"They're big, aren't they?"

Kaherdin looked up at the question and gazed at Farrell. "Aye, youngster, that they are. My father was in the passes of Bagrada when the Trow attacked. He was lucky to escape alive. They're nothing to trifle with."

Farrell glanced at Kaherdin's solemn face, and then returned his gaze to where the Trow team was working out on the sidelines. "Do you think we have a chance of beating them, Kaherdin?"

Kaherdin smiled at the question. "Anything can happen, Farrell. Anything can happen."

Cormac, walking behind the bench where the two players sat, heard the exchange and paused for a moment. "You just worry about doing your best. Emperor Alric's in the High Seat to watch the game, see? We've nothing to hang our heads over. It's no disgrace being defeated by the Northmen and their funny herbs. But these Trow need no paint to look blue, so it should be a fair contest. What will be, will be." He moved on to speak with other members of the team.

Their preparations finished, the Quad Cities players trotted out onto the field, waving to the spectators. Cormac took his place in the goal box, shading his eyes to gaze across the field and check that his players were all in place. The westering sun dipped below the edge of the stadium, and shadows began to creep across the field. He felt the ground tremble beneath his feet as the unsmiling Trow players lumbered to their positions. A momentary hush fell over the crowd, and play began.

Alyce got to the ball quickly and passed to Farrell, who sped down the sideline toward the Trow goal. Two huge defenders moved to box him in, but a slashing pass to Marcus freed the ball. Marcus just as quickly passed across to Aethelweard, who took two steps and booted an arcing shot to the far side of the field. The Trow turned and were amazed to see Farrell streaking to claim the ball and enter the box. Farrell launched a hard shot to the corner of the net, and the Trow goalie was a fraction of a second too slow to react. The ground shook as the Trow landed full-length on the grass, the ball safely in the net behind him. Farrell threw up his hands in triumph and turned to return to midfield, but one of the passing Trow defenders caught him a glancing blow with a hip, sending him sprawling. The speedy striker got slowly to his feet, eyes smouldering, and prepared for play to resume.

The Trow players shouted instructions to each other, the basso rumble of their voices drowning out the noise of the crowd, and charged the ball. The Quad Cities players had to be nimble to avoid the flying arms and legs of the Trow, who seemed bent on inflicting as much punishment on the Warriors as they could get away with. This secondary objective diverted their focus, however, and Ewan, Owen and Kaherdin were able to disrupt the Rumbler attack enough to prevent any shots on goal. Finally the defenders managed to intercept a pass and got the ball back to midfield where Clairemonde moved it back into the Trow half.

The Trow defense was equally firm, however, and especially watchful of the speedy Farrell. They quickly regained possession when a pass from Alyce fell short, and resumed their attack. Their striker charged straight at Cormac and let fly from 10 meters with a mighty kick. Cormac leapt and blocked the ball, but it ricocheted back onto the field where a Trow forward waited. Before Cormac could recover a second shot was on the way, and it found the net to tie the score at one goal apiece.

The Trow lost little time in resuming the attack - an effective pick against Thayer freed the ball, and again Cormac saw the Trow striker bearing down on him. He braced himself and once again the ball streaked toward the net. He caught it cleanly this time, but the sheer force of the shot knocked him back into the goal and the Trow team took the lead as the half ended.

Most of the field was in shadow by the end of half-time, and around the sidelines the magelights flickered to life as the second half commenced. The Trow had first possession and quickly advanced, apparently meaning to wear Cormac down with a barrage of high-velocity shots from close range. But they were confounded by Ewan and Owen, who always seemed to be in the way when the Trow prepared to take a shot. As the Rumblers grew more and more frustrated, their passes became erratic, and eventually Gareth was able to deflect one to be recovered by midfielder Thayer.

Thayer advanced as far as he could and passed to Farrell, coming up behind him. No less than three Rumbler defenders surrounded the young striker, and it seemed that he had nowhere to go. He disappeared from view as the Trow quickly surrounded the young striker, but then suddenly the ball flew out between a defender's legs and landed by Marcus. With the triple-team thinning the Trow defense, Marcus got to the goal with little difficulty, and his shot evaded the Trow goalie's massive fingers to tie the game at two goals each.

None of the spectators were seated now. Even Alric had left the High Seat, and was gazing intently down from the balcony railing. With their lead gone, the Trow seemed furious, gesticulating at each other and shouting like thunder as they moved to their positions. With time running out, they abandoned subtlety and charged en masse into All-Stars territory. One of the Trow appeared to stumble, and fell headlong. The Trow's massive bulk blocked Ewan and Kaherdin out of the play, leaving the Quad Cities defense short-handed. Gareth made a valiant try at a steal but was stymied by a Trow forward. The huge Trow striker got free and signalled for the ball so he could fire another punishing shot at Cormac. But the pass was light, and the striker had to turn and double back for it. As he did, Cormac came streaking out of the goal and threw himself headlong for the ball, gathering it up in his arms at the edge of the goal box. The Rumbler striker screamed in frustration as Cormac stood and kicked the ball back to midfield.

Clairemonde recovered the ball and advanced. The Trow defense keyed on the speedy Farrell, preventing any opening, so Clairemonde shot a high pass to Marcus who found himself in a position to take a shot as he heard thundering feet approaching from behind. He fired the ball at the far corner of the net just before he was thrown to the ground by the late-arriving Trow defender. The Trow goalie reached out to catch the ball, but just before it arrived Aethelweard leapt in from the side and deflected the shot to the other side of the goal with his head. The ball found the undefended corner of the net, and the All-Stars were back in the lead.

With only scant seconds left in the game, the Trow quickly got the ball to their striker, who charged headlong at Cormac and once again a blazing shot flew towards the goalkeeper. It struck him full in the chest and staggered him, but he held on, tottering on the edge of the goal. Finally regaining his balance, Cormac looked down, saw his feet were outside the goal, and realized that the Warriors had won.

His face broke into a smile as the rest of the All-Stars cheered and hugged each other. Letting the ball fall to the ground, Cormac walked out to where the Trow captain stood frowning. He glanced around the stadium, and saw that most of the Trow players were growling at each other, swinging their burly arms and stamping in fury. He paused near the Trow for a moment, and then raised his hand towards the giant.

"It was a good match, it could have gone either way," he said. He was about to drop his hand again when the Trow looming above him emitted a bitter cry and swung around in a roundhouse kick. Caught flat-footed, Cormac was struck full in the chest by the Trow's massive leg. He flew through the air and fell to the ground where he lay motionless.

Out of nowhere a contingent of Heron Guards appeared and surrounded the Trow captain. More Herons knelt by Cormac, and his teammates gathered around him as well, fearing for their leader. Cormac's eyes fluttered, and he looked up to see a circle of familiar and unfamiliar faces. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a rattling gasp, and his eyes fell closed again.

"How fares that brave man?" came a voice.

They turned and beheld Alric standing a short distance away, his face grave. One of the Herons said, "My lord, his chest is crushed. He is sorely hurt."

"Then bear him up between you and bring him. We have but little time."

The Herons quickly obeyed, and Cormac was borne out of the stadium while the city held its breath.