The Dark World Relit

the violet air about me. Now almost I regretted having called upon Llyr to break Medeo's spell. For Llyr was awake, watching, and warned.

  The pulse of Llyr muttered through the huge Caer. The golden lightnings flamed from the Window high above.

  Briefly two black small silhouettes showed against that amber glow. They were Edurn and Medeo, climbing.

  After them I went. And at each step the way grew harder. I seemed to walk through a thickening, invisible torrent dot was like a wind or a wave flowing down from that shining window, striving to tear me from my foothold, to rip the crystal sword from my grip.

  Up and up I went. Now the Window was a glaring blaze of yellow fires. The lightnings crackled out incessantly, while rocking crashes of thunder reverberated along the vaulted abysses of the Caer. I leaned forward as though against a gale. Doggedly I fought my way up the stair.

  There was someone behind me.

  I did not turn. I dared not, for fear the torrent would sweep me from my place. I crawled up the last few steps, and came out on a level platform of stone, a disc-shaped dais, on which stood a ten-foot cube. Three of its sides were of black rock. The side that faced me was a glaring blaze of amber brilliance.

  Far below, dizzyingly far, was the floor of the Caer. Behind me the stairway ran down to those incredible depths, and the tremendous wind still blew upon me, pouring out from the Window, seeking to whirl me to my death.

  To the Window's left stood Edurn, to its right, Medeo. And in the Window --

  The blazing golden clouds whirled, thickened, tossed like storm-mists, while still the blinding flashes spurted from them. The thunder never ceased now. But it pulsed. It rose and fell in steady cadence, in unison with the heart-beat of Llyr.

  Monster or mutation -- human once, or half-human -- Llyr had grown in power since then. Ghyst Rhymi had warned me.