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Khasoreth's smile fell, and he added force to the incantation.

The pain increased. He heard one of his apprentices cry out, heard the pages of his tome being ripped away by the wind. Within the howl of the wind, behind the song of the elements, he heard cold laughter.

The pain hit him again, even harder this time.

Khasoreth looked to Gaugan. "Help me!"

Gaugan rushed forward and fell to his knees. "Release me!" He pointed to the collar round his neck. The runes engraved there, the incantations binding his power, seemed to glow as the frost thickened in their crevices. "I cannot help you while bound!"

Khasoreth hesitated, and Arantar's words from years ago ran through his mind-"His heart is dark as winter's heart."

The pain in Khasoreth's mind flared to true agony. His heart hammered in his chest, but every other beat was weaker. His four apprentices were screaming.

Khasoreth brought his staff around, spoke the word of power, and struck the collar round Gaugan's neck.

A flash of light, and the collar fell away in six shards to clatter on the ground. Gaugan stood and laughed. His hands wove an intricate pattern through his own incantation, his back arched, his eyes rolled back in his head, and the muscles beneath his skin tightened to the point of tearing.

The winter sky behind him split, and the wind that came through it held the stench of death and decay. Five sets of eyes peered out with cold fire, claws rent the air, and they came into the world, screaming.

Gaugan laughed, his voice breaking in his own exultation. It lasted only a moment.

The creatures fell upon him, rending and tearing. "No!" he cried. "No, I-" then he had no more throat with which to scream, and the gale blew his blood upon the stairs leading up to the Witness Tree.

The gash in reality slammed shut, and the five devils fell upon Khasoreth and his apprentices.

* * * * *

Winter howled off the Great Ice Sea. The Road of the Sun, leading from the Royal Colonnade in Winterkeep to the Isle of Witness, could not withstand the onslaught of wind and wave. The wooden bridges fell, their stone supports crumbling. But in their ruin, five shapes, each swathed in a cloak the color of cold ash, emerged from the storm.

Death came to Winterkeep.

* * * * *

Screams still filled the night when Arantar returned to Winterkeep. Too late to save the royal city, he knew, but not too late to save those lives that remained.

He found Isenith just inside the South Wall. She was leading survivors out of the city-servants mostly, but also a few guards, their eyes no less fearful than the others'. Isenith held the baby in one arm while she used the other to issue orders.

"Where is he?" said Arantar. "Where is Khasoreth?"

"I don't know!" said Isenith. Tears streaked her face and froze upon her cheeks. "My brother said-"

"Where is the emperor?"

"Dead!" she shrieked, the first hint of hysteria entering her voice. "Oh, Arantar, they're all dead."

"I must find Khasoreth. Together, perhaps he and I can put an end to this."

"Don't leave me! Arantar, the baby-!"

"Lead the people west. Get them to safety. Trathenik should be headed this way with his cavalry. Tell him what has happened. Tell him to shun Winterkeep until I send word. Allow no one to come near."

"But, Aran-"

A great crash cut her off as the Tower of the Sun toppled into the city, crushing buildings and people beneath it. So great was the storm that even Arantar could no longer distinguish the howling of the wind from the cries of the damned.

"Go, Isenith! Go! Take our child to safety." He gave her a last embrace, placed a tender hand on the bundle of his son, and pushed them out the gate. The others followed, the guards last. Arantar grabbed the final soldier, stopping him. He turned him and looked down into his eyes. "See them away. Should any harm befall my wife and son…"

"My life for theirs, Honored One," said the soldier, and he bowed.

Arantar pushed him after the others and turned into the city.

She watched as