Part 3 (2/2)

'Did you use tills tunnel to escape from the darkness?'

Thane asked, keeping his voice to a whisper.

'No!' Willow replied, 'Our route was by old, long-forgotten roads, dug by my grandelders. Look at this tunnel floor. This was a well-used road before the bathe.'

'But will it lead us to where Thoron hangs?' Thane asked.

Willow smiled in the darkness, and replied, 'Smell She air, Thane.'

Thane wrinkled his nose against the stench of rotting flesh.

It had grown stronger the higher they had climbed and was now making him feel dizzy.

'This stench is far worse than any Nightbeast I have ever

smelt,' he choked. 'It is even worse than She Nightmare, Kerzolde, and he smelt bad enough.'

Willow laughed. 'It is the smell of death. It is the smell of Krulshards, the Master of Nightbeasts, and he is the most terrifying and powerful beast chat ever walked in Elundium.

Do not look into his eyes, or listen to his voice, for he will blind you and send you mad with deafness.'

'How can I fight against him?' Thane hissed, gripping Willow's arm.

'First you must tread on his shadow. The Elder told me in his last death ratde chat to tread on the Master of Nightbeasts'

shadow traps him, frozen, for the killing stroke.'

'But he is shadowless in the dark!' Thane cried.

'And all-powerful, beyond man's power to kill,' Willow whispered.

Thane ran his finger along the cutting edge of Thoron's sword, feeling helpless at She task ahead. Esteron nickered softly, nudging Thane's shoulder, and Mulcade hooted in the

darkness. Thane laughed, 'We are more than men, Willow.

Lead us to tills Nightmare.'

Willow moved forward again, crouching against the tunnel wall. The voice ahead of them had grown louder, almost to shouting pitch.

'Quickly,' Willow cried, 'Krulshards is going to kill your grandfather! Run! Run!'

The tunnel turned a sharp corner and came to an abrupt end in the high-domed chamber. Thoron hung in the centre of the chamber, kicking wildly at Krulshards, his feet tangled in the malice. The dark shape of an owl, hooked by its talons on to Krulshards' face, beat its wings, shrieking as the Nightbeast plunged a black-bladed dagger into its chest.

Blind beasts in a circle around Thoron Thrust their spears at his struggling body.

'Nigh/shards!' Willow cried, cowering in the entrance of the chamber. 'They were in the Elders' stories. Only light can harm them in the darkness, or penetrate Heir armour!'

The Nightshards had turned as one towards the sound of Willow's voice, and his words were lost beneath their snarling screams. Slowly they advanced, step by step, spears Thrusting, on the entrance.

Thane leapt into the chamber, plunging his sword at the closest beast, but the blade turned harmlessly against its armour. Ducking beneath the Thrusting spear he struck again, a slas.h.i.+ng stroke chat sent up a shower of bright sparks in the

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