voice crushed him.
“Yes. Just recently. There wasn’t a cure, my dear. Only a way to end it.” He forced himself up and crossed the room to his desk, all the while aware of her trembling lips and shimmering eyes.
“This is the Sword of Light.” He lifted the ancient weapon out of his drawer. “The only thing that can pierce a light demon’s flesh. Archer must thrust this sword into Victoria’s heart and destroy her.”
“And then?” It was the barest whisper.
Leland’s strength wavered. “Then he must turn it upon himself.”
He watched her fall apart, press her hand to her middle, curl into herself, yet remain standing. Agony slashed at her features. But she did not cry. She took a deep breath but her resolve failed. A keening wail slipped through her lips. He went to her only to have her lift her hand and warn him off. She got hold of herself and straightened.
“Why—why do you have the sword?”
“We must not risk her finding it until Archer’s change is done. I am to take it tonight. Leave it outside the cavern where they have gone.”
She paced again, holding her middle as though holding on to her sanity.
“All is not lost,” he said desperately. “Archer need not lose his soul…”
“Only his life! Forgive me for being selfish but it is a small consolation to me.” She whipped round before stalking back to the fire. “How?”
“Should he be destroyed before he takes a life, his soul will remain intact.”
“And just how is he to avoid that?” she snapped. “When he must first destroy Victoria?”
Leland blanched. “I…”
She snorted. “You did not consider it, did you? Neither of you did.”
His hand shook as it ran through his hair, sending limp strands over his brow. “The legend was quite clear; those who take up the light without thought of personal greed shall find redemption. Only a savior true of heart shall wield the Sword of Light, and out of fire that comes not from man but the gods the blade shall come alive and meet its destiny.”
Lady Archer stopped her restless pacing and stared at him. “Fire?”
“Yes. Such artifacts usually come with fanciful riddles. Most likely it is allegorical. However, the Egyptians, who crafted this sword, believed that the lake of fire, from which this sword was forged, had the power to both purify and destroy. The innocent would be redeemed by fire, and the guilty annihilated. Perhaps piercing her with the blade shall turn her to flame,” he mused.
“Thought this out, have you?” She sighed. “Forgive me. I am unsettled.”
“Quite understandable, my dear.”
She took a deep breath and then steeled her spine. “There is only one recourse.” Emerald fire lit her eyes. “I shall have to destroy Victoria. And then…” Her lips trembled violently. “And then Archer as well.”
“Out of the question!”
Lord Leland’s shout cracked through the air like a shot.
“I was not asking for your permission, sir.” Miranda’s heart felt as though it were truly in danger of failing, so great was the pain, but she looked at the elderly man with resolve. “There is little choice in the matter. Archer cannot kill her, or he will lose his soul. You cannot do it because you are too frail.”
His mouth opened in outrage, yet he could hardly deny the truth of her statement.
“Archer forfeited his life to change,” he said with heat. “Because that is the only way to defeat her. She is too strong otherwise!”
“That is where you men have failed to understand,” she said. “Should you have thought it through, you would have realized your error. Archer believed he must engage in a physical battle. He thought only of his previous battles with her. Like a man, he sought to solve this problem with brawn.”
Were Archer here, Miranda would have hit him with something very large and very hard. Damnable man. Why did you have to shut me out? Black fingers of panic crawled across her field of vision. She took another deep breath.
“And in his blind haste, he overlooked his true weapon. The sword.” She went to Leland’s desk. The sword lay upon it, a seemingly simple weapon. Nothing so dazzling as to decry it the ultimate threat against an immortal demon. Her hand closed around the bronze hilt, and a sizzle of power coursed against her palm. She nearly dropped it, then adjusted her hold. Another shot of power surged through her, and deep down, the fire inside of her seemed to answer it, flaring hot in her veins for