"That's where you're wrong, Sebastian," Blood said. "I'd blame myself." And

he

stepped through the portal.

Terri opened the door to the cell and ran down the steps with the keys in her

hand. She only hoped she wasn't too late. The man chained to wall was

motionless. How long had he been down here without food or water? Surely no

ordinary man could have lasted this long, but she knew that this was no

ordinary

man. She lifted up his head and saw that he was breathing but only barely.

His

eyes were closed.

"Wake up!" she said, slapping his cheek. "Come on, wake up!"

Modred groaned faintly.

"Alive!" she said. "You're still alive! You can make it! Come on!"

She unlocked the manacles, and he collapsed to the floor like a sack. She

went

down with him. Grunting with effort, she extricated herself and rolled him

over

onto his back. She tore a strip from her dress and dampened it in the water

dripping down the wall, then applied it gently to his lips.

"Come on, snap out of it! Use your jewel, like you did before! Go on, take

strength from me! Go on, it's your only chance!"

He showed no sign of hearing her, but the ruby set into his chest began to

glow

faintly. Terri suddenly felt afraid. What if he took too much? What if he

drained her of everything she had—what would happen then?

She started to feel dizzy. She was suddenly overwhelmed by a vertiginous,

falling sensation. The runestone was glowing brighter. Terri's breathing

became

more labored, and her chest began to hurt. She started to see colored spots

before her eyes. She slumped forward on her hands and knees, gasping for

breath.

Too much! He was taking too much!

"Stop!" she pleaded. "Stop, please!"

And suddenly the terrifying, falling sensation went away, and she felt the

pressure on her chest ease off. She sat back, taking deep breaths, feeing

weak

and dizzy. She looked down at him and saw his chest rising and falling

steadily.

His eyes opened.

"You," he said, his croaking voice barely audible. "Who—"

"Don't try to talk," she said. "Save your strength. I've come to help you.

We've

got to get you out of here. Try to stand up."

He started to sit up but immediately fell back again.