Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

Cardinal's shoulder, knocking it away. Once out of contact with its user, the camera's holo field collapsed, and suddenly there was Valentine Wolfe, with scarlet mouth and mascaraed eyes, and a gun and knife in his hands.
    There were shouts and screams as people shrank back from him. Valentine looked round him, startled, only slowly realizing what must have happened. Elves came running from all directions. Robert moved quickly to stand between his bride and the new danger, his ceremonial sword at the ready before him. Valentine laughed softly, and raised his gun. Robert stood his ground, protecting Constance with his own body. The Elves struggling through the packed crowd lashed out with their minds, but Valentine's own esp was just strong enough to confuse them, and their attacks went wide. Valentine's gun centered on Robert's chest.
    "Everybody stop right where they are," he said brightly, and the Elves reluctantly slowed to a halt. Valentine looked at Robert with feverbright eyes, and licked his lips. "Give me your crown," he said calmly. "You know it really should be mine. And it's only fitting that a King should give way to an Emperor."
    "Mad as ever, Valentine," said Robert. "Kill me, and you'll never leave here
    alive."
    "Oh, I think I will. Nothing can kill me now. I've moved far beyond such human weaknesses. I'm glad it's come down to you and me, in the end. How very fitting, after all this time, that the last real Campbell should meet his end at the hands of the last real Wolfe."
    "Not even close, Valentine," said the Unknown Clone, pushing forward to stand at Robert's side. He reached up and pulled off his mask, and the whole crowd murmured with something like shock as they recognized the grim face of Finlay Campbell. Valentine nodded slowly.
    "Well met, old enemy. Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
    "You're a fine one to talk. I thought I'd finally got rid of you in Tower Shreck."
    Valentine made a negligent gesture. "I don't do the dying thing anymore. I cannot be stopped by anyone."
    "Really?" said Finlay. "Let's test that." His sword lashed out with dizzying speed, and the tip raked across the back of Valentine's hand, severing the tendons. Valentine's fingers opened automatically, and the disrupter dropped from his hand. The tendons knit back together again almost immediately, and Valentine quickly brought his sword into position as Finlay advanced on him. He smiled at Robert.
    "Bet I can pick up my gun and use it before you or your cow can run three paces," he said brightly. "So stay put, and watch the show. I'll get round to you. But first… the two true inheritors of Clan Wolfe and Clan Campbell, locked in mortal combat, one last time. Ah, Finlay… how proud our fathers would be of us."
    "Shut up and fight," said Finlay.
    They both moved forward, their swords clashing together and then springing apart as they circled each other, their arms moving so fast they were little more than blurs. Valentine had been trained in swordsmanship by the finest tutors Wolfe money could buy, but Finlay had been the Masked Gladiator, undefeated champion of the Golgotha Arenas. The fight had hardly begun before Finlay tricked the Wolfe into lowering his guard for just a moment, and then the Campbell stepped forward in an extended lunge and ran Valentine through. His sword slammed into Valentine just under the breastbone, and burst out of his back in a flurry of flying blood. A perfect killing blow. But Valentine didn't fall. He coughed delicately, and a little blood sprayed from his mouth, but his dark eyes never wavered. And while Finlay still held his extended lunge, confused. Valentine thrust his own sword into Finlay's belly. Powered by Shub-driven strength, Valentine's blade punched right through Finlay's armor, burying itself deep in his gut. Finlay cried out and fell backward, clutching at the bloody wound with both hands as Valentine's blade left his body. Dark blood pulsed thickly between his fingers. Valentine pulled Finlay's sword out of his body, and let it fall to the floor. The wound healed almost immediately, closed and sealed by Shub nanotech. Evangeline and Adrienne grabbed Finlay and dragged him away.
    Fortunately for him, there was a regeneration machine on standby in one of the private rooms. The Elves had insisted.
    Valentine looked unhurriedly about him. "Anyone else? No? Well then, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted…"
    "Get away from the King," said a cold, merciless voice,