| Chapter 22: The Catacombs of Mount Thunder |
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Terrel's voice held a note like urgency as he said, "Ur-viles approach--perhaps fifty. They have seen the light." Prothall groaned; Mhoram spat a curse. Manethrall Lithe drew a hissing breath, whipped her cord from her hair as if she were about to encounter the stuff of which Ramen nightmares were made. But before anyone could take action, old Birinair seemed to snap like a dry twig. Shouting, "Follow!" he spun to his right and raced away into the darkness. At once, two Bloodguard sprinted after him. For an instant, the Lords hesitated. Then Prothall cried, "Melenkurion!" and dashed after Birinair. Mhoram began shouting orders; the company sprang into battle readiness. Covenant fled after Birinair's bobbing fire. The Hirebrand's shout had not sounded like panic. That cry--Follow!--urged Covenant along. Behind him, he heard the first commands and clatters of combat. He kept his eyes on Birinair's light, followed him into a low, nearly airless tunnel. Birinair raced down the tunnel, still a stride or two ahead of the Bloodguard. Suddenly, there came a hot noise like a burst of lightning; without warning a sheet of blue flame enveloped the Hirebrand. Dazzling, coruscating, it walled the tunnel from top to bottom. It roared like a furnace. And Birinair hung in it, spread-limbed and transfixed, his frame contorted with agony. Beside him, his staff flared and became ash. |