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Chapter 1
The Rip was announced by a low, discordant rumble. It seethed, black as a nightmare and deep as death, tugging at the edges of the world until they were out of sight. The vibration kicked up a yellow mist of debris that fell back as reality tore apart. Malark Morn fell to his knees, but he did not lose his grip on the artifact in one hand. Corpses of humanoids and foul beasts were lifted and thrown meters away, witnesses of a battle that had reached its climax and then died in blood and guts. Eledriel lurched toward him, trying to shield her eyes from the sharp sand that shot at her.
“No!” she shouted, leaning toward him. “It’s too early!”
Malark looked at her and she moaned, recognizing in his eyes the end of everything.
“Please,” she begged, as if he could hear her in the earth-shaking din, then looked back over her shoulder.
She saw the Ivory Vanguard galloping, weapons in hand, raising a cloud of dust. It was the image of defeat announcing itself in a form and a name. Terror poured into her veins, merging with power like thick, black tar. She screamed again, but this time she did not hear her voice. It was silence and nothing else. A hermetic nothingness without time and meaning. The magic had fallen upon her and the sky was darkened by arrows.
She felt overwhelmed and saw it too late. The dart had pierced Malark, entering from his side and exiting from the other side. Eledriel felt the others dart and tried to push them away, sobbing, drawing on her power. She failed and something inside her shattered. The roar of battle exploded suddenly, a roar that overwhelmed her, crushing her every will to escape her doom.
She let herself slide to the ground, feeling the cold desert sand between her fingers and the gleam of a blade on her throat. She lifted her chin and saw the shame she felt toward herself on the face of the Vanguard captain.
“Let it be you at least,” Eledriel groaned, lowering her head. A moment passed that seemed endless, then the blade hissed its last song and descended upon her with grace and justice.