Shaking, Coral’mi hurriedly pulled a new robe over
herself, tightening the sash around her waist, as she fled her chambers, the
hot, salty tears stinging down her cheeks.

 ~ Savrin was going too. ~ Her mind cringed at the
unspoken thoughts.

~ Do what? ~ Came an unbidden voice into her head, this
one was not one of her own mental voices…but its soft, nebulous whisper almost
seductive.

 “No!” Coral’mi screamed, as she shook her head
violently, slapping her webbed paws against her temples, as if seeking to block
out the voice inside her head.  “I know Savrin! He would never dream of
– “

 ~ Dream of what you foolish mare?  Of taking
you against your will? Of claiming you as his own? He’s a male – they can not
help their instincts…besides, you know you wanted it…. ~

 “No – “ Coral’mi wept, as she fled blindly down
the hallway, her hooves skittering and cracking like thunder off the stone floor.

 Diane sat outside the protective circle, staring
at the Filly who flinched and looked away, tears welling in her eyes.

 “Sharla’yla – I know you understand me,” Diane
sighed.  “Please – please! You must listen to me.”

 With a soft snort, the filly glanced back at Diane,
then away again.

 “I know you can hear me and I know what it is you’re
doing.  Please – I…I don’t hate you for what you done to me, or my friends. 
You are scared, and you fought back, fearing for your own safety.”

With a whicker, the filly snorted, as if disagreeing
with Diane.

 “Sharla’yla – I know there is good within you,
please!  I do not know what hold Yuira has over you, but you must not give
in to her.  Trust me – I know.  Yuira will use you, and then when
you have outlived your usefulness to her, she will destroy you, and your mother
Coral’mi…and probably all of us.”

Only the barest flick of the filly’s ear gave Diane any
indication that Sharla’yla was even listening.

 “Please – you must listen to reason!  Coral’mi
loves you with all her heart and soul, and does not wish to lose you to the
darkness.  I’ve seen where that path leads, and it’s a cold, bitter and
violent end.  You are powerful Sharla’yla, I will not lie to you, and yet
what Yuira promises you…”

Sharla’yla’s ears pasted flat and she struggled against
the bonds that bound her, her eyes blazing.

 “I see – “ Diane sighed.  “Yuira has promised
you something, has she not? What is it? Power?  Trust in my words my dear,
misguided young foal – power is not everything, for without the wisdom to use
it properly, and the will to do such with purest of heart and intention, you
achieve what end? Yuira seeks to become a Goddess.  An admirable goal,
but one fraught with ill.  Should Yuira achieve that ambition, she will
rule over a dead world!  I know – I have walked many possible future paths
through the auspices of magick, and I have seen the very stars themselves fall
from the heavens, the world as we know it now – a beautiful place – become a
lifeless ball of rock, hurtling through the cosmos.”

Sharla’yla snorted and struggled against the ropes, feeling
then biting tighter against her wrists and ankles.

 “I will not release you from your bindings foal
– “ Diane spoke quietly, keeping her voice as calm and soft as she could manage. 
“You do not believe me, I know that but all I ask, is you please hear me out. 
You cannot escape the magickal wards I have emplaced around you, nor do I suggest
you try.  Yuira can likewise not cross these wards, as the very college
itself it guarded by powerful enchantments.  Now, listen to what I must
tell you.  Should Yuira achieve her ambitious goal, you will more than
likely be the first sacrifice made.  Why? Because Yuira cares about one
thing – herself.  Further, evil can not create life – only take it away.”

Diane paused, as she rose and brushed down her gown and
began pacing, trying her hardest to fight down the anger that began growing
within her, breathing deeply in the calming exercises that Coral’mi had taught
them.

 “Coral’mi loves you Sharla’yla – she loves you
with all her heart and soul, as you are her daughter – to her anyway. 
Coral’mi offers you a life as best as she can give to you, a warm place to sleep,
a slow but safe path to master your magickal talents, and above all – her love
and protection.  Yuira on the other hand – offers you what?  A life
of servitude, cruelty and mistreatment?  What sort of life is that? You
are nothing to Yuira, my dear – misguided young foal.”
 

 Sharla’yla blinked, her ears slowly pricking up
as she stopped struggling and looked at Diane, and then hurriedly glanced away.
Diane sighed and leant her head against the wall, then stared up at the skylight
far above – as if she could divine the answers she so desperately sought there.

  Sable crouched beside Abbie, gently cradling the
choking Coyote’s head in his lap.

 “Sable…we…we got too…” Abbie gurgled; his throat
feeling like it was filled with razors.

 “First – “ Sable grunted.  “I got to try to
heal you.  You’re lucky my dear Abbilion, as Yuira would have killed you.”

 “Lucky?” Abbie rasped, as he choked and gurgled. 
“You call this…lucky?”

Finding a few un-wilted dock-leaves, Sable gingerly ran
his withered paws across Abbie’s neck.

 “Ow – “ Abbie whined.  “Stop…that.”

 “Fractured…at the very least.” Sable grunted to
himself, then tore a strip of Abbie’s cloak and bound the dock-leaves around
the Coyote’s throat.  “Coral’mi will be able to better heal you Abbilion. 
I’m a warrior – not a healer.”

Wincing, Abbie gingerly touched the bandage around his
neck and shuddered.

 “If that’s your best medical care…” Abbie whined
again, then coughed and clutched his head in his paws, as sickening nausea washed
over him.  “Then I’m glad…you’re a warrior.”

 Sable recoiled as if Abbie had struck him, his
green eyes looking mournful, as he waved a paw at the black, twisted grove.

 “I’m doing the best I can” Sable spoke quietly,
his voice weak and submissive.  “My grove; is not exactly looking its best. 
Come to think on it – neither am I.”

Abbie coughed again, then flattened his ears in sadness,
realising just how deeply his cruel words had cut Sable.

 “Sable – “ Abbie began quietly, then placing a
paw on Sable’s shoulder, snatching it back as he felt the loose skin – the muscles
having withered.
 

 Sable winced at the touch, then glanced quickly
at Abbilion, whose expression betrayed his true feelings.

 “Sable – I…” Abbie croaked.  “I did not mean
– “

 Sable snarled, then turned away.  “Mean what?
That I failed? That I allowed Yuira to make me a twisted mockery of my former
self?  Trust me Abbilion – you do not know the half of it, and I swear,
I’ll see you dead by my paw, before I allow you, or anyone else – to suffer
my shame.”

Without further words, Sable drew himself up to his full
height and stalked off through the dark, twisted forest – his thoughts enflamed,
his paws clenching into fists.  Abbie watched Sable leave, and then saw
the swirling mists enshroud the ferret, obscuring him from view.

 Blinking, Abbie shuddered, feeling as if some great
weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he gasped – then retched and
slumped to his knees, before he vomited helplessly, feeling the sickening feeling
that clenched his heart and turned his blood to ice.  For he realised there
and then – what was happening to him and Sable, and the realisation struck him
like a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

 Coral’mi sought out Diane and Sharla’yla – finding
the summoning chamber empty, the ropes that had bound the filly lying limply,
the black candles reduced mere stubs, but their fickle flames still burning. 
Blinking her sea-green eyes in confusion, Coral’mi shuddered as she felt a coldness
sweep up her spine, that elicited goose bumps over her bluish tinged fur.

 “This – isn’t right.” Coral’mi told herself, as
she shuddered and rubbed her arms vigorously.  “This…just isn’t right.”

 Making her way through the halls and chambers,
Coral’mi paused at the doorway to the cellar, then she jumped in alarm as the
thick, iron bound door creaked ominously, and from down below she heard Sharla’yla’s
whinny of laughter.  Carefully, Coral’mi pushed open the door and glanced
down into the dim stone stairwell.

 “Sharla’yla?” Coral’mi called out, her voice weak
and chilled.  “Sharla’yla – is that you?”

 Stepping over the threshold, Coral’mi gasped and
her fur prickled again, as the coldness enfolded her like a robe – chilling
her.  Taking another tentative step towards the stairs, Coral’mi sensed
rather than heard movement behind her – and as she moved to turn about, something
slammed into her back and she screamed, as she tumbled head over hoof down the
staircase, her unknown assailant slamming the door closed behind her, an ominous
click coming from the door bolts.

 Landing with a sickening crack of fracturing bones,
Coral’mi shrieked breathlessly, as she lay sprawled at the base of the stone
stairwell.  Dazed, weak and bleeding from a gash to her temple, Coral’mi
gurgled and sought to bring herself back to her senses.
 

 Again the childish nicker came from the shadows,
and Coral’mi pulled herself back to her hooves, then shrieked again as she felt
her left leg buckle under her weight, the bone obviously badly fractured. 
The simple fact she could even hobble, proved that it was not broken, but each
agonising hoof-step send new waves of nausea and pain shooting through her body.

 “Sharla’yla – please…please my daughter, you must
not play down here.  It is dangerous and – “

 Another childish giggle caught her attention, and
she winced, cringing at the sound of steel scraping on steel. Stepping out on
the floor of the cellar, Coral’mi called in a calm voice, with barely a hint
of hidden fear.

 “Sharla’yla? Daughter?”

 Hobbling forwards, Coral’mi glanced into the shadowy
cellar, hearing the skittering of hooves on the cold stone, but that short –
squeal of steel on steel send ripples through the water horses mind.  She
had heard that sound before – but now – it danced and skittered through her
memories like some mischievous imp.

Another childish giggle came through the dark, and a
sudden burst of energy made Coral’mi’s head snap around, as light blazed in
the corner of her eye and the furnace burst into life, the fire tinting the
room a mix of scarlet light and black shadow. Backlit by the fiery inferno stood
the young filly.

 “Sharla’yla!” Coral’mi gasped in alarm, feeling
the coldness permeating her muscles and turning them stiff.

“Hello…’mother’”

Coral’mi staggered the voice and its tone bringing Coral’mi
up short. Still little more than a silhouette standing before the inferno, the
filly lifted up her right paw; a paw which gleamed in the firelight – its palm
gleaming silver, and Coral’mi clasped her hands to her muzzle, as she realised
with horror what that thing was.  Gleaming in the flickering firelight
the paw, enfolded in a protective metal meshwork, the fingertips with their
long, curved blades gleaming….

 Raising it up, the filly looked indifferently at
the Tai’far Wrist-blades that she wore, and then she held it before her face,
staring between the blades at Coral’mi.  Coral’mi, stricken with the paralysis
of fear, stared back at the filly, their eyes locked – as Coral’mi uttered a
low, choking wail, as she looked deep into the filly’s eyes –eyes that were
black, soulless, and flat – like those of a shark….

 Those eyes – that Coral’mi knew all too well –
and every night, prayed he would never look into again….
 

 There came the filly’s childish nicker once more
– then the flash of silver – and Coral’mi’s anguished scream that reverberated
off the cold, uncaring walls of the cellar….

 Diane snapped awake on her bed, her body soaked
in sweat and her silent scream trapped in her throat, as she shook as if stricken
with fever, her eyes wide and filled with tears, as she swallowed, seeking to
control her racing heartbeat.  A warm paw fell onto her shoulder and Diane
did scream, but a soft laugh quickly quietened her.

 “Diane – its only me.” Came Sable’s soft voice,
as he stroked her cheek, coming around so she could see him.

 “Sable – it…” Diane blinked, and then punched the
ferret viciously.

Sable grunted and stepped back, rubbing his stomach and
gasping, as he managed a wan smile, the muscles beneath his furred body rippling.

 “You scared ten years growth out of me!” Diane
grunted, as she shivered.  “Do not do that again.”
 

Sable chuckled, then walked back around behind Diane
and gently rubbed her nape.  Diane flinched and twisted about to look at
him in confusion.

 “What – are you doing?” Diane growled, as she twisted
and squirmed.

 “Just  – relax.” Sable whispered.  “You
trust me do you not?”

 Diane breathed out, feeling the warm paws of Sable
tenderly massaging the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders.

 “I…ooooh.” Diane moaned, then flexed her shoulders. 
“Oooooh! That feels….”

 “Feels good don’t it?” Sable grinned.  “Lay
back – and I’ll help you loosen up your muscles.”
 

Diane needed no further encouragement, eagerly laying
herself back onto her bed, as Sable caressed and stroked Diane’s body, feeling
the muscles going flaccid under his gentle massaging – massaging that Diane
began to feel was getting a little too intimate.

 “Sable – please!  You’re, I mean – “ Diane
groaned and squirmed, trying to push Sable away.  “Please – stop it.”

 

Sable bounded onto her bed, then knelt over her and blinked
down, his friendliness a little too friendly.

 “Sable – please…stop it.  You’re scaring me
– “ Diane whimpered, eyes widening.

 “Oh come on Diane,” Sable smiled, caressing her
cheek softly.  “I know what it is you wanted from me – all those centuries
ago.”

 “I…” Diane blinked, then flushed deeply beneath
her fur.  “How…I never told anyone about that!”

Sable stood over her on her bed, then slipped out of
his loose tunic and struck several poses, as Diane marvelled at his taught muscles,
a nervous giggle rippling from her as Sable continued to pose and flex. 
With a dextrous flip, he landed back on his knees, straddling her.

 “So.” Sable murred, as he scratched the underside
of her chin.

Diane could not resist, and began a soft, sibilant purring,
wriggling and squirming beneath Sable, who grinned and moved his paws lower,
caressing her throat and collarbones.

 “Sable – I…” Diane moaned.

 “Are you sure?” Sable grinned, his paws moving
gently over her body, making Diane writhe.  “I know what you want from
me – and I can grant you this wish, as you and I both know, within the confines
of my grove, or here – I am as alive as you yourself….”

 Diane grabbed sable by the nape and pulled him
down, silencing him with a deep, passionate kiss.  After what felt like
an eternity, Sable broke the kiss and looked down in to the shimmering eyes
of Diane, who gazed back with a passion that burned like fire within her, and
she nodded, throwing aside the covers for her mustelid lover.

 Diane screamed – but her screams were not of pleasure
– but pure, unbridled terror and agony – as Sable moved in on her – but not
with the passionate, loving touch that Diane had prayed for – no – this was
something worse – much, much worse….

 Sable buckled as he ran into to the college, watching
as everything around him swirled and spun, sending the weak mustelid crashing
to the ground.  All around him the college shook and groaned – stone squealing
as jagged cracks ripped through it, glass windows exploding with dull coughs,
the tinkle of their demise chattering across the floor…  It was as if the
very college itself was stricken by some terrible disease – a disease that Sable
knew who was the cause, yet was powerless to do anything about it.
 

 Above his head, a skylight erupted and jagged shards
of glass rained down, making Sable scream and cover his head with his arms,
before the terrible and lethal barrage crashed down around – and through him….

 “No – stop…stop it…stop it!” Came Diane’s piercing
screams.

Himself biting back the agony that ripped through him,
Sable moved and let out a piercing squeal – as he felt the chunks of glass that
had punctured him in dozens of places.

 “Diane – “ Sable gurgled.  “No…not my beloved….”

 Against his better judgement, Sable wrapped his
paws around a large shard that had skewered his thigh and he pulled it free,
oblivious to the pain as it cut through fir and flesh with equal ease. 
Throwing the shard to the ground, Sable growled, letting his hate give him the
strength he so craved – to rise and stagger almost like a zombie, down the hallways
towards those screams.  His blood pulsed from his deep cuts and abrasions,
Sable gritted his teeth, willing himself to move towards Diane’s chamber, although
each step cost him more and more, his blood dripping to the floor and leaving
a trail behind him.

 As the clung to the doorframe, he saw Yuira straddling
Diane, then Diane’s high-pitched choking scream of agony, and her nightgown
torn and bloodied.  Yuira grinned and pressed her paw down against Diane’s
chest – then Sable shrieked, as he saw Diane screaming and thrashing, as her
body withered and shrank – the fur drying and becoming brittle, the muscles
wasting away, leaving nothing but a dried, withered husk that lay on the bed,
one arm now nothing but a fur covered stick, withered and desiccated.

 “Oooooh…what a rush – “ Yuira groaned, as she slowly
rose, then shuddered and smoothed down her naked form, as she retrieved her
discarded robe.

 “NO!” Sable shrieked, as his knees unhinged and
he slithered bonelessly to the floor, staring in horror at the husk that had
been Diane.

Yuira snarled and spun around, then she blinked and threw
back her head, laughing mockingly.
 

 “Oh, my dear, dear ferret – how nice of you to
join the party!  Tell me – did you enjoy killing her? Did you enjoy taking
her as your own – and then the delightful rush of taking her very life essence?
Did you?”  Yuira smirked, as she stepped towards the stunned Sable.

 “No – “ Sable wept, his eyes widening to the size
of dinner plates.  “I – I would never hurt Diane….”

 “Look again Sable – “ Yuira grinned, as she appeared
before him, then pressed her paws against his head.  “Here – I saved it
all, just for you…all of it….”

The ferret twitched once, the images merging and swirling
in his mind, Diane’s screams for pity and mercy, Yuira’s condemning statement,
all telling him one thing.  He had killed Diane…he had destroyed the
one who had claimed to love him…
 
 

It was all his fault…

 “Feels good – doesn’t it?” Yuira grinned, as Sable
back-pedalled and thumped into the wall, his eyes huge and mouth hanging agape. 
“She screamed Sable.  Oh, how she screamed. You murdered her Sable – do
you hear me? It wasn’t me! I’m innocent, as it was you! You killed Diane, my
dear misguided mustelid.”

Sable felt something snap within him and he rose to his
feet, advancing on Yuira, any semblance of his former gentle and loving nature
burning away to ashes as his paws closed about Yuira’s throat and began squeezing…tighter…tighter…the
rage and hate that burned hotter and hotter within him.  He squeezed that
ivory furred neck, feeling Yuira’s evil laugh die into choking gurgles, as she
slowly buckled beneath his iron-like grasp.

 “I’m going to finish what I began centuries ago
Yuira – “ Sable snarled, his lips curling back in an angry snarl.  “I’m
going to break your fucking neck! Now Yuira – you shall die.”
 
 

Yuira clawed at him, gasping and her muzzle flopping
open, as she struggled to break free of the Mustelid’s rage induced strength,
but she could do nothing, as she felt her lungs searing, screaming for precious
oxygen.  Sable never relented, pouring all of his hate and pain into strangling
the life out of his most hated of foes – to feel her neck splinter…then shatter
under his righteous wrath….

 With a savage snarl, Sable twisted and felt, then
heard the sickening crack of the vertebrae all but exploding, then the pleasure
of feeling Yuira’s body begin convulsing against him in her death throes.

 Abbie likewise heard the screams, and he staggered
towards them, his right arm hanging limply – the broken bones grinding against
each other with each step he took.  Making his way determinedly, Abbie
crawled over a mound of fallen masonry, then found the source of the screams
– then he too – began to scream….
 
 

  “Look down, ferret….” Came a soft, sibilant
hiss from the shadows.

Heeding the unseen voice, the rage slowly receding in
his mind, Sable looked down, then his mind fell into the swirling maelstrom
of madness….

 Only to see Diane, battered and clotheless at his
feet, a look of betrayed fear on her face, neck twisted grotesquely at an odd
angle.

 “No!” Sable shrieked, slumping to his knees and
clutching Diane’s body against his chest. “No – oh my beloved…no!”

 “Good – “Yuira cackled, clapping as she emerged
from the shadows.  “Good – your hate has made you strong Sable you cannot
deny that.  Come – join me.  Serve me as you once did, and I shall
make you strong again.  I shall give you back your powers that were taken
from you, I shall give you more than your weak, mortal little mind can possibly
imagine….  Serve me as my consort, as you once did!  We were close
Sable – oh – so very close.  You still remember what I gave you! 
Pleasure beyond the mortal capabilities of comprehension.  All this can
be yours Sable.  Come – take my paw…and I will make all the pain go away
forever…”

 Sable stared at Diane, and then looked at Yuira,
who held out her paw to him, then back at Diane.  Robotically, his mind
swirling with hate, pain, guilt and shame – he reached out – and clasped the
black furred paw in his own.  Without warning, Sable screamed in agony,
as Yuira grinned and her powers flashed out, ensnaring them both.  Shrieking,
Sable struggled against her vice-like grasp, as he felt such agony filling him,
he thought he would surely fly apart into a million pieces. Yuira grinned, pulling
him tighter against her, as she felt him resist, knowing how much this hurt
him– but this in turn only made it all the more sweeter.  Just as Sable’s
heart faltered – the massive onslaught stopped and Yuira released him, letting
Sable’s body slither to the floor, where he laid, convulsing and retching.

 “Welcome back – my beloved.” Yuira grinned down
at him.
 
 

 Watching on from the darkness in the hall, Abbie
clasped his paws to his muzzle, then turned and fled blindly back down the passageway,
his grief insurmountable, as he had witnessed Sable murder Diane – and what
hurt worse than any injury – was the look of such feral rage on Sable’s face….

 
 

  Savrin groaned and sat up, shaking his head and
coughing, as he stared around at the shattered confines of Coral’mi’s chambers. 
Massive slabs of the ceiling had crashed to the floor, smashing Coral’mi’s salt
water pool and her few furnishings, her once beautiful tapestries and paintings
were now torn and ragged – hanging weakly from their frames and banisters. 
Jagged cracks had ripped across the marble floor, some so large – Savrin could
have easily put his entire arm in, without effort.  Gingerly, he touched
his head, feeling a sticky matt of his hair, then when he looked at his paw,
he seen the blood that lathered it.  A split second later – he screamed
and his knees buckled, as he felt as if his head would surely explode from the
inside, the shock and nausea ripping his very soul to shreds.

 “Mother – “ Savrin gurgled.  “Mother – please…where
are you?”

 Fighting back the sickening nausea that threatened
to overcome him, Savrin heard a high-pitched scream of agony, and he blinked
away the blood that stung his eyes.  Again the scream come, and he fled
down the ruined passageway, dodging still falling marble, as he headed towards
the sounds of the screaming….

 “A coward dies a thousand deaths; a brave man dies
but once!”

Savrin froze at the singsong voice as he stepped into
the main hall of the college. It was dark, windows shattered, the only light
that of the moon shining in and showing the destruction of tables, tapestries
and books, the entire place a war zone. Perched on the staircase, looking up
at a shattered skylight was a familiar, black-furred form.

 Without turning around, Sable spoke.

 “So, Savrin, what does that make me? I thought
myself brave for making an honourable sacrifice, yet here I am, still bound
to the living world.”

Savrin’s voiced was hushed at the eerie tone in the ferret’s
voice.

 “Sable…what happened…what are you doing…?”

 

 Very slowly, the ferret turned around. Moonlight
shone over dull black fur, as the ancient warrior stepped down the staircase,
a fragment of wood crackling under his boot. Lifting his head, he stared at
Savrin through his black hair – eyes of pure green light that shone with unbridled,
dark fury.

 “I’ve been shown the way, Savrin Furfire. I opened
myself to the darkness and Yuira’s path, and look at me now. Restored. Strong
as ever…. and to cement it, all I have to do…is kill Coral’mi….”

The hybrid was startled at the glare and stepped back,
one hand instinctively going to his sheathed weapon. He felt that familiar fury
bubbling beneath the surface, and stared as Sable stepped off the staircase
and onto the ground. With a swift motion, the dark mustelid pointed his blade
at the hybrid, which took another step back and drew his own weapon.

 “Sable – I…I can not let you do that…please –
there must be another way! I…I don’t understand what has happened to you….”

Savrin’s voice was cut off as the ferret closed the distance
in a blink, the blade crashed into his own, the movement so fast and fluid the
hybrid had barely been able to block it. The ferret pressed his blade against
Savrin’s, green-black fire glowing around his blade, repelled by a fiery, almost
scarlet hue from the moonstone in Savrin’s own blade. Staring straight at the
hybrid with glowing eyes, Sable spoke softly.

 “I’ll not go easy on you, Savrin. You see; I’m
very good with pain…and pain is something I’ve lived with for centuries. 
Now – its time to give back some of what I’ve endured….  Oh – do not fret
dear Savrin, compared to what I shall do to that bitch of a water horse – your
death will seem like a vision of heaven.”

 Savrin shrieked and parried what felt like a thousand
sword-blows, his sword ringing and showering sparks as he traded blows with
Sable, who indeed was fully regenerated, the intense green glow of his eyes
burning like a festering hate within the shell that had once been his most trusted
friend and confidant. Thrust, parry, swing – it all blurred and combined in
Savrin’s steady retreat, as Sable cackled and pressed the firewolf backwards,
inch by inch, step by step.

 “Sable – please…listen to me!” Savrin rasped, his
lungs burning with each tortured breath.

 Sable ignored Savrin, steadily pressing the firewolf
backwards, their swords ringing and clashing – the green glowing flames of Sable’s
blade, a stark contrast to the scarlet hue of Savrin’s, as yet again, they clashed
and parried – the ringing of their swords echoing throughout the defiled and
broken college.

  Thrusting high, Sable reversed the movement and
feinted.  Too late, Savrin realised his mistake.  He had left himself
wide open…and opportunity the more experienced Sable wasted no time in capitalising
on.  Savrin froze and he gasped, his sword falling from his nerveless grasp,
as Sable’s blade sheared through flesh and bone, erupting out Savrin’s back,
as Sable grinned and twisted the deadly blade, pulling Savrin in close…closer…savouring
the warm flow of Savrin’s blood, as it cascaded from the mortal injury.

 “Sable – you…you do not have…to do this – “ Savrin
gurgled, blood dribbling from his mouth.  “Please…it…it is not…too late….”

 “You’re right – “ Sable smirked, his mustelid face
once warm and friendly, now a twisted, savage mockery.  “I do not have
to do this, I want to do this….”

Giving the sword a savage twist, Sable kicked Savrin
free of the blade, and then he grinned, his eyes blazing a brighter green for
a moment, as he sheathed his sword.

 “One…two – Sable’s coming for you….” Sable cackled,
having heard a similar tune from an old movie once.