William grappled for a moment with the huge pirate, trying to pull the amulet from his neck. Then Bear reached back with a thundering blow, and clubbed William aside.
William landed hard on the ground, his armor transmitting the shock through his body, but still he rolled and came to his feet.
Bear leapt up quickly, and with an evil smile said, “Bravely done, boy. For that alone I’ll kill you quickly.”
William looked up to the ledge above where Sidi stood watching. “Help me!”
Sidi shrugged. “I said get the amulet, lad, and I’d help you. Without it, you’re on your own.” He looked contrite.
Frustration overwhelmed William and he shouted, “Kahooli! You said I’d not be alone!”
Bear laughed. “Kahooli? You call upon a lesser god!” He held up his amulet, and pointed to where the Tear rested in the sand. “With this amulet I’m invincible. With the Tear in my possession, I’ll have the power of the gods. I will be a god!”
William again threw back his head. “Kahooli, give me vengeance!”
A loud keening sound commenced, causing James, Jazhara, and several of the pirates to cover their ears in pain. Even Bear was forced to step away from the source. Only William seemed unaffected by the shrill whine. Then a form appeared between Bear and William, translucent and pale, but recognizable.
“Talia!” William breathed.
The girl smiled and said, “You are not alone, William.”
She moved toward William and stepped into his body. He glowed with the light of the apparition and his armor seemed to flow and shift over him.
Before everyone’s astonished eyes, William was transformed. He grew in stature so that his already-broad shoulders became even more massive. The armor darkened from the silver chain of a Krondorian officer to a blood-red plate so dark it bordered on black. A helm appeared over his head, hiding all his features, and the eye-slits glowed with a crimson light. A voice that was neither William’s nor Talia’s, spoke: “I am Kahooli. I am the God of Vengeance.”
The figure raised its hand and a sword of flames appeared. With a blindingly quick blow, the blade cut across Bear’s arm.
Bear flinched and retreated, his good eye wide with astonishment. “I’m bleeding! I can feel pain!”
He pulled out his sword and struck at the figure in red, and shock ran up his arm as the incarnation of the god took the blow. Then Kahooli’s avatar slashed out and Bear looked down to see a wide bleeding cut on his chest. Staggering backward, Bear cried, “No, this cannot be!”
Bear swung again, but one more time the spirit of the God of Vengeance, manifested in William’s body, took the blow and turned it. Then with a straight thrust, it ran its sword up to the hilt in Bear’s stomach.
Bear sank to his knees, clutching the flaming blade. “No,” he said in disbelief. “You said this couldn’t happen. I can’t die. You promised me! You said I’d never die!” He fell over on the sand, his one eye staring at the night sky. “You said . . . I couldn’t. . . die . . .”
The figure stood above him for a moment, looking down, then it shimmered and transformed itself back into the shape of William.
The young warrior staggered, as if suddenly weak. He dropped to his knees and looked around. The shade of Talia appeared once more. Softly he said to her, “We did it, Talia. It’s over.”
The spirit of the young girl smiled at him. “And now I may rest. Thank you, William.”
William’s cheeks were wet with his tears. “Talia, no! Please stay.
As she faded from sight, Talia’s spirit whispered, “No, William. Life is for the living. You have a long life ahead of you and I must take my new place upon the wheel. Say good-bye to me, please.”
Just before she vanished, for the briefest instant, she seemed to shine with a bright light. She reached out and her hand touched William’s cheek. Then she faded from view.
Tears running down his face, William said softly, “Goodbye, Talia.”
James looked around and saw that Bear’s remaining men had fled. He put up his sword and saw that Solon had safely gathered up the Tear.
James and Jazhara moved to where the still-kneeling warrior rested. James said, “Well done, Will. She is avenged.”
Jazhara placed her hand gently on William’s shoulder. “And the Tear is safe.”
William said, “So it is true what he said about the Tear?”
“And more,” said Solon. “The Tear commands great power, and you’ve seen to it that its power will not be used for evil.” He held tightly to the case containing the Tear. “However, this was only a minor skirmish. The war is not yet won.”
Jazhara said, “What of Bear’s amulet?”
“It’s too powerful an artifact to leave here,” said Kendaric.
James used his sword to pick it up. “I wouldn’t touch this for any price,” he said. “It seems to bring out the vicious side of a man’s nature.”