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he years of fear。
My first stroke half severed his neck。 I kept hacking till I finished the job。 Then I scattered a few limbs about； blunting my steel and madness on ancient bone。 Sanity began to return。 I whirled to see what had bee of the Lady。
She was down on one knee； the weight of her body resting upon the other。 She was trying to draw Limper's bolt。 I charged over； pulled her hand away。 〃No。 Let me。 Later。〃 This time I was less startled that the naming had not worked。 This time convinced me that nothing could disarm her。 She should have been gone； damn it！ I gave myself up to a long fit of the shakes。 The Taken pounding on the forest people were having an effect。 Some of the savages had begun fleeing。 Toadkiller Dog was enveloped by painful sorceries。 〃Hang on；〃 I told the Lady。 〃We're over the hump。 We're going to do it。〃 I don't know that I believed that； but it was what she needed to hear。
Tracker and the Dominator continued to roll around； grunting and cursing。 Silent pranced around them with a broad…bladed spear。 When chance presented itself； he cut our great enemy。 Nothing could survive that forever。 Darling watched； stayed close； stayed out of the Dominator's way。
I scooted back to the wreck of the Limper and dug out the shaft I'd put into his chest。 He glared at me。 There was life in his brain still。 I booted his head into the trench left by the dragon's rising。
That beast had ceased thrashing。 Still no sign of Bomanz。 Never any sign of Bomanz。 He found the fate he feared； second try。 He slew the monster from within。
Do not think Bomanz peripheral because he kept his head down。 I believe the Dominator expected the dragon to preoccupy Darling and the Lady those few moments he needed to get shut of the null。 Bomanz took that away。 With the same determination and distinction as the Lady facing her inescapable fate。
I returned to the Lady。 My hands had attained their battlefield steadiness。 I wished for my kit。 My knife would have to do。 I laid her back； started digging。 That quarrel would chew on her till I got it out。 For all the pain； she managed a grateful smile。
A dozen men surrounded Tracker and the Dominator now； every one stabbing。 Some did not seem particular as to whom they hit。 The sands were about gone for the old evil。 I packed and bound the Lady's wound with material from her own clothing。 〃We'll change this as soon as we can。〃
The tribesmen were whipped。 Toadkiller Dog was dragging himself toward the high country。 That old mutt had as much staying power as his boss。 Guards freed of the fighting hurried our way。 They carried wood for the old doom's funeral pyre。
Chapter Fifty…Eight： END OF THE GAME
Then I spotted Raven。
〃The damned fool。〃
He was leaning on Case； hobbling。 He carried a bare sword。 His face was set。
Trouble for sure。 His step was not quite as feeble as he pretended。
It took no genius to guess what he had in mind。 In his simple way of seeing things； he was going to make everything right with Darling by finishing off her big enemy。
The shakes came back； but this time not from fear。 If somebody did not do something； I was going to be right in the middle。 Right where I would have to make a choice； to act； and nothing I did would make anyone happy。
I tried distracting myself by testing the Lady's dressing。
Shadows fell upon us。 I looked up into Silent's cold eyes； into Darling's more passionate face。 Silent cast a subtle glance Raven's way。 He was in the middle； too。
The Lady clawed at my arm。 〃Lift me；〃 she said。
I did。 She was as weak as water。 I had to support her。
〃Not yet；〃 she told Darling； as though Darling could hear。 〃He is not yet finished。〃
They had gotten a leg and an arm off the Dominator。 Those they threw into the woodpile。 Tracker hung on so they could carve on the Dominator's neck。 Goblin and One…Eye stood by； waiting for the head； ready to run like hell。 Some Guards planted the son of the tree。 Windwhales and mantas hovered overhead。 Others； with the Taken； were harassing Toadkiller Dog and the savages through the forest。
Raven was getting closer。 And I was no closer to knowing where I stood。
That son…of…a…bitching Dominator was tough。 He killed a dozen men before they finished carving him up。 Even then he was not dead。 Like Limper's； his head lived on。
Time for Goblin and One…Eye。 Goblin grabbed the still…living head； sat down； held it tightly between his knees。 One…Eye hammered a six…inch silver spike through its forehead； into its brain。 The Dominator's lips kept forming curses。
The nail would capture his blighted soul。 The head would go into the fire。 When that burned out； the spike would be recovered and driven into the trunk of the son of the tree。 Meaning one dark spirit would be bound for a million years。 Guards brought Limper parts to the fire； too。 They did not find his head； though。 The sodden walls of the trench whence the dragon had risen had collapsed upon it。 Goblin and One…Eye torched the woodpile。 The fire leapt up as if eager to fulfill its mission。 The Limper's bolt had struck the Lady four inches from the heart； midway between her left breast and collarbone。 I confess to a certain pride in having drawn it under such terrible circumstances without killing her。 I should have incapacitated her left arm； though。
She now lifted that arm； reached out to Darling。 Silent and I were puzzled。 But only for a moment。
The Lady pulled Darling to her。 She had no strength； so it must be that； in a way； Darling allowed herself to be pulled。 Then she whispered； 〃The rite is plete。 I name your true name； Tonie Fisk。〃
Darling screamed soundlessly。 The null began to fray。
Silent's face blackened。 For what seemed an eternity he stood there in obvious torment； torn between a vow； a love； a hatred； perhaps the concept of an obligation to a higher duty。 Tears began coursing down his cheeks。 I got an old wish； and was ready to cry myself when I did。
He spoke。 〃The ritual is closed。〃 He had trouble shaping his words。 〃I name your true name； Dorotea Senjak。 I name your true name； Dorotea Senjak。〃 I thought he would collapse in a faint then。 But he did not。
The women did。
Raven was getting closer。 So I had a pain atop all the other pains。
Silent and I stared at one another。 I suspect my face was as tormented as his。 Then he nodded through his tears。 There was peace between us。 We knelt； untangled the women。 He looked worried while I felt Darling's neck。 〃She'll be all right；〃 I told him。 The Lady； too； but he did not care about that。
I wonder still how much each of the women expected in that moment。 How much each yielded to destiny。 It marked their end as powers of the world。 Darling had no null。 The Lady had no magic。 They had canceled one another out。
I heard screaming。 Carpets were raining。 All those Taken had been Taken by the Lady herself； and after what had happened on the Plain； she had made certain her fate would be their fate。 So now they were undone； and soon dead。
Not much magic left on that field。 Tracker； too； was a goner； mauled to death by the Dominator。 I believe he died happy。
But there was no end yet。 No。 There w