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assurances, he took a moment to examine her. There was a long cut on her left forearm and her dress was ripped in several places, but there were no serious injuries. Satisfied, he peered along the dark passage. It sloped gently downward for about thirty yards, then veered to the left.
    “Stay close behind me,” he said in a calm, even tone. He kissed her and smiled. “I’ll lead the way.” Lee sheathed his sword and drew a small dagger.
    The path twisted and turned for more than a mile, then began descending sharply, its suddenness very nearly causing Penelope to stumble over. Lee listened, his half-man senses penetrating the echoes of their footfalls. The Vrykol were indeed following, but at a cautious distance. Gewey had described the Blood of the Sands to him, and how he had traveled upon them. If the small round vessels he spoke about were there, they would use them to get away. If not, Lee would hold the enemy at bay for as long as he could. Of course, if Samaal was right about it leading to the vortex, then they may very well be heading to their death regardless. But it was a risk they would have to take.
    After another mile he saw a faint light ahead. The path ended in a cavern large enough to accommodate about twenty men. On either end was a tunnel connected by a broad strip of rough, dark brown sand. Lee stepped around his wife, picked up a pebble, and tossed it in. The sand instantly came to life, flowing and rippling like the water of a swift stream. Both of them stared in wonder for a moment.
    “I have never heard of such a thing,” whispered Penelope. “And we can use this to get away?”
    For a moment Lee considered not telling her about the risk. But the look in his eyes betrayed him.
    “Tell me the truth,” she demanded. “I heard Samaal say something to you about a vortex.”
    “Gewey told me about that as well,” he replied. “He said the elves believe it to be a place of no return.” He touched her shoulders. “We will make our stand here if that’s what you want.”
    Penelope reached up to cup his face in her hands. “No. Let’s see where it leads.”
    Lee gazed into her eyes. They were no longer sad and her tears had dried. “Yes. Let us see what it is the elves fear.” He kissed her, then took her hand. “And you never know. Perhaps this is where fate wanted us to be after all.”
    He scanned the area and saw the round 'slithas' piled in a corner. He grabbed two and placed them beside the sands. At that moment, the sound of rapidly advancing Vrykol boots began echoing from the passage. They were very close.
    No time to lash ourselves together , he thought. He helped Penelope onto the vessel and pushed it atop the sands. Again, they burst into life, now propelling her toward the mouth of the tunnel. Lee raced to throw his own disc down and was about to jump aboard when a searing pain shot through his chest from where the cursed spike was buried in his flesh. He tried to fight through the agony, but it was unrelenting. He felt his legs giving way and fell heavily to the stone floor.
    He heard Penelope screaming out his name, but she had already reached the tunnel and was quickly out of sight. He fought with everything he had to crawl atop the slithas, but his muscles had seized up. He could only lay where he was, helpless and frozen.
    The foul stench of decay and ruin soon reached his nostrils. The hissing laugh of the Vrykol raked at his ears. Seconds later he saw the cloaked figures walking toward him.
    “Get it over with,” he managed to grunt through his agony.
    In a single swift movement, one of the Vrykol mounted his back and bound his arms. Once he was secure, the pain slowly subsided and a little of his strength returned.
    “What are you waiting for?” he demanded.
    The Vrykol pulled him to his feet. “Do you long for death? Do you wish for your torment to end?” Its harsh, rasping voice was mocking and cruel.
    Lee glared defiantly. “I’ll not grovel to you,” he