One of the warriors grabbed him. "What is the leader's slave doing carrying a weapon and running loose among the people? Has Dagon's daughter gone mad to allow this?"

Mark swallowed. This was incredible. These men hadn't been out looking for him. They didn't even seem to know he was missing. Megaan must not have reported it.

The warrior shook him. "Speak up, fool. Have you nothing to say for yourself?"

"Yes." Mark gasped for breath. "The Rawhaz ... are ...coming."

The blacksmith stepped back. "How do you know this thing?"

"I ... saw... hurry... they can't ... be far."

"Go back to your master's home, slave. I will sound the alarm. But be warned. If this is some kind of trick..."

"No... trick. I saw ... with my own eyes."

The warrior let Mark go, shoving him in the direction of Dagon's house. Mark stumbled and continued down the lane.

Megaan was standing outside the cabin working on a hide when she saw him. She glared at him. "So you have come back. Did you forget to take something else that was not yours or were you just too much of a coward to keep going?"

Mark half fell against the cabin wall. He waited until he could speak clearly. "I didn't have to come back."

"Then why did you?" Megaan spat the words at him.

"The village... I ran into some Rawhaz headed this way."

The tower guard blew the alarm.

Megaan hesitated, but only for a second. "Come this way, Kakon. We must get Barow and my grandmother to safety. There is a cave down the valley in the white rocks not far from here."

"You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you. I have something to do first."

"The slave girl?"

Mark nodded.

Megaan touched his arm. "The cave is hidden. Look for a dead tree with its roots exposed." She turned and ran into the house.

Mark hurried back through town. People were running everywhere. Some were leaving the village, pushing carts and carrying their belongings on their backs. Others were preparing to fight.

He pounded on the door of the square, thatch-roofed house. The old woman opened it a few inches. "What do you want? I have no time for you. Go back to your master."

Mark shoved the door open, knocking the woman back. "Where is Leeta?"

"You insolent dog!" the woman screamed. "I will see you whipped for this."

Leeta stepped into the room. "Mawk. Run away. Now is time. Go-hurry. Go-hurry."

"Not without you." Mark took her hand. He looked at the old woman. "You can come with us. I know about a hiding place."

"I would rather die."

"So be it. Come, Leeta. There's not much time."

The street was still in turmoil. There was another long blast on the horn. The warrior who had stopped Mark on the road earlier galloped his mount to them. "Can you ride, boy?"

"A little. Why?"

"What you said was true. Our scouts have located the Rawhaz. All our men are needed to fight. We need you to ride for Dagon or the village will be lost."

Leeta grabbed his arm. "No, Mawk. No do this. Please no."

Mark sighed. "Leeta, go down the valley. Look for a dead tree in front of white rocks. A cave is there. Tell Megaan I sent you. Go on. Do what I say. Later I'll come for you."

Leeta bit her lip and moved away.

The warrior slid to the ground. "Take my animal. You'll find Dagon somewhere to the east in the badlands. The Rawhaz will not attack until nightfall. I think we can hold them off ... for a while."

Mark pulled his exhausted body up on top of the beast. The animal shied sideways and he held on with both hands.

The warrior caught the bridle and handed Mark a hunting horn. "Blow this and Dagon will come to you. Now hurry." He slapped the animal's haunches with the flat part of his sword and it lunged into a dead run.

By the time Mark gained control of the animal and could look back the warrior was already out of sight.

chapter 27.

The creature beneath him was larger and more powerful than any of the horses Mark had ridden on his uncle's farm. Every step the muscular animal took seemed to ripple through its entire body.

And this was the first time Mark had ever ridden without a saddle. The thin blanket stretched across the wide back of the animal wasn't made for comfort.

Mark let the beast choose the direction, hoping it would take him to one of Dagon's familiar campsites. He'd never been on this side of the mountain and had no idea where to look for the Tsook leader.

When he was safely away from the village he blew the horn. There was no answer.

The countryside here was different from what he had seen so far of Transall. This area was bleak and lifeless. The trees had thinned out and the cracked ground was an ugly gray sand.

He rode for miles across the parched open land, blowing the horn now and then and listening for a return call. But the only living things he saw were some long spotted lizards and a few big ugly birds that resembled vultures or turkeys.

It dawned on him that he hadn't eaten anything for a long while. He thought about trying his luck with Dagon's crossbow but knew there was no time. He nudged the animal with his heels. Night was falling and the Rawhaz would begin their attack soon.

Mark's eyelids grew heavy. "Wake up," he told himself. "There are people back there counting on you." He blew on the horn until his lips hurt from the effort.

The animal kept moving, its hooves tapping out a steady rhythm. Mark laid his head on the s.h.a.ggy animal's thick neck and knotted one hand in the long, tangled mane. The giant beast plodded on, unaware that its rider had fallen fast asleep.

Mark dreamed of the elusive blue light. It was right in front of him. But every time he got close it moved just out of his reach. He chased it but it never stayed in one place long enough for him to catch it.

Then something felt different. The animal had stopped. Mark sat up, wiping at his eyes. The sun was up and they were far away from the mountains. He had slept through the night. He grabbed the horn from around his neck and blew.

On the horizon he could see a band of five or six riders approaching at a gallop. He sighed with relief. Dagon or some of his warriors had finally heard him and were on their way. The village might still have a chance.

Mark pulled his mount to a stop and waved. The animal seemed nervous. It stamped the ground and refused to stand still.

"What's the matter with you?" Mark squinted into the distance. The beasts pounding toward him were Tsook, all right. But the riders weren't. They were much smaller. More like the... Rawhaz.

Mark whipped around, dug his heels into the animal's sides and jerked it into a lumbering run. There was no cover here. Nowhere to hide. Mark exploded across the desert, blaring out notes on the horn as he went.

Twice he glanced over his shoulder. They were gaining on him. If he didn't shake them soon, they would catch him.

To his right was a small barren bluff. He changed direction and headed for it. In front of the bluff were dozens of small rodent holes. Mark saw them, but not soon enough. His beast stepped into one, stumbled and went down.

Mark flew over the animal's head and slammed against the hard ground. The impact knocked the wind out of his lungs. Gasping for breath, he crawled to his feet. The animal was still down, moaning softly, its front leg jutting out at a sharp angle.

A cloud of gray dust boiled toward him. The Rawhaz had changed direction too. In minutes they would be on him.

Mark examined the crossbow. It was still intact. He grabbed the quiver of arrows, scrambled to the other side of the fallen beast and lay down on his stomach. Taking the arrows out of the pouch, he inserted one in the bow and placed the rest within easy reach.

The beast rocked back and forth, trying to get up, grunting in pain. Mark stroked its back. "Just lie stilla"it won't be long now."

The Rawhaz were just yards away now. Mark took aim at the closest rider and let go. The arrow struck the little man in the shoulder and he twisted and slid off his mount.

Quickly Mark reloaded and fired again. This time his aim was off and the arrow ripped into a beast's chest. The animal fell, rolling head over heels and crushing its rider.

The men kept coming. Mark fired and missed. Arrows and dans landed all around him. One pierced the neck of his mount and the creature stopped moving.

Mark raised himself up to shoot again and narrowly missed being kicked in the head by a giant hoof as one of the Rawhaz jumped over him. Mark flipped around and sent an arrow flying into the man's back.

Pain shot through Mark's leg. He looked down. The tip of a spear had grazed the fleshy part of his thigh. Blood was oozing out.

The two remaining Rawhaz had dismounted and were slowly circling around his dead beast.

Weakly Mark reloaded. He knew he couldn't get them both, but one cannibal was definitely going down.

He lay still, his breathing low and even, waiting for them to come.

Someone shouted. He heard footsteps running away. Mark pulled himself up to see what was happening. The two Rawhaz were trying desperately to catch their mounts.

In front of him, the Tsook were charging toward them. Dagon and his men raced across the desert, firing a volley of arrows as they came. The Rawhaz fell before they could mount.

Dagon slid to a stop and noted the bodies scattered about. He rode around Mark's beast to see who had done all the fighting. His eyes widened. "Kakon? What in the name of Transall ..."

Mark took a ragged breath. "There's no time to explain. I was sent to find you. The village is in danger. Another band of Rawhaz is attacking them. You've got to hurry. It may already be too late.''

"Sarbo, bring up one of the Rawhaz mounts for Kakon." Dagon turned to Mark. "Is your wound bad? Are you able to ride?"

"I think so. But don't wait for me. You must go."

Dagon dropped his water pouch and supply bag in the dust beside Mark. "Here, Kakon. When you are able, come back to the village. We have much to talk about." He gave the command and the warriors moved out at a run.

chapter 28.

It was a warm day and the bodies of the dead Rawhaz and beasts were beginning to stink. Mark was lying against the belly of his slain beast, taking advantage of what little shade it offered. He had cleansed his wound and cut the riding blanket into strips to wrap it. In the supply bag he'd found several pieces of jerky and a crusty piece of bread that satisfied his hunger.

The animal Sarbo had caught for him stood patiently at his feet. It was time. Mark's leg was stiff and burned like fire but it was time. He collected the water bag and his weapons and supplies and forced himself to stand.

It was bad, he told himself, but he'd had worse when he was shot in the back. Taking the bridle, he led the large animal alongside his dead beast. Then he climbed on top of the carca.s.s, swung one leg over the new animal and started out.

Holding the beast to a walk, Mark made his way back toward the mountains. It was slow going but by the end of the day he reached the first line of trees. He let the animal keep walking until it was almost too dark to see. Finally he slid off, tied the beast to a tree and fell asleep on a pile of dead leaves.

The next morning he awoke in the same position in which he'd fallen asleep. As a result, his leg was even more sore and stiff than it had been the day before.

Gingerly he pulled himself up and rested his back against a tree. The supply bag still had a few pieces of jerky and there was a swallow or two of water to wash it down. He finished the food and was about to try to stand when he heard someone calling for him.

"Kakon? Do you hear me? It is Megaan. Please answer."

Mark remembered the horn that was still around his neck. He blew on it and in minutes a golden beast crashed through the trees.

"There you are." Megaan jumped down and ran to him. "My father said you were wounded. I brought a poultice and bandages."

"The village?" Mark asked. "Is it all right?"

Megaan dropped to her knees and cut away a large piece of his skin pants so that she could work on the wound. "Parts of it are burned, the storehouse has been destroyed and some of the people are dead. But my father and his warriors arrived in time to save the rest."

"Leeta?" Mark squirmed when Megaan applied the medicine. "How is she?"

"Your friend is well. She found the cave and hid with my family until it was over."

"Did Dagon send you after me?" Mark asked.

Megaan frowned. "Just lie quietly until I finish, and stop wiggling like a baby every time I touch you."

"He doesn't know you have come, does he? I think he would be very upset if he knew you were this far from home with all the fighting that's been going on lately."

"My father knows I can take care of myself. He does not tell me what to do."

"If no one sent you, then I guess you must have ridden all this way because you were worried about me. Somehow that doesn't sound right. What's the matter? No one left to do the ch.o.r.es for you?"

Megaan stood. "I am finished. We can go now."