ASKYOFSPELLS

(Book#9intheSorcerer’sRing)

MorganRice

AboutMorganRice

MorganRiceisthe#1BestsellingauthorofTHEVAMPIREJOURNALS,ayoungadultseriescomprisingeightbooks,whichhasbeentranslatedintosixlanguages.

Morgan is also authorof the#1BestsellingTHEVAMPIRELEGACY,ayoungadultseriescomprisingtwobooksandcounting.

Morgan is also author of the #1 Bestselling ARENAONE and ARENATWO, the first two books in THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalypticactionthrillersetinthefuture.

Morgan is also author of the #1 Bestselling epic fantasy series THESORCERER’SRING,comprisingninebooksandcounting.

Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visitwww.morganricebooks.comtostayintouch.

http://www.morganricebooks.com/

SelectAcclaimforMorganRice

“Grabbedmyattentionfromthebeginninganddidnotletgo….Thisstoryis an amazing adventure that is fast paced and action packed from the verybeginning.Thereisnotadullmomenttobefound.”

--ParanormalRomanceGuild{regardingTurned}

“Anidealstoryforyoungreaders.MorganRicedidagoodjobspinninganinteresting twist…Refreshing and unique, has the classic elements found inmany Young Adult paranormal stories. Easy to read but extremely fast-paced....Recommendedforanyonewholikestoreadsoftparanormalromances.RatedPG.”

--TheRomanceReviews(regardingTurned)

“Jam packed with action, romance, adventure, and suspense. Get yourhandsonthisoneandfallinlovealloveragain.”

--vampirebooksite.com(regardingTurned)

“Agreatplot,andthisespeciallywasthekindofbookyouwillhavetroubleputtingdownatnight.Theendingwasacliffhangerthatwassospectacularthatyouwillimmediatelywanttobuythenextbook,justtoseewhathappens.”

--TheDallasExaminer{regardingLoved}

“Morgan Rice proves herself again to be an extremely talentedstoryteller….Thiswouldappealtoawiderangeofaudiences,includingyoungerfansofthevampire/fantasygenre.Itendedwithanunexpectedcliffhangerthatleavesyoushocked.”

--TheRomanceReviews{regardingLoved}

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BooksbyMorganRice

THESORCERER’SRINGAQUESTOFHEROES(Book#1)AMARCHOFKINGS(Book#2)

AFEASTOFDRAGONS(Book#3)ACLASHOFHONOR(Book#4)AVOWOFGLORY(Book#5)

ACHARGEOFVALOR(Book#6)ARITEOFSWORDS(Book#7)AGRANTOFARMS(Book#8)ASKYOFSPELLS(Book#9)

THESURVIVALTRILOGY

ARENAONE:SLAVERSUNNERS(Book#1)ARENATWO(Book#2)

THEVAMPIREJOURNALSTURNED(Book#1)LOVED(Book#2)

BETRAYED(Book#3)DESTINED(Book#4)DESIRED(Book#5)

BETROTHED(Book#6)VOWED(Book#7)FOUND(Book#8)

THEVAMPIRELEGACYRESURRECTED(Book#1)

CRAVED(Book#2)

Copyright©2013byMorganRice

All rights reserved.Except as permitted under theU.S.CopyrightAct of1976,nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,distributedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,orstored inadatabaseorretrievalsystem,withoutthepriorpermissionoftheauthor.

Thisebookis licensedforyourpersonalenjoymentonly.Thisebookmaynotbere-soldorgivenawaytootherpeople.Ifyouwouldliketosharethisbookwith another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Ifyou’rereadingthisbookanddidnotpurchaseit,oritwasnotpurchasedforyouruse only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you forrespectingthehardworkofthisauthor.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations,places,events,andincidentseitheraretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorare used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, isentirelycoincidental.

CONTENTS

CHAPTERONECHAPTERTWOCHAPTERTHREECHAPTERFOURCHAPTERFIVECHAPTERSIXCHAPTERSEVENCHAPTEREIGHTCHAPTERNINECHAPTERTENCHAPTERELEVENCHAPTERTWELVECHAPTERTHIRTEENCHAPTERFOURTEENCHAPTERFIFTEENCHAPTERSIXTEENCHAPTERSEVENTEENCHAPTEREIGHTEENCHAPTERNINETEENCHAPTERTWENTYCHAPTERTWENTYONECHAPTERTWENTYTWOCHAPTERTWENTYTHREECHAPTERTWENTYFOURCHAPTERTWENTYFIVECHAPTERTWENTYSIXCHAPTERTWENTYSEVENCHAPTERTWENTYEIGHTCHAPTERTWENTYNINECHAPTERTHIRTY

“Wefew,wehappyfew,webandofbrothers;forhetodaythatshedshisbloodwithme

shallbemybrother.”

--WilliamShakespeareHenryV

CHAPTERONE

Thor faced Gwendolyn, holding his sword at his side, his entire bodytrembling.Helookedoutandsawallthefacesstaringbackathiminthestunnedsilence—Alistair,Erec,Kendrick,Steffen,andahostofhiscountrymen—peoplehehadknownandloved.Hispeople.Yetherehewas,facingthem,swordathisside.Hewasonthewrongsideofbattle.

Finally,herealized.Thor’sveilhadliftedasAlistair’swordsrangthroughhim,filledhimwith

clarity.HewasThorgrin.Amember of theLegion.Amember of theWesternKingdomoftheRing.HewasnotasoliderfortheEmpire.Hedidnotlovehisfather.Helovedallthesepeople.

Mostofall,helovedGwendolyn.Thorlookeddownandsawherface,staringupathimwithsuchlove,her

eyestearing.Hewasfilledwithshameandhorrortorealizehewasfacingher,holdingthissword.Hispalmsburnedwithhumiliationandregret.

Thor dropped the sword, letting it fall from his hands. He took a stepforwardandembracedher.

Gwendolynhuggedhimbacktightly,andheheardhercrying,feltherhottearspouringdownhisneck.Thorwasoverwhelmedwithremorse,andhecouldnotconceivehowithadallhappened.Itwasablur.Allheknewwasthathewashappytobebacktohimself,tohaveclarity,andtobebackwithhispeople.

“Iloveyou,”shewhisperedintohisear.“AndIalwayswill.”“IloveyouwitheverythingthatIam,”Thorreplied.Krohn whined at his feet, limping over and licking Thor’s palm; Thor

leaneddownandkissedhisface.“I’m sorry,” Thor said to him, remembering hitting him as Krohn had

defendedGwendolyn.“Pleaseforgiveme.”Theearth,quakingviolentlybutmomentsbefore,finallybecamestillagain.“THORGRIN!”ashriekcutthroughtheair.Thor turned to see Andronicus. He stepped forward, into the clearing,

scowling, his face red with rage. Both armies watched in stunned silence, asfatherandsonfacedeachother.

“Icommand you!”Andronicus said. “Kill them!Kill themall! I amyourfather.Youlistentome,andtomealone!”

Butthistime,asThorstaredbackatAndronicus,somethingfeltdifferent.Somethingshiftedinside.NolongerdidThorviewAndronicusashisfather,asa

familymember,assomeonehemustanswertoandgivehislifefor;instead,hesawhimasafoe.Amonster.Thornolongerfeltanyobligationtogiveuphislifeforthisman.Onthecontrary:hefeltaburningrageagainsthim.HerewasthemanwhohadorderedtheattackonGwendolyn;herewasthemanwhohadkilled his fellow countrymen, who had invaded and ransacked his homeland;herewasthemanwhohadtakenoverhisownmind,whohadheldhimhostagewithhisdarksorcery.

Thiswasnotamanheloved.Rather,thiswasamanhewantedtokillmorethananythingonearth.Fatherornot.

Thorsuddenlyfelthimselffloodwithrage.Hereacheddown,pickeduphissword,andchargedfullspeedacrosstheclearing,readytokillhisfather.

AndronicuslookedshockedasThorcharged,raisedhisswordhigh,andasThorbroughtitdownwithbothhands,withallhismight,forhishead.

Andronicusraisedhishugebattleaxeatthelastsecond,turningitsidewaysandblockingtheblowwithitsmetalshaft.

Thordidnotrelent:heswunghisswordagainandagain,goingforthekill,andeachtimeAndronicusraisedhisaxeandblockingit.Thegreatclangofthetwoweaponsmeeting rang through the air as both armieswatched in silence.Sparksflewwitheachblow.

Thor screamed and grunted, using every skill he had, hoping to kill hisfatheronthespot.Hehadtodoit,forhimself,forGwendolyn,forallthosewhohad sufferedby thismonster’shand.Witheachblow,Thorwanted,more thananything, towipeouthis lineage,hisownbackground, tostart freshagain.Tochooseadifferentfather.

Andronicus,on thedefense,onlyblockedThor’sblows,anddidnot fightback.Clearly,hewasrefrainingfromattackinghisson.

“Thorgrin!”Andronicus said, between blows. “You aremy son. I do notwishtoharmyou.Iamyourfather.Youhavesavedmylife.Iwantyoualive.”

“AndIwantyoudead!”Thorscreamedback.Thorswungdownagainandagain,drivinghimback,across theclearing,

despite Andronicus’ great size and strength. Yet still, Andronicus would notswingbackatThor. Itwasas ifhewashoping thatThorwouldcomeback tohimagain.

But this time, Thor would not. Now, finally, Thor knew who he was.Finally,Andronicus’wordswerefreefromhishead.ThorwouldratherbedeadthanatAndronicus’smercyagain.

“Thorgrin,youmust stop this!”Andronicus criedout.Sparks flewbyhisfaceasheblockedaparticularlyviciousslashwithhisaxehead.“Youwillforcemetokillyou,andIdonotwishto.Youaremyson.Tokillyouwouldbetokill

myself.”“Thenkillyourself!”Thorsaid.“Orifyoudonotwishto,thenIshalldoit

foryou!”WithagreatcryThorleaptupandkickedAndronicuswithbothfeetinthe

chest,sendinghimstumblingandlandingonhisback.Andronicuslookedup,asifstunnedthatcouldhavehappened.Thorstoodoverhimandraisedhisswordhightofinishhimoff.“NO!” shrieked a voice. It was an awful voice, sounding like it erupted

fromtheverydepthsofhell,andThorglancedovertoseeasinglemanentertheclearing.Hewore a long scarlet robe, his face hidden behind a hood, and anunearthlygrowleruptedfromhisthroat.

Rafi.Somehow,RafihadmadeitbackfromhisbattlewithArgon.Hestoodthere

now,holdingbotharmsoutwideathissides.Hissleevesfellasherosehisarms,revealing pale, blistery skin that looked as if it had never seen the sun. Heemittedanawfulsoundfromthebackofhisthroat,likeasnarl,andasheopenedhismouthwide, itgrewlouderandlouderuntil it filled theair, the lowtimbervibratingandmakingThor’searshurt.

The earth began to quake. Thor was knocked off-balance as the entiregroundshook.He followedRafi’shandsandsawbeforehimasighthewouldneverforget.

Theearthbegantosplitintwo,agreatchasmopening,spreadingwiderandwider.Asitdid,soldiersfrombothsidesfell,slippingdown,screamingastheyhurleddownintotheever-growingcrevice.

Anorangeglowemitted frombeneath theearth,and therecameanawfulhissingnoiseassteamandfogarose.

There appeared a single hand, emerging from the crevice, gripping theearth.Thehandwasblack,lumpy,disfigured,andasitpulleditselfup,Thor,tohishorror,sawemergingfromtheearthanawfulcreature.Itwasintheshapeofa human, but it was entirely black,with large glowing red eyes and long redfangs.A long,black tail draggedbehind it. Itsbodywas lumpy, and it lookedlikeacorpse.

Itleanedbackitsheadandtherecameanawfulroar,likeRafi’s.Itappearedtobesomesortofundeadcreature,summonedfromthedepthsofthehell.

Behindthiscreaturetheresuddenlyemergedanother.Thenanother.Thousandsmoreofthesecreaturessurfaced,pullingthemselvesupfromthe

bowelsofhell,anarmyofundead.Rafi’sarmy.Slowly,theycametoRafi’sside,facingThorgrinandtheothers.Thor staredback in shock at this army facinghim; as he stood there, his

sword still held high, Andronicus suddenly rolled out from under him andretreatedbacktohisarmy,clearlynotwantingtohavetoconfrontThorgrin.

Suddenly, the thousands of creatures rushed towards Thor, flooding theclearing,comingtokillThorandallofhispeople.

Thorsnappedoutofitandraisedhisswordhighasthefirstcreatureleaptfor him, snarling, claws extended. Thor sidestepped, swung his sword, andchopped off its head. It stumbled to the ground, unmoving, and Thor bracedhimselfforthenextone.

Thesecreatureswerestrongandfast,butoneonone, theywerenomatchforThor and the skilledwarriorsof theRing.Thor fought themdeftly, killingthem left and right. Yet the question was, howmany could he could fight atonce? He was flooded by thousands of them, from all directions, as waseveryonearoundhim.

ThorfellinbesideErec,Kendrick,Srogandtheothers,eachfightingbesideeachother,watchingeachother’sbacksastheyswungleftandright,takingouttwoandthreecreaturesata time.Oneofthemslippedby,grabbedThor’sarmandscratchedit,drawingblood,andThorcriedout inpain,swungaroundandstabbedintheheart,killingit.Thorwasasuperiorfighter,buthisarmalreadythrobbed, and he didn’t knowhow long itwould be until these creatures tooktheirtoll.

Firstandforemostinhismind,though,wasgettingGwendolyntosafety.“Gether to theback!”Thor shrieked,grabbingSteffen,whowas fighting

withamonster,andshovinghimtoGwen.“NOW!”Steffen grabbed Gwen and dragged her away, back through the army of

soldiers,distancingherfromthebeasts.“NO!”Gwenscreamed,protesting.“Iwanttobeherewithyou!”But Steffen listened dutifully, dragging her back to the rear flank of the

battle,protectingherbehindthethousandsofMacGilsandSilverwhovaliantlystood there and foughtback the creatures.Thor, seeingher safe,was relieved,andheturnedbackandthrewhimselfintothefightwiththeundead.

Thor tried tosummonhisDruidpower, to fightwithhisspiritalongwithhis sword; but for some reason, he could not.Hewas too exhausted fromhisexperiencewithAndronicus, fromRafi’smind control, and his power neededmoretimetoheal.Hehadtofightwithconventionalweapons.

Alistairsteppedforward,byThor’sside,raisedapalm,anddirecteditatthecrowd of undead. A ball of light emanated from it, and she killed severalcreaturesatonce.

Sheraisedbothpalmsrepeatedly,killingcreaturesallaroundher,andasshedid,Thor felt inspired,hissister’senergy infusinghim.He triedonceagain to

summonsomeotherpartofhimself, tofightnotonlywithhissword,butwithhismind,hisspirit.Asthenextcreatureapproachedheraisedapalmandtriedtosummonthewind.

Thorfelt thewindrushthroughhispalm,andsuddenly,adozencreatureswent flying through the air, the wind driving them, howling as they tumbledbackintothecreviceintheearth.

Kendrick, Erec and the others, besideThor, fought valiantly, each killingdozensofcreatures,asdidalltheirmenaroundthem,lettingoutabattlecry,astheyfoughtwithalltheyhad.TheEmpirearmysatbackandletRafi’sarmyofundeadfightforthem,letthemwearyThor’smen.Itwasworking.

Soon, Thor’s men, exhausted, were swinging more slowly. And yet theundeadneverstoppedpouringoutfromtheearth,anever-endingstream.

Thor found himself breathing hard, aswere the others. The undeadwerestartingtobreakthroughtheirranks,andhismenwerebeginningtofall.Therewerejusttoomany.AllaroundThortherearosehismen’sscreamsastheundeadpinnedthemdown,sinkingtheirfangsintothesoldiers’throatsandsuckingouttheir blood. With each soldier a creature killed, the undead seemed to growstronger.

Thor knew they had to do something fast. They needed to summon atremendouspowertocounteractthis,apowerstrongerthanheorAlistairhad.

“Argon!”ThorsuddenlysaidtoAlistair.“Whereishe?Wemustfindhim!”Thor looked over and saw Alistair getting tired, her strength waning; a

beast slipped past her, backhanded her, and she fell, screaming. As the beastleapt on top of her, Thor stepped forward and thrust his sword through thecreature’sback,savingheratthelastsecond.

Thorreachedoutahandandyankedherquicklytoherfeet.“Argon!”Thorscreamed.“He’souronlyhope.Youmustfindhim.Now!”Alistairgavehimaknowinglook,andracedintothecrowd.A creature slipped by, his claws plunging for Thor’s throat, and Krohn

rushedforwardandleaptuponit,snarling,pinningitdowntotheearth.AnothercreaturethenplungedontoKrohn’sback,andThorslashedit,killingit.

AnothercreaturejumpedontoErec’sback,andThorrushedforward,prieditoff,grabbeditwithbothhandsliftedithighoverheadandhurleditintoseveralothercreatures,knockingthemdown.AnotherbeastchargedforKendrick,whodidnotseeitcoming,andThortookhisdaggerandstabbeditinthethroat,rightbeforeitsankitsfangsintoKendrick’sshoulder.ThorfeltthatthiswastheleasthecoulddotobegintomakeupforfacingoffagainstErecandKendrickandalltheothers.Itfeltgoodtobefightingontheirsideagain,ontherightside;itfeltgoodtoknowwhohewasagain,andtoknowwhohewasfightingfor.

As Rafi stood there, arms out wide, chanting, thousands more of thesebeastswerespillingoutfromthebowelsof theearth,andThorknewthat theywouldnotbeabletoholdthembackmuchlonger.Aswarmofblackenvelopedthem,asmoreundead,elbowtoelbow,rushedforward.Thorknewthatsoon,heandallofhispeoplewouldbeconsumed.

Atleast,hethought,hewoulddieontherightsideofbattle.

CHAPTERTWO

LuandafoughtandthrashedasRomuluscarriedherinhisarms,eachsteptakingherfartherfromherhomelandastheycrossedthebridge.Shescreamedand flailed, dughernails intohis skin,did everythingpossible to freeherself.But his arms were too muscular, like rocks, his shoulders too broad, and hewrappedhersotight,holdingheldherinhisgripslikeapython,squeezinghertodeath.Shecouldbarelybreathe,herribshurtsobadly.

Despiteallofthat, itwasnotherselfsheworriedformost.ShelookedupaheadandsawatthefarendofthebridgeavastseaofEmpiresoldiers,standingthere, weapons at the ready, waiting. Theywere all anxious for the Shield tolowersothattheycouldraceontothebridge.Luandalookedoverandsawthestrange cloak that Romuluswaswearing, vibrating and glowing as he carriedher, and she sensed that somehow she was the key to his bringing down theShield.Itmusthavesomethingtodowithher.Whyelsewouldhekidnapher?

Luanda felt a fresh determination: she had to free herself—not just forherself, but for her kingdom, her people. When Romulus brought down theShield,thosethousandsofmenawaitinghimwouldchargeacross,avasthordeofEmpiresoldiers,and like locusts,descendon theRing.Theywoulddestroywhatwasleftofherhomelandforgood,andshecouldnotallowthattohappen.

Luanda hated Romulus with everything she had; she hated all of theseEmpire,andAndronicusmostofall.Agalesweptthroughandshefeltthecoldwind grazing against her bald head, and she groaned as she remembered hershavedhead,herhumiliationat thehandsof thesebeasts.Shewouldkill eachandeveryoneofthemifshecould.

When Romulus had freed her from being tied up in Andronicus’ camp,Luandahadatfirstthoughtthatshewasbeingsparedfromahorriblefate,sparedfrombeingparadedaroundlikeananimalinAndronicus’Empire.ButRomulushadturnedouttobeevenworsethanAndronicus.Shefeltcertainthatassoonasthey crossed thebridge, hewouldkill her—if not torture her first. Shehad tofindsomewaytoescape.

Romulusleanedoverandspokeinherear,adeep,throatysoundwhichsetherhairsonedge.

“Itwon’tbelongnow,mydear,”hesaid.She had to think quickly. Luanda was no slave; she was the firstborn

daughterofaking.Royalbloodraninher,thebloodofwarriors,andshefearednoone.Shewoulddoanythingshehadtotofightanyadversary;evensomeone

asgrotesqueandpowerfulasRomulus.Luandasummonedallofherremainingstrengthandinonequickmotion,

she craned back her neck, leaned forward and sank her teeth into Romulus’throat.Shebitdownwithallhermight, squeezingharder andharder,untilhisbloodsquirtedoutalloverherfaceandheshrieked,droppingher.

Luandascurriedtoherknees,turnedandtookoff,sprintingbackacrossthebridgeforherhomeland.

Sheheardhisfootstepsbearingdownonher.Hewasmuchfasterthanshe’dimaginedandassheglancedback,shesawhimbearingdownonherwithalookofpurerage.

ShelookedaheadandsawthemainlandoftheRingbeforeher,onlytwentyfeetaway,andsheranevenharder.

Just steps away, Luanda suddenly felt an awful pain in her spine, asRomulusdoveforwardanddughiselbowdownonherback.Shefeltasifhe’dcrushedherasshecollapsed,face-first,ontothedirt.

A moment later, Romulus was on top of her. He spun her around andpunched her in the face. He hit her so hard, her entire body flipped, and shelandedbackinthedirt.Thepainresonatedthroughoutherjaw,herentireface,asshelaythere,barelyconscious.

Luanda felt herself being hoisted high over Romulus’ head, and shewatchedwith terrorashechargedfor theedgeof thebridge,preparing tocastherover.Hescreamedashestoodthere,holdingherhighoverhead,preparingtothrowher.

Luandalookedover,downatthesteepdrop,andknewherlifewasabouttoend.

But Romulus held her there, frozen, at the precipice, arms shaking, andapparently, thought better of it. As her life hung in the balance, it seemedRomulusdebated.Clearly,hewantedtothrowherovertheedgeinhisfitofrage—yethecouldnot.Heneededherfortofulfillhispurpose.

Finally, he lowered her, and wrapped his arms around her even tighter,nearly squeezing the life out of her.He then hurried back across theCanyon,headingbacktowardshispeople.

This time, Luanda just hung there limply, reeling from the pain, nothingmoreshecoulddo.Shehadtried—andshehadfailed.Nowallshecoulddowaswatchherfateapproachher,step-by-step,asshewascarriedacrosstheCanyon,swirlingmists risingup and envelopingher, thendisappearing just as quickly.Luandafeltasifshewerebeingtakentosomeotherplanet,tosomeplacefromwhichshewouldneverreturn.

Finally, theyreachedthefarsideof theCanyon,andasRomulustookhis

finalstep,thecloakaroundhisshouldersvibratedwithagreatnoise,glowingaluminescentred.RomulusdroppedLuandaontheground,likeanoldpotato,andshehitthegroundhard,bangingherhead,andlaythere.

Romulus’ssoldiersstoodthere,attheedgeofthebridge,staringout,allofthemclearlyafraidtostepforwardandtestwhethertheShieldwastrulydown.

Romulus, fedup,grabbedasoldier,hoistedhimhighoverheadand threwhimontothebridge,right intotheinvisiblewall thatwasoncetheShield.Thesoldierraisedhishandsandscreamed,bracinghimselfforacertaindeathasheexpectedtodisintegrate.

But this time, something different happened. The soldier went flyingthroughtheair,landedonthebridge,androlledandrolled.Thecrowdwatchedinsilenceasherolledtoastop—alive.

The soldier turned and sat up and looked back at all of them, the mostshockedof all.Hehadmade it.Whichcouldonlymeanone thing: theShieldwasdown.

Romulus’ army let out a great roar, and as one they all charged. Theyswarmedontoit,racingfortheRing.Luandacowered,tryingtostayoutoftheway as they all stampeded past her, like a herd of elephants, heading for herhomeland.Shewatchedwithdread.

Hercountryassheknewitwasfinished.

CHAPTERTHREE

Reecestoodat theedgeof the lavapit, lookingdowninutterdisbeliefasthegroundshookviolentlybeneathhim.Hecouldhardlyprocesswhathehadjustdone,hismusclesstillaching fromreleasing theboulder, fromcasting theDestinySwordintothepit.

HehadjustdestroyedthemostpowerfulweaponintheRing,theweaponoflegend, the sword of his ancestors for generations, theweapon of theChosenOne,theonlyweaponholdinguptheShield.Hehadhurleditdownintoapitofmoltenfireandwithhisowneyeshadwatcheditmelt,flareupinagreatballofred,thendisappearintonothingness.

Goneforever.The ground had begun shaking since, and it had not stopped. Reece

struggledtobalance,asdidtheothers,ashebackedawayfromtheedge.Hefeltas if the world were crumbling around him. What had he done? Had hedestroyedtheShield?TheRing?Hadhemadethebiggestmistakeofhislife?

Reecereassuredhimselfby tellinghimselfhehadnochoice.TheboulderandtheSwordweresimply tooheavyfor themall tocarryoutofhere—muchlesstoclimbthewallswith—ortooutruntheseviolentsavages.Hehadbeeninadesperatesituation,andithadcalledfordesperatemeasures.

Their desperate situation had not changed yet. Reece heard a greatscreamingall aroundhim,anda soundaroseof a thousandof thesecreatures,chatteringtheirteethinanunnervingwayandlaughingandsnarlingatthesametime. It sounded likeanarmyof jackals.Clearly,Reecehadangered them;hehadtakenawaytheirpreciousobject,andnowtheyallseemedresignedtomakehimpay.

Asbadasthesituationhadbeenmomentsbefore,nowitwasevenworse.Reecespotted theothers—Elden, Indra,O’Connor,Conven,KrogandSerna—all looking down in horror at the lava pit, then turning and looking around indesperation.ThousandsofFawswereclosinginfromeverydirection.ReecehadmanagedtosparetheSword,buthehadnot thoughtpast that,hadnot thoughtthrough how to get himself and the others out of danger. They were stillcompletelysurrounded,withnowayofgettingout.

Reecewasdeterminedtofindawayout,andwiththeburdenoftheSwordofftheirheads,atleastnowtheycouldmovequickly.

Reece drew his sword, and it cut through the air with a distinctive ring.Whysitbackandwaitforthesecreaturestoattack?Atleasthewouldgodown

fighting.“CHARGE!”Reecescreamedtotheothers.They all drew their weapons and rallied behind him, following as he

sprinted away from the edge of the lava pit and right into the thick crowd ofFaws,swinginghisswordeverywhichway,killingthemleftandright.Besidehim,Eldenraisedhisaxeandchoppedofftwoheadsatatime,whileO’Connordrewhisbowandfiredontherun,takingoutallthoseinhispath.Indrarushedforwardandwithhershortsword,stabbedtwointheheart,whileConvendrewboth of his swords and, screaming like amadman, charged forward, swingingwildlyandkillingFawsineverydirection.Sernawieldedhismace,andKroghisspear,protectingtheirrearflank.

Theywere a unified fightingmachine, fighting as one, fighting for theirlives, cutting their way through the thick crowd as they desperately tried toescape.Reeceledthemupasmallhill,aimingforthehighground.

Theyslippedastheywent,thegroundstillshaking,theslopesteep,muddy.Theylostsomemomentum,andseveralFawsjumpedontoReece,clawingandbitinghim.Hespunandpunchedthem;theywerepersistentandclungtohim,buthemanagedtothrowthemoff,kickingthemback,thenstabbingthembeforetheycouldattackagain.Cutandbruised,Reecekeptfighting,astheyalldid,allfightingfortheirlivestoclimbthehillandescapefromthisplace.

Astheyfinallyreachedthehighground,Reecehadamomentofreprieve.He stood there, gasping for air, and in the distance, caught a glimpse of theCanyonwallbeforeitwascoveredbythethickmist.Heknewitwasoutthere,theirlifelinebacktothesurface,andheknewtheyhadtoreachit.

Reece looked back over his shoulder and saw thousands of Faws racinguphill for them, buzzing, teeth chattering,making an awful noise, louder thanever,andheknewthattheywouldnotletthemgo.

“Whataboutme?”avoicescreamedout,cuttingthroughtheair.Reece turnedand sawCentraback there.Hewas still beingheldcaptive,

besidetheleader,andaFawstillheldaknifetohisthroat.“Don’tleaveme!”hescreamed.“They’llkillme!”Reece stood there, burningwith frustration.Of course, Centrawas right:

they would kill him. Reece could not leave him there; it would go againstReece’s codeofhonor.After all,Centrahadhelped themwhen they’dneededhelp.

Reece stood there, hesitating. He turned and saw, in the distance, theCanyonwall,thewayout,temptinghim.

“Wecan’tgobackforhim!”Indrasaid,frantic.“Theywillkillusall.”ShekickedaFawthatapproachedheranditfellbackwards,slidingonits

backdowntheslope.“We’dbeluckytoescapewithourownlivesasitis!”Sernacalledout.“He’snotoneofus!”Krogsaid.“Wecan’tendangerourgroupforhim!”Reecestoodthere,debating.TheFawsweregettingcloser,andheknewhe

hadtomakehisdecision.“You’reright,”Reeceadmitted.“He’snotoneofus.Buthehelpedus.And

he’sagoodman.Icannot leavehimat themercyof those things.Noman leftbehind!”Reecesaidfirmly.

Reecebegantoheaddowntheslope,togobackforCentra—butbeforehecould,Convensuddenlybrokefromthegroupandcharged,racingdown,leapingandslidingonthemuddyslope,feetfirst,hisswordout,slidingdownwardandslashingashewent,killingFaws leftandright.Hewashurlingback towherethey’dcomefromsingle-handedly,recklessly,throwinghimselfintothegroupofFawsandsomehowcuttinghiswaythroughthemwithsheerdetermination.

Reecejumpedintoactionclosebehind.“Therestofyoustayhere!”Reeceshoutedout.“Waitforourreturn!”Reece followed in Conven’s tracks, slashing the Faws left and right; he

caughtupwithConvenandprovidedbackup,thetwoofthemfightingtheirwaybackdownthemountainforCentra.

Conven charged forward, breaking through the crowd of Faws as ReecefoughthiswayallthewaytoCentra,whostaredback,wide-eyedinfear.AFawraisedhisdaggertocutCentra’sthroat,butReecedidnotgivehimthechance:hesteppedforward,raisedhissword,tookaimandthrewitwithallhismight.

Theswordwentflyingthroughtheair,tumblingendoverend,andlodgeditself through the throat of the Faw, amoment before it killedCentra. CentrascreamedashelookedoverandsawthedeadFaw,justinchesaway,theirfacesalmosttouching.

ToReece’ssurprise,ConvendidnotgoforCentra;insteadhekeptrunningup the small hill, and Reece looked up, horrified to see what he was doing.Convenseemedsuicidal.HecuthiswaythroughthegroupofFawssurroundingtheir leader,who sat highuponhis platform, lookingover the battle.Convenkilledthemleftandright.Theyhadn’tbeenexpectingit,anditallhappenedtoofast for any them to react. Reece realized that Conven was aiming for theirleader.

Conven got closer, leapt into the air, raised his sword, and as the leaderrealized and tried to flee, Conven stabbed it through the heart. The leadershrieked—and suddenly, there came a chorus of ten thousand shrieks, all theFaws, as if they themselves had been stabbed. Itwas as if they all shared thesamenervoussystem—andConvenhadseveredit.

“Youshouldn’thavedonethat,”ReecesaidtoConvenashereturnedtohisside.“Nowyou’vestartedawar.”

As Reece watched in horror, a small hill exploded, and out of it therestreamed thousands and thousands ofFaws, pouringout of it like amoundofants. Reece realized that Conven had killed their queen bee, had incited thewrathofanationofthesethings.Thegroundshookwiththeirfootsteps,astheyallgnashedtheirteethandchargedrightforReeceandConvenandCentra.

“MOVE!”Reecescreamed.ReeceshovedCentra,whostoodinshock,andtheyallturnedandranback

fortheothers,fightingtheirwaybackupthemuddyslope.ReecefeltaFawjumponhisbackandknockhimdown.Itdraggedhimby

hisankles,backdowntheslope,andlowereditsfangsforhisneck.An arrow sailed by Reece’s head, and there came the noise of an arrow

impacting fleshandReece lookedup toseeO’Connor,atop thehill,holdingabow.

Reece regainedhis feet,CentrahelpinghimupasConvenprotected theirrear,fightingbacktheFaws.Finally,theyallraceduptheremainderofthehillandreachedtheothers.

“Goodtohaveyouback!”Eldencalledout,asherushedforwardandtookoutseveralFawswithhisaxe.

Reece paused at the top, peering out into themist andwonderingwhichwaytogo.Thepathforkedtwowaysandhewasabouttogoright.

ButCentrasuddenlyracedpasthim,headingleft.“Followme!”Centracalledoutasheran.“It’stheonlyway!”As thousands of Faws began to ascend the slope, Reece and the others

turnedandran,followingCentra,slippingandslidingdowntheothersideofthehill, as theground continue to shake.They followedCentra’s lead, andReecewasmoregratefulthaneverthathe’dsavedhislife.

“We need to make the Canyon!” Reece called out, not sure which wayCentrawasgoing.

They sprinted, weaving their way through the thick, gnarled trees,struggling to followCentraashedeftlynavigated through themistona roughdirttrail,coveredinroots.

“There’sonlyonewaytolosethosethings!”Centracalledback.“Stayonmytrail!”

They followedCentra closely ashe ran, trippingover roots, scratchedbybranches, Reece struggling to see through the thickening mist. He stumbledmorethanonceontheunevenfooting.

They ran until their lungs hurt, the awful screech of those things behind

them, thousandsof them, closing in.Elden andO’Connor’s helpingKrogwasslowingthemdown.HehopedandprayedthatCentraknewwherehewasgoing;hecouldnotseetheCanyonwallatallfromhere.

Suddenly,Centrastoppedshort,andreachedoutwithhispalmandslappedReece’schest,stoppinghiminhistracks.

Reecelookeddownandsawathisfeetasteepdropoff,intoaragingriverbelow.

ReeceturnedtoCentra,puzzled.“Water,”Centraexplained,gaspingforair.“They’reafraidtocrosswater.”Theothersallstoppedshortbesidethem,staringdownattheroaringrapids,

astheyalltriedtocatchtheirbreath.“It’syouronlychance,”Centra added. “Cross this river andyoucan lose

theirtrailfornow,andgaintime.”“Buthow?”Reeceasked,staringdownatthefoaminggreenwaters.“Thatcurrentwouldkillus!”Eldensaid.Centrasmirked.“That’s theleastofyourworries,”heanswered.“Thatwater isfilledwith

Fourens—the deadliest animal on the planet. Fall in, and they’ll tear you topieces.”

Reecelookeddownatthewater,wondering.“Thenwecan’tswim,”O’Connorsaid.“AndIdon’tseeaboat.”Reecelookedoverhisshoulder,thesoundoftheFawsgettingcloser.“Youronlychance is this,”Centra said, reachingbackandpullinga long

vineattachedtoatree,itsbrancheshangingovertheriver.“Wemustswingourwayacross,”hesaid.“Don’tslip.Anddon’tfallshortoftheshore.Senditbackforuswhenyou’redone.”

Reecelookeddownatthegurglingwater,andashedid,hesawawfullittleglowing yellow creatures jumping out, like sunfish, all jaws, snapping andmakingstrangenoises.Therewereschoolsofthemandtheyalllookedasiftheywereawaitingtheirnextmeal.

Reece glanced back over his shoulder, and saw the army of Faws on thehorizon,closingin.Theyhadnochoice.

“Youcangofirst,”CentrasaidtoReece.Reeceshookhishead.“Iwillgolast,”heanswered.“Incasewedon’tallmakeitintime.Yougo

first.Youbroughtushere.”Centranodded.“Youdon’thavetoaskmetwice,”hesaidwithasmile,nervouslywatching

theFawsclosingin.

Centragrabbedholdof thevineandwithascreamhe leaptoff, swingingquickly over the waters as he hung low on the vine, lifting his feet from thewater and from the snapping creatures. Finally, he landed on the far shore,tumblingontheground.

Hemadeit.Centrastood,smiling;hegrabbedthevineasitswung,andsentitbackover

theriver.Eldenreachedoutandgrabbedit,andhelditouttoIndra.“Ladiesfirst,”hesaid.Shegrimaced.“Idon’tneedpampering,”shesaid.“You’rebig.Youmightbreakthevine.

Yougo,andgetitoverwith.Don’tfallin—orelsethiswomanwillhavetosaveyou.”

Eldengrimaced,unamused,ashegrabbedthevine.“Iwasjusttryingtohelp,”hesaid.Elden jumpedoffwithashout,sailed throughtheair,and tumbledon the

farshorebesideCentra.Hesenttheropeback,andO’Connorwent,followedbySerna,thenIndra,

thenConven.ThelastonesleftwereReeceandKrog.“Well, I guess it’s just the two of us,” Krog said to Reece. “Go. Save

yourself,”Krogsaid,glancingbackoverhisshouldernervously.“TheFawsaretoocloseThereisn’ttimeforbothofustomakeit.”

Reeceshookhishead.“Nomanleftbehind,”hesaid.“Ifyouwon’tgothenIwon’t.”Theybothstoodthere,stubbornly,Kroglookingincreasinglynervous.Krog

shookhishead.“Youareafool.Whydoyoucaresomuchaboutme?Iwouldn’tcarehalf

asmuchforyou.”“I am leadernow,whichmakesyoumy responsibility,”Reece replied. “I

don’tcare foryou. Icare forhonor.Andmyhonorcommandsme to leavenoonebehind.”

Theyboth turnednervously as the first of theFaws reached them.Reecestepped forward, beside Krog, and they slashed with their swords, killingseveral.

“Wegotogether!”Reececalledout.Withoutwasting anothermoment, Reece grabbedKrog, draped him over

his shoulder, grabbed the rope, and the two of them screamed as they set offthroughtheair,amomentbeforetheFawsstormedtheshore.

Thetwoofthemsailedthroughtheair,swayingacrossfortheotherside.“Help!”Krogscreamed.KrogwasslippingoffofReece’sshoulder,andhegrabbedthevine;butit

was now wet with the spray of the rapids, and Krog’s hands slipped rightthroughthevineasheplummeteddown.Reecereacheddowntograbhim,butitallhappenedtoofast:Reece’sheartplummetedashewasforcedtowatchKrogfall,justoutofhisgrasp,downintothegushingwaters.

Reecelandedonthefarshoreandtumbledtotheground.Herolledtohisfeet, prepared to rush back to the water—but before he could react, Convenbrokefromthegroup,rushedforwardanddoveheadfirstintotheragingwaters.

Reece and the otherswatched, breathless.WasConven that brave,Reecewondered?Orthatsuicidal?

Conven swam fearlessly through the gushing current. He reached Krog,somehownotgettingbitbythecreatures,andgrabbedhimasheflailed,drapinganarmaroundhisshoulderandtreadingwaterwithhim.Convenswamagainstthecurrent,headingbacktoshore.

Suddenly,Krogshrieked.“MYLEG!”Krogwrithed in pain as a Fouren lodged in his leg, biting him, its shiny

yellowscalesvisibleoverthecurrent.ConvenswamandswamuntilfinallyhenearedshoreandReeceandtheothersreacheddownanddraggedthemout.Astheydid,aschoolofFourensjumpedintotheairafterthem,andReeceandtheothersswattedthemaway.

Krog flailed andReece looked down and saw the Fouren still in his leg;Indrapulledherdagger,bentoveranddug it intoKrog’s thighasheshrieked,pryingtheanimalout.Itfloppedonshore,thenbackintothewater.

“Ihateyou!”Krogseethedtoher.“Good,”Indrareplied,unfazed.Reece looked at Conven, who stood there, dripping wet, in awe of his

fearlessness.Convenstaredback,expressionless,andReecenoticedwithshockthataFourenwaslodgedinhisarm,floppingintheair.Reececouldn’tbelievehow calmConvenwas, as he reached over slowly, yanked it out and threw itbackintothewater.

“Didn’tthathurt?”Reeceasked,confused.Convenshrugged.ReeceworriedforConvenmore thanever;whileheadmiredhiscourage,

he could not believe his recklessness.He had dived headfirst into a school ofviciouscreatures,anddidn’teventhinktwiceaboutit.

On the far side of the river, hundreds of Faws stood there, staring out,

infuriated,chatteringtheirteeth.“Finally,”O’Connorsaid,“we’resafe.”Centrashookhishead.“Onlyfornow.ThoseFawsaresmart.Theyknowtheriverbends.They’ll

takethelongway,runaroundit,findthecrossing.Soon,they’llbeonourside.Ourtimeislimited.Wemustmove.”

TheyallfollowedCentraashesprintedthroughmudfields,pastexplodinggeysers,navigatinghiswaythroughthisexoticlandscape.

Theyranandran,untilfinallythemistbrokeandReece’sheartwaselatedto see, before them, theCanyonwall, its ancient stone shining.He lookedup,anditswallsseemedimpossiblyhigh.Hedidnotknowhowtheywouldclimbit.

Reece stood there with the others and stared up with dread. The wallseemedevenmoreimposingnowthanithadonthewaydown.Helookedoverandsawtheirraggedstateandwonderedhowtheycouldpossiblyscaleit.Theywereallexhausted,beatenandbruised,wearyfrombattle.Theirhandsandfeetwereraw.Howcouldtheypossiblyclimbstraightup,whenithadtakenalltheyhadjusttodescend?

“Ican’tgoon,”Krogsaid,wheezing,hisvoicecracking.Reecewasfeelingthesameway,thoughhedidnotsayit.They were backed into a corner. They had outrun the Faws, but not for

long.Soontheywouldfindthem,andtheywouldallbeoutnumberedandkilled.Allofthishardwork,alloftheirefforts,allfornothing.

Reecedidnotwanttodiehere.Notinthisplace.Ifhehadtodie,hewantedtodieupthere,onhisownsoil,onthemainland,andwithSelesebyhisside.Ifonlyhecouldhaveonemorechancetoescape.

Reece heard a horrific noise, and he turned to see the Faws, perhaps ahundredyardsaway.Therewerethousandsofthem,andtheyhadalreadyskirtedtheriver,andwereclosingin.

Theyalldrewtheirweapons.“There’snowherelefttorun,”Centrasaid.“Thenwe’llfighttothedeath!”Reececalledout.“Reece!”cameavoice.Reece looked straight up theCanyonwall, and as themist cleared, there

appeared a face he at first thoughtwas an apparition.He could not believe it.There,beforehim,wasthewomanhehadjustbeenthinkingof.

Selese.Whatwas shedoinghere?Howhad shearrivedhere?Andwhowas that

otherwomanwithher?Itlookedliketheroyalhealer,Illepra.Thetwoofthemhungthere,onthesideofthecliff,alongandthickrope

coiled around their waists and hands. They were coming down quickly, on along,thickrope,oneeasytograsp.Selesereachedbackandthrewtherestofitdown,droppingagoodfiftyfeet throughtheair, likemannafromheaven,andlandingatReece’sfeet.

Itwasthewayout.They did not hesitate. They all ran for it, and within moments were

climbingup, as fast as they could.Reece let everyone else go first, and as hejumpedup,thelastmanup,heclimbedandpulledtheropewithhimashewent,sothattheFawscouldnotgetit.

Asheclearedtheground,theFawsappeared,reachingupandjumpingforhisfeet—andjustmissingasReececlimbedoutofreach.

Reece stopped as he reached Selese, whowaited for him on a ledge; heleanedoverandtheykissed.

“Iloveyou,”Reecesaid,hisentirebeingfilledwithloveforher.“AndIyou,”shereplied.The two of them turned and headed up theCanyonwallwith the others.

Theyclimbed,higherandhigher.Soon,theywouldbehome.Reececouldhardlybelieveit.

Home.

CHAPTERFOUR

Alistairsprintedherwaythroughthechaoticbattlefield,weavingherwayin and out of the soldiers as they fought for their lives against the army ofundeadrisingupallaroundthem.Moansandshrieksfilledtheairasthesoldierskilledtheghouls—andastheghouls,inturn,killedthesoldiers.TheSilverandMacGils and Silesians fought boldly—but theywere vastly outnumbered. Foreach undead they killed, three more appeared. It was only a matter of time,Alistaircouldsee,untilallofherpeoplewerewipedout.

Alistair doubled her speed, running with all she had, her lungs bursting,duckingasanundeadswipedforherfaceandcryingoutasanotherscratchedherarm,drawingblood.Shedidnotstoptofightthem.Therewasnotime.ShehadtofindArgon.

Sheran in thedirectionshehadseenhimlast,whenhewasfightingRafiand had collapsed from the effort. She prayed it had not killed him, that shecouldrousehim,andthatshecouldmakeitbeforesheandallherpeoplewerekilled.

An undead appeared before her, blocking her way, and she held out herpalm;awhiteballoflightstruckitinthechest,knockingitbackwards.

Fivemore appeared, and she held out her palm—but this time, only onemoreballoflightemerged,andtheotherfourclosedinonher.Herpowers,shewassurprisedtorealize,werelimited.

Alistair braced herself for attack as they closed in—when she heard asnarlingnoiseandlookedovertoseeKrohn,leapingbesideherandsinkinghisfangs into their throats. The undead turned on him, and Alistair found herchance.Sheelbowedoneinthethroat,knockingitover,andran.

Alistairpushedherwaythroughthechaos,desperate,theghoulsincreasingin number by the moment, her people beginning to be pushed back. As sheduckedandweaved,shefinallyemergedintoasmallclearing, theplacewheresherememberedseeingArgon.

Alistairscannedtheground,desperate,andfinally,betweenallthecorpses,shefoundhim.Hewaslyingthere,slumpedontheground,curledupinaball.He lay in a small clearing and clearly he had cast some sort of spell to keepothersawayfromhim.Hewasunconscious,andasAlistair rushed tohisside,shehopedandprayedhewasstillalive.

Asshecamecloser,Alistairfeltenveloped,protectedinhismagicbubble.Shetookakneebesidehimandtookadeepbreath,finallysafefromthebattle

allaroundher,findingrespiteintheeyeofthestorm.YetAlistairwasalsostruckwithterrorasshelookeddownatArgon:helay

there,eyesclosed,notbreathing.Shewasfloodedwithpanic.“Argon!”shecriedout,shakinghisshoulderswithbothhands, trembling.

“Argon,it’sme!Alistair!Wakeup!Youhavetowakeup!”Argon lay there, unresponsive, while all around her, the battle was

intensifying.“Argon,please!Weneedyou.WecannotcombatRafi’smagic.Wedonot

have the skills that you do. Please, come back to us. For the Ring. ForGwendolyn.ForThorgrin.”

Alistairshookhim,youstillhedidnotrespond.Desperate,anideacametoher.Shelaybothpalmsonhischest,closedher

eyesandfocused.Shesummonedallofherinnerenergy,whateverwasleft,andslowly,she feltherhandswarm.Assheopenedhereyes, shesawablue lightemanating from her palms, spreading over his chest and shoulders. Soon itenveloped his entire body. Alistair was using an ancient spell she had oncelearned,torevivethesick.Itwasdrainingher,andshefeltalltheenergyleavingherbody.Gettingweak,shewilledforArgontocomeback.

Alistair collapsed, exhausted from the effort, and lay atArgon’s side, tooweaktomove.

She sensed movement, and she looked over and to her amazement sawArgonbegintostir.

Hesatupand turned toher,hiseyesshiningwithan intensity thatscaredher.He stared at her, expressionless, then reachedover, grabbedhis staff, andgainedhisfeet.Hereachedoutonehand,grabbedhers,andeffortlesslyyankedhertoherfeet.

Asheheldherhand,shefeltallofherownenergyrestored.“Whereishe?”Argonasked.Argondidnotwait for ananswer; itwasas ifheknewexactlywherehe

neededtogo,asheturned,staffathisside,walkedrightintothethickofbattle.Alistaircouldn’tunderstandhowArgonwasnothesitant to stroll into the

soldiers.Thensheunderstoodwhy:hewasabletocastamagicalbubblearoundhimashewent,andastheundeadchargedhimfromallsides,nonewereabletopenetrate it. Alistair stuck close to him as he marched fearlessly, harmlesslythroughthethickofthebattle,asifstrollingthroughameadowonasunnyday.

Thetwoofthemmadetheirwaythroughthebattlefield,andhekeptsilent,marching,dressedinhislongwhitecloakandhood,walkingsofastthatAlistaircouldbarelykeepup.

Hefinallystoppedatthecenterofthebattle,inaclearing,oppositewhich

stoodRafi. Rafi still stood there, holding both arms out at his sides, his eyesrolledbackinhisheadashesummonedthousandsofundead,pouringoutofthecreviceintheearth.

Argon raised a single palm high overhead, palm up, facing the sky, andopenedhiseyeswide.

“RAFI!”hescreamedinchallenge.Despiteallthenoise,Argon’sscreamcutthroughthebattle,resonatingoff

thehills.AsArgonshrieked,suddenlythecloudspartedhighabove.Awhitestream

oflightcameflyingdown,fromthesky,righttoArgon’spalm,asifconnectinghim to the very heavens. The stream of light grew wider and wider, like atornado,envelopingthebattlefield,envelopingeverythingaroundhim.

Therecameagreatwindandagreatwhooshingnoise,andAlistairwatchedindisbeliefasbeneathherthegroundbegantoshakeevenmoreviolently,andthe huge crevice in the earth began tomove in the opposite direction, slowlysealingitselfbackup.

As itbegan tocloseon itself,dozensofundeadshrieked,crushedas theytriedtocrawlout.

Withinmoments,hundredsofundeadwereslipping,slidingbackdowntotheearth,asthecrevicebecamemoreandmorenarrow.

Theearthshookonelasttime,thengrewquiet,asthecrevicefinallysealeditself, the groundwhole again, as if no fissure had ever appeared. The awfulshrieksoftheundeadfilledtheair,mutedfrombeneaththeearth.

Therecameastunnedsilence,amomentarylullinbattle,aseveryonestoodandwatched.

RafishriekedandturnedandsethissightsonArgon.“ARGON!”Rafishrieked.Thetimehadcomeforthefinalclashofthesetwogreattitans.Rafi ran into theopenclearing,holdinghis red staffhigh, andArgondid

nothesitate,racingouttogreetRafi.The twomet in themiddle,eachwielding theirstaffshighoverhead.Rafi

broughthisstaffdownforArgonandArgonraisedhisandblocked it.Agreatwhitelightarose,likesparks,astheymet.Argonswungback,andRafiblocked.

Backand forth theywent, blow forblow, attacking,blocking,white lightflying everywhere. The ground shook with each of their blows, and Alistaircouldfeelamonumentalenergyintheair.

Finally, Argon found his opening, swinging his staff from underneath,upwards,andashedid,shatteringRafi’sstaff.

Thegroundshookviolently.

Argonsteppedforward,raisedhisstaffhighoverheadwithtwohands,andplungeditstraightdown,rightthroughRafi’schest.

Rafiletoutanawfulshriek,thousandsofsmallbatsflyingoutofhismouthashis jawremainedwideopen.Theskies turnedblackforamoment,as thickblack clouds gathered from the heavens, right over Rafi’s head, and swirleddowntoearth.Theyswallowedhimwhole,andRafihowledashespunthroughthe air, yanked upwards, into the skies, heading up to some awful fate thatAlistairdidnotwanttoimagine.

Argonstoodthere,breathinghard,asallfinallyfellsilent,Rafidead.Thearmyofundeadshrieked,asoneatatime,theyalldisintegratedbefore

Argon’s eyes, each falling into a mound of ashes. Soon the battlefield waslitteredwiththousandsofmounds,allthatremainedofRafi’sevilspells.

Alistair surveyed thebattlefield and saw therewasonlyonebattle left towage:acrosstheclearing,herbrother,Thorgrin,wasalreadyfacingoffwiththeirfather,Andronicus.Sheknewthatinthebattletocome,oneofthesedeterminedmenwouldlosetheirlives:herbrotherorherfather.Sheprayedthatitwasherbrotherwhocameoutalive.

CHAPTERFIVE

LuandalayonthegroundatRomulus’feet,watchinginhorrorasthousandsofEmpiresoldiers flooded thebridge, screamingwith triumphas theycrossedinto the Ring. They were invading her homeland, and there was nothing shecoulddobutsitthere,helpless,andwatch,andwonderifitwassomehowallherfault. She could not help but feel as if she was somehow responsible for theShield’slowering.

Luandaturnedandlookedoutatthehorizon,sawtheendlessEmpireships,andsheknewthatsoonitwouldbemillionsofEmpiretroopsfloodingin.Herpeoplewerefinished;theRingwasfinished.Itwasallovernow.

Luandaclosedhereyesandshookherhead,againandagain.TherewasatimewhenshehadbeensoangrywithGwendolyn,withherfather,andwouldhavebeengladtowitnessthedestructionoftheRing.Buthermindhadchanged,eversinceAndronicus’betrayalandtreatmentofher,eversincehisshavingherhead,hisbeatingherinfrontofhispeople.Itmadeherrealizehowwrong,hownaïve,shehadbeeninherownquestforpower.Now,shewouldgiveanythingforheroldlifeback.Allshewantednowwasalifeofpeaceandcontentment.She no longer craved ambition or power; now, she just wanted to survive, tomakewrongsright.

But as she watched, Luanda realized it was too late. Now her belovedhomelandwasonitswaytodestruction,andtherewasnothingshecoulddo.

Luandaheardanawfulnoise,laughtermixedwithasnarl,andshelookedupandsawRomulusstanding there,handsonhiships,watching itall,ahugecontendedsmileonhisface,his longjaggedteethshowing.Hethrewbackhisheadandlaughedandlaughed,elated.

Luandayearnedtokillhim;ifshehadadaggerinhand,shewouldrunitthroughhisheart.Butknowinghim,howthickhewasbuilt,howimpervioushewastoeverything,thedaggerprobablywouldn’tevenpierceit.

Romuluslookeddownather,andhissmileturnedtoagrimace.“Now,”hesaid,“it’stimetokillyouslowly.”Luanda heard a distinctive clang and watched Romulus draw a weapon

from hiswaist. It looked like a short sword, except tapered to a long narrowpoint.Itwasanevilweapon,oneclearlydesignedfortorture.

“Youaregoingtosuffervery,verymuch,”hesaid.As he lowered hisweapon, Luanda raised her hands to her face, as if to

blockitallout.Sheclosedhereyesandshrieked.

Thatwaswhenthestrangestthinghappened:asLuandashrieked,hershriekwasechoedbyanevengreatershriek.Itwastheshriekofananimal.Amonster.Aprimordialroar,onelouderandmoreresonantthananythingshe’deverheardinherlife.Itwaslikethunder,tearingtheskiesapart.

Luandaopenedhereyesandlookeduptotheheavens,wonderingifshehadimaginedit.ItsoundedasifithadbeentheshriekofGodhimself.

Romulus,alsostunned, lookedupto theskies,baffled.Byhisexpression,Luandacouldtellthatithadreallyhappened;shehadnotimaginedit.

Itcameagain,asecondshriek,evenworsethanthefirst,withsuchferocity,suchpower,Luandarealizeditcouldonlybeonething:

Adragon.Astheskiesparted,Luandawasawe-strucktowatchtwoimmensedragons

soaroverhead,thelargestandscariestcreaturesshehadeverseen,blottingoutthesun,turningdaytonightastheycastashadowoverallofthem.

Romulus’weapon fell from his hands, hismouth open in shock.Clearly,he’d never witnessed anything quite like this, either, especially as the twodragonsflewsolowtotheground,barelytwentyfeetabovetheirheads,nearlygrazing theirheads.Theirgreat talentshungbelow them,andas theyshriekedagain,theyarchedtheirbacksandspreadopentheirwings.

At first, Luanda braced herself, as she assumed theywere coming to killher.Butasshewatchedthemfly,sofastoverhead,asshefeltthewindtheyleftknockherover,sherealizedtheyweregoingelsewhere:over theCanyon.IntotheRing.

ThedragonsmusthaveseenthesoldierscrossingintotheRingandrealizedtheShieldwasdown.TheymusthaverealizedthatthiswastheirchancetoentertheRing,too.

Luanda watched, riveted, as one dragon suddenly opened its mouth,swoopeddown,andbreathedastreamoffireontothemenonthebridge.

ScreamsofthousandsofEmpiresoldiersarose,shriekingtotheheavensasagreatwalloffireengulfedthem.

The dragons continued flying, breathing fire as they crossed the bridge,burning all ofRomulus’men.Then they continued to fly, into theRing itself,continuing to breathe fire and to destroy every Empire man who’d entered,sendingwaveafterwaveofdestruction.

Withinmoments, therewerenoEmpiremen left on thebridge,oron themainlandoftheRing.

TheEmpiremenwhowereheadingforthebridge,whowereabouttocross,stopped in their tracks. They dared not enter. Instead, they turned and fled,runningbacktotheships.

Romulusturnedtowatchhismenleave,irate.Luandasat there,stunned,andrealizedthiswasherchance.Romuluswas

distracted,asheturnedandchasedafterhismenandtriedtogetthemtoheadforthebridge.Thiswashermoment.

Luandajumpedtoherfeet,herheartpounding,andturnedandracedbackfor the bridge. She knew she had only a few precious moments; if she werelucky,maybe,justmaybe,shecouldrunlongenough,beforeRomulusnoticed,and make the other side. And if she could make the other side, maybe herreachingthemainlandwouldhelprestoretheShield.

Shehadtotry,andsheknewitwasnowornever.Luanda ran and ran, breathing so hard she could hardly think, her legs

shaking. She stumbled on her feet, her legs heavy, her throat dry, flailing herarmsasshewent,thecoldwindgrazingherbaldhead.

Sheranfasterandfaster,herheartpounding inherears, thesoundofherownbreathingfillingherworld,asallbecameanarrowblur.Shemadeitagoodfiftyyardsacrossthebridgebeforesheheardthefirstscream.

Romulus.Clearly,hehadspottedher.Behindhertheresuddenlycamethesoundofmenchargingonhorseback,

crossingthebridge,comingafterher.Luandasprinted,increasingherpace,asshefeltthemenbearingdownher.

SheranpastallthecorpsesoftheEmpiremen,burntbythedragons,somestillflaming,doingherbesttoavoidthem.Behindher,thehorsesgrewevenlouder.Sheglancedbackoverhershoulder,sawtheirspearsraisedhighandknewthatthis timeRomulus aimed to have her killed. She knew that, in justmoments,thosespearswouldbethrustintoherback.

LuandalookedforwardandsawtheRing,themainland,justfeetinfrontofher. If only she couldmake it. Just tenmore feet. If she could just cross theborder,maybe,justmaybe,theShieldwouldgobackupandsaveher.

Themenboredownonherasshetookherfinalsteps.Thesoundofhorseswasdeafeninginherears,andshesmelledthesweatofhorsesandofmen.Shebraced herself, expecting a spear point to puncture her back at any moment.Theywerejustfeetaway.Butsowasshe.

Inonefinalactofdesperation,Luandadove,justasshesawasoldierraisehishandwithaspearbehindher.Shehit thegroundwitha tumble.Outof thecornerofhereyeshesawthespearsailingthroughtheair,headingrightforher.

YetassoonasLuandacrossedtheline,landedonthemainlandoftheRing,suddenly,behindher, theShieldwasactivatedagain.Thespear, inchesbehindher, disintegrated in mid-air. And behind it, all the soldiers on the bridgeshrieked, raising their hands to their faces, as they all went up in flames,

disintegrating.Inmoments,theywerealljustpilesofashes.On the far sideof thebridgeRomulusstood,watching it all.Heshrieked

and beat his chest. It was a cry of agony. A cry of someone who had beendefeated.Outwitted.

Luandalaythere,breathinghard,inshock.Sheleaneddownandkissedthesoilsheleanedon.Thenshethrewherheadbackandlaughedindelight.

Shehadmadeit.Shewassafe.

CHAPTERSIX

Thorgrinstoodintheopenclearing,facingAndronicus,surroundedbybotharmies. They stood at a standstill, watching as father and son faced off onceagain.Andronicus stood there in all his glory, towering overThor,wielding ahugeaxe inonehandanda sword in theother.AsThor facedhim,he forcedhimself tobreatheslowanddeep, tocontrolhisemotions.Thorhad to remainclear-minded,tofocusashefoughtthisman,thesamewayhewouldanyotherenemy.Hehadtotellhimselfthathewasnotfacinghisfather,buthisworstfoe.ThemanwhohadhurtGwendolyn;themanwhohadhurtallofhiscountrymen;themanwhohadbrainwashedhim.Themanwhodeservedtodie.

With Rafi dead, Argon back in control, all the undead creatures backbeneath the earth, there was no more delaying this final confrontation,Andronicus’facingoffwithThorgrin.Itwasthebattle thatmustdeterminethefateofthewar.Thorwouldnotlethimgetaway,notthistime,andAndronicus,corneredin,finallyseemedwillingtofaceoffwithhisson.

“Thornicus,youaremyson,”Andronicussaid,hislowvoicereverberating.“Idonotwishtoharmyou.”

“ButIwishtoharmyou,”Thorreplied,refusingtogiveintoAndronicus’mindgames.

“Thornicus,myson,”Andronicusrepeated,asThortookawarystepcloser,“Idonotwishtokillyou.Laydownyourweaponsandjoinme.Joinmeasyouhadbefore.Youaremyson.Youarenottheirson.Youcarrymybloodline;youdonotcarrytheirs.Myhomelandisyourhomeland;theRingisbutanadoptedplace for you. You aremy people. These peoplemean nothing to you. Comehome.ComebacktotheEmpire.Allowmetobethefatheryoualwayswanted.AndbecomethesonIalwayswantedyoutobe.

“Iwillnotfightyou,”Andronicussaidfinally,asheloweredhisaxe.Thorhadheardenough.Hehadtomakeamovenow,beforeheallowedhis

mindtobeswayedbythismonster.Thorletoutabattlecry,raisedswordhighandchargedforward,bringingit

downwithbothhandsforAndronicus’head.Andronicus stared back in surprise, then at the last second, he reached

down,grabbedhisaxefromtheground,raiseditandblockedThor’sblow.SparksflewoffofThor’sswordasthetwoofthemlockedweapons,inches

away,eachgroaning,asAndronicusheldbackThor’sblow.“Thornicus,” Andronicus grunted, “your strength is great. But it is my

strength.Igaveyouthis.Mybloodrunsinyourveins.Stopthismadness,andjoinme!”

AndronicuspushedThorback,andThorstumbledbackwards.“Never!”Thor screamed, defiant. “Iwill never return to you.You are no

fathertome.Youareastranger.Youdon’tdeservetobemyfather!”Thorchargedagain, screaming, andbroughthis sworddown.Andronicus

blocked it, and Thor, expecting it, quickly spun around with his sword andslashedAndronicus’arm.

Andronicuscriedoutasbloodsquirtedfromhiswound.HestumbledbackandlookedThoroverwithdisbelief,reachingoverandtouchinghiswound,thenexaminingthebloodonhishand.

“Youmean tokillme,”Andronicus said, as if realizing for the first time.“AfterallI’vedoneforyou.”

“Imostcertainlydo,”Thorgrinsaid.Andronicus studied him, as if studying a new person, and soon his look

changedfromoneofwonderanddisappointment,tooneofanger.“Thenyouarenosonofmine!”hescreamed.“TheGreatAndronicusdoes

notasktwice!”Andronicusthrewdownhissword,raisedhisbattleaxewithbothhands,let

outagreatcryandchargedforThor.Finally,thebattlehadbegun.Thorraisedhisswordtoblocktheblow,butitcamedownwithsuchforce

that,toThor’sshock,itshatteredThor’ssword,breakingitintwo.Thorquicklyimprovised,dodgingoutofthewayastheblowcontinuedto

comedown; it justgrazedhim,missingbyan inch, soclosehecould feel thewind brush his shoulder.His father had tremendous strength, greater than anywarriorhe’deverfaced,andThorknewthiswouldnotbeeasy.Hisfatherwasfast,too—adeadlycombination.AndnowThorhadnoweapon.

Andronicus swung around again without hesitating, swinging sideways,aimingtochopThorinhalf.

Thorleaptintotheair,highoverAndronicushishead,doingasomersault,using his inner powers to propel him, to bring him high in the air and landbehind Andronicus. He landed on his feet, reached down and grabbed hisfather’s sword from the ground, spun around and charged, swinging forAndronicus’back.

But toThor’ssurprise,Andronicuswassofast,hewasprepared.Hespunaround and blocked the blow. Thor felt the impact of metal hitting metalreverberate throughout his body. Andronicus’ sword, at least, held; it wasstronger than his. It was strange, to hold his father’s sword—especiallywhenfacinghisfather.

Thor swung around, and came down sideways for Andronicus’ shoulder.Andronicusblocked,andcamedownforThor’s.

Backandforththeywent,attackingandblocking,ThordrivingAndronicusback, and Andronicus, in turn, pushing Thor back. Sparks flew, the weaponsmovingsofast,gleaminginthelight, theirgreatclangsrivetingthebattlefield,the twoarmieswatching, transfixed.The twogreatwarriorspushedeachotherbackandforthacrosstheopenclearing,neithergaininganinch.

Thor raised his sword to strike again, but this timeAndronicus surprisedhim by stepping forward and kicking him in the chest. Thor went flyingbackwards,landingonhisback.

Andronicus rushed forwardandbroughtdownhis axe.Thor rolledoutofthe way, but not quickly enough: it sliced Thor’s bicep, just enough to drawblood.Thorcriedout,butnonetheless,swungaround,andswunghisswordandslicedAndronicus’calf.

Andronicusstumbledandcriedout,andThorrolledbacktohisfeet,asthetwofacedeachother,eachwounded.

“I’mstrongerthanyou,son,”Andronicussaid.“Andmoreexperiencedinbattle.Giveinnow.YourDruidpowerswillnotworkagainstme.It is justmeagainst you,man toman, sword to sword.And as awarrior, I ambetter.Youknowthis.Yieldtome,andIshallnotkillyou.”

Thorscowled.“Iyieldtonoone!Leastofallyou!”ThorforcedhimselftothinkofGwendolyn,ofwhatAndronicushaddone

toher,andhisrageintensified.Nowwasthetime.ThorwasdeterminedtofinishAndronicusoff,onceandforall,tosendthisawfulcreaturebacktohell.

Thorchargedwithafinalburstofstrength,givingitallhehad,lettingoutagreatcry.Hebroughthissworddownleftandright,swingingsofasthecouldbarelycontain it,Andronicusblockingeachone, evenashewaspushedback,stepbystep.Thefightingwentonandon,andAndronicusseemedsurprisedthathissoncouldexhibitsuchstrength,andforsolong.

Thor foundhismomentofopportunitywhen, for amoment,Andronicus’armsgrew tired.Thor swung forhisaxeheadandconnected, andmanaged toknockthebladefromAndronicus’hands.Andronicuswatcheditflythroughtheair,shocked,andThorthenkickedhisfatherinthechest,knockinghimdown,flatonhisback.

Beforehecouldrise,Thorsteppedforwardandplacedafootonhisthroat.Thorhadhimpinned,andhestoodthere,lookingdownathim.

TheentirebattlefieldwasrivetedasThorstoodoverhim,holdingthetipofhisswordtohisfather’sthroat.

Andronicus,bloodseepingfromhismouth,smiledbetweenhisfangs.“Youcannotdo it,son,”hesaid.“That isyourgreatweakness.Your love

forme.Just likemyweakness foryou. Icouldneverbringmyself tokillyou.Notnow,not your entire life.This entire battle is futility.Youwill letmego.BecauseyouandIareone.”

Thorstoodoverhim,handsshakingasheheldtheswordtipathisfather’sthroat.Slowly,heraisedit.Apartofhimfelthisfather’swordstobetrue.Howcouldhebringhimselftokillhisfather?

Butashestareddown,heconsideredallthepain,allthedamage,hisfatherhad inflicted on everyone around him.He considered the price of letting himlive. The price of compassion. It was too great a price to pay, not just forThorgrin,butforeveryonehelovedandcaredabout.Thorglancedbehindhimand saw the tens of thousands of Empire soldiers whom had invaded hishomeland, standing there, ready to attack his people. And thismanwas theirleader. Thor owed it to his homeland. To Gwendolyn. And most of all, tohimself.Thismanmightbehisfatherbyblood,butthatwasall.Hewasnothisfatherinanyothersenseoftheword.Andbloodalonedidnotmakeafather.

Thorraisedhisswordhigh,andwithagreatcry,heswungitdown.Thorclosedhiseyes,andopenedthemtoseethesword,embeddedinthe

soil,rightbesideAndronicus’head.Thorleftitthereandsteppedback.Hisfatherhadbeenright:hehadbeenunabletodoit.Despiteeverything,

hejustcouldnotbringhimselftokilladefenselessman.Thor turned his back on his father, facing his own people, facing

Gwendolyn. Clearly he had won the battle; he had made his point. Now,Andronicus,ifhehadanyhonor,wouldhavenochoicebuttoreturnhome.

“THORGRIN!”Gwendolynscreamed.Thorturnedtosee,withshock,Andronicus’saxeswingingathim,coming

rightforhishead.Thorduckedatthelastsecond,andtheaxeflewby.Andronicuswasfast,though,andinthesamemotionheswungbackaround

withhisgauntletandbackhandedThoracrossthejaw,knockinghimdowntohishandsandknees.

Thorfeltanawfulcrackinginhisribs,asAndronicus’bootkickedhiminthestomach,sendinghimrolling,gaspingforair.

Thor layonhishandsandknees,breathinghard,blooddripping fromhismouth,his ribskillinghim, trying tomuster the strength togetup.Outof thecornerofhiseyehewatchedAndronicusstepforward,smilewide,andraisehisaxehighwithbothhands.Hewas aiming,Thor could see, to chopoffThor’shead. Thor could see it in his bloodshot eyes thatAndronicuswould have nomercy,asThorhadhad.

“ThisiswhatIshouldhavedonethirtyyearsago,”Andronicussaid.Andronicus letoutagreatscream,ashebroughthisaxedownforThor’s

exposedneck.Thor,though,wasnotdonefighting;hemanagedonelastburstofenergy,

anddespiteallhispain,hescrambledtohisfeetandchargedhisfather,tacklinghimaroundtheribs,drivinghimbackwards,ontotheground,onhisback.

Thorlayontopofhim,wrestlinghimdown,preparingtofighthimwithhisbare hands. It had become a wrestling match. Andronicus reached up andgrabbedThor’s throat, andThorwas surprisedbyhis strength; he felt himselflosingairquicklyashewaschoked.

Thor grasped at his waist, desperate, searching for his dagger. The royaldagger,theoneKingMacGilhadgivenhim,beforehedied.Thorwaslosingairfast,andheknewifhedidn’tfinditsoon,he’dbedead.

Thor found itwithhis lastbreath.He raised ithigh,andplunged itdownwithbothhands,intoAndronicus’chest.

Andronicusshotup,gaspingforair,eyesbulginginadeathstare,ashesatupandcontinuedtochokehisson.

Thor,outofbreath,wasseeingstars,goinglimp.Finally,slowly,Andronicus’gripreleased,ashisarmsfell tohisside.His

eyesrolledsideways,andhestoppedmoving.Helaytherefrozen.Dead.Thorgaspedashepriedhisfather’slimphandfromhisthroat,heavingand

coughing,rollingoffhisfather’sdeadbody.His entire body was shaking. He had just killed his father. He had not

thoughtitwaspossible.Thorglancedaroundandsawallthewarriors,botharmies,staringathimin

shock.Thorfeltatremendousheatcoursethroughhisbody,asifsomeprofoundshifthadjustoccurredwithinhim,asifhehadwipedsomeevilpartofhimself.Hefeltchanged,lighter.

Thorheardagreatnoiseinthesky,likethunder,andhelookedupandsawasmallblackcloudappearoverAndronicus’corpse,andafunnelofsmallblackshadows,likedemons,whirldowntotheground.Theyswirledaroundhisfather,encompassing him, howling, then lifted his body high into the air, higher andhigher,untilitdisappearedintothecloud.Thorwatched,inshock,andwonderedtowhathellhisfather’ssoulwouldbedragged.

Thor looked up, and saw the Empire army facing him, tens and tens ofthousandsofmen,vengeanceintheireyes.TheGreatAndronicuswasdead.Yetstill,hismenremained.ThorandthemenoftheRingwerestilloutnumberedahundredtoone.Theyhadwonthebattle,buttheywereabouttolosethewar.

Erec andKendrick and Srog andBronsonwalked to Thor’s side, swordsdrawn,as theyall faced theEmpire together.Horns soundedupanddown theEmpireline,andThorpreparedtofacebattleonelasttime.Heknewtheycouldnotwin.Butatleasttheywouldallgodowntogether,inonegreatclashofglory.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Reece marched beside Selese, Illepra, Elden, Indra, O’Connor, Conven,Krog andSerna, the nine of themmarchingwest, as they hadbeen for hours,eversinceemergingfromtheCanyon.Somewhere,Reeceknew,hispeoplewereonthehorizon,and,deadoralive,hewasdeterminedtofindthem.

Reece had been shocked as they had passed through a landscape ofdestruction,endlessfieldsofcorpses,litteredbyfeastingbirds,charredfromthebreathofdragons.ThousandsofEmpirecorpseslinedthehorizon,someofthemstillsmoking.Thesmokefromtheirbodiesfilledtheair, theunbearablestenchofburningfleshpermeatingalanddestroyed.Whomeverhadnotbeenkilledbythe dragon’s breath had been marred in the conventional battle against theEmpire,MacGilsandMcCloudslyingdead,too,entiretownsdestroyed,pilesofrubble everywhere. Reece shook his head: this land, that had once been soabundant,wasnowravagedbywar.

Ever since arising from the Canyon, Reece and the others had beendeterminedtomakeithome,togetbacktotheMacGilsideoftheRing.Unabletofindhorses,theyhadmarchedallthewaythroughtheMcCloudside,upoverthe Highlands, down the other side, and now, finally, they marched throughMacGilterritory,passingnothingbutruinanddevastation.Fromthelooksoftheland,thedragonshadhelpdestroyedtheEmpiretroops,andforthat,Reecewasgrateful.ButReecestilldidnotknowwhatstatehemightfindhisownpeoplein.WaseveryonedeadintheRing?Thusfar,itseemedso.Reecewasachingtofindoutifeveryonewasokay.

Eachtimetheyreachedabattlefieldofdeadandinjured,theonesnotsearedby thedragons’ flames, IllepraandSelesewent fromcorpse tocorpse, turningthemover,checking.NotonlyweretheydrivenbytheirprofessionsbutIllepraalsohadanothergoal inmind: to findReece’sbrother.Godfrey. Itwas agoalReeceshared.

“He’snothere,” Illepraannouncedyet again, as she finally stood,havingturnedoverthelastcorpseofthisfield,disappointmentetchedacrossherface.

Reece could tell how much Illepra cared for his brother, and he wastouched.Reece,too,hopedthathewasokayandamongtheliving—butfromthelooksofthesethousandsofcorpses,hehadasinkingfeelinghewasnot.

Theymovedon,marchedover yet another rolling field, another series ofhills,andastheydid,theyspottedanotherbattlefieldonthehorizon,thousandsmorecorpseslaidout.Theyheadedforit.

Astheywalked,Illepracriedquietly.Seleselaidahandonherwrist.“He’salive,”Selesereassured.“Donotworry.”Reece stepped up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, feeling

compassionforher.“Ifit’sonethingIknowaboutmybrother,”Reecesaid,“he’sasurvivor.He

findsawayoutofeverything.Evendeath.Ipromiseyou.Godfreyismorelikelyalreadyinatavernsomewhere,gettingdrunk.”

Illepralaughedthroughhertears,andwipedthemaway.“Ihopeso,”shesaid.“Forthefirsttime,Ireallyhopeso.”They continued their sombermarch, silently through thewasteland, each

lostintheirownthoughts.ImagesoftheCanyonflashedthroughReece’smind;hecouldnotsuppressthem.Hethoughtbacktohowdesperatetheirsituationhadbeen, andwas filledwith gratitude to Selese; if she hadn’t appearedwhen hehad,theywouldstillbedownthere,surelyalldead.

Reece reached over and took Selese’s hand and smiled as the two heldhandsastheywalked.Reecewastouchedbyherloveanddevotionforhim,byher willingness to cross the entire countryside just to save him. He felt anoverwhelming rush of love for her, and he could not wait until they had amomentalonesohecouldexpressittoher.Hehadalreadydecidedhewantedtobewith her forever.He felt a loyalty to her unlike he had ever felt to anyoneelse,andassoonastheyhadamoment,hevowedtoproposetoher.Hewouldgiveherhismother’sRing, theonehismotherhadgiventohimtogivetotheloveofhislife,whenhefoundher.

“Ican’tbelieveyoucrossedtheRingjustforme,”Reecesaidtoher.Shesmiled.“Itwasn’tthatfar,”shesaid.“Not far?”he asked. “Youputyour life indanger to cross awar-ravaged

country.Ioweyou.BeyondwhatIcouldsay.”“Youowemenothing.Iamjustgladyou’realive.”“Wealloweyou,”Eldenchimedin.“Yousavedallofus.Wewouldallbe

stuckdownthereinthebowelsoftheCanyon,forever.”“Speakingofdebts, Ihaveone todiscusswithyou,”Krogsaid toReece,

comingupbesidehimwithalimp.SinceIlleprahadsplintedhislegatthetopoftheCanyon,Kroghadatleastbeenabletowalkonhisown,ifstiffly.

“Yousavedmedownthere,andmorethanonce,”Krogcontinued.“Itwaspretty stupidofyou, ifyouaskme.Butyoudid it anyway.Don’t think Ioweyou,though.”

Reece shook his head, caught off guard by Krog’s gruffness and hisawkwardattempttothankhim.

“Idon’tknowifyouaretryingtoinsultme,ortryingtothankme,”Reecesaid.

“Ihavemyownway,”Krogsaid.“Iamgoingtowatchyourbackfromnowon.NotbecauseIlikeyou,butbecausethat’swhatIfeelcalledtodo.”

Reeceshookhishead,baffledasalwaysbyKrog.“Don’tworry,”Reecesaid.“Idon’tlikeyoueither.”Theyallcontinuedtheirmarch,allofthemrelaxed,happytobealive,tobe

above ground, to be back on this side of the Ring—all except Conven, whowalked quietly, apart from the others, withdrawn into himself as he had beeneversincethedeathofhistwinintheEmpire.Nothing,notevenanescapefromdeath,seemedtoshakehimfromit.

Reece thought back and recalled how, down there, Conven had thrownhimselfrecklesslyintodanger,timeandagain,nearlykillinghimselftosavetheothers.Reece couldnot help butwonder if it camemore froma desire to killhimselfthantohelptheothers.Heworriedabouthim.Reecedidnotliketoseehimsoalienated,solostindepression.

Reecewalkedupbesidehim.“Youfoughtbrilliantlybackthere,”Reecesaidtohim.Convenjustshruggedandlookeddowntotheground.Reece wracked his brain for something to say, as they marched on in

silence.“Areyouhappytobehome?”Reeceasked.“Tobefree?”Conventurnedandstaredathimblankly.“I’mnothome.AndI’mnotfree.Mybrotherisdead.AndIhavenoright

tolivewithouthim.”Reece feltachill run throughhimathiswords.Clearly,Convenwasstill

overwhelmedwithgrief;heworeitlikeabadgeofhonor.Convenwasmorelikethe walking dead, his eyes blank. Reece recalled them once filled with joy.Reececouldseethathismourningwasdeep,andhehadthesinkingfeelingthatitmightnoteverliftfromhim.ReecewonderedwhatwouldbecomeofConven.Forthefirsttime,hedidnotthinkanythinggood.

Theymarchedandmarched,andhourspassed,andtheyreachedyetanotherbattlefield,shoulder toshoulderwithcorpses.IllepraandSeleseandtheothersfannedout,goingcorpse tocorpse, turning themover, looking foranysignofGodfrey.

“I see a lot moreMacGils on this field,” Illepra said hopefully, “and nodragon’sbreath.MaybeGodfreyishere.”

Reece lookedupandsawthe thousandsofcorpsesandwondered,even ifhewashere,iftheycouldeverfindhim.

Reecespreadoutandwentcorpsetocorpse,asdidtheothers,turningeachover.Hesawall the facesofhispeople, face to face, somehe recognizedandsomehedidn’t,peoplehehadknownandfoughtwith,peoplewhohadfoughtfor his father. Reece marveled at the devastation that had descended on hishomeland, like aplague, andhe earnestlyhoped that itwas all finallypassed.He’dseenhisfillofbattlesandwarsandcorpsestolastalifetime.Hewasreadytosettledownintoalifeofpeace,toheal,torebuildagain.

“HERE!”shoutedIndra,hervoicefilledwithexcitement.Shestoodoverabodyandstareddown.

Illepraturnedandcamerunningover,andallofthemgatheredaround.Shekneltbesidethebody,andtearsfloodedherface.Reecekneltdownbesideherandgaspedtoseehisbrother.

Godfrey.His big belly sticking out, unshaven, his eyes closed, too pale, his hands

bluewithcold,helookeddead.Illepraleanedoverandshookhim,againandagain;hedidnotrespond.“Godfrey!Please!Wakeup!It’sme!Illepra!GODFREY!”She shookhimagain and again, but hedidnot rouse.Finally, frantically,

sheturnedtotheothers,scanningtheirbelts.“Yourwinesack!”shedemandedtoO’Connor.O’Connor fumbled at his waist and hastily removed it and handed it to

Illepra.ShetookitandhelditoverGodfrey’sfaceandsquirteditonhislips.She

liftedhishead,openedhismouth,andsquirtedsomeonhistongue.Therecameasuddenresponse,asGodfreylickedhislips,andswallowed.Hecoughed,thensatup,grabbedthesack,eyesstillclosed,andsquirtedit,

drinkingmoreandmore,untilhesatallthewayup.Heslowlyopenedhiseyesandwipedhismouthwiththebackofhishand.Helookedaround,confusedanddisoriented,andbelched.

Illepracriedoutwithjoy,leaningoverandgivinghimabighug.“Yousurvived!”sheexclaimed.Reece sighedwith relief ashisbrother lookedaround, confused,butvery

muchalive.EldenandSernaeachgrabbedGodfreyundertheshoulderandhoistedhim

tohisfeet.Godfreystoodthere,wobblyatfirst,andhetookanotherlongdrinkfromthesackandwipedhismouthwiththebackofhishand.

Godfreylookedaround,bleary-eyed.“WhereamI?”heasked.Hereachedupandrubbedhishead,whichhada

largewelt,andhiseyessquintedinpain.

Illeprastudiedthewoundexpertly,runningherhandalongit,andthedriedbloodinhishair.

“You’vereceivedawound,”shesaid.“Butyoucanbeproud:you’realive.You’resafe.”

Godfreywobbled,andtheotherscaughthim.“Itisnotserious,”shesaid,examiningit,“butyouwillneedtorest.”She removed a bandage from herwaist and began towrap it around his

head,againandagain.Godfreywinced,andlookedoverather.Thenhelookedaboutandsurveyedallthecorpses,eyesopeningwide.

“I’malive,”hesaid.“Ican’tbelieveit.”“Youmadeit,”Reecesaid,claspinghisolderbrother’sshoulderhappily.“I

knewyouwould.”Illepraembracedhim,hugginghim,andslowly,hehuggedherback.“Sothisiswhatitfeelsliketobeahero,”Godfreyobserved,andtheothers

laughed.“Givememoredrinklikethis,”headded,“andmaybeI’lldoitmoreoften.”

Godfrey tookanother longswig,and finallyhebegan towalkwith them,leaningonIllepra,oneshoulderaroundher,asshehelpedhimbalance.

“Wherearetheothers?”Godfreyaskedastheywent.“We don’t know,” Reece said. “Somewhere west, I hope. That’s where

we’reheading.WemarchforKing’sCourt.Toseewholives.”Reecegulpedasheutteredthewords.Helookedoffintothehorizon,and

prayed that his countrymen hadmet a similar fate to Godfrey. He thought ofThor,ofhissisterGwendolyn,ofhisbrotherKendrick,ofsomanyothersthatheloved.ButheknewthatthebulkoftheEmpirearmystilllayahead,andjudgingfrom the number of dead and wounded he’d already seen, he had a sinkingfeelingthattheworstwasstilltocome.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Thorgrin,Kendrick,Erec,SrogandBronsonstoodasaunifiedwallagainsttheEmpire army, their peoplebehind them,weaponsdrawn,preparing to facetheonslaughtofEmpire troops.Thorknewthiswouldbehisdeathcharge,hisfinalbattleinlife,yethehadnoregrets.Hewoulddiehere,facingtheenemy,onhisfeet,swordinhand,hisbrothersinarmsathisside,defendinghishomeland.Hewouldbegivenachancetomakeupforwhathehaddone,forfacinghisownpeopleinbattle.Therewasnothingmorehecouldaskforinlife.

ThorthoughtofGwendolyn,andheonlywishedthathehadmoretimeforhersake.HeprayedthatSteffenhadbroughthersafelyoutandthatshewassafebackthere,behindthelines.Hefeltdeterminedtofightwithallhehad,tokillasmanyEmpireashecould,justtopreventthemfromharmingher.

As Thor stood there he could feel his brothers’ solidarity, all of themunafraid, standing there valiantly, holding their ground. These were the finestmenofthekingdom,thefinestknightsoftheSilver,MacGils,Silesians—allofthemunified,noneofthembackingawayinfear,despitetheodds.Allofthemwereprepared togiveup their lives todefend theirhomeland.Theyallvaluedhonorandfreedommorethanlife.

ThorheardEmpirehorns,upanddownthelines,watchedtheirdivisionsofcountlessmen lineup inpreciseunits.Theseweredisciplined soldiershewasfacing,soldierswithmercilesscommanders,whohadfoughttheirwholelives.Itwasawell-oiledmachine,trainedtocarryoninthefaceoftheirleader’sdeath.A new nameless Empire commander stepped up, and led the troops. Therenumberswerevast,endless,andThorknewtherewasnowaytheycoulddefeatthemwithsofewmen.Butthatmatterednotanymore.Itdidnotmatteriftheydied.Allthatmatteredwashowtheydied.Theywoulddieontheirfeet,asmen,inafinalclashofvalor.

“Shallwewait for them to come to us?”Erec asked aloud. “Or shallweofferthemthegreetingoftheMacGils?”

Thorsmiled,alongwiththeothers.Therewasnothinglikeasmallerarmychargingalargerone.Itwasreckless,yetitwasalsotheheightofcourage.

As one, Thor and hismen all suddenly let out a battle cry, and they allcharged.Theyracedonfoot,hurryingtobridgethegapbetweenthetwoarmies,their battle cries filling the air, theirmen following close on their heels. Thorheldhisswordhigh,runningbesidehisbrothers,hisheartthumping,acoldgustofwindbrushinghisface.Thiswaswhatbattlefeltlike.Itremindedhimwhatit

feltliketobealive.Thetwoarmiescharged,racingasfastas theycouldtokilleachother. In

momentstheymetinthemiddle,inatremendousclangofweapons.Thorslashedeverywhichway,hurlinghimselfintothefrontrowofEmpire

soldiers,whowielded longspears,pikes, lances.Thorslashed thefirstpikeheencounteredinhalf,thenstabbedthesoldierthroughthegut.

Thor ducked andweaved asmultiple lances camehisway; he swunghissword, whirling in every direction, slicing all the weapons in half with asplintering noise and kicking and elbowing each soldier out of his way. Hebackhandedseveralmorewithhisgauntlet,kickedanotherinthegroin,elbowedone in the jaw, head-butted another, stabbed another, and spun and slashedanother.Thequarterswereclose,anditwashandtohand,andThorwasaone-manmachine,cuttinghiswaythroughthevastlysuperiorforce.

Allaroundhim,hisbrothersweredoingthesame,fightingwithincrediblespeedandpowerand strengthand spirit, even though theywereoutnumbered,throwingthemselvesintothemuchlargerarmyandcuttingthroughtherowsofEmpiremenwhichseemedtohavenoend.Nonehesitated,andnoneretreated.

AllaroundThor,thousandsofmenmetthousandsofothers,menscreamingand grunting as they fought hand-to-hand in the huge vicious battle, thedetermining battle for the fate of the Ring. And despite the vastly superiorforces,themenoftheRingweregainingmomentum,holdingtheEmpireatbayandevenpushingthemback.

ThorsnatchedaflailfromanEmpiresoldier’shands,kickedhimback,thenswungitaroundandsmashedhiminthesideofthehelmet.Thorthenswungithighoverheadinabroadcircleandknockeddownseveralmore.Hethrewitintothecrowdandtookdownevenmore.

Thorthenraisedhisswordandwentbacktohand-to-handfighting,slashingeverywhichwayuntilhisarmsandshouldersgrewtired.Atonepointhewasatouchtooslow,andasoldiercamedownathimwitharaisedsword;Thorturnedtofacehim,toolate,andbracedhimselffortheblowandinjurytocome.

Thorheardasnarlingnoise,andKrohnwhizzedby,leapingintotheairandlockinghisjawsonthesoldier’sthroat,drivinghimdown,savingThor.

Hoursofclosefightingpassed.WhileThorwasat firstencouragedbyalltheir gains, it soon became apparent that this battle was an act of futility,prolongingtheinevitable.Nomatterhowmanyofthemtheykilled,thehorizoncontinued to be filledwith an endless array ofmen.Andwhile Thor and theothersweregrowingweary,theEmpiremenwerefresh,moreandmorepouringin.

Thor,losingmomentum,notdefendingasquicklyashehadbeen,suddenly

received a sword slash on the shoulder; he cried out in pain, as blood gushedfrom his arm. Thor then received an elbow in the ribs, and a battle axedescendedforhim,whichhejustbarelyblockedwithhisshield.Hehadnearlyraisedtheshieldasecondtoolate.

Thorwaslosingground,andasheglancedaround,hesawthat theothersaroundhimwere,too.Thetidewasbeginningtoturnyetagain;Thor’searswerefilledwiththedeathcriesoftoomanyofhismen,beginningtofall.Afterhoursof fighting, theywere losing.Soon, theywould all be finished.He thought ofGwendolyn,andherefusedtoacceptit.

Thor threw his head back to the heavens, desperately trying to summonwhateverpowershehadleft.ButhisDruidpowerwasnotresponding.Toomuchofit,hesensed,hadbeendrainedfromhistimewithAndronicus,andheneededtimetoheal.HenoticedArgononthebattlefield,notaspowerfulashehadbeeneither,hispowers, too,drained fightingRafi.AndAlistairwasweakened, too,her powers drained reviving Argon. They had no other backup. Just theirstrengthofarms.

Thor threwhis headback to theheavens and let out a great battle cryofdesperation,willingforsomethingtobedifferent,forsomethingtochange.

PleaseGod,heprayed.Ibegofyou.Saveusallonthisday.Iturntoyou.Nottoman,nottomypowers,buttoyou.Givemeasignofyourpower.

Suddenly,toThor’sshock,theairwasfilledwiththenoiseofagreatroar,onesolouditseemedtosplittheveryheavens.

Thor’sheartquickenedasheimmediatelyrecognizedthesound.Helookedatthehorizonandsawburstingoutofthecloudshisoldfriend,Mycoples.Thorwasshocked,elatedtoseethatshewasalive,thatshewasfree,andthatshewasbackhere,intheRing,flyingtowardshim.Itwaslikeapartofhimselfhadbeenrestored.

Even more surprising, beside her saw Thor a second dragon. A maledragon,with ancient, faded red scales, and huge, glowing green eyes, fiercer-lookingeventhanMycoples.Thorwatchedthetwoofthemsoaringthroughtheair,weavinginandout,andthenplungingdown,rightforThor.Herealizedthenthathisprayershadbeenanswered.

Mycoplesraisedherwings,archedbackherneckandshrieked,asdidthedragonbesideher, and the twoof thembreathed awall of fire downonto theEmpirearmy,lightingupthesky.Thecolddaywassuddenlywarm,thenhot,aswallsofflamesrolledandrolledtowardsthem.Thorraisedhisarmstohisface.

Thedragonsattackedfromtheback,sotheflamesdidnotquitereachThor.Still, thewall of firewas close enough thatThor felt itsheat, thehairsonhisforearmsinged.

The shouts of thousandsofmen roseup into the air as theEmpire army,divisionbydivision,wassetonfire,tensofthousandsofsoldiersscreamingfortheir lives. They ran every which way—but there was nowhere to flee. Thedragonsweremerciless.Theywereonarampage,andtheywerefilledwithfury,readytowreakvengeanceontheEmpire.

OnedivisionofEmpireafterthenextstumbledtotheground,dead.TheremainingsoldiersfacingThorturnedinapanicandfled,tryingtoget

away from thedragonscrisscrossing the sky,breathing flameeverywhere.Buttheyonlyrantotheirowndeaths,asthedragonszeroedinonthem,andfinishedthemoffoneatatime.

Soon,Thorfoundhimselffacingnothingbutanemptyfield,blackcloudsofsmoke,thesmellofburningfleshfillingtheair,ofdragon’sbreath,ofsulfur.Asthecloudslifted,theyrevealedacharredwastelandbeforehim,notasingleman left alive, all the grass and treeswithereddown to nothingness but blackandash.TheEmpirearmy,soindomitablejustminutesago,wasnowcompletelygone.

Thorstoodthereinshock,elated.Hewouldlive.Theywouldalllive.TheRingwasfree.Finally,theywerefree.

MycoplesdovedownandsatbeforeThor,loweringherheadandsnorting.Thorsteppedforward,smilingashewent tohisoldfriend,andMycoples

loweredherheadallthewaytotheground,purring.Thorstrokedthescalesonherface,andsheleanedinandrubbedhernoseupanddownhischest,strokingher face against his body. She purred contentedly, and it was clear she wasecstatictoseeThoragain,asecstaticashewastoseeher.

Thor mounted her, and turned, atop Mycoples, and faced his army,thousandsofmenstaringbackinwonderandjoy,asheraisedhissword.

Themen raised their swords and cheered back to him. Finally, the skieswerefilledwiththesoundofvictory.

CHAPTERNINE

Gwendolyn stood there, looking up at Thorgrin, atopMycoples, and herheart soared with relief and pride. She had made her way through the thickcrowdofsoldiers,backtothefrontlines,throwingofftheprotectionofSteffenand theothers.Shehadpushedherwayall theway into theclearing, and shestood before Thor. She burst into tears of joy, as she looked out and saw theEmpiredefeated,allthreatsfinallygone,asshesawThor,herlove,alive,safe.She felt triumphant.She felt as if all thedarknessandgriefof the last severalmonthshadfinallylifted,feltthattheRingwasfinallysafeonceagain.ShefeltoverwhelmedwithjoyandgratitudeasThorspottedherandlookeddownatherwithsuchlove,hiseyesshining.

Gwen prepared to go forth and greet him, when suddenly a noise cutthroughtheairthatmadeherturn.

“BRONSON!”cametheshriek.Gwen and the others turned, and her heart sankwith dread to see aman

emergefromtheashesoftheEmpireside.Themanhadbeenlyingface-downonthe ground, covered with the bodies of Empire soldiers, and he stood andknockedthemoffasherosetohisfullheight.

McCloud.Gwen felt a shudder. McCloud had somehow survived, having been a

coward,takingrefugeunderthebodiesofothers,somehowsurvivingthewallofflames.He stood therewith his disfigured body, his face branded,missing aneye, and now, half-burnt from flames, his clothes still smoldering.Yet hewasalive,swordinhand,glaringrightathisson,Bronson.

Gwen felt a supreme distaste rise up within her. There was a man sheloathedwithevery fiberofherbeing, themanofhernightmares, theonessherelivedeverynight,themanwhohadattackedher.Therewasnothingmoreshehadwishedforallthesedaysthantoseehimdead.

There he stood, at his full height and breadth,whichwas considerable, anightmarecometolife,thesolesurvivoroftheentireconflagration.

“BRONSON!”McCloudshriekedagain,steppingforwardintotheclearing.Bronsonanswered thecall:he stepped forward from theMacGil side,his

ownswordinhand,preparedtogreethisfatherinonelastbattle.Mycoples snarled, arched her neck, and prepared to breathe fire on

McCloud.ButThorplacedahandonher,stoppingher,ashedismountedandclutched

hissword,steppingforward,towardsMcCloud,tofinishhimoff.Bronson stepped forward, to Thor’s side, and laid a hand on Thor’s

shoulder.“Itismybattle,”Bronsonsaid.“Heattackedmywife,”Thorsaid.“Icravevengeance.”“Butheismyfather,”Bronsonreplied.“Surelyyouunderstand.Icraveit

more.”ThorstaredbackatBronson,longandhard,thenfinally,understanding,he

steppedaside.“Bothofyouattack!”McCloudshouted,hisvoice raspy,“I shallkillyou

botheasily!”Bronson turned and faced him, and he rushed forward with a great cry,

raisinghisswordhigh,asMcCloudchargedback.Fatherandsonmetinthemiddleoftheopenfield,andBronsonbroughthis

sworddownwithallhismight.McCloudraisedhisandblockeditwithaclang.Sparksflew,andthefighthadbegun.

Bronson,inarage,swunghisswordaround,slashingagainandagainandagain,drivinghisfatherback,whononethelessblockedeveryblow,andparriedbackwithseveralofhisown.Thetwoofthemdroveeachotherbackandforth,sparksflyingineverydirectionastheepicfightwentonandon,neithergaininganinch,bothoutforblood.Clearly,theenmitybetweenthemrandeep.

Finally, inonequickmove,Bronsongot thebetterofhisfather,knockingtheswordfromhisgraspandsteppingforwardandbuttinghiminthenosewiththehiltofhissword,breakingit.

McCl