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began to rush across the log bridge and he knew there was no way that the much smaller number of fighters would be able to defend the walls.
    "Fall back!" he yelled. "To the tunnels."
    They hesitated for a moment, surprised at the order to retreat, but even though they were willing to fight, they all knew that there was no chance against this enemy, especially the flying Darga, who were almost at the walls. The first lizard man lobbed a leather sack of burning pitch into the keep, which burst into flame as it spattered onto several buildings, then he landed atop the wall and the defenders realized just how large the creatures were. Fergus, who was considered a big man by just about everyone, stood barely up to the neck of the Darga that stalked toward him, and he turned his head and looked at the men, with a worried look in his eye.
    "Get the people to safety, lads," he yelled, then he turned and faced the Darga. "I'll take care of this one."
    Fergus picked up a large, battleaxe from where it leaned against the parapet, hefting it in his big hands and he advanced as the Darga drew a glittering sword. Fergus found it strange that such a vicious looking creature would carry such a blade, and he noticed that it looked a lot like the weapons that Brian had found in the secret armory under the keep. He swung his axe in a wide arc, and the Darga stepped back, dodging it easily. With a speed far greater than would be expected from such a large creature, the Darga leapt forward, lashing with his blade, striking like a snake. Fergus barely managed to block the sword with the handle of his axe, then the Darga was upon him, shoving him to the ground.
    Fergus spun around as he dropped, getting his feet under him, catching his balance and shortening his grip on the haft of the axe. He drove it upward, jamming the head of the weapon hard into the bottom of the creature's chin. The Darga hissed and coughed, its sharp teeth flashing as it stumbled backward.
    "You will suffer for that, little man," the creature rasped.
    "I'll be takin' your head," Fergus responded, then he swung his axe.
    The Darga reached out and caught the blade of the axe in its clawed hand. Black blood spilled across the grey steel and the metal began to smoke and sizzle. Without even so much as a flinch, the creature thrust his sword forward, slamming the blade deep between Fergus' ribs, and the Darga laughed as the magic of the sword began to drain the life from the big man.
    A drop of blood fell to the ground, landing on the dry stone walkway of the battlement, and through the blinding pain and the cold feeling of his essence being pulled from him as the beat of his heart grew weak, Fergus felt a strange sensation, almost as though the world around him began to shake. He felt his heart beating in his chest, then it stopped and for a moment he gasped at the feeling of emptiness within him, then he felt another presence, like the feeling of someone coming up behind him and his strength suddenly returned. Fergus gasped, catching his breath and shoved the Darga away from him, knocking the creature backwards. The sword, held tightly in the creature's grasp slid free from his chest, and Fergus leapt forward, smashing his fist into the lizard man's scaled face. The Darga stumbled in surprise at the ferocity of his opponent, who had just taken a mortal blow, and from his strength, which was as great as his own. Fergus brought his axe down upon the lizard's chest and the blade bit deep into flesh, crushing bone and spattering blood as the Darga's ribs split in two. Fergus shoved him to the ground and pulled his axe free, then he looked down at the bloody hole in his midsection, where the sword had cut him. The wound still bled a little but he was surprised to see that it was already healing, and the pain was beginning to recede as well.
    "What's this?" he muttered as the wound closed up before his eyes.
    " Blood of the defender, " whispered a chorus of voices and Fergus shook