“Right there, sir.” Smyth pointed, his hand shaking, at a dark opening in the side of a hill. It resembled a shadow on the slope more than a real cave, but that might have been a trick of light and distance.

The two men crouched behind a clump of holly bushes. The spicy, evergreen smell lay over everything, thankfully canceling out Smyth’s odor. They had made the trip—a ride to the forest edge then a hike of several miles—in about eight hours. The sun hung low in the sky casting long shadows over everything. At the edge of his awareness, Fredric noticed the skittering of small animals in the branches above him.

A good mile separated the cave from their position, but even so, the presence of animals seemed strange. Maybe Smyth had led him on a false quest after all.

No. I can sense the demon from here. Whatever it is, there’s no doubt something is there.

Fredric frowned. He hadn’t fought a demon in years and the last one had almost killed him. The prudent thing to do would be to summon help, but with the sorcerers already stretched thin due to the quake who knew how long it might take for someone to arrive.

He gripped Lizzenwar’s hilt. He’d boasted often enough that the two of them could defeat any opponent. The time had come to prove it once again.

“Smyth, go back to the horses. If I’m not back in half an hour return to The Citadel and let them know I failed. They’ll summon more help and you’ll have to lead them back here. Understand?”

“Yes, sir. Be careful.”

Smyth hotfooted it back the way they’d come leaving Fredric alone in the darkening forest. It seemed these sorts of confrontations always happened either at dusk, or midnight, or some other awful time of day when he had to rely on his enhanced vision to see what was trying to kill him. It couldn’t be helped. You had to fight the battle when you reached the field. Besides, it wasn’t like the time of day would matter inside the cave.

Fredric drew the demon sword, eased out from behind the shrubs, and started through the trees toward the cave mouth. They had covered three-quarters of the distance when Lizzenwar intruded on his thoughts again.

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I don’t know about this, Fredric. The demon feels stronger than I first believed. Perhaps we should fall back for now.

“We’re too close to just run away. At least let’s have a look at what we’re dealing with.”

Lizzenwar’s anxiety filtered into his mind and Fredric forced it aside. With the sword’s power he could defeat any enemy. He had to believe that.

Fredric set foot in the dark opening. Sensing his thoughts the demon sword began to glow. In the crimson light the rough stone walls appeared covered in blood. The stench of rot and corruption filled the air, giving him the impression that he’d entered a charnel house.

He reached out and ran his hand along the stone. Moisture clung to his fingers and when he rubbed them together they felt tacky. Was there actual blood on the walls? That would help explain the smell.

His grip tightened and he kept moving. Whatever covered the walls it posed no threat to him. The tunnel snaked its way deeper into the hillside. He wasn’t aware of any mining in this part of the kingdom, so why was the cave here? Perhaps it occurred naturally.

It’s close, Fredric. Not more than ten yards away.

Fredric enhanced all his senses as much as he could and sped up his perception. Ahead of him the tunnel opened up into a wide chamber. A dark haze filled the room. It swirled around, but he felt no breeze. Over several seconds the darkness gathered and formed into a hazy humanoid shape. When the final speck of darkness joined the mass, crimson eyes blazed to life.

Fredric accelerated to warlord speed, then drew on Lizzenwar’s power to reach the blinding pace that gave him his nickname. Like lightning Fredric slashed through the monster in front of him.

Twenty, thirty, forty slashes in a second.

No resistance met his blade. He might as well be cutting air.

We’re not hurting it. Flee, Fredric, now.

He raced for the exit. It galled him, but the demon sword was right. If he couldn’t cut it he had no hope of winning.

A curtain of darkness covered the cave entrance, bringing Fredric up short. He spun and raced to the side just ahead of an insubstantial claw.

Dark tentacles shot from the demon’s body.

Fredric tried to sever them, but the demon sword affected the tentacles no more than it had the main body.

He dodged and ducked, running around the chamber like a dog chasing its tail. If he couldn’t retreat even his tremendous soul force would run out.

He had to break through the dark curtain.

Fredric, no!

Lizzenwar’s warning came too late. Fredric plunged into the haze.

Cold unlike anything he’d ever experienced chilled him right down to his core. Soul force rushed out of him.

Fredric staggered to the ground, his strength gone. He tried to stand up, but couldn’t move.

He rolled over on his back. The demon loomed above him, its burning eyes boring into him. A clawed hand plunged through Fredric’s chest.

The last thing he heard was Lizzenwar’s scream in his mind.