Amor Vincit Omnia

(Love Conquers All)

Part One: Sun and Shadow

The Bishop: "Now, Estevão, let us think. Before today, did you love your mother?"
Quim: "Yes."
The Bishop: "And this mother that you loved, had she already committed adultery?"
Quim: "Ten thousand times."
The Bishop: "I suspect she was not so libidinous as that. But you tell me that you loved her, though she was an adulteress. Isn't she the same person tonight? Has she changed between yesterday and today? Or is it only you who have changed?"
- Orson Scott Card
"Speaker for the Dead"

Chapter Twenty-Five: Revelations

Morning dawned bright and cold. Saiya, stepping outside to get water from the spring, was greeted by a flat, ashen sky and a field of tawny, frosted grass. It was, she thought, as if the previous night's rain had washed all the color from the world.

Baal had fallen asleep almost immediately upon finding a place to sit, but Saiya stayed up a while longer, watching the rise and fall of his chest. Her eyes had lingered over every detail of his face; even beaten and bloodied she found him beautiful. Her fingers had itched to smooth over his hair in a loving caress, to trace the malleable bow of his lips and ghost along his lightly stubbled jaw.

Now, though, she was feeling the effects of too little rest. Her limbs felt heavy, her eyes puffy and blurred. She splashed some frigid water on her face, hoping the minor shock would revitalize her.

A crow jeered at her from the peak of the roof. Looking up at it, an idea came into Saiya's head. She scaled the wall of the house, using the pillars of ivy to support her weight. There were numerous bird nests under the eaves, where the rafter ends protruded from the stone. Saiya gathered half a dozen eggs – no more than one from each nest – folded them carefully in the skirt of her robe, and dropped back down. Then she paid a visit to the overgrown garden behind the cottage. There were a few tomato vines with ripening fruit, and clumps of herbs grew unchecked.

Returning inside with her bounty, she found Caesar building up the fire, which had burned down to ashes during the night. The wizard bade her a cheerful good morning.

"I was planning to make porridge," he said, "but an omelet will complement it nicely."

Baal, for the first time since Saiya had met him, was the last to rise. His face was a rainbow of motley colors ranging from deepest blue to livid yellow. He accepted his portion of breakfast and ate in silence, waving off all concerned inquiries about his condition and the circumstances that had led to it.

After the meal Saiya took the dishes outside to wash them in the spring, while the others packed up and made ready to leave. They set off on the northbound road, walking at a decent pace. The young monk stuck close to Baal, keeping an eye on him to ensure that he was not suffering too much from his leg injury.

They happened upon Karyna's lost cart around midday. It had sustained some superficial damage; there were several arrows and a spear lodged in the sides, and one of the wheels was busted. A fat grey ox was grazing placidly nearby, still wearing the remains of a splintered harness. Karyna ran towards it and threw her arms around its massive neck, exclaiming, "Archimedes! Thank the Gods you're all right!"

"This is where we'll part ways with you," Baal told her. "It would be dangerous for you to travel any further with us."

She dropped into a curtsey. "I appreciate you taking me this far. Would you like me to read your fortune before you go?"

"No thanks," he replied with an enigmatic smile. "Like I said before, I don't believe in fortunes."

"Suit yourself. But please take care, all of you. I wish you success with your mission."

"Where will you go?" Saiya asked.

The mystic beamed and said, "Oh, I'll just continue to wander around as always, wherever the wind decides to blow me."

They left her sitting on the back of her wagon and continued on their way. The highlands were a little too quiet for Saiya's liking. There was no birdsong, no rustle of rabbits in the long grass. Even the insects failed to make an appearance. She asked Baal if his nose could detect anything unusual, but he only said, "Don't worry, there aren't any demons around." He sounded supremely confident.

As they walked, the larger group fragmented into pairs. Baal and Saiya had taken the lead, with Kormac and Leah behind them, barely within earshot. Caesar and Ghor were in the rear. Saiya took advantage of the privacy this arrangement allowed to make another apology for her behavior the previous day, just for good measure. Baal courteously dismissed it. Soon they were chatting easily, exchanging humorous anecdotes of days gone past. She told him about a prank she had played on the monks when she was seven, when she had shaved strange patterns into the back of their heads during the weekly temple-wide hair trimming. Baal in turn related how he had once encountered a pair of cursed pants that, while spelled to protect against harm, doomed the wearer to constant flatulence.

After about an hour, they reached a place where the highlands split in two, and a granite cliff reared up fifty feet or so. On top the ground leveled off to form a second mesa. The cliff face was sheer, with few footholds available, and Saiya shook her head despairingly over how they would manage to climb it. She could handle it, she figured, but Baal's wounded leg and Caesar's broken fingers would complicate matters. Leah as well had yet to recover her full strength.

Baal, however, laughed aloud when she voiced her worries. "Oh, ye of little faith," he said, in a mocking imitation of courtly speech, "do not trouble your heart. Our quest will come to a satisfactory conclusion."

"You know something," she said, peering at him with narrow eyes. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Patience is the greatest of all virtues, I am told."

She huffed and turned her back, gazing out over the vast prairie from whence they had come. On the horizon she could see a little column of smoke, where presumably Karyna was cooking lunch.

Once the other four had caught up to them, Baal led the group east along the base of the cliff. Before long they spotted a narrow road that switchbacked up the precipice. It had obviously been constructed many years ago for convenience, but was now overgrown with grass, brush, and even small trees. It was surrounded by a cobbled-together fence of birch logs with the bark still on. Goat skulls were mounted on several of the poles, framed eerily against the pale grey sky.

"Khazra," Leah said grimly. "And a lot of them too, by the looks of it."

"Wonderful plan, Master Hunter," sneered Caesar. "Shall we put down our weapons and bare our chests before entering, to make it easier for them to murder us?"

Saiya tensed, expecting the sarcastic remark to spark another squabble, but to her amazement, Baal smirked and said nothing.

"I find it odd," said Ghor, "that they have not yet noticed us."

"Yes," Kormac agreed. "Usually they would have attacked by now."

"Perhaps the settlement is deserted?" Saiya suggested.

The witch doctor shook her head, pointing to a cloven print in the earth. "These tracks are recent, no more than a few days old."

Saiya looked at Baal. There was something leisurely in his grin and in the relaxed way he was standing with his arms crossed that made her think he wasn't concerned about the threat of ambush. But even if he couldn't smell any demons, how could he be sure that they were not in danger unless …

Suspicion gripped her heart with chilly fingers, but she kept her mouth closed while her companions debated their options and finally decided to cautiously advance. As soon as they reached the open gates, she knew she had guessed the truth, and relief mingled with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Corpses lay everywhere. They cause of death for most of them was not immediately evident, but Saiya knew without looking that she would find arrow holes. Others were crushed beneath falling logs, killed when their own traps had been sprung on them. The air was thick with flies.

What made the sight truly dreadful, though, was the smaller bodies among the gruesome piles. Saiya saw females, their naked torsos covered in a downy dun fur, and – she noticed with a catch in her throat – younglings. Kids. Some of them with stubby horns just beginning to sprout, some with heads still smooth. All slain, culled without mercy or forgiveness.

Saiya felt as if roots of ice had wormed their way into her heart. She had known of Baal's overpowering hatred for all demonkind, she had known, but she had not understood what to lengths he was prepared to go. That the man she loved had committed such a cold-blooded act was distressing in the extreme. Against her will her mind wove images of a rain of arrows, and the terrified bleats of the khazra children as a shadow with glowing eyes brought doom down upon them.

Had he attacked openly, while it was still light, or had he waited until the sun set so the darkness would hide him away? Had he killed the helpless babes last of all, while they cowered in a corner?

A hand fell on her shoulder, startling her out of her reverie of horror. She looked up into Baal's eyes – no redness to them now, just flint grey with flecks of sea green. His mouth was twisted into a frown, his brows quizzically concerned.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Fine," she replied in a hollow voice. Ordinarily she would be touched by the fact that he was worried for her, but her recent revelation had eclipsed her infatuation for him. She stared at him dazedly, like he was a total stranger to her.

Baal tried to press his wrist against her forehead, but she flinched away from him. The wrinkle between his brows deepened.

"Seriously, Saiya, what's the matter with you? You're acting weird."

She looked around for their companions, but they had moved on up the trail, casually avoiding the cadaverous mounds. It struck her that none of them seemed as affected by the massacre as she; either because they had not connected it to Baal, or because they simply didn't care.

"These people," she said, choosing the word deliberately, "did they deserve to die?"

"What?" Baal could not have looked more baffled.

"You slaughtered them like they were animals," she pressed. "But they aren't animals, Baal, look at them. They wear clothes like humans and use tools like humans. They build houses and care for their young."

Comprehension was settling over his face, and with it, a hardness that stole her breath away. "Saiya. They are not animals, but they aren't humans either. They're demons, and you should know very well by now what evil they are capable of. Have you forgotten the caravan, and what the khazra did to that poor girl's mother?"

"No," she said. "But these khazra had no hand in it, and the ones that did have long since paid the price."

"All khazra are the same," said Baal with harsh finality. "They are murderers, rapists, marauders … the scum of the demon world. They mock us with their imitation of our culture, while feeding from us like ticks on a deer. If you ask me, they all deserve death."

His voice had risen in pitch and volume, his cheeks flushing with furor. Saiya felt an unwilling twinge of attraction and quashed it before it could bloom into something more.

"What about the women?" she asked quietly. "And the children? You could have let them live, Baal. They were innocent."

Briefly, the Hunter's face contorted as if in pain. The expression was only momentary, and Saiya thought afterwards that she might have imagined it. "Children grow up," he replied. "They are what they were made to be. And an innocent child today is a killer tomorrow, all the more vicious for thoughts of revenge."

Saiya didn't think he was speaking entirely of the goatmen. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "But everyone has a choice about what they do in life. There are no guarantees."

"Your naiveté allows you to believe that," he murmured. "If you had seen what I have you would not be so quick to forgive."

"It has nothing to do with forgiveness!" she argued. "There was nothing to forgive them for. It's about compassion, and the understanding that all life is precious, no matter what form it takes. You say that they are demons and inherently evil, while we are human and therefore can be redeemed, but I ask you, what are humans? Were we not born from angel and demon both? Why can we be saved but not them?"

A long moment of silence followed her impassioned assertion. Then Baal shook his head. "Listen, Saiya," he said. "You're free to believe whatever pleases you, but know this: hypocrisy is a thing I cannot stand."

She gasped, affronted. "Hypocrisy? What-"

"Let me finish. You have such a problem with killing demon mothers and young? The spider queen that we slew in the caverns was a mother of thousands, and each of her spawn was likely only a few hours old. I didn't see you batting an eyelid about that "slaughter". So either you accept that we are in a war and sometimes warfare requires that ugly deeds be done, or you try to make your peace with everyone and face the consequences."

"What do you mean?"

Baal smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "See how far your compassion gets you when you are faced with a goatman trying to rape you to death."

She recoiled, and he said, "I'm not saying that just to shock you, Saiya. Do you think you're the only person who has looked at the khazra and seen a more primitive tribe of human beings? My first excursion after joining the Hunters was to a village that had tried to establish trade with the Night Clan. You thought the fate of the caravan was bad, but that was nothing compared to what we found in that village. So please, trust me when I say that there's no reason to pity the khazra."

Hearing a faint voice call her name, Saiya looked up. Kormac was hailing them from the top of the bluff, hands cupped around his mouth.

"We're wasting time," Baal grunted, and, pivoting on his heel, strode rapidly away. Saiya trotted after him, her mind in turmoil. She was loath to believe Baal's cynical outlook, but at the same time she had to admit that his experience in the matter dwarfed her own. Mostly, though, she was at odds with herself about how she was supposed to feel. She couldn't deny that she still loved Baal – she didn't think anything could change that; he was, after all the time they had spent together, her dearest friend – but was she still in love with him, that heady rush of want and longing and desperation that turned her insides to mush whenever she looked at him? At the moment she felt disillusioned, and nothing more.

When they reached the top of the bluff, where the others were waiting, Caesar opened his mouth to speak, but Ghor stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and a warning look. Saiya wondered what the wizard had been about to say. Something inflammatory, no doubt, she thought with an inner sigh.

There was little difference in the terrain atop the mesa, but to Saiya it seemed that the wind was sharper, cutting effortlessly through the fabric of her robe and biting at her skin. Her exposed finger and toes were nearly numb with cold by the time they stopped for lunch under a jutting rock that offered minimal protection from the elements.

While Leah and Baal prepared the food, Saiya huddled against the base of the rock and tried to rub some life back into her icy, bluish toes. This proved impossible with fingers that were in much the same condition. After a few minutes Caesar noticed her and rummaged around in his pack before coming over to where she sat. He dropped the strangest pair of boots that Saiya had ever seen into her lap. They were made of navy blue leather so soft it was almost velvety, and were flexible enough to pull on without any laces or straps. But the oddest thing about them was the way that the toe was split, giving it the appearance of a cloven hoof.

"They're called tabi," Caesar explained while she was examining them curiously. "I acquired them in Xiansai. Thieves there wear them to muffle the sound of their footsteps. Try them."

Saiya inserted her right foot into the hole of one boot and slipped it on. It came up to her knee, encasing her shin in delicious warmth. The fit was perfect; it would appear that she and Caesar had the same size feet. The sensation of having her large toe separated from the others by the cloth divider was slightly uncomfortable, not to mention how bizarre it felt for her to have anything on her feet after years of going shoeless, but the frost was melting from her bones and that was wonderful.

"You can borrow them for as long as you need to," Caesar said. Saiya thanked him earnestly, and he grinned. His teeth were pearly white and perfectly even, far different from Baal's predatory canines.

Instead of leaving, he sat down beside her, removing his left glove and stretching his bare fingers with a grimace. The bandages were off and they looked to be healing well. The joints were still a bit swollen, but he could evidently move them.

The two of them sat side by side in silence for a few minutes. Saiya was unsure of his intentions, and his presence made her nervous, but he showed no indication of shifting.

At last the wizard said, in a voice so low that she could barely hear it, let alone their comrades several yards away, "Saiya, I hope you will forgive me for saying this, but you shouldn't be too hard on your friend for what he did."

She looked at him in open-mouthed astonishment, certain that she had misheard him. "What? You … you don't think I should be hard on Baal? I thought you hated him!"

"Oh, he's not my favorite person in the world, for sure," Caesar replied, with an upward quirk of his lips. "I doubt I'd like him even if there wasn't a … shall we say, conflict of interest."

Saiya blushed, knowing what he meant. "But if you don't like him, why are you trying to convince me not to be angry with him? Surely now would be the ideal time for you to make your move."

"Saiya," he said reproachfully, "I told you once before that you have nothing to fear from me. What sort of man do you think I am?"

"I thought you to be like Lyndon, honestly," she answered, regretting it instantly when she saw hurt flash in his eyes. "No - Caesar! I didn't mean to say … I-"

"It's all right," he said. "I can see how I came across that way. But I would never do what that scoundrel specializes in … promise a woman the world and then ditch her at the soonest opportunity. When I make a commitment, I stick to it, and when all I want is sex with no romance, I make that clear from the beginning."

Saiya frowned, not in disapproval but in contemplation. Apparently it was a day for eye-opening truths. She had learned that Baal could be disturbingly ruthless, while Caesar, it seemed, was more honorable than she had given him credit for.

Then it hit her: while the wizard had flirted and even tried to kiss her on two separate occasions, he had never openly declared that he was only interested in a physical relationship. Either that meant he wasn't serious at all, or it meant he was very serious. She gulped, and her frown deepened.

"Caesar," she began, "can I ask you a blunt question?"

He lifted an eyebrow. "Ask away."

"Want do you want from me?"

"Only what you wish to give, and nothing more."

"How do you feel, then? About me. You're not … not in love with me, are you?" Her face burned crimson with embarrassment, but she had to know.

"Ah." The wizard rubbed the back of his neck, his expression unreadable. "No. No, I'm not."

Her subsequent sigh of relief was cut short when he added, "But I think I could be, if I was given the opportunity." He turned to face her, gazing directly into her eyes. "I'll be honest, Saiya. I've been interested in you since we met. At first it was purely carnal – I'm not ashamed to admit that. You're beautiful, and I'm a man who appreciates beauty. But as I got to know you, I realized that you're no ordinary woman. It's not just your face that is beautiful, but your soul as well. So no, I have not yet fallen in love with you. But I doubt that it would be very difficult."

Saiya was too astounded to speak. She had expected a flippant answer, or no answer at all, but certainly not such a candid and poignant speech. She felt that she should make some reply, but could think of nothing to say that would not sound shallow and lame.

"I had no idea," she whispered at last.

"I know," he said. "That's part of your charm – that you're so totally oblivious to it."

To her shame and dismay, tears rose to her eyes. She blinked rapidly, dispersing them before they could build up enough to be visible. "I'm really sorry," she said brokenly. "I'm still not sure how I feel. I should be, by now … but I'm not. I'm so sorry to keep stringing you along like this, I-"

A finger on her lips ceased the anxious stream of words. "I wasn't asking you to make a choice, Saiya. You have no obligations to me. I meant it when I said I want only what you wish to give. If that turns out to be nothing, then I will accept it without complaint." He smiled and, catching hold of her hand, raised it to his mouth for a chaste kiss. "And now, I will leave you be. Please do think about what I said regarding Baal, though. I know that his methods leave something to be desired, but I think he acted with our well-being in mind. Consider this: if he had not come through beforehand and wiped the enemy out, we would have fought a battle today under very adverse circumstances. Just … keep that in mind."

"I will," she said automatically, brain still reeling from his confession. Caesar patted her hand, returned it to her lap, then stood and made his way over to the small boulder that Leah was using as a table to lay out their repast. Saiya watched him go, reflecting wearily on how long it had been since she had truly known her own mind.

"Food's ready!" Baal called over to her. "Come and eat!"

"You go ahead," she replied. "I'm going to rest for a while."

But no sooner had she closed her eyes than the Hunter shot upright and marched over to her. She looked mutely up at him as he stood, arms folded tight, glaring.

"Was that wand-waving cretin harassing you again?" he demanded.

"No," said Saiya.

"Well, he must have said something to upset you if you're avoiding him."

"It's not like that," she sighed. "My wanting some peace and quiet has nothing to do with Caesar." She felt guilty for the blatant lie, but under no circumstances was she going to provide Baal with an excuse to start another fight with the mage. Besides, she thought, Caesar had not upset her. Quite the contrary, in fact.

"What did he want, then?" Baal persisted. "I saw him over here, muttering to you."

Saiya rolled her eyes. "Do you really want to know, or are you just being an ass?"

"I want to know."

'All right, then. He came over to loan me a pair of boots to keep my feet warm, and also to tell me that I shouldn't hold what you did to the khazra against you. Satisfied?"

"You really expect me to believe that?" Baal asked incredulously.

"Believe it or not, as you wish. It's the truth. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to take a nap. I didn't get much sleep last night." She gave him a pointed look, wanting him to know that her current exhaustion was entirely his fault.

With a disgruntled snort Baal let her be. Leaning back against the granite rock, which was unaccountably soft and cushiony, she sank into a meditation so deep it bordered on slumber and set to work sorting out the tangled knot of her emotions.

Her feelings about the slaughter of the khazra were still in fierce conflict, so she set that incident aside for the time being and focused all her attention on Caesar, and her newfound knowledge of his romantic inclinations towards her. She recalled how Karyna had drawn the Lovers for her; she had been so sure that the fortune indicated Baal, but what if it meant the wizard, instead?

He had called her beautiful. Had expressed his interest in a relationship – no fleeting fancy, either, not an 'easy fuck', as Baal had so vulgarly put it. A real courtship, that could potentially end in marriage. Her breath caught at the notion, and she spared a moment to imagine a future ten years away, of herself and Caesar sitting together under a cherry tree, peacefully drinking tea while several children played on the grass nearby.

It was a pleasant scene, but it didn't make her heart pound as it ought to, she thought, if she was truly in love. Well, perhaps that would come in time. For now, wasn't it enough that Caesar made her feel wanted? He would make a good partner: he was thoughtful, courteous, charming, reliable, and intelligent. She found him physically attractive. There was a significant age difference between them, but that didn't bother Saiya overly. Most importantly, they got along well together, unlike her and Baal, who seemed to fight more often the closer they became. Yes, Caesar was obviously the reasonable choice.

And yet … something didn't feel right about it. Loving Caesar would be safe and easy, but Saiya didn't want to live her life safely or easily. If she had, she wouldn't have joined this madcap adventure. What she truly wanted was excitement, a thrill, a challenge. Someone to test her and make her grow as a person. Someone to ague with her and tell her when was wrong, instead of just conceding when she was right. And she wanted someone who she could also help, someone to whom she wasn't just a beautiful decoration.

Some of the happiest times in her life had been spent with Baal, fighting by his side, telling stories, racing like children in the wilderness. He wasn't perfect, and he never would be, but he was hers. Shame overwhelmed her that she had, even for a moment, been contemplating deserting him for another man.

Well, she thought, it seems like my stupid heart made the decision for me. I really hope that Caesar finds a woman worthy of him, because that can't be me. Even if I tried, my heart still belongs to Baal.

Opening her eyes with renewed resolution, she found a plate of food and a glass of fresh water sitting by her side. There was a scrap of paper tucked under the glass. Unfolding it, she read the slanting, gracefully formed letters:

Saiya –

You were right, I was being an ass. I shouldn't take my temper out on you. I humbly ask that you forgive me one more time.

Your friend,

Baal

P.S. Please eat. You need your strength.

Saiya tucked the note away in her pocket, the secret fire in her breast blazing a little hotter. It was just like the Hunter, she thought, to offer such a simple yet sweet apology. Glancing over at the group just finishing their meal, she caught his eye and smiled. A dark shadow cleared from his expression and he nodded in return.

Back on the road again, they made good time, and within two hours had reached the outlying boundary of Leoric's northern retreat. There were stables, kennels, aviary, guard barracks, servants quarters, and a substantial track of farmland – all long-abandoned, by humans at least. Baal wrinkled his nose in disgust and declared that the whole place stank of demon.

The lodge itself was situated higher up, on the crest of a wooded hillock. They climbed the shaded path between the trees, noting aloud the signs of civilization that lingered still. Broken slats of wood serving as stairs where the road was steepest. Mossy statues peering out at them from the underbrush. A single boot, discarded beside the path, or perhaps carried there by a curious animal.

Reaching the top, they found an eloquent testimony to the crippling madness that overtook the Khanduran king in his later years. The manor house, which had evidently never been designed as a fortress, was surrounded by a deep, dry moat, the bottom filled with brambles through which protruded deadly slivers of white: the sharpened ends of stakes. A massive iron gate bearing the proud insignia of two griffins blocked the causeway. The outer walls were crenelated with newer stonework and crossbow turrets were mounted in the gaps.

"It's like he was expecting to hold out here," Saiya murmured, staring with distaste at the converted manor, which now protected their archenemy. Fortunately, it did not seem that Maghda had any interest in the defensive mechanisms under her control, for no sentries were visible on the parapet. Despite the lack of any visible life, however, she had the disturbing sense that they were being observed.

"I'm concerned about how we're going to get in," said Kormac, squinting at the hefty gate, which was chained firmly shut. The griffins made any notion of squeezing between the bars impossible.

"If it comes down to it," replied Baal, "we can throw a grappling hook over the wall. There's no way I'm going to let a petty obstacle like that stop us."

"I could freeze the metal," Caesar suggested. "A decent battering ram could shatter it to pieces."

Ghor nodded thoughtfully. "The Kubwa Maiti is also an option. His strength would be enough to break through."

"That sounds like the best idea," said Baal. "It would take too long to find a ram."

While they were discussing it, Saiya (who, being unable to summon the bell without the threat of death, was in no position to offer assistance) had wandered off a little ways. She had noticed something odd in the grass. It glinted brightly in the sun, and at first she thought it to be a stone, but as she drew nearer she realized it was the tip of a spear, sprouting up like some absurd metallic mushroom.

How strange, she mused. Why would a spear tip be coming out of the earth?

The answer occurred to her to late. She didn't even have time to shout a warning before a circle of sod heaved upwards and a goatman burst forth, thrusting its weapon at her face. She rolled backwards out of pure instinct, and when she was on her feet again the attack was in full swing. A gang of khazra warriors, at least twelve in number, cornered Baal and the others against the bridge, with only one way to retreat. Saiya was cut off from her friends, and three of the demons broke away from the main group and came after her. She backed away, fumbling for her brass knuckles.

Two masculine voices blended together in shouting, almost simultaneously, "Saiya, run!" The young monk took half a second to appreciate the irony that the only time Baal and Caesar were ever in agreement was when she was in danger, and that after all this time they still thought she would heed their advice. Then she was fighting for her life, striking and kicking with as much power and speed as her tired body could muster.

She managed to eliminate one of her opponents rather quickly with a neck-breaking kick, and snap the weapon of another cleanly in half, but the third one bowled her off her feet with a quick rush. She landed flat on her back in a puff of dust, and didn't even have a chance to roll aside as the khazra fell upon her. She gagged as the rancid stench of offal choked her nose. A spear butt slammed into the side of her head, sending a lightning bolt of pain through her skull. In a daze, she felt coarsely-furred hands on her leg, reaching upwards, pushing aside the fabric of her robe –

Ytar, save me! she thought in utter panic. They're going to rape me, right now, in front of everyone …

The goatman atop her shuddered suddenly, and a gout of dark blood splashed onto her face from its open jaws. A crossbow bolt transfixed its head, the point emerging grotesquely from just below the rheumy yellow eye. It collapsed forward on top of her, pinning her beneath its corpse. She struggled to heave it off, but the beast was incredibly heavy, and she had no leverage from her awkward position.

Around her, the battle raged on. Saiya could not see very clearly what was happening, but her hearing was in no way impeded. Caesar was shouting for everyone to get across the bridge, his voice barely audible over the bass bleats of the khazra and the clash of steel.

"Saiya!" bellowed the mage. "If you can hear me, stay where you are! We'll come back for you!"

It's not like I have any other option, she thought dryly. I just hope they make it before the goats figure out I'm here.

Faintly, she heard Baal say, "No! I'm not leaving her!" and felt a burst of gratitude for his loyalty, but his protest was drowned out by a thunder-like rumble that shook the ground. From then on Saiya had a difficult time picking out individual words in the cacophony of shrieks and yells.

"What the hell-"

"Oh Gods-"

"-coming right for us!"

"Leah, get down!"

"-another one-"

"Watch out, Kor-"

Then, reverberating over the clamor, a single piercing howl filled with horror and rage. "NO!"

With some effort, Saiya twisted her head to the side and strained to lift it up a few inches. She could see, just barely, over the dead goatman's shoulder. Out of the dozen khazra assailants, four remained, but they had been joined by a massive copper beast. In shape it resembled one of the fat, wooly cows that Saiya was accustomed to seeing in her homeland, but there was nothing similar to those affable creatures in the muscular withers and tiny, deepset crimson eyes of the behemoth Saiya saw before her. Wicked black horns jutted forward on either side of the head, as thick as her waist where they joined the skull.

Bursts of color exploded in her peripheral vision. Glancing over, she beheld Caesar storming towards the demon bull with arms spread wide. Magic swirled in his raised hands, spilling out in glowing projectiles that flew seemingly out of his control, orbiting his person in no discernible pattern until they finally struck something. The mage's hat had fallen off, and his hair, free of its bounds, whipped around in a sharp breeze. His eyes blazed with white fire.

Saiya, having heard of this phenomenon before, recognized instantly what was happening. Caesar was 'ex imperium', meaning that he had lost all restraint over his arcane energy. Wizards could experience this sort of breakdown if they were emotionally fraught, near death, or had attempted a spell beyond their capabilities; essentially, the body acted as a conduit for excess spellpower, leading to a magical eruption. This was extremely dangerous not only for the sorcerer, but for those in his vicinity. As Saiya watched, a stray globe of purple light grazed Kormac's scalp, leaving a smoking furrow in his short-cropped hair.

She wondered anxiously what had sent Caesar into such a state, and feared that it had something to do with the heart-rending cry she had heard moments earlier. Had one of her companions fallen? Kormac was still standing, and she didn't think the wizard would care if Baal had died. That left the two women.

In the dark recesses of her mind, Saiya already knew the truth, but she refused to acknowledge it, holding out hope that she was wrong. Caesar's rampage eventually ceased, and shortly afterwards there was a resounding clang not unlike the sound of her bell, but without the eerie undertones. Several minutes later, when strong hands heaved the khazra corpse aside and she found herself staring up into Baal's haggard, blood-splattered visage.

Wordlessly, he reached down to help her up, pulling her against him and wrapping his arms tightly around her. His cheek pressed against the side of her head, his hands smoothing over her back in repetitive circles. Saiya, surprised as she was, savored the contact, and inhaled a covert breath of his masculine scent.

"Are you all right?" he murmured in her ear. "You're not injured?"

She shook her head, feeling his stubble prickle her skin. "Thanks to your timely intervention. You?"

"I'm okay," he said, with an irregular emphasis on the pronoun. Saiya waited, and eventually he added, "Ghor took the full force of a charge from one of the bulls. I don't know how severe the damage is, but it doesn't look good. I thought I should prepare you."

Saiya gripped his hand as they turned to rejoin the others, and he allowed her that small comfort without complaint. The field was strewn with bodies, including a mountain of tawny fur with twin horns jutting towards the sky. The hide was burned in many places, blackened craters showing where the magical blasts had struck. The other bull demon was nowhere to be seen.

Caesar was huddled near the drawbridge, facing away from them, a prone form cradled protectively in his arms. Leah, crouched beside him, was doing her best to tend to the wounded sangoma, applying pressure to her midsection with a wadded-up cloth that was already drenched crimson. Kormac paced back and forth nearby, looking distraught.

"What happened?" Saiya asked numbly.

"When that monster first attacked, Kormac was right in its path," Leah explained, her voice grim. "Ghor called out to warn him, but it – it turned on her instead. Threw her about twenty feet."

Ghor's body was rigid with pain, but her face bore a serene expression. Her eyes, though open, were distant and glazed. Caesar stroked the hair out of her face with a trembling hand.

"Don't die on me," he begged. "Just hang on a little while longer. I'm going to warp you back to New Tristram."

"But you don't have a wand!" Saiya exclaimed in concern. "It's too dangerous."

"I don't care," said the mage. "I'm not going to sit here and do nothing while she suffers like this."

The witch doctor's pupils suddenly focused on his face. Her lips parted, words emerging in a torturous whisper. "No, rafiki. No. I will not have you do that."

"But-"

"No," she said again, silencing him. "I can feel the spirits calling to me from the other side of the door. I am not afraid."

Tears were running freely down Caesar's face, dampening Ghor's cheeks where they fell. "I don't want to lose you," he moaned. Saiya felt terrible for him, and saddened that she could do nothing to help Ghor, with whom she had just begun to develop a friendship. If only she had taken the time to learn healing magic from Brother Malachi! She didn't think Baal's breath of life would do any good here, when the umbaru woman's lifeblood was draining so rapidly from her body.

The solution came to her with the force of a lightning bolt. She seized Baal's arm, nearly screaming his name in her urgency. "The potion! The one Malachi gave you before we left Wortham!"

The Hunter lost no time in rifling through his pack until he located the small vial. Uncorking it, he passed it to Leah, who brought it to the sangoma's lips while Caesar held her head steady.

"Drink it all," the girl coaxed. Ghor's face contorted in agony after only a few sips, but she kept swallowing the scarlet liquid. Leah removed the cloth, exposing the wound, and everyone gathered around, waiting restively for signs that the potion was working.

Saiya was amazed that the witch doctor was still alive. One of the bull demon's horns had pierced her stomach, running her completely through. The damage to her internal organs was extensive, and the impact had also cracked several ribs. As the minutes dragged on, punctuated by Ghor's harsh, panting breaths, they began to fear that it was hopeless, that the injuries were too severe even for the potent medicine.

Then, miraculously, the ruined flesh began to knit together before their very eyes. To judge by Ghor's reaction, this process caused more pain than the actual wound. No sound escaped her throat, but her eyes squeezed shut and her lips pressed tightly together. Afterwards, all that she said was, "I would like to sleep for a little while."

"Perhaps we should camp here and wait until the morning to proceed," Leah proposed.

In the end, however, no one was really comfortable with the idea of spending the night in the shadow of the manor house, surrounded by khazra corpses. Even moving back down the hill to the servants' village lacked appeal, so after a long discussion they decided to allow an hour for rest and then continue into the fortress, although the sun sinking towards the horizon.

Ghor slept heavily, exhausted by the month's worth of healing that her body had experienced in several short minutes. Caesar sat cross-legged by her side and regularly checked her pulse. Leah dozed as well, propped against Kormac's broad back. Saiya alternated between staying near the group, and wandering over to where Baal stood, hands linked behind his back, gazing at the stone walls of the manor as if he could burn holes in them with his eyes.

They wound up lingering in the bloodstained field for nearly two hours before Ghor awoke naturally. As they waited for the others to pack up, Saiya was surprised to see Caesar crossing the field towards them. He halted a few feet away, wearing a guarded expression.

"You want something?" Baal asked flatly.

The wizard cleared his throat. "The fact that you saved Ghor's life doesn't make me like you any better," he said.

"I really don't care."

"But …" The next words were spoken hastily, as though they cost a lot to say. "Thank you."

"I didn't do it for you," Baal sneered, prompting Saiya to smack him on the arm and hiss, "Where are you going to learn how to say, 'you're welcome'?"

Caesar muttered something under his breath that sounded highly pejorative. "Anyway," he sighed, "I came to tell you that we're ready."

He turned to leave, but froze midstep as Baal said, "Hey, mage."

No way, Saiya thought. Has he finally gotten over this childish rivalry? Is he going to make some sort of friendly overture? Maybe even apologize?

"I trust that you won't lose control of your magic around us ever again," Baal finished, his tone as cold and biting as the north wind.

Caesar matched the Hunter's iciness as he replied, "I won't. You have my word."

"Good," said Baal, "because if you become a liability, I won't hesitate to kill you."

"Baal! How could you?" Saiya exclaimed, outraged. Caesar half-turned his head, so that his profile was visible. His mouth was curved into a wolfish grin.

"Go ahead and try."

Saiya was immensely relieved when the rest of their companions joined them, preventing Baal's response to the goading remark. With Kormac in the lead, they crossed the drawbridge at last, where to the young monk's bewilderment, the iron gates stood open. The metal bars were dented as though from some titanic blast. Shortly afterward, she understood why: in the inner courtyard lay the body of the second demon bull. It had bled out from a small but deep wound on its neck, which had severed the largest artery.

What puzzled Saiya the most, however, was how exactly the beast had come to smash through the barrier and into the manor. The only explanation that she could think of was that the pain of its wound had driven it mad.

Across the cobbled court, the doors to the lodge stood slightly ajar – a sinister invitation. The little group, clustered tightly together, walked across the barren stone expanse, noting the grasses and weeds that flourished in the cracks. Nature was reclaiming her territory, Saiya thought with quiet satisfaction, and in another century the forest would have completely overtaken the manor house, and its evil would be nothing more than a distant memory.

With pleasant images of the bleak building transformed by greenery turning in her mind, she followed Baal up the ornately carved stairs and into the great hall that lay within. The heavy oaken door creaked shut behind them, obeying some unheard command.

There was no turning back.

The word Ghor used to address Caesar, 'rafiki', means 'friend'.