“We should reach the Lost Mountains in a day or two,” Thrang said as they were breaking camp one morning. “Then perhaps we can get some news of Albrek and his people.”
“I doubt it will be that easy,” Kat commented in a low tone.
“Oh, the dwarfs of the Lost Mountains should be friendly enough,” Thrang went on, trying to avoid the point Kat was trying to make.
The others did not comment, because they were all thinking of the hellerash, even though none of them would say so.
“You sense the presence of the necromancer,” Alex said quietly to Kat as they started off.
“Yes,” said Kat, looking pale and tired. “I fear that I will be overcome if you fail.”
“Then I must not fail,” said Alex, forcing a smile.
The morning was sunny and warm, but by midday dark clouds rolled across the sky and the smell of rain filled the air. Thrang urged them forward, hoping to find a dwarf city or village for them to spend the night in. As darkness began to grow around them, Alex noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. For a moment he wasn’t sure he’d seen anything at all, but he knew that he had.
“Yes,” Arconn said, noticing Alex’s look. “I see them too.”
“What’s that?” Thrang questioned, taking his attention off the road ahead.
“Several of the hellerash,” said Arconn. “They have been circling us for the last hour.”
“As long as they keep their distance,” Nellus said, looking over his shoulder.
“They won’t attack until it’s dark,” said Kat. “They will want as much cover as possible before coming at us.”
“Then we should hurry,” said Thrang in a worried tone. “We may arrive at a village soon, and any dwarfs we find will be sure to help us against these creatures.”
Alex had his doubts. If they had been close to a dwarf city or village, the hellerash would not be circling them now. Even as he considered their chances against the evil creatures, he saw that the hellerash were getting closer to them.
“There,” said Arconn, pointing to a large hill to the left of the road. “If we can reach the top, we can make our defense there.”
“Yes,” Thrang agreed quickly. “It will be better than meeting them in the open. Quickly now—to the hilltop.”
Thrang spurred his horse forward and the others followed him. At first the horses seemed reluctant to run toward the hill, but when a sudden piercing howl rose from behind them, the horses all shuddered and dashed forward. Alex knew that the howl had been a signal, a call to the attack, and he could feel Shahree trembling beneath him.
“Easy, girl,” Alex said softly to his horse. “We have faced greater dangers before.”
Shahree seemed to calm down, but only slightly as she raced forward. Alex could sense her desperation to reach the safety of the hilltop before the hellerash could attack.
The landscape became a blur and the company was spreading out. Kat’s horse was not as swift as the others, and she was falling behind, and fast. Alex slowed Shahree, unwilling to leave Kat, but the others rushed on. It looked as if they had completely lost control of their horses and were struggling just to hold on.
It happened suddenly, but to Alex it seemed that everything was moving in slow motion. A scream and a horse’s terrified whinny came from behind him, and without thinking, he reined in Shahree, turning her back the way he had come.
Shahree stamped her hooves impatiently, but he held her on the spot for a moment, and then spurred her forward, back across the ground they had just crossed.
Kat struggled to get to her feet; her horse lay on the ground ten feet behind her. Alex saw the black shapes of several hellerash tearing at the fallen horse, and a flame of rage began to burn deep inside him.
As quickly as Shahree could run, he charged forward, whispering magical words as he went. The end of his staff flared in the darkness, and a sudden ball of flame shot toward the dark shadows in front of him. A hellerash burst into flame, and several others jumped away. He wanted to press his attack on the evil creatures, but Kat was on foot, dazed from her fall, and it was up to him to save her.
“Leave me,” Kat yelled as Alex rode up to her. “There is no time, and your horse cannot carry us both.”
“Come,” Alex commanded, putting out his free hand and catching Kat’s arm. With a single movement, he swung her up behind him, and then let loose the reins, giving Shahree the freedom she demanded. “Run now, my friend! Run like the wind.”
Shahree leaped forward. Back into the darkness she raced, back toward the hill that stood so close and yet so far away. Alex could feel Kat clutching at him, trying desperately to hold on. He could feel Shahree struggling for more speed, but the added weight on her back was slowing her down. Desperate to give them more time, Alex raised his staff over his head, its burning light driving back the darkness, and, he hoped, the hellerash as well.
As they reached the bottom of the hill, Shahree stumbled and Alex felt himself lifting off the saddle. Kat tried to grab hold of him, but it was no good. Together Alex and Kat flew helplessly through the air, and as Alex’s staff went spinning out of his hand, its light went out.
Fighting to get to his feet and drag Kat up with him, Alex blurted out the summoning spell to call his staff back to his hand. He had barely managed to relight his staff when his eyes met the evil, yellow-green eyes of the advancing hellerash. His voice seemed to leave him, and all he could do was stare. The hellerash was moving fast, charging down on him before he could do anything to defend himself. For a moment Alex thought his life was over, but then a silver-gray shadow blocked the hellerash from his view.
“No!” Alex screamed, realizing what had happened.
There was the sickening sound of tearing flesh, followed by the sound of Shahree’s body falling to the ground. The evil eyes of the hellerash returned. The light from Alex’s staff showed the bloody jaws of the hellerash opened wide as if it were laughing at him. Anger and sorrow rushed through Alex, blinding him to reason and thought. The hellerash in front of him let loose its chilling howl, calling its companions to the feast, and in that moment Alex’s rage overcame everything else.
The hellerash standing next to Shahree burst into flame, dissolving almost instantly into ash. Alex brought his staff down forcefully, striking the ground and finishing the magic words at the same moment. For a few seconds, the darkness vanished as a wall of bright, blue-white flame grew up around Alex. The burning wall stood motionless for less than a second, and then rushed outward in all directions.
Kat cried out in fear, but Alex took no notice. As darkness reclaimed the night, Alex sank down to the ground, tears pouring down his face as he reached out to touch the neck of his lost friend.
After some time, Alex became aware of the sounds around him. He could hear Kat whimpering behind him, and he could hear the rest of the company moving carefully down the hill toward them. He didn’t want to explain what he’d done or why; he just wanted to be left alone.
“Alex,” Arconn’s concerned voice said softly. “Alex, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” answered Alex, not turning to look at his friend. “Take care of Kat and make camp. There is no danger now. I’ll be along in a little while.”
Arconn did not reply, but Alex could hear him helping Kat to her feet and moving away. He was grateful to Arconn for leaving him alone and not insisting on answers or reasons. But sorrow filled his mind and he had no place for other thoughts.
Alex didn’t know how long he sat there with Shahree’s dead body. The spell he had used had taken a great deal of power out of him, and when he finally tried to get to his feet, his legs wobbled beneath him. Leaning on his staff, Alex looked down at Shahree. He wiped his face on his sleeve and slowly forced himself to cast another spell.
The silver-gray horse faded into the ground like mist, and a large silver-gray stone rose out of the earth where she had been. Three words written in golden letters appeared on the monument. Resting on his staff for another moment, Alex managed a weak smile, then turned away.