his own senses, somewhere infinitely remote and yet so close he could almost touch it was the presence of Asuryan. Being here and being a mage was like swimming in murky water as a leviathan rose from the depths beneath. He sensed the imminence of the god as a massive displacement of energy from one world to another.
If only there was some way to tap into the power of the Sacred Flames and use it as a weapon, he felt sure that the daemons could be defeated. The mighty mages of old could perhaps have managed such a feat. Others had mastered the art of bending the Flame to their will too. The priests who protected the Phoenix King as he passed through it must know some way. That showed it could be done by mortals in this age of the world.
Of course they were shaping the energy in a completely different way, or perhaps they were merely shielding someone else from it, but the thought gave him hope. There might be a way to use the power of the Flame to save himself and Tyrion and the warriors who were trying so valiantly but fruitlessly to protect them. All he needed to do was work out how that could be done.
He offered up a prayer to Asuryan for guidance. Somewhere far off he thought he felt an answering call. Something out there would aid him, if only he could find a way to contact it and make his prayers clear to it.
Tyrion entered the chamber, his clothing soaking wet. His brother looked torn between wonder and unease, but he did not look afraid. His unbounded bravery astonished Teclis.
‘How is it going?’ Teclis asked.
‘Not well,’ said Tyrion. ‘The priests don’t think they will be able to hold off our attackers much longer. I expect we shall be seeing the famous N’Kari soon.’
His idiot brother did not even sound troubled by the prospect.
Teclis took his brother to one side. None of the soldiers were paying any attention to them. They had their own worries.
‘The guards will not be able to stop N’Kari,’ he said.
Tyrion nodded. He had already made his own assessment of the situation, and doubtless, as in all matters military, it would be an accurate one.
‘There is nothing we can do about it,’ Tyrion said. ‘The Phoenix King’s advisors miscalculated. We are not safe here. The reinforcements will not get here in time. Perhaps we would not have been safe anywhere. Who would have thought our foe could become so strong in so short a time?’
‘The soldiers cannot stop the daemon, but perhaps I can.’
Tyrion’s eyes widened in surprise at Teclis’s words. He tilted his head to one side. At least he was not showing outright disbelief in the fact that one barely trained sixteen-year old was claiming to be able to do what an asur army and its contingent of wizards could not.
‘How?’
‘I may be able to tap into the power of the shrine here.’
‘That sounds sacrilegious. Dangerous too.’
‘Believe me, I don’t like the idea any more than you do but it may be our only chance. I am of the Blood of Aenarion. I may be able to touch the power of the Flame and live where others could not.’
‘You are not planning on walking through it?’ Tyrion did show some alarm now. The last person who had tried that unprotected was Malekith and his fate had been awful. He had been a mighty warrior too, not a sickly child.
‘No. I am planning on begging for aid. Perhaps the power behind the Flame will respond. Perhaps not. If it does not we have lost nothing but our lives, which are already forfeit.’
‘What can I do to help?’ This was the part Teclis did not like at all. He was going to have to ask his twin to risk his life, perhaps even sacrifice himself so that his plan might work.
‘If I have not completed my spell by the time the daemon gets here, you must distract it for as long as possible. Keep it away from me at all costs.’
‘I would do that anyway,’ said Tyrion immediately.
Teclis looked at his twin with wonder and admiration. He had always known Tyrion was brave but never realised exactly how brave. He asked no questions, made no excuses, did not prevaricate. He was ready, instantly, to go into battle, to give up his life if necessary. He did not even seem to realise how courageous he really was. Teclis wanted