Downfall

"We want you to accompany your two human friends into the mountains. To the goatherders' village, Knolls-bank. We want you to make sure they live up to their word of stopping the raids. Help your friends deal with the wolves."

"Rig and Fiona are not my friends."

"But they are your kind," Donnag swiftly returned.

"I've no desire to remain in their company. All I want is the sword. You've said I more than met your price."

"But we do not trust the Knight and the dark-skinned man. If they indeed make good on their word of helping the village, we will give the Knight her ransom-only because her notion of buying her brother's freedom amuses us. Then, too, we will give you the sword."

Dhamon frowned.

"And more," Donnag continued. "We will give you a few other trinkets from my treasury to sweeten the deal. For your trouble of helping my loyal subjects in Knollsbank."

Dhamon's jaw clenched. His eyes darkened and narrowed and his voice grew threatening. "I'll take the sword now and accompany Fiona and Rig. But I want the sword up front."

Donnag shook his head. "We make the rules in this city, Dhamon Grimwulf. You can demand nothing of us."

"You do not trust them," Dhamon said evenly. "How can I trust you?"

"Oh, you can trust him." This came from Maldred, who stepped from behind the ogre to join them. "On my word, Dhamon Grimwulf, you can trust Chieftain Donnag."

"Done, then," Dhamon said, extending his hand. "We will tend to your village of goatherders, and then we'll conclude our deal." He pivoted on the balls of his feet and strode quickly from the room.

When he was out of sight, Maldred turned to Donnag. "I don't understand. Why the interest in helping a village of goatherders? I've never known you to be so concerned about the peasants in the mountains. Or to be concerned about anyone, for that matter."

"We are not concerned," Donnag returned, gesturing with his fingers as if he were shooing away an insect.

"Then why…"

"You are not to go with Dhamon Grimwulf and the others. Do you understand? Neither is Ilbreth. Stay here, Maldred, in our palace."

Lines of curiosity spread across Maldred's forehead.

"Those three will not be returning from Knollsbank," Donnag continued. "We've sent them to their deaths. We will keep the precious gemstones and the sword of Tanis Half-Elven, and we will rid ourselves of all of those bothersome people in the process."

CHAPTER NINE Life From Death

The rain made the rockface cruelly slick, and Mal-dred had to use all of his strength to struggle up it, digging fingers into cracks, his feet scrabbling, arm muscles bunching, and finally pulling himself up onto a wide ledge. Catching his breath, he tossed his rope over the side, braced himself, and pulled Fiona up to join him. He held her in his arms for a moment, the others waiting below.

"It is fortunate you decided to join us," Fiona told him.

"Yes, I decided the matters I needed to address in town could wait." Maldred's face was cloudy, recalling Donnag's orders to stay behind. The chieftain would find out soon enough that Maldred and Fetch joined the mission to Knollsbank. Maldred wondered what could be so dangerous in these hills, and he hoped his presence and sword skill would be enough to keep this from becoming a death's errand.

"Something troubles you?"

"Wolves, Lady Knight. The wolves that raid the goats."

Maldred doubted wolves truly were the cause of the goatherders' problems.

"We will send the wolves hunting for food elsewhere," she said.

His face lightened as he banished his thoughts of death and Donnag. "You are indeed fair," he said, his eyes capturing hers and twinkling with an inner light. "I swear by all I hold dear you surely take my breath away." His words sounded achingly sincere.

"I think it is this height that is making it difficult for you to breathe, Maldred."

"No," he chuckled. "It is you, Lady Knight." He dipped his head and met her lips, the kiss long and forceful.

When he pulled back she blushed and eased herself away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and glancing down the steep ridge. They were too high to see the crumbling buildings, the misshapen ogres, and the poor humans and dwarves struggling to barely eke out an existence in Bloten. The rain, coupled with the heat of summer, had engendered a mist around the ogre city, a pale pink and gray halo that made the place look serene and beautiful and very remote from this high vantage point-a magical city from children's bedtime stories where everyone lived well and happily. Not used to the altitude, a feeling of dizziness overtook her and she stepped back to lean against Maldred.

"Are you all right, Lady? Not that I mind."