwastheweather.Ifitrained,theywouldneverfindthetrail.Eveniftheweatherstayedfavorableforthem, the suddenwind storms thatblewacross theStreleheimwouldhave thesameeffectasarainfall,erasingalltracesofanyone’spassage.Flick,dutifullybringing up the rear, walked in abject silence, hoping against hope that theywouldfindsomesignofShea,butfearfulthathehadseenthelastofhisbrother.Bynoonday,thebarrenplainswereshimmeringwiththeblisteringheatofthe

white-hot sun, and the three travelers walked as close to the forest edge aspossible to take advantage of small patches of shade from the great trees.Allanon alone seemedunperturbedby the fearful heat, his dark face calmandrelaxed in the scorching sunlight, free from even the slightest trace ofperspiration. Flick felt ready to collapse at anymoment, and even the durableMenionLeahwasbeginningtofeelill.Hissharpeyesweredryandblurred,andhissenseswerestartingtoplaytricksonhim.Hewasseeingthingsthatweren’tthere,hearingandsmellingimagesformedbyhismuddledbrainintheseethingflatlandsahead.AtlastthetwoSouthlanderscouldgonofarther,andtheirtallleadercalleda

briefhalt,leadingthemintothecoolingshadeoftheforest.Insilencetheyateasmall, tastelessmeal of bread and driedmeats. Flickwanted to ask theDruidmore about Shea’s chances of surviving alone in that desolate land, but hecouldn’tbringhimselftovoicethequestions.Theanswerswerealltooapparent.Hefeltstrangelyalonenowthattheothersweregone.HehadneverfeltclosetoAllanon, alwaysplaguedbynaggingdoubts about theDruid’s strangepowers.Themystic remained a giant shadowy figure, asmysterious anddeadly as theSkullBearersthatpursuedthemsorelentlessly.HeremainedapersonificationofthedeathlessspiritofBrementhathadrisenfromthenetherworldintheValleyofShale.Hewaspower andwisdomof suchmagnitude thathedidn’t seemapartofFlick’smortalworld;hewasmoreapartoftheWarlockLord’sdomain,

thatblack, frightfulcornerof themortalmindwhere fear ismasterand reasoncannotpenetrate.Flick could not forget the terrible battle between the great mystic and the

treacherousSkullcreaturewhichhadresultedinafieryclimaxintheflamesofthe furnacebeneath theDruids’Keep.YetAllanonhad savedhimself; hehadsurvived what no other man could have survived. It was more than merelyuncanny— it was terrifying. Balinor alone had seemed able to deal with thegiantleader,butnowhewasgone,andFlickfeltveryaloneandvulnerable.MenionLeahfeltevenlesscertainofhimself.Hewasnotreallyafraidofthe

powerfulDruid,buthewasawarethatthegiantdidnotthinkmuchofhimandhad brought him along primarily because Shea had wanted him. Shea hadbelieved in the Prince of Leahwhen even Flick had doubted the adventurer’smotives.ButSheawasgonenow.Menion felthehadonly toanger theDruidoncemoreandtheunpredictablemysticwoulddisposeofhimforgood.Soheate quietly and said nothing, believing that for themoment discretionwas thebetterpartofvalor.When thesilentmealwasconcluded, theDruidmotioned themto their feet.

Againtheymarchedeastwardalongthefringesoftheforest, theirfacesbathedinthewitheringheatofthesun,theirtiredeyesscanningthebarrenplainsforthemissingShea.Thistimetheywalkedforonlyfifteenminutesbeforetheyfoundsigns of something out of the ordinary. Menion spotted the tracks almostimmediately. A large number of Gnomes had passed that way several daysearlier,bootedandundoubtedlyarmed.Theyfollowedthetracksnorthwardforabouthalfamile.Upontoppingasmallriseofground,theyfoundtheremainsoftheGnomesandElveswhohaddiedinbattle.Thedecayingbodieslaywheretheyhadfallen,stilluntouchedandunburied,lessthanahundredyardsfromtherise.The threewalked slowly down into the graveyard of bleachedbones androttingflesh,theterriblestenchrisingtotheirnostrilsinsickeningwaves.Flickcouldgonofarther,andstoppedwherehewastowatchtheothertwowalkintothemidstofthedeadbodies.Allanonwandered in silent contemplation through the fallenmen, studying

discarded weapons and standards, glancing only briefly at the dead. Meniondiscovered a fresh set of tracks almost immediately and began movingmechanicallyaboutthebattlefield,hiseyesfixedonthedustyearth.Flickcouldnottellexactlywhatwasgoingonfromhisdistantvantagepoint,butitappearedthatthehighlanderretracedhisownstepsseveraltimes,castingaboutfortracesof new trails, the thin hands shading his reddened eyes. Finally, he turned

southward toward the forest andbegan strolling slowlyback towardFlick, hisheadloweredthoughtfully.Hestoppedatalargeclumpofbushesanddroppedtooneknee,apparentlyobservingsomethingofinterest.Momentarilyforgettinghis distaste for the battlefield and its corpses, the curious Valeman hastenedforward.Hehadjustreachedthekneelingman’ssidewhenAllanon,standinginthecenterofthebattlefield,letoutashoutofastonishment.Thetwomenpausedandwatchedsilentlywhilethetallblackfigurepeereddownwardforamomentas if to be certain, then turned and moved toward them in long strides. Themystic’sdarkfacewasflushedwithexcitementwhenhereachedthem,andtheywererelievedtoseethefamiliarmockingsmileslowlyspreadintoawidegrin.“Amazing!It’samazingindeed.Ouryoungfriendismoreresourceful thanI

hadimagined.Upthere,Ifoundasmallpileofashes—allthatremainsofoneoftheSkullBearers.Nothingmortaldestroyedthatcreature;itwasthepoweroftheElfstones!”“ThenSheahasbeenhereaheadofus!”exclaimedFlickhopefully.“No other has the power to use the stones.” Allanon nodded assuringly.

“Therearesignsofaterrificbattle, tracksthatshowSheawasnotalone.ButIcannottellwhetherthosewhowerewithhimwerefriendsorenemies.NorcanItellifthecreatureofthenorthwasdestroyedduringorafterthebattlebetweenGnomeandElf.Whathaveyoufound,highlander?”“AlotoffalsetrailsleftbyaveryintelligentTroll,”Menionrespondedwryly.

“It’simpossibleformetotellmuchfromallthefootprints,butIamsurethatalargeRockTrollwasamongtheprioroccupantsofthisfield.Helefthistracksalloveritbutnoneofthemleadanywhere.Thereareindicationsthatsomesortof scuffle took place within these bushes, though. See the bent branches andnewly fallen leaves?Butmore important, there are footprints of a smallman.TheycouldbeShea’s.”“DoyouthinkhewascapturedbytheTroll?”Flickqueriedfearfully.Menionsmiledathisconcernandshrugged.“IfhecouldhandleoneofthoseSkullcreatures,thenIdoubthewouldhave

muchtroublewithanordinaryTroll.”“TheElfstones are no protection againstmortal creatures,”Allanon pointed

outchillingly.“IsthereanydearindicationwhichwaythisTrollwent?”Menionshookhisheadnegatively.“Tobecertain,wewouldhavehadtofindthetracksrightaway.Thesetracks

areatleastadayold.TheTrollknewwhathewasdoingwhenheleft.Wecouldsearchforeverandneverbesurewhichwayhewent.”

Flickfelthisheartsinkatthisnews.IfSheahadbeentakenbythismysteriouscreature,thenitappearedtheyhadreachedanotherdeadend.“I found something else,” Allanon announced after a moment. “I found a

brokenstandardfromthehouseofElessedil—Eventine’spersonalbanner.Hemayhavebeenpresentat thebattle.Hemayhavebeen takenprisonerorevenkilled.Itseemspossible that theslainGnomeswereattemptingtoescapefromParanorwiththeSwordandwereinterceptedbytheElfKingandhiswarriors.Ifso,thenEventine,SheaandtheSwordmayallbeinthehandsoftheenemy.”“I’msureofonething,”Meniondeclaredquickly.“ThoseTrollfootprintsand

this battle in the bushes took place yesterday, while the battle between theGnomesandElvesisseveraldaysold.”“Yes...yes,you’reright,ofcourse,”theDruidagreedthoughtfully.“Therehas

been a sequence of events taking place that we can’t piece together from thelittleweknow.I’mafraidwewon’tfindalltheanswershere.”“Whatdowedonow?”Flickaskedanxiously.“There are tracks leading westward across the Streleheim,” Allanonmused

thoughtfully, gazing in that direction ashe spoke. “The tracks areblurred, buttheymayhavebeenmadebysurvivorsofthisbattle...”HelookedquestioninglyatthesilentMenionLeahforhisopinion.“Ourmysterious Troll did not go that way,”Menion stated worriedly. “He

wouldnotbotherwithalotoffalsetrailsifheweregoingtoleaveaclearonewhenheleft!Idon’tlikeit.”“Dowe have any choice?”Allanon persisted. “The only clear set of tracks

leaving thisbattleground leadswestward.We’llhave to follow themandhopeforthebest.”Flickthoughtthatsuchoptimismwasunwarrantedinviewofthehardfactsof

thesituationandfoundthecommentsoutofcharacterforthegrimDruid.Still,itseemed they had little choice in thematter. Perhapswhoever hadmade thosetracks could tell them something about Shea. The little Valeman turned toMenionandnoddedhiswillingnesstofollowtheDruid’sadvice,notingthelookofconsternationcloudingthehighlander’sleanfeatures.ClearlyMenionwasnothappywiththedecision,convincedthattherewasanothertrailtobefoundthatwould tell them more about the Troll and the slain Skull creature. Allanonbeckoned to them, and retracing their steps they began the long march backacross the StreleheimPlains to the landswest of Paranor. Flick cast one finallookatthefieldofslainmen,theircarcassesrottingslowlyintheboilingheatofthesun,shunnedbymanandnatureinsenselessdeath.Heshookhisbroadhead.

Perhapsthiswasthewayitwouldendforthemall.The three travelers walked steadily westward for the remainder of the day.

Theyspokelittle,lostinprivatethoughts,theireyesfollowingalmostcarelesslythe blurred trail before them as theywatched the brilliant sun turn red in thehorizonanddieintoevening.Whenitwastoodarktocontinue,Allanondirectedthemintotheborderingforestswheretheymadecampforthenight.ThetriohadreachedapointnearthenorthwesternsectorofthedreadedImpregnableForestand theywereonceagain indangerofdiscoverybyGnomehuntingpartiesorprowlingwolfpacks.TheresoluteDruidexplainedthat,whiletheywereinsomedanger of discovery, he believed the search for them would have beenabandoned by this time in favor of more urgent matters. As a necessaryprecaution,theywouldlightnofireandwouldkeepconstantwatchthroughthenightforthewolves.Flicksilentlyprayedthatthewolfpackswouldnotventurethis close to the plainland, but would keep to the dark interior of the woods,closertotheDruids’Keep.Theyateabrief,tastelessmealandquicklyturnedinfor the night. Menion offered to stand the first watch. Flick was asleep inmoments, but it seemed he had slept for only an instant when the highlanderawokehimforhisturnasguard.Aboutmidnight,AllanonapproachedwithoutasoundandorderedFlicktogobacktosleep.TheValemanhadbeenguardingforonlyaboutanhour,buthedidashewastoldwithoutarguing.WhenFlickandMenionawokeagain,itwasdawn.Inthefaintredandyellow

slivers of sunlight which crept slowly into the shadowed forest, they saw thegiantDruid restingpeacefullyagainsta tall elmashe staredat them.The tall,dark figure seemed almost a part of the forest, sitting there motionlessly, thedeepeyesblackinthecavernsbeneaththegreatbrow.TheyknewthatAllanonmusthavestoodguardover themallnightwithoutsleep.Itseemedimpossiblethathecouldberested,yetherosewithoutstretching,thegrimfacerelaxedandalert. They ate a quick breakfast and marched out of the forest onto theStreleheim once more. A moment later they halted in shocked disbelief. Allaboutthem,theskieswereclearandfaintlyblueinthenewlightofday,thesunrisinginblindingbrillianceabovethemountainrangesfartotheeast.Buttothenorthstoodagigantic,toweringwallofdarknessagainsttheskyline,asifalltheominousthundercloudsoftheearthhadbeenmassedtogetherandpiledoneontopofthenexttoformablackwallofgloom.Thewallroseintotheairuntilitwaslostinthecurvingatmosphereoftheearth’shorizon,anditstretchedacrossalloftheruggedNorthland,huge,dark,andterrible—itscenterthekingdomoftheWarlockLord.Itseemedtoforeshadowtherelentless,inevitableapproachof

anendlessnight.“Whatdoyoumakeofthat?”Menioncouldbarelygetthequestionout.For a moment Allanon said nothing, his own dark face mirroring the

blacknessof thenorthernwallashe stared in silence.Themusclesofhis leanjawseemedtotightenbeneaththesmallblackbeardandtheeyesnarrowedasifdeep in concentration.Menionwaitedquietly, and at last theDruid seemed torealizehehadspoken,turningtohiminrecognition.“It is thebeginningof theend.Bronahassignaled thestartofhisconquest.

Thatterribledarknesswillfollowhisarmiesastheysweepsouthward,theneastandwest, until thewhole earth is blanketed.When the sun is gone in all thelands,freedomisdead,too.”“Arewe beaten?” Flick asked after amoment. “Arewe really beaten? Is it

hopelessforus,Allanon?”His worried voice struck a responsive chord within the giant Druid, who

turnedquietlytohim,gazingreassuringlyintothewide,frightenedeyes.“Notyet,myyoungfriend.Notyet.”Allanonledthemwestwardforseveralhoursfromthatpoint,stayingcloseto

thefringesoftheforest,warningMenionandFlicktokeeptheireyesopenforanysignoftheenemy.TheSkullBearerswouldbeflyinginthedayaswellasbynight,nowthattheWarlockLordhadbegunhisconquest,nolongerafraidofthesunlight,nolongertryingtoconcealtheirpresence.TheMasterwasfinishedwithhidingintheNorthland;now,hewouldbegintomoveintotheotherlands,sendinghisfaithfulspiritsaheadofhimlikegreatbirdsofprey.Hewouldgivethemthepowertheyneededtowithstandthesun—thepowerhehadharnessedin the great dark wall that shadowed his kingdom and would soon begin toshadowallofthelandsbeyond.Thedaysoflightweredrawingtoaclose.About midmorning, the three travelers turned southward on the Streleheim

Plains,keepingclose to thewesternfringesof theforestssurroundingParanor.The tracks they had been following merged at this point with others comingdownfromthenorthtocontinuesouthwardtowardCallahorn.Thetrailtheyleftwasbroadandopen; therehadbeenno attempt tohide either their numberortheir direction. From the width of the trail and the impressions left by thefootprints,Menionconcludedthatatleastseveralthousandmenhadpassedthiswayafewdaysearlier.ThefootprintswereGnomeandTroll—obviouslypartof theNorthlandhordes of theWarlockLord.Allanonwas certain now that agiantarmywasmassingontheplainsaboveCallahorntobeginasweepthroughthe Southland thatwould divide the free lands and their armies. The trail had

becomesoobscuredbytheinterminglingofconstantadditionalpartiesintothemain body that itwas no longer possible to tellwhether a small groupmighthavedetacheditself.SheaortheSwordcouldhavebeentakenadifferentwayatsomepoint,andhisfriendswouldfailtocatchit,continuingtofollowthemainarmy.Theywalkedsouthwardalldaywithonlyoccasionalperiodsofrest,intenton

catching the huge column of men ahead before nightfall. The trail of theinvading armywas so apparent thatMenionmerely glancedout of habit fromtimetotimeatthetrampledearth.ThebarrenPlainsofStreleheimwerereplacedby green grasslands. To Flick, it almost seemed that they were going homeagain, and the familiar hills of ShadyValemight be just over the rise of theplains.Theweatherwaswarmandhumid,andtheterrainwasconsiderablymorefriendly.TheywerestillsomedistancefromCallahorn,butitwasdearthattheywere passing out of the bleakness of the Northland into the warmth andgreennessoftheirhome.Thedaypassedquickly,andconversationbetweenthetravelersresumed.AtFlick’surging,AllanontoldthemmoreabouttheCouncilof theDruids.Herecounted indetail thehistoryofMansince theGreatWars,explaining how their race had progressed to its present state of existence.Menionsaidlittle,contenttolistentotheDruidandkeepaclosewatchoverthesurroundingcountryside.Whentheyhadbeguntheday’smarch,thesunhadbeenbrightandwarm,and

the sky dear. By midafternoon the weather had changed abruptly and thebrightness of the sun was replaced by low-hanging, gray clouds and an evenmorehumidatmosphere thatclunguncomfortably to theexposedskin.Theairfeltstickyandwet,andtherewaslittledoubtthatastormwasapproaching.Theywerenear thesouthernmostboundariesof theImpregnableForestbythis time,andthejaggedpeaksoftheDragon’sTeethwerevisibleinthedarkhorizontothesouth.Still therewasnosignofthemassivearmytravelingaheadofthem,and Menion was beginning to wonder how far south it might have alreadypenetrated. They were not far now from the borders of Callahorn, which layimmediately below the Dragon’s Teeth. If the Northland armies had alreadytakenCallahorn,thentheendhadindeedcome.Thegraylightoftheafternoondroppedoffsharplyandtheskyclosedoverinsullendarkness.Itwasduskwhentheyfirstheardtheominousboomingrisingoutofthenight,

echoingoffthegiantpeaksaheadofthem.Menionrecognizeditatonce—hehad heard that sound before in the forests of the Anar. It was the sound ofhundredsofGnomedrums,theirsteadyrhythmthrobbingthroughthestillnessof

thehumidair,fillingthenightwithasinistertension.Theearthshookwiththeforceofthebeat,andalllifehadgonemuteinaweandfear.MenioncouldtellbytheintensityofthedrumsthattherewerefarmorethantheyhadencounteredatthePassofJade.IfthearmyoftheNorthlandcouldbemeasuredbythesoundofthosedrums,thentheremustbethousands.Asthethreemovedquicklyahead,the frightening sound enveloped them entirely, booming all about them inshudderingechoes.Thegraycloudsoflateafternoonstillmaskedthenightsky,leaving the searchingmenshrouded in inkydarkness.MenionandFlickcouldno longer find the way alone, and the silent Druid led them with uncannyprecision into the rough lowlands below Paranor. No one spoke, each manfrozen into watchful apprehension by the deathly booming of those Gnomedrums.Theyknewthattheenemycampwasjustahead.Then the terrain changed abruptly from the lowhills and scattered brush to

steep slopes dottedwith boulders and treacherous rock ledges.The surefootedAllanon moved steadily ahead, his tall form unmistakable even in the nearblackness, and the twoSouthlanders followeddutifully.Menionestimated thatthey must have reached the smaller mountains and foothills just above theDragon’s Teeth and that Allanon had chosen to come this way to avoid anychanceencounterswithmembersoftheNorthlandarmy.Itwasstillimpossibletotellwheretheenemyarmywasencamped,butfromthesoundofthedrums,itseemedasiftheywererightontopofit.Thethreedarkshapeswoundtheirwaycautiously through thenight forwhatmusthavebeenalmostanhour,at timesfeeling their way blindly through the boulders and brush. Their clothes werescrapedandtorn,theirexposedlimbsscratchedandbruised,butthesilentDruiddidnotslackenthepaceorpausetorest.Attheendofthatlonghour’stime,hehalted abruptly and turned to them, placing awarning finger over pursed lips.Thenslowly,cautiously,heledthemforwardintoahugemassofboulders.Forseveral minutes, the three climbed noiselessly upward. Suddenly there werelights in the distance—dim, flickering yellow lights that came from burningfires. They crawled on hands and knees to the rim of the boulders. Uponreaching a tilted shelf of rock that sloped upward to the edge of the bouldercluster,theyraisedtheirheadsslowlytotherimandpeeredbreathlesslyover.What they saw was awesome and terrifying. As far as the eye could see,

stretchingmiles inalldirections, thefiresof theNorthlandarmyburnedin thenight.Theywere like thousandsofblazingyellowdots in theblacknessof theplains,andmovingbusilyaboutinthebrightlightwerethedimshapesofwiry,gnarledGnomesandbulky,thick-limbedTrolls.Therewerethousandsofthem,

all armed, all waiting to descend on the kingdom of Callahorn. It wasinconceivabletoMenionandFlickthateventhelegendaryBorderLegioncouldhope to stand against such amighty force. Itwas as if the entireGnome andTroll population had been gathered on the plains below.Allanon had avoidedanychanceencounterswithscoutsorguardsbyapproachingalongtheedgesoftheDragon’sTeethonthewesternborders,andnowthethreewereperchedinacrow’snestofbouldersseveralhundredfeetupfromthearmyencampedbelow.Fromthisheight,theshockedSouthlanderscouldseetheentiretyofthemassiveforce assembled to invade their poorly defended homeland. The drums of theGnomes boomed out in steady crescendo as the men stared down, their eyestraveling fromoneendof the sprawledcamp to theother indisbelief.For thefirsttime,theyunderstoodfullywhattheywereupagainst.Before,ithadbeenonlyAllanon’swordsdescribingtheinvasion,nowtheycouldseetheenemyandjudgeforthemselves.NowtheycouldfeelthedesperateneedforthemysteriousSwordofShannara—aneedfortheonepowerthatcoulddestroytheevilbeingwhohadcausedthisarmytomaterializeandmarchagainstthere.Butnowwasalreadytoolate.For several longminutes, no one said anything as they stared down at the

enemyencampment.ThenMeniontouchedAllanonontheshoulderandstartedtospeak,buttheDruidclampedhishandquicklyoverthesurprisedhighlander’smouth and pointed toward the base of the slope onwhich they lay concealed.MenionandFlickpeeredcautiouslydownwardandto theirsurprise theymadeout thevagueshapesofGnomeguardspatrollingnear thebaseof theirhidingplace.Neitherhadbelievedtheenemywouldbothertoplaceguardsthisfarfromtheactualcamp,butapparentlytheyweretakingnochances.Allanonmotionedfor the two to move back from the edge of the boulders and they quicklycomplied,followinghisleadasheinchedhiswaydownintothetallrocks.Oncetheyhadreachedthebottomofthebouldercluster,safelyawayfromtherimoftheledge,theDruidhuddledtogetherwiththeminearnestcouncil.“Wehavetobeveryquiet,”hewarnedinatensewhisper.“Thesoundofour

voiceswouldhaveechoedofftheclifffaceontotheplainsfromupthere.ThoseGnomeguardswouldhaveheardus!”MenionandFlicknoddedinunderstanding.“ThesituationismoreseriousthanIthought,”Allanoncontinued,hisvoicea

hushedraspinthegloom.“ItappearstheentireNorthlandarmyhasbunchedatthisonepointtostrikeatCallahorn.BronaintendstocrushanyresistancefromtheSouthlandimmediately,dividingthebetterpreparedarmiesof theEastand

Westsohecandealwiththemseparately.TheevilonealreadyholdseverythingnorthofCallahorn.Balinorandtheothersmustbewarned!”Hepausedamoment,thenturnedexpectantlytoMenionLeah.“I can’t leavenow,”Menionexclaimedheatedly. “I’vegot tohelpyou find

Shea!”“Wehaven’tthetimetoarguetheprioritiesofthesituation,”Allanondeclared

almostmenacingly,onefingercominguplikeadaggeratthehighlander’sface.“IfBalinorisnotwarnedaboutthesituation,CallahornwillfallandtherestoftheSouthlandwill follow, includingLeah.The timehas come foryou to startthinkingaboutyourownpeople.Shea isonlyoneman,andrightnowthere isnothingyoucandoforhim.Butthereissomethingyoucandoforthethousandsof Southlanders who face enslavement at the hands of the Warlock Lord ifCallahornshouldfall!”Allanon’svoicewassocoldthatFlickcouldfeel thechillsrunuphisspine.

HecouldsenseMeniontensingexpectantly,fearfully,athisside,butthePrinceofLeahkeptsilentinthefaceofthisstingingreprimand.DruidandPrincefacedoneanotherinthedarknessforseveralinterminableminutes,theireyeslockedinopen anger. Then Menion looked away abruptly and nodded shortly. Flickbreathedanaudiblesighofrelief.“I’ll go to Callahorn and warn Balinor,” Menion muttered, his voice still

muffledwithfury,“butI’llbebacktofindyou.”“Do as youwishwhen you have found the others,” repliedAllanon coldly.

“However, any attempt to return through enemy lines would be foolhardy atbest.FlickandIshalltrytofindoutwhathashappenedtoSheaandtheSword.Wewillnotdeserthim,highlander,Ipromiseyou.”Menionlookedback,athimsharply,almostindisbelief,buttheDruid’seyes

wereclearandundisguised.Hewasnotlying.“Keepclose to thesesmallermountains.untilyougetpast theenemypicket

lines,” the giant wanderer advised quietly. “When you reach the MermidonRiver above Kern, cross there and enter the city before dawn. I expect theNorthlandarmywillmarchonKernfirst.Thereislittlechancethatthecitycanbe successfully defended against a force of that size. The people should beevacuated andmoved into Tyrsis before the invaders can cut off their retreat.Tyrsisisbuiltonaplateauagainstthebackofamountain.Properlydefended,itcanwithstandanyassaultforatleastseveraldays.ThatshouldbetimeenoughforDurin andDayel to reach their homeland and returnwith an Elven army.HendelshouldbeabletooffersomehelpfromtheEastland.PerhapsCallahorn

canbeheldlongenoughtomobilizeandcombinethearmiesofthethreelandsto strike back at theWarlockLord. It is the only chancewehavewithout theSwordofShannara.”MenionnoddedinunderstandingandturnedtoFlick,extendinghishandina

gestureoffarewell.Flicksmiledfaintlyandclaspedthehandwarmly.“Goodlucktoyou,MenionLeah.”Allanon came forward and placed a strong hand on the highlander’s lean

shoulder.“Remember,PrinceofLeah,wedependonyou.ThepeopleofCallahornmust

bemadeawareof thedanger they face. If they falterorhesitate, theyare lost,andwiththemalloftheSouthland.Donotfail.”Menionturnedabruptlyandmovedlikeashadowintotherocksbeyond.The

giantDruidandthelittleValemanstoodsilentlyastheleanfigureflittedagilelybetween the rocks and then disappeared from sight. They stood for a fewminuteswithoutspeakingafterhewasgone,andthenAllanonturnedtoFlick.“To us is left the task of finding out what has happened to Shea and the

Sword.” He spoke again in a lowered voice, sitting heavily down on a smallrock. Flick moved closer to him. “I’m worried about Eventine as well. Thatbroken standardwe found back at the battlefieldwas his personal banner.Hemayhavebeentakenprisoner,andifhehas,theElvenarmymayhesitatetoactuntilhehasbeen rescued.They lovehim toodearly to takea chancewithhislife,eventosavetheSouthland.”“Youmean the Elven people don’t carewhat happens to the people of the

Southland?”Flickexclaimedincredulously.“Don’ttheyknowwhatwillhappentothemshouldtheSouthlandfalltotheWarlockLord?”“It’snotquiteassimpleasitseems,”Allanonstated,sighingdeeply.“Those

who follow Eventine understand the danger, but there are others who believethattheElvenpeopleshouldstayoutoftheaffairsoftheotherlandsunlesstheyaredirectlyattackedorthreatened.WithEventineabsent,thechoicewillnotbesoclear,anddiscussionofwhatisrightandpropermaydelayanymovebytheElvenarmyuntilitistoolateforthemtohelp.”Flick nodded slowly, thinking of another time at Culhaven when a bitter

Hendel had reported much the same thing about the people of the Southlandcities. It seemed incredible thatpeoplecouldbe soundecidedandconfused inthefaceofsuchobviousdanger.YetSheaandhehadbeenlikethatwhentheyhad first learned aboutShea’sbirthright and the threat of theSkullBearers. Itwasnotuntiltheyhadseenonecrawling,searchingforthem...

“I’vegot toknowwhat’shappening in thatcamp.”Allanon’svoicecut intoFlick’s thoughts with a sharp rasp of determination. He paused in thought amoment,staringatthelittleValeman.“Myyoung friend, Flick...”He smiled faintly in the darkness. “Howwould

youliketobeaGnomeforalittlewhile?”

ChapterTwenty-Two

WithSheastillmissingsomewherenorthoftheDragon’sTeethandAllanon,Flick, and Menion in search of some definite sign of his whereabouts, theremaining fourmembers of the now divided company of friends drewwithinsightofthegreattowersofthefortresscityofTyrsis.Ithadtakenthemalmosttwo days of constant travel, their hazardous journey through the lines of theNorthlandarmyfurtherimpededbytheformidablemountainbarriercuttingofftheSouthlandkingdomofCallahornfromthelandofParanor.Thefirstdaywaslong, but without incident, as the four wound southward through the forestsadjoining the Gnome-patrolled Impregnable Forest to reach the lowlandsbeyond, which formed the doorstep to the awesome Dragon’s Teeth. ThemountainpasseswereallcarefullyguardedbyGnomehunters,anditseemeditwouldprovetobeimpossibletogetpastthemwithoutafight.Butasimpleruseluredmostof theguardsaway from theentrance to thehigh,windingKennonPass, allowing the four anopportunity to get into themountains.ThedifficulttaskofgettingoutagainatthesouthernendwasaccomplishedonlyafterseveralGnomeswere silently dispatched at amidpoint check camp and twentymorewerefrightenedintobelievingtheentireBorderLegionofCallahornhadseizedthe pass and was descending on the luckless sentries with every intention ofkilling them all. Hendel was laughing so hard when they finally reached thesafetyoftheforestssouthoftheKennonPassthatallfourwereforcedtopausemomentarily until he could recover his composure. Durin and Dayel lookeddoubtfullyatoneanother,recallingthetaciturnDwarf’sgrimattitudeduringthejourneytoParanor.Theyhadneverseenhimlaughatanything,andsomehowitseemed out of character. They shook their lean faces in disbelief and glancedquestioninglyatBalinor.Butthegiantbordermanonlyshrugged.HewasanoldfriendtoHendelandtheDwarf’schangeablecharacterwaswellknowntohim.Itwasgoodtohearhislaughteragain.Now in the twilightof the early evening,with the sun’s fading light ahazy

purple and red in thevasthorizonof thewesternplains, the four stoodwithinsightoftheirdestination.Theirbodieswerewornandsore,theirnormallykeenminds numbed by lack of sleep and constant travel, but their spirits rosewithunspokenexcitementatthesightofthemajesticcityofTyrsis.Theypausedforan instant at the edge of the forests that ran south from the Dragon’s Teeth

throughCallahorn.TotheeastwasthecityofVarfleet,whichguardedtheonlysizablepassage through theMountainsofRunne, a small range that layabovethefabledRainbowLake.ThesluggishMermidonRiverwounditswaythroughthe forest at their backs aboveTyrsis.Westward lay the smaller island city ofKern,and thesourceof the riverwas fartherwest in thevastemptinessof theStreleheimPlains. The riverwas broad at all points, forming a natural barrieragainstanywould-beenemyandofferingreliableprotectionfortheinhabitantsontheisland.Whiletheriverranfull,whichitdidalmosttheyeararound,thewatersweredeepandswift,andnoenemyhadevertakentheislandcity.Yet while both Kern, surrounded by the waters of the Mermidon, and

Varfleet, nestled in the Mountains of Runne, seemed formidable and welldefended, itwas theancientcityofTyrsis thatharbored theBorderLegion—the precision fightingmachine that had for countless generations successfullyguardedthebordersoftheSouthlandagainstinvasion.ItwastheBorderLegionthathadalwaystakenthebruntofanyassaultagainsttheraceofMan,offeringthefirstlineofdefenseagainstanenemyinvader.TyrsishadgivenbirthtotheBorderLegionofCallahorn,andasafortressitwaswithoutequal.TheoldcityofTyrsishadbeendestroyedintheFirstWaroftheRaces,buthadbeenrebuiltandthenexpandedovertheyearsuntilnowitwasoneofthelargestcitiesinalltheSouthlandandby far the strongest city standing in thenorthern regions. Ithadbeendesignedasafortresscapableofwithstandinganyenemyattack—abastionof toweringwalls and jagged ramparts set on anatural plateau againstthefaceofanunscalablecliff.Eachgenerationofitscitizenshadcontributedinthe construction of the city, each making it more formidable. Over sevenhundred years ago, the great Outer Wall had been built on the edge of theplateau,extendingtheboundariesofTyrsisasfarasnaturewouldpermitonthebluffface.Inthefertileplainsbelowthefortresswerethefarmsandcroplandsthatfedthecity,thedarkearthnurturedandsustainedbythelife-givingwatersof the greatMermidonwhich ran east and south.The people had their homesscattered throughout the surrounding countryside, relying on the city’s walledprotection only in the event of invasion. For hundreds of years following theFirstWaroftheRaces,thecitiesofCallahornhadsuccessfullyrepelledassaultsbyunfriendlyneighbors.Noneof the threehadeverbeenseizedbyanenemy.ThefamedBorderLegionhadneverbeendefeatedinbattle.ButCallahornhadneverfacedanarmythesizeofthatsentbytheWarlockLord.Therealtestofstrengthandcouragelayahead.Balinor looked upon the distant towers of his citywithmixed feelings.His

fatherhadbeenagreatKingandagoodman,buthewasgrowingold.ForyearshehadcommandedtheBorderLegionin itsunceasingbattleagainstpersistentGnomeraidersfromtheEastland.Severaltimeshehadbeenforcedtowagelongandcostly campaigns against thegreatNorthlandTrolls,when scattered tribeshadmoved intohis land, intentonseizing itscitiesandsubjugating itspeople.Balinorwastheeldersonandthelogicalheirtothethrone.Hehadstudiedhardunder his father’s careful guidance, and he was well liked by the people—peoplewhosefriendshipcouldbewononlythroughrespectandunderstanding.Hehadworkedbesidethem,foughtbesidethem,andlearnedfromthem,sothatnowhecouldfeelwhattheyfeltandlookthroughtheireyes.Helovedthelandenough to fight to hold it, as he was doing now, as he had been doing for anumber of years. He commanded a regiment of the Border Legion, and theyworehispersonalinsignia—acrouchedleopard.Theywerethekeyunitoftheentire fightingforce.ForBalinor,holding their respectanddevotionwasmoreimportantthananything.Hehadbeengonefromthemformonthsnow—gone,by his own choosing, to a self-imposed exile of travel with the mysteriousAllanonand thecompany fromCulhaven.His fatherhadaskedhimnot togo,pleadedwithhimtoreconsiderhisdecision.Buthehadalreadydecided;hewasnottobeswayed,evenbyhisfather.Hisbrowfurrowedandastrangefeelingofgloomsettledintohismindashelookeddownonhishomeland.Unconsciously,heraisedoneglovedhandtohisface,thecoldchainmailtracingthelineofthescarthatrandowntheexposedrightcheektohischin.“Thinking about your brother again?”Hendel asked, although itwas not so

muchaquestionasastatementoffact.Balinorlookedoverathim,momentarilystartled,thennoddedslowly.“You’vegottostopthinkingaboutthatwholebusiness,youknow,”theDwarf

statedflatly.“Hecouldbearealthreattoyouifyoupersistinthinkingofhimasabrotherandnotasaperson.”“It isnot soeasy to forget thathisbloodandminemakeusmore thansons

borntothesamefather,”thebordermandeclaredgloomily.“Icannotignorenorforgetsuchstrongties.”Durin andDayel looked at each other, unable to comprehendwhat the two

were talking about.Theyknew thatBalinor had a brother, but theyhadneverseen him and had heard no mention of him since they had begun the longjourneyfromCulhaven.Balinornoticedthebaffled looksonthefacesof the twoElvenbrothersand

shotaquicksmileintheirdirection.

“It’snotasbadasitmightseem,”heassuredthemcalmly.Hendel shook his head hopelessly and lapsed into silence for the next few

minutes.“MyyoungerbrotherPalanceandIaretheonlysonsofRuhlBuckhannah,the

King of Callahorn,” Balinor volunteered, his eyeswandering back toward thedistantcityas if lookingforanother time.“Wewereveryclosewhilegrowingup—ascloseasyoutwo.Aswegotolder,wedevelopeddifferentideasaboutlife... different personalities, as all individualsmust, brothersor not. Iwas theelder,Iwasnextinlinetothethrone.Palancealwaysrealizedthis,ofcourse,butitdividedusaswegrewolder,mainlybecausehisideasofrulingthelandwerenotalwaysthesameasmine...It’sdifficulttoexplain,youunderstand.”“It’snotsodifficult,”Hendelsnortedmeaningfully.“All right, then, it’s not so difficult,” Balinor conceded wearily, to which

Hendel responded with a knowing nod. “Palance believes Callahorn shouldceasetoserveasafirstlineofdefenseincaseofattackontheSouthlandpeople.HewantstodisbandtheBorderLegionandisolateCallahornfromtherestoftheSouthland.Wecannotagreeatallonthispoint...”Hetrailedoffinbittersilenceforamoment.“Tellthemtherest,Balinor.”Hendelagainspokeicily.“Mydistrustfulfriendbelievesmybrotherisnolongerhisownmaster—that

be says these things without meaning them. He keeps counsel with a mysticknownasStenmin,amanAllanonfeelsiswithouthonorandwillguidePalanceto his own destruction. Stenmin has told my father and the people that mybrothershouldruleandnotI.Hehasturnedhimagainstme.WhenIleft,evenPalanceseemedtobelievethatIwasnotfittoruleCallahorn.”“Andthatscar...?”Durinaskedquietly.“An argument we had just before I left with Allanon,” Balinor replied,

shakinghisheadashethoughtbackonthematter.“Ican’tevenrememberhowit started,butallatoncePalancewas ina rage—therewas realhatred inhiseyes.Iturnedtoleave,andhegrabbedawhipfromthewall,strikingoutatme,cuttingintomyfacewiththetip.ThatwasthereasonIdecidedtogetawayfromTyrsisforatime,togivePalanceachancetoregainhissenses.IfIhadstayedafterthatincident,wemighthave...”Againhetrailedoffominously,andHendelshottheElvenbrothersaglance

thatleftnodoubtintheirmindswhatwouldhavehappenedifthebrothershadhad another altercation. Durin frowned in disbelief, wondering what sort ofperson would take sides against a man like Balinor. The tall borderman had

repeatedlyprovedhiscourageandstrengthofcharacterduring theirdangerousjourneytoParanor,andevenAllanonhadreliedheavilyonhim.Yethisbrotherhaddeliberatelyandvindictivelyturnedagainsthim.TheElffeltadeepsadnessfor this brave warrior, returned to a homeland where peace even in his ownfamilywasdeniedhim.“Youmust believemewhen I tell you thatmybrotherwasnot always like

that—nordoIbelieveheisnowabadman,”Balinorcontinued,moreasifhewereexplainingittohimselfthantotheothers.“ThismysticStenminbassomekindofholdoverPalancethatprovokeshimintotheserages,turninghimagainstmeandwhatheknowstoberight.”“There ismore tohimthanthat,”Hendel interruptedsharply.“Palance isan

idealistic fanatic—heseeks the throneand turnsagainstyouunderpretextofupholding the interests of the people. He is choking on his own self-righteousness.”“Perhapsyouareright,Hendel,”Balinorconcededquietly.“Butheisstillmy

brother,andIlovehim.”“That’swhatmakeshimsodangerous,” theDwarfdeclared,standingbefore

thetallborderman,meetinghisgazesquarely.“Henolongerlovesyou.”Balinordidnotreply,butstaredintotheplainlandstothewestandtowardthe

city of Tyrsis. The others remained silent for a few minutes, leaving thebroodingPrince to his own thoughts. Finally he turnedback to them, his facerelaxedandcalm,lookingasifthewholematterhadnevercomeup.“Time to be moving on. We want to reach the walls of the city before

nightfall.”“I’mgoingnofartherwithyou,Balinor,”Hendelinterjectedquickly.“Imust

returntomyownlandandhelppreparetheDwarfarmiesagainstaninvasionoftheAnar.”“Well,youcanrestinTyrsisfortonightandleavetomorrow,”Dayelreplied

quickly,knowinghowtiredtheyallwereandanxiousfortheDwarf’ssafety.Hendelsmiledpatiently,thenshookhishead.“No,Imusttravelatnightintheselands.IfIstaythenightinTyrsis,Ilosea

whole day’s travel, and time is very precious to us all. The entire Southlandstands or falls on how quickly we can assemble our armies into a combinedfighting unit to strike back at the Warlock Lord. If Shea and the Sword ofShannara are lost to us, then our armies are all we have left. I will travel toVarfleetandrestthere.Takecaremyfriends.Lucktoyouinthedaysahead.”“Andtoyou,braveHendel.”Balinorextendedagreathand.Hendelclaspedit

warmly,thenthoseoftheElvenbrothers,anddisappearedintotheforestswithapartingwave.Balinor and the Elven brothers waited until they could no longer see him

moving through the trees and then began their walk across the plains towardTyrsis.The sunhaddroppedbehind thehorizon, and the skyhad turned fromdusky red to a deep gray and blue that signaled the momentary approach ofnight.Theywereabouthalfwaywhentheskyturnedcompletelyblack,revealingthefirstofthenight’sstarsshininginaclear,cloudlesssky.Astheynearedthefabledcity,itsvastbulksprawlinganddarkagainstthenighthorizon,thePrinceof Callahorn described in detail to the Elven brothers the history behind thebuildingofTyrsis.A series of natural defenses protected the manmade fortress. The city had

been built on a high plateau which ran back against a line of small, buttreacherous cliffs. The cliffs bounded the plateau entirely on the south andpartiallyonthewestandeast.Whiletheywerenotnearlysohighorformidablein appearance as the Dragon’s Teeth or the Charnal Mountains of the farNorthland,theywereincrediblysteep.Thatportionofthecliffsthatfacednorthontotheplateaurosealmoststraightup,andnoonehadeversuccessfullyscaledit. Thus, the city was well protected from the rear, and it had never beennecessarytoconstructanydefensestothesouth.Theplateauonwhichthecitywas builtwas a little over threemiles across at itswidest point, dropping offsharplyontotheplainlandswhichranunbrokenandopenallthewaynorthandwest to the Mermidon River and east to the forests of Callahorn. The swiftMermidon actually formed the first line of defense against invasion, and fewarmieshadevergottenbeyondthatpointtoreachtheplateauandthecitywalls.The enemy who did manage to cross the Mermidon onto the plainlandsimmediately found itself confronted by the steep wall of the plateau, whichcouldbedefendedfromabove.Themainrouteofaccesstothisbluffwasahugeironandstonerampway,whichwasriggedtocollapsebyknockingoutpinsinthemajorsupports.But even if the enemymanaged to reach the topof theplateau and thereby

gaina foothold, the thirddefensewaited—thedefense thatnoarmyhadeverbrokenthrough.Standingascanttwohundredyardsfromtheedgeoftheplateauandringingtheentirecityinasemicircle,theendsreachingbacktothediffsidesprotecting the southern approach,was themonstrousOuterWall. Constructedfrom great blocks of stonewelded togetherwithmortar, the surface had beensmootheddown tomake scalingbyhandvirtually impossible. It rosenearly a

hundredfeetintotheair,massive,towering,impregnable.Atthetopofthewall,rampartshadbeenbuilt for themen fightingwithin the city,with sections cutaway to allow concealed bowmen room to shoot down on the unprotectedattackers. Itwas ancient in styling, crude and rough-hewn, but it had repelledinvaders for almost a thousandyears.No enemy armyhadpenetrated into theinnercitysinceitsconstructionfollowingtheFirstWaroftheRaces.JustwithinthegreatOuterWall,theBorderLegionwasquarteredinaseries

of long,slopingbarracksinterspersedbybuildingsusedforstorageofsuppliesandweapons.Approximatelyone-thirdof thisgreat fightingforcewaskeptondutyatanygiventime,while theother two-thirdsremainedathomewiththeirfamilies, pursuing their secondary occupations as laborers, craftsmen, orshopkeepersinthecity.Thebarrackswereequippedtohousetheentirearmyifthe need should ever arise, as indeed it had already done on more than oneoccasion, but at present they were only partially filled. Set back from thebarracks,supplyhousing,andparadegroundswasasecondwallofstoneblocksseparating the soldiers’quarters from thecityproper.Within this secondwall,liningtheneat,windingcitystreets,werethehomesandbusinessesoftheurbanpopulation of Tyrsis, all carefully constructed and meticulously cared forbuildings.Thecitysprawledovermostoftheplateau’selevation,runningfromthissecondstonewallalmosttothecliffsborderingthesouthapproach.Atthisinnermost point of the city, a low thirdwall hadbeenbuiltwhichmarked theentrancetothegovernmentbuildingsandtheroyalpalaceoftheKing,completewithpublic forumand landscapedgrounds.The tree-shadedparks surroundingthe palace provided the only sylvan setting on the otherwise open and sparseflatlandoftheplateau.Thethirdwallhadnotbeenbuiltfordefensivepurposes,but as a line of demarcation, signifying government-owned property that hadbeenreservedfortheKing’suseand,inthecaseoftheparks,forallthepeople.Balinordeviatedfromhisdescriptionof thecity’sconstruction longenough topoint out to theElvenbrothers that theKingdomofCallahornwasoneof thefewremainingenlightenedmonarchiesintheworld.Whileitwastechnicallyamonarchy ruled by a King, the government also consisted of a parliamentarybody composed of representatives chosen by the people of Callahorn, whohelped the rulerhammerout the laws thatgoverned the land.Thepeople tookgreatpride in theirgovernmentand in theBorderLegion inwhichmosteitherhad served at one time or were serving now. It was a country in which theycouldbefreemen,andthiswassomethingworthfightingfor.Callahornwasa land that reflectedboth thepastand the future.On theone

hand its cities had been built primarily as fortresses towithstand the frequentassaultsbywarlikeneighbors.TheBorderLegionwasacarry-overfromearliertimeswhen thenewly formednationswere constantly atwar,whenan almostfanaticalprideinnationalsovereigntyresultedinalongstruggleoverjealouslyguarded land boundaries, when brotherhood between the peoples of the fourlands was still only a distant possibility. The rustic, old-fashioned decor andarchitecture could be found nowhere else in the quickly growing cities of thedeepSouthland-citieswheremoreenlightenedculturesandlesswarlikepolicieswerebeginningtoprevail.YetitwasTyrsis,withherbarbaricwallsofstoneandwarrior men of iron, that had shielded the lower Southland and given it thatchance toexpand innewdirections.Therewere signsofwhatwas tocome inthispicturesquelandaswell,signsthattoldofanotherageandtimenottoofardistant.Therewasaunityofexpressioninthepeoplethatspokeoftoleranceandunderstandingofallracesandpeoples.InCallahorn,asinnoothercountryinallthe sheltered Southland, a man was accepted for what he was and treatedaccordingly.Tyrsiswas thecrossroadsof the four lands, and through itswalls and lands

passedmembersofall thenations,giving itspeopleanopportunity to seeandunderstand that the differences in face and body that distinguished the racesoutwardly were negligible. It was the inner person the people had learned tojudge.A giantRockTrollwould not be stared at and shunned because of hisgrotesque appearanceby thepeopleofCallahorn;Trollswere common in thatland.Gnomes,Elves,andDwarfsofalltypesandspeciesmaderegularpassagesthrough that country, and if they were friends, they were welcomed. Balinorsmiledashespokeof thisnew,growingphenomenonthathadbegunat last tospreadtoallthelands,andhefeltproudthathispeoplewereamongthefirsttoturnfromtheoldprejudicestolookforcommongroundsofunderstandingandfriendship.DurinandDayellistenedinsilentagreement.TheElvenpeopleknewwhatitwasliketobealoneinaworldofpeoplewhocouldn’tseebeyondtheirownlimits.Balinorhadfinished,andthethreecomradesswungfromthetallgrassofthe

plainlandontoabroadroadway.Theroadwoundaheadintothedarknesstowardthe low, squat plateau looming blackly against the horizon. They were closeenoughnowtomakeout the lightsof thesprawlingcityand themovementofpeople on the stone ramp.The entrance through the toweringOuterWallwassharply outlined by torchlight, the giant gates standing open on oiled hinges,guardedbyanumberofdark-garbedsentries.Fromthecourtyardwithinshone

thelightsofthebarracks,buttherewasanabsenceofmen’slaughterandjokingthat Balinor found peculiar. The voices that were audible were hushed, evenmuffled, as if no one wished to be heard. The tall borderman peered aheadwatchfully, suddenly concerned that somethingwas amiss,buthe coulddetectnothing out of the ordinary, aside from the unusual silence.He dismissed thematterfromhismind.TheElvenbrothers followedwordlessly as the determinedBalinormounted

thecausewayleadingtothedarkenedbluff.Severalpeoplepassedthemastheyclimbed, and thosewho looked carefully turned to stare in open shock at thePrince ofCallahorn. Balinor failed to acknowledge these strange looks, intentuponthecityahead,butthebrothersmissednothingandlookedateachotherinsilent warning. Something was seriously wrong. Moments later, as the threereachedtheplateau,Balinor,too,stoppedinsuddenconcern.Hepeeredintentlytowardthegatesofthecity,thenlookedabouthimattheshadowedfacesofthepeople passing, who scattered quickly and wordlessly into the night upondiscovering his identity. For a moment the three stood rooted in silence,watchingthefewremainingpassers-bydisappearintothedarkness,leavingthemalone.“Whatisit,Balinor?”Durinaskedatlast.“I’mnotcertain,”thePrincerepliedanxiously.“Lookattheinsigniaofthose

guardsatthegate.Noneofthembearthecrestoftheleopard—thestandardofmy Border Legion. Instead they wear the sign of a falcon, a mark I do notrecognize.Thepeople,too—didyounoticetheirlooks?”The slimElven facesnoddedasone, thekeen slanted eyes casting about in

undisguisedapprehension.“Nomatter,” the bordermandeclared shortly. “This is stillmy father’s city,

and these are my people.We’ll get to the bottom of this when we reach thepalace.”Again he started toward themammoth gates of theOuterWall, theElves a

step or two behind him.The tall Princemade no effort to hide his face as heapproachedthefourarmedguards,andtheirreactionwasthesameasthatoftheastonished passers-by. They made no move to stop the Prince and no wordspassed between them, yet one hurriedly abandoned his post and disappearedquickly through thegatesof the InnerWall into thestreetsof thecitybeyond.Balinor and theElvespassedbeneath the shadowof thegiant gateway,whichseemed tohang in thedarkness above them like amonstrous stone arm.Theymovedpast theopengatesand thewatchfulguards into thecourtyardbeyond,

wheretheycouldseethelow,SpartanlikebarracksthathousedthefamedBorderLegion.Therewerefewlightsburning,and thebarracksappeared tobenearlydeserted. A few men scattered about the courtyard wore tunics bearing theinsignia of the leopard, but theywore no armor and carried noweapons.Onestared momentarily as the three paused in the center of the courtyard, thenstartedindisbeliefandcriedoutsharplytohisfellowsoldiers.Adoorburstopenfromoneofthebarracksandagrizzledveteranappeared,staringwiththeothersatBalinor and theElvenbrothers.Hegavea short command, and the soldiersreluctantlyturnedbacktowhatevertheyhadbeendoing,whilehehastenedovertothethreenewcomers.“MyLordBalinor,you’vecomeatlast,”thesoldierexclaimedingreeting,his

headbowingbrieflyashecametoattentionbeforehiscommander.“CaptainSheelon,it’sgoodtoseeyou.”Balinorclaspedtheveteran’sgnarled

handinhisown.“What’sgoingoninthecity?Whydotheguardswearthesignofafalconandnotthatofourfightingleopard?”“MyLord,theBorderLegionhasbeenorderedtodisband!Onlyahandfulof

usstillremainonduty,therestarereturnedtotheirhomes!”They stared at theman as if he were insane. The Border Legion had been

disbanded in themidstof thegreatest invasionever to threaten theSouthland?Almostasone they recalled thewordsofAllanon telling them that theBorderLegion was the only hope left to the people of the threatened lands, that theBorderLegionmustatleasttemporarilydelaytheawesomeforceassembledbytheWarlockLord.NowthearmyofCallahornhadbeenmysteriouslyscattered...“Bywhoseorder...?”Balinoraskedinslowfury.“Itwasyourbrother,”thegrizzledSheelondeclaredquickly.“Heorderedhis

own guardsmen to assume our duties and commanded the Legion to disbanduntil furthernotice.TheLordsActonandMessalinewent to thepalace tobegtheKingtoreconsider,buttheydidnotreturn.Therewasnothingmoreanyofuscoulddobutobey...”“Haseveryonegonemad?”theinfuriatedbordermandemanded,claspingthe

soldier’stunic.“Whatofmyfather,theKing?DoeshenotstillrulethislandandcommandtheBorderLegion?Whatdoeshesayofthisfool’splay?”Sheelon lookedaway,groping for thewords to the answerhewas afraid to

speak.Balinorjerkedhimaroundviolently.“I—Idonotknow,myLord,” themanmuttered, still trying to turnaway.

“We heard the King was ill, and then there was nothing more. Your brotherdeclared himself temporary ruler in theKing’s absence from the throne. That

wasthreeweeksago.”Balinorreleasedthemaninshockedsilenceandstaredabsentlyatthelightsof

thedistantpalace—thehomehehadcomebacktowithsuchgreathopes.HehadleftCallahornbecauseofanintolerableriftbetweenhisbrotherandhimself,yethisgoinghadonlymademattersworse.NowhemustfacetheunpredictablePalance on terms not of his own choosing — face him and persuade himsomehowofthefollyofhisactionindisbandingthedesperatelyneededBorderLegion.“Wemustgoatoncetothepalaceandspeakwithyourbrother.”Theeager,

impatientvoiceofDayelcastintohisthoughts.HelookedattheyouthfulElfforamoment,remindedsuddenlyofhisownbrother’syoungage.ItwasgoingtobesohardtoreasonwithPalance.“Yes, you’re right, of course,” he agreed almost absently. “Wemust go to

him.”“No,youmustn’tgointhere!”ThesharpcryofSheelonheldthemrootedin

place.“Theotherswhowentdidnotcomeoutagain.Therearerumorsthatyourbrother has declared you a traitor— found you to be in leaguewith the evilAllanon, theblackwandererwhoserves thedarkpowers. Ithasbeensaid thatyoushallbeimprisonedandputtodeath!”“That is ridiculous!” exclaimed the tall bordermanquickly. “I amno traitor

andevenmybrotherknowsthistobetrue.AsforAllanon,heisthebestfriendandallytheSouthlandwilleverfind.ImustgotoPalanceandspeakwithhim.Wemaydisagree,buthewouldnotimprisonhisownbrother.Thepowerisnothis!”“Unless,perhaps,yourfather isdead,myfriend,”Durincautionedfromone

side.“Thetimetobeprudentisnow,beforewehaveenteredthepalacegrounds.Hendelbelievesyourbrother tobeunder the influenceof themysticStenmin,andifheis,youmaybeingreaterdangerthanyourealize.”Balinorpaused,thennoddedhisagreement.QuicklyheexplainedtoSheelon

the threat to Callahorn of an impending Northland invasion, emphasizing hisbelief that theBorderLegionwouldbevital to thedefenseof theirhomeland.Thenhegrippedtheagedsoldier’sshouldertightlyandbentclosetohim.“Youwillwait fourhours formy returnor formypersonalmessenger. If I

have not come out or sent word in that time, you will seek out the LordsGinnissonandFandwick;theBorderLegionistobereassembledimmediately!Thengotothepeopleanddemandanopentrialforourcausefrommybrother.He cannot refuse this. You will also send word west and east to the Elf and

Dwarfnations,informingthemthatwearethusheld,bothIandthecousinsofEventine.CanyourememberallIhavesaidtoyou?”“Yes, my Lord.” The soldier nodded eagerly. “It shall be done as you

command.Mayfortunegowithyou,PrinceofCallahorn.”He turned and disappeared back into the barracks, while an impatient and

angryBalinormovedtowardtheinnercity.Onceagain,Durinwhisperedtohisyoungerbrother,urginghimtoremainoutsidethecitywallsuntilheknewwhatwould happen toBalinor and himself, butDayel stubbornly refused to be leftbehind. Durin knew it was pointless to argue the matter further, and at lastconceded Dayel’s right to go along. The slim Elf had not yet reached histwentiethyear,and forhim lifewas justbeginning.Allof themembersof thelittlecompanythathadcomefromCulhavenhadfeltaspecialkindofaffectionforDayel,theprotectivelovethatclosefriendsalwaysfeelfortheyoungest.Hisfreshcandorandreadyfriendshipwererarequalitiesinatimewhenmostmenlivedliveshemmedinbysuspicionanddistrust.Durinwasafraidforhim,forhehad the most to look ahead to and the fewest years behind. If the boy wereharmed in anyway, he realized that an irreplaceablepart of himselfwouldbelost.DurinwatchedhisbrotherinsilenceasthelightsofTyrsisburnedthroughthedarknessahead.Inmoments, the threecrossed thecourtyardandpassed throughthegatesof

theInnerWalltothestreetsofthecitybeyond.Oncemoretheguardsstaredinopen amazement, but again they did not move to stop the travelers fromentering. Balinor seemed to grow in size as the three proceeded down theTyrsianWay, themaincity thoroughfare,hisdarkformwrappedominously inthehuntingcloak,thechainmailglintingfromexposedfistsandneck.Hestoodtaller than before, no longer the weary traveler at his journey’s end, but thePrinceofCallahorncomehome.Thepeopleknewhimatonce,atfirststoppingand staring like those at the outer gates, then gathering heart from his proudbearingandrushingafterhim,eagertowelcomehimhome.Thecrowdswelledfrom a few dozen to several hundred as the favorite son of Callahorn strodeboldly through thecity, smiling to thosewho followed,buthastening to reachthepalace.Theshoutsandcriesof thepeoplerosedeafeningly,changingfromscatteredvoicestoasinglerisingchantcallingthetallborderman’sname.Afewof thecrowdmanaged togetnext to thedeterminedman,whisperingominouswarnings.ButthePrincewouldnotlistentocautiousvoicesanylonger,shakinghisheadaftereachwarning,hecontinuedon.ThegrowingcrowdpassedthroughtheheartofTyrsis,millingunderthegiant

archwaysandcrosswalks.thatranoverhead,pushingthroughthenarrowpotionsof theTyrsianWaypast tall,white-walledbuildings and smaller single-familyresidences to the Bridge of Sendic which spanned the lower levels of thepeople’s parks. At the other end stood the gates of the palace, darkened andclosed.At the peak of the bridge’swide arch, the Prince of Callahorn turnedabruptlytofacethethrongstillfaithfullyfollowinghimandthrewuphishandsinacommandtohalt.Theycametoanobedientstop,theirvoicesloweringintosilenceasthetallfigureaddressedthem.“My friends — my countrymen.” The proud voice rang out in the near

darkness, its thundering echoes rolling back. “I havemissed this land and itsbravecitizens,butIhavecomehome—andIwillnotleaveagain!Thereisnoneed for fear. This land shall stand eternal! If there be trouble within themonarchy,thenitisformetofaceit.Youmustgobacknowtoyourhomesandwaitformorningtoshowyouinabetterlightthatalliswell.Please,gonowtoyourhomesandIshallgotomine!”Without waiting to judge the crowd’s reaction, Balinor wheeled about and

proceededonacrossthebridgetowardthegatesofthepalace,theElvenbrothersstillcloseathisheels.Thevoiceofthepeopleroseagaintocallafterthem,butthecrowddidnotfollow,thoughmanymighthavewishedtodoso.Obedienttohiscommand,theyturnedslowlyabout,somestillshoutinghisnameindefianceat the silent,darkenedcastle, thoughothersmumbledgrimpropheciesofwhatawaitedthetallbordermanandhis twofriendswithinthewallsof theimperialhome.The three travelersquickly lostsightof thepeopleas theystarteddowntheslopeofthebridge’shigharchinquick,determinedstrides.Inminutestheyreached the tall,metal-bound gates of the palace of theBuckhannahs.Balinornever paused, but reached for the huge iron ring fastened to the wood andbroughtitcrashingdownagainsttheshutteredgateinthunderingknocks.Foramoment therewas no other sound, as themen stood in the darknesswithout,listeningwithmixedfeelingsofangerandapprehension.Thenalowvoicefromwithincalledforidentification.Balinorgavehisnameandasharpcommandtothosewithin toopen thegates immediately. Inan instant, theheavybarsweredrawnbackandthegatesswunginwardtoadmitthethree.Balinormovedintothegardencourtyardwithoutabackwardglanceatthesilentguards,hiseyesonthemagnificentcolumnedbuildingbeyond.Itshighwindowsweredarkexceptfor thoseon theground floor in the leftwing.DurinmotionedDayelaheadofhim, taking the opportunity to peer into the shadows about them where hequickly discovered a dozen well-armed guards close at hand. All bore the

insigniaofthefalcon.ThewatchfulElfknewinstantlythattheywerewalkingintoatrap,justashe

hadsilentlyanticipatedwhentheyhadenteredthecity.HisfirstinclinationwastostopBalinorandwarnhimofwhathehadseen.Butheinstinctivelyknewthatthebordermanwasfar tooseasonedafighternot toknowwhathewasgettinginto. Durin wished once more that his brother had stayed outside the palacewalls,butitwastoolatenow.Thethreecrossedthegardenwalkstothedoorsofthe palace. There were no guards and the doors opened without resistance toBalinor’s hurried shove.Thehalls of the agedbuildingglowedbrightly in thetorchlight, the flames catching the splendor of the colorful wall murals andpaintingsthatdecoratedtheBuckhannahfamilyhome.Thewoodtrimmingwasold and rich, polished with care and partially covered by fine tapestries andmetalplaquesoffamilycrestsfromgenerationsofthefamedrulersoftheland.As the Elven brothers followed the tall Prince down these silent halls, theyrecalleddarklyanothertimeandplaceintherecentpast—theancientfortressof Paranor. There, too, a trap had awaited them amid the historic splendor ofanotherage.They turned left into another hallway, Balinor still in the lead by several

strides,hisbig formfilling thehighcorridor, the longhuntingcloakbillowingout behind him as he walked. For an instant, he reminded Durin of Allanon,huge,angered,dangerouswhenhemovedcatlikeasthePrinceofCallahorndidnow. Durin glanced anxiously at Dayel, but the younger Elf did not seem tonotice; his face was flushedwith excitement. Durin felt for the handle of hisdagger, the coldmetal reassuring to his hot palm. If theywere to be trappedagain,itwouldnotbewithoutafight.Then the giant borderman stopped suddenly before an open doorway: The

Elvenbrothershastenedtohisside,peeringpasthisbroadframeintothelightedroombeyond.Therewasamanstandingnearthebackoftheelegantlyfurnishedchamber—a bigman, blond andbearded, his broad figure cloaked in a longpurplerobewithafalconmarking.HewasseveralyearsyoungerthanBalinor,but held his tall frame erect in the same manner, the hands clasped looselybehindhisback.TheElvesknewimmediatelythathewasPalanceBuckhannah.Balinormovedseveralsteps into thechamber,sayingnothing,hiseyes rivetedon his brother’s face. The Elves followed the borderman, looking cautiouslyabout. There were too many doors, too many heavy drapes that could beconcealing armed guards. A moment later there was a movement in the hallbehind them justoutof sight.Dayel turned slightly to face theopendoorway.

Durinmovedalittleapartfromtheothers,hislonghuntingknifedrawn,hisleanframebentslightlyinahalf-crouch.Balinormade nomove, but stood silently before his brother, staring at the

familiar face, amazed that the eyes were filled with a strange hatred. He hadknownitwouldbea trap,knownthathisbrotherwouldbepreparedfor them.Yethehadbelievedallalongthattheywouldatleastbeabletotalkasbrothers,converse with one another in a frank and reasonable manner despite theirdifferences.Butashelookedintothoseeyesandcaughttheundisguisedglintofburning fury, he realized that his brotherwas beyond reason, perhaps beyondsanity.“Whereismyfather...?”Balinor’s abruptquerywascut shortbya sudden swishing soundashidden

cords released a large leather and rope net that had hung unnoticed above theintruders,droppingitinstantlyoverallthree.Theattachedweightsbroughtallofthemcrashingtothefloorinstaggereddismay,theirweaponsuselessagainstthetoughenedcords.Doorsflewopenfromallsidesandtheheavydrapeswhippedback as several dozen armed guards rushed over to subdue the strugglingcaptives. There was never any chance to escape the carefully prepared trap,neverevenamomentaryopportunitytofightback.Thecaptiveswererelievedoftheirweapons,theirhandsboundunceremoniouslybehindtheirbacksandtheireyesblindfolded.Theywereliftedroughlytotheirfeetandfirmlyheldinplacebyadozenunseenhands.Therewasmomentarysilenceassomeoneapproachedandstoodbeforethem.“Youwereafooltocomeback,Balinor,”achillingvoicesoundedoutofthe

blackness.“YouknewwhatwouldhappentoyouifIfoundyouagain.Youarethriceoveratraitorandacowardforwhatyouhavedone—tothepeople,tomyfather, and now even tome.What have you donewith Shirl?What have youdonewithher?Youwilldieforthis,Balinor,Iswearit!Takethembelow!”The hands spun them about, shoving and dragging themdown the hallway,

throughonedoor,downalongflightofstairstoalandingandanotherhallthatwoundaboutinamazeoftwistsandturns.Theirfeetthuddedheavilyondankstonesinablack,unbrokensilence.Suddenlytheyweregoingdownyetanotherset of stairs and into another passageway.They could smell the stale, chill airandfeetthedampnessoozefromthestonewallsandfloor.Asetofheavyboltswasdrawn slowlybackwith a screechof aged ironagainst iron, and thedoortheyheldinplaceponderouslyopened.Thehandsturnedthemsharply,releasingthemwithout warning as they fell dazed and battered to the stone floor, still

boundandblindfolded.Thedoorclosedandtheboltsslidheavilyintoplace.Thethree companions listened wordlessly. They heard the sound of footstepsretreating rapidly into the distance until they had faded away altogether.Theyheard the sounds of clangingmetal as doors were barred and shuttered, eachfarther away than the last, until finally therewas only the sound of their ownbreathinginthedeepsilenceoftheirprison.Balinorhadcomehome.

ChapterTwenty-Three

It was nearing midnight by the time Allanon had finished disguising thereluctantFlicktohissatisfaction.Usingastrangelotionproducedfromapouchhe carried at his waist, the Druid rubbed the skin of the Valeman’s face andhandsuntilitwasadarkyellow.Apieceofsoftcoalalteredthelinesinthefaceandtheappearanceoftheeyes.Itwasamakeshiftjobatbest,butinthedarkhecouldpassforalarge,heavysetGnome,ifnotcloselyexamined.Itwouldhavebeen a perilous undertaking even for a seasoned hunter, and for an untrainedmantoattempttopasshimselfoffasaGnomeappearedtobesuicide.Buttherewas no alternative left. Someone had to get into that giant encampment andattempt to discover what had happened to Eventine, Shea, and the elusiveSword.ItwasoutofthequestionforAllanontogodownthere,hewouldhavebeen recognized inan instant,even in thebestdisguise.So the task fell to thefrightened Flick, disguised as aGnome, under cover of darkness, towork hisway down the slopes, past the watching guards, into the camp occupied bythousandsofGnomesandTrolls,andtherefindoutifhisbrotherorthemissingElven King were prisoners, in addition to trying to learn something of thewhereaboutsoftheSword.Tocomplicatematters,theValemanhadtogetclearoftheenemycampbeforedaybreak.Ifhefailedtodothis,someonewouldmostcertainlyseethroughhisdisguiseinthedaylightandhewouldbecaught.AllanonaskedFlicktoremovehishuntingcloakandworkedonthematerial

forseveralminutes,alteringthecutslightlyandlengtheningthehoodcoveringtoconcealitswearerbetter.Whenhewasdone,Flickcoveredhimselfandfoundthatwiththecloakpulledcloselyabouthisbody,nothingwasvisibleasidefromhishandsandashadowedportionofhisface.IfhestayedawayfromanytrueGnomesandkeptmovinguntildawn,therewasanoutsidechancethathemightlearn something important and still escape to tell Allanon. He checked to becertaintheshorthuntingdaggerwassecurelyfastenedtohiswaist.Itwasapoorsubstitute for a weapon, should he have need of fine once he was within theencampment,butitgavehimalittlereassurancethathewasnottotallywithoutprotection.Hestoodupslowly,hisshort,heavysetframewrappedinthecloakasAllanonlookedhimovercarefullyandthennodded.Theweatherhadbecomethreateningduringthepasthour,theskyasolidbank

of rolling, blackened clouds that completely blotted out the moon and stars,

leaving the earth in almost complete darkness. The only visible light in anydirectioncamefromtheblazingfiresoftheencampedenemy,theflamesrushinghigherwith thesuddenappearanceofastrongnorthwind thathowled fiercelythrough the Dragon’s Teeth to sweep in rising gusts onto the unprotectedplainlandsbelow.Astormwasontheway,anditwouldverylikelyreachthembeforemorning.ThesilentDruidwashopefulthatthewindsanddarknesswouldoffer thedisguisedValemana little addedcover from theeyesof the sleepingarmy.Inbrief,clippedsentences,thegiantmysticofferedFlickafewpartingwords

of caution. He explained the manner in which the camp would be arranged,noting thepattern inwhichguardswouldbepostedabout theperimeterof themainarmy.He toldhimto lookfor thestandardsof theGnomechieftainsandtheMaturens, theTroll leaders,whichwouldundoubtedly lie somewherenearthecenterofthefires.Atallcosts,hewastoavoidspeakingtoanyone,forthetone of his voice would instantly betray him as a Southlander. Flick listenedattentively,hisheartpoundingwildlyashewaitedtogo,hisownmindalreadymade up that he had no chance of escaping detection, but his loyalty to hisbrotherwastoogreat topermit theinterferenceofcommonsensewhenShea’ssafetywasthreatened.Allanonclosedhisbriefexplanationbypromisingtoseethattheyouthgotsafelypastthefirstguardlinethathadbeenpostedatthebaseoftheseslopes.Hesignaledforcompletesilence,thenmotionedfortheothertofollow.Theymoveddownoutoftherockyshelterofthehighboulders,windingtheir

waythroughthedarknesstowardtheopenplain.ItwassoblackthatFlickcouldsee almost nothing and had to be led by the hand in order to stay with thesurefootedDruid.Itseemedtotakeaninterminablelengthoftimeforthetwotoreachanexitpointfromthetwistingmazeofboulders,butatlasttheywereableto see oncemore the fires of the enemy camp burning in the darkness ahead.Flickwasbruisedandbatteredfromhisclimbdownoutofthemountainheights,hislimbsachingfromthestrain,hiscloaktorninseveralplaces.Thedarknessofthe plain seemed to stand like an unbroken wall between the fires andthemselves,andFlickcouldneitherseenorhear theguard linesheknewwerethere.Allanon said nothing, but crouched back in the shelter of the rocks, hishead cocked slightly as he listened. The two remained motionless for longminutes, thensuddenlyAllanonrose,motioningFlicktoremainwherehewas,andsilentlydisappearedinthenight.When he was gone, the little Valeman looked about anxiously, alone and

frightenedbecausehehadnoideawhatwashappening.Leaninghisheatedfaceagainstthecoolsurfaceoftherock,hewentoverinhismindwhathewoulddooncehereachedtheencampment.Hedidn’thavemuchofaplantorelyon.Hewould avoid speaking with anyone, and if possible, avoid passing close toanyone.Hewouldstayclearoftheilluminatingfirelightwhichmightbetrayhispoordisguise.Theprisoners, if in thecampatall,wouldbeheld inaguardedtentnearthecenterofthefires,sohisfirstobjectivewouldbetofindthattent.Oncehefoundit,hewouldtrytogetalookinsidetoseewhowasthere.Then,assuminghegotthatfar,whichseemedhighlyunlikely,hewouldmakehiswaybacktotheslopes,whereAllanonwouldbewaitingandtheywoulddecidetheirnextmove.Flick shookhis head in frustration.Heknewhewouldneverbe able toget

awaywith this disguise— he was neither talented nor clever enough to foolanyone.But ever since losingSheaover the sideof theDragon’sCreasedaysearlier,hisattitudehadcompletelyalteredandtheoldpessimismandhard-nosedpracticality had been replaced by a strange sense of futile desperation. Hisfamiliarworldhadalteredsodrasticallyinthepastfewweeksthathenolongerseemedcapableof identifyingwithhisoldvaluesandsensiblepractices.Timehadbecomealmostmeaningless in thepunishing, endlessdaysof runningandhiding, of fighting creatures that belonged to another world. The years spentliving and growing in the peace and solitude of Shady Vale were distant,forgottendaysofanearlyyouth.Theonlyconstantforcesinhisupendedlifeofthepastweeksdadbeenhiscompanions,particularlyhisbrother.Nowthey,too,had been scattered one by one until at last Flick stood alone, on the verge ofexhaustion and mental collapse, his world a mad, impossible puzzle ofnightmaresandspiritsthatchasedandhauntedhimtothebrinkofdespair.The hulking presence of Allanon had given him little comfort. The giant

Druid had remained from their first meeting both an impenetrable wall ofsecrecy and amystical forcewith powers that defied explanation.Despite thegrowingcamaraderieofthecompanyonthejourneytoParanorandbeyond,theDruidhadremainedaloofandsecretive.Evenwhathehadtoldthemabouthisownoriginandpurposesdidlittletolightenthedarkveilofmysteryinwhichhehadwrappedhimself.When thecompanyhadbeen together, themystic’sdominationof themhad

notseemedsooverpowering,eventhoughhehadremainedtheundisputedforcebehind their hazardous search for the Sword of Shannara. But now, with theothersgone,leavingthefrightenedValemanalonewiththisunpredictablegiant,

Flickfoundhimselfunabletoescapethatterribleawesomenessthatformedtheessenceofthisstrangeman.HethoughtbackagainonthemysterioustaleofthehistoryofthefabledSword,andagainherememberedAllanon’srefusal totellthemembersof the littlecompanythewholestorybehinditspower.Theyhadrisked everything for that elusive talisman, and still no one butAllanon knewhow the weapon could be used to defeat theWarlock Lord.Whywas it thatAllanonknewsomuchaboutit?A sudden noise in the darkness behind him brought the terrified Valeman

about in a flash, the short hunting knife drawn and extended in self-defense.There was a sharp whisper and the huge form of Allanon moved silently toFlick’s side.Apowerfulhandgrippedhis shoulder,guidinghimback into theshelter of the rock-covered slope, where the two crouched cautiously in theblackness.Allanon studied theValeman’s face for an instant as if judging hiscourage, reading his mind to see the nature of his thoughts. Flick could justbarelyforcehimselftomeetthepenetratinggaze,hisheartpoundinginmingledfearandexcitement.“Theguardsaredisposedof—thewayisclear.”Thedeepvoiceseemedto

riseupoutofthedepthsoftheearth.“Gonow,myyoungfriend,andkeepyourcourageandyourgoodsensecloseathand.”Flick nodded shortly and rose, his cloak-shrouded formgliding quickly and

stealthilyoutofthecoverofthebouldersontotheblacknessoftheemptyplains.Hismindceasedtoreason,ceasedtowonder,ashisbodytookcommandandhisinstincts probed the darkness for hiddendanger.Hemoved swiftly toward thedistant-firelight, running in a half-crouch, pausing occasionally to check hisposition and listen for the sounds of human movement. The night was animpenetrableshroudallabouthim,theskystillheavilyovercastandwrappedinahugecloudblanketthatshutouteventhedimwhitenessofthemoonandstars.Theonly lightcame from thecampfiresahead.Theplainlandwassmoothandopen, its surface a grassy blanket that muffled the Valeman’s footfalls as heracedsilently forward.Therewere fewbushes tobreak thepattern, and itwaslefttooneortwothin,twistedtreestofillthevastemptiness.Therewasnosignoflifeanywhereinthedarknessandtheonlysoundswerethemuffledhowlofthe risingwindandhisownheavybreathing.Thecampfires thathad formerlyseemedalowhazeoforangelightfromthebaseofthemountainsspreadapartinto individual fires as theValeman drew closer, some burning brightly, theirflameswell fed on newwood,while others had dimmed and nearly died intocoals as themenwho tended them slept undisturbed. Flickwas close enough

now tohear the faint soundofvoices in the sleepingcamp,but theywerenotdistinctenoughtoenablehimtomakeoutthewords.Almost half an hour passed before Flick reached the outer perimeter of the

enemyfires.Hepausedinacrouchjustbeyondthelighttostudythelayofthecampahead.Thecoolnightwindblowingoutofthenorthfannedthecracklingflamesofthelargewoodfires,sendingthincloudsofsmokeswirlingacrosstheopenplainstowardtheValeman.Therewasasecondringofsentriesencirclingthe encampment, but it was only a secondary guard line loosely set at wideintervals.TheNorthlandersfelttherewaslittleneedforcautionthisclosetothecampsite. The sentries were primarily Gnome hunters, although Flick coulddistinguishthelargerbulksofTrollmenscatteredaboutaswell.Hepausedmomentarilytostudythestrange,unfamiliarfeaturesoftheTrolls.

Theywereofdifferentsizes,allthick-limbedandcoveredwithadark,wood-likeskin that appeared rough and highly protective. The sentries and the fewmembersofthearmythatwerenotasleep,butstandingidlyaboutorcrouchednearthelow-burningfiresforwarmth,hadwrappedthemselvesinheavycloaksthat masked most of their bodies and faces. Flick nodded to himself insatisfaction. It would be easier for him to slip into the camp undetected ifeveryone remained wrapped in their cloaks, and judging from the increasingcoolness of thewind, the temperaturewould continue to drop until sunrise. Itwasdifficulttoseemuchbeyondtheouterfires,duetothecloudeddarknessandthesmokegivenoffbythequick-burningwood.Somehowthecampseemedsmallerfromthisviewpointthanithadfromthe

heightsoftheDragon’sTeeth.Flickcouldnotgetthesamesenseofdepthfromhispresentposition,buthedidnottrytofoolhimself.Despitewhatitappearedtobe fromwherehecrouched,heknew that it stretched foroveramile inalldirections. Once past the inner sentry line, he would have to pick his waythroughthousandsofsleepingGnomesandTrolls,pasthundredsoffiresbrightenough to reveal his identity, and all the way avoid contact with the enemysoldierswhowerestillawake.ThefirstmiscalculationtheValemanmadewouldgivehimaway.Evenifhemanagedtoavoiddiscovery,hestillhadtolocatetheprisonersandtheSword.Heshookhisheadindoubtandmovedforwardslowly.ThenaturalcuriosityoftheValeman.promptedhimtolingernearthefringes

ofthefirelighttostudyfurthertheGnomesandTrollsstillawake,butheresistedtheimpulse,remindinghimselfthathedidn’thavemuchtimeasitwas.Thoughhehadlivedallhislifeonthesameearthwiththesetwoforeignraces,theywerelikespeciesfromanotherworldto thelittleSouthlander.Duringhis journeyto

Paranor,hehadfoughtthecunning,savageGnomesseveraltimes,oncehandtohandinthelabyrinthpassagesoftheDruids’Keep.Buthestillknewlittleaboutthem; they were simply an enemywho had tried to kill him. He had learnednothingofthegiantTrolls,ahabituallyreclusivepeopledwellingprincipallyinthenorthernmountainsand theirhiddenvalleys. Inanyevent,Flickknewthatthe army was under the leadership of the Warlock Lord, and there was noquestionastowhathisgoalswere!Hewaiteduntilthewindcarriedthesmokefromtheburningfiresbetweenthe

closestsentryandhimselfinaseriesofbillowinggusts,thenroseandstrolledina casual manner toward the encampment. He had carefully selected an entrypointwherethesoldierswereallsleeping.Thesmokeandthenightmaskedhisbulkyformashemovedoutoftheshadowsandintothecircleoffiresnearesttohim.Amoment laterhestood in themidstof thesoundlysleepingforms.Thesentrycontinued tostareblankly into thedarknessbehindhim,unawareof thehurriedpassage.Flickwrapped the cloak and head covering closely about his body,making

certainthatonlyhishandswereimmediatelyvisible toanyonepassingby.Hisfacewasadimshadowbeneath thehood.Heglancedaboutquickly,but therewasnomovementbyanyonecloseathand;hehadmadeitthisfarunnoticed.Hebreatheddeeplyof thecoolnightair to steadyhimself, then tried togaugehispositioninrelationtothecenteroftheencampment.Hechoseadirectionwhichhebelievedwouldtakehimdirectlytowardthehuboftheburningfires,glancedaboutoncemoretoreassurehimself,thenmovedforwardwithsteady,measuredsteps.Nowtherecouldbenoturningback.Whathesaw,whatheheard,whatheexperienceddeepwithinhismindthat

night leftan indelibleprint inhismemorythatwouldstaywithhimforever. Itwas likeastrange, somehowelusivenightmareof sightsandsounds,creaturesand shapes from another time and place-things that never were in and couldnever belong to his own world, and yet had been cast onto it like so muchdriftwoodfromanendlesssea.Perhapsitwasthenightandthewaftingsmokefromthehundredsofdyingfiresthatcloudedhisnormalsensesandcreatedthisdreamlike experience.Perhaps, too, itwas the aftereffect of a tired, frightenedmindthathadneverconceivedoftheexistenceofsuchcreatures,norimaginedtheirnumbercouldbesovast.The night passed in slow minutes and endless hours as the little Valeman

woundhiswaythroughthegiantencampment,shieldinghisfacefromthelightof the fires as he moved steadily forward, his eyes searching, studying and

alwayslookingfurther.Cautiously,hepickedhistorturedwayoverthousandsofsleepingbodieshuddledclosetotheflames,oftenblockinghisprogressentirely,eachanother chance thathemightbediscovered andkilled.Therewere timeswhenhewascertain thathehadbeendiscovered, timeswhenhishandmovedswiftly, silently to the small hunting knife, his heart dying within him as heprepared to fight forhis freedomat the costofhis life.Againandagain,mencametowardhimasiftheyknewhewasanimpostor,asiftheywouldstophimand expose him to everyone. But each time they passed by without pausing,withoutspeaking,andFlickwouldbeleftaloneonceagain,aforgottenfigureinagatheringofthousands.Several times he passed close to groups of men talking and joking in low

tonesastheyhuddledaroundthefires,rubbingtheirhandsanddrawingfromthecracklingflameswhat littleheat therewas toprotect themagainst thegrowingcold of the night. Twice, perhaps three times, they nodded or waved as hepushedpastthem,hisfacelowered,thecloakheldcloseabouthisbody,andhewouldmake some feeble gesture in acknowledgment. Time and again hewasafraid he had made a wrong move, failed to speak when he should, walkedwhere he was not permitted — but each time the terrible moment of doubtvanishedashehurriedon,andhefoundhimselfaloneoncemore.Hewanderedthroughtheimmensecampforhourswithoutfindinganyclueto

thewhereaboutsofShea,Eventine,ortheSwordofShannara.Asmorningdrewnear, he began to despair of finding anything. He had passed countless fires,burninglowanddyingwiththecloseofnight,gazedonaseaofsleepingbodies,some with faces turned skyward, some with blankets all around them, allunknown. There had been tents everywhere, marked by the standards of theenemy leaders, bothGnomeandTroll, but therehadbeennoguards stationedbeforethemtodistinguishtheminimportance.Afewhehadcheckedcloselyonachancethathemightstumbleontosomething,buthehadfoundnothing.HelistenedtosnatchesofconversationbetweentheGnomesandTrollswho

were not sleeping, trying to remain inconspicuous and at the same time comecloseenoughtohearwhatwasbeingsaid.ButtheTrolltonguewascompletelyforeign,andwhatlittleheunderstoodofthegarbledGnomespeechconsistedofuselessinformation.Itwasasifnooneknewanythingofthetwomissingmenand theSword—as if theyhadnever beenbrought to this campat all. FlickbegantowonderifAllanonhadbeencompletelymistakenaboutthetrailsignstheyhadfollowedthesepastfewdays.Heglancedapprehensivelyat thecloudednightsky.Hecouldnotbecertain

ofthetime,butheknewtherecouldbenomorethanseveralhoursofdarknessremaining.Foramomenthepanicked,abruptlyrealizingthathemightnotevenhave enough time to find hisway back towhereAllanonwas concealed.Butshakingoffhisfear,hequicklyreasonedthatintheconfusionofbreakingcampatdawnhewouldbe able to slipquicklyback through the sleepyhunters andmaketheshortdashfor theslopesof theDragon’sTeethbefore thesunfoundhim.Therewasa suddenmovement in thedarknessoff tohis right, and into the

firelight trudged fourmassiveTrollwarriors, all fullyarmed,muttering in lowtonesamong themselvesas theymovedpast thestartledValeman.On impulsemore than reason,Flick fell in severalyardsbehind them,curiousas towheretheymight be going dressed in full battle arraywhile it was still night. Theywere moving at right angles to the course the disguised Flick had chosen tofollow into theencampmentandhestayed justbehind themin theshadowsasthey trudged steadily through the sleeping army. Several times they passeddarkenedtentsthatFlickbelievedmightbetheirdestination,buttheycontinuedonwithoutpausing.The little Valeman noticed that the style of the encampment was changing

rapidly in this particular area. There were more tents than before, some withhigh, lighted canopies that silhouetted menmoving within. There were fewercommon soldiers sleeping on the chill earth, but more sentries patrollingbetween the well-fed fires that lighted the open spaces between tents. Flickfound it harder to remain hidden in this new light, to avoid questions and toprotect against an increased risk of discovery, he moved right up behind themarchingTrollsasifhewereoneofthem.Theypassednumeroussentriesthatoffered short greetings and watched as they passed, but no one attempted toquestion the heavily cloaked Gnome who scampered along at the rear of thesmallprocession.ThenabruptlytheTrollsturnedleftandautomaticallyFlickturnedwiththem

—onlytofindhimselfalmostontopofalong,lowtentguardedbymorearmedTrolls. There was no time to turn back or avoid being seen, so when theprocession came to a halt before the tent, the fearful Valeman kept right onwalking,movingpastthemasifhewereoblivioustowhatwastakingplace.Theguards evidently failed to think there was anything out of the ordinary, allglancingbrieflyhiswayasheshuffledpast,thecloakpulledcloselyabouthim,andinaninstanthewasbeyondthem,aloneintheblacknessoftheshadows.Hehaltedsharply,sweatrunningdownhisbodybeneaththeheavyclothing,

hisbreathingshortandlabored.Therehadonlybeenasecondtoglancethroughtheopenfrontofthelightedtent,betweenthetoweringTrollsentriesholdingthelong,ironpikes—onlyasecondtoseethecrouched,black-wingedmonsterthatstoodwithin, surrounded by the lesser forms of both Trolls andGnomes.Butthere was no mistaking, one of those deadly creatures that had hunted themacrossthefourlands.TherewasnomistakingthechillfeelingofterrorthatranthroughtheValeman’sbodyashestoodbreathlesslyintheshadowstostillhispoundingheart.Somethingvitallyimportantwastakingplaceinsidethatheavilyguardedtent.

PerhapsthemissingmenandtheSwordwerethere,heldbytheservantsoftheWarlockLord.Itwasachillingthought,andFlickknewthathehadtogetalookinside. His time was up, his luck run out. The guards alone were deterrentenoughtoanyonetryingtopassthroughtheopenflaps,andtheaddedpresenceof the Skull Bearermade the idea suicidal. Flick sat back on his heels in thedarknessbetweenthetentsandshookhisheadhopelessly.Theenormityofthetaskutterlydiscouragedanyhopeforsuccess,yetwhatothercourselayopen?Ifhe returned to Allanon now, they would know nothing more than they hadknown previously and his arduous night of creeping about the enemyencampmentwouldhavebeenfornothing.He gazed expectantly at the night sky, as if itmight hold some clue to the

answer tohisproblem.The cloudbank remained solidly inpositionoverhead,hangingominouslybetweenthelightofthemoonandstarsandtheblacknessofthe sleepingearth.Thenightwas almostover.Flick rose andpulled the cloakcloselyabouthischilledbodyonceagain.Fatemayhavedecidedthatheshouldcome all these torturousmiles only to be killed in a foolish gamble, but Sheadependedonhim—perhapsAllanon and theothers aswell.Hehad to knowwhatwasinthattent.Slowly,cautiously,hebegantoinchhiswayforward.The dawn came quickly, a sullen gray lightening of the eastern sky, heavy

with mist and silence. The weather had not improved below the Streleheim,southofthepersistentwallofdarknessthatmarkedtheadvanceoftheWarlockLord. Huge thunderclouds remained locked overhead like an ominous shroudcovering its earthen corpse.Near the base of thewesternDragon’s Teeth, theenemy sentries had abandoned their night watch to return to the awakeningencampment of the Northland army. Allanon sat quietly in the shelter of theboulder-strewnslope,thelong,blackcloakthatwaswrappedlooselyaroundhislean,reedlikebodyofferinglittleprotectionagainsteither thechilldawnairorthe faintdrizzle thatwas rapidly turning intoaheavydownpour.Hehadbeen

there all night, his eyeswatching, searching for some sign ofFlick, his hopesslowlyfadingastheskylightenedintheeastandtheenemycametolife.Stillhewaited,hopingagainsttheoddsthatthelittleValemanhadsomehowmanagedtoconcealhisidentity,somehowmanagedtoslipthroughthecampundetectedandfind his missing brother, the Elven King, and the Sword, then somehowmanagedtoworkhiswayclearofthepicketsbeforedaylighttoreachfreedom.Theencampmentwasbreakingup, the tentsdisassembledandpackedas the

hugearmyfellintocolumnsthatcoveredthevastplainlikegiantblacksquares.FinallythefightingmachineoftheWarlockLordbegantomarchsouthwardinthedirectionofKern,andthegiantDruidcamedownoutoftherockswherehecouldbeseenbythemissingValemanifhewereanywherecloseathand.Therewasnomovement,nosoundbutthewindblowingsoftlyacrossthegrasslands,andthetalldarkfigurestoodsilently.Onlytheeyesbetrayedthekeenbitternesshefelt.Atlast, theDruidturnedsouthward,choosingacourseparallel tothatofthe

armymarchingahead.Giantstridesquicklyateupthedistancebetweenthemastherainbegantofallinheavysheetsandthevastemptinessoftheplainswasleftbehind.MenionLeahreachedthewindingMermidonRiverimmediatelynorthofthe

islandcityofKernonlyminutesbeforedawn.AllanonhadnotbeenwrongwhenhehadwarnedthePrincethathewouldhaveadifficulttimeslippingthroughtheenemy linesundetected.Thesentryoutpostsextendedbeyond theperimeterofthe sprawling plain encampment, runningwest above theMermidon from thesouthernedgeoftheDragon’sTeeth.Everythingnorthofthat linebelongedtothe Warlock Lord. Enemy patrols roamed unchallenged along the southernboundariesof the toweringDragon’sTeeth,guardingthefewpassages thatcutthrough these formidable peaks. Balinor, Hendel, and the Elven brothers hadmanagedtobreakthesecurityofoneoftheseenemypatrolsinthehighKennonPass.Meniondidnothave theprotective shelter of themountains inwhich toconcealhimselffromtheNorthlanders.OncehehadleftAllanonandFlick,hewas forced to proceed directly across the flat, open grasslands that stretchedsouthtotheMermidon.Butthehighlanderhadtwothingsinhisfavor.Thenightremained clouded and completely, impenetrably black, making it nearlyimpossible to see more than several yards ahead. More important than this,MenionwasatrackerandhunterwithoutequalintheSouthland.Hecouldmovethroughthisshroudlikeblacknesswithspeedandstealth,undetectedbyanybutthemostsensitiveears.

So ithappened thathemovedsilently fromthesideofhis twocompanions,stillangeredthatAllanonhadforcedhimtogiveupthesearchforSheainorderthat he might warn Balinor and the people of Callahorn of the impendinginvasion.HefeltstrangelyuneasyaboutleavingFlickalonewiththemysteriousand unpredictable Druid. He had never completely trusted the giant mystic,knowingthatthemanwaskeepingthetruthabouttheSwordofShannarahiddenfromthem;knowingthat therewasmoretoAllanonthanhehadchosentotellthem. They had done everything the Druid had commanded of them in blindfaith,trustinghimimplicitlyeachtimeacrisishadarisen.Eachtimehehadbeenrightbutstill theyhadfailed togainpossessionof theword,and theyhad lostShea. Now on top of everything else, it appeared the Northland army wouldsuccessfullyinvadetheSouthland.OnlytheborderkingdomofCallahornstoodreadytoresisttheassault.Havingseentheawesomesizeoftheinvader,MeniondidnotseehoweventhelegendaryBorderLegioncouldhopetowithstandsuchamightyforce.HisowncommonsensetoldhimthattheonlyhopewastostalltheadvancingenemylongenoughtounitetheElvenandDwarfarmieswiththeBorderLegionandthenstrikeback.HefeltcertainthemissingSwordwaslostto them, and that even when they relocated Shea, there would be no furtheropportunitytosearchforthestrangeweapon.Heutteredalowoathashisexposedkneejammedpainfullyagainstthesharp

edgeofa juttingboulder,andhe turnedhisattention to thematterathand,allfurther speculation about the future put aside for the time being. Like a lean,blacklizard,heskimmednoiselesslydownthelowslopesoftheDragon’sTeeth,windinghistorturouswaythroughthemazeofknife-edgedbouldersandrocksthatcoveredthemountainside,theswordofLeahandthelongashbowstrappedsecurely to his back. He reached the base of the slope without encounteringanyone,andhepeered into thedarkness.Therewasnosignof life.Hemovedcautiouslyonto thegrass-coveredplainlands, inching forwarda fewyards at atime,pausingperiodically to listen.Heknew the sentry lineshad tobepostedclosetothispointtobeeffective,butitwasimpossibletoseeanyone.At last he rose to his feet, as silent as the shadows all about him; hearing

nothing, he began towalk slowly southward through thewall of darkness, hishunting knife held loosely in one hand. He walked for long minutes withoutincidentandhad justbeguntorelax in thebelief thathehadsomehowslippedthrough the enemy lines without either of them knowing it, when he heard asmallnoise.Hefrozeinmidstride,tryingtolocatethesource,andthenitcameagain, a low cough from someone in the darkness directly in front of him.A

sentryhadgivenhimselfawayjustintimetosavethehighlanderfromstumblingintohim.Onecrywouldhavebroughtothersinaninstant.Menion dropped into a crouch on his hands and knees, the dagger clutched

tightly. He began to creep forward toward the source of the cough, hismovement soundless.At last his eyeswere able to discern the dim outline ofsomeonestandingsilentlybeforehim.Fromhissmallsize,thesentrywasclearlyaGnome.MenionwaitedafewminuteslongertobecertainthattheGnomehadhisbackturnedtohim,thenhecreptstillcloseruntilhewaswithinseveralfeet.Inonefluidmotionherosetotowerovertheunsuspectingsentry,onesteellikearmgripping the fellow’s throat,cuttingoff thecryofwarningbefore itcouldescape.Thebuttendoftheknifecamedownsharplyontheexposedhead,justback of the ear, and the unconscious Gnome crumpled to the earth. Thehighlander did not pause, but slipped ahead into the darkness, knowing. therewouldbeotherscloseathand,andeagertomovebeyondtheirrangeofhearing.He held the dagger ready, anticipating that theremight be still another sentryline.Thechillwindblewsteadilyandthelongminutesofthenightcrawledon.FinallyhewasattheMermidon,justabovetheislandcityofKern,itslights

faintinthedistantsouth.Hepausedatthetopofasmallrisewhichdroppedoffgradually and sloped downward to form the north bank of the swift river.Heremainedinahalf-crouch,hislonghuntingcloakwrappedabouthisleanframetoprotect himself from thegrowingchill of thedawnwind.Hewas surprisedandrelievedthathehadreachedtheriverwithoutrunningintostillotherenemypickets.He suspected thathisearlier assumptionhadbeencorrect, and thathehadpassedthroughatleastoneothersentrylinewithoutrealizingit.Gazingcarefullyaround,thePrinceofLeahassuredhimselfthatnooneelse

was about, then rose and stretched wearily. He knew he had to cross theMermidon farther downriver if hewished to avoid a chilling swim in the icywaters.Oncehereachedapointdirectlyacrossfromtheisland,hewascertainhewouldfindaboatorferryservicetothecity.Hitchinghisweaponshigheronhisbackandsmilinggrimlyagainstthecold,hebegantowalksouthwardalongtheriverrise.Hehadnotgoneveryfar,perhapsnomorethana thousandyards,whenthe

rushing of the dawnwind faded for an instant, and in the sudden stillness heheardanunfamiliarmurmurfromsomewhereahead.Instantlyhedroppedtotheground,hisdarkformflatagainstthesmallrise.Thewindrushedbackintohisstrainingearsashelistenedintheblackness.Thegustingbreezediedasecondtime and again he heard the lowmurmur, but this time he was certain of its

origin. It was themuffled sound of human voices carried out of the darknessaheadnearthebankoftheriver.Thehighlandercrawledhurriedlybackovertherise towhere the terrainagainshieldedhimfrom the faint lightsof thedistantcity.Thenheroseandmovedforward inahalfcrouch, runningparallel to theriver,hispassingnoiselessandswift.Thevoicesgrewlouderandmoredistinctandat last seemed tocome fromdirectlybehind thegrassy rise.He listenedaminute longer, but found it impossible to decipher what was being said.Cautiously,hecrawledonhisstomachtothetopoftherisewherehewasabletomakeoutagroupofdarkfigureshuddlednexttotheMermidon.Thefirst thingthatcaughthiseyewastheboatpulledupontotheriverbank

andtiedtoalowbush.Therewashistransportationifhecouldgettoit,buthediscardedtheideaalmostinstantly.Standinginatightcirclenexttothemooredboat were four very large, armed Trolls, their huge black bulks unmistakableeven in this poor light. They were speaking with a fifth figure, smaller andslighterinbuild,hisrobesclearlymarkinghimasaSouthlander.Menionstudiedthemamomentwithgreatcare,tryingtomakeouttheirfaces,

butthedimlightgavehimonlybriefglimpsesofthemanandhedidn’tappearto be anyone Menion had ever encountered previously. A small, dark beardcovered the thin, shallow face of the stranger, and he had a peculiar habit ofstrokingthelittlebeardinshort,nervouspatswhilehetalked.ThenthePrinceofLeahsawsomethingelse.Toonesideofthecircleofmen

wasalargebundlecoveredwithaheavycloakandsecurelytied.Menionstudieditdubiously,unabletotellwhatitwasinthedarkness.Thentohisastonishment,thebundlemovedslightly—enoughtoconvincethehighlanderthattherewassomethingalivebeneaththeheavycoverings.Desperatelyhetriedtothinkofawayhemightmovecloser to thesmallparty,butalreadyhewas too late.ThefourTrollsandthestrangerwerepartingcompany.OneoftheTrollsmovedoverto themysterious bundle and, in one effortless heave, threw it over his broad,bulkyshoulder.Thestrangerwasreturningtotheboat,looseningthefasteningsand climbing in, the oars lowered to the choppy waters. There were severalpartingwordsexchanged,andMenioncaughtsnatchesofthebriefconversation,includingsomethingabouthavingthesituationwellinhand.ThefinalcommentastheboatmovedoutintotheswiftwaterswasawarningfromthestrangertowaitforfurtherwordfromhimonthePrince.Menion inched back a bit on the dampgrass of the little rise,watching the

man and the small boat disappear into the misty darkness of the Mermidon.Dawnwasbreakingatlast,butitcameintheformofadim,hazygraynessthat

hamperedvisibilityalmostaseffectivelyasthenight.Theskywasstillovercastbylow-hangingcumulouscloudsthatthreatenedtodroptotheearthitselfshouldtheyswellfurther.Aheavyrainwouldfallbeforemuchlongerandalreadytheair was coated with a damp, penetrating mist that soaked the highlander’sclothingandchilledtheexposedskin.ThehugeNorthlandarmywouldbeonthemarch toward the island city ofKernwithin thehour, probably reaching it bymidday. There was little time remaining for him to warn its citizens of theimpendingassault—anonslaughtofmenandweaponsagainstwhich thecitycould not hope to defend itself for long. The people had to be evacuatedimmediatelyandtakentoTyrsisorfarthersouthforprotection.Balinorhadtobewarnedthattimehadrunout,thattheBorderLegionmustassembleandfightadelayingactionuntilreinforcedbytheDwarfandElvenarmies.ThePrinceofLeahknewtherewasnotimetoponderfurtherthemysterious

meetinghehadjustaccidentallywitnessed,buthelingeredamomentlongerasthe four Trolls turned from the riverbank, carrying the struggling bundle, andmovedtoward therise tohisright.Menionwascertain thatsomeonehadbeentakenprisonerbythestrangerintheboatandturnedovertothesesoldiersoftheNorthland army.This nightmeetinghadbeenprearrangedbybothparties andtheexchangemadeforreasonsknownonlytothem.Iftheyhadgonetoallthattrouble,theprisonermustbesomeoneveryimportanttothem—andthereforeimportanttotheWarlockLord.MenionwatchedtheTrollsmoveawayfromhimintotheheavymorningmist,

stillundecidedastowhetherheshouldintervene.Allanonhadgivenhimatasktocomplete—avitaltaskthatmightsavethousandsoflives.Therewasnotimefor wild forays in enemy country just to satisfy personal curiosity, even if itmeantsaving...Shea!SupposeitwasSheatheyhadtakenprisoner?Thethoughtflashedthroughtheimpetuousmind,andinstantlythedecisionhadbeenmade.Shea was the key to everything— if there was any chance that he was thecaptivewrappedinthatbundle,Menionhadtotrytorescuehim.He leaped to his feet and began running swiftly northward, back in the

directionfromwhichhehadjustcome,tryingtostayonacourseparalleltothattaken by the Trolls. In the heavy mist, it was difficult to keep his sense ofdirection,butMenionhadnotimetobeconcernedwiththat.ItwasgoingtobeextremelydifficulttotakethatprisonerawayfromfourarmedTrolls,especiallywhenanyoneof themwaseasilyamatchphysically for theslighthighlander.TherewastheaddeddangerthattheymightatanypointpassbackthroughthesentrylinesoftheNorthlandoutposts.Ifhefailedtostopthembeforethen,he

wasfinished.AnychanceofrescuedependedonkeepingopenanescaperoutetotheMermidon.Menionfeltthefirstrainsofthecomingstormstrikehisfaceas he ran, and the thunder rumbled ominously overhead as thewind began togrow in force.Desperately he searched through the rolling clouds ofmist andfogforsomesignofhisquarry,buttherewasnothingtobeseen.Certainthathehadbeentooslowandhadmissedthem,heracedatbreakneckspeedacrossthegrasslands, charging like a wild black shadow through the mist, dodging thesmalltreesandclumpsofbrush,hiseyessearchingtheemptyflatlands.Therainbeat against his face and ran into his eyes, blinding him, forcing him to slowdown momentarily to wipe away the warm haze of mingled rain andperspiration.Heshookhisheadinanger.Theyhadtobesomewhereclose!Hecouldn’thavelostthem!AbruptlythefourTrollsappearedoutofthefogbehindhimandofftotheleft.

Menionhadmisjudgedandcompletelyovertakenandpassedthem.Hedroppedintoacrouchbehindasmallclumpofbushesandwatchedamomentasthefourmovedcloser.Iftheystayedontheirpresentcourse,theywouldpassalmostnextto a large clumpof scrub brush farther ahead— still beyond their vision, butwithinMenion’s.Thehighlander bounded fromcover and racedback into themistuntilhecouldnolongerseetheTrolls.Iftheyhadseenhimmakethatquickdash into the fog, he was through. They would be expecting him when theyreachedthescrubbrush.Butifnot,hewouldspringhisambushthereandmakeabreakfortheriver.Hecutbackacrosstheplainstohisleftuntilhereachedtheseclusionofthebrushwhere,pantingheavily,hedroppedtoallfoursandpeeredcautiouslythroughthebranches.Foramomenttherewasnothingbutthefogandtherain,andthenfourbulky

figures appeared out of the gray mist, moving steadily toward his place ofconcealment. He threw off the cumbersome hunting cloak, already soakedthroughbythemorningrains.HewouldneedspeedtoeludethemassiveTrollsoncehemanagedtogettheprisonerawayfromthem,andthecloakwouldonlyslow him down.He removed the heavy hunting boots aswell.At his side heplaced the sword of Leah, its bright blade drawn clear of the leather sheath.Hurriedly,hefitted the loosenedstring to thegreatashbowandwithdrewtwolong, black arrows from their casing. The Trolls were closing quickly on hiscover now, their dark forms visible through the leafy branches of the brush.Theywalkedinpairs,oneoftheforemostcarryingthelimpformoftheboundprisoner. They came carelessly toward the hidden man, obviously at ease interritory they believed entirely under the control of their own forces.Menion

rose slowly to one knee, a black arrow fitted to the long bow, and waitedsilently.TheunsuspectingTrollswerealmostontopofthescrubbrushwhenthefirst

arrow flew from out of nowhere with a sharp hum, striking the fleshy calfmuscleofthebulkyNorthlandercarryingtheprisoner.Inaroarofmingledrageandpain, theTroll droppedhis burden and fell, clutching the injured legwithboth hands. In that instant of shock and confusion, Menion fired the secondarrow,scoringasolidhittotheexposedshoulderofthesecondmemberofthefrontpair,spinningthemassiveformentirelyaboutsothathestumbledwildlyintothetwobehindhim.Without pausing, the agile highlander sprang free of the scrub brush and

rushed theamazedTrolls,yellingand swinging the swordofLeah.TheTrollshaddroppedbackasteportwofromthemomentarilyforgottenprisoner,andthequickattackersweptthelimpformupontooneshoulderwithhisfreearmbeforethe astonished Northlanders could act. In another instant, he had swept pastthem,hisswordcuttingintotheforearmofthenearestTroll,whomadeavainefforttostopthefleetform.ThepathtotheMermidonlayopen!TwoTrolls, one uninjured and the other slightlywounded, gave immediate

chase, lumbering heavily across the rain-covered grasslands in determinedsilence. Their cumbersome armor and large frames slowed them downconsiderably,but theymoved faster thanMenionhadexpected, and theywererefreshedandstrongwhilehewasalreadytiring.Evenwithoutthehuntingcloakandboots, the leanhighlander couldnot runvery fastwhile carrying the still-bound prisoner. The rain had begun to fall in increasingly heavier sheets,windswept and stinging against his skin as lie forced his aching body to runfasterstill. Inleapsandboundshestreakedacrossthegrasslands, twistingpastsmall trees,dodgingscrubbrushandwater-soakedpotholes.Even inbarefeet,hisfootingonthewet,slipperygrasswasunsure.Severaltimeshestumbledandfelltohisknees,onlytoboundimmediatelytohisfeettorunagain.There were hidden rocks and thorn-tipped plants scattered through the soft

grasses, and soonhis feetwere cut andbleeding freely.But hedidn’t feel thepainandheracedonward.Thevastplainsalonewerewitnesstothestrangeracebetweenthehuge,lumberinghuntersandtheshadowlikequarryastheylaboredsouthward through the driving rains and the chilling wind. They ran withouthearing,without seeing,without feeling through thepanoramic emptiness, andtherewasnothingtobreaktheterriblesilencebuttherushofthegustingwindintherunners’ears.Itbecamealonely,fearfulordealofsurvival—atrialofspirit

andstaminathatdemandedfromtheyouthfulPrinceofLeahhisfinal,completereserveofstrength.Timeceasedtoexistforthefleeinghighlanderasheforcedhislegstomove

whenthemuscleshadlongsincepassedthenormalendofendurance—andstilltherewasnoriver.Henolonger lookedbacktosee if theTrollswereclosing.He could sense their presence, hear their labored breathing in his mind; theymustbeclosingthedistancerapidly.Hehadtorunfaster!HehadtoreachtheriverandfreeShea...Inhisnearexhaustion,heunconsciouslyreferredtothepersonwrappedinthe

bundleashisfriend.Hehadknownimmediatelyupongraspingthemysteriousprisonerthathewassmallandslightofbuild.TherewasnoreasontobelieveitmightnotbethemissingValeman.Thebundledcaptivewasawakeandmovingawkwardlyasthehighlanderran,speakinginmuffledphrasestowhichMenionrepliedinshort,gaspingassurancesthattheywereclosetosafety.Therainsuddenlyintensifiedinforceuntilitwasimpossibletoseemorethan

a few feet in anydirection, and the soddenplains turnedquickly into agrass-tippedmarsh.ThenMenionfelloverawater-coveredrootandtumbledheadlonginto themuddiedgrass,hispreciousburden falling inastrugglingheapbesidehim. Bruised and exhausted, the highlander raised himself to his hands andknees, the great sword held ready, and looked back for his pursuers. To hisrelief, they were nowhere in sight. In the heavy rain and fog, they hadmomentarily lost him. But even the limited visibility would only slow themdownforafewminutesandthen...Menionshookhisheadsharplytoclearthehaze of rain andweariness from his eyes, then crawled quickly to the water-loggedheapofclothingthatboundthestrugglingprisoner.Whoeverwasinthathunting cloak was in good enough shape to run beside him, and Menion’sstrengthwasnearlygone.Heknewhecouldcarrytheaddedweightnofarther.Awkwardly,hardlyawareofwhathewasdoing,thehighlandersawedatthe

toughbondswithhissword.IthadtobeShea,hismindtoldhimoverandover,ithadtobeShea.TheTrollsandthatstrangerhadgonetosomuchtroublenottobeseen,hadbeensosecretive...Thebondssnappedastheswordfinallyseveredthem. It had to be Shea! The ropes unwound and the cloak flew back as thepersonwithinstruggledintotheopenair.AnastonishedMenionLeahwipedtherainfromhisblinkingeyesandstared.

Hehadrescuedawoman!

ChapterTwenty-Four

A woman!Why would the Northlanders kidnap a woman?Menion staredthrough the pouring rain into the clear blue eyes that blinked back at himuncertainly. She was no ordinary woman in any case. She was strikinglybeautiful — deeply browned skin covering the finely formed features of theroundedface,aslimgraceful figureclothedinasilkymaterial,andherhair...!Hehadneverseenanythinglikeit.Evenwettedandplasteredagainstherfacebythedriving rain, falling shoulder length and lower in long,wistful strands, thestrangecolorshowedthroughthegraynessofthemorninginadeepreddishhue.Foramomenthegazedatherinahalf-conscioustrance,thenthethrobbingpainfromhiscutandbleedingfeetrecalledhimtohispresentsituationandthegravedangerstillfacingthem.Quicklyheclimbedbacktohisfeet,wincingwiththepressureonhisexposed

soles,thewearinessfloodingthroughhimuntilhethoughthewouldcollapseintotal exhaustion. His mind battled fiercely for several long moments as heswayed almost drunkenly, bracing himself on the great sword. The frightenedfaceof thegirl—yes, shecouldstillbecalledagirl,he thought suddenly—peered up at him out of a gray haze. Then she was on her feet next to him,holding him up, talking to him in low, distant tones. He shook his head andnoddedstupidly.“It’s all right now, I’m all right.” Thewords sounded garbled as he spoke.

“Runfortheriver—wehavetoreachKern.”Theybeganmovingagain through themistand the rain,walking rapidly,at

timesstaggeringontheuncertainfootingofthemarshygrasslands.Menionfelthisheadbegin to clear andhis strength returnas theywalked, thegirlnext tohim,herhandslockedontohisarm,halfholdingontohimforherownsupport,halfhelping to supporthim.Hiskeeneyessearched thegloomabout themforsomesignoftheprowlingTrolls,certainthattheywerenottoofaraway.Thenabruptly his ears picked up a new sound, the pounding, rushing throb of theMermidon, its rain-filled waters overflowing the lowland banks as it sweptsouthward towardKern.The, girl heard it, too, and gripped his arm tightly inencouragement.Momentslater theystoodonthecrestof thesmallrisethatranparallelwith

the north bank. The swift river had long since flooded its low banks andwas

continuingtorise.MenionhadnoideawheretheystoodinrelationtoKern,buthe realized that if theycrossedat thewrongpoint, theywouldmiss the islandentirely.The girl seemed to recognize the problem; taking his arm, she beganmovingdownstreamalongthelowrise,peeringacrosstheriverintothegloom.Menionletherleadhimwithoutquestion,hisowneyescastingaboutanxiouslyforsomesignofthepursuingTrolls.Therainhadbeguntoslackenandthemistwas beginning to clear. Itwould not be long before the stormwould end andvisibilityreturn,leavingthetworevealedtothepersistenthunters.Theyhadtochanceacrossingquickly.

Meniondidnotknowhow long theyoungwoman ledhimalong the river’sedge,butatlastshehaltedandindicatedinhurriedgesturesasmallskiffdrawnupagainstthegrassyembankment.QuicklythehighlanderstrappedtheswordofLeah tohisback, and together the twopushedoff into the swiftwatersof theMermidon.Theriverwasicyandtheshockoftheextremecoldfromthesprayof the foam-tippedwaves jarredMenion to thebone.Herowedfiercelyacrossthe swift current as it swept them downriver with terrific force, frequentlyturning themaboutcompletelyas they fought to reach theother side. Itwasawild,careeningbattlebetweenriverandmanthatseemedtogoonendlessly,and

atlasteverythingbecamehazyandnumbinMenion’smind.Whathappenedintheendwasnevercleartohim.Hewasvaguelyawareof

handsreachingtopullhimfromtheskifftoagrassybankwherehecollapsedinabreathlessstupor.Heheardthegirl’ssoftvoicespeakingtohim,andthentherewasblackness andnumbness all abouthimashe lapsed intounconsciousness.He drifted in and out of darkness and sleep, plagued by an uneasy sense ofdangerthatproddedathistiredmindanddemandedthatheriseandstandready.Buthisbodycouldnotrespond,andfinallyhedroppedoffintoadeepslumber.Whenheawoke,itwasstilllightoutandtherainwasfallinginaslow,steady

drizzlethroughdeep,grayskies.Helayinthewarmthandcomfortofabed,dryandrested,histornfeetcleanedandbandaged,andtheterribleracetoescapetheNorthlanders behind him. The slow rain beat peacefully on the paned glasswindowsthatlet inthedaylightthroughthewoodandstonewalls.Heglancedidlyaroundthefinelyfurnishedchamber;realizingquicklythatthiswasnotthehomeofanaveragecitizen,butofroyalty.TherewereinsigniaandcrestsonthewoodworkthatMenionknewtobelongtothekingsofCallahorn.Foramomentthe highlander lay quietly and studied the room in silent leisure, allowing thesleeptodisperseandhisrestedmindtoawakenfully.Hesawadrysetofclotheslyingonachairnearthebed,andwasjustabouttorisetodresswhenthedooropened and an elderly serving woman appeared, carrying a tray of steamingfood.Noddingpolitely and smiling, she hastened to the bedwith the tray anddeposited it on thehighlander’s lap, proppinghimupwithpillows andurginghimtoeatitallwhileitwasstillhot.Strangely,sheremindedMenionofhisownmother, a kind, fussywomanwhohad diedwhenhewas twelve.The servinglady lingered until he had taken the first bite, then turned away andwent outagain,closingthedoorquietlybehindher.Menionateslowly,savoringtheexcellentfood,feelingthestrengthreturnto

hisbody.Itoccurredtohimonlyafterhehadfinishedalmosthalfthemealthathehadnoteatenforovertwenty-fourhours—orperhapsithadbeenlonger.Heglanced again through thewindow to the rain beyond, unable to tell if itwaseventhesameday.Itmightbethefollowingday...InaflashherecalledhisoriginalpurposeincomingtoKern—towarnthem

oftheimpendinginvasionbytheNorthlandarmy.Hemightalreadybetoolate!Hewasstill frozenwith the thought,aforkraisedhalfwaytohismouth,whenthe door opened a second time. It was the young woman he had rescued,refreshedanddrynow,dressed ina flowinggownofwarm,mixedcolors,herlong red tressescombedandshiningeven in thegray lightof the rain-clouded

day. She was easily the most stunning woman the Prince of Leah had everencountered. Remembering suddenly the half-raised fork, he lowered it to thetray and smiled in greeting. She closed the door behind her and movedgracefully tohisbedside.Shewas incrediblybeautiful,he thoughtagain.Whyhadshebeenkidnapped?WhatwouldBalinorknowabouther—whatanswerscouldhesupply?Shestoodnexttothebedside,lookingdownathim,studyinghimwiththoseclear,deepeyesforamoment.“Youlookverywell,PrinceofLeah;”shesmiled.“Therestandthefoodhave

madeyouwholeagain.”“Howdidyouknowwho…?”“YourswordbearsthemarkingsoftheKingofLeah;thatmuchIknow.Who

elsebuthissonwouldcarrysuchaweapon?ButIdon’tknowyoubyname.”“Menion,” the highlander responded, somewhat surprised at the girl’s

knowledgeofhislittlehomeland,akingdomunfamiliartomostoutlanders.The youngwoman stretched forth a slim bronzed hand to grasp his own in

warmgreetingandnoddedhappily.“I am Shirl Ravenlock, and this ismy home,Menion— the island city of

Kern.Ifnotforyourcourage,Ishouldneverhaveseenitagain.ForthatIshallremaineternallygratefulandyourfriendalways.Nowfinishyourmealwhilewetalk.”She seated herself on the bed next to him and motioned for Menion to

continue eating. Again he began to raise his fork; then remembering theinvasion,hedroppedittothetraywithanoisyclatter.“You’ve got to get word to Tyrsis, to Balinor — the invasion from the

Northlandhasbegun!ThereisanarmycampedjustaboveKernwaitingto...”“Iknow,it’sallright,”Shirlrespondedquickly,raisingherhandtostophim

fromcontinuing.“Eveninyoursleep,youspokeofthedanger—youwarnedusbefore you passed out entirely. Word has been sent to Tyrsis. PalanceBuckhannahrulesinhisbrother’sabsence;theKingisstillveryill.ThecityofKernismobilizingitsdefenses,butforthemomentthereisnorealdanger.Therains have flooded the Mermidon and made any crossing by a large forceimpossible.Wewillbesafeuntilhelparrives.”“Balinor should have been in Tyrsis several days ago,”Menion announced

withalarm.“WhatabouttheBorderLegion?Isitfullymobilized?”The girl looked at him blankly, indicating that she had no idea what the

situation was with regard to either the Legion or Balinor. Abruptly, Menionshoved the tray aside and climbed out of bed, an astonished Shirl risingwith

him,stilltryingtocalmtheexcitedhighlander.“Shirl,youmaythinkthatyou’resafeonthisisland,butIcanguaranteethat

time is runningout forallofus!”Menionexclaimed, reaching forhisclothes.“I’veseenthesizeof thatarmy,andnoamountoffloodingisgoingtoslowitdownforlong—andyoucanforgetaboutanyhelpshortofamiracle.”Hepausedat the secondbuttonofhisnightshirt, suddenly remembering the

youngwomanwithhim.Hepointedmeaningfullytothedoor,butsheshookherheadnegativelyandturnedawaysoshecouldn’tseehimchanging.“Whataboutyourkidnapping?”Menionasked,dressinghimselfquicklyashe

studiedherslimbackacrosstheroom.“Doyouhaveanyideawhyyouwouldbeso important to theNorthlanders—other than the fact that you’re a beautifulwoman?”He smiled roguishly, a littleof thebrashness thatFlickdistrusted returning.

Althoughhecouldnotseeherface,thehighlanderwascertainshewasblushingfuriously.Shewassilentamomentbeforespeaking.“Idon’t rememberexactlywhathappened,” theanswercameat last. “Iwas

asleep.Iwasawakenedbyanoiseintheroom,thensomeonegrabbedmeandIblackedout—IthinkIwasstruckor...No,Iremembernow—itwasaclothsoakedinsomefoulliquidthatpreventedmefrombreathing.IblackedoutandthenextthingIrememberwaslyingonthesandneartheriver—IgatheritwastheMermidon.YouknowhowIwastiedinthatblanket.Icouldn’tseeanythingandcouldhearonlyalittle—butnothingthatIcouldunderstand.Didyouseeanything?”Menion shook his head and shrugged. “No, nothing much,” he added,

rememberingthatthegirlwasnotlookingathim.“Onemanbroughtyouacrossinaboat,thenturnedyouovertofourTrolls.Icouldn’tseethemandistinctly,but Imight recognize him if I saw him again.How about answeringmy firstquestion—whywouldanyonekidnapyou?Turnaround.I’mdressednow.”The youngwoman turned obediently and came over next to him,watching

curiouslyashepulledonthehighhuntingboots.“I’mofroyalblood,Menion,”sherespondedquietly.Menionstoppedquickly

and looked up at her. He had suspected she was no ordinary citizen of KernwhenshehadrecognizedthecrestofLeahonhissword.Nowperhapshewoulddiscoverthereasonbehindherabductionfromthecity.“MyancestorswerekingsofKern—andforawhileofallCallahorn,before

theBuckhannahscametopoweraboutonehundredyearsago.Iama...well,Iguess you could say I’m a princess — in absentia.” She laughed at the

foolishnessof the idea,andMenionsmiledback.“Myfather isanelderof thecouncil that governs the internal affairs of Kern. The King is the ruler ofCallahorn,butthisisanenlightenedmonarchy,asthesayinggoes,andtheKingseldominterfereswiththegovernmentalworkingsofthiscity.HissonPalancehasbeenattractedtomeforsometime,anditisnosecretthatheplanstomarryme.I...Ibelievethat,togettohim,anenemymighttrytoharmme.”Menionnoddedsoberly,asuddenpremonitionspringing intohisalertmind.

PalancewasnotinlineforthethroneofCallahornunlesssomethinghappenedtoBalinor.Whywould anyonewaste time trying to put pressure on the youngerson unless they were certain that Balinor would not be around? Again herecalledShirl’s lackofknowledgeof thearrivalof thePrinceofCallahorn,aneventthatshouldhavetakenplacedaysagoandonethatall thecitizensofthelandshouldhaveknownabout.“Shirl,howlonghaveIbeenasleep?”heaskedapprehensively.“Nearlyanentireday,”sheanswered.“Youwereexhaustedwhentheypulled

usfromtheMermidonyesterdaymorning,andIthoughtyoushouldsleep.Yougaveusyourwarning...”“Twenty-fourhourslost!”Menionexclaimedangrily.“Ifnotfortherain,the

citywould have already fallen!We’ve got to act now, butwhat... Shirl, yourfather and the council! I must speak with them!” He grasped her arms withurgency when she hesitated. “Don’t ask questions now, just do what I say.Wherearethecouncilchambers?Quick,takemetothem!”Withoutwaitingforthegirltoleadhim,Meniontookheraimandpropelled

her through thedoor toa longhallwaybeyond.Together theyhurried throughthe empty home and out the front doorway onto a wide, tree-shaded lawn,runningtoescapethepersistentdrizzleofthemorningrain.Thewalkwaysofthebuildingsbeyondwerepartiallyshelteredfromtherain,andtheyweresparedasecondsoaking.Astheyproceededtowardthecouncilhall,Shirlaskedhimhowhehappenedtobeinthispartofthecountry,butMenionrespondedevasively,stillunwillingtotellanyoneaboutAllanonandtheSwordofShannara.Hefelthecouldtrustthisgirl,butAllanon’swarningthatnoneofthosewhojourneyedtoParanorshouldrevealthestorybehindthemissingSwordpreventedhimfromconfidingeveninher.Instead,heexplainedthathehadcometoaidBalinorathisrequestuponhearingofanimpendingNorthlandinvasion.Sheacceptedhisstorywithoutquestion,andhefeltalittleguiltyforlyingtoher.YetAllanonhadnever told him the complete truth, so perhaps he knew less than he imaginedanyway.

Theyhadreachedthecouncilhall,itsancientchambershousedwithinatall,stone structure surrounded by weathered columns and arched windows lacedwithmetallatticework.Theguardsthatstoodleisurelynexttotheentrywaydidnotquestionthemandtheyhurriedinside,movingdownthelong,highcorridorsandupthewindingstairwaysasthewallsechoedwiththerapoftheirbootsonthewornstoneflooring.Thecouncilmetinchamberssituatedonthefourthfloorof the great building.When at last theywere outside its wooden doors, ShirladvisedMenion,thatshewouldinformherfatherandtheothermembersofhiswish to address them. Reluctantly, the highlander agreed to wait. He stoodquietlyinthecorridoraftershehadgoneinside,listeningtothehushedmurmurofvoicesasthesecondstickedslowlyaway,andtheraincontinuedtobeatinasoft,steadyrhythmontheglassofthewindowsthatlinedthesilenthall.Losinghimselfforamomentinthepeaceandsolitudeoftheancientbuilding,

the highlander recalled in brief flashes the faces of the divided company offriends, wondering sadly what had befallen them since Paranor. Perhaps theywouldneveragainbetogetherastheyhadbeenduringthosefearfuldaysontheroadtotheDruids’Keep,buthewouldneverforgettheircourageandsacrificeandthepridehefeltnowinrecallingthedangerstheyhadfacedandovercome.EventhereluctantFlickhaddisplayedabraveryandsteadfastnessthatMenionwouldnothaveexpectedfromhim.AndwhatofShea,hisoldestfriend?Heshookhisheadashethoughtabout

his missing companion. He missed the Valeman’s peculiar mixture ofhardheadedpracticalityandantiquatedbeliefs.SomehowSheacouldnotseemtoseethechangeintimesevenwhenthesunmovedfromeasttowestintheskyabove.He did not seem to realize that the land and the peoplewere growing,expandingoncemore—that thewarsofthepastwereslowlybeingforgotten.Sheabelieved that one could turnhisbackon thepast andbuild anewworldwiththefuture,neverunderstandingthat thefuturewasinextricablytiedtothepast, an interwoven tapestry of events and ideas that would never be entirelysevered.Inhisownsmallway,thelittleValemanwasapartofthepassingage,hisconvictionsareminderofyesterdayratherthanapromiseoftomorrow.Howstrange, how incredibly strange it all seemed, Menion thought suddenly,standingin thecenterof thehall,motionless,hisgaze lost in thedepthsof theweathered stone wall. Shea and the Sword of Shannara — things of an ageslowlydying;yettheywerethehopeofthehourtocome.Theywerethekeytolife.The heavywooden doors to the council hall opened behind the highlander,

andhisthoughtsfadedwithShirl’ssoftvoice.Sheseemedsmallandvulnerableasshewaitedbeneaththemassivebeamsofthehighentryway,herfacebeautifulandanxious.NowonderPalanceBuckhannahwantedthiswomanforhiswife.Menionmovedtowardher, takingherwarmhandinhisown,andtheyenteredthecouncilchamber.Henoted theancientausterityof themassivechamberashemoved into the gray light that seemed to slide in tired streaks through thehigh,iron-webbedwindows.Thecouncilhallwasoldandproud,acornerstoneoftheislandcity.Twentymenwereseatedaroundalong,burnishedwoodtable,their faces strangely similar as theywaited for the highlander to speak— allaged,wiseperhaps, anddetermined.The eyesbetrayed theunspoken fear thatlingeredbeneaththecalmexteriors—afearfortheircityandtheirpeople.TheyknewwhattheNorthlandarmywoulddowhentherainsceasedandthewatersoftheMermidonrecededintheheatof theopensun.Hestoppedbeforethem,thegirlstillnexttohim,hisfootfallsdyingawayintotheexpectantsilence.He chose hiswords carefully, describing themassive enemy force that had

beenassembledundertheleadershipoftheWarlockLord.Herelatedinpartthestoryofhis long journey toCallahorn,speakingofBalinorand themenof thecompanyformedatCulhavenwhowerenowscatteredthroughoutthefourlands.HedidnottellthemabouttheSwordoraboutShea’smysteriousoriginorevenabout Allanon. There was no reason for the elders of this council to knowanythingbeyondthefactthatthecityofKernstoodindangerofbeingoverrun.Ashefinished,callinguponthemtosavetheirpeoplewhiletherewasstilltime,toevacuatethecityimmediatelybeforeallhopeofretreatwascutoff,hefeltastrangesenseofsatisfaction.Hehadriskedagreatdealmorethanhisownlifetowarnthesepeople.Ifhehadfailedtoreachthem,theymightallhaveperishedwithout ever having had a chance to flee to safety. It was important, reallyimportant,tothePrinceofLeahthathehadcarriedouthistaskresponsibly.Thequestionsfromthemembersofthecouncilcamewithcriesofalarmwhen

the highlander had finished, some angry, some frightened. Menion answeredquickly, trying to stay calm as he assured them that the size of theNorthlandarmy was as awesome as he had described and the threat of attack certain.Eventually the initial furor died away into amore rational deliberation of thepossibilities.AfewoftheeldersbelievedthatthecityshouldbedefendeduntilPalance Buckhannah could come up fromTyrsiswith the Border Legion, butmostwereoftheopinionthatoncetherainssubsided,astheywerecertaintodowithinafewdays,theinvadingarmywouldeasilygaintheshoresoftheislandandthecitywouldstanddefenseless.Menionlistenedsilentlywhilethecouncil

deliberatedthematter,weighinginhisownmindthecoursesofactionopentothem.Finally, the flushed,gray-hairedman,whomShirlhad introducedasherfather,turnedtoMenion,drawinghimasideinprivateconferenceasthecouncilcontinueditsdebate.“HaveyouseenBalinor,youngman?Doyouknowwherehecanbefound?”“HeshouldhavebeeninTyrsisdaysago,”Menionrespondedworriedly.“He

wasgoingtheretomobilizetheBorderLegioninpreparationforthisinvasion.HewasinthecompanyoftwocousinsofEventineElessedil.”Theolderman frowned and shookhis head, consternation registering inhis

linedface.“Prince ofLeah, Imust tell you that the situation ismore desperate than it

appears.TheKingofCallahorn,RuhlBuckhannah,becameseriouslyillseveralweeks earlier and his condition does not seem to be improving. Balinor wasabsent from the city at the time, and so the King’s younger son assumed hisfather’sduties.Whilehehasalwaysbeenaratherunsteadypersonality,hehasoflate seemed highly erratic. One of his first acts was to disband the BorderLegion,reducingittoafractionofitsformersize.”“Disbanded!”Menionexclaimedindisbelief.“Whyinthename...?”“He found themunnecessary,” the other continued quickly, “so he replaced

themwithasmallcompanyofhisownmen.Thefactofthematteristhathehasalwaysfeltovershadowedbyhisbrother,andtheBorderLegionwasunderthedirect commandofBalinor by theKing’s ownorder. It’s highly probable thatPalance felt they would remain loyal to the firstborn son of the King inpreferencetohimself,andhehasnointentionofreturningthethronetoBalinorshouldtheKingdie.Hehasalreadymadethisquiteapparent.Thecommandersof theBorder Legion and several close associates of Balinorwere seized andimprisoned—allveryquietlysothatthepeoplewouldnotbeoutragedbythissenseless action.Our newKing has taken as his only confidant and adviser amannamedStenmin,aviperousmysticandtricksterwhoseonlyconcernisforhis own ambitions, not for the welfare of the people or even PalanceBuckhannah.Idonotseehowwecanhopetofacethisinvasionwithourownleadershipsobadlydividedandundermined.I’mnotevensurewecanconvincethePrincethatthedangerexistsuntiltheenemyisstandingattheopengates!”“Then Balinor is in grave danger,” Menion said darkly. “He has gone to

Tyrsis,notrealizingthathisfatherisillandthathisbrotherhastakencommand.We’vegottogetwordtohimatonce!”Thecouncilmembershadsuddenlyrisentotheirfeet;shoutingheatedly,still

arguingoverwhatshouldbedonetosavethedoomedcityofKern.Shirl’sfatherhastenedtotheirmidst,butittookseveralminutesforthefewrationalmembersof thedistraughtcouncil toquiet theothersenough topermit thediscussion tocontinueonanorderlybasis.Menionlistenedforalittlewhile,thenallowedhisattention todriftmomentarily to thehigh,archedwindowsand thesolemnskybeyond.Itwasnotasdarkasbefore,andtherainhadbeguntoslackenfurther.Unquestionably,itwouldendbytomorrow,andtheenemyforcecampedbeyondthefloodedMermidonwouldattemptacrossing.Eventualsuccessinattainingalandingwasassured,evenifthevastlyoutnumberedsoldiersstationedorlivingin Kern tried to defend the island. Without a large, well-organized army toprotect the city, the people would be quickly slain and Kern would fall. HethoughtbackquicklytohispartingwithAllanon,wonderingsuddenlywhattheresourcefulDruidwoulddo ifhewere there.Thesituationwasnotpromising.Tyrsis was ruled by an irrational, ambitious usurper. Kern was leaderless, itscouncilmendividedandunsure,debatingacourseofactionthatshouldalreadyhavebeenexecuted.Menionfelthistemperslipping.Itwasmadnesstoponderthealternativesfurther!“Councilmen!Hearme!”Hisownvoiceroseinfury,reverberatingbackfrom

theancientstonewallsasthevoicesoftheeldersofKerndiedintowhisperingsilence.“NotonlyCallahorn,butalloftheSouthland,myhomeandyours,facescertaindestructionifwedonotactnow!By,tomorrownight,Kernwillbeashesanditspeopleenslaved.OuronechanceforsurvivalisescapetoTyrsis;ouronehope for victory over this mighty Northland army is the Border Legion,reassembled under Balinor. The Elven armies stand ready to fight with us.Eventinewill lead them.TheDwarf people, engaged for years in fighting theGnomes,havepromisedtoaidus.Butwemuststandfastseparatelyuntilallareunitedagainstthismonstrousthreattoourexistence!”“Yourpleaiswellspoken,PrinceofLeah,”Shirl’sfatherrespondedquickly

as the flushed highlander paused. “But give us a solution to our immediateproblem so that our people can reach Tyrsis. The enemy is camped directlyacross the Mermidon, and we stand virtually defenseless. We must evacuatealmost forty thousand people from this island and then guide them safely toTyrsis,whichismiles tothesouth.Undoubtedlytheenemyhasalreadypostedsentries all around our shores to prevent any attempt to cross the MermidonbeforetheassaultonKern.Howcanweovercomesuchobstacles?”AfleetingsmilecrossedMenion’slips.“We’llattack,”hestatedsimply.

Foramomenttherewasshockedsilenceastheyallstaredinutterdisbeliefatthedeceptivelypassiveface.Thewordsofastonishedreplywerestillformingontheirlipsashehelduponehand.“An attack is exactly what they will not be expecting— particularly if it

comes in the night. A quick strike against a flank position of their mainencampment, ifexecutedproperly,willconfuse them,cause themto think thatit’s an assault by a heavily armed force. The darkness and the confusionwillhideourtruesize.Suchanattackiscertaintodrawintheiroutlyingsentrylinesaroundtheisland.Asmallcommandcanmakeagreatamountofnoise,setafewfires, and pin them down for at lest an hour— perhaps longer.While that’sgoingon—evacuatethecity!”Oneoftheeldersshookhisheadnegatively.“Evenanhourwouldnotbesufficient time, thoughyourplanmaybedaring

enoughtocatchtheNorthlandersoffguard,youngman.Evenifwemanagedtoferry all forty thousandpeople from the island to the southern shore, itwouldstillbenecessarytomarchthemsouthwardtoTyrsis—almostfiftymiles.Thewomen and children would require days to travel that distance under normalconditions,andonce theenemyfindsKernhasbeenabandoned, they’ll followits people southward.We cannot hope to outrun them.Why should we evenattemptit?”“Youwillnothavetooutrunthem,”Meniondeclaredquickly.“Youwon’tbe

taking thesepeople southby land—youwill take themdown theMermidon!Put them in small boats, rafts, anything that you now have or can build bytonight that will float. The Mermidon flows southward deep into Callahorn,withintenmilesofTyrsis.Disembarkatthatpoint,andallcaneasilyreachthesafetyofthecitybydaybreak,longbeforethecumbersomeNorthlandarmycanmobilizeandfollow!”Thecouncilrosetoitsfeet,shoutingtheirapproval,caughtupinthefireand

determinationofthehighlander’sspirit.IftherewasanywaythatthepeopleofKerncouldbe saved, even though the islandcity itselfmust fall to theenemyhordes, it must be tried. The council adjourned after a short discussion tomobilize theworking people of the city. Between this time and sunset, everycitizenwhowas able to assistwouldbe expected to aid in the constructionoflargewooden raftscapableof transportingseveralhundredpeople.Therewerealready hundreds of small boats scattered about the island which individualcitizens used to navigate the river in older to reach themainland. In addition,there were a number of larger ferries for mass transportation which could be

pressedintoservice.Menionsuggestedthatthecouncilorderallarmedsoldiersinthecitytobeginavigilantpatrolofthecoastline,permittingnoonetoleavetheisland.Alldetailsoftheplannedescapewouldbecarefullyconcealedfromeveryone but the council members for as long as possible. The highlander’sgreatestconcernwasthatsomeonemightbetraythemtotheenemy,cuttingofftheirescaperoutebeforetheyhadachancetoact.SomeonehadseizedShirlinher own home,whisked her out of the heavily populated city, and ferried heracross into the hands of the Trolls — a chore that could not have beenaccomplished by anyone unfamiliar with the island. Whoever he was, heremained free and hidden, perhaps still safe within the city. If he learned theexactdetailsoftheevacuationplan,hewouldundoubtedlyattempttowarntheNorthlanders.Secrecywasabsolutelynecessaryifthisdangerousventurewastobesuccessful.The remainder of the day passed quickly for Menion. Forgotten for the

momentwereSheaandhiscompanionsofthepastfewweeks.ForthefirsttimesinceSheahadcometohiminthehighlands,thePrinceofLeahwasfacedwithaproblemthathefullyunderstood,requiringskillsheknewhowtoemploy.TheenemywasnolongertheSkullKingorthespiritcreaturesthatservedhim.Theenemywas flesh and blood— creatures that lived and died according to thesamerulesasothermen,andtheirthreatwasonethehighlandercouldappreciateandanalyze.Timewasthegreatestsinglefactorinhisplantooutwitthewaitingarmy,andsohe threwhimself into themost importantundertakingofhis life,thesavingofanentirecity.Together with the members of the council, he directed the building of the

giant wooden rafts which would be utilized to convey the majority of thebesieged citizens of Kern down the still-flooded Mermidon to the safety ofTyrsis.Thepointofembarkationwastobethesouthwestcoastlineimmediatelybelow thecityproper.Therewasabroadbutwell-concealed inlet fromwhichtheraftsandsmallerboatswouldbelaunchedundercoverofdarkness.Directlyacrosstheriverfromtheinletstoodaseriesoflowbluffsthatrantotheedgeofthe embankment. Menion thought that a handful of men could ford the riverwhen themain attack on the enemy encampment began later that night; onceacross, they could subdue the small guard post that would be keepingwatch.After the sentries were dispatched, the boats and rafts would be launched,flowingdownriverwiththecurrent,followingthesouthbranchoftheMermidontoTyrsis.Therewasnothingtoassurethemthatthevesselswouldnotbespottedinstantly,but itwastheonlypossiblecourseofaction.Menionbelievedthat if

the sky remained clouded, the sentry commands were withdrawn upriver todefendagainstthefakeassaultonthemainencampment,andthepeopleofthecitykeptsilentontherafts,thentheevacuationmightbesuccessful.But toward late afternoon, the rain started to slacken off altogether and the

clouds began to thin out, permitting small strips of blue to seep through therollinggrayness.Thestormwasdrawingtoanend,anditappearedthenightskywouldbecloudlessandthelandexposedtotherevealinglightofthenewmoonandathousandwinkingstars.Menionwasseatedinoneofthesmallerroomsofthe council hall when he saw these first signs of a clearing, his attentionmomentarilydivertedfromthehugemapspreadoutonthetablebeforehim.Athis side were twomembers of the disbanded Border Legion, Janus Senpre, alieutenant commander of the Legion and the highest ranking officer on theisland, and a grizzled veteran named Fandrez. The latter knew the countryaroundKernbetterthananyoneandhadbeencalledintoadvisetheattacksquadin its strike against the giant Northland army. Senpre, his superior, wassurprisinglyyoungforhisrank,butasharpanddeterminedsoldierwithadozenyearsof fielddutyalreadybehindhim.Hewasadevoted followerofBalinor,andlikeMenion,hewasconsiderablyupsettolearnthatnothinghadbeenheardfrom Tyrsis concerning the Prince’s arrival. Earlier that afternoon, he hadselected two hundred seasoned soldiers from the disbanded Border Legion toformthestrikeforcethatwouldbedirectedagainsttheenemycamp.Menionhadofferedhisaidandithadbeeneagerlyaccepted.Thehighlander

was still cut andbruisedabout the feet and lower legs fromhis arduous flightafterrescuingShirlRavenlock,butherefusedtostaybehindwiththeevacuationpartywhen the feintby the small attack squadhadbeenhis idea.Flickwouldhavewrittenoffhisinsistenceasafoolishmixtureofstubbornnessandpride,butMenionLeahwouldnotbeleftincomparativesafetyontheislandwhileabattlewas being fought across the river. It had taken him years to find somethingworthwhile to fight for, something more than personal satisfaction and theirresistible lure of one more adventure. He was not about to be a passivespectatorwhilethemostawesomethreatincenturiesdecimatedtheraceofMan.“Thispoint—overherebytheSpinnBarr—that’sthelandingpointtotake,”

the slow, gratingvoice ofFandrez cut into his thoughts, drawinghis attentionbacktothecarefullydetailedmap.JanusSenpreagreed,lookingatMeniontobecertainhewastakingcarefulnote.Thehighlandernoddedquickly.“Theywillhavesentriespostedallalongthatgrasslandjustabovethebar,”he

saidinreply.“Ifwedon’tdisposeofthemimmediately,theycouldcutoffany

retreat.”“Yourjobwillbetokeepthemoutoftherekeepthewayopen,”theLegion

commanderstated.Menionopenedhismouthinobjection,butwascutshort.“Iappreciateyourdesiretocomewithus,Menion,butwestillhavetomove

much faster than the enemy, and your feet are in poor condition for anyprolonged running. You know that as well as I. So the shore patrol is yours.Keepourpathtotheboatsopen,andyouwillbedoingusamuchgreaterservicethanbycomingwithus.”Menionquietlynoddedhisagreement,thoughhewaskeenlydisappointed.He

hadwantedtobeintheforefrontoftheassault.Deepinthebackofhismind,hestillmaintainedhopeoffindingSheaaprisonerintheenemycamp.Histhoughtsdrifted toAllanonandFlick.Perhaps theyhad found themissingValeman, astheDruidhadpromised theywould try to do.He shookhis head sadly.Shea,Shea, why did it have to happen to someone like you— someone who justwanted to be left alone?Therewas amadness in the scheme of life thatmenwereforcedtoaccepteitherwithresignedfuryorbluntindifference.Therecouldbenofinalresolution—except,perhaps,indeath.The meeting ended shortly thereafter, and a despondent and bitter Menion

Leahwanderedaimlesslyoutofthecouncilchamberstilllostinthought.Almostwithoutrealizingit,hewalkeddownthestonestairwayofthehugebuildingtothestreetandfromtheremadehiswaybacktowardShirl’shome,keepingclosetothecoveredwalksandbuildingwalls.Wherewasitallleading?ThethreatoftheWarlock Lord loomed before them like a towering, unscalablewall. Howcouldtheypossiblyhopetodefeatacreaturethathadnosoul—acreaturethatlived according to laws of nature completely foreign to the world into whichtheyhadbeenborn?Whyshouldasimpleyoungmanfromanobscurehamletbetheonlymortalentitywiththeabilitytodestroysuchanindescribablypowerfulbeing? Menion desperately needed to understand something of what washappeningtohimandtohisabsentfriendsevenifitwasonlyonesmallpieceina thousand comprising the puzzle of the Warlock Lord and the Sword ofShannara.Suddenlyhefoundhimself infrontof theRavenlockhome, theheavydoors

standingclosed,theirmetallatcheslookingcoldandfrostedinthegrayingmistthathunginwispswiththecoolingofthelateafternoonair.Heturnedquicklyfromtheentryway,notwishingtogoinortobewithpeopleforthemoment,butpreferring the solitudeof theemptyveranda.Slowlyhemovedalong its stonepath into the little garden at the side of the house, the leaves and flowers

dripping softly with the rain of several days, the grounds beyond damp andgreen.Hestoodquietly,hisown thoughtsashazyandwistfulas thesetting inwhichhepaused,givingway foronebriefmoment to the sinkingdespair thatseizedhimwhenhethoughtofhowmuchhehadlost.Hehadneverfeltalonelikethisbefore,eveninthedarkemptinessofthehighlandsofLeahwhenhehadhuntedfarfromhisownhomeandfriends.Somethingdeepwithinhintedwithdreadpersistencethathewouldnevergobacktowhathadbeen,thathewouldnever go back to his friends, his home, his old life. Somewhere in the daysbehind,hehadlostitall.Heshookhishead,theunwantedtearsbuildingontheedgeof his lids as the dampness closed in about himand the chill of the rainslippeddeepintohischest.Thereweresuddenfootstepsonthestonebehindhimandasmall,litheform

came toasilenthaltathiselbow, the rust-red locksshadowingwideeyes thatlookedupathimmomentarilyandthenstrayedtothegardenbeyond.Thetwostoodwithoutspeakingfora longtime, therestof theworldshutaway.In theskyabove,heavycloudswererollingin,coveringthelastfainttracesofblueasthedarknessofearlytwilightbegantodeepen.Rainwasfallingagaininsteadysheetson thebesieged landofCallahorn, andMenionnotedwithabsent reliefthatitwouldbeablackandmoonlessnightontheislandofKern.Itwaswellaftermidnight,therainstillfallinginasoggydrizzle,thenightsky

stillimpenetrablyblackandominous,whenanexhaustedMenionLeahstumbledheavilyontoasmall,crudelyconstructedraftmooredinapeacefulinletonthesouthwesterncoastoftheisland.Twoslimarmsreachedouttocatchhimashecollapsed,andhestaredwonderinglyintothedarkeyesofShirlRavenlock.Shehadwaitedforhimasshesaidshewould,eventhoughhehadbeggedhertogowith theotherswhen themassevacuationbegan.Cutandbruised,hisclothingtornandhisskinwetfromtherainandhisownblood,heletherwraphiminacloak still somehow dry andwarm and pull him against her shoulder as theycrouchedinthenightshadowsandwaited.There had been somewhohad returnedwithMenion, and a fewmorewho

boarded now, all battleweary, but fiercely proud of the courage and sacrificetheyhaddisplayedthatnightontheplainsnorthofKern.NeverhadthePrinceofLeahseensuchbraveryinthefaceofsuchimpossibleodds.ThosefewmenofthefabledBorderLegionhadsoutterlydisruptedtheenemycampthatevennow,somefourhoursaftertheinitialstrike,theconfusionwasstillcontinuing.Theenemynumbershadbeenunbelievable—thousandsafterthousandsmillingabout,strikingoutatanyonewithinreach,inflictinginjuryanddeathuponeven

theirowncompanions.Theyhadbeendrivenbymorethanmortalfearorhatred.TheyhadbeendrivenbytheinhumanpoweroftheWarlockLord,hisincrediblefurythrustingthemintobattlelikecrazedbeingswithnopurposebuttodestroy.YetthemenoftheLegionhadheldthematbay,repeatedlythrownbackonlytoregroupandstrikeoncemore.Manyhaddied.Meniondidnotknowwhathadpreservedhisownmeagerlife,butitborderedonamiracle.Themooringropeswereloosened,andhefelttheraftbegintodriftawayfrom

the shore, the current catching it and pulling it into the center of the floodedMermidon. Moments later they were in the main channel, moving silentlydownriver toward thewalledcityofTyrsis,where thepeopleofKernhadfledseveral hours earlier in a perfectly executed mass evacuation. Forty thousandpeople,huddledongiantrafts,smallboats,eventwo-mandinghies,hadslippedundetected from the besieged city as the enemy sentry posts guarding thewesternbankoftheMermidonhastilyreturnedtothemainencampment,whereitappeareda full-scaleattackby thearmiesofCallahornwas inprogress.Thebeatingoftherain,therushingoftheriver,andthecriesofthedistantcamphadblottedoutthemuffledsoundsofthepeopleontheraftsandboats,crowdedandjammed together in a desperate, fearful bid for freedom. The darkness of theclouded sky had hidden themwell, and their collective courage had sustainedthem.Forthetimebeingatleast,theyhadeludedtheWarlockLord.Meniondozedoffforatime,awareofnothingbutagentlerockingsensation

astheriverboretheraftsteadilysouthward.Strangedreamsflashedthroughhisrestlessmind as time drifted away in longmoments of peaceful silence.Thenvoices reached through tohim, jostlinghis subconscious, forcinghim towakeabruptly, andhis eyeswere searedby avast redglare that filled thedampairabout him.Squinting sharply, he raisedhimself fromShirl’s arms, uncertaintyregisteringonhisleanfaceashesawthenorthernskyfilledwithareddishglowthatmatchedthebrightnessofthedawn’sgold.Shirlwasspeakingsoftlyinhisear,thewordsfaintandpoignant.“Theyhaveburnedthecity,Menion.Theyhaveburnedmyhome!”Menion lowered his eyes and gripped the girl’s slim arm with one hand.

Thoughitspeoplehadbeenabletoescape,thecityofKernhadseentheendofitsdaysand,withterriblegrandness,waspassingintoashes.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Thehoursslippedsilentlyawayin theentombedblacknessof the littlecell.Even after the eyes of the captives had grown used to the impenetrable dark,thereremainedasolitude thatnumbed thesensesanddestroyed theirability todiscern thepassageof time.Beyond theemptydarknessof the roomand theirownmuffledbreathing,thethreecaptivescouldhearnothingsavetheinfrequentscurrying of a small rodent and the steady drip of icy water on worn stone.Finallytheirownearsbegantolietothem,tohearsoundswheretherewasonlysilence. Their ownmovement wasmeaningless, because they could expect it,identifyit,anddismissitasinsignificantandhopeless.Aninterminablelengthoftimelingeredandfaded,andstillnoonecame.Somewhereinthelightandairabove,amidthesoundsofthepeopleandthe

city,PalanceBuckhannahwasdeciding their fateand indirectly the fateof theSouthland.Timewas runningout for the landofCallahorn; theWarlockLordmoved closerwith each passing hour.But here, in the silent blackness of thissmallprison,inaworldshutawayfromthepulsebeatofthehumanworld,timehad no meaning and tomorrow would be the same as today. Eventually theywouldbediscovered,butwouldtheyemergeagainintothesun’sfriendlylight,orwould itbea transfer fromonedarkness intoyetanother?Would they findonly the terrible gloom of the Skull King, his power extended not only intoCallahorn,butintothefarthestreachesofalltheprovincesoftheSouthland?BalinorandtheElvenbrothershadfreedthemselveswithinashorttimeafter

their captorshaddeparted.The ropesbinding themhadnotbeen securedwiththe intentionofpreventinganychanceofescapeonce theyweresafely lockedwithin thatdungeonroom,andthe threehadlostnotimeinworkingtheknotsloose.Huddledtogetherinthedarkness,theropesandblindfoldscastaside,theydiscussedwhatwouldbecomeof them.Thedank, rotting smell of the ancientcellaralmost stifled theirbreathingas theycrouchedclose tooneanother, andthe air was chill and biting even through their heavy cloaks. The floor wasearthen,thewallsstoneandiron,theroombarrenandempty.Balinor was familiar with the cellar beneath the palace but he did not

recognize the room in which they ad been imprisoned. The cellar was usedprimarily for storage, and while there had always been a number of walledroomsinwhichwinebarrelshadbeenplacedtoage,thiswasnotoneofthem.

Then,with chilling certainty, he realized that theyhadbeen imprisoned in theancientdungeonconstructedcenturiesagobeneaththecellarandlatersealedoffandforgotten.Palancemusthavediscovereditsexistenceandreopenedthecellsforhisownuse.Quiteprobably,hehadimprisonedBalinor’sfriendssomewhereinthismazewhentheyhadcometothepalacetoobjecttothedisbandingoftheBorderLegion.Itwasawell-concealedprison,andBalinordoubtedthatanyonesearchingforthemwouldeverfindit.The discussionwas completed quickly. Therewas little to say.Balinor had

lefthis instructionswithCaptainSheelon.Shouldtheyfail toreturn,hewastoseek out Ginnisson and Fandwick, two of Balinor’s most dependablecommanders,andorderthemtoreassembletheBorderLegiontodefendagainstanyassaultbytheWarlockLordandhisinvadingarmy.Sheelonhadalsobeentold to sendword to theElf andDwarfnations,warning themof the situationandcallingfor their immediatesupport.EventinewouldnotpermithiscousinstoremaintheprisonersofCallahornforverylong,andAllanonwouldcomeassoonasheheardoftheirmisfortune.Fourhoursmusthavepassedlongago,hethought,soitshouldonlybeamatteroftime.Buttimewasprecious,andwithPalance determined to gain the throne of Callahorn, their own lives were ingrave danger. The borderman began to wish silently that he had listened toDurin’s advice and avoided a confrontationwithhis brotheruntil hehadbeencertainoftheoutcome.Hehadneverimaginedthatmatterswouldgothisfarawry.Palancehadbeen

like awildman, his hatred so consuming that he hadnot evenwaited to hearwhatBalinorwouldsay.Yettherewaslittlemysterytothisirrationalbehavior.It was more than personal differences between the two brothers that hadpromptedtheyouth’ssavageaction.Itwasmorethantheillnessofhisfather,anillness Palance somehow believed his brother was responsible for. It hadsomethingtodowithShirlRavenlock,thealluringwomanPalancehadfalleninlove with months before and had vowed to marry despite her own reticencetowardthematch.SomethinghadhappenedtotheyoungKerngirl,andBalinorhadreceivedtheblame.Palancewoulddoanythingtogetherbacksafely,ifshewas indeed missing, as his brother’s few words immediately before they hadbeenbroughttothisdungeonhadindicated.Thebordermanexplained the situation to theElvenbrothers.He felt certain

Palance would come to them soon and demand information concerning theyoung woman. But he would not believe them when they said they knewnothing...

Morethantwenty-fourhourspassed,andstillnoonecame.Therewasnothingtoeat.Evenafter theireyesgraduallygrewaccustomed to theblackness, therewas nothing to view but their own shadowy forms and thewalls about them.They took turns sleeping, trying to conserve their strength for whatever layahead, but the abnormal silence prevented any real sleep, and they resignedthemselves to a light, restless slumber that did little to refresh their bodies ortheir spirits. At first they attempted to find a weak spot on the hinges of thebulkyirondoor,butitwassecurelyfastenedinplace.Withouttoolsofanysort,theyfounditimpossibletodigveryfarintothechill,iron-hardsurfaceofthedirtflooring.Thestonewallswereaged,butstillfirmandsolid,withoutanysignofa weak or crumbling layer in the mortar. Eventually they abandoned theirattemptstoescapeandsatbackinsilence.Finally, after endless hours of waiting in the chill darkness, they heard the

distantsoundofclangingmetalasanancientirondoorsomewhereaboveswungponderously open.Therewere voices,muffled and soft, and then footsteps onstoneassomeonebegantodescendthewornstairstothelowerdungeonwherethethreewereimprisoned.Quicklytheyrosetotheirfeetandcrowdedclosetothecelldoor, listeningexpectantlyas thefootstepsand thevoicesdrewcloser.Balinor could distinguish the voice of his brother above the rest, strangelyhesitantandbroken.Thentheheavylatchesweredrawnback,thesuddengratingofmetalpiercingtotheearsofthethreecaptives,whohadbecomeaccustomednow to the deathlike silence of their prison, and they moved back from themassive cell door as it swung slowly inward. Blazing streaks of torchlightflashed into thedarkened room, forcing theprisoners to shield theirweakenedeyes.Astheyslowlyadjustedtothisnewlight,severalfiguresenteredtheroomandcametoahaltjustwithintheentryway.The younger son of the ailing King of Callahorn stood foremost of four

figures,hisbroadfacerelaxedandhis lipspursed.Hiseyesalonebetrayedthehatredthatburnedwithin,andtherewasamaddened,almostdesperatewaythattheymovedfromonecaptivetothenextasheclenchedhishandstightlybehindhim.HewasclearlyBalinor’sbrother,possessingthesamefacialconstruction,thesamewidemouthandprominentnose,andthesamebig,ruggedbuild.Nextto him stood aman that even the Elven brothers recognized instantly, thoughtheyhadnevermethim.Hewas themysticStenmin,agaunt, slightlystoopedfigure,leanandsharpinhisfeatures,andclothedinreddishrobesandtrappings.Hiseyeswere strangely shadowed, reflectinganundisguisableevil in themanwhohadgainedthecompleteconfidenceofthenew,self-proclaimedKing.His

handsmovedoverhisbodynervously,raisingalmostmechanicallyfromtimetotime to stroke the small, pointed black beard that shaded the angular face.Behindhimstoodtwoarmedguards,dressedinblackandbearingtheinsigniaofthe falcon. Beyond them, just outside the doorway, stood twomore. All heldwicked-lookingpikes.Foramomentnoonespoke,nooneevenmovedas thetwo parties scrutinized each other in the torchlit gloomof the little cell. ThenPalancemadeaquickmotiontowardtheopendoor.“Iwillspeakwithmybrotheralone.Taketheseothertwoout.”The guards silently complied, leading the reluctant Elven brothers from the

room.ThetallPrincewaiteduntiltheyhadleft,thenturnedquestioninglytothescarlet-robedfigurestillathisside.“Ithoughtthatperhapsyoumighthaveneedofme...?”Thelean,calculating

facestaredsteadilyattheimpassiveBalinor.“Leaveus,Stenmin.Iwillspeakwithmybrotheralone.”His tone of voice bordered on anger, and the mystic nodded obediently,

quicklybackingoutof the cell.Theheavydoor closedwith anominous thud,leaving the two brothers alone in a silence broken only by the hissing of thetorch flame as it consumed the dry wood and flashed into gleaming sparks.Balinordidnotmove,butstoodwaitingexpectantly,hiseyestryingtoprobehisbrother’syoungface,tryingtoreachtheoldfeelingsofloveandfriendshiptheyhadsharedaschildren.Buttheyweremissing,oratleastcarefullysubmergedinsomedarkcorneroftheheart,andintheirplacewasastrange,restlessangerthatseemedtoriseasmuchfromdissatisfactionwiththesituationasfromdislikeofthe captive brother. An instant later the fury and the contempt were gone,replacedbyacalmdetachmentthatBalinorfoundbothirrationalandfalse,asifPalancewereplayingarolewithoutanyrealunderstandingofthecharacter.“Whydidyoucomeback,Balinor?”Thewordscameoutslowly,sadly.“Why

didyoudoit?”Thetallbordermandidnotreply,unabletocomprehendthissuddenchangeof

mood.Before,hisbrotherhadbeenwillingtohavehimtorntopiecesinordertolearn thewhereabouts of thebeautifulShirlRavenlock, yet nowhe seemed tohavecompletelydismissedthematterfromhismind.“No matter, no matter I suppose.” The reply came before Balinor had

recoveredfromhisastonishmentat theabruptchange.“Youcouldhavestayedawayafter...afterall the...afteryourtreachery.Ihopedyouwould,youknow,becauseweweresocloseaschildrenandyouare,afterall,myonlybrother. IwillbeKingofCallahorn...Ishouldhavebeenfirstbornanyway...”

He trailed off into a whisper, his mind suddenly lost in some unspokenthought.Hehadgonemad,Balinorthoughtindesperation,andcouldnolongerbereached!“Palance, listen tome—just listen tome. Ihavedonenothing toyouor to

Shirl.I’vebeeninParanorsinceIlefthereweeksbefore,andIreturnedonlytowarnourpeople that theSkullKinghas assembledanarmyof suchawesomeproportionsthatitwillsweepthroughtheentireSouthlandunchallengedunlesswestopithere!Forthesakeofallthesepeople,pleaselistentome...”Hisbrother’svoicepiercedtheairinshrillcommand.“Iwillhearnomoreof

thisfoolishtalkofinvasion!Myscoutshavecheckedthecountry’sbordersandreport no enemy armies anywhere. Besides, no enemy would dare to attackCallahorn—toattackme...Ourpeoplearesafehere.WhatdoIcarefortherestoftheSouthland?WhatdoIowethem?Theyhavealwaysleftustofightalone,toguardtheseborderlandsalone.Iowethemnothing!”He took a step toward Balinor and pointedmenacingly at him, the strange

hatredflaminganewastheyoungfacecontortedsavagely.“Youturnedagainstme,brother,whenyouknewthatIwastobeking.You

tried to poisonme as you poisonedmy father— youwantedme as sick andhelplessasheisnow...dyingalone,forgotten,alone.YouthoughtyouhadfoundanallythatcouldgainthethroneforyouwhenyouleftwiththattraitorAllanon.HowIhatethatman—no,notaman,butanevilthing!Hemustbedestroyed!Butyouwillremaininthiscell,aloneandforgotten,Balinor,untilyoudie—thefateyouhadplannedforme!”He turned away suddenly, breaking his tirade off with a sharp laugh as he

paced to the closed door. Balinor thought he was about to open it, when thehulkingyouthpausedandlookedbackathim.Slowlyhecamearound,theeyessadagain.“Youcouldhavestayedawayfromthislandandbeensafe,”hemutteredasif

confusedbythisfact.“StenminsaidyouwouldcomebackevenwhenIassuredhimyouwouldnot.Hewasrightagain.Heisalwaysright.Whydidyoucomeback?”Balinorthoughtquickly.Hehadtokeephisbrother’sattentionlongenoughto

findoutwhathadhappenedtohisfatherandhisfriends.“I... I discovered I had been mistaken— that I was wrong,” he answered

slowly.“Icamehometoseeourfatherandtoseeyou,Palance.”“Father.”ThewordcameoutlikeanunfamiliarnameasthePrincemoveda

stepcloser.“Heisbeyondourhelp,lyinglikeonealreadydeadinthatroomin

thesouthwing.Stenmin looksafterhim,as Ido,butnothingcanbedone.Hedoesnotseemtowanttolive...”“Butwhatiswrongwithhim?”Balinor’simpatienceburstfree,andhemoved

toward the other threatening. Keep your distance, Balinor.“ Palance backedaway hastily, drawing a long dagger and holding it protectively before him.Balinorhesitatedamoment.Itwouldbeeasytoseizethedagger,holdthePrincecaptive until he was released. Yet something restrained him, something deepinside that warned against such a move. Quickly he stopped, holding up hishandsandbackingawaytothefarwall.“Youmust rememberyou aremyprisoner.”Palancenodded in satisfaction,

hisvoiceunsteady.“YoupoisonedtheKingandyoutriedtopoisonme.Icouldhaveyouputtodeath.Stenminadvisedmetohaveyouexecutedimmediately;butIamnotthecowardthatheis.IwasacommanderintheBorderLegion,too,before...But they’re gonenow-disbanded and sent home to their families.Myreignshallbeatimeofpeace.Youdon’tunderstandthat,Balinor,doyou?”The borderman shook his head negatively, desperately trying to hold his

brother’sattentionforafewminuteslonger.Palancehadapparentlygonemad,whether from a latent congenital defect of the mind or from the strain ofwhatever it was that had been happening since Balinor had left Tyrsis withAllanon,itwasimpossibletotell.Inanyevent,hewasnolongerthebrotherthatBalinorhadgrowntomanhoodwithandhadlovedashehadlovednooneelse.Itwas a stranger living in the physical shell thatwas his brother’s body— astrangerobsessedwith theneed tobeKingofCallahorn.Stenminwasbehindthis; Balinor knew it. The mystic had somehow twisted the mind of hismaddened brother, bending it to his own uses, filling it with promises of hisdestiny as King. Palance had always wanted to rule Callahorn. Even whenBalinorhadleftthecity,heknewPalancefeltcertainhewouldonedaybeKing.Stenminhadbeenthereallthetime,counselingandadvisinginthemannerofaclose friend, poisoning his mind against his brother. But Palance had beenstrong-willedandindependent,asaneandhealthymanwhowouldnotbebrokeneasily. Yet he was changed. Hendel had been wrong about Palance, butapparently Balinor had beenwrong aswell. Neither could have foreseen this,andnowitwastoolate.“Shirl—whatofShirl?”thetallbordermanaskedquickly.Againtheangerfadedfromhisbrother’sdartingeyesandaslowsmilecrept

overhislips,relaxingtheanguishedfaceforaninstant.“She is so beautiful... so beautiful.”He sighed foolishly, the dagger falling

harmlessly to the cell floor as the Prince opened his hands to emphasize thefeeling.“Youtookherfromme,Balinor—triedtokeepherfromme.Butsheissafenow.ShewassavedbyaSouthlander,aPrincelikemyself.No,IamKingofTyrsis now, and he is only a Prince. It’s just a little kingdom; I had neverheard of itmyself.He and Iwill be good friends,Balinor, thewayyou and Ionce were. But Stenmin... says I can trust no one. I even had to lock awayMessalineandActon.TheycametomewhentheBorderLegionwassenthome,trying to persuademe to...well, I guess to give upmy plans for peace. Theydidn’tunderstand...why...”Hestoppedsuddenly,his loweredeyes fallingon themomentarily forgotten

dagger.Hepicked itupquickly,placing itback in itsbelted sheathwitha slysmileathisbrother,lookingstrikinglylikeacleverchildthathasjustavoidedascolding.TherewasnolongeranydoubtinBalinor’smindthathisbrotherwastotallyincapableofmakingrationaldecisions.Hewassuddenlystruckwithhisearlier premonition that while he could easily seize the dagger and hold hisbrotherprisoner, itwouldbea seriousmistake.Nowheknewwhy that innatesenseofwarninghadbeengenerated.StenminfullyrealizedPalance’scondition,andhadpurposelyleftthebrothersaloneinthatcell.IfBalinorhadattemptedtodisarmPalanceandtoescapewhileholdinghimprisoner,theevilmysticcouldhaveaccomplishedhisobviousgoalinoneboldstrokebykillingbothbrothers.WhowouldquestionhimwhenheexplainedthatPalancehadmethisdeathbyaccidentwhilehisbrotherwasattemptingtofleehisprisonconfinement?Withbothbrothersdeadandtheirfatherincapableofgoverning,themysticmightbeable to seize control of the government of Callahorn. Then he alone woulddeterminethefateoftheSouthland.“Palance, listen tome, Ibegofyou,”Balinorpleadedquietly. “Wewere so

close once.We were more than just brothers by bloodline.We were friends,companions.Wetrustedeachother,lovedeachother,andwecouldalwaysworkourproblemsoutbyunderstandingeachother.Youcan’thaveforgottenallthat.Listen tome! Even a kingmust try to understand his people evenwhen theydon’t agree on the way things are to be handled. You agree with that, don’tyou?”Palancenoddedsoberly,theeyesvacantanddetachedashetriedtofightthe

hazethatblockedhisthoughtprocesses.Therewasaglimmerofunderstanding,and Balinor was determined to reach thememory that lay locked somewheredeepwithin. “Stenmin is usingyou—he is an evilman.”His brother startedabruptly, taking a step backward as if to avoid hearingmore. “You’ve got to

understandPalance.Iamnotyourenemy,noramItheenemyofthiscountry.Ididnotpoisonourfather.IdidnotharmShirlinanyway.Ionlywanttohelp...”Hispleawassuddenlycutshortastheponderouscelldoorswungopenwitha

sharp rasp, and the angular features of the wily Stenmin appeared. Bowingcondescendingly,heenteredthecell,hiscrueleyesfastenedintentlyonBalinor.“IthoughtIheardyoucallme,myKing,”hesmiledquickly.“You’vebeenin

herealonesolong,Ithoughtsomethingmighthavehappened...”Palancestaredathimuncomprehendinglyforamoment,thenshookhishead

negativelyand turned to leave. In that instantBalinorconsidered leapingupontheevilmysticandcrushingthelifefromhimbeforetheabsentguardscouldact.Buthehesitatedforthatsinglebriefmoment,uncertainthateventhiswouldsavehimoraidhisbrother,andso theopportunitywas lost.Theguardscamebackinto the cell, leading the Elven brothers, who looked about dubiously, thenrejoined their comrade on the far side of the little room. Suddenly Balinorrecalled somethingPalance had saidwhenhewas talking aboutShirl.He hadmentionedaPrincefromatinySouthlandkingdom—aPrincewhohadrescuedtheyounggirl.MenionLeah!ButhowcouldhebeinCallahorn...?TheguardswereturningtoleavenowandwiththemthesilentPalanceandhis

evil consort, a red-clad armguiding themindlessPrince from the room.Thenabruptly, the leanfigure turned to lookoncemoreon the threecaptives,a thinsmilespreadingoverthepursedlipsasthebowedheadcockedcarefullytooneside.“IntheeventmyKingshouldhavefailedtomentionit,Balinor...”Thewords

soundedwith a slow, burning hatred. “The guards at theOuterWall saw youspeakingwithacertainCaptainSheelon,formerlyoftheBorderLegion.Hewastrying tospeakwithothersaboutyour...predicament,whenhewasseizedandimprisoned. I don’t believe hewill havemuch chance to cause us any furthertrouble. The matter is quite ended now, and within time even you will beforgotten.Balinor’sheartsanksuddenlyatthisfinalpieceofnews.IfSheelonhadbeen

seizedandconfinedbeforehehadbeenabletoreachGinnissonandFandwick,thentherewouldbenoonetoassembletheBorderLegionandnoonetoappealto the people on his behalf. His absent companions would not know of hisimprisonment upon reaching Tyrsis, and even if they suspected what hadhappened,whathopewouldtheyhaveofeverfindingoutwhathadbecomeofhim?Thislowerleveloftheancientpalacewasunknowntoallbutaveryfew,anditsentrancewaswellconcealed.Thethreedespondentcaptiveswatchedin

bittersilenceastheguardsplacedasmall trayofbreadandajugofwaterjustinsidetheopendoor,thenmovedbackintothehallway,carryingwiththemalloftheburningtorchesbutone.ThegrimlysmilingStenminheldthislastlightashe waited for the stooped form of Palance to follow the burly guards. ButPalance paused uncertainly, unable to take his eyes from his brother’s proud,resigned face, the faint torchlight illuminated the broad features in reddishstreaksandthelong,deep-ruttedscaremergeddarkandcruelinthehalfshadow.The brothers faced each other in silence for several long moments, and thenPalance started back toward Balinor with slow, measured steps, shaking offStenmin’shandas it tried to restrainhim.Hecame toahaltonly inchesawayfromhis brother, the dazed, searching eyes still fastened on that granite-hewncountenanceasiftryingtoabsorbfromitthedeterminationmirroredthere.Anuncertainhandraiseditselfquickly,pausingforaninstant,thenrestingfirmlyonBalinor’sshoulder,thefingersgrippingtightly.“Iwantto...know.”Thewordswereawhisperintheneardarkness.“Iwantto

understand...Youmusthelpme....”Balinornoddedsilently,hisowngreathandreachinguptotakehisbrother’s

inabriefclaspof love.Foramoment theyremainedlockedtogether,as if thefriendshipandloveofchildhoodhadneverfaded.ThenPalanceturnedawayandmoved quickly out of the cell, hastily followed by a disturbed Stenmin. Theheavydoorclosedwiththegratingofironfasteningsandmetalclasps,shuttingin the three friends and the impenetrable darkness once more. The departingfootstepsdiedslowlyintosilence.Thewaitingbegananew,butanyrealhopeofrescueseemedirretrievablylost.A shadowy form detached itself from the blackness of the night-shrouded

treesinthedesertedparkbeneaththehighspanoftheSendicBridgeanddartedsilently toward the palace of theBuckhannahs. In quick, surefooted leaps, thepowerful, compact form cleared the low hedges and shrubs,weaving betweenthe stately elms, a pair ofwatchful eyes studying thewall enclosing the royalgrounds, searching carefully for any sign of the night watch. Near the iron-wrought gates above the park,where the bridgeopenedonto the highground,severalguardspatrolled, thefalconinsigniavisibleinthetorchlightofthegateentrance.Slowlythedarkformclimbedthegentlyslopingembankmenttowardthemossandivy-coveredwallsabove;upongainingthehigherground,itmeltedinstantlyintotheshadowsofthestone.Forlongmoments,itremainedcompletelyinvisibleasitmovedsteadilyaway

fromthemaingateandthefeebletorchlight.Thentheintruderwasvisibleonce

more, a dark blur against the faintly moonlit west wall as strong arms clungtenaciouslytothesturdyvines,pullingthebulkyformsilentlytotherimofthestone. There the head raised itself cautiously, and the keen eyes peered downinto the empty palace gardens, making certain there were no guards close athand.Withamightyheaveofthepowerfulshoulders,theintrudergainedthelipofthewalland,springinglightlyover,landedwithasoftthudamidthegardenflowers.Running in a half-crouch, the mysterious figure sprinted for the shadowy

cover of a huge spreadingwillow. Pausing breathlesslywithin the giant tree’sprotective limbs, the intruderheard theapproachingsoundofvoices.Listeningcarefully for a fewmoments, he concluded it was nothingmore than the idleconversationofseveralpalaceguardsmakingtheirappointedrounds.Hewaitedconfidently,hiscompact frameblendingsocloselywith the squat trunkof thetree that hewas totally invisible frommore than a few feet away.Theguardsappearedsecondslater,stillconversinginrelaxedvoicesastheypassedthroughthesilentgardensandweregone.Restingfurtivelyforafewminuteslonger,thestranger studied the dark bulk that occupied the center of these tree-shadedgardens— the tall, ancient palace of the Kings of Callahorn. A few lightedwindowsbrokethemistyblacknessofthemassivestonestructure,castingbrightstreamersintothedesertedgardens.Therewerefaint,distantvoiceswithin,buttheirownersremainedanonymous.Inaquickdash,theintrudercrossedtotheshadowsofthebuilding,pausing

brieflybeneathasmall,darkenedwindowinarecessedalcove.Hisstronghandsworkedfranticallyattheancientcatch,pushingatitandlooseningthefastening.Atlast,withanaudiblesnapthatseemedtopenetratetheentirepalacegrounds,thecatchbrokeandthewindowswungsilentlyinward.Withoutwaitingtoseeifthe patrolling guards had heard the sounds of his forced entry, the intruderslippedhastilythroughthesmallopening.Asthewindowclosedbehindhim,thefaint light of a cloudedmoon caught for just an instant the broad, determinedfaceoftheredoubtableHendel.Stenmin had made one serious miscalculation when he had imprisoned

Balinor and the cousinsofEventine.Hisoriginal planhadbeen a simpleone.The agedSheelonhadbeen secured almost themoment after he leftBalinor’sside,preventinghimfromcarryingoutthePrince’sinstructionsforwarninghisfriendsofhisownimprisonment.WithBalinorandtheElvenbrothers,hisonlycompanionswhenhehadenteredthecityofTyrsis,safelylockedawaybeneaththepalace,andwiththePrince’sclosefriends,ActonandMescaline,imprisoned

aswell, it seemedsafe toassume thatnooneelse in thecitywouldcauseanyreal difficulty.Thewordhad alreadybeen spread thatBalinorhad come for abriefvisitandgoneonhisway,returningtothecompanyofthemysticAllanon,the man whom Stenmin had convinced Palance Buckhannah andmost of thepeopleofTyrsiswasanenemyandathreattothelandofCallahorn.Shouldanyother friends of Balinor’s appear and question the story of the borderman’sabruptdeparture,theywouldcomefirsttothepalacetospeakwithhisbrother,nowtheKing,anditwouldbeasimplemattertohavethemquietlydisposedof.Undoubtedlythiswouldhavebeenexactlythesituationwithjustaboutanyoneexcept Hendel. But the taciturn Dwarf was already familiar with Stenmin’streacherouswaysandsuspectedthathehadgainedanunshakableholdoverthedisturbedPalance.Hendelknewbetterthantorevealhispresencebeforefindingoutwhathadactuallyhappenedtohismissingcompanions.ItwasapeculiarturnofeventsthatbroughthimbacktoTyrsis.Whenheleft

BalinorandtheElvenbrothersnearthewoodlandsnorthofthefortress,hefullyintendedtotravelstraighttothewesterncityofVarfleetandfromthereproceedbacktoCulhaven.Onceinhisownland,hewouldassistinmobilizingtheDwarfarmies to defend the southern territories of the Anar against the expectedinvasionoftheWarlockLord.HetraveledallnightthroughtheforestsnorthofVarfleet andbymorningentered thecity,where lie immediatelycalledonoldfriendsand,afterabriefgreeting,wentdirectlytosleep.Itwasafternoonbythetimehewasawakened,andafterwashingandeating,hepreparedtodepartforhishomeland.HehadnotyetreachedthegatesofthecitywhenaraggedbandofDwarfs staggered through the streets and demanded to be taken before thecouncil.Hendelhurriedalongwiththem,questioningoneherecognizedastheywereescortedtothecouncilchambers.TohisdismayhelearnedthatamassiveforceofTrollsandGnomeswasmarchingdirectlyforthecityofVarfleetfromout of the Dragon’s Teeth and would strike within the next day or two. TheDwarfswerepartofapatrolthathadspottedthehugearmyandtriedtoslippastittowarntheSouthlanders.Unfortunatelytheywereseenandmostwerekilledin a pitched battle. Only this small handful had managed to reach theunsuspectingcity.HendelknewthatifanarmedforceweremovingtowardVarfleet,therewas

in all probability a second,much larger forcemoving against Tyrsis. HewascertainthattheSpiritLordplannedtodestroythecitiesofCallahornquicklyandthoroughly,leavingthegatewaytoalltheSouthlandopenandundefended.Hisfirst duty was to warn his own people, but it was a long, two-day march to

Culhavenandtwomoredaysbackagain.He quickly discovered thatBalinor had beenmistaken in his belief that his

fatherwas still theKing. IfBalinorwere killed or imprisoned by his insanelyjealous brother or the treacherous mystic Stenmin before he could secure thethrone and gain command of theBorderLegion, thenCallahornwas doomed.Someonehadtoreachthebordermanbeforeitwastoolate.Therewasnobodyavailable for the jobbutHendel.Allanonwasstill searching theNorthland forthemissingShea,accompaniedbyFlickandMenionLeah.Hemadehisdecisionquickly,orderingoneof thebatteredDwarfs in the raggedpatrol to leave thatvery night for Culhaven. Whatever else happened, word would have to bebrought to the Dwarf elders that the invasion of the Southland had begunthroughCallahornandthattheDwarfarmiesmustmarchtotheaidofVarfleet.ThecitiesofCallahornmustnotfallorthelandswouldbedividedandtheverythingAllanonfearedmostwouldcometopass.WiththeSouthlandconquered,theDwarfarmiesandtheElvenarmieswouldbedividedandtheWarlockLordwouldbeassuredhiseventualvictoryoverallthelands.TheraggedDwarfgavehissolemnpromisetoHendelthathewouldnotfail—thattheywouldallleaveatoncefortheAnar.It tookHendelmanyhours to get back toTyrsis, since this time travelwas

slowanddangerous.TheforestshadbeenpenetratedbyGnomehunterswhosemission itwas to prevent any communication between the cities ofCallahorn.More than once Hendel was forced to hide himself until a large patrol hadpassed,andtimeandagainhewascompelledtogofaroutofhiswaytoavoidcrossing heavily guarded sentry lines. The network of sentry posts was fartighter than it had been in the Dragon’s Teeth, an indication to the seasonedborder fighter that theattackwascloseathand. If theNorthlandersplanned tostrikeVarfleetwithin thenextdayorso, thenTyrsiswouldbeassaultedat thesame time. The smaller island city of Kernmight have already fallen. It wasdaylightwhentheDwarfsucceededinpenetratingthelastofthesentrylinesandwasapproachingtheplainsaboveTyrsis,thedangerofdetectionbytheGnomesbehind and the threat of discovery by the evil Stenmin and the misguidedPalance just ahead.He hadmet Palance several times, but itwas unlikely theprince would remember him, and he had encountered Stenmin only once.Nevertheless,itwouldbewisetoavoidattractinganyone’sattention.He entered the waking city of Tyrsis, concealed in the midst of dozens of

tradersandtravelers.OncewithinthegreatOuterWall,hewanderedforseveralhoursthroughthenearlydesertedbarracksoftheBorderLegion,speakingwith

thesoldiersthereandsearchingforsomeclueconcerninghisfriends.Finallyhewas able to learn that they had arrived in the city at sunset twodays ago andgonedirectly to thepalace.Theyhadnotbeenseenagain,but therewasgoodreason to believe thatBalinor had visited brieflywith his father and then left.Hendel knewwhat thismeant, and for the remainder of the daylight hours hepostedhimselfclosetothepalacegrounds,watchingforanysignofhismissingfriends.Henoticedthatthepalacewaswellguardedbysoldierswearingthecrestofa

falcon, a sign he didn’t recognize. There were soldiers stationed at the maingates and throughout the city, all bearing the same insignia, and these wereapparently the only activated units in all of Tyrsis. Even if he found Balinoraliveandmanagedtofreehim,itwouldnotbeasimpletasktoregaincontrolofthecityand reactivate theBorderLegion.TheDwarfheardnomentionof theinvasionfromthenorth,anditappearedthepeopleweretotallyignorantofthedangerfacingthem.ItwasincredibletoHendelthatevensomeoneasdisturbedandmisguidedasPalanceBuckhannahwouldrefusetopreparethecityagainstathreatasawesomeasthatposedbytheWarlockLord.IfTyrsisfell,theyoungersonofRuhlBuckhannahwouldhavenothronelefthim.HendelsilentlystudiedtheterraincomposingthePeople’sParkthatstretchedbeneaththewidespanoftheBridge of Sendic.When itwas dark, he began his assault on the guardedpalace.Nowhepausedmomentarilywithin thedarkened room,closing thewindow

tightly behind him. He was in a small study, the walls lined with shelves ofbooks carefully marked and labeled. It was the personal library of theBuckhannahfamily,aluxuryinthesetimeswhensofewbookswerewrittenanddisseminationwasconsiderably limited.TheGreatWarshadnearlyobliteratedliteraturefromthefaceoftheearth,andlittlehadbeenwrittenintheembattled,desperateyearssince.Tohaveaprivatelibraryandtobeabletositandreadanyofseveralhundredbooksatleisurewereprivilegessharedbyveryfew,eveninthemostenlightenedsocietiesofthefourlands.ButHendelscarcelygavetheroommorethanapassingthoughtashemoved

on catlike feet for the door at the far end, his keen eyes detecting a dim lightalong the crack near the floor. Cautiously the Dwarf peered into the lightedhallway.Therewasnooneinsight,buthesuddenlyrealizedthathehadnotyetdecidedwhathisnext stepwouldbe.Balinor and theElvenbrothers couldbeanywhere in the palace. After rapid consideration of the alternatives, heconcludedthattheywouldbeimprisonedinthecellarbeneaththepalaceifthey

were alive. He would search there first. Listening for a long moment to thesilence,theDwarftookadeepbreathandsteppedcalmlyintothehallway.Hendelwasfamiliarwiththepalace,havingvisitedBalinoronmorethanone

occasion.Hedidnotrecallwherespecificroomsweresituated,butheknewthehallsandstairways,andhehadbeentakentothecellarwherethewinesandfoodwerestored.Attheendofthehall,heturnedleftatthecrosspassage,certainthecellarstairswerejustahead.Hereachedthemassivedoorthatshutoutthechillof the lowerpassageswhenheheardvoices in thehallbehindhim.Hastilyhetuggedatthedoor,buttohisdismayitwouldnotopen.Hepulledagainwithhispowerfulshouldershuncheddownandknotted,andstillthedoordidnotmove.The voices were almost on top of him now, and in desperation he moved tobeachanotherplaceofconcealment.Atthatinstanthiseyesfellonasafetycatchclosetothefloorwhichhehadmissed.Withthevoicesjustbeyondthecornerofthehallandthefootstepsofseveralmenechoingonthepolishedstoneflooring,theDwarfcoollydrewbackthissecondlatch,swungopentheheavydoor,anddarted inside. The door closed behind him just as three sentries rounded thecornerontheirwaytorelievetheguardsstationedatthesouthgate.Hendeldidnotwaittofindoutwhetherhehadbeenseen,butdarteddownthe

stone-hewnstairsintotheblacknessofthedesertedstoragecellar.Pausingatthebottomofthestairway,theDwarfgropedalongthecoldstoneofthewallforaniron torch rack. After several long minutes he found it, wresting the torchquicklyfromitssettingandlightingitwiththeaidofflintandiron.Then,withslow,painstakingcarehesearchedtheentirecellar,roombyroom,

cornertocorner.Timepassedquickly,andstillhefoundnothing.Atlasthehadsearched everywhere without any success, and it began to appear his friendswerenotbeingheldcaptiveinthatpartofthepalace.ReluctantlyHendelforcedhimself to admit that they might have been imprisoned in one of the upperrooms.ItseemedstrangethateitherPalanceorhiseviladviserwouldriskhavingthe captives seen by people visiting. Still,Hendel considered, perhapsBalinorhad indeed left thecityofTyrsisandgone in searchofAllanon.Butheknewthatguesswaswrongevenbefore the thoughtwascompleted.Balinorwasnotthekindofmanwhowouldseekanyone’shelpwiththiskindofproblem—hewouldfacehisbrother,notrun.Desperately,Hendeltriedtoimaginewheretheborderman and the brothers might have been secured, where in the ancientbuildingprisoners couldbe safely concealed fromeveryone.The logical placewasbeneaththepalaceinthedark,windowlessdepthshehadjust...Suddenly Hendel remembered that there were ancient dungeons that lay

beneath even this cellar. Balinor had mentioned them in passing, remarkingbrieflyontheirhistory,notingthattheyhadbeenabandonedandtheentrysealedover.Excitedly,theDwarfpeeredaroundtheshadowedchamber,tryingtorecallwheretheancientpassagehadbeenbuilt.Hewascertainthatthiswaswherehisfriendshadbeentaken—itwastheoneplaceamancouldbehiddenandneverfound.Almostnooneknewofitsexistenceoutsideoftheroyalfamilyandtheirclose associates. It had been sealed over and forgotten for somany years thateventheeldestcitizensofTyrsismightnotrecallitsexistence.Ignoring the small adjoining rooms and passages, the determined Hendel

carefullystudiedthewallsandflooringofthecentralchamber,certainthatithadbeenherehehadviewedthesealedopening.If ithadindeedbeenreopened, itshouldnotbedifficulttofind.Yethecouldseeitnowhere.Thewallsappearedsolidand themoldingunbrokenasheprobedand tappedTong thebase.Onceagainhissearchprovedfruitless,andonceagainhefeltthathemighthavebeenmistaken.Despondently,hecollapsedagainstoneofthewinecasingsrestinginthe center of the floor, his eyes scouring the walls desperately as he tried toremember. Time was running out for Hendel. If he did not escape beforedaylight, he would probably join his friends in captivity. He knew he wasmissingsomething,overlookingsomethingthatwassoobviousithadmanagedtoescapehim.Cursingsilently,herosefromthewinebarrelandwalkedslowlyabout the largechamber, thinking, trying to recall. Itwas somethingabout thewalls...somethingaboutthewalls...Thenhehad it.Thepassagewaywasnot through thewalls, but through the

centerofthefloor!Suppressingawildshoutofglee, theDwarfrushedovertothe wine casings against which he had twice that evening so casually rested.Straininghispowerfulmusclestoalmostsuperhumanlimits,hemanagedtorollaside several of the unwieldy barrels so that the stone slabwhich covered thehiddenentrywaywas revealed.Graspingan iron ringhingedatoneendof theslab,thesweatingDwarfpulledupwardwithanaudiblegroan.Slowly,thestonegrating in protest, the giant slab swung upward and fell back heavily on theflooring.Hendelpeeredcautiouslyintotheblackholebeforehim,extendingthefeebletorchlightintothemustydepths.Therewasanancientstonestairway,wetandcoveredwithagreenishmossthatdisappearedinto theblackness.Holdingthelightbeforehim,thelittlemandescendedintotheforgottendungeon,silentlyprayingthathewasnotmakinganothermistake.Almostimmediatelyhefeltthebitingchillofthestale,imprisonedaircutting

throughhisclothingtoclingmaliciouslytothewarmskinbeneath.Themusty,

barely breathable atmosphere caused him to wrinkle his nose in distaste andmovedown the stepsmorequickly.Suchconfining, tomblikeholes frightenedhimmore than anything and he began to question his wisdom in deciding toventureintotheancientprison.ButifBalinorweretrulyacaptiveinthisterribleplace, the risk was worth taking. Hendel would not abandon his friends. Hereachedthebottomofthestairsandcouldseeasinglecorridorleadingdirectlyahead.Ashemovedslowlyforward,tryingtopeerthroughthedampgloomthatdefiedeventhelightoftheslow-burningtorch,hecouldmakeoutirondoorscutintothesolidstoneofeitherwallatregularintervals.Theseancient,rustedslabsof ironwerewindowless and fastened securely in place by hugemetal clasps.This was a dungeon that would terrify any human being — a windowless,lightless rowofcubicleswhere livescouldbeshutteredawayand forgottenassurelyasthedead.ForuntoldyearstheDwarfshadlivedlikethisfollowingthedevastatingGreat

Wars inorder to stayaliveandhademergedhalf-blind intoanearly forgottenworld of light. That terrible memory had imbedded itself in generations ofDwarfs,leavingthemwithaninstinctivefearofunlighted,confinedplacesthatthey would never completely overcome. Hendel felt it now, as nagging andhateful as theclammychillof theearth’sdepths intowhich this ancientgravehadbeencarved.Forcingdowntherisingknotofterrorthathunginhisthroat,thedetermined

hunterstudiedthefirstseveraldoors.Theboltswerestillrustedinplaceandthemetalcoveredwithlayersofdustandunbrokencobwebs.Ashepassedslowlydown the line of grim iron portals, he could see that none of them had beenopenedinmanyyears.Helostcountofthenumberofdoorshecheckedandthedim corridor seemed to continue on endlessly into the blackness. He wastemptedtocallout,butthesoundmightcarrybackthroughtheopenentrywaytothe chambers above.Glancing apprehensively behind him, he realized that hecouldno longer see theopeningor the stairs.Thedarkness lookedexactly thesamebehindasitdidahead.Grittinghisteethandmutteringsoftlytohimselftobolster his waning confidence, he moved forward, carefully scrutinizing eachdoorhepassedforsignsofrecentuse.Then, tohisastonishment,heheard thevaguewhisperofhumanvoicesthroughtheheavysilence.Freezing into amotionless statue, he listened intently, afraid that his senses

weredeceivinghim.Yettheretheywereagain,faint,butclearlyhuman.Movingaheadquickly,theDwarftriedtofollowthesound.Butassuddenlyastheyhadappeared, the voices were gone. Desperately, Hendel glanced at the doors to

eitherside.Onewasrustedshut,buttheotherborefreshscratchesinthemetal,andthedustandcobwebshadbeenbrushedaway.Thelatchwasoiledandhadbeen recently used! With one quick tug, the Dwarf pulled back the metalfasteningandyankedopenthemassivedoor,thrustingthetorchbeforehim,thelightfallingsharplyonthreeastonished,half-blindedfigureswhorosehesitantlytofacethisnewintruder.Therewerewarm cries of recognition, a rushing togetherwith outstretched

hands,andthefourfriendswerereunited.TheroughvisageofBalinor,toweringabove the drawn faces of the smiling Elven brothers, appeared relaxed andconfident,andonlytheblueeyesbetrayedtheborderman’sdeepsenseofrelief.Onceagain,theresourcefulDwarfhadsavedtheirlives.Butthiswasnotimeforwordsorfeelings,andHendelquicklymotionedthembackdownthedarkenedpassage toward the stairway leading up from this frightening dungeon. Ifdaybreakfoundthemstillwanderingbeneaththepalace,thechanceofdiscoveryandrecapturewouldbeanearcertainty.Theyhadtoescapeimmediatelyintothecity. In hurried steps theymoved down the corridor, the dying torchlight heldbeforethemliketheprobingcaneofablindmanseekingtheway.Thencamethesuddengratingofstoneonstoneandaheavythuddingnoiseas

ifatombhadclosed.Horrified,Hendelchargedahead,reachingthedampstonesteps and stopping short. Above, the huge stone slab had been closed, thefasteningssecured,andtheexit tofreedombarred.TheDwarfstoodhelplesslybeside his three friends, shaking his head in stunned disbelief. His attempt tosavethemhadfailed;hehadonlysucceededinbecomingacaptivehimself.Thetorch in his gnarled handwas almost burned out. Soon, theywould be left intotalblackness,andthewaitingwouldbeginagain.

ChapterTwenty-Six

“Junk,nothingbutjunk!”roaredPanamonCreelinfrustration,kickingoncemorethepileofworthlessmetalbladesandjewelrythatlayonthegroundbeforehim.“HowcouldIhavebeensuchafool?Ishouldhaveseenitrightaway!”Sheawalkedsilently to thenorthendof theclearing,hiseyes staringat the

faint trail in the forest earth that the crafty Orl Fane had left in his flightnorthward.Hehadbeen so close.Hehadheld thepreciousSword inhis ownhands—only to lose it throughanunforgivable failure to recognize the truth.ThemassiveformofKeltsetloomedsilentlybesidehim,thegreatbulkbendingclose to the damp, leaf-strewn ground, the inscrutable face almost next to hisownasthestrangelygentleeyesstudiedandsearched.SheaturnedquietlybacktotheragingPanamon.“Itwasn’tyourfault—youhadnoreasontosuspectthetruth,”hemuttered

dejectedly.“Ishouldhavelistenedtohisravingwithalittlemorewisdomandalittleless...whatever.IknewthesignstolookforandIforgottokeepmyeyesopenwhenitcounted.”Panamon nodded and shrugged, stroking the carefully trimmed mustaches

withthepointofhispikedhand.Withalastkickatthediscardedimplements,hecalledoncetoKeltset,andwithoutfurtherdiscussionthetwobeganquicklytobreakcamp,strappingtogetherthegearandweaponsthathadbeendepositedforthenight.Sheawatchedthemforamoment,stillunabletoaccepthisfailuretogainpossessionoftheSword.Panamoncalledgrufflytohimtolendahand,andhesilentlyobeyed.Hecouldnotfacetheinevitableaftermathofthismostrecentsetback.PanamonCreelhadobviouslybeenpushedasfarashewouldstandit,chaperoning a foolish and amazingly stupid little Valeman around in thedangerous borderlands of Paranor, searching for some peoplewhomight verywellturnouttobeenemiesandforaSwordthatonlySheaknewanythingabout,butcouldn’trecognizewhenhehaditinhisownhands.Thescarlethighwaymanand his giant companion had nearly lost their lives once already over thismysteriousSword andundoubtedlyoncevasmore than enough.TheValemanhadnochoicenowexcepttotrytolocatehisfriends.Butwhenhedidfindthem,hewouldhavetoconfrontAllanonandtellhimhowhehadfailed—failedthemall. He shuddered at the prospect of facing the grim Druid, of feeling thoseremorseless eyes peer into his most carefully hidden thoughts for the whole

truth.Itwasnotgoingtobepleasant.He recalled suddenly the strange prophecy related to them in theValley of

Shaleonthatdark,misteddawnoveraweekago.ItwastheShadeofBremenwhohadforewarnedofthedangerintheforbiddingDragon’sTeeth—howonewouldnotseeParanor,howonewouldnotreachtheothersideofthemountain,yet would be first to lay hands on the Sword of Shannara. It had all beenforetold,butSheahad forgotten it in thestressandexcitementof thepast fewdays.ThewearyValemanclosedhiseyesagainsttheworldforafewmomentsand

wonderedhowonearthhecouldpossiblybeapartofthisincrediblepuzzlethatcenteredaroundawarofpowerwiththespiritworldandalegendarySword.Hefeltsosmallandhelplessthatitseemedthattheeasiestpathforhimtochoosenowwastoburyhimselfandprayforaquickendtolife.Somuchdependedonhim, if Allanon were to be believed, and from the beginning he had beencompletely inadequate to the task. He had been unable to do anything forhimself,dependingonthestrengthofothermentogethimthisfar.HowmuchhadtheyallsacrificedforhimsothathemightlayhandsonthemagicSword.Yetwhenhehaditinhisgrasp...“I’vedecided.We’regoingafterhim.”PanamonCreel’sdeepvoicecutthroughthequietofthelittleclearinglikethe

sharp crack of an iron blade through dry wood. Shea stared at the broad,unsmilingfaceinastonishment.“Youmean...intotheNorthland?”The scarlet thief shot him one of those angry looks that dismissed the

Valemanasanidiotincapableofunderstandingsanemen.“Hemadeafooloutofme.I’drathercutmyownthroatthanletthelittlerat

getawayfrommenow.WhenIgetmyhandsonhimthistime,I’llleavehimforthewormstochewon.”Thehandsomefacewasemotionless,buttherewasundisguisablehatredinthe

menacingtoneofvoicethatcutthroughtothebone.ThiswastheothersideofPanamon — the cold professional who had ruthlessly destroyed an entireencampmentofGnomesandlaterstoodinbattleagainsttheincomparablepoweroftheSkullBearer.Hewasn’tdoingthisforSheaoreventogainpossessionoftheSwordofShannara.Thiswasstrictlyamatterofhisinjuredprideanddesireforrevengeontheunfortunatecreaturewhohaddaredtobruiseit.SheaglancedquicklyatthemotionlessKeltset,butthegiantRockTrollgavenoindicationofeither approval or disapproval; the barklike facewas blank, the deep-set eyes

expressionless.Panamonlaughedsharply,takingafewquickstridestowardthehesitantValeman.“Think on this, Shea. Our Gnome friend has made matters so much more

simplebyrevealingtheexactlocationoftheSwordyouhavebeensearchingsolongtofind.Nowyoudon’thavetosearchforitweknowwhereitis.”Sheanoddedinsilentagreement,stillwaryof theadventurer’s truemotives.

“Dowehaveachanceofcatchingupwithhim?”“That’smorelikeit—that’sthespiritweneed.”Panamongrinnedathim,his

faceamaskofconfidence.“Ofcoursewecancatchupwithhim—it’smerelyamatteroftime.Thedifficultywillbeifsomeoneelsecatchesupwithhimfirst.Keltset knows theNorthland aswell as anyone alive. TheGnomewill not beabletohidefromus.Hewillhavetorun,run,andkeeprunning,becausehehasnoonetoturnto,notevenhisownpeople.It’simpossibletoknowexactlyhowhestumbledontotheSword,orevenhowhesurmiseditsvalue,butIdoknowIwasnotmistakenabouthisbeingadeserterandascavenger.”“HecouldhavebeenamemberofthebandofGnomestransportingtheSword

to the Warlock Lord — or perhaps even a prisoner?” Shea suggestedthoughtfully.“Moreprobably the latter,” theother agreed, hesitating as if trying to recall

something,staringnorthwardintothegraymistinessoftheforestmorning.Thesunhad already cleared thehorizonof the eastern edgeof theworld, its freshlight bright and warm, seeping slowly into the darkened corners of theforestland.Butthemistofearlymorninghadnotyetcleared, leavingthethreecompanionsshroudedinahazymixtureofsunlightanddyingnight.Theskytothenorthappearedunaccountablydarkand forbiddingeven forearlymorning,causing the normally verbose Panamon to stare wordlessly at this curiousblackness for several long minutes. Finally he turned back to them, his facecloudedwithdoubt.“Somethingstrange isgoingon to thenorth.Keltset, let’smoveoutnow—

find thatGnomebeforehehas a chance to stumbleonto apatrolofhunters. Idon’twanttosharehisfinalmomentsinthisworldwithanyone!”The giant Rock Troll moved into the lead in quick, easy strides, his head

loweredslightlyashesearchedthegroundbeforehim,pickingoutthesignsleftby the fleeing Orl Fane. Panamon and Shea followed close behind in silentconcentration.ThetrailoftheirquarrywasreadilyapparenttothekeeneyesofKeltset.Heturnedbacktothemandmadeashortsignalwithonehand,whichPanamon translated for thecuriousShea tomean that theGnomewas running

hardandfast,notbotheringtohidehisfootsteps,andhadevidentlydecidedonhiseventualdestination.Sheabegan tospeculate inhisownmindwhere thewily little fellowwould

run.WiththeSwordinhispossession,hemightbeabletoredeemhimselfintheeyesofhisownpeoplebyturningitovertothemforpresentationtotheWarlockLord.ButOrlFanehadappearedhighlyirrationalinhisbehaviorwhilehewastheirprisoner,andSheafeltcertainthattheGnomehadnotbeenfaking.Hehadrambled on as if the victim of a madness he could only partially control,speaking ingarbled sentences that had in a jumbled fashion revealed the truthconcerning the whereabouts of the Sword. If Shea had thought the matterthroughalittlemorecarefully,hewouldhaveseenit—hewouldhaveknownthatOrlFanehadthecovetedtalismanwithhim.No,theGnomehadcrossedthementalbarrierbetweensanityandmadness,andhisactionswouldnotbeentirelypredictable.Hewouldrunfromthem,buttowhomwouldherun?“I remember now.” Panamon broke into his thoughts as they continued to

make their way back toward the Plains of Streleheim. “That winged creatureinsistedthatwehadpossessionoftheSwordwhenitconfrontedusyesterday.ItkepttellingusthatitcouldsensethepresenceoftheSword—andsoitcould,because Orl Fane was concealed in the brush with the weapon hidden in hissack.”Shea nodded quietly, recalling the incident bitterly. The Skull Bearer had

unwittinglytippedthemoffthatthepreciousSwordwasinthearea,buttheyhadfailedtonoticethisimportantclueintheheatandfuryoftheirbattletosurvive.Panamoncontinuedtorambleoninbarelyconcealedfury,threateningtodisposeofOrlFanewhentheycaughtupwithhiminanumberofextremelyunpleasantways.Thenabruptlythefringesoftheforestbrokeaway,openingintothevastexpanseofthePlainsofStreleheim.Inastonishment,thethreehaltedtogether,theirdisbelievingeyesfixedonthe

awesomespectaclethatloomeddirectlytothenorth—ahuge,unbrokenwallofblackness, towering skyward until it vanished into the infinity of space,stretching along the horizon to encircle the entire Northland. It was as if theSkullKinghadboundtheancient land in theshroudofdarkness that layuponthe spirit world. It wasmore than the blackness of a clouded night. It was aheavymistiness that rolled and swirled in deepening shades of gray as it rannorthward toward the heart of the Skull Kingdom. It was the most terrifyingsightthatSheahadeverwitnessed.Hisinitialfearwasheightenedtwiceoverbyasudden,unexplainablecertainty inhismind that thishugewallwascrawling

slowlysouthward,blanketing theentireworld. Itmeant that theWarlockLordwascoming...“Whatinheaven’snameisthat...?”Panamontrailedoffintostunnedsilence.Sheashookhisheadabsently.Therecouldbenoanswertothatquestion.This

wassomethingbeyondtheunderstandingofmortalman.Thethreestoodlookingatthemassivewallforseverallongmoments,asifwaitingforsomethingmoretohappen.Finally,Keltsetstoopedtopeercarefullyatthehardgrasslandbeforethem,movingforwardseveralyardsatatimeuntilhewassomedistanceaway.Then he rose and pointed directly into the center of the ominous black haze.Panamonstarted,hisfacefrozen.“TheGnomeisrunningdirectlyintothatstuff,”hemutteredangrily.“Ifwedo

not catchhimbeforehe reaches it, thedarknesswill hidehis trail completely.Wewillhavelosthim.”Severalmilesahead,onthegrayingfringesoftheblackenedwallofmistand

haze, the small,bent formofOrlFanehesitatedmomentarily in itsexhaustingflightasthegreenisheyespeeredfearfully,uncomprehendinglyintotheswirlingdarkness. The Gnome had been moving northward since his escape from thethreestrangersduringtheearlyhoursofthemorning,runningwhilehisstrengthheldout,thenpushingforwardinashufflingtrot,alwayswithoneeyestrayingback, waiting for the inevitable pursuit. His mind no longer functioned in arationalmanner;forseveralweekshehadlivedoninstinctandluck,preyingoffthe dead, avoiding the living.He could not force himself to think of anythingbeyondsurvival,agutinstincttoliveanotherdayamongthosewhodidnotwanthim,wouldnotaccepthimasoneoftheirown.Evenhisownpeoplehadturnedhim away, scorning him as a creature lower than the insects that crawled theearthattheirfeet.Itwasasavagelandthatsurroundedhim—alandinwhichonecouldnotsurvivealoneforverylong.Yethewasalone,andthemindthathadoncebeensanehadslowlyturnedinwardonitself,shuttingawaythefearsthatwereimbeddedthereuntilmadnessbegantotakeholdandallreasonbegantodie.Yet the inevitabledeathdidnotcomeeasily,as fate intervenedwith twisted

humorandfavoredtheoutcastwithafinalglimmeroffalsehope,placinginhishands the means by which to regain the seemingly unattainable warmth ofhumancompanionshiponcemore.Whilestillascavenger,stillfightingalosingbattle to stay alive, the desperate Gnome had learned of the presence of thelegendarySwordofShannara,itsawesomesecretgaspedinfaintwarningfromtherigidlipsofonedyingontheStreleheimPlains, theblindedeyesfailingas

the life thread snapped.Then theSwordwas inhisgrasp— thekey topowerovermortalmeninthehandsofOrlFane.But themadness lingered, the fears anddoubtswrenchingceaselessly athis

failingreasonasheponderedacourseofaction.ThisfatalhesitationresultedintheGnome’scaptureandthelossofthecovetedSword—thelifelinebacktohisown kind. Reason gave way to despair and raving, and the already badlyunbalancedmindcollapsed.Therewasroomnowforonlyoneburning,hauntingthought—theSwordmustbehisorhislifewasover.Heboastedirrationallytohis unsuspecting captors that the Sword was his, that only he knew where itcouldbefound,unwittinglybetrayinghislastchancetokeeppossession.Butthestrangersfailedtoreadbetweenthelines,dismissinghimtoohastilyasmerelycrazed. Then came the escape, the seizure of the Sword, and the flightnorthward.Hepausednow,staringblanklyatthemysteriouswallofblacknessthatbarred

hiswaynorthward.Yes,northward,northward,hemused,smilingcrookedly,theeyes widening madly. There lay safety and redemption for an outcast. Deepwithin,hecouldfeelanalmostuncannydesiretorunbackthewayhehadcome.ButthethoughtremainedlockedinescapablyinhismindthathissalvationlayintheNorthlandalone.Itwastherethathewouldfind...theMaster.TheWarlockLord.Hisgazedroppedmomentarilytotheancientbladestrappedtightlytohiswaist, its length dragging clumsily in the dirt behindhim.Thegnarledyellowhandsstrayedbrieflydownoverthecarvedhandle,touchingtheengravedhandraised high with burning torch, the gilt paint already flecking off in chips torevealtheburnishedhiltbeneath,Heclutchedthehandletightly,asiftryingtodrawhisownstrengthfromitssturdygrip.Fools!Foolsall,thathadnottreatedhimwith therespectheshouldcommand.Forhewasthebearerof theSword,thekeeperofthegreatestlegendtheirworldhadeverknown,anditwouldbehewhowould...He shut out the thought hastily, fearful that even the void abouthimcouldreadhismind,peerintohissecretthoughtsandstealthemaway.Ahead,thefrighteningdarknesswaitedforhimtoenter.OrlFanewasafraid

ofthis,ashewasofeverythingelse,buttherewasnootherwaytogo.Dimlyherecalled thosewhofollowed—thegiantTroll, themanwithonehand,whosehatredheinstinctivelysensed,andtheyouthwhowashalfMan,halfElf.Therewas something the Gnome could not explain about the latter, something thatnaggedwithunshakablepersistenceathisalreadybeleagueredmind.Shaking his rounded head blankly, the little man moved forward into the

graying fringesof thedarkwall, theairabouthimdeadandsilent.Hedidnot

lookbackuntiltheblacknesswasallabouthimandthesilencehaddisappearedinasuddenrushofwindandchillingmoisture.Whenhedidglancebackbriefly,he saw to his horror that there was nothing there — nothing but the sameblackness that lay all about in heavy, impenetrable layers. Thewind began torushviolently ashemovedon, andhebecameawareofother creatures in thedarkness.Theycame firstasavagueawareness inhismind, thenas softcriesthatseemedtoseepthroughthehazeandclinginquisitivelyabouthim.At lasttheyappearedaslivingbodies,touchingsoftlywithcringingfingersthefleshofhisperson.Helaughedinmaddenedfrenzy,knowingsomehowthathewasnolongerinaworldoflivingcreatures,butaworldofdeathwheresoullessbeingswanderedinhopelesssearchofescapefromtheireternalprison.Hestumbledonamidstthem,laughing,talking,evensinginggaily,hismindnolongerapartofhis mortal being. All about him, the creatures of the dark world followed incringingcompanionship,knowingthat themaddenedmortalwasalmostoneofthem.Itwasallamatteroftime.Whenthemortallifewasgone,hewouldbeastheywere—lostforever.OrlFanewouldbewithhisownkindatlast.Almost twohours passed,winding awaywith the slow, deliberate sweepof

themorningsun,andthethreepursuersstoodonthefringesofthewallofmistintowhich theirquarryhaddisappeared.Theypausedashehaddone, silentlystudying the forbiddingblackness thatmarked the threshold to thekingdomoftheWarlockLord. The haze seemed to lie upon the deadened earth in layers,eachonea littledarker as the eyespeereddeeper into theunseencenter, eachonealittlelessfriendlyasthemindenvisionedtheheart’sundeterminedfears.PanamonCreelpacedbackandforthinmeasuredsteps,hiseyesneverleavingthe darkness as he attempted to muster enough confidence to push on. Themassive Keltset, after a cursory study of the ground and a short motion toindicate that the Gnome had indeed gone northward, lapsed into statuelikeimmobility, the great arms folded and the eyes faint slits of life beneath theheavybrow.Therewasnochoice,Sheareasoned,hismindalreadydetermined,hishopes

notyetdampenedbythethoughtoftemporarilylosingthetrailinthedarkness.Hehadregainedsomethingoftheoldfaithinprovidence,certainsincetheyhadbegunthispursuitthatOrlFanewouldbefoundandtheSwordregained.Therewassomethingpulling,athim,reassuringhim,confiding inhimthathewouldnot fail— something deep within his heart that gave him fresh courage. HewaitedimpatientlyforPanamontogivethewordtoproceed.“There is amadness inwhatwe’re doing,” the scarlet thiefmuttered as he

passedbySheaoncemore.“Icanfeeldeathintheveryairofthiswall...”Hetrailedoffsharply,haltingatlast,waitingforSheatospeak.“Wemustgoon,”Shearespondedquickly,tonelessly.Panamon looked slowly at his giant friend, but the Rock Troll made no

movement.Theotherwaitedamomentlonger,dearlydisturbedthatKeltsethadventurednoopinionsincetheyhadundertakenthisjourneyintotheNorthland.Before, when it was just the two of them, the giant had always indicatedagreementwhenPanamonhad looked tohim for support, butof late theTrollwasstrangelynoncommittal.At last theadventurernoddedaffirmativelyand the threeplunged resolutely

into the graying haze. The plainswere level and barren, and for awhile theymovedforwardwithoutdifficulty.Then,asthemistsgraduallydeepenedaboutthem,theirvisionbegantofailbadlyuntiltheyappearedtooneanotheraslittlemorethanvagueshadows.Panamonquicklycalledamomentaryhalt,extracteda length of rope from his pack, and suggested they tie themselves together toavoid becoming separated. When this was accomplished, they continued on.There was no sound save the occasional faint scrape of their boots on thehardenedearth.Themistwasnotdamp,butneverthelessseemedtoclingtotheirexposedskininamostunpleasantmanner,recallingtoSheatheunhealthy,fetidairoftheMistMarsh.Itappearedtobemovingfasterthedeepertheyproceeded,yet they could feel nowind propelling itswidening gusts. Finally it closed infromalldirectionsandthethreewereleftintotaldarkness.Theywalkedforwhatmusthavebeenhours,buttheirsenseoftimebecame

confused in the soundless black haze that encased their fragilemortal beings.Theropeheldthembackfromthelonelinessofdeathwhichpermeatedthemist,itsstrandsreachingnotsomuchtooneanotherastotheworldofsunlightandvisiontheyhadleftbehindthem.Thisplaceintowhichtheyhaddaredtoventurewasalimboworldofhalf-life,wherethesenseswerestifledandfearsgrewinanunfettered imagination. One could feel the presence of death fragmenting thedarkness,atouchhere,atouchthere,brushingsoftlythemortalcreatureitwouldonedayclaim.Theunrealbecamealmostacceptableinthisstrangedarknessasalltherestrictionsofthehumansensesvanishedintodreamlikeremembrances,andthevisionsoftheinnermind,thesubconscious,pushedquicklytothefore,searchingforrecognition.Foratimeitwasalmostpleasanttobeabletolapseintothisindulgenceofthe

subconscious, and then it was neither enjoyable nor disagreeable, but simplydeadening.Foralongtimethislatterfeelingpersisted,soothing,caressingtheir

mindsintodisinterestandvagueboredom,leavingbothbodiesandmindswiththe sluggish drowsiness of the ancient lotus-eaters. Time disappeared entirelyandtheworldofmiststretchedonforever.Fromoutofthedimrecessesoftheworldoflifecametheslowsensationof

burningpain,coursingthroughShea’sdeadenedbodywithshockingabruptness.With a sudden wrenching, his mind was torn free of the listlessness whichcloaked its thoughts and the searing sensation grew sharper in his breast. Stilldrowsy,hisbody strangelyweightless, hegroped tiredly athis tunic, hishandcoming to rest at last on the source of the irritation—a small leather pouch.Then his mind snapped into alertness as he clutched tightly the preciousElfstones,andhewasawakeoncemore.Insuddenhorror,herealizedthathewasstretchedfulllengthupontheearth,

no longer walking, no longer even aware of where he had been going.Frantically he clutched the rope about his waist and pulled violently. Hewasrewardedbyasluggishgroanfromtheotherend;hiscompanionswerestillwithhim. Struggling heavily, wearily to his feet once more, he realized what hadhappened. This frightening limbo world of eternal sleep had almost claimedthemas itsvictims, lulling them,soothing them,dulling theirsensesuntil theyhad fallen and drifted closer and closer to quiet death.Only the power of thestoneshadsavedthem.Sheafeltincrediblyweak,butsummoningthelittlestrengththatremained,he

tugged and pulled desperately on the length of rope, dragging Keltset andPanamonCreelbackfromtheedgeof theabyssofdeath,backtotheworldoftheliving.Heshoutedwildlyasheyankedontherope,thenstumbledtothem,kickingatthelistlessbodiesuntilthepainbroughtthembacktoconsciousness.Long minutes later they were roused sufficiently to be aware of what hadhappened,with the awakening, the spirit of life revived thewill to survive, asboth forced themselves to their feet. They hung onto one another with sleep-ridden limbscloselyentangled, theirminds fighting to remainconscious.Thentheybegantowalk,stumblingblindlyintheunbrokendarkness,onefootbeforethe other, each step an incredible struggle ofmind andbody.Sheawas in thelead, uncertain of his direction, but relying on the instinct sparked by thepowerfulElfstonestoguidehim.For a long time they pushed ahead through the endless dark, fighting to

remain awake and alert as thedeadeningmists swirled lazily about them.Thestrange, sleeplike sensation of death clung to them, trying to overpower theirtiredminds, silently urging their exhausted bodies to accept thewelcome rest

that waited. But the mortals resisted with iron determination, their strength asmall fragment of courage and desperation that, when all else was gone, stillwouldnotquit.Atlastthedeepwearinessbegantodrawbackintothedarkhaze.Deathhad

failedthistimetostiflethewilltosurvive.Therewouldbeothertimesforthesethree,butforthemomenttheywouldliveonalittlelongerintheworldofmen.Sothesluggishnesspassedawayandthedrowsinessfaded—notinthenormalmanner of sleep, butwith quietwarnings that itwould come again.The threecompanionsweresuddenlythesameasbefore,themusclesunfetteredasiftherehadbeennosleep,themindreleasedratherthanawakened.Therewasnoinnerdesiretostretchortoyawn,butonlyalingeringmemorythatthesleepofdeathwasaslumberwithoutsensation,withouttime.For long minutes no one spoke, though all were fully revived, each still

savoring in unspoken fear and quiet desperation the taste of dying they hadexperienced, knowing that one day its inevitable touch would claim themforever.For severalbrief seconds theyhadstoodat theedgeof lifeandgazedinto the forbidden land beyond— something no mortal was permitted to dobefore the end of his natural life. To have been this close was numbing,frightening,evenmaddening.Theyshouldnothavesurvived.But then thememorieswere gone, all but the dimknowledge that the three

had narrowly escaped dying. Regaining their composure, they continued tosearch for an end to the confining blackness. Panamon spoke once to Shea inlowtones,askingwhetherheknewiftheywereproceedingintherightdirection.Thereluctantresponsewasacurtnod.Whatdifferencediditmakeifhedidnotknow, the little Valeman wondered to himself angrily. What other directionwould they take? If his instinctswerewrong, then therewas nothing left thatcouldhelpthemanyway.TheElfstoneshadsavedhimonce;hewouldtrustthemagain.He wondered how Orl Fane had fared in his attempt to pass through the

strangewallofmist.Perhaps themaddenedGnomehadfoundhisownway toescapeitsdeadeningeffects,butitseemedunlikely.Andifthelittlefellowhadfallen by the way, then the Sword was lost somewhere in the impenetrableblackness and they would never regain it in time. This unpleasant prospectcausedtheValemantopausementallyforseveral longmoments,weighingthepossibilitiesoftheSwordlyingaboutinthishaze,perhapsonlyyardsawayfromthem,waitingforsomeonetodiscoveritonceagain.Then abruptly the darkness faded into dingy gray and thewall ofmistwas

behind them. It happened so quickly that they were caught completely bysurprise.Oneminutetheywereshroudedinblackness,barelyabletodistinguisheach other, and the next they were standing in shocked silence beneath theleadengrayskiesoftheNorthland.Theytookamomenttostudythecountryintowhichtheyhademerged.Itwas

the most dismal land Shea had ever seen — even more forbidding than thedreary lowlands of Clete and the frightening Black Oaks in the distantSouthland. The terrain was barren and desolate, a gray-brown earth totallydevoidofsunlightandplantlife.Noteventhehardiestscrubbrushhadsurvived—amutewarningthatthiswasindeedthekingdomoftheDarkLord.Theearthstretchedaway to thenorth in low,unevenhillsofhardeneddirt,unbrokenbyeven a wisp of grassland. Blunted, sprawling boulders thrust upright into thedim,grayhorizon,andinplacesthelowlandswereguttedbydustygullieswhererivershad longsincedriedaway.Therewasnosoundof lifeanywhere—noteventhefainthumofinsectstobreakthehauntingstillness.Nothingremainedinthisoncelivinglandbutdeath.Far to thenorth, juttingsharply into thevacantsky, rose a low series of treacherous-looking peaks.Without being told, SheaknewthatthiswasthehomeofBrona,theWarlockLord.“Whatdoyouproposenow?”PanamonCreeldemanded.“We’velostthetrail

entirely.Wedon’tevenknowifourGnomefriendgotoutofthatstuffalive.Infact,Idon’tseehowhecouldhavemanagedit.“We’llhavetokeeplookingforhim,”Shearepliedevenly.“While those flying creatures keep looking for us,” the other pointed out

quickly.“TheoddsarebecomingalittlemorethanIbargainedfor,Shea.Idon’tmind tellingyou that I’m rapidly losing interest in this chase speciallywhen Idon’tknowwhat it is I’m fighting.Wealmostdiedback there, and I couldn’tevenseewhatwaskillingus!”Sheanoddedunderstandingly,suddenlyincommandofthesituation.Forthe

firsttimeinhislife,PanamonCreelwasworriedaboutstayingalive,evenif itmeantbackingawaywithaseverelywoundedpride.ItwasuptoSheatomakesurethatthejourneywouldcontinuenow.Keltsetstoodapartfromthetwomen,the soft brown eyes fixed on the Valeman as the heavy brows knitted inunderstanding.AgainSheawasstruckwiththeintelligencehesaw,deep-rootedandunimposinginthegentleeyesofthemassivecreature.HestillknewnothingaboutthegiantTroll,buttherewasagreatdealhewantedtolearn.Keltsetwasthekeytosomestrange,importantsecretthatnotevenPanamonCreelknew,forallhisboastingoftheirclosefriendship.

“Thechoicesare limited,” the littleValemanrepliedat last.“Wecansearchfor Orl Fane on this side of the mist and take our chances with the Skullcreatures,orwecanriskanotherjourneyback...”He trailed off ominously, leaving the thought unspoken as he watched

Panamonturnashadepaler.“I’m not going back through that— at least not right away,” the unnerved

thief declared vehemently. He shook his head emphatically, the piked handraisingquickly towardoff theveryair thatcarriedsuchan insanesuggestion.Then,almostsheepishly, thefamiliarbroadsmile returnedas theoldPanamonCreelreassumedcommandofhiswits.Hewastoohardenedanindividual, toomuchaprofessional in thegameof life, to allowanything to frightenhim forvery long. Grimly, he fought down the memories of what he had felt whilestumbling blindly through the dead world within the darkness, calling on hislongexperienceasanadventurerandborderthieftorebuildhisconfidence.Ifhewasdestinedtodieinthisventure,thenhewouldmeetitwiththecourageanddeterminationthathadcarriedhimthroughsomanyhardyears.“Now let’s think this situation through a minute,” he mused, pacing away

from them and back again. The old swagger and grit were returning. “If theGnomedidnotmake it out of themist barrier, then theSwordwill still be inthere—wecangetitanytime.Butifheescaped,aswedid,thenwhere...?”Hepaused inmidsentence,hiseyes studying the surroundingcountrysideas

he tried to narrow the possibilities. Keltset stepped quickly to his side andpointeddirectlynorth to the jaggedpeaks thatmarked thebordersof theSkullKingdom.“Yes,ofcourse,you’rerightagain,”Panamonagreedwithafaintsmile.“He

musthavebeenheadingthereallalong.It’stheonlyplacehecouldgo.”“TheWarlockLord?”Sheaaskedquietly.“IshetakingtheSworddirectlyto

theWarlockLord?”Theothernoddedbriefly.Sheapaledslightlyat theprospectof tracking the

elusive Gnome right up to the doorstep of the Spirit King without even thecomparatively strong mystical prowess of Allanon to aid them. If they werediscovered, theywouldbe entirely defenseless except for theElfstones.Whilethe stones might have prevailed over the Skull Bearers, it seemed highlydoubtful that they would have any chance against a creature as awesome asBrona.The first question was whether or not Orl Fane had even managed to get

through the treacherousmist.Theydecided to follow the fringesof the rolling

wallwestwardinanefforttocutacrossanytracksthefleeingGnomemighthaveleft once he broke through into this region. If they discovered no trail in thatdirection,theywouldtrygoingeastwardforthesamedistance.IftherewasstillnotraceofOrlFane,thentheymustassumethathehadfalleninthekillinghaze,and theywould be forced to reenter it in an effort to find the Sword.No onefavoredthelatteralternative,butSheagavethemsomereassurancebypromisingtochanceusingthepoweroftheElfstonestolocatethemissingtalisman.Usingtheprecious stoneswouldundoubtedly alert the spiritworldof their presence,butitwasagambletheywouldhavetotakeiftheyexpectedtofindanythinginthatimpenetrableblackness.Quicklynow,thethreebegantohikenorthward,Keltset’skeeneyesstudying

the barren ground for traces of the Gnome’s footsteps. Heavy cloud banksblockedout theentiresky,enfoldingtheNorthlandinanunfriendlygrayhaze.Sheatriedtoestimatehowmuchtimehadlapsedsincetheyhadenteredthewallofmist,buthewasunsure.Itcouldhavebeenafewhoursorevenafewdays.Inany event, the grayness of the land was deepening steadily, signaling theapproachofnightfallandatemporaryendtotheirsearchforOrlFane.Overheadthemassinggraycloudshadbeguntogrowdarkerandwererolling

heavily across the hidden skies. The wind had picked up, gusting sharplythrough the barren hills and gullies, pushing angrily at the few clumps ofboulders which barred its progress. The temperature was dropping quickly,turningsomuchcolderthatthethreewereforcedtowrapthemselvestightlyintheirhuntingcloaksastheypushedahead.Beforelongitbecameapparentthatastormwasbuilding,andtheyrealizedangrilythataheavyrainwouldwashawayalltracesofanyfootprintsleftbythefleeingGnome.Andiftheywereforcedtoguesswhetherornothehadescaped...But in a rare stroke of good fortune, Keltset discovered footprints on the

barren earth — footprints that came out of the wall of mist and continuednorthward. TheRock Troll showed PanamonCreel that the prints indicated asmallperson,probablyaGnome,andthatwhoeveritwashadbeenweavingandstaggeringbadly,eitherfrominjuryorexhaustion.Elatedbythisdiscoveryandcertain that they had foundOrl Fane once again, they followed the faint trailnorthward,movingatamuchfasterpacethanbefore.Forgottenwastheordealof that morning. Forgotten was the threat of the omnipresent Warlock Lord,whose kingdom lay directly in their path. Forgotten was the exhaustion anddespair they had felt since losing the precious Sword of Shannara. Orl Fanewouldnotescapethemagain.

Overheadtheskiescontinuedtodarken.Fartothewestcamethedeepsoundof thunder, anominous rumble thatwas carriedby the increasing forceof thewindacrossthelengthandbreadthoftheNorthland.Itwasgoingtobeaterrificstorm,almostasifnaturehaddecidedtobreathenewlifeintothisdyinglandbywashingitcleansothatitmightagainbefertilegroundforlivingthings.Theairwasbitinglycold,andalthoughthe temperaturehadceasedfalling, thegustingwindknifedthroughthegarmentsofthethreetravelers.Yettheyscarcelyfeltit,theireyesscanninganxiouslythenorthernhorizonforanysignoftheirquarry.Thetrailwasgrowingfresher,hewassomewherejustahead.Thefaceofthelandhadbeguntochangenoticeably.Thebarrencountryside

had retained its basic feature, an iron-hardground studdedwith scattered rockand boulder clumps, but it had grown steadily more hilly and rutted, makingtravel increasinglydifficult.Thecracked,dryearthwasparticularlydifficult tomaneuverbecauseitlackedtheformsofvegetationthatnormallyoffereddecentfooting.As the hills and vales rose higher and dippedmore sharply, the threepursuersfoundthemselvesslippingandclawingtheirwayforward.The rising west wind had grown in force to an earsplitting howl, at times

nearly sweeping the unprotected men off their feet as it rushed across thedesolatehilltopsinfranticbursts.Theloosetopsoilflewinalldirectionsatoncein themercilessgripof thewind, strikingat the skin, eyes, andmouthsof thethree men in stinging, choking thrusts. It soon became so bad that the entirecountrysidewasswathedinwindanddirt,asifitwereasandstorminadesert.Itbecamedifficulttobreathe,muchlesstosee,andeventuallyeventhekeeneyesof Keltset could no longer discern the faintest trace of the trail they werefollowing.Quiteprobablytherewasnothingleft tofind,socompletelyhadthewindcutintotheunprotectedearth,butthethreepushedon.Therumbleofdistantthunderhadrisentoasteadycrashing,interspersedby

jaggedflickersoflightningdirectlytothewestandalmostontopofthem.Theskyabovehadturnedblack,thoughwiththeblindingeffectofthewindandthedust, they scarcely noticed this added hindrance to their vision. Bit by bit, aheavyhazemovedcloser from thewesternhorizon—ahaze thatwas clearlyformedbysheetuponsheetofdrivingrainblownbytheshriekingwind.Finallyitbecamesobad thatPanamonyelledwildlyabove the rushof thewind forahalt.“It’snouse!We’vegottofindshelterbeforethatstormhitsus!”“We can’t give up now!” Shea cried angrily, his words almost entirely

drownedoutbyasuddencrashofthunder.

“Don’tbeafool!”Thetallthiefstruggledtohisside,droppingtoonekneeashe peered through the blowing dust, his hands shielding his eyes from thestinging, blinding particles. To the right, he spotted a large hill dotted withclustersofoverhangingbouldersthatappearedtooffersomeshelteragainsttheforceofthewind.Signalingtheothertwo,heabandonedallattemptstoproceednorthandturnedtowardtherocks.Heavydropsofrainwerebeginningtofall,striking with chilling effect against the warm skin of the sweating men; thecrashingof thunderhadrisen todeafeningproportions.Sheacontinued topeernorthwardintothedarkness,unwillingtoacceptPanamon’sdecisiontogiveupthechasewhenheknewtheyweresoveryclose.They had almost reached the shelter of the rocks when he saw something

moving.Adazzlingflashof lightningoutlinedasmallformnear thecrestofatall hill far, far ahead, strugglingmadly to gain the summit in the face of thedrivingwind.Yellingfrantically,thelittleValemangrabbedPanamon’sarmandpointedtowardthedistanthill,nowalmosttotallyinvisibleinthedarkness.Forasecondthethreeremainedfrozeninplace,searchingtheblacknessasthestormdescended on them in blinding sheets of rain, completely drenching them inseconds.Thenthelightningflashedwithshatteringbrightnessasecondtimetoreveal again the distant hill with its tiny challenger, still clawing wildly forfootingnearthecrest.Thenthevisionwasgoneandtherainfellagain.“It’s him! It’s him!” yelled Shea in frenzied recognition. “I’m going after

him!”Withoutwaitingfortheothertwo,theexcitedValemanplungeddowntheside

ofthewetembankment,determinedthattheSwordshouldnotescapehimagain.“Shea.No,Shea!”Panamoncalledafterhiminvain.“Keltset,gethim!”Lungingquicklydownthehill,thegiantTrollovertookthelittleValemanin

several leaps,pickinghimupeffortlesslywithonehugearmandcarryinghimbacktoward thewaitingPanamon.Sheawasyellingandkickingfuriously,buthe had no chance of breaking the Trolls iron grip. The storm had reached itspeakalready,theraincuttingawaytheunprotectedlandscapeinhugechunksofearth and rock that washed down into the gullies to form small, wild rivers.Panamonledthemintotherocks,ignoringShea’srepeatedthreatsandpleasashesearchedforshelterontheeastslopeofthehill,awayfromtheforceofthewindandrain.Afteraquickstudy,hechoseapointhighonthecrestwhichwasprotected on three sides by large clusters of boulders that would offer goodprotection from the force of the storm if not from its wetness and chill.Scrambling wearily, fighting with the little strength left them against the

incrediblethrustofthewind,thethreeatlastreachedthemeagershelter,wherethey collapsed in exhaustion. Panamon quickly signaledKeltset to release thestruggling Shea. Angrily the Valeman confronted the tall adventurer, the rainrunningintohiseyesandmouthinsteadyrivulets.“Are you mad?” he exploded against the shriek of the wind and the deep,

constant rumble of the storm. “I could have caught him! I could have hadhim....”“Shea,listentome!”Panamoncutinquicklyashepeeredthroughtheheavy

graynesstomeettheother’sangrygaze.Therewasasuddenmomentofstilledvoices in the roar of the Northland storm as Shea hesitated. “He was too faraheadtobecaughtinthiskindofastorm.Wewouldhaveallbeenblownawayorinjuredinmudslides.It’stootreacherousinthesehillstotraveltenfeetinaheavyrainstorm—muchlessseveralmiles.Relaxabitandcoolyour temper.WecanpickuptheremainsoftheGnomewhenthisgaleblowsover.”ForasecondSheafeltcompelledtoarguethepoint,butagainhepausedand

the anger quickly subsided as his good sense returned, and he realized thatPanamonwasright.Thefullforceofthestormwastearingawayattheunprotectedland,stripping

away its barren face and reshaping its stark features. Slowly the hills werewashing down into thewater-logged gullies and the ancient StreleheimPlainsbegan towidengradually into thevastNorthland.Huddledagainst thecoldofthemassiveboulders,Sheastaredout into the sheetsof rainas theycameandpassedinendlesstorrents,maskingoutthedesolationofthislifeless,dyingland.Itseemedasiftherewerenooneelsealivebutthethreeofthem.Perhapsifthestorm continued long enough, they would all be washed away and life couldbeginanew,hethoughtdisconsolately.Although theraindidnot falldirectlyon themwithin thesmall refuge, they

could not escape the chilling dampness of theirwater-logged clothing, and sotheirdiscomfortpersisted.Atfirsttheysatinexpectantsilence,asifwaitingforthestormtoabateandthepursuitofOrlFanetobeginagain,butgraduallytheygrewwearyofthelonelyvigilandsettledbacktootherpastimes,convincedtherainandthewindwouldclaimtheentireday.Theyatealittlefood,morefromcommonsensethanhunger,andthentriedtosleepasbesttheycouldintheclosequarters. Panamonhadmanaged to salvage two blankets fromhis packwhichhad been sealed in watertight wrappings, and these he passed to Shea. ThegratefulValemanrefused,offeringthemtohisfriends,butthegiantKeltset,whoseemed seldom very distraught by anything, was already asleep. So Panamon

and Sheawrapped themselves in thewarmth of the blankets, huddled next toeachotherononesideoftheenclosure,andstaredquietlyintothefallingrain.Afteratimetheybegantotalkofthingspast,ofquiettimesanddistantplaces

which they felt compelled to share in this hour of vague despondency andloneliness. As usual, Panamon carried the conversation, but the stories of histravelswerenotthesameasbefore.Theelementofimprobabilityandwildnesshadbeenlifted,andforthefirst time,Sheaknewthecolorfulthiefwastalkingabout the real Panamon Creel. It was idle, almost carefree talk that passedbetweenthetwomen—abit liketheconversationof twooldfriendsreunitedaftermanyyears.Panamontoldofhisyouthandthehardtimesthepeopleallaroundhimhad

knownandlivedwithwhilehegrewintomanhood.Therewerenoexcuses,noregretsoffered,butonlythesimplenarrativeofyearslongpastthatlingeredoninmemories.ThelittleValemantoldabouthisboyhoodwithhisbrotherFlick,recalling their wild, exciting expeditions into the Duln forests. He spoke insmiles about the unpredictable Menion Leah, who in vague ways suggestedPanamonCreelasayoungman.Timedriftedawayastheytalked,shuttingoutthestormanddrawing the twostrangelyclose tooneanotherfor thefirst timesince they had met. As the hours passed and darkness came, Shea grew tounderstand the other man, to know him as he could not have known himotherwise.PerhapsthethiefunderstoodSheaalittlebetteraswell.TheValemanwantedtobelieveso.Atlast,whennightshroudedtheentire landandeventhepoundingrainhad

disappearedfromview,sothatnothingremainedbutthesoundofthewindandthe splash of puddles and rivers, the conversation drew itself around to thesleepingKeltset. In quiet tones, the twomen speculated about the giantRockTroll’s origin, trying to understand what had brought him to them, what hadmadehimundertake this suicidal journey into theNorthland. Itwashishome,theyknew,andperhapsheplanned toreturn to thedistantCharnalMountains.Yet had he not been driven from there— if not by his own people, then bysomethingequallypowerfulandcompelling?TheSkullBearerhadknownhimonsightbuthow?EvenPanamonadmitted thatKeltsetwasmore thanamerethiefandadventurer.Therewastremendousprideandcourageinhisbearing,adeep intelligence in his silent determination, and somewhere in his past, aterriblesecrethehadchosentosharewithnoone.Somethingunspeakablehadhappenedtohim,andbothmencouldsensethatithadsomethingtodowiththeWarlock Lord, if only in an indirect way. There had been fear in the Skull

Bearer’s eyeswhenhehad recognized themassiveTroll.The twomen talkedawhilelongeruntilsleepcameintheearly-morninghours;thenwrappedintheblanketsforprotectionfromthechillofthenightandtherain,theydriftedintoslumber.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

“Youthere!Holditaminute!”ThesharpcommandcameoutofthedarknessbehindFlick,cuttingknifelike

totheboneofhisalreadywaningcourage.Inslowshock,theterrifiedValemanturned,lackingsufficientpresenceofmindeventoattempttorun.Hehadbeendiscovered at last. Itwas useless to draw the short hunting knife still graspedfirmlybeneaththehurtingcloak,buthisunrespondingfingersremainedlockedin place as his eyes sought out the dim form of the approaching enemy. Hiscomprehension of theGnome languagewas poor, but the tone of voice alonewas enough to enable him to understand that brief command. Rigidly, hewatchedabulky,cursingformemergefromoutofthedarknessofthetents.“Don’t just stand there,” the voice shrilled angrily as the roundish form

waddledcloser.“Lendahandwhereit’sneeded!”Astonished,theValemanpeeredcloselyatthesquatfigureas,hisdiscoverer

movedtowardhim,thethickarmsladenwithtraysandplattersandonthevergeof dropping everything with each hesitant step of the stubby legs. Almostwithout thinking, Flick sprang to the fellow’s assistance, removing the upperlayerof traysandcradling theminhisownarms,hisnosecatching thesavorysmelloffreshlycookedmeatandvegetablesseepingfrombeneaththecoverstothewarmplatters.“Therenow,that’sawholesightbetter.”ThestockyGnomebreathedasigh

ofrelief.“ImighthavespilledthewholemessifI’dhadtogoanothersteponmyown.Awholearmyencampedhere,andcanIgetanyonetohelpcarrythechieftains’owndinners?NotoneGnomesomuchasoffers.Ihavetodoitall.It’smaddeningbutyou’reagoodfellowtolendahand.I’llseeyou’reproperlyrepaidwithagoodmeal.Hah?”Flickdidn’tknowwhattheverbosefellowwassayingforthemostpart,andit

didn’treallymatter.Whatdidmatterwasthathehadnotbeendiscoveredafterall.Breathinghis silentgratitude;Flickadjustedhisarmloadof foodwhilehisnewcompanioncontinued to rambleonmerrilyaboutnothing, theheavy traysbalancedprecariouslyinthestubbyarms.Frombeneaththeconcealingdarknessof the hunting cloak’s wide hood, the wary Valeman nodded in pretendedunderstandingoftheother’sconversation,hiseyesstillfastenedintentlyontheshadowsmovingwithinthegreattentbeforethem.

Thethoughtremainedindeliblyfixedinhismind—hehadtogetinsidethattent,hehadtoknowwhatwasgoingoninthere.Butthen,almostasifhehadreadFlick’smind, the littleGnomebegan tomove toward the canvashousingwithmeasuredsteps, the traysbeforehim, the littleyellowfacehalf turnedsothathisunendingmonologuemightbebetterheardbyhisnewfoundcompanion.Therewasnoquestionaboutitnow.Theyweredeliveringdinnertothepeopleinthattent,tothe.chieftainsofthetwonationscomprisingthisgiantarmyandtothedreadedSkullBearer.This ismadness, Flick thought suddenly; I’ll be spotted the instant they lay

eyesonme.Butheneededthatonequicklookinside...Then theywere at the entrance, standing quietly before the two giant Troll

guardswho towered over them like trees over stalks of grass. Flick could notbringhimselftolookanywherebutdownward,thoughhewasconsciousofthefact that, had he drawnhimself up to full height to face the enemy, hewouldhavefoundhimselfstaringdirectlyintoanarmored,barklikechest.Even though he was totally dwarfed in size, Flick’s self-appointed friend

barkedasharpcommandforadmittance,apparentlyconvincedthathispresencewas earnestly desired by those within — or at least the food he bore was.Quickly,oneofthesentriessteppedintothebrightlylitinteriorofthecanopytospeakbrieflytosomeone,thenreappearedamomentlater,silentlybeckoningthetwomentoenter.WithaquicknodoverhisshouldertothetremblingFlick,thelittle Gnome pushed past the guards into the tent and the Valeman, scarcelydaringtobreathe,followeddutifully,prayingforyetanothermiracle.The interiorof the largecanvas structurewascomparativelywell lightedby

slow-burning torches set on iron standards about a large, heavywooden tablethat stood unoccupied at the center of the enclosure. There were Trolls ofvaryingsizemovingbusilywithinthegreattent,somecarryingrolledchartsandmapsfromthetabletoalarge,brassboundchestwhiletheotherspreparedtositdown to a long-awaited evening meal. All wore the military trappings andinsigniaofMaturens-Trollcommanders.Therearsectionofthecanvasenclosurewasscreenedoffbyaheavytapestry

which even the bright torchlight could not penetrate. The air in the armyheadquarterswas smoky and fetid, so heavy in fact that Flick found it almostdifficult to breathe.Weapons and armor lay piled neatly about the room, andbatteredshieldshungonironstandards likecrudeattemptsatdecoration.Flickcouldstill sense theundeniablepresenceof the terrifyingSkullBearer,andhequickly concluded that the darkmonsterwas behind the bleak tapestry in the

othersectionofthetent.Suchacreaturedidnoteatitsmortalselfhadlongsincepassedintodust,andthespiritthatremainedneededonlythefireoftheWarlockLordtonourishitshunger.Then abruptly the Valeman saw something else. At the rear of the front

portionoftheenclosure,closetothetapestryandhalfhiddenbythetorchsmokeandmovingTrolls,wasadimformseatedinatallwoodenchair.Flickstartedinvoluntarily,certainforaninstantthatthemanwasthemissingShea.TheeagerTrollsweremovingup tohimnow, removing theplattersof foodandplacingthemontheheavytable,andforamomenttheyblockedtheValeman’sviewofthe figure.TheTrolls conversed quietly among themselves as they stood overthetwoservers,theirstrangetonguecompletelyunintelligibletoFlick,whowasattemptingtoshrinkfartherdownintotheshadowedfoldsofhishuntingcloakinthe revealing torchlight.Heshouldhavebeendiscovered,but theunsuspectingTroll commanders were tired and hungry and much too concerned with theinvasionplanstonoticetheunusualfeaturesoftheratherlargeGnomewhohadwaitedonthem.The last of the trays was removed and set upon the table as theMaturens

gatheredwearilyaboutittobeginthemeal.ThelittleGnomewhohadbroughtFlickintothequartersturnedtoleave,buttheeagerValemanpausedamomentlongertostudyquicklytheformattherear.It was not Shea. The prisoner was Elven, a man of about thirty-five, with

strong, intelligent features.More itwas impossible to tell at this distance.ButFlick felt certain it was Eventine, the young Elven King who Allanon haddeclaredcouldmeanthedifferencebetweenvictoryordefeatfortheSouthland.It was the Westland, the great, secluded kingdom of the Elven people, thathousedthemightiestarmyofthefreeworld.IftheSwordofShannarawerelost,then thisman alone commanded the power to stop the awesomemight of theWarlockLord—thisman,aprisoner,whoselifecouldbesnuffedoutatasinglecommand.Flickfeltahandonhisshoulder,andhestartedviolentlyatthesuddentouch.“C’monnow, c’mon,wemust leave,” the hushedvoice of the littleGnome

cajoled him earnestly. “You can stare at him some other time. He’ll still behere.”Flickhesitatedagain,a sudden,daringplan formingashestood there. Ifhe

hadtakentimetodwellonit,theideawouldhaveterrifiedhim,buttherewasnotime and he had long since passed the point of rational deliberation. It wasalreadytoolatetoescapetheencampmentandreturntoAllanonbeforedaylight,

and he had come to this dreadful place to do an important task—onewhichremaineduncompleted.Hewouldnotleaveyet.“C’mon, I said, we have to... Hey, what’re you doing?” The little Gnome

yelledinvoluntarilyasFlickgraspedhimharshlybyonearmandpropelledhimforward toward the Troll commanders, who had paused momentarily in theireating at the sharp cry and were staring curiously at the two small figures.QuicklyFlickraisedonehandandpointedquestioninglyattheboundprisoner.TheTrolls followedhisgazemechanically.Flickwaitedbreathlesslyasoneofthemgaveacurtcommandandtheothersshruggedandnodded.“You’re mad, you’re out of your head!” the little Gnome gasped in

amazement, trying vainly to hold his voice down to awhisper. “What do youcare whether or not the Elf gets something to eat?What does it matter if heshrivelsupanddies...?”Hiscommentswerecutshort.ATrollcalledovertothem,onegnarledhand

extendingaplateof food.Flickhesitatedmomentarily,glancingquicklyathisastonishedcompanion,whowasshakinghisheadandgrumblinginaudiblyatthewholeproposition.“Don’t look at me!” he exclaimed shortly. “This was your idea. You feed

him!”Flickfailed topickupeverythingtheGnomesaid,buthegot thegistof the

exclamation,andmovedquicklytotakepossessionoftheplate.Atnotimedidheglanceintoanyone’sfaceformorethananinstant,andeventhentheshadowsof thewidecowlmaskedhis identity.Hekepthiscloakwrapped tightlyabouthim as hemoved cautiously toward the prisoner on the other side of the tent,inwardly cheering madly that his gamble had paid off. If he could get closeenoughtotheboundfigureofEventine,hecouldlethimknowthatAllanonwascloseandthatsomesortofattempttorescuehimwouldbemade.Stillwary,heglanced back once at the other occupants of the enclosure, but the TrollcommandershadreturnedtotheirdinnerandonlythelittleGnomechefwasstillstaringafterhim. Ifhehad tried thiskindof foolishstuntanywherebut in thevery teethof theenemyforces,Flickwaswellaware thathewouldhavebeendiscovered immediately.Buthere, in thecommanders’ownheadquarters,withthe awesome, SkullBearer just yards away and the entire area surrounded bythousandsofNorthlanders,theideaofanyoneevensneakingintocamp,letaloneintothisguardedtent,waspreposterous.Quietly,Flickapproachedthewaitingcaptive,hisfacestillconcealedwithin

thedark recessesof thehood, theplateof foodextendedbeforehim.Eventine

wasofnormalheightandstatureforaman,althoughforanElfhewasbig.Hewore woodland garb covered by the remnants of a chainmail vest, the worninsigniaof thehouseofElessedil still faintlyvisible in thedim torchlight.Hisstrongfacewasbatteredandcut,apparentlyfromthebattlethathadendedwithhiscapture.Atfirstglancethereappearedtobenothingdistinctiveabouthim;hewasnot thekindofmanwhowouldbesingledout inagroup.Hisexpressionwas set and impassive as Flick came to a halt directly in front of him, histhoughtsapparentlyconcentratedelsewhere.Thenhisheadmovedslightlyasifawarehewasbeingstudied,andthedeepgreeneyesfastenedonthesmallfigurefacinghim.WhenFlicksawthoseeyes,hefrozeinsuddenshock.Theyreflectedafierce

determination, a fiery strengthof character and inner conviction that remindedthe Valeman, rather strangely, of Allanon. They reached into him, seized hisownmindinamannerofspeaking,demandinghisattention,hisobedience.Hehad seen this look in no otherman, not evenBalinor,whom they had all feltdrawntoasanaturalleader.LikethoseofthedarkDruid,theeyesoftheElvenKing frightenedhim.Lookingdownquickly at the plate of food in his hands,Flickpausedtoconsiderwhatheshoulddonext.Mechanically,hefittedapieceof the stillwarmmeat to the tip of the fork.His corner of the large tentwasdimly lit, and the haze of smoke aided in concealing hismovements from theenemy.Only the littleGnomewaswatchinghimclosely,hewascertain,butasinglemistakewouldbringthemalldownonhim.Slowlyheraisedhisfaceuntilthelightfromthetorcheshadfullyrevealedhis

featurestothewatchfulcaptive.Astheireyesmet,aflickerofcuriositycrossedthe otherwise impassive Elven face and one eyebrow lifted sharply. QuicklyFlick pursed his lips, warning silence, and looked down again at the food.Eventinewas unable to feed himself, so theValemanbegan to hand-feed himslowlyandcarefully asheplannedhisnext step.Now thecaptiveElvenKingknewhewasnot aGnome,butFlickwas terrified that if he spoke to theElf,even in a faintwhisper, hewould be overheard.He abruptly recalled that theSkull Bearer was just on. the other side of the heavy tapestry, perhaps onlyinchesaway,and ifheshouldpossessunusualhearingpowers...But therewasnootheralternative;hehadtocommunicatesomehowwiththeprisonerbeforeheleft.Theremightnotbeanotherchance.Musteringthelittlecouragehehadreserved,theValemanleanedforwardafewinchesfartherasheliftedthefork,carefullyputtinghimselfbetweenEventineandtheTrolls.“Allanon.”

Thewordwasspokeninabarelyaudiblewhisper.Eventinetooktheprofferedbiteoffoodandrespondedwithafaintnod,hisfacestonyandimpassive.Flickhadhadenough.Itwastimetogetoutoftherebeforehisluckranout.Takingthe plate of half-finished food, he slowly turned and walked back across theenclosuretothewaitingGnomechef,whosefacemirroredmingleddisgustandedginess. The Troll commanders were still eating as he passed them, theirconversationlowandearnest.Theydidn’tevenlookup.Flickhandedtheplateto the little Gnome as he passed him, mumbling something incoherent, thenquicklyhastenedfromthetent,exitingbetweenthetwogiantTrollguardsbeforehis astonished companion could think— to act.As he strolled unconcernedlyawayfromthetent,theGnomeappearedsuddenlyintheopenentrance,yellingand grumbling in garbled phrases that the Valeman could not begin tocomprehend. Turning, the Valeman waved quickly to the little figure, a faintsmileofsatisfactiononhisbroadface,anddisappearedintothedarkness.At dawn, theNorthland armybegan itsmarch southward towardCallahorn.

Flickhadbeenunabletoworkhiswayclearoftheencampmentbeforethen;so,as a bitter and gravely concerned Allanon watched from the seclusion of theDragon’sTeeth,thesubjectofhismisgivingswasforcedtocontinuehisdisguiseanother day. The heavy morning rains had almost persuaded the Valeman tomakeadashforsafety,soconvincedwashethatthedownpourwouldwashoutthecoloringAllanonhadappliedtohisskintogiveitayellowhue.Butescapeindaylightwas impossible,sohewrappedhimself tightly in thehuntingcloakandtriedtoremaininconspicuous.Beforelong,hewasthoroughlydrenched.Tohis happy astonishment, the yellow coloring on his skin did not appear to bewashing out after all. There was a certain amount of fading, but in theexcitementofmovingthecamp,noonehadtimetotakenoticeofanyoneelse.Itwastheterribleweather, infact, thatsavedFlickfrombeingunmasked.Haditbeen awarm,dry summerday filledwith sunshine andgood spirits, the armywouldhavebeenmoreconcernedwithexchangingpleasantries. If the sunhadbeenshining,therewouldhavebeennoneedfortheheavyhuntingcloaks,andFlickwouldhaveattractedtheattentionofeveryonearoundhimbycontinuingtowearhis.Onceithadbeenremoved,theNorthlanderswouldhaveseenthroughhis thin disguise immediately. The bright sunlight would have revealed toanyonecastingsomuchasapassingglanceinhisdirectionthattheValemandidnotevenremotelyresembleaGnomeinhisfacialbonestructureandindividualfeatures.The heavy rains andwind savedFlick fromall of this and permittedhimtoremainisolatedandconcealedasthehugeinvasionforcetrudgedsteadily

acrossthegrasslandsintotheSouthlandkingdomofCallahorn.The bad weather persisted throughout the remainder of that day and, as it

turnedout,forseveraldaysthereafter.Thestormcloudssullenlylockedinplacebetweenthesunandtheearthingreatgrayandblackmassesthatchurnedandrolled with ferocious discontent. The rains fell unchecked, sometimes inpoundingsheetsdrivenbytheunrelentingforceofthewestwinds,sometimesina steadymelancholy drizzle that gave false hope to the belief that the storm’sendwas near. The airwas chill and at times almost bitter, leaving an alreadywater-drenchedarmyshiveringanddisconsolate.Flick remained on themove throughout the day’s tiring, unpleasantmarch,

soaked through by the blowing rains, but relieved that he could move aboutwithout calling attention tohimself.Hemade it a point to avoidwalkingwithany particular group for very long, always staying apart, always avoiding asituation which might force him to engage in conversation with anyone. TheNorthland invasion forcewas so vast that itwas an easymatter to avoid everbeingwiththesamementwice,andhisdeceptionwasfurtherfacilitatedbythefactthatthereappearedtobenoovertattemptstoexercisemarchingdisciplineover the great army. Either discipline was extremely lax or so thoroughlyingrained in the individual soldier that superior officers were not needed tomaintainorder.FlickcouldnotconceiveofthelatterandconcludedthatfearoftheomnipresentSkullBearers and theirmysteriousMaster kept the individualTroll orGnome fromdoing anything foolish. In any event; the littleValemanremained just another member of the Northland army, biding his time untilnightfall,whenheplannedtomakehisescapebacktoAllanon.By midafternoon, the army had reached the swollen banks of the upper

Mermidon,directlyacrossfromtheislandcityofKern.Againtheinvasionforceencamped.Itscommandersrealizedimmediatelythat,duetotheheavyrain,theMermidon couldnot be crossedwithout tremendoushazard, even so, itwouldrequirelargeraftscapableoftransportingvastnumbersofmeninordertosecurethe far bank. They had no rafts, so thosewould have to be built. Thatwouldrequireseveraldays,andbythattimethestormsshouldhavediminishedandthewatersoftheMermidonretreatedsufficientlytopermitaneasycrossing.AcrosstheriverinthecityofKern,theNorthlandforcehadbeensightedwhileMenionLeahstillsleptinthehouseofShirlRavenlock,andthepeoplewerebeginningtopanicas they realized, theextentof theirdanger.Theenemy invasion forcecouldnotaffordtobypassKernandproceedtoTyrsis,themainobjective.Kernwould have to be taken, considering the size of the city and the extent of the

reducedarmydefendingit,thiswouldnotbedifficult.Onlytherisingriverandthefortuitousstormdelayeditsfall.Flickknewnothingofthesematters,hisownmindpreoccupiedwiththoughts

ofescape.Thestormcouldabateinamatterofhours,leavinghimdefenselessinthe very heart of the enemy camp. Worse still, the actual invasion of theSouthland was under way, and a battle with the Border Legion of Callahorncouldcomeatany time.Supposehewas forced intobattleasaGnomehunteragainsthisownfriends?Flick had changed considerably since his firstmeetingwithAllanonweeks

earlier in Shady Vale, developing an inner strength and maturity and aconfidenceinhimselfhehadneverbelievedhimselfcapableofsustaining.Butthe past twenty-four hours had proved a supreme test of raw courage andperseverancethatevenaseasonedborderfighterlikeHendelwouldhavefoundfrightening.ThelittleValeman,unseasonedandvulnerable,couldsensethathewas on the verge of cracking under the extreme pressures of giving waycompletelytotheterriblesenseoffearanddoubtgrippinghimwitheverymovehemade.Sheahadbeenthereasonbehindhisdecisiontomakethehazardousjourney

toParanor in thebeginning,butmore than thathehadbeen theonesteadyinginfluenceonapessimistic,distrustfulFlick.NowSheahadbeenlosttothemallformanydayswithlittleindicationastowhetherhewasdeadoralive,andhisfaithfulbrother,whilerefusingtogiveuphopethattheywouldeventuallyfindhim,hadneverfeltmorealone.Notonlywasheinastrangeland,embroiledinamadventureagainstamysteriouscreaturenotevenofthemortalworld,butnowhewas isolated in themidstof thousandsofNorthlanderswhowouldkillhimwithouta second thought themoment theydiscoveredwhohe reallywas.Theentire situationwas impossible, and hewas beginning to doubt that therewasanyrealpointtoanythinghehaddone.WhilethevastarmyencampedonthebanksoftheMermidonintheshadows

ofthelateafternoonandthegrayoftwilight,adisconsolate,frightenedValemanmoveduneasilythroughthecamp,tryingdesperatelytomaintainafirmgriponhisfadingresolve.Theraincontinuedtofallsteadily,maskingfacesandbodiesuntil they were merely moving shadows, drenching men and earth alike in acold, cheerless haze. Fires were out of the question in such weather, so theeveningremaineddarkandimpenetrableandthemenremainedfaceless.Ashemovedsilentlyabouttheencampment,Flickmentallynotedthearrangementofthecommanders’quarters, thedeploymentof theGnomeandTroll forces,and

the setting of the sentry lines, thinking that this knowledgemight be of somevaluetoAllanoninplanningarescueoftheElvenKing.Herelocatedwithoutdifficulty the large tent thathoused theTrollMaturens

andtheirvaluableprisoner,but,liketherestoftheenemycamp,itwasdarkandcold,shroudedinmistandrain.TherewasnowayeventobesurethatEventinewasstill there;hecouldhavebeenmovedtoanothertentorremovedfromthecamp entirely during the march southward. The two giant Troll sentriesremained posted at the entrance, but there was no sign of movement within.Flick studied the silent structure for several long minutes and then slippedquietlyaway.As night descended, and Troll and Gnome alike retired to a chill, water-

drenched slumber that more closely resembled an uneasy doze, the Valemandecided tomake his escape.He had no ideawhere hemight findAllanon; hecouldonlypresumethegiantDruidhadfollowedtheinvasionforceasitmovedsouthwardtoCallahorn.Intherainanddarkness,itwouldbenearlyimpossibletolocatehim,andthebesthecouldhopetodowouldbetohideoutsomewhereuntildaylightandthenattempttofindhim.Hemovedsilentlytowardtheeasternfringes of the encampment, treading carefully over the huddled forms of thehalf-sleeping men, winding his way through the baggage and armor, stillwrappedprotectivelyinthewater-soakedhuntingcloak.Hecouldverylikelyhavewalkedthroughthecampwithoutanydisguiseon

this night. In addition to the darkness and the persistent drizzle, which hadfinallybegun to taperoff,a lowrollingmisthadmovedacross thegrasslands,blanketingeverything so completely that amancould seenomore thana fewfeetinfrontofhisnose.Withoutwantingto,FlickfoundhimselfthinkingaboutShea.FindinghisbrotherhadbeenthemajorreasonbehindhisdecisiontoslipintothiscampdisguisedasaGnome.HehadlearnednothingofShea,thoughhehad scarcely expected to. He had been fully prepared to be discovered andcapturedwithinminutesafterheenteredthevastencampment.Yethewasstillfree.IfhecouldescapenowandfindAllanon,thentheycouldfindawaytohelptheimprisonedElvenKingand...Flick paused, his progress abruptly halted as he sank down into a crouch

besideacanvas-coveredpileofheavybaggage.Even ifhedideventually findhiswayback to theDruid,whatcould theyhope todo forEventine? ItwouldtaketimetoreachBalinor in thewalledcityofTyrsis,andtheyhadlittle timeremaining.WhatwouldbecomeofSheawhiletheyweretryingtofindawaytorescue Eventine—who was unquestionably more valuable to the Southland,

since the loss of the Sword of Shannara, than Flick’s brother? Suppose thatEventine knew something about Shea? Suppose he knewwhere Shea was—perhapsevenwherethepowerfulSwordhadbeencarried?Flick’stiredmindbegantorushquicklyoverthepossibilities.Hehadtofind

Shea;nothingelsewasreally important tohimat thispoint.Therewasnooneleft tohelphimsinceMenionhadgoneahead towarn thecitiesofCallahorn.EvenAllanon seemed tohaveexhaustedhisvast resourceswithout result.ButEventinemightknowShea’swhereabouts,andFlickalonewasinapositiontodosomethingaboutthatpossibility.Shiveringinthechillnightair,hebrushedtherainfromhiseyesandpeeredin

numbeddisbeliefintothemist.Howcouldheevenconsidergoingback?Hewasvirtually on the edge of panic and exhaustion nowwithout taking any furtherrisks. Yet the night was perfect — dark, misty, impenetrable. Such anopportunitymightnotcomeagainintheshorttimeleft,andtherewasnoonetotakeadvantageofitbuthimself.Madness—madness!hethoughtdesperately.Ifhewentbackthere,ifhetriedtofreeEventinealone...hewouldbekilled.Yethedecidedsuddenlythatthatwasexactlywhathewasgoingtodo.Shea

wastheonlyonehereallycaredaboutandtheimprisonedElvenKingappearedtobetheonlymanwhomighthaveanyideawhathadhappenedtohismissingbrother.Hehadcomethisfaralone,spendingtwenty-fourtorturoushourstryingto stay hidden, trying to stay alive in a camp of enemies that had somehowoverlookedhim.HehadevenmanagedtogetinsidetheTrollcommanders’tent,togetcloseenoughtothegreatKingoftheElvenpeopletopasshimthatbriefmessage. Perhaps it had all been the result of blind chance, miraculous andfleeting,yet,couldhefleenow,withsolittleaccomplished?Hesmiledfaintlyathis own dim sense of the heroic, an irresistible challenge he had alwayssuccessfully ignored before, but which now ensnared him and wouldundoubtedlyprovehis undoing.Cold, exhausted, close tomental andphysicalcollapse, he would nevertheless take this final gamble simply becausecircumstanceshadplacedhimhere at this timeand thisplace.Healone.HowMenionLeahwould smile to see this, he thought grimly,wishing at the sametime that thewildhighlanderwerehere to lenda littleofhis recklesscourage.ButMenionwasnothere,andtimewasslippingquicklyaway...Then, almost before he realized it, he had retraced his steps through the

sleepingmenandtherollingfog,andwascrouchingbreathlesslywithinyardsofthelongMaturentent.Themistandhisownsweatraninsmallrivuletsdownhisheatedfaceandintohissoakedgarmentsashestaredinmotionlesssilenceathis

objective. Doubts crowded remorselessly into his tired mind. The terriblecreature that served theWarlockLordhadbeen there earlier, ablack, soullessinstrumentofdeath thatwoulddestroyFlickwithout thinking. Itwasprobablystillwithin,waitinginsleeplesswatchforexactlythissortoffoolishattempttofree Eventine. Worse still, the Elven King might have been removed, takenanywhere...Flick forced the doubts aside and breathed deeply. Slowly hemustered his

courage as he finished his study of the canvas enclosure,whichwas nomorethan amisty shadow in theunbrokendarkness before him.He couldnot evenmakeout theformsof thegiantTrollguards.Onehandreachedinto thedamptunicbeneathhiscloakandwithdrewtheshorthuntingknife,hisonlyweapon.Mentally he pinpointed the position on the canvas of the silent tentwhere heimagined Eventine had been bound at the time he had fed him that previousnight.Thenslowlyhecreptforward.Flickcrouchednexttothewetcanvasofthegreattent,thechillimprintofthe

weaveroughagainsthischeekashe listenedfor thesoundsofhumanlife thatstirred uneasily within. He must have paused for fifteen long minutes,motionlessinthefogandthedarkashelistenedintentlytothemuffledsoundofheavybreathing and intermittent snores emitted by, the sleepingNorthlanders.Briefly he contemplated attempting to sneak through the front entrance of thestructure,butquicklydiscardedthatideaasherealizedthatoncehewasinside,hewouldhave tonavigate hisway in thedarkness over a numberof sleepingTrolls in order to reach Eventine. Instead he selected the section of the tentwherehe imaginedtheheavytapestryformedadivider—thecorner inwhichtheElvenKinghadbeenboundtothechair.Then,withagonizingslowness,heinsertedthetipofhishuntingknifeintotherain-soakedcanvasandbegantocutdownward,onestrandata time, justa fractionofan inchwitheachpressuredstroke.He would never remember how long it took him to make the three-foot

incision—only the endless sawing in the silence of the night, afraid that theslightest sound of tearing would arouse the entire tent. As the long minutespassed,hebegan to feel as ifhewereentirelyalone in thegiantencampment,desertedbyallhumanlifeintheblackshroudofthemistandtherain.Noonecamenearhim,oratleasthedidnotseeanyonepass,andthesoundofhumanvoicesdidnotreachhisstrainingears.Hemightindeedhavebeenaloneintheworldforthosebrief,desperateminutes...Thenalong,verticalslit intheglisteningcanvasstaredbackathiminslack

anticipation, inviting him to enter. Cautiously he advanced, feeling his waycarefullywithhishands just inside theopening.Therewasnothingexcept thecanvasfloor,dry,butascoldas thedampearththatbracedhiskneesandfeet.Carefullyhe insertedhishead,peering fearfully into thedeepblacknessof theinteriorthatwasfilledwiththesoundsofsleepingmen.Hewaitedforhiseyestoadjusttothisnewdarkness,tryingdesperatelytoholdhisbreathingtoasteady,noiselesswhisper, feelinghorriblyexposedfromthe rear, thebulkofhisbodyoutsidethetentandvulnerabletoanyonewhohappenedtopass.Itwas taking his eyesmuch too long to adjust and he could not risk being

discoveredby a chancepasserby at this stage, sohe riskedmoving a few feetfarther,slippinghisstockyframethroughtheopeningandintothedarkshelterof the tent. The labored breathing and the snores continued undisturbed, andtherewastheoccasionalsoundofaheavybodyshiftingpositionsomewhereinthedarknessbeyondhim.Butnooneawoke.Flickremainedcrouchedjustinsidethelongslitformoreendlessminutes,hiseyesworkingmadlytodistinguishthefaintshapesofmen,tables,andbaggageagainsttheblacknessofthenight.Itseemedtotakeforever,butatlasthewasabletodiscernthehuddledforms

ofsleepingmenscatteredaboutthefloorofthetent,theirbodiesrolledtightlyinthe warmth of their blankets. To his astonishment, he realized that onemotionlessformlayslumberingonlyinchesinfrontofhisbalancedbody.Hadheattemptedtocrawlanyfartherbeforehiseyeshadadjustedtothisdarkness,hewould have stumbledonto andundoubtedly awakened the sleeper.Theoldsensationof fear returned sharply, and for amomenthe foughtback against arising sense of panic that commanded him to turn and run.He could feel thesweat sliding down his crouched body beneath the water-soaked clothing,tracing thin, searching paths over the heated skin as his labored breathingbecamemore ragged.At thatmoment, hewas aware of his every feeling, hismindpushedrighttothebrinkofcollapse—yetlater,hewouldrecallnothingof these feelings.Mercifully, theywouldbeblockedfromhismemory,andallthatwouldremainwouldbeonesharppictureetchedindeliblyinhisbrainofthesleepingTrollMaturensandtheobjectofhissearch—Eventine.Flickspottedhimquickly, the leanformnolongerseatedupright in thewoodenchairat thecorneroftheheavytapestry,butlyingonthecanvasflooronlyafewfeetfromthepoisedValeman,thedarkeyesopenandwatching.Flickhadjudgedhispointof entry correctly, and now he moved catlike to the King’s side, the huntingknifeseveringquicklythetautropesthatboundhandsandfeet.In an instant the Elf was free, and the two shadowy figures were moving

quickly to reach the vertical opening in the side of the tent. Eventine pausedmomentarily topicksomethingup from thesideofoneof thesleepingTrolls.Flickdidnotwait toseewhat theElfhadseized,buthastened through theslitinto themistydarknessbeyond.Onceoutside,hecrouchedsilentlynext to thetent,glancinganxiouslyaboutforanysignofmovement.Buttherewasonlythepersistentdrizzleoftherainbreakingthenight’sdeepsilence.Secondslater,thecanvas parted again, and the Elven King passed through and hunched downbesidehisrescuer.Hewascarryinganallweatherponchoandabroadsword.Ashewrappedhimselfinthecloak,hepausedmomentarilyandsmiledgrimlyatafrightened,butelatedFlick,thengrippedhishandinwarm,unspokengratitude.TheValemangrinnedbackinsatisfactionandnodded.So Eventine Elessedil was rescued, snatched from the very teeth of the

sleeping enemy. ItwasFlickOhmsford’s finestmoment.He felt now that theworstwasover, thatonceclearof thegreatMaturen tentwithEventinea freeman, escape from the camp could never be denied them. He had not eventhoughttolookbeyondhisentryintotheTrollcommanders’quarters.Nowthemoment to look ahead was there, but as the two paused in the shadows, themomentpassedandwaslost.Fromoutofnowherestrolled three fullyarmedTroll sentries,who instantly

spottedthetwofigurescrouchingatthesideoftheMaturentent.Foraninstanteveryonefroze;thenslowlyEventinerose,standingdirectlyinfrontofthetearinthecanvas.ToFlick’sastonishment,thequick-thinkingElvenKingwavedthethree over to them, speaking fluently in their own language. Hesitantly, thesentries approached, their long pikes lowered carelessly as they heard thefamiliarsoundoftheirowntongue.Eventinesteppedasidetorevealthegapingslit,noddingwarninglytoFlickastheunsuspectingTrollsnowrushedforward.The terrifiedValemansteppedaway,hishandgripping theshorthuntingknifebeneath his cloak. As the Trolls reached them, their eyes still momentarilyfastenedonthetorncanvas,theElvenKingstruckoutwiththebroadsword.Two of the Trolls were silenced before they had a chance to defend

themselves,theirthroatscutaway.Thefinalsentrygotoffaquickcryforhelpand slashed wildly at Eventine, cutting into the exposed flesh of the Elf’sshoulder; thenhe, too, fell lifeless into themuddiedearth.Foramoment therewassilenceoncemore.Flickstoodwhite-facedagainstthetentwall,staringinfright at the dead Trolls as the wounded Elven King tried vainly to stem thebloodflowfromhisslashedshoulder.Thentheyheardthesharpsoundofvoicesfromcloseby.

“Which way?” Eventine whispered harshly, the bloodied sword still tightlyclenchedinhisgoodhand.InmutesilencethelittleValemanrushedtotheElf’ssideandpointedintothe

darknessbehindhim.Thevoicesgrewloudernow,corningfrommorethanonedirection,andswiftly,wordlessly,thetwofugitivesfledfromtheTrollsleepingquarters.Stumblingbetweenthefog-shroudedtents,andbaggage,unabletofindtheirfootingonthewater-soakedgrasslandsandblindedbythedarknessandtherollingmist,thetwostruggledtooutdistancetheirpursuers.Thevoicesfadedtoeither side of them and then fell behind, only to rise sharply in alarmwithinsecondsasthebodiesofthesentrieswerediscovered.Thetwodashedonasthedeep, haunting sound of a Troll battle horn shattered the night sleep of theNorthlandarmy,andeverywheremenawoketothecalltoarmsandbattle.Flickwasinthelead,franticallytryingtorememberthequickestwaybackto

the campperimeter.Hewas running blindly now, terrified beyond reason, hisone thought togain thesafetyof thesilentdarknessbeyond thishatefulcamp.Strugglingpainfully tokeepupwith theValeman,hisshoulderbleedingfreelyfromthepikewound,Eventinerealizedwhathadhappenedtohisyoungrescuerandcalledvainlyafterhim,tryingtowarnhimtobecareful.Too late. Thewords had just left hismouthwhen they ran headlong into a

bandofstill-groggyNorthlanderswhohadbeenabruptlyawakenedbythe.battlehorn’s blast. Everyone went down in a tangle of arms and legs, both partiescompletely caught by surprise and unable to avoid the collision. Flick felt thehunting cloak ripped from his body as hewas kicked and buffeted by unseenhandsandfeet,andinmaddenedterrorhefoughtback,slashingwildlywiththehuntingknifeatanythingthatcamewithinreach.Howlsofpainand.furywentupfromhisattackers,andforaninstantthearmsandlegsdrewbackandhewasfree again. He leaped to his feet, only to be borne back amoment later by arenewed assault. He caught the dull flash of a sweeping sword blade as itwhiskedpasthisunprotectedheadandhisownknife cameup towardoff theblow.Forseveralminutes,everythingbecamechaoticastheValemanrolledandthrashed his way through the clinging hands and heavy bodies, the fogboundnight a maze of wild cries and scuffling figures. He was cut and batteredunmercifullyashesought tofighthiswayclear,sometimesforcedbackto theearth, but always rebounding within seconds and struggling onward, callingsharplyforEventine.What he did not realize was that he had stumbled into a band of unarmed

Northlanderswhowerecaughtcompletelybysurprisewhenhechargedmadly

into them,wielding the hunting knife. For severalminutes they sought to pinhimdownanddisarmhim,buttheterrifiedValemanstruggledsoviolentlytheywereunabletocontainhim.Eventinerushedquicklytohisaid,battlinghiswaythrough the mass of attackers to reach the youth and at last they gave wayentirely, scattering for the safety of the darkness. Quickly downing the lastpersistentNorthlander,aratherlargeGnomewhohadfastenedhimselfbodilytothestrugglingFlick,theElvenKinggrabbedhisrescuerbythetuniccollarandhauled him to his feet. The Valeman continued to struggle violently for amoment more; then realizing who held him, he abruptly relaxed, his heartbeatingwildly.AllaroundhimthesoundsoftheNorthlandbattlehornsblastedin deafening tones through the camp, mingling with the rising cries of thearousedarmy.Vainlyhetriedtolistentowhattheotherwassaying,hisbatteredheadstillringingfromtheblowsstruck.“... find the quickestway out.Don’t run—walk steadily, but unhurriedly.

Runningwilljustcallattentiontous.Nowgo!”Eventine’s words died into the darkness as his strong hand gripped Flick’s

shoulderandturnedhimabout.Theireyeslockedmomentarily,buttheValemancould onlymeet theElvenKing’s piercing stare for an instant, feeling it burnright through to his frightened heart. Then they were moving toward theperimeteroftheawakenedencampment,sidebyside,theirweaponsheldready.Flickwasthinkingrapidlybutclearlynow,recallingvaguelandmarkswithintheNorthlandcampthatindicatedhewasproceedingintherightdirection.Thefearwasmomentarilyburiedasacoldsenseofdeterminationgrippedhim,fosteredin part by the strong presence striding quietly at his side. Itmight have beenAllanonhimself,sounshakablewastheconfidencethattheElvenKingradiated.Dozensoftheenemyrushedpastthem,somecomingwithinseveralfeet,but

noonestoppedthemorspoketothem.Unmolested,thetwomenpassedquietlythrough thechaos thathadengulfed theNorthlandersat theunexpectedcall tobattle,movingsteadilytowardthesentrylinessurroundingtheencampment.Thecries continued fromwithin, although theyweredroppingbehind the fugitiveslittlebylittle.Therainshadmomentarilyceasedaltogether,buttheheavymistcontinuedunbroken,shroudingtheentiregrasslandsfromtheStreleheimtotheMermidon. Flick glanced once at his silent companion, noticingwith concernthat the lean figure was bent slightly in pain, the left arm hanging limp andbleedingfreely.ThevaliantElfwastiringrapidly,growingsteadilyweakerfromloss of blood, his face pale and drawn from the effort to stay on his feet.Unconsciously,Flickslowedthepace,walkingclosertohiscompanionincase

heshouldstumble.They reached thecampperimeterwithinaveryshort time—soquickly, in

fact,thatthewordofwhathadtakenplaceattheMaturenheadquartershadnotyetreachedthesentries.Butthebattlehornhadputthemonthealert,andtheystoodclosetotheencampmentinsmallgroups,theirweaponsready.Ironically,theybelieved that thedanger lay fromanenemyoutside thecamp.Their eyeswere fasteneddutifully away from the camp,permittingEventine andFlick toapproach undetected to the very edge of their lines. The Elven King did nothesitate,movingforwardbetweentheoutpostsatasteadywalk, trusting to thedarkness,themist,andtheconfusiontopreventtheirdiscovery.Timewasrunningout.Withinamatterofminutes theentirearmywouldbe

mobilizedandreadyforbattle,andonceitwasdiscoveredthathehadmanagedtoescape, trackerswouldbeoutsearchingforhim.Hewouldfindsafety ifhecould reach thebordersofKern, just to the south,or alternatively, ifhecouldreachtheconcealmentoftheDragon’sTeethandsurroundingforeststotheeast.Itwouldtakeseveralhoursineithercaseandhisstrengthwasfading.Hecouldnotpausenow,evenifitmeantriskingalmostcertaindiscoverybypassingintotheopenunprotected.Boldly the two strolled directly between two of the sentry parties, looking

neither left nor right as theymoved into the emptiness of the open grasslandsbeyond.They succeeded in not calling attention to themselves until theywerepast the perimeter of the guard lines. Suddenly several of the sentries caughtsightof themat thesamemomentandcalledout.Eventine turnedslightlyandwaved with his good arm, calling back in the Troll language, all the whilemaintainingasteadypaceashemovedfartherintothedarkness.Flickfollowedwarily, waiting expectantly as the sentries stared after them, still undecided.Thenabruptlyoneofthemcalledsharplyandbegantomoveafterthem,wavingthem back in excited motions. Eventine yelled to Flick to run for it, and thechasewason.Asthetwomenracedforsafety,closetotwentyguardstookupthepursuit,brandishingtheirpikesandyellingwildly.Itwasanunevencontestfromthebeginning.BothEventineandFlickwereof

lighter build and under normal circumstances could have outdistanced theirpursuers. But the Elf was wounded badly and weakened from loss of blood,whilethelittleValemanwasphysicallyexhaustedfromtheordealofthelasttwodays.Thepursuerswerefreshandstrong,well restedandfed.Flickknewthattheironlyhopewastofindconcealment in themistanddarkness,hopingtheirenemies would be unable to find them. Breathing harshly, stumbling with

labored strides, they pushed their failing bodies to the limits of physicalendurance. Everything became a large black blur made up of rolling mist allaboutthemandtheslicknessofthegrasslandsbeneaththeirracingfeet.Theyranuntil theythoughttheycouldrunnofarther,andstill therewerenomountains,noforests,noplacetohide.Abruptly,fromoutofthedarknessaheadofthem,thereflashedaniron-tipped

pike, piercingEventine’s cloak and pinning him to the damp earth. The outerperimeterofsentries,Flickthoughtinhorror—hehadforgottenaboutthem!Adimformshotoutofthemist,hurtlingitselfonthefallenElf.Withthelastofhiswaning strength, the wounded King twisted sharply to one side to avoid theswordblade thatburied itself in theearthnext tohishead,at the same instantbringinghisownweaponaroundandup.Therushingfigurefellforwardwithaquickgasp,impaledontheblade.Flickstoodrootedinplace,staringwildlyaboutforotherattackers.Butthere

had only been the lone sentry. Quickly he rushed to his companion’s side,wrenching the pike free and pulling the exhausted Elf to his feetwith almostsuperhuman effort. Eventine took a few steps before collapsing to the groundoncemore. Fearfully, theValemandropped to his knees beside him, trying toshakethemanawake.“No—no,I’mfinished,”thehoarsereplycameatlast.“Icangonofarther...”Behind them, the cries of the Northlanders shot out of the darkness. Their

pursuersweredrawingcloser!AgainFlicktriedinvaintopullthelimpformtoitsfeet,butthistimetherewasnoresponseatall.HelplesslytheValemanstaredinto the darkness about him, the short hunting knife held ready. Thiswas theend.Infinaldesperation,hecalledwildlyintothedarknessandthemist.“Allanon!Allanon!”Thecalldiedquicklyintothenight.Therainhadbegunoncemore,fallingin

aslowdrizzleontoanalreadyoversaturatedearthtoformstilllargerpuddlesandmiresonthequietgrasslands.Dawnwasnomorethananhouraway,althoughitwasimpossibletotelltimeinsuchweatherasthis.FlickcrouchedsilentlynexttotheunconsciousElvenKingandlistenedtothesoundsofthemenclosinginabouthim.Hecould tellbytheirvoices that theyweredrawingnearer, thoughtheystillhadnotseenhim.Asiftofurthermockthefutilityofthesituation,herealizedthatafterriskingeverythingtofreeEventine,hehadstillfailedtolearnwhat had befallen themissing Shea. Sudden shouts from his left brought himabouttofacedimfiguresapproachingfromoutofthefog.Theyhadfoundhim!Grimly,herosetomeetthem.

Aninstantlaterthehazydarknessbetweenthemexplodedinablindingflashoffirethatseemedtoeruptfromoutoftheearth,theterrificforcethrowingFlickto the ground, leavinghimdazed andblinded.Showers of sparks andburninggrassfellallabouthimandthethunderofalongseriesofexplosionsshookthegroundviolently.Oneinstant theNorthlanderswereshadowyfigurescaughtinthedazzlinglightandthenexttheydisappearedaltogether.Columnsofcracklingflameshotupwardintothenightlikegiantpillars,thrustingthroughthedarknessandfogtoreachtheheavens.Squintingintothemaelstromofdestruction,Flickthoughtitwastheendoftheworld.Forseveralendlessminutesthewalloffireblazed skyward in unabated fury, tearing the earth into blackened chunks,scorchingthenightairuntiltheheatbegantoburnFlick’sskin.Thenwithafinalflash of surging energy, it flared up brightly and disappeared into a hush ofmingledsmokeandsteam,blendingquicklyintothemistandrainuntilallthatremainedwastheintenseheatofthenightair,driftingslowlytorest.Flick rosecautiously toonekneeandpeered into theemptinessbeforehim,

then turned sharply as he sensed rather than heard the approach of someonebehindhim.Fromoutoftherollingmistandsteamemergedagiantblackform,cloakedinflowingrobesandreachingoutwardas if itwere theangelofdeathcome to claim her own. Flick stared in numbed terror and then started inrecognitionas theawesome formpassedbeforehim. Itwas thedarkwanderercomeatlast.ItwasAllanon.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Dawnhadjustbrokenwithdazzlingbrightnessagainstacloudless,deep-blueskyasthelastbandofrefugeesfromtheislandcityofKernpassedthroughthegates of the great Outer Wall and entered Tyrsis. Gone was the damp,impenetrablemistand thevastdarkceilingofstormclouds thathadblanketedthe land of Callahorn for so many days. The grasslands remained soggy andsprinkledwithsmallpondsthesaturatedearthcouldnotyetmanagetoabsorb,butthepersistentrainshadmovedontobereplacedbyafreshskyandsunthatbrought a new cheerfulness to the morning. The people of Kern had beenarriving inscatteredgroups forseveralhours,allweary,horrifiedbywhathadhappened and frightened ofwhat lay ahead. Their home had been completelydestroyed,thoughsomedidnotyetrealizetheNorthlandershadputeverythingtothetorchfollowingtheunexpectedattackontheirencampment.The evacuation of the doomed city had been a miraculous success, and,

although their homes were gone, they were still alive and, for the moment,secure. The Northlanders had failed to detect themass escape, their attentioncompletely occupied by the courageous band of Legion soldiers that hadassaulted the central camp and drawn them away from even the most distantoutposts in themistaken belief that a full-scale attackwas underway.By thetime they realized the strike was only a feint designed to confuse them, theislandhadbeenevacuatedanditspeoplewerefardowntheswiftMermidonandbeyondthereachofthemaddenedenemy.Menion Leah was one of the last to enter the walled city, his lean frame

battered andexhausted.Thewoundsonhis feethadbeen reopenedduring theten-milemarchfromtheMermidontoTyrsis,buthehadrefusedtobecarried.Itwaswiththelastofhisstrengththathestruggledupthewiderampleadingtothegates of theOuterWall, supported on one side by the faithful Shirl,who hadrefused to leave his side even to sleep, and gripped firmly on the other by anequallywearyJanusSenpre.The youthful Legion commander had survived the fighting of that terrible

nightbattle,escapingthebesiegedislandonthesamesmallraftthathadcarriedMenion andShirl. The ordeal they had been through had brought them closertogether,andon the tripsouthward theyhadspokenfrankly, though inhushedtones,aboutthedisbandingoftheBorderLegion.Theywereincompleteaccord

that if thecityofTyrsisweretowithstandanassaultbyaforcethesizeoftheNorthland army, the Legion would be needed. Moreover, only the missingBalinor possessed the battle knowledge and skill necessary to lead them. ThePrincemustbefoundquicklyandplacedincommand,eventhoughhisbrotherwouldundoubtedlyopposesuchamove,justashewascertaintoopposethere-formingofthelegendaryfightingforcehehadsofoolishlydemobilized.Neither the highlander nor the Legion commander realized at this moment

howdifficult their taskwouldbe, though theysuspected thatBalinorhadbeenseizedbyhisbrotheruponenteringTyrsissomedaysearlier.Nevertheless,theywere resolved thatTyrsiswouldnotbedestroyedas easily asKern.This timetheywouldstandandfight.Asquadofblack-cladpalaceguardsmetthelittlegroupjustinsidethegates

ofthecity,extendingwarmgreetingsfromtheKingandinsistingthattheycometohimat once.When JanusSenpre remarked that he hadheard theKingwasdeathlyillandconfinedtohisbed,thesquadcaptainquickly,thoughsomewhatbelatedly, added that his son Palance extended the offer in his father’s place.NothingcouldhavepleasedMenionmore—hewasanxious toget inside thepalacewall’sforalookaround.Forgottenwasthefatigueandpain,thoughhiscompanionsstillstoodclosetooffertheirsupport.ThesquadcaptainsignaledtotheguardsneartheInnerWall,andanornatecarnagewasquicklybroughtuptoconvey the privileged party to the palace.Menion and Shirl climbed into thecarriage, but Janus Senpre declined to accompany them, explaining that hewishedfirst tosee to thewelfareofhissoldiers in thevacantLegionbarracks.Withdisarmingwarmth,hepromisedhewouldjointhemlater.AsthecarriagedrewawaytotheInnerWall,theyouthfulcommanderwaved

once in sharp salute toMenion, his face impassive.Then accompanied by thegrizzledFandrez and several select officers, he strodepurposefully toward theLegion barracks. In the coach, Menion smiled faintly to himself and grippedShirl’shand.The carriage passed through the gates of the InnerWall andmoved slowly

ontothecrowdedTyrsianWay.Thepeopleofthewalledcityhadrisenearlythatday,anxioustowelcometheunfortunatefugitivesfromtheirsistercity,eagertooffer both food and shelter to friends and strangers alike.Everyonewanted toknowmoreabout themassive invasion force thatwasnowadvancingon theirown homes. Throngs ofworried and frightened people lingered uncertainly inthebusystreets,talkinganxiouslyamongthemselves,pausingtostarecuriouslyas the carriage escorted by the palace guards rolled slowly past them. A few

pointed or waved in astonishment as they recognized the slim girl who rodewithin,thedark,rust-coloredhairshadowingherwornanddrawnface.Menionsatclosetoher,suddenlyawareoncemoreofthepainstabbinginquicktwingesfromhisbatteredfeet.Hewasgratefulnowthatitwasnotnecessarytowalkanyfarther.The great city seemed to rush past him in short flashes of buildings and

overpasses, all crowded with men, women, and children of all ages anddescriptions, all rushing somewhere in noisy waves. The highlander breatheddeeplyandsettledbackinthecushionedseat,hishandstillholdingShirl’s,hiseyesclosingmomentarilyasheallowedhistiredmindtodriftintothegrayhazethatcloudedhisthoughts.Thecityanditsmultitudesfadedquicklyintoafaintdroneofsoundthatsoothedhim,lulledhimquietlytowardthecomfortofsleep.Hewason thevergeofslippingawayentirelywhenagentleshakingofhis

shoulder brought himquickly around, andhis eyesopened toview thedistantpalacegroundsas thecarriagemounted thewideavenueof theSendicBridge.The youth gazed appreciatively downon the sunlit parks and gardens beneaththebridge, their tree-shaded lawnsdottedwithcolor fromseeminglycountlesscarefully tended flower beds. Everything lay in peace and warmth, as if thissector of the city were somehow an unrelated part of the turbulent humanexistencethathadcreatedit.Attheotherendofthebridgethegatestothepalaceswungopeninreception.

Menionpeeredaheadindisbelief.Theentireentrywaywaslinedwithsoldiersofthepalaceguard,allimmaculatelydressedintheirblackuniformscrestedbytheemblemofthefalcon,allstandingstifflyatattention.Fromwithintheenclosure,trumpetsannouncedthearrivalofthecoachanditspassengers.Thehighlanderwas astonished. They were being accorded the formal welcome normallyreservedforonlythegreatestleadersofthefourlands,apolicystrictlyobservedbythefewmonarchiesremaininginthevastSouthland.Thepompanddisplayof a full military salute clearly indicated that Palance Buckhannah wasdeterminedto ignorenotonly thecircumstancesunderwhichtheyhadarrived,buttheinviolatetraditionofcenturies.“He must be mad — absolutely mad!” the angered Southlander stormed.

“Whatdoeshethinkthisis?We’rebesiegedbyaninvadingarmy,andheturnsoutthetroopsforadressparade!”“Menion,becarefulwhatyousaytohim.Wemustbepatientifwearetobe

ofanyusetoBalinor.”Shirlgrippedhisshoulderandfacedhimforamoment,smiling quickly in warning. “Remember as well that he loves me, misguided

thoughhemaybe.Hewasagoodmanonce,andheisBalinor’sbrotherstill.”Impatientandimpulsiveasalways,Menionneverthelessrealizedthatshewas

right. There was nothing to be gained by showing he was angered with thefoolishpageant, andhewaswell advised togoalongwith thePrince’swhimsuntilBalinorwaslocatedandfreed.Hesatquietlybackinthecoachasitenteredthe palace gates, passing in slow review before the rows of expressionlesssoldiers that formed the elite of the King’s personal guard. The fanfarescontinuedtorollfromallsides,andasmallsquadofcavalrywheeledinpreciseformation about the courtyard for the benefit of the new arrivals. Then thecarriagecametoagentlehalt,andthebigfigureofthenewrulerofCallahornappearedatthecoachdoor,thebroadfacesmilinginnervousdelight.“Shirl—Shirl,I thoughtIwouldneverseeyouagain!”Hereachedintothe

coachandhelpedtheslimgirlfromthesmallenclosure,holdingherclosetohimforamomentandsteppingawaytoviewheroncemore.“I...IreallythoughtIhadlostyou.”Burning quietly, an impassive Menion helped himself from the carriage,

steppingdownbesidethem,smilingfaintlyasPalanceturnedtogreethim.“Prince of Leah, you are indeed welcome in my kingdom,” the big man

greetedtheleanhighlander,reachingwarmlyforhishand.“Youhavedoneme...a very great service.Anything I have is yours—anything.We shall be greatfriends,youandI!Greatfriends!Ithasbeen...solongsince...”He trailed off sharply, looking intensely at the highlander, suddenly lost in

thought.Hisspeechwasstiltedandnervous,almostasifheweren’tquitesureofwhat he was swing at any one point. If he weren’t completely mad a ready,Menionthoughtquickly,hewascertainlyveryill.“I’m very pleased to be in Tyrsis,” he responded, “although I wish the

circumstancescouldhavebeenmorepleasantforallconcerned.”“You mean my brother, of course?” The question shot out as the other

snappedawakeagain,hisfaceflushed.Menionstartedmomentarilyinsurprise.“Palance, hemeans the invasion of theNorthlanders, the burning ofKern,”

Shirlinterposedquickly.“Yes. Kern...” Again he trailed off, this time looking anxiously about as if

someoneweremissing.Menionglancedaboutuneasily,realizingthatthemysticStenminwasstrangelyabsent.AccordingtoShirlandJanusSenpre, thePrincenever went anywhere without his adviser. Quickly he caught Shirl’s watchfuleye.“Is there something wrong, my Lord?”Menion used the formal address to

catchtheother’s instantattention,smilingquicklyinreassurancethathewasaconcernedfriendpreparedtohelp.Thedeceptionbroughtunexpectedresults.“You can help me... and this kingdom, Menion Leah,” Palance responded

quickly.“Mybrotherseeks tobeKing inmyplace.Hewouldhavemekilled.MyadviserStenminhassavedmefromthis—butthereareotherenemies...allaround!YouandImustbe friends.Wemuststand togetheragainst thosewhoseektotakemythrone—tobringharmtothislovelywomanwhomyouhavereturned tome. I... I cannot talkwith Stenmin... theway Iwould talkwith afriend.Butyou,Icouldtalkwithyou!”Likeasmallchild,hegazedeagerlyattheamazedMenionLeah,awaitinghis

reply.AsuddenfeelingofpityforthissonofRuhlBuckhannahsweptoverthehighlander, and he duly wished there was something he could do to help theunfortunateman.Smilingsadly,henoddedhisagreement.“Iknewyouwouldstandwithme!”theotherexclaimedexcitedly,laughingin

delight.“Wearebothmenofroyalblood,andthat...bindsusclosely.YouandIshallbegreatfriends,Menion.Butnow...youmustrest.”Heseemedtorecallsuddenlythathispalacecorpswerestillstandingstifflyat

paradeattention,waitingpatientlyforthePrincetogivetheorderfordismissal.With a sharpwaveof his hand, the new ruler ofCallahorn led his twogueststowardtheBuckhannahhome,noddingtothecommanderofhispersonalguardastheypassedtosignalthathissoldierscouldbedispersedforregularduty.Thetriopassed into theentrywayof theancienthome,whereanumberofservantsstoodwaitingtoescortthegueststotheirrooms.Pausingbrieflyoncemore,thehostturnedtohisguests,bendingclosetowhisper.“Mybrother is locked in thedungeonsbeneathus.Youneednotbeafraid.”

He staredmeaningfully at them for amoment, glancingquickly at the curiousservantswhowaitedrespectfullyinthebackground.“Hehasfriendseverywhere,youknow.”BothMenionandShirlnodded,becauseitwasexpectedofthem.“Hewon’tescapefromthedungeonsthen?”Menionpursuedthematterabit

further.“Hetriedlastnight...withhisfriends.”Palancesmiledwithsatisfaction.“But

we caught them and trapped them... trapped them in the dungeon forever.Stenministherenow...youmustmeethim...”Againhestraightenedupwith the thought leftunspoken,hisattentiongiven

over to the servants, several of whom he beckoned to his side. He crisplydirected them to escort his friends to their quarters where they could bathe

themselvesanddonfreshclothingbefore joininghimforbreakfast. Itwasstillonlyaboutanhourafterdawnand therefugeesfromKernhadnoteatensincethe previous night.Menion neededmedical treatment for his hastily bandagedwounds,andthehousephysicianstoodreadytochangethedressingsandapplyfreshmedicines.Heneededrest,too,butthatcouldwait.ThesmallpartystarteddownonelonghallwaywhensuddenlyadistractedvoicecalledafterShirl,andthenewrulerofCallahorncameafterthem,approachingthewonderinggirlwithhesitant steps, finally stopping before her and quickly embracing her.Menionkepthisfaceaverted,buttheirwordswereclear.“You must not go away from me again, Shirl.” It was a command, not a

request, though the words were softly spoken. “Your new home must be inTyrsis—asmywife.”Therewasalongmomentofsilence.“Palance, I thinkwe...”Shirl’s voice shook as she tried to interpose a quiet

explanation.“No— say nothing. No discussion is necessary now... not now,” Palance

interruptedquickly.“Later...whenwearealone,whenyouarerested...therewillbe time. You know I love you... I always have. And you have loved me, Iknow.”Again the longmomentof silence, and thenShirlwaswalkingquicklypast

Menion,forcingtheservantstodashaheadinordertoleadthewaytotheguestquarters.Thehighlanderquicklycameupbesidethebeautifulgirl,notdaringtoreach for her while his host stood silently watching them move down thehallway.Shirl’sfacewaslowered,shadedbythelongredhair,theslim,bronzedhandsclasped tightlybeforeher.Neither spokeas the servants led themdownthewide corridor to their rooms in thewest wing of the ancient home. Theyseparated briefly while Menion allowed the persistent physician to treat hiswoundsandwraptheminfreshbandages.Cleanclothinglayonthehuge,four-postedbed,andahotbathstoodwaiting,butadistraughtMenionignoredthemboth. Quickly he slipped from his room into the empty hallway; he knockedsoftly,pushedopenthedoortoShirl’sroom,andentered.Sheroseslowlyfromthebedasheclosedtheheavywoodendoor,thenranquicklytohim,herarmsencirclingandholdinghimtightlytoher.Theystoodinsilenceforseveralminutes,justholdingeachother,feelingthe

warm life flow quickly through their bodies, knotting and winding inunbreakableties.SoftlyMenionstrokedthedarkredtresses,gentlypressingthebeautifulfacecloseagainsthischest.Shedependedonhim;thethoughtflashed

withreliefthroughhisnumbedmind.Whenherownstrength,herowncouragehad faltered, she had turned to him, and Menion realized that he loved herdesperately.It was very strange that it should happen now, when their world seemed

destined to crumble about them and death stood waiting in the shadows. YetMenion’s turbulent life of the past several weeks had drawn him from onefrighteningstruggletothenext,eachabattleforsurvivalthatseemedsenselessinmortal terms and found its logic solely in the strange legend of themysticSwordofShannaraandtheWarlockLord.InthoseterribledayssinceCulhaven,lifehadragedaroundhimlikeabattle,andhehadsurgeddirectionlessthroughits center. His deep friendship and love for Shea, and his now brokencompanionshipwiththemembersofthecompanythathadjourneyedtoParanorandbeyond,hadprovidedafaintsenseofstability,anindicationthatsomethingconstant would remain while the rest of the world rushed away. Thenunexpectedly, he had found Shirl Ravenlock, and the fast pace of events anddangers shared in those past few days, combined with a totally predictablemeshing of personal needs, had drawn and bound them inextricably to oneanother.Menionclosedhiseyesandpressedhercloser.Palance had been helpful in at least one respect— he had told them that

Balinor and probably the others with him were imprisoned in the dungeonssomewhere beneath the palace. Evidently one escape had already failed, andMenion was determined that he would not make any mistakes. Quietly heconversedwithShirl,tryingtodecidewhattheirnextstepshouldbe.IfPalanceinsisted on keeping Shirl close to him in order to assure her protection, hermovement would be severely restricted. A worse threat was the Prince’sobsessionwithmarryingherinthefalsebeliefthatshetrulylovedhim.PalanceBuckhannahseemedpoisedonthebrinkoftotalmadness,hissanityprecariouslybalanced. It could be tipped at anymoment, and if that should happen whileBalinorwashisprisoner...Menionpausedmentally,awarethat timedidnotpermitspeculationofwhat

might happen tomorrow. By then it would make little difference because theNorthland invasion force would be at the gates and it would be too late foranyonetodoanything.Balinorhadtobefreednow.MenionhadastrongallyinJanus Senpre, but the palacewas secured by the special black-garbed soldierswho servedonly the ruler, andat themoment it appeared they servedPalanceBuckhannah.NooneseemedtoknowwhathadbecomeoftheoldKing;hehadnotbeenseenforweeks.Evidentlyhewasunabletomovefromhissickbed,yet

therewasonlyhisson’swordforthat—andhissonreliedonthewordofthestrangemysticStenmin.ShirlhadonceremarkedthatshehadneverseenPalancealoneformorethana

few moments without his adviser close at hand, yet when they arrived fromKern,Stenminhadbeennowhereinsight.Thiswaspeculiar,especiallysinceitwascommonknowledgethatStenminhadmadehimselftherealpowerbehindtheunstablePrince.Shirl’sfatherhadstatedinthecouncilchambersofKernthatthe evilmystic seemed to possess some strange hold over the younger son ofRuhlBuckhannah.IfonlyMenioncoulddiscoverwhatthatpowerwas—forhewassure that themysticwas thekey to thePrince’sunbalancedbehavior.Buttherewasnotimeleft.Hewouldhavetodothebesthecouldwithwhatlittleheknewnow.WhenheleftShirlandreturnedtohisownroom,readynowforthathotbath

andacleanchangeofclothing,aplanforfreeingBalinorwasalreadyforminginhismind.Hewasstillfillinginthedetailswhenthebathwasfinishedandtherewasaknockonthedoor.Slippingintoarobehishosthadfurnished,hecrossedtheroomandopenedthedoor.OneofthepalaceservantshadbroughthimtheswordofLeah.Smilinggratefully,hethankedthemananddroppedthepreciousweapononthebed,recallingthathehaddepositeditontheseatinthecarriageduring his ride to the palace and forgotten to remove it. His mind wanderedbriefly as he dressed, remembering proudly the service that battle-wornimplementhadseen.HehadbeenthroughsomuchsinceSheahadappearedinLeahthosemanyweeksago—itmighthavebeenalifetimeforanyman.Pausingmomentarily,hereflectedsadlyonhismissingfriendandwondered

forthethousandthtimeifthelittleValemanwerestillalive.HeshouldnotbeinTyrsis,hechidedhimselfinbitterrecrimination.Sheahaddependedonhimforprotection,butitappearedthathistrusthadbeenbadlymisplaced.Menionhadrepeatedlyallowedhimself tobegovernedby thewishesofAllanon,andeachtimehisconsciencehadwarnedhimthathewassomehowfailinghiscompanionbyfollowingtheDruid’scouncil.Hefeltdeeplyangeredat thethoughtthathehadignoredhisclearresponsibilitytotheValeman,andyetthechoicesthathadbroughthim toTyrsishadbeenhisown.TherewereothersbesidesSheawhodesperatelyneededhim...Crossing the spacious bedroom in measured steps, still lost in thought, he

droppedheavilytothewelcomesoftnessofthelargebed,hisoutstretchedhandcoming to reston thecoolmetalofhis sword.He fingered it lightlyashe layback wearily and pondered the problems facing him. Shirl’s frightened face

lingeredinhismind,hereyessearchingMenion’sown.Shewasveryimportanttohim;hecouldnot leavehernowinorder to resume thesearch forShea,nomatterwhattheconsequencesmightbe.Itwasabitterchoicetomake,ifindeedtherewasanyrealchoiceatall,forhisdutyranbeyondthosetwosinglelivestothose of Balinor and his imprisoned comrades and ultimately to those of thepeople ofCallahorn. Itwouldbe forAllanon andFlick to find and rescue themissing Valeman if he were still alive. So much depended on them all, hethoughtabsently,histiredmindandbodyalreadydriftingtowardamuchneededsleep.Theycouldonlyprayforsuccess...prayandwait.Hehoveredonthebrinkofslumberandthensoftlydroppedoff.Amomentlaterhissleepingmindjerkedsharplyandhewasinstantlyawake.

Theremayhavebeenaslightnoiseorperhapsonlyahighlykeyedsixthsense,butwhateveritwassnappedhimbackfromasleepthatwouldhaveendedinhisdeath. He laymotionless on the great bed as his listening ears caught a faintscrapingsoundfromthe farwall,and through theslitsofhiseyelidshesawaportionofatapestryripplewithmovement.Apartoftheheavystonebehindthetapestry seemed to push outward and a bent, scarlet-cloaked figure slidnoiselesslyintoview.Menionforcedhimself tocontinuebreathinginmeasuredintervals,although

his heart was beating wildly, urging him to leap from the bed and seize themysteriousintruder.Thecloakedfiguremovedsilentlyacrossthebedroomfloor,theunfamiliarfaceglancingquicklyabouttheroomandthenturningbacktothehighlander’s sprawled form. The intruder was only several feet from the bedwhenaleanhandslippedbeneaththescarletcloakandemerged,grippingalong,wickeddagger.Menion’soutstretchedhandrestedlooselyontheswordofLeah,butstillhe

didnotmove.Hewaitedamomentlongeruntiltheattackerwaswithinaboutayardofthebed,thedaggerheldatwaistlevel;thenwiththelightningspeedofacat,hestruck.Theleanbodywhippedupwardandtowardthestartledintruder,onehandclenchingtheswordstillsheathedinitsleatherscabbardastheflatofthebladesnappedsharplyaroundattheman’sunprotectedface,strikingitinastinging slap. The mysterious figure reeled backward, the dagger raiseddefensively. The sword struck a second time, and theweapon clattered to theflooras thenumbedfingersof theattackerclenchedsuddenly inpain.Meniondidnotpause,but threwhimselfat thescarlet figure,hisownweightdraggingthestrugglingmantothefloorwherehequicklypinnedhim,twistingonearmsharplyashisfingersclosedtightlyaboutthewindpipe.

“Speakup,assassin!”Meniongrowledmenacingly.“No, nowait, you’vemade amistake... I’m not an enemy... please, I can’t

breathe...”Thevoicechokedsharplyandtheman’sbreathraspedinraggedgulpsasthe

highlander’sgripremainedunalteredandthecolddarkeyessurveyedthefaceofhis captive.Tohisknowledge,Menionhadnever seen theman.The facewaspinchedandsharp,framedbyasmallblackbeardandlinedwithpain.Evenashe studied the teeth clenched in anger and the eyes burning with hatred, thehighlanderinstinctivelyknewtherehadbeennomistakemade.Steppingquicklytooneside,he jerked the intruder tohisfeet,onehandstill firmlyfastenedonthescrawnyneck.“Tellmeaboutmymistake,then.YouhaveaboutaminutebeforeIcutyour

tongueoutandturnyouovertotheguards!”Hereleasedhisgripontheman’sthroat,hishanddroppingtoseizethefront

ofthescarlettunic.Tossinghisswordonthebed,hequicklypickedupthefallendagger,holdingitreadyshouldhisattackerattemptanythingfurther.“Thiswas a gift, Prince ofLeah...merely a gift from theKing.”The voice

broke slightly as the fellow struggled to regain his composure. “The Kingwantedtoshowhisgratitude,andI...Icamethroughanotherdoorsoasnot todisturbyoursleep.”He paused as if waiting for something, the sharp eyes riveted on the

highlander’sown.Hewasn’twaitingtoseeifhisstorywouldbebelieved—itwas something else, almost as if hewere expectingMenion to see somethingmore...ThePrinceofLeah jerkedhimsharply,snapping the leanfaceclose tohisown.“That is unquestionably the weakest tale I have ever heard!Who are you,

assassin?”Theeyesburnedintohisownwithintensehatred.“I am Stenmin, the King’s personal adviser.” He seemed to have suddenly

regainedhis sensesnow.“Ididnot lie toyou.Thedaggerwasapresent fromPalanceBuckhannahwhichIwasaskedtobringtoyou.Imeantyounoharm.Ifyoudonotbelieveme,gototheKing.Askhim!”Therewasahintofconfidenceintheman’svoicethatconvincedMenionthat

Palancewouldaffirmhisadviser’sstorywhetheritwastrueornot.HehadinhisgraspthemostdangerousmaninCallahorn,theevilmysticwhohadbecomethepowerbehindthemonarchy—theonemanhehadtoeliminateifBalinorweretoberescued.Whythemanhadchosentoattackhimwhentheyhadnevermet

was something he did not understand, but itwas clear that if he released himnoworeventookhimbeforePalanceinanefforttodiscredithim,thehighlanderwould lose the initiative and place his own life in danger again. Roughly hethrewthemysticintoanearbychairandorderedhimtoremainmotionless.Theman sat quietly, his eyes drifting aimlessly about the room, the handsmovingnervouslytostrokethesmallpointedbeard.Menioneyedhimabsently,hismindcarefully pondering the choices open to him. It took him only, a moment todecide.Hecouldno longerbidehis time,waitingfor the rightmoment to freehisfriends;thedecisionhadbeentakenoutofhishands.“Onyourfeet,mystic,orwhateveryouprefertocallyourself!”Theevilface

staredmenacinglyathim,andinfuryMenionyankedthemanviolentlyupfromthechair.“Ioughttodisposeofyouwithoutfurtherconsideration;thepeopleofCallahornwouldbemuch thebetter for it.But for the timebeing, Ineedyourservices.TakemetothedungeonswhereBalinorandtheothersareimprisoned—now!”Stenmin’seyeswentwideinsuddenshockatthementionofBalinor.“How could you know of him... a traitor to this kingdom?” the mystic

exclaimed in astonishment. “The King himself has ordered his brotherimprisoneduntilhisnaturaldeath,PrinceofLeah,andevenI...”HissentenceendedinastrangledgaspasMeniongrabbedhimroughlybythe

throatandbegantosqueeze.Stenmin’sfaceturnedslowlypurple.“Ididn’taskforexcusesorexplanations.Justtakemetohim!”Oncemorehetightenedhis irongripandfinallythegaspingcaptivenodded

violentlyhisacquiescence.Menionreleasedhimwithasnapofhiswristandthenearlythrottledmanfelldizzilytooneknee.Quicklythehighlanderslippedoutofhisrobeandintohisclothing,strappingontheswordandshovingthedaggerintohisbelt.ForaninstanthethoughtaboutarousingShirlinthenextroom,butquicklydiscardedthatidea.Hisplanwasdangerousenough,therewasnoreasontoriskherlifeaswell.Ifhesucceededinfreeinghisfriends,therewouldbetimeenoughtocomebackforher.Heturnedtohiscaptive,drawingthedaggerfromhisbeltandholdingitupfortheothertosee.“The present that you were so kind to bring me will be returned to you,

assassin,ifyouattempttotrickorbetraymeinanyway,”hewarnedinhismostmenacing toneofvoice. “Sodon’t try tobeclever.Whenwe leave this room,youwilltakemedownthebackcorridorsandstairstotheprisonwhereBalinorandhiscompanionsareheld.Don’ttrytoalarmtheguards—youwon’tbefastenough.IfyoudoubtanythingI’vetoldyou,thenunderstandthis.Iwassentto

thiscitybyAllanon!”Stenminseemedtogosuddenlywhiteat thementionof thegiantDruidand

undisguisedfearshotintohiswideningeyes.Apparentlycowedintoobeyinghiscaptor,thescarletmysticmovedsilentlytowardthebedroomdoorandMenionfell into step directly behind him, the dagger back in his belt with one handgrippingthehilt.Timewastheall-importantfactornow.Hehadtoactquickly,freeingBalinorandtheotherimprisonedmembersofthecompanyoffriendsandseizing the deranged Palance before the members of the palace guard werealerted.ThenaquickmessagetoJanusSenprewouldbringtotheiraidthosestillloyal toBalinor, and the power of themonarchywould be restoredwithout abattle.Already themassiveNorthlandarmywouldbemobilizingon thegrasslands

above the island of Kern, preparing tomove on Tyrsis. If the Border Legioncouldbereassembledanddeployedquicklyenoughthatday,therewasachancetheinvadermightbestoppedonthenorthshoreoftheMermidon.Itwouldbeanearlyimpossibletasktocrossthatfloodedriverwithadefensiveforceholdingthe opposite bank, and it would take the enemy several days to manage aflankingmaneuver—morethanenoughtimeforthearmiesofEventinetoreachthem.Menionknewitwouldalldependonthenextfewminutes.The twomensteppedcautiously into thehallwaybeyond the room.Menion

quicklyglancedinbothdirectionsforanysignoftheblack-garbedsentries,butthehallwasdeserted,andthehighlandermotionedStenminahead.Themysticreluctantlyledhiscaptortowardtheinnerroomsofthecentralpalace,windinghiswayalongthecorridorsthatrantotherearoftheancientbuilding,carefullyavoidingtheoccupiedrooms.Twicetheypassedmembersof thepalaceguard,buteachtimeStenminwithheldanycommentorgreeting,hisdarkfaceloweredingrimdetermination.Throughthelatticeworkofthecastlewindows,Menioncouldseethegardens

thatdecoratedthegroundsoftheBuckhannahhome,thesunlightfallingwarmlyon the brightly colored flowers. Itwas alreadymidmorning, and beforemuchlonger the normal gathering of visitors and business personages would begin.TherehadbeennosignofPalanceBuckhannah,andMenionwashopeful thatthePrincewaspreoccupiedwithothermatters.As the two walked slowly down the hallways, the sound of voices was

distinctly audible in all directions. Servants began to appear in increasingnumbers, moving busily about their assigned tasks. When they passed, theypointedly ignoredStenminandhis apparent companion, agood indication that

theyneitherlikednortrustedthemystic.Nonequestionedtheirpresenceandatlast they approached the massive doorway that led to the castle cellars. Twoarmedsentrieswerestationedbeforethedoor,andahugemetalbarnowheldthelatchesfirmlyinplace.“Be careful what you say,” Menion cautioned in a sharp whisper as they

nearedtheguards.They came to a slow halt before the massive cellar door, the watchful

highlanderplacingonehandinaleisurelymanneronthehiltofthedaggerashestoodclosebehindStenmin.Theguardsglancedcuriouslyathimforamoment,thenturnedtheirattentiontotheKing’sadviser,whohadbeguntoaddressthem.“Openthedoor,guards.ThePrinceofLeahandIwillinspectthewinecellar

andthedungeons.”“AllpersonsareforbiddentoenterthisareabyorderoftheKing,myLord,”

theguardtotherightstatedpointedly.“IamherebyorderoftheKing!”Stenminshoutedangrily,causingMenionto

givehimawarningnudge.“Sentry, this is the King’s personal counselor — not an enemy of the

Kingdom,”thehighlanderpointedoutwithadeceivingsmile.“Weareonatourof the palace, and since itwas Iwho rescued theKing’s betrothed, itwas hisbelief that I might recognize the lady’s abductors. Now if necessary, I shalldisturbtheKingandbringhimdownhere...”He trailed off meaningfully, praying that the guards would be sufficiently

forewarned of Palance’s irrational behavior to think twice about calling himdown. The guards hesitated momentarily, then nodded quietly, released thelatchesonthedoorandsteppedaside,swingingthemassiveportalopentorevealthe stone stairway leading downward. Stenmin again led the way withoutcomment. Apparently he had decided to follow Menion’s instructions to theletter,but thecautioushighlanderknewthat themysticwasnofool. IfBalinorweresuccessfullyfreedandrestoredtocommandoftheBorderLegion,thenhisown power over the throne of Callahorn would be finished. He wouldundoubtedly attempt something, but the time and the place had not yet come.Theheavydoorclosedquietlybehindthemandtheybegantheirdescentintothetorchlitcellar.Menionsawthetrapdoorinthecenterofthecellarflooralmostimmediately.

Theguardshadnotbotheredtoconceal itasecondtimewiththewinebarrels,but had fastened a series of iron bars and latches across the stone slab,effectively preventing anyone imprisoned below frombreaking free.Although

Menioncouldnothaveknown,theprisonershadnotbeenreturnedtotheircellsfollowing the aborted escape attempt earlier that samemorning. Instead, theyhadbeenlefttoroaminthedarknessofthedungeoncorridors.Twoguardswerestationednexttothesealedopening,theirattentionnowfocusedonthetwomenwhohadjustbeenadmittedfromthepalace.Menionsawaplateofcheeseandbreadrestinghalfeatenononeofthewinebarrelsandtwocupsofwineplacednext to a half-drained flask. They had been drinking. The highlander smiledslightly.Asthetworeachedthestoneflooring,Menionpretendedtoglanceaboutthe

wine cellar in great interest, beginning a jovial conversation with the silentStenmin.TheguardsroseslowlyandcametoattentionatthesightoftheKing’sadviser,whowaslookingdecidedlygrimaboutsomething.Thehighlanderknewthey had been caught off balance by this unexpected visit and he decided tomakethemostofit.“Iseewhatyoumean,myLord.”Hegloweredfiercelyatthemysticasthey

drew near to the sentries. “These men have been drinking while on duty!Suppose the prisoners should have escapedwhile thesemen lay in a drunkenstupor?TheKingmustbetoldofthisassoonaswehavefinishedourbusinesshere.”TheguardsturnedpalewithfearatmentionoftheKing.“MyLord,youaremistaken,”theonepleadedhastily.“Wewereonlytakinga

littlewinewithourbreakfast.Wehavenotbeenlax...”“TheKingshoulddecidethat.”Menioncuthimoffwithawaveofhishand.“But...theKingwillnotlisten...”Stenmingloweredinfuryatthedeception,buttheguardsmisunderstoodand

quickly assumed he meant to have them punished. The mystic tried to saysomething, but Menion moved quickly in front of him, as if in an effort torestrain his advance toward the unfortunate guards, drawing the dagger andholdingitclosetotheman’sunprotectedchest.“Yes,ofcoursetheyareprobablylying,”Menioncontinuedwithoutchanging

histoneofvoice.“StillthekingisabusymanandIhatetobotherhimwithlittleproblems.Perhapsawordofwarningtothem...?”Heglancedbackattheguardswhonoddeddumbly,graspingatanychanceto

avoidStenmin’swrath.LikeeveryoneelseintheKingdom,theywerefrightenedof the power the strange mystic possessed over Palance and were more thaneagertoavoidangeringhim.“Verygood,then,youhavehadyourwarning.”Menionsheathedthedagger

and turnedback to the still-shaken sentries. “Nowopen thedungeondoor andbringuptheprisoners.”HestoodclosetoStenmin,glancingathimquicklyinwarning.Thedarkface

didnotseemtoseehimanymore,theeyesstaringvacantlyatthestoneslabthatbarredtheirentrytothedungeonsbeneath.Thesentrieshadnotmoved,butwereglancingateachotherinnewdesperation.“My Lord, the King has forbidden anyone to see the prisoners... for any

reason,”theoneguardgulpedatlast.“Icannotbringthemoutofthedungeon.”“SoyouwouldbartheKing’sadviserandhispersonalguest.”Meniondidnot

hesitate.He had expected this. “Thenwe have no choice but to call theKingdownhere...”Thatwasallittook.Therewasnofurtherdeliberationasthesentriesracedto

the stone slab, quickly sliding back the latches and bolts.Bracing themselves,the guards pulled back on the iron ring and the trapdoor swung ponderouslyupwardandfellbackheavilyagainstthestoneflooring,leavingagapingblackhole. Holding their swords ready, the sentries called down into the darkness,commanding the prisoners to come out. There were footsteps on the ancientstonestairwayasMenionwaitedexpectantlyatStenmin’sside,hisownswordnowdrawn.Hisfreehandheldthemystic’sarmtightly,andinasharpwhisperhewarned the lean adviser not to speak ormove. ThenBalinor’s broad formappeared from out of the pit, closely followed by the Elven brothers and thedurable Hendel, his own attempt to rescue his friends thwarted only hoursearlier. They did not see Menion at first. Quickly the highlander steppedforward,stillholdingthesilentStenmin.“That’sit,keepthemmoving,keepthemtogether.Suchmenmustbewatched

carefully.Theyarealwaysdangerous.”The wearied prisoners glanced over abruptly, only thinly masking their

astonishmentonseeing thePrinceofLeah.Menionwinkedquicklybehind theguards’backs,andthefourcaptivesturnedaway,onlytheslowsmileonDayel’syoungfacebetrayingthesuddenjoytheywereexperiencingatthesightoftheiroldfriend.Theywereoutofthepitnowandstandingquietlyafewfeetfromtheguards,whostoodwiththeirbackstothehighlander.ButbeforeMenioncouldact, the heretofore passive Stenmin wrested his whiplike form free from hiscaptor’sirongripandsprangasidetoshoutaquickwarningtotheunsuspectingsentries.“Traitor!Guards,it’satrick...”Hewasneverabletofinish.Asthedistractedsentrieswhirledabout,Menion

leaped catlike at the fleeingmystic, throwing himviolently to the stone floor.The soldiers realized their mistake too late. The four prisoners sprang intoaction,closingtheshortspaceofgroundseparatingthemfromtheir jailersanddisarming them before they could recover. Within seconds the guards weresubdued, quickly bound and gagged, and dragged into a corner of the cellarwhere theywerehidden fromsight.A thoroughlybeatenStenminwasyankedunceremoniouslytohisfeettofacehisnewcaptors.Menionglancedanxiouslyat the closed door at the top of the cellar stairway, but no one appeared.Apparently the shouthadgoneunheeded.Balinorand theothers cameover tohimwithsmilesofgratitudeontheir tiredfaces,clappinghimonthebackandshakinghishandonceagain.“MenionLeah,weoweyoumorethanwecaneverhopetogiveback.”The

giantbordermangrippedhishandtightly.“Ididnotthinkwewouldeverseeyouagain.WhereisAllanon?”Quickly Menion explained how he had left Allanon and Flick concealed

above the camp of theNorthland army and come toCallahorn towarn of theimpendingadvanceagainstTyrsis.Pausingmomentarily togagStenmin in theevent theeviladviser shouldattempt tocalloutanotherwarning to theguardspostedoutsidethecellardoor, thehighlandertoldofrescuingShirlRavenlock,fleeingtoKernandsubsequentlytothewallsofTyrsisaftertheislandcitywasbesiegedanddestroyed.Hisfriendslistenedgrimlyuntilhehadfinished.“Whatever elsemaycomeoutof this,highlander,”Hendeldeclaredquietly,

“youhaveprovedyourselfthisdayandweshallneverforgetit.”“The Border Legion must be re-formed and sent to hold the Mermidon

immediately,”Balinorcutinquickly.“Wemustgetwordtothelowercity.Thenwemustfindmyfather...andmybrother.ButIwanttosecurethepalaceandthearmywithoutabattle.Menion,canwetrustJanusSenpretocometoouraidifwecallforhim?”“HeisloyaltoyouandtotheKing.”Menionnoddedaffirmatively.“You must get a message to him while we remain here,” the Prince of

Callahorncontinued,pacingovertowardthecaptiveStenmin.“Oncehearriveswithhelp,weshouldhavenotrouble—mybrotherwillbeleftwithoutsupport.Butwhatofmyfather...?”Towering over the dark form of the mystic, he removed the gag from the

captive’smouthandstaredcoldlydownathim.Stenminmethisgazebriefly,hisowneyesfurtiveandfilledwithhate.ThemysticknewhewasbeatenifPalancewas captured and removed as monarch of Callahorn, and he was becoming

increasinglydesperateastheenddrewnearandhisplansbegantobreakapart.Standing with the Elven brothers and Hendel as Balinor confronted themysteriouscaptive,Menionfoundhimselfwonderingwhat themanhadhopedto gain by encouraging Palance to take the steps he had. Certainly it was nomystery why he had supported the distraught and unstable Prince as the newKingofCallahorn.HisownpositionwasassuredwithBalinor’sbrotherruling.ButwhyhadheencouragedthedisbandingoftheBorderLegionwhenheknewthatan invadingarmywas threatening tooverrun the littleSouthlandkingdomandputanendtoitsenlightenedmonarchy?WhyhadhegonetosuchpainstoimprisonBalinorandtosecretehisfather inadistantwingof thepalacewhentheycouldhavebeenquietlydisposedof?AndwhyhadhetriedtokillMenionLeah,amanhehadnevermetbefore?“Stenmin,yourruleoverthislandanditspeopleandyourdominationofmy

brother are over,” Balinor declared with cold determination. “Whether or notyouwill ever see the light of another day depends onwhat you do fromnowuntilthetimeIamagainincommandofthecity.Whathaveyoudonewithmyfather?”Therewasalongmomentofsilenceasthemysticlookeddesperatelyaround,

thedarkfaceashenwithfear.“He...heisinthenorthwing...inthetower,”theanswerwasawhisper.“Ifhehasbeenharmed,mystic...”Balinorturnedawaysharply,leavingtheterrifiedmanmomentarilyforgotten.

Stenmin shrank away against one wall, gazing after the tall figure of theborderman. One hand came up nervously to stroke the small, pointed beard.Menionwatchedhim,almostinpity,andthensuddenlysomethingclickedinhismind. An image flashed sharply — a memory of a scene he had witnessedseveraldaysearlieronthebanksoftheMermidonnorthoftheislandofKernashehad lainconcealedonasmallhillockoverlookingawindybeachhead.Thatsamemannerism—thestrokingofasmallpointedbeard!NowheknewexactlywhatStenminwasattempting todo!His face turned toamaskof rageandhestartedforward,brushingpastBalinorasifhewasn’teventhere.“You were the man on the beach — the kidnapper!” he accused in

undisguisedfury.“YoutriedtokillmebecauseyouthoughtIwouldrecognizeyou as themanwho kidnapped Shirl— themanwho turned her over to theNorthlanders.Youtraitor!Youintendedtobetrayusall—toturnthecityovertotheWarlockLord!”Heedlessofthecriesofhiscompanions,herushedtowardthenowhysterical

mystic,whosomehowmanagedtoevadehisinitiallungeandbreakawaytowardthecellarstairway.Menionwasafterhimwithabound,thegleamingswordofhisfatherraisedtostrike.Halfwayupthestonestepshecaughthim,onehandjerking thedark formaboutas themanshrieked in terror.Yet theenddidnotcome, for as the sword drew back and Menion held the maddened Stenmintightly against the stonewall, themassive door to the ancient cellar suddenlyswungopen, the thrustof thepull slamming the ironboundwoodbackagainstthewallwithajarringcrash.FramedintheentrywaystoodthebroadfigureofPalanceBuckhannah.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

For a moment no one moved. Even the terrified Stenmin had gone limpagainstthecellarwall,hisdarkfacestaringblanklyatthesilentformthatwaitedstatuelike at the top of the ancient stairway. The lined face of the Princewasdrained of color, and the eyes reflected a curious mixture of anger andconfusion. Resolutely,Menion Leahmet those searching eyes, his sword armlowering slowly, his own hatred fadingwith the sudden turn of events. Theirlivesmightallbeforfeitedifhedidn’tactfast.RoughlyheyankedStenmintohisfeetandthrewhimdisdainfullytowardthePrince.“Hereisyourtraitor,Palance—therealenemyofCallahorn.Thisistheman

whogaveShirlRavenlocktotheNorthlanders.ThisisthemanwhowouldgiveTyrsistotheWarlockLord...”“My Lord, you’ve come just in time.” The mystic had recovered his wits

enoughtocutMenionoffbeforeanymoredamagecouldbedone.Hestumbledfearfullytohisfeetandrushedupthestairs,throwinghimselfatPalance’sfeetandpointingdownatthecompanyoffriends.“Idiscoveredthemescaping—Iwasrunning towarnyou!Thehighlander isa friendofBalinor—hecametokill you!” The words were tumbling out of the man’s mouth in undisguisedhatred as he groped at his benefactor’s tunic and raised himself slowly to hisside.“Theywouldhavekilledme—andthenyou,myLord.Can’tyouseewhatishappening?”Menion foughtdown theurge to rushup the stepsandcut theevilmystic’s

lyingtongueout,forcinghimselftoremainoutwardlycalm,hisgazerivetedonthatofthestunnedPalanceBuckhannah.“Youhavebeenbetrayedbythisman,Palance,”hecontinuedevenly.“Hehas

poisonedyourheartandyourmind.Hehassappedyouofyourwilltothinkforyourself.Hecaresnothingforyou,hecaresnothingforthisland,whichhehassocheaplysoldtotheenemythathasalreadydestroyedKern.”Stenminroaredinfury,butMenioncontinuedinstoneydisregard.“Youoncesaidwewouldbefriends,andfriendsmusthavetrustforeachother.Donotbedeceivednow,oryourkingdomwillsurelybelost.”Atthebottomofthestairway,Balinorandhisfriendswatchedsilently,afraid

thatanydistractionmightbreakthestrangespellMenionLeahwasweaving,forPalance was still listening, his clouded mind struggling to break the wall of

confusionsurroundingit.Slowlyhesteppedforwardonthelanding,closingthedoorquietlybehindhimandbrushingpastStenminasifhehadn’tseenhim.Hisadviser hesitated in confusion, glancing uncertainly at the cellar door as ifdebatingthewisdomofattemptingtoflee.Buthewasnotyetpreparedtoacceptdefeat, and hewhirled quickly, catching Palance by the arm and thrusting hisleanfacenexttotheman’sear.“Are you mad? Are you as insane as some say, my King?” he whispered

venomously.“Willyouthroweverythingawaynow—giveitallbacktoyourbrother?Washemeanttobeking—oryou?Thisisallalie!ThePrinceofLeahisafriendtoAllanon.”Palanceturnedtowardhimslightly,hiseyeswidening.“Yes,Allanon!”Stenminknewhehadstruckanerveandwasdeterminedto

pursueit.“WhodoyouthinkseizedyourbetrothedfromherhomeinKern?Thismanwhospeaksoffriendshipwaspartofthekidnapping—itwasallarusetogetinsidethepalaceandthenassassinateyou.Youweretobekilled!”Below the stairway, Hendel took a step forward, but Balinor put out a

restraining hand. Menion stood quietly, knowing that any sudden move nowwould only confirm Stenmin’s charges. He directed a withering glance at thewilymystic,turningquicklybacktoPalanceandshakinghishead.“Heisatraitor.HebelongstotheWarlockLord.”Palancetookseveralstepsdownthestairway,glancingbrieflyatMenionand

thenstaringfixedlyathisbrotherwhowaitedpatientlyatthefootofthestairs.Afaintsmilecrossedhislipsashepausedconfusedly.“What do you think, brother?Am I really...mad? If notme, then...why, it

must be everyone else, and I alone am... sane. Say something, Balinor. Weshouldhavethattalknow...Before...Ididwanttosaysomething...”But the sentence was left unfinished as he straightened his tall frame and

looked back once again at Stenmin, who had taken on the appearance of adangerouslycorneredanimal,crouchedandwaitingtoattack.“Youarepathetic,Stenmin.Standup!”Thesharpcommandcut through the

stillnessand thebent figureof themysticsnappedupright.“Advisemewhat Ishould do,” Palance ordered sharply. “Do I have everyone killed—will thatprotectme?”InaninstantStenminwasbackathisside,thesharpeyescoldwithfury.“Callyourguard,myLord.Disposeoftheseassassinsnow!”SuddenlyPalanceseemedtowaver,histallframedrooping,hiseyesglancing

at the walls of the cellar in studied concentration of the stonework. Menion

sensed that the Prince of Callahorn was again losing his grip on reality andfallingbackintothecloudedworldofmadnessthathadimpairedhisoncesoundreason.Stenminrecognizeditaswell,agrimsmilecreepingoverhisdarkface,his hand coming up to stroke the small pointed beard.Then abruptly, Palancespokeoncemore.“No, there will be no soldiers... no killing. A King must be a man of

judgment...Balinorismybrother,thoughhewishestobeKinginmyplace.HeandImusttalknow...heisnottobeharmed...notharmed.”Hisvoicetrailedoffand he smiled unexpectedly at Menion. “You brought Shirl back to me... Ithought I had lost her, you know.Why...would you do that... if youwere anenemy...?”Stenmin screamed in fury, grasping furiously at the other’s tunic, but the

Princedidnotseemtorealizehewaseventhere.“Itisdifficultforme...tothinkclearly,Balinor,”Palancecontinuedinalow

whisper,shakinghisheadslowly.“Nothingisclearanymore...Idon’tevenfeelangrytowardyouforwantingtobeKing.Ihavealways...wantedtobeKing.Ihave,youknow.ButIhavetohave...friends...someonetotalkto...”HeturneddispassionatelytowardStenmin,hiseyesblankandexpressionless.

Something his adviser saw there caused themystic to release his grip on theother’s arm and shrink limply back against the stonewall, his jaw sagging infear.OnlyMenionwas close enough to realizewhat had happened.WhateverholdtheevilmystichadmanagedtosecureoverPalanceBuckhannahwasgone.The man’s already muddled thought processes had been pushed beyond thebrinkofevenbasiccomprehensionofidentities,andStenminwasnownomorethananotherfaceinaseaofindistinguishablebeingsthathauntedthenightmareworldofthemaddenedPrinceofCallahorn.“Palance,listentome,”Menioncalledsoftlytohim,reachingthroughtheweb

of darkness to the man beneath for just an instant. The broad figure turnedslightly.“CallShirldownfromherroom.CallShirlandshewillhelpyou.”ThePrincehesitatedforamomentasiftryingtoremember,thenasmallsmile

crossed his haggard face and a deep calm seemed to settle through hiswholebody.He rememberedher softvoice,hergentlemanner,her fragilebeauty—memories that recalled peace and serenity,moments of deep affection that hehadneverfoundwithanyotherhumanbeing.Ifhecouldjustbewithherforawhile...“Shirl” he spoke her name softly and turned back to the closed cellar door,

onehandoutstretched.AshebrushedpastStenmin,thecrouchedmysticseemed

suddenlytogoberserk.Shriekingwithrageandfrustration,hethrewhimselfattheotherman,grapplingwildlyathistunicfront.Respondinginstantly,MenionLeahboundedquicklytowardthehighlandingtopartthestrugglingmen.ButhewasstillseveralstepsawaywhenStenmin’sleanhanddrewbackmomentarily,holdinghigh a longdagger seized frombeneath his robes.Theweapon raisedandforoneterriblesecondhungpoised—abovethemen,asBalinorcriedoutin helpless shock. Then it fell. Palance Buckhannah rose sharply to his fullheight, the dagger buried to the hilt in his broad chest, a terrible whitenessfloodinghisyoungface.

“Igiveyoubackyourbrother,fool!”shriekedthemaddenedStenmin,shovingtherigidformdownthestonestairway.The stricken Prince fell heavily intoMenion’s outstretched arms, knocking

himbackroughlyagainstthewall,causinghimmomentarilytolosehisbalanceand the opportunity to reach the hated enemy. Stenmin had already turned toflee, pulling frantically on the massive cellar door. Balinor bounded up thestairway, desperately trying to stop the mystic’s escape, the Elven brothersimmediatelybehindhim,yellingfortheguards.ThescarletfigurehadpulledthedoorpartiallyopenandwasjustslippingtofreedomwhenHendel,stillstanding

at the foot of the stairs, seized a discarded mace and hurled it wildly at thefleeingman.Itstruckthemystic’sexposedshoulderwithbone-crunchingforce,andascreamofpainechoedoffthedankwalls.Yetitwasn’tenoughtostophimcompletely,andamomentlaterhehaddisappearedthroughthedoorway.Fromthe hallway beyond they could hear his shrill cry that the prisoners hadassassinatedtheKing.Balinorpausedonlyaninstantinhispursuittoglancedownonthestillform

restingquietlyinthestrongarmsofMenionLeah,thenracedfortheopencellardoor. Two black-clad palace guards appeared suddenly from the hallwaybeyond, swords drawn, to confront the unarmed borderman. They could havebeenstatuesforallthedifferencetheirunexpectedappearancemadetoBalinor,who bowled them over with a lightning assault, seizing a fallen sword as hedisappearedfromview.DurinandDayelwereonlystepsbehind.Menionkneltalone on the stairway, gazing after them and holding the stricken Palance,cradling gently the body of the self-proclaimed King of Callahorn. Silently,Hendel climbed the stone steps to standbesidehim, shakinghisgrizzledheadsadly. The Prince was still alive, the shallow breathing harsh and the eyelidstwitchingsporadically.GrimlytheDwarfreacheddownasMenionheldthelimpform and slowly withdrew the deadly blade, casting the weapon away withdisgust. The Dwarf bent to help the highlander raise the wounded man, andabruptly the eyes opened for an instant. Palance spoke softly, a barelyperceptiblemurmur,andthendriftedintounconsciousnessoncemore.“He’s calling for Shirl,”Menionwhispered, tears in his eyes as he glanced

brieflyattheother.“Hestilllovesher.Hestilllovesher.”In the hallway beyond, Balinor and the Elven brothers were struggling to

catchthefleeingStenmin.Everythingwasinastateofutterconfusionasguards,householdservants,andvisitorsmilledthroughthepanic-strickenpalace.Shoutsof terror echoed off the ancient walls, decrying the death of the King andwarningofassassinsbentonkillingeveryone.Thesoundsofstillanotherbattlerose from the palace gates to add to the growing chaos. Balinor and his twocompanions fought their way through the knots of frightened people, whoseemedtogointoastateofcompletehysteriaatthesightofdrawnweapons.Afewscatteredguardsevenattemptedtobartheirpassage,buteachtimethegiantbordermanmerelyflungtheunfortunatemenasidewithoutpausingandracedinpursuit of the red-cloaked figure stumbling ahead. Stenmin was still in sightwhenthethreepursuersreachedthecentralhallway,buthehadbrokenthroughthehinderingthrongsandwasbeginningtodrawaway.Withunbelievablefury

Balinorpushedahead,heedlesslyknockingeveryoneinhispathaside,hisfacegrimandterrible.Then suddenly the palace doors shuddered under the weight of dozens of

battlingmenandburstopenwithacrash,directlyinfrontofthegiantbordermanandhisElven friends.The confusionwas complete as ahugeknotof fightingmenrushedwildlyintotheentrywayandthehallsbeyond,shoutingforBalinorand waving their drawn weapons with grand flourishes. For a moment, thePrincewas uncertainwho theywere, then he saw that theywerewearing theleopard insignia of the Border Legion. The few palace guards who remainedeither fledor threwdown theirweaponsandwere seized.TheLegion soldiersimmediately spottedBalinorand rushedover tohim,graspinghimand raisinghimtotheirshoulderswithcheersofvictory.DurinandDayelwerecutofffromhim, and the cheering mass of men barred their pursuit of the rapidlydisappearing Stenmin. Balinor shouted and struggled furiously, desperatelytrying to break away, but the sheer weight of numbers prevented him fromresisting the tide that suddenly surged forward, carrying him back toward thecellar.The frustrated Elves finally broke through the mass of bodies, racing after

theirquarry,whohadturneddownadifferenthallwayandwasmomentarilylostfromsight.TheleanElveswereveryfast,however,andclosedthegapbetweenthemselves and Stenmin in a matter of seconds. Rounding the corner of thehallway,theycaughtsightofhimonceagain,thedarkfaceflushedwithterror,therightarmhanginglimpanduseless.SilentlyDurincursedhimselfforhavingfailedtopickupalongbow.Abruptly,thefleeingmanhaltedandvainlytriedtowrestopenoneoftheseveraldoorsliningtheleftsideofthepassage.Thelatchhelddespite themystic’srepeatedefforts toforceit,andat lastheturnedoncemoreandracedtoopenthenextdoordownthehall.DurinandDayelwereonlyyards away as Stenmin succeeded in opening this one and disappeared inside,closingitwitharesoundingcrash.TheElveswerethereinseconds.Findingthedoor secured from within, they proceeded to force the iron latch with theirswords.Theclaspwassturdyandittookthemseveralendlessminutestobreakthrough. By the time they pried open the door and burst into the room withswordsheldready,itwasdeserted.Menion Leah stood quietly at the front gates of the Buckhannah home as

BalinorconversedinlowtoneswiththecommandersoftheBorderLegion.Shirlwasnexttohim,oneslimarmlockedinhis,heryoungfacelinedwithworryinthe noon sunlight. Menion glanced down at her momentarily and smiled

reassuringly,holdingherclosertohim.BeyondthegreatOuterWallofthecityofTyrsis, twodivisionsof the reassembledBorderLegionwaitedpatiently forthe command thatwould take them intobattle against the awesomeNorthlandarmy.The huge invasion force had reached the northern banks of the swollenMermidon River, and even now was beginning to make its crossing. If theLegion could hold the southern bank, even for a few days, it might give theElvenarmiesachancetomobilizeandmarchtotheiraid.Time,Menionthoughtbitterly— all they neededwas just a littlemore time, and so far they hadn’tgottenit.TheBorderLegionhadbeenreassembledasquicklyaspossibleoncethecitywassecuredandBalinorwasreinstatedascommander,butbythattimethe advancing Northlanders had already reached the Mermidon and begunpreparationsforthecrossing.BalinorwasnowKingofCallahorn, though itwasanythingbutacause for

celebration.Hisbrotherlayinacoma,weakenedandextremelyclosetodeath.The best physicians in Tyrsis had examined him with labored patience in anefforttodeterminethecauseofhisirrationalbehaviorandaftersometimehadconcludedthathehadbeengivenapowerfuldrugoveralongperiodoftimetobreak down his resistance and reduce him, for all practical purposes, to amindlesspuppet.Finally, thedosagehadbeenincreasedto thepointwherehismind and body had been pushed beyond the point of physical and mentalendurance.Intheend,hismadnesswasreal.Balinorhadlistenedtotheirconclusionswithoutcomment.Anhourearlier,he

had foundhis father in adeserted room in thenorth towerof theBuckhannahhome.TheagedKinghadbeendead for severaldaysandaphysician’s reportrevealed thathehadbeensystematicallypoisoned.StenminhadkepteveryonefromthatroomexcepthimselfandthealreadyunbalancedPalance,sothesecretofRuhlBuckhannah’sdeathhadbeeneasilykept.HadthemysticsucceededinhavingBalinorkilled,itwouldhavebeenasimplemattertopersuadePalancetoopen thegates to the armiesof theWarlockLord, and in sodoing, assure thedestructionofTyrsis.Hehadnearly succeededonce, andhemight still do so.Stenminhadmanaged to elude theElvenbrothers andwashidden somewherewithinthecity.In a very real sense, the future of the Southland rested in the hands of the

PrinceofCallahorn.ThepeopleofTyrsislookedtotheBuckhannahfamilyfordependable government and strong leadership. The Border Legion functionedbestasafightingunitwhenBalinorwasincommand.Nowthegiantbordermanwasthelastofhisfamilyandthemantowhomeveryoneturnedforleadership,

whether openly or subconsciously. If anything were to happen to him, theLegionwould lose its finest commander and the heart of its fighting strength,whilethecitywouldlosethelastBuckhannah.Thefewwhofullyunderstoodthegravityof thesituation realized thatTyrsismustbeheldagainst theadvancingNorthlandarmy,ortheSouthlandwouldbelostandawedgedrivenbetweenthearmiesoftheElvesandtheDwarfs.Allanonhadwarnedthemthatifthisshouldhappen,theWarlockLordhadwon.Tyrsiswasthekeytosuccessorfailure,andBalinorwasthekeytoTyrsis.JanusSenprehadcarriedouthispartinsecuringthecityearlierthatmorning.

After Menion left him at the gates, he sought out the Legion commandersFandwick and Ginnisson. Secretly, they reassembled key members of thedisbanded Legion and, striking quickly and quietly, seized the gates and thearmybarracks.Moving rapidly toward thepalace, theygained strength almostwithout opposition until finally the entire city surrounding the Buckhannahfamilyhomeandgardenswasresecured.Waitingjustoutsidethepalacegroundsfor a signal fromMenion, the threecommanders and their followersheard thecrieswithin of assassination; fearing theworst, they rushed the gates, forcingtheir way inside just in time to prevent Balinor from catching the fleeingStenmin.Therewasalmostnolossoflifeinthebriefuprising,andthefollowersofPalancewereeitherimprisonedorfreedtorejointheiroldunitsintheLegion.AlreadytwoofthefiveLegiondivisionswerereassembled,andtheotherthreewouldbeformedupandproperlyarmedbysunset.Butscoutsfromthecityhadreported toBalinor theprogressof theNorthlanders in reaching theMermidonandconcludedthathemustactimmediatelytopreventthecrossing.HendelandtheElvenbrothersloungedrestlesslyofftotherightonthesteps

of the palace, their faces reflecting mixed emotions. The Dwarf appeared asresoluteasever,hisagingcountenanceimplacableasheglancedcasuallyoveratthehighlanderandhisbeautifulcharge.Durinseemedsomehowolder,hisleanElvenfeaturescloudedbytheknowledgeofwhatlayahead,whileDayel,thoughshadowed by the same uncertainty,managed a cheerful smile.Menion shiftedhisgazeback toBalinorand theLegioncommanders.Ginnissonwasheavysetwithshockingredhairandpowerfularms;Fandwickwasagedandgrizzledwithadroopingwhitemustacheandascowltomatch;Actonwasamanofmediumheight and regular appearance,whosehorsemanshipwas said to bematchless;Messalinewastallandbroadshouldered,almostarrogant-lookingasherockedcarelesslybackonhisheelswhileBalinor spoke to them;and lastcameJanusSenpre, recentlypromoted to full commander in recognitionofhis courageous

standatKernandhisvitalroleintherecaptureofTyrsis.Menionstudiedthemcarefully for long minutes as if somehow his visual appraisal could ascertaintheirworth.ThenBalinorturnedandwalkedovertohim,motioningforHendelandtheElvestojointhem.“I’mleavingatoncefortheMermidon,”heinformedthemquietlywhenthey

werealltogether.Menionstartedtospeak,butBalinorquicklycuthimoff.“No,Menion, Iknowwhatyouaregoing toask,and theanswer isno.Youwillallremainhereinthecity.Iwouldtrustanyoneofyouwithmylife,andsincemylifeisofsecondaryimportanceincomparisonwithTyrsis,Iaskyoutoguardthecity instead. If anything should happen to me, you will know best how tocontinuethebattle.Janusremainswithyouincommandofthecitydefenses,andIhaveinstructedhimtoconferwithyouonallmatters.”“Eventinewillcome,”Dayelspokequickly,tryinghardtosoundcheerful.Balinorsmiledandnoddedinagreement.“Allanonhasneverfailed.Hewon’tfailusnow.”“Don’texposeyourselfunnecessarily,”Hendelwarnedgrimly.“Thiscityand

itspeopledependonyou.Theyneedyoualive.”“Good-bye,oldfriend.”BalinorgrippedtheDwarf’shandtightly.“Idepend

on you most of all. Your experience is twice mine, and you are twice thestrategist.Takecare.”He turned quickly,motioning for his commanders, and entered thewafting

carriage that would convey them to the city gates. Janus Senpre wavedreassuringly to Menion as the palace coach drew away, the mounted escortfallingintosharpformationtotherear,andthegallantprocessiongallopedwithaclashingofiron-shodhoovestowardtheSendicBridge.ThefourcompanionsandShirlRavenlockwatcheduntiltheywerelostfromsightandthethunderofthe horses had drifted into silence. Then Hendel muttered absently aboutchecking the palace once more for some sign of the missing Stenmin and,without waiting for a response, reentered the Buckhannah home. Durin andDayeltrailedafterhim,feelingstrangelydisconsolate.Itwasthefirsttimetheyhad been separated from Balinor for more than several hours since the longjourneyfromCulhavenhadbegunmanyweeksearlier,anditwasadisquietingexperiencetoallowhimtogoonalonetotheMermidon.Menionknewexactlyhowtheyfelt,hisownrestlessnature inwardlyurging

himtogoaftertheborderman,tojoinhiminthecrucialbattleagainstthehordesoftheWarlockLord.Buthewasnearlyexhausted—hehadnotsleptforalmosttwodays.ThestrainofthebattleabovetheislandofKern,thelongflightdown

theMermidon, and the rapid series of eventswhich had led to the freeing ofBalinorandtheothershadsappedevenhisgreatstamina.Almostdrunkenly,hesteeredShirlintothegardensatthesideofthepalace,droppingheavilyontoawidestonebench.Thegirlsatquietlynexttohim,watchinghisfaceasheclosedhiseyesandforcedhismindtorelax.“I knowwhatyoumustbe thinking,Menion.”Her soft voicedriftedgently

throughhisweariness.“Youwanttobewithhim.”Thehighlandersmiledandnoddedslowly,histhoughtshazyandjumbled.“Youmustgetsomesleep,youknow.”Againhenodded,andsuddenlyhethoughtofShea.WherewasShea?Where

had the Valeman wandered in his futile search for the elusive Sword ofShannara? Quickly he raised himself, snapping awake and turning to Shirl,almostasifhethoughtshemightnotbethere.Hewasexhausted,buthewantedto talk—he needed to talk, because theremight never be another chance. Inlow,sombertoneshebegantospeaktoher,tellingherabouthimselfandShea,unfoldinginbitsandpiecesthefriendshipthathadsocloselyboundthemintheyearstheyhadknownoneanother.Hespokeofthetimestheyhadspentinthehighlands of Leah, drifting gradually into the full story behind the journey toParanorand thesearchfor theSword.At timesherambled invainattempts toexploreindepththerationalebehindfeelingstheyhadsharedandphilosophiestheycouldnot.Asthehighlandercontinued,Shirlbegantorealizethatitwasnotreally Shea thatMenionwas trying to describe— itwas himself. Finally shestoppedhim,reachingwithoutthinkingtoplaceaslimhandoverhislips.“Hewastheonlypersonyoueverreallygottoknow,wasn’the?”sheasked

quietly.“Hewas likeabrother,andyoufeel responsibleforwhathappened tohim?”Menion shruggeddisconsolately. “I couldn’t havedone anythingbutwhat I

did. Keeping him in Leah in the first place would have only prolonged theinevitable.Butknowingallthatdoesn’thelp.Istillfeelasortof...guilt...”“Ifhefeelsasdeeplyforyouasyoudoforhim,thenheknowsinhisheartthe

truthofwhatyouhavedone,whereverheisnow,”sherespondedquickly.“Nomancanfaultyouforthecourageyouhaveshownthesepastfivedays—andIloveyou,MenionLeah.”Menion stared at her stupidly, the sudden declaration catching him off

balance.Laughingathisconfusion,theslimgirlwrappedherarmsaroundhim,the reddish locks falling like a soft veil about his face as she clung to him.Menion held her close for a moment, then gripped her shoulders gently and

pushedherbacktostudyherfaceandeyes.Shemethisgaze,squarely.“Iwantedtosayitoutloud.Iwantedyoutohearit,Menion.Ifwearegoing

todie...”She choked suddenly, on the words and looked away, and the wondering

Southlandersawtearsslowlyrolldownhercheeks.Hereachedupandquicklybrushed them away, smiling in the old way as he raised himself to his feet,drawingherupwithhim.“Icamea long, longway,”hemurmuredgently.“Icouldhavebeendeada

hundred times, but I survived. I’ve seen the evil there is in thisworld and inworlds thatmortals only dream exist. There is nothing that can hurt us. Lovesuppliesakindofstrengththatcanwithstandevendeath.Butyouneeda littlefaith.Justbelieve,Shirl.Believeinus.”Shesmiledinspiteofherself.“Ibelieveinyou,MenionLeah.Nowyouremembertobelieveinyourself.”Thewearyhighlandersmiledbackather,grippingherhandstightly.Shewas

themostbeautifulwomanhehadeverseen,andhelovedherasmuchashisownlife.Heleaneddownandkissedherwarmly.“Itwillbeallright,”heassuredherquietly.“Itwillallworkout.”They remained a fewminutes longer in the solitude of the gardens, talking

quietly and absently following the little paths that wound through the warm,fragrantsummerflowers.ButMenionwasfighting to remainawake,andShirlwasquicktodemandthathegetsomesleepwhilehehadtheopportunity.Stillsmiling to himself, he retired to his bedchamber in the palace, where hecollapsed,stillfullyclothed,ontooneofthewide,softbedsandimmediatelyfellintoadeep,dreamlessslumber.Whileheslept,thehoursoftheafternoondriftedslowly away, the sun slipping into the western sky and finally sinking in abrilliantscarletblazebeneaththehorizon.Atthecomingofcompletedarkness,thehighlanderawoke, fully restedbut strangelydisturbed.Hehastened to findShirl,andtogethertheywalkedthealmostdesertedcorridorsoftheBuckhannahhome,searching forHendeland theElvenbrothers.The longhallwaysechoedthe low tapping of their boots as they hastened past statuelike sentries anddarkenedrooms,pausingonlymomentarilytoobservethestill,deathlikeformofPalance Buckhannah, as his physicians watched over himwith expressionlessfaces.Hisconditionremainedunchanged,hiswoundedbodyandshatteredspiritstrugglingtosurvivethecrushingweightofadeaththatwasslowly,inevitablypushing down against him.When the two silent formsmoved at last fromhisbedside,thereweretearsagaininShirl’sdarkeyes.

ConvincedthathisfriendshadgonetothecitygatestoawaitthereturnofthePrinceofCallahorn,MenionsaddledtwohorsesandthecouplerodetowardtheTyrsianWay.Itwasacool,cloudlessnightlightedbythesilvershimmerofthemoonandstars,andthetowersofthecitystoodclearlyoutlinedagainstthesky.As the horses swung onto the Bridge of Sendic, Menion felt the welcomecoolnessofafriendlynightbreezeblowinginsoothingwavesoverhisflushedface.ItwasunusuallyquietalongtheTyrsianWay,thestreetsdesertedandthehouses that lined the Way lighted but empty of laughter and friendlyconversation. An audible hush had settled over the besieged city, a grimwhisperingsolitudethathoveredandwaitedforthedeaththatcamewithbattle.Theridersrodeanxiouslythroughthiseeriesilence,tryingtofindsomecomfortinthebeautyofthestarlitskythatseemedtopromiseathousandtomorrowsforthe races. The towering heights of the Outer Wall loomed blackly in thedistance,andontheparapetsburnedhundredsoftorches,lightingthewayhometo the soldiers ofTyrsis.Theyhadbeengone a long time,Menion thought tohimself.Butperhaps theyhadbeenmore successful thananyonehaddared tohope.PerhapstheyhadheldtheMermidonagainsttheNorthlandhordes...Momentslatertheridersweredismountingatthemammothgatesofthegiant

wall. The Legion barracks were alive with activity as the restless garrisonworked feverishly in preparation for the battle to come. There were knots ofsoldiers at every turn, and itwaswith considerabledifficulty thatMenionandShirlfinallymanagedtoreachtherampartsatthetopofthebroadwalls,wherethey were greeted warmly by Janus Senpre. The youthful commander hadmaintainedhisvigilantlookoutwithoutrestsinceBalinorhaddeparted,andtheslimfacewaslinedwithwearinessandanxiety.Afterafewmoments,DurinandHendelappearedoutofthedarknesstojointhem,followedsomewhatlaterbyawanderingDayel.Thelittlegroupstoodinsilenceandstaredinto thedarknessthatrannorthwardtotheMermidonandtheBorderLegion.Fromfarawaytheycould hear the muffled shouts and cries of men fighting, the sounds carriedtauntinglybythefreshnightwindtothestrainingearsofthosewhowaited.Janusremarkedabsentlythathehadsentouthalfadozenscoutsinaneffortto

discoverwhatwashappeningattheriver,butnonehadreturned—anominoussign.Hehaddecided—severaltimes—togohimself,butagruffHendelhadreminded him each time that he had been placed in charge of the defense ofTyrsis,andeachtimehehadreluctantlydiscardedtheidea.DurinhadresolvedinhisownmindthatifBalinordidnotreturnbymidnight,hewasgoingouttosearch for his friend. An Elf could travel undetected through almost any

opposition. But for the time being, he waited like the others in growingapprehension. Shirl spoke briefly of the unchanged condition of PalanceBuckhannah,butshereceivedonlyadisinterestedresponseandquicklygaveupthe impossible taskof tryingto take theirmindsoff thebattleat theriver.Thelittlegroupwaitedonehour,thentwo.Thesoundshadgrownslowlylouderandmoredesperate,anditseemedthatthefightinghadmovedclosertothecity.Thensuddenlyavastformationofhorsemenandfootsoldiersappearedoutof

thedarknessalmostdirectlyinfrontofthebluff,windinginstaggeredcolumnsonto the wide stone rampway leading into the city. Their approach had beenalmost imperceptible, and their unexpected appearance from out of nowherecaused everyone atop theOuterWall to gasp audibly. Janus Senpre sprang inalarmtowardthemechanismthatsecuredtheironfasteningstothegiantgates,fearful thatsomehowtheenemyhadmanaged tooutflankBalinor.ButHendelquietly called him back. He recognized what was happening even before theotherssuspected.Leaningoutover the rimof thewall, theDwarfcalleddownsharplyinhisownlanguage,andreceivedanalmostinstantresponse.Noddinggrimlytotheothers,Hendelpointedtothetallriderwhohadmovedtothepointofthelongcolumn.Inthesoftmoonlight,thedustcoveredfaceofBalinorpeeredupward, the grimVisage confirmingwhat they all had suspected themomenttheyrecognizedhim.TheBorderLegionhadfailedtoholdtheMermidon,andthearmyoftheWarlockLordwasmovingagainstTyrsis.Itwasnearlymidnightwhenthefivewhoremainedtogetherofthelittleband

fromCulhaven gathered in a small, secluded dining room in the Buckhannahfamilyhomeforabriefeveningmeal.ThelongafternoonandeveningbattletoholdtheMermidonagainsttheNorthlandarmyhadbeenlost,althoughthecostinlivestotheenemyhadbeenterrible.Forawhileitappearedthattheveteransoldiers of the Border Legion would succeed in preventing the flounderingNorthlandersfromgaining thesouthernbankof theswift river.But therewerethousands of the enemy, and where hundreds failed, thousands ultimatelysucceeded.Acton’s horsemen had swept lightninglike along the fringes of theLegion line, shattering every attempt by the enemy to outflank the entrenchedfootsoldiers.AdvancesintotheheartoftheSouthlandrankshadresultedinthedeath of hundreds of Trolls and Gnomes. It was the most dreadful slaughterBalinorhadeverwitnessed,andeventuallytheMermidonbegantochangecolorwiththebloodofthewoundedanddying.Andstilltheykepttrying—tryingasiftheyweremindlesscreatureswithoutfeeling,withoutunderstanding,withouthuman fear. The power of the Warlock Lord had so enslaved the collective

mortalmindof thegiantarmythatevendeathhadnomeaning.Finallya largebandofferociousRockTrollsbreachedthefarrighttipoftheLegion’slineofdefense;althoughtheywereslainalmosttoaman,thediversionarytacticforcedtheTyrsianstoshortentheirleftflank.Intheend,theNorthlanderswereacross.Bythistimeitwasalmostsunset,andBalinorquicklyrealizedthateventhe

finestsoldiersintheworldwouldbeunabletoretakeandholdthesouthernbankonce darkness set in. The Legion had suffered only mild losses during theafternoon’sfighting,andsoheorderedthetwodivisionstofallbacktoasmallrise several hundred yards south of the Mermidon and reassemble in battleformation.Hekept the cavalrybusyon the left and right flanks,making shortrushes at the enemy to keep them off balance and to prevent an organizedcounterthrust.Thenhewaited fordarkness.Thehordesof theNorthlandarmybegan to cross in force as twilight fell; inmingled astonishment and fear, themenoftheBorderLegionwatchedasthehundredsthathadfirstcrossedturnedto thousands and still they kept coming. It was a frightening spectacle thebordermenbeheld—anarmyofsuchincrediblesizethatitcompletelycoveredthelandonbothsidesoftheMermidonasfarastheeyecouldsee.Butitssizehampereditsmaneuverability,andthechainofcommandseemed

disorganizedandconfused.Therewasnoconcentratedeffortmade todislodgetheentrenchedTyrsiansfromthesmallrise.Insteadthebulkofthearmymilledabout on the banks of the southern shore after crossing, as if waiting forsomeone to tell themwhat todonext.Several squadsofheavily armedTrollsmadeaseriesofrushesattheLegioncommand,buttheywereequallymatchedinnumbersandtheveteransoldiersquicklyrepelledthem.Whendarknesscameatlast,theenemyarmysuddenlybegantoorganizeintocolumnsfivedeep,andBalinorknewthatthefirstsustainedrushwouldbreaktheLegiontopieces.With the skill and daring that had made him the spirit behind the fabled

BorderLegion and the finest field commander in theSouthland, thePrince ofCallahornbegantoexecuteamostdifficult tacticalmaneuver.Withoutwaitingfor the enemy to strike, he suddenly divided his army and attacked far to theright and left of the Northland columns. Striking sharply in short feints, andtakingfulladvantageofthedarkness,interraineveryBordermanknewwell,thesoldiers of the Legion drew in the flanks of the enemy to form a ragged halfcircle.Each time thecirclegrewtighterandeach time theTyrsians retreatedalittle farther. Balinor and Fandwick held the left flank while Acton andMessalinecommandedtheright.The enraged enemy began to chargemadly, stumbling awkwardly over the

unfamiliargroundinthegrowingdarkness,theretreatingsoldiersoftheLegionalways just a few steps out of reach. Slowly Balinor drew his flanks in andnarrowedhislines,pullingthesearchingNorthlandersinwithhim.Then,whenthefootsoldiershadcompletelyfallenbackinretreat,coveredbythedarknessandthebattlebehindthem,theskilledcavalrydrewtheirlinestogetherinafinalfeintandslippedfrombetweenthejawsoftheclosingenemytrapandwasgone.Suddenly the right and left flanks of the harried Northland army met, eachbelievingthattheotherwasthehatedenemythathadeludeditforseveralhours.Withouthesitating,theyattacked.HowmanyTrollsandGnomeswereslainbytheirownpeoplewouldneverbe

known,but thefightingwasstill ragingwhenBalinorandthe twodivisionsoftheBorderLegionarrivedsafelyatthegatesofTyrsis.Thehorses’hoovesandsoldiers’feethadbeenmuffledtocovertheirretreat.

With the exception of a squad of horsemenwhohad strayed too farwest andbeencutoffanddecimated,theLegionhadescapedintact.Yetthedamagedoneto the mammoth Northland army had not stopped its advance, and theMermidon,thefirstlineofdefensetothecityofTyrsis,hadbeenlost.Nowthevastencampmentoftheenemysprawledonthegrasslandsbelowthe

city, the night fires burning as far as the eye could see through the moonlitdarkness.AtdawntheassaultonTyrsiswouldbeginasthecombinedstrengthofthousands of Trolls and Gnomes, obedient to the will of the Warlock Lord,hurled itselfagainst the toweringbandofstoneand iron that formedtheOuterWall.Onewouldeventuallyshatter.Hendel, sitting thoughtfully across from Balinor at the small dining table,

recalledagaintheominoussensationhehadfeltearlierthatdaywhileinspectingwithJanusSenprethefortificationsofthegreatcity.Unquestionably,theOuterWall was a formidable barrier, but there was something wrong. He had beenunable to put his finger on exactlywhatwas causinghis uneasiness; but evennow, in the solitude of the dining room and the warm companionship of hisfriends,hecouldnotshakethenaggingsuspicionthatsomethingvitalhadbeenoverlookedinpreparingforthelongsiegethatlayahead.Mentally,heretracedthelinesofdefenseprotectingthesprawlingcity.Atthe

edgeof thebluff, themenofTyrsishad erected a lowbulwark toprevent theenemyfromgainingafootholdontheplateau.IftheNorthlanderscouldnotbecontainedonthegrasslandsbelowthebluff,thentheBorderLegionwouldfallbackintothecityproperandrelyonthemammothOuterWalltohalttheenemyadvance.The rear approach toTyrsis,was cut off by the sheer cliffs that rose

hundreds of feet into the air directly behind the palace grounds. Balinor hadassuredhimthatthecliffscouldnotbescaled;theywerelikesmoothsheetsofrock, completely without the normal nooks and crannies that would permit afoothold. The defenses surrounding Tyrsis should be impenetrable, and yetHendelremaineddissatisfied.Foramomenthisthoughtsdriftedbacktohishomeland—toCulhavenandto

hisfamily,whomhehadn’tseeninweeks.Hehadneverspentmuchtimewiththem, his whole life expended in the ceaseless border wars in the Anar. Hemissed the woodlands and the green shading that came with the spring andsummermonths,andhesuddenlywonderedhowhehadletsomuchtimepasswithout a visit home. Perhaps he would never get back. The thought sweptthroughhismindandvanished,hehadnotimeforregrets.DurinandDayelconversedsoberlywithBalinor,theirownthoughtscentered

on the Westland. Dayel, like Hendel, was thinking of his home. He wasfrightenedof thebattle that layahead,butheacceptedhis fear,encouragedbythepresenceoftheothersanddeterminedthathewoulddo,nolessthantheyinstanding firm against the army that had come to destroy them. He thoughtquietlyofLynliss,hershy,warmfaceapermanentfixtureinhismind.Hewouldbe fighting forhersafetyaswellashisown.Durinstudiedhisbrother,notingthesuddensmile,andheknewwithoutaskingthattheyouthwasthinkingoftheElvengirlhewastomarry.NothingwasmoreimportanttoDurinthanthesafetyofDayel;fromthebeginninghehadmadeapointofstayingclosetohisbrother,toprotecthim.SeveraltimesduringthelongjourneytoParanor,theyhadnearlylost their lives. Tomorrow would bring still greater danger, and once again,Durinwouldbewatchingoverhisbrother.Briefly he thought of Eventine and the mighty Elven armies, wondering if

theywouldreachTyrsisintime.WithouttheirgreatstrengthtosupplementtheBorderLegion,thehordesoftheWarlockLordwouldeventuallybreakthroughthe city’s defenses. He picked up his wineglass and drank deeply, the liquidwarminhisthroat.HissharpeyessurveyedthefacesoftheothersandcametorestmomentarilyonthetroubledfaceofMenionLeah.Theleanhighlanderhaddevouredhisdinnerravenously,havingeatennothing

for almost twenty-four hours. Finishing long before his companions, he hadcontented himself with a fresh glass of wine, directing continual questions toBalinorabout theafternoon’sbattle.Now, in thequiethoursofearlymorning,withdinnercompletedandthewineseepingthroughhimlikeaslowdrowsiness,itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthat thekeytoeverythingthathadhappenedsince

Culhaven, and everything that would happen in the days remaining, wasAllanon.HecouldnotbringhimselftothinkanymoreofSheaandtheSword,nor even of Shirl. He could only see in the forefront of his mind the dark,forbidding figure of themysteriousDruid. Allanon held the answers to everyquestion. He alone knew the secret of the talisman men called the Sword ofShannara. He alone knew the purpose behind the strange appearance of theshroudedwraith in theValleyofShale— theDruidBremen, amanover fivehundred years dead. He alone, in every instance, along every step of thedangerousjourneytoParanor,hadknownwhattoexpectandhowtodealwithit.Yetthemanhimselfhadremainedanenigma.Nowhewasgonefromthem,andonlyFlick,ifhewerestillalive,couldask

him what was going to happen to them. They all depended on Allanon forsurvival—butwhatwouldthegiantDruiddo?WhatwaslefttohimwhentheSword of Shannara was lost? What was left when the young heir of JerleShannara wasmissing and probably dead?Menion bit his lip in anger as thehatedthoughtslippedquicklythroughhismindandwasbanished.Sheahadtobealive!Menioncursedeverything thathadbrought themall to this sorry end.They

hadallowedthemselvestobebackedintoacorner.Therewasonlyonepathstillopen to them. In theholocaustof tomorrow’sbattle,humanbeingswoulddie,andfew,ifany,wouldknowthereason.Itwasanunavoidablepartofwar,thatmenshoulddieforunknownreasons—ithadbeenhappeningforcenturies.Butthis war was something beyond human comprehension, this war between asubstancelessspiritbeingandmortals.HowcouldevilsuchastheWarlockLordbedestroyedwhenitcouldnotevenbeunderstood?OnlyAllanonseemedfullyto appreciate the nature of the creature. But where was the Druid when theyneededhimmost?The candles burned low on the table before them, and the darkness of the

secluded room deepened. On the wood and tapestry decorated walls, torchessputteredslowlyintheirironracks,andthefivevoicesdroppedtolowmurmurs,hushedas if thenightwereachild indangerofbeingunexpectedlyawakened.ThecityofTyrsissleptnow,andinthegrasslandsbeyond,theNorthlandarmy.In thepeace and solitudeof themoonlit night, it seemed that all formsof lifewere at rest, and that war, with its promise of death and pain, was merely avague,nearlyforgottenmemoryofyearspast.But thefivewhospoke inquiettones of better days and the friendship shared could not, even for a fewmoments, completely stifle the lingering realization that thehorrorofwarwas

nomoredistantthanthesunriseandasinevitableasthedarknessoftheWarlockLord, reachingslowly, inexorably fromoutof thenorth to snuffout their fraillives.

ChapterThirty

OnthemorningofthethirddayofthesearchforOrlFane,thetorrentialrainsthat had swept through thevastness of thebarrenNorthland subsided, and thesun reappeared as a dim, fuzzy ball of white fire, burning through the mistydarknessleftwiththepassingoftheWarlockLord’sblackwalltothemudandrock-strewnterrainwiththefuryofanoven.Thestormhadleftthetopographyof the land completely altered, the rains sweeping away almost everydistinguishable landmark and leaving only four, identical horizons of rockyhillocksandmuddiedvalleys.Atfirsttheappearanceofthesunwasawelcomesight.Theheatfromitsrays

penetratedthehatefulgloomthathadbecomepermanentlyaffixedtothebarrensurfaceoftheearthtowarmawaythechillleftbythenowvanishedstormasthetemperaturerosesteadily,andthecharacterofthelandbegantoalteroncemore.But in an hour’s time, the temperature had risen thirty degrees and wascontinuingtoriseunchecked.Theriversthatwashedthroughthewindinggulliescarvedoutbytheforceoftherainbegantosteamandmistintheheat,andthehumidity soared, drenching everything in a new, even more uncomfortablewetness.Thelittleplantlifebornintheaftermathofthedevastatingstormwitheredand

diedinsuffocation,cutofffromthesun’slife-givingbrightnessandchokedbythe stifling heat that permeated the graying mist. The muddied earth layunprotected from the heat and soon baked into a cracked, hardened clay thatwouldsupportnolife.Theriversandlakesandpuddlesbegantodryupquickly,and in almost no time had disappeared altogether.The exposed surface of thehuge boulders that dotted the parched land quickly absorbed the burning heatlike iron settled in live coals. Slowly, inexorably the landbecamewhat it hadbeenbeforetherainshadsweptitssurface—adry,barrenslabofearth,devoidoflife,silentandforbiddingbeneathavast,cloudlesssky.Theonlymovementcame from the slow, unchanging arc of an ageless, disinterested sun as itfolloweditsceaselesspathfromeasttowest,turningdaysintoyearsandyearsintocenturies.Threebentfiguressteppedgingerlyfrombeneaththeshelterofarockyalcove

cutinthesideofoneofthecountless,nondescripthillocks,theircrampedbodiesstraightening slowly, their eyespeeringgrimly into theunbrokenwallofmist.

Theystoodfor longmoments in the lifelessgloom,staring into thedying landthat seemed to stretch on forever, a dismal graveyard of rocky mounds thatcovered the mortal remains of those who had ventured into this forbiddenkingdom.Therewasabsolutesilencefilteringevillythroughthemistygrayness,hangingitsunspokenwarningofdeathinthemindsofthethreelivingcreatures.Theystood inapprehensivewatchfulness, staringat thewastelandsurroundingthem.Shea turned to his companions. Panamon Creel was arching his back and

rubbinghis limbs inaneffort toawaken thebenumbedmuscles.Hisdarkhairwasshaggyandunkempt,hisbroadfaceshadedbyathree-daybeard.Hehadahaggard look about him, but the keen eyes burned warily as he met Shea’sinquisitive stare.ThemassiveKeltset hadmovednoiselessly to the summit ofthehillandwassurveyingthenorthernhorizon.Theyhadhuddledinthesparseshelteroftheirrockyalcoveforalmostthree

dayswhile the fiercenorthland stormhad ragedunchecked through the emptylandsabout them.Threedays lost in thepursuitofOrlFaneand theSwordofShannara—threedaysduringwhichall tracesof theelusiveGnomehadbeenthoroughlyobliterated.Theyhad crouched restlessly amid theboulders, eatingbecauseitwasnecessary,sleepingbecausetherewasnothingelsetodo.Talkinghad given Shea and Panamon a greater understanding of one another, thoughKeltsetstill remainedacompleteenigma.Sheapersisted inhisbelief that theyshould have ignored the storm and pursued their quarry, but Panamon hadrefusedtodiscusstheidea.Noonecouldtravelfarinsuchastorm,andOrlFanewouldbeforcedtoseekshelterorriskbeingcaughtinamudslideordrownedinthe swift gully rivers. In any event, the thief had calmly reasoned, theGnomewould havemade little progress.Keltset descended from the crest of the hill,makingaquicksweepinggesturewithonehand.Thehorizonwasclear.There was no further discussion of what should be done. It was already

decided.Pickinguptheirmeagerpossessions,theytrudgedbrisklydownthesideofthesteepembankment,anglingnorthward.ForonceSheaandPanamonwereincompleteagreement.ThesearchfortheSwordofShannarahadbecomemorethan a matter of injured pride, more than a mission to seek out a mysterioustalisman. It hadbecomeadangerous, frantichunt for theonemeans, howeverquestionable,bywhichtheymightstayaliveinthissavageland.ThefortressoftheWarlockLordlayamidthetall,blackpeaksdirectlynorth.

BehindthemlaythedeadlywallofmistthatmarkedtheouterboundariesoftheSkullKingdom.Toescapethishatedland,theywouldhavetopassonewayor

theother.Theobvious choicewas togoback through themistydarkness, butwhile the Elfstonesmight show them a passage to the Southland, using themwouldalsorevealtheirpresencetothespiritworld.AllanonhadtoldSheasoatCulhaven,andheinturnhadtoldPanamon.TheSwordofShannarawastheoneweapon that could protect them from theWarlock Lord, and if they had it intheirpossession, theycouldbeassuredofat leasta fightingchance.Thebasicplanwastoregainpossessionofthetalismanandescapebackthroughthewallofdarknessasquicklyaspossible. Itwashardlyabrilliant strategy,butunderthecircumstancesitwouldhavetodo.Travelingwasasdifficultas ithadbeenprior to thestorm.Thegroundwas

hardandcoatedwithrubbleandloosetopsoilthatmadethefootingtreacherous.Scramblingandclawingtheirwayovertheroughterrain,thethreewerequicklycoveredwithdirtandbruisedbycontinual falls.Becauseof theunevennessofthe topography, itwasdifficult tokeep theirbearingsandnearly impossible tocalculate their progress. Landmarks were nonexistent and the country lookedalmost exactly the same in every direction. The minutes wore away withagonizingslowness,andstilltheydiscoverednothing.Thehumiditycontinuedtoriseandthegarmentswornbythethreemenwerequicklysoakedthroughwithsweat.Theyremovedtheircloaksandtiedthemontheirbacks;itwouldbecoldagainwhennightdescended.“Thisistheplacewelastsawhim.”Panamon stood motionlessly at the summit of the broad hill they had just

scaled,breathingheavily.Sheareachedhissideandglancedaboutindisbelief.All the surrounding hills looked exactly the same as this one, save for smallvariationsinsizeandshape.Hestareddubiouslyatthehorizon.Hewasn’tevensurewheretheyhadcomefrom.“Keltset,whatdoyousee?”theothermandemanded.TheRockTrollstrodeslowlyabout thehilltop,scanning thegroundforany

trace left by the passage of the little Gnome, but the storm appeared to haveerased any signs. Hemoved about noiselessly for severalminutesmore, thenturned to them and shook his head negatively. Panamon’s dirt-stained faceburnedredinsuddenanger.“Hewashere.We’llwalkonabitfarther.”Theymovedaheadinsilence,scramblingunceremoniouslydownonehilland

up the next.Therewas no further discussion.Therewas nothing further to besaid. If Panamon were mistaken, nobody had any better idea, except to keeplooking.Anhourcrawledbyastheylaborednorthward.Stilltherewasnothing.

Sheabegan to realize thehopelessnessof their task. Itwouldbe impossible tosearchallof the landstretchingeastandwest; if thewilyGnomehad traveledjustfiftyyards toeithersideof them, theywouldprobablyneverknowhehadgonethatway.PerhapshehadbeenburiedinamudslideduringthestormalongwiththeSwordandtheywouldneverfindhim.Shea’smusclesachedfromthestrenuousclimbing,andheconsideredcalling

abriefhalt to reassess theirdecision toproceed in thisdirection.Perhaps theyshould try to cut across the elusive trail.Yet a glance atPanamon’sdark facequickly dissuaded theValeman from even suggesting such an action. The talladventurer had the same look in his face Shea had seen just before he haddestroyed the Gnomes days ago. He was the hunter once more. If Panamonfoundhim,OrlFanewasadeadman.Sheashudderedinvoluntarilyandlookedaway.Severalhillslater,theyfoundapieceofwhattheyweresearchingfor.Keltset

spotteditfromatopasmallhillock,hissharpeyespickingouttheforeignobjectasitlayhalfburiedindustatthebottomofasmallravine.Directingtheothertwo,heslidquicklydowntherock-strewnhillandrushed

eagerlyover to thediscardedobject, snatchind itandholding itout to them.Itwasalargestripofcloththathadoncebeenthemajorportionofatunicsleeve.They stared at it quietly for a moment, and then Shea looked at Keltset forconfirmation that it was indeedOrl Fane’s. The giant Troll nodded solemnly.PanamonCreelimpaledthepieceofclothontheendofhispike,smilinggrimly.“Sowe’vefoundhimagain.Thistimehewon’tgetaway!”But theydidn’t findhimthatday,nordid theydiscoveranyfurthersignsof

his passing. In the heavy dust, the Gnome’s footprints would have clearlyshown, yet therewere none.Despite Panamon’s earlier opinion,Orl Fane hadsomehowwanderedonduringthestorm,escapingbothmudslidesanddrowning.The rain had washed away his tracks but, with freakish perversity, had leftuncoveredthetornsleeve.Itcouldhavebeenwasheddownfromanywhere,sotherewasnowaytotellwhichdirectiontheGnomehadcomefromorgone.Bynightfall,theblacknessshroudingthelandwassoheavythatitwasimpossibletosee more than several feet, and the search was reluctantly abandoned for thenight.WithKeltsetstandingthefirstwatch,PanamonandSheacollapsedinnearexhaustionand fell asleepalmost instantly.Thenight airwascool, though thehumidityofthedaylingeredon,andallthreewrappedthemselvesonceagaininthehalf-dryhuntingcloaks.Themorning returned all too swiftly in the familiar graying haze. This day

wasnotashumidasthepreviousone,butitwasnomorecheerful;thesunwasstillnearlyblottedoutby the leadenmist thathung immovablyoverhead.Thesame eerie silence persisted and the threemen stared about with a feeling ofcomplete isolationfromthe livingworld.Thevastemptinesswasbeginning tohaveanoticeableeffectonbothSheaandPanamonCreel.Sheahadgrownedgyandnervous in thesepast severaldaysand thenormallycheerful and talkativePanamon had lapsed into almost total silence.Keltset alone retained his usualdemeanor,hisfaceasblandandimplacableasever.Ashortbreakfastwasconsumedwithoutinterest,andthesearchbeganagain.

Theyresumedthehuntalmostwithdistaste;theircommondesirewastoendthiswearingtrekquickly.Theywentaheadpartlyoutofasenseofself-preservationand partly because they had nowhere else to go. Although neither realized it,bothPanamon andSheawere beginning towonderwhyKeltset continued thepursuit.Hewasinhisowncountryandcouldprobablyhavesurvivedalone,hadhechosentogohisownway.ThetwomenhadtriedunsuccessfullytodecipherKeltset’s reasons for continuing on with them during the three-day rain, andnow, tooworn to reason thematter further, theyhadfallenbackonsuspiciousacceptanceofhispresenceandagrowingdetermination that theywouldknowwhoandwhathewasbefore this journeyended.Theyploddedon through thedustandthehazeasthemorningdrifteddullyintonoonday.ItwastotallyunexpectedwhenPanamonsuddenlydrewupshort.“Tracks!”Thetall thief letoutawildyellofdelightandchargedmadly into thesmall

drawtotheirleft,leavingbothKeltsetandSheastaringafterhiminamazement.Moments later the trio knelt eagerly over a set of clearly defined footprintsoutlined in the heavy dust. There was no mistakirig their origin; even Shearecognized that theyweremadebyGnomeboots,wornandcrackedabout theheels. The trail they left was undisguised, leading generally northward, butweavingbadlyasifthedestinationofthemanpassingwerenolongercertain.Italmost appeared as if Orl Fane were wandering aimlessly. They paused amoment longer and then rose hurriedly at Panamon’s urgent command. Thetracks were only hours old and, judging from their meandering nature, theelusiveOrlFanecouldbeovertakeneasily.Panamoncouldonlythinlydisguisethe almost viciousglee that surged throughhis revitalizedbody ashe saw theendofthelonghuntinsight.Withoutspeakingfurther,thethreehitcheduptheircumbersome gear andmoved northward in grim resolution. This was the daytheywouldcatchOrlFane.

The trail left by the little Gnome wound in erratically confusing fashionthrough the dusty hills of the lower Northland. At times the three foundthemselvestravelingalmostdirectlyeastward,andoncetheywereturnedaboutentirely. The afternoon wore on with tedious precision, and while Keltsetindicatedthatthefootprintsweregrowingfresher,itappearedthattheywerestillnot gaining rapidly. If nightfall set in before they had caught up with theirquarry,theymightverywelllosehimonceagain.Twicebeforetheyhadbeenonthevergeofcatchinghim,andeachtimeanunexpectedoccurrencehadforcedthemtemporarilytoabandonthesearch.Theywerenotinthemoodtohavethishappen a third time, andShea had inwardly vowed that, if need be, hewouldtrackOrlFaneevenintotaldarkness.Thegiantpeaksof theforbiddingSkullKingdomloomedmenacingly in the

distance, their black, razor tips jutting knifelike into the horizon. Therewas asenseoffearinthemindoftheValemanthathecouldnotshake,afearthathadgrownsteadilystrongerasthethreemenhadpusheddeeperintotheNorthland.Hehadbeguntofeelthathewasundertakingmuchmorethanhehadoriginallyimagined,thatsomehowthesearchforOrlFaneandtheSwordofShannarawasonlyasmallpartofamuchlargerschemeofevents.Hewasnotyetpanickedbywhathe felt,buthewasproddedbyanurgentneed to finish this insanechaseandturnbacktohisownland.Itwasmidafternoonwhen the hilly terrain began to level off into a rolling

plainland that enabled the threemen to see for greater distances and to walkupright in an almost relaxed manner for the first time since they had passedthrough the black wall. The country ahead spread out before them withbreathtaking starkness, ableak, emptyplainofbrownearthandgray rock thatrolled unevenly northward toward the tall peaks that bordered the SkullKingdomandthehomeoftheWarlockLord.Thesevastflatlandsdiminishedthefarthernorththeeyetraveled,breakingaroundmassesofrockandmountainousridgelandthatledinstepping-stonemannertotheawesomepeaksbeyond.Theentireexpanse,naked,hot,anddesolate, laymasked in thesameeerie,deathlysilence.Nothingmoved,nocreaturestirred,noinsecthummed,nobirdflew,noteventhewindbrushedagainstthelayereddust.Everywheretherewasthesameblastedemptiness,unmarkedbylife,shroudedwithdeath.ThewindingtracksofOrlFane led into thisvastnessanddisappearedfar in thedistance. Itwasas ifthelandhadswallowedhimup.The hunters paused for several long minutes, their faces mirroring their

obviousreluctancetoproceedintothisunfriendlyland.Buttherewaslittletime

forweighingthemeritsofthematter,andtheymovedahead.Thetwistingpathwasvisibleforagreaterdistanceinthisrollingplainland,andthethreepursuerswereabletotrackonamoredirectcourse.Theybegantomakeuptimequickly.LessthantwohourslaterKeltsetindicatedthattheywerenomorethananhourbehind their quarry. Dusk was rapidly approaching, the sun dipping behind abrokenhorizonfartothewest.Thedimtwilightwasmaskedfurtherstillbytheever-present gray haze, and the terrain was beginning to take on a peculiarlyfuzzyappearance.ThetriohadfollowedtheGnome’strailintoadeepdrawthatwasformedbya

series of high ridges cropped by sharp overhangs and great, jutting rockformations.The fading sunlightwas lost almost entirely in the shadowsof thedarkenedvalley,andPanamonCreel,whohadeagerlytakentheleadsometimeearlier,was forced to squint sharply to find theoutlineof the footprints in theheavydust.Theyslowedtoahaltingwalkasthethiefbentclosertotheearth.SointentwasPanamonCreelonstudyingthetracksimmediatelybeforehimthatitcameasa shockwhen theprints abruptlyended.SheaandKeltsetwereathissideinstantly,anditwasonlyafteracarefulstudyofthegroundaheadofthemthattheywereabletodiscoverthatsomeonehadmethodicallybrushedawayallfurthertracesofthelittleGnome’spassing.It was in that same instant that the huge, dark forms began to detach

themselvesfromtheshadowsofthedraw,lumberingponderouslyforwardinthedeepening twilight. Shea saw them first, but believed his eyes were playingtricksonhim.Panamonwasquicker to realizewhatwashappening.Springingupright, the thiefdrewout thegreatbroadswordand raisedhispike.Hemighthave made a rush to break through the tightening ring, but the normallypredictableKeltsetdidasurprisingthing.Springingquicklyforward,hepulledtheastonishedthiefback.Panamonstaredincredulouslyathissilentcompanion,then reluctantly lowered his weapons. There were at least a dozen formsstanding guardedly all around the threemen, and even in the hazy twilight aterrifiedShearealizedthattheyhadbeendiscoveredbyabandofgiantTrolls.ThecompanyofwearyElvenridersreinedintheirsweatingmountsandgazed

absentlydownthevalleyslopesintothebroadlengthoftheRhenn.Twomilesof empty valley stretched eastward before them, the high slopes to either sidecresting in sharp ridges linedwith thinning stretches of trees and scrub brush.ThelegendarypasshadservedforoverathousandyearsasthegatewayfromthelowerStreleheimPlainstothegreatforestsoftheWestland,anaturaldoortothehomelandoftheElves.Itwasinthisfamouspassthattheawesomemightofthe

armiesoftheWarlockLordhadbeenbrokenindefeatbytheElvenlegionsandJerleShannara.ItwasherethatBronahadfacedandrunfromtheagedBremenandthemysteriouspoweroftheSwordofShannara—runwithhisgreatarmiesbackintotheplainlands,onlytobehaltedbyadvancingDwarfarmies,trapped,anddestroyed.ThePassofRhennhadseenthebeginningofthedownfallofthegreatestthreattheworldhadencounteredsincethedevastatingGreatWars,andthe people of all the races looked upon this peaceful valley as a historiclandmark. It was a natural monument of mankind’s history that some hadjourneyed halfway around the world to see just so that they, too, might feelsomehowapartofthatterribleevent.Jon Lin Sandor gave the order to dismount, and the Elven riders climbed

downgratefully.Hisconcernwasnotwith thehistoryof thepastbutwith theimmediatefuture.Worriedly,hestaredattheheavyblackwalldescendingfromtheNorthland across the Plains of Streleheim, its hazy shadow drawing dailynearertothebordersoftheWestlandandthehomeoftheElves.Hissharpeyespeered far into the eastern horizonwhere the darkness had already permeatedinto the forests surrounding theancient fortressofParanor.HeshookhisheadbitterlyandcursedthedayhehadpermittedhimselftoleavethesideofhisKingandoldestfriend.HehadgrowntomanhoodwithEventine,andwhenhisfriendbecame King he had stayed with him as his personal counselor and self-appointedwatchdog.TogethertheyhadpreparedfortheinvasionofthearmiesofBrona,theSpiritLordtheyhadoncebelieveddestroyedintheSecondWaroftheRaces.ThemysteriouswandererAllanonhadwarnedtheElvenpeople,andwhile some had scoffed inmisconceived disdain, Eventine had known better.Allanonhadneverbeenwrong;his ability to see into the futurewasuncanny,butunerringlyaccurate.TheElvenpeoplehadfollowedEventine’sadviceandtheyhadpreparedfor

war, but the invasion did not come as expected. Then Paranor had fallen andwith it the Sword of Shannara.AgainAllanon had come to them, asking thattheypatrolthePlainsofStreleheimaboveParanortoguardagainstanyattemptbytheGnomesholdingtheDruidfortresstomovetheSwordnorthwardtothecastleoftheWarlockLord.Againtheyhadobeyedwithoutquestion.Buttheunexpectedhadhappened,andithadhappenedwhileJonLinSandor

wasawayfromtheKing.TheGnomesentrenchedatParanorhadunexpectedlydecided tobreak for the safetyof thedeepNorthland, and threeheavypatrolsmadearushattheElvenlines.EventineandJonLinhadledseparatecommandstointercepttwooftheseforcesandwouldhavedestroyedtheGnomeseasilyhad

it not been for the planned intervention of a combined army of Gnomes andTrollsdetachedfromthenowadvancingNorthlandarmyof theWarlockLord.JonLin’scommandwasnearlyannihilated,andhebarelyescapedwithhislife.HehadbeenunabletoreachEventine,andtheElvenKinghaddisappearedwithhis entire patrol. Jon Lin Sandor had been searching for him for nearly threedays.“Wewillfindhim,JonLin.Heisnotaneasyonetokill.Hewillfindawayto

survive.”The grim Elf nodded with a barely perceptible shake of his close-cropped

head, his darting eyesglancingquickly at the young faceof theman standingnexttohim.“It’s a strange thing,but Iknowhe’s alive,” theother continued soberly. “I

can’treallyexplainhowIknow—it’sjustsomethingIcansense.”BreenElessedilwasEventine’syoungerbrother;hewasalsothenextKingof

theWestlandElves if his brotherwere dead. Itwas a position hewas not yetreadyforandquitehonestdidnotwant.SinceEventine’sdisappearancehehaddone nothing to assume command of the languishing Elven armies or of thedismayed King’s Council, but had joined immediately in the search for hisbrother.Asaresult,theElvengovernmentwasinastateofnearchaos,andwhathadonlytwoweeksearlierbeenapeopleunitedagainsttheimminentthreatofinvasionfromthenorthwasnowanunsure,dividedclusterofseparatedgroups,badlyfrightenedbecausetherewasnoonepreparedtoassumeleadershipofthegovernment.TheElvenpeoplewouldnotpanicaltogether;theywerefartoodisciplinedto

allowmatterstofallaparttotally.ButEventinehadbeenanundeniablypowerfulpersonality, and the people had been united solidly behind him since hisascensiontothethrone.Young,butpossessingunusualstrengthofcharacterandaninfalliblecommonsense,hehadalwaysbeenthere toadvise themandtheyhad always listened. The rumors of his disappearance had shaken the peoplebadly.ButneitherBreenElessedilnorJonLinhadtimetoworryaboutanythingbut

findingthemissingKing.AfterskirtingGnomepatrolsandthemainbodyoftheNorthland army while they searched, the haggard survivors of the decimatedElvenpatrolshadreturnedbrieflytothetinyoutlandvillageofKoos,wheretheyhadobtainedfreshhorsesandsupplies.Nowtheywereontheirwaybacktopickupthesearchoncemore.JonLinSandorbelievedheknewwhereEventinewouldbefound,ifhewere

stillalive.ThegiantNorthlandarmyhadmovedsouth toward theKingdomofCallahorn almost aweek earlier, and itwould pass no farther until the famedBorder Legion had been destroyed. It was probable that if Eventine were aprisoner,asbothBreenandhenowbelievedmustbethecase,thentheywouldfindhimwith thecommandersofBrona’s invasion forceasahostageofgreatbargaining value.With Eventine Elessedil defeated, citieswhose leaderswerelessermenwouldbemorewillingtoconsidersurrender.Inanyevent,theWarlockLordrecognizedtheimportanceofEventinetothe

Elvenpeople.HewasthemostreveredandbelovedleadertheElveshadknownsince Jerle Shannara, and they would do almost anything to have him backsafely.Dead,hewould servenopurpose to theSpiritKing, andhis executionmight so enrage the Elves that they would reunite in their common desire todestroy him. But alive, Eventine was of immeasurable worth, for the Elvenpeople would not risk injury to their favorite son. Jon Lin Sandor and BreenElessedil harboredno false illusions thatEventinewouldbe safely returned tothem,even if thearmydidnot intervene in theSouthland invasion.Theywereacting on their own initiative, gambling that they could find their friend andbrotherbeforehisusefulnesswasended—beforetheSouthlandfell.“That’senough.Mountup!”Jon Lin’s impatient voice cut through the momentary stillness with biting

sharpness,andtheloungingridersleapedtotheirfeethurriedlyinresponse.Hestareda final timeat thedistantblackness, then turnedandvaultedeasilyontohiswaitingmount,gatheringthereinsinoneswiftmotion.Breenwasalreadyathis side and seconds later the small body of horsemenwasmoving down thevalley corridor at a fast trot. It was a gray morning, the air tinged with thepungentsmelloflastnight’srain,stilllingeringontheplainlands.Thetallgrasswaswetandyieldingbeneaththesharphoovesof thepassinghorses,mufflingtheirimpact.Fartothesouthatraceofdeepblueskycouldbeseenbeyondtheclouds. It was a cool day, and the Elves rode comfortably in the moderatetemperatures.They reached the end of the valley quickly, pulling their eagermounts to a

slow trot as they entered the eastern corridor of the pass. The riders talkedamongthemselves,thoughinlowtones,forthebordersoftheNorthlandlayjustbeyond the pass gateway. The line of horsemenwound snakelike through thehighridgesframingtheeasternentryway,andmoments lateremergedontothevastexpanseofthePlainsofStreleheim.JonLinglancedalmostcasuallyacrossthe emptiness that stretched out before him, and then abruptly reined in his

horse.“Breen—ahorseman!”Instantlytheotherwasathissideandtogethertheypeeredatthedistantrider

movingrapidlytowardthem.TheElvesstaredcuriously,unabletomakeoutthefeaturesoftheadvancinghorsemaninthehazylight.Foronebriefinstant,BreenElessedil was convinced it was his brother returning, but a moment later hishopes faded as he realized the man was too small to be Eventine. He wascertainlynohorseman.Ashe cameup to them,hewashangingontoboth thereinsandthesaddlehornfordearlife,hisbroadfaceflushedandsweatingfromtheeffort.HewasnoElf;hewasaSouthlander.HebroughthismounttoajoltinghaltinfrontoftheElvenband,pausingto

catchhisbreathbeforespeaking.Hestudiedtheamusedfacesconfrontinghimandhisfaceturnedashaderedder.“Imetamanafewdaysearlier,”thestrangerbegan.Thenhehesitatedtobe

certain he had their attention. “He askedme to seek out the right arm of theElvenKing.”ThelooksofamusementfadedinstantlyastheElvenridersleanedforward.“IamJonLinSandor,”thepatrolcommanderacknowledgedquietly.Theexhaustedridersighedgratefullyandnodded.“I’mFlickOhmsford,andI’vecomeallthewayfromCallahorntofindyou.”

With no little effort he dismounted and rubbedhis aching backside. “If you’llgivemeafewminutes’rest,I’lltakeyoutoEventine.”Shea marched in silence between two of his giant Troll captors, unable to

shakethefeelingthatKeltsethadbetrayedthem.Theambushhadbeencleverlysprung,buttheymightatleasthaveattemptedtofighttheirwayclear.Instead,on Keltset’s unexpected command, they had offered no resistance, allowingthemselves tobewillinglydisarmed.Sheahadhoped thatKeltsetmight knowoneof theTrolls in the raidingpartyor that,beingof thesame race,hecouldreasonwiththemandsecuretheirrelease.ButthegiantTrollhadnoteventriedto communicate with his captors, docilely permitting them to bind his handswithout the slightest struggle. Panamon Creel and Shea had their weaponsremoved and their hands tied, and the three captivesweremarched northwardintothebarrenflatlands.ThelittleValemanstillhadpossessionoftheElfstones,buttheywereuselessagainsttheTrolls.HestudiedthebroadbackofPanamon,whowaswalkingdirectlyinfrontof

him,wonderingwhat the irascible thief’s thoughtsmustbe.Themanhadbeenso astonished at his companion’s quick surrender that he had not spoken one

word since. Obviously he could not bring himself to believe that he had somisjudgedthesilentgiant,whoselifehehadsavedandwhosefriendshiphehadvalued.TheTroll’sbehaviorwasacompletemysterytothemboth,but,whereasSheawasmerelyconfused,PanamonCreelwasdeeplyhurt.Whateverelsetherewasbetweenthem,Keltsethadbeenhisfriend—theonefriendhefelthecoulddepend on. The hardened adventurer’s disbelief would quickly turn to hatred,and Shea had always known thatwhatever the circumstances, PanamonCreelwasadangerousmantomakeanenemy.Itwas impossible todeterminewhere theywerebeing taken.TheNorthland

nightwasamoonlessblack,andSheawasforcedtoturnhisconcentrationtothetask of finding his footing as the party wound its way northward throughscatteredbouldersandhigh ridgesstrewnwith looseearthand rock.TheTrolltonguewascompletelyforeigntotheValeman.SincePanamonhadlapsedintobrooding silence,Sheacould learnnothing. If theTrollshad reason to suspectwhohewas, thentheywouldbetakentotheWarlockLord.Thefact that theyhadnotbotheredwiththeElfstonesmightbeanindicationthathiscaptorshadseizedthemmerelyasintruderswithoutrealizingwhathadbroughtthemtotheNorthland.Thepossibilityoffered littlecomfort, theTrollswouldfindhimoutquickly enough. He wondered suddenly what had become of the fleeing OrlFane.Histrackshadendedwheretheyhadbeenseized,sotheGnomemustalsobe a prisoner. But where had they taken him? And what had become of theSwordofShannara?Theymarched for hours in the impenetrable darkness. Shea quickly lost all

trackoftime,andfinallybecamesoexhaustedthathecollapsedandwascarriedlike a sack of grain over the broad shoulder of one of his captors for theremainderofthejourney.Heawokebrieflytotheflickeringlightoflow-burningwood fires as the party entered an unfamiliar encampment, then felt himselfloweredtotheearthandledthroughtheopeningofalargetent.Insidehishandswere checked to be certain the bonds were secure and his feet were bound.Moments later he was left alone. Panamon and Keltset had been takenelsewhere.Briefly,hestruggledwiththeleatherthongsthatheldhishandsandfeet,but

theywouldnot loosenandfinallyhegaveitup.Hecouldfeelhimselfdriftingintosleep,thewearinessfromthelongmarchfloodingthroughhisachingbody.Hetriedtofightit,forcinghimselftoconceiveaplanofescape.Theharderhetried, themore difficult it became to think of anything, and everything in histiredmindgrewsteadilymorehazy.Hewasasleepinfiveminutes.

Itseemedonlymomentslaterthathewasawakenedbyroughhandsshakinghim out of the deep slumber into which he had fallen. He rose dazedly as aheavysetTroll spoke somethingunintelligible tohimandpointed to aplateoffoodbeforepassingoutofthetentintothesunlightbeyond.Sheasquintedinthedarkness of the tent, absently noting the familiar grayness of the Northlandmorning that signaled the beginning of another day. Realizing with mildastonishment that the leather bonds had been removed, he briskly rubbed hiswrists and ankles to restore the circulation and then ate quickly the mealpreparedforhim.There appeared to be a great deal of excitement outside his tent, and the

shouts and cries of Trolls moving hurriedly about the encampment filled themorningair.TheValeman finishedhismeal andhad justdetermined to riskaglance through the closed flaps of the tent entrance,when theywere abruptlywhipped aside. A burly Troll guard stepped inside and motioned for Shea tocomewithhim.Withonehandtightlyclenchinghistunicfront,wherehecouldfeelthereassuringbulkoftheElfstones,theValemanreluctantlyfollowed.An escort of Trolls led the small Southlander through a large encampment

consisting of various sized tents and stone huts constructed on a wide bluffsurroundedbyaseriesof lowridges.Glancingat thedistanthorizon,hecouldtell that they were high above the barren plainlands they had crossed theprevious night. The camp appeared deserted, and the voices Shea had heardearlierhadfadedentirely.Thefiresofthenightbeforehaddiedintoashes,andthetentsandhutswereallempty.Asuddenchillstruckthefrightenedcaptive,and it occurred to him that he was probably being led to his own execution.TherewasnosignofeitherPanamonorKeltset.Allanon,Flick,MenionLeahandalltheothersweresomewhereintheSouthland,unawareofhispredicament.Hewasalone,andhewasgoing todie.Hewassoparalyzedwith fear thathecouldnotevenattempttoflee.Hemovedwoodenlybetweenhiscaptorsastheywoundtheirwaythroughthesilentcamp.Alowridge,markingtheboundaryofthe encampment, loomed directly ahead of them, and then theywere past thebutsandtentsandstandinginabroad,openclearing.Sheastaredindisbelief.DozensofTrollswereseatedinawidesemicirclefacingtheridge,theirheads

turned toward himmomentarily as he entered the clearing.At the base of theridge sat three Trolls of varying sizes and, though Shea could not be certain,probably of varying ages aswell, each holding a brightly colored staffwith ablack pennant. Panamon Creel had been seated within the wide circle to oneside.He had a peculiarly pensive look that did not alter as he caught sight of

Shea. The attention of everyone was focused on the massive form of KeltsetstandingmotionlessinthecenteroftheexpectantTrolls,hisarmsfoldedashefacedthethreestaffbearers.HedidnotturnasSheawasledintothecircleandseatednext to the thoughtfulPanamon.Therewasa longmomentofcompletesilence.ItwasthestrangestspectacleSheahadeverwitnessed.ThenoneofthethreeTrolls seatedat theapexof thecircle roseceremoniouslyand tappedhisstaff lightly to the earth. The assemblage rose as one, turned sharply to faceeastward, and spoke in unison several short lines in their own tongue. Thenquietlytheysatdownagain.“Canyouimagine?Theywerepraying.”TheywerethefirstwordsPanamonhadspoken,andSheastartedinsurprise.

Heglancedquicklyatthethief,butthebigmanwaslookingatKeltset.AnotherofthethreeTrollspresidingoverthestrangeassemblyroseandspokebrieflytotheattentiveaudience,gesturing several times towardPanamonandShea.ThelittleValemanturnedexpectantlytohiscompanion.“This is a trial, Shea,” the thief declared in a strangely dispassionate tone.

“Notforyouorme,however.We’retobetakentotheSkullMountainbeyondtheKnifeEdge, theKingdomof theWarlockLord,wherewe’ll be held for...whatever. I don’t think they knowwhowe are yet. It is the command of theSpirit Lord that all outlanders be brought to him, and we’re being treated nodifferently.There’shopestill.”“Butatrial...?”Sheabegandoubtfully.“ForKeltset.Hehasdemandedtherighttobetriedbyhisownpeoplerather

thanbe turnedover toBrona. It’s an ancient custom— the request cannot berefused.Hewasfoundwithuswhenhispeoplewereatwarwithourrace.AnyTrollfoundwithaManispresumedatraitor.Therearenoexceptions:”Shea glanced involuntarily at Keltset. The massive Troll was seated with

rocklike solidity in the center of the waiting assemblage as the voice of thepresiding Troll continued to drone on. They had beenmistaken, theValemanthoughtgratefully.Keltsethadnotbetrayedthem;hehadnotgiventhemawayafter all.Butwhyhadhe allowed them tobe taken captive so easilywhenheknewhisownlifewouldbeforfeitaswell?“Whatwilltheydotohimiftheydecideheisatraitor?”heaskedimpulsively.Aslightsmileappearedonthetallman’slips.“I know what you must be thinking.” There was a touch of irony in the

mockingvoice.“Heisriskingeverythingonthistrial.Iftheyfindhimguilty,hewillbeimmediatelythrownoverthenearestcliff.”

HepausedmeaningfullyandforthefirsttimelookeddirectlyattheValeman.“Idon’tunderstanditeither.”They lapsed into silence once more as the speaker finished his lengthy

statementandsatdown.Afteramoment,asingleTrollcametostandbeforethethree presiding Trolls, whom Shea now realizedmust be judges, andmade abriefstatement.Hewasfollowedbyseveralothers,eachofwhomspokebriefly,responding to questions put to them by the judges. Shea could understandnothingofwhatwastakingplace,butsupposedthattheTrollsweremembersofthe raiding party that had captured them the previous night. The examinationseemedtodragonforever,andstillKeltsethadnotmovedamuscle.Sheastudiedtheimpassivegiant,unabletounderstandwhyhehadchosento

allowmatterstogothisway.BothSheaandPanamonhadknownforsometimethat Keltset was no ordinary outcast, driven from his home and his peoplebecausehewasunabletospeak.NorwashesimplythethiefandadventurerthatPanamonhadtriedtomakehim.Therewasintelligenceinthosestrangelygentleeyes.TherewasanunspokenknowledgeoftheSwordofShannara,theWarlockLord,andevenSheathathadneverbeenrevealed.Therewasapasthiddendeepwithinthegiant’sheart.HewasAllanonalloveragain,Sheathoughtsuddenly.SomehowbothheldthekeytothesecretofthepoweroftheSwordofShannara.It was a strange revelation, and the Valeman shook his head questioningly,doubtfulofhisownreasoning.Buttherewasnomoretimetothink.The witnesses had finished, and the three judges had now called upon the

accused to rise and defend himself. There was an impossibly long, agonizingmomentofunbrokensilenceasthejudges,theassembledTrolls,PanamonCreel,andSheaallwaitedexpectantlyforKeltsettorise.StillthegiantRockTrollsatmotionlessasifcaughtinanunbreakabletrance.Sheawasseizedwithanalmostuncontrollableurgetoshoutwildly,ifonlytobreaktheunbearablesilence,butthesoundcaughtinhisthroat.Thesecondscrawledby.Thenwithoutwarning,Keltsetrose.He drew his massive frame erect, abruptly taking on the appearance of a

creaturewhowassomehowmorethanmortal.Therewasprideinhisbearingashefacedthewaitingtribunal,hiseyesfixedonthethreejudges.Withoutshiftinghis gaze even slightly, he reached under the broad leather belt that bound hiswaist anddrew fortha largeblackmetalpendant andchain.Foramomenthehelditinhishandsbeforetheeyesofthejudges,wholeanedforwardinobvioussurprise.Sheacaughtaquickglimpseofacross-centeredinacircle,andthenthegiantraisedthechainceremoniouslyabovehisheadandsettleditslowlyabout

hisgreatneck.“Bythegodsthatgaveuslife...Idon’tbelieveit!”Panamongaspedinstartled

disbelief.The judges, too, rose in astonishment. As Keltset turned slowly about the

circle ofwonderingTrolls, shouts of excitement broke from theirmouths andtheywereontheirfeetinstantly,gesturingwildlyattheimpassivegiantintheirmidst.Sheastaredwiththerestofthem,completelybefuddled.“Panamon,what’shappening!?”hecriedfinally.Theintenseroarofthearousedassemblagenearlydrownedouthiswords,and

PanamonCreelwassuddenlyonhisfeet,too,onebroadhandclappingdownonShea’sslimshoulder.“Idon’tbelieveit,”thethiefrepeatedwithunrestrainedjoy.“Allthesemonths

I’veneverevensuspectedit.That’swhathe’sbeenhidingfromusallalong,myyoungValeman!That’swhyheallowedustobetakenwithoutafight.Buttheremustbemorestill...”“Willyoutellmewhat’shappening?”Sheademandedheatedly.“Thependant,Shea— the cross and circle!” theother shoutedwildly, “It’s

theBlackIrix,thehighestaward,thegreatesthonortheTrollpeoplecangivetooneoftheirown!Ifyouseethreegiveninyourlifetime,it’sunusual.Toreceiveone,youmustbethelivingimageofeverythingtheTrollnationcherishesandstrivestoattain.Youmustbetheclosestthingtoagodthatamortalbeingcanapproach.Somewhereinhispast,Keltsethasearnedthishonor—andweneverguessed!”“Butwhataboutthefactthathewasfoundwithus...?”ThelittleValemangot

onlypartofthequeryout.“Anyonewhowears the Irixwouldneverbetrayhisownpeople,”Panamon

cutinsharply.“Thehonorcarrieswithitanunbreakabletrust.Thewearerwouldnever breach the laws of his people — he’s presumed incapable of evencontemplating such a thing. They believe that violation of such a trustwouldmeananeternityofpunishmenttoohorribletoimagine.NoTrollwouldconsiderit.”SheastareddazedlybackatKeltsetastheshoutingcontinuedunchecked.The

great Troll was again facing his judges while the three vainly attempted torestoreordertotheunheedingassembly.Ittookseveralminutesmorebeforethenoise abated enough for anyone to be heard. The Trolls reseated themselves,anxiously waiting for Keltset to speak. There was a brief pause as a Trollinterpreter appeared at the side of the silent defendant, themKeltset began to

communicate in sign language. His eyes on Keltset’s massive hands, theinterpreter translatedtheexplanationto the judges in theTroll language.Therewas abrief exchangewithoneof the judges, noneofwhichSheawas able tounderstand, but fortunately Panamon had already begun his own translation,whisperingquietlytohisanxiousfriend.“HetoldthemthathecomesfromNorbane,oneofthelargerTrollcitiesinthe

farnorthernCharnalMountains.HisfamilynameisMallicos—itbelongstoavery old and honored family. But theywere all killed, supposedly byDwarfswhohadattemptedtoloottheirfamilyhome.ThatjudgeontheleftwasaskingKeltset howhehad escaped; theyhad thoughthimdead aswell. Itmust havebeenaprettygrislyaffairforeventhisdistantvillagetohearaboutit.Butthen—waittilyouhearthis,Shea!KeltsetsaystheemissariesoftheWarlockLorddestroyed his family! The Skull Bearers came to Norbane almost a year ago,seizingcontrolof thegovernmentandorderingtheTrollarmies toaccept theircommand.TheymanagedtoconvincemostofthecitythatBronahadcomebackfrom the dead, that he had survived for thousands of years and could not bekilled bymortal hands.TheMallicos familywas one of the ruling families inNorbane,andtheyrefusedtosubmit,demandingthatthecitystandfirmagainsttheWarlockLord.Keltset’sword carried a lot ofweight becausehewore theBlackIrix.TheWarlockLordhadtheentireMallicosfamilydecimatedexceptforKeltset,whomhebroughttohisfortressintheKnifeEdge.ThestoryoftheDwarf looters was a deception to inflame the Troll citizenry to join in theSouthlandinvasion.“ButKeltsetmanagedtoescapebeforetheygothimtotheprisons,wandering

southwarduntil I foundhim.TheWarlockLordhadordered that his voicebeburnedout topreventhiscommunicationwithanylivingbeing,buthelearnedsignlanguage.HewaitedforhischancetoreturntotheNorthland...”OneofthejudgessuddenlyinterruptedandPanamonpausedmomentarily.“The judge asked why he returned now. Our big friend says he learned of

Brona’sfearofthepoweroftheSwordofShannaraandthelegendthatasonoftheElvenhousewouldappeartotakeuptheSword...”PanamontrailedoffabruptlyastheinterpreterturnedbacktoKeltset.Forthe

first time the giant Troll faced toward Shea, the strangely gentle eyes fixedintently on the little Valeman. An involuntary chill shook Shea. Then hismassive companiongestured briefly to thewaiting judges. Panamonhesitated,thenspokesoftly.“Hesays theymustgowithhimto theSkullKingdom,andthatonce inside

thefortress,you,Shea,willdestroytheWarlockLord!”

ChapterThirty-One

PalanceBuckhannahdiedatdawn.Deathcamequietly,almostunexpectedly,asthefirstfaintgoldenraysofsunlightcreptsearchinglyintothedarknessoftheeastern horizon. He died without regaining consciousness.When Balinor wastold, he merely nodded his head in acknowledgment and turned away. HisfriendsstayedwithhimmomentarilyuntilHendelsilentlymotionedforthemalltoleave.Inthehallwaybeyondthedeathroom,theygatheredquietlyandspokein hushed voices. Balinor was the last of the Buckhannahs. If he died in thecoming battle, the family namewould disappear from the earth. Only historywouldremember.Inthesamehour,theassaultonTyrsisbegan.It,too,camequietly,bornwith

thedyingofthenight.AsthewaitingsoldiersoftheentrenchedBorderLegionpeeredintothegrayplainsbelowthegreatcitywalls,thelightfromtheslowlyrisingsunrevealedthemammothNorthlandarmyspreadoutallthewaytothedistant Mermidon, the carefully drawn formations giving a checkerboardappearancetothedeepgreenofthegrasslands.Onemomentthevastarmystoodsilent, motionless on the plains below the city, shadows etched out of thedarknessbydawnintofiguresoffleshandblood,ironandstone,andinthenexttheybegantoadvanceontheTyrsiandefenders.Thesilencebrokesharplywiththe sudden booming of Gnome war drums, the deep, throbbing beat ringingominouslyagainstthestonewallsofTyrsis.The Northlanders came slowly, steadily to the battle, the crashing of the

drumsmatchedby the thuddingofbooted feetmarching in ragged time,metalclinking sharply against metal as weapons and armor braced for the assault.They came voicelessly, thousands and thousands of them, armored figuresfaceless in thedeepmorninggloom.Greathulkingrampwaysmadeof timbersbound in iron creaked ponderously as they were puled and pushed onmetal-rimmed wheels through the half-light, mobile pathways to the heights of thefortifiedbluff.The seconds ticked away as the massive attack force moved to within a

hundred yards of thewaiting Legion, and still the crashing drumsmaintainedtheirunhurriedpace.Therimofthesunbecamesharplyvisibleintheeastandthe waning night faded entirely in the western horizon. The drums abruptlyceased,andthesprawlingarmycametoasuddenhalt.Foraninstanttherewasa

deep, unbroken silence that hung in frightened hesitation on the morning air.Then a deafening roar rose from the throats of theNorthlanders;with a greatsurge,themassivejuggernautcharged,waveuponwaverushingtograpplewiththemenoftheBorderLegion.FrombeneaththeclosedgatesofthetoweringOuterWall,Balinorstaredout

at the awesomeNorthland assault, his broad face coolly impassive.His voicewascalmandsteadyashespokebrieflytohisrunners,sendingonescurryingtofindActonandFandwickontheleftflank,theothertoMessalineandGinnissonon the right. His eyes returned instantly to the terrifying spectacle below thebulwarks as the wild charge drew closer. Behind the hastily constructeddefenses, theLegion archers and spearmenwaited patiently for his command.Balinor knew they could break even this massive charge from their superiordefensiveposition,buttheymustfirstdestroythefivebroadrampwaysthatwererollingslowlytowardthebaseofthebluff.Hehadcorrectlyanticipatedthatsuchdevices would be used to scale the plateau and its low bulwarks, just as theenemyhad foreseen thathewoulddestroy thecity rampway.ThevanguardoftheNorthlandrushwaswithin fifty feetof thebluff,andstill thenewKingofCallahornwatchedandwaited.Thenabruptlythegroundopenedbeneaththefeetofthechargingenemyand

greatholesappearedastheattackersfellscreamingintotheringofcamouflagedpits concealed all along the base of the plateau.Twoof themonstrous rollingrampwaystumbleduncheckedintothewideopenings,thewheelssnappinglooseand the timbers shattering in splinters. The first wave of the mighty rushhesitatedandfromatopthe lowbulwarks theLegionarchersroseonBalinor’slong-awaitedsignal,tofirepoint-blankintotheranksofthesuddenlyconfusedenemy.Thedeadandwoundedalikefellhelplesslyontheplainlandsandwerequickly trampled under as the second wave of the sustained charge pushedthrough,strugglingtoreachtheentrenchedLegion.Threeoftheheavyrampwayshadavoidedtheconcealedpitsandcontinuedto

rollunhindered toward the lowbulwarks.TheLegionarchersquickly loosedaflurry of burning arrows onto the vulnerablewooden backs of the ramps, butdozens of nimble yellow bodies were immediately seen to scramble atop theflaming timbers tosmother the fires.TheGnomearcherswerealso inpositionby this time, and for several minutes a concentrated barrage of arrows cutthroughtheranksofbothsides.ThecompletelyexposedGnomescrawlingaboutontherampwayswerecuttopieces.Everywheremenfellscreaminginpainasthedeadlymissilesfoundtheirhumantargets.ThewoundedmenoftheBorder

Legionwereshelteredinpartfromfurtherinjurybythelowbulwarksandcouldbe treated for their wounds. But the fallen Northlanders lay helpless andunprotected on the open field, and hundredswere killed before they could beremovedtosafety.The three remaining rampways were still rolling toward the base of the

fortifiedbluff, thoughonewasnowburningfiercely,greatcloudsofbillowingsmokeobscuringthevisionofeveryonepassingwithinahundredyards.Whenthe two remaining ramps were within twenty yards of the bulwarks, Balinorsignaledforhisfinaldefense.HugecaldronsofoilwereliftedtotherimoftheSouthland defenses and the contents splashed down onto the grassland below,directly in thepathof the rolling rampways.Before thechargingNorthlandershad time to veer in either direction, torcheswere dropped in themidst of thespreading oil and the entire area disappeared in a mass of flames and heavyblacksmoke.Thesustainedenemyassaultbrokeapartastheoncomingwavesofattackers

hesitatedinfrightatthewallofflamesconfrontingthem.Theforemostranksoftheenemyhadbeenburnedalive;onlyafewmanagedtofleesuccessfullyfromthe terriblecarnageat thebaseof theLegiondefenses.Thewindwasblowingthe dark smoke laterally across the open plains to the west, and for severalmomentsthecenterandleftflankofthetwogreatarmieswerevisuallycutofffromeachotherandfromthewoundedanddyingwholayhelplesslyinthemidstofthechokingfumes.InstantlyBalinorsawhischance.Asharpcounterthrustnowmightbreakthe

assaultcompletelyandrouttheNorthlandarmy.Leapingtohisfeet,hesignaledtoJanusSenpreatoptheOuterWall,whohadbeenleftincommandofthecitygarrison.Immediatelythemassiveironboundgatesswungponderouslyoutward,and themounted regimentof theBorderLegion,armedwith short swordsandlong,hookedpikes,theirleopardcolorsflyingbrightly,gallopedontothebluff,wheeling sharply left to follow the open pathway along the city wall.Withinmoments they had reached the left flank of the Legion defensive line whereActon and Fandwick had command of the entrenched Bordermen. A portablerampwaywashastilyloweredfromthebluffrimontothesmoke-cloudedplainsbelow,andtheLegionriders,ledbyActon,thundereddownwardandswungleftinawidecircle.Balinor’sinstructionscalledforthefamedregimenttocutaroundthewallof

smoke and launch a sustained charge on the enemy’s right flank. As theNorthlandersturnedtomeetthiscounterattack,Balinorwouldbringaregiment

offootsoldierstostrikeattheexposedNorthlandfront,drivingtheenemybacktoward theMermidon. If the counterthrust should falter, both commandswereimmediately to swingback into the covering smoke and returnup thewaitingrampways. Itwas adaringgamble.TheNorthlandersoutnumbered theLegionsoldiersatleasttwentytoone,andiftheTyrsiansshouldbecutoff,theywouldbecompletelydecimated.Small commands of Legion foot soldiers had already descended themobile

rampwayontheleftflankandstagedashortcounterattackintotheenemyranksas a defensive measure to protect the mounted regiment’s only link with thebesiegedcity.Forthemoment, theenemyseemedtohavedisappearedentirelyontheleftflank,totallyobscuredbythesmokewhichwasblowinginblindingcloudsfromtheburningrampwaysatthecenterofthedefensiveline.Ontherightdefensiveflank,thefightingwasferocious.Onlyalight,drifting

hazeofsmokeanddustobscuredthevisionofthetwoarmiesatthispoint,andtheNorthlandassaultcontinuedunchecked.TheentrenchedLegionarchershaddecimatedthefirstwaveofattackers,butthesecondwavehadreachedthebaseof the bluff and was attempting to gain the fortified heights with the aid ofroughhewn scaling ladders. Lines ofGnome archers fired hundreds of arrowsinto the low bulwarks in an attempt to keep the defenders pinned down longenough to allow the exposed climbers to scramble over the Tyrsian defenses.TheLegionarchersreturnedthefirewhiletheircomradesusediron-tippedpikesfromtherimofthedefensestopushawaytheenemyassault.Itwasa long,bloodyfightduringwhichneitherside rested.Atonepoint,a

particularlyfiercebandofrangyRockTrollsbreachedtheLegiondefensesandrushedonto theopenbluff.A fiercebattle raged for a short timeas thebulkyLegioncommanderGinnisson,hisfloridfaceasredashislonghair,ralliedhissoldiers to resist the great Trolls in bloody hand-to-hand combat, theLegionnaireskilledthesmallbandofattackersandclosedthebreach.Atthesummitof thehighOuterWall,fouroldfriendsstoodinsilencewith

JanusSenpreandwatchedtheterriblespectacleunfoldingbelowthem.Hendel,MenionLeah,DurinandDayelhadallbeenleftinsidethecity,theirassignmentto observe the progress of the battle and to aid Balinor in coordinating themovementsof theLegion.The rollingsmokeclouds totallyobscured thegiantborderman’svisionofthemovementsofhismountedregiment,andonlythoseatop the towering citywalls could advise himof its progress so that he couldlaunch his own assault from the center of the defensive line at the propermoment. The King relied particularly on Hendel’s judgment, for the taciturn

DwarfhadbeenfightingnearlythirtyyearsintheAnarborderwars.Now the grizzled hunter, the Southlander, and the Elven brothers stared

anxiouslyat thepanoramaspreadouton theplainsbeneath them.On therightdefensive flank, the fightingwas the heaviest, as the determinedNorthlanderscontinued to batter the entrenched Legion, struggling to scale the face of thebluff.TheBorderLegionwasholdingon,butitwastakingeverythingithadtobeatback theferociousassault.Theplains immediatelybelowthecitygatesatthe center of the bulwarks were obscured by the burning oil and woodenrampways,whichhadcrumbledentirelyintomassesofflamingtimbers.Atthefringes of the smoke, the disorganizedNorthlanderswere vainly attempting todrawuptheirconfusedbattlelinestorenewtheshatteredcharge.Ontheleft,theLegion horsemen had broken out of the cover of the rolling black smoke andwereencounteringtheirfirstsignsofresistance.AlargesquadofGnomecavalryhadbeenstationedontherightattackflank

asadefensivemeasureagainstexactlythekindofmaneuverthatwasunderway.However, the Northlanders had anticipated some advance warning of anyflanking assault and were caught completely by surprise. The poorly trainedGnomeriderswerequicklyscatteredbytheBorderLegionandtheattackontheNorthlandarmy’sexposedflankbeganinearnest,Fanningwidetothenorth,thefabledregimentlowereditshookedpikesandformedawallthreecolumnsdeep,charging into the center of the astonished enemy. Acton led his soldiers in aprecision rush that cut deeply into the exposed flank and nearly routed theextreme right of the Northland army. As the little group atop the OuterWallwatched expectantly, the enemy instantly readjusted its lines to the right ofcenter to meet this new attack; as they did so, Hendel immediately signaleddown to Balinor. A second rampway was lowered from the center of thedefensivelines,andthetallfigureofMessalinewasseentoappearattheheadofa second regiment ofLegion soldierswhodescendedon foot onto the smoke-cloudedgrasslands.Arearguardremainedpostedatthefootofthemobilerampas the second regiment disappeared into the dark haze. Balinor closed hisdefensivelinesandhurriedlyjoinedhisfriendsatopthegreatwalltoobservetheoutcomeofhiscounterthrust.Ithadbeenperfectlyexecuted.Justasthesurprisedrightflankofthemassive

Northland armywheeled to face the oncoming charge of theBorder Legion’smountedregiment,thefootsoldierscommandedbyMessalineattackedfromoutofthesmokeatthecenterofthedefensiveline.Inatightlydrawnphalanx,withspears bristling through a wall of locked shields, the highly trained Legion

advancedintothemidstoftheunpreparedandconfusedenemy.Likecattle,theNorthlanderswereherdedbackward,scoresdropping,dyingandwoundedeveryfewpaces.ThehorsemenofActoncontinuedtopressinfromtheleft.Theentirerightwingof theenemylinebegan tocollapse,and thecriesof terrorgrewsoshrill that even the fierce assault on the right defensive flank waveredmomentarilyasthebewilderedNorthlandersstaredwestwardinavainefforttodiscoverwhathadhappened.FromthesummitoftheOuterWall,MenionLeahstaredinamazement.“It’sunbelievable.TheLegionisactuallydrivingthemback.They’rebeaten!”“Notyet,”breathedHendelsoftly.“Therealtestcomesinamoment.”The highlander’s eyes returned to the battle. The Northlanders were still

falling back before the onslaught of the attackingLegion, but therewas freshactivity takingplacebehind the linesof the retreatingenemy.Thearmyof theWarlockLordwouldnotbedefeatedsoeasily;whatitlackedintraining,itmadeup for in size. Already a vast command of mounted Gnome horsemen wasracing,aroundtherearofthedrivenfootsoldiers,calleduptomeettheattackoftheLegionriders.TheGnomesdrewupimmediatelynorthofActon’sadvancinghorsemen;supportedbyseverallinesofarchersandslingers,theyrushedtotheattack. From the rear center of the enemy army, a vast body of tall figuressheathed entirely in armor had drawn into a tight, boxlike formation and hadbeguntoadvancethroughitsownwiltingarmytowardtheLegionfootsoldiers.Foramoment,themenatoptheOuterWallstaredspeculatively,thenstartedinastonishmentasthearmoredwarriorssuddenlybegantocuttheirwaywithpikesandswordsthroughtheretreatingmenoftheirownarmy.ItwasthemostsavageactMenionhadeverwitnessed.“RockTrolls!”Balinorexclaimedheatedly.“They’llslaughterMessalineand

hiswholecommand.Signalretreat,Janus.”Obediently, his newest commander hoisted a large red pennant on a nearby

staff.MenionLeahstaredcuriouslyat thesilentborderman. It seemed that thebattlehadbeennearlywon,andstillhehadcalled fora retreat.Hecaught theKing’s eye, and the borderman smiled grimly at the unspoken question in thehighlander’seyes.“RockTrollsaretrainedtofightfrombirth—it’stheirwayoflife.Inhand-

to-handcombat,theyarebetterfightersthanthemenoftheBorderLegion.Theyare better trained and much stronger physically. We have nothing to gain inpressingtheattack.We’vealreadyhurtthembadly,andwestillholdthebluff.Ifweplantodefeatthem,wemustchipawayattheirstrengthapieceatatime.”

Menion nodded in understanding. With a brief wave, Balinor left thebattlementstoreturntohiscommandbelow.Hisprimaryconcernatthemomentwas protecting the path of retreat for his two regiments, and that meant asuccessful defense of the portable ramps, the soldiers’ only linkwith the city.Thehighlanderwatchedthebroadfiguredisappearfromview,thenturnedbacktothewall.Thecarnageontheplainsbelowwasfrightful.ThebodiesofslainandwoundedmenlayscatteredallthewayfromtheblufffacetotherearlinesoftheNorthlandarmy.Itwastheworstslaughterthatanyofthelittlegrouphadeverwitnessed,andtheywatchedspeechlesslyastheterriblestrugglecontinued.In the distance, the Legion foot soldiers under Messaline’s command had

begunanorderlyretreatbacktowardthecitydefenses,butthegiantRockTrollshad almost succeeded in forcing their way through themilling front ranks oftheirownarmyandwerepreparingtopursuethehatedTyrsians.Whilethefootsoldiers were withdrawing without opposition, the mounted regiment hadencounteredunexpectedresistancefromthechargingGnomehorsemen.ThetwoforceswereengagedinafiercebattletotheleftoftheadvancingTrolls.Actonwas apparently either unable or unwilling to break away from the persistentattackers,andhisriderswerebeingsubjectedtoawitheringcrossfirefromthedouble line of Gnome archers positioned directly to his north. A largemixedbodyofGnomeandTrollswordsmenhadworkedtheirwayaroundbehindthecharginghorsemen,andnowActon’scommandwasboxedinonthreesides.Hendelbegantomutterangrilytohimself.Forthefirsttime,Menionbecame

concerned.EvenJanusSenprewaspacing thewalkwaynervously.Theirworstfearswere realized amoment later.ThepursuingbodyofTrolls, fresh for thewearingchase,hadrushedforwardsorapidlythattheretreatingmenofTyrsis,tiredandwornfromtheircounterattack,hadbeenunabletogainthesafetyofthebluff.Almostahundredyardsfromthewaitingrampway, they turned tofight.Thebillowingsmokefromthescatteredfiresrolledlikeablackwallinfrontofthelowbulwarks,completelyobscuringBalinor’svisionashewaitedbeforethecitygates,buttheunexpectedturnofeventswasclearlyvisibletothehorrifiedmenwatchingfromatopthetoweringcitywall.“I’vegottowarnBalinor!”Hendelexclaimedabruptly,leapingdownfromhis

positionontheparapets.“Thatwholecommandwillbecuttopieces!”JanusSenpre leftwithhim,butMenionand theElvenbrotherscontinued to

stare helplessly, unable to tear themselves away as the giantRockTrolls boredownonMessaline’swearymen.TheLegionsoldiershaddrawntogetherwithshieldslockedandspearsextended,theshaftsbracedagainst thehardearthfor

the rush.TheTrolls, too, hadgone into a phalanx formation, somewhatwiderthanitwaslong,theirintentionclearlytocloseinontheSouthlandersfromthreesidesandbreaktheirdefensebysheerstrength.Menionglancedhastilyoverthewall, but Balinor had notmoved, still unaware that an entire regiment of thefamedBorderLegionwason thevergeofannihilation.Evenas thehighlandershiftedhisglancebacktotheplainlands,hesawHendelandJanusreachthetallborderman’s side, gesturing wildly. It would not be in time,Menion shoutedinwardly.Theyweregoingtobetoolate.But suddenly a strange thing happened. Acton’s entire mounted command,

momentarilyforgottenbytheviewersonthecitywall,unexpectedlybrokeawayfromtheattackingGnomehorsemenwithanabruptsurgeandcametogetherinperfectformation,swinginginasharparcdirectlyeastbehindthepursuingRockTrolls.Atafullgallop,thesuperbhorsemencutthroughtheGnomeriderswhobarred their way. Oblivious to the hail of arrows showered down from theenraged Gnome archers, they raced directly toward the Troll ranks. Pikeslowered, the regiment struck the rear lines of the Troll phalanx in a rakingmovement,continuing itssweepeastwardacross theplains.Thegiantwarriorswerecaughtbysurpriseanddozenscrumpledtothegroundasthepikescutintothem.But these were the finest fighting men in the world, and they recovered

instantly, closing their ranks and turning tomeet this new threat. As Acton’shorsemen swungwestwardoncemore, racingbackatbreakneck speed, rakingacrosstherearoftheTrollphalanxasecondtime,theNorthlandersstruckbackviciouslywithhurledpikesandmaces.Overadozenriders fell lifelessly fromtheir mounts, and an equal number slumped wounded in their saddles as theregimentchargedeastwardandthencutsharplysouthforthesafetyofTyrsis.Acton had accomplished his purpose; the timely diversion had permitted

Messaline’s besieged regiment to make a sudden break for the concealingsmoke. Itwas a brilliantly executedmaneuver, and atop theOuterWall thosewatchingshoutedwithunrestrainedadmiration.ThoughpursuedbytheforemostranksoftheinfuriatedTrolls,theLegionfoot

soldiers had escaped into the concealing smoke, and most, with the aid ofBalinorat theheadofa relief squad,gained thesafetyof thewaiting ramp.Asharp battle was fought at the foot of the bluff as the regiment struggled towithdraw the lowered bridge before the enemy could seize it. Finally, it wassimplycastloosefromthebulwarksanddroppedontotheplainbelow,whereitlayintactonlymomentsbeforetheTyrsianssetitablazeanddestroyedit.

Ontheleftdefensiveflank,theembattledtearguardfoughtbravelytoholdtheotherrampway,asActon’scommandracedstillanothertimewithinrangeofthemaddenedGnomearchersandstillmoredied.Itwasarunningbattlealltheway,andatonepointthehorsemenhadtochargedirectlythroughthecenterofathinline of swordsmen that rushed down to cut off their escape. But at last theharriedridersreachedthehavenofthebluff,gallopinguptherampwayalmostwithoutslowingandswinging toward theopenedgatesof thecity,where theywere greeted by crowds of cheering soldiers and citizens. As the last of thereturningcavalrygainedtheheights,therearguardhastilywithdrewbehindtheirdefensesandtherampwaywashauledtosafety.Itwasmiddaybythistime,andtheheatofthenoonsunsettledlikeahumid

blanketover themenofbotharmies. In sullen reluctance, theNorthlandarmywithdrew from the battle to regroup, dragging with it hundreds of dead andwounded.Thesmokefromtheburningoilhunginanunmovinghazeover thestrangelysilentgrasslandsasthemorningwindfadedquietlyaway.Thegroundbeforetheblufffacewaslitteredwiththecharredbodiesofthedead,andsmallfires still burned persistently as the great timbers of the shattered rampwaysturnedslowlytoashes.Afoulstenchbegantorisefromtheterriblebattlefield,andscavengers thatflewandcrawledappearedwithshrill,eagercries tofeast.Acrossthebatteredland,thearmieswatchedeachotherwithundisguisedhatred,wearyandrackedwithpain,buteagertoresumethekillingthathadbeenthrustupon them.For several longhours, theoncegreen land layemptybeneath thecloudless blue sky as its scarred surface baked and dried in the heat of thesummersun.Itbegantoappeartothosewhoallowedtheirreasontoslipinfavorof wishful thinking that the assault had ended — that the destruction wasfinished. Thoughts turned hopefully from killing and survival to family andlovedones.Theshadowofdeathliftedmomentarily.Theninthelatehoursofthewaningafternoon,theNorthlandarmyattacked

again. As lines of Gnome archers showered the low bulwarks and the bluffbeyond with a seemingly endless barrage of arrows, large bands of mixedswordsmen, Gnome and Troll, made sharp rushes at the Southland defenses,trying vainly to discover aweak point. Portable ramps, small scaling ladders,andgrapplinghookswithknottedropes—allweretriedtoforceabreachintheLegionlines,buteachtimetheattackerswererepelled.Itwasawearing,viciousassault designed to tire and discourage themen of Tyrsis. The long day diedslowly intodusk,andstill thepitchedbattleworeon. Itended indarknessandtragedyfortheBorderLegion.Astwilightdescendedonthebloodiedland,the

weary foes launcheda final hail of spears andarrowsat eachother across thehazyvoidtheycouldscarcelyseethrough.AstrayarrowcaughtActonthroughthethroatastheLegioncavalrycommanderwasreturningfromhiscommandonthe left defensive flank, knocking the great fighter from his mount into thereachingarmsofhisattendants,wherehediedmomentslater.Thekingdomof theWarlockLordwas the singlemost desolate, forbidding

piece of country in the known world— a barren, lifeless ring of impassabledeath traps. The tender, life-giving hand of nature had long since been drivenfrom this thankless domain of darkness, and thewilderness that remained laywrappedinsilence.Itseasternbordersweremiredinthegloomandfetidstenchof the vastMalg Swamp, a dismal, sprawling bog that no living creature hadeversuccessfullytraversed.Beneaththeshallowwaters,onwhichfloatedloosepatchesofcolorlessweedsthatgrewanddiedinthespanofaday,theearthhadturned to mud and quicksand, and all that came within its grip were suckedquickly from sight. TheMalgwas said to be bottomless, andwhile, scatteredthroughoutitsvastexpanse,smallbitsofsolidearthandgreat,skeletallimbsofdyingtreescouldstillbeglimpsed,eventhesewerefadingonebyone.Across the farnorthern stretches,extendingwestward from theMalg,wasa

ramblingseriesoflow-backedmountainsappropriatelynamedtheRazors.Therewere no passes through these mountains and their wide, sloped backs werecraggy, juttingslabsofrock,seeminglypushedupwardfromthebowelsof theearth.AnexperiencedanddeterminedclimbermightstillhavefoundtheRazorspassable—oneortwomenhadevenmadetheattempt—haditnotbeenfortheparticularlyvenomousspeciesofspiderthatnestedinvastnumbersthroughoutthebarrenmountains.Thebleachedbonesofthedead,scatteredinsmallwhitepatches among the darkened rocks, gavemute testimony to their unavoidablepresence.There was a break in the deadly ring where the Razors tapered off into

foothills at the northwest corner of the kingdom, and for over five milessouthward the countrywas easily passable, opening directly into the center ofthecircleofbarriers.Heretherewasnonaturalprotectionagainstintruders,butthissmallgatewaytotheinteriorofthekingdomwasalsotheobviousapproach,andhencethetrapdoortothecagethroughwhichtheLordandMasterwaitedfortheunwarytostep.Eyesandearsresponsiveonlytohiscommandguardedthenarrowstripoflandcarefully.Theringcouldbelockedinstantly.Directlybelowthefoothills,avast,aridwastelandcalledtheKierlakDesertransouthwardfornearlyfiftymiles.Aheavy,poisonousvaporhunginvisiblyoverthesprawling,

sand-covered plains, drawn from the waters of the River Lethe, a venomousstream thatwound lazily into the fiery emptiness from the south and emptiedinto a small lake in the interior. Even birds chancing to fly too close to thedeadly hazewere killed in seconds. Creatures dying in the terrible furnace ofsandandpoisonousairdecayedinamatterofhoursandturnedtodust,sothatnothingremainedtoshowtheirpassing.But the most formidable barrier of all stretched menacingly across the

southernboundaryoftheforbiddendomain,beginningatthesoutheasterlyedgesof theKierlakDesertand runningeastward to themarshybordersof theMalgSwamp.TheKnifeEdge.Likegreatstonespearsdriven into thehardearthbysomemonstrousgiant, thesemountains toweredthousandsoffeet into thesky.Theyhadtheappearancenotsomuchofmountainsasaseriesofawesomepeaksjutting in broken lines that blocked the dim horizon like fingers stretchingpainfully.AttheirbaseswirledthetoxicwatersoftheRiverLethe,whichhaditsoriginintheMalgSwampandmeanderedwestwardatthebaseofthegreatrockbarrier todisappear into the impregnablevaporsof theKierlakDesert.Only aman driven by an unexplainable madness would have attempted to scale theKnifeEdge.Therewasapassagethroughthebarrier,asmall,windingcanyonthatopened

ontoaseriesofcraggyfoothillswhichranforseveralthousandyardstothebaseofasingle,ominouslysolitarymountainjustwithinthesouthernboundaryofthering.Thescarredsurfaceofthismountainwaschippedandwornbytimeandtheelements, lending the southern facing a singularly menacing appearance. Oneventhemostcasualinspection,onewasimmediatelystruckbythefrighteningsimilarity the southwall bore to a human skull, stripped of flesh and life, thepate rounded and gleaming above the empty sockets of the eyes, the cheekssunkenandthejawacrookedlineofbaredteethandbone.Thiswasthehomeofthe Lord and Master. This was the kingdom of Brona, the Warlock Lord.EverywhereitborethestampoftheSkull,theindeliblemarkofdeath.It was midday, but time seemed strangely suspended, and the vast, wasted

fortress laywrapped inapeculiar stillness.The familiargrayness screened thesun and sky, and the drab brownish terrain of rock and earth lay stripped ofmortallife.Yettherewassomethingmoreintheairthisday,cuttingthroughthesilence and the emptiness to the flesh and blood of the men in the windingcolumnpassingthroughthesinglegatewayinthemassiveKnifeEdge.ItwasapressingsenseofurgencythathungpoisedovertheblastedfaceofthekingdomoftheWarlockLord,asifeventstocomehadrushedthroughtimetooquickly

and,jammedtogetherineageranticipation,waitedfortheirmoment.The Trolls shuffled guardedly through the twisting canyon, their

comparativelyhugeframesdwarfedbythetoweringheightsofthepeakssothattheyappearedlittlemorethanantsinthesprawling,agelessrock.Theyenteredthekingdomofthedeadthewayinwhichlittlechildrenenteranunfamiliardarkroom,inwardlyfrightened,hesitant,butneverthelessdeterminedtoseewhatlaybeyond.Theymarchedunchallenged, thoughnot unseen.Theywere expected.Theirappearancecameasnosurprise,andtheyenteredwithoutdangerofharmfrom the minions of the Master. Their impassive faces disguised their trueintentions or they would never have passed the southern shores of the RiverLethe.ForintheirmidstwasthelastofabloodlinetheSpiritKinghadthoughtdestroyed,thelastsonoftheElvenhouseofShannara.SheamarcheddirectlybehindthebroadframeofKeltset,hishandsseemingly

tied at his back. PanamonCreel followed, his arms similarly bound, the grayeyesdangerousastheystaredwatchfullyatthegreatrockwallsoneithersideofthewinding column.The ruse hadworked perfectly.Apparent captives of theRockTrolls,thetwoSouthlandershadbeenmarchedtotheshoresoftheRiverLethe, the sluggish, vile stream that flanked the southernmost borders of theSkullKingdom.TheTrollsandtheirsilentchargeshadboardedawide-backedraftofrottedwoodandrustedironspikes,whosevoicelesscaptainwasabent,hoodedcreaturewhoseemedmorebeastthanman,hisfaceshieldedinthefoldsofthemustyblackcloak,buthishooked,scale-coveredhandsclearlyvisibleastheyfastened tightlyon thecrooked leveragepoleandguided theancientcraftacross the tepid,poisonwaters.Theuneasypassengers feltagrowingsenseofrevulsionfromthemerepresenceoftheirpilotandwereopenlyrelievedwhen,afterfinallypermittingthemtodisembarkonthefarshore,hevanishedwithhisancient barge into the haze that lay across the dark river waters. The lowerNorthlandwasnowentirely lost to them, thegraynesssoheavilydisseminatedthroughthestale,dryair thatnothingbeyondtheriverwasvisible.Incontrast,thesoaring,blackenedcliffsoftheKnifeEdgeloomedstarklybeforethem,thegreat fingers of rock brushing the mist aside in the half-light of the northernmidday. The party passed wordlessly through the corridor that split the vastheights,windingdeeperintotheforbiddendomainoftheWarlockLord.The Warlock Lord. Somehow Shea felt that he had known from the very

beginning,fromthedayAllanonhadtoldhimofhisremarkableancestry,thatitwould happen this way — that circumstances would demand he face thisawesome creature who was trying so desperately to destroy him. Time and

eventsmergedintoasingleinstant,aflashofjumbledmemoriesofthelongdaysspent in flight, running to stay alive, running toward this frighteningconfrontation.Nowthemomentwasdrawingnear,andhewouldfaceitvirtuallyalone in the most savage land in the known world, his oldest, most trustedfriends scattered, his only companions a band ofRockTrolls, an outcast thiefandavengeful, enigmaticgiant.The latterhadpersuaded the tribunal toplaceunderhis commandadetachmentofTrollwarriors,not somuchbecause theybelievedthattheinsignificantValemanaccompanyinghimsomehowpossessedtheabilitytodestroytheimmortalBronaasbecausetheirmassivekinsmanwastheholderofthehonoredBlackIrix.ThethreejudgeshadalsorevealedthefateofOrl Fane.TheTrolls had seized the little fugitive about an hour before hisdetermined pursuers had been taken captive, and he had beenmarched underguardtothemainencampment.TheMaturentribunalhadquicklyconcludedthattheGnomewascompletelymad.Hehadbabbledinsanelytothemofsecretsandtreasures,hiswizenedyellowfacecontortedinahideousfixedgrin.Attimeshehad appeared tobe talking to the air abouthim,brushingviolently at his barearms and legs as if living things had fastened there.His sole linkwith realityseemedtobetheancientswordthatwashisonlypossession,theswordheclungtosoviolentlythathiscaptorscouldnotpryitfree.Theyallowedhimtokeepthe worthless piece of metal, binding his clenched yellow hands to its rustedsheath.WithinthehourhewastakennorthtothedungeonsoftheWarlockLord.ThecanyonwoundwickedlythroughthetoweringpeaksoftheKnifeEdge,at

timesdwindlingfromabroadtrailwaytolittlemorethanasplitintherocks.TheburlyTrollsscrambledthroughthetwistingpassagewithoutresting.Afewhadbeen there before, and they led the others at a steady, tiring pace. Speedwasessential.Iftheydelayedtoolong,theSpiritKingwouldhearthatOrlFaneandthe ancient weapon he refused to release, even for the briefestmoment, weresafelyshutawayintheWarlockLord’sowndungeons.Shea shuddered at the possibility. It might already have happened— they

couldbewalkingstraighttotheirownexecution.EachtimebeforeonthelongjourneyfromCulhaven,theWarlockLordhadseemedtoknoweverymovetheyhad made; each time he had been waiting for them. It was madness— thisterriblerisk!Andeveniftheydidsucceed,evenifSheafinallyheldtheSwordofShannarawithinhisgrasp...why,what then?Shea laughed inwardly.Couldhe face theWarlockLordwithoutAllanonbeside him,without any ideawhatwouldtriggerthehiddenpowerofthelegendarytalisman?NoonewouldevenknowhehadtheSword.

The Valeman had no idea what the others intended, but he had alreadydetermined that if by some miracle he could get his hands on the elusiveweapon,hewasgoingtorunforhislife.Everyoneelsecoulddoashewished.HewascertainthatPanamonCreelwouldhaveapprovedoftheplan,butthetwohadscarcelyexchanged tenwordssince the journey to theSkullKingdomhadbegun. Shea sensed that for the first time in Panamon’s life, a life composedprimarilyofnarrowescapesandhair-raisingescapades,thescarlet-cladthiefwasfrightened.ButhehadgonewithKeltsetandShea—gonebecause theywerehisonlyfriends,gonebecausehispridewouldlethimdonoless.Hismostbasicinstinctwastosurviveatanycost,buthewouldnotpermithimselftobeshamedeventostayalive.Keltset’s reasons for this dangerous undertaking were less apparent. Shea

thought he understoodwhy the giant Troll had quietly insisted that theymustretrievetheSwordofShannara,anditwasmuchmorethanpersonalvengeancefortheslaughterofhisfamily.TherewassomethingaboutKeltsetthatremindedShea of Balinor— a quiet confidence that lent strength to those less certain.SheahadfeltitwhenKeltsetindicatedthattheymustgoafterOrlFaneandtheSword.Thosegentle,intelligenteyestoldtheValemanthathebelievedinhim,andwhileSheacouldnotexplainitinrationalterms,heknewhehadtogowithhisgiantfriend.Ifheturnedawaynow,afterthelongweeksspentsearchingfortheSwordofShannara,hewouldbebetrayingbothhisfriendsandhimself.

Thecliffwallsoneithersidefellawayabruptly,andthecanyonopenedintoaslopingvalley that seemed likeawidedepression in the rugged interiorof theSkullKingdom, its surfacebarrenanddry, the earthbrokenbya scatteringofrocky hillocks and dry riverbeds. The party halted silently, every pair of eyesinvoluntarilydrawntothesolitarymountaininthebowlofthelittlevalley,thesouthern face staring sightlessly at them from two huge, empty sockets thatresembledtheeyesofaskull.TheblastedfacewaitedintimelessanticipationforthecomingoftheMaster.Standingatthemouthofthedraw,Sheafeltthehaironthebackofhisneckriseandasuddenchillsurgethroughhissmallframe.From out of the rocks to either side, a number of misshapen, lumbering

creaturesshuffled,theirgreatbodiesasdrabasthedyingland,theirfacesnearlyfeatureless.Oncetheymighthavebeenhuman,buttheywerenolongerso.Theystooduprightontwolegsandtwoarmsswungaimlesslyat theirsides,but theresemblance ended there. Their skin was the texture of chalky putty, almostrubberyinappearance,andtheymovedinthemannerofmindlessbeings.Likeapparitions out of some frightening nightmare, the strange creatures came allaroundtheTrolls,staringblanklyintotheirbarklikefacesasiftobecertainwhatmannerofcreatureshadcometothem.Keltset turnedslightlyandmotionedtoPanamonCreel.“TheTrollscallthemMutens,”theadventurerwhisperedquietly.“Standeasy

—rememberthatyouaresupposedtobeaprisoner.Staycalm.”One of the misshapen beings spoke in rasping tones to the lead Trolls,

gesturingbrieflyat the twoboundmen.Therewasa shortexchange,and thenoneoftheTrollssaidsomethingoverhisshouldertoKeltset,whoimmediatelymotionedforSheaand&Panamontofollowhim.Thetriodetachedthemselvesfromthemaingroup.AccompaniedbytwootherTrolls, theysilentlyfollowedoneof the lumberingMutensashe turnedandmovedratherunsteadily towardtheinnercliffwalltotheirleft.SheaglancedbackonceandobservedtheTrollsscatteringidlytoeitherside

of thecanyonentrance, seeminglywaiting for their companions to return.TheremainingMutenshadnotmoved.Lookingaheadoncemore,theValemansawthattheclifffacewassplitbyalongfissurethatranseveralhundredfeetupandthatthisgapwasapassagetosomethingbeyond.Thelittlegroupmovedintotherockwall,theireyestryingtoadjusttothesuddendarkness.Therewasapauseastheirguidetookatorchfromawallrackandlitit,handingitabsentlytooneof theTrolls before proceeding.Apparently his own eyeswere accustomed totheinkydarkness,forhecontinuedtoleadthem.The party passed into a dank, foul-smelling cavern that branched out into

several fathomless passageways. From somewhere far away, Shea thought hedetected the faint, chilling sound of screams ringing over and over as echoesagainst therockwalls.Panamoncursedharshly in the flickering torchlight,hisbroadfacestreakedwithsweat.Thesilent,heedlessMutenshuffledahead intoone of the passages and the faint light from the fissure opening faded intoblackness.The lingering echo of booted feet on rock was the only sound as the men

moved down the darkened corridor, their eyes wandering briefly to thewindowless iron doors bolted into the face of the rock on both sides of thepassageway.Thescreamsstill rang faintly in theirears,but theyseemedmoredistant now. There were no human sounds from the cells they were passing.Finally the guide halted before one of the heavy doors, gesturing briefly andspeakinginthesamegutturaltonestotheTrolls.Heturnedtocontinuedownthepassageandhad takenhis first stepwhen the foremostTrollbroughthisgreatiron mace crashing down on the creature’s bulky head. The Muten droppedlifelesslytothecavefloor.KeltsetmovedtoloosentheropesbindingSheaandPanamon as the two remaining Trolls stood watchfully before the cell door.Whenhisfriendswerefreed,themassiveNorthlandermovedcatliketotheirondoorandslidthelatchesclearoftheirloops.Graspingthebars,hepulledonthe

ancientdoor.Withasharpgratingsound,theheavyportalswungopen.“Nowweshallsee,”breathedPanamonharshly.TakingthelightfromKeltset,

hesteppedcautiouslyintothetinyroom,histwocompanionsclosebehind.OrlFanesathunchedagainstthefarwall,hisscrawnylegsshackledinchains

that were bolted into the rock flooring, his clothing torn and dirtied almostbeyond recognition. He was clearly not the same creature they had capturedseveraldaysearlieronthePlainsofStreleheim.Hestaredatthethreefaceswithmindlessdisregard,his thin,yellowface fixed inahideousgrinashebabbledmeaninglessly to himself. His eyes were strangely dilated in the brighttorchlight,andheglancedallaboutashetalked,behavingasiftherewereothersinthelittlecell,creaturesinvisibletoalleyesbuthisown.ThetwomenandthegiantTrolltookinhisconditionataglance,theireyes

travelinginstantlytothebonyhandsthatstillclutchedpossessivelythebatteredleatherandmetalscabbardthatsheathedtheelusiveobjectoftheirlongpursuit.The ancient hilt flickered backdully in the torchlight, giving thema shadowyimageoftheraisedhandholdingtheburningtorch.Theyhadfoundit.TheyhadfoundtheSwordofShannara!For amoment no onemoved as themaddenedGnome clutched the Sword

closer to his emaciated frame, his eyes showing a momentary flicker ofrecognitionashecaughtsightof thesharppikeglintingat thestumpedendofPanamon’sslowlyraisingarm.TheadventurersteppedforwardmenacinglyandbentclosetotheGnome’sthinface.“I’vecomeforyou,Gnome,”hesaidharshly.OrlFaneseemedtoundergoasuddentransformationatthesoundofPanamon

Creel’svoice,andafrightenedshriekescapedhis lipsashestruggled tomovefartherback.“GivemetheSword,youtreacherousrat!”thethiefdemanded.Withoutwaitingforaresponse,heseizedtheweapon,tryingtowrestitfrom

thenowthoroughly terrifiedGnome’sastonishinglystronggrip.Butevenwithdeath staringhimdirectly in theeye.OrlFanewouldnotgiveuphispreciouspossession.Hisvoicerosetoascream,andinsuddenfury,Panamonbroughttheheavyironbindingonhispikedhanddownacrossthelittlefellow’sunprotectedskull.TheGnomecrumpledunconscioustothecoldfloor.“All those days we chased this miserable creature!” Panamon cried. He

stoppedabruptlyandloweredhisvoicetoaharshwhisper.“IthoughtIwouldatleasthavethepleasureofwatchinghimdie,but...it’snolongerworthit.”Indisgust,hereachedforthehiltoftheSword,intentondrawingitfromits

binding, but Keltset stepped forward and placed a restraining hand on hisshoulder.Stillangered,thethiefstaredbackcoldlyastheRockTrollmotionedsilentlytowardthewatchingShea,thenbothsteppedback.TheSwordofShannarawasShea’sbirthright,buthehesitated.Hehadcome

sofar,beenthroughsomuch,allforthismoment—andnowhefoundhimselfafraid.Hefeltcoldinsideashelookedattheancientweapon.Foraninstant,heconsidered refusing,knowing thatapartofhimcouldnotaccept theawesomeresponsibility thathewasbeingaskedtoassumearesponsibility thathadbeenforcedonhim.HerecalledinaflashtheterriblepowerofthethreeElfstones.Whatthenof

thepoweroftheSwordofShannara?InhismindhepicturedthefacesofFlickandMenion and the otherswho had fought so hard to gain possession of theSword forhim. If he turnedawaynow,hewouldhavebetrayed the trust theyhadextendedhim.Ineffect,hewouldbetellingthemthateverythingtheyhadgonethroughforhimhadbeenpointless.Hesawagainthedark,enigmaticfaceofAllanonchastisinghimforhisfoolishideals,hisrefusaltoseemenforwhattheywere.Hewouldhavetoanswertohimaswell,andAllanonwouldnotbepleased...Woodenly hemoved to the fallen Orl Fane and bent over him, his fingers

closingfirmlyaroundthecoldmetalhiltoftheweapon,feelingtheraisedimageoftheburningtorchinhissweatingpalm.Hepaused.ThenslowlyhedrewforththeSwordofShannara.

ChapterThirty-Two

Theseconddayof thebattle forTyrsisborewitness to the samewholesaleslaughterofthemenoftheNorthlandarmyasthefirst.Thegiantinvasionforceattackedatdawn,marchingtowardthefaceofthebluffinprecisionformationtothedeepboomingoftheGnomewardrums,pausinginsilencewithinahundredyards;then,withanearshatteringyell,thearmyrushedheadlongintotheterriblestruggletogaintheheights.Withthesameutterdisregardfortheirownlives,theattackersthrewthemselvesinwaveafterwaveagainsttheouterdefensesoftheentrenched Border Legion. They came without the aid of the monstrousrampways,whichtherehadbeennotimetorebuild,relyinginsteadonthousandsofsmallscaling laddersandgrappling irons. Itwasa ferocious,merciless,andbittercontest.HundredsoftheNorthlandersdiedinthefirstfewminutes.With Acton gone, Balinor did not choose to risk the Legion mounted

command a second time in counterattacking the massive enemy army. Hedecided instead to dig in on the bluff face and hold his position as long aspossible. Burning oil and the Legion archers shredded the first waves of theassault,butthistimetheattackersdidnotbreakapartandrun.Theycameinanendless, sustained charge, finally eluding both arrows and flames to reach thebase of thewide plateauwhere scaling ladderswere thrown against the bluff.Swarms of screaming Northlanders struggled upward and the fighting wasreducedtobasichand-to-handcombat.For nearly eight hours the valiant defenders of Tyrsis repelled an enemy

twenty times its size. Scaling ladders and grappling hooks weremethodicallyshattered and cut apart, Northlanders were pushed away as quickly as theygained the summit, and momentary hole’s in the defense lines were closedbeforeabreachcouldbeopened.Theactsofbraveryperformedby individualmembers of the famed Legion were too numerous to recount. They foughtagainst impossibleoddswithout rest,without relief,knowingall thewhile thatnoquarterwouldbegiventhembytheenemy,shouldtheyfail.Foreighthoursthe enraged Northland army struggled to break through the Legion bulwarkswithout success. But finally a breachwas opened on the defensive left flank.Witharaggedshoutofvictory,theenemyrushedontothebluff.AfterthedeathofActon,theagedFandwickhadbeenleftinsolecommandof

thissectionofthedefensivelines.Callingonhisdiminishedreserves,theLegion

commandermovedtoblocktheNorthlandrush.Anintense,fiercebattleragedintheopenbreachforlongminutesasthedeterminedattackersbattledtoholdandenlarge the newly gained opening. Dozens died on both sides, including thevaliantFandwick.Balinorrushedmorereservesfromthecenterofthelineinanefforttoclose

the breach, and he finally succeeded. Butmoments later a second and then athirdholeopened in the leftdefensive flankand thewholecommandbegan towaiverandbreakapart.TheKingofCallahornrealizedhisarmycouldnolongerhold theouter defenses, andpassed theword tohis remaining commanders tobeginanorderlyretreatintothecity.Rallyingthecrumblingleftflank,thegiantbordermandrewinhisoutermostdefenseswhileholdingtheenemyatbay,andquicklymovedtheentirecommandintothecity.Itwas abittermoment for theSouthlanders,whonow rushed todefend the

greatOuterWall.ButtheNorthlandarmydidnotadvancetotheattack.Instead,theybegantearingdownthedefensivebulwarksandmovingtheminwardonthebluffface,wheretheyconstructedtheirowndefensiveposition,justoutofrangeoftheLegionarchers.ThewearysoldiersoftheBorderLegionwatchedsilentlyfromatopthecitywallsasthesunlitafternoonturnedslowlytoduskabovethebusyinvaders.TheNorthlandcampwasmovedforwardtotheplainsbelowthecity and the army began to light its watch fires as darkness closed in aroundthem.Inthefinalmomentsofdaylight, theenemyrevealedaportionofitsplanto

scale thewallsofTyrsis.Great, slopingrampwaysfromtheplains to thebluffwerehurriedlyset inplace,supportedbystoneand timberover theremainsofthe shattered walkways. Then from out of the twilight, three massive siegetowersrolledintoview,eachoneeasilytheheightoftheOuterWall.Thetowersweremovedtotherearoftheenemyencampmentwithinplainviewofthecityand anchored for the night. It was clearly a piece of psychological warfaredesignedtounnervethebesiegedBorderLegion.From, above the gates to the city, Balinor watched impassively with his

LegioncommandersandhiscompanionsfromCulhaven.Hetoyedbrieflywiththe idea of a night assault against the encampedNorthlanders for the expresspurposeofburningthesiegetowers,butquicklydiscardedit.Theywouldexpecthim to try something like that, and thecitygateswouldundoubtedlybeundercarefulwatchtheentirenight.Besides,itwouldbenoproblemfortheLegiontosetfiretothesetowersaseasilyastheyhadfiredtherampways,oncetheyweremovedtotheattack.

Balinorshookhisheadandfrowned.TherewassomethingverywrongaboutthewholeNorthlandattackconceptbuthecouldn’tputhisfingeron it.Surelytheymustbeawarethatthesiegetowerswouldneverenablethemtobreachthecity’sOuterWall.Theyhad tohavesomethingelse inmind.HewonderedforthehundredthtimewhethertheElvenarmywouldreachthebeleagueredcityintime.HecouldnotbelievethatEventinewouldfailthem.Itwasdarknowand,afterorderingadoublewatchonallsectorsofthewall,heinvitedthemenwithhimtosharedinner.Concealedinagroveoftreesonthesummitofalowridgeseveralmileswest

ofTyrsis,asmallbandofhorsemensurveyed thecarnageof the terriblebattlebelowthemaseveningsettledin.Theywatchedsilentlyasthehugesiegetowerswerewheeled into position at the rear of theNorthland army for themorningassaultonthefortresscity.“We should get a message to them,” Jon Lin Sandor whispered quietly.

“Balinorwillwanttoknowthatourarmyisonitsway.”Flick glanced expectantly at the bandaged figure of Eventine. The strange

eyesseemedtoburnashestudiedthebesiegedcity.“I trust the army is on itsway,” theElvenKingmuttered almost inaudibly.

“Breenhasbeengonealmostthreedays.Ifhehasnotreturnedbytomorrow,I’llgomyself.”HisfriendplacedanunderstandinghandontheKing’sgoodshoulder.“Youare innocondition to travel,Eventine.Yourbrotherwillnot failyou.

BalinorisaseasonedfighterandthewallsofTyrsishaveneverbeenbreachedbyaninvaderinthelifetimeofthecity.TheLegioncandefendlongenough.”Therewasa longmomentofsilence.Flick lookedbackat thedarkenedcity

andwondered ifhis friendswereall right.Menionmustbe inside thosewalls,too. The highlander could not know what had befallen Flick, nor what hadhappenedtoEventine.NorforthatmatterwhathadbecomeoftheunpredictableAllanon, who for no apparent reason at all had disappeared shortly after theValeman’s return with the Elven search party. While the Druid had beenpurposelyvagueaboutagreatmanythingssincehisappearanceinShadyVale,he had never gone off without an explanation. Perhaps he had spoken withEventine...“The city is encircled and guarded.” Eventine’s voice broke out of the

growingdarkness. “Itwouldbe extremelydifficult to get past their lines evenlongenoughtogetamessagetoBalinor.Butyou’reright,JonLin—heshouldknowwehavenotforgottenhim.”

“Wedon’t have a large enough force to break through toTyrsis or even tostrike the rear guard of the Northlanders,” his friend declared thoughtfully.“But...”He lookedquicklyat thedarkbulkof thesiege towersstandingdesertedon

theplainsbelow.“Asmallgesture,”finishedtheKingmeaningfully.It was not yet midnight when Balinor was hurriedly summoned to the

watchtowerabovethegatestothecity.MomentslaterhestoodspeechlessontherampartsinthecompanyofHendel,Menion,Durin,andDayelandstareddownuponthechaosspreadingthroughthehalf-wakenedenemycamp.Totherearofthesprawlingencampment,thecentermostofthethreegiantsiegetowerswasaburningpyrethatlitthegrasslandsformiles.FranticNorthlandersrushedwildlyoverthetimbersoftheadjoiningtowers,desperatelytryingtopreventtheflamesfromspreading. Itwasobvious that the invaderhadbeen takencompletelybysurprise.Balinorlookedattheothersandsmiledwryly.Helpwasnotsodistantafterall.The morning of the third day dawned with a sullen stillness that hung

shroudlike over the land ofCallahorn and the armies of theNorth and South.Gonewas themighty crashing of theGnome drums, themuffled thudding ofbooted feetmarching to thebattle,and the thunderousyellsofattack.Thesunrosefieryredinthedistanteast,thedarkhuespreadingacrossthefadingnightlikeblood.Adeephazecloudedthedew-coveredfaceoftheland.Therewasacompleteabsenceofmovement,ofsound.OnthewallsofTyrsis,thesoldiersoftheBorderLegionwaitednervously, theireyespeeringblankly into thegloomforsignsoftheenemy.Balinorwas incommandof thecenter sectionof theOuterWall.Ginnisson

held the right andMessaline the left. JanusSenpre again commanded the citygarrisonandthereserves.Menion,Hendel,andtheElvenbrothersstoodsilentlyat Balinor’s side and shivered in the cold of early morning. They had restedpoorly, but they felt unusually alert and strangely calm. They had quietlyacceptedtheirsituationduringthepastforty-eighthours.Theyhadseenmendiebythethousands,andtheirownlivesseemedalmost insignificantcomparedtothe terriblecarnage thathadengulfed thisancient land—yetverypreciousatthe same time.Thegrasslandsbeneath the citywere torn and rutted, the earthdiscoloredwithbloodandlitteredwithdeath.Therewasnothingtolookforwardto but more of the same, and still more, until one army or the other wasdestroyed. Forgotten for all the defenders of Tyrsis was the moral purpose

behindthewordsurvival;warhadbecomeamechanicalreflexthatservedasitsownexcusefortheactsmenperformed.Theblood-redof themorningsungrewsharper,andnowtheshapesofmen

andhorsescameintofocusastheNorthlandarmywasrediscovered,amazeofcarefully drawn formations spread all across the expanse of yesterday’sbattlefield from thebluffdefenses tobeyond thecharred timbersof two fallensiege towers. They did not move, they did not speak. They simply waited.Hendel recognized what was happening and whispered hurriedly to Balinor.Swiftly,theLegionCommandersentrunnersalongthewallstohissubordinates,warningthemofwhatwasexpected,cautioningthemtokeeptheirsoldierscalmandinplace.Menion was about to ask what was happening when suddenly there was

movement on the bluff immediately below the city gates. A single armoredwarriorwalkedslowlyoutofthegloom,tall,erect,tostandbeforethegiantwall.In one hand he carried a long staff with a single red pennant. With slow,deliberate movements he planted the pole in the earth, then stepped backceremoniously,turnedandstrodebackintohislines.Againtherewasamomentof complete silence. The long, low, wailing cry of a distant horn soundedmournfullyacrosstheplains—once,twice,athirdtime.Then,silence.“The death watch.” Hendel broke the stillness with a hushed whisper. “It

meanswe’retobegivennoquarter.Theyintendtokillusall.”TheairwasrentviolentlybythesuddencrashingofGnomewardrums,and

everyonebeganmovingatonce.Witharush,thousandsofGnomearrowsfilledthesky,sweepingdownwardtotherampartsofthecitywalls.Spears,pikes,andmaces flewupward fromchargingNorthlanders.Out of thehazeof theplainsbelow appeared the bulk of the one remaining siege tower, groaning andcreakingwith its ownponderousweight as hundreds of the enemypulled andpushed the towering monster up the newly constructed rampway toward theOuterWall.Fromwithin the city,Legion archers fireddownupon thedartingformsoftheirattackersasthebalanceofthemenoftheBorderLegionhuggedthestoneofthedefensesandwaitedforBalinor’sorder.Thegiantbordermanwaiteduntilthemassivesiegetowerwaswithintwenty-

five yards of the wall. Already the enemy was attempting to scale the greatbarrierwithgrapplinghooksand ladders, and the roughstonewasdottedwithclingingfiguresvainlyscramblingtowardthesummit.Abruptlythecaldronsofoilpoureddownwardfromtheramparts,splashingovermanandmachinealiketo saturate the bluff face immediately below. Burning torches followed, and

instantlytheentirefrontoftheNorthlandassaultforcewasengulfedinflames.Thesiege towerand themenaround it simplydisappearedas theblacksmokebillowedskyward,blottingoutfortheLegiondefendersthecarnagebelowthem,but not the shrieks of terror and agony. The attackers attempting to scale theOuterWallweretrapped.Afewmanagedtoreachtherampartswheretheywerequickly dispatched, but most simply lost their hold or were overcome by theheavysmokeanddroppedscreamingintothefire.Within minutes the assault was broken and the entire Northland army had

again completely disappeared from view. The men on the ramparts peeredwatchfullyintotheswirlingsmoke,vainlytryingtodiscoverwhatformthenextassault would take. Balinor looked at his companions and shook his headdoubtfully.“Thatwas utter foolishness.Theymust haveknownwhatwould happen—

yettheycameaheadanyway.Aretheymad?“Perhaps they did it to confuse us...” muttered Hendel quietly. “Like this

smokescreenwesoobliginglyprovidedthemwith.”“Allthatdyingjusttogetasmokescreen?”Menionexclaimedincredulously.“Ifso,thentheyhavesomethingverydefiniteinmind—somethingtheyare

certain cannot fail,”declaredBalinor. “Keepan eyeon thingshere. I’mgoingdowntothegates.”He turned away abruptly and disappeared down thewinding stone stairway

almostatarun.Theotherswatchedhimgowithoutcommentandturnedbacktothe wall. In front of them, thick clouds of the heavy black smoke still roseskywardastheoilontheplainscontinuedtoburn.Thecriesofdeathhadceasedandtherewasastrangesilence.“Whataretheyupto?”Menionvoicedthequestionatlast.Foramomenttherewasnoresponseatall.“IwishwehadbeenabletocatchStenmin,”Durinmutteredatlast.“Ihaven’t

feltsafeevenbehindthesewallswiththatmadmanrunningloosesomewhereinthecity.”“Wealmosthadhim,”Dayelinterjectedquickly.“Wefollowedhimintothat

room,buthe seemed todisappear into thinair.Theremusthavebeena secretpassage.”Durinnodded inagreementand theconversationdroppedoffagain.Menion

stared into the smoke and thought about Shirl waiting for him at the palace,aboutShea,Flick,his father,andhishomeland—all ina rushof images thatfloodedhiswanderingmind.Howwasitallgoingtoendforthem?

“Shades!” Hendel jerked him around so sharply that he was momentarilystartled. “I’ve been a fool. It was right in front of me all the time. A secretpassage!Inthebasementofthepalace,beneaththewinecellar,inthedungeonssealedoffall theseyears—apassageway that leads through themountains tothe plain beyond. The oldKing spoke of it once tome, years and years ago.Stenminmustknowofit!”“Awayintothecity!”exclaimedMenion.“They’llcatchuswithourbacksto

them.”Hepausedsharply.“Hendel!Shirl’sbackthere!”“We don’t have much time.” Hendel was already starting down the steps.

“Menion,comewithme.Dayel,findJanusSenpreandtellhimtogethelptousat the palace immediately.Durin, findBalinor andwarnhim.Hurrynow, andpraywe’renottoolate.”They were down the worn stairs in a rush, scattering across the barracks

groundasifpossessed.HendelandMenionbrokeintoadeadrun,pushingtheirwayheedlesslythroughclustersofsoldierstowardthegatestotheTyrsianWay.Tooslow,Menion’sharriedbrainscreamedathim!HenearlyjerkedHendeloffhisfeetinanefforttoturnhimtowardasmallgroupofsaddledreservemountstetheredtotheirright.Knockinganinterferingattendantasidewithoutpausing,the duo leaped into the saddles of the two nearest mounts andwheeled themtowardthecity.Atagallop,thehorsestorethroughtheopengateway,pasttheflusteredguards,past swarmsof reservesposted just inside thegates;with thepathcleared,theyracedatbreakneckspeedforthepalace.Everything that followed seemed to come in a rush that negated time and

space. People and buildings flashed by them in a blur as the two horsemengalloped over the ancient stones of the TyrsianWay. Preciousmomentswerelost and then the wide arc of the Bridge of Sendic loomed in the distance,spanningthePeople’sParktothepalaceoftheBuckhannahs.Atrainofbaggagecarts scatteredwildlyat the footof thebridgeas the two riders torepast themwithoutslowing,racingtheirmountsacrossthestonearchtowardtheopengatesofthemonarchialhome.Dashingintothegarden-ringedcourtyard,HendelandMeniondrewtheirsweatinghorsesupsharplyandvaultedtotheground.Everything was silent. Nothing seemed amiss. A single attendant strolled

almostleisurelyoutoftheshadowsofagreatwillowtotakethereinsfromtheheated riders, his eyes reflecting only mild curiosity. Hendel gave the man asharp glance and dismissed him, beckoning Menion after him as he movedhurriedlytowardthefrontdoors.Stillnothing.Maybetheywereintime.Maybetheywereevenmistaken...

The hallways of the ancestral manor loomed empty and silent as the twosearcherspausedoncemoreinthefoyer,castingquickglancesatopendoorwaysand deep alcoves, drawn tapestries and curtained windows.Menion turned tofindShirl,buthiscompanionstoppedhimwithaword.Thered-haireddaughterof kingswould have towait. Slowly now, on cat’s feet, the littleman led theanxioushighlanderdowntheoppositepassagewaytowardthecellardoor.Atthebend in the corridor they hesitated, then flattening themselves against thepolishedwoodwork,peeredcautiouslyaroundthecorner.Themassive,ironbounddoortothenow-familiarwinecellarstoodajar.Inthe

openentryway, threearmedmenkeptwatchover thevacanthall.Allbore theinsigniaofthefalcon.MenionandHendeldrewbacksilently.Forthefirsttime,the Prince of Leah realized he was unarmed. He had left the sword of Leahhanging from the saddle pommel of his horse. Quickly he scanned the hallbehindhim,hiseyescomingtorestatlastonasetofcrossedpikesfastenedtothe far wall. A pike was hardly the weapon he needed, but he had no otherchoice. Noiselessly, he retrieved one unwieldy lance and rejoined Hendel. Alonglookpassedbetweenthem.Theywouldhavetobequick.Ifthecellardoorwere to be closed and fastened from within before they could reach it, theywouldhavelosttheirchanceatStenminandthepassageway.Inanyevent,theywereonlytwo.Howmanymoreoftheenemyawaitedthembelow?They didn’t stop to consider it further. In a sudden rush, they were out of

hidinganddownthehallway.Thethreeguardsbarelyhadtimetolookaroundbeforetheirattackerswereuponthem.Menionshovedhislancethroughthemannearest the doorway andwas on top of the second amoment later. The finalguard dropped soundlessly before Hendel’s great mace. It was over almostbefore it had started and the two fighters were through the cellar entryway,chargingdownthewornstonestepstomeetthemostdeadlybattleoftheirlives.Theancientwinecellarwasablazewithtorchlight.Thesmallfiresseemedto

burnfromeverywall,cuttingthroughthemustydarkness likehazysunlight inearlymorning.Inthecenterofthevastchamber,thegreatstonetrapdoorthatledtotheforgottendungeonsbelowwasthrownopen,andfromoutofthedarknessof the pit came the distant sounds of metal striking stone. The cellar wasswarming with armed men and they came at the two intruders from alldirections.HendelandMenionmettherushwithaferociouscounterassault thatcarried

themintotheverymidstoftheirassailants.Thehighlanderhadretrievedaswordfromoneof thefallenguardsat thetopof thestairway.Standingbacktoback

withHendel,hebegantocutawaythenumberofhisattackers.Fromthecornerofhiseye,hesawafamiliarscarlet-robedfigureemergingfromtheblackpitofthedungeon;atthesightofthehatedStenmin,thePrinceofLeahfeltasavageragewellupinside.Withrenewedfury,hechargedintotheenemyguards,tryingto cut through their ranks and reach the man who had betrayed them. Anunmistakable lookof fearcrossed themystic’s leanfeaturesasheshrankfromtheterriblebattle.Backtoback,theDwarfandthehighlanderfoughtasif theyhadgonemad.

Menlaydeadanddyingallaboutthem.Bothwerewoundedinadozenplaces,but theydidn’t feel thepain.TwiceMenionhad slippedon thebloodied floorand gone down, and each timeHendel had driven off the attackers while thehighlander scrambled back to his feet. Only five of the enemy were stillstanding,butHendel andMenionLeahwerenearly finished.They fought likemechanical creaturesnow, their bodies soaked inbloodand sweat, their limbsleaden and nerveless. As if suddenly regaining his wits, the terrified Stenminraced to theedgeof thepitandbeganscreamingforhelp.ThePrinceofLeahresponded instantly.With a final burst of strength, he crashed into two of hisattackers,knockingbothsprawling.Athirdrushedtostophim,butthecharginghighlanderputhisswordintothemanuptothehiltandleftitthere.Graspingafallen lance, he pounced upon the cringing mystic and stunned him with asweepingblowfromthegreatweapon.Astheleanframecrumpledtothestonefloor,MenionLeahgrippedtheedgesoftheheavytrapdoorandheavedupwardwiththelastofhisfadingstrength.Itwasasifthestonehadbeenchainedinopenpositiontothecellarfloor.It

didnotmove.Fromfarbelow,thesoundsofmetalonstoneceased,replacedbythe thudding of booted feet as men raced toward the trapdoor. Only secondsremained.If theyreachedthestairs,Menionwasadeadman.Bracinghimself,thewoundedmanagainthrewallofhisweightintoliftingthemassivepieceofstone, and this time it rose. Groaning with the terrible strain, the highlanderraisedupwardagainstthegreattrapdooruntilatlastitcarneoverandfellwithagreatboomingthudintoplaceintheancientfloor.Withnumb,sweatinghandsheboundthechainthroughthesealingringsandfasteneditwithanironbar.Thepassagewaywasclosed.IftheNorthlandarmysoughtentrancehere,theywouldhavetocuttheirwaythroughseveralfeetofstoneandiron.“Menion.”The sound of his name broke the sudden silence in a crackedwhisper. The

highlander had fallen to his hands and knees, but his groping hand found a

discardedsword,andhe raisedhisbattered face.Acrossa floor litteredwithatangledmass of fallen enemy guards, their twisted bodies either lifeless or intheir final death throes, the eyes of the Prince of Leah found his friend. TheDwarfstoodwithhisbacktothewallnearthebottomofthecellarstairway,thegreatmace still gripped tightly inonehand.Thereweredeadbodies all abouthim. He had killed them all. No one had escaped. The hardened eyes metMenion’sforjustaninstant,anditwasasiftheywereagainmeetingforthefirsttimeinthelowlandsbeyondtheBlackOaks.HewastheoldHendel—taciturn,grim-faced, ever resourceful. Then the mace slipped from his hard, his eyesglazedover;witha long sigh,hisbody slid slowly, lifelessly to thedeath thathadfinallyclaimedhim.Hendel!ThenameracedthroughMenion’sstunned,disbelievingmindashe

struggled numbly to his feet and stood swaying unsteadily in the flickeringshadows.Tearswelledintohisreddenedeyesandranindarkstreamsdownhisbatteredface.Withleadenstepshepickedhiswayoverthelifelessbodiesoftheenemy dead, gasping now in unrestrained fury and helplessness.Hewas onlydimly aware of Stenmin regaining consciousness somewhere behind him. Hereached theDwarf’s side and knelt beside him, gently cradling the limp formnexttohisbreast.HowmanytimeshadHendelsavedhislife?Howmanytimeshadhesavedthemall,onlyto...?Hecouldn’tfinishthethought.Hecouldonlycry.Everythingseemedtobreakinsideofhimatonce.Stenminraisedhimselfslowlytoonekneeandstaredblanklyaboutthecellar

atthemassoftangledcorpses.Hismenalldead,thestonetrapdoorclosedandchained, and... Fear surged up inside his pain-wracked body. One of theintruders was still alive— the highlander! He hated that man, hated him sobadlyhefleetinglyconsideredtryingtokillhim,butthenthefearreturnedevenstronger thanbeforeandabruptlyhis thoughts turnedtoescape.Escapesothathecouldlive!Therewasonlyonewayoutupthestairspast thekneelingmanandthroughtheopencellardoor.Alreadyhewasonhisfeet,movingnoiselesslythroughthecarnage,halfwalking,halfslinkingtowardtheunguardedsteps.Thehighlander’sbackwasturnedtohim,stillholdingthebodyoftheDwarf.

Sweat beads broke out on Stenmin’s forehead and the thin lips curledmenacingly—yetitwasfearthatkepthimmoving.Onlyafewmoresteps.Hewouldbefreeagain.Thecitywasdoomed;allof themwoulddie—allofhisenemies. But he would survive. He had to fight down the sudden impulse tolaugh aloud. One hand touched the stone of the ancient stairway, one footfollowed;thehighlanderwasonlyfeetaway,stillunsuspecting,theoutercellar

doorwasajarandunguarded.Freedom!Juststeps...ThenMenionturned.Ashriekofterrorescapedthemystic’slipsashiseyes

viewedthe terrible lookonthefaceof thePrinceofLeah.Stenminclawedhisway frantically toward the open doorway, stumbling blindly in the long redrobes.HewasonlyhalfwayupthestepswhenMenioncaughthim.AtthewallsofTyrsis,theimpossiblewashappening.Upondescendingfrom

theparapetsof theOuterWall,Balinorhadmovedquickly to themassivecitygates.TheLegionguardsmenstationedbeforethegreatironportalshadsnappedquicklytoattention.Everythingappearedtobeasitshould.Theseriesofinnerlock bolts, controlled mechanically from the tower gatehouse, had been runfirmlyintoplaceinthecreasewherethegatesswungoutward.Thecumbersomeironbarthatservedasanadditionalsafeguardlaysnuglyinitsfittingsacrossthewidth of both gates. Balinor stared fixedly at the greatwall, a nagging doubtpersisting.Somethingwasgoingtohappen;hecouldfeelit.Thegateswerethekeytothecity,theoneweaklinkintheotherwiseimpenetrablestonewallthatboundTyrsis.Siege towers,grapplinghooks, scaling ladders—all thesewerefutileattempts tobreachthatgreatwall,andtheWarlockLordhadtoknowit.Thegateswerethekey.His eyes drifted skyward to the towergatehouse, a squat,windowless stone

enclosure which housed the mechanism that controlled the inner locks. TwoLegionsoldiersstoodattentivelyatthesingledoor.Apickedsquadofmenhadbeengiventheresponsibilityofprotectingthatcrucialmechanism,menselectedby Balinor and commanded by Captain Sheelon. On both sides of the smallhousing, the men of the Border Legion defended the battlements. It seemedimpossiblethattheNorthlandersexpectedtoseizethegatehouse.Still...Alreadythetallbordermanhadmovedtothefootofthenarrowstairwaythat

ledtothegatehouseandhadbeguntoclimbthewornstoneblocks.Suddencriesfrom the wall diverted his attention momentarily, and he paused as the airsoundedwiththedeephummingofathousandbowstrings,andarushofarrowsswepttherampartsoftheOuterWall.HurriedlyBalinorgainedthebattlementsandinthreeshortstridesreachedthewall.Hepeeredcarefullydownatthefaceof thebluff, litteredwithbodiesanddebrisanddottedwithsmalloil fires thatburnedhazilyinthemorningmist.TheNorthlandershadtemporarilyabandonedany direct assault. Instead, lines of archers five men deep were raking thedefendersontherampartswithaconcentratedbarrage.The reason for this new tactic was immediately obvious. At the rim of the

bluff,adetachmentofheavilyarmoredRockTrollspushedforwardaponderous,mobilebatteringram,shieldedfromthetopandsidesbyabroadcanopyofsheetiron.WhiletheBorderLegionwaspinneddownbyheavyfirefromthearchers,thegiantTrollswouldmove thegreat ram intoplacebefore thecitygatesandforceanentry.Theplanappearedatfirstglancebothpreposterousandunworkable.Yetifthe

gatehousefelltotheenemy,theinnerlockboltscouldbereleasedandonlythelong, iron crossbar would hold the gates closed. The bar alone would not beenoughtostandagainstthemassivebatteringram.Balinorrantowardthesmallgatehouse.Theguardscamesilentlytoattention.Hegavethemapassingglance,hishandreachinganxiouslyforthedoorhandle.Sheelonwasnowhereinsight.Thedoorswunginward,andhewasastepintotheclosedroomwhenherealizedhehadneverseeneitherofthesentries.Thegiantbordermanreacted instinctively,sidestepping thenoiseless rushof

theguardbehindhim,seizingtheoutstretchedlancethatbarelygrazedhisbackandwrenchingitfreefromthewould-beassassin.Hisbacktothewall,theKinghadonlyamomenttosurveythedimlylightedroom.ThebodiesofSheelonandhismenlaytooneside,twistedindeath,theirstiffenedcorpsesstrippednakedof armor and clothing. From out of the shadows at the rear of the housing agroup of faceless attackers rushed the borderman, daggers raised for the kill.Balinorthrewtheheavylancecrosswaysintotheirmidstandbrokefortheopendoorway.Butthesecondsentry,whohadremainedjustoutside,sawhimcomingandquicklypulledthedoorshutfromtheotherside.ThetrappedKinghadnotime to force his way free. There was barely enough time to draw the greatbroadswordbeforehisassailantswereuponhim.Theyborehimroughlytothefloor, daggers chipping andglancingoff theprotective coat of chainmail thathadsavedhis life somany times.Withamighty surge,Balinor shookhimselffree and regained his footing. In the faint light of the shuttered room, hisattackerswereonlyshadows,buthiseyeswereadjusting,andhecutatthemastheymovedtowardhim.Twoofthedarkformsscreamedanddroppedlifelesslyas the great blade cut through them, but their companions had already brokenpastthesweepingswordandclosedwiththeKing.Forasecondtime,Balinorwaswrestleddown,butagainhetwistedfreeand

the battle surged back across the little room. The din of the attack outsidecompletely obscured the sounds of battle from within the stone housing, theborderman knew that unless hemanaged to get the door open, no onewouldcome to his aid. He placed his back to the wall once more and swung the

broadsword sharplyas the shadowedenemies resumed theassault.Threeweredead and several were wounded, but those who remained in the battle werebeginning to wear him down with their repeated rushes. He had to get freequickly.Thenanaudiblegrindingof leversandgearsfilled thegatehouse,andherealizedinhorrorthatsomeonewasreleasingtheinnerlockboltsofthefrontgates.Withawildcharge,hebrokeforthelockmechanism,butthedeterminedattackersbarredhispath,andhewasforcedintoacirclingmovementawayfromhis objective. A moment later there was a sharp grating of metal on metal,followed by a series of hammering blows. They were jamming the releaselevers! In complete disregard for his own safety, the infuriated Balinor threwhimselfontheremainingenemies.Thenthegatehousedoorburstopenandthebodyofthetraitoroussentrywas

thrustviolentlythroughtheentryway.Graydaylightfloodedthedarkenedroomand the lean figure ofDurin appeared from out of nowhere at the side of hisfriend.Ingrimsilencetheycutawayatthefewenemyattackerswhoremained,forcing themaway from the jammedmachinery,away from theopendoorwayandescape,andintothefarcornerofthesmallhousing.There,lockedtogetherinferocioushand-to-handcombat,theydestroyedthem.Withoutasecondglanceatthedeadmen,thebloodiedKingrushedbacktothedamagedlockmechanism,hisfacelinedinfuryashesurveyedthetwistedmassofmetalleversandgears.Angrilyhethrewhisweightagainstthemainrelease.Itwouldnotmove.Durinturnedpaleasherealizedwhathadhappened.“We don’t have enough time!” Balinor exploded heatedly, wrenching

violentlyatthejammedlevels.A great booming crash resounded through the stone housing, vibrating

throughthewallsandshakingthetwomenominously.“Thegates!”Durinexclaimedindismay.Asecondcrashrockedthegatehouse,andathird.Therushingofbootedfeet

sounded on the ramparts outside and a moment later Messaline’s dark faceappeared in the open doorway. He started to speak, but Balinor was alreadyissuingcommandsandmovingtowardthebattlements.“Getthisroomclearedawayandhaveourmachiniststrytofreethosegears.

The gate locks are released and jammed!” Messaline looked as if he hadreceived a mortal blow. “Fortify the gates with timbers and put your bestregiment in phalanx formation fifty paces back and to either side. TheNorthlandersarenottobreakthrough.PuttwolinesofarchersontheInnerWalltobottleup thegateentrance.Reservesand thegarrisoncommandwilldefend

the InnerWall.Allotherswill staywhere theyareat theOuterWall.Wewillhold it as long as we can. If it falls, the Legionwill retreat to the secondarydefenseandhold.Ifwelosethat,wewillregroupattheBridgeofSendic.Thatwillbethelastlineofdefense.Anythingelse?”Quickly Durin explained where Hendel had gone. Balinor shook his head

wearily.“Wehavebeenbetrayed at every turn.Hendelwill have to dowhat he can

withoutourhelpforthemoment.Ifthepalacefallsandtheybreakthroughfromthe rear,we are finished anyway.Messaline, you’ll hold the right flankof thephalanx,Ginnissonwilltaketheleft,andI’llbeinthecenter.Theenemyisnottobreakthrough!PraythatEventinearrivesbeforeourstrengthfailsus.”Messalinedisappearedoutsideinacrouchingrun.Theshatteringthrustsofthe

massive battering ram continued to sake the great wall as Balinor and Durinfaced each other across the little room. Already the gray light of day wasgrowingdimmerastheshadowoftheWarlockLordcontinuedtorollominouslyclosertothedoomedcity.ThegiantbordermanreachedoutslowlyandgrippedtheslimhandofhisElvenfriend.“Good-bye,myfriend.Thisistheendforus.Timehasjustaboutrunout.”“Eventinewouldnotwillinglyfailus...”theElfbeganearnestly.“Iknow,Iknow,”Balinorreplied.“NorwouldAllanon.Hehasnotfoundthe

SwordortheheirofShannara.Histimehasrunoutaswell.”Therewasabriefsilencebetweenthem,brokenbytheshoutsofthemenon

thewallsandthecrashingoftheramagainstthegatesofTyrsis.Balinorwipedthebloodawayfromadeepcutoveroneeye.“Findyourbrother,Durin.ButbeforeyouleavetheOuterWall,havethelast

oftheoilpouredontothatramandfired.Ifwecan’tstopthemaltogether,we’llatleastmakeitahotplaceforthemtowork.”He smiled grimly and slipped quietly out of the gatehouse. Durin stared

blanklyafterhim,wonderingwhatperversefatehadbroughtthemtothisunjustend.BalinorwasthemostremarkablemantheElfhadevermet.Yethehadlosteverything—his family, his city, hishome, andnowhis lifewas tobe takenfromhimaswell.Whatkindofworldpermitted such terrible injustice,wheregood men were stripped of everything and soulless creatures of malice andhatredsurvivedtogloryintheirpointlessdeath?Oncehehadbeensosuretheywould not fail, that somehow they would find a way to destroy the hatedWarlockLordandsavethefourlands.Butthatdreamwasended.Durin looked up dazedly as several burly Legion machinists entered the

gatehouse to begin their hopeless work on the jammed lock mechanism.Quickly,theleanElfmovedoutontotheramparts.ItwastimetofindDayel.The struggle to hold the Outer Wall was incredibly vicious. Despite the

devastating barrage concentrated against themenof theBorderLegion by thelines ofGnome archers below the bluff, the valiant defendersmanaged to cutaway at the Trolls that manned the great battering ram before the weakenedgates.Theremainingcaldronsofoilweremovedtothefortificationsabovetheramandpouredontheenemymachineanditshandlersastheyworked.Torchesfollowed, and instantly the entire areawas consumed in amass of flames androlling black smoke.Metalmelted and smoldered and the Trollswere burnedalive after the first few minutes of the terrible heat, their armor becoming afurnacetheycouldnotescape.Butnewenemysoldiersquicklyfilledthebreachand the mighty ram continued to break against the city gates in crashing,boomingblows that firstbent, thensplit thecrossbarand the timbers thatheldthetallportalssecure.Thegray sky turnedblack from theoily smoke that rose above theburning

grasslandstocloakthecitywallsandtheirdefendersinadeep,murkyhaze.Thesmell of burnt flesh choked the nose and lungs of the Legion soldiers as thecharred, blackened bodies of theTroll attackers lay in heaps before theOuterWall.Desperatelythetwoopponentsstrovetobreakoneanother’sstrength,butthe stalemate continued. For a short time, it seemed that the day might endwithoutanyfurtherchangeinthefortunesofeitherarmy.Butat last thegreatcrossbar snapped in two, the supporting timbers sagged

andsplintered,andthegiantbatteringramforcedabreachinthegatesofTyrsis.In a rush, the first Northlanders poured into the parade grounds and weredroppedinstantlybyLegionarcherspositionedatoptheInnerWall.Drawnupina three-sided box opening toward the Outer Wall gates, the Legion phalanxbraced for the enemy rush, spears bristling through locked shields. The rampushedforwardandthegatesopenedfurtherstill,andthentheforemostranksofthe Northland invasion force surged through the gap and threw themselvesagainstthespearsoftheBorderLegion.TheLegiondefenseswaveredslightly,but held, thrusting the attackers backward, where theymilled in confusion astheywerecuttopiecesbythearchersonthewallsbothaboveandbehindthem.InsecondstheparadegroundwasblanketedwithNorthlanddeadandwounded,andthebreachinthegateshadmomentarilybeenbottledupsothoroughlythatthegreatinvasionforcescouldnotadvancefarther.Durin had positioned himself next to the gatehouse on theOuterWall, and

fromtherehewatchedtheNorthlandassaultbreakapartontheLegionphalanx.HehaddiscoveredthathisbrotherhadgonewithJanusSenpretothepalace,andreluctantlyhedecidedtoremainwithBalinorforaslongaspossible.Theenemywas attempting to regain its momentum now; on the plains below, Maturensdirected thegreatRockTroll commands toward thebreach in thegates of thebesiegedcity.TheNorthlandarmywascallingonthebackboneofitsstrengthinadeterminedeffort tocrushtheSouthlandersonceandforall.TheOuterWallwasunderattackagain fromallangles,ashordesofGnomesand lesserTrollsrushedforwardwith ladders, ropes,andgrapplinghooks.The thinnedranksofthe Legion defenders who remained on the battlements fought desperately toprevent a breakthrough, but their men were dying and the numbers of theNorthland army seemed limitless. The battlewas turning into a tellingwar ofattritionthatthemenofTyrsiscouldnothopetowin.Then, into thegrowingblacknessof the skynorthof thebesieged city, two

wingedfiguresroseandhoveredmenacingly,andDurinfelthisbloodturncold.SkullBearers!Weretheysocertainofvictorythattheydaredrevealthemselvesindaylight?TheElf felt his heart sink.Hehaddone all he couldhere; itwastimetojoinhisbrother.Whateverfateawaitedthem,theywouldatleastfaceittogether.Nimbly,heturnedandmovedalongthewallinacrouchingrununtilhewas

justbehindtheleftflankoftheLegionphalanx.Asteepcausewayleddownwardto thebarracksgrounds that laybetween thewallsof thecity, severalhundredfeet behind the Legion rear lines. A deafening roar erupted from the menengagedinbattleonthewalls.AsDurinnearedthebaseoftherampway,hesawthe tall, armored formsof thegreatRockTrollspouring through thebreach inthegatesof theOuterWall.Hepausedinvoluntarily,sensingthat thenextfewminuteswouldbecrucialonesfortheBorderLegion.Thephalanxtighteneditsformationandbracedfortheassaultasthemassive

Trollsdrewuptheirranksandmovedslowlytowardthecenterofthedefensiveline,whereBalinorheldcommand.Tenfeetseparatedthecombatantswhen,toeveryone’s surprise, the entire Troll regiment wheeled abruptly and chargeddirectly into theLegion flank.Therewas a crunching soundas the two forcesjoinedanda terrificclashofmetalasspearmetmaceandshieldstruckarmor.For a moment the Legion phalanx held firmly and the foremost of the giantTrollswerekilledandthrowndown.ButthesuperiorstrengthandsheerweightoftheNorthlanderspressedbackagainstthesmallermenoftheBorderLegionuntilatlasttherightendofthephalanxbegantobreakapart.

ThecommandingfigureofGinnissonmovedquicklyintothegap,hisredhairflyingashefoughttoholdtheline.TheTrollsweredrivenbackstepbystepasBalinor closed on the right and Messaline from the rear. It was the mostferociousman-to-mancombatDurinhadbeenwitnesstointhisterribleconflict,andhewatchedinaweasthegreatRockTrollsheldoffthemenoftheBorderLegion and once again pressed forward. An instant later the breach in thephalanxwasforcedandGinnissondisappearedfromviewentirelyasa rushofmassiveattackersoverwhelmedhimandracedtowardthebarracksandtheInnerWall.Durinwasdirectlyintheirpath.Theremighthavebeentimetogainthesafety

ofthewalls,buttheElfwasalreadyononeknee,theashbowarmedanddrawnback.ThefirstTrollfellatfiftypaces,thesecondtencloser,thethirdattwenty-five. Legion soldiers from thewall rushed to the attack, and archers from thelesser heights of the Inner Wall tried desperately to halt the Troll offensive.Everything in front of the Elfwas confusion as Troll and Legionnaire surgedtowardhim,lockedtogetherindesperatehand-to-handcombat.StillthemassiveNorthlanders continued to come at him, andDurin fired the last of his arrowsintotheirmidst.Hethrewdownthebow,andforthefirsttimethoughtaboutescape.Butthere

wasnotimeleft,andhebarelymanagedtoseizeadiscardedswordbefore thesurgingmassoffighterswasuponhim.Hestruggledwildlytokeephisbalanceas he was forced back against the barracks wall. A giant Rock Troll loomeddirectlyoverhim,ablackmassofbarklikeskinandarmor,andtheElftwisteddesperatelytoonesideasahugemaceswungdownward.Hefeltablindingpaininhis left shoulder, followedbyastrangenumbness.Grimlyhe fought tostayconscious,hispainabruptlyreturninginafloodthatwrackedhisleanframe.Buthewasalreadyfalling.Hisfacelayagainst theearthashebreathedinshallowgasps.Aterribleheavinesspusheddownonhimashefeltthetideofthebattlemovebeyondhim.Hetriedtosee,buttheeffortoflookingwastoogreatandheslipped quietly into unconsciousness, through which pain still seemed topenetrateingreatbursts.Menion Leah bent his blood-streaked face over the body of Hendel and

carefully raised the inert form in his arms.With studied,mechanical steps, hethreadedhisway through thebodiesof their fallen enemies to reach the stairsand climbed slowly toward the open doorway, stepping carefully, butwithoutlooking,overtheheadlesslumptangledinaloosemassofreddenedrobesthatsprawled grotesquely across the center of the ancient stairway. Dazedly, the

highlander passed through the cellar entryway and moved down the vacantpalace hall, gripping the lifeless form of the Dwarf close to him. He walkedaimlessly, his eyes shockingly blank, his face strickenwith a terrible stunnedlookthatscreamedinsilentagonyforrelease.Hereachedthepalacefoyerandthere halted as the sound of running feet echoed hollowly from the easterncorridor.Gentlyhelaidhisburdenonthepolishedfloorandstoodquietlyastheslim,titian-hairedgirlslowedinfrontofhim,suddentearsstreamingdownherbeautifulface.“Oh,Menion,”shewhisperedfaintly.“Whathavetheydone?”Hiseyes flickeredandhismouthmoveddumblyashe fought for thewords

that would not come. Quickly Shirl reached for him, the slim arms comingtightlyaroundhisstoopedframe,herfaceclosetohisown.Amomentlatershefelt his strong arms come aroundher shoulders and the terrible agony trappeddeep within him broke soundlessly and flooded over her to disappear in hersilenceandwarmth.On the ramparts of the InnerWall, Balinor completed a final check of the

Legion defenses and paused wearily above the heavily barricaded gates. TheNorthlanderswere alreadymassing for a final rush. Justmoments earlier, theimpregnableOuterWall had fallen and the courageous soldiers of the BorderLegionhadbeenforcedbacktothesecondlineofdefense.Balinorstaredgrimlyattheenemyswarmingovertheheightsofthetoweringwallandgrippedthehiltofhisgreatbroadsworduntilhisknucklesturnedwhitebeneaththechainmail.HiscloakandtunichadbeenshreddedintheterriblecombattoholdthebreachinthegatesoftheOuterWallagainsttheTrollassault.Balinorhadheldtogetherthecenterof theLegionphalanx,butbothwingshadcollapsed.Ginnissonhadbeenkilled,Messalinewasseverelywounded,andhundredsofSouthlandershaddied holding the Outer Wall until all hope was gone. Even Durin haddisappearedinthefighting.NowtheKingofCallahornstoodalone.Hegestured sharply to themenbracing the timbers that supported thegates

below,thechainmailonhisarmglintingbrightlyinthegrayinglight,showingwhereadozenblowshadchippedandnickedtheprotectivemetal.Foramomentheallowedhiscouragetogivewayentirelytodespair.Theyhadfailedhim—allofthem.EventineandtheElvenarmy.Allanon.ThewholeSouthland.TyrsiswasonthebrinkofcompleteannihilationandwithitthelandofCallahorn,andstillnoonecametotheiraid.TheLegionhadfoughtalonetosavethemall—the final defense for the Southland. What purpose had it served? He caughthimselfquickly,roughlypushingdownthedoubtsanddespondency.Therewas

notimetoindulgehimself:Thereweretoomanylivestobesaved,andhewastheonetheydependedupon.The Northland army was drawing up its lines along the base of the Outer

Wall,thefamiliarscalingladders,ropes,andgrapplingironsheldreadyfortheassault.AlreadyscatteredbandsofthemassiveRockTrollshadscaledtheInnerWallduringthebattleontheparadegroundsandbrokenintothecityproper.Hewondered briefly what had become of the reliable Hendel andMenion Leah.Apparently they had secured the palace and prevented any rear assault, or thecity would have already fallen. Now they would have to hold in the eventisolatedgroupsoftheenemybreachedtheInnerWallandbrokeforthepalace.Bitsofsootfromtherollingcloudsofoilsmokestunghiseyes,andherubbed

themuntiltheywateredfreely.Everythingseemedmaskedinaheavygrayhazeasheglancedquicklyat thewallfortifications.TheLegionhadbeenplacedinan impossible defensive position against an enemy so vast that the loss ofhundredsfromtheirrankswasinsignificant.HethoughtofHendel’swordsafterthedeathsofhisfatherandbrother.ThelastBuckhannah.Thenamewoulddiewithhim,dieasTyrsisandherpeopledied.ThefamiliarroarroseinthunderousechoesfromthethroatsoftheNorthlanders;andtheychargedrecklesslyfortheLegion’swalleddefense.Thelongscaronthegiantborderman’scheekturnedadeepershadeofpurple,andhebroughtthebroadswordupmenacingly.Atalmostthesamemoment,thefirstscatteredremnantsoftheTrolladvance

forcecametogetheratthefootoftheBridgeofSendicandhesitated.AlineofdeterminedLegionsoldiersspannedthecenterofthewidestonearch,barringallpassagetothehomeoftheBuckhannahs.JanusSenprestoodforemost,flankedononesidebyMenionLeah,hisbatteredframeerectashegrippedtheswordofLeahwithbothhands,andontheotherbyDayel,hisyouthfulfacedrawn,butresolute.Behind theRockTrolls, theairwas thickwithrollingsmokeasfreshfires rose from the buildings of the city. Frightened cries sounded above theclamor of battle at the InnerWall. In the distance, darting figures were seenscurryingacrossthedesertedTyrsianWayforthesafetyoftheirhomes.Silentlythe forces faced one another, the number of Trolls growing quickly as othersappeared to swell their ranks. They studied the Southlanders with the blank,experiencedlookofprofessionalsoldiers,confident in theknowledgethat theywere the best-trained fighting unit in the world. The defenders on the bridgenumberedlessthanfifty.Theafternoonskyhadgonesuddenlyblack,andaneeriestillnesssettledover

the twoarmies.Fromsomewhere in theburningcity,Menioncaught the faint,

clearcryofasmallchild.Severalfeettohisleft,Dayelfeltthecoldnorthwindfadewithalow,sighingwhisper.Beforethem,thegiantTrollsmovedcarefullyinto formation, the great maces held loosely; then as a unit, they lumberedforward.Atthecenterofthebridge,thecity’slastlineofdefensebracedfortheNorthlandrush.On the ridgewest of the city, FlickOhmsford and the little band of Elven

horsemenwatchedhelplesslyas thedestructionofTyrsismounted.FlankedbyEventineandJonLinSandor,theValemanfeltthelasttraceofhopefadeasthehordesofthemammothNorthlandarmypoureduncheckedthroughthebreachedgatesoftheOuterWall.CloudsofdarksmokerosenowfromwithinTyrsis,andthe last remnantsof theproudBorderLegionhadbeendriven fromherwalls.Thecity’sdefenseshadbeenbroken.Hestaredinhorrorasthegrotesquefiguresof the Skull Bearers hovered in full view above the advancing enemy, blackwingsspreadwideagainstthedarkeningnoonsky.TheworstthatAllanonhadforeseenhadcometopass.TheWarlockLordhadwon.Then a sharp cry sounded from a rider to his left, and Eventine’s flushed

countenance surged into view as he spurred hismount forward, crowding theValemanasideinhiseagerness.Acrossthewideexpanseoftheemptygrassland,stillmanymiles to thewest,afaint,darklinegrewagainst thegraynessof thehorizon.A low rumbleofpoundinghoovesbrokeoutof thedistance toblendwiththeclamorandfuryofthebattlebehindthem.Thedark linegrewquickly in sizeandbecamehorsemen, thousands strong,

bannersandlancesflashingcolorandiron.Stridentandclear,theboomingwailofawarhornsoundedtheirarrival.CheersrosefromthelittlebandofElvesasthe massive body of horsemen began to blanket the plains, sweeping atbreakneckspeedtowardTyrsis.Forewarnedoftheirapproach,therearguardoftheNorthlandarmyhadalreadyclosed ranksand turned to face theadvancingtide. It was the Elven army come at last for the defenders of Tyrsis, for thebeleaguerednationsofthreelands,foreverythingmankindhadfoughtsohardtopreservethroughtheages.Comeperhapstoolate!

ChapterThirty-Three

In a single smooth, silentmotion, Shea slid the ancient blade free from itsbatteredsheath.Themetalgleamedinthefainttorchlightwithadeepbluishtint,the iron surface flawless as if the legendary Sword had never been carried inbattle. It was unexpectedly light, a slim, balanced blade of exceptionalworkmanship, the handle carefully engraved with the now familiar crest of araised hand holding forth a burning torch. Shea held the weapon guardedly,glancingquicklyatPanamonCreelandKeltset,seekingtheirreassurance,afraidsuddenly ofwhatwas going to happen.His grim-faced companions remainedmotionless,theirexpressionsblankandimpassive.HegrippedtheSwordtightlywithbothhands,bringingthebladearoundsharplyuntilitpointedskyward.Hispalms were sweating freely, and he felt his body grow cold in the cell’sdarkness.Therewasafaintstirring tooneside,andafeeblemoanbrokefromthe lips of Orl Fane.Moments passed, and Shea was conscious of the raisedimpression of the crest pressing into the palms of his clenched hands. Stillnothinghappened.Inthegrayhalf-lightoftheemptychamberatthepeakofSkullMountain,the

darkwatersof thestonebasinwerequietandsmooth.Thepower thatwas theWarlockLordlaydormant...Abruptly theSwordofShannaragrewwarminShea’shands,andastrange,

pulsating wave of heat coursed from the dark iron into the palms of theastonished Valeman and then disappeared. Startled, he took a quick stepbackward and lowered the blade slightly.An instant later, the suddenwarmthwasreplacedbyasharptinglingsensationthatsurgedoutoftheweaponintohisbody.Thoughtherewasnopain,theabruptnessofthesensationcausedhimtowince reflexively, and he felt his muscles tighten. Instinctively, he sought toreleasethetalisman;tohisshock,hefoundthathecouldnotletgo.Somethingtoucheddeeply intohim to forbid it,andhishands lockedsecurelyaround theancienthandle.The tingling sensation rushed through him, and now hewas conscious of a

returnflowofenergythatpulledathis life-force,carryingitdownthroughthecoldmetaloftheSworditself,untiltheweaponbecameapartofhim.ThegiltpaintthatcoatedthecarvedpommelbegantostripawaybeneaththeValeman’shands, and the handle turned to polished silver, laced with reddish streaks of

lightthatseemedtoburnandtwistinthebrightmetallikelivingthings.Sheafeltthefirststirringsofsomethingcomingawake,somethingthatwasapartofhim,yet foreign to everything he knew himself to be. It pulled at him, subtly butfirmly,drawinghimdowndeeperinsidehimself.Several steps away, Panamon Creel and Keltset watched with growing

concernasthelittleValemanseemedtoslipintoatrance,hiseyelidsdroopingheavily,hisbreathingslowing,hisformturningstatuelikeinthedimtorchlightof thecell.HeheldtheSwordofShannarabeforehiminbothhands, itsbladeraisedandpointedskyward,thepolishedsilverhandlegleamingbrightly.Foraninstant, Panamon considered taking hold of the Valeman and shaking himawake, but something restrained the thief. Fromout of the shadows,Orl Fanebegancrawling across the smooth stones towardhisprecious sword.Panamonhesitatedamomentandthennudgedhimbackroughlywithhisboot.Shea felt himself being drawn inward, borne like a cork caught in an

undertow.Everythingaroundhimbegantofadefromview.Thewalls,ceiling,andfloorofthestonecelldisappearedfirst,thenthecringingwhimperingfigureofOrl Fane, finally even the granite forms of Panamon andKeltset vanished.Thestrangecurrentseemedtowraparoundhimcompletely,andhefoundthathecouldnotresistit.Slowlyhewaspulledintotheinnermostrecessesofhisbeing,untilallwasblackness....Amomentaryshudderrippledthestillbasinwatersinthecaverndepthsat

thecrownof thesolitarydeath’shead,andthefrightened,crawlingbeingsthatserved the Master scampered from their places of concealment in the stonewalls.TheWarlockLordstirredwarilyfromhisbrokensleep...Inthevortexofemotionandbasicselfthatcomprisedthecentermostregion

ofhisbeing,thebeareroftheSwordofShannaracamefacetofacewithhimself.For a moment; there was a chaos of uncertain impressions, then the currentseemed to reverse itself, carrying himoff in a newdirection entirely. Picturesand impressions loomed up before him. Thrust suddenly before his eyes, theworldthatwashisbirthplaceandlifesource,frompasttopresent,layopenandrevealedtohim,strippedbareofhiscarefullynurturedillusions,andhesawtherealityofexistenceinallitsstarkness.Nosoftdreamscoloreditsviewoflife,nowishful fantasies clothed the harshness of its self-shaped choices, no self-conceived visions of hope softened the rawness of its judgments. Amid itssprawlingvastness,hesawhimselfdisplayedfor thepitiful, insignificantsparkofmomentarylifethatherepresented.Shea’smindseemedtoexplodewithinhim,andhewasparalyzedbywhathe

saw. He struggled wildly for his grasp of the vision of self that had alwayssustainedhim, forwhathadbeenhisholdonsanity, fighting toshieldhimselffromtheawesomeviewofhisinnernakednessandtheweaknessofthethinghewascompelledtorecognizeashimself.

Thentheforceofthecurrentseemedtodiminishslightly.Sheaforcedhiseyesopen,avoidingforaninstanttheinnervision.BeforehimwastheuprightSword,ablazewithablindingwhite light that surgeddownward from theblade to thepommel. Beyond it, he could see Panamon and Keltset, standing motionless,their gaze fixed on him. Then the eyes of the giant Troll shifted slightly,centeringon theSword.Therewasastrangeunderstandingandurgencyin thegesture,andasShealookedbacktotheSwordofShannara,itslightseemedtopulsate feverishly. There was a sense of impatience about its movement as itstrainedtoadvancefromthebladeintohisbodyandwassomehowthwartedinitsefforts.Foramomentmore,theValemanstruggledagainstthisadvance,thenhiseyes

againclosedandtheinnervisionreturned.Thefirstshockofrevelationwaspasthim now, and he made an effort to understand what was happening. HeconcentratedontheimagesofSheaOhmsford,immersinghimselfcompletelyinthethoughts,emotions,judgments,andmotivationsthatmadeupthischaracterthatwasbothalienandfamiliar.

The imagesclearedwith frighteningsharpness, andabruptlyhe sawanotherside tohimself, a sidehehadnever been able to recognize—orperhapshadsimply refused to accept. It revealed itself in an endless line of events, allcaricatures of the memories he had believed in so strongly. Here was anaccounting of every hurt he had caused to others, every petty jealousy he hadfelt,hisdeep-seatedprejudices,hisdeliberatehalf-truths,hisself-pity,hisfears-allthatwasdarkandhiddenwithinhimself.HerewastheSheaOhmsfordwhohadfledtheVale,nottosaveandprotectfamilyandfriends,butinfearofhisown life, seeking any excuse for his panic — the Shea Ohmsford who hadselfishly allowedFlick to share his nightmare and thereby ease the pain of it.Here was the Valeman who had sneered at and belittled the moral code ofPanamonCreel,whileatthesametimeallowingthethieftoriskhisownlifetosaveShea’s.Andhere...The imageswentonendlessly.SheaOhmsfordrecoiled inhorror fromwhat

hewasseeing.Hecouldnotacceptit.Hecouldneveracceptit!Yet drawing from some innerwell of strength and understanding, hismind

opened receptively to the images, expanding outward to embrace them,persuadinghim,orperhapsforcinghim,toadmittherealityofwhathehadbeenshown. He could not sensibly deny this other side of his character; like thelimitedimageofthepersonhehadalwaysbelievedhimselftobe,thiswasonlyapartoftherealSheaOhmsford—butitwasindeedapart,howeverdifficulthefoundittoaccept.Buthehadtoacceptit.Itwasthetruth....Filledwithwhite-hotrage,theWarlockLordcamefullyawake...Truth? Shea opened his eyes again to stare at the Sword of Shannara,

gleamingwhitelyfrombladetohandle.Awarm,pulsatingfeelingspreadrapidlythroughhim,bringingnonewvisionofself,butonlyadeep,innerawareness.Abruptly, he realized that he knew the secret of the Sword. The Sword of

ShannarapossessedthepowertorevealTruth—toforcethemanwhoheldittorecognizethetruthabouthimself,perhapseventorevealthetruthaboutotherswhomightcomeincontactwithit.Foraninstant,hecouldnotbringhimselftobelieveanyofit.Hehesitatedinhisanalysis,tryingdesperatelytofollowuponthisunexpectedrevelation—tofindsomethingmorebecausetheresimplyhadtobemore.Buttherewasnothingelsetodiscover.ThatwasalltherewastotheSword’svauntedmagic.Beyondthat,itwasnomorethanwhatitappearedtobe—afinelycraftedweaponfromanotherage.The knowledge of what this meant ripped through his mind and left him

stunned.NowonderAllanonhadneverrevealedthesecretoftheSword.Whatkind of weapon was this against the incredible power of the Warlock Lord?Whatpossibledefensecoulditofferagainstabeingthatcouldcrushthelifeoutofhimwithlittlemorethanathought?Withchillingcertainty,Sheaknewthathehadbeenbetrayed.TheSword’slegendarypowerwasalie!Hefelthimselfbegin to panic, andhe closedhis eyes tightly against the chill hewas feeling.Theblacknessabouthimbegan tochurnviolentlyuntilhegrewdizzywith itssweepandseemedtoloseconsciousnessaltogether.... In the bleak, gray emptiness of his mountain refuge, the Warlock Lord

watchedandlistened.Slowlyhisragebegantosubside,andthemistydarknesswithinthehoodnoddedinsatisfaction.TheValemanhehadthoughtdestroyedhadsurvived.Inspiteofeverything,hehadfoundtheSword.Butthemanwaspitifullyweak,lackingtheknowledgenecessarytounderstandthetalisman.Hewas already overcome with fear, and he would be vulnerable. Swiftly,noiselessly,theMasterglidedfromthecavernouschamber...ThetallfigureofAllanonpausedhesitantlyatthecrestofabarren,windswept

hill, his dark eyes invisible beneath the heavy brow as they studied the stark,solitarylineofmountainsthatrosehauntinglyagainstthegraynorthernhorizon.They seemed to stare back at him, their cavernous faces scarred and worn,reflectingthesoulofthelandthathadspawnedthemsomanyyearsago.Adeepsilencehoveredexpectantlyover thewholeof thevastwilderness thatwas theNorthland. Even the high mountain winds had died into stillness. The Druidwrapped his black robes about him and breathed sharply. There could be nomistake;hisextendedmindsweepwouldnotlietohimaboutthis.Thatwhichhehadworkedsohardtoachievehadfinallycometopass.InthedeeprecessesoftheKnifeEdge,stillfardistantfromwherethemysticstood,SheaOhmsfordhaddrawnforththeSwordofShannara.Yet itwas allwrong!Even though theValemanmightbe able towithstand

andacceptthetruthabouthimselfandperhapsrecognizethesecretoftheSword,hewasstillnotpreparedtousethetalismanproperlyagainsttheWarlockLord.Therewouldbenotimeforhimtogrowintothenecessaryconfidencewhilehewasaloneandunaided,deprivedoftheknowledgethatonlyAllanoncouldgivehim.Hewouldbefilledwithself-doubtand tornbyfear,easypreyforBrona.Evennow, theDruidcouldsense theawakeningof theenemy.TheDarkLordwas beginning the descent from his mountain refuge, fully confident that thebeareroftheSwordwasblindtothefullpowerofthetalisman.Hisattackwouldcomequicklyandsavagely,andSheawouldbedestroyedbeforehecouldlearn

tosurvive.Onlybriefminutesremainedbeforetheconfrontation,andAllanonknewthat

hecouldneverarrive in timetohelp.Hehadrealizedat last thatSheaandtheSword of Shannara had somehowboth gone northward. Leaving the others inCallahorn,hehad rushed to theValeman’said.Butmattershaddeveloped tooquickly.NowtherewasonlyonechanceforhimtobeofanyusetoShea—ifindeed,therewasanyrealchanceatallandhewasstilltoofaraway.Clutchinghis robes about his spare frame, the Druid moved swiftly down the hillside,scattering the dusty surface in small clouds as hewent, his features tightwithdetermination.PanamonCreel started forwardasSheacrumpled tooneknee,butKeltset’s

massive arm reached in front of him. The Troll was facing back toward theentrance to the caverns, listening. Panamon could hear nothing, but a suddensensation of fear and growing horror reaching down inside him, halting hismotiontowardtheValeman.Keltset’seyesturned,asifmarkingtheprogressofsomeonepassingthroughthecorridorbeyondthecell,andPanamonfelthisfeardeepen.Then a shadow fell over everything. The torchlight that outlined the tiny

cavernroomdimmedsharply.Standingatthedoorwayofthecellwasatallformshrouded in black robes. Instinctively, PanamonCreel knew that this was theWarlockLord.Whereafaceshouldhavebeen,beneaththecloselydrawnhood,therewas nothing but darkness and a deep, greenmist thatmoved sluggishlyabout twinsparksof reddish fire.Thesparks turned first towardPanamonandKeltset,freezingtheminstantlyintomotionlessstatues,sendingallthefearsandterrors they had ever known rushing through their paralyzed forms. The thiefstruggledtocryawarningtothelittleValeman,buthefoundthathecouldnotspeak, and he watched helplessly as the faceless cowl shifted slowly towardShea.The Valeman felt himself drift back into consciousness in the shadowed

dampnessof the littlecell.Everythingseemedstrangelydistant tohim, thoughthere was a vague warning signal sounding somewhere in the back of hiscloudedmind.Buthe responded sluggishly, and for a time therewasonly themusty smell of stale air and rock and the faint flickering of a single torch.Throughahaze,hesawthemotionlessformsofPanamonandKeltsetnomorethanfivefeetfromhim,fearmirroredintheirhardfeatures.OrlFanecrouchedat the rear of the cell, twisted into a small yellow ball that whimpered andmumbledincoherently.Beforehim,thebladeoftheSwordofShannaragleamed

brightly.Then instantly, thesecretof theSwordcameback tohim—andwith it the

helplessness of his situation. He started to lift his head, but his eyes seemedlockedinfrontofhim.Suddenfearanddespairwashedoverhimlikeariverofice,andhefelthimselfdrowninginit.Hebegantosweatcoldlyandhishandswereshaking.Asinglethoughtscreamedinhismind:Escape!Flee,beforethefearsome creature whose forbidden kingdom he had dared invade shoulddiscover his presence and destroy him! The purpose for which he had riskedeverythingnolongermattered;allthatremainedinhismindwasthecompellingneedtoflee.He staggered erect. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to break and

dashforthedoorway,tothrowdowntheSwordandrun.Buthecouldnotdoit.Something inside him refused to release the Sword. Desperately he fought tocontrolhisfear,hishandsclosingtightlyaboutthehandleoftheSword,grippingthemetaluntiltheknucklesturnedwhitewithpain.Itwasallthathehadleft,allthatstoodbetweenhimselfandcompletepanic.Heclungtoitindesperation,hissanityheldtogetherbyatalismanheknewtobeuseless.MORTALCREATURE,IAMHERE!Thewordswereachillingechointhedeepsilence.Shea’seyesfoughttolook

towardthedoorway.Atfirsthefoundonlyshadows;thentheshadowstightenedslowly, gathering together to form the cloaked figure of theWarlock Lord. Ithoveredmenacinglyatthechamberdoor,animpenetrable,dark,formlessrobe.Fromwithintherecessesofthecowl,thegreenmistsswirledandthesparksofflamethatwereitseyesflashedandgrew.MORTALCREATURE,IAMHERE.BOWDOWNBEFOREME!Shea turnedwhitewith fear. Something huge and black struck at hismind,

andhebalancedprecariouslyonthethinedgeoftotalpanic.Abottomlesschasmseemed to open before him. It would take only one small shove... He forcedhimselftoconcentrateontheSwordandhisowndesperateneedtostayalive.Acrimson haze slipped over his mind, bringing with it the voices of countlessdoomed creatures that cried formercywithout hope. Crawling, twisted thingswereclingingtohisarmsandlegs,pullingathim,drawinghimdownwardintothe chasm.His courage turned towater.Hewas so small, sovulnerable.HowcouldheresistabeingasawesomeastheWarlockLord?At the far side of the cell, Panamon Creel watched the black-robed figure

drawnearertoShea.TheWarlockLordseemedtobeathingofnosubstance,afacelesscowl,anemptyrobe.ButhewasobviouslytoomuchforSheatohandle

alone,Swordornot.WithaquickwarningnodtoKeltset,Panamonfoughtbackagainstthesenseofpanicrippingathimandattacked,thepikedarmcomingupin a wicked sweep. Almost casually, the dark figure turned to him, now nolongerseeminglyempty,butfilledwithawesomepower.Anarmgestured,andthe thief felt something ironlike grip his throat and hurl him back against thewall.Hestruggledoncemoretobreakfree,buthewasheldfastandKeltsetwithhim.Helplessly,theywatchedtheWarlockLordturnbacktowardtheValeman.The strugglewasalmostover forShea.He still held theSwordprotectively

beforehim,butthelastofhisresistancewasbreakingdownbeforetheassaultoftheDarkLord.He couldno longer think rationally.Hewaspowerless againsttheemotionstearinghimapart.Fromoutofthedarknessofthehood,aterriblecommandwrenchedathim.LAYDOWNTHESWORD,MORTALCREATURE!Desperately,Shea fought against theurge to obey.Everythingbecamehazy

andhestruggledtobreathe.Farbackinhismind,afamiliarvoiceseemedtobecallinghisname.Hetriedtoanswer,screaminginsidehimselfforhelp.ThenthevoiceoftheWarlockLordrippedathimagain.LAYDOWNTHESWORD!The blade dipped slightly. Shea felt hismind begin to grow numb, and the

darkness moved closer to him. The Sword was of no use to him. Why notdiscarditandbedone?Hewasnothingto thisawesomebeing.Hewasonlyafrail,insignificantmortal.TheSworddippedfarther.OrlFanesuddenlyscreamedinmindlessterrorand

fellsobbingonthefloorofthedarkenedcell.Panamonhadgonewhite.Keltset’smassive form seemed pressed into the cell wall. The tip of the Sword ofShannarahoveredjustinchesfromthestonefloor,waveringslowly.ThenthevoiceinShea’smindcalledouttohimagain.Fromoutofnowhere,

thewordsreachedhiminawhispersofaintthathecouldbarelydistinguishit.“Shea!Havecourage.TrusttheSword.”Allanon!The Druid’s voice pierced the fear and doubt that tightened about the

Valeman.Butitwassodistantsodistant...“BelieveintheSword,Shea.Allelseisillusion...”Allanon’swordsdisappeared ina screamof rage from theWarlockLordas

the creature shut the hated Druid’s voice from the Valeman’s mind. Butawareness came too late for Brona. Allanon had thrown a lifeline, and Sheaclung to it, pulling himself back from the edge of defeat. The fear and doubt

drewback.TheSwordcameupslightly.TheWarlockLord seemed tomove backward a step, and the faceless cowl

turned slightly in the direction of Orl Fane. Instantly the whimpering Gnomecame erect with the jerking motion of a wooden puppet. No longer his ownmaster, the pawn of theDark Lord surged forward, the gnarled yellow handsgraspingdesperatelyfortheSword.Hisfingersclosedabouttheexposedbladeand wrenched futilely at it. Then abruptly Orl Fane screamed as if in agony,jerkinghishandsfreeofthetalisman.Hisfeaturestwistedashedroppedtothefloor, and his hands groped at his eyes, covering them as if to shut out somehorriblevision.Again theWarlockLord gestured.The trembling form struggled to its feet,

and theGnomeflunghimselfback into thebattle,shriekinghisdismay.Againheseized theflashingblade.Againhescreamedinanguishanddroppedtohisknees,releasingthetalismanasecondtime,hiseyesstreamingwithtears.Sheastareddownatthecrumpledform.Heunderstoodwhatwashappening.

Orl Fane had seen the truth about himself, just as Shea had done upon firsttouchingtheSword.ButfortheGnome,thetruthwasunbearable.Yettherewassomethingstrangeinallthis.WhyhadnotBronahimselfattemptedtowresttheSwordaway?Itshouldhavebeenasimpleeffort;instead,theWarlockLordhadfirsttriedillusiontoforceSheatoreleasetheSword,thenhadusedthealreadymaddened Orl Fane as his cat’s-paw. Master of so much power, Brona yetseemedunable tograsp theSword away? It shouldhavebeen a simple effort;gropedfortheanswer,soclosenow—thentherewasthefirstsmallglimmerofunderstanding.OrlFanewasonhisfeetoncemore,stillhopelesslyobedienttothecommands

of theWarlock Lord. He came at Shea inmaddened desperation, his gnarledfingersgropingwildlyattheairbeforehim.TheValemantriedtoavoidtherush,butOrl Fanewas beyond reason, hismind gone, his soul no longer his own.Withashriekoffearandfrustration,hethrewhimselfagainsttheSword.Foraninstant, the wiry form convulsed about the bright metal as the Gnome heldhimselfwrappedabouttheonethingthatstillmatteredtohiminthisworld.Foraninstant,itwashisatlast.Thenhedied.Stunned,Sheabackedaway,pulling theweaponfree fromthe lifelessbody.

Instantly, the Warlock Lord renewed his assault, thrusting viciously at theValeman’s mind in an effort to crush all resistance. Brutal and direct, heemployednoclever twistsofdoubt,no insinuationofuncertainty,no tricksofself-deception.Therewasonlyfear,overwhelminganddevastating,hurledwith

the forceof a sledgehammerblow.Visions swam throughShea’smind— theawesomepowerof theWarlockLordpictured ina thousandhorribleways,alldirectedtowardhisextermination.Hefelthimselfreduceddowntothesmallest,least significant living thing that crawled upon the earth; in another second, itseemed,theWarlockLordwouldgrindthehelplesshumanintodust.ButShea’scourageheld.Hehadalmostsuccumbedtomadnessonce,andthis

time he had to stand firm, to believe in himself and in Allanon. Both handsgrippedtheSwordasheforcedhimselftotakeonesmallstepforwardintotheconstrictinghaze, into thewalloffearassailinghim.Hetriedtobelievethat itwasonlyillusion,thatthefearandgrowingpanichefeltwerenothisown.Thewallgaveslightly,andhefoughtharderagainstit.HerememberedthedeathofOrlFaneandbuiltuponhismemoryamentalpictureofalltheotherswhomustdieshouldhefail themnow.HerememberedthewhisperedwordsofAllanon.And he concentrated on what he believed to be the Warlock Lord’s ownweakness, revealed in his strange refusal to grasp the Sword. Shea forcedhimselftobelievethattherealsecretofthetalisman’spowerwasasimplelawthataffectedevenacreatureasawesomeasBrona.Thehaze thinnedsuddenlyand thewallof fear splintered.Sheastoodagain

beforetheWarlockLord,andtheredsparksflashedwildlynowinthedimgreenmists beneath the cowl. The cloaked arms came up quickly as if to ward offsomepressingdanger,andthedarkfigureshrankfromhim.Fromthedimnessofthefarwall,PanamonCreelandKeltsetsuddenlybrokefreeandcamerushingforward, weapons drawn. Shea felt the last traces of the Warlock Lord’sresistance to his advance break apart and fade. Then the Sword of Shannaracamedown.Aneerie, soundless shriekof terror ripped from theconvulsedshroudanda

long, skeletal arm jerked wildly upward. The Valeman pressed the gleamingblade hard against thewrithing form, forcing it back against the nearestwall.There would be no escape, he swore softly. There would be an end to themonstrousevilofthiscreature.Beforehim,thedarkrobesshudderedinresponseasthehookedfingersclawedpainfullyat thedampcellair.TheWarlockLordbegan to crumble, and he screamed his hatred of the thing destroying him.Behindhisscream,theechoofathousandothervoicescriedoutforavengeancethathadbeentoolongdeniedthem.SheafeltthehorrorofthecreaturerushthroughtheSwordintohismind,but

withitcamestrengthfromthoseothervoices,andhedidnotrelent.ThetouchoftheSwordcarriedwithitatruththatcouldnotbedeniedbyalltheillusionand

deceitoftheWarlockLord.Itwasatruthhecouldnotadmit,couldnotaccept,couldnotabide—yetatruthagainstwhichhehadnodefense.FortheWarlockLord,thetruthwasdeath.Brona’smortalexistencewasonlyanillusion.Longago,whatevermeanshe

hademployed toextendhismortal lifehad failedhim,andhisbodyhaddied.Yethisobsessive conviction thathe couldnotperishkept apart ofhimalive,and he sustained himself through the very sorcery that had driven him tomadness.Denyinghisowndeath,heheldhis lifelessbody together toachievethe immortality that had escaped him. A creature existing as a part of twoworlds, his power seemed awesome. But now the Sword was forcing him tobeholdhimselfashereallywas—adecayed,lifelessshellsustainedonlybyamisconceivedbeliefinhisownreality—asham,afantasycreatedbyforceofwillalone,asephemeralasthephysicalbeinghehadmadehimselfappear.Hewasaliethathadexistedandgrowninthefearsanddoubtsofmortalmen,aliethathehadcreatedtohidethetruth.Butnowtheliewasexposed.SheaOhmsfordhadbeenabletoaccepttheweaknessandfrailtythatwerea

partofhishumannature,asitwasapartofallmen.ButtheWarlockLordcouldneveracceptwhattheSwordrevealed,becausethetruthwasthatthecreaturehehadsupposedhimselftobehadceasedtoexistalmostathousandyearsbefore.AllthatremainedofBronawasthelie;andnowthat,too,wastakenfromhimbythepoweroftheSword.Hecriedoutafinaltime,awhimperofprotestthatechoedmournfullythrough

the cell, blending with a rising shout of triumph from a chorus of otherwraithlike cries. Then all sound ceased.The outstretched armbegan towitherand turn to dust, falling from his shuddering form like ash as his body brokeapartbeneath the robes.The tinyglintsof redglimmeredonce in the thinninggreenmistanddisappeared.Thecloakcrumpledandsankemptily,fallingtothefloor in a pile, with the hooded cowl gradually collapsing, until only a worntangleofclothremained.An instant later, Shea began to sway unsteadily. Too many emotions had

chasedthemselvesthroughhisnervesandtoomuchtensionovertoolongatimeweredemandingtheirpricefromhisoverstrainedbody.Thefloorseemedtotiltbeneathhisfeet,andhewasfallingslowly,slowlyintodarkness.InthecityofTyrsis,thelong,terriblestrugglebetweenearth-bornmortaland

spirit creature peaked with shocking suddenness. From deep within its rock-encrusted heart, the earth began to rumble, the tremors rippling to the scarredsurfaceinsteady,menacingshudders.OnthelowhillseastofTyrsis,thesmall

band of Elven riders fought roughly to control their frightenedmounts and ahaggardFlickOhmsfordstaredinbewildermentasthelandabouthimbegantoshakewiththestrangevibrations.AtoptheInnerWall, thegiant,indestructiblefigure of Balinor repelled assault after assault as the Northland army soughtvainlytobreachtheSouthlanddefense,andforseveralminutesthetremorswententirelyunnoticedintheferocityofthebattle.AndontheBridgeofSendic,theadvancingTrollshaltedandglanceduneasilyaboutastherumblingcontinuedtobuild.MenionLeahstaredaslongcracksappearedintheancientstone,andthebridgedefendersstoodpoisedtorun.Thedeepvibrationsgrewrapidly,buildingwithfrighteningpowerintoatitanicavalancheofboomingshuddersthatsweptthroughtheearthandrock.ThewindbrokeoverthelandwithferociousthruststhatboredownuponandscatteredtheElvenarmystillracingtorelieveTyrsis.FromCulhavenintheAnartothefarthestreachesofthevastWestland,thegreatwindroared.Massiveforesttreessplinteredandsnapped,andraggedsectionsofmountainsweretornfreeandcrumbledintodustastheblisteringforceofwindandearthquakegrippedthefourlands.Theskyhaddeepenedintoasolidblack-cloudless, sunless, and empty, as if the heavens had been obliteratedwith thesingle stroke of a massive brush. Huge, jagged streaks of red lightning cutthroughthedarkness,spanningtheskyfromhorizontohorizoninanimpossiblewebofelectricalenergy.Itwastheendoftheworld.Itwastheendofall life.The holocaust promised since the beginning of the spoken word had finallyarrived.But a moment later it was over, dying instantly into complete and utter

stillness. The silence hung shroudlike and complete, until from out of theimpenetrableblacknessthesoundofwailingcriesrosedismally,turningquicklyinto screams of anguish. In the city of Tyrsis, the battle was forgotten.Northlander and Southlander watched in horror as the Skull Bearers driftedskyward like formless wraiths, writhing in unspeakable agony, their hookedlimbstwistingastheyscreamed.Theyhoveredmomentarilyinfullviewofthemenbelow,whoblanched inhorrorbutcouldnot turnaway.Then thewingedforms began to disintegrate, their dark bodies breaking slowly into ashes anddrifting earthward. Seconds later nothing remained but the vast, emptyblackness, which began to move in a huge, rushing sweep that carried itnorthward, pulling in its borders as if theywere the endsof a blanket.To thesouthfirst,andthentheeastandwest,blue,skyshotintoviewandthesunsweptacross the lands with dazzling brightness. In awe, mortal men watched theimpossible darkness fold into a single black cloud far to the north, hover,

motionlessly above the horizon, and then sink downward into the earth anddisappearforever.TimedriftedawayasSheafloatedsenselesslyinavast,black,emptyvoid.“Idon’tthinkhemadeit.”Avoicereachedintohismindfromsomewherefar,faraway.Hishandsand

facefeltthesuddenchillofsmoothstoneagainsthisheatedskin.“Waitaminute,hiseyesareblinking.Ithinkhe’scomingaround!”PanamonCreel.Shea’seyesopenedandhefoundhimselflyingonthefloorin

the little cell, yellowish torchlight flickering through the darkness in a hazyglow.Hewashimselfagain.OnehandstillclenchedtheSwordofShannara,butthe power of the talisman had left him, and the strange bond that had brieflyjoinedthemtogetherwasgone.Hestumbledawkwardlytohishandsandknees,butadeep,ominousrumblingshookthecavernandhepitchedforward.Stronghandsreachedouttograbhimashefell.“Easynow,slowdownaminute.”Panamon’sroughvoicesoundedalmostin

hisear.“Letmetakealookatyou.Herenow,lookatme.”HepracticallyjerkedthelittleValemanaboutandtheireyeslocked.Therewasjustatraceoffearinthethief’shardstare,andthenhewassmiling.“He’sallright,Keltset.Nowlet’sgetoutofhere.”HebroughtSheatohisfeetandstartedmovingtowardtheopendoorway.The

massiveformofKeltsetlumberedseveralfeetahead.Sheatookafewuncertainstepsandhalted.Somethingheldhimback.“I’mallright,”hemutteredalmostinaudibly.Then abruptly everything came back to him — the power of the Sword

coursing throughhis body to link them together, his inner visions of the truthabouthimself,thefrighteningbattleagainsttheWarlockLord,thedeathofOrlFane...Hescreamedandfaltered.Panamon Creel reached down impulsively with his good arm and held the

littleValemanclose.“Easy,easy,it’sallover,Shea.You’vedoneit—you’vewon.TheWarlock

Lord isdestroyed.But thiswholemountain is shakingapart.We’vegot togetoutofherebeforethewholeplacecomesdownaroundourears!”Thelowrumblinghadgrownsteadilylouder,andchunksofrockwerebeing

dislodgedfromthecavernwallsandceilingandfallinginsmallshowersofdustandgravel.Crackswereappearingalongtheancientstoneastheheavyshakingcontinuedtomount.ShealookedatPanamonandnodded.“You’llbeallright.”Thescarlet-cladthiefrosequickly.“I’mgoingtogetyou

outofthis.That’s,apromise.”Swiftly the three men moved into the dark passageway leading from the

chamber.Thecraggy tunnel twistedandwound through theheartof theKnifeEdge, theroughwallssplitby jaggedseamsandfissures.Morebreaksquicklyappeared as the rumbling grew stronger and thewalls began to crack and fallapart.Themountainshookasiftheearthwerethreateningtoopenandswallowitwhole, quakingwith the force of the thunderous reverberations that echoedbrokenly from the core of the earth. They passed through countless smallpassageways and connecting chambers,moving steadily, yet unable to find anexittosafety.Severaltimesoneormorewentdownunderacascadeofrockanddust, but each time they worked themselves free. Huge-chunks of rock fellcrashing before them to block the tunnel passage, but the powerful Keltsetheavedthebouldersaside,andthesmallpartycontinuedquicklyon.Sheabegantoloseallsenseofwhatwashappeningtothem,astrangewearinesssettlingintohis body, pressing remorselessly down and sapping the little stamina thatremained.Whenhe thought he could no longer continue, Panamonwas at hissidetosupporthim,thestrongarmalternatelyliftinghimoverandshovinghimthroughthestonerubble.Theyhadreachedaparticularlynarrowsectionofthepassagewaythatangled

sharplytotherightwhenaviolent,wrenchingquakeshookthe,dyingmountain.Theentireceilingofthecorridorcrackedwithagratingsnapandbegantosettleslowlydownward.PanamonyelledfranticallyandpulledSheadowninfrontofhim, trying to protect the Valeman with his own body. Instantly Keltset wasthere,thegiantframebracingasthegreatshouldershunchedupwardagainstthetonsofbreakingrock.Dustroseinblindingcloudsandforamomenteverythingwasobscuredfromview.ThenPanamonCreelwaspullingtheValemantohisfeet,hasteninghimpast thestraining formof theRockTroll.Sheaglanceduponceashecrawledandscrambledthroughthebrokenstone,andthegentleeyesmethisown.Theceilingdroppedseveralinchesfarther,andthemassivehumansupport threwall theawesomestrengthofaRockTrollagainst it, thebarklikebodyrigidwiththetremendousstrain.Sheahesitated,butPanamon’spowerfulgrip closed over his shoulder, pulling him ahead, thrusting him beyond thetunnel angle into awider corridor.They collapsed in a pile of loose rock anddust, gasping for air. They had just a glimpse ofKeltset, his great frame stillbracedagainstthecrumblingstone.Panamonmadeasuddenmovetostartbackintothepassage,butadeeprumbletorethroughthecoreofthemountain;withagroanofsliding,shiftingrock,thetunnelbehindthemcameapartandcollapsed

entirely. Tons of stone crashed downward and the way back disappearedaltogether. Shea screamed and threw himself against the wall of rock, butPanamonpulledhimbackroughly,pushingthepikedhandintohisface.“He’sdead!Wecan’thelphimnow.”ThehaggardfaceoftheValemanstaredbackinshock.“Getmoving—getoutofhere!”Thethiefwaslividwithrage.“Doyouwant

himtohavediedfornothing?Move!”HeyankedSheaviolentlytohisfeetandthrusthimtowardtheopensectionof

thetunnel.Thedeeprumblingcontinuedtovibratethroughthemountain,andaseriesofsharp,wrenchingquakesnearlythrewthetwomentothecavernflooras they stumbledahead.Sheawas runningblindlynow,his eyes cloudedwithdust and tears. It was becoming difficult to see clearly, and he blinked andsquintedinanefforttoclearhisfadingvision.Panamon’slaboredbreathingwascloseinhisear,andhefelt theironstubof thepikedhandshovingagainsthisback,urginghimtorunfaster.Shardsofrocksplinteredfromthepassagewallsand ceiling and rained down on his unprotected body, cutting and bruising it,tearing the forestclothing into tatteredstrips thathungfromthe thin,sweatingform.InhishandsheclutchedthegleamingSword,uselesstohimnowexceptasproofthatwhathadhappenedtohimwasmorethananimaginedmadness.AbruptlythetunneldissolvedinthegraylightoftheNorthlandsky,andthey

werefreeofthemountain.Beforethem,thescatteredbodiesofTrollandMutenlaybroken indeath.Without slowing, the twomen raced for themouthof thewinding pass that split the monstrous Knife Edge. The hardened earth wasquakingviolently,longjaggedcracksappearingfromthebaseofSkullMountainand snaking crookedly toward the ring of natural hazards that bound theforbidden land.A sudden, grating crash, louder than any that had preceded it,broughtthetworunnersabout.Inspeechlessawe,theywatchedthegauntfaceoftheskullbegintosagandbreakapart.Everythingseemedtoshatteratonce,andthemarkof theWarlockLorddisappearedastonsofrockcascadeddownwardandSkullMountainceasedtoexist.Athickcloudofyellowdustsurgedskywardand a heavy booming sound burst from the bowels of the earth and echoedthrough the vast emptiness of the Northland. Violent winds swept over theremainsofthedyingmountainandtherumblingintheearthbegantobuildoncemore. In horror Shea saw themonstrous Knife Edge begin to shake with theforceofthisnewconvulsion.Theentirekingdomwasdisintegrating!Already Panamonwas running brokenly for the pass, pulling a dazed Shea

withhim.ButtheValemanneedednourgingthistimeandquicklypickedupthe

paceonhisown,hisformflyingthroughthetangleofdeadbodies.Fromsomefinal reservoir of courage and determination, he summoned the last of hisstrengthandasurprisedPanamonCreelsuddenlyfoundhimselfrunningtokeepup. By the time they reached the mouth of the mountain pass, pieces of thetoweringKnifeEdgewerebeginningtobreakapartandfall,snappingfreewithpiercing cracks as the booming quakes continued to shake the land. Massiveboulders fell with crushing force into the winding canyon, and a heavyavalanche of loose stone slid steadily from the heights of the ancient peaks,buildinginforceasthesecondsslippedby.ThroughthecenterofthisholocaustthetwoSouthlandersdodgedandtwisted—thetatteredhalfElf,brandishinghisancientSword,andtheone-handedthief.Theforceofthewindbrokeovertheirbacks,thrustingthemfasterthroughthehailofstoneanddust.Twistsandturnsintherockwallscameanddisappeared,andtheyknewtheywereclosingonthefarendofthecanyonandtheopenfoothillsbeyond.Sheawassuddenlyawarethathiseyesightwasblurringoncemoreandhestumbleduncertainly,his freehandrubbingangrilytoclearhisvision.Suddenlytheentirewestwallofthecanyonseemedtobreakapartandcome

crashingdownonbothmen,buryingtheminachokingrushofbrokenrockanddirt.Somethingsharpstruckhisexposedhead,andforamomentSheaslippedintoblackness.Helaypartiallycoveredbythemassofrubble,hisgropingmindtrying to shake itself awake. Then Panamonwas digging him free, the strongarmliftinghimclearoftheshatteredstoneandholdinghimupright.Throughagrayhaze,Sheasawbloodonthebigman’sface.SlowlyShearosetohisfeet,leaningheavilyontheSwordofShannaraforsupport.Panamon remainedonhisknees.Hispikedhandpointed to thepassbehind

them. Shea glanced anxiously past him. To his dismay, he caught sight of amisshapen, lumbering creature slowly bearing down on them from out of therising clouds of dust. AMuten! The formless, plastic facewas turned towardthemandthemonstershuffledsteadilyforward.PanamonlookedupatSheaandsmiledgrimly.“He’sbeenwithusall thewayfrom theotherend. I thoughtwemight lose

himintherocks,buthe’spersistent.”Heroseslowlyanddrewfreethelongbroadsword.“Getgoing,Shea.I’llcatchupshortly.”The startled Valeman shook his head speechlessly. He must have

misunderstood.“Wecanoutrunhim,”heburstoutfinally.“We’vealmostreachedtheendof

thepassanyway.Wecanfighthimthere—together!”Panamonshookhisheadandsmiledsadly.“Not this time, I’m afraid. I’ve done something to my leg. I can’t run

anymore.”HeshookhisheadasSheaopenedhismouthtospeak.“Idon’twanttohearit,Shea.Nowrun—andkeeprunning!”TearswerestreamingdowntheValeman’sfaceashestaredattheman.“Ican’tdothat!”AsuddenrumbleshooktheKnifeEdge,throwingPanamonandSheatotheir

knees again.Boulders crasheddown the crumblingmountainside as the heavyconvulsionscontinuedtobuildfromdeepwithintheearth.TheMutenlumberedmindlesslytowardthem,unaffectedbythetremors.Panamonclimbedshakenlytohisfeet,pullingSheaafterhim.“Thewholepassiscomingdown,”liestatedquietly.“Wedon’thavetimeto

argue.Icantakecareofmyself—justasIdidlongbeforeImetyouorKeltset.NowIwantyoutorun—getclearofthispass!”HeputonehandontheValeman’sslimshoulderandgentlyshovedhimaway.

Sheatookseveralstepsbackwardandhesitated,bringingtheSwordofShannaraup almost threateningly. Panamon Creel’s broad face showed a flicker ofsurprise,andthenthefamiliardevilishgrinappearedandtheeyesturnedtofire.“We’llmeetagain,SheaOhmsford.Youwatchforme.”Hewavedthepikedhandonceinfarewell,andturnedtomeettheadvancing

Muten.Sheastaredafterhimmomentarily.Hisfadingeyesightmustbefoolinghim—foran instant it seemed that the scarlet thiefwasnot limpingafter all.Thentheheavytremorsrippledthroughthemountainpassstillanothertime,andtheValemanbrokeforthesafetyofthefoothills.Slippingandstumblingthroughthe looserockandearth,dodgingthecascadeofstoneanddebris that tumbledfromtheheightsoftheKnifeEdgeintothenarrowcanyon,heranonalone.

ChapterThirty-Four

The afternoon was almost gone. Sunlight slipped in long, hazy streamersthrough the driftingwhite clouds, settlingwithwarm touches over the barren,empty Northland terrain. Here and there the light fell providently on smallpatchesofgreen—thefirstsignsofapermanentlifethatonedaysoonwouldflourishinthisearththathadlainparchedanddesolateforsomanyyears.Inthedistance, theblunted tipsof theshatteredKnifeEdgebrokestarklyagainst thenorthern horizon, and from the devastated valley beyond, the dust still hungsuspendedabovetheruinsoftheSkullKingdom.Shea seemed to appear out of nowhere, wandering aimlessly through the

tangleofravinesandridgesthatcarvedoutthefoothillsimmediatelybelowtheKnifeEdge.Half-blindandcompletelyexhausted,thetatteredfigurewasbarelyrecognizable.HecametowardAllanonwithoutseeinghim,bothhandsgrippingtightly the silver-handled sword. For just an instant, the Druid staredspeechlesslyatthestrangespectacleofthestumbling,raggedswordsman.Thenwithasharpcryofrelief,herushedforwardtogatherinthethin,batteredframeofSheaOhmsford,andheldhimclose.TheValemanwasasleepforalongtime,andwhenhecameawakeagain,it

wasnight.Hewaslyingintheshelterofarock-encrustedoverhangthatopenedinto a deep, wide-bottomed ravine. A small wood fire crackled peacefully,lending added warmth to the cloak that was wrapped tightly about him. Histroubledvisionhadbeguntoclear,andhefoundhimselfstaringupintoabright,starlitnightskythatstretchedcanopylikefromridgetoptoridgetopabovehim.He smiled in spite of himself. He could imagine himself in ShadyVale onceagain.AmomentlaterAllanon’sdarkshadowmovedintothedimfirelight.“Are you feeling better?” the Druid asked in greeting and seated himself.

There was something strange about Allanon. He seemed more human, lessforbidding,andtherewasanunusualwarmthinhisvoice.Sheanodded.“Howdidyoufindme?”“Youfoundme.Don’tyourememberanything?”“No, none of it — nothing after...” Shea paused hesitantly. “Was there

anybody...didyouseeanybodyelse?”Allanon studied his anxious expression for a moment, as if debating his

answer,thenshookhisdarkface.

“Youwerealone.”Sheafeltsomethingcatchinhisthroat,andhelaybackinthe,warmthofthe

blankets, swallowinghard.SoPanamon, too,wasgone.Somehow,hehadnotexpectedittoendlikethis.“Are you all right?” the Druid’s deep voice reached out to him in the

darkness.“Wouldyouliketoeatsomethingnow?I thinkitwouldbegoodforyouifyoudid.”“Yes.”Sheapushedhimselfupintoasittingposition,thecloakstillwrapped

protectivelyabouthim.Bythefire,Allanonwaspouringsoupintoasmallbowl.Thearomareachedouttohiminvitingly,andhebreatheditin.Thensuddenlyhethoughtof theSwordofShannaraand looked for it in thedarkness.Hesaw italmostimmediately,lyingnexttohim,thebrightmetalgleamingfaintly.Asanafterthought,hefeltthroughthepocketsofhistunicfortheElfstones.Hecouldnotfindthem.Panicked,hebegansearchingdesperatelythroughhisclothingforthe little pouch, but the resultwas the same. Itwasgone.A sinking sensationgrippedhim,andhelaybackweaklyforamoment.PerhapsAllanon...“Allanon,Ican’tfindtheElfstones,”hesaidquickly.“Didyou...?”TheDruidmovedovertohissideandhandedhimthesteamingbowlofsoup

andasmallwoodenspoon.Hisfacewasanimpenetrableblackshadow.“No,Shea.YoumusthavelostthemwhenyoufledtheKnifeEdge.”Hesaw

thecrestfallenlookontheother’sfaceandreachedovertopattheslimshoulderreassuringly. “There’s no point inworrying about themnow.The stones haveservedtheirpurpose.Iwantyoutoeatsomethingandgobacktosleep—youneedtorest.”Mechanically,Sheasippedatthesoup,unabletoforgetquitesoeasilytheloss

of the Elfstones. They had beenwith him from the beginning, protecting himeverystepoftheway.Severaltimes,theyhadsavedhislife.Howcouldhehavebeen so careless? He thought back for a moment, trying vainly to rememberwhere he might have lost them, but it was useless. It could have happenedanytime.“I’msorryabouttheElfstones,”heapologizedquietly,feelingthathehadto

saysomethingmore.Allanonshruggedandsmiledfaintly.Heseemedwearyandsomehowolderas

heseatedhimselfbesidetheValeman.“Maybethey’llturnuplater.”Sheafinishedthebowlinsilence,andAllanonrefilleditwithoutbeingasked.

Thewarm liquid relaxed the still wearyValeman, and a numbing drowsiness

began to seep slowly through his body.Hewas falling asleep again. Itwouldhavebeensoeasytogiveintothefeeling,buthecouldnot.Therewerestilltoomany thingsbotheringhim, toomanyunansweredquestions.Hewanted thoseanswersnowfromtheonemanwhocouldgivethemtohim.Hedeservedthatmuchaftereverythinghehadbeenthrough.He struggled to a sitting position, aware that Allanon was watching him

closelyfromoutofthedarknessbeyondthelittlefire.Inthedistance,thesharpcry of a night bird broke through the deep silence. Shea paused in spite ofhimself.LifewascomingbacktotheNorthland—aftersolong.Heplacedthebowlofsouponthegroundnext,tohimandturnedtoAllanon.“Canwetalkawhile?”TheDruidnoddedsilently.“Why didn’t you tell me the truth about the Sword?” the Valeman asked

softly.“Whydidn’tyou?”“Itoldyouallthatyouneededtoknow.”Allanon’sdarkfacewasimpassive.

“TheSworditselftoldyoutherest.”Sheastaredathimincredulously.“It was necessary for you to learn the secret of the Sword of Shannara for

yourself,”theDruidcontinuedgently.“ItwasnotsomethingthatIcouldexplainto you— it was something that you had to experience. You had to learn toacceptthetruthaboutyourselffirstbeforetheSwordcouldbeofanyusetoyouasa talismanagainst theWarlockLord. Itwasaprocess inwhich I couldnotinvolvemyselfdirectly.”“Well, could you not at least have told me why the Sword would destroy

Brona?”Sheapersisted.“Andwhatwouldthathavedonetoyou,Shea?”TheValemanfrowned.“Idon’tunderstand.”“If I had told you everything that itwas inmypower to tell you about the

Sword—rememberingnowthatyouwouldnothavethebenefitofhindsight,asyoudonow,toenlightenyou—wouldthathavehelpedyouinpracticalterms?Wouldyouhavebeenable tocontinueyoursearchfor theSword?Wouldyouhavebeenable todrawtheSwordagainstBrona,knowing that itwoulddonomorethanrevealtohimthetruthabouthimself?WouldyouhaveevenbelievedmewhenIsaidthatsuchasimplethingwoulddestroyamonsterwiththepoweroftheWarlockLord?”HehuncheddownclosertoSheainthedimfirelight.“Orwouldyouhavegivenuponyourselfandthequestthenandthere?How

muchtruthcouldyouhavewithstood?”“Idon’tknow,”Sheaanswereddoubtfully.“Then Iwill tell you something I could not tell youbefore. JerleShannara,

fivehundredyearsearlier,knewallthesethings—andstillhefailed.”“ButIthought...”“Thathewassuccessful?”Allanonfinishedthethought.“Yetifhehadbeen

successful,wouldnot theWarlockLordhavebeendestroyed?No,Shea, JerleShannaradidnotsucceed.BremenconfidedintheElvenKingthesecretoftheSwordbecausehe, too, thought thatknowinghow the talismanwouldbeusedmightbetterpreparethebearerforaconfrontationwithBrona.Itdidnot.Eventhough he had been forewarned that he would be exposed to the truth abouthimself,JerleShannarawasnotpreparedforwhathediscovered.Indeed, therewas probably no way that he could have adequately prepared himselfbeforehand.We build too many walls to a completely honest with ourselves.And I don’t think that he ever really believed Bremen’s warning about whatwould happen when he finally held the Sword. Jerle Shannara was a warriorking, and his natural instinctwas to rely on the Sword as a physicalweapon,eventhoughhehadbeentoldthatitwouldnothelphiminthatway.WhenheconfrontedtheWarlockLordandthetalismanbegantoworkonhimexactlyasBremen hadwarned, he panicked.His physical strength, his fighting prowess,hisbattleexperience—allofituselesstohim.Itwasjusttoomuchforhimtoaccept.Asaresult,theWarlockLordmanagedtoescapehim.”Shealookedunconvinced.“Itmighthavebeendifferentwithme.”ButtheDruiddidnotseemtohearhim.“Iwould have beenwith youwhen you found the Sword of Shannara, and

when the secret of the talisman revealed itself toyou, Iwouldhave explainedthenitssignificanceasaweaponagainsttheWarlockLord.ButthenIlostyouin theDragon’sTeeth, and itwas only later that I realizedyouhad found theSword and gone northwardwithoutme. I came after you, but even so, I wasalmosttoolate.IcouldsenseyourpanicwhenyoudiscoveredthesecretoftheSword,andIknewtheWarlockLordcouldsenseitaswell.ButIwasstilltoofarawaytoreachyouintime.I triedtocallout toyou—toprojectmyvoiceintoyourmind.Therewasn’t timeenough to tellyouwhat todo; theWarlockLordpreventedthat.Afewwords,thatwasall.”Hepaused,almostasifhehadgoneintoatrance,hisdarkgazefixedonthe

airbetweenthem.

“Butyoudiscoveredtheansweronyourown,Shea—andyousurvived.”TheValemanlookedaway,remindedsuddenlythat,althoughhewasalive;it

seemedthateveryonewhohadgonewithhimintothekingdomoftheSkullwasdead.“Itmighthavebeendifferent,”herepeatedwoodenly.Allanonsaidnothing.Athisfeet,thesmallfirewasdyingslowlyintoreddish

embers as the night closed about them. Shea picked up the bowl of soup andfinisheditquickly,feelingthedrowsinessslipthroughhimoncemore.HewasnoddingwhenAllanonstirredunexpectedly in thedarknessandmovednext tohim.“You believe me wrong in not telling you the secret of the Sword?” he

murmuredsoftly.Itwasmoreastatementoffactthanaquestion.“Perhapsyouareright.PerhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterforeveryoneifIhadrevealeditalltoyoufromthefirst.”Shealookedupathim.Theleanfacewasamaskofdarkhollowsandangular

linesthatseemedthewrappingsofsomeperpetualenigma.“No,youwereright,”theValemanrepliedslowly.“I’mnotsureIcouldhave

handledthetruth.”Allanon’sheadtiltedslightlytooneside,asifconsideringthepossibility.“Ishouldhavehadmorefaithinyou,Shea.ButIwasafraid.”Hepausedasa

traceofdoubtcloudedtheValeman’sface.“Youdon’tbelieveme,butit’strue.Toyou,totheothersaswell,Ihavealwaysbeensomethingmorethanhuman.Itwasnecessary,oryouwouldneverhaveacceptedyourroleasIgaveittoyou.But aDruid is still a human being, Shea.And you have forgotten something.BeforehebecametheWarlockLord,BronawasaDruid.Thustosomeextent,atleast,theDruidsmustbearresponsibilityforwhathebecame.Wepermittedhimto become the Warlock Lord. Our learning gave him the opportunity; oursubsequentisolationfromtherestoftheworldallowedhimtoevolve.Theentirehuman racemight have been enslaved or destroyed, and the guiltwould havebeen ours.Twice theDruids had the opportunity to destroy him—and twicetheyfailedtodoso.IwasthelastofmyPeoples—ifIweretofailaswell,thentherewouldnoone left toprotect the racesagainst thismonstrousevil.Yes, Iwasafraid.OnesmallmistakeandImighthaveleftBronafreeforever.”TheDruid’svoicedroppedtoawhisperandhelookeddownforaninstant.“There is onemore thing you should know. Bremenwasmore tome than

simplymyancestor.Hewasmyfather.”“Yourfather!”Sheacamefullyawakeforaninstant.“Butthat’snotposs...”

Hetrailedoff,unabletofinish.Allanonsmiledfaintly.“Theremust have been times when you guessed that I was older than any

normal man could be, surely. The Druids discovered the secret of longevityfollowingtheFirstWaroftheRaces.Butthereisaprice—apricethatBronarefusedtopay.Therearemanydemandsanddisciplinesrequired,Shea.Itisnogreatgift.And forourwaking time,wepileup adebt thatmustbepaidby aspecial kindof sleep that restores us fromour aging.There aremany steps totruelongevity,andsomearenotpleasant.Notoneiseasy.BronasearchedforawaydifferentfromthatoftheDruids,awaythatwouldnotcarrythesameprice,thesamesacrifices;intheend,hefoundonlyillusion.”TheDruidseemedtoretreatintohimselfforalongmoment,thencontinued.“Bremenwasmyfather.HehadachancetoendthemenaceoftheWarlock

Lord,buthemadetoomanymistakesandBronaescapedhim.Hisescapewasmy father’s responsibility — and if the Warlock Lord had succeeded in hisplans, my father would have earned the blame. I lived with the fear of thathappeninguntil itwas anobsession. I sworenot tomake themistakes he hadmade.I’mafraid,Shea, that Ineverreallyhadmuchfaith inyou. I fearedyouweretooweaktodowhathadtobedone,andIhidthetruthtoservemyownends.Inmanyways,Iwasunfairtoyou.Butyouweremylastchancetoredeemmyfather, topurgemyownsenseofguilt forwhathehaddone,and toeraseforevertheresponsibilityoftheDruidsforthecreationofBrona.”He hesitated and looked directly into Shea’s eyes. “Iwaswrong,Valeman.

YouwereabettermanthanIgaveyoucreditforbeing.”Sheasmiledandshookhisheadslowly.“No,Allanon.Youweretheonewhosooftenspoketomeofhindsight.Now

heedyourownwords,historian.”Inthedarknessacrossfromhim,theDruidreturnedthesmilewistfully.“Iwish... Iwishwehadmore time,SheaOhmsford.Time to learn toknow

eachotherbetter.ButIhaveadebtthatmustbepaid...alltoosoon...”Hetrailedoffalmostsadly,theleanfaceloweringintoshadow.Thepuzzled

Valemanwaitedamoment,thinkingthathewouldsaysomethingmore.Hedidnot.“In themorning, then.” Shea stretchedwearily and burrowed deep into the

cloak,warmandrelaxedbythesoupandthefire.“We’vealongjourneybacktotheSouthland.”Allanondidnotreplyimmediately.“Yourfriendsareclosenow, lookingforyou,”herespondedfinally.“When

theyfindyou,willyourelatetothemallthatIhavetoldyou?”Sheabarelyheardhim,his thoughtsdrifting toShadyVale and thehopeof

goinghomeagain.“YoucandothejobbetterthanI,”hemurmuredsleepily.Therewasanotherlongmomentofsilence.AtlastheheardAllanonmoving

in thedarknessbeyond,andwhen the tallmanspokeagain,hisvoicesoundedstrangelydistant.“I may not be able to, Shea. I’m very tired — I’ve exhausted myself

physically.Foratimenow,Imust...sleep.”“Tomorrow,”Sheamumbled.“Goodnight.”TheDruid’svoicecamebackawhisper.“Good-bye,myyoungfriend.Good-bye,Shea.”ButtheValemanwasalreadysleeping.Shea awokewith a start, themorning sunlight streaming downon him.His

eyessnappedopenatthesoundofhorses’hoovesandbootedfeet,andhefoundhimself surrounded by a cluster of lean, rangy figures clothed in forest green.InstinctivelyhishanddroppedtotheSwordofShannara,andhestruggledtoasitting position, squinting sharply to see their faces. They were Elves. A tall,hard-featuredElfdetachedhimselffromthegroupandbentdowntohim.Deep,penetrating green eyes locked into his own, and a firm hand came up to restreassuringlyonhisshoulder.“You’reamongfriends,SheaOhmsford.WeareEventine’smen.”Sheaclimbedslowlytohisfeet,stillgraspingtheSwordguardedly.“Allanon...?”heasked,lookingaboutfortheDruid.Thetallmanhesitatedforamoment,thenshookhishead.“Thereisnooneelsehere.Onlyyou.”Stunned, Shea moved past him and pushed his way through the ring of

horsemen,hiseyesquickly searching the lengthof thewide ravine.Gray rockand dust stared back at him, an empty, deserted passage that twisted anddisappeared from sight.Except for theElven riders and himself, therewas nooneelse.ThensomethingtheDruidhadsaidcamebacktohim—andheknewthenthatAllanonwasreallygone.“Sleeping...”heheardhimselfwhisper.Woodenly, he turned back to the waiting Elves, then hesitated as tears

streameddownhishaggardface.ButAllanonwouldcomebacktothemwhenhewas needed, he told himself angrily. Just as he had always done before. Hebrushedawaythetears,andglancedmomentarilyintothebrightbluenessofthe

Northlandsky.Forjustaninstant,heseemedtoheartheDruid’svoicecallingtohimfromfar,faraway.Afaintsmilecrossedhislips.“Good-bye,Allanon,”heansweredsoftly.

ChapterThirty-Five

So itended.Littlemore than tendays later, thosewhostill remainedof thelittle band that had journeyed forth from Culhaven so many weeks ago badefarewell to one another for the last time. Itwas a bright, clear day filledwithsunshineandsummer’sfreshness.Fromoutofthewest,agentlebreezeruffledthe emerald green carpet of the Tyrsian grasslands, and in the distance, thesluggishroaroftheMermidonfloatedsoftlythroughtheearly-morningstillness.Theystoodtogetherbytheroadwayleadingoutfromthewalledcity—DurinandDayel, the formerwithout theuseofhis left arm,whichwas splintedandwrapped.Dayel had found him among thewounded, and nowhewas healingrapidly.BalinorBuckhannah in chainmail and royalblue ridingcloak, a still-paleSheaOhmsford, thefaithfulFlick,andMenionLeah.Theyspoke inquiettonesfora time,smilingbravely, tryingtoappearamiableandrelaxedwithoutmuch success, glancing from time to time at the tethered horses that grazedcontentedlybehindthem.Atlasttherewasanawkwardsilence,andhandswereextended and taken, and mumbled promises to visit soon were quietlyexchanged.Itwasapainfulgood-bye,andbehindthesmilesandthehandshakes,therewassadness.Thentheyrodeaway,eachtohisownhome.DurinandDayeltraveledwestto

Beleal, where Dayel would finally be reunited with his beloved Lynhss. TheOhmsfordsturnedsouthtoShadyValeand,asFlickhadrepeatedlyannouncedtohisbrother,awell-deservedrest.AsfarasFlickwasconcerned,theirtravelingdayswereover.MenionLeahwentwiththemtotheVale,determinedtoseetoitpersonally that nothing further befell Shea. From there, hewould return for atimetothehighlandstobewithhisfather,whowouldbemissinghimbynow.Butverysoon,heknewhemustcomebackagaintothebordercountryandtothered-haireddaughterofkingswhowouldbewaiting.Standing silently by the empty roadway, Balinor watched after his friends

untiltheywerenomorethansmallshadowsinthedistantgreenoftheflatlands.ThenslowlyhemountedhiswaitinghorseandrodebackintoTyrsis.The Sword of Shannara remained in Callahorn. It had been Shea’s firm

decisiontoleavethetalismanwiththeborderpeople.Noonehadgivenmoretopreservethefreedomofthefourlands.Noonehadabetterrighttobeentrustedwithitscareandpreservation.AndsothelegendarySwordwasimplantedblade

downward in a block of redmarble and placed in a vault in the center of thegardensofthePeople’sParkinTyrsis,shelteredbythewide,protectivespanoftheBridgeofSendic,theretoremainforalltime.Carveduponthestonefacingofthevaultwastheinscription:Hereinliestheheartandsoulofthenations.

Theirrighttobefreemen,Theirdesiretoliveinpeace,Theircouragetoseekouttruth.HereinliestheSwordofShannara.Weekslater,Sheaperchedwearilyononeofthetallwoodenstoolsintheinn

kitchenandstudiedblanklytheplateoffoodonthecounterinfrontofhim.Athiselbow,Flickwasalreadystartingonhissecondhelping.Itwasearlyintheevening and the Ohmsford brothers had spent the entire day repairing theverandaroof.Thesummersunhadbeenhotandtheworkhadbeentedious;yet,although he was tired and vaguely disgruntled, Shea found himself unable tolocatehisappetite.Hewasstillpickingathisfoodwhenhisfatherappearedinthehalldoorway,mumblingblackly, tohimself.CurzadOhmsfordcameup tothemwithoutawordandtappedSheaontheshoulder.“Howmuchlongeristhisnonsensegoingtocontinue?”hedemanded.Shealookedupinsurprise.“I don’t know, what youmean,” he answered truthfully, glancing at Flick,

whoshruggedblankly.“Not eatingmuch either, I see.”His father spied thedinner plate. “Howdo

youexpecttogetyourstrengthbackifyoudon’teatproperly?”Hepausedforamoment,andthenseemedtorecallthathehadgottenoffthe

subjectentirely.“Strangers,that’swhatImean.NowIsupposeyou’llbeoffagain.Ithought

thatwasalldonewith.”Sheastaredathim.“I’mnotgoinganywhere.Whatintheworldareyoutalkingabout?”CurzadOhmsfordseatedhimselfheavilyonavacantstoolandeyedhisfoster

sonclosely,apparentlyresignedtothefactthathewasnotgoingtogetastraightanswerwithoutalittleunnecessaryeffort.“Shea,wehaveneverliedtoeachother,havewe?Whenyoucamebackfrom

yourvisitwiththePrinceofLeah,Ineverpressedyouaboutwhatwentonwhileyouwerethere,eventhoughyouleftinthemiddleofthenightwithoutawordtoanyone, even though you came back looking like your own ghost and very

carefullyavoidedtellingmeexactlyhowyougotthatway.Nowanswerme,”hecontinuedquicklywhenSheatriedtoobject.“Ineveronceaskedyoutotellmeanything,didI?”Sheashookhisheadsilently.Hisfathernoddedinsatisfaction.“No, because I happen to believe that a man’s business is mostly his own

affair.ButIcannotforgetthatthelasttimeyoudisappearedfromtheValewasrightafterthatotherstrangerappearedaskingforyou.”“Otherstranger!”thebrothersexclaimedtogether.Instantly all the oldmemories came back to them—Allanon’smysterious

appearance,Balinor’swarning, theSkullBearers, the running, the fear... Sheasliddownfromhisstoolslowly.“There’ssomeonehere...lookingforme?”His father nodded, his broad face clouding darkly as he caught the look of

concernmirroredinhisson’sfurtiveglanceatthedoorway.“Astranger,likebefore.Hegotinseveralminutesago,lookingforyou.He’s

waitingoutinthelobby.ButIdon’tsee...”“Shea,whatcanwedo?”Flickinterruptedhurriedly.“Wedon’tevenhavethe

Elfstonestoprotectusanymore.”“I...Idon’tknow,”hisbrothermumbled,desperatelytryingtothinkthrough

hisconfusion.“Wecouldslipoutthebackway...”“Nowwaitaminute!”CurzadOhmsfordhadheardenough.Hegrippedtheir

shoulderstightlyandturnedthemabouttofacehim,staringatthemindisbelief.“Ididnotraisemysonstorunawayfromtrouble.”Hestudiedtheirworried

facesamomentandshookhishead.“Youmustlearntofaceyourproblems,notrunfromthem.Why,hereyouareinyourownhome,amongfamilyandfriendswhowillstandbyyou,andyoutalkaboutrunningaway.”Hereleasedthemandsteppedbackapace.“Nowwe’llallgoouttheretogetherandfacethisman.Helooksahardsort,

but he seemed friendly enoughwhenwe talked.Besides, I don’t think a one-handedmanisanykindofamatchphysicallyforthreewholemen—evenwiththatpike.”Sheastartedabruptly.“One-handed...?”“Helooks likehe traveleda longway togethere.”TheelderOhmsforddid

notseemtohaveheardhim.“He’scarryingalittleleatherpouchthatheclaimsbelongs to you. I offered to take it, but he wouldn’t give it to me. Said hewouldn’tgiveittoanyonebutyou.”

NowsuddenlyFlickunderstood.“It must be something important,” his father declared. “He told me you

droppeditonyourwayhome.Nowhowcouldthathappen?”CurzadOhmsfordhadtowaitawhilelongerforhisanswer.Inarush,hissons

werepasthim, through thekitchendoor,andhalfwaydownthehallway to thelobbyoftheinn.

TableofContents

ChapterOneChapterTwoChapterThreeChapterFourChapterFiveChapterSixChapterSevenChapterEightChapterNineChapterTenChapterElevenChapterTwelveChapterThirteenChapterFourteenChapterFifteenChapterSixteenChapterSeventeenChapterEighteenChapterNineteenChapterTwentyChapterTwenty-OneChapterTwenty-TwoChapterTwenty-ThreeChapterTwenty-FourChapterTwenty-FiveChapterTwenty-SixChapterTwenty-SevenChapterTwenty-EightChapterTwenty-NineChapterThirtyChapterThirty-OneChapterThirty-TwoChapterThirty-ThreeChapterThirty-Four

ChapterThirty-Five