Nevian lifted his hand and silently pointed towards the rising sun. Thane shaded his eyes and followed the hand, searching the dark horizon line, looking past the slow-moving crescent of lights.

A.....

'There, Stumble, just above the horizon. Look! There are two lines of dark shapes that beat the morning wind into a gale beneath their sweeping wingspans. Look at the grey swans!'

Slowly the swans flew over the ruined city, their long slender necks and sharp orange beaks held out before them. Ogion, the leading swan whose feathers were the colour of winter shadows, cried out in haunting notes of the Nightbeasts he had seen and the destruction that was spreading as a black tide across Elundium.'

'Lead this warrior, Thanehand!' Nevian cried. 'Show him the Nightmare's footprints.'

Ogion flew low across the roof of Candlebane Hall, circling once around the Master of Magic. 'Old legends foretell of this search for the Nightmare, Krulshards, they cry out bad omens that will lead us into silence. It would be our peril to help this warrior, Thanehand.'

Nevian laughed, letting the rainbow cloak flow out in the wind the swans had stirred up. 'He carries the fate of all Elundium in his sword arm and he cares nothing for ancient tales. He hunts the Nightmare, Krulshards, and greatly needs your sharp eyes to guide him.'

Ogion circled again, 'There would be nothing but despair

in such a search,' he hissed, turning towards the wildlands.

'The Battle Owls have perched upon this warrior's shoulders and Equestrius' son has let him ride upon his back; he would protect you and make all Elundium safe for your cygnets once Krulshards is dead.'

Ogion hissed and turned back, swooping low across the place where Thane stood. Looking down he searched Thane's heart and found it full of sorrow and pain. 'Why does he follow the Nightmare?' he asked, sharply.

'Because,' whispered Thane, lifting his head, 'because he has stolen everything I love, and destroyed everything I once held dear.'

'Lead him to the Nightmare and all Elundium will be safe for you,' urged Nevian.

157.

Ogion circled again and flew low over Thane, calling out his name, before he turned away from the city. Thane sprang into the saddle and spurred Stumble to follow the vanishing swans. Ogion cried out Thane's name against the rising wind.

Far, far ahead, not yet touched by the rising sun, he saw Krulshards' hurrying figure, the malice streaming out with his haste. Ogion beat his black wings faster, urging the horseman on.

158.

I'.

I'.

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l

I~.

A Council in Candlebane Hall

Wearily Tombel reached the top of the siege ladder and offered an armour-gloved hand to Thoron as he climbed the last few rungs. Together they turned and looked out into the sunrise to see the jumbled wreck of the Granite City spread out below them.

'We have run hard to this defeat,' Tombel muttered bitterly, watching the great crescent of lights stop at the outer edges of the city and let the faster-moving columns of Gallopers pa.s.s into the lower rubble-strewn streets.

Thoron turned and stared down into the empty inner circle, searching the shadows. 'Something is out of place,' he whispered, touching Tombel's arm. 'There is no destruction beyond the wall. The Nightbeasts did not take the inner circle!'

'The Candle Hall doors are broken, and one of the Granite Towers has collapsed destroying the armoury, but otherwise

it is untouched,' Tombel observed.

'Come,' whispered Thoron, treading carefully down the narrow steps. 'There must be survivors of the siege, perhaps even the King. Perhaps they are hiding in Candlebane Hall.'

The silence felt eerie and unnatural as their armoured boots echoed on the cobblestones. Tombel unsheathed his broad Marching sword and Thoron drew his long Galloping blade as they came level with the doors of the Candle Hall.

'We came hard-riding to break the siege and free our King!' Tombel shouted.

'Come out into the new daylight!' Thoron cried, striding into the gloomy hall. The emptiness stopped him one pace inside the doors and he stared in disbelief at the broken candlestems and cold wax channels.

'Who in all Elundium,' he hissed, 'has dared to strip the Candle Hall of all its beauty and let the night overpower the light? Who?'

'Enter, warriors. Come forwards, siege-breakers. The Candle Hall is yours!'

'Nevian!' Thoron cried, running forwards across the polished marble floor. 'We are come too late! The King has gone. Has Krulshards, the Nightmare, taken him?' ~

'What of Thane? He rode before us, that much we know from Stumble Hill and Tombel's son, Rubel, whom we found badly wounded at Woodsedge.'

'Nevian, Nevian,' Tombel cried, falling to his knees beside Thoron. 'The Nightmare has Martbel and Elion. He took them in revenge from Woodsedge. We fear for them. Arbel is on the road with Thanehand, that much we know.'

Nevian reached out his hands and laid them gently on Tombel's shoulders, letting the rainbow cloak fall in soft folds across the Marcher's back.

'Be at peace, my mightiest Captain,' he whispered. 'Elionbel and Martbel are safe for the moment. Krulshards will not kill them while Thane lives; he took them to lure Thanehand to his death. But of Arbel I know little more than you, only that the Nightbeasts overtook him on the road and took him prisoner.'

'All my family are destroyed,' cried Tombel, casting himself down on to the cold polished floor.

'Fate has played you hard, and even I, the Master of Magic, cannot change it,' Nevian answered, helping Tombel to his feet.

'Come, come, my warriors,' Nevian urged before he turned and climbed the high dais to the empty throne and sat down.

'Sit!' he commanded, pointing to the lower step. 'Sit and

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t I ~.