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gardens thus created. And he sensed as well the truth of how they had
achieved that.
He felt temptation take hold of him, offering him all the powers of a demigod,
for indeed in this brief moment that is truly what he had become, a Walker who
could stride across the universe and do battle with forces dark or light as he
might choose.
He hovered thus, torn between desires, and then he turned, sensing something
else. And he knew. He looked back whence he had come and sensed that the
barrier would fail and that his foe might again emerge. But with all the
universe to race through it mattered not to him. And yet he sensed something
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else as well. He felt a lingering sadness, like a child called from play in a
dangerous field to return to a task he wished would somehow go away, yet it
would not.
He knew what he still must do, and there was an urgency to it that drew him
back and downward.
* * *
Hammen did not even bother to raise his hands, knowing that it was useless
even to try. Norreen would die as a Benalian, fighting with sword in hand,
and thus bring honor to her caste. But as for himself, he realized that he
was tired, that he was old, and, most of all, he was simply weary of the
inequity of this world and wished to be quit of it forever.
Do it, you bastard, and be done, Hammen snarled.
And even as Zarel raised his hand to strike, laughing with demonic fury, a
shadow seemed to form. Zarel hesitated, looking up.
The shadow swirled in tight, spiraling downward, and Zarel stepped back.
It took form and Hammen, stunned, sat down heavily beside Naru.
Garth One-eye stood in the middle of the street.
Zarel stood silent, mouth opened in astonishment.
I think we have something to settle, Garth said, his face set with a look of
cold disdain.
Zarel said nothing, looking around nervously.
Do you remember the night my father died? Garth said sharply. Do you
remember me standing before you, a child half-blinded by your own hand? You
were going to use me as a trade, yet both of us knew that you would not have
honored it. You would have killed him and then me in turn. Do you remember
my tearing away from your grasp and running back into the flames? You laughed
when you heard my childish screams.
Garth stood silent for a moment.
Do you remember! His voice was a lash.
Zarel raised his hand and a fire elemental seemed to leap out from him, the
flame washing over Garth.
He disappeared in the maelstrom of heat and Zarel laughed coldly, stepping
forward.
A gust of icy wind swept the Plaza, dispelling the elemental, and Garth still
stood there. The fighting in the streets fell away. Zarel s warriors and
fighters slowed in their frenzy, looking back fearfully. At the sight of the
one whom their Master was confronting, they looked around in terror. The mob,
which had been running in panic, slowed as well. Those who remained edged
back toward the two foes.
Zarel backed out into the Plaza, Garth following. Blow and counterblow were
struck, the two locked in a dark struggle that was filled with hatred and
revenge. All the powers that both controlled were thrown
into the fight so that their struggle seemed to exceed even the pitched battle
that had been fought earlier between the different Houses.
Flames soared into the smoke-filled skies, dragons and flying beasts wheeled
overhead, giants struggled, and dark creatures came up from the underworld
below.
And Zarel slowly gave way. And as he did so all could see the growing terror
in his eyes. His fear sapped the resolve of his fighters and warriors and
strengthened that of the mob, so that it edged in closer.
The warriors of Zarel started to break, first one, then another and another,
so that there was soon a stampede of them, swarming back toward the supposed
safety of the palace. Fighters as well turned and fled in blind panic. A
mighty roar arose and the mob surged after them, pulling them down, stabbing,
beating, and killing without remorse those who had tormented them for so long.
Here and there in the crowd Hammen s lieutenants managed to stem the fury of
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