Part 30 (2/2)

EIGHTEEN - Un

William leapt

He knocked Prince Vladic aside as the ed Soldiers hurried into the room, while Amos and Arutha prepared to attack Several hurled themselves at the shadow-stalker in an attempt to protect their prince, and the first of them tried to shi+eld-bash the stalker, to knock it off balance The shi+eld rang as if he had struck a tree bole, and the stalker slashed with his hand The soldier's throat dissolved into a red fountain as blood sprayed across the room

James worked his way around behind the creature, as Arutha shouted, ”Archers!”

One soldier hurried out of the roo pikes attacked The weapons were decorative, heads gilded and hardwood polished, bearing the royal pennon of Krondor, but they were still fully functional Both men ell-schooled in their use and approached the stalker, barbs ready to hook and pull, points ready to impale

The first soldier thrust with all the force he could muster so that the steel point should have impaled the creature, but it slid off harht the pole under one arm, then with a sharp blow struck with the other hand and snapped the pole as if it were kindling

'That's solid oak!” said A Vladic across the bed, past the young woman as now crouched down on the other side fro that its prey was leaving, the creature leapt upon the bed, and the young woman screanored her

Arutha hurried around and lunged at the creature, the point of his blade sliding off its featureless hide ”Highness!” shouted Ja yourself killed”

A Arutha's shoulder and yanking him back as the monster turned and lashed out at where the Prince had stood ait, Arutha,” said the former pirate

Archers entered, bows at the ready, and let fly as Williaed Prince Vladic out of the roolanced off or broke as they struck the stalker's hide

”This is doing no good!” shouted Arutha ”Fall back, but slow it down!”

Soldiers with shi+elds and swords moved to form a shi+eldwall and more soldiers with pikes fell in behind The shi+eld-bearers braced the like scales From behind, the pikemen reached over and for into the points Strong men braced themselves as the heavy shafts were pushed back

The stalker raised both arms and smashed doard One pike on the left shattered, while another was knocked to the stone floor, flying out of the grip of the soldier holding it More soldiers hurried to support those who faced the eant looked to Williaainst the wall,” said William ”Use shi+elds and be cautious, for it is extreeant shouted, ”You heard the lieutenant! Charge!”

The shi+elded as one, and the creature was borne backward It resisted but could not get traction on the smooth stone floor

More men arrived and slowly they pushed the stalker away from Prince Arutha and the others The stalker sensed its prey escaping, and its struggle intensified It drew back an ar the face of the closest soldier He fell, tripping two soldiers behind hi the creature back disintegrated

Suddenly the stalker was flailing, first with one ar back any soldier who hindered it The bloere pulverizing, breaking arh, experienced veteran soldiers were tossed aside aony and fury, as if they were no more than bothersome boys Injured men were held in place by the press of other soldiers More than one unconscious ht until thethe trampled

More soldiers raced in to protect their ain they pressed the stalker back, pushi+ng it to the floor The soldiers piled onto the stalker, pinning it to the floor The groans of the men near the bottoht of the men and armor on top of them Those closest to the creature risked their own lives twice, froht of their own comrades

The pile of soldiers heaved, as if the stones beneath them shook, once, twice, three times Then suddenly the heap collapsed, as if on a ball that had suddenly deflated Froone!”

James shouted, ”No it hasn't!”

A shadow slithered out from under the pile and moved across the rooain

Arutha attacked

His sas a blur as he slashed at the creature His blade had been given the power of an Ishapian talisman by Macros the Black before Arutha's final confrontation with Mur Since then, only the deth of that ical power

This shadow-stalker seemed more annoyed than harmed by Arutha's blade It flinched from Arutha's cuts and it lashed out at hied aside, and Ja as hard as he could with his sword The blow rang as it bounced off the stalker, and James felt the shock all the way up to his shoulder

Looking at Father Belson, Ja you can do?”

The cleric called back, ”I can only think of one thing, but it's very dangerous!”

Arutha was caught in a duel he couldn't win, but he was effective enough in staying between the creature and Prince Vladic that Vladic was still unharerous than this, Father! Do it!”

The priest stepped aside and began an incantation in the ain attacked the stalker fro stone

The bedroorew hot Father Belson held his hand aloft, and above his head a ring of fire for fla flaer and hotter by the second The priest finished his spell and shouted, ”Run!”

No one had to be told twice Everyone who could turned and sprinted out of the room, save Arutha, who attacked the stalker one last time to buy those around him a few seconds of safety before he, too, backed away, turned and ran

Woundedon the floor behind the creature crawled away, leaving behind unconscious cole word in his order's secret language and the flames coalesced into a form as man-like as the stalker The intense heat could be felt by those running: Arutha's back felt as if he was standing too close to a forge

James turned and saw the flame creature interpose itself between the stalker and Vladic, who stood watching with mute fascination

Father Belson cried out, ”O creature of flame, elemental of fire, destroy that darkness!”

The elemental attacked and a wave of heat struck the onlookers, intense enough to make them retreat even farther from the conflict Only the priest of Prandur see air near the creature

The stalker turned from its inexorable pursuit of Vladic and defended itself The creatures carips, silendy, and the only sound heard was the crackling of flah an antechah a gallery, returning to the uard, saying, ”Go through there,” pointing to where he had come from ”At the other end of this hall lie injured et them out of there”

”Yes, squire,” said the soldier He motioned for others to follow, and led a half-dozen men the way James had outlined

Arutha didn't take his eyes off the struggle, but he said, ”I should have thought of that”

”You're busy,” said Jauards to remove his cloak He handed it to Prince Vladic and said, ”I know it's warm, but”

Vladic, riveted by the scene before hiical creatures were locked together, each gripping the other's ar first this way, then that, like two drunken wrestlers pushi+ng one another around the arena Each ti combustible the ite creature lingered long enough The stalker slaainst the stone wall in an attehtly and it endured the blow in silence Then the elemental spun and slammed the stalker into the wall in return

Arutha said, ”If this doesn't end soon, that thing is going to burn the palace down”

Several decorative tapestries were s and two had started to flame The stalker pushed the elemental backward, into a decorative table upon which sat a vase of fresh cut flowers