***

  First came the Goblins, as usual, swarming into the clearing like angry bees. Faindan sat in the saddle with his heart pounding, waiting for the chaos to begin and wondering if death would find him on this day.

  In the midst of the Goblins was the Centipede, a crimson beast twice as large as a horse, its spiked armor gleaming in the sunlight as it scurried along. It moved with immense speed in spite of its bulk, its jaws glistening with deadly venom. The sections of bony plates of the Centipede's body made clacking noises as it ran forward eagerly, driven to madness by dark sorcery and craving human flesh. Behind the slew of Goblins rode Tenneth Bard and Almdrax, along with twenty Blood Legion warriors.

  Faindan glanced at Furlus, waiting for the signal to proceed, but Furlus was busy shouting orders at his warriors.

  A volley of arrows from Fadar Stonebow and his archers flew from the tower windows, taking down several Goblins. Next came burning lances from the Red Knights, which slew several more Goblins.

  Meanwhile, the Brown Knights--with Furlus bellowing commands at them--took aim at the Centipede with the mighty crossbow and fired all ten spears. And somehow they missed, with two of the spears piercing the ground on either side of the scurrying monster.

  "Blast it all!" Furlus growled in dismay.

  Then the two armies met, and the Dragon Claw no longer had a clear shot and Furlus ordered it abandoned. Blazing swords hacked at drooling, leaping Goblins, and black smoke rose into the air from smoldering fur and flesh. The spiked shields of the Brown Knights tore vicious wounds in their foes.

  The Centipede bit an attacking Red Knight in two, its jaws expanding around the unlucky fellow and then crunching through his steel armor with ease. This caused shock and dismay amongst the other Knights.

  But the Centipede was only getting started. After crushing a Knight to death with its weight, it spit acid onto a group of Brown Knights, causing severe burns that took three of them out of the fight. Swords, axes, arrows, and spiked shields glanced off the Centipede's armor and the hard shell of its body.

  Faindan couldn't believe what he was seeing. The size and power of the Centipede was very intimidating. The beast almost seemed invincible as it twisted about searching for new victims. Faindan wondered how Tenneth Bard had conjured up this monster and was controlling it--and he suspected the Hand of Tharnin had something to do with it. The gauntlet was known for its ability to control the mighty beasts of Tharnin that otherwise were uncontrollable.

  Furlus gave the signal, and Faindan and the Nine Axes rode forward, cutting a path through their foes. Faindan steadied his nerves and summoned fire into his sword, even as a Jackal leapt toward him. He smashed the beast aside with his shield, and Valedos cut it down with his axe.

  Tenneth Bard saw their advance and rode forward eagerly to meet them on his Goblin steed, his black cloak billowing. His twin swords were sheathed, but he held up the Hand of Tharnin as he rode, the pair of blue stones in the gauntlet shining brightly with evil energy. As before, his face was concealed by shadow beneath his hood, but his aura was unmistakable. This was the Black Knight who had lived for centuries and was determined to see Dremlock Kingdom fall and the Deep Shadow spread throughout the world.

  Tenneth Bard pointed the gauntlet at Furlus and a fireball shot toward the Dwarf. Furlus batted it aside with his axe, but he was thrown off balance and fell from the saddle. An instant later several Goblins swarmed on him.

  Furlus rose, hacking at his foes with Dwarven fury, momentarily distracted. A mighty Wolf rose up on two legs beside him and he cut the beast in two. Foul Goblin blood dripped from his beard as he cleaved into his foes.

  One of the Nine Axes leapt from the saddle at Tenneth Bard, axe raised high in the air. It was a quick, agile leap that looked as if it would catch the Black Knight off guard. But Tenneth Bard caught him by the throat with the Hand of Tharnin and shook him viciously while crushing the life from him. Laughing, the Black Knight hurled the dead body aside.

  His face twisted with rage, Valedos Firehelm swung at Tenneth Bard's neck, but Tenneth Bard deflected the axe with his gauntlet. The Black Knight drew one of his gleaming, curved swords and shoved it against Valedos' chest. The sword failed to penetrate the Glaetherin armor, but the force of the thrust knocked Valedos off his horse--sending him head over heels from the saddle.

  Tenneth Bard turned and shot a fireball at another of the Nine Axes. It struck the Dwarf's chest and burned right through his steel armor that was reinforced with veins of Glaetherin. The Glaetherin strands remained intact--but gaping holes were burned through the steel and the flesh was destroyed beneath. The Knight gazed down in shock at his smoking chest, and then he toppled dead from his horse.

  Tenneth Bard bellowed laughter.

  Almdrax slew a Brown Knight that tried to attack Tenneth Bard from behind. The huge Blood Legion warrior, who was protected by dark plate armor and a horned helm, drove his smoldering battle axe into the Brown Knight's spiked shield--splitting it in two and then cleaving through armor, flesh, and bone. Almdrax's eyes glowed yellow beneath his helm, his bearded face bearing a sadistic grin as he watched the dead Knight tumble to the ground.

  Horrified by what he was witnessing, Faindan tried to ride close to Tenneth Bard for an attack--but Goblins kept getting in his way.

  High up in a tower window, Fadar Stonebow took aim at the Centipede and waited. While the others continued to release arrows, the legendary archer sought a perfect shot. It was extremely difficult to wait and watch the carnage, but he held position like a statue, his bow bent to the maximum.

  His arrow burned golden with the Sacred Fire--a power that Tree Dwellers were typically forbidden by law to wield outside of Borenthia. Yet Fadar alone had been recently granted permission by the Birlotes to ignore that law (thanks to some lengthy negotiations involving Aldreya and Prince Vannas). It was an immense honor. He was supposed to use it only to defend Dremlock, but he reasoned that because Ollanhar was a distant part of the Divine Kingdom its use here was justified.

  And then Fadar saw his opportunity, as the Centipede's jaws opened wide for a kill. He released the burning arrow--and watched it fly straight into the Centipede's mouth. The golden fire burned ever hotter, and black smoke poured from the monster's jaws. The Centipede went berserk, thrashing around and sending warriors leaping and tumbling to avoid it.

  In its fit of madness, the Centipede rolled onto its back to expose its more vulnerable underbelly, and the Divine Knights fell on it with their blazing weapons, piercing deep into its body. Soon it shuddered and went still.

  The Knights cheered.

  But Faindan Stillsword was only vaguely aware of the battle around him. All he knew was the real threat--Tenneth Bard--was still seated arrogantly in the saddle, shooting fireballs at Divine Knights and doing immense damage. Meanwhile, Goblins and Legion warriors blocked anyone trying to get to him.

  Faindan swung his sword at a Jackal and missed--nearly falling from the saddle in the process. Valedos cut down the Jackal, but then a leaping Wolf nearly took Faindan from his perch. He managed to barely duck it as it flew over him, the Wolf's claws raking the top of his head and drawing blood.

  A battle-scarred Legion Soldier--hooting strangely like an owl--tried to ram Faindan in the gut with a spear, but Faindan blocked with his shield and then kicked the spear upward, smashing the hooting warrior in the nose. Clutching his bleeding nose, the warrior stopped hooting and ran away with a horrified look on his face, as if he had suddenly lost the will to fight.

  Must have embarrassed him, Faindan thought. Weird.

  After being momentarily lost in a sea of chaos, Faindan found himself right next to Tenneth Bard. The Black Knight was looking in another direction, and Faindan had an easy opportunity to attack. He was about to swing when he realized his blade held no fire. He had let it falter in the confusion of battle.

  Focusing his mind, Faindan called fire into the sword--making it burn as hot as he possibly could. Once agai
n he remembered the image of Kuran Darkender that had appeared to him in the moat, and then he heard cries around him from the Divine Knights: "Behold, the White Fire!"

  Faindan looked around, thinking Prince Vannas had returned with his Flamestone, but then he realized the White Fire was in his blade. He gazed at the pale flames that engulfed the weapon in surprise, and then he lashed out at Tenneth Bard just as the Black Knight turned in his direction.

  Tenneth Bard raised the Hand of Tharnin, and there was an explosion of white sparks as the blade connected with the gauntlet. Both Faindan and Tenneth Bard were flung from their horses--and both quickly leapt up from the ground.

  But only Tenneth Bard was wounded--his hood thrown back to reveal severe burns on his face that had destroyed one eye. He clutched his face in agony, as his Goblin steed ran to him. With defenders closing in front of him, the Black Knight climbed into the saddle, directed a last gaze at Faindan that could have meant anything, and then rode off toward the woods.

  His yellow eyes wide, Almdrax ordered a retreat. But he was surrounded by Brown Knights with spiked shields--led by Lort--who closed off his escape routes like a circular wall. Facing death or surrender, Almdrax threw down his battle axe in disgust and knelt in the dirt.

  Some of the Legion fighters fled into the forest, and some surrendered. But the Goblins fought on to the death.

  Furlus climbed onto his horse. "I need twenty Knights! We will hunt down Tenneth Bard and put an end to him while he is weak!"

  Valedos and the remaining members of the Nine Axes joined him, along with Lort and some of his Brown Knights. Some Red Knights also joined the search party, lances in hand to deliver the finishing blow.

  But when Faindan tried to join, Furlus waved him back. "You have done enough, young Knight. You struck a stout blow to Tenneth Bard that will never be forgotten. Stay here and help secure the prisoners."

  Faindan bowed, his confusion growing by the moment.