Starlex held Rigel's head in her lap and glanced anxiously at the bright blue sky. The shaded section of the rocky plateau provided little relief against the pounding sun scorching her fair Illymium skin. Rigel's broken leg was swelling. His eyes were shut tight, his breathing shallow. Starlex knew he was in great pain. Her throat was so dry she could barely swallow. They both needed water.

"I'm going to climb to the peak to see if I can locate Raki. Maybe she can fly back and rescue us somehow. I'm sure the dragon scared her away."

"Good idea," Rigel mumbled through tight, dry lips.

Starlex set Rigel's head down gently and moved toward the rock tower looming over them. She clambered slowly up the pitted rock face, pausing every few feet to catch her breath. She didn't dare look down. Her flesh burned, but she would survive a sunburn. They wouldn't survive another day trapped on a mountain without water.

When she reached the dizzying top of the crag, anchoring her feet securely, she gripped her sweaty hand around one boulder and used the other hand to shield her eyes against the blazing sun. She turned slowly in all directions, searching for the dark silhouette of Raki's great wingspan. Her heart swelled at the sight of the Oran battalion, now only a speck on the distant desert sands as they made their slow victory march toward Mynimium. Below her, the puddle of Roland Davadas' spilled blood had turned the pink sand a deep red.

She shuddered and swept her gaze further east. Her heart filled with sudden joy when she spotted two riders on Pendulum Road. Raki flew before them, leading the way.

Bonn and Leiffen!

"My husband!" she cried, refraining her impulse to leap into the air lest she plunge headfirst from the crag.

Starlex carefully descended the rock face. The sun had, at last, begun its descent; long shadows streaked the surface of the plateau. Once her sandals touched solid ground she ran to Rigel, her heart pounding with joy and relief.

"Bonn and Leiffen are coming! They've escaped! They're entering the Crags now. I'm going to climb down to them, and then we'll bring you down. All right?"

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Rigel nodded weakly. Starlex stroked his dirty cheek and pressed her warm lips to his forehead.

"Be careful," he muttered.

Bonn Skaard and Leiffen rode through the winding trails of Crytombe Crags. When they paused to rest the horses, Raki's caws alerted them to a squat figure, bleeding and sweating in his bronze armor, dragging his sword in the sand.

Nargos Nazeer stopped in his tracks and looked up at the blond warrior on the tall white stallion. "So, we meet again Bonn Skaard," Nargos hissed.

Bonn gazed down at Nargos and laughed. "And so we do."

"I vowed vengeance on you the day you murdered my son, but as you can see, I am in no condition to fight you. I ask that you either kill me quickly or give me the road.”

Bonn shot a glance at Leiffen and rubbed his beard. His mount clomped its front hooves, whipping up a cloud of sand. He read in Leiffen’s eyes the Kadaarian law: that no enemy be killed on the open road if he humbly asks passage. Nargos was far from humble, and it would certainly be easy to kill him, but was that the legacy he wanted to leave for his future children? To be an outlaw in a strange land? Or would he remain a Skaard and keep the traditions of his people, no matter where he traveled?

"That's quite a proposition," Bonn said. "And if I let you pass, will you forget this vendetta?"

Nargos nodded. "I will forgive, Bonn Skaard, but never forget."

"Fair enough." Bonn gestured for him to continue on his way. "Return to your homeland, Nargos Nazeer. But only if you vow to never again attempt to claim Mynimium for yourself. That city belongs to my wife's people."

"Your wife?" Nargos spat out the question.

"Yes," Bonn's blue eyes flamed. "Starlex Illymium is my lady wife."

Nargos' snarl became a laugh. "So, you've claimed Oran's prophecy with your own seed."

Confused, Bonn Skaard blinked down at Nargos. "I hear the lady queen has fulfilled Oran's prophecy with her new sire."

Nargos laughed again, uglier this time. "I suppose we all play our part in Illym's plan, whether we are aware or not. I suppose it behooves me to make a friend of you then." He looked up, squinting into the setting sun. "I would shake your hand if I could reach you."

"A handshake won't be necessary," Bonn replied. "I hope a man's word still counts for something in Ardelym."

Nargos nodded and said with a chuckle, "You have my word, Bonn Skaard. Now let me pass and return to my home. What children I have left are waiting for me there."

Bonn and Leiffen reined their mounts to the side of the road to allow Nargos to pass.

They continued on their way along the tight, twisting paths When the path opened into Crytombe Pass, Raki flew ahead cawing loudly. Bonn saw a slim, shadowed figured in the center of the road, arms waving overhead.

"Starlex!" Bonn shouted and dug his heels in his mount’s sides.