Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

The Guardian thrust his sword at Lannon's chest. It was an incredibly swift strike-faster even than a Divine Knight could have managed. Lannon deflected it with his own sword, and then hacked at the Guardian's neck to test the golden armor. His sword glanced away without leaving a scratch.

The Guardian swung at Lannon's legs, and Lannon leapt over the blade on instinct. This time Lannon attacked the Guardian's sword to sever it. But the golden sword was as stout as the golden armor.

Lannon blocked a flurry of attacks that drove him backwards. He almost stumbled and went down, which could have cost him his life. Instead, he twisted around his foe, catching the Golden Knight from behind. He sheathed his sword and leapt on the Guardian's back, trying to pry open the latches that secured the helm. He managed to open one of the latches before the Guardian threw Lannon off him.

Lannon did a somersault and then jumped to his feet, drawing his blade. Calmly, the Guardian closed the open latch and then charged at Lannon. Another flurry of sword strokes drove Lannon backwards again. Lannon was at a severe disadvantage, for he couldn't harm his foe at all but a single blow from the Guardian could kill him.

Lannon tried to drive his sword into the thin creases between the armor plates, but each time the blade encountered something impenetrable. Even the creases were staunchly defended, yet still allowed for fluid movements. Lannon thought this Thallite armor might end up being the death of him. He hoped Shennen would return to assist him, but aside from some crashing noises in the woods, there was no sign of his presence.

The duel of swords wasn't working, and Lannon was confronted by the Golden Knight's sinister will. The Guardian was using some kind of mind power on him, trying to make him falter and surrender to fear. Lannon struggled to resist, because most of the Eye's power was being channeled into combat. Lannon realized he wasn't fighting a human foe. The Golden Knight was simply too swift and powerful to be human. Yet Bellis refused to directly use Goblins as warriors, so Lannon had no clue what sort of creature lurked beneath that armor. Whatever it was, it was more powerful than any Goblin.

As the Guardian drove against Lannon with blade and will, Lannon's legs began to weaken beneath him. He withdrew the Eye from his blade and channeled it into his body. Then he seized the Golden Knight's arm and ripped the sword from his hand. Lannon flung the sword aside and then sheathed his own blade.

The Golden Knight had another weapon: his golden fist. He slammed the metal gauntlet down at Lannon's skull, but Lannon caught his arm and, summoning all the strength he could muster, hurled the Guardian into a nearby oak tree. The Knight struck the tree so hard that its branches shook, and then he slumped to the ground, stunned.

Lannon ran to him, lifted him, and again slammed him into the tree. Lannon's body was now charged with the full power of the Eye, giving him the strength of a giant. The second blow was more devastating than the first, and the Knight simply lay with his back to the tree trunk, his head sagging forehead.

Lannon glanced at Ethella, but she was still close to Omharal, her eyes wide with shock. Omharal too looked amazed at what Lannon had done. Lannon quickly opened the three latches and yanked off the Guardian's helm. He stepped back in surprise, and the helm dropped from his fingers.

Lannon was staring at a greenish-blue reptilian face. There was no doubt the creature was some form of man-shaped reptile. Its snake-like eyes gazed at Lannon and seemed to be trying to hypnotize him. Lannon shuddered, sensing some great conspiracy would be revealed if he dared look closer with the Eye. He tried to hold his power in check, not wanting to glimpse things he didn't feel he was ready for, but a few images slipped through. What Lannon saw was a banner of four stars, in a diamond pattern, that was raised above the land and that represented four mighty kingdoms. In that time of the darkest darkness and the brightest light, the Tower King would rule with a scaly fist and a scepter bound in starlight, and he would fear a sleeping warrior who dwelt across a sea of blackness.

Lannon shook his head, shrugging off the bizarre vision revealed by the Eye. It made no sense to him-something from a distant age that had no bearing on the present. Yet it was something that was linked to the monster before him.

The creature was beginning to regain its senses. It started to reach for Lannon, and he drew his sword and beheaded it. Lannon turned away, feeling cold inside over what he'd witnessed. He pushed it from his mind. The things the Eye revealed to him were often unsettling and impossible for him to understand, and so they were best forgotten.

Moments later, Shennen stepped from the forest-holding the golden helm of the Guardian he'd been battling. He flung the helm into the trail.

Omharal was so stunned that the Guardians had been defeated that he went into a coughing fit, with blood leaking from his mouth. He swayed for a moment, looking dazed, and then toppled from his horse.

With a cry of despair, Ethella knelt by him.

Shennen and Lannon started toward them, but Ethella raised a trembling hand. "Leave us alone!" she said. "I must take my lord back to Old Hammer Hall, if it is his wish. Let us go peacefully and you will not have to fight me."

"I must have healing," Omharal mumbled. He coughed out more blood. Clearly, Timlin had brought him extremely close to ruin. "Let us…" His eyes rolled back in his head. He shuddered once and then lay still.

Ethella gazed down at him in despair. "My lord?"

Shennen nudged Lannon and pointed at the horses. Lannon nodded, and they climbed into the saddles. They rode off down the trail, leaving Ethella and Omharal to their fate.

"I believe Omharal is dead," said Shennen, as they rode along the winding forest trail. "He was a disgrace to the Birlotes, a ruthless killer of innocents. Yet Bellis has more so-called wizards waiting to take his place."

"He must have tried to stop Timlin from fleeing Old Hammer Hall," said Lannon. "He was probably caught by surprise-not expecting Timlin to have such power."

"Yes," said Shennen, "though we'll likely never know exactly what took place. Omharal was a powerful sorcerer. Yet I get the feeling that Timlin defeated him with ease-along with Ethella. I wonder why her injures were slight in comparison with Omharal's."

"Timlin was probably in a hurry," said Lannon, "and Omharal was in his path, so the wizard got the worst of it-along with those slain Soldiers we encountered."

Shennen glanced at him. "Yes, that makes sense."

Suddenly a figure stumbled into the trail, nearly getting run over by the horses. It was Aldrek Windspear. He had burns on his cheeks and forehead, and his hat was missing. His face was deathly pale and his eyes held a wild look in the torchlight. He was clutching his ribs and looked to be in agony.

"Everyone is dead!" Aldrek said, groaning. "Killed by Timlin. We tried to sneak up on him but he saw through it. I was at the rear, which is why I survived the…the dark sorcery. I fled into the woods and he let me go."

Shennen bowed his head and sighed.

"Everyone is dead!" Aldrek repeated. "Blue Knights, Legion Soldiers, Goblins-all blasted into ruin. He cannot be defeated, Shennen!"

"We have to try," said Shennen. "Aldrek, wait for us here. I can tell you're too injured to be of any help. If we don't return, save yourself and retreat."

"But you will be killed too," said Aldrek. "Even Lannon is no match for Timlin. We will lose the Eye of Divinity!"

Shennen shook his head. "We came to get the Black Flamestone, and we will proceed with the mission. We cannot allow this evil monster to escape and terrorize the land. Lannon, you must remove the Flamestone from his hand."