The change came so quietly, Jenn almost missed it, but after a few minutes she could hear a distinct alteration in the pitch of camp noise. Not bothering with a cloak, she pushed the tent door open in time to glimpse a group of men in front of Robert’s pavilion. Robert was issuing orders with rapid clarity. A horse was brought to him, and then her view was blocked by the Bishop striding towards her, his expression grim and determined.
‘Get back inside first.’ McCauly gently but firmly propelled her backwards, dropping the flap behind him. ‘I’ll tell you on the condition that you make no attempt to leave here.’
‘Why? What is it?’
‘Micah’s been abducted. Some hours before dawn. He was with the Malachi prisoner, and she’s gone too. Three perimeter guards are dead – and two Salti – but there are no visible wounds.’
‘Malachi?’
‘Robert’s sure of it.’
Jenn opened her mouth to ask, but the answer was written all over McCauly’s face. ‘Robert’s going, isn’t he? Alone. Nash has Micah and Robert’s going out there on his own.’
Before McCauly could utter a reply, a single horse galloped past the tent. Jenn didn’t need her Senses to know who was on it. Unthinking, she took a step towards the door. McCauly caught her arm.
‘No. You’re to stay here.’
‘But I can’t.’
The door opened and Finnlay stood there, his eyes dark. ‘Robert’s orders are explicit, Jenn. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave here.’
Jenn shook her head wildly. The longer it took her to get out, the worse it would be. ‘You’ve got it wrong. Robert has it wrong.’
‘You can’t stop it, Jenn.’
‘But I must! You don’t understand.’ Jenn gulped in a breath but it did no good. Her heart was racing and only leaving here would change anything. ‘If I don’t go, they’ll kill each other!’
As though she’d slapped him, Finnlay took a step backwards, his face suddenly wiped of expression. He gazed at her with new eyes. ‘So – Robert was right after all. Well, I don’t care what you say, Jenn. Whether you deserve it or not, my brother loves you more than his own life, and you’re going to stay here if I have to knock you out with my bare hands!’
Frantic now, she grabbed Finnlay’s jacket. ‘I know how the prophecy ends – but it’s not supposed to end this way!’
‘And that’s why you’re staying here.’ Finnlay replied darkly. ‘I don’t care what you say. I gave Robert my word.’
‘But they can’t face each other yet. If they do … don’t you see? Nash won’t need to kill Robert because the demon will! You must let me go.’
Finnlay took her fingers from his jacket and stepped back, covering the door. ‘You’re not going anywhere.’
*
He rode as hard as he could, but, too soon, the forest closed in around him and he had to slow down. As though a strong silk thread rested in his hand he kept track of the Malachi touch, sharp and venomous, so clear he could almost taste it. Dawn enveloped the forest gradually, dusting the treetops with gold, glades with shafts of misty white. In any shadow, behind any tree, they could be waiting, hiding, drawing him further in, poised with expectation and bloodlust. He could feel it.
The ground dropped before him in a gentle decline, following the roll of the hills. He stopped and immediately the sense of urgency left him, vanishing into the folds of brush and new-grown moss. Tentatively, he reached out with his Senses, felt the trees around him, the movement, the air, the noises.
As though obeying some tacit order, the forest fell silent, piece by piece, until only the breathing of his horse broke the stillness.
This was the place.
He slid down, minding his injuries, and let the animal go. It wandered on its own, oblivious, pulling at stray stalks of grass pushing through the leaf-covered floor.
Robert moved forward cautiously, following the slope, touching trees as he passed, listening, almost sniffing the air. The tranquillity was unnatural, but he was attracted by it as much as repelled, inexorably drawn further down towards the bottom. A small clearing in the trees above filled the copse with a veil of light even his sight could not penetrate. He came to a halt while still in the shadows.
‘Micah?’
His voice echoed around the wood and was then swallowed by it.
So this is where it would be. The answer. The end. The silence washed across the demon, chafing every surface of it awake. It sat around the edges of his eyes. Waiting.
‘Micah?’
‘He can hear you, but he cannot respond.’
Robert turned swiftly, his senses shrieking warning of Malachi blood approaching. At first, the figure seemed a part of the sunlight, pale and insubstantial. Then it moved closer, stopping yards before him.
‘Who are you?’ Robert said, still scanning the forest with his Senses.
‘I am the Baron Luc DeMassey, Malachi and Master of the Darriet D’Azzir. Who are you?’
‘We require no introduction. I didn’t come here to fight you.’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘Where’s Nash?’
DeMassey smiled. ‘Oh, he’s around somewhere. I’d have thought you’d be more interested in discovering the whereabouts of your friend.’
‘I doubt you’d tell me.’
‘Most certainly I would. He’s right there, in front of you. Of course, you’ll have to move a little to see him.’
Robert went to take a step, but DeMassey held up his hand. ‘The question is, will I let you?’
Moments before it came, Robert sensed the build-up of power emanating from the Malachi. On instinct, he raised his hand, deflecting the blast harmlessly into the ground, but the effort left him pale.
In the ensuing silence, an echo of laughter reached him, surrounding and vanishing too quickly for him to pinpoint.
DeMassey was no longer smiling. For the first time, Robert turned his full attention on this man. It seemed this was some kind of test.
‘Darriet D’Azzir?’ Robert murmured, deliberately curious. ‘Supposed to be combat masters. Your sole purpose is to seek out Salti and kill them.’
‘That’s right.’
‘How pathetic.’ Robert laughed a little, mirroring the Malachi’s arrogance enough to irritate him. ‘I’ve often wondered if the D’Azzir had anything interesting to say, but those I’ve met never lived long enough to talk.’
DeMassey sprang forward, his sword appearing out of nowhere, blazing power crackling to its point. Robert had no time to draw his own. He ducked behind the nearest tree, then sprang back as the sword slashed through the trunk. He spun around behind DeMassey and ran into the clearing. The tree crashed down and the ground shuddered under his feet. DeMassey roared and raced after him. Before Robert could get too far, DeMassey was on him. He drew his sword just in time to parry the next blow. The power seared his hands and face. He couldn’t hold it for long. With a grunt, Robert twisted, spun his sword around the hilt of DeMassey’s and flicked it away. DeMassey would have gone after it, but Robert’s blade stopped an inch from the Malachi’s throat.
‘Step back.’
‘Why don’t you just do it. Kill another D’Azzir.’
‘I told you,’ Robert said, ‘I didn’t come here to fight you.’ No, not this man. Save the effort.
DeMassey glowered, but moved back, keeping clear of his now-cold sword. Satisfied for the moment, Robert lowered his blade and turned back to the centre of the clearing. The Malachi hadn’t lied. There was something there. Solid. A figure, lying on the leafy floor.
Quickly now, Robert dashed forward and landed on his knees beside Micah. Blood caked around a shallow wound to his shoulder. His feet were tied, his hands bound behind his back. There was even a gag on his mouth.
‘Micah?’ Heart beating so loud he could hardly breathe, Robert reached out, already feeding Micah the power to ease his pain, help him wake. Micah opened his eyes, met Robert’s gaze with an unspoken apology. Robert smiled gently. ‘Don’t worry, my friend. It’ll be all right.’
He reached forward to remove the gag, loosened it over Micah’s jaw. ‘Serin’s blood, Robert, I’m sorry!’
Robert moved to cut the bonds with his sword and froze when a sharp point touched the centre of his back. DeMassey hadn’t stayed clear for long. Robert kept hold of his sword, readying to spin and face the Malachi once more but—
Like a serpent sliding across a dry desert, his Senses reacted to something he couldn’t define. Every sinew, every fibre curled up, taut, opposing movement. Even the pain from yesterday’s wounds faded into the background against this onslaught. His whole body – no, his entire being drew inwards, defiant, full of expectation and … destiny … and … warning …
‘Leave him be, DeMassey.’
Robert held his breath. The pressure at his back vanished. Deliberately, and so very slowly, Robert came to his feet and turned around.
Nash.
Plain, unscarred face, close-cropped black beard following his jaw, at his waist, a gilt and bronzed sword, gleaming red jewels, like the ring on his left hand. No Guilde emblem, no badge of office. But Robert didn’t need his eyes to tell him this was the Angel of Darkness. Every nerve-ending in his body screamed danger.
Nash moved forward a few steps into the clearing and stopped, appraising Robert openly. With barely a flick of his fingers, he gestured DeMassey out of the way, his gaze never leaving Robert.
‘So, Enemy, there you are.’
Robert said nothing. What, after all, was there to say?
‘No words of greeting?’ Nash added lightly. ‘No curses? No joy that you’ve finally arrived at the moment your whole life has been heading towards?’
‘I’m not in the mood for games.’
‘Games?’ Nash raised his eyebrows. ‘How little you understand.’
He moved, circling the place where Micah lay. Every step he took, Robert matched, keeping himself between them.
‘What do you want?’ Robert asked eventually.
‘I think it’s more appropriate to ask what you want. The life of your friend, there? Simply taking young Micah was enough to draw you out into the open. So touching how you’re willing to risk your own life to save his. You must know how feelings of loyalty, of duty and honour – of love—’ Nash paused, savouring the word, ‘only make you weak and vulnerable.’
‘And you’re so very strong without them?’
‘Simply understanding them has given me an advantage you have failed to appreciate.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Your blood, Enemy.’ Nash came to a halt, spreading his hands at his sides in a gesture of honesty. ‘I believe your brother would understand.’
Out of the corner of his eye, Robert saw DeMassey move to the edge of the clearing, and then another figure emerged from the bushes.
The girl. Of course – they’d rescued her, hadn’t they? He should have killed her when he’d had the chance.
Nash sniffed. ‘It must be so galling to you, struggling your whole life against something you know nothing about. You stand there, every inch the warrior, your sword poised ready to strike. But you can’t kill me with a blade of steel. You can’t even blast me to pieces as you would have done to DeMassey. There is only one way you can kill me.’
Despite himself, Robert forced out a laugh. ‘And I suppose you’re conceited enough to tell me?’
‘It’s only fair,’ Nash replied, equalling his smile, ‘when I know so much and you know so little. It’s simple really: you must sacrifice the Ally.’
Even though he’d known it was coming, Robert couldn’t stop the chill that gripped his stomach. Of course. Jenn. He hissed as a sharp jab of pain stung his side. He pressed his hand to it, but his eyes never left Nash. ‘Get on with it, Carlan.’
‘So you do talk to your brother! How amusing! Then he must have told you all about me. Did the Ally?’
‘She knows who you are, if that’s what you mean.’ Pain jabbed at him again, but this time he did it successfully. Nash was dragging this out deliberately, making him tire.
‘Well,’ Nash said, ‘I would have told her myself before, but there was all that fuss at Clonnet. But don’t think too harshly of me. I do understand what it is to love someone and be unable to show it. And you do love her, don’t you?’
Robert nodded slowly. ‘And you made Eachern beat her. That’s about the only way you would know to demonstrate such feeling.’
‘You’re hardly one to talk, Enemy,’ Nash snapped. ‘You’ve pushed her away, deserted her, all in the name of love? You were Bonded from birth and yet, like a fool, you ran away, never realising the treasure you denied yourself. She is mine, Enemy, and there’s nothing you can do to stop that. She will give me what I want, quite willingly, without a thought to you. She is my Ally and she will give me the Key.’
No. Never sacrifice Jenn. Never.
‘You’ve missed so much,’ Nash continued, his voice again like silky oil, insinuating itself into Robert’s mind, into the demon. ‘You’ve been played like a fool. I never intended Selar to invade Mayenne, I just wanted to bring you out into the open. All those men of yours dead, because I wanted you here. But wait, there’s more. Remember your dear uncle, the Duke of Haddon? I sent a man along to that fight specifically to kill him.’
The demon blanched at each word, struggling to get free, smacking at Robert’s wounds with every jerk.
‘Of course, you know how I abducted all those children during the Troubles, our dear Jennifer included among them. But I’ll bet you didn’t know that I started the Troubles in the first place. I had to get an army into Lusara to find the Key. Selar was my best chance. He took it thinking the idea was his own. He was always so easily led, don’t you agree?’
‘Why are you telling me all this?’ Robert desperately tried to control his breathing, every movement white-hot agony. He had to get control or …
‘Because I want you to know how deeply, how badly and how completely you have failed your destiny. I want you to know all this before you die.’
Robert dropped his gaze to the ground at his feet. Come, gather the pain-deadening power he could use so easily on other people.
But it didn’t work.
‘Why don’t you tend to your friend?’
Robert looked up, but DeMassey was nowhere near him and there were no other Malachi nearby except for the girl. Taking a chance, he turned warily and knelt down to cut Micah’s feet free. Micah sat up, words on his lips, but then his gaze shifted—
‘Sairead! No!’
Robert spun – but too late. The blade hit deep into his right shoulder and he buckled forward, blinded by the pain. Micah caught him, but Robert stayed upright, trembling on his knees, gasping for breath.
*
‘Finnlay,’ Jenn pleaded, turning swiftly, ‘please, Father Aiden, you must believe me. I have to go out and stop them! I can’t leave Robert on his own.’
The Bishop looked extremely uncomfortable, but didn’t give in. ‘He doesn’t want you there, my dear. You must understand his fears for the prophecy.’
‘Of course I do!’ Jenn snapped. ‘But the prophecy is not his enemy – the demon is. If I’m not there … ’
Abruptly she gasped as a searing pain slashed through her body. She stumbled forward, unable to keep her balance. McCauly caught her, harsh concern thrown towards Finnlay.
Jenn fought back tears as the pain settled, angling into her shoulder. Robert. He’d been wounded. Somehow. By the gods, did she have to kill these two men in order to save Robert’s life?
A wave of nausea swept over her as she held onto the Bishop. She lifted her head and looked into his grey eyes. ‘I have to go.’
‘No.’
*
‘Hold on,’ Micah hissed. Cloth tore, but Robert hardly heard it. His vision swam. Nash faded and came back again. Faded and back. Laughing.
‘Take the knife out,’ Robert whispered. ‘Now.’
‘All right.’ Micah pressed something against the wound, took hold of the blade and pulled.
Robert groaned and fell forward onto his hands. Fire ripped up his spine, turned his legs to jelly. ‘Give me the knife.’
Micah pressed it into his hand and he forced something to gather inside him. He didn’t need much, but he needed it quickly. With aching sluggishness, some shred of power filtered through his fingers into the blade, growing painfully stronger. The blade began to glow a little and instantly Micah grabbed it, pressed it to the wound, burning it to stop the bleeding.
Robert bit back a curse as the pain intensified. He concentrated hard. Too hard. No. Not too hard. Not yet. No. Better now.
Slowly and painfully, Robert straightened up.
Nash was watching him. ‘Well done, Sairead! Well done indeed.’
‘Shut up!’ Sairead snapped. ‘I didn’t do it for you.’
Nash laughed again …
Sairead? This was Sairead?
Micah was moving at his arm, helping him to his feet. Robert stood, his breath snatched away by something else, something he’d never seen, never known, never have believed – and yet should have.
He turned to Micah, his eyes wide. Then, without thought, he grabbed Micah’s collar, the demon bubbling up from deep within.
‘You … traitor!’
‘No,’ Micah pleaded. ‘It’s not what you think … ’
‘How could you!’ Robert pulled him close, breathing the same air, just as they’d done for so many years. Micah, of all people …
He gripped hard and turned to the demon. With a blink, he let it go, let it course through him. Fitting that the demon should destroy this traitor. Fitting, yes. Let him die. Let him …
NO!
Robert froze.
What was he doing?
Just what he was supposed to do.
No.
Never.
Never give in!
Slowly and very carefully, he released the pressure in his hands until he had only a light hold on Micah’s collar. He closed his eyes a moment, Sensing where the others stood, and those beyond the clearing. Yes, plenty of them to fight him, so Nash wouldn’t have to.
A good trap. Only a fool obsessed with a prophecy he couldn’t defeat would have walked into it.
‘I’m sorry, Robert,’ Micah whispered. ‘I didn’t betray you. I … ’
‘Fell in love with a Malachi,’ Robert murmured, continuing his search. No, Jenn was nowhere near the clearing. She was still at the camp. Well done, Finn.
‘Micah,’ he hissed under his breath, ‘when I tell you to go, run as fast as you can, take my horse and ride back to the camp. Tell Finnlay to gather every Salti and get Jenn back to the Enclave. He’s not to wait a moment. Do you understand?’
Micah’s voice was unsteady. ‘Yes. But … ’
‘And don’t come back.’ Robert opened his eyes, enforcing his meaning. ‘Do you understand?’
A mute nod was the only reply.
‘You’ll know when,’ Robert added finally, letting Micah go. He closed his eyes again, ignoring the laughter from Nash. Agony ripped from his shoulder to his hip, enough almost to make him faint. He had to stop it. Had to do something. Taking the demon in hand, he faced the pain square-on, isolated it, singled it out from the other aches, as he had done so many times before, with pain less physical. So many years at war with himself finally gave him something to fight with. His breathing eased a little, his vision cleared and he opened his eyes to gaze back at Nash once more. The demon was under control.
‘For someone who’s lived more than a century,’ Robert began unsteadily, ‘who has had so many advantages, so much knowledge at his fingertips, you’ve made quite a number of serious mistakes, haven’t you?’
‘None that couldn’t be remedied.’ Nash appeared unconcerned. He was enjoying himself.
Mistakes, hah! How many mistakes had he made? Letting Jenn go. Loving her, knowing the danger it would put her in.
Robert kept his voice hoarse, but invisibly shifted his weight, gauged the distance to his sword. ‘Putting so much effort into those abductions, hoping to catch me as a child.’
‘A miscalculation of timing, nothing more.’
Miscalculation? Yes, plenty of those. So many years trying to fight the demon, with so little hope of success. It had used the Word once already. And next time, would it kill her? Would he really have no choice but to destroy the one thing he loved more than any other? Just so he could destroy this monster?
He swallowed. ‘Then going out of your way to kill my brother – not once, but three times. Failing each time. Never knowing, until I finally revealed myself, that he wasn’t the Enemy.’
‘But you did give yourself away.’
Yes—
Self. Resigned self. The Key took his will away. The prophecy took his will away. The demon … the demon used it for …
Robert gasped again and almost lost his balance. Black spots flashed in front of his eyes, deep black spots, dredging up …
The demon?
By the blood of the gods! The demon!
Robert almost laughed, but caught himself in time.
There was another way, another answer!
A way to destroy the prophecy for ever – and the demon would help him …
Oh, he could have laughed indeed, but he held fast and kept the charade going, deliberately weakening his demeanour, rasping his voice. He didn’t need to act much, not to kill this man. ‘I’ve known for more than three years who you were. But I suppose what really must have stung deeply was to find your Ally stolen from under your nose.’
Nash merely shrugged.
Robert faked a cough, closed his eyes as though he were fading with every moment. So many years of wearing a face closed to the world made it easy. ‘I’ve known about the prophecy since I was a child, had the Word that long. Doesn’t it bother you – not the mistakes as such, but the gaps in your judgement?’
‘I still have the upper hand.’
‘Perhaps. But you don’t have the Ally. And I’ll never sacrifice her to you.’
‘Then you lose,’ Nash smiled, and for the first time, Robert smiled back.
‘I know she’s your Ally.’
Nash’s smile faded. ‘Then you know she is close to joining me. Should I tell you how yesterday, while you were fighting your battle, our lovely Jennifer came to see me?’
Robert allowed his knees to buckle at that – again, too easy to fake. She’d lied … Micah knelt to help him, but Robert paid no attention, instead making sure his hand landed close to the forgotten dagger. Oh, Jenny! Why?
‘Yes,’ Nash laughed again, ‘so much for prophecy. In the end, you have been almost too easy to defeat.’
‘I believe,’ Robert said, coughing deliberately, ‘that you said the same thing of my brother.’
In one fluid movement, Robert grabbed the dagger and threw it at DeMassey, hitting him square in the stomach. At the same moment, he let the demon go to fill him with new energy. Before DeMassey had even hit the ground, Robert had snatched his sword and reared to his feet. He spun around, sweeping the clearing with a searing flame pouring out of the point. Micah ducked beneath it and began to run. The Malachi ignored him.
Instead, they dodged the flame and raced towards Robert, each bearing a similar weapon. Nash moved back, yelling orders, but Robert wasn’t going to waste what energy he had on these minions. He cut through the first few, leaving them behind as he took off after Nash. They pursued him, blasting trees in his path. He tripped, but kept his balance, spinning around to fling one single burst at them. He didn’t bother to wait and see the effect. Nash was getting away.
Leaving all thoughts of pain behind in the clearing, Robert ran after Nash, dodging low branches and bushes in his path. The ground was flat but uneven, but Nash had to run as well. As Robert began to gain on him, Nash finally reacted. He stopped in his tracks long enough to hurl a blast of energy directly at Robert. Instinctively Robert ducked low, throwing up a hasty shield. Even so, he landed on his back, winded. By the time he got to his feet, Nash was on his way again – and Robert took off.
More blasts followed, but these were nowhere near him. It wasn’t until he was between the tallest trees that he saw why. An ominous creak made him look up. Branches swayed and the trunk came toppling towards him. With Nash’s laughter ringing in his ears, Robert threw himself to the ground.
*
At first, Finnlay thought the thunder had returned. He ducked his head out of the tent long enough to see the sky clear of clouds. Another boom and those left in the camp started to fling questions at him, expecting him to know what was going on. He turned towards the forest and saw a flash illuminate the depths. Another explosion was followed by the unmistakable sounds of trees falling, growing closer to the battleground. Suddenly a horse came galloping out of the darkness, right across the camp, skidding unsteadily before him.
‘You have to take Jenn away. Now!’ Micah almost fell off the animal, then Jenn was beside him, holding him up. ‘Please. He said you had to go. The only safe place is the Enclave. Nash told us … what he’s going to do. You have to leave. Now!’
‘No!’ Jenn turned to Finnlay, but as he caught her, she stopped, her gaze obsidian in determination. ‘Finnlay, let me go. Don’t make me choose between you and your brother. You said you trusted me.’
Finnlay reached out to catch her arm, but she flung up her hand, beating him back with a pulse of power he’d never seen before. Without pausing, she turned and ran, lifting her skirts to fly through the camp, heading for the battlefield. Finnlay had no choice but to go after her. He tried calling out, but nothing was going to stop her.
The armies were already arranged, dominating the fringes of the battlefield, but the fighting had not yet begun. Instead, they seemed equally stunned by the sounds and flashes from the forest. Finnlay’s legs began to shudder as he ran, but eventually he caught up with Jenn as she ran past the front ranks of soldiers. There she stopped, gasping. Finnlay stopped beside her, doubling over for a moment.
A ripple of awe flooded through the army and he looked up. Nash had emerged from the forest, backing slowly into the empty field. He stumbled, breathless and injured, his neck and chest exposed but blackened with burns. A heavy sword raised in front of him, glowing with power, he appeared oblivious to his surroundings, focusing only on what followed him.
Nash was in the middle of the empty field before Robert finally emerged from the shadows of a huge oak. One side of his face was streaked with blood. His jacket was missing and his once-white shirt was scarlet from hip to shoulder, torn and shredded. He walked with a limp, as though he could barely put weight on his right leg. His left arm was wrapped around his stomach, but he didn’t hesitate. His sword remained steady, vibrating quietly with a power Finnlay could easily feel, even from this distance.
Before Robert even cleared the trees, Nash swung, sending a blast towards him. With a heavy arm, Robert raised his sword and deflected the fire into the grass. Without pausing, he sent one of his own, not aiming for Nash, but the ground beneath his feet. Nash stumbled backwards into a gaping hole, coughing as the dust settled. All around, both armies gasped in horror, involuntarily easing away from the fight.
Robert made his slow way into the centre of the field, fending off one blast after another. He was getting weaker by the minute, and yet his shielding never failed, his blasts never dimmed. He was putting all of his energy – everything he had – into the battle. But he wasn’t really fighting back, defending, rather than attacking. What was he doing?
‘Forcing Nash to spend himself,’ Jenn murmured. ‘Robert’s weak. He knows he can’t last much longer. The odds have to be even, Finn.’
Inexorably they moved closer, even as the armies backed away. For the life of him, Finnlay couldn’t believe he was this close and yet, nothing touched them. Now he could hear Nash, calling out jibes, insults, everything he could to make Robert fight.
‘Even now, when you’re so close to losing,’ Nash sneered, his words twisted by his burnt mouth, ‘you still won’t do it, will you? You still won’t use it against me. You have all that power inside you, but you’re too afraid of using it. I told you caring made you vulnerable. Go on, Enemy, use the Word of Destruction to kill me. You know you want to. If you don’t, you’ll die, and the Ally will be mine. Lusara will be mine!’
‘Never!’
Finnlay’s heart sank at the sound of Robert’s voice, hoarse and empty. He was on the edge.
‘Go on, Enemy,’ Nash taunted once more. ‘Do it! You know she stands behind you, ready to join me when you fall. She didn’t tell you of our meeting yesterday, did she? Of how she trembled when I kissed her?’
‘No!’ In that instant, Robert swung his sword wide in a great arc. The ground rumbled beneath their feet and the air crackled as a dozen bolts of lightning all joined the tip of his blade in one almighty blast. The discharge erupted in a blinding flash and Nash was tossed in the air, obscured by smoke and flying rubble. When it cleared, Robert was left standing alone, wavering, his shoulders shuddering with each breath.
Before him, Nash lay on the ground, a dark figure against the green grass. Almost as one, the armies held their breath.
Then, slowly, Nash lifted his head, almost toppled backwards before getting onto his knees.
Finnlay gasped. Skin hung from Nash’s face, an eye was missing completely. His right arm was nothing more than a mash of bleeding flesh, the rest of his body, almost burned to a crisp – yet he still lived.
‘His powers have gone,’ Jenn whispered.
Robert’s feet were moving even as he raised his sword again. There were no more than a dozen feet between them when a few last words hissed from the remains of Nash’s face.
‘I told you – you can’t kill me like that.’
Robert stopped and dropped his sword and—
Jenn grabbed Finnlay’s sleeve. ‘Get back.’
‘What?’
‘Get back. Now!’
‘Why?’
‘Can’t you feel it? Sweet Mineah,’ she cried, ‘That’s why he was draining Nash’s power – so he would have no defences left. By the gods, Robert’s going to use the Word?