The clouds of incense roiled out from the brass bowls that had been set out around the mystical symbol and glowing brazier at the centre of the underground chamber. They filled the air with a cloying smoke that made Richard of Warwick's eyes sting and water. This - and the chanting of Wu Gu Xian reminded the Golden Knight of the great service he had attended at Canterbury cathedral before he had departed England for the Holy Land. But, while that ceremony had promised victory and glory in the service of God, this one promised an ignominious demise. Or worse! Richard clutched at the bars of his confinement and prayed for a miracle.

"You have tried those before," Leah said to him. The female warrior had been standing by the niche throughout the ceremony, watching the actions of Wu Gu Xian with a wary eye. "They did not give last time - nor the time before that, Golden Knight. Face your destiny with dignity."

Richard glared at the female warrior. "I do not fear for my soul."

"You should!" Leah retorted, but Richard ignored her.

"I fear for the souls of all those who that monster will have sacrificed. And I am the cause of this."

Leah laughed. Her mirthful peal was completely at odds with the gravity of the occasion. "And yet you did not show such compassion for those souls when you fought against them."

Richard glared at the woman, but she returned his hatred and anger with an expression of confident scorn. The Golden Knight lowered his gaze. "That was different," he sighed. "There it was man against man, in the open. On the battlefield I would give quarter if asked, knowing that my opponent would do the same. Yes, it was slaughter; but if it was not for my skill at arms and the grace of God, then I would also have been grievously wounded. This ... ." He stopped. The door into the chamber - the one behind the oriental wizard - had opened a crack. Richard felt a flower of hope bloom inside him. Perhaps ... ?

The Golden Knight tried to focus his attention on Leah, hoping that she would not notice the distraction. "This is not like that," Richard stated bluntly. "It is a blasphemy and an abomination! No god would allow this!"

Leah exposed her teeth in a malicious smirk. "But we do not serve either of your gods. We serve Lord Lucifer. And he has demanded this. You should know that you cannot thwart his desires - and he desires you as his plaything. He - ." Leah stopped. Richard realised that he must have given something away.

As the two had been talking, Emrys Wledig had quietly entered the chamber unnoticed by all but the Golden Knight. After closing the great door behind him, he had drawn his dagger and - slowly, stealthily - crept to behind one of Wu Gu Xian's guards. The scholar was about to slip the blade into the spine of the unwitting warrior when Leah glanced over. "You!" she screamed.

Emrys slashed at the back of the guard, who bellowed in pain before his legs shivered and fell beneath him. Even as the unfortunate fell to the ground, Emrys snatched the man's sword from his belt and threw it towards Richard's cell. "Take it!" Emrys shouted. "Take it! Do what you must!" Both Leah and Richard reached for the sword, but Leah's grasp was faster.

"Stay!" she snarled at Richard.

The scholar began to mumble something, and the blood that had started to pool around his feet began to smoke, adding a charnel house stench to the thick atmosphere of the cellar. The remaining guard turned to respond, but his reactions seemed sluggish and slow. Even Richard felt a strange lethargy creep over him - as did Wu Gu Xian. The wizard pulled his arms back and began a new series of sweeping gestures, as if trying to drive the powerful miasma away from him. Above, the smoke from the incense and the brazier began to take on a horrible form.

"Stop him!" Wu Gu Xian croaked. "Stop him! I must complete the ceremony!"

Leah dropped the sword that Emrys had hurled towards Richard and drew her own weapon. "My pleasure! I shall end you once and for all, meddler!" She tried to run towards Emrys, but each step was like she was wading through treacle.

"Quickly!" Wu Gu Xian gasped.

Richard fumbled for the dropped guard's sword and dragged it into the cell by his finger tips. With this he could - ! The Golden Knight struck at the lock on the bars, splitting it with one blow! Now he was free. He kicked the bars aside and joined the affray.

Slowly, the remaining guard turned towards Richard and advanced, drawing his sword. Whatever Emrys had done, it had almost paralysed him - but not so the Golden Knight. He stepped aside and twisted, slashing his borrowed blade along the man's belly. It took a moment before the guard registered the pain and reacted but, by that time Richard had struck a second and a third blow. The guard fell to the floor, the life ebbing from him. Leah heard the commotion and paused to throw a slender knife at Richard, the blade piercing his flesh.

"No! That sorcerer!" Wu Gu Xian wheezed. "Quickly!" Above him, the cloud of smoke roiled and turned, forming a demonic face. Dark horns rose almost to the ceiling above; a sharp chin to the floor below. Hateful eyes glared at Richard.

"Richard of Warwick!" the visage snarled. "You will not thwart me again! This time, I shall have you as my puppet and my slave!"

"Lucifer!" The Golden Knight tensed. "I will not let you!" There, by the door, he spied his blade. Richard knew what to do. He leapt towards his sword, his hand settling into its familiar grip, and held it up. "I banished you before with this blade! And I shall do so yet again!"

"Too late!" the demonic face mocked. "The sun is almost right and the ritual is - !"

Richard uttered a short prayer, then threw his sword like a javelin towards the smoke cloud. It flew straight and true, piercing the murk and flame. As the blade touched Lucifer's form, there was a crack of lightning. With an earsplitting howl, the demon shrank to nothing, leaving only a hole that hung in mid-air, spitting sheaves of chaotic energy. Wu Gu Xian stood transfixed. "My master!" he moaned in piteous tones. Then a strong wind began to blow, and the wizard's flesh started to smoulder.

A strong hand shook Richard. It was Emrys. "Come!" he shouted above the terrible noise. "We must flee! Now! Unless you want to end up like him!"

Richard needed no second invitation. He stumbled behind the scholar, out of the hellish chamber and into the musty, but infinitely sweeter air of the cellar beyond.