When I arrived, I found Eliza leaning heavily against the stone fence. Her eyes were wide, the lids stretched with horror and disbelief.

The sheep were dead. All of them, slaughtered. Each of them bled from the ears. Pools of blood had formed under each mouth and nose. Eyes stared, clouded over. Each lay where it had fallen, with no sign of a struggle. I recalled the blast we had heard. Even from a distance we'd felt the concussive force. The Technomancers, their power running low, had used the deaths of these animals to replenish their supply.

Eliza's head sank to her hands, but she did not cry. She remained standing, her head bowed, so still and rigid that I was frightened. I did what I could, in my poor silence, to comfort her, letting her feel my touch, to know that human warmth and sympathy surrounded her.

The air car slid soundlessly down the hill, pulled up in front of us. Scylla climbed out. Mosiah remained in the car, regarding the slaughter with equanimity.

"Come, Your Majesty," said Scylla. "There is nothing we can do."

"Why?" Eliza asked, in m.u.f.fled tones, keeping her head down. "Why did they do this?"

"They feed off death." Mosiah's voice came from the air car. "These are the fiends to whom you are taking the Darksword, Eliza. Think about it."

I hated him at that moment. She could have been spared this. She knew well enough, having seen the destruction in her own home, what she faced. But I was wrong, as it turned out, and he was right. He gauged her strength and quality better than I.

She raised her face and she was composed, almost serene. "I will go alone. I alone will take the sword to them. The rest of you should not come. It is too dangerous."

That could not be, as Scylla pointed out with great practicality, refraining from mentioning anything in regard to Eliza herself, but talking only of our own needs. Who would drive the air car? We needed Scylla. As for Reuven, I would not leave Father Saryon to the Technomancers. And Mosiah would never permit the Darksword to venture far from his sight. Each of us had our reasons for going.

Eliza accepted the logic of all this quietly, did not argue. She returned to the air car and slid inside. She glanced once more at the dead sheep and her lips tightened, her hands clasped. She looked away. I climbed in beside her, as Scylla returned to the driver's seat.

The air car skimmed over the surface of the ground, much smoother than when I had driven a similar vehicle. I fumbled for something which had struck a strange chord in my mind. Not an ill-sounding chord. It was pleasant, in fact. But strange. I tried to remember what it was.

Your Majesty, Majesty, Scylla had called Eliza twice now. Scylla had called Eliza twice now. Your Your Majesty. Majesty.

How odd. Yet how fitting.

The start of our journey was uneventful. Scylla had brought a map of the land of Thimhallan, obtained from some archives somewhere-she was vague as to details. Mosiah was both intrigued by it and suspicious of it, for it was apparently recently drawn, contained changes in the landscape that had been made by the devastating quakes and storms following the release of the magic.

The two spent several minutes arguing over the map. Mosiah claimed it had been drawn by General Boris's people, which meant that they had violated the treaty. Scylla countered by saying that the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith had violated the treaty themselves. Mosiah had better look to his own sins before he accused others. had violated the treaty themselves. Mosiah had better look to his own sins before he accused others.

I'm not sure how much longer the bickering would have continued, but Eliza, who had been sitting in the back, white-faced and silent, asked quietly, "Is the map useful?"

Scylla looked at Mosiah, who muttered something to the effect that he supposed it was.

"Then I suggest we use it," Eliza said. She curled up in the corner of the seat and closed her eyes.

After that, Scylla and Mosiah spoke to each other only when it was necessary to discuss directions. The air car soared off down the mountainside, heading for the interior of Thimhallan.

I made certain Eliza was comfortable, covered her with my jacket, for which consideration I received a wan smile, but she did not open her eyes. She held Teddy in the crook of her arm, pressed close to her breast for comfort, as a child might. I was certain that Teddy had arranged himself in this enviable position, but I dared not move him for fear of disturbing her rest.

I settled back in my corner, feeling somewhat cramped in the backseat, which-so far as I could tell-was not intended for transporting any creature possessed of legs. I knew I should sleep, for I would need to be well rested to face whatever it was we would face at the end of our journey.

I closed my eyes, but sleep would not come. My body was in that state of overfatigue where the nerves twitch and the mind travels restlessly over past events.

I felt guilty for having abandoned Father Saryon, although I don't know what good I could have done had I been there. And at least I had warned Eliza away from the Technomancers, although if they had taken the sword then and there, Joram and Gwendolyn and Father Saryon might not have been abducted.

What's done is done, I told myself. You acted for the best.

I spent a few more fruitless moments worrying about what we were going to do when we arrived at Zith-el, for I was certain that Mosiah would never permit Eliza to relinquish the Darksword. Would he try to stop her? Would he try to take the sword? Was he truly devoid of magical Life or was that a deceit to throw us off guard? Scylla had pledged her loyalty to Eliza. Would she fight Mosiah, if it came to that? And who was Scylla anyway?

Was Father Saryon all right? Would the Technomancers kill him, as they had promised, if we didn't give up the sword? Was it wise to give up the sword to these evil people? Was this all wasted effort, if the Hch'nyv were going to wipe us out?

Eventually, these concerns-over which admittedly I had no control-so wore out my brain that it gave up and surrendered to weariness. I slept.

I awoke to darkness, a driving rainstorm, and an urgent need to relieve my bladder.

There being a distinct lack of bathroom facilities on Thimhal-lan, I would have to make do with the bushes. The rain pelting down on top of the air car did not fill me with any great enthusiasm for going out into the violent storm, but the urgency of my need gave me little choice.

Eliza slumbered in her corner, undisturbed by the tumult of the storm. By her placid face and even breathing, she slept deeply and dreamlessly. Fearful of waking her, I leaned forward as noiselessly as I could and tapped Scylla on the shoulder.

Scylla glanced around swiftly, keeping a tight grip on the wheel. Driving the air car must have been difficult, due to the storm. We were being buffeted by strong winds, the windshield wipers could not keep the window clear of the rain. If it had not been for the radar, with which the air car was equipped and which provided us with a virtual map of the terrain, we could not have kept going. As it was, we crept along, with Scylla fixing her gaze on the radar screen and Mosiah peering out the blurred window.

I made known my request. A bright burst of lightning nearly blinded us. Thunder cracked overhead, the rumble shaking the air car.

"Can't you hold it?" Scylla asked.

I shook my head. She checked the radar screen, found a clear place, and lowered the air car down onto the ground.

"I'll go with him," Mosiah offered. "There are dangers out there for those who don't know the land."

I indicated that I would be grateful for his company, but it wasn't necessary for him to get drenched on my account. He shrugged, smiled, and opened the car door.

I opened the door on my side and started to climb out.

"What? What's happening?" Eliza said sleepily, blinking her eyes.

"Pit stop," said Scylla.

"What?" asked Eliza.

Embarra.s.sed, I didn't wait to hear more.

The wind nearly ripped the door from my hand, pulling me halfway out of the car. I struggled out the rest of the way. Rain soaked me to the skin in an instant. I wrestled with the door, finally managed to slam it shut. The force of the wind blew me several steps toward the front of the car. Mosiah fought his way around the vehicle, his black robes sodden and clinging to his body. He had thrown off his hood, which was ineffectual against the wind and rain. It was at that moment I knew that he truly was devoid of Life. No wizard with any power left would have subjected himself to such a wetting.

"Watch out!" he shouted, grabbing hold of my arm. "Kij vines!"

He pointed, and by the lights of the air car, I could see the deadly vines. I had written about them in my books, about how the vines wrapped around the limbs of the unwary, dug their thorns into the flesh, and sucked the blood of their victims, blood upon which the plants thrived. I had, of course, never seen one. I could have gone much longer without the pleasure. The heart-shaped leaves shone black in the night, glistening with rain, the thorns small and sharp. The plant appeared quite healthy, with gigantic tendrils curling over each other, layer upon layer.

Making certain to keep clear of the entangling vines, I finished my business as quickly as possible. Mosiah stood near me, keeping watch in all directions, and I was glad for his presence. Zipping up my jeans, I started back for the car. Mosiah walked at my side. The storm actually seemed to be abating; the rain was a windswept shower now instead of a torrent. I was looking forward to climbing into the warm interior of the air car when I felt something like wire wrap around my ankle.

The Kij vine! Frantically, I lurched forward, trying to break its hold. Its grip was strong. The tendril pulled my foot out from under me and began dragging me back into the main body of the plant! I gave a strangled cry and dug my fingers into the mud, trying to brace myself.

Needle-sharp thorns pierced the flesh of my leg, sliding easily through my blue jeans and heavy socks. The pain was excruciating.

At my cry, Mosiah sprang to help me. Scylla had seen me fall and was opening the car door.

"What is it?" she shouted. "What's happening?"

"Stay inside!" Mosiah yelled back. "Turn the air car around! Shine the lights on us! Kij vines! They're all over!"

He stomped on something with his foot. I was being dragged slowly along the rain-soaked ground, my ringers scrabbling to gain purchase, digging deep trenches in the mud. The pain was intense-the jabbing sensation of a thorn probing for a vein, and then came the sickening ache of the blood being sucked out.

Mosiah stood above me, peering into the darkness. He spoke a word and pointed with his finger. There was a flash of light, a sizzle, and a snap.

The vine released me.

I crawled forward, only to feel other tendrils grab hold of me. Snaking out of the darkness from all directions, they wound around my wrists and my feet. One curled around the calf of my leg.

The air car had turned. By the car's headlights, I could see the raindrops glistening off the heart-shaped leaves of the deadly Kij vines, and shining on the terrible, sharp thorns.

"d.a.m.n!" Mosiah swore, and glared in frustration at the vine. He turned and ran back to the air car.

I thought-I don't know why-that he had abandoned me. Panic welled up inside me, bringing with it a surge of adrenaline. I will will free myself! I determined. I tried not to give way to fear, tried to remain calm and think clearly. With all the strength I possessed and a great deal I did not, I jerked my wrist and actually succeeded in freeing myself from one of the vines. free myself! I determined. I tried not to give way to fear, tried to remain calm and think clearly. With all the strength I possessed and a great deal I did not, I jerked my wrist and actually succeeded in freeing myself from one of the vines.

But that was only one, and now four more at least had hold of me.

Eliza was out of the car, ignoring Mosiah's orders.

"The Darksword!" Mosiah was saying. "Hand me the Dark-sword! That's the only thing that will save him!"

My face was covered with muck and my hair was in my eyes. I continued to fight the vine, but my strength was failing. The pain of the thorns was debilitating. I felt sick and faint.

"To me!" Mosiah yelled. "Give it to me! No! Don't risk-"

I heard footsteps and the swish of long skirts.

I shook the hair from my eyes. Eliza stood over me, the Dark-sword in her hand.

"Don't move, Reuven! I don't want to hit you!"

I forced myself to lie still, though I could feel the vines tightening, the thorns drinking deep.

The car lights illuminated her from behind, forming a halo around her dark hair, an aura around her body. The light did not touch the Darksword. Either that or it absorbed the light into itself. Eliza raised the sword and slashed down with it. I heard it slice through the vines, but to my pain-dulled mind, she was fighting the lethal plant with the night itself.

Suddenly I was free. The plant gave up its hold; the tendrils went limp and lifeless as a hand that has been cut off at the wrist.

Mosiah and Scylla were there to help me to my feet. I wiped the muck from my face and, with their help, stumbled to the air car. Eliza came after us, holding the Darksword ready in her hand, but the Kij vine had apparently given up the attack. Looking back on it, I saw its leaves withered and curling wherever the Darksword had touched it.

They a.s.sisted me to the car. Fortunately, the rain had all but ceased now.

"Will he be all right?" Eliza hovered over me. Her obvious concern eased me like a soothing balm.

"The pain fades quickly," Mosiah said. "And the thorns are not poisonous. I know from experience."

"You were always stumbling into them, as I recall," offered Teddy from the floor. He sounded peevish. "I warned you against them, time and again-"

"You did not. You said they were edible," Mosiah recalled with a half smile.

"Well, I knew one of us was," Teddy muttered, then raised his voice in ire. "Is it absolutely necessary for the lot of you to drip all over me?"

"I'd feed you you to the Kij vines," said Mosiah, reaching inside to pick up Teddy, "but even they must have to the Kij vines," said Mosiah, reaching inside to pick up Teddy, "but even they must have some some taste." He started to return the bear to the seat, but instead held him, stared at him. "I wonder . . ." taste." He started to return the bear to the seat, but instead held him, stared at him. "I wonder . . ."

"Put me down!" Teddy complained. "You're pinching me!"

Mosiah plunked the stuffed bear on the seat beside me.

"How are you feeling?" Scylla asked.

"Not well," said Teddy, groaning.

"I was talking to Reuven," Scylla said severely. She rolled up my pants leg and began examining my injuries.

I nodded, to indicate I was better. The pain was fading, as Mosiah had predicted. The horror was not. I could still feel those tendrils tightening around my legs. I shivered from cold and reaction to the ordeal.

"You should change out of those wet clothes," Eliza said.

"Not here," Mosiah stated. "Not now."

"For once, I agree with the wizard," Scylla said. "Get back in the car, all of you. I'll turn the heat on. Reuven, take off what clothes you can. Eliza, cover him with as many blankets as we have. You'll find a first-aid kit back there. Use the ointment on those wounds."

Eliza returned the Darksword to its place on the floor, sliding it under the blanket, out of sight. She said no word about what she'd done to save me, and refused to look at me when I tried to sign my thanks. Instead, she searched for and discovered the first-aid kit, then busied herself with the blankets, pulling them out of the back compartment.

The air car rose up from that ill-fated place and slid smoothly forward, making better time now that the storm had abated. A watery sun peered down at us, blinking, as the clouds scudded over its weak eye.

"Mid-afternoon," Mosiah said, gazing at the sky.

"As dark as it was, I thought it was night," Eliza said.

She began treating my cuts and wounds with the ointment. Embarra.s.sed at this attention, I had endeavored to take the tube from her, but she refused to let me. "Lie back and rest," she ordered, and helped me peel off my sodden woolen sweater.

She dabbed ointment on the thorn wounds, which were red and fiery, with dark blood oozing from them. When Eliza spread the salve over them, the redness vanished, the bleeding stopped, the pain eased and was soon completely gone. Eliza's eyes widened at the change.

"This is wonderful," she said, looking at the small tube. "We have medical supplies sent to us by the Earth Forces, but nothing like this!"

"Standard government issue," said Scylla, with a shrug.

Mosiah twisted around in his seat, studied the almost healed wounds on my arms and legs. He looked at Scylla.

"What government issues miracles these days?" he asked.

She glanced at him and grinned. "And where did you you find that thunderbolt you launched, Enforcer? Just happen to have one up your sleeve? I thought you said your magic was depleted. No Life." She shook her head in mock sorrow, and continued on. "And you asking for the Darksword. Quick thinking. Yet what would you have done with it, I wonder?" find that thunderbolt you launched, Enforcer? Just happen to have one up your sleeve? I thought you said your magic was depleted. No Life." She shook her head in mock sorrow, and continued on. "And you asking for the Darksword. Quick thinking. Yet what would you have done with it, I wonder?"

"Used it to free Reuven," Mosiah replied. "Then I would have changed myself into a bat and flown away with it, of course. Or did you think I'd take it and try to run with it, through this G.o.dforsaken wilderness, and you with an air car to catch me!"

He sat hunched and huddled in his robes, which were as wet as my clothes. He held his shoulders rigid, to keep from revealing that he was shivering.

"I thought the sword too heavy for Eliza to wield," he added coldly. "I see now that I was wrong."