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.The dragon was forced tocut close, swinging across the bow of the lead ship.The dead saw them.A hailof arrows rained down around them, but the dragon was sailing too rapidly forthe archers to find a good target."My people," said the cadaver in its hollow voice.The army of the dead of Kairn Telest was drawn up on the docks, prepared tomeet the army of the dead of Necropolis and drive them back before they couldestablish a foothold.Baltazar's strategy was sound, but he didn't know of the lazar, had no word ofwhat had happened in Necropolis.He was prepared for war a war between cities.He had no idea that now it was a war between the dead and the living.He hadno suspicion that he and his people were among the last living beings onAbarrach and that, soon, they might be fighting for their lives against theirown dead."We're going to make it," said Haplo, "but not by much." His gaze flicked toAlfred."If you're coming back with me through Death's Gate, run straight forthe ship.The duke and I will join you.""Duke?" Alfred was puzzled."But he won't come.Not voluntarily." And then hePage 183ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlunderstood."You don't mean to give him a choice, do you?""I'm taking the necromancer back to the Nexus.If you're coming along, headfor the ship.You should thank me, Alfred," Haplo added with a grim smile."I'm saving his life.How long do you think he could survive here?"They were within sight of those waiting on shore.The cadaver of PrinceEdmund, prompted by its phantasm, raised its arms.A cheer greeted him; swarmsof the dead soldiers began running along the wharf to assist them, protectthem from attack as they disembarked.The dragon surged in among the docks, her momentum sent waves of lava crashingonto the shoreline.The ships of the dead arrived so close behind that Alfredcould see the dreadful writhing image of the lazar Kleitus standing on theprow of the lead vessel.At his side Jera.CHAPTER * 45SAFE HARBOR, ABARRACHHAPLO'S SHIP SWUNG AT ANCHOR, UNHARMED, SAFE, INTACT.WITHIN moments, theycould be aboard, the Patryn's runes keeping them safe from assault.Alfred wasin a quandary.What Haplo said was undoubtedly true.The duke would notsurvive long on Abarrach.None of those still living on Abarrach could survivethe fury of the dead, driven to vengeance and destruction by the lazar.At least I would be able to save one person, one Sartan.Mercy, compassion,pity.Surely I could devise some means of keeping a necromancer out ofthe hands of the so-called Lord of the Nexus! But what if I failed? Whatterrible tragedies would follow if a necromancer entered the other worlds?Wouldn't it be better for him to die here?The troops of Kairn Telest raced along the docks, intent on saving theirprince.Archers covered their advance, flights of arrows vaulted through theair to land, clattering, against the sides of the iron dragonships.The deadplucked the arrows from their chill flesh and tossed them into the magma,where they vanished with snake-like hisses.Kleitus tore out an arrow that hadlodged in his breast and brandished it aloft."We are not your enemy!" he shouted, his voice ringing over the magma sea,silencing the army of the dead of Kairn Telest on the docks below."They, theliving" he pointed to the black-robed figure of Baltazar "are the true enemy!They have enslaved you, robbed you of your dignity!""Only when the living are dead, will the dead be free!" Jera cried.".dead be free." echoed her tormented spirit.The army of Kairn Telest hesitated, wavered.The air was filled with themoaning wails of its phantasms."Now's our chance!" said Haplo."Jump for it!"He leapt from the dragon's back to the stone dock.Alfred followed, landed ina confused jumble of hands and knees that took him some moments to sort out.When he was erect and more or less walking, he saw Haplo grip the duke firmlyby the arm."Come along, Your Grace.You're going with me.""Where? What do you mean?" Jonathan pulled back."Through Death's Gate, Your Grace.Back to my world." Haplo gestured towardhis ship.The duke glanced at it, saw safety.He hesitated, wavering, much as the deadaround him.The dragon swam a short distance from shore, stopped, its sliteyes watching, waiting.Jonathan shook his head."No," he said softly.Haplo's grip tightened."Damn it, I'm saving your life! If you stay here,you'll die!""Don't you understand?" Jonathan said, looking at the Patryn with a strange,detached calm."That is what I am meant to do.""Don't be a fool!" Haplo lost control."I know you think you communicated withsome sort of higher power, but it was a trick! His trick!" He jabbed a fingerat Alfred."What you and I saw was a lie! We are the highest power in thePage 184ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmluniverse! My Lord is the highest power.Come back with me and you willunderstand "A higher power! The revelation was devastating.Alfred staggered where hestood, his legs sinking beneath him.Now he understood, understood what hadhappened to him in the chamber! He remembered the feeling of peace andcontentment that had filled him, understood the reason why he felt such sorrowwhen he'd awakened from that vision to discover the feeling was gone.But ithad taken the Patryn to show him!Deep within, I knew the truth, but I couldn't admit it to myself, Alfredrealized.Why? Why did I refuse to listen to my heart?Because, if there is a higher power, then we Sartan have made a dreadful, anappalling, an unforgivable mistake!The idea was too awful to comprehend.His brain was barely capable of handlingthe flood of emotions that rolled over him, waves of concepts and new ideasslammed into him one after the other.The solid ground on which he stood wassuddenly washed out from beneath him, casting him adrift on a perilous seawith no ship, no compass, no anchor.A shaft whistled past Alfred, jolted him to conscious awareness of theirsurroundings, of their danger.The dead of Kairn Telest were raising theirweapons, turning those weapons on their own.A thrown spear had struck Haplo on the arm.Blood flowed from the wound thatwasn't serious; but it was a mark of the Patryn's weakening magic that thepoint had penetrated the sigla tattooed on his skin."Can't you stop them?" Alfred cried at Prince Edmund, trusting him to dosomething, prevent what must be the massacre of the last living beings onAbarrach."They're your people!"The cadaver stood silent, more silent than death in this world.The phantasm'sgleaming eyes were fixed on Jonathan."Leave us, Patryn," said the duke."You have no part in what happens onAbarrach.We brought this on ourselves.We must do what we can to make amends [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]