Corvan waited until he was sure Teek was asleep, then eased off the cot and moved his pack a short distance away. Watching her eat the chocolate had made him realize just how hungry he was. Opening the sealed pack, the ate the last of the pepperoni sticks, then looped the pack over his shoulders and covered it over with his tunic. Picking up Teek's light he left her to sleep while he explored the tower. A narrow stairway, to the left of the front door, climbed up along the inside wall, weaving out around the curved buttresses that rose up to join the central support column. The roof of the tower would be a great vantage point to check out the Rakash barracks and the library after he looked around, although the stairs didn't look very safe in a few places.

In a nook under the narrow stairs, a man lay next to a table, an empty metal cup clutched in his hand. On top of the table were three of the small round fruit cakes he had tasted in the Anamir library were stacked on a piece of cloth. Corvan ate one, then wrapped the other two up and laid them next to Teek. She murmured and rolled over so he tiptoed away to the curved set of steps leading down to where the tunnel to Kadir should be. Pointing Teek's light past the central pillar, he searched around the perimeter of the floor below until he located a rounded tunnel cut into the wall the tower's lower level, just across from the base of the stairs. Corvan descended to the bottom and was heading past the central pillar to check out the tunnel when a shadow zipped from under the staircase and ran in behind the central column of stone. As he twisted about, another one flitted across on the other side, hissing at him in the darkness. He caught a glimpse of a small lizard just he was shoved from behind, sending him sprawling to the ground. Teek's light flew from his grasp and as Corvan scrambled to grab it back, a clawed foot kicked it away.

Rolling over, Corvan founded the old lizard that Tsarek met in the Katay Set colony standing over him.

"You are a fool," the creature croaked. Corvan pushed back from a glistening claw pointed at his face, but the old Watcher leaned in closer.

"Tsarek saved your life by taking you to Kael." The lizard's voice grew stronger. "I had to order him to do it, or he would have just let himself fade away." Anger creased the leathery face. "Your stubborn ways are going to be the ruin of . . ." He coughed, staggered to one side and instantly four smaller lizards rushed in from the shadows to support him. The old Watcher pushed them away and straightened up. His throat bobbed and his forehead creased with exertion before he pointed across the floor at the entry into the tunnel. "Tsarek and the young boy wait for you in Kadir. You must hurry. Tsarek says..." The lizard lapsed into a series of clicks, swallowed a few times, and tried again. "He says the Kate is at...the palace and that she is in danger ... she needs …"

Corvan sat up. "What is it? What happened to Kate?"

The old lizard tried to respond but wavered, then finally collapsed into the waiting paws of the four smaller creatures. Before Corvan could move the four had him hoisted on their shoulders and were whisking the old Watcher up the curved stairs. Scooping up Teek's light stick, Corvan ran after them, but they were too quick. As his head cleared the level of the floor, he saw the lizards heading for the door, the body of the Watcher cradled between them. "Stop! I need to talk to him!" The small lizards sped up and were out the door before he even reached the top of the stairs.

Corvan raced out of the tower into the darkness. He pointed Teek's light out towards the library, then searched around the tower's entrance but they had vanished into the shadows.

"What are you doing?" Corvan jumped at Teek's hoarse whisper beside him. 'Don't wave my light around like that. It doesn't look natural. Someone will notice."

"But the old watcher from your colony was just here. He was trying to tell me something about Kate."

"Is Kate the girl who owns the white scarf?"

"No. Not that one. Kate is someone from my home that I need to find. The old lizard said she is in trouble up at Kadir."

Teek grabbed the light stick and turned it off. "They've seen you." In the darkness Corvan caught a flicker of light from the library roof, high above the Rakash domes. "They might think it's just their guard looking around the tower." She watched the light blinking. "Oh great," she muttered. "Let's hope my light talk is good enough to fool them." Pointing her light toward the building she flicked it off and on, like the toy morse code flashlights he and Kate had played with the past summer.

"What are you saying to . . ."

"Quiet," she hissed. "I need to concentrate."

The light across from them flickered again and Teek worked her own light. Long and short blinks from the top of the library answered her message.

"That should do it." She retreated into the tower and Corvan followed. "Good thing you woke me with your hollering. If I hadn't answered the message they would have sent over a patrol and that would have been the end of us. The message said they are looking everywhere and suspect that you're taking it to Kadir."

"Taking what to Kadir?"

"The light message said you stole this." Turning her back to the library, Teek pulled a red cord from around her neck and a black embroidered sachet appeared from under her collar, its white symbols glowing fiercely.

"That belongs to Kael!" Corvan reached for the pouch, but Teek pulled it away.

"It did, but now it's mine. A potion that gives off this much light will be very useful for exploring the darker passages down by the river."

"How did you take it from him?" Corvan stared intently at the glowing symbols, struggling against the urge to reach for it.

Teek snorted. "Eyes that see in the dark, remember? He was drinking from a cup on the table, so I waited until his back was turned, then helped him fall into a deep sleep with a drop of my own medicine. Its like the stuff they gave you, but much stronger and quicker. When I left you on the bench by the library door, I went back and took this from him before I carried you out of there."

"But now Kael will think I stole it!"

"All the more reason you need to get out of here before they wake the Rakash army to search Katay Alba for it. We need to lead them far away from the colony or this will end badly for my family."

"No Teek. I made a deal with Kael to bring him the scepter so he will let my father go. I have to take it back or he'll think I cheated him - just like my grandfather and that will be bad for my family."

Teek frowned. "How was I to know about your deal? I saw something that I could use, so I took it."

"I need to take it back to Kael right away." Corvan put out a sweaty hand. His desire to hold the bottle was growing stronger.

Teek shook her head, holding the vial close to her chest. "I can't let you do that. If this bottle is that special to Kael, then he will come looking for me at the colony."

"Then let me take it with me to Kadir. I can give it to that healer you mentioned in the Molakar settlement. She is wise and will know what to do."

Teek took a deep breath, shrugged, then held the vial out.

Corvan's hand trembled as he took the cord from Teek's hand, looped it over his neck and pushed the pouch under his tunic. Instantly he could sense the power emanating from the pouch and warming his chest. Maybe he wouldn't show it to Saray right away. If he could not find the scepter at his home, he could use the Lifelight to make sure Kael was true to his word and would let his father go.

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Teek pointed to the stairwell heading down around the central pillar. "You go that way to your home, and I'll wait at the colony for you to return with the scepter. I bet when you return the scepter to Kael he won't be as upset that his special light potion went missing."

Corvan nodded but he knew there was no doubt Kael already believed he stole it and had run away while everyone was sleeping. "If Kael thinks I went up the tunnel he might attack Kadir with the Rakash right away to get the Lifelight back."

Teek pulled the blanket from her shoulders. "You had this blanket with you in Kael's library. I'll drag it around to where you saw me by the river and when the Rakash track you over there, Kael will think you went back to report to the Gatekeeper. I really don't think Kael will go into Anamir or Kadir just yet."

"But when Kael finds the guard sleeping here, he will know where I went."

"Do you always make things so complicated? They'll just think he's drunk again." She reached behind the cot and grabbed the guard's blanket off the floor. "You can take this and drag it behind you as you go up the tunnel to Kadir. He stinks worse than you and the smell of the blanket will cover your tracks." Grabbing her crossbow from the floor, Teek moved towards the door. "And don't forget to take your light and those exploding sticks along. Those are a dead giveaway that you were here."

Corvan grabbed the acetylene lamp and stuck the dynamite into the pocket of his tunic. "It's not safe out there. You should come with me."

Teek shook her head firmly. "If I don't get back to the colony, my father will come looking for me and that would start a war with Kael. I can't do that. No matter what they think of me, they are still my family."

Teek stepped into the doorway and gasped.

Corvan ran to her, and his heart stopped. The entire Rakash army was lining up outside the library.

"My light talk was wrong," Teek stepped quickly out the door. "Get down into the tunnel. I'll draw them away from here while you escape."

Corvan grabbed her arm. "They're too fast; they'll catch you."

Teek touched the crossbow slung over her back. "When they're near me I'll set off my exploding bolt and deafen them so I can get away. I've done it before."

"You did it with all the Rakash at once?"

"You worry too much," Teek voice was calm, but her face betrayed her fear. Stepping in close, she kissed his cheek. "I'll be waiting for you, Kalian. Come back as soon as you can." She whirled away, vanishing along the high ring of gravel that swept away around the Rakash domes.

Corvan looked at the light sticks lining up by the library. Kael was going to lead the Rakash to the tower and on to Kadir to get his Lifelight back. The man knew Corvan would never go back to the gatekeeper of Anamir. Even if Teek distracted the Rakash and confused them with her exploding crossbow bolt, Kael and his soldiers would still tear Kadir apart looking for him.

His hand went to the sticks of dynamite. If he used them to seal off the tunnel to Kadir, it would buy him some time to get the scepter and find a way back to Kael's library to make a deal for this father's release.

Running inside the tower door, he set his mining lamp on the foot of the stairs leading up to the top of the tower. Twisting open the match tube that was brazed to the side the headlamp, he lit a match, opened up the acetylene valve and lit the gas. After adjusting the flame to its lowest setting, he strapped it on his head.

He was about to head down the stairway and into to the passage to Kadir when a resounding crack outside the tower brought a shower of dust from overhead. Corvan ran to the door. The Rakash were milling about outside the library. Torches were tossed about on the ground and Kael's people ran among the Rakash trying to restore order. Some of the Rakash were turning on them and fighting back.

A sweep of yellow light shot past him from the jumble of boulders off to the left and Corvan peered through the gloom. Teek's light was still on her head, but her shoulders were bound in a rope and the other end was in the hands of a Rakash. Teek's eyes searched in Corvan's direction, their eyes met, and she mouthed one word over and over – run!

Corvan glanced back to the library. Most of the Rakash were under control but one group had their backs against the library wall and were continuing to fight anyone who came near. The Rakash holding Teek hostage was avoiding the trouble and circling around to the far side of the library. Corvan ran inside the door and tore up the stairs. He would throw one of the sticks of dynamite one high over the Rakash barracks. The explosion would stun them all and Teek could get away.

His light bobbed along the walls. A step crumbled underfoot, almost sending him down to the floor below. Just ahead, a short section of stairs was completely missing, and he leapt out, grabbed the next step, and hoisted himself back to his feet. One of the sticks of dynamite slipped out of his pocket and the guard below grunted as it hit him on the side of his head. Corvan held on tight to the other one and ran on.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Corvan stopped short on a small platform and had to grab the arch that curved back behind him. Kael's people had all Rakash back into their ranks but the one holding Teek captive was halfway through the domes. If he took her behind the building the blast wouldn't reach him and Teek would be taken to the prison where they kept the other girls they captured.

Yanking the remaining the stick of dynamite out of his pocket he held the fuse end up to his headlamp. It caught and began sparking above his face. Jake said it would take one minute to reach the stick but that was too long. It would need only a few seconds of fuse to have it explode in mid-air and knock the Rakash back. Holding it at his side he watched the fuse burn upwards but it was still too slow. He should have cut it back first, but it was too late now.

A stab of pain knocked his hand loose from the stone arch and he wavered on top of the wall. An arrow clattered off the stone at his feet. Kael's soldiers were shooting at the light from the fuse, but it was getting closer to the stick.

Pulling back, Corvan launched the dynamite in high arc. It spiraled through the air, throwing out a long curving tail of sparks like a pinwheel firework. He watched it start to descend, willing it to explode but he couldn't be out here when it did.

Another arrow whistled past his head. Corvan jumped to one side, his foot slipped, and he stumbled down the stairs, leaping over the gap just as a blast tore the air apart. The tower shuddered. Smaller blocks of stone crashed around him as he reached the bottom and ducked in under the stairwell. A larger stone smashed on the stairs overhead and he dashed out to where the other stick of dynamite had fallen. He needed that one to close up the tunnel to Kadir.

The guard was sitting on the ground, rubbing his head, and looking with glazed eyes at the stick of dynamite in his hand. "What's going on?" His words were slurred, and his eyes were unfocused. Corvan snatched the stick and pulled the man to his feet.

"Kael needs you right away. You need to run." He dragged the man toward the door.

"But the tower, I need to -"

"I'll look after the tower!" Corvan shoved the man out the door and watched the man stumble toward the tangle of Rakash bodies and soldiers that lay scattered on the ground like a spilled box of matchsticks. Beyond them, on the top of the circular mound of rubble, a yellow light was blinking off and on in Teek's hand. She had escaped from the Rakash. Now he needed to do the same.

The gong on top of the library began beating out a steady rhythm. Corvan jumped away from the door and tore down the stairs, studying the girth of the central pillar as he approached the bottom. If he could blow up the base of that column, the entire tower might collapse while he escaped up the tunnel to Kadir.

The stone foundation blocks were thicker at the bottom - maybe too sturdy for only one stick of dynamite. Probing around the base he found a crack as wide as his arm where one of the foundation blocks had shifted out of position. Lighting the fuse, Corvan crammed the dynamite into the crack as deep as his arm would go and then tore up the tunnel. His mind began to calculate how far he needed to run and returned a quick answer. A human could sprint about 15 feet per second and the fuse was 60 seconds long so he would be less than 1,000 feet away from the blast. That's not far enough, his mind screamed at him. Not in this confined space. If you don't get safely around a corner soon, the blast will roar up the tunnel and kill you!

The tunnel did not turn, but just ahead, a narrow crack in the native rock crossed the tunnel. Corvan skidded to a halt and wedged himself back inside it. His lamp tumbled to the floor and went out. He counted the seconds off: one, two, three . . . until he reached 29. Either the fuse was longer than the first one or it had gone out when he jammed it between the blocks.

He was about to lean out of the crack to check for sparks when a dull thump and blossom of red light hammered a blast of hot air past his face. As he retreated further into the safety of the crevice, the ground shuddered from a massive block hitting the floor. Another fell, followed by two more and then a steady roar as the tower came down. A dense cloud of dust and pebbles rattled past his cleft in the rock, then died off.

Pulling his shirt over his nose, Corvan stepped out into the dust filled tunnel, shuffling his feet to keep from tripping on broken rocks. At first it was impossible to see anything but once he fumbled his way around a corner, he discovered a dim light coming along the tunnel from somewhere far up ahead.

The dust thinned out, the slope grew steeper and the light ahead grew stronger. This was all wrong. If Teek hadn't followed him into the library, he would be walking up the tunnel with Kael instead of running from the man. A new thought struck him, and he slowed down. Maybe Teek had not followed him to Kael's library after all. It could be that she had come there on a mission of her own.

He stopped dead.

When he first saw Teek at the library pool, she was pouring something into the water where his father was submerged. Teek had come to Kael's library to deliver the poison her mother had created to kill all the Rakash!

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