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Elsewhere – A place terribly close to the Sky
Terrakis
The Hated One moves quickly, more quickly than one would think with a body so wounded. The cloth strips have been scattered, but the giant is ready. Images of the Hated move swiftly around him and from several directions axes are thrown. In his left hand, he holds a large diamond within which tendrils as of some inky smoke writhe silently. The fingers of his right hand tighten their grip around the heavy throwing hammer he has made ready. From his right side the blow is struck as an axe of great sharpness bites into his leg. The force of the blow is surprising coming from the hand of one so small. The axe begins its movement back to the hand which hurled it and following along in its wake is the hammer as the giant turns swiftly and launches it in the direction of his attacker with a violent movement. Not waiting to see the result of the attack, the giant invokes the power of the diamond, a power prepared for this moment ......
The aim of mighty Terrakis is true, but no target is struck. The axe lands harmless on the ground on the spot from which it was thrown, left behind by one who has already moved elsewhere. The hammer shatters a rock some distance away and falls heavily onto the rubble.
...... The power of the gem is great and the images of the Hated are dispelled abruptly.
The arrows now flying toward him are not, however, and their bite is deep into the spaces between the ribs on his right side.
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