way, at least, was clear, and in the distance he could see mom-
ing’s light edging above the Runne’s horizon.
Walker was looking that way as well, he saw. Walker, all in
black now, bearded and pale, but looking somehow stronger
than he had ever looked, filled with a fire that burned just be-
neath the surface. Like Allanon, Par thought. As Allanon had
once been. Walker stared momentarily toward the opening, un-
decided, the others crouching close to Par, but facing back to-
ward the closed doors and the open stairwell, weapons held
ready.
“Which way!” hissed the dark-haired girl.
Walker turned and moved swiftly to join them, decided now.
“We came for Par and to set free what they keep imprisoned
in the castle depths. We’re not finished.”
Damson’s arms came around Par and she was holding him
as if she might never let go. Par hugged her back, telling her
it was all right, that he was safe now, wondering if he really
was, wondering still what had happened. The magic of the
wishsong was his again, but he remained uncertain even so of
what it might do.
The Talismans of Shannara 419
But at least I am not a Shadowen! At least I know that!
Cell was standing close to Walker. “The door with the
crossbars—over there—leads down a corridor to the cellar
steps. Do we go? ”
Walker nodded. “Quickly. Stay together!”
They went across the room in a rush, and as they did so, a
black shape flung itself down the stairs and onto the dark-
haired girl. She sidestepped the attack, and the thing turned on
her instantly, hissing and red-eyed, flinging up hands with
claws of fire. But Rumor caught it before it could strike, tear-
ing it down the middle and throwing it aside.
Walker flung open the door with the crossbars, and they
surged through, leaving the stairwell and their pursuers to fol-
low. The corridor was high and dark, and they slipped down it
cautiously, eyes skittering through the shadows. Rumor was
back in front, cat eyes sharper than their own, leading the way.
From somewhere below came the sound of grinding, then a
long sigh, a breathing out. The castle of the Shadowen shud-
dered in response, like the skin of something living that
flinched with a skip in the beating of its heart. What was down
there? Par wondered. Not the crashing of waves on the rocks
as Rimmer Dall had told him—another lie. Something more.
Something so important that Walker would risk everything
rather than leave it. Did he know what it was? Had Allanon
given him the answers they had all been searching for?
There was no time to find that out now. Shadows filled the
opening behind them, and Morgan whirled back and sent the
fire of the Sword of Lean surging into them. They scattered
and disappeared, but were back in a moment. Coil was whis-
pering urgently to Walker, giving him directions to the corridor
leading down, but Walker seemed to know where he was go-
ing, pulling Coil after him, keeping him close. The others fol-
lowed in their wake, hugging the walls. Shadows spun out of
the darkness ahead, but they were merely reflections of what
followed. Par clutched Damson against him and ran on,
They reached a landing that opened onto stairs winding
down into the fortress depths, and now the sounds of what was
kept below became clear and distinct. It was the breathing of
some great animal, rising and falling, wheezing as if the air
passed through a throat parched and constricted from lack of
420
The Talismans of Shannara
water. The grinding was the sound of movement, like the
weight of stones shifting in an avalanche.
Black-cloaked forms appeared on the stairs below, and
Shadowen fire burned toward them in sharp red spears. Walker
threw up a shield that shattered the attack and struck back.
Other shadows came out of halls intersecting the one that
brought them. The Shadowen were all around, black and
soundless and frenzied in their attack. Morgan turned to protect
the rear while Walker led the way, the others crouching in be-
tween. They moved quickly down the steps, feeling the castle