"Hey, I don't know what's noble and what isn't, and frankly I couldn't care

less, all right?" he said. "It isn't about nobility. It's about what matters.

It's about what you believe. It's about making your life count for something."

"What does it count for if you're dead?" she said.

"I guess that depends on what you did with it while you were alive," said

Wyrdrune. "And if you didn't do anything, than I guess that's what it counts

for. Don't worry about Billy, Kira. He's a lot more than just a tough kid

from

the streets now. And for that matter, so are you."

He took her hand, the one with the runestone in it, and held it in both of

his,

the soft blue glow illuminating their faces.

"This doesn't mean that you were taken over or forced into doing anything you

really didn't want to do, just as Merlin becoming part of Billy doesn't mean

that Billy is possessed. Not really."

"No? What does it mean, then?"

"It means he's not alone anymore," said Wyrdrune. "And neither are you."

From somewhere far away they heard the deep sound of a large gong being

struck.

"What the hell was that?'" said Kira.

The gong sounded again.

"It came from somewhere below us," Wyrdrune said "And somehow I have a

feeling

that's not a bell calling folks to church. Come on, let's move."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

With an effort Royce Blood wrenched himself out of the dreamy fugue induced

by

the dancing lights in the blond girl's eyes. He tried to push her away

gently,

but she continued to press down against him, her lips seeking his, and he

finally took her by the upper arms in a firm grip and forcefully rolled her

over

onto the couch so he could get out from under her. He started to get up off

the

couch, but she pulled him back down beside her again, putting her arms around

him and pulling him close.

"Stop it!" Royce shouted. "For God's sake, stop it, please!"

But his voice was lost in the booming reverberations of the giant gong as

several hooded figures came into the chamber, carrying the body of a bearded,

bare-chested man on their shoulders. Carfax came out on the dais, dressed in

his