CHAPTER FIFTEEN: DUEL OF THE FATES

All of a sudden, there was an explosion of sound as a monstrous roar echoed throughout the chamber. A strange, sinister orb of light was now hovering above the statue of Althena, and it filled them all with a sense of dread. Skai froze, his eyes darting throughout the chamber on the alert for whatever had made the noise.

"INFIDELS!" a thunderous voice suddenly boomed, echoing violently throughout the chamber. "WHO DARES SHED BLOOD IN THE SACRED RESTING PLACE OF THE DRAGONS?!"

The orb's light faded as a huge, hideous figure began to take shape above the crowd of marauders. Its figure was draconian, but it had none of the regal majesty of one of the Dragons of Althena. The creature's hide was a hideous shade of grey, with chunks of rotten flesh missing from its body, revealing the bones beneath it. The massive wings on its back were ragged and tattered, and its face was nearly completely skeletal, with crimson spheres of flame blazing in the otherwise empty eye-sockets. The undead dragon's tail thrashed around malevolently as it glared at Rathbone and his gang, steam emanating from its nostrils.

"It's The Guardian!" Sarek cried. "The one I warned you about!"

"MURDERERS! BUTCHERS! DEFILERS!" the monster raged. "YOU HAVE BROUGHT DEATH TO THIS HOLY SITE! I CAN SEE THE GREED AND THE EVIL WITHIN YOUR HEARTS, AS CLEAR AS THE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS! IN THE NAME OF THE DRAGON TRIBE, I WILL BURN THE EVIL FROM YOUR SOULS AS I REND YOUR BODIES LIMB FROM LIMB!"

The monster's head darted towards Rathbone's men, scattering them. Rathbone, Wolfe, and Skai remained rooted to the spot, both of them sharing an expression of disbelief. Quentin had scrambled behind the nearest pillar, praying the beast wouldn't notice him and that he wasn't about to wet himself in front of the pirates.

From the corner of his eye, Kyle noticed the headpiece of Sarek's staff was glowing faintly, and he could see Sarek silently mouthing some words. Kyle fought to hide his grin. You clever old bastard! he thought to himself as he carefully made his way towards Skai and Jessica. They were only a few feet away from him, but Kyle remembered that Skai had extraordinarily sharp senses and reflexes. But the assassin could be taken by surprise, and he prayed he'd be able to reach Jessica before Skai spotted him.

"THERE IS NO ESCAPING MY WRATH, TRANSGRESSORS!" Sarek's illusionary creature ranted, swiping the air above Skai's head, causing Skai to take several steps back cautiously. "FACE YOUR JUDGMENT, FOR YOUR FINAL HOUR HAS COME AT LAST! YOUR EVIL WILL BE PURGED FROM THESE HALLOWED HALLS!"

Jessica suddenly felt Skai's grip on her loosen slightly as Skai retreated, staring at the dragon with what Jessica hoped was fear in his eyes. She began to squirm slightly, hoping she'd be able to break free as she strained against the ropes binding her.

Skai felt her struggle in his arms and raised the claw once again for a death strike. "Oh no you don't!" he snarled savagely. "If that thing's going to kill us, I'll make sure you go first! And this time, I'm not letting anyone else interfere!"

"Sorry, Skai," Kyle said softly as he grabbed Skai's wrist just before the blades could reach Jessica's throat. "I don't like your version of 'ladies first.'"

Skai was taken completely off-guard, and before he had a chance to move, Kyle floored him with a right cross and untied Jessica's bonds. "Not quite the heroic rescue I've always wanted to pull off, but close enough."

"Thanks for the save," Jessica whispered, sighing with relief as she rubber her wrists. "But 'I don't like your version of ladies first?' Do you want some eggs to go with all that ham?"

"I thought it was a good line!" Kyle said as he picked up and handed Jessica her weapon. "I think you dropped something."

Jessica quickly strapped the gauntlet to her arm, just in time for Quentin to realize what was happening. "Wait a minute!" he screeched. "That thing's a fake! It's a magical illusion, one of the old man's tricks!" Fuming that he'd fallen for Sarek's ploy, Quentin frantically ran over to a nearby bandit and tore his spear out of his grasp. "His last trick!"

Driven by shame and loathing for the elder mage, he hurled the spear at Sarek's back with all his might, driven by hatred and loathing for the elder mage. The spear struck Sarek deep between the shoulder blades. The illusion of the dragon dissipated instantly as Sarek fell without a cry.

"Dad!" Rayner exclaimed in alarm. He ran over to Sarek and thanked Althena that his father was stirring, although his breathing was weak. "Dad," Rayner repeated, clenching his fists in grief and anger.

It had all happened so fast that everyone remained rooted to the spot in a daze. Rathbone, however, snapped out of it quickly and turned towards his men. "What are you idiots just standing around for? Sarek's down and Jessica's free! Go in for the kill!"

"Tear them apart, you cowardly bastards!" Wolfe shouted to his own men. "It's just four of 'em now!"

"Gryffin! Rayner! I'm safe now!" Jessica cried out as her iron claw impaled an oncoming pirate. "Let's take these bastards down once and for all!"

"You heard the lady!" Kyle said with a grin as he launched himself into the fray, the battle now joined. The marauders had by now recovered from the shock of the appearance and disappearance of the illusionary undead dragon, but were still unable to withstand Kyle's furious assault. He slashed through them as if they were made of paper.

"You kids get back into the sanctuary!" Gryffin ordered the Caretakers. "You'll be safe in there!"

"But we can't leave you here alone!" one of them cried. "There's too many of them!"

"We'll be fine!" Rayner replied as he unleashed a lethal barrage of icicles on Wolfe's crossbowmen. "Go! I'll cover you! Gryffin, keep an eye on my father!"

"On it!" Gryffin said, his curved sword already hacking away at the oncoming pirates as he stood over Sarek's fallen body. He swung his sword in wide arcs as he tried to keep his foes at bay, doling out terrible punishment to any enemies that got too close. Still, they kept coming at him relentlessly, hoping to overwhelm Gryffin by the weight of sheer numbers.

The Caretakers raced back into the chapel, Rayner covered their tracks with a magic shield, making sure they were safe before turning his attention to the raiders. Putting aside his concern for his father, for the moment and focusing on his foes, he unleashed one spell after another, using radial attacks to eliminate multiple enemies at a time. Attack magic had never been his specialty, but the basic elemental magic spells he knew were enough to punch one hole after another in the ranks of Rathbone's men. His expression was still solemn, without showing even a trace of anger or hatred, and he barely even moved. He just stood rooted to the spot, his arms gesturing slightly as he unleashed lightning, flame, and ice onto the pirates. Rayner's eerie calmness unnerved the pirates even more than the devastating losses they were taking from his magic.

Kyle, in the thickest of the battle as usual, fought his way over to his father, who was now surrounded on all sides by enemies. Kyle scattered some of them with a Sonic Riser before laying into the rest with bladework. "Need a hand?" he asked as he finally reached his father.

"Nah, not really!" Gryffin said as he cut down a pirate and bandit in a single stroke. "But there's plenty of villains to go around, and I don't mind sharing!"

Kyle stood back-to-back with his father, the two of them creating a barrier around themselves and Sarek with their blades. "See, Dad? I told you you'd need me to watch your back!"

Jessica, meanwhile, struck down one enemy after another as she searched for Quentin, who had mysteriously dropped out of sight. "Where are you, Quentin?" she hollered furiously. "You're a dead man when I get my hands on you, you back-stabbing little...!"

"There's no time to deal with him, Jessica!" Rayner called out in the midst of his spell-casting. "Father's still alive, but he needs your help!"

"I'm on my way!" Jessica said, disappointed that she wouldn't be able to teach Quentin a much-needed lesson, but saving a teammate's life was more important than anything else at the moment. Clearing her mind, she began reciting the words to the Althena Litany.

But Skai had already regained consciousness, and creeping up behind Jessica, he struck her in the back with a kick. She barely had time to recover before Skai was on the offensive again, keeping her out of the range of her claws with his long legs. Just like the last time they'd fought, Jessica was forced to block or evade without having the chance to strike. Finally, she decided to take a chance and lunge with her claw as Skai was in mid-cyclone kick. The kick struck her in the shoulder with incredible force, but her claw had managed to rake across his leg just before the assassin made contact.

Skai looked down at his wounded leg, and smiled. "You should have stuck with playing the damsel in distress. It would've gone a lot easier for you."

Calmly, she assumed a fighting stance. "I don't take the easy way out," she said defiantly. Inside, however, she was nearly frantic. I don't have time to waste on this guy! Sarek is dying, and he needs my help – he could already be dead for all I know! But if I don't beat him, Sarek will die for sure. After all he's done for us, I can't let that happen!

"Are you sure you really want to do this?" Skai taunted. "We've been through this before."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about, do you?" Jessica retorted. "C'mon, let's get this over with already!"

Skai smiled, drawing his curved dagger. "If you insist."

-x-x-x-

"Just like the good ol' days, huh, Dad?" Kyle said as he stood back to back with his father. A bandit slashed at him with a curved sword, and Kyle easily ducked and skewered the man. A pair of pirates each wielding twin short swords charged at him, but Kyle parried with his weapons, and lunged with his dagger while slashing with his sword, killing both pirates at the same time. Over the din of the chaos of battle, Kyle heard Rayner chanting spell after spell, followed by the rush of flames or the crackle of lighting, and then the cries of Rathbone's men. As he skewered another pirate, in the distance, he saw a bandit with a crossbow hiding behind a column, aiming straight for him. He hurled his dagger at the pirate; the blade buried itself up to the hilt in the man's chest, and he slumped to the ground.

"Nice shot!" Gryffin said cheerfully as he ran one marauder through and cut down a second.

"Thanks!" Kyle replied as he skewered his next opponent. As the man died, Kyle caught a glimpse of Rathbone making his way towards him. "Dad, you gonna be okay on your own?"

"I'm sure I can manage," Gryffin replied. "Why, what's up?"

"Rathbone," Kyle said quietly.

Gryffin nodded. "Go do what you've gotta do. I'll manage here."

Kyle fought his way over to Rathbone, cutting down any pirate or bandit who got in his way. Rathbone stood there, sword drawn, waiting for Kyle to approach, his eyes simmering with anger.

"Now that is a look I'd hate to be on the wrong end of," Kyle said flippantly. "If I was anyone else but me, of course."

Rathbone said nothing, his sabre at the ready, his body already surrounded by the red aura of the Fighter's Fury technique as he slowly advanced towards Kyle.

"The silent treatment, huh?" Kyle jeered. "No last words, no final bout of witty battle banter? You might as well get it all outta your system, 'cause you won't saying anything again after we're through."

"There's nothing more for us to say to each other, Kyle," Rathbone replied in a low, malevolent tone of voice. "We've wasted enough words on each other as it is over the years. Now it's time to settle things between us once and for all."

Kyle gave Rathbone a mock fencing salute. "For once, Rathbone, we agree."

The two swordsmen struck at each other at the same time, and sparks flew as the blades careened against each other. The chaos of the battle surrounding them vanished, and the two of them were lost in their duel. Rathbone struck furiously at Kyle, his sabre slicing through the air in wide sweeping arcs, and Kyle slashed at the pirate, making the most of his strength. Sparks flew through the air as the two blades rang against each other again and again. Kyle now regretted throwing his dagger aside, since he used it for defense while leaving his sword for the offense. Now he had to use his sword for both, and it made dueling Rathbone more of a challenge than it had been before.

With Kyle now occupied by Rathbone, Gryffin found himself surrounded by pirates and bandits, who struck at him from all sides. He swung his broadsword in wide arcs, hewing down his foes with his considerable strength. He felt a mace thud against his shoulder blade, but it barely registered as he spun around and nearly split the man in half with his sword. Another one lunged at him with a sword, but Gryffin deflected the blade and ran him through, driving his heavy curved sword through the villain's stomach. But no matter how many he killed, more swarmed around him, lunging and slashing at him with their weapons from all sides.

Gryffin smiled as his sword smashed against his foes. It was just like the old days. Roaring savagely, he hewed at his opponents again and again, killing one plunderer after another. Finally, only one man stood before him – Wolfe, the bandit leader. He swaggered towards Gryffin, his claymore at the ready.

"Feel like fighting me face to face?" Gryffin taunted. "Or is stabbing people in the back all you're good at?"

"Big talk for an old man," Wolfe sneered. "I'll bet you've just about worn yerself out."

"Maybe. But I've still got enough juice left to take you down."

Wolfe swung his claymore downwards; Gryffin parried and trapped the blade with the curved crossbar of his sword, which miraculously did not break from the force of Wolfe's strike. Gryffin twisted his arms downwards, pinning down Wolfe's blade. The bandit struggled to break free of the bind, but Gryffin released one hand from the hilt of his sword, slamming his fist into Wolfe again and again. Infuriated, Wolfe managed to lift his claymore clear of the bind, throwing Gryffin off-balance. Now vulnerable, Wolfe slashed Gryffin across the ribs, his massive blade cutting through armor and flesh. As Gryffin staggered with the force of the blow, Wolfe swung his weapon downwards again. Gryffin managed to parry once again, but the force of the blow and the pain of his injured side drove him to the floor. As Wolfe lifted his massive weapon to deliver a killing strike, Gryffin grabbed his sword, and lunged at Wolfe. With surprising agility, Wolfe leaped back, avoiding the lunge.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Wolfe chided as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip.

"Don't you worry about that," Gryffin replied. "I'm just getting started."

Wolfe shook his head. "Wrong. You're finished!"

Again and again, Wolfe swung at Gryffin. Gryffin continued to defend himself as best as he could, but the pain in his side slowed him down. He forced himself to forget about his injured ribs and the weight of his sword, and focus on Wolfe's movements. The size and weight of Wolfe's claymore limited him to only a few attacks, and while the bandit chief would constantly feint and cut at Gryffin's sides, his most powerful attack seemed to be a downward strike to the head or the shoulders. Gryffin waited for such an attack, an idea forming in his head.

The blow finally came, with all of Wolfe's power behind it. Gryffin deftly side-stepped it as he launched a downward strike of his own, splitting the blade of Wolfe's claymore in two. Without hesitating, Gryffin followed up with a second fluid stroke, severing Wolfe's head cleanly from his neck. The bandit's body sank to its knees before crashing to the floor.

Gryffin looked down at his fallen foe and allowed himself a proud grin. "Yeah, I still got it," he said to himself.

-x-x-x-

Again and again, Jessica deflected Skai's lethal knife as he lunged and slashed at her. The two of them had been fighting for some time now, and they seemed locked in a stalemate. Skai's uncanny agility and speed made it nearly impossible for Jessica to land a blow, but Jessica's catlike reflexes and considerable strength prevented her from sustaining any serious injury. Nevertheless, she was starting to run out of steam. She was now desperate for the fight to be over, so that she could concentrate long enough on a spell that would save Sarek, but Skai was as unrelenting as ever.

Acting on a sudden impulse, Jessica feinted with her claw, and Skai parried easily. But as he did so, Jessica advanced, closing the distance between them, and punched Skai in the abdomen with her bare hand, knocking him back a few steps – but still enough to get her in range of one of his powerful kicks. Jessica gasped as the force of the blow sent her flying back. She leaped to her feet as Skai steadily approached, a second knife materializing in his hand.

"What's wrong, Skai?" Jessica snickered, with more confidence than she felt. "One knife not enough for you?"

Skai merely smiled. "This one isn't for you."

The Tribesman hurled the knife across the chamber, and in the distance, Jessica heard Kyle cry out. She turned around and saw Kyle backing away from Rathbone, clutching his leg. Skai's knife had transfixed his right leg just above the knee. The pirate leader, taking advantage of Kyle's wound, had now intensified his assault, and Kyle, caught off-guard, could now only weakly defend himself from the onslaught. He struggled to remain on his feet, but the wound had crippled his movements, preventing him from being able to attack or defend himself properly. He wrenched the knife out of his leg so that it wouldn't weigh him down, but the pain of the wound still held him back.

"KYLE!" Jessica cried out. Without thinking, she prepared a healing spell, but before she hand a chance to catch it, Skai had attacked again, thrusting at her with his dagger, thinking to catch her off-guard. But Jessica quickly intercepted the dagger, and howling with savage fury, she wrenched it from his hand, sending it flying across the chamber.

As Skai stood there dumbfounded, Jessica lunged at him with her claw, her eyes blazing with rage as she advanced on him, lashing at him again and again. He whipped out a pair of knives to defend himself, but for the first time, Skai was now on defense. Now it was Jessica who was attacking unremittingly, snarling angrily with each blow. His speed enabled him to deflect the brunt of her attacks, but the brute force behind them steadily drove him back. He had wounded Kyle to make Jessica angry, thinking it would make her reckless, and that her recklessness would make her into a vulnerable target. But he had underestimated Jessica's temper when provoked, or how dangerous it would actually make her, and he realized he'd just made a huge mistake.

He hurled both his knives at her, but she merely swept them aside with a single sweep of her arm. Skai's hands went to his holster, and he drew his final knife. Jessica's eyes narrowed as she saw the desperation in Skai's eyes, knowing he was about to try something drastic. Her anger had served her well, but now it was time to focus. She stood as still as a statue, and Skai returned her furious glare. The fight was about to end, and one of them was about to die.

The attack finally came, with Skai feinting with a kick as he prepared to lunge with his knife. But Jessica was ready for such a trick. She seized his wrist with her unarmed hand, intercepting his attack. Then, with a savage cry, she pulled Skai towards her as she lunged, ramming the blades of her claw deep into his chest.

"You picked the wrong damsel to distress, you dumb bastard," she hissed.

Skai stared at Jessica in disbelief, and his mouth opened, blood trickling out. It looked as if he was about to say something – perhaps a mark of praise, or a curse, or a final taunt. But whatever his final words were to be, they would remain unknown. He collapsed dead to the stone floor, his knife clattering noisily as it fell from his hand.

Pausing only to catch her breath, she turned her attention to Kyle, who was still fending off Rathbone, although he seemed to be faring poorly. He was losing blood, and the wound made it difficult to counter-attack. He was still on his feet, still defending himself against Rathbone, but that was all he could do.

Suddenly, he felt the familiar, soothing sensation of Jessica's Althena Litany flow through his body, and the pain of his would slowly began to fade. That's my girl! he thought to himself, now smiling once again as he advanced on Rathbone.

Sighing with relief that Kyle was out of danger, Jessica rushed over to Sarek's prone form, battering down any foes in her path, where Gryffin continued to fight off the last of the oncoming marauders. "Gryffin, how's Sarek?" she asked, as she skewered a bandit with her claw.

"Looks like he's in real bad shape," said Gryffin as he killed another bandit. "I don't know how much longer he has. Whatever you can do to help him, do it now! I'll cover you!"

Kneeling down, Jessica took Sarek's hand. His breathing was very weak, and he was dreadfully pale. Closing her eyes, Jessica whispered the words to the Althena Litany, putting all of her strength and concentration behind it. Althena, lend me your power! Don't let Sarek die after everything he's risked for us!

Gryffin, pausing from the fighting, also knelt down by Sarek. "How's he doing? Did you heal him in time?"

Sarek stirred with a slight groan as his eyes slowly began to open. "Sarek? You okay?" Jessica asked gently.

Suddenly, Sarek's eyes flew wide-open and he reached for his fallen staff. "Sarek, it's us!" Gryffin exclaimed. "We're on your...!"

Gryffin never had a chance to finish the sentence before Sarek shoved him aside. A bolt from his staff streaked through the air where Gryffin had just been standing, blasting one of Sarek's pirates, who had been sneaking up behind Gryffin with a dagger.

"I guess that means he's okay," Gryffin muttered.

"I don't remember you being the type to let down your guard in the middle of a fight," Sarek said in a mock-scolding tone as Jessica and Gryffin helped him up. "Was that the last of them?"

"Looks like, except for Rathbone," Jessica said, now surveying the sanctuary, silent except for the clash of Kyle and Rathbone's swords.

Sarek shook his head at the bodies littering the Graveyard. "An ugly bit of business, but it had to be done," he said regretfully. He then turned to Jessica and smiled. "Thank you again for your timely assistance, by the way. This seems to be becoming a rather unfortunate habit."

"Sorry I couldn't get to you sooner," Jessica replied. "I was...occupied."

"So I see," Sarek said wryly, eyeing Skai's corpse. "You seemed to have handled him well enough. Now where's that treacherous little bastard Quentin run off to? I don't see him among the fallen"

Jessica looked around, and her eyes widened suddenly. "Wait a minute. Where's Rayner?"

-x-x-x-

Abandoning the melee, Quentin had managed to make his way over to one of the crypts containing a large sarcophagus. His heart pounding, he managed to pry the stone lid off with a strength he never even realized he had, and gaped in astonishment as he beheld the largest, most magnificent diamonds he had ever seen. Each was about the size of a fist, and the huge sarcophagus was filled to the brim with them. Even in the dim light, they had a radiant, luminescent quality to them.

Nearly in tears with excitement, he ruffled his hands through the diamonds before picking one up, staring longingly at it, admiring its flawless, lustrous beauty. This one diamond alone would make him wealthy for life. But a whole coffin full would certainly…!

"Quentin."

A hand seized Quentin by the shoulder, spinning him around. Quentin had just enough time to register the sight of Rayner's fist flying towards him before it smashed into his nose, shattering it and knocking him back against the coffin. His mind reeling with the force of the blow and clouded with pain, Quentin unsteadily rose to his feet before a second blow thundered against his jaw.

"Do yourself a favor and stay down," Rayner said coldly. "You're responsible for hundreds of deaths. You tried to kill my father. And now you're attempting to desecrate the sacred graveyard of the Dragons of Althena. It ends here, Quentin. Nobody else is going to die because of you!"

Quentin spat contemptuously at Rayner, his senses now recovered, as he wiped away the blood tricking from his nose. "I've learned to like killing people, Rayner. And I've had enough of being lectured and talked down to! Barak Yirei!"

Lightning streaked towards Rayner, but he calmly erected a barrier around himself, deflecting the spell. "Still hiding behind your shields, huh?" Quentin spat. "Don't you know any real spells?"

"A few," Rayner said with a shrug. "Shei kidon!"

A bolt of scarlet flame rocketed towards Quentin, igniting one of the sleeves of his robe. Quentin shrieked as he frantically beat at the flames.

"Let me help you put that out," Rayner offered. "Shegel daya!"

Rayner lifted an arm and then swung it down rapidly. A fist made of solid ice materialized out of thin air and rocketed towards Quentin, slamming into him and throwing him across the room. Quentin coughed raggedly as he lay on the stone floor, gasping in pain. His eyes brimming with pain and anger, he raised his arm in preparation of a spell. "Barak mavat!"

A lightning spell, stronger than his previous one, rocketed towards Rayner, but again he shielded himself. He shook his head as he inspected Quentin. "For all your bluster, you're just an angry punk who knows a few nasty spells."

Quentin sneered at Rayner. "I'm not as inept as your father likes to think I am! Shei hivreykah!"

A dazzling burst of flame flared up right in front of Rayner's face. His quick reflexes allowed him to protect himself from damage with another shield, but the brightness of the flames blinded him for a moment. That moment was all Quentin needed.

"Barak Lidieh!" he cried, firing off another lightning spell, one designed to hold and slowly electrocute a target. Disoriented by his sudden blindness, Rayner could do nothing to protect himself. The spell hit him dead on, and streaks of lightning wrapped themselves around the young mage. Rayner screamed and writhed in agony as the lightning maliciously tore through him. He struggled to break free of the electric grip, but the spell was too strong.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" Quentin said with a maniacal laugh. "So how are you going to stop me now? Put up another one of your shields?"

His vision returning, Rayner glared defiantly at Quentin, struggling to stay conscious. "You should've…studied…more 'bout…defensive magic," he gasped. "Or you'd know…best defense…is…a good offense."

"How very enlightening!" Quentin rasped, elevating Rayner high above the floor of the mausoleum as he increased the spell's power. "Unfortunately, even at your best, your attack magic could never kill me! And you're certainly not in any shape to do so now!"

"No," Rayner whispered hoarsely, on the verge of blacking out. "But...my father is."

Smiling despite his pain, Rayner cast his gaze towards the entrance to the crypt. With a sickly feeling in his stomach, Quentin's eyes followed Rayner's, and his heart pounded with fear as he beheld Sarek approaching, fully healed and with a furious scowl on his face. The crystal orb atop the elder mage's staff was now simmering fiercely with a brilliant, terrible light.

Quentin was in a near state of panic as he broke off the lightning torture, sending Rayner toppling to the ground. He wanted to run, hide, cast a spell, anything! But he could do nothing as Sarek finally entered the room, fixing Quentin with a cold stare.

"Rayner, are you all right?" Sarek asked Rayner. There was a cold, deadly calm in his voice.

Rayner nodded weakly. "Peachy."

"Then get as far from Quentin as you can," Sarek replied darkly. "This is going to get messy."

Rayner followed his father's commands, slowly crawling away, as Quentin stood rooted to the spot, frozen in terror. "Master Sarek…please…"

"It's over now, Quentin," Sarek said. "There are no ships for me to damage, no cities to destroy, no allies to be caught in the crossfire of one of my spells. No reason at all for me to hold back, as I wipe you off the face of this world once and for all!"

In a sudden panic, Quentin raised his arms, desperate to launch an attack before Sarek could. But it was too late. The energy within Sarek's staff surged towards Quentin, unleashed as a single, powerful bolt. Quentin's scream was cut off as the magical energy bolt completely engulfed him, dashing what was left of the treacherous magician against the wall of the crypt.

Sarek scowled at Quentin's smoldering remains. "Well, that saved me the trouble of filling out the expulsion paperwork," he said sardonically. He then rushed towards Rayner, helping him to his feet. "Easy, boy. Easy. I've got you."

"Thought…I could take him…" Rayner said weakly as he leaned on his father's shoulder for support."

Sarek smiled at Rayner. "You handled yourself quite well against the likes of him, Rayner. Now let's get you over to Jessica so she can patch you up."

-x-x-x-

Kyle was blind and deaf to everything else except the clash of steel upon steel as the two swords rang against each other, and the movements of his enemy. Thanks to Jessica's healing litany, he was now back in top form, and he had never had enjoyed a fight in his life more than this one. Kyle was now advancing on Rathbone, powerful broad strokes of his sword driving the pirate captain back.

Rathbone, blocking one attack after another, suddenly felt his heel slam into the steps of a flight of stairs that led to a second level. He drove Kyle back with a lunge and leapt onto the steps behind him. The duel slowly and steadily progressed up the stairs, the two swordsmen casting giant-sized shadows of themselves on the wall behind them. Rathbone had the high ground, which gave him the advantage, but Kyle's relentless attack still forced him to retreat. Kyle slashed at Rathbone's legs, but Rathbone leaped over the massive swinging blade and kicked Kyle in the jaw, knocking him down a few steps. Rathbone took the opportunity to make his way to the top of the stairs, Kyle furiously following behind him.

The two swordsmen soon reached the top of the stairs, and now faced each other on equal footing. By now, Rathbone's Fighter's Fury had reached its maximum limit, and his strength and speed was now well over five times their natural state. The constant ringing of steel was nearly deafening as the two struck and lunged and slashed at each other, neither one able to score a decisive hit.

Kyle was pushing himself to the limit as he had never done before. Despite being Powered Up, his sword arm was getting tired, despite his increased power, and sweat stung at his eyes. But he had to keep going, no matter what. This wasn't a battle for the fate of the world like the battle against Ghaleon had been, but it was much more personal. Despite all of Rathbone's evil deeds, only one stood out in Kyle's mind; he had threatened Jessica. For that alone, he would kill Rathbone and he would do it now.

The will to survive and make Rathbone pay for his crimes gave Kyle an extra boost. Rathbone held his ground, also getting a second wind, and he unleashed a savage slash. Kyle parried the attack, and their blades locked together. Kyle and Rathbone glared at each other as they struggled, their blades locked against each other.

"You made a huge mistake, Rathbone," Kyle rasped, breaking the wordless silence at last. "You shouldn't have gone after Jessica. A 'student of the classics' like you oughtta know what happens when the bad guy threatens the hero's girl."

"Here's another classic for you!" Rathbone hissed as a knife suddenly materialized in his free hand. He tried to drive it into Kyle's flank, and his eyes blinked in confusion when he felt the dagger get parried. Looking down, he saw that Kyle was now holding Skai's knife, the one the Tribesman had wounded Kyle with, in his other hand.

Kyle broke out laughing. "The hidden dagger trick? Are you friggin' serious? My dad taught me that when I was eight!"

Snarling with rage, Rathbone managed to push Kyle away, the blades disengaging. As Kyle stumbled back, Rathbone pressed the attack, finesse and form giving way to brute savagery. It was now sword against sword and dagger against dagger, and the heated clash of blades that followed would be impossible for anyone else to keep track of or even describe. Both Kyle and Rathbone had a sudden sense of finality during this latest volley, both sensing the end of the battle. Their swords locked a second time, and Kyle kneed Rathbone in the stomach and slammed the crossbar of his sword into Rathbone's face, leaving a jagged bloody gash parallel to the older scar on his face.

"Well whaddya know!" Kyle jeered. "Both sides match now!"

Rathbone touched a finger to his face and stared at the blood, and he slowly stepped back. For the first time since Kyle could remember, there was fear in Rathbone's eyes. The pirate captain slowly began to retreat, continuing to attack as he did so, but there was a wild desperation to his attacks. There was none of the finesse, none of the grace or ferocity he'd channeled throughout the duel. Kyle, savoring the look of fear on Rathbone's face, advanced on him, pressing the attack. He sensed victory was finally near, and he waited for the right moment to deliver a killing stroke that would rid Lunar of Rathbone once and for all.

But Rathbone's expression of desperation turned to one of triumph in the blink of an eye as he feinted at Kyle with his dagger while aiming a perfect lunge at Kyle's heart. It was only Kyle's quick reflexes that saved his life in that second, but Rathbone's sword still cut deep into his chest. Kyle cursed at himself under his breath; Rathbone had been faking his fear, and he'd been caught off-guard by Rathbone's theatrics, watching the pirate's face instead of his body. Now he'd been seriously wounded and he'd lost his momentum.

"Now it's your turn to fall for an overused cliché," Rathbone taunted. "Faking weakness to catch your enemy off-guard. It's the perfect trick to use against an ego-driven thug such as yourself."

It was Rathbone's turn to be on the offensive once again, attacking Kyle with a series of efficient, powerful lunges and thrusts, still fast and strong, but with none of the reckless abandon of before. Kyle kept trying to counter-attack, but Rathbone parried them all and continued lunging at Kyle, driving him back. Kyle retreated, parrying as best as he could, until he suddenly found his back pressed against a column, one of the narrow pillars on the edge of the second story. If it hadn't been there, Kyle would have fallen off the edge and plunged to his death on the stone floor below.

"Never learned to mind your surroundings, did you?' Rathbone taunted as he lunged, his sabre transfixing Kyle's left shoulder. Kyle cried out as he dropped Skai's dagger, leaning weakly against the pillar, depending on it to hold himself up. He was at the end of his strength, barely able to hold onto his sword. Rathbone's next attack would kill him. He knew that for certain.

Rathbone, wiping his brow, sneered at Kyle. "I must say, Kyle, as much as I hate to do it, I really do have to give you credit. Whatever else you might be, no matter how much I truly loathe you, you truly are a hell of a swordsman. I really did enjoy this final showdown."

"Gee, thanks," Kyle said raggedly.

"A victor can afford to be generous in his praise," Rathbone sneered. "Unfortunately for you, this duel has now come to an end. I was hoping to give you a more dramatic finish, complete with you getting to watch me slaughter your loved ones, but I just don't have the patience for it anymore. I'm sick of your bravado, your derring-do, your arrogance, your constant interference...hell, I'm just sick of you. And I can still take pleasure in the fact that for all your power and skill, I fought you in your prime and came out ahead. I've finally won."

Despite his wounds and his weariness, Kyle glared at Rathbone defiantly as the pirate raised his sword, his stubborn refusal to die the only thing keeping him standing. "Y'know what my dad always told me, Rathbone?" he rasped, his sword at the ready. "He told me that the only way to win a fight to the death is to be the only one to walk away alive."

Rathbone laughed, and with a triumphant gleam in his eye, raised his sabre, preparing to slice Kyle's head from his neck. With the last of his remaining energy, Kyle side-stepped the lunge, the blade raking across his ribs. With the last of his energy, he unleashed a downward Power Slash at Rathbone between the shoulder and the neck, almost splitting the pirate captain in half.

"And guess what?" Kyle said, sneering. "That ain't gonna be you."

Rathbone somehow remained on his feet despite his fatal wound. He wobbled unsteadily before staggering forward off the edge of the second story, emitting a strangled scream as he plummeted to the floor below. Kyle peered over the edge and smiled with satisfaction at the sight. Rathbone was dead. He had finally won.

Kyle sank to his knees, resting his back against the pillar, finally allowing himself to feel the exhaustion and pain. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep for about a month.

The next thing he knew, he was in Jessica's arms, listening to the all-too familiar words of the Althena Litany. His strength restored once again and his wounds gone, Kyle got to his feet. "You haven't lost your touch," Kyle said with a grin.

"With everybody getting banged up and chopped up since we left Meribia, I've had a lot of practice," Jessica replied, laughing. "You made a hell of a mess here."

"Yeah, but we heroes never get asked to clean up after ourselves. How's Sarek? Did he make it?"

"I got to him in time. Everyone's okay now."

Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. "What about the bad guys?"

"All dead or bolted. Kashiro's probably taken care of anyone who escaped. It's over."

Kyle scrambled down the stairs and embraced Jessica. "You had me worried there for a minute."

"I wasn't worried," Jessica said, beaming. "I knew my hero would watch out for me."

"And he always will," Kyle replied before giving her a long, lingering kiss.

Gryffin suddenly cleared his throat loudly. "I hate to interrupt, but I don't think we're done here yet."

The chamber was now bathed in a silvery light, emanating from what looked like a small star that had appeared out of nowhere, hovering above the statue of Althena. Kyle looked to Sarek, who shook his head. "It's not one of my spells."

"Aw dammit, now what?" Kyle moaned, too tired for another fight.

Slowly, the translucent image of a great White Dragon materialized above them. This was no undead monstrosity, but a Dragon in his majestic prime, his body covered with soft white feathers, and a regal gleam in its amber eyes.

"Greetings," the Dragon said. "I am Abyad, the First Tetrarch of the Dragon Tribe."