sparks crackling between them. A bolt of pure thaumaturgic energy shot forth

from his hand, and the huge block of stone disintegrated in midair. Then

Merlin

quickly turned his attention to the Dark One—

—and saw the necromancer on his knees, an expression of utter amazement on

his

face as he looked down at the flick knife protruding from his chest. He

looked

up with disbelief and shook his head.

"A boy," he said. "A mere boy!"

And then he pitched forward onto his face.

"Interestin", ain't it?" Billy said, grimacing with pain. "Didn't know we

could

do two things, at the same time."

"Billy!" Kira shouted, running up to him with Wyrdrune and Modred close

behind

her.

"Better do something about that roof, love," Billy said, "or before you know

it,

we'll 'ave the rain comin' in."

Liam McMurphy came out of the corridor and stopped in his tracks, staring

wide-eyed at the spectacle before him. He gave a low whistle and shook his

head.

There were half-naked women lying all over the place, on the floor, on

couches,

moaning softly, many of them apparently unconscious or asleep. There were

also

men in various states of undress, many of whom he recognized. Some of them

were

sitting on their couches, staring straight ahead. Others were curled up and

snuffling softly to themselves; many of them had been bloodied, and some were

simply wandering around the room in a daze.

One of them approached him, moving with a disoriented shuffle, a torn black

robe

thrown over his tattered clothing, bright red scratch marks on his face and

chest. He had a dazed, lost look in his eyes as he came up to Liam and held

out

his right hand in supplication.

Liam took his hand and shook it with a grin. "Well, good evenin' to you,

Minister. Sure, an' it must've been one hell of a party, eh?"

EPILOGUE

"I still have no idea what in God's name went on out there, Michael," said

the

superintendent. "It looked like a damned war zone. The press are in an

absolute