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power at them。 It would have slain them before they reached the doorway； but Lord Hyrim lunged； thrust up his staff between them。 The end of his staff caught the bolt。 It detonated with such force that it broke the staff in two； and flung the four humans against the back of the cell。
The impact made them unconscious。
Thus even the Vow could not preserve the Bloodguard from the extremity of their need。
Korik was the first to reawaken。 Hearing returned before sight or touch； and he began to listen。 In his ears； the noise of the Sea grew； became violent。 But the sound was not the sound of waves in storm； it was more erratic； more vicious。 When his sight was
restored； he was surprised to find that he could see。 He had expected the darkness of clouds。
But early starlight shone through the doorway from a clear night sky。 Outside； the Sea thrashed and heaved across the piers and up the levee as if goaded by rowels。 And along the sky lightning leaped； followed by such thunder that he felt the bursting in his chest。 Through the spray a high wind howled。 And still the sky was clear。
There was a bayamo upon the Sea。
Then a different lightning struck upward into the heavens…a bolt as green as blazing emerald。 It came from the levee。 Looking through the darkness； Korik discerned the form of the Raver； Kinslaughterer。 He stood down in the levee； so close to the tide that the waves broke against his knees。 With his stone； he hurled green blasts into the sky； and shook his arms as if the windstorm were his to mand。
On the levee behind him were three dead forms the three Bloodguard whom Korik had sent to the northern end of the city。
For a time； Korik did not prehend what Kinslaughterer was doing。 But then he perceived that the seas out beyond the piers moved in consonance with Kinslaughterer's arms。 As the Giant…Raver waved and gestured； they heaved and reared and broke and piled themselves together。
Farther away； the situation was worse。 Slowly； with great pitchings and shudders； a massive wall of water rose out of the ocean。 Kinslaughterer's green lightning glared across the face of it as it mounted； tossed its crest higher and higher。 And as it grew； it moved toward the cliff。
The Raver was summoning a tsunami。
Korik turned to rouse his panions。
Sill and Tull were soon conscious and alert。 But Lord Hyrim lay still； and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth。 Swiftly； Sill ran his hands over the Lord's body； reported that Hyrim had several broken ribs； but no other injuries。 Together； Korik and Sill chafed his wrists； slapped his neck。 At last； his eyelids fluttered； and he awakened。
He was dazed。 At first； he could not grasp Korik's tidings。 But when he looked out into the night； he understood。 Already； the mounting tidal wave appeared half as high as the cliff； and its writhing had a dark； ill cast。 There was enough hatred concentrated in it to shatter The Grieve。 When Lord Hyrim turned from it； his face…was taut with terrible purpose。
He had to shout to make himself heard over the roar of waves and wind and thunder。 〃We must stop him！ He violates the Sea！ If he succeeds…if he bends the Sea to his will…the Law that preserves it will be broken。 It will serve the Despiser like another Raver！〃
Korik answered； 〃Yes！〃 There was a fury in the Bloodguard。 They would have disobeyed any other decision。
Yet Sill remembered caution enough to say； 〃He has the Illearth Stone。〃
〃No！〃 Lord Hyrim searched the floor for the pieces of his staff。 When he found them； he called for clingor。 Tull gave him a length of line。 He used it to lash the two pieces of his staff together； metal heels joined。 Clutching this unwieldly instrument； he said； 〃That is only a fragment of the Stone！ The Illearth Stone itself …is much larger！ But in our worst dreams we did not guess that the Despiser would dare cut pieces of the Stone for his servants。 His mastery of it must…must be very great。 Thus he is able to subdue Giants…the Ravers and the Stone together； the Stone empowering the Raver； and the Raver using the stone！ And the others…Fleshharrower； Satansfist…they also must possess fragments of the Stone。 Do you hear； Korik？〃
〃I hear；〃 Korik replied。 〃The High Lord will be warned。〃
Lord Hyrim nodded。 The pain in his ribs made him wince。 But he thrust his way out of the cell into the howling wind。 Korik； Sill； and Tull followed at once。
Ahead of them； Kinslaughterer labored in an ecstasy of power。 Though it was still some distance from the piers； the tsunami towered over him； dwarfed
his stolen form。 Now he was chanting to it； invoking it。 His words cut through the tumult of the storm。
e； Seal
Obey me！
Raise high！
crash down！
Break rock！
break stone：
crush heart：
grind soul：
rend flesh：
crack whole！
Eat dead
for bread！
e； Sea！
Obey me！
And the seas answered； piled still higher。 Now the wave's crest frothed and lashed level with the upper ramparts of Coercri。
The Bloodguard wished to attack instantly； but Lord Hyrim held them back。 So that he would not be heard by Kinslaughterer； he mouthed the words； 〃I must strike the first blow。〃 Then he moved over the headrock as fast as his damaged chest permitted。
When the four started into the levee； the huge wall of water already appeared to be leaning over them。 Only the might of Kinslaughterer's Stone kept it erect。 As they approached； he was too consumed by the spectacle of his own power to sense them。 But in the last moment； some instinct warned him。 He spun suddenly； found Lord Hyrim within a few yards of him。
Roaring savagely； he raised his glowing fist to hurl a blast at the Lord。
But while the Raver cocked his arm； Lord Hyrim leaped the last distance toward him。 With the lashed fragments of his staff； the Lord struck upward。
The metal heels hit Kinslaughterer's hand before his bolt was ready。
The two powers clashed in a blaze of green and
blue。 Kinslaughterer's greater force drove his might like lightning down the length of Lord Hyrim's arms into his head and body。 The green fire burned within him； burned his brain and heart。 When the flame ceased； he collapsed。
But the clash scorched Kinslaughterer's hand； and its recoil knocked his arm back。 He lost the Stone。 It fell； rolled away from him across the headrock。
At once； the three Bloodguard sprang； together they struck the Raver with all their strength。 And in that assault their Vow at last found utterance。 The GiantRaver was dead before his form fell into the water。
Yet still for a long moment the Bloodguard hurled blows at him； driven by the excess of their rage and abomination。 Then the splashing of saltwater cooled them； and they perceived that the storm had begun to fade。
Without the pulsion of the Stone； the wind failed。 The lightning stopped。 After a few last rolls； the thunder fell away。
The tidal wave made a sound like an avalanche as it fell backward into the Sea。 Its spray wet the faces of the Bloodguard； and its waves broke over their thighs。 Then it was gone。
Together； the three hastened back to Lord Hyrim。
He still clung to life； but he was almost at an end； the Raver's blast had burned him deeply。 H