Take the body and give me the rest (32 page)

He couldn’t
just sit by and let all those brave people in the Keep go the same
way.

He was sorry
for Elizebetha, but she would have to forgive him; she would
understand why he’d had to take the coin.

The hooves of
his white charger turned up the grass, and he felt the wind
whipping past him as the muscles of the horse moved in a smooth,
powerful motions. He saw the duke alone riding his horse out from
his army, saw the smile on his face, and felt the almost tangible
sense of victory coming off him.

Seth held the
coin up in his hand so the duke could see it as their horses
started to come together. Elizebetha would forgive him and surely
the boys would as well, but would anyone else even understand? It
wasn’t enough to save these people today; it wasn’t enough to run
with the coin and hide it away. The Duke and he were too dangerous
for the world; these coins were too dangerous for the world. They
were a threat to everyone living, and a problem like this only had
one answer: give them to someone else, too bad the woman wasn’t
here as well.

Seth started
the chant in his mind. He drew in more power than he ever had
before, and he focused hard and started to open the rift. He didn’t
know what was on the other side, but he knew there was no coming
back. It was a door that only opened one way and once he and the
Duke were in there, everyone would be much safer. Spurring the
horse on faster, and shouting out, ‘Bloodcrest!’ he hit the barrier
and passed though.

On
the
battlement, the whole of the Black Rock and the Cold Death watched.
They saw as their General, Seth, rode up the field towards the
duke. They saw a giant silver rip appear right across the middle of
the entire field. From one end to the other, a giant cut or tear
that shone with light, but showed the dark night behind it. Seth
was riding hard toward one side and the duke the other. Closer to
the duke in distance, he hit the rift first, trying to pull his
horse up. It reared and he disappeared into the shining night.
Seth, only moments away, let out a mighty shout of triumph that
they could barely hear, and, hitting the glowing wall, he passed
through it and disappeared. The rift closed up behind them, leaving
the field empty except for the shocked cries of both
armies.