Kevlin helped Leander up another step, barely holding his impatience in check. Leander’s body trembled with fatigue as he leaned heavily on Kevlin. Still, the old stalwart kept his glowing hand on Harafin’s shoulder, loaning what little strength he had left to aid the work of creating steps.

Harafin swayed on the next step, looking like he could topple over any second. He worked at a feverish pace, carving three steps out of the rock face in the same time it had taken him to carve one earlier.

In his heart, Kevlin knew it wouldn’t be enough.

Over the past ten frantic minutes, they’d scaled the first rock face and then scrambled up sloping ramps of stone, or climbed rough sections of the cliff, dropping ropes down to the men behind.

Only one sheer face of stone blocked their path. Another hundred feet and they’d reach the edge of the plateau. Once they reached halfway up this next stretch, Jerrik could probably throw a grappling hook to the rim so they could climb the rest of the way. Harafin only needed to hold on a little longer.

Kevlin had no idea exactly where the heart of the mountain was situated, but every second gave Tanathos more time to get there, murder the monster that had once been Antigonus, and kill them all.

Not if I kill him first.

The initial despair at seeing Tanathos transform Antigonus into the halimaw had been replaced by a renewed resolve to destroy the shadeleech. He’d been stunned to learn that Tanathos was Abaval, so he’d have to move fast to beat Leander to the quarry.

One way or the other, Tanathos was a dead man.

“Harafin, is there any way to reverse the spell and restore Antigonus?”

Despite an impatient growl from Leander, Harafin paused to lean against the stone of the cliff, his face covered with sweat. After a few seconds, he panted, “I do not believe anyone has ever tried. It would take great power, though. More power than any one sentinel commands.”

Kevlin kicked at the step in frustration. There had to be a way.

“Master Harafin!”

They all turned at the shout. A soldier pointed back down the valley to a lone rider wearing sentinel white galloping toward them. The rider dismounted at the first stone ladder, but instead of climbing, he threw himself up the cliff face.

“Ah’Shan,” Harafin said, surprised. “He made very good time.”

Leander glanced at Kevlin and then back down the slope at the advancing sentinel. “If you are to choose him, now would be the opportune moment.”

“No,” Kevlin protested. “I can catch Tanathos.”

“We will kill him,” Leander said, “but Antigonus is unable to bear Tia Khoa any longer.”

“There must be a new bearer before sunset,” Harafin said, “or Tia Khoa’s power will be broken.”

“We are running out of time,” Leander pointed out.

“Then stop wasting it,” Kevlin retorted. “We have to stop Tanathos first. At least give me that chance.”

Ah’Shan was closing fast, and Kevlin could now see his features. He was powerfully built with a heavy mane of black hair. The man looked up and their eyes met.

Kevlin frowned. Shouldn’t he feel something from Tia Khoa if that man was destined to be its next bearer? He felt nothing, and turned back to Harafin, who was regarding him closely.

“Just give me the chance to catch Tanathos,” Kevlin said.

Harafin looked from Kevlin to Drystan and Jerrik. “Together you broke free of Savas’ control, did you not?”

“Aye, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“Everything. It is manifest beyond a doubt. The Three have been declared.”

“The Three?” Leander asked. “These three?”

Harafin said. “I still don’t understand how it can be so, but I am convinced it is.”

I can’t deal with this, Kevlin thought. Tanathos could reach the heart of the mountain any minute, and Harafin starts talking in riddles?

“I have no idea what you just said,” Kevlin said. “But if it helps, I agree.”

“Agree to what?” Ceren asked as she and Indira joined the group. She looked fully recovered from her near-death experience. Indira looked tired, but just as lovely as ever.

“It had better help,” Harafin said. “All hope rests on your shoulders.”

“Are you sure?” Leander asked.

Harafin said, “Kevlin, seek the lower levels under the keep. The door is in the innermost wall. That is where Tanathos is going.”

“Well, get me up there and I’ll catch him.”

“Indira, lend me your strength,” Harafin said.

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“I don’t have much left,” she said.

“I need only a little.”

“I told you,” Ceren told Indira. “Of course you can help.”

Indira placed a glowing hand on Harafin’s shoulder and bowed her head in concentration. She sagged in exhaustion and Ceren slipped under her arm to prop her up.

Harafin stood taller, a little less exhausted. He blew out a breath and squared his shoulders. “Brace yourself, then.”

He made a sweeping gesture with one arm. An invisible force caught Kevlin around the waist and threw him up the face of the cliff.

Kevlin kept his head enough to grab for purchase when his rapid ascent slowed. He caught an outcropping of rock at the top and pulled himself over. Not looking back, he scrambled up the rest of the slope and raced for the gaping hole in the wall where the gate had once stood.

A hundred feet below, Harafin collapsed.

# # #

At the rear of the keep, only one ancient stone wall remained, in which was set a heavy oak door banded with iron. Tanathos pointed at the door, and the halimaw ripped it from its hinges, revealing a wide stone stair descending into darkness.

The passage was nearly filled with water from the flood. Smoke hung heavy in the little air remaining, and the walls were charred as if by fire. They plunged into nearly boiling water that should have been icy cold. The halimaw powered through the liquid, dragging Tanathos behind.

Tanathos smiled. He had almost decided against spending the effort to transform Antigonus. The decision was proving key to finalizing his victory.

If only Antigonus could understand that he was facilitating his own destruction. The halimaw was slave to Tanathos’ will and he doubted the remnant of the once-powerful sentinel was conscious enough to understand what he was doing.

After a moment, they reached a set of steel double doors intricately carved with runes of power. The runes looked dull and faded, not glowing with silver light the way they should.

Tanathos tentatively laid a hand on the doors, and grinned. It was not sealed. The runes were not active. How could the fools not think to seal the heart of the mountain?

Then he understood, and laughed. All things were working together for his good. The floodwaters had triggered the defensive spells, so the powerful wards had been wasted before he even entered the keep.

# # #

Panting, Wayra entered the small room at the top of the tower. Her tower.

Silver runes flared to life around the walls as if in greeting, and the power of the keep welled up through her like it had the first time she’d touched it. So much power! She gasped with the ecstasy, threw back her head, arms wide, and exulted in the moment.

This was what she had sacrificed so many years, and one hand, to achieve.

She deserved it.

Extending fingers of power down through the keep, she explored the extent of the damage. The keep was completely gutted. Had the defensive magic not been activated, the structure probably would have collapsed.

She reached farther, and gasped in horror at what she found.

# # #

The halimaw bashed its heavy paws into the steel doors. They rang from the impact, the sound reverberating through the deep water. The monster’s paws left a dent in the steel, but the doors held.

It struck again, and then again. The solid steel panel slowly caved inward and the door began to split.

# # #

Drystan and Jerrik carried Harafin down the partially completed stair and laid him on an outcrop of rock. The old man breathed shallow, face pale as death, and did not stir.

Leander sat beside him, but lacked the strength to restore Harafin’s vitality. Indira hovered nearby, but Leander motioned her to wait. He did not want her to exhaust herself with help on the way.

The sentinel Ah’Shan pushed past the soldiers. “What is going on here, Leander?”

“Welcome,” Leander said. “If you would be so kind?” He motioned toward the unconscious Harafin.

Ah’Shan placed a hand on Harafin’s forehead and closed his eyes in concentration. Several seconds later, Harafin shuddered and came awake. Ah’Shan helped him sit.

“You overtaxed yourself, my old friend,” Ah’Shan said in a deep voice.

“I’m glad you came,” Harafin said.

“Where is the stone?” Ah’Shan asked. “You must choose me, quickly.”

“It is not yet your time.”

“Don’t toy with me, Harafin. I will stand for my right to be chosen this time.”

Leander held his peace. This choice belonged to Harafin alone, and he did not envy his old friend the decision that lay before him.

“Loan me your strength,” Harafin said. “We must finish this.”

Ah’Shan stepped back and folded his arms. “I do nothing further until the stone is in my hand.”

# # #

This can’t be happening!

Wayra tried to activate the wards protecting the lower levels of the keep, but the water had triggered them all. Their incredible destructive force had spent itself in the floodwaters.

She didn’t know how to create new ones. Channeling her power, she instead formed a superheated spear of energy in the center of the keep and drove it through the heavy stone floor.

If she couldn’t block them, she would kill them like rats.

# # #

The halimaw kept beating on the doors, bending them in little by little. The sharp metal tore at the halimaw’s paws, leaving them ripped and bleeding.

Tanathos smiled. No matter. The creature only had moments left to live.

The roof groaned overhead. A spear of silver light punched through the ceiling and plunged into the water beside him.

Water exploded into steam that seared Tanathos’ face. He ducked his head below the water and frantically swam away from the super-heated shaft.

It began twisting toward him.

He pressed himself against the steel doors, but there was nowhere else to go.

Oblivious of the danger, the halimaw slammed the doors again.

They buckled.

Water surged through the breach, sweeping Tanathos and the monster along as it cascaded down a long, smooth corridor carved into the mountain.

The empty halls of the keep reverberated with the thunderous flood.

# # #

“No!”

Wayra ran to the window and stared toward the cliff rearing thousands of feet above the keep, as if she could see through the solid rock.

Tanathos had breached the mountain.

# # #

Harafin, who had been drooping with weariness, suddenly straightened and seemed to shed decades. Beside him, Leander jumped to his feet with his normal vigor.

Leander glanced up the mountain, the import of the new rush of latent magic all too obvious.

“What happened?” Drystan asked.

“Tanathos has breached the seal,” Harafin said, confirming Leander’s fears. “The heart of the mountain is vulnerable.”

Ah’Shan grabbed Harafin’s shoulder and spun him around. “Choose me,” he growled. “You must.”

Harafin seized a heavy rope and tossed it to Drystan. “See that the others get up safely.”

“Wait--” Drystan started. Harafin threw him up the cliff face, just as he had Kevlin moments earlier.

Harafin turned to Ah'Shan. “The choosing must wait until the day is won.” He threw himself up the slope. Ah’Shan spat and rose up the slope after Harafin at a slower but steadier pace.

“Not a very pleasant fellow, is he?” Jerrik said.

“Not really,” Leander agreed. “But he is a very powerful sentinel. I wish he’d arrived sooner.”

The end of Drystan’s rope dropped beside him.

Leander took up the rope. “We’ll need at least one more line set up. Who’s the best climber?”

“I am.” Ceren tied a second rope to her waist and, without another word, began pulling herself up the steep cliff face.

“She’s very good,” Jerrik admitted, tilting his head back to watch.

Leander slapped his shoulder. “Stop staring. When she ties off the rope, it’s your turn.”

He took hold of the rope and pulled himself up the cliff after Ceren.

Jerrik sighed. “I hate climbing.”