Chapter 15

Her primary concern, Olivia would tell people later, was that they not be separated.

Very quickly it became clear that the Ty’Goth intended only to climb the fortress walls – as opposed to knocking them down – and large numbers of additional fighters were ordered to join the archers on the wall. Durran and Kite, both renowned swordsmen, had been among those so dispatched. Olivia had kept her head down and followed right behind them, hoping that no one would recognize her and force her to stay behind.

As her feet replaced Kite’s going up the narrow stone steps that led to the battlements, she steeled her heart and tried not to admit that she felt a little ill. Her father, Xander the Red, used to call it “kicking back the boundary line,” this confronting of a great fear. So she repeated to herself, I’m kicking back my boundary line, and set her teeth.

Up ahead, she heard Durran exclaim, "What the devil!"

***

Kaisef was beginning to die, but he did not feel it. Doctor Merrill whipped around and cursed at him in angry surprise, but he didn’t hear it. He was looking past the doctor, past the window, past the battlements, to the Ty’Goth below.

***

Olivia tightened her grip on her blade and rushed up the last of the steps. Here she expected to meet the Ty’Goth, but there were none, only a crowd of warriors silently looking down on the plain. She squeezed in next to Kite and leaned over the stone railing, to see the very last thing she had expected.

The Ty’Goth were fighting each other.

***

Eve struggled at last to her feet and joined Kaisef at the window, her face shining with wonder. “To you was given authority to wield the Sword of Flame. My Father's prophecy...it’s coming to pass,” she breathed, gripping his hand. “You’re doing it!”

Kaisef was moments from death, but was not aware of it. He raised his black-scaled arms into the air and continued to quote.

Slowly, Doctor Merrill looked away from the girl and beast, to his armies below. “Fool! Do you think this curse has the power to destroy only your brothers, but leave you safe?” he spit fiercely.

“A little while, and the wicked will be no more,
Though you look for them, they will not be found.
The wicked will perish –“

Yes, Kaisef realized, becoming aware of the icy fingers that tightened around his heart, I feel it now. I am dying too. But it is right that I should die.

Doctor Merrill's hand closed around a knife. He shouted in triumph. "Not another word, traitor! You may not care to live, but what about the princess?” He pointed the knife at her throat. “Once you are dead, who will prevent me from killing her? Cease this now, while you still have the chance.”

“I’m not afraid,” she said simply.

Kaisef hesitated only a moment. While there is still a trace of human left in me, I will serve the King. He closed his eyes and voiced the final words:

“The enemies of the Lord will vanish –
Vanish like smoke.”

Like an autumn leaf falling to the earth he collapsed, his last breath rattling out from between his fangs.

***

In front of the gates of Yasalle, as quick as thought, the Ty'Goth vanished. Only the trampled grass in all direction gave evidence that they had ever cast a shadow on the plain.

***

Doctor Merrill rounded on the princess, madness glittering in his eyes. "I am exceedingly sorry, your Highness," he said, brandishing the knife point. His tone, thin and precise, conveyed every impression except apology.

Jeed's sword rang from its sheath, cutting a wide arc through the air. It sliced through the doctor's neck and sent his head thudding against the wall.

Eve uttered a cry and fell sobbing into his embrace.