Precipice

Frowning, the Nalori discarded his yosablade. “There,” he said as his last weapon tumbled away into the darkness. “Now what?”

Qui

Another violent quake rocked the temple, and part of an outer wall collapsed with a roar. From far below, inside the temple, came a nightmarish groaning, as if from Hell itself.

“This is hardly an ideal setting for a duel,” Zett said.

Qui

He prowled toward Zett, who eased into a fighting stance. The two combatants circled each other.

Zett flashed a predatory grin. “You’re going to regret this, Qui

“No, you haven’t. You’ve seen me get my ass kicked when I was drunk. You’ve seen your goons beat me up while holding me at gunpoint.” Qui

They stopped moving. Locked eyes.

Zett charged and launched himself at Qui

Qui

There was no time to think, only time to react in a brutal dance of motion and collision. Ducks and blocks, strikes and counter-strikes. Hands and feet, knees and elbows.

Crushing blows left Qui

Zett came at Qui

With his free hand, Zett punched Qui

“I’ll give you credit,” Zett said as he steadied himself. “You’re better than I thought. But you’re still going to lose.”

“We’ll just see abou—”

Qui

Fighting for balance and solid footing, he eked out one last moment of clear perception—then saw Zett’s side kick hit him in the chest. The blow knocked Qui

Just before gravity could lay final claim to Qui

Half alive and dangling by his fingertips, he watched Zett step to the roof’s edge and loom above him.

“Told you so,” Zett gloated.

“Yeah, yeah,” Qui

The assassin smirked and lifted his foot to stomp on Qui

Zett froze as he saw the detonator in Qui

He pressed the trigger.

The charges in Qui

Fire stung Qui

Above Qui

The rock under his hands began to crumble. He half expected to see his life flash before his eyes, but all he could think about was that moment—the grit between his fingers, the pull of gravity, the pain in his head, the lead in his limbs …

Two hands locked shut around his wrists.

Bridy Mac was pulling him up to safety.

Her face was red and scrunched with effort as she power-lifted him, starting from a deep squat so she could use her legs and back muscles. As soon as she had his waist above the roof’s edge, she let herself fall backward so gravity could work for her instead of against her.

They collapsed together on the blast-scarred terrace. “Thanks,” Qui

A major quake rocked the temple’s ruins, and another large section of the ancient structure fell away and sank earthward in a cloud of dust.

“Time to go,” Bridy Mac said, climbing off Qui

Several landings short of the bottom, the staircase began to implode. Qui

“That way!” Qui

He was about to make another jump as Bridy grabbed his shirt collar, yanked him backward, and pulled him with her into another spiral staircase that looked as if it was still intact.

Several seconds later they were back at ground level and making a frantic run for the nearest exit.

Then a terrifying voice boomed behind them, its majestic tenor at once monstrous and feminine, its affect as sharp as thunder and as deep as the sea. Worst of all, Qui

“I know you,”it declared, freezing both Qui

They turned and gazed upon the demonic presence towering above them. Violet motes of energy swam in the dark titan’s hypnotically shifting form of liquid and shadows. It wore a gruesome horned visage, and murderous hatred burned in its eyes. Trapped inside its form was the crystal artifact.

Qui

“You were on the First World. You defiled it with your mere presence. For that alone you both deserve to die.”

Mustering a weak smile, Qui

They sprinted toward open ground.

A tentacle of shimmering black fluid shot past them. It smashed through stone walls and branched into a web of tendrils, blocking their exit.

Dodging and weaving, Qui

Qui

Then a flurry of disruptor shots peppered the creature. Turning to look for the source of the covering fire, Qui

Oh, jeez,he thought. They don’t know what they’re getting into. He ran toward them, waving his arms. “Stop!” he shouted. “Run! Fall back!” Bridy was right behind him—and the Shedai was right behind her. All at once the nomads seemed to understand what was happening, and then they were ru