Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Rulain shook his fist at Omharal. "My brother!"

"You made a grave mistake, wizard," said Ulmason. "The Blood Legion honors its brothers. You have underestimated our loyalty."

Omharal glowered but said nothing, as the High Wizard and his two Guardians were lead away in shackles to the dungeon.

Timlin seized Rulain's arm. "I promise you there will be justice for your brother. For now, try to control yourself."

Rulain flinched away from his grasp. "Control myself? My brother was just murdered right before my eyes, and the killer still lives!"

"Not for long," said Timlin. "We will plan a proper execution."

"Bellis will be enraged," said Ethella, shaking her head. "We dare not execute him, or we will surely doom ourselves."

"Again, I need time to think," said Timlin.

Rulain's eyes widened. "But he will be put to death for this, right? There is no chance you will let this vile Omharal leave here alive?"

"Justice will be served," Timlin mumbled.

"I must go and see my brother," said Rulain, wiping tears from his eyes. "This…how could this happen right in front of me?"

"Go and see him," Timlin said gently. He covered his mouth to hide a yawn, bored with Rulain's concerns. "We will talk later."

Looking stunned, agonized, and furious all at once, Rulain trudged from the Dining Chamber. He paused in the doorway and turned, as if he intended to say something more, but Timlin motioned him along. He left the chamber.

Timlin struggled to keep from grinning. He'd just bought himself a bit of time, but that was all he needed to flee from Old Hammer Hall. The Black Flamestone burned hot beneath his touch, prompting him to be fearless in carrying out his escape plan. Timlin sensed the stone would assist him-perhaps lend him power on a level he couldn't begin to imagine. There was no doubt the Blood Legion and Bellis would come after him, but he would be ready for them.

Nighttime had settled over the land when Shennen, Lannon, Aldrek, and six masked Blue Knights departed from Dorok's Hand. They were the first to abandon the fortress, but they wouldn't be the last, as the rest of the occupants were busy preparing to ride against the forces of Bellis.

They rode out through the gates into a moonlit night-which didn't work in their favor, as it left them visible. An Elder Hawk circled overhead, watching for spies in the rocks and in the sky. Their mission depended entirely on them not being seen as they approached Old Hammer Hall. There was no point in trying to turn invisible, as the range of the technique was limited and they were more likely to be spotted from outside that range. They navigated through the shadows as much as possible and did not talk.

After about an hour of travel through the peaks, the Elder Hawk suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed. The large, black-and-silver bird beat its wings four times-a warning that roughly a dozen Goblins had been spotted. The hawk pecked twice at the snow, indicating that it had also glimpsed a spy and that the spy had seen them. The hawk then motioned with its head in the direction of a narrow valley between two rocky cliffs.

"This is unfortunate," Shennen muttered. "If these Goblins are in league with the Blood Legion, they may flee to Old Hammer Hall and warn them."

"We should strike quickly, Master," said a masked Blue Knight. "Slay them all before any can escape."

Shennen nodded. "Yes, we must eliminate them!"

With that, the Lord of the Blue Knights drove his horse at a gallop toward the valley between the cliffs. The others followed. Beyond the cliffs, the valley opened up into a wide, snowy slope that held a Goblin camp. A number of crude wooden lean-to shelters stood there, and the snow was littered with gnawed animal bones. The spy-a fleeing Jackal-raced into the camp screeching a warning. Four Ogres wearing studded leather armor sat by a campfire roasting a deer, and when they saw the frantic Jackal and the approaching riders, they seized huge clubs and leapt up. The four Ogres and nine Jackals charged toward the Blue Knights.

Lannon reached for his sword, then took out his Glaetherin throwing star instead. He wanted to test the weapon in combat.

The Jackals were swifter than the Ogres, and they reached the Knights first. One Jackal bounded through the air toward Shennen, its claws intent on shredding the Blue Knight's flesh, but Shennen's burning Flayer slashed a bitter wound into its throat. The Jackal toppled into the snow, bleeding its life away. Shennen's Greywind horse reared up into the air and then came down with both front hooves, inflicting further damage on the fallen Goblin.

Lannon hurled his throwing star at an approaching Jackal, speeding it along with the power of the Eye. The star blade flashed in the moonlight as it shot toward the Goblin. It ripped deep into the Jackal's chest, and the Jackal paused in its charge, looking confused. It howled in pain and rage, staggered, and then fell over.

Lannon summoned the throwing star back to his hand, but by the time he plucked it from the air with his fingers another Jackal had slammed into him. Lannon was knocked from his horse to the ground, and the throwing star flew from his hand and vanished beneath the snow.

Lannon looked up into the Jackal's snarling face, and then he shoved the powerful beast off of him and rose. He drew his sword. The Jackal bounded toward him, but Lannon seized the beast with the Eye and then beheaded it with a well-placed stroke.

Before the Blue Knights could finish off the Jackals, the four Ogres had reached them. One of the Blue Knights went down instantly-smashed from his horse by a massive club. He dropped to the snow like a stone, his bones crushed. The Ogre struck the fallen Knight again, ensuring that the unfortunate warrior's life was ended.

With a cry of rage, Shennen hurled his burning Flayer at the Ogre who'd slain the Knight, and it lodged in the giant's skull. The Ogre's humanoid face bore an expression of shock as it clawed at the long dagger. It turned and stumbled away, dropping its club. It paused for a moment, as if contemplating something, and then collapsed.

With the remaining Blue Knights occupied, Lannon found himself facing an Ogre and two Jackals alone. The Jackals charged him first, and he sidestepped them and cut one down. His Greywind horse drove into the other one, knocking it over and seeking to stomp it. Lannon ducked as the Ogre's club ripped through the air toward his head. He felt the whoosh of air as the club passed over him.

Lannon slashed the giant's leg, and the beast dropped to one knee. Its black eyes were full of rage and hatred, and it pointed at Lannon and bellowed something that sounded like "Kill you!" Lannon drove in and pierced its chest with his blade, but the Ogre wrenched the weapon away from Lannon flung it aside.

The Ogre stood up, raising the club, and Lannon seized the giant with his power as he leapt for his blade. Lannon twisted aside on instinct, as a wounded Ogre charged past swinging its club and bellowing. Lannon whirled around to find the Ogre he'd injured closing in on him. The giant's club slammed down toward Lannon and he didn't have time to move. He froze the club with his sorcery-only a few inches from his forehead. He gazed at the gnarled tree trunk in shock, realizing how close he'd just come to being killed.

In desperation, Lannon drove the Eye into his blade and slashed out at the Ogre. Enhanced by his power, his sword was too swift for the giant to avoid. Lannon cut the beast down with two perfect strokes. The Ogre groaned, tried to rise again, and then lay still.

Meanwhile, blazing weapons tore through the air, as the Blue Knights slaughtered the remaining Goblins. They struck with fury over the death of their comrade, and soon the last of the Ogres went down, black smoke rising from its wounds.