Meliadus began to think that Hawkmoon’s defeat was not going to be as easy as he had guessed. But then he remembered Kalan and the Machine of the Black Jewel, and he smiled.

Chapter Fourteen

The Power Returns

SLIGHTLY OVERAWED BY a victory in which they had lost only twelve killed and twenty slightly wounded, the six removed their mirror helms and stared after the retreating horsemen.

“They were not expecting the Legion of the Dawn!” Count Brass smiled. “Unprepared, they were startled and could hardly resist. But they will be better prepared by the time we reach Londra.”

“Aye,” Hawkmoon said, “and Meliadus will put a good many more warriors in the field next time.” He fingered the Red Amulet about his throat and glanced at Yisselda who was shaking out her blonde hair.

“You fought well, my lord,” she said. “You fought like a hundred men.”

“That is because this amulet gives me the strength of fifty men and your love gives me the strength of another fifty,” he smiled.

She laughed lightly. “You never flattered me so during our courtship.”

“Perhaps it is because I have come to love you even more than before,” he replied.

D’Averc cleared his throat. “We’d best camp a mile or two on, away from all this death.”

“I’ll tend to the wounded,” Bowgentle said and turned his horse back to where the Kamargian cavalry

were grouped, squatting beside their horses and talking among themselves.

“You did well, lads,” Count Brass called back. “It is like the old days, eh? When we fought across Europe! Now we fight to save Europe.”

Hawkmoon started to speak and then gave a terrible shriek. The helmet fell from his grasp and he pressed both hands to his head, his eyes rolling in pain and horror. He swayed in his shadow and would have fallen had not Oladahn caught him.

“What is it, Duke Dorian?” Oladahn asked in alarm.

“Why do you cry, my love?” Yisselda dismounted swiftly, helping Oladahn support him.

Through clenched teeth and pale lips Hawkmoon managed to utter a few words. “The jewel … The Black Jewelit is gnawing at my brain again I The power has returned I” He swayed and fell into their arms, his limbs swinging loosely and his face a terrible white. As his hands dropped from his head they saw he spoke truth. The Black Jewel was crawling with life. It had regained its malevolent lustre.

“Oladahn, is he dead?” Yisselda cried in panic.

The little man shook his head. “Nohe lives. But for how long, I cannot tell. Bowgentle! Sir Bowgentle! Come quickly.”

Bowgentle hurried up and took Hawkmoon in his arms. This was not the first time he had seen the Duke of Koln thus. He shook his head. “I can try to work a temporary remedy, but I have not the materials that I had at Castle Brass.”