"You have something that belongs to me," the figure called in a harsh voice; Eragos thought it sounded like a whetstone on the blade.
He knew the voice, but could not credit what his ears were hearing.
"Sarta," he whispered in disbelief.
"You think like a child, Eragos," the voice informed him. "You think a sword and resolve can fix any trouble, don't you? It isn't as simple as that old friend. It's never that simple. I have your men. Both of them. And you have the last two on my list. I'll give them back to you, Eragos, but I want something in return. Do you understand what I'm telling you? Do I need to be more clear in my instructions?"
Both of them. Cols and Tirad. It must have been - who else? But the offer me was making seemed easily understood. Eragos did not think anyone would need it explained to them. Send out Thiele and Tanist, and Cols and Tirad would be returned. How was this possible? He'd killed Sarta, and even if he was not proud of the fact, he knew it had been certain. Death, as plain and inescapable as any curse that a man had ever placed on another man. Yet somehow here was Sarta, ready to fight, ready to die. Or ready at least to give the impression that he would save the lives of the two White Riders. There was no choice in that at all. He could not send people to die for the hope that others might live. Especially not when he knew the hope was entirely false.
It was.
"I think not," said Eragos, as grim as the death he caused.
"How very predictable," Sarta's return came immediately. "Then let us play another game, Eragos. In five minutes this tower is going to collapse. If you don't want to die, you'd better get a move on. Oh, but you'll have to get past me to win the game, won't you?"
He glanced over his shoulder, his face calm. They were just one floor beneath the top. Even if they did not have homicidal creatures chasing them Eragos wasn't sure they could reach the bottom within five minutes in anything but a panicked flight. Yet it could just be a trap. And Cols? What of him?
"Bahn, Thiele, Tanist," he addressed the more powerful mages in the room. "If you feel anything, tell me!"