her body, which she had left so long ago. it was not right. not fair.

scrambling mindlessly along the sea bottom. finned creatures darting in and out of sight, drawn to the stirred-up sediments, frightened away by the flailing figure. multi-legged shapes scrabbling from its path.

a strange blurring, passed through, and then sunlight glittered close overhead. hands broke the surface, firm sand underfoot, sloping upward.

face in the air.

and she swept forward, plunged into the body, raced like fire within muscle and bone.

sensations. cold, a wind, the smell of salt and a shoreline's decay.

mother dark, i am... alive .

the voice of return came not in laughter, but in screams.

all had gathered as word of the emperor's death spread. the city was taken, but rhulad sengar had been killed. neck snapped like a sapling. his body lay where it fell, with the slave udinaas standing guard, a macabre sentinel who did not acknowledge anyone, but simply stared down at the coin-clad corpse.

hannan mosag. mayen with feather witch trailing. midik buhn, now blooded and a warrior in truth. hundreds of edur warriors, blood-spattered with glory and slaughter. silent, pale citizens, terrified of the taut expectancy in the smoky air.

all witness to the body's sudden convulsions, its piercing screams. for a ghastly moment, rhulad's neck remained broken, rocking his head in impossible angles as he staggered to his feet. then the bone mended, and the head righted itself, sudden light in the hooded eyes.

more screams, from letherii now. figures fleeing.

rhulad's ragged shrieks died and he stood, wavering, the sword trembling in his hands.

udinaas spoke. 'emperor, trate is yours.'

a sudden spasm, then rhulad seemed to see the others for the first time. 'hannan mosag, settle the garrison. the rest of the army shall camp outside the city. send word to your k'risnan with the fleet: they are to make for old katter.'

the warlock king stepped close and said in a low voice, 'it is true, then. you cannot die.'

rhulad flinched. 'i die, hannan mosag. it is all i know, dying. leave me now. udinaas.'

'emperor.'

'i need - find - i am...'

'your tent awaits you and mayen,' the slave said.

'yes.'

midik buhn spoke, 'emperor, i shall lead your escort.'

his expression confused, rhulad looked down at his body, the smeared, crusted coins, the spattered furs. 'yes, brother midik. an escort.'

'and we shall find the one who... did this, sire... to you.' rhulad's eyes flashed. 'he cannot be defeated. we are helpless before him. he lies...'

midik was frowning. he glanced at udinaas.

'emperor,' the slave said, 'he meant the one who killed you and your kin. here in this street.'

clawing at his face, rhulad turned away. 'of course. he wore... crimson.'

udinaas said to midik, 'i will give you a detailed description.'

a sharp nod. 'yes. the city will be searched.'

but he's gone, you fool. no, i don't know how i know. still, the man's gone. with seren pedac . 'of course.'

'udinaas!' a desperate gasp.

'i am here, emperor.'

'take me out of this place!'

it was known, now, and soon the ceda would learn of it. but would he understand? how could he? it was impossible, insane.

he can do nothing. will he realize this?

the warrior in gold trailed the slave, step by step, through the fallen city, mayen and feather witch in their wake. midik buhn and a dozen warriors flanked them all, weapons at the ready. the passage was uncontested.

withal sat on a bench in his smithy. plain walls, stone and plaster, the forge cold and filled with ash. paved floor, the small workshop three-walled, the open side facing onto a fenced compound where stood a cut-stone-rimmed well, a quenching trough, firewood and a heap of tailings and slag. a hut on the opposite side housed his cot and nothing else. the extent of his world. mocking reminder of his profession, the purpose behind living.

the crippled god's voice whispered in his mind, withal. my gift. i am not without sympathy, no matter what you might think. i understood. nachts are poor company for a man. go, withal, down to the beach. take possession of my gift .

he slowly rose, bemused. a boat? a raft? a damned log i could ride out with the tide ? he made his way outside.

and heard the nachts, chattering excitedly down on the strand.

withal walked to the verge, and stood, looking down.