Prince Ilathor turned to the bladesinger. "Watch your tongue, bladesinger, else I have it removed." He waved to the hills around him. There were so many horsemen that they stretched in an unbroken line in either direction, as far as the eye could see. "There are plenty of men here who would be honoured to do the task for me."

"I'd like to see you try," Bartolo growled. He placed his hand on his zenblade.

Shani and Jehral both opened their mouths, but it was a newcomer's voice that rang out.

"Your Highness, a message." It was a courier.

"Give it to me," Prince Ilathor said. He swiftly broke the seal and scanned the contents of the scroll. He levelled his gaze on Bartolo triumphantly. "Your people are encountering fierce resistance in the west. You may go to them, if you wish, bladesinger."

"No!" Bartolo cried angrily. "Do you think I would be anywhere but here? I want to see this finished as much as you do."

"Yet it will be I who ends it," Prince Ilathor said. "I will hang this Primate from the walls before us, and I will not stop until this evil is scourged from the land."

"Many of the people in Seranthia are victims as much as my people were," Shani said. "Please, Prince Ilathor, extend these people the same mercy you gave Petrya."

"No," the prince said. Even Jehral's eyebrows rose. "I must not show weakness to this enemy, who uses the dead to kill the living, and kills the living to bring the dead to life. I have been weak, and now I must be strong. Jehral!"

"Yes, my prince?"

"I gave you an order. Tell the tarn leaders. We attack with the dawn."

~

STORM clouds gathered over Seranthia before the sun had fully set, plunging the city into darkness. Yet these storm clouds produced no rain, and as sheets of light flashed from one cloud and then another, no thunder could be heard. Forks of lightning plunged down to strike the earth, yet caused no destruction. The sky grew ever darker, and the ordinary citizens of Seranthia locked their doors, held their children close, and prayed to the Evermen for deliverance.

Some brave ones climbed up to the top of the Wall and came back down white-faced, reporting what they had seen with voices that shook. Clouds were moving against the direction of the wind. Ghostly figures could be seen riding about the hills, and dust storms billowed up and then vanished again just as quickly as they had appeared.