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The beast decided to continue on in the direction it was being pulled. Greenhands
and Kemian disappeared inside the tunnel just as the wyvern reached their level. The
long, green-black neck snaked into the cave. All at once, the wyvern's four legs were
scrabbling furiously on the peak and at the tunnel mouth, trying to find purchase. Its
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hideous shrieking cry echoed through the mountains. The massive muscles in its back
arched as it tried to pull its head out of the tunnel. Kith-Kanan's breath caught when he
saw blood washing out of the cave.
The violent scratching of the monster's limbs continued for a moment, and then it
fell. The enormous beast hit the ground, and the impact shook the earth all around. Its
legs continued to thrash and claw at nothing, and Kith-Kanan saw why. The wyvern had
left its head inside Black Stone Peak.
They kept away from the raging, headless corpse until its dark blood had all leaked
out. Its legs continued to twitch slightly. Kith-Kanan rode forward and drove his lance
through the monster's heart. That put an end once and for all to the wyvern, and it lay
unmoving.
Verhanna emerged with Rufus and the other warriors. Kith-Kanan asked, "Where's
Greenhands? And Lord Ambrodel?"
"Here!" came the shout from above. Kith-Kanan looked up. Greenhands stood at the
high cave entrance. He was covered with blood and held the head of the wyvern in both
hands. As everyone watched, he hurled the head to the ground.
When Greenhands came out of Black Stone Peak, he moved slowly, carrying Lord
Ambrodel in his arms. Two warriors came and relieved him of his burden.
"What happened?" asked Kith-Kanan, rushing to his son's side.
"The creature smashed him against the wall," Greenhands replied softly. "He has
something broken. . . ." The green-fingered elf's legs folded beneath him, and he would
have dropped to the ground but for his father's quick arms.
Verhanna ran to them. "He breathes," she reported anxiously. "I think he just passed
out."
"No wonder," observed Rufus. "After seeing Lord Kemian cut that monster's head
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off!"
The young general coughed and lifted a feeble hand, "No," he said in a scratchy
voice. "I didn't kill the monster. He did."
The wounded were cared for, and the dead were placed on a funeral pyre. Six young
elf warriors had died in the fight, and Lord Ambrodel's life was hanging in the balance.
Rufus bathed Greenhands with a bucket of water and found that, for all the black blood
on him, he hadn't any wounds at all.
The wyvern's body was too heavy to move, so they piled what tinder they could find
against it where it lay. The broken furniture from inside the peak proved useful, as did the
lamp oil. Soon the beast was in the center of a roaring bonfire. As the sun passed its
zenith, coils of oily black smoke darkened the sky, spreading an evil smell over the high
mountains.
That deed done, the warriors dropped into an exhausted slumber. Kith-Kanan drew
Ulvian and Verhanna a little away from the group.
"I have some news for you," he began, feeling a little uncertain how to go on.
Ulvian tensed. Verhanna glanced at him and then back at the Speaker. "What is it,
Father?" she asked, her face serious.
Kith-Kanan looked toward Greenhands, who'd been sleeping since his battle with the
wyvern. A feeling of tenderness warmed the Speaker's heart. Anaya's son. This elf was
his and Anaya's son.
"I suppose there's no other way to say it than simply to say it," he said briskly. "Ullie,
Hanna . . . Greenhands is my son."
Verhanna's jaw dropped in shock, but Ulvian's face remained as still as stone. Only
the brightness of his hazel eyes betrayed his surprise.
"He's your what?" Verhanna exploded. Kith-Kanan passed a weary hand across his
brow. "You deserve the whole story. I know you do. Just now, though, I am weary to the
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bone," their father sighed. "Greenhands is the son of my first wife, a Kagonesti. I think
the marvels of these last days were signs of his coming." He put a gentle hand on
Verhanna's arm and was surprised to feel her trembling. "I know it's a shock, Hanna. It
was to me, too. I'll explain everything later, I promise. It's been an eventful day."
With a fond pat on her cheek, the Speaker moved back among the sleeping warriors.
He lay down near Greenhands, and in no time he was gently snoring.
Verhanna was astonished. Her brother! Greenhands was her brotherl All at once, the
absurdity of the situation struck her. After not thinking of marriage for centuries, now she
chose a mate who turned out to be her own brother! The warrior maiden vented her
spleen on a handy boulder, kicking the rock with all her might. All she succeeded in
doing was making her foot sore. She simply couldn't think about this right now. She was
worn out from battle and from all the worrying she'd done on behalf of her father and
Green her half-brother. Gods, it was too unbelievable!
The warrior woman stalked back to camp. At the edge of the sleeping mob, near the
unconscious Kemian Ambrodel, she dropped down and slept.
Ulvian had also been surprised by his father's announcement. This unknown
bumpkin, a son of Kith-Kanan? It was a startling bit of news. But the prince had too
many worries of his own to waste much effort wondering how he had come to acquire a
half-brother. He, too, lay down to sleep, but sleep was longer in coming. His mind was
filled with thoughts of what his immediate future might hold. Some hours later, Prince
Ulvian awoke with a start.
"Who is it?" he said. "Who's calling?"
He glanced around. The sun was low in the western sky, and its orange rays showed
him the kender nearby. Rufus was curled into a ball, fast asleep, giving vent to his
unique, high-pitched snores. The rest of the group also slumbered on. Just above them
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