Erik was on the attack again, crouching low to swing Legbiter at Melcorka, meeting her increasingly weak attacks with the black blade of his sword, laughing as the Cu-saeng took complete control of his mind, body and soul. The sand gripped Melcorka”s ankles, slowing her down, making every movement more difficult.
The grey man was watching, dipping his hand inside the bag. He is the source; Melcorka thought. If I stop him, Legbiter will lose some of its power. Staggering now, Melcorka tried to block another thrust from Erik, gasped as Legbiter grazed her neck and fresh poison seeped into her.
“I am Melcorka Nic Bearnas!” Melcorka said and slashed at the grey man in a final desperate attempt to win. As if in slow motion, she saw her blade split the air, but the grey man slithered back, so Defender missed him. For the first time, the grey man smiled, showing an array of sharp teeth, and plunged his hand deep inside his bag.
“I was going to kill you slowly, Melcorka,” Erik said. “I was going to cut your legs and watch you bleed to death. Now I will finish you off.” He stepped forward. “Your king is losing his battle, Revna has taken away Bradan, and I have defeated you again in combat. You have nothing left. You can die in the knowledge that your world is gone and I will have the power of Defender to merge with my own.”
Melcorka stood straight, holding Defender with hands that were sticky with blood. “I am not dead yet, Erik.”
“Soon,” Erik said and stepped forward.
“Wait.” That single word stopped Erik as Astrid stepped forward. She smiled at Melcorka. “I want to see this.”
“Astrid?” Melcorka blinked sweat from her eyes. She felt herself swaying as she stood. “What have you done with Bradan?”
Still smiling, Astrid sat comfortably on a rounded boulder, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. “I've been easing Bradan away from you and trying to get my hands on Defender ever since I met you, Melcorka.”
“This is Revna,” Erik said. “You know her as Astrid, and she is my woman.” Stepping forward, Erik parried Melcorka's weak attempt at thrusting, twisted his wrist and forced Defender out of Melcorka's hand. The sword fell on the ground, with sand speckled on the glittering blade. Immediately Defender landed, the sand began to close around the blade, with the hilt still protruding above the ground.
Astrid laughed, and then the wind began. It came from the east, rising suddenly out of nowhere, lifting the surface of the sand. Within a few seconds, blowing sand had so reduced visibility so that Melcorka could see only a few feet. The image returned in all its horrifying reality. Melcorka was lying on sandy ground, with the tall figure of Erik standing over her while a woman walked away with Bradan.
Crawling forward painfully, Melcorka grabbed Defender, closing her hand on the hilt at the same time as Astrid swooped for it. The two women glared at each other as they fought for control, with the wind whipping Melcorka's dark hair around her face. Astrid pulled away, trying to wrest the sword from Melcorka's grip.
With her strength failing, Melcorka held Defender with both hands, blinking as the blown sand stung her eyes, struggling to drag the sword from the suction of the sands. She saw the grey man above her, saw him dip his hand into his bag and felt a wave of agony from her fresh wounds. She writhed, with her grasp on Defender weakening. She knew that if she released her hold, she had lost the fight, evil had triumphed and would rule this realm for an uncountable future.
Another figure appeared, half-seen in the sandy haze. Melcorka blinked as she saw a man in sober clothes, a long staff in his hand. Bradan had arrived at last. Bowing his head against the flying sand, he held a covered bundle under his left arm.
“Brad!” Melcorka croaked the word. She could taste the poison fouling her mouth.
Rather than facing Melcorka, Bradan transferred his staff to the same arm he carried his bundle and wrapped his right arm around Astrid's shoulder. It was then that Melcorka knew she had lost him. Turning away from Melcorka, Astrid placed an arm around Bradan's waist, with her laughter cruel in Melcorka's head.
“Bradan.” Melcorka whispered the word as she realised she was living her vision – Alba's army faced ruin, Erik had defeated her in battle, and Bradan was walking away with another woman.
At that second, Bradan tensed his arm and pushed Astrid violently away.
“No!” Astrid screamed.
“Mel!” Bradan half vanished in the increasing haze. “Melcorka!” He was peering around him, unable to see through the blasting sand.
“Here!” Melcorka forced out the word. “Down here!” She saw Bradan look around him. “Bradan!”
Astrid rolled back through the sand and grabbed hold of Defender's blade. “I nearly had your sword in Dun Dreggan,” she said. “Erik ordered that fool Chattan to hold it for me, but he locked it away with a spell.”
“You won't get it,” Melcorka gasped. “Bradan!”
“I see you!” Bradan roared. Without hesitation, Bradan cracked his staff down on Astrid's hands, weakening her grip on Defender. She flinched and rolled away. Bradan followed, thrusting the cross on his staff against Astrid, pushing her away.
“Bradan!” Melcorka yelled. “Be careful! Watch your back!”
Erik loomed through the boiling sand. He saw Bradan and Melcorka, poised Legbiter and swung, with the tip nicking Bradan's leg. Bradan fell, gripping his staff but dropping the bundle he carried. The cover flapped off the contents, a battered book that landed on the sand, with the leather cover scarred and torn.
“What's that?” Melcorka screamed above the howl of the wind.
“A Bible!” Bradan shouted. “The Norse looted it from a Pictish monastery. It might help fight the evil!”
Melcorka grabbed Defender and rolled to one side, tugging the blade from the ground. “The bag!” she yelled. “Bradan! The Book of Black Earth is in the bag!”
“I know! Where”s the grey man?” Bradan peered into the whirling
