"By the price that was paid, by my mastery, I summon thee, Ur-kathon, Prince of the Sixth Hell! Take unto thee the woman Lanen and wrap her in hellfire until her bones be ash and her heart blows away on the wind!"

Hadretikantishikrar

We were all ranged along the edge of the hilltop when we heard the Black Dragon scream out its summons, damning me, and I learned then how much I had changed. Fear had no more power over me. I had faced hopeless despair and found fire in my soul, sacred Fire, like the Kantri whose blood I now shared. I drew the dagger Rella had provided me with, useless though it would be against even a minor demon, that I might at least face my enemy armed.

I did not stand alone. Varien's sword rang as it flew from its scabbard, making a bright harmony with Rella's and Jamie's swords as they were drawn. Vilkas and Aral stood surrounded by the blue glow of their power, and as I watched they strove to cover us all in a kind of shield. Varien, considering, nicked his arm slightly and let his blood flow onto his sword blade. Good point, I thought, and did the same for my dagger. Seems we both bled Kantri, at least in part. That seemed to work on the Rikti. It almost certainly wouldn't kill a demon prince, but if it banished the Rikti at least it might give the creature a bad taste in its mouth. There came a deep rattle of metal on metal and I turned to find my mother, Maran, standing like the others with her long heavy sword at the ready. Against all sense she grinned at me, a wild delight in her eyes. "Well, girl, we'll likely lose," she said, her eyes fixed fondly on me, "but Hells' teeth, won't it make a good ballad!"

Even there, even then, we laughed—grim laughter, but laughter—and lo, all was changed. I knew death stalked me close, but for that moment I was surrounded by those I loved, in the free air, on a glorious morning in spring.

I reached out with truespeech.

"Varien, kadreshl na Lanen," I whispered.

"Kadreshi na Varien," he replied simply, reaching out to take my hand. His love, real and sohd and unchanging, washed over me like clear water.

It was a good day to be alive.

Suddenly on the hillside there came a disturbance in the air, as though a small storm cloud were forming before our eyes. It grew swiftly until it was a dark upright oval, three times the height of a man—and from that darkness emerged a gigantic figure, the size of the portal, to stand on the very summit of the hill.

My stomach churned. It was an obscene mixture of dragon and human. It stood on two legs but from its back sprouted large leathery wings, like those of a bat. Its face was covered by a mockery of a Kantri mask—what in the Greater Kindred looked like worked metal armour, beautiful and unchanging, was here attenuated and become a threatening deformity. Great fangs protruded from its jaws, long talons tipped its hands, and it reached out for me, getting through Vilkas's barrier with no trouble at all. Vilkas cursed and dissipated it.

Jamie's sword struck the thing just after Rella's thrown dagger bounced off of it. It spat at Jamie, who had to dodge balefire.

"Nice try, Jamie," said Aral firmly, "but this one's ours."

Behind her I could see the Black Dragon leap into the sky once more, assailed by our people with every wingbeat, breathing death among the Kantri. Another fell even as I watched.

Aral, concentrating, sent a stream of blue flame to encompass the creature. The demon barely shrugged and Aral's flame winked out. Vilkas shuddered.

"Vil, help me!" cried Aral, reaching out again with her Healer's power. The thing tried to move but Aral's will opposed it, and for a moment or two it was held in place, but I watched the colour drain from her face in a heartbeat. "I can't hold it!" she cried, even as the demon prince shook itself free of her web, flapped its batlike wings, and was beside her faster than eye could follow. It wrapped one great hand around her and started to lift her towards its mouth. Will, horror-stricken, tried to hold on to her and was lifted high in the air, clinging to Aral's waist. The demon prince took only enough notice of him to toss him aside. He cried out as he fell. He struck the ground with a sickening thump and lay still.

Aral screamed as Willem fell, her voice rising unbearably at the end. "Vilkaaas!"

There was no more time for soul-searching or hesitation or fear. I watched the demon lift Aral to its mouth and I knew that what would follow even I could never heal.

I had to stop it. Now.

Time slowed to a terrible crawl, and I realised that all those dreams, all those nightmares of stepping into my full power were come upon me. I had to choose. Would I let fear decide my fate and Aral's, or would I leap into the unknown and hope for the best?

I am not well endowed with hope. It seems to elude me, for the most part.

I decided to go with love instead. I might not love Aral as a man loves a woman, but by the Lady, I knew perfectly well that she was part of my soul, and I loved her as I loved air.

It wasn't a difficult decision, on the face of it; but the next time you decide to change your life at a crucial moment, truly change it at a fundamental level, no matter how obvious the need, you will learn just how hard it is to leave what you have known. Even if what you have known is pain and anguish, it is familiar pain and anguish. I felt a thousand demons of doubt and fear rise up within me, what if you destroy your friends what if you fail how many will die at your hands what if you cannot control this power once you accept it Death of the Worid what if-don't-what if-don't.

I fought the real battle then, in that timeless moment, though it took less than half a breath. All those years of self-control, all the terror of that which dwelt within me, all the wildfire passion in my soul screaming to get out, burning within me now in truth as before only in dreams—

I held out my arms and chose to be whole, and for the first time in my life I raised my full power about me.

The high thick walls I had built so carefully, to protect both myself and the world, the armour so thick I could barely live within it, all, all were gone as smoke in a high wind, leaving only the searing blaze of the power that I had run from since I came of age. I was dizzy with the change, shaking at the terrible sense of nakedness as my true self settled into my body at last.

It was as if I had spent my life wandering blind, stumbling, crashing into the unseen on every side, and I had magically been given sight. It was like diving into deep cold water on a summer's day. The Lady's gift coursed through my body from head to foot, light and life and power, oh, yes, power, and I knew that this was what I was born for.

It took a moment to adjust.

It took years.

It was now, and Aral was nearer death, her terrified voice still caught on my name.

With a thought I immobilised the demon long enough to release Aral from its grasp and bring her safely back to solid ground. It struggled—I could feel the lash of its powerful will, and was surprised—but I was adamant.

Once she was safe, the true battle began.

Damnation! I wasn't expecting the Demonlord to do that. Still, those who protect her will almost certainly be able to prevail against that prince long enough for me to steal her away while they are engaged elsewhere.

Drawing out the amulet that holds the near end of the de-monline, I draw my power to me and throw the amulet on the ground. Grind it with my foot. My eyes are darkened for an instant, and then the demonline is there before me, shimmering in air, connected directly to Lanen.

I step through.