at had to be done.  She put Kimmie on the ground gently, then quickly raced over and took up her mates sword.  It did not strike out at her.  She felt the One pass over her, looked up and saw his glowing body going up to the volcano.  She didnt understand why he was doing that, why he didnt seem to be aware of her.  All she knew was that her mate had risked his life to leave the sword behind, had left it for her, to do what he had failed to accomplish.
	And she would finish it.  She would not fail her mate.  Not ever.
	She took up Tarrins sword, the artifact that linked him to his own power, and then charged at the icon of the One.  The blade of the sword burst into angry flame, and then she leaped into the air, high, high into the air, and raised the sword over her head with both paws to deliver a killing blow.
	The icon seemed to suddenly flare, as the One became aware of the imminent threat that the Were-cat mortal now posed.  But the Ones physical manifestation was busy saving Pyros by destroying the blockage that was preventing the volcano from exploding, and that half an instant of delay between when the Ones Avatar was able to act and capable of dealing with Mist was a half an instant too late.
	The Ones icon animated, raised its shield to protect itself against Mists blow, but the Were-cat simply landed on the shield, digging her claws into its marred stone surface, pitted from where Tarrin had struck at the icon himself, and then she lunged over the rim of the shield and brought the sword down on the stone head of the Ones pristine icon.
	The sword split the stone like water.  The blade sheared through the head of the statue right between the eyes, and then there was an explosive release of energy that flung her away from it.  She sailed through the air and landed on the ground, then bounced and slid to a halt beside her daughter.  She was dazed, the release of power had literally ripped the clothes off her body, but she was generally unharmed.  The icon of the One made a horrific squealing cry, like a wounded badger, and the Avatar that had just appeared to deal with Mist began to writhe and shriek as if in agony, holding its head with both hands as his wings beat frantically at the air.  She had not destroyed the icon, but she had damaged it, had wounded the One, and now he was incapable of doing anything against her.  She could flee with her daughter and her mates sword, and as long as she ran fast enough, she was safe.
	She jumped up and grabbed her daughter by the hair and drug her away, then grabbed hold of her by digging her claws directly into her back and hauling her up onto her shoulder.  Carrying her daughter over one shoulder and her mates sword in her other paw, the Were-cat fled from the devastation of the plateau just as the volcano behind them seemed to explode, erupting with furious might that sent ash and cinders high into the sky along with huge fiery boulders, and lava began to boil over the rim and down the slopes.  She ran down that steep slope as lava boiled down the slope, directly towards the city of Pyros, directly towards the narrow ridge where the cathedral had once stood, directly towards the icon of the One.  An icon that had blazing light pouring from a stone head that was cleaved in twain that illuminated the city below just as brightly as the red light from the lava on the slopes above it did so.
	She raced into a city about to be destroyed by the final stroke of her mates answering strategy, and left behind a god whose icon had been damaged, which partially disrupted how he could interact with the physical world.  She raced into a city in chaos and left behind a god in pain, and a world about to be turned on its ear.
	She raced the streets of Pyros unchallenged, towards the shattered gate where Tarrin had entered, with a feeling of fierce satisfaction.  Her daughter was safe, her mate was badly injured but was aliveshe could sense itand though they had not destroyed the Ones icon, they had destroyed the base of  his power and dealt a direct blow to the god himself.
	She ran through the shattered gates of Pyros with her daughter over her shoulder, her mates sword in her paw, and her clothes ripped form her body.  She left Pyros knowing that though they had not destroyed the One, that though her mate was wounded, they had still managed to winbecause Tarrin had placed his trust in her, had depended on her, had needed her to complete what he had not been able to complete.
	And she would never fail her mate.  Not ever.

Chapter 9

	Tarrin would not wake up.
	That single fact more than had everyone on edge.  His body was whole, but his wings were still shredded, in tatters, and he would not wake up.  Not even Mirandas healing nor any spell she attempted to cast could rouse him from his unconscious state.  Her healing could not restore his wings, the magic just seemed to slide off of them like water, and the state of those wings seemed to hint that Tarrin was still grievously injured, in more ways than simply what damage was done to his mortal body.
	It lent itself to more than a few troublesome complications.  No one could hold onto Tarrin and keep a mount stable in the air because of his great size, not even Azakar, so the Pegasi, created by Tarrin specifically to get them around quickly, were now forced to galloping along the ground.  Mist and Kimmie were still missing, Phandebrass was nowhere to be found, and what was worse, the only person who could quickly find and communicate with them all was in no state to do so.  There were church soldiers, Demons, and men wearing black tunics that seemed to have rank over everyoneHunters, Miranda had guessed, and Dolanna did not disagreeswarming the plains south of Pyros.
	Or what might be left of it.  They saw the titanic volcanic eruption from where they had been waiting, as the towering cone of the volcano suddenly burst forth bright lava that illuminated the entire northern horizon, and that eruption only intensified as time wore on.  The earth shook and rumbled with nerve-jarring regularity as the mountain to the north seemed to spew forth an endless flow of liquid rock, and ash began to fall on them as burning cinders created streaks of brilliant red in the sky, molten rocks that had been ejected from the volcano with such force that they had managed to travel longspans before falling back to the earth.  One of those fiery missles very nearly hit Azakars massive winged charger, and that was Dolannas indication that it was just too dangerous to wait any longer.  They had no idea what happened to Mist and Kimmie, but they knew that if anyone could find them, it would be Mist.  She would reach the camp and see them gone, then track them down.
	But the flaming cinders were only one danger.  Four times in the span of an hour, they were ridden down and attacked by mounted patrols of church soldiers, each one being led by a vulture-headed, winged Demon.  Those flying Demons were finding them from the air and directing the ground forces to them.  Haley, Azakar, and Ulger were forced to defend the host, for Dolannas finite amount of magic would not be used unless she had absolutely no other recourse.  But Dolannas magic turned out to be not needed, for Miranda stepped up and displayed the little known ability of Priests to use their magic offensively.  Miranda knew any number of powerful combat spells, and she used them against the church soldiers, disrupting them, banishing the Demon that was leading them, breaking them up and giving the two Knights and the Were-wolf enough of an advantage to finish off groups of more numerous adversaries.  The Pegasi seemed to have no trouble operating in a fight on the ground, keeping their wings tightly pressed up against their bodies, effectively pinning the legs of their riders and making it nearly impossible for them to fall out of their saddles, and displayed their greater intelligence by predicting and anticipating what their riders were going to do.  They would look at the situation and react with surprisingly accurate combat instincts, which made it much easier for the Knights and the Were-wolf to take control of a skirmish.
	They retreated to the south for half the night, as Azakar carried Tarrins inert form across his saddlebow, forced to share his mount with a highly upset Fireflash and an almost grimly concerned Sarraya, then he would hand off his precious cargo to Dolanna, whose small Pegasus would struggle with the oversized Were-cats bulk added to her riders slight weight.  Those times when Tarrin was slumped over her saddle, his feet nearly dragging the ground, Dolanna tried as best she could to assense what was wrong with him, using up her precious reserves of Sorcery with probing weaves used by healers to determine the extent of ones injuries.
	What she found made her very, very nervous.  Tarrins wings were more than a simple extension of his hidden divine abilities.  They were much like a metaphor, a symbol, of that power.  When he used his powers, the wings reacted, as they must.  And when he used more power, the wings expanded in size, as if to grant him the ability to do as he wished.  His wings were his power, were that divine aspect of his dual existence, and whatever the One had done to him, it had injured him at that level.  Miranda had healed his mortal body, but she could do nothing to heal that other part of him.  What she found after studying what was left of his wings was that they were not healing.  In fact, upon closer inspection, she realized that they were slowly dissolving away, as the shreds and tendrils hanging limply from the top edges slowly yet inexorably evaporated, ceased to be.
	His wings were dying.  And if his wings died, then so would he.
	But there was absolutely nothing that she could do, that any of them could do.  Their mortal magicks had no effect on Tarrins wings.  None of them knew what to do to heal a god, for that was the side of him that had been injured, and that was the side of him that they had to heal, and heal quickly.  At the rate that his wings were dissolving away, Tarrin would not live to see the sunrise.
	Then it hit her.  There was only one chance here, one possibility.  His sword.  He had not returned with it, so he was separated from its power.  The sword was linked to him, and in a way it contained the power that he was either unable or unwilling to wield in the mortal world, keeping him separate from the majority of his true power.  Tarrins wounding would have weakened the power of the swordthey were linkedbut it would still have power, and that power might be what Tarrin needed to stop the slow degeneration of his wings and restore the divine aspects of his power.
	She called them to a halt around midnight as her smaller Pegasus pounded its hooves across the plains in step with Azakars charger, her hand on Tarrins wing even as they rode, keeping careful track of their rate of decay.  She turned her mount to face them, and looked at them all grimly.  Tarrin is dying, she announced without any kind of warning.  I do not know what to do to help him, but all I can think of is that we must find his sword.  It is part of him, and maybe its power can stop what is happening.
	Whats happening, Dolanna? Sarraya asked fearfully from Tarrins back.
	His wings are dying, little one, and if that happens, then he will die with them, she answered.  Tarrin and his sword are linked, for the sword is a part of him.  There is nothing that Miranda or I can do for him, so finding his sword is our only option.  We can only hope that the sword will realize the extent of his harm and do what it can to help him.  That is going to mean that we have to turn around and ride back the way we came, through the soldiers.  We must fight our way back to Pyros and locate his sword as quickly as possible.
	Why dont we send a couple of people ahead through the air, Ulger offered.  They wont be able to touch us
	Thats not an option unless I go with you, Miranda warned.  You dont want to face a Demon in the air, Ulger.  Not without some magical backup.  And if I leave, then those that remain behind wont have any protection.  We have to stay together.  If we split up, were going to lose someone.
	Dolanna nodded.  So our only options are to ride back or find some way to secure Tarrin and fly.
	Just tie him to a pack horse, Azakar announced.  Since he wont get any worse if he gets banged around, it wont matter.  We have to do this fast, so we dont have many options.
	Dolanna gave Azakar a glance, then nodded.  That is our only option, she agreed.  Ulger, Haley
	Already on it, my friend, Haley called as he jumped down from his Pegasus.  Were just leaving the packs behind?
	We have little choice, she answered.  Just cut it loose and help Azakar lash Tarrin to the mount.
	Another of those firebombs is coming, Ulger warned as he looked up at the sky.
	Dolanna looked carefully at it.  No, it was not.  It was a fiery mass, that was true enough, but it was moving too slowly to be another glob of ejected magma.  Dolanna studied it as Haley cut the straps of the packs off the largest of the pack Pegasi, then she started making out a faint silhouette.
	It was not a glob of fire.  It was Tarrins sword!  It was flying through the air of its own accord, straight towards them!  And grasping the hilt, with an inert form gripped tightly with the other arm, was Mist!
	Miranda laughed in delight when she looked up, and Dolanna gave out a fervent cry of relief.  Mist! she screamed.  Mist, oh, I am so happy to see you!
	Its about bloody damn time you asses stopped! Mist shouted back at them angrily.  My paws numb from gripping this thing, and I think my shoulders dislocated!
	Mists feet hit the ground, but she would not let go of the sword, so she ended up being dragged along with it as it pulled itself towards its master.  Someone take Kimmie!  I cant let go! she called urgently, her eyes widening in surprise.
	Haley surged towards her as Ugler and Azakar lunged forward, but Zyri reached her first.  She was nearly knocked over by the much larger Were-cat, but she grabbed hold of Kimmies leg and refused to let go.  She too was dragged along on the ground behind Mist as the Were-cat struggled to free her paw from the sword, but for some reason she could not let go of it.  Ngghh!  It wont let go of me! she shouted, fear creeping into her voice.  She threw Kimmie off her shoulder, who landed on top of Zyri, then grabbed her wrist with her other paw and tugged at it even as she tried to find purchase with her clawed feet.
	Just let go! Azakar barked at her as he caught her by her waist, then he too was jerked along with her.
	You think I bloody damn well didnt think of trying that already, you idiot? she raged at him vehemently.  Its stuck to my paw!
	Do not fight it, Mist! Dolanna called quickly.  Let it do as it wills!
	I have a choice? she snapped acidly as the sword drug the Were-cat towards Tarrin.  Dolanna waved Azakar off, who let go of her and snatched up Kimmie from the ground, then backed away.  The blade exploded into even brighter, brilliant flame as it got closer and closer to its master, who Haley quickly and insightfully ran back to Tarrin and pulled him off the Pegasus.  He laid Tarrin on the ground quickly and all but dove out of the way as the sword, whose heat was so great now that Haleys hair was starting to singe as he retreated, advanced quickly on its dying master.
	The sword touched Tarrin, and there was nothing but a blazing column of fire, fire that rose all the way into the sky.  Mist screamed, but not out of pain.  Hers was a scream of surprise as the fire engulfed her, and her shadow vanished into the fierce inferno.  Hidden within the blazing pyre, Mist felt the swords power flow into her mate, pouring into the shattered remnants of his wings, aggressively shoring up the delicate lattice of surprisingly gentle energy which was Tarrins godly power.  Mists unwilling grip on the sword gave her an odd insight into what was going on.  The sword had surrounded them with fire, Tarrins element, for he drew power from fire just as fire drew power from him.  The sword had taken a grip on her and dragged her into it because she was his mate, and even now her presence registered to Tarrin in his unconscious state.  The sword was using her love for him as a cudgel, beating him over the head with it.  He could feel her through the sword, aware of her nearness, and that awareness produced the necessary reaction out of him, shaking awake his instincts and desire to live from the torpor they had undergone, the state of shock from which he still suffered after the brief yet savage confrontation with the One.  Tarrins mind and his will reacted to the touch of the sword, reacted to the sudden realization that Mist was alive and well.  She felt Tarrins divine nature open itself to the power of the sword, draw power from it, draw in the power of the fire around him, and send it into his dreadfully injured wings, which were also the direct representation of his power.  The systemetic decay that had been taking place, the slow death of his divine nature, was quickly and effectively stopped as new power flowed into him, revitalizing him, replacing what was lost and giving him the extra power he needed to start the process of repairing the damage that had been done.
	Quickly, almost shockingly quickly, the fire evaporated like smoke.  Tarrin lay on the ground, still unconscious, his wings still tattered, and looking in no way different than before.  Mist was on her paws and knees beside him, the sword still in her paw, looking dazed and bleary.  She grunted weakly and rose up onto her knees, putting her paw to her forehead, and that sound made Tarrin move.  He seemed to try to roll onto his side, but got about halfway there before collapsing back onto his stomach, and he moved no more.
	Goddess! Dolanna said intensely as she rushed forward.  She put her hands on Mists shoulder, then a palm to her forehead, then patted her on the shoulder before kneeling down and putting her hand to Tarrins cheek.  I think he will be alright, she announced.  I must observe him for a while, though.
	Hell be fine, Mist said wearily.  The sword bandaged him up.  Sort of.
	Did you feel what happened? the diminutive Sorceress asked.
	Mist nodded.  It was hard not to, since it wouldnt let go of me, she replied.  I felt it flood him with power, probably what the One injured.  His wings will heal themselves, he just needs time, thats all.  It wanted me there to let him know that Im alright.
	It did?  You are certain of that?
	She nodded.  It did what it was supposed to do.  When Tarrin sensed me, he started actively trying to heal himself.
	Miranda gave Mist an oddly curious look, then her eyes widened.  Then she turned halfway away from them, crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and looked back towards Mist with a narrow-eyed, very slight, clever little smile.  But that faded the instant she looked at Kimmie.  She rushed over to the Were-cat, who was laying partially on top of Zyri, and rolled her over.  Then she pushed her sleeves up and immediately started chanting in the language of the gods, the medium through which Priest magic operated.
	Lets put a tent up for him, Ulger offered.  And for Kimmie.  She gonna be alright Miranda?
	Ill tell you in about ten minutes, she replied after a long pause.
	Let us simply make camp, Dolanna said.  We are all tired and need to rest.  We will rest for the remainder of the night and move on in the morning.  Kimmie and Tarrin need time to heal, but we simply cannot stay in one place for long.
	Mist!  Come here and hold her down before she starts thrashing! Miranda barked.
	Ill help, Mistress Miranda, Zyri offered.
	Youre not strong enough hon.  Mist is, though, she replied with a wink.
	Mist was indeed strong enough.  For nearly twenty minutes Miranda used her Priest magic on Kimmie, and she did start convulsing and thrashing not long after her bond-mother came over to pin her to the ground.  Mirand blew out her breath after Kimmie stropped struggling, wiping her hand over her furry forehead to get her hair back into place, then gave Zyri a sly smile.  Shell be just fine, she announced.  Jal, time to earn your supper, hon.  Come over here and give Kimmie a very thorough shower.  We have to get this blood and dirt off her.  Just dont drench me, she said with a teasing wink.  Wet Wikuni are very unhappy Wikuni.
	Jal, who had been hiding behind Haley nervously, advanced with a shy smile, his eagerness to use his power evident on his face.
	How is she, my friend? Dolanna asked.
	Miranda blew out her breath as she stood up, and Jal began inundating Kimmie with warm water as Mist scrubbed the grime from her.  Shell be alright, she answered.  The Demon tortured her, in both body and mind.  The body I can fix, but the mindwell, well see.  I tried to literally erase out her memory of what happened as best I could, but Were-cats arent easy to work with.  It was all I could do.  Im sorry.
	That might be enough, Dolanna said quietly.
	If I did it right, shell have absolutely no memory of anything that happened for the last five days, since before she was abducted.  If I messed upwell, lets not go there.
	I have confidence in you, my friend, Dolanna assured her.  As soon as we have tents prepared, let us move her and Tarrin into them.
	Miranda knelt beside Kimmie again and watched as Jal produced a steady, strong stream of water from his hands, water that was warm and clean.  Zak, go fetch us some towels, and a blanket., she ordered, and the Knight simply nodded and hurried to the pack Pegasi.  So, Mist, she said, looking over Jals head at her.  I want to see you after we get Kimmie packed away into a bedroll.  I want to check and make sure the sword didnt do you any harm.
	Im fine.
	That wasnt a request, she said in a mild yet authoritative tone.  The kind of power you were exposed to can leave damage that you cant see or feel or sense.  I want to make sure youre alright, and I wont take no for an answer.
	Mist gave her an ugly glare, but Dolanna intervened.  Miranda is being wise, Mist, she said.  It would behoove you to do as she asks.  Best to ensure that you have no hidden injuries now rather than when those injuries might suddenly surface and impact your abilities at a bad time.
	Mist snorted.  Alright, she agreed.
	Now let us not tarry.  We must get Tarrin and Kimmie into bed and let them get as much rest as we can before we must move on.

	Pain was a sensation to which Tarrin Kael was more than accustomed.  During his short life, he had experienced it in all its myriad forms, at more levels and forms that most other living beings could not even imagine.  He had felt the intense, body-wracking pain of being turned.  Twice.  He had experienced physical pain that would drive humans mad, and had felt the icy pain of betrayal, had felt the mind-wrenching agony of loss.  He had experienced pain in body, mind, and even soul.  He had experienced more pain that any living thing should have to experience, and it was an unwelcome guest in his home, a visitor whom he despised, yet still knew intimately well.
	This was a new pain.
	He had never felt anything like it before.  It was a physical sensation but it wasnt, a kind of phantom pain in something that wasnt there.  And it was driving him batty.
	The pain was aching in his wings.  There was the expected pain along the torn remnants of what was left, but the pain that really was annoying him was pain in parts of his wings that simply were not there anymore.  Hed heard stories of how men whod lost hands or feet sometimes felt pain as if they still had them, but he didnt really believe them.  Well, he believed them now.
	Oh, he knew before he was even conscious what kind of shape he was in.  He remembered every instant of it, as the Ones power ripped through his wings, attacked his very divinity, tried to kill him by destroying the divine aspect of his being, which severely injured his mortal body simply as a collateral effect.  The One hadnt been trying to kill Tarrin, he had been trying to destroy him, had tried to destroy his very soul.  But the One had underestimated Tarrin, for Tarrin had gambled on Mist being able to complete the task.
	She had been partially successful.  He could sense it, sense a drastic reduction in the sense of the Ones presence on the land, and the wary eye that always seemed to be looking over Tarrins shoulder was now gone.  The Ones icon was damaged, but not destroyed, and even now the god was laboring to repair it.  Even as Tarrin labored to repair his wings.  Both of them had been injured, damaged, wounded in their battle, and Tarrin knew that now, now it was a race to see who could heal first.  They both had suffered injury, and now both of them were partially crippled.  The One had lost part of his touch on this world, and Tarrin had lost access to his divine powers.
	That he could tell with just the most casual assensing of himself.  His powers were tied up with his wings, they were his wings.  With his wings injured, he would be incapable of using his divine abilities.  The only thing he could do would be to try to heal them, which was what he was doing even now.  It wasnt something that require active thought, and it was the only kind of divine action that he could take.  Until his wings were healed, he would have to do things the mortal way.
	Given the amount of wing that was destroyed and the rate he was healing, theyd be restored in about a month.  But, he could sense that the damage to the Ones icon was much more extensive, and it would take him longer to repair his icon than it would take Tarrin to heal his wings.  He wasnt sure how he knew that, but he did.  That meant that for right now, they were equally incapacitated.  But, since Tarrin would heal first, it meant that Tarrin would have a window of time to hunt down the Ones icon, and destroy it.
	He turned his attention to his physical senses.  The smell of canvas told him he was in a tent, a tent which had seen some visitors.  Everyone had been inside the tent at one time, but Mist, Dolanna, Miranda, and Zyri and Jal had been the most frequent visitors.  He was alone at the moment, but their voices were just outside the tent, as was the sound of a campfire.  He was laying on his side, and he could feel the aching throb in his wings, a throb that became a sharp stab of pain when he moved.  It made him wince, and he went about the business of getting up very, very gingerly.
	He should have known that Mist would sense or notice him moving almost instantly.  By the time he had rolled up to a sitting position, Mist was flinging the tent flap aside and rushing in.  She didnt slam into him, she knelt beside him quickly and put gentle paws on his shoulders, his face, his chest.  Tarrin! she called urgently.  Are you alright?
	Ill live, he grunted as Miranda, Haley, and Dolanna appeared in the tents entrance, and Zyri wormed past them and quickly moved to his bedroll and sat down beside it.  She didnt touch him, but the concern was evident all over her face.  Is Kimmie alright?  I can smell her on you.
	Mist nodded.  Shes sleeping in the next tent.  She was in no condition to use magic to get us out when I got there, so I carried her back out and found your sword.  I used it on the Ones icon, she told him. I think thats what you wanted me to do.
	He nodded.  I knew I had no chance to get at his icon so long as he had his Avatar there, so I gambled that if you were still there, then you couldnt get out.  So I left it there hoping you could backstab the One while his attention was fixed on me.
	A very brazen gamble, dear one, Dolanna said with a smile.
	Sometimes crazy works, Tarrin shrugged.  I knew that Mist can pick up my sword, and you dont have to be a god to attack an icon.  You just have to have a weapon capable of doing damage, thats all.
	Well, it almost killed me, Mist grunted.  I got knocked across where the cathedral used to be.  Id have finished him, but I figured doing that would kill Kimmie, and the volcano was erupting, so I didnt have time to stand there and debate the issue.  I had to get Kimmie out of there.
	You did enough, Tarrin told her.  The Ones lost most of his power on this world while he fixes his icon.  That means he cant grant his Priests any spells stronger than the basics, he cant directly communicate with them, and he cant keep track of us anymore.  We have some breathing room.
	What about you, dear one?  Are you well?
	He shook his head.  The Ones power comes from his icon.  Mine comes from these, he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.  Ive lost my powers too, until theyre healed.  Me and the One are in the same fix, but I can heal my wings faster than he can fix his icon.  Ill get my powers back first.  And when I do, Im going to hunt his icon down and finish what Mist started, he declared flatly.
	Dear one, if we have enough time, we will be gone long before then, Dolanna told him gently.  All we must do now is find Phandebrass and have him open the gate.
	No, Dolanna.  Ni--the Goddess has to arrange to allow Phandebrass to open that gate.  She doesnt know when thats going to happen, and until my wings regrow, I cant tell her.  Were stuck here until I get my powers back.
	Silly boy, I can ask Kikkalli to relay any message you might need, Miranda told him.  It wont be as fast, but I can do it.  Ill have to get her attention, and that might take some time.  She can barely hear me as it is, and this wont be just a request for the power to cast a spell.  It might be a few days before I finally get in contact with her.
	Why is it different? Ulger asked from behind her.
	Think of hearing calls for power for spells to be something of an automatic reflex, she answered, turning to look at him.  Half the time she doesnt even realize its going on.  Thats how the kizadun managed to infiltrate the order of Karas, friend.  He didnt know just who he was granting spells to.  As long as the agents went through the motions and kept themselves in good standing with Karas, he kept granting them spells.  Younger gods arent omnipo