The Girl and the Guardian

by Peter Harris

  On the high summit of Baldrock, Hithrax stalked about the courtyard while his lieutenants raked the lotuses from the pool for him to crush underfoot. Then he got into the sacred sphere, and Rakmad came to him in vision. He was full of wrath; behind him the thorns still writhed and smouldered from Hillgard’s attack. ‘Do not linger in Baldrock,’ he commanded the Tracker. ‘Seek now the Edarthan child and the traitor Korman. They are fleeing, making for the Land of Lakes where the Ürxura Narabádrim dwell. They must not reach it.’

  ‘Your will in the Nothing be done, Your Emptiness,’ said Hithrax, saluting. Flinging open the sacred lotus, he descended the long stair from the summit five steps at a time. He gathered his swiftest men, and the Dagraath, and set out in pursuit of the would-be Kortana.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Quickblade’s Request