Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Timlin nodded. "I would be willing to form a temporary alliance with Dremlock. But if we succeed in slaying the Specter, who gets the Black Flamestone?" He pondered it for a moment, then said, "I suppose we could always duel for it."

"A duel," mused Taris. "Like the last one?"

"No, a fair one this time," said Timlin. "By the way, I had no idea the last one was unfair. But I'll take your word for it."

"I'm sure you didn't," said Taris, sneering.

"We can hunt this beast on our own," said Trenton. "We don't need to work with our sworn enemies."

"And we don't need you! " Hoytus growled.

"I disagree," said Jace. "It could take an army to kill a Tharnin Specter. They are hard to corner, for one thing. There is strength is numbers."

"I will agree to it," said Taris, "provided it is not a duel to the death and provided we choose the participants now."

"Fine by me," said Timlin. "The duel then is to death or submission. You can pick anyone but Lannon, yourself, or another sorcerer. This will be a battle of blades only. And I choose Ulmason Deathhand again."

Ulmason bowed. "Thank you, my lord. I will not disappoint."

"And I choose Flund Greenhelm," said Taris. "He is a Blue Knight and a swordsman. He will fight only with his blade."

"Why not choose me?" asked Shennen, looking annoyed. "Can Flund match my skill with the blade?"

"Flund is an excellent swordsman," said Taris, "and a humble Knight who understands his place at Dremlock. He will fight with honor."

"But Flund could lose," said Shennen, his expression bitter. "Do we want to actually win the duel this time, or give our enemies the upper hand? Why would you pick Flund over the Lord of the Blue Knights?"

"I have my reasons," said Taris, in a cold voice. "Do not question them."

Shennen rose, knocking his chair over. "Do what you must, however foolish. You're in command, Tower Master." Then he strode from the room.

Timlin chuckled. "There goes an unhappy assassin."

Ulmason grinned. "Little does he know, he was saved the humiliation of losing to me. Taris did him a favor."

"Shennen looked a bit upset," said Daledus, with raised eyebrows.

"He will get over it," said Taris, looking unconcerned.

"Will Flund agree to it?" asked Trenton. "The Sacred Laws forbid forcing a Knight to fight a duel."

"He will agree," said Taris. "And I'm confident he will prevail."

Ulmason nodded. "It is good that you have confidence in your fighter. However, I have never lost a duel, and never will."

Taris' gleaming green eyes stayed focused on Timlin. "We will ride together and fight together-until this Specter is found and slain and the Black Flamestone is in our possession. Then we will have a fair duel for it. The winner of the duel will be allowed to possess the stone for three days, during which there will be no conflict. After that, it will be fair game again."

"Three days?" said Timlin. "That works for me."

"I won't ride with Goblins," said Trenton. The two Goblin Lords grinned at Trenton in response, showing pointed teeth.

"The Goblins will remain here," said Timlin. "What do you have against them anyway, Trenton? They're strong warriors."

"The Sacred Laws forbid fighting alongside Goblins," said Trenton. "Had you remained at Dremlock, Timlin, and done your studies, you would know this."

Timlin yawned. "Studies are boring, Trenton."

"Lead us to where the portal stood, Timlin," said Taris, rising from his chair, "so that we may verify that it is indeed sealed."

"You won't just take my word for it?" said Timlin, with a smirk.

The portal site was located underground, beneath where the Training Hall had once stood. All that remained of the Training Hall were some mangled wood and stone ruins and a hole in the ground that was covered with an iron trapdoor. They had to dig the snow off the trapdoor to pull it open.

Ulmason and Daledus lifted the heavy slab away and Lannon probed for danger below. He detected strong traces of Goblin activity, but no Goblins were currently down there. He also failed to find any traps. He did, however, sense lingering energy from the portal and it made him shudder. It felt like a warping of nature-something so horrific it should not exist. It made him feel sick with revulsion.

"I don't detect any danger," Lannon told Taris, while holding his stomach and fearing me might vomit. "But there was definitely a portal down there, though it's gone now. The leftover energy feels very unnatural and perverse."

The group went below. Shennen had rejoined them, Flayer in hand. The others drew their weapons as well. They followed stone steps down to a large storage room full of crates and barrels. At the center of the room was a blazing dark flue fireball, hovering in the air. The air seemed somehow warped around it as if from intense heat. Yet the room was cold.

Everyone exchanged disgusted glances.

"Nasty, isn't it," said Timlin, holding his stomach. "The sorcery has not fully dissipated yet. But the portal is indeed closed."

Jace inspected it and nodded. "Yes, it is gone forever. This orb will fade away eventually. But whatever took place down here to open the portal was very dangerous. A terrible idea if ever there was one."

"Not a terrible idea," said Timlin, with a grin. "Just a terrible outcome."

"One and the same," said Jace.

"What do you know of portals, Jace?" asked Trenton.

"I've studied them for years," said Jace. "I've even entered a few."

"No one alive understands Tharnin better than Jace," said Taris. "Not even the Birlote Wizards. Of that I have no doubt."

Jace shrugged. "I wouldn't go that far, though I appreciate the compliment. Yes, I know a thing or two about our enemy, but I had to suffer greatly to gain that knowledge. The Shadow Realm does not share its secrets easily, even with its own servants." After a sharp glance from Trenton, Jace added, "Not that I'm one of its servants, of course. On the contrary, Tharnin despises me."

Trenton turned to Taris, his face grim. "Are you certain you want to cooperate with our foes on the matter of the Black Flamestone? The last time Dremlock tried something like this, it was a disaster. And I'm not entirely sure the Sacred Laws allow this sort of alliance with these slaves of Tharnin."

Timlin's eyes narrowed, his hand settling on the hilt of his Flayer. "I'm growing weary of being called a slave and a puppet."

"You reek of the Deep Shadow," said Trenton, sniffing the air disdainfully. "Yes, I have many doubts about this alliance."

"I have many doubts as well," said Taris, sighing. "After all, how can we be sure of anything these days? Regardless, I think it's the best option. The Sacred Laws permit this alliance-if we consider it to be part of the planned duel. And we've already agreed to it and are bound by honor to see it through."

"Hey, I'm not entirely sold on it either," Timlin muttered. "But we did agree to it, Trenton, and that's that."

"I will have my duel," said Ulmason, "as we agreed."

"Then let us begin the hunt tomorrow," said Taris, "at dawn."

"I just hope we don't become the hunted," said Jace.

Tension was high in Blombalk Fortress that night. Lannon and his friends were placed under very heavy guard, with six Knights-including at least one from the Divine Shield-staying close to them at all times. Dremlock's warriors hunkered down in a circle of tents and slept with their armor on (those who actually allowed themselves a bit of sleep), and the Legion Soldiers gave that circle a wide berth as they walked back and forth across the grounds.

It was a cold, snowy night, and the Squires stayed inside their tent and focused on keeping warm. Everyone was able to relax except Jerret, who kept getting up to pace about in the small space and annoy the others.