Leander slowed to a halt just outside the outer gate of the high wall surrounding the upper city. Sentinel Ah'Shan caught up with him there. The powerfully built Sentinel was breathing heavily from the long run, but his face was flushed with excitement.

"See anything?"

"No." Leander scanned the crowds moving along the wide boulevard that circled the city just below the wall. Known as the Way of the Wall, it was one of the main thoroughfares crossing the Spokes.

On the far side of the Way, the slope leveled out into the wide plain of Tamera. The city's central marketplace began there and stretched for two miles. It was a maze of permanent shops and temporary tents teeming with people from the farthest reaches of the Six Kingdoms. It even included traders from Nedikat and Raghneidur.

Leander looked past the riot of colors and ignored the tumult of voices shouting deals and calling their wares. He looked just above the crowd for the telltale crimson glow marking their target.

"I see nothing," Ah'Shan said after a moment. He started forward. "Come on. Patrols are pushing into the area from all across the city. If we don't catch him, one of them will."

"He's mine," Leander said. "Justice will be done, and my hammer will deliver it."

"Only if you catch him first."

The two skirted the upper edge of the marketplace along the Way. If Tanathos had stayed on the Spoke, Harafin would have gotten a much better fix on his position, so most likely he had moved into the market.

Leander searched until his eyes began to ache, but he barely dared blink for fear of missing the sign. He'd yearned to bring his family's murderer to justice for over a century. The prospect of finally catching up with the elusive Tanathos set his blood pumping with battle fury.

The man, under the name Abaval, had committed the most atrocious murders. The gory scene of destruction in Leander's small village still burned vivid in his mind. He had never seen anything to rival the barbarity unleashed upon his town.

Now he knew the author of that atrocity. Abaval and Tanathos would die together today. The recent close encounters with the Shadeleech had only served to sharpen Leander's thirst for vengeance to a razor edge. He tried to stay objective, to focus only on dealing justice, but the thirst for revenge burned so hot he barely restrained the urge to reach for his Sentinel power.

That road led to madness and destruction.

After nearly a quarter mile, Leander's breath caught in his throat. There! Deep in the tangle of the marketplace, a crimson marker that looked like a slowly pulsing flame, peeked above a row of tents.

"There, I see him," Ah'Shan called out at the same time. The Sentinel closed his eyes, and the telltale silvery glow of Mindlink settled over his face.

Leander didn't wait for him to signal the other patrols to close in. They wouldn't be needed.

He surged off the Way and into the crowded marketplace. He resisted the urge to plow through the crowds as he wove through the press. As he moved into the maze of streets and alleys, he occasionally lost sight of the marker. His anxiety grew every second until he picked it up again.

The marker moved through the marketplace at a steady pace, but Leander closed on it. Within five minutes he had drawn close and rarely lost sight of it. It was weakening and would dissipate within moments. If they hadn't caught sight of it so soon, they would have lost this chance to destroy evil from among them.

Leander clenched his fist at his side, eager to call forth his mighty hammer. Soon the hunt would be over. He turned down a narrow alley flanked with brightly colored tents. This entire street sold cloth and leather goods from all across the Six Kingdoms. Bolts of cloth were piled high on tables along the edge of the alley, and people packed shoulder to shoulder filled the narrow street.

Leander groaned. People were haggling fiercely and crowding around the shops. There must be some sort of special deal today. He tried to push through the crowd, but could barely move.

Stolen story; please report.

"Leander, this way!"

Ah'Shan had caught up with him and jerked his thumb to the left where an alley barely wide enough for a single person passed between nearby tents.

Leander followed Ah'Shan down the alley. The ground was littered with filth, and it stunk like a cesspool. He chafed at the fact that Ah'Shan had managed to get ahead of him. They would have a serious disagreement if the Sentinel tried to take Tanathos.

They emerged into a wider street flanked by stone buildings and far less crowded. Leander scanned the area and almost missed the signal beacon. There, at the far end of the street, the beacon flared a final time before winking out.

It was enough.

The beacon had hovered over a figure cloaked in black who was just disappearing down a distant alley.

"I see him," Ah'Shan called.

Leander sprinted up the street without answering.

Ah'Shan muttered a curse and gave chase. He might be a master Sentinel, but Ah'Shan couldn't run nearly fast enough.

Leander sprinted up the street. People noticed him coming this time and cries of surprise spread the alarm. People wisely moved out of the way.

As Leander closed on the alley, he extended his right hand and snapped his fingers, calling forth his mighty hammer. He didn't yet release its blue fire. He refused to grant Tanathos any warning.

Leander raced into the alley. The buildings on either side reared three stories, so the alley huddled in deep shadow. He stumbled over a broken crate, but recovered his balance and vaulted it.

A man walked toward him in the alley, and for a split second, Leander could see Tanathos standing there. He drew back his hammer to deliver a deathblow, but his vision cleared. Instead of Tanathos, a dark-haired youth dressed in a palace uniform stood there, staring fearfully at the mighty hammer.

"Get out of here," Leander snarled and shoved the lad behind him. The youth didn't need further encouragement, and he bolted from the alley and disappeared into the crowd.

Debris littered the alley, forcing Leander to slow to a jog. He scanned the shadows eagerly, hoping to find Tanathos attempting to take refuge in the darkness.

Nothing.

Ah'Shan entered the alley, his breathing like a bellows. He stumbled over the same crate and the noise echoed in the alley.

Leander picked up his pace and raced for the far end of the alley. He leaped into the next street, hammer raised to strike. The Shadeleech couldn't be more than a few paces away.

The street was nearly deserted. It looked far older than most of the marketplace, with brick buildings housing high quality items for rich patrons. Few people walked the street, and none looked like the black-robed Shadeleech.

Ah'Shan joined Leander and together they scanned the street in vain for several heartbeats.

"Where'd he go?" Ah'Shan asked.

Half a dozen white-robed Sentinels rounded the corner a block away and fanned out through the street.

Ah'Shan grunted in approval. "They made good time."

Leander noticed for the first time that the newcomers all wore the black band of Kestrels. These were Ah'Shan's forces. The Kestrels, four men and two women, caught sight of Ah'Shan and jogged over.

"What have you seen?" Ah'Shan asked.

"Nothing, master," one burly Sentinel with a closely trimmed beard reported. "We saw a glimpse of the beacon a few minutes ago and moved to intercept, but have seen nothing since."

"Spread out," Ah'Shan commanded. "We chased him down this alley. He must be close." He pointed to one of the women, and then to the man standing beside her. "You two, mental scans of the area. Search for Sthenic signatures."

The two nodded and closed their eyes. A soft blue glow radiated from their faces as they extended feelers of thought through the surrounding area. Leander stood nearby, watching them closely and ready to intervene to help.

The discipline of these Kestrels, and their bravery, impressed Leander. It was no simple thing to scan an area for a hostile Shadeleech. The effort could cover lots of ground, but left the Sentinel open to a counter-attack that could easily prove fatal. Yet these Kestrels didn't hesitate or show fear.

These were worthy companions to take down such a foe.

After two minutes, the Sentinels opened their eyes, and the blue glow dissipated from around their faces. The woman said, "We find no gifted minds anywhere nearby, master, not until we reached the next patrol three blocks over."

Ah'Shan muttered a curse and turned a full circle. He raised his voice and shouted, "Search every building."

The Sentinels split into pairs and moved into nearby buildings. Ah'Shan pointed to the far end of the street, opposite the direction the Sentinels had approached from. "I'm going to search in this direction."

"Good," Leander said. "Notify me if you find anything."

"You're not coming?"

"No." He gestured back at the alley they just ran through. "I'm going to double check in here."

"The alley was empty."

"I know, but I feel like we must have missed something."

Ah'Shan shrugged and jogged away.

Leander dropped his hammer and it disappeared. After a final scan of the empty street, he turned and slowly walked back down the alley, deep in thought.

How could Tanathos have disappeared? They were so close. He forced down a wave of frustration. It wouldn't help, and he needed a clear mind.

Leander sat on an overturned crate and considered the situation. If the beacon had lasted even another moment, they would have caught up with Tanathos. They shouldn't have needed it. The Shadeleech was in sight, and this alley only had one exit. There was no way they should have lost him.

Leander rose and paced down the alley.

"We're missing something," he muttered. "But what?"