He looked sadly at the golden vase. "Much of it has to do with Celeste," he added softly, "and my destiny without her." Tears began to form in his eyes and he brushed them away. He looked back at Wigg.
"You must listen to me with your heart, as well as with your ears. To fully understand these things, you must accept them in your soul as well as in your mind."
While Wigg listened, Tristan told him about his experiences with the Scroll Master. The First Wizard hungrily absorbed every word. As the sun sank toward the western horizon, their litter soared on toward their destiny. Wulfgar lowered his hands, stymied. for the first time since receiving his Forestallments, he had encountered a force of the craft that was his equal.
Then he sensed the distant presence of the Jin'Sai's blood, and he knew.
His Black Ship and the accompanying horde of K'tons sailed south over the fields of Farplain. For the last several moments he had been trying to summon the orb. But the opposing force was strong-as strong as his own. The Heretics had told him that he must put distance between himself and the azure pass before calling the orb, and that much he had accomplished. But the orb would not appear. Then, in the midst of his frustration, he heard the choir of voices again.
He went to his knees and bowed his head.
"The Jin'Sai approaches. He, too, tries to call the orb. His blood is now red, and also carries Forestallments. We did not foresee this development. His blood is strong, but so is yours, and you command far more Forestallments than he does. There is a way to beat him, our son. Hear us as we tell you how…"
As he listened to the Heretics, Wulfgar began to smile. When they had finished speaking, he stood and turned to look at Cathmore.
"Halt the Black Ship," he ordered, "and order the K'tons to the ground. Allow them to rest. Tell them that when the order is given, they are to rip into the approaching Minions. But under no circumstances are they to attack the Jin'Sai."
Pausing for a moment, he rubbed the damaged side of his face. He thought of Serena and their unborn daughter waiting for him at the Citadel. Very soon now the Jin'Sai would be dead, and the world theirs to command.
"I will deal with my half brother myself."
Cathmore gave his lord a short bow. "As you wish," he said.
The Black Ship slowed to a stop, then hovered in the air. The K'tons landed in the fields, their vast numbers darkening the ground as they milled about anxiously, swords and clubs at the ready.
The Enseterat smiled. With a wave of one hand, the Black Ship, everyone aboard her, and all the waiting K'tons vanished.
Raising his arms he again tried to call the orb, knowing full well that by doing so he would continue to attract the Jin'Sai and his forces.
Come to me, you bastard, he thought. It shall be a clash of the two sides of the craft like no other. Let us finally finish what we have begun. As they soared through the sky, Tristan stiffened again and walked quickly to the front of the litter, all of his senses alert. With a shout, he ordered the warriors to stop and hover in place.
The easterly breeze that had fought them all day suddenly calmed, as though someone had just commanded it to do so. There was no sound other than the beating of Minion wings. To the west, the setting sun was just beginning to sink behind the Tolenka Mountains. The sudden quiet was eerie and unexpected.
Tristan narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side as if listening. Then, his face grave, he urgently motioned Wigg forward to join him.
"He is here," Tristan whispered. "Place the strongest possible wizard's warp around our litter, and do it now! But don't let an azure glow appear-I want the warp transparent. And don't raise your arms as you conjure it."
His face locked in concentration, Wigg was silent for a moment. Then he looked back at the prince.
"It is done," he said.
Tristan stared intently out into the air. "Turn slightly to your right, and tell me what you see."
The wizard did as he was told, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"There is nothing here," Wigg protested.
"Yes, there is," Tristan countered. "There is a massive distortion in the sky. Its edges waver, like that of a reflection in a rippling pond. It hovers directly before us, about fifteen meters away. Listen to me welclass="underline" No matter what happens from here on, you must not interfere. The very future of the craft hinges on what I alone must do."
Wigg looked out into the air. "But I see nothing," he protested. "Are you quite sure that-"
Azure bolts suddenly streaked toward them, born of nothingness. Twin beams of light exploded against Wigg's warp, threatening to send both the wizard and the Jin'Sai tumbling to the ground. Several warriors supporting the litter died immediately, torn apart by the blast, their bodies tumbling to the ground.
But Wigg's warp held, and other warriors quickly took the places of those who had died and righted the litter.
Suddenly the Black Ship materialized before them. Dark forms appeared in the sky and pounced upon the unprepared Minion warriors. In the first few moments, the K'tons' surprise attack cost at least one-third of the Minions their lives. As the airborne battle began in earnest, Tristan and Wigg saw how badly outnumbered they were.
Tristan looked back to see Wulfgar standing in the bow of his Black Ship. For the first time, the prince took in what had become of Wulfgar's face and left arm. The scarring, he realized, was the result of that night on the palace roof, when they had thought they had defeated him.
The two half brothers glared at each other. Finally Wulfgar spoke.
"So you and your wizard live." He smiled, the pink skin of his destroyed face contorting grotesquely. "Frankly, I'm surprised that Satine hasn't killed you by now. She's very good at what she does."
"She won't be carrying out any more of your orders," Tristan answered. "I killed her myself."
Wulfgar smiled again. "Such a pity," he said. "Tell me, Brother, how many of you did she manage to dispose of?"
As he thought of Lionel and Geldon, Tristan's blood rose hotly in his veins. But he would not rise to Wulfgar's provocation.
He turned again to the fighting. The battle had spread out in the sky, but his warriors were losing badly. Soon the fighting would be over, and every Minion in his phalanx would be lying dead on the ground below.
He looked back at Wulfgar. If he was going to take action, it had to be now.
"I know why you have come," Tristan said. "You wish to oversee the final destruction of the Orb of the Vigors. You must know that I cannot allow that to happen-and that I will go to my death, if need be, to stop you."
He held his hands out to his half brother.
"Surrender to me!" he said. "Call off your creatures and allow my wizard to enter your mind. I promise he will not harm you. Come with me back to Tammerland, my brother, I beg of you. Allow us one final chance to bring you to the light. Refuse, and I will have no choice but to destroy you."
Wulfgar laughed. "Look around, Jin'Sai," he shouted back. "Can't you see that you're losing this fight? No, it is you who must surrender to me!"
Tristan took a deep breath. "I will grant you a final chance," he said. "Either come with me now, or perish. You have been turned to the Vagaries, but that is not your fault. Let us help you. I have no wish to see my brother die this day."
Tristan stretched his hands out farther in a gesture of goodwill. His expression was almost compassionate.
Wulfgar stared at Tristan for several long moments. As the Jin'Sai and the Enseterat regarded each other, Wigg realized that he was witnessing a pivotal moment in the long history of the craft. Frozen, he held his breath.
"I cannot do that, Brother," Wulfgar finally said. His voice had become quieter, almost friendly. "My blood will not allow it. Only you and I truly understand that, eh? What will be, will be. It is ordained."