Part 21 (1/2)

”That's Ergo. It's got to be.”

”That tunnel doesn't lead outward,” Torquil pointed out. ”Maybe his sense of direction's failed him.”

”Maybe. They might also still be alive. Clearly he's hurt, and maybe the boy as well. Slayers might be keeping them from fleeing back this way. Stay here and guard the princess, my friend.” Torquil nodded.

Colwyn turned to Lyssa. ”These two risked their lives to help us. I can't leave here if there's a chance they're still alive.” She nodded, watching anxiously as Colwyn and Oswyn raced down the narrow pa.s.sageway, their eyes intent on the b.l.o.o.d.y tracks marking the floor. Dust and debris rained down on her and deep-throated rumblings sounded all around. They would have to hurry.

The two men rounded several turns before they came upon Ergo, lying limply, his head resting in t.i.tch's lap. Oswyn bent over him, checking his wounds.

”Cuts and bruises, but nothing fatal.”

”There's a chance, then.” Together they lifted the dazed Ergo to his feet, each man slipping beneath an arm, and half walked, half carried him back the way they'd come. The tunnel began to collapse behind them.

The Fortress was coming down around them, and it seemed that the rate of84 collapse was accelerating as they ran. Ahead lay the bridge they'd crossed on entering. No Slayers stood athwart it to block their retreat, but the unsteady span made the dark abyss below seem even deeper. They'd barely dashed across when the center of the arch cracked away behind them, to tumble into the bottomless depths beneath.

They turned a well-remembered curve and came to a halt. Ahead lay debris and huge blocks of solid material.

”This is where we entered,” Torquil growled in frustration, ”but the old entrance is gone, blocked.” He flinched as a small piece of rock struck his shoulder. The Fortress was shaking like a pile of twigs. At any moment the last of the roof might come down atop them.

Colwyn s.h.i.+fted his half of the burden of Ergo, and t.i.tch tried to help compensate. ”Torquil, Oswyn, stand behind us. We'll make our own exit.”

The two thieves obediently moved aside. Their eyes widened at what happened next. Oswyn muttered silent oaths, but Torquil expanded like a proud uncle. One more time, his decision to throw in his lot with this man was vindicated.

The tongue of flame Colwyn threw at the wall licked at the dark resinous substance and smashed through to the outside, reaching brilliantly into clear sky.

Then the way was clear, as the last of the fire vanished into the heavens, and they were clambering down the quivering flank of the Fortress. Colwyn was positive he'd never again feel anything as comforting beneath his feet as the gra.s.sy loam that greeted them at the base of the structure. He caught Lyssa as she made the last jump, swung her effortlessly to the ground.

Within the Fortress, the rumbling became a maelstrom of destruction.

”Is the whole thing going to collapse?” Oswyn asked as they moved away across the field.

”I don't know, but we're still too close. Hurry yourself!”

They increased their pace until they'd run a respectable distance across the field. There the exhausted Oswyn chose a thick patch of gra.s.s and flowers and gently lowered Ergo to the ground. Lyssa joined him in tending to the smaller man's injuries.

Torquil shaded his eyes as he and Colwyn stood side by side, studying their former prison.

”It's falling to pieces, all right,” Torquil observed. ”And something else.”

Colwyn said nothing, merely nodded and watched. Torquil's comment was premature. As they looked on, the ma.s.sive structure abruptly fell in on itself with a great roar, almost as if in the final measure the monolith's internal support was little more than fury and nightmares.

Then the earth shook beneath their feet as the pile of rubble slowly rose into the air. It moved languorously at first but rapidly picked up speed, rising heavenward until it was lost to sight.

Somewhere a bird let out a hesitant cheep. Insects resumed their buzzing and small furry things peeked out of tiny holes. The gra.s.s that had been crushed flat beneath the Fortress's immense bulk began to straighten, responding to the return of light and air. In a few days none would be able to tell what had so recently afflicted the peaceful valley.

”Let's hope we never see it's like again.” Colwyn mumrmured.

”The Beast was its power and you destroyed the Beast,” Torquil pointed out.

”It's gone forever.”