  Yet outside the bordes of Checle,  much was in upheaval.  The Caroc wrought destruction over the shattered remains of the free peoples;  and those of the Mirien who had survived the War of Red Tears were hunted across all the lands of the West.  Destruction was wrought upon the Pelore,  who fled to the sea,
 until at last only Rel Aren held firm against the onslaught.  Prince Thalion then rallied to him all those who yet remained loyal to the High Kings and to the god and goddess;  he raised a great host of White Knights and Mirien swordsment and Spearmen from the Isle and archers from Dothnell and cavalry from Thaen;  and they marched from Luinest on Midsummer Day in 4059,  and the marched on Checle in a final attempt to end the onslaught,  for good or for ill.
 As these forces rallied themselves,  there was great unrest in the domain of Lord Caroc,  for he knew well that difficult it was to command his Queen;  and he heard tidings of her sudden care for his prisoners.  Thus upon his return from the southern front,  he went at once to her chambers.
 Defiance was rekindled in her eyes and she denied nothing of her care and healing for those Caroc sought to torment.  Fury rose in the Black King,  and he struck her down,  for he sensed little strength remained now in her spirit.  Looking down at her crumpled form,  he commanded,
 " Defy me not witch,  for I am mightier than thou,  and will destroy you.  And he struck her again,  and after each blow,
 she rose to face him,  falling again with each brutal strike until she stayed on the ground.  Lord Caroc turned to leave her,  but her words followed him.  " Tivantalin I have been,
 yet I perceive less evil done by my hands than you would have me believe.  Long it has been since my mind was my own,  and though I have oft done your bidding,  I have yet defied you.  Region I was named,  and the blood of kings flows in my veins.
 Tivantalin ( black queen)  I am no longer,  and if you slay me,  it is as Tirne that I shall die.  Seizing her by her throat,
 Caroc pinned her against the chamber wall,  " Evil enough you have done,  for did you not bend knee to me?  Did you not choose to come willingly to my chambers rather than watch your lord die?  Were you not chatelaine of my domain?
 Have you not tormented my foes?  No,  you have done evil enough,  and never will your soul be free of its stain.  The inhabitants of Ter- Cartin were accustomed to the pervasive fear that swelled the tower,
 and screams were no strange sound in its halls;  that night,  the sound of the Dark Queen's screams drove many to their knees in soul- clenching terror,  for any torment that could affect her so was beyond imagining.
