““The others saw him as he stumbled down the stairs, bleeding from nose and ears and eyes an mouth. The sheathed form of the Sword lay across his palms. He met their eyes, and choked out: "Remember. Remember, all of you." Mathilda's voice was infinitely gentle. "Remember what?" "That I was a man, before I was King. Remember for me, when I forget. His hand closed on the black double-lobed hilt, and the moonfire in the opal glowed. He drew the Sword, thrust it high. And screamed as pain beyond all bearing ripped through him like white fire, turning his body to a thing of ash smoke. He screamed, and knew .””
