The Finisher

” “But aren’t there referees?” 280 “O’course, but I think they’re all so afraid of him. If he says he’s of proper age, they’re not about to challenge him, are they?” I continued to fume. “That is the biggest load of tripe.

Fine, who else?” “Non. Ran Digby. Cletus Loon. Lots of blokes.

” “But none so big as you.

” “Most ain’t. But it’s not only the big ones you have to look out for, Vega Jane. The little blokes are quick and cagey and they pack a wallop. My last Duelum, I almost got knocked out by a bloke half me size.

” “How?” “Threw dirt in me eyes and then hit me with a board he had hidden on the pitch.

” My eyes bulged. “They can do that?” He looked at me in exasperation. “Don’t you watch the Duelums, Vega Jane?” “Well, just the championship bout. Sometimes.

” The truth was I could not stand to see Wugs trying to kill each other. The last time I had watched Delph win, I was violently sick as blood flowed from him and the other Wug.

He nodded. “Aye, they don’t let you fight as dirty in the last round, to be sure, because the full Council is watching.

But to get there, you got to expect anything.

” He went into a crouch again, keeping his hands up and his arms tight to his sides. “Protect your body, Vega Jane. A blow to the belly or your side is right painful.

” He held his fists up higher. “And watch your head. Hard to fight with a cracked skull.

” I began to feel sick to my stomach. “A cracked skull?” 281 “Got one two Duelums ago. Had a headache for a half a session.

” My mouth had gone totally dry. “How can I protect my body and my head at the same time?” I croaked.

“Just got to keep moving.

” He danced around a bit on nimble feet, showing more agility than I would have allowed him credit for, given his size.

He said, “You can hit a bloke with anything. Fists, head, legs, knees.

” “And boards,” I reminded him.

“Now, when you get hit —” “So you’re presuming I’m going to get hit?” I interrupted.

He said matter-of-factly, “Every bloke gets hit in a Duelum. In fact, count on about a dozen times a bout. Mean- ing the hard shots. ’Bout fifty times total, but I don’t count the little shots that just make you wonky for a bit.

” I wanted to turn and run screaming.

“When you get hit, no matter how light or hard, I would recommend you going down.

” At first I rejoiced at this proposition, but then I recalled Morrigone’s words. If I did not fight to my fullest, I would be going to Valhall for the rest of my sessions. But Delph’s next words showed he was not planning for me to surrender.

“Going down dinnae means you’ve lost the bout, Vega Jane. The bloke will just jump on you and pound you till you can’t see or hear nothing no more. It hurts,” he added unnec- essarily. “Now, ’tis true if you put both your hands up in surrender, the bout is over and no Wug can hit you without getting a foul called.

” 282 “I can’t surrender, Delph,” I said. And I thought, No matter how much I may want to.

“You’re nae surrendering, Vega Jane. What you do is go down in a special way. Like this.

” He fell onto his back, his knees tucked up to his chest.

He continued. “Just about every bloke will come at you hard soon as you go down. He’ll charge head-on at you. Now, you wait till he’s just a wee bit away and then you do this.

” Delph kicked out with both feet with such force that I jumped back even though I was in no danger of being hit. In the next instant, he was on his feet. He leapt into the air and came down with both feet on top of his imaginary opponent.

Then he jumped up again and came down with his right arm in the shape of a V and his elbow pointed downward. He sprawled on the ground with his elbow poised a quarter inch above the dirt.

“That’s the bloke’s throat. Elbow strike there he can’t breathe, can he? He passes out. And you win. And go on to the next round. Clean and quick. Har.

” I felt my own throat constrict. “But if he can’t breathe, won’t he die?” I said in a dry, cracked voice.

Delph rose and dusted off his trousers and hands. “Well, most blokes start breathing on their own pretty quick. For those what need a bitta help, there’re Mendens standing by to come over and beat on their chests. That usually does the trick. Sometimes they have to cut open the throat to get the air flowing again, but the scar is pretty small and it don’t bleed all that much.

” I turned around and heaved the meager contents of my belly into a bush.

283 I felt Delph’s big hands around my shoulders a moment later. He supported me while I finished being sick. I wiped my mouth and turned to face him, my cheeks red with embarrassment.

“Delph, I had no idea the Duelums were like this. And you winning three of them already? Well, that’s about the most amazing thing ever.

” His face flushed with pleasure at my praising words.

“ ’Tain’t all that special,” he said modestly.

“But what you’ve taught me will help.

” I didn’t believe this of course, because even if I jumped off the tallest tree in Wormwood and landed on Non’s throat, I doubt he would even cough.

“This is just the start, Vega Jane. There’s a lot more for you to learn. And you’ve got to build up your strength too.

” “I’m pretty strong.

” “That’s not good enough.

” “How do I get stronger? I work all light at Stacks building straps for the Wall. When will I have a sliver? I have to sleep.

” “We’ll think of a way.

” “When will we know who we have to fight?” “They’ll post the first bouts seven nights before the Duelum starts,” he replied.

We worked some more on various moves and strategies until I was exhausted.

Before taking my leave, I glanced over at the adar.

“Delph, that adar —” “Dad’s been having no end of trouble with the durn thing,” he grumbled.

“What kind of trouble?” 284 Delph would not meet my eye. “Saying things we got no idea where he heard ’em. Dad says some adars have minds of their own, they do.

” “But Adars can’t naturally stutter, can —” “Gotta go, Vega Jane.

” And then he disappeared into his cottage and closed the door tight.

285 T R I G I N T A D U O A Single Care Next light, i rose early. I wanted to get out of Wormwood proper before other Wugs got up.

As Harry Two and I walked down the cobblestones, we passed an old Wug I didn’t know but had seen before. He glared at me and aimed a slop of spit at my boot. I hopped away and kept going, my head down. Obviously, word had gotten around about my arrest and sentencing to fight in the Duelum. It might be that the entire village loathed me now, although it was hard to fathom that Wugs could turn against me so quickly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Roman Picus coming down the cobblestones. I braced myself for his insults and slurs. But he did something that bruised me even more. He pulled down his hat and cut between two buildings, appar- ently so he would not have to talk to or perhaps be seen with me.

I kept shuffling along, my energy sapped, and I had a full light of work ahead.


As I passed the Loons, Hestia Loon stepped out to put some rubbish in the dustbin. I tried not to make eye contact, but she called out, “Vega?” I stopped, fearing the worst. Hestia had always been nice to me, but she was under Loon’s thumb completely. I eyed the broom in her hand and wondered if she was going to take a swat at me.

“Yes?” I said quietly.

She walked over, gave Harry Two a pat and said, “ ’Tis a beautiful canine.

” My spirits lifted a bit at her kind words. “Thank you. His name is Harry Two.

” She glanced up at me, her features hardening. “It’s rub- bish, what they’re saying ’bout you. Know that as well as I know me own frying pan.

” I felt my face grow warm and moisture crept into my eyes. I hastily rubbed this away and continued to stare at her.

She looked over her shoulder back at the Loons and came forward, drawing something from her pocket. She held it up.

It was a little chain with a metal disc on the end.

“Me mum gave this to me when I was but a nipper. For good luck, they say.

” I looked at her in confusion. She hurried on. “Luck, for in the Duelum. Heard you had to fight. Bloody mental Council is, ask me, but no Wug did.

” She gripped my hand and placed the good luck charm in it and curled my fingers over it.

“You take this, Vega Jane. You take this and you beat them males. I know you can do it. Bloody Outliers! Like you’d be helping them, and your grandfather being Virgil Alfadir Jane. Bloody mental, that’s what they are. Barmy, the lot of ’em.

” 287 She looked down at my thin, dirty frame, and I saw her heavy cheeks start to quiver. “Give me a mo’,” she said.

She nipped into the Loons and was back a half sliver later with a small cloth bag. She handed it to me. “Just between us,” she said and gave my cheek a pinch. Then she was gone.

I looked in the bag and saw a loaf of freshly baked bread, two apples, a jar of pickles and a wedge of cheese and two sausages. My stomach rumbled in anticipation of devour- ing it.

I looked at the charm she had given me. The disc of metal was copper and had the image of a star with seven points to it. I lifted it over my head, and the chain settled around my neck. I stared back at the Loons and found Hestia peering at me from a window. She disappeared quickly when she saw me looking.

I continued on, my spirits heartened by her gesture of kindness.

When I got to my tree I stopped, dropped my tin and cloth bag, and ran forward screaming.

“No. No!” I yelled. “That’s my tree.

” There were four Wugs, all males, all twice my size. One of them was Non. He had an ax and was about to strike my tree a vicious blow. Two other Wugs stood ready with a long saw, while the fourth Wug had a morta, which he now pointed at me while Harry Two growled and snapped at him.

They were going to chop down my tree.

Non stopped, but still holding the ax up high, he said viciously, “Traitors dinnae get to have trees, female.

” He started his downswing with the huge ax.

288 “No,” I screamed. “You can’t. You can’t.

” I paused and then said, “You won’t!” Non hit my tree with a staggering blow, and the most amazing thing happened. There was not a dent or cut in the bark. Instead, the ax broke in half and fell to the ground.

Non stood there looking in disbelief at where he had hit my tree and then down at his shattered tool.

“What the Hel?” he roared. He pointed at the two Wugs holding the long saw and motioned them forward while the other Wug cocked the hammer back on his morta and kept it pointed at my head.

I just stood there, staring at my tree, willing with all my heart for it to survive this unjust attack. Even if I were a traitor — which I wasn’t — my poor tree should not suffer.

The two Wugs set the saw’s teeth against my tree’s bark and started to cut. Or they tried to. The teeth disintegrated against the trunk.

The Wugs straightened and looked in puzzlement at their ruined saw.

Non stared fiercely over at me. “What sort of tree is this?” he demanded.

“It’s my tree,” I said, pushing past the Wug holding the morta. “Now clear off.

” “It’s bedeviled,” exclaimed Non. “You’re working with them Outliers. Evil scum. They’ve bedeviled this tree, they have!” “That is utter nonsense.

” We all looked around and saw Thansius standing about five yards from us. He was dressed in a long gray cloak. He 289 held a long stick in one massive hand, and I imagined he had gone for an early light walk.

“A bedeviled tree?” said Thansius as he drew nearer and looked up at my beautiful poplar. “How do you mean?” Non shuffled his feet nervously and kept his gaze down- cast. The other Wugs had all taken steps back and were studying the ground. I’m sure none of them had ever been in conversation with Thansius.

Non said haltingly, “Well, Thansius . . . sir, ax and . . .

and saw don’t touch it, did they . . . sir?” “Easily explained,” said Thansius, looking at me.

He rapped my tree with his knuckles. “You see, over time some trees that are ancient become petrified. That is to say their bark hardens to such a degree that it becomes stron- ger than iron. It’s no wonder your tools fell victim to its armored husk.

” He picked up the pieces of the broken ax and the tooth- less saw and handed them back to Non and the other two Wugs. “I would say that this tree will still be standing when we are all long since dust.

” He looked directly at Non. “So be off with you, Non. I’m sure you and your colleagues have labors on the Wall to perform.

” Non and his cronies hastily made their way down the path and were soon out of sight.

I touched my tree’s bark and then looked at the boards I had nailed into it leading up to my planks. How could I have nailed into it if it were petrified? I looked at Thansius and was about to ask this very query when he said, “It is quite a magnificent tree, Vega. It would have been a terrible shame to see it perish.

” 290 In his features I could tell that he wasn’t talking only about my tree. He was also referring to me.

I wanted to tell Thansius that I was not a traitor and that I never would have used the map to help anything that wanted to hurt Wormwood. But he had already turned away and walked off. I watched him until I could no longer see him. I turned to my tree and gave it a hug.

i worked at Stacks all light long, and after finishing, I helped transport a shipment of straps by wagon pulled by two cretas to the section of the Wall that was currently being completed. As I helped lift the heavy straps off, I was thinking this was a great way for me to build up my strength — if I didn’t die of exhaustion first.

Even I had to admit, the Wall was quite a feat of Wug craftsmanship and engineering. I did a count and there were two hundred Wugs currently working on this section. The construction was run in shifts all light and night, with the darkness illuminated by lanterns and torches so Wugs could see what they were doing. Yet there had already been injuries, some minor, others serious. One Wug had even died when he had fallen off the top of a Wall section and landed on his head, breaking his neck. He’d been buried in a special section of the Hallowed Ground now reserved for Wugs who gave their life for the Wall. All Wugs were praying there would be no more such sacrifices and that section would remain fixed forever at one grave.


As I finished unloading the straps, I stayed to look around.

The Wall rose up well over thirty feet. The timbers were thick, stripped of their bark, planed and mitered. Straps that I 291 had finished were wound around the logs and locked down tightly through the punch holes, giving the wood a strength and stability it would not otherwise have had.

The guard towers at this section were unfinished, but I could see where the Wugs with mortas would stand looking for Outliers, ostensibly. Though I now envisioned these same Wugs shooting down other Wugs trying to get over the Wall.

The moats were dug but not yet filled in with water. They would be filled last, I reasoned, so the workers wouldn’t get mired in the muck.

The activity was frenetic, but seemed well coordinated, with focused Wugs marching here and there with tools and materials. As I continued to gaze around, I spotted John on a raised platform with lit torches all around, overseeing the construction. Next to him were three members of Council and two other Wugs I knew were good at building things.

I had a notion to go over and speak to John but then thought better of it. What did I have to say to him that I had not already said? It was startling to me how quickly my many sessions with John had been efficiently overridden by his time under Morrigone’s wing. Or claw, more like it. And yet she had saved my life. I was terribly conflicted about her. Was she my ally or not? I walked over to the large holes dug for the water and gazed down at them. Another Wug came up to me, carrying some tools.

“When will the water be piped in here?” I asked.

He looked down at the hole. “They say in six more lights and nights, but I don’t see how. We’re behind schedule.

” 292 John’s comment came back to me about the timetable. “It seems that Wugs are working as hard as they can,” I said.

“Tell that to them,” said the Wug, motioning to the plat- form where John was. The Wug looked back at me. “ ’Tis your brother, ain’t he?” “He is.

” The Wug stared hard at me. “Then you have my pity.

” As he started to walk off, I grabbed his arm. “What do you mean by that?” “Only that he works us harder every light and night. It don’t matter to him how tired or sick we are or that our fami- lies need us. He flat-out don’t care, does he?” “I thought he was just working on the plans?” The Wug shook his head. “For a young, he acts very old.

And he’s mean. I know you’re family and all, but that’s just how I feel and I don’t care who knows.

” Scowling, he stalked off leaving me staring at the ground, thinking many things and none of them pleasant. I glanced back over at John, my spirits about as low as they could go.

Even as I watched, he started pointing and yelling at a group of Wugs who were struggling with a heavy timber. John rushed down to them and started gesticulating at them. The Wugs looked stonily at him, any response they might have had no doubt muted by the large Wugs armed with mortas who stood behind John.

I walked up to John, who was still raging at the Wugs standing there with the log balanced precariously over their weary shoulders. I said, “Why don’t you let them put it down, John, while you tell them what you want?” 293 He turned to me, an expression of great annoyance on his face. At first, I didn’t think he even recognized me.

“We don’t have time for that!” he exclaimed. “We’re already behind this light, and night crew will be here in slivers.

” “And these Wugs have been working hard all light. You’ll be even more behind schedule if Wugs start getting sick or injured from being overworked.

” “It is not your place to give orders,” he said, gazing ston- ily at me.

“Maybe it isn’t. But I’m the only family you have left.

” He gave me a condescending look. “Have you forgotten the Care?” I knew I shouldn’t do it, but at this point I was no longer concerned about John’s feelings. Besides, I wasn’t sure he had any left. And I was destined to either get my brains bashed in fighting in the Duelum or die in Valhall.

“As I said, I’m the only family you have. There is no one you know left at the Care. I thought Morrigone would have told you by now. Our parents both suffered Events. There is of course nothing left of them.

” With that I turned on my heel and marched away.

I didn’t care, I just really didn’t.

But, as it turned out, I should have.

For a lot of reasons.

294 T R I G I N T A T R E S Foes United The next six lights and nights followed a uniform pattern. I worked all light at Stacks and then on the Wall. After that, Delph and I practiced my Duelum skills late into the night. He had put together a long pole with the ends weighted by bundles of rocks. He had me lift that over my head and put it on my shoulders and squat down to build up my upper and lower body. My limbs hurt so badly the next light, I cried out in pain after I tried to get off my cot. But I kept doing it. Wanting to live is a great motivator.

At first we were at his digs, then we moved to the forest, and sometimes we fought inside my digs, occasionally knock- ing over my few pieces of furniture and scaring Harry Two half to death.

On the seventh light after Thansius had made his announcement about the Duelum, I was passing Cletus Loon and his git chums on the way to my digs after work. I stopped when Loon stepped in front of me while his chums made a crude circle around me. Harry Two started growling and the hair on his back rose as they closed in on us. I patted Harry Two on the head and told him it was okay.

Cletus said, “So you have to fight in the Duelum or else you’ll rot in Valhall for being a traitor.

” I stood there with as bored a look on my face as I could manage. Even his simple mind finally seemed to grasp that he would either have to say something else or shove off.

Cletus finally said, “You know what I wish, Vega?” “I don’t want to try and see inside your head, Loon; I might go blind.

” “I wish that I draw you in the first round of the Duelum.

” His friends laughed while I stood there staring at Cletus like he was not worth a sliver of my time.

Finally I said, “Be careful what you wish for, Loon; you might just get it.

” He got right in my face. “I can’t wait to see you get your bum kicked and I hope I’m the one to do it.

” “I suppose you’ve got some brilliant moves you’re itching to try out.

” “You bet I do,” he said, grinning maliciously.

I waited patiently for Cletus to do what I knew he was going to do. What he so desperately wanted to do.

He feinted with his right hand, swung his left to within an inch of my cheek and then pretended to knee me in the stomach.

I just stood there stoically, not even batting an eye.

His grin finally disappeared. “You best watch yourself.

” “Right,” I said.

He stepped to the side, allowing me to pass. I walked on with Harry Two protecting my flank.

“Thanks, you idiot,” I said under my breath.

I heard Wugs calling out farther down the Low Road where it turned into the High Street cobblestones leading 296 into Wormwood proper. Other Wugs were rushing toward that destination as well. I picked up my pace to see what was going on. I turned onto the High Street and saw that Wugs were collecting around a wooden board that was used for official announcements.


Then it occurred to me. The first Duelum bouts were being posted this night! I sprinted hard down the cobble- stones and pushed my way through hordes of Wugs until I could see the long parchment strips pinned to the wood. I ran my eye down the list of names, finally reaching my name near the bottom. As I gazed across at my opponent for the first bout, my mouth twitched.

Cletus Loon indeed would be getting his wish. I had drawn him in the first round. I would have to fight and win four times to reach the championship match. Not that I expected, despite Delph’s encouragement, to get that far.

Yet I knew one thing. I was going to beat Cletus Loon.

That would be enough for me. I prayed the other females in the competition would survive the first round reasonably intact.

I then looked for Delph’s name and found it less than a sliver later. In the first bout, he would be fighting the huge, vile Ran Digby, the patrol Wug who liked to chew his smoke weed and catch yuck in his great, filthy beard.

A hand grabbed my arm. I turned to see Jurik Krone. I pulled my arm free and stared up at him. I could sense other Wugs giving us space, but staring all the same.

“Madame Morrigone has no doubt told you of your lucky escape from justice,” he snarled.

“Lucky,” I said in a scathing tone. “Lucky to fight males three times my size so they can beat me to death?” 297 In a loud voice he proclaimed, “I would much prefer to see you in Valhall, traitor. Or with your head no longer attached. That would be real justice.

” Okay, enough was bloody well enough. Now it was my turn.

“And I would much prefer to see my grandfather sitting on Council instead of a stupid git like you.

” The Wugs surrounding us gave a gasp and took a collec- tive step back.

I stepped forward. It had been a long light; I was tired and I was simply mad. And if I did not speak my piece right now, I felt like I would explode.

I pressed my finger into his chest. “My grandfather saw you for what you are and that’s why he didn’t want you on Council. You are a vindictive little weasel that would make a garm seem honorable. All you care about is yourself and your career and to Hel with every other Wug. I’ve met some pil- locks in my time, Krone — some nasty, stupid pillocks of the highest order — but you, you beat them all, you lying, worth- less piece of dung.

” I turned away, but only for an instant. I whirled back around and said, “Oh, and for the record” — now my voice rose to a shriek — “the only thing I’m sorry for is that your bum is not in the Duelum so I could kick it from here to the Quag. Now go straight to Hel!” I turned around for good and stalked off. I hoped and prayed to Steeples that Krone would attack me because I was so furious that I would not only knock him to the Quag, I would knock the Wug right through it.

I stopped only when I saw Delph staring at me from across the cobblestones. From his stunned expression, it was clear he had seen and heard everything.

298 I walked over to him.

“Bloody Hel, Vega Jane,” he began. “And Jurik Krone no less.

” “I don’t want to talk about Krone, Delph. He is nothing.

” I watched as Krone and a couple of his Council confeder- ates, including Duk Dodgson, shoved through the crowd of Wugs and headed to the Council building. Krone shot me a loathsome look and then he disappeared from my sight.

I turned back to Delph. “Did you know Ran Digby is your first opponent?” Delph smiled. “He best hope he has teeth left to spit his slop through.

” “Well, he only has three of them that I can see. I got Cletus Loon.

” “You’ll beat him, Vega Jane. I’ll make sure of it.

” In truth, I wasn’t all that worried about fighting Cletus Loon. What I was thinking about was my meeting with John.

I had told him that our parents were gone. I had not even waited to see his reaction. That had been so cruel on my part and I felt terrible guilt for having done it. My Duelum dilemma was a distant second to that. He was not yet twelve sessions.

He might know books. But he did not know life.

Delph touched me on the shoulder and lifted me from these painful musings.

“Vega Jane? You okay?” “I’m fine, Delph.

” He drew closer. “You want to practice this night?” I wanted to, but I shook my head. “Not this night, Delph.

This night I need to rest.

” 299 He looked disappointed, then nodded, turned and walked off.

I watched him go for a bit and then set off. Not for my digs and my last meal. I was headed to the Care with Harry Two beside me. I wasn’t sure why I was going, because my parents were no longer there. But something inside me was telling me I had to go.

When we arrived there, rain started pelting down. Harry Two glanced up at me a few times, probably wondering why we were out in the driving rain. It was cold and I started shiv- ering. I finally stirred and headed to the doors. I had no idea if they would open. I had never been here this late at night. I pushed on the wood and, surprisingly, it opened. I poked my head into the darkened corridor.

My canine kept close to my shins. He wasn’t growling or making any sound at all. He seemed as intimidated as I felt. I moved past all the other wooden doors with the brass plates on them. They were familiar names, but there were also a few new ones as fresh sick Wugs took the place of Wugs who had made their final journey to the Hallowed Ground from this place.

I reached my parents’ old room and gazed up at the brass plate. Or where the plate had once been. Now all I could see was the outline of the brass rectangle that had once read hector jane and helen jane.

I spoke the names out loud as I had every time I had vis- ited them for two sessions. I had grown weary of doing so, though now that they were gone, I wasn’t weary anymore.

I knew this would be truly the last time I would do so. But I would only be visiting an empty room.

300 However, when I pushed open the unlocked door I was immediately aware of the presence of someone else huddled in the corner. The room was no longer illuminated. It was as if when my parents left, they had taken the mysterious light with them. But I could still make the shape out.

It was John.

301 T R I G I N T A Q U A T T U O R Magical Me John didn’t look up as I walked in. I just heard his sobs. I drew closer and looked at the empty cots before returning my gaze to him. He didn’t look remotely like the grand special assistant to Council who was running rough- shod over the poor Wugs building the Wall. Even with his scalped hair and fancy clothes, he looked like a little male Wug who was totally lost.

I went to him, wrapped my long arms around him and held him. Harry Two sat on his haunches while I did so, all the while maintaining a respectful silence. I said things to John that I had said to him pretty much every light growing up. That everything would be okay. That he would always have me. That he should not be sad, for the next light would be better.

When I heard the door creak open about fifteen slivers later, I knew who it was before I saw her. Morrigone came into the room and walked directly over to John.

“It’s time to go, John,” she said, without looking at me.

He stifled his sobs and nodded, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his pristine black tunic. Morrigone put a hand on his arm, drawing him to her. I did not let go of his other arm.

I said, “Let him cry. They’re gone. Let him cry.

” Morrigone gave me what I can only describe as a wither- ing look and I decided to give it right back. She leaned in close and said, “We have you to thank for this, Vega.


” I walked away from John and stood waiting for her in a far corner. It was about time we had this out, I had decided.

I’d had my say with Krone this light and now it was Morrigone’s turn. She strode over to me. I must have grown a bit because I noted that without her heels, I would be taller than her. Yet even in my faded, falling-apart work boots, I was not far off her height. I stood as straight as possible, trying to match her loftiness.

“I appreciated very much what you did for me with Coun- cil, as I told you.

” “You have an utterly perplexing way of showing that gratitude. John has come here every night since you told him what you promised me you would not.

” I pointed at John. “It was wrong to keep this truth from him.

” “You are not the one to make that sort of judgment.

” “And you are?” I said, the skepticism as thick in my tone as I could make it.

“It seems that you have forgotten your place here, Vega.

” “I didn’t know that I had a place, so thank you for reserv- ing me one.

” “That sort of talk does you no credit. Not while your brother is huddled in that corner, crying his heart out night after night. It is shameful what you did.

” “He should be crying his heart out. I did.

” 303 “You disappoint me. I thought you were made of stronger stuff.

” “Like my grandfather?” “Virgil had a tremendous will.

” “I suppose he would have needed that to survive the fire that swallowed him on his last night here.

” It was as though my words had turned Morrigone to marble. I could not even swear that she was still breathing.

When she spoke, her words were like morta rounds.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” Warning signals in my head were blaring, telling me to stop talking. But I couldn’t and wouldn’t. I didn’t care if she had saved me from beheading or Valhall. I did care that she had made me keep from my brother a truth that she never should have asked me to withhold. And she had turned a warm, loving, trusting Wug into something I could no longer recognize.

“Tell me something, Morrigone, how did it feel to watch my grandfather disappear into the flames? Despite you not wanting him to go?” I stared at her. The look on her face was deadly.

She said in an icy tone, “You must be careful, Vega Jane.

You must be very careful at this very sliver.

” I had to admit that her words sent a chill up my spine. I happened to glance away and for the first time noticed that John had stopped weeping and was watching us intently.

“Morrigone?” he began.

She instantly held up her hand, and my brother fell back, his next words seemingly struck from his lips before they 304 had a chance to fully form. This simple gesture enraged me even more.

I had no intention of backing down now.

I said, “You once taunted me with the word time. But I wonder if you fully understand all that I know? All that I have seen over the course of time?” Again, I knew I should have stopped right there, but I wanted to stun her. I wanted to make her feel the pain I was feeling. And there was something else. Just an instant before it had all come together in my head — the ancient battlefield and the dying female warrior. Now, I knew where I had seen her before. I knew beyond all doubt.

“I met a female who looked remarkably like you, Morrigone, lying mortally wounded on a great battlefield.

Do you know what she told me? What she gave me?” “You lie!” she hissed.

“She was your Wug ancestor and she died right in front of me. She spoke to me. She knew me!” “This cannot be true,” gasped Morrigone, her calm exte- rior having totally collapsed.

I said, “Have you ever been chased by a flying jabbit or a creature so gigantic it can block out the sun, Morrigone? They’re called colossals. It’s quite exhilarating. So long as you survive it. And I did. Does that make me as special as John? Does that place me in the same league as my grandfather in your eyes?” “You are deluded.

” “She wore a ring. The same ring that my grandfather had.

” Morrigone gasped and snapped, “What did she say to you?” 305 “What was her name?” I countered.

“What did she say to you?” she shouted.

I hesitated and then just said it. “That I had to survive.

Me, Vega Jane. That I had to survive.

” With a monumental effort Morrigone regained her com- posure and said icily, “John deserves better in a sibling, Vega. He does indeed. Consider yourself very fortunate this night.

” She turned on her heel and marched off.

John said to me, “I will miss them. I will miss them greatly.

” Then, before I could respond, he turned and followed Morrigone.

I stood there for a while staring at the floor. Then I finally left, Harry Two at my side. The carriage had long since gone, taking John back to his new life. I was glad he had come here each night to grieve. I was happy I had told him. It was the right thing to do, Wall or no Wall.

When I got back to my digs, I just wanted to col- lapse. But when I entered my room, I nearly screamed.

Morrigone was standing by the fireplace, her hand on the slender wooden chimneypiece, so far less impressive than the one at her grand home. I looked around for John, but he wasn’t there.

It was just Morrigone. And me. She came forward.

“Where is Bogle and the carriage?” I said.

She ignored this. “The things you said back at the Care.

” “What of them?” I said.

Harry Two was growling more deeply with every step 306 Morrigone took toward me. I put my hand on his head to calm him but I kept my gaze on Morrigone.

“You cannot know such things.

” “But I do know such things,” I said.

“Those are two very different points,” she replied.

In an instant I knew exactly what she meant. I couldn’t be allowed to remember these things. And thus I also knew what she was about to do. It was the same thing she had done to Delph and me all those sessions ago. Her hand went up. My hand darted to my pocket. Her hand came down.

My hand went up. On my hand was the glove, and in it was the Elemental, at full size. The red light ricocheted off the golden spear, struck my window and shattered all of the glass.

Both of us stood there, breathless. The look in Morrigone’s eyes was truly hideous. She was no longer beautiful. She was the most ugly Wug I had ever witnessed.

Her gaze darted to the fully formed Elemental.

“Where did you get that?” she demanded in a hiss.

“From your ancestor Wug,” I shot back. “She gave it to me. Before she died.

” Now I took a step forward and Morrigone drew back.

“What was her name?” I asked, holding the Elemental at the ready.

“You do not realize what you have done, Vega,” she said fiercely. “You do not!” “Why not the blue light this time too, Morrigone? Why the red light? The same one you used on poor Delph.

” “You have no idea what you are doing, Vega.

” 307 “I have every idea,” I shouted back.

“I will not let you destroy us!” “Where do Wugs go when they have their Events, Morrigone? They have to go somewhere. And I think you know. And it sure as Hel isn’t Wormwood.

” She was shaking her head and backing up. “No, Vega. No.

” I raised the Elemental and positioned it to throw. “You know what this can do,” I said. “I have no wish to harm you.