Narcissa's eyes opened, and she saw Garacel looking down at her and feeling warm and friendly. Above him was the ceiling of the Sanctum of Zigildrazia with all its statues and places. Rising suddenly, she found her limbs aching and hoped she looked good. She'd tried to stop him.

She'd failed. So much for all of her training so far, she felt only disappointment. Disappointment in herself and in the situation.

"Narcissa, you awaken," said Garacel. The Seeker was kneeling over her, one hand upon his sword.

"Yes, I... I tried to stop them, but..." began Narcissa.

"Everything has proceeded as expected," said Garacel.

"What?" said Narcissa.

Garacel flourished the Blade of Chaos in hand, and it seemed to shriek. "Or, more precisely, events are well within acceptable parameters.'

"What do you mean 'within acceptable parameters'?" asked Narcissa. "The whole city has gone mad." Zigildrazia could not be wrong.

"The battle is ongoing," said Garacel. "It was inevitable that it should happen. The important thing is that the Blade of Chaos is growing in power."

"The Sword..." said Narcissa. "Do we have the power to resurrect Typhos yet?" All those who were dying were dying for that purpose. She must not question it.

Garacel did not answer. Narcissa stood. "Garacel?"

"Follow me," said Garacel.

"Where is Alkela?" asked Narcissa.

"She and Illaryus have gone out to fight the legions," said Garacel. "They entered the gates some time ago. Now follow." This time, it was a command.

Narcissa obeyed.

They walked through the empty halls of the Sanctum. Everyone who had once dwelled here had either left to fight or fled through the passages below.

"Ages ago, there was a great war between the powers of the universe," said Garacel. "In this war, there were gods and demons on both sides. Every power had its own goal, and every power schemed against the others.

"One of these powers was Typhos, the Goddess of Chaos. She is the mother of all monsters and is an ally of Zigildrazia. The first raishans were her creation, as were the chimeras, hydras, and many others. The Blade of Chaos was forged for her champion.

"Now that sword shall return her to life."

"But..." Narcissa paused. "What about the people? We served Zigildrazia loyally... should we... be considered." She was dangerously close to heresy here.

"They are," said Garacel. "Better that they die in the service of something greater than be prey to invading armies. Those worthy shall enter into Zigildrazia's harem.

"Our enemies will be destroyed, and Zigildrazia shall be pleased."

A door opened, and they came to a vast chamber. An altar was at the center, and a huge, black heart was on it. Arteries connected to each wall, and it was still beating hard. The beating was like the deeper drum in history and shook her.

"Why here, Master Garacel? Why Zigilus?" asked Narcissa. "Why couldn't we do all this in the Emperor's territory if he was an enemy? Then, we could have moved the heart to Davus."

"Would that we could destroy our enemies in such a fashion," said Garacel. "Unfortunately, the Blade of Chaos cannot create flesh as Order can. And were we to move the heart, it would die. For it was here, where this very mountain stands, that Zeya and Typhos had their final battle. They summoned their avatars with all that remained of their power. It was an explosive battle.

"In those days, few dwelled in the east, which was fortunate. Had any civilization existed here, it would have been laid to waste. The battle was terrible. Mountains were cast down. A great pit delved into the land, and the sea flowed into the Bay of Lightning. And many storms lie over the bay. They have never cleared.

"In the final grapple, Zeya was pushed down beneath the body of Typhos. But Elranor drove his blade, Lightning Trail, into Typhos' side. Thus, Zeya was freed, and she lifted a great mountain and buried Typhos beneath it.

"Typhos was trapped beneath the mountain, and what power remained to her was sealed away in the far west. Over time, her body decayed, its broken limbs and heads fading away. These became plants and creatures of the land. But her heart remained deep beneath the mountains.

"Until one day, a group of miners who served me found it.

"The heart was still beating. So I brought it up from the earth and kept it safe, hoping to one day restore her. But the Blade of Chaos had been lost long ago, during the Great War. So, it was beyond my power to bring her back.

"Yet not all hope was lost. I erected a shrine around the heart and drew many monster races. Thus, Typhos gained a small following among those the other gods rejected. Slowly, she began to increase in power.

"But the war with Calisha went poorly. And Baltoth sought to destroy the heart. So I gave it to Zigildrazia, a longtime ally of Typhos. I hoped that one day, she would be restored.

"That day has come.

"The heart remains. It beats still here at the very center of the Palace of Zigildrazia. Now, in the name of chaos, Typhos shall be restored!" And he drove the Blade of Chaos deep into the heart. Green blood spurted out, soaking the blade. And it began to beat faster, then faster still. A light green glow came from the heart as whispers intensified.

"How long will it take?" asked Narcissa.

"Hours," said Garacel. "We must ensure that none reaches this Sanctum. Ready your axe. We have work to do.

"When Typhos arises, the legion will be a fitting sacrifice."

Then, the light became blinding, and they were standing in the streets of Zigilus. The legions were fighting against swarms of raishans. Battlelusters hacked and slashed with glee. There was Illaryus, slashing off heads like a man returned from the dead. There was Alkela, swinging about her with a mace. So many had fallen to her already.

"Now," said Garacel, "do as Zigildrazia wills. Take up your weapon and fight. Kill all who would oppose the will of Zigildrazia."

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There was only one answer to be made.

Narcissa raised her axe and charged. She saw one of the legionaries moving toward her. She brought her axe around, and he caught it on his shield. The axe cleaved straight through and sank into his side. He gasped as blood was spat from his face to land upon her, and she drew out the blade. Swinging it down, she shattered a helm and waded into the fray.

She was not her own.

She belonged to Zigildrazia to do with as she willed.

Her body moved almost of its own accord, hacking and slashing. An odd tranquility fell over her as she watched herself kill repeatedly.

"Master Garacel, when I last used this weapon, it..." she said in her mind. "I felt someone, Amysta. She took over my body."

"Indeed?" came Garacel's thought in turn. "That is unfortunate.

"We suspected that her spirit remained within her bloodline. But we had hoped otherwise. Still, this presents an opportunity. This axe naturally draws upon your demonic heritage, Narcissa. The more you wield it, the more Amysta's will embody you.

"Should you die, her strength will be decimated even further. And Zigildrazia's dominance over the domain of lust unchallenged."

Did Zigildrazia want her to die? Narcissa hesitated. "Are you ordering me to"

"I am not ordering you to do anything," said Garacel. "The axe is yours to wield, or not wield, as you see fit. So commanded Zigildrazia. You may wield your old one if you wish. But without the power of this axe, you may well die.

"Who else may the citizens look to for their defense?"

She had a choice. But there was only one answer she could make. "You've given me everything. I won't back out now."

Bodies surrounded her. Dozens of corpses lay hewn about her as she slashed. The legionaries were retreating, but more came. These advanced in formation, shields raised. Narcissa let out a howl and charged. As she did, she saw Illaryus charging with her and Alkela, her ring on her finger and gleaming.

The raishans also charged with them.

Once they crashed into the legions, the real battle began. The enemy line held firm. They were fighting to keep them back. When a man fell, another came to replace him. They hewed down many raishans and lesser warriors. But Alkela and Rakel's weapons cut through all defenses. Little by little, the enemy formation was being driven back.

Hewn skulls and broken limbs were all around her. Carnage was rising throughout the streets. Archers fired from rooftops. Monsters swooped down from the sky to kill and be killed. Spears were hurled as more and more legionaries stormed through the gates.

It was glorious. An orgy of constant bloodshed consumed the entire city and how she lived for such moments.

No.

No Amysta lived for such moments. Narcissa lived for Zigildrazia. She felt as if she was willing to feel. Did as she wanted to do. That was her nature and purpose. Narcissa now felt the two aspects of her combined in a single body. It existed independently of oneself.

Lusting for battle and blood, but for two different reasons.

At length, she stood alone in a courtyard, surrounded by bodies. Her face was smiling, and her limbs and face were covered in blood. It reminded her, no, Amysta, of bathing in the blood of virgins. But Narcissa felt sick and shrugged it off.

Then she saw a shadow.

Turning and looking up to the roof, she saw Dakan standing there. He was holding two short swords in both hands, spinning them absently. "My, how enthusiastic you've become, Narcissa."

"Dakan," said Narcissa. "Why aren't you helping with the fight?"

"Well, I did help start it," said Dakan. "I think it only fair that I will be allowed to take a more relaxed policy." He looked from the roof to where smoke was rising from a distant inferno. "I must admit, when I informed the Emperor of Garacel's plan, I wasn't expecting a response of this sort. I was hoping for subtle machinations: political backstabbing and the like.

"This isn't my specialty.

"Still, withdrawing the guards for Baltoth's minions was simple enough."

Narcissa hurled her axe, spinning toward him. He leaped over it and spun through the air to land behind her, blades aimed at her heart. But Narcissa drew back her axe and clashed blades with him. "You'll pay for what you did to Zarana!"

"What did I do?" asked Dakan. "Was it not what Zigildrazia did to her?"

Narcissa shoved him back and unleashed a flurry of blows. Dakar dodged and weaved through them. He spun his swords playfully before catching her axe between them. "My such aggression on both your parts. You should try to demonstrate less blind fury and more skill."

His sword lashed out for her throat. But as it did, he flinched back and narrowly avoided having his skull caved in. Then, somersaulting backward, he leaped into the air and landed on a low roof. Alkela fell next to Narcissa, weapon in hand.

Dakan spun his blades a final time. Then he smiled. "Yes, now that is more like it. Come on, little human girls. Let us see how you fare against one who knows what he is doing!"

He descended, and they brought around their weapons.

Dakan dodged and weaved through their strikes. But as he did so, Alkela and Narcissa flanked him, always staying on opposite sides. They coordinated their attacks, moving as a single unit. Dakan was soon on the defensive.

Finally, he slid back, falling to one knee. But as they moved toward him, he hurled a vial of oil onto the ground. It exploded into an inferno, and when it cleared, Dakan was back on top of the roof again. "...So, it appears you are better than I thought. I wanted to have a different kind of fun while the city burned.

"But both of you at once is a bit much, even for me. So I leave you two to your inevitable corruption."

Then, turning, he leaped from the roof and out of sight.

The doors around them were then thrown open. The legionnaires rushed in with bloodied swords. "For the Emperor! For Dinis! Cleanse this city! Purge the heretics!"

The two stood back to back as the legionaries closed in around them. They hacked and slashed together, cleaving down all they could. Yet more bodies were added to the growing pile. Sons, fathers, and brothers were cut down as the circle drew ever closer around them.

This was it.

Now, at last, they would die. Thus would the will of Zigildrazia be fulfilled.

"Blood for Zigildrazia!" cried a voice.

Then, through the doors burst a light, and out of it charged Illaryus. He seemed to change as he rushed at the legionnaires, hacking them down. His back straightened, and his skin became unwrinkled. His teeth became perfect as the graying hair turned silver. So here was the Chief of the Battlelusters in his full glory.

All that stood before him were killed. His blade could not pierce the armor but found every weak point. More legionaries came in behind him, but they died by the dozens wherever he walked.

And finally, they broke and fled.

Illaryus stood where he was momentarily, an image of the glory of all Battlelusters. Then he collapsed to his knees. And as the glamour faded, Narcissa saw that his body was covered in grievous wounds.

She ran to him and caught him as he fell back. "Illaryus!

"Illaryus, hold on!"

His skin began to crack. "We are gone now, Narcissa. All save you and Alkela. All have died in this battle, and the city we served will soon follow. The raishans are destroyed, and all we did for naught." Then Illaryus smiled. "...I call this... a fine death..."

A light came from the cracks, and suddenly, he faded. His body disappeared as if it had never been. As he did, the legionnaires crept back in.

They held the doorways all around them, shields readied. Archers came to the windows and bent their bows. Narcissa could have made one final charge, but there was no point.

The archers screamed as spectral blades were driven through their backs. The legionnaires turned and began fighting with some enemy. They disappeared, and screams could be heard.

Then Garacel walked into view. His swords were sheathed, and he was flanked by dozens of specters. Narcissa had seen some of them speaking with Illaryus in the Sanctum.

"This I will not allow," said Garacel.

"Master Garacel?" asked Narcissa.

"I have not faced the armies of Dinis in a long time," said Garacel. "Their armaments have improved somewhat. Well done, both of you."

Narcissa felt a lump in her throat. "What do we do now?"

"Typhos will return soon," said Garacel. "For now, we will feed her resurrection. We will kill as many mortals as humanly possible. It should be a decent sport. Come."

He walked onward. As he did, two surviving legionaries rushed at him, only to fall headless to the ground.

Narcissa followed. Illaryus was dead, but she could still save this city. She had to.