mon shrieked from frustrated hunger； but they were powerless against the golden glow。 Then the flames drew in； withering into decreasing smallness until they were embers 。。。 and winked out。 Above us； the demon was silent； teeth frozen in death's grimace； red maw still and turning to gray。 Janos； now a great thief of magic； bounded off the grate when he reached the end。 But before we could rash up with congratulations； a voice large enough to fill that vast chamber seared the air with its fury。
〃What have you done； Greycloak？〃 It was Mortacious。 The sorcerer had wakened。 The voice boomed again。 〃Wait for me； little wizard。 I'm ing to you。〃
Janos did not wait； nor did we。 We ran from that place as fast as we could into the cold night。 We raced down the cobbled road； weapons ready。 Behind us I heard an explosion。 I looked back and saw the door to the wizard's palace had been blown away by some powerful force。 Through that smoking portal came an enormous ball of fire as blue as the flames in that furnace。 The ball shot jagged lightning and exploded the pebbles on the road as it passed over them。 The wizard's voice cracked out at us from inside that fiery ball。 〃Run； little wizard； ran。〃 Laughter followed； cackling and crackling at our backs。
If his words were a mand； we had no quarrel； added strength surged； and I ran even faster than before。 We sped down the avenue they'd marched us along； past the one…eyed dwellings； with dead men for occupants。 Our pace began to slow as our limbs wearied from the mad pursuit。 Mortacious' gleeful laughter grew wilder as the gap narrowed。 The fiery ball he rode cast our shadows far ahead of us； and oh； how we ached to be those distant； fleeing shadows。 I heard Janos' labored breathing beside me； he seemed to stumble； but only bent to scoop up a pebble。 Then he was gone and I turned back； thinking he'd fallen。 Instead he was standing in Mortacious' path。 As I ran to his side； he drew his sword and knocked the pebble against the blade。 A spark leaped from the ringing metal。 He struck again； and this time the spark he drew was longer…arcing toward the fireball that raced down on us。
Mortacious cried out； 〃I have you； little wizard。〃 But the third time Janos struck； the spark exploded off the blade。 As it arced outward； it exploded again and became a great shower of jagged stars that rained across the path of our hunter。 Then they were falling on the ball； and it burst apart with a thunderclap； hurling Mortacious from its center。 He tumbled end over end； then crashed onto the road。
The wizard was still for a moment； his robe a red puddle around him。 If it had been a moment longer； he would have had us； because we were about to charge and finish him off。 The robe jerked； then ballooned into immense red wings。 We wheeled and ran as the wings carried Mortacious aloft； and he loosed a howl that shattered the air like glass。 It was a call to the hunt； and as we sped to catch our rades； the call was answered。 Out of the one…eyed dwellings poured the wizard's slaves。 They sniffed our living blood and bounded after us。 We rounded the last turn before the harbor with that voiceless wolf pack at our heels； their winged master soaring overhead； urging them on。 Our rades were struggling to free boats to carry us away。 But they stopped when they saw us racing down the hill with the horror at our backs。 It was too late to do anything but fight。
I heard Sergeant Maeen bark orders as Janos and I plunged into their ranks to momentary safety； and I felt the shock as our friends absorbed the fury of the first wave and drove it back。 We formed a battle line across one of the docks； forcing our enemies to attack in small groups。 In the night sky； Mortacious circled； gathering his slaves for the final assault。 It would be a repeat of that fight in the chamber； but against these odds there was no hope of an identical result。 We hauled tar barrels out of a caulking barge and fired the docks as they came for us。 It was a fire of this world； not the next； that met their charge。 Fueled by tar and old； dry wood； instead of spells； it became a fast…moving inferno that rushed down on them like a raging river。 It burned their legs from under them and melted their weapons in the ashes of their remains。 With no will of their own to heed pain's warning； they continued to advance； each rank waiting in patient turn for the others to be hurled against our fiery shield and be consumed。 Above them； Mortacious cursed their ashes and called more of his warrior slaves to take their place。
The shore bristled with their numbers； and still more hurried down the road to them。 Mortacious was building a bridge of their ashes and fire…burst bones。 Soon there would be enough for them to scramble across and take us。 But they would have to hurry； for this fire had no master to mand it： on one side it was our shield； on the other it was our enemy as well； feeding on the dock we stood on and driving us into the sea。 Mortacious sent men into the water； swimming along the burning dock to e up at our backs。 The wizard drifted closer； mocking our hopeless folly with his laughter。
A hand reached up through broken boards to grasp Janos' foot I leaped forward with a shout of warning and cut off the hand with my sword。 Janos saw it； flopping on the dock。 Mortacious cackled and swept down at us。 Janos plucked up the writhing hand； pressed his sword grip against the twisting fingers； and they held firm。 He threw the blade upward with all his might。 With the hand gripped hard on its hilt； the sword made an eerie spear： a phantom seemed to guide it as it hurtled toward Mortacious。 His laughter stopped jn midcackle as it took him in the eye。 He plummeted out of the sky； howling angry pain； and splashed into the water。 We saw him sink beneath the waves； but the sight gave us small pleasure as we turned back to face his men。 They were scrambling over the bridge of carnage up the burning dock。 We knew as we braced ourselves that their master would rise from the sea again to urge them on。
I made peace with the gods who formed me and sent a last thanks to Halab。 A smoking brute plunged out of the fire； and I raised my sword to meet him。
Then the fates blew in from the sea to save us。 The deep； clarion voice of a great magic bell rang across the waves。 The tone was of such immensity； all other sound fled as it rolled over us； then spread to fill night's dark vault。 The bell sounded again； and we felt peace wash over us。 The peace was a melodious blanket that smothered the fire。 It was a clear； ringing song even dead men could hear： they stopped； turning their heads to listen。 As the last echo of the bell crept away； Mortacious' slaves dropped their weapons； wheeled； and shambled away。
Out of the darkness came a wondrous ship； with glowing sails and cheery lanterns dangling all along the sides。 It was more graceful than any ship we had ever seen； and it sped toward us on enchanted wings； for there was no wind to fill those billowing sails。 I heard Janos gasp； or maybe it was my own ragged breath of surprise； as we saw the crest emblazoned on the sails： a huge coiled serpent； set against a sunburst。
As the ship came on； a graceful swan against black waters； I realized all we had faced before had been a test； and Mortacious had been the greatest test of all。 I thanked the gods we had passed it。
A voice called to us from the deck。 〃Hail； seekers。〃 The voice was as melodious as the bell。 On the deck I saw the speaker： a handsome man； dressed in glittering white。 He called out again； 〃We bring greetings 。。。 from the Far Kingdoms。〃
Janos gripped my arm in joy； and around me I heard the men cheer。 As the ship dropped boats to carry us away； my own joy overcame all； and I was cheering as loudly as the others。
And that is how we came to discover the Far Kingdoms。
CHAPTER TWENTY…TWO
The Far Kingdoms
EXPECTATION CAN BE a fickle goddess； but knowing that is no protection once she fires the lights of her shadow show。 Promise is her most alluring plot； the more she keeps it dancing just ahead； the more willingly you follow。 I have mourned as she danced away entirely at the end； but I have also known the greatest joy when she relented an