Crack!

At first Travis thought it was the sound of the fist striking his face.

Then, through his wavering sight, he saw. the tavern's door fly apart 271 in a discharge of splinters.

"Hold!" a voice commanded.

The men froze, the hate on their faces transmuting to dread. They cowered, no longer fierce attack dogs but mangy curs.

268 mark anthony The voice was noble and clear as a horn, and the sound of it made Travis's heart leap. He tried to make out the speaker, but a veil had descended before his eyes, and all he could see was a tall figure standing amid a corona of fey light. The figure approached, and the farmers fell back. A cool hand touched Travis's arm.

"Do not fear," the shining man said in a musical voice. "I am here now."

Travis smiled and tried to tell the shining man it was all right, that the fire would take him now. However, before he could speak, the last remaining strength drained from his legs, and the dirty floor rushed up to meet him.

I'm coming. Max.

Then the world was lost, not in fire, but in darkness.38.

It was very late. Or very early.

From her makeshift bed on the ground, Grace stared up at the dome of the sky and watched the moon sink toward the black line of the horizon. She supposed Earth's own satellite would seem odd to her now--so small, so cold, so terribly distant. In her time here she had grown used to the gigantic, honey- gold moon of Eldh.

Grace counted carefully in her mind--she had almost lost track of the days--but the moon confirmed her conclusion. The orb was waxing, and 272 nearly a perfect quarter.

Today will be the seventh since we left Calavere, Grace. That means just eight more days until the moon is full. Eight more until-- 269.

dissolved, revealing a pulsing red spark in the sky. Crimson light tinged the moon like blood.

A faint jingling drifted on the air. Grace caught a flash out of the corner of her eye, then came the low, comforting sound of a familiar voice.

"My lady, are you well?"

She spoke the word like a prayer. "Durge."

The knight squatted beside her where she sat. In the dimness his face looked as craggy as that of the moon, but she caught the concern shining in his deep-set eyes. As often, Grace was struck by his solidness. Durge was not a large man, but even in the dark she could make out the thickness of his stooped shoulders, the depth of his chest, the hardness of his arms and legs. At forty-five years of age the knight might have considered himself old, but to Grace he was like a wind-worn stone which seemed only stronger for having stood so long against the fury of the elements.

He cocked his head. "My lady?"

"I was just looking at the moon."

Durge nodded. She did not need to explain further.

"You should return to sleep, my lady. Dawn is yet two hours off."

"Yes," she said, but she did not move, and nor did he.

"Will we reach Ar-tolor today?" she said after a time.

273.

"That was my hope, my lady. However, we were . . . delayed at Falanor.

My wish now is, at the least, to make the bridge over the Dimduorn before nightfall, and to cross into Toloria. From thence it is but five more leagues to the queen's castle."Grace took these words in, then she looked past Durge. In the dim glow of the fire's remains she could )ust make out five sleeping forms. Two curled close to Onp anr>t)-ior. r'>,nr^in,-> ^i^A T'irn T i n+1-1 onrl Ai-irn c1pn