The sentinel was on his feet before Silus could reach his son, and he threw the stone in his fist with all his might. It missed Silus but connected with Dunsany’s cheek, tearing a ragged gash in his flesh. Dunsany dropped to the sand, screaming in pain, only for Kelos to help him to his feet and step protectively in front of his friend.

The sentinel had another rock in his fist now, and he raised it above Zac’s head. Curiously, for a man about to commit murder, there was no emotion at all on the sentinel’s face.

Silus swung his sword, but the sentinel jumped back, deflecting his attack with the stone in his right hand, while snatching up his metal staff in his left.

“Silus, drop back,” Kelos shouted. “I know something about staff-to-staff fighting.”

Silus ducked back as the mage stepped forward, swinging his own staff in a wide arc that cut the sentinel’s legs out from under him. For a while the silver-eyed man lay on his back, allowing Zac to run towards his parents. The sentinel didn’t stay down for long, though, and soon he was back on his feet, raining down blow after blow on Kelos’s staff.

“Lead him back amongst the stones,” Illiun called. “Whatever energy is coming from them may help confuse him even more.”

Kelos looked up as Illiun spoke, the momentary distraction allowing the sentinel to thrust forward and knock out two of the mage’s teeth, sending him stumbling. But Kelos used the stumble to his advantage, drawing the sentinel with him, back among the shining black rocks.

The mage could feel the energy rolling from the dark stones and he wondered what this strange force was doing to the sentinel. The blue liquid that had been bubbling from the sentinel’s mouth now came in spurts as his shoulders hitched, spraying Kelos’s face as he led the sentinel further into the jagged maze.

Between two stones, leaning towards each other like drunken partners, the sentinel came to a stop. Kelos didn’t question what the silver-eyed man was doing, but thrust the tip of his staff firmly and forcefully into the centre of the sentinel’s forehead, instantly flooring him. The silver was beginning to flicker from the sentinel’s gaze, but Kelos was taking no chances and dispatched him with two more quick blows.