‘And I’m truly sorry；’ said Calard。 ‘My words were spoken in haste。 I was blinded by grief。 I meant
not what I said。’
‘It is too late for apologies；’ said Bertelis； and Calard knew he spoke the truth。 There was a madness
behind his eyes that Calard had never seen before； a simmering； insatiable rage that threatened to
consume him。 It was as if some wild beast had taken up residence in the flesh of his brother； directing his
movements like a puppet。
‘You are no longer the brother I knew and loved；’ said Calard。 His breath was ragged from the
intensity of the fight； yet Bertelis appeared completely rested； barely having raised a sweat。
‘No；’ agreed Bertelis。 ‘I am something far greater。’
‘Enough！’ hissed Duke Merovech from the edge of the killing circle。 ‘Finish it； now！’
Calard’s gaze darted between the fiend that was once his brother and the pale； immortal figure of
Duke Merovech。 Realisation dawned。
‘It was you who sacked Garamont；’ he said； looking back at Bertelis。 ‘It was you who killed
Orlando and Montcadas； and butchered my knights。’
‘I would have killed you too；’ said Bertelis； ‘had you been there。 Now； the cycle will be complete；
and every tie to my former life will at last be severed。’
‘You are not even human；’ said Calard。 Bertelis smiled in response； exposing needle…sharp canines。
‘My； you are quick； brother；’ he said。 The smile dropped from his face。 ‘And now； you die。’
For a moment the brothers regarded each other from opposite sides of the killing circle； before they
began closing the distance； swords at the ready。
A deafening roar boomed through the cavernous chamber； echoing loudly and making the windows
rattle in their frames。 Calard could feel the reverberant sound in his bones。 He looked up； the duel
momentarily forgotten。
An arched balcony jutted out over the room； thirty feet overhead； and crouched upon its marble
balustrade was a monster。
XIII
IT WAS HUGE； easily six times the bulk of a man； and it looked like some monstrous gargoyle come to
life。 It was hunched； and black matted fur covered its massive shoulders。 Immense talons carved furrows
in the marble as it tensed its huge arms； bulging with sinew and muscle。 It howled at the heavens again；
the sound deeply affecting on some primal level； before turning its baleful gaze down into the chamber
below。
Its head was huge and wide； a hideous blend of man； bat and wolf。 Its lips drew back to expose a
terrifying array of fangs； and its snarl rumbled deep in its powerful chest。 Its canines were heavily
pronounced； and each was easily six inches in length。 Its eyes were those of a predator； burning with fury
and hunger； and they locked on the pale figure of Duke Merovech； far below。
The monster howled again； spittle flying from its maw； and it launched from its eyrie。 Powerful leg
muscles propelled it downwards at astonishing speed； and its huge taloned arms extended in front of it；
veined membranes of skin unfurling from wrist to hip like vestigial wings。
It hurtled downwards； like a monstrous bird of prey dropping on its quarry； and shouts and screams
erupted across the chamber。 Calard heard the sound of weapons clashing along with cries of shock and
pain； and through the dense crowd he spied the filth…encrusted forms of Grandfather Mortis’s children；
leaping and howling as they attacked。 Like a frenzied pack； they descended on the crowded chamber；
and chaos erupted。
Duke Merovech hurled himself to one side as the monster struck。 It slammed down into the floor
with titanic force； sending cracks shooting out across the surface of the marble from the impact。
Merovech rolled neatly to his feet； a sword in each hand。
People were running across the killing circle in panic； separating Calard and Bertelis。 He saw his
brother fighting his way through the crowd towards him； his face a mask of fury。 A knight slammed into
Calard； knocking him back a step； and a heavy blow to his arm knocked the Sword of Garamont from
his grasp。 The ancient heirloom clattered to the ground and was kicked away； spinning just out of reach。
Calard swore and dived after it。 Someone tripped over him and fell sprawling； and he grunted as he
was kicked and trampled； but he ensured that he kept his eyes locked on the holy sword。 He reached for
it； and his fingers grazed its hilt tantalisingly； but then it was kicked away again； this time disappearing into
the crowd。 Glancing over his shoulder； he saw Bertelis storming towards him； hacking down knights；
ladies and feral peasants alike； and he swore again。
Fighting back to his feet； he tore the shield from his arm and hurled it aside。 He reached up over his
back and yanked his hand…and…a…half sword from its scabbard as Bertelis drew close。
Had he been a fraction slower he would have been dead； and he only barely managed to block
Bertelis’s blow slicing in at his neck。 He was knocked back a step and Bertelis came after him； getting
inside the reach of his longer blade。
He was completely outclassed； and they both knew it。 Confident that Calard could not match him；
Bertelis was now fighting well within his own limits； and his form was slipping。 Calard’s anger swelled； he
was determined to punish Bertelis for such arrogance； but knew he might only get one chance。
After a few more passes； Bertelis lunged。 Calard sidestepped neatly； turning side…on to let Bertelis’s
momentum take him past him。 His brother’s blade slid by him； a hair’s…breadth from his throat。 With a
grunt of exertion； he rammed his sword’s heavy pommel into the side of Bertelis’s head； putting his whole
armoured weight behind it。
The move was expertly delivered； his timing perfect； and it should have caved Bertelis’s skull in。 His
brother’s head snapped back； but he did not fall。 Calard used the moment to step back； adopting a
ready stance with his blade held high； its point levelled at Bertelis。
A trickle of blood ran from Bertelis’s temple； but he appeared otherwise unaffected by the blow。 He
reached up to the wound； and then licked the blood from his finger tips。
‘For that； I’m going to make this really hurt；’ said Bertelis。
Calard lunged at him and Bertelis danced out of the way。 Calard turned； sweeping his blade
overhead and bringing it crashing down in a heavy； diagonal strike。 Bertelis parried it early and leapt in
under the blade to grab Calard by the throat。 He moved so fast； he was little more than a blur。 His grip
was like iron； and his snarling face was close。 Up close； he looked barely human at all； his eyes glinting
with fathomless hunger and madness； his skin almost translucent； and his expression twisted and bestial。
‘Orlando’s blood was so sweet； so innocent；’ he hissed。 ‘It was like nectar on my lips； sweeter than
the finest wine。’
Bertelis lifted Calard off his feet； holding him aloft with one hand before tossing him aside like a child。
Calard slammed into one of Merovech’s knights； bowling him over； and they fell in a tangled heap。
Calard was up first； and as the knight grappled with him； he pummelled his elbow into the man’s face；
dropping him instantly。
Calard staggered to his feet； dragging his sword up。 Bertelis’s boot slammed down on it hard；
snapping the blade halfway up its length； and Calard reeled back。
A knight lunged at him with a drawn sword； and Calard swayed to the side； avoiding the killing
thrust。 He stabbed the jagged end of his shattered sword into the man’s face； and he fell away with a
strangled cry。 Another knight swung at him from behind； but Calard sidestepped neatly。 Grabbing the
man’s arm as he came around； he pulled him off…balance； shoving him into Bertelis’s path。
Without blinking； Bertelis ran the knight through； and the tip of Bertelis’s blade burst from his back。
He dragged his sword clear； and hurled the man aside。
Calard took a moment to survey his surroundings。 The attack by Mortis’s feral brood had taken the
knights by surprise； but they were fighting back now； gathering into tight huddles to support each other；
and both sides were taking heavy casualties。 Bodies were strewn across the chamber floor； and more
than a few of the hunched peasants had dropped to the ground to feed； unable to restrain their hunger
amid the sight and smell of so much blood。
He saw Mortis standing alone； up on the balcony where the monster had appeared； watching the
mayhem unfold。
The immense beast and Duke Merovech had taken their fight up onto the raised dais where the five
statues sat enthroned； separating themselves from the chaotic melee below。
The creature was bleeding from a dozen wounds； but it did not appear to be slowing。 Merovech
danced and weaved like a dervish； ducking under blows that would have torn him in half； twin blades
flashing。 He moved with preternatural speed； but the monster he fought was almost as quick； despite its
bulk。 As he watched； he saw the beast catch Merovech a glancing blow that sent the duke skittering
across the dais like a rag doll； crashing into the central altar holding the huge； dark chalice with
bone…jarring force。
The beast roared in victory and leapt after him but Merovech recovered quickly； and rolled under the
blade…like talons that hammered down towards him。 As he came to his feet； both blades carved bloody
furrows across the monster’s chest； and it hissed in pain。
Using the immense beast’s arm like a ladder； Merovech turned and leapt lightly up his enemy’s body；
spinning both swords around in his hands so that they were pointed downwards； like daggers。 Kicking
off the beast’s chest； he turned in mid…air and plunged both swords into its neck。
The monster bellowed。 Both swords were embedded to the hilt； and Calard could see their tips
protruding from the back of its neck as it thrashed around in pain。 It reached up and ripped both
weapons free； hurling them away from it； and blood gushed from the wounds。 Such a blow ought to have
been fatal； but the beast merely shook its head and dropped to all fours； and began stalking towards the
now unarmed Duke Merovech。
‘Your master’s going to die；’ said Calard as Bertelis closed the distance between them。
‘I think not；’ said his brother。 ‘No devolved varghulf is a match for him。’
Bertelis lun