Even as the echoes died away nine knights in black armour appeared, long triangular shields upon their arms, black-bladed swords in their hands. Waylander spun and sent two bolts at the first. They thudded into the knight’s shield. Miriel loosed a shaft, but this also was turned aside. And the knights advanced.
‘What do we do?’ whispered Angel, drawing both his swords.
Waylander aimed his crossbow above the advancing warriors and let fly. The bolt swept over the advancing men then turned, plunging into the back of the closest. ‘Anything is possible here,’ said Waylander. ‘Let your mind loose!’
The knights charged, holding their shields before them. A white shield appeared on Waylander’s arm, his crossbow becoming a sword of light. He leapt forward, crashing his shield into the first knight, hurling him back off-balance, then moved into the gap, slashing his blade to the left, cleaving it through the ribs of an advancing warrior.
Angel took two running steps then threw himself towards the ground, rolling into the charging knights. Three tumbled over him, their shields clattering to the flagstones. He reared up and killed the first two, one with a disembowelling lunge, the second with a reverse thrust. Miriel slew the third with an arrow through the eye.
Two knights converged on Miriel. Instantly her bow became a shining sabre. Ducking under a wild cut she leapt high, her foot hammering into the first man’s chin. He was catapulted back. The second slashed his sword towards her face. She swayed and sent her sabre in a wicked slash that tore through the chain-mail at the knight’s throat. He fell and she plunged her sword into his unprotected back.
The three remaining knights backed away. Angel ran at them. ‘No!’ bellowed Waylander. ‘Let them go!’
Angel backed to where Waylander and Miriel were standing. ‘I can’t think of any magic,’ he grumbled.
‘You will need none,’ said Waylander, pointing to the fading castle walls. ‘It is over.’
Within a heartbeat they were standing on a wide grey road, the castle a memory.
‘You risked your life for me, Miriel,’ said Waylander, taking his daughter in his arms. ‘You came into Hell for me. I’ll never forget that, as long as I live.’ Releasing her he turned to Angel. ‘And you too my friend. How can I thank you?’
‘You could start by letting Miriel take me away from here,’ answered Angel, casting nervous glances at the slate-grey sky and the brooding hills.
Waylander laughed. ‘So be it. How do we leave, Miriel?’
She moved alongside him and laid her hands over his eyes. ‘Think of your body, and where it sleeps. Then relax, as if drifting to sleep. And we will see you in the mountains very soon.’
Reaching up he pulled clear her hands, holding to them. ‘I won’t be coming to the mountains,’ he said softly.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I will just be another sword there. I must go where my talents can be used at their best.’
‘Not Gulgothir?’ she pleaded.
‘Yes. Zhu Chao is the cause of all this. When he is dead maybe it will be over.’
‘Oh Father, he is a wizard. And he will be guarded. Worse, he knows you will come – that is why he laid this trap for you. He will be waiting. How can you succeed?’
‘He’s Waylander the Slayer,’ said Angel. ‘How can he not?’
*
‘What a fool!’ cackled Kesa Khan, leaping to his feet and capering about the cave, his weariness forgotten. Miriel looked on in astonishment. Angel merely shook his head.
‘To think,’ continued the shaman, ‘that he tried to kill Waylander by direct action. It is almost bliss! Like trying to choke a lion by forcing your head into its mouth. Bliss!’
‘What are you talking about?’ asked Miriel.
Kesa Khan sighed and settled down by the fire. ‘You are his daughter and you do not see it? He is like a fire. Left to his own devices he burns down to low, glowing embers. But to attack him is to throw twigs and branches to the flames. Can you understand that? Look!’ Kesa Khan waved his hand above the flames, which flattened into a mirror of fire. Within it they saw Waylander moving slowly through the Void tunnel, water drenching his boots. ‘Here he was afraid, for there were no enemies, only darkness. He was lost. No memory. No weapons.’ They watched the tiny figure reach the skeleton, saw the golden-haired head materialise. ‘Now observe!’ ordered Kesa Khan.