And for a time this desperation gave him strength. But soon he knew
that this growling bitter hatred that was the fire beneath living
creatures and which he was feeling only now, was second Nature to
Shar-hai, and what he would be feeling very soon now that he was cut and
in the midst of insurrection. And it was true. Perhaps only seven
minutes had passed before Akar had nothing left and his foe was still
strong. So hideously strong.
The knowledge of Death came to strangely to Akar, as his spirit weakened
and he knew the end was near. And it was familiar, so familiar. It
filled him with a dull horror that was the essence of all the nightmares
he had tried to forget. He knew he would die, and if there had been
time it would have filled him with a great sorrow. But there was no
time. And he was ready to quit when he remembered Kamela, and knew that
he must fight a while longer.
Then sensing his weakness, Shar-hai reached a foreleg across him as they
rose, and with all his weight and strength crushed him to the ground
against a jutting stone. Akar gave a short yelp of pain as he landed
and something in his shoulder gave way. And he knew he could rise no
more.
*
Kalus had heard the sounding of the challenge, but it meant nothing to
him. He kept looking back toward the lower lands and wondering.
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