‘Kaba, your father’s Shieldbearer, who told you what to say to your father. He said you were to say, “Father, I am here to serve the race, to avenge my brothers, and to do thy bidding.” ‘
Jatuk leaned back, turned his face to the sky, and screamed. It was an animal sound of pure rage and anguish. ‘We have been betrayed!’ he roared.
Without saying another word to Pug he turned to his companions. ‘Let it be known! Our bond is severed. We serve no one but the Saaur! Let death be the reward for those who have wronged us! Death to the Pantathians. Let no snake survive! Death to the Emerald Queen and her servants!’
Suddenly Saaur riders were heading back toward the city gate, and Jatuk said, ‘Human, when this is done, we will seek you out and make our peace, but there is a terrible debt of blood that must be paid!’
Tomas said, ‘Sha-shahan. Your warriors have known years of fighting. Put down your weapons. Withdraw from this fight. An army marches to this city to drive out the invaders. Step aside and let your wives and children know their fathers are returning to them alive.’
Holding his sword like a live thing, Jatuk’s eyes seemed alight. ‘This is Tual-masok, Blood Drinker in the ancient tongue. More than any other thing, it is the mark of my office and the badge of my people’s honor. It will not be put aside until this wrong is righted.’
Pug said, ‘Then know the Emerald Queen is dead. She was destroyed by a demon.’
Jatuk looked as if he could barely contain himself. ‘Demon! Demons destroyed our world!’
‘I know,’ said Pug, ‘and the demon is also dead.’
‘Then who is there to pay the price?’ demanded the Sha-shahan.
Tomas put away his sword. ‘No one. They are all dead. If there are any Pantathians alive they are hiding under the rocks of a distant land. The only ones left living are the victims, the tools, the dupes.’
The Saaur leader screamed in frustration to the skies. ‘I will have my revenge!’
Pug shook his head. ‘Spare your people, Jatuk!’
‘I will have blood for blood!’
Tomas said, ‘Then go, but leave this city in peace.’
Jatuk pointed his sword at Tomas. ‘My soldiers will depart, and no more will we trouble this place. But we are a nation without a home, and our honor is stained. Only by blood can we cleanse that stain.’ He turned his horse in the direction of the city gate and with a hard kick sent the giant mount heading for it.
The rest of his company followed after, and while the war in the city raged on, the southwest corner of Darkmoor was suddenly quiet. From behind the barricade a voice said, ‘Are they gone?’
Pug motioned and Owen Greylock climbed over a pile of furniture, grain sacks, and part of a wagon bed.
‘Magician!’ said Owen. ‘I think we owe you thanks.’
Pug said, ‘No thanks needed. There’s still fighting.’
‘If you got rid of the Saaur, we thank you.’ Owen shook his head. ‘Damn, but they are a handful.’
‘Well, they’re the invaders’ handful,’ said Tomas. ‘They’ve been told of their betrayal and they are not happy.’
Owen smiled. ‘That I can imagine. I’ve only seen a few Saaur up close, and they don’t strike me as having much of a sense of humor.’ He turned to the men behind him and said, ‘Spread out and see if you can find any more of our lads. The citadel is under attack, and I mean to hit the enemy from behind.’
Tomas pulled his sword. ‘I may be of some help.’
‘Glad to have you,’ said Owen. He glanced up and down Tomas’s impressive six inches over six feet and said, ‘How do you keep all that white clean?’
Tomas laughed. ‘It’s a long story.’
‘Tell me after the battle,’ said Owen, motioning for his small band of soldiers to follow him to the fighting around the citadel.
Pug said, ‘We’ll see you later.’ Tomas asked, ‘Where are you going?’
‘Inside the keep, to see if I can end this madness.’ Tomas nodded, turned and ran alongside Owen Greylock. Pug motioned for the others to hold hands. He fixed his vision upon the distant citadel, and then, they all vanished.
Manfred and Erik both looked up as a shout came from above. ‘What now?’ asked Erik, pulling his sword.
Men on the roof shouted, but now the tone was surprise rather than alarm. Manfred pulled his own sword and stepped between Prince Patrick and the door, in case the citadel had been breached.
Reaching a hall at the base of the keep’s old central stairwell, Erik saw Calis hurrying down the stone steps, with Nakor, Miranda and the others behind.
Erik grinned. ‘Captain!’
Calis returned his smile and said, ‘Captain.’
Erik said, ‘I am so pleased to see you. How did you get here?’
Calis pointed to Pug.
Erik said, ‘Magician!’ He looked relieved. ‘Is there anything you can do?’
Pug said, ‘Yes, I could kill every man outside the wall, but that includes any number of Kingdom soldiers fighting house to house. I would rather think of a way to stop the killing. The demon who led the Emerald Queen’s army is dead. The Lifestone is no more. There is no more reason for fighting.’