From out of the inner door. Father John reappeared, holding a large metal staff topped with an odd-looking seven-sided device. He stepped before Arutha, who was trying to move to aid Gardan, and shouted, “No! You can do nothing.”
Something in his voice told Arutha it was futile to engage the thing, and the Prince retreated a step. The Abbot turned to confront the conjured creature.
Jimmy crawled out from under the wagon and came to his feet. He knew the uselessness of drawing his dirk. Seeing the supine figure of Brother Micah, he ran to see how he fared. The old monk was still senseless, and Jimmy pulled him back toward the relative safety of the wagon. Gardan hacked uselessly at the creature while it played with him.
Jimmy cast about and saw the mystic hammer of Brother Micah lying off to one side. He dove for it and grabbed the haft on the fly, coming to rest on his stomach, eyes upon the monster. The thing had not noticed the boy’s recovery of the weapon. Jimmy felt surprise when he lifted it, for it was twice the weight he expected. He rose to his feet and ran to stand behind the monster, confronted by its foul, fur-covered hindquarters, arching above his head as it reached forward to grab Gardan.
The captain was seized in a mammoth hand that lifted him toward the widening mouth. Father John raised up his staff and suddenly waves of green and purple energy flowed from it, washing over the creature. It howled in pain and squeezed Gardan, who cried out in concert.
Martin shouted, “Stop! It’s crushing Gardan!”
The Abbot ceased his magic and the thing snorted as it tossed Gardan at the door, seeking to injure its tormentors. The captain slammed into Martin, Brother Anthony, and the Abbot, knocking them to the ground. Arutha and Laurie both sidestepped the flying bodies. The Prince turned to see the leering parody of Anita’s face bending toward the door. The creature’s wings prevented it from entering the abbey, but long arms came snaking through the door, reaching for Arutha.
Martin rose, helping the shaken Abbot and Brother Anthony to their feet. The archivist said, “Yes! Of course! The face in its chest! Kill it there!”
Martin had an arrow nocked in an instant, but the crouching thing hid the target. It reached through the door for Arutha, then suddenly it was sitting back on its haunches, howling in pain.
For an instant the face in the chest was visible, and Martin pulled back as he said, “Kilian guide my arrow,” and let fly. True to the aim, the shaft flew and struck the insane face in the chest square in the forehead. The eyes in that face rolled up and closed as red, human blood billowed from the wound. The creatures topped rock-still.
As all watched in wonder, the creature began to quiver. It grew instantly more brilliant in color as the lights within flashed rapidly. Then all could see it was becoming transparent, insubstantial, a thing of colored glowing smokes and gases, swirling in a mad dance as they slowly dissipated on the night wind. Their lights faded until once again the courtyard was empty and silent.
Arutha and Laurie came up to Gardan, who was still conscious. “What happened?” the Captain asked feebly.
All eyes turned to Martin. He indicated Brother Anthony, who responded, “It was something the Duke asked, how one of those things is made. All the foul arts to make such a being require some animal or human to work upon. That face was all that was left of the poor demented soul who had been used as a focus to create the monster. It was the only mortal part, subject to mundane injury, and when it was killed, the magic . . . unraveled.”
Martin said, “I’d not have made that shot had it not reared back like that.”
“Most fortunate,” said the Abbot.
“Fortune had little to do with it,” said a grinning Jimmy. He held Brother Micah’s hammer as he approached. “I stuck it up the arse.” He indicated the stunned Micah. “He’ll do all right,” he said as he gave the hammer to the Abbot.
Arutha was still shaken by the sight of Anita’s face atop that horror. Laurie, with a weak smile, said, “Father, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, have you some wine we might drink? That was the worst smell I’ve ever endured.”
“Ha!” Jimmy said indignantly. “You should have tried it from my end!”