Rise of the Evening Star

Connected to the handle was a long, slender blade. A sword had been hidden in the shaft of the tall key, with only the handle showing!

Warren picked up the sword, swishing it through the air.

The handle had no guard. The sharp blade was long and sleek, and it flashed dangerously in the glow of the sunstones.

We have ourselves a pair of weapons, Warren said.

Take the spear! Without the sword it has a better balance.

Eyes on the cat, Kendra drew near and took the spear from Warren. How do I use this? she asked.

Stab with it, Warren said. It’s probably too heavy for you to throw it effectively. Pay more attention to soaring away if trouble comes near.

All right, she said, taking a few practice jabs.399 Without warning, the cat charged at Kendra. She swungthe spear and it veered away, darting toward Warren. His sword whisked down and lopped off the head of the cat.

Warren stepped away from the corpse, watching it intently.

Both the head and the body of the feline began to boil as if full of writhing worms. The head melted into a soupy pool.

The headless body began to heave inside out, revealing wet glimpses of muscle and bone, until the churning finally stopped and the black cat was whole again.

The cat hissed at Warren, fur rising along its arched back. It was bigger now, larger than any domestic cat Kendra had ever seen. Warren took a step toward the cat and it bolted, body stretching long as it raced fluidly away. The next two times Warren came close, the cat streaked away, in the end returning to the pedestal.

Warren approached the pedestal. Baring teeth and claws, the cat sprang at him. A slash of his sword intercepted the feline, and the cat flopped to the floor. Warren stabbed it to ensure the animal a quick demise, and then backed away.

Once again, the lifeless body began to pulse and roil.

I’m not too keen about this pattern, Warren said darkly.

Moving in close, he began stabbing the churning mass of fur and bone and organs. With each wound it seemed to grow, and so he retreated to let the process finish.

The reborn black cat no longer looked like a domestic animal. Not only was it much too big, the paws were proportionately larger, with crueler claws, and the ears were now tufted like those of a lynx. Still entirely black, the lynx let out a fierce yowl, showing intimidating teeth.400 Don’t kill it again, Kendra said. It will keep gettingworse.

Then we will never get the artifact, Warren said. The cat is the vault, and the sword and the spear remain the keys. To get the artifact, we must defeat all of its incarnations. The black lynx crouched, eyeing Warren cunningly.

When Warren feinted forward, the lynx did not flinch.

Staying low, the lynx prowled toward Warren, as if stalking a bird. Warren stood ready, sword poised. A dark blur, the lynx rushed at him, low and silent. The sword flashed, opening a gash, but the lynx got through, clawing and biting furiously at Warren’s pant leg. A fierce return stroke ended the flurry of claws. The lynx lay motionless.

Fast, Warren complained, limping away, blood dripping from his tattered pant leg.

Did it hurt you bad? Kendra asked.

Surface wounds. My pants got the worst of it, Warren said. But it got to me. I’m not sure I like what that says about my reflexes. The hide of the carcass began to bulge.

Would the spear be better? Kendra asked. You could stab it before it gets close.

Maybe, Warren said. Trade me. He crossed to her and they exchanged weapons.

You’re limping, she said.

It’s a little tender, he said. I’ll hold up.

The lynx yowled, a heartier, more powerful sound. As it stood on all fours, its head was higher than the bandage on

Warren’s stomach. Big cat, Kendra said.401 Here, kitty, kitty, Warren coaxed, edging toward itwith the spear. The beefed-up lynx began pacing, staying out of range, moving with sure grace, hunting for an opening.

The lynx darted at Warren and then pulled back. It faked a second charge, and Warren danced backwards.

Why am I starting to feel more and more like a mouse?

Warren complained. He lunged forward, thrusting with the spear, but the lynx sprang to one side and received only a glancing blow before streaking toward Warren, low and impossibly quick, inside the reach of the spear. Warren jumped high into the air.

The lynx instantly wheeled around and raced toward

Kendra. Invisible or not, the animal knew her exact location.

She reversed the rod and shot upwards, coming to a stop fifty feet above the floor. After halting her ascent,

Kendra did not turn invisible. It was impossible to reach a complete standstill in the air. No matter how she held the rod, there was always a slight drifting that apparently prevented the glove from working. Warren hovered about twenty feet below her, glaring at the lynx. He glanced up at

Kendra, and then his eyes fixed on something beyond her.

We’ve got company, he said.

Kendra looked up and saw Vanessa and Errol gliding down from the catwalk. What do we do? Kendra asked.

Swinging the spear to ward off the lynx, Warren dropped to the ground and jumped at an angle that let him float near to Kendra. Give me the sword, he said.

I propose a truce, Vanessa called down to them airily, as if it were all a game. Kendra handed Warren the sword.402 He gave her the spear. The exchange caused them to slowlydrift apart.

A convenient idea, since we have the weapons,

Warren growled.

How many times have you slain the guardian? Vanessa asked.

None of your business, Warren said. Come no closer.

She stopped, hovering with Errol beside her. Errol’s suit was torn. One of his eyes was purple and swollen shut, and there were scratches on his cheeks.

You do not look well, Warren, Vanessa said.

Neither does your friend, he replied.

I think you two could use some assistance, Vanessa said.

What got him? Warren asked. The hobgoblin?

Vanessa smiled. He was injured before we entered the tower.

I picked up a bar of gold on the back porch, Errol said.

Apparently it was stolen from a troll. He took it back very impolitely after we left the yard.

Kendra covered her mouth to hide her laughter. Errol glared at her. Your real name is Christopher Vogel? Kendra asked.

I have many names, he said stiffly. My parents gave me that one.

We elected to fight the Cyclops, Vanessa said. Lots of bare skin for my darts. And we deduced from the ax and the ape not to enter the nearby chamber armed. But this cat may403 pose a problem. How many times has it died? We’ve seenonce.

You better turn around and clear out of here, Warren said.

I hope you aren’t counting on other help, Vanessa said.

We found Tanu in the woods and took care of him. He will be asleep until this time tomorrow.

I’m surprised you came in person, Kendra said bitterly.