Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

Aldreya rushed over to him and helped him up. Vannas was in great pain from the arrow's impact, but his eyes still burned with determination. He started to climb onto the platform, but Taris ordered him to wait.

"Trenton," said Taris, to the hideous wolf beast, "we need to take out that archer. Can you do it?"

Trenton growled in response, and then bounded off down the hill and through the valley, scattering warriors in his path. His claws lashing out left and right, he fought his way up the enemy's hill-with arrows and swords sticking out of his furry flesh. In spite of being impaled multiple times, Trenton did not slow. However, he suddenly vanished beneath a crowd of attackers.

Aldreya watched in despair, for all she could see were weapons rising and falling where Trenton had gone down. It appeared that he was finished.

But suddenly the wolf beast broke from the crowd, leaving a number of slain and injured warriors in his wake. As Trenton ran, he yanked blades and arrows from his flesh. With a booming howl, he leapt onto the giant archer and tore into his throat, taking the Thallite leader to the ground.

Taris signaled for Vannas to proceed, and with Aldreya's help, the prince climbed back onto the platform and resumed attacking The Colossus. Vannas' pain seemed to make him even more focused and determined, and he sent out a furious blast of white fire that ignited one of the catapult's beams, even as the monstrosity's arms were lowering again in preparation to launch an attack. Bellis' warriors immediately seized buckets of water and tried to kill the flames.

But Prince Vannas' face was contorted with a fanatical expression, and his eyes had taken on a white hue. The energy from the Flamestone became blinding, and fire spread everywhere over The Colossus. Huge, burning beams came crashing down on Bellis' Knights. Soon the entire catapult was a raging fireball.

Cheers arose from the Divine Knights. The battle had turned in their favor in multiple ways, as Bellis' warriors were running out of explosive arrows or were having troubling firing them in close combat. Sorcery began to prevail over technology, as blazing weapons and energy-charged Knights took a massive toll on Bellis' army. With the destruction of The Colossus, the Divine Knights were flooded with confidence and fought all the harder-sensing victory was close. And Vannas continued to hammer their foes with white fire.

At last, the Lord Knight of Bellis blew of a Horn of Peace, indicating that he wished to cease the battle. The fighting paused, and Dremlock's Knights looked to Taris for a signal. Taris held up an open palm-a signal that they would accept the Lord Knight's proposed end to the warfare.

Their heads bowed in defeat, Bellis' warriors collected their dead and wounded and began a retreat through the hills. As Dremlock tended to its own, The Colossus continued to burn on the hilltop, until all that remained was a worm-shaped, drooping, iron skeleton that would stand there for centuries gathering rust.

Lannon and the Blue Knights had gotten lucky, for the dead Soldiers' horses were nearby and loaded with provisions for traveling. Then for three days they had tracked Timlin through the mountains and into some forestlands beyond. The going had been difficult, with travel slow in the rugged peaks and very tiring. They barely slept, and at times Lannon was so weary he thought he might topple from his horse. Lannon knew that the Blood Legion was also searching for the Black Flamestone and was somewhere ahead of them. Lannon could sense they were closing in on Timlin, which was why Shennen insisted on such a relentless pace.

As evening approached on the third day of the chase, they set up camp and cooked some rabbit meat in an iron skillet. They found a stream nearby that contained delicious, icy water. Sometimes streams in certain areas of Silverland were contaminated by the Deep Shadow, but Divine Knights were able to spot such dangerous waters easily.

It was a good meal and a badly needed rest. The rabbit meat was seasoned and fried to perfection by Shennen, who seemed to have excellent cooking skills for someone who rarely prepared his own meals. Lannon took a moment to simply enjoy the meat and put everything else out of his mind. He was weary to the core and just wanted a bit of relaxation before they resumed their grim journey.

Lannon drank deeply from his flask, savoring every icy drop. It was so delicious it almost tasted like water blessed by the Divine Essence. He closed his eyes for a moment, imagining he was back at Dremlock in front of a warm fire in the East Tower Library and away from all this madness, and he almost drifted off to sleep.

"No time for slumber, lad," said Shennen.

Lannon yawned and nodded. "Just relaxing a bit." He took another large drink from his flask.

"Amazing water, isn't it?" said Shennen. "This is surely a blessed forest steam, from ancient times. The water relaxes the soul."

"I need it," Lannon mumbled. Again, he yawned. He looked around at the ancient tree trunks-the mossy oaks and twisted beech trees beneath sprawling branches that were like huge arms holding up the forest roof. He wondered what terrible darkness lay hidden behind all that beauty. Timlin was lurking in here somewhere like a deadly viper waiting to strike, and until he was dealt with, Lannon wouldn't be allowed any rest.

"What are we going to do when we catch him?" asked Aldrek, speaking Lannon's thoughts. The sorcerer peered at Shennen from beneath his wide-brimmed black hat. "If Timlin actually wields the power of that Flamestone, he'll kill us all."

"Not if we can sneak up on him," said Shennen. "And that's where you come in, Aldrek. You must get us close to him, so I can run my Flayer through his heart before he realizes we're even there. Timlin is still mortal and can die from a single thrust."

"It's a good plan," said Aldrek, "though I wonder if we'll be able to fool him. Who knows what powers of sorcery are his to command?"

Shennen didn't answer.

Aldrek toyed with the brim of his black hat, looking thoughtful. "I wonder how Timlin was able to learn to wield the Flamestone so quickly. It must have been his link to the Hand of Tharnin-the fact that Timlin was infested with evil from the device. After all, it was Vorden who corrupted Timlin's soul. Thus, the Black Flamestone was probably drawn to Timlin's evil."

"Perhaps," said Shennen. "But I'll leave it to you sorcerers to ponder such things. To me, all that matters is that he has found some way to wield it."

"Yet what this could mean," said Aldrek, "is that Timlin may be able to gain immense power from the stone-perhaps beyond even what Prince Vannas is capable of. It's a frightening thought, yet very possible."

"Timlin will still die," said Shennen, "if a blade finds his heart." He drew his Flayer and skewered a piece of rabbit meat in the pan. He popped it into his mouth and ate it. "Make no mistake about that, sorcerer. He is still a mortal man."

"Timlin could be almost a god at this point," said Aldrek, frowning. "Imagine the power of Taris Warhawk-only ten times greater. Who could possibly challenge such power? With all due respect, not even you, Lannon."

Lannon knew Aldrek was right. Timlin could destroy them all. But he was too tired to worry about dying and had grown quite weary of fretting over his potential demise. He was just going to take things one moment at a time and hope for the best.

"Mere speculation, Aldrek," said Shennen.

Aldrek didn't reply, but continued to appear deep in thought.

Lannon wondered how the battle with Bellis was going-and if it was over yet. "If Dremlock lost," he said, "then Bellis has the White Flamestone."

"Exactly," said Shennen. "In which case this mission is even more important. We can't afford to have two Flamestones working against us."