Robert Keller - The Hand of Tharnin

Lannon shoved a Bear off a Ranger-only to see that the Ranger had already been crushed to death. A Brown Knight was lifted high into the air by a growling Bear and snapped in two like a piece of wood, his broken body then flung into the snow. Some of the Greywind horses lay wounded, bleeding their life away-their powerful bodies struck down by paws that hit with the force of battering rams. Lannon cringed at the grisly sights around him. Divine Knights were very difficult to kill, but these Goblin Bears were extremely powerful foes. Casualties were piling up around the camp.

Desperately, Lannon wandered to and fro, using his power every chance he got to help those around him. He quickly neared exhaustion. On the other hand, Vannas' White Flamestone flashed repeatedly and tirelessly, leaving burning Bears scrambling everywhere. Lannon was left in awe of the Flamestone and found himself feeling deeply relieved that they possessed the weapon.

Lannon spotted an archer who'd been knocked from his horse and lay injured in the snow, just outside the camp. A Bear, riddled with arrows but still on the attack, was bearing down on the archer. Lannon froze the beast- barely . He was so far away from it that his power was in danger of failing.

Lannon ran toward the Bear, when another Bear charged him from the side and slammed into him. The impact would have been devastating-except the Eye of Divinity shifted on instinct and partially shielded him. Lannon was thrown several yards and landed stunned on his back in a snowdrift.

A shadow fell over Lannon. Looking up, he thought he would see the Bear hovering over him. Instead, he saw the bearded face of a huge warrior. The warrior held a two-handed battle axe poised for the downward stroke that would surely split Lannon in two.

Using what remained of his power, Lannon ripped the axe from the barbarian's hand and flung it aside. The barbarian's eyes widened. Then Lannon's power failed completely. He simply had nothing left.

Reaching down, the warrior rolled Lannon onto his stomach and bound his wrists painfully tight with rope. Still groggy from the impact of the Bear, Lannon slipped toward unconsciousness-wondering if he would ever awaken.

When the battle with the Goblin Bears was finished, nine Knights lay dead and sixteen more were seriously injured. Three Rangers, eight horses, and two wolves had also been slain. And dozens of Knights had been injured to a lesser degree. The landscape was littered with the bodies of dead Bears. Two Soldiers of the Blood Legion-who'd been commanding the Bears-also lay dead. The snows were stained crimson and black with blood and ash.

But only one member of Dremlock's army had been captured-Lannon Sunshield. The Squire had been thrown onto a horse and carried off with a group of retreating Blood Legion Soldiers. In the chaos of battle, none of the Knights had given chase, and by the time they realized what had happened, it was too late. Now the morale of the army was very low.

The remaining members of the Divine Shield met in Furlus' tent to discuss the situation. The atmosphere in the tent was tense and gloomy. Jerret was afraid they were going to abandon the assault on Dorok's Hand and retreat to Dremlock. He knew Aldreya and Vannas felt the same as he did-that they owed it to Lannon to try and rescue him. But he was certain the Knights wouldn't give much weight to anything the Squires said.

"So it has come to this," said Furlus, his voice heavy with bitterness. "We couldn't even defend our prized Squire, and it has cost us greatly. This is turning out to be a poor excuse for an army."

"This army is ill-fated," said Shennen, his head in his hands. "Too many forces are working against us. We should retreat to Dremlock."

"We can't retreat," Jerret spoke up, desperation in his voice. "Not until we save Lannon." Even as he said that, he wondered if Lannon was already dead, and rage towards the Blood Legion filled his heart.

"We did our best to protect him," said Jace, smoking his pipe and looking sullen. "That Bear assault was unexpected, to say the least. I've never seen anything like it. And Lannon was captured because he was trying to do too much. He shouldered the burden of saving everyone."

"He fought with great courage," said Aldreya. "If there is any chance he is still alive, we need to find him!"

"We're a bunch of fools," said Trenton, who'd suffered a broken arm and broken ribs from being crushed beneath the Bear. "Our foes are far better prepared for us than we are for them. They will just keep wearing us down before we ever reach the fortress of Dorok's Hand. And Lannon? Yes, my dear Aldreya, he fought very courageously. But you must accept the fact that he is finished."

Jerret wished Trenton would go away. The Investigator seemed ever at odds with everyone and annoying. Jerret knew the dark power that Trenton possessed-the ability to transform into some kind of wolf-like monster. Yet he'd failed to use that power in the battle with the Bears, for whatever reason, and now Lannon was gone. Jerret thought Trenton was a coward who preferred to let others fight his battles whenever possible.

"But we don't know that Lannon is dead," said Furlus. "They may keep him alive and try to learn his secrets. They may try to infect him with the Deep Shadow and persuade him to join their cause."

"Then we've failed on the deepest level," said Shennen. "For if they convert Lannon to their side, we will surely lose this war."

"Not necessarily," said Furlus. "Lannon may also regain his strength and escape before they ever get him to Dorok's Hand. He is very powerful and well trained, his sorcery unknown to them."

"And we still have the White Flamestone," Vannas reminded them. "The loss of Lannon is terrible, yet hope remains."

Trenton scowled. "I am so weary of you Squires speaking as if you've been granted Knighthood-as if you are members of the High Council. You're too young to know anything, and I must ask that you remain silent!"

Vannas glared back at him, but said nothing.

"I believe we have the right to talk, Trenton," said Jerret.

"Well, you don't!" Trenton snarled. "Especially you , Jerret. No worthwhile statement ever emerges from your mouth. You're nothing but a bumbling barbarian of a Squire, no better than those Legion Soldiers."

Jerret didn't bother to reply. Trenton was simply never going to like him or respect him, so there was no point in arguing with the Investigator.

"They have a right to speak," said Furlus. "They are members of the Divine Shield, Trenton. And Vannas is a Birlote prince and deserves greater respect."

"Thank you, Master Furlus," Vannas said, bowing.

"Members of a Divine Shield hold special rank," Furlus went on, "Squires or not. Try to come to terms with that, Trenton."

" What Divine Shield?" said Trenton. "Who are we protecting? Lannon is gone. We might as well dissolve it."

"Not as long as Vannas rides with us," said Furlus. "The Divine Essence blessed us with the White Flamestone and chose its bearer. As rough as things have been, this army was sent forth with the blessing of our god. That cannot be ignored."

"I understand that," said Trenton, "but perhaps even a god can be wrong. And are we really expected to serve blindly? Aren't Divine Knights supposed to question everything and seek the truth?"

"Trenton makes a good point," said Shennen. "The Divine Essence has been wrong before. So why can't our god be questioned?"

Furlus slammed his fist down. "Our god is never to be questioned. Its wisdom is far beyond that of us mortals. When the Divine Essence speaks, we obey. I am the commander of this army, and my word is final."

"And what is your word, oh Tower Master?" said Trenton, mockery in his voice. "To what grim end shall you send us?"