Sham tucked her hand under his arm and allowed him to lead her into the dressmakeras shop.

Buying the thread took her some time. The dressmaker took some convincing before she agreed to sell Sham all her gold thread. It took time to order more from the goldsmith and there were dresses on order. Only Kerimas letter that authorized his mistressas unlimited spending persuaded the dressmaker to relent.

THEY ATTRACTED A lot of attention as they ventured into Purgatory. Sham had considered hiding their presence, but decided it was unlikely that Lady Sky bothered hiring spies and the furor was likely to attract the Sharkas attention. She could have returned to the Castle and changed herself back into Sham the Thiefa"but the mottled-silver silk dress (that matched the horse with expensive perfection) might come in useful.

She knew the Sharkas haunts and hoped to find him before someone braved Talbotas wrath in hopes of a full purse. Sure enough, as they turned a corner the Shark was waiting in the shadow of a battered awning.

He looked pointedly at a filthy figure that had been following Shamera and Talbot for several minutes. Noticing the attention, the skulker abruptly turned on his heel and walked in the opposite direction.

aBusiness slow, Sham?a She shook her head. aActually, I think Iave become successful.a The Shark raised his brows. aOh?a aTheyare paying me not to steal. I think it was you who told me that you can tell when you have become a success in your chosen field because then people pay you not to do it.a aWelcome to success,a said the Shark, making a gesture that encompassed all of Purgatory.

aI need to talk to Tallow.a The Shark shook his head. aNot unless you want to talk to a corpse. He got his throat slit five, maybe six days ago.a aThen who controls the territory by the cliffs, where the old bell tower used to stand?a she asked.

He scratched his ear and pursed his lips in obvious perplexity. Sham gave an exasperated sigh.

Talbot grinned. aHe looks stupider than a codfish out of water. Think a bit of gold would help that mouthbreathing?a aNothing,a said Sham, awould help that. But it might make him talk.a The Shark bared his white teeth. aNow, Sham, you know you love mea"and business is business.a aLike I love the plague,a she muttered.

The Shark laughed, effortlessly catching the gold Talbot tossed to him. He dropped the Purgatory dialect, exchanging it for that of a courtier. aA charming runt who calls himself aToadstoola has taken over that half of Tallowas territory. You need something from him?a aI need to talk with him myself.a The Shark shook his head. aHe eats little girls like you for breakfast.a aI grind up toadstools for my lunch,a she replied. aFor dinner I eat shark-steaks.a The Shark sighed, appealing to Talbot for sympathy as he drifted into a rougher dialect. aAlways she does this to me. Isnat any way Iam goina to let her go to Toadstool and talk without me, ana she knows it. Gives a man no room to bargain. She isnat goina to pay for service Iall give her anyhow.a Talbot grinned. aIf thatas the first time a womanas gotten ye by the short . . .a he glanced at Shamera, aer . . . toes, ye can count yourself lucky.a The Shark gestured to Talbot and fell into the thick accents of a dockworker, aYou see, girl? Youare gaina to ruin my reputation. Soon no one will take the Shark seriously. Pretty girl says walk this way, I say how far. Word gaina to get around. Ainat no Shark, but a little Tadpole running the Whisper.a Sham bent down on the horse until her face was level with his, matching his accent. aTheyare gaina to say dead Shark, if you donat start moving. Weare all gaina to die of old age right here in this spot wia the wind aa rattlina our jaws.a He laughed and started down the street, letting them follow as they could through the debris that littered the battered cobblestones. Sham drew in a deep breath and coughed. Funny how quickly shead gotten used to the fresh salt air of the Castle.

The Shark led them to a rough brick and stone building near the old docks, shaking his head when Talbot started to dismount.

aThey know weare here. Let them come to us.a aTheyall consider it an insult,a commented Talbot, familiar with the games of the streets.

The Shark shook his head. aTell them you wanted to keep your horses. He wonat take it amiss.a aI hope not,a said Sham. aI need his cooperation.a The Shark smiled sweetly. aYouall get it.a She turned to Talbot. aYou know heas not as nice as head like to pretend, donat you?a aNeither am I,a replied Talbot smugly.

She snorted just as a nattily dressed young man opened the door of the building.

aI beg your pardon,a he said, in a pure Cybellian Kerim would have been pleased to claim. aBut Toadstool sent me out to inquire as to the nature of your visit.a The Shark nodded gravely. aThese are friends of mine. The pretty little mare herea"a he rubbed Shamas horse underneath its cheekstrap and it closed its eyes in ecstasy, aa"sheas a bit skittish, so we donat want to leave her alone. Could you persuade Toadstool to come out and talk with us a moment?a aRegarding?a aI would like to . . . rent some property from him for tonight,a answered Shamera.

aI will so inform him.a Toadstoolas man went back into the house.

They waited. Shameraas askittisha mare dropped into a three-legged doze, idly switching her tail at the flies.

At last a middle-aged man with a slight potbelly and a round, good-natured face approached them from an alley several buildings away from the one where Toadstool made his office.

aIad wager heas not as nice as he acts either,a commented Talbot softly.

Sham grunted her agreement.

aMy friend tells me that you are interested in the rental of a property,a said the chubby man congenially.

She nodded. aI need to rent the space near the cliffs, where the old bell used to hang, from now until dawn.a Toadstool pursed his lips. aI know the spot. Tonightas the Spirit Tide, eh? Nice little place for a loveras tryst.a Sham gave him a sly smile. aThatas the idea.a He cast an assessing eye on her clothes, just as she had expected he would. It would have been safer to wear her tunic and trousers, but then he might not have dealt with her at all. Purgatoryas territorial lords were a fickle lot.

aTen gold.a aFor that price, I want you to make sure that we are not disturbed,a said Shamera.

aEleven gold and Iall supply guards.a aTen gold,a she countered smoothly. aI have my own people. I just need you to put the word out to your folk to stay off the cliffs tonight. For their own safety, you understand. I have a few enemies, and it would be a great tragedy if one of my men killed one of yours by mistake.a aAh, quite,a he agreed cordially. aTen gold then.a Sham nodded at Talbot, who opened Kerimas purse and produced ten gold coins.

SHAM WAITED UNTIL they had ridden out of sight before she reached over and snagged the purse. Stopping her horse near the Shark she tossed him the heavy leather bag.

aShark, thereas another ten pieces of gold here. I know that you usually donat offer protection, but I need people I can trust to keep that area clear.a aDoes this have something to do with the demon that killed Maur?a Sham nodded. aItas not revenge. But itas the best I can do.a aVery well.a He put two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.

A thin man trotted up from somewhere, nodding a grave greeting to Talbot, whom he obviously knew.

aVawny will escort you to the rental property while I gather a few favors,a said the Shark. aI assume that you mean to take up residence immediately?a aImmediately,a she answered.

VAWNY AND TALBOT stayed with the horses while she paced out a design in the sandy soil at the top of the cliffs. The ocean was already lower than usual; even the spray from the breakers didnat come near the top. Shead picked her place carefully. The sandy area was surrounded by large rocks, some as tall as a two-story building, that looked like jagged shark-teeth. Strewn amidst the rocks were small wooden huts cobbled together for shelter. They were currently empty, since the Toadstool had scattered their most recent inhabitants for the night. They would serve as hiding places from the demon until the trap was sprung.

When she had walked the rune through once, she climbed to the top of a convenient rock to inspect her work. Slithering down to the sand, she made several corrections and checked it once more.

Satisfied, she took a stick and began again, pushing one end deeply into the ground to retrace her footprints. When the pattern was finished, Sham rifled through Talbotas saddlebags until she found the spool of gold thread.

She glanced surreptitiously at Vawny and decided not to push his integrity further than she had to. Before she pulled the thread out of the saddlebag, she turned it black with a softly spoken spell.

She stretched once and started to lay the metal thread in the patterned soil. It took a long time. Her back grew stiff, and the sky began to darken toward evening well before she was through.

aCan I help?a asked Talbot softly, bringing her a flask from his saddle.

Sham accepted the drink gratefully, shrugging her shoulders to loosen her tight muscles. The sea was pulling away from the cliffs now, leaving a widening strip of sand behind. In the distance she could see the top of the sea wall, a dark, ragged, brooding presence on the horizon. The waveless sea between the wall and the beach was smooth as black glass.

Returning the flask, she nodded her head. aYes, I need you to fetch Elsic and Lord Halvok. They should be waiting for you at your home by now. Iall be through with this before youare back.a AT LONG LAST it was finished. Sham closed her eyes and ran a soft pulse of magic through the end of thread she held in her left hand. A brief moment later her right hand tingled faintly where it touched the other end of the thread. The flavor of the magic told her the pattern was correct. Carefully she laid either end in the dirt, making certain that the two did not touch.

With a wave of her hands the sand shifted, burying the rune and the marks her knees had left behind. Standing up, Shamera surveyed the remains of her gown wryly. If this nightas work didnat pan out, she was likely to end her life buried in the ragged, dirty silk gown.

She removed the illusion shead put on the wire. Now that it was covered with sand she didnat need it, and she didnat want any hint of magic to warn the demon. As she set a broken cobblestone in the center of the rune, she heard riders approaching. It was too dark to see them, but it could only be Talbot, Halvok, and Elsic. The Shark would have let no other riders through.

Sham closed her eyes and worked a touch of magic.

IN THE CASTLE Kerim watched the small rune Sham had traced on his chair arm flare briefly. It was time then.

Despite his formidable self-control and his doubts, a touch of battle fever caused a surge of elation. He wiggled his toes inside his boot, just to prove he could, then he grinned at Dickon.

aGet the horses ready,a he said. aItas time.a THE RIDERS DISMOUNTED and handed their horseas reins to the man who had replaced Vawny an hour or so before. As Sharkas man led the horses away, they approached Sham.

Elsic cradled Mauras flute in one hand and held fast to Talbotas arm with the other, a reckless grin plastered on his face. aYou really think this will work?a aNo,a said Sham repressively.

If anything, Elsicas expression brightened. She understood hima"it was a good thing to be needed. If the boy were a little older, he wouldnat have half his confidence in the wild scheme shead come up with.

aNeither do I,a added Lord Halvok. aIf you want to activate your rune, I can work the spells to force the demon to submit to me, for my lifetime anyway.a aFor your short lifetime it would be, if the demon had anything to say about it,a replied Sham without heata"theyad already had this argument when shead first approached him for help.

aIf Shameraas plan fails, could you try to control it then?a asked Talbot.

Sham shook her head, answering before Halvok could. aNo. I have to release the rune that holds the demon in place while I work the spell to send it home. If I fail, itas not going to be containeda"nor is it going to be happy with us. Donat worry, though, if my spell doesnat work, the backlash of wild magic will kill us and burn Purgatory to the ground before the demon can do anything to you.a aThanks,a said Talbot, with a wry grin, athatas good to know. I wouldnat want to be killed by a demon.a Sham left Talbot talking with Lord Halvok and walked to the edge of the cliffs. Below her was inky blackness. Though there was no moon to see by, she could tell by the silence that the tide was out. The unnatural quiet seemed expectant.

Elsic seated himself on the ground next to her. His sightless eyes closed, he breathed in the salt air.

KERIM KNOCKED SOFTLY at the door, ready to play his part. Although he was honest by nature, acting was the meat of any politician, and he had no fears about his ability. He worried about hurting Sky, though, and shead been hurt enough.

aWho is it?a Skyas voice sounded husky with sleep.

aKerim.a There was a pause, and Kerim could almost hear her thinking.

aMy Lord?a The door opened partially, and she peered through. Her sleeping gown was sheer and inviting.

Kerim gave her his best boyish grin. aDo you know what day it is?a aNo, My Lord,a she smiled with a hint of shyness.

Looking at her, he found it even harder to believe that Sham was right. He had a feeling that he was going to be apologizing to Sky before the night was over.

aItas the day the Spirit Tide breaks. Have you ever seen it at night?a aNo, My Lord.a aWell, get dressed then. You have to see this. I know youare not up to a strenuous ride yet, but weall take a gentle horse for youa"I have one with paces as smooth as cream . . . and I believe I owe you an apology for last night.a She drew herself up. aWhat about Lady Shamera?a Kerim allowed a sad smile to cross his face. aAh, Lady Shamera . . . Perhaps you could put on a dressing robe and Iall come in and tell you about her. The hall is not the place for ita"I promise Iall keep my hands to myself.a The door shut momentarily; when Sky opened it again, she was decently covered in an ivory silk bedrobe. aCome in, my lord.a He slipped by her, a difficult thing to do gracefully with his crutches but much easier than the wheeled chair, and took up residence on a uncomfortable wooden stool. She looked from him to the only other seat in the room, a padded loveseat, and smiled before she sat in it.

aYou were going to tell me about Lady Shamera?a aYes,a he sighed and looked at his feet before turning his gaze to hers. aI am not her first protector, you know. She enjoys men. I met her soon after you came here, and I think that it was knowing that I had to leave you alone that drew me to her.a aBut I was crippled and it was getting worse.a He swallowed heavily and continued in almost a whisper. aI knew that Ven loved you, and would make an admirable husband and father. The child . . . the child was mine, wasnat it?a He didnat have to feign the sadness in his voice: the poor babe, doomed by demons and wizards long dead or by mischance, he supposed it didnat matter which.

aI thought I was dying. I could see no good in making you a widow a second time, so I went looking for something to put between usa"and I found Shamera.a He played with the top of his left crutch. aThen I began to recover.a aI noticed that you have been getting better, my lord. Can you tell me why?a He hesitated and managed to look frustrated and slightly guilty. aThatas the truly odd part, and Iam not certain it is my secret to tell.a aMy lord,a she said meeting his eyes squarely. aAnything you say will stay with me.a He gave her a measuring glance, then nodded as if in sudden decision. aLate one night, when one of the cramping spells began, Shamera came in and . . . worked magic.a He let some of the wonder he had felt creep into his voice. aI would not have believed it if I hadnat seen it myself. Shamera has told me that the wizards are largely fled from here, though there are a few, like her, who hide what they are.a aDid she find out who did that to you?a Kerim nodded his head, even while the meaning of the mistake shead just made washed over him. Head never told Sky that Sham had been undoing a spell laid upon hima"just that shead worked magic. aShe seems to think so,a he said smoothly. aAfter the High Priest dieda"and this is the strangest part, Iam not sure Iad believe it if Shamera hadnat had Brother Fykall to back her upa"something took over his body, or wore his shape. Shamera says that it was a demon. It made the mistake of going to the Temple of Altis, and brother Fykall destroyed it.a Skyas mouth tightened with anger momentarily. If he hadnat been watching her closely, he would have missed it. The guilt that head been feeling for misleading Sky all but melted away.

aI owe Shamera a great deala"my health, and even my life. Buta"a he looked down, as if caught by shyness. aa"I donat love her. Last night made me realize that I had to talk to her, and tell her how I felt. Iad already left it too long; I was afraid I would hurt her.a He grinned suddenly. aI almost wish youad have been there. I was expecting to face down the virago who leapt on my bed with a broken pitcher and faced a merchant instead. She let me say what I had to say, then smiled and laid down terms she thought were fair for services rendered.a Kerim smiled coaxingly. aCome with me tonight, Sky. I havenat been to the sea for a long time. The Spirit Tide is something you will remember for the rest of your life.a aI . . .a she gave him a look filled with desire and fear. aI donat know if I should . . .a aCome with me,a he lowered his voice into a purr. Practicing with Shamera had improved his seduction technique.

She drew in a breath, and recklessly said, aYes, I would like that. If youall wait a moment in the hall, Iall put on riding clothes.a aFor you, Iall wait,a replied Kerim softly, rising to his feet and crossing the distance to the hall as lightly as someone on crutches could be expected to.

Lady Sky gave him a quick, bright smile before she shut the door.

LANTERN IN HAND, Dickon waited outside the walls of the Castle with three horses: A sweet-faced bay mare, his own sturdy gelding, and Kerimas war stallion, Scorch.

The stallion looked rather odd with the crutches attached to the shoulder of either side of the saddle, but he was used to carrying stranger things than crutches. Kerim rubbed the black muzzle affectionately.

Cautiously, with Dickon holding the opposite stirrup so the saddle wouldnat slip, Kerim gripped the saddle at pommel and cantle and powered the rest of his body up and into position. Not graceful, but it was effective. Dickon handed Kerim the lantern, and helped Lady Sky on her mare before mounting himself.

aWe are not to go alone, my Lord?a questioned Lady Sky softly, with a pointed look at Dickon.

Kerim shifted his weight until the stallion sidestepped next to Lady Skyas mount. Reaching over he took one gloved hand into his free hand and brought it to his lips. aAlas, no, Lady. The best place to view the Spirit Tide is on the other side of a bad section of town. Despite the fact that Iave paid off the proper people to ensure a quiet ride, it would be sheerest folly to go into such a place with only a crippled warrior such as myself to guard you. Dickon is quite a hand with that sword he carries.a Lady Sky smiled. aSo this is not such an impulsive trip after alla"you could have given me more notice.a Behind her, Kerim noticed that Dickon was frowning his disapproval. Head cautioned Kerim about flirting too hard and hurting Sky.

aAh, me.a Kerim grinned. aI have betrayed myself. No, Lady, Iave been planning this for most of the day.a He gave her a convincing leer. aBut if I had given you notice, youad not have met me in your sleeping gown.a Lady Sky laughed and followed him as he nudged his mount into a swinging walk.

IN SPITE OF his spoken pessimism, Kerimas ride through Purgatory was without incident. He could feel the eyes peering at them from the inky blackness, but they stayed there. Apparently Shamera had greased the right fists with his gold. He took his time, flirting and delaying. By the time they reached the broken timbers of the old bell tower, he calculated that they only had a short time before the tide returned.

Kerim stopped the stallion near a clump of scrub a fair distance from the cliffs. Returning the lantern to Dickonas care, he dismounted with more expediency than skill, but ended up on his feet, which was something of a salve to his pride.

While Dickon saw to Lady Skyas dismounting, Kerim untied the leather strings that kept the crutches in place. He was still unsteady on his feet, but with the crutches he had a fair bit of mobility on the rough ground.

aCome,a he said, leading Lady Sky away from the horses and Dickon. aYouall have to take the lantern.a The nearby buildings were nearly rotted through from the salt-sea air. Kerim ignored them as he made his way to a small area of sandy dirt near the cliffs. He stopped with the base of one crutch resting near a solitary piece of broken cobblestone. Sometime during the ride the stars had come into their full glory. Even without the moonas light, it was possible to see the beach far below.

Sky drew in her breath as she gazed beyond the cliff. aHow fascinating.a aBeautiful,a he agreed, aan unexpected act of naturea"like you.a He reached into his belt pouch and looked for something that wasnat there.

aPlague it,a he said, with boyish embarrassment, aI brought you something, but I forgot to get it from Dickon. Wait here, I wonat be but a moment.a She gave him the lantern. Holding it awkwardly, he turned and rapidly made his way back to the horses while Lady Sky waited, her beautiful profile turned to the sea and a faint smile on her face.

AS SOON AS Kerim was far enough away, Lord Halvok sneaked soundlessly around the remains of the building he had been hiding behind, giving Sham a hint at the reason his guerrilla campaign had been able to hold out against the Easterners. He stopped at the place she had hidden the break in the wire.

Quickly he brought the ends together, fusing them with a touch of magic that caught Lady Skyas attention. Hidden in the shadows of another building, Sham bit her lip. Halvokas fate rested on her rune skills, and shead never had to make a rune of this size before.

As the magic built, the golden thread began to glow, burning brightly beneath the covering sand. Under other circumstances the rune would have been enough to hold its prisoner indefinitely; a demon was as capable of unmaking a rune as Sham or Halvok was, so Halvok knelt where he was and continued to imbue the rune with magic.

aWhat are you doing?a asked Lady Sky staring at Lord Halvok in surprise and taking a step back. aKerim?a her voice rose in fright, awhat is he doing to me?a Coming out of her hiding place, Sham flinched at the fear in Skyas voice. Looking at her standing alone on the cliff edge it was difficult to remember the reasoning Sham had used to convict her. Instinctively Sham glanced at Kerim, knowing that head had his doubts as well. Kerim was frowning as he gripped Dickonas arm. He gestured as he talkeda"though Sham couldnat hear what he said.

Elsic stepped out around a rock, the flute in one hand and his other resting lightly on Talbotas shoulder. aI know you, demon,a he said, his face turned to Lady Sky. aIave felt you in my dreams.a aWhat are you talking about? Kerim said the priest killed the demon,a said Lady Sky, looking more frightened than ever. aKerim?a aSheas going to send you back,a said Kerim gently, as he approached with Dickon. aIsnat that where youave been trying to go all this time? Itas time for you to go home.a aNo . . .a Lady Skyas voice lost its cultured softness as she wailed despairingly. aYou donat know what sheas trying to do!a aNor does she,a said the Shark from just behind Sham, causing her to jump. aBut that never stopped her before.a aWhat are you doing here?a asked Sham in a voice designed to carry only to the Sharkas ears.

He grinned. aYou think Iad miss the most exciting bit of news to happen around here since the Eastern Invasion?a aStay back with Kerim,a she warned him. aThis could get nasty.a aShamera?a asked Lady Sky. aWhy are you doing this? I thought you were my friend.a Sham walked forward until she stood just outside the barrier Halvok held. aChen Laut,a she said, and gestured.

It was unnecessary to call the demonas true form in order to send it back to its world, but Sham needed the reassurance of knowing she was right. So she call the demon by a name it had held for centuries. It was not its true name, but it had power all the same.

The sand at Skyas feet shifted, as if at a strong wind. Sky herself jerked like a marionette in the hands of a toddler, shifting . . . The body fell limply to the ground, and over it stood the demon.

Larger than a horse it was, a creature of flames the color of magic. Eight fragile limbs held its apparent bulk off the wet sand, but there was nothing arachnoid about the rest of the demon. A tail of gold and red ever-changing flames hit the edge of the rune with a crack, driving Lord Halvok to the ground at the unexpected pain.

But there was no question who was hurt worse. The demon screamed, an unearthly trill that covered the spectrum of sound, as a blue-green light flashed from the rune to its tail. When it was through, the demon crouched in the center of the rune, swaying back and forth.

aHalvok?a called Sham.

aFine,a he said, though he sounded hoarse. aThe rune will hold her.a aThree times bound was I,a said the creature using Lady Skyas voice. aThree dead wizards litter the cold earth. Your binding too, I shall come through in better condition than you, wizard. Get what power you can while you may, you will be dead soon enough.a aI will die,a Sham agreed readily, aas all mortal things do. But before then I will see you home again. Talbot, whatas the tide like?a aIf you destroy me,a continued the demon, aI will haunt you and your children until there is one born I might use, witch. I will take that oneas body and hunt until your descendants walk not upon this earth.a aNot yet,a answered Elsic, listening to the sea as he fingered the flute, abut soon.a Talbot gave the blind boy a sharp-eyed look. aItas still out.a aJetsam,a purred the demon, shifting its graceful neck so it was peering at Elsic, aa"cast-off selkie garbage. If you aid in my binding, I will seek you out when I am free, and throw you back to the sea where your own people will rend you and feed you to the fish as tribute.a Elsic smiled sweetly. aI aid in no binding.a The demon paced sinuously within the outer bonds of the hold-rune. It was careful not to touch the edges.

aNow,a said Elsic.

Dimly Sham heard the muted roar of the returning waves begin. Elsic put the flute to his lips and blew a single pure note that pierced the night as cleanly as a fair-spent arrow. After a few experimental scales, he slipped into an unfamiliar song in a minor key.

Sham felt the magic begin to gather. She took a deep breath, and silently reminded herself that most of the magic she would work were spells she already knew. Shead spent half the night memorizing the only one that was new until she could recite the steps backwards in her sleep. If her concentration or confidence faltered, it would release all the power of the Spirit Tide into flames that would swallow them and Purgatory as wella"inspiration for the poorest of students, and she had never been that.

In the original version the death of the sacrifice gave power to the spell. The sympathetic magic of death sent the demon to where it belonged as the soul of the sacrifice traveled home. She intended to replace both functions with the Spirit Tide as it came home to the cliffs.

The magic that the tide generated was formed by the sea, and humans worked only with unformed magic. Like limestone and marble, the two kinds of magic were formed by the same materials with tremendously different results.

Elsic gathered the green magic of the sea, and the flute transformed it into its raw form. Sham had to hold the gathering forces until the last moment before she worked the final spell. There would be no second chances.

Sweat ran off her forehead and she swayed with the effort as the magic grew exponentially with the progress of the monumental wave of water that had begun to swallow the sand. Someone gripped her shoulders briefly and steadied her.

Still the magic grew. The first two spells were easy, nothing that she hadnat cast a hundred times before. She began to draw on the magic.

First to set the subject.

The demon screamed as she worked the spell, weaving it around the creature.

Second to name its true name.

Demon, Chen Laut, bringer of death, stealthy breaker of bonding spells laid upon it by greedy men. Avenger, killer, lonely exile. Sham understood the demon, and wove her knowledge into the spell. It was enougha"she knew it. She could feel the demon trying to break the naming, but it was futile.

aSouthwood lord,a called the demon, aBind me to you and I will help you drive the Easterners from Purgatory. If you allow her to destroy me, they will never go.a Halvok stiffened, like a hound scenting fox.

aIf she chooses to bind rather than destroy, Shamera will not drive them away,a continued the demon persuasively. Skyas voice rang clear through the growing roar of sea and wind. aSheas in love with the Reeve. Sheas too young to really remember how it was, what it felt like to hold your loved ones as they die. But you do, donat you? You remember your wife. She wasnat beautiful, was she? Not until she smiled. She was wonderfully kind. Do you remember how much she loved your children? Then the Easterners came, while you were fighting elsewhere. You returned home and found only what the soldiers had left. She fought to protect the children, your wife, even after what they had done to her.a aHalvok,a said Sham, her voice trembling with the effort of speaking while she tried to hold both the magic and the demon. If Halvok dropped the rune at the wrong time, it could spell disaster. aHalvok, that world is gone. Driving the Easterners out of Southwood will not set time back. It wonat restore your wife, nor even the person you were before they came.a She had told Kerim that what the demon wanted most was to go homea"she knew how the creature felt. As she exacted vengeance from those men who had crippled Maur, she had known that it was only a substitute for what she really wanted: to return to what once was, to go home. aOnly death will come from seeking it, Halvok. Not just nameless Easterners will diea"but your friends and colleagues. People youave come to know and care for. And once the killing starts, it wonat be Eastern blood alone that feeds the soil. Hasnat there been enough death?a aYes,a said Halvok. aI am sick ofa"a The demon struck the rune.

Halvok fell limply to the sand and the steady glow the rune had been emitting flickered wildly.

No time to question. Running to the place where Halvok lay, Sham drew her knife, nicked her palms, and placed both hands on the gold thread. Power surged through her from that contact and she cried out. The magic from the waves buckled and the skin of her hands turned red and blistered from the wild magic that seeped out of her control, but the blood made the difference as she had known it would. It made the rune hers again, no matter how the magic surged and fought it.