Part 5 (1/2)

'We must get him to the Healer's,' he urged, putting his ear to the old man's chest again. The heartbeat was weaker now, and stumbling erratically.

'What of Krulshards?' Willow asked. 'He is escaping through the lower roads. I would lead you down into the heart of the mountain following his voice. But we must go now!'

Thane hesitated, looking from the low entrance where Willow waited on his answer back to the tunnel that led to the black gates and the late evening sunlight.

'I must follow the Nightmare, Grandfather,' he whispered, taking the old man's fragile hand into his. 'I saw the light beneath the malice and I dare not lose this moment to tread on his shadow and rid all Elundium of his terror.'

'The warriors are waiting for us, Thane,' whispered Kyot, fearing to follow another darker road. 'It would seal a great victory to take your grandfather out of the darkness,' he urged.

'But the Nightbeast had a shadow. I saw it!' cried Thane, 'It followed him through that black entrance!'

'Hurry,' urged Willow. 'Their footsteps are growing ever fainter.'

Thane twisted around, biting on his knuckles and took half a step.

'Thoron will die without the Healer's hand,' hissed Kyot, catching hold of Thane's sleeve. 'Is that what you crossed

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Elundium for, to leave him in the dark?'

'All Elundium will be covered in darkness if the Master of Nightbeasts escapes!' cried Willow.

Thane turned, his mind torn in two. He knelt to gather up Silverwing's lifeless body into his arms. 'What would you have done, brave Battle Owl?' he whispered in despair. 'Which road would you have taken?'

'All roads will be dark and dangerous if Krulshards lives,'

cried out Willow. 'Hurry before your victory on the high plateau turns against you.'

'I know I should follow the Nightmare, but I cannot,' cried Thane wretchedly. 'I cannot let Grandfather die!'

'Fools!' cried Willow, thrusting the broken splinter of steel he used as a dagger back into his belt. 'If I was half the warrior you are, Thanehand, I would follow Krulshards and rid Elundium of his foul darkness, but I cannot do it alone.'

'Forgive me,' cried Thane, wringing his hands. 'But to have found Grandfather alive was beyond my wildest dreams.'

'One life against so many,' muttered Willow, turning his back on Krulshards' fading footsteps. 'He will haunt us all, I know it.'

Tombel had paced a thousand steps between the Gates of Night as the evening light faded. Battle's end had come quickly and the Nightbeasts' carca.s.ses were piled high in great mounds waiting for a burning torch to set them alight.

Tombel saw movement inside the gates. Someone was emerging.

First Willow and then Thane walked out of the darkness.

Tombel laughed with relief and gave the signal to light the giant Nightbeast piles.

'Thane!' he shouted, silhouetted against the streams of crackling sparks that floated up into the darkening sky, 'You have rescued Thoron! Is he still alive?'

Thane hurried on to the plateau and carefully laid Thoron beside Amarch's cold body.

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