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Nothing happened.

Losara blinked, surprised. Doubling his output, he sent forth even more grasping force, but as he targeted the Stone it was as if his power was pouring down a hole.

‘You do realise the futility of what you’re attempting?’ said Fazel.

Losara glanced at him.

‘This was how it happened in Whisperwood,’ the mage continued. ‘The Stone absorbed our spells, taking them into itself to combine them to a single purpose.’ He snickered. ‘It’s doing that now, consuming your power, my lord, but without a light mage adding anything to the mix, there is nothing for it to expel.’

Losara frowned – could it be true? Did Bel possess an object that negated his magic?

He brought up his other hand to target Bel himself, to see if he could at least make his counterpart move towards him …but the Stone caught up that spell as well, sucked it in, and Bel did not budge.

Bel looked between Losara and Fazel, taking in the undead mage’s words …and broke into a smile.

‘What’s this?’ he said. ‘Of course!’

He drew the pendant out slowly, savouring the consternation on Losara’s face.

‘This is swallowing up your magic, isn’t it? You can’t cast spells against me, can you?’

A wild joy flared in his heart.

‘I suppose,’ he said, ‘there are still things that neither of us has thought of. Something comforting in that, don’t you think?’ He laughed harshly. ‘Seems fair, doesn’t it, shadow worm? I mean, there you are zipping all over the place, going wherever you choose in the blink of an eye, murdering Thrones and being home for breakfast …while I have to tramp my every step slowly across the land …it was all seeming a little unbalanced , wasn’t it? But now,’ he held the Stone out in triumph, dangling it mockingly, ‘I have this.’

Losara dropped his hands, at a loss.

‘You arrogant bastard,’ said Bel. ‘Can’t believe it, can you? Used to things going your way, eh?’ He took a step forward. ‘Want to call back your mud monsters? I will most happily disappoint them also.’

He drew his sword and gave it a swing.

Losara held up a hand again, but this time it was directed towards Jaya, who still slumped, dazed, on the ground.

‘The Stone protects only you,’ he said. ‘Give it to me or Jaya will suffer the consequences.’

‘Consequences?’ Bel almost shouted, startling Losara. ‘What are you talking about, you fool? Do you think I have the memory of an insect? I just saw you save her, and heard your explanation why.’

‘That was before …’ began Losara uncertainly.

‘Before you thought you might actually have to live with the pain of losing her? Didn’t much like my chances of success, eh? Ha! Your threats grow more meaningless with every word you speak.’

Losara moved his hand towards Hiza, blue ribbons of energy playing through his fingers. ‘Hiza, then, we could afford to lose.’

‘How right you are!’ said Bel. ‘Sacrifices must be made if the light is to be victorious. I am sure Hiza would give up his life if it meant averting disaster for all his people. Wouldn’t you, Hiza?’

He twisted around to look at his friend and found Hiza regarding him strangely. Slowly, Hiza nodded.

‘I would.’

I will apologise for my callousness later, my friend , Bel thought.

‘Of course he would,’ he said aloud. ‘Hiza is but one man. You think I’d hand this over,’ he swung the pendant almost in Losara’s face, ‘because of one man ?’

Losara simply stared at him.

Bel scowled. ‘No? Not going to blast him away for no reason? You are weak, Losara. Look at you, saving your enemies, befriending them for your own amusement –’

‘Not for amusement,’ protested Losara.

‘Only to lose the very thing you came for!’ Bel pointed the sword at him. ‘Look at you – you can’t do anything to me, can you? What’s to stop me …’ And he made a stabbing motion.

‘You know you cannot do that,’ said Losara quietly.

‘Oh yes,’ said Bel. ‘But what about your hand? You look like you’ve lost a finger.’

Losara’s eyebrows creased. ‘What of it?’

Bel drew his sword up against himself, ran the tips of his fingers along the blade. He admired the sparkle at the very top, where the sun was catching.

‘I didn’t feel anything when you lost it,’ he said.

And he drove the sword through Losara’s shoulder.

Losara stumbled backwards with a cry, caught completely off guard. The sword slid free, leaving behind a rent in his pale flesh. Shadows curled from severed veins.

‘Look at you,’ snarled Bel. ‘To think I ever doubted which of us was the lesser, when you are not even real enough to bleed.’

Losara stared at him, clutching his throbbing shoulder. He was astounded that Bel would do something so petty and spiteful, without purpose other than to inflict pain for the sake of it. He slumped, letting his wounded side fall to shadow, then drew it back to himself. Outwardly he appeared healed, though the wound still ached, tender inside.

‘Ha,’ said Bel. ‘Not even substantial enough to injure. Arkus, you can’t even wear a human wound gracefully for more than a moment.’

‘You have an interesting way of looking at things,’ winced Losara.

He decided there was nothing to gain from remaining. It was time to depart.

‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Keep the Stone, for the moment. You will never be able to use it.’

‘We have Battu,’ said Bel.

‘You have one piece of an enormous puzzle,’ said Losara. ‘So forgive me if I offer no congratulations just yet. Fazel?’

‘Yes,’ said Fazel.

‘Head at once to join the army.’

‘I don’t suppose,’ Bel said to the undead mage, ‘there’s any point me ordering you to stay?’

Fazel shook his head. ‘I wish you could. In my mind, where I am still able to be myself, I will pray for your victory. Yet what hope of that, when the light’s fate rests on the shoulders of such dolts? You were fooled so long, so easily – a man’s entire demeanour changes, yet you suspect nothing. You are so focused on your aims, Blade Bel, you would not see a cart coming to run you down from the side.’

Bel looked stung by Fazel’s bitter tone, from which Losara took small comfort. It could even be that in the undead mage’s words was some good advice.

‘I said at once, Fazel.’

Fazel bowed his head, then turned and sped away, green cloak flaring from his shoulders.

‘You should free him,’ said Bel, despite the mage’s insults. ‘You would, had you any compassion.’

‘Compassion,’ said Losara, raising an eyebrow. ‘A strange quality for one who enjoys his killing so much to advocate. As for now, I’ll take my leave. It has been good to travel with you all, though likely you’ll not say the same of me. Stay safe.’ He eyed Bel. ‘And you especially. Farewell, for now.’

And he fell to darkness.

Olakanzar

There was a stream not far from the village, and Jaya felt incredible relief at collapsing in it fully clothed. It was shallow but fresh, and there was nothing she wanted more than to be rid of the slime and mud that slicked her skin. Perhaps memory of the gaping mouth descending on her would disappear when all traces of its contact were washed away. Perhaps.

She was shaken by the experience, deeply shaken, though she tried not to let it show. Somehow she did not seem to be able to laugh it off in her usual fashion. Bel, who was washing himself nearby, watched her with concern, and she tried to force a smile.

‘Here,’ he said, wading closer, ‘let me help you.’