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smaller man might have brandished Josua's Naidel； and was well…trained in the use of his shield。 But to Tiamak； Camaris seemed another kind of creature entirely； graceful as a river otter； swift as a striking serpent。 In his hands； Thorn was a plicated black blur； a web of glinting darkness。 Although he knew nothing good of Benigaris； Tiamak could not help feeling sorry for him。 Surely this whole ridiculous battle would be over in a few moments。
The sooner Benigaris gives up； Tiamak thought； the sooner we can get out of this wind。
But Benigaris； it rapidly became clear； had other plans。 After looking almost helpless through the first score of strokes； Nabban's duke suddenly took the battle to Camaris； crashing blow after blow on the old knight's shield and deflecting those that his opponent returned。 Camaris was forced back； and Tiamak could feel the worry that ran through Josua's party like a whisper。
He is an old man； after all。 Older than my father's father was when he died。 And perhaps he has even less heart for this battle than for others。
Benigaris rained strokes against Camaris' shield； trying to push home his advantage as the old knight gave ground； the duke was grunting so loudly that everyone on the hillside could hear him above the clang of iron。 Even Tiamak； with almost no knowledge of drylander swordplay； wondered how long he could keep up such an attack。
But he doesn't necessarily have to last a long time； Tiamak realized。 Just until he beats down Camaris' guard and finds an opening。 He is gambling。
For a moment Benigaris' gamble appeared to have paid。 One of his hammering blows caught Camaris with his shield too low； skimmed off its upper edge and struck the old knight on the side of the helmet； staggering him。 The crowd made a hungry sound。 Camaris regained his footing and lifted his shield as though it had bee almost impossibly heavy。 Benigaris waded in。
Tiamak was not quite sure what happened next。 One moment the old knight was in a crouch； shield raised in what looked like helplessness against Benigaris' battering sword； the next； he had somehow caught Benigaris' shield with his own and knocked it upward； so that for a moment it hung in the air like a blue and gold coin。 When it fell to the earth； Thorn's black point was at the duke's gorget。
〃Do you yield； Benigaris？〃 The voice of Camaris was clear； but there was a hint of a weary tremor。
In answer； Benigaris knocked Thorn aside with a mailed fist； then thrust his own blade at Camaris' unprotected belly。 The old man seemed to contort as the sword touched his mail…clad midsection。 For an instant Tiamak thought he might have been skewered； but instead Camaris whirled all the way around。 Benigaris' sword slid past him； and as Camaris finished his circular turn Thorn came with him in a flat； deadly arc。 The black blade crunched into Benigaris' armor just below his ribs。 The duke was driven to one knee； he wobbled for an instant； then collapsed。 Camaris pulled Thorn free of the rent in the breast plate and a freshet of blood followed it。
Beside Tiamak； Sludig and Hotvig were cheering hoarsely。 Josua did not seem so happy。
〃Merciful Aedon。〃 He turned to look at his two captains with more than a little anger； but his eye lit on the Wrannaman。 〃At least we can thank God Camaris was not killed。 Let us go to him； and see what we can do for Benigaris。 Did you bring your herbs； Tiamak？〃
The marsh man nodded。 He and the prince began to push their way forward through the knot of people that was quickly forming around the two batants。
When they reached the center of the crowd； Josua put a hand on Camaris' shoulder。 〃Are you well？〃
The old man nodded。 He appeared exhausted。 His hair hung down his forehead in sweaty twists。
Josua turned to the fallen Benigaris。 Someone had removed the duke's helmet。 He was pale as a Norn and there was a froth of blood on his lips。 〃Lie still； Benigaris。 Let this man look at your wound。〃
The duke turned his bleary eyes on Tiamak。 〃A marsh man！〃 he wheezed。 〃You are a strange one； Josua。〃 The Wrannaman kneeled down beside him and began looking for the catch…buckles on the breastplate； but Benigaris struck his hands away。 〃Leave me alone； damn you。 Let me die without having some savage paw at me。〃
Josua's mouth tightened； but he motioned Tiamak to step back。 〃As you wish。 But perhaps there is something that can be done for you。。。。〃
Benigaris barked a laugh。 A bubble of bloody spittle caught in his mustache。 〃Let me die； Josua。 That is what is left for me。 You can have 。。。〃 he coughed more red froth； 〃。。。you can have everything else。〃
〃Why did you do it？〃 Josua asked。 〃You must have known you could not win。〃
Benigaris mustered a grin。 〃But I frightened you all； didn't I？〃 His face contorted； but he regained control。 〃In any case； I took what was left to me 。。。 just as my mother did。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Josua stared at the dying duke as though he had never seen anything quite like him。
〃My mother realized 。。。 with help from me 。。。 that her game was over。 There was nothing left but shame。 So she took poison。 I had my own way。〃
〃But you could have escaped； surely。 You still control the seas。〃
〃Escape to where？〃 Benigaris spat another scarlet gobbet。 'To the loving arms of your brother and his pet wizard？ And in any case； the damnable docks belong to Streawe now…I thought I was holding him prisoner； but he was gnawing away at my power from within。 The count is playing us all off each other for his own profit。〃 The duke's breath sawed in and out。 〃No； the end had e…I saw it as soon as the Onestrine Pass fell。 So I chose my own death。 I was duke less than a year； Josua。 No one would ever have remembered me as anything but a father…murderer。 Now； if anyone survives； I will be the man who fought Camaris for the throne of Nabban。。。 and damned near won。〃
Josua was looking at Benigaris with an expression that was not quite recognizable。 Tiamak could not let the question go unasked。
〃What do you mean； 'if anyone survives'？〃
Benigaris looked at the Wrannaman with contempt。 〃It talks。〃 He slowly turned back to the prince。 〃Oh； yes；〃 he said； his labored breathing not disguising his relish； 〃I forgot to tell you。 You have won your prize…but you may not get much joy from it； Josua。〃
〃I almost felt sorry for you； Benigaris；〃 the prince said。 〃But the feeling has passed。〃 He stood up。
〃Wait！〃 Benigaris raised a bloody hand。 〃You really should know this； Josua。 Stay just a moment。 I won't embarrass you long。〃
〃Speak。〃
'The ghants are crawling up out of the swamps。 The riders have begun ing in from the Lakelands and the coast towns along Firannos Bay bearing the tale。 They are swarming。 Oh； there are more of them than you can imagine； Josua。〃 He laughed； bringing up a fresh welter of blood。 〃And that's not all；〃 he said gleefully。 〃There was another reason I had no desire to flee Nabban by boat。 The kilpa； too； seem to have gone mad。 The Niskies are terrified。 So you see； not only did I buy myself a clean and honorable death 。。。 but it is a death you and yours might find