Part 63 (1/2)

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'Then guard him closely when he is with the Marcherwoman, and keep him well clear of Elionbel,' Krulshards ordered.

'Yes, Master,' whispered Kerzolde, running to keep pace with the Nightmare as he hurried towards his high chambers.

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i

The Palace of Kings

Thunderstone felt the first earth tremor as it tore at the walls of Underfall and he ran as quickly as he could up the winding stairs to the lamp gallery. Behind him the stairway crumbled, collapsing in a crash of blinding stone dust. Breathlessly he steadied the lamp, holding it with both hands as the wooden mounting rocked backwards and forwards. Twice he tried to reach inside and catch hold of the last jewel from the cloak of jewels that he had laid so carefully beside the wick to reflect light into the darkness, but the jewel skidded on the smooth polished surface of the gla.s.s, cutting a small deep groove as it evaded his grasp. The fortress of Underfall settled and grew still. Thunderstone stretched out his hand inside the lamp but just as his fingers were closing on the jewel another tremor fiercely shook the fortress and tipped the lamp violently towards him. The jewel scratched across the gla.s.s and caught in the groove it had cut beside the wick, fusing in a blinding flash of white light into the gla.s.s.

Thunderstone gingerly touched the edge of the jewel and cried out with pain as he licked at his burned fingertips.

'Magic! Pure magic!' he muttered, s.h.i.+elding his eyes against the shaft of brilliant white light that had begun flooding through the jewel and out across the shadowy Causeway Field.

Following the shaft of light to the wild edge of Mantern's Forest Thunderstone cried out, reaching for his horse-tail sword. 'Lord of Lords!' he shouted, stumbling and sliding

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adown the ruined stairway. 'Greatest of Kings!' he laughed, running through the maze of inner courtyards, throwing door after door open wide. 'The greatest Granite King, King Holbian, has returned to Underfall!'

Thunderstone called out to the servants and undergrooms, crying with joy. He threw the bolts on the outer doors and rolled them wide open across the cobbles.

Rockspray flew low, close to the Causeway, shrieking a warning to the Keeper of World's End as he entered the fortress but Thunderstone merely laughed, pointing down at the weary

column of city folk flanked by the Nighthorses of Underfall, the wild Warhorses and the packs of Border Runners. At the head of the column rode King Holbian, aglitter in the steelsilver coat.

Errant was at his side riding Dawnrise and beside him another warrior sat on a dark rough-coated pony.

'Lord, greatest of Kings,' Thunderstone cried, falling on to his knees in the centre of the Causeway and offering up the hilt of the horse-tail sword.

King Holbian reined Beacon Light to a halt before the Keeper of World's End and stimy dismounted. Smiling he reached down and took Thunderstone's hands into his own and pulled him to his feet. 'Rise, true friend,' he laughed. 'Rise and be easy at my side.'

Thunderstone looked up into the maze of fine cracks that covered the King's face and frowned with concern. 'lord,' he whispered, stepping forward.

King Holbian laughed, slowly ungloving his hands. 'I have grown brittle, Thunderstone, old and brittle from the rub of time.'

The King looked past the Keeper's shoulder, sweeping; his gaze across the sheer granite-grey wails of Underfall. 'I have come home, dear friend,' he whispered. 'Home to the Palace of Kings.'

Beyond the great doors hoofbeats echoed in the inner; courtyards thundering across the cobbles. 'Who in all Elundium?' Thunderstone cried, spinning round l.u.s.t in time to see'>

Esteron gallop out into the sunlight, a broken halter chain dangling from his head collar, his mane streaming in the wind.