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outward. Zarel pointed at one of them and the young woman froze and then, as
if walking in her sleep, came over to stand before Zarel.
Smiling cruelly, Zarel reached out and grabbed hold of her, stirring her from
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her sleep. He forced her to look down at Varnel.
 There is your Master now, Zarel laughed.  Would you care to pleasure him?
Varnel, with trembling hands, reached up.
 Malina. His voice was a hissing croak, his breath sick with corruption.
The girl recoiled and then broke into a contemptuous laugh, reaching over to
put her arm around Zarel.
 Curse your fates and die, Zarel laughed, and he pointed down at Varnel,
creating the same spell yet again.
Varnel, moaning in anguish, continued to age. As he did so his flesh fell
away into dust until all that was left was a skeletal form wrapped in silken
robes and a skull whose mouth was open in a final cry of pain.
Zarel pushed the girl aside and turned to go back into the fight.
Across the Plaza a thunderclap roar erupted and Zarel turned to look back.
The House of Ingkara was bathed in flames; atop its battlements fighters
writhed back and forth, dashing madly about, their cloaks on fire. Several
hurled themselves off the high wall and fluttered down, trailing smoke and
fire.
 Uriah!
Zarel turned, looking, and saw his captain of fighters come through the press.
 Continue to push Tulan. If you take his House, his personal satchel is yours
for the keeping. I m going back to finish Kirlen.
The dwarf grinned sardonically and, turning, gave a fierce rallying cry and
thrust himself into the fray.
Zarel watched him go, grinning coldly. He had promised him the satchel, but
he had said nothing about how long he could keep it.
Motioning for his bodyguard to follow, Zarel raced back across the Plaza and
was horrified to discover that the north end of his palace was bathed in
flames from Bolk s renewed attack.
Zarel saw his foe and threw back his head, howling with rage.
 Kirlen!
* * *
Hammen stood transfixed by the madness playing out on the Plaza below.
 We should attack him now.
He looked over his shoulder. Varena stood behind him, her features pale and
drawn.
 I gave you a sleep potion, woman, now take advantage of it. You re still
weak.
 Give me back my satchel. She extended her hand.
 For what? So you can go out there and commit suicide after all I ve done to
save you? You re as weak as a newborn kitten. Now go lie down.
 Zarel has gone insane with bloodlust. He won t stop with the four Houses;
next he ll turn his attention back on the mob. You have tens of thousands
willing to fight. Throw them in before he wins.
 Young lady, while you were conveniently asleep we tried just that. The
streets from the arena all the way back to the Plaza are choked with the dead.
We fell back because we could not stand with clubs and knives against spells
and crossbows. Let it play out. Perhaps they will weaken each other to the
point that we can sweep him up at the end.
Varena sighed and reached over to the windowsill to brace herself. As she
looked out she saw the front of her House collapsing in ruin, engulfed in
flame.
She turned away with tears clouding her eyes.
 You should have let my spirit go in peace rather than bring me back to this
ending.
She staggered away from the window and collapsed upon the floor.
Again Hammen looked out the window. The House of Kestha was now under siege,
the building under attack from a score of stone giants and hill giants, who
hammered at the wall with their massive clubs, while a juggernaut rolled
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slowly forward with relentless energy, crashing through the gates of the
House.
Warriors struggled in the confusion and fighters traded blows at short range.
From atop the battlement
Tulan appeared, and from his hands came a rain of fire, wind, storms, and
lightning, which smashed most of the giants. And then a dark force appeared,
rushing straight at the Master of Kestha. Screaming in rage, Tulan struggled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]