Part 3 (1/2)

Thoron sobbed bitterly, shaking the chains that bound his wrists. 'I have nothing to fear from you, Nightmare. You have already destroyed everything I love.'

'All dead!' laughed Krulshards. 'Warhorses, Owls, Border Hounds and all the warriors of Elundium, and between the gates of this beautiful city lies your blood kin. Here, smell his blood on my blade. Taste it before it dries.'

Thoron shuddered, turning his head away from the dagger.

'But Elionbel, she lives!' whispered the Master of Nightmares. '

And she will be mine, taken in victory as I sweep across Elundium, destroying the light.'

'Elionbel?' Thoron cried, turning his face back towards Krulshards, remembering her; fair, gentle Elionbel of Woodsedge. 'Take my life, but spare hers!'

Krulshards laughed, reaching up with the curved skinning hook and piercing the leathery wrinkled skin beneath Thoron'

s chin.

'I already have your life, Thoronhand. You are nothing here in the darkness but a lost moment from the sunlight world of Elundium. You are helpless and alone.'

Thoron gurgled, feeling the sharp edge of the hook touch his jaw bone, and flinched against the pain. Suddenly he cried out, 'Fly, great bird of war. Escape into the dying hours of sunlight. Fly!'

Krulshards hesitated, letting his hand slip from the handle of the hook. Spinning round he snarled, 'Who has dared to enter the darkness?'

Thoron laughed, choking against the curve of the hook and watched the dark shape of Silverwing spread his wings to stoop. Silent and unseen in the darkness above Thoron's head, the owl had waited, turning his aged head from side to

side, catching every tiny sound in the chamber. Now he was ready and knew where each beast stood. Blindly he stared down at the Master of Darkness and flexed his talons to strike.

Kerzolde pointed into the domed roof with his broken claw.

'There, Master, above Thoron's head. I can see the white eyes. Look!'

Krulshards looked up, unhooding his eyes to stare the owl to death, but Silverwing, blind to the look, stooped at the Nightmare's face, tearing his razor-sharp talons across the

raw, unguarded flesh. Krulshards staggered backwards, screaming as the owl's strike cut into his face. Thrusting upwards with both hands he drove the dagger deep into the owl's chest.

Running footsteps echoed in the high domed chamber, drawn on by Kerzolde's warning shout as he leapt to defend the entrance. Blind beasts stumbled into each other in the rising tide of sound. Thoron kicked with both feet at Krulshards, catching his boots in the malice.

'I am not alone, Nightmare,' he cried, 'Listen! Listen!'

'Run! Run!' hissed Willow, urging Thane to follow him. 'The Master of Nightbeasts has your grandfather's life in his hands.'

'How many Nightbeasts?' Thane asked, running hard to keep pace with Willow, stumbling against unseen faults in the tunnel floor.

'Many!' Willow replied, suddenly disappearing into a black void on Thane's left. Thane hesitated and Kyot collided into

him, dropping his father's bow.

'Curse this darkness,' he muttered, feeling gingerly in the gritty marble dust for the weapon.

'Is this what you seek?' Thane asked, holding it up. 'You can see in the dark!' exclaimed Kyot, feeling along the length of the bow for any damage to the oiled wood.

'A little,' Thane replied, turning into the black entrance

Willow had taken. The narrow tunnel spiralled upwards, well marked with Nightbeast claw prints. The air was hot and stifling, filling their noses with the stench of rotten flesh.

'Nightmares,' Willow whispered, halting for a moment to sniff the air. 'We are close to them now.'