sion-drawn faces of
his own soldiers, intermixed with the Laurian refugees, stepped out
from the dividing line of shadow. He thought to order them back, but
did not. He, too, felt his eyes drawn to skyward. Against the dark,
greenish dome, cloudless, an orange flame descended from out of the
pale fire of the sun. It was not a large ship..... Shin tried to
discipline his hope.

There could be no doubt. It was Shannon's ship.

The weathered vessel landed between the two armies. Shin wanted to run
to it wildly, with tears in his eyes. But a voice spoke inside him,
saying simply:

"Peace. Your master is dead."

The hatch of Bota's machine had been opened, and now he clambered out,
his face red with rage. "Shannon!" he shouted, as if his voice could
penetrate steel. "Whatever trick this is, it won't work!" He barked
an order to one of his lieutenants, who threw him a weapon and
assembled one full company behind him. The marshal clambered down the
vehicle's tracks and leapt to the ground. Collecting himself he strode
forward, with half his men behind him.

Shin looked on, puzzled, ordered his own people to stay back. As Bota
drew to within fifty yards of the vessel, Simin opened the hatch. The
Canton raised his rifle, then lowered it in sudden dismay.

Simin stepped out onto the threshold, and with a short burst of wings,
stood on the ground beyond it. Again Shin heard a voice. "Remain.
This is not your fight."

Those who did not know Shannon well could not have seen his imprint on
the creature's stark, intimidating face. Shin had seen it, though
unwillingly. The Force Marshall had not. Simin came to a level in
front of him, then stopped. He said nothing, stared with an unreadable
expression.

"What are you?" demanded Bota, trying not to be unnerved.

"What do you want?" Simin answered him without haste.

"I have come to fight you. To kill you if I can."

"WHAT?" Bota forced himself not to take a step back. "What quarrel
have you with the Republic of Cantos?" Then seeing no change: "My men
will burn you to ash."

Simin responded slowly, not to be dramatic, but because he wanted the
exchange to mean something. He soon saw that it would not.

"No, your men are powerless." He paused. "You seem to have little
respect for the one called Shannon. This I do not understand. Even as
an enemy, could you not see the courage he possessed?" It was useless.
"You think that you are stronge