Only eighty-five men remained, and these were desperately tired as the siege reached the thirteenth day. The barricades at the keep-gate were holding, but the Gothir had scaled the outside walls, climbing in through undefended windows, and were now in control of all the upper levels, occasionally attacking down the narrow stairwells, but more often merely loosing shafts into the packed hall below.
An arrow thudded into the upturned table. ‘I know you’re there, arse-face!’ yelled Angel.
Miriel joined him. She had lost weight, the skin of her face taut and fleshless, her eyes gleaming unnaturally. Since Senta’s death she had fought as one possessed with a lust for death. Angel had been hard-pressed to defend her, and had taken two minor cuts, one to the shoulder, the other to the forearm, hurling himself into the path of warriors closing in on her.
‘We’re finished here,’ she said. ‘The barricade will not hold them for long.’
He shrugged. There was no need to reply. The point was all too obviously correct, and Angel could sense the mood of grim resignation among the Nadir. Miriel sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. He curled his arm around her. ‘I loved him, Angel,’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘I should have told him, but I didn’t know until he was gone.’
‘That makes you feel guilty? That you didn’t say the words?’
‘Yes. He deserved more. And it’s so hard to accept that he’s …’ She swallowed hard, unable to give sound to the word. Forcing a smile she brightened, briefly. ‘He had such a zest for life, didn’t he? And always so witty. Nothing grey about Senta, was there?’
‘Nothing grey,’ he agreed. ‘He lived his life to the full. He fought, loved …’
‘… and died.’ She said it swiftly, and fought to hold back the tears.
‘Yes, he died. Shemak’s balls, we all die.’ Angel sighed, then smiled. ‘For myself I’ve no regrets. I’ve had a full life. But it grieves me to know that … you’re here with me now. Everything is ahead of you – or it should be.’
She took his hand. ‘We’ll be together in the Void. Who knows what adventures await. And maybe he’s there … waiting!’
Another arrow thudded into the table, then Angel heard the sound of boots upon the stairs. Surging to his feet he drew his sword. As the Gothir swarmed down Angel wrenched the table aside and leapt to meet them, Miriel just behind him.
Angel killed two, Miriel a third and the Gothir fell back. An archer loomed at the top of the stairs. Miriel hurled a knife which lanced into his shoulder, and he dived from sight. Angel backed away and wedged the table across the stairwell. ‘Well,’ he said, with a wide grin, ‘we’re not finished yet.’
Striding across the hall he saw the priest Ekodas, kneeling beside the stricken Dardalion. The Abbot was still sleeping and Angel paused. ‘How is he?’ he asked.
‘Dying,’ replied Ekodas.
‘I thought you had healed the wound.’
‘I did, but his heart has given out. It is almost ruptured and the valves are thinner than papyrus.’ It was the first time the two men had spoken since the battle against the beast. Ekodas glanced up, then stood before the former gladiator. ‘I am sorry for what happened,’ he said. ‘I… I
‘It was the crystal,’ put in Angel, swiftly. ‘I know. It had a similar effect on me.’
‘Yet you destroyed it.’
‘I never had it in my hands. Don’t torture yourself, priest.’
‘Priest no longer. I am not worthy.’
Tm no judge, Ekodas, but we all have weaknesses. We’re made that way.’
The slender priest shook his head. ‘That is generous of you. But I watched as your friend died – and I made a pact with evil. Zhu Chao came to me in that chamber. He seemed like … like a brother of the soul. And for that short time I had such vile dreams. I never realised there was so much … darkness inside me. I will walk another path now.’ He shrugged. The crystal didn’t change me, you see. It merely opened my eyes to what I am.’