Lord Xeik, suddenly awoke with a sudden leap of his heart which pounded against this chest like the forge of a blacksmith. Even at the break of dawn, the illumination of light was poor and the outlines of the tent seemed to creep on him like skeletal hands reaching for him. He had has a nightmare where he has lost his life and not in the most pleasant way. He sat up abruptly and looked around him then suddenly saw it—a black veil spread out like a funeral pall, lying beside him.

His mind ...