There was a sickening Chunk! as the heavy throwing-knife seemed suddenly to appear in the middle of the Vale-creature's forehead, snapping its head backwards.

But the creature refused to go down! Though unsteady on its feet, it turned a chilling death's-head grin to the assembly. Its lips began to move-

Dorain's sword flashed. The movement seemed somehow carelessly innocuous, a mere arcing blur.

An instant later, however, the creature collapsed to its knees, sword falling from nerveless fingers, its head toppling onto the floor, gouts of gore spraying like twin geysers from the severed jugulars, until the heart, emptied of life's sap, gave up the ghost, even as the creature's headless torso slumped lifeless to the ground.

"No final words for you!" Dorain snarled at the body, wiping her blade clean on the creature's raiment and sheathing it.

Baldric ordered the meeting adjourned for the time being, during which a number of aides disposed of the body and cleansed the gore-slick stone floor with soap, sponge and water. As he waited, he listened to the conversation about him, noting with concern the continued influence of the Vale-creature, which he hoped would abate of its own accord.

"This does not resolve the matter of the witch," Akaru said to Dorain, his eyes hard and uncompromising, "whatever you may think."




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