Seklos’ companion gaped at the shattered rock on the pavement behind them. “Dangerous place.” He looked up at the tower nervously. “The stones are loose.”
Seklos looked up at the parapet. “I do not believe in such accidents.” He turned to his companion. “Go, spread the word that this area is to be cordoned off and searched most carefully. I think we may be near our Sparrow.”
As he pounded down the stairs, Wiz realized he had made a serious mistake. There was only one door to the tower and that was just around the corner from where the wizards had been standing. If he didn’t get out the door before Seklos came looking for him . . .
Too late! He was still nearly a flight from the bottom when Seklos came through the door and into the tower. As quietly as he could, Wiz backed up the stairs.
Seklos came on, staff in hand, ready to strike at the slightest sound or movement. Wiz moved back up the spiraling stairs ahead of him. There was no time to open a door and no room to squeeze past his pursuer. The only place he could go was back into the room where he had thrown the rock.
That’ll still work, he thought, fighting down the panic rising inside him. He can’t see me and as soon as he comes into the room I’ll be able to slip around him and get down the stairs. Moving as quietly as he could, he eased through the door and made for the far end, next to the window.
Seklos strode into the room and sniffed the air. His head swung this way and that like a hunting dog tracing a scent. Wiz stood stock still, afraid to breathe. Two more steps and he would be far enough in that he could get behind him and out the door.
Seklos took a single cautious step into the room and scanned from side to side. The wizard stopped short. “What . . .” Then his face split in an evil smile.
“A cloak of invisibility? Clever Sparrow. Oh, very clever indeed. But did they not tell you never to stand in a sunbeam wearing a tarncape?” He raised his hand and flicked his wrist in the direction of the window. Wiz had a glimpse of something silvery flying through the air. Instinctively he dove and rolled.
Behind him the stone wall exploded into flame. Wiz hugged the floor and squinted his eyes shut to block out the heat.
Dust! Wiz thought frantically. The dust gave me away! Seklos must have seen his outline in the sunlit dust motes. He raised his head and saw Seklos blocking the doorway, his staff extended in front of him. Behind him a wall of luminous blue blocked the doorway.
In desperation, Wiz hefted the halberd. He knew he couldn’t get in under the staff with the shorter weapon, so he threw it at the wizard, sidearm so it spun horizontally.
As soon as it left Wiz’s hands the halberd became visible. Seklos dodged it easily, swaying to one side like a snake. His face lit with unholy glee as he watched it sail past him.
“So you confirm your presence. Thank you, Sparrow. And now you cannot hide. Your cloak cannot save you.” The wizard extended his staff and waved it from side to side like a blind man while he fumbled in his sleeve.
On tiptoe Wiz backed away from the questing staff. No good to try to get around him. Frantically he looked for someplace to hide.
The only possible place was under one of the benches. Wiz squeezed beneath the nearest one, face to the wall in a vain attempt to muffle his breathing. He clinched his eyes tight and waited to feel the lethal staff tip in the center of his back.
“Come out, little Sparrow,” the hateful, hate-filled voice crooned. “Come out and face your end.”
There was a hideous roar followed by a ringing scream cut short in mid-cry. Then there was a thrashing and horrible crunching noise. Wiz forced himself further back into the crevice.
Then all was silence. No sound from Seklos, no sound of anything else. As quietly as he could Wiz twisted around and looked out.