As that would be the logical doing on the part of the attackers, it was clear that Chaldrin spoke the truth. With some reluctance I therefore backed through the sands to the circle, then awaited the arrival of the attackers, which was quick in coming. The torches glinted off their readied swords, as yet unstained with the red which touched ours, and the sands warmed the bottoms of our feet beyond comfort as we waited.
These new attackers were indeed of a higher caliber than the first set. As soon as they were near enough they began to press us, the single fortunate circumstance being that our circle precluded their all being able to approach us at once. Three of their number went down quickly when they attempted to crowd their way forward, one by my sword, and thereafter they faced us singly, the others behind the first line and prepared to step forward should any of their set fall. Swords flickered and danced in all directions, even Aysayn having taken up a blade to use in place of his spear in the restricted area of the circle, the watchers thundered screams and shouts to echo from the walls, and all seemed much like a dream sent by the dark god to liven his existence and darken ours.
Those of us in the circle, two hands of males and myself, quickly found our strength being drained through the deliberate actions of the attackers. Bathed in sweat, there was naught for us to do save stand our ground, even when the attackers stood turn and turn about against us. Then before our swords tired, he gestured to the male behind him and was immediately replaced so that he might catch his breath and renew himself. When this was done before me for the second time, I quickly slashed left and then charged the retreating male, catching both the circle male on my left and he who retreated, unawares. The two went down as I backed to the circle again, and not again was the warrior before me replaced in so off-hand a manner.
Two of our number went down nearly together, and we who remained were pressed even harder. Chaldrin, who stood to my right, showed red upon the cloth about his ribs, yet not from the warriors we faced. His visage was pale and glistening, strain showing clearly, yet he continued to stand his ground. It seemed equally clear that we could not stand much longer, and I determined that I would charge forward through their ranks when Chaldrin fell, making a final effort toward taking as many of the enemy with me as possible to the final darkness. My left arm throbbed from the slice I had taken at some time, my hand slick with the slowly running blood, and it would be foolish to wait till I no longer had the strength to move as I would.
And then groaning sounded from those who stood farther about the circle to my right. Needing to know what was afoot, I stole a quick glance in that direction, then intensified my efforts to down the male before me. He, also having seen the sudden, on-the-run arrival of fresh black-clad males, backed and spent his efforts upon defense. The new males poured from the crevasses, obviously having come through the caverns, and our efforts were surely done. The group of attackers about our circle withdrew and massed together, prepared to charge against us from one side as the newcomers came from the other. At Chaldrin’s hissed commands we flattened our circle to two back-to-back lines, determined to resist till we fell, yet the attack never came.
“Hold!” came a voice from among the newcomers, a voice which somehow seemed familiar. “In the name of Sigurr, I command you to hold where you are!”
“Who commands in the name of Sigurr?” demanded a male from the earlier attack, moving forward a single step as he spoke. “We are here in the name of Sigurr, obedient to the commands of his Shadow.”
“It is not Sigurr’s Shadow whom you obey,” said the first voice, now much nearer behind me. I felt a great desire to turn and look upon him yet my strength was ebbing and I dared not take my eyes from those males before me. “He who sits behind the Golden Mask is an impostor, a would-be usurper. The true Shadow is among these men, sent here so that you might slay him all unknowing. As you know me, so must you know that I speak the truth.”
“Aye, I know you now,” allowed the second male, clearly filled with confusion as he gazed upon the other. “Never before has there been doubt cast upon the word of he who wears the Golden Mask, and I know not what to do. I have also never before doubted the word of Sigurr’s Sword.”
Mehrayn! Despite all, I turned then to look behind me, and it was truly he who stood there. Broad and red-haired, sword held in one large fist, his eyes touched me for the briefest instant and then looked again toward the male he spoke with.
“The matter may be settled to the satisfaction of all,” said Mehrayn. “Though you, unlike I, do not know the face behind the Mask, you know well enough whose face it cannot be. Let us look behind the Mask, and see what we will see.”
“Too late, brother,” said Aysayn, from where he stood, a number of paces to my left. “He who sat above is no longer there. ”
We all of us turned to look upward, and Aysayn had spoken truly. He in the Golden Mask no longer sat among the now-silenced throng who had shouted so lustily just a short while earlier. A growl of anger arose from some of those who had stood encircled with us, and he who had spoken for the black-clad attackers turned again to Mehrayn.
“Never would the true Shadow behave so!” said the male with anger, his free fist clenched. “Never would he send warriors forth to do battle, and then fail to remain to assist in the outcome, should he be required! I need not see whose face is behind the Mask to know him for the impostor he is!”
A rumbling growl of agreement came from those who stood behind him, and those swords which had continued to seek hungrily in our direction were lowered at last. My sword remained as it had been, as did many another upon our line, yet Aysayn lowered his point and stepped forward.
“You have my thanks for those words, warrior,” said he, looking upon the male with a warm smile which he then sent to the others as well. “You all have filled me with great joy, to know that you have come against me in ignorance rather than deliberation. There is only one author at whose feet our ills may be laid. Shall we pursue him?”
“Aye!” rang from many voices all about, with swords raised high to underscore the word. He who led the attackers stepped briskly forward to raise his sword hilt upward to Aysayn, followed immediately by the others of his males who did the same. Beside me, Chaldrin went to one knee with a grunt, his head hanging from the fatigue and pain which rode him.
“I thought never to take an unlabored breath again,” said he, looking up as I crouched where I had stood. “For one so poor with a sword as you, you gave a good account of yourself, girl. You undoubtedly took nearly as many as I.”
“I took more,” said I with a glance at him, “yet only by cause of the presence of your sword when my back was unprotected. Were you female, male, I would proudly call you sister.”
Silence touched him for a moment, then he said most gravely, “It has become most clear that you are chosen by the gods, wench. My sword was meant to aid you, and shall do so forever more. It is the will of the gods.”
His dark eyes held to me with deep calm, declaring the truth of the words he had spoken, and I knew not what words I had yet come across, making it difficult for a warrior to know how she was to deal with them. I became overly aware of the discomforting warmth of the sand beneath my feet, and then another presence happily came to interrupt the awkwardness of the moment.
“Jalav, how badly are you hurt?” demanded Mehrayn, crouching to my left and reaching for my blood-streaked arm. “You should not have involved yourself in this; the battle was not yours. ”
“So you are more closely acquainted with Sigurr’s Sword than you spoke off,” said Chaldrin as I stiffened against the flash of pain brought by Mehrayn’s touch upon my arm. “I find myself unsurprised. As to your comment, O Sword of Sigurr, the battle was as much hers as ours, for she, too, fought for freedom. And without her presence, there would have been far fewer of us remaining erect to greet you upon your arrival.”