Now the twelfth stroke sounded, louder and more terrible than the rest. The stones of the castle threatened to crack. The wood of the table split and the thing collapsed with a crash. Flagstones suddenly broke in twain or shattered to fragments. The castle was tossed like a cork in a gale and Hawkmoon roared with pain as the tears in his eyes were now replaced with blood, as the veins in his body threatened to burst.

Then the deep note was counterpointed by anothera high-pitched screamand colours began to flood the hall. First came violet, then purple, then black. A million tiny bells seemed to ring in unison and this time it was possible to locate the sound as it came from below them, from the dungeons.

Weakly, Hawkmoon attempted to rise and then fell

face down on the stones. The note boomed gradually away, the colours began to fade, the ringing sound subsided quite suddenly. So there was silence.

Chapter Two

The Blackened Marsh

“THE CRYSTAL is destroyed…”

Hawkmoon shook his head and blinked his eyes. “Eh?”

“The crystal is destroyed, “D’Averc knelt beside him trying to help him to his feet.

“Yisselda?” Hawkmoon said. “How is she?”

“No worse than you. We have put her to bed. The crystal is destroyed.”

Hawkmoon dug dried blood from ears and nostrils. “You mean the Rings of Mygan?”

“D’Averctell him more clearly.” It was Bowgentle’s voice. “Tell him that the machine of the wraith folk is broken.”

“Broken?” Hawkmoon heaved himself to his feet. “Was that the final shattering sound I heard?”

“That was it.” Now Count Brass stood nearby, leaning wearily on a table and mopping at his face. “The vibrations destroyed the crystals.”

“Then?” Hawkmoon glanced questioningly at Count Brass who nodded.

“Ayewe’re back in our own dimension.”

“And not under attack?”

“It does not seem so.”

Hawkmoon took a deep breath and began to walk

slowly to the main doors of the hall. Painfully he drew back the iron bar and tugged the doors open.

It was still night. The stars in the sky remained the same but the swirling blue clouds had vanished and there was an uncanny silence hanging over the area, a strange smell in the air. But no flamingoes squawked, no wind sighed through the reeds.

Slowly, thoughtfully, Hawkmoon closed the doors again.

“Where are the legions?” D’Averc asked. “One would have thought they were waiting for usat least a few!”

Hawkmoon frowned. “We’ll have to wait until morning before we can guess the answer to that. Perhaps they are out there, planning to take us by surprise.”

“Do you think that sound was sent by the Dark Empire?” Oladahn asked.

“Without doubt,” Count Brass answered. “They have succeeded in their object. They have brought us back to our own dimension.” He sniffed the air. “I wish I could identify that smell.”