Kevlin slid to a halt, staring but not believing his eyes. Even though they had suspected Tanathos hid in the city, he hadn't expected to confront the Shadeleech in the catacombs tonight. Didn't Harafin's shields prevent Tanathos from slipping into the city?

Tanathos stepped into the room, smiling. He wore a crimson silk shirt and a black cloak thrown back over one shoulder. Roiling darkness covered his eyes as always, and the wave of nearly palpable evil he radiated drove a dagger of terror deep into Kevlin's soul.

Tanathos threw out a hand, casting a bolt of pure darkness.

He missed Kevlin.

The bolt swept past and someone screamed. Kevlin spun to see a soldier who had been closing on him from behind writhing in the midst of clinging black shadows. The sound trailed away into a wet gurgle as his form shriveled in on itself.

Other nearby soldiers backed away and made signs to ward against evil. Tanathos's smile grew as he leeched out the soldier's life. The sight triggered an avalanche of memories for Kevlin.

Again he saw Tanathos attacking the sentinel fortress of Il'Aicharen, witnessed the tornado shredding buildings. He was swept with remembered awe as the tidal wave crashed into the battered fortress, shattering most of the remaining buildings and sweeping defenders from the walls.

Again he watched in helpless horror as Tanathos used his dark powers to form a monstrous Halimaw from Antigonus. Then he felt again the disgusting sensation of a Makrasha's face melting under his hand as Tanathos leeched its life just as he now took the life of that nameless soldier.

If only he possessed magic. He could rip out the life of his most hated enemy.

Steel would do.

He hefted Jerrik's massive blade and charged. Tanathos stood barely twenty feet away. Nothing would stop him from delivering the killing blow.

A howl of inhuman rage echoed through the room.

Leander

The Stalwart had arrived with the reinforcements, who were already swarming over the remaining attackers. Leander, his face white with rage, had noticed Tanathos. He now charged across the room in a blur of speed. He extended his right hand and his mighty war hammer, already burning with blue fire, appeared in his fist.

Tanathos's smile evaporated, replaced by open fear.

He should have kept running instead of drawing fatally close to Leander and his century of vengeful rage.

Before Kevlin could close on him, and while Leander had barely crossed a third of the long room, Tanathos threw his arms out wide. He shouted a word of power that tore at Kevlin's ears like a thousand wasps.

Kevlin stumbled, dropped his sword, and covered his ears with his hands. The ground rumbled, and the room shook.

That was very bad.

Kevlin was swept by a resurgence of panic, far stronger than the simple fear of getting lost. The thought of being trapped underground, buried alive in the chill darkness, drove him back from the Shadeleech.

Leander continued his advance, unfazed by the danger.

Tanathos pointed. Directly in front of Leander, a pillar of earth reared out of the ground and smashed into the ceiling. The entire room shook with the movement of the heavy earth.

Half a heartbeat later, the pillar of earth exploded. Leander charged through the center of it, his burning hammer held before him like a battering ram. Dust billowed out across the room and covered everything in a deep haze that dimmed the lights and plunged the room into twilight.

Tanathos spun his arm over his head and an invisible wind tore through the room. It whipped the dirt and dust into a blinding whirlwind.

Kevlin shouted a warning, then gagged as his mouth filled with dirt. He turned his back to the wind and covered his face with one arm. The roaring of the wind drowned out all sound, and it pelted Kevlin's skin like sandpaper. Kevlin tasted dirt, smelled dirt, was completely encased by it.

It felt like drowning.

Kevlin expected the amulet to capture the magic for him, but nothing came. He cursed, then spat out more dirt. The magic was not directed against him, so there was nothing for the amulet to capture.

All light vanished as the dirty whirlwind snuffed out torches and lanterns alike. As Kevlin peered vainly into the darkness, he caught a glimpse of a blue light.

Leander still advanced.

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That knowledge bolstered Kevlin's flagging courage. Kill Tanathos and end the threat. He could do that.

Kevlin drew his belt dagger and crept in the direction he thought Tanathos lurked, feeling his way like a blind man. He shielded his face with his other hand, trying to breathe through the dense sand cloud, hoping to glimpse Tanathos before the Shadeleech spotted him.

The ground shook again, then the heart-stopping rumble of falling rock echoed through the room. The sound came from just ahead of him, and he felt as much as heard the closest passage collapsing in on itself.

Kevlin couldn't help but retreat from the danger of being caught in the cave-in. If it spread, they'd all die.

Then blinding white light burst into life right in front of him, blinding him worse than the darkness had.

Something struck him in the chest. The blow wasn't powerful, but Kevlin dodged in case the surprise attacker struck again. The amulet hidden under his shirt began to glow warm and pour magic into him.

Had Tanathos discovered his location? He should have known better than to attack with magic. Kevlin welcomed the inrushing power and raised the reinforced battlements to ward his mind.

Fire erupted around Kevlin, vaporizing the dirt and roaring with insatiable hunger. It encased him in a solid wall of crimson, flames licking hungrily at his body and roaring in his ears.

The amulet captured more magic, sucking the life out of flames that touched him. It protected him from burning, but could do nothing to ward off the intense heat that sucked all moisture from his mouth in an instant.

Sulfur and ash filled Kevlin's nostrils, but he snarled against the heat. Tanathos knew better than to try these tactics. It had to be Masego.

Kevlin didn't fear fire. It was the one element he felt confident controlling. Kevlin extended a thought to the flames burning all around and commanded them to subside.

The flames soared higher and Kevlin's skin cracked from the intense heat. His clothes, protected from the direct fire, still blackened under the close proximity to the inferno.

Kevlin touched the flames again, driving thoughts into the raging fire.

Rogue Fire.

Harafin's description of it finally made sense. Individual tongues of fire usually burned in time with the rhythm of life, which was how he controlled it. This fire burned in the exact opposite to the normal rhythm, so his attempt to quench the flames had only reinforced them.

If not for the amulet, he'd already be dead.

Kevlin tasted ash when he tried to breathe. The air lacked substance and left him feeling light-headed. If he didn't escape quickly, the fire would still kill him.

He threw his will again into the flames, setting his power to the inverted rhythm of this rogue fire, and connected with it.

Be gone, he ordered.

The flames flickered once and disappeared. Kevlin sagged with relief, breathing deep. Wind rushed in where fire had ruled, and the dust-laden air scraped across his raw skin. Kevlin only cared about how deliciously cool it felt after the terrible heat.

Through the blinding light that still illuminated the dust storm, Kevlin made out a shadowy form. He called upon his magic, willing it into a living spear he could use to destroy the enemy.

It revolted.

Rebellious magic crashed against his mental defenses. His shields wavered, his outer walls overrun. Kevlin sank to one knee under the onslaught, grimacing at a sudden headache as he fought to reinforce his defenses.

Waves of magic crashed against the bulwark of his shields, but he fought it down, bringing his invisible army of valiant defenders into sharp focus on the battlements of his mind.

Then he didn't want to fight it any more.

He'd experienced the devious hunger of the Trembling Madness enough to recognize the signs. He barely resisted the urge to cast himself into the raging torrent that sought to destroy his mind. Part of him yearned to embrace the chaos. He could be one with the magic, if only for a moment.

What a moment he could make of it!

He could really live, finally reach his full potential. All he had to do was let go, throw away his foolish desire for control. If he dared embrace this power at his fingertips, he could rival the very gods.

Kevlin lacked the willpower to connect with his brothers and draw upon their strength again. His thoughts wavered and his defenses faded. In a moment, he'd be swept away by the Tai Pari. He focused on the one thing that centered his thoughts and gave him hope.

Indira.

He formed an image of her flawless face in his mind and lost himself in the dark pools of her eyes. He remembered kissing her full lips and sliding his fingers through her silky, hair.

Using memories of Indira like another layer shielding for his thoughts, Kevlin regrouped and strengthened his will. The unruly magic sensed the change as he drove back the madness, and it relented, submitting to his will one more time.

Kevlin stood, his muscles shaking with fatigue. Sweat ran down his burned skin in searing lines.

A hand grabbed Kevlin's collar and yanked him off his feet. He flailed out when he struck the floor, and one hand closed over the hilt of the dagger he had dropped a moment ago.

Someone began dragging him across the floor and a deep, rough voice spoke. "You're a puzzle, Kevlin. I will know your secrets."

Not Tanathos, but a voice of evil. It had to be Masego.

Kevlin tried to open his eyes, but the blinding light shone right in his eyes, as if stationed in front of his face.

He didn't need to see. He shouted, "I'll share this secret for free!"

Water.

This time, the magic obeyed. A spear of water as thick around as his thigh and as hard as steel blasted up from his open left hand and struck the mysterious attacker. The man cried out as he was knocked off his feet.

His hold on Kevlin's collar broke, so Kevlin rolled away and leaped to his feet. He still couldn't see, but he could hear where the enemy had fallen.

Masego liked fire. Kevlin would defeat him with water.

A wave of water erupted out of Kevlin as he spent his magic to fuel the spell. It tumbled Masego through the nearby passageway door. The blinding light winked out and Kevlin caught a glimpse of dark robes and flailing limbs before Masego disappeared into darkness.

Before Kevlin could pursue, the water he'd just conjured flowed back into the doorway and solidified into a thick sheet of ice.

The dust-laden whirlwind also ceased, and dirt rained through the room. Sentinel lights illuminated the room. Leander stood near the caved-in passageway to Kevlin's right, hammer raised as if he planned to plow through solid earth. Soldiers guarded the captured attackers, who were huddled against the far wall.

Harafin stood at the entrance to the room, hands raised, bright blue light radiating from him. He'd probably quenched the whirlwind, and the sight of him filled Connor with renewed hope.

In the center of the room stood Tanathos, his expression desperate, hands raised high, glowing with crimson power.

He clapped his hands together with the sound of thunder.

The ceiling collapsed.