The High Lord

'If he speaks the truth.'

'He does.'

Dorrien shook his head and looked away into the forest.

'Dorrien, you must tell the Guild that the Ichani are coming,' she urged. 'And... let us remain this side of the mountains. The Ichani know we came through last night. If we go back, we will be killed.'

He turned to stare at her, his expression wavering between alarm and disbelief.

Then a figure stepped out onto the road in front of them.

Sonea reacted instinctively, but the shield she threw around herself and Dorrien crumpled before a powerful forcestrike. She felt herself thrown backward, then the ground knocked the air from her lungs. She heard Dorrien curse nearby, then hooves thundered around her head and she threw up another shield. A shrill whinny was followed by the rapid beat of receding hoof beats as the horses fled.

Get up, she told herself. Get up and find Akkarin!

She rolled and scrambled to her feet. In the corner of her eye she saw Dorrien crouching nearby. Akkarin stood several strides away.

Between her and Akkarin stood Parika.

Sonea felt her stomach sink and twist with fear. Akkarin was not strong enough to fight an Ichani. Not even with her help, and Dorrien would make little difference.

The air flashed as Akkarin attacked the Ichani. Parika retaliated with powerful strikes.

'Sonea.'

She glanced at Dorrien as he moved to her side.

'This is an Ichani?'

'Yes. His name is Parika. Do you believe me now?'

He did not reply. She grabbed his wrist.

- Akkarin is not strong enough to fight him. We have to help.

- Very well. But I will not kill unless I am sure he is what you say he is.

They struck together, battering the Ichani's shield. The Ichani paused, then looked over his shoulder. His lips curled into a disdainful sneer as his gaze settled on Dorrien. Then his eyes shifted to Sonea. His sneer changed to a malicious smile. He turned his back on Akkarin, and started toward her.

Sonea backed away. She attacked with strike after strike, but they did not stop him advancing. Flashes came from Dorrien but his efforts appeared to have no effect either. Akkarin continued pounding Parika's shield, but the Ichani ignored him.

Dorrien began to move away from her, and Sonea realized he was hoping to draw Parika's attention aside. The Ichani paid him no attention. As his strikes grew more powerful, she allowed him to drive her down the road.

Think, she told herself. There must be a way out of this. Remember Lord Yikmo's lessons.

She attacked Parika's shield from all directions, and found it whole and impenetrable. She considered all kinds of false strikes and tricks she'd used in classes, but most relied on the adversary trying to save power by weakening his shield. All she could do was try to trick him into using up his strength.

Then Dorrien stepped between her and the Ichani. Parika's expression darkened. He stopped and sent several blasts of power at the Healer. Dorrien staggered backward, his shield wavering. Sonea hurried forward and extended her shield over his. As she did, she felt her own powers beginning to dwindle. Dorrien caught her arm.

- He is so strong!

- Yes, and I can't do this much longer.

- We have to get away. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down the road.

- But Akkarin—

- Is doing well enough. We can't do anything more.

- He isn't strong enough.

- Then we're all doomed.

Another blast shook her. She let Dorrien pull her into a run. The next strike propelled them on. She reached for more power and knew it was the last of her strength.

As the next strike shattered her shield, she gasped. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Parika striding toward her. Akkarin was hurrying after them. She began to run.

Then a force hit her side. She felt the air rush from her lungs and felt the ground smash into her shoulder. For a moment, she could only lie still on her back, stunned by the twin blows. Then she forced herself up onto her elbows.

Dorrien lay several paces away, still and pale. Alarmed, she tried to stand up, but another blow sent her sprawling again. She felt the sting of a shield slide over her and her heart froze with terror. A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her to her knees. Parika stared down at her, his mouth twisting into a cruel smile. She stared back in horror and disbelief.

It can't end this way!

The Ichani's shield vibrated as it was struck over and over. She glimpsed Akkarin standing only strides away, his expression terrible. The Ichani shifted his grasp from her arm to her wrist, then reached into his coat.

As she saw the curved knife he drew out, her mind went blank with fear. She struggled uselessly. Then the pain of the blade slicing open her skin brought a memory of another cut that she had made.

'Heal yourself,' Akkarin instructed. 'Always heal yourself without delay. Even half-healed cuts are a break in your barrier.'

She had no power left, but while she was alive, there was always a little energy left. And Healing such a small cut only took... there!

Parika went still. He stared at her arm. The blade slowly descended and touched her skin again. She focused her will and felt the pain fade. The Ichani's eyes widened. He cut her again, deeper, and made a disbelieving noise as the wound sealed before his eyes.

They do not know how to Heal. She felt a moment's triumph, but it faded quickly. She couldn't keep Healing herself forever. She would eventually grow too exhausted even for that.

But perhaps there was another way to turn this skill to her advantage?

Of course there is.

He was holding on to her wrist. Skin against skin. That made him almost as vulnerable to her Healing powers as she was to black magic. Closing her eyes, she sent her mind outward, into his arm. She almost lost her concentration as she felt the sting of another cut. Pausing only to Heal herself, she dove deeper into his body. To his shoulder. Into his chest. She felt the pain of another cut...

There, she thought in triumph. His heart. With the last of her strength, she took hold and twisted.

The Ichani gave a half scream, half gasp, and let her go. She fell backward and scrambled away as he fell to his knees, clutching at his chest.

He remained frozen. Poised on the brink of death. She watched, fascinated, as his face slowly turned blue.

'Get away from him!'

Sonea jumped at Akkarin's shout. He dove forward and scooped up the Ichani's knife from where the man had dropped it. With a sweep of his arm, he slashed at the back of the man's neck, then pressed his hand to the wound.

Realizing what he was doing, Sonea relaxed. Akkarin might as well take Parika's remaining power. The Ichani was going to die anyway, and he might even have quite a bit of strength left...

Then the significance of Akkarin's words came to her. If Parika died with magic still stored within his body, that power would consume his body and probably blast everything around it. She scrambled to her feet and backed away.

Akkarin straightened then. He dropped the knife and let Parika slump to the ground. A few steps later he was gathering her close, his arms squeezing the air out of her lungs.

'I thought I'd lost you,' he whispered hoarsely. He drew in a deep, shuddering breath. 'You should have run