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"Bracken," Seth said, "I have an idea"

"Let’s have it," Bracken replied, eyes on the battle

Seth began unbuckling his sword belt "Why don’t you take Vasilis? I’m sure you could esture," Bracken said, te his eyes off the scattered skir, Seth A sword like Vasilis does not always connect to a new ht and Darkness complement each other I can sense that in my hands it would be a fine weapon, but it would fail to draer from my mind and heart as it does fro my horn Keep your blade"

"What should we do?" Vanessa asked

"We wait," Bracken said "Without wings, we can’t harass the enemy like the astrids or the fairies Our weapons will be needed as the battle unfolds"

On the field between the shrine and the prison, the harassing raids had enraged the de fiercer Seth saw a couple of fairies torn from the air, and an injured astrid had to be rescued by companions The demons spread ever wider to confront the multidirectional sorties For thethe de their efforts on the shrine

Without warning, the Sphinx appeared near Bracken Dusty and winded, he held the Translocator in his hands and supported the Chronometer in the crook of his arm The Font of Immortality protruded from his belt

"The other two artifacts?" Bracken asked the Sphinx, evidently unsurprised by his appearance

"Nagi Luna will not let the Oculus out of her grasp," the Sphinx said "Graulas is the same with the Sands of Sanctity This was the first morog has just eed from confinear-rote Mr Lich"

"You killed your friend?" Seth asked

"He sided with the deainst me," the Sphinx said "His willful treachery helped create this disaster I thanked hiood at this point?" Kendra asked

"My plan depends on recovering the him with a level stare "Will you shuttle in a strike force to recover the other artifacts?"

"It would be h," Bracken said, releasing his hand "Targoron, Silvestrus, go with the Sphinx and retrieve the re artifacts"

"I need a better weapon," the Sphinx said

"Take mine," Trask offered

The Sphinx handed the Chronometer and the Font of Immortality to a nearby astrid, and then accepted the sword froed to the Gray Assassin," the Sphinx recognized, hardness entering his eyes "It should do the job"

"You will engage the enemy only as a last resort," Bracken said "Your priority must be to transport the artifacts back to us"

"And try to return i Luna will not relinquish the re his sword through the air

"Let me come," Seth blurted "I’ll take care of Graulas"

Bracken looked at Seth’s sheathed sword He hesitated, glancing at Kendra, who shook her head Bracken rubbed his teoron and Silvestrus first, then return for Seth and Peredor" Kendra gave Seth a worried frown He tried to reassure her with a small smile Bracken rested a hand on the Sphinx’s shoulder "After retrieving the artifacts, your priority will be to protect Seth and his sword"

There came a tree and triuure ca from the rift, a humanoid with a tremendous rack of contorted antlers Body covered in thick fur, the personage stood taller than Hugo but shorter than the colossal Brogo In defiance of the direct glare fro sun, darkness rippled around hi with spikes and serrations Several corpses dragged on the ground behind higed the base of the antlers, atop a bullish head

"Gorgrog," Bracken said

"The time to move is now," the Sphinx insisted "Go," Bracken ordered

The Sphinx twisted the Translocator and disappeared with Targoron and Silvestrus A moment later he reappeared alone Seth stepped forith Peredor They each laid a hand on the Translocator When the Sphinx twisted the device, they were suddenly inside the do crack in one wall to light the dome, but persistent shadows re seeh At the center of the rooe froateway of Zzyzx

Froe, the deoron was already locked in coh a two-headed brute with teeth like knives Peredor brought his war hammer down on the head of a stocky, bearded foe with blue skin and bright yellow eyes

Graulas stood not far off, near the wall, away fro toward the fissure in the wall of the doer, evil smile when he met eyes with Seth In one hand he held the Sands of Sanctity The other hand gripped a heavy spear

"You ca forthe tumult "I should have known You have collected quite a sword Again, you astonish me, Seth Sorenson Sadly, hty as the wielder Come We have unfinished business, you and I"