The Refuge is breaking camp once more, packing up to make one final effort at escape. The lead wagons have already begun to climb the hill where stand the Selandri stones. Wagons, walkers, riders, and livestock, all begin to fall into line.
You can hear Hobb's voice urging his fellow drovers: "Be careful, boys, be careful! That's not the Kingsroad you'll be driving on! Come on, boys, hop to!"
Khom-Bei gestures at the hidden Vorghol secreted in the woods nearby, "Kane, we need to get the people to safety. This one Vorghol is not a danger, once we are through the Selandri road. They are no threat without a key of their own."
Kane says, "I doubt Vorghol would attempt it even if they did."
Khom-Bei nods, "Then we should aid the movement rather than fight an unnecessary fight."
Thragga spits. "There is only one. Let me deal with it."
Khom-Bei says, "There is no need, Thragga. The people of the Refuge are our responsibility now."
Kane says, "One Vorghol now,but more approach. We will guard the retreat and cross through last." He turns to Thragga and says, "Let it come to us, just make sure it stays where it is. If it starts to move towards the caravan take it down."
The dogs snap and howl, straining at their chains.
The snow seems to fall a little heavier now, the flakes landing softly all about you. The night breeze is chilling.
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, someone needs to go through the portal. We do not know where it leads and the way may be dangerous."
Kane says, "Fair enough. I vote for you and Thragga seconds."
Khom-Bei says, "If that Dark One were going to attack us, it would have done so already. It is probably a scout for the others." He hangs his pack and weapons over Cakilgan's broad back, scratching the pony behind the ears, "Go, now, friend. Follow the mares, keep them safe, and don't let Thragga get too close if he looks hungry." Cakilgan raises a quizzical ear at his orders, but obediently trots off after the rest of the caravan.
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, you must go first. The people will look to you to lead them now. It is your place, not mine."
Bailent calms the dogs. He could unleash them, but he will hold them back for now. "We stand with you, Kane. All of us." He has eight stout archers to serve along side him, young men, an old one, and an aging Tobon.
Kane says, "You may stand with us for now, but when the time comes you are needed more up that hill."
Khom-Bei takes Kane by the arm, "Thragga and I will keep the people safe and follow you when the time comes, but you must lead them. It is your destiny and your place."
Kane says, "If all works out, there will be no fighting and we will all cross through the gate."
Khom-Bei says, "And what if there is danger on the far side?"
Kane laughs, "Destiny? My destiny is to hunt. I live by the hunt and I know damn well that I will die by it."
Thragga says, "Your prattering is meaningless, the two of you. They are ten to one against us. And they are all fresh." He unslings his bow. "Say a prayer for us, Khom-Bei. Prepare the way for us."
Khom-Bei says, "Kane, you must go now. Your son and his mother need you. The Refuge needs you. All of Tol Nedra needs you... to lead the uprising that will free this land again. I have seen it, Kane. You are Chosen." He glances quickly at the advancing troops and sighs, a dark shadow seeming to pass over his face. "I could not save my family or my clan, Kane, but I can save you. You are the one who can save this world from the Dark Ones and avenge all those who have fallen."
Elianel rides up to the warriors. She shouts, "Kane, what is all this? We have no time for it! They are coming!"
Kane considers Khom-Bei's words closely. He rarely believes in prophecy but he respects his friend.
Khom-Bei continues rapidly, "Tol Nedra would not follow me if I stood atop the walls of Malivare's keep with his ashes at my feet, and held the Flame up before them, but they will follow you."
Thragga is counting his arrows, but stops at Khom-Bei's words.
Khom-Bei extends his hand to Kane, "You must lead them, Kane, or all may be lost."
Elianel says, "What does he speak of? Come, my friends. There is little time. The Refuge travels!"
Kane turns on Khom-Bei, "Why must it be this way! Why can't we all leave here together? Tell me that friend. Why must I leave my brothers to face the forces of the dark while I flee in the night?"
Thragga says, "Because we're better shots than you are. Anyway, I'm not leaving. I'm going to kill as many of them as I can." But he only has ten arrows in his quiver.
Khom-Bei says, "I have no desire to die today, Kane, I will hold the Dark Ones as long as I can. I pray that it will be long enough for all to pass through to safety."
Kane looks to Elianel and says, "Are you ready to start moving people through the gate?"
Elianel looks uncertainly to Khom-Bei, then back to Kane. "We have driven off or slain the Shadaman, Kane. The way is ready when we arrive."
Khom-Bei says, "You must lead these people now, as surely as you must lead the fight against the Vorghol. And I must be the one to give what aid I can to the future King of Tol Nedra." He grabs Kane by his shoulders and shakes him, "Go, Kane, now, before it is too late for all."
Colyn, Ronan and Tyrin watch from nearby, uncertain as well.
Most of the body of the Refuge, its clumsy wains, its peoples, its livestock, begins its slow climb up the shallow hill where the Standing Stones are.
Kane shouts "Enough!" pushing Khom-Bei away. "I will go with Elianel to herd the people through, but I will not enter the gate until all her people are through safely."
Rog and Tog seem to sense what is about to happen. Rog sniffs at the Northerling's boots, sadly.
Khom-Bei lets go of Kane, a frown on his face, "The choices that a leader makes are the most difficult ones, Kane. It is easy for a man to choose to die for a his cause. It is not so easy to make that choice for others, but it must be done if the cause is to succeed."
Kane stomps to his horse and mounts the saddle. "I don't want anyone playing the martyr down here. As soon as I send the signal, you two high tail it up to the gate, understand?" He turns to the lady at his side. "Let's ride, Elianel, and get your people out of here."
Khom-Bei nods to Kane, "I will follow when all the rest are safe." He grins a wicked grin, "I still have some tricks up my sleeve for these bastards and I have no desire to die today."
Thragga says, soberly, "Northerling. Say a prayer."
Khom-Bei bows his head, "Ancestors, grant these people speed and a sure foot on their journey. Watch over them." He points to the archers, "Bailent, your men will be needed more to help the people move than they will be here. Go with Kane."
Bailent points out a cleft in the rocks. He has a keen tactical eye. "The riders must come through there to reach us. We can stand them off for a while there and cover the retreat. But you...what will you do, my friend?"
Khom-Bei smiles, "There are weapons more than arrows and swords in this world, my friend, and those weapons are mine to command."
Tyrin, wearing Thragga's battered old helmet, brings Thragga another quiver full of arrows. The Urag studies the boy a long time, and then accepts the gift with a grateful nod. He turns his back on the boy, and Tyrin throws his arms around the huge green warrior's leg for a moment. Then he and Ronan turn away to help with the climb up the hillside.
Kane turns to go with Elianel then calls back to his comrades, "Don't dally too long! I want all of you up that hill and through that gate or I will come back down for you."
Khom-Bei moves off quickly into the darkness, heading for the cleft in the rocks pointed out by Bailent, calling back over his shoulder, "There is no dally in me today."
Thragga frowns, nocking an arrow to his bow. "We'll be along," he tells Kane. "Save us some wine."
Kane whirls his horse and gallops up the hill behind the Refuge wagons.
Elianel is all business. She is giving orders here and there, chivvying wagons into line, urging speed, caution, and calm, with the skill and grace of a born leader.
Ronan tells Kane, from a borrowed horse: "They are brave warriors, my lord."
Bailent, his archers, Thragga and Khom-Bei climb the cleft in the rocks, secreting themselves there. Bailent says, "Make each shot count, lads! Thragga, that's a fine bow you've there."
As the archers ready themselves among the rocks, Khom-bei moves to Thragga's side, "If things get ugly here, get as many of the men to safety as you can and go with Kane." He extends a hand to Thragga, "And no guff from you. Someone needs to look after the future King."
Thragga looks down at the hand. "Future King? Kane will be intolerable then." He takes his friend's hand, however, and squeezes it gruffly.
Turning to go, Khom-bei calls out a parting shot, "And don't eat my pony." He moves off quickly into the darkness.
And now here come the Tol Nedran cavalry, Vorghol officers in front, a stream of horsemen behind. They crest a hillside, riding in column, perhaps a full a century of them under the red and black banner of Lord Khilur. The archers tense and sight along their bows as the riders approach.
"The Marauder watch over you, Northerling," Thragga mutters to himself as he watches Khom-Bei go. He turns and tells the archers beside him, "Kill the horses. Keep killing."
Having gained some separation from the others, Khom-bei bows his head for a moment of prayer, "Ancestors, grant me your favor in what I must do." He strides forward, walking up into the air, and stands suspended a score of yards above the ground. He sees the first Vorghol riders cross into range.
A single black-feathered Urag arrow takes down the lead horse. The beast gives a cry and topples, spilling its rider. The damage is done, however. The second and third stumble and topple, unable to make their way through the narrow cleft.
From Khom-Bei's hands, the dazzling light of the pure sun spills forth into the wintry night, nearly blinding in its brilliance. The Vorghol in the column fall back, holding their hands to their faces, throwing up hoods and putting down visors. They can hardly see the Northerling walking in the air above them.
Khom-Bei calls out to the advancing cavalry in a cold and deadly voice, "I am Khom-bei, shaman of the Northlands, Slayer of the Beast of Northspike, last of the Coldwind Clan, and I have come for your souls!"
The riders on the ground are aghast. They were told this was a fox hunt with some meager outlaws. Now a flying warrior before them, and Urag shooting at the head of the column. What next?
Kurgar, the Captain, tries to rally his men, calling out orders, but fails. The riders scramble back. There's a squeaky hiss from one of the scrambling figures, an Inghol voice. "That's him! The one. Shoot him from the sky!
More arrows lance into the head of the Tol Nedran column. It's now backed up in the cleft, unable to advance because of the dead horses in their path.
Khom-Bei raises his hands, "Brother Wind, protect me." A massive, howling windstorm blows up out of nowhere, sweeping down on the Tol Nedran warriors. The snow and chill is blinding. Huge hailstones rain down on them, smashing helmets, killing horses. The carnage is terrible as the bodies of men and horses are smashed by the sudden hail.
Khom-Bei sails overhead like a spirit of nature, possessed with the spirit of vengeance.
The riders of the Refuge pause and look back down the hillside. A dazzling explosion of white light is seen from the bottom of the hill. As they watch in shock and dismay, a powerful blizzard and screeching wind smashes hailstones down on the riders. It is as if one of the storm giants of old wreaks a terrible carnage on the Tol Nedrans.
Elianel cries, "Kane! We must keep them in order or they will panic!"
Kane says, "Lead them through and I will keep them moving."
Elianel gallops quickly to the front of the Refuge caravan. She shouts orders from there, cajoling her people on.
Ronan rides up behind Kane. "Be not afraid, people of the Refuge!" he calls. "Move on! Move on!" Then the boy looks apologetically at Kane.
Kane smiles at the boy and tells him, "Good job boy, keep it up."
There is a moment when it seems like the Tol Nedran column may break and flee. Orders or not, Vorghol Matriarch or not, nothing is worth this. Blinding light and deadly hailstones. But they rally, spurred by terror.
A slender rider in black spurs her horse through. She reaches out an outstretched hand, and a fireball flies from it, aimed at the cleft in the rocks where Thragga and the other archers lurk.
There's a tremendous explosion, cries of agony from the rocks, and the cleft is shattered, rocks and figures tumbling down, freeing the path. A cloud of smoke rises where once stood the cleft. The archers were surely killed by that blast.
There's another explosion from down below. A bright, fiery one that shatters the cleft in the rocks where Thragga and the archers were hiding. Elianel, alongside Kane, looks down at the thunderous fireball and says, "The Protector watch over them..."
Kane says, "Shouldn't you be on the other side of that gate?"
Elianel says, "Raen...you want to be with them, don't you?"
Kane says, "Of course I do. Those men are laying down their lives for us."
The first wagons of the Refuge pull into the stone circle. The folk within are amazed at the ancient Selandri structures, getting out and looking about.
Kane says, "Truly, Elianel, you must go. You must lead the people through, I will follow when all are through safely."
Elianel holds her words and turns her horse, riding to the front of the column. She dismounts, lays the onyx key in the engraved stone, and speaks quietly. A baleful red light glows from the standing stones, issuing over the faces of the folk of the Refuge. They look to each other, amazed and awed.
Colyn can be seen, limping up to the front of the column, then taking the first step through the glowing portal.
Kane turns to the crowd and says, "Hurry now! There is more to fear on this side of the gate than the other. Safety lies before you!"
Colyn disappears into the red glowing gate. His voice is heard within. "Come along, my friends. There is no time to lose!"
Hobb drives his wagon through the gate next, followed by others. The folk of the Refuge begin to disappear down the Secret Road.
A baleful red glow is now visible from the top of the distant hillside, where the Standing Stones are.
Khom-Bei, in the air overhead, makes another gesture. "Ancestors, bring terror to my foes!" The riders are thrown into disarray as their horses bolt, panic and try to reverse course. The formerly ordered column is now a boiling crowd of men and terrified horses.
Kurgar and the other Vorghol spur through the shattered remnants of the cleft. A rain of arrows greets them. Kurgar takes one in the eye and is unhorsed.
Some of the riders rally. One disciplined group hold up crossbows and aim at Khom-Bei, firing wildly at him into the wind and driving snow. Bolts pepper the flying Northerling but he shrugs them off, charged with holy fire.
The slender Vorghol on horseback calls out to Khom-Bei, "You have led a gallant fight. But you do not understand true power, little Northerling!" With a gesture, she flies up off the horse below her, into the air, her dark vestments billowing out behind her like a giant bat. "Surrender now! This is over."
Khom-Bei smiles a lopsided smile, "It's not over until you are dust, you pathetic bitch."
Kane continues to urge the people through the gate, but pauses from time to time to glance down the hill. The bottom of the hill is a storm of snow, wind, and blinding, flashing daylight. It is hard to imagine anything still lives in that.
More wains proceed through the gate, into the red light. Elianel urges calm on each one as they pass. Kane rides up to Elianel and says, "My lady why do you hold back? Take Ronan and pass through. Your people need you, and I will feel better knowing you and the boy are safe. I will shepherd the rest of your flock through, never fear."
Tyrin, at the very end of the column, calls out, "Here they come!" He points. Figures on foot are headed up the hill towards the wains.
Kane quickly looks down to see who is coming. "Tyrin, see the last ones through and go through yourself. Ronan, go with him."
Elianel draws her sword. She says to Kane, "That is why I hold back. Look! Even now, the Vorghol approach!" She points to the dim figures advancing towards them.
Ronan wheels his horse. He draws a borrowed sword.
Below you, at the hill's bottom, a huge sleet storm blows up, blinding the view of what happens down there.
Kane draws his flaming sword. "Elianel, your people are almost all through! I beg you, go, or I will throw you through myself." Kane turns to Ronan and says "Take your mother through to safety, boy, and that's an order." Then he charges the advancing figures, sword held overhead.
Khom-Bei turns slightly and waves a hand in the direction of the shattered cleft, "Ancestors, stop the soldiers of evil." A huge whirling vortex of sleet blocks the advance of the cavalry riders. Their torches blown out, vision has become impossible. They cry out in sheer rage and frustration.
The flying, dark-haired Vorghol zooms in close to Khom-Bei. She reaches out a hand into mid-air, spreads her fingers, and closes them. Bonds of force slam shut about the flying Northerling like iron chains. His arms are pinned to his sides as he plummets to the ground.
The Vorghol wizard descends slowly and gracefully, in her element.
Khom-Bei is slammed into the ground and the wind knocked from him. Angry riders swarm over him, pinioning his arms.
The Vorghol wizard lights alongside, shaking her head.
Khom-Bei screams his rage into the night sky, "Thragga! Save the others and get to safety!"
Tyrin shrieks at Kane, "Don't kill them! It's Thragga!"
Thragga and a single archer stagger into view, limping and badly burned. Thragga is supporting the badly injured Bailent, and helps the archer mount a horse to make his escape.
Then the Urag looks back down the hill, wiping blood from a gash in his forehead.
The distant scene is a storm of flashing light, hailstones, and the screams of the injured and dying. "We can still help him, Kane!" Thragga says.
Kane says, "We owe him that, let's go!"
Ronan looks to Kane, ready to assist.
Kane snaps at Ronan, "You have your orders boy! Now follow them."
The last of the wagons is now entering the gate. Elianel, in the circle, calls out, "Kane! I cannot hold the gate open any longer! Look!" Even now, the red light begins to fade. The Secret Road is closing.
Kane says, "You must go! If it closes, don't worry, I will find you! I can not leave without trying to help Khom-Bei." He prepares to charge down the hill to aid the Northerling.
Down below, the storm clears for a moment. You can see two flying figures above the hillside below. One overpowers the other with some invisible bond of force, and both descend to the ground, one rapidly, one gracefully. Then riders swam over both of them, lit by the flashing, dazzling sunlight, and they are lost to view. Surely they have just witnessed the death of Khom-Bei.
Elianel says, "You would be outnumbered a hundred to one, Kane! Khom-Bei sacrificed himself for us. We must honor that."
Thragga seems to hear something that Kane cannot. He looks down the hill at the wildly flashing storm, and sets his hand on Kane's shoulder. "We should go with her, Kane. It's time."
Ronan says, "Khom-Bei said himself that the choices that a leader makes are the most difficult ones, Kane."
Kane looks pleadingly at those around him, "I can not just leave him to die."
Elianel offers her hand to Kane, silently. Kane bows his head and allows himself to be led away by Elianel. In his heart he mourns for his lost friend and swears revenge.
On a single horse, Ronan and Tyrin gallop through the portal right after the last wagon.
Kane and Elianel leap through the portal, hand in hand.
The gate begins to close, silently, the red light fading.
Thragga, last of all, takes a moment to look back, and then vanishes into the portal before the ancient Selandri stones go dark.
Silence and darkness settle over the wintry scene.
The Northerling's arms are pinned back, his legs as well. Kurgar, the cavalry Captain, pulls the arrow from his eye, then backhands Khom-Bei across the jaw with his gauntleted hand.
The Vorghol wizard in black turns and snaps her fingers, the wild weather of the storm abating and subsiding. She says, "Well done, Khom-Bei, well done indeed. I am Lady Yvene. It's possible you may have heard of me. You've become quite famous, you and your Hunters. You have led me a merry chase across the land. I must say. But the King would speak with you, and Kane as well. He's not about, is he?"
Khom-Bei struggles against his captors a moment longer and then relaxes in their grasp, "I am afraid that Kane is not currently able to speak with you , Yvene. He has business elsewhere this night. Or didn't your spy let you know that Kane left here hours ago?"
Lady Yvene shakes her head. "He was not able to pass me that information, thanks to you. And he is beyond punishment now."
Khom-Bei laughs softly, "I do not wish to be contrary, but I would say that his punishment has just begun. The ancestors keep a special place for your kind, Yvene."
The reddish glow at the top of the hill has begun to fade. In a moment, it fades for good. Yvene watches the distant, fading red light. She seems to be remembering something from long ago. Then she turns to Khom-Bei, "And we have a special place prepared for you, little man."
Khom-Bei studies the dark woman for a moment before spitting in her face forcefully, "You should kill me now, wench. I will piss on your ashes if you let me live."
The little Inghol, Niko, actually smirks at this show of defiance. He bares his fangs.
Yvene merely wipes away the spittle. "There are so many other fates besides death, Khom-Bei," she drawls.
For the first time, Khom-bei's composure seems to slip a bit, "You won't let me live, Yvene, I'm too much of a danger to you."
Yvene asks, "Perhaps. Tell me, where did your friends vanish off to? And that Refuge of theirs?"
Khom-Bei sighs and looks away to the horizon, "I tire of your questions, Yvene. Do what you will. The people of the Refuge are safe from you and your kind."
The lady of the Black Chamber almost seems to sigh. She reaches out to stroke the Northerling's cheek with cold fingers, her touch is like ice. Then she nods to the cavalrymen holding his arms, who bear him away. "Back to Dolgur," she murmurs. "The King will be so pleased to see you."