Quinn grabbed Zebulun by the arm. "Zeb! Is that him?"

"Yep," said Zebulun. "That’s the one they warned us about."

Zebulun and Quinn rode on a lonely road in the far northwest of the kingdom. Residents of the last village they passed warned them of a powerful madman known to roam the road on occasion. Standing in the road before them, one hundred yards away, was the largest man either of them had ever seen. He rippled with muscle.

"Is he taller than you?" asked Quinn.

"Five inches taller," said Zebulun. "He’s a full seven feet. And twice my mass."

"Twice?" asked Quinn, staring at Zebulun with wide eyes. He looked back at the madman. "Really?"

"Look at the size of his muscles," said Zebulun. "He’s at least four hundred pounds."

"Wow…​"

The man appeared to be having a violent argument with himself. He roared with rage and swung his fists at the air. He seemed to be grappling a foe no one else could see. Wild hair and beard fell down on a scarred bare chest.

Zebulun dismounted and handed Othniel’s reins to Quinn. "Stay here," he said, and walked slowly towards the man in the road.

"You’re not taking your weapons?" whispered Quinn behind him.

Zebulun turned around and shook his head. "I won’t need them."

Zebulun was within ten yards of him before the madman took notice. He looked at Zebulun with wild eyes that showed white above and below the iris. At the top of his massive lungs, he screamed, "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"I come in peace," said Zebulun. "I’m Zebulun. What is your name?"

The bestial visage before him roared, a sound from the deepest wells of horror. Veins popped out from his head and neck. His face turned purple. "TOO MANY!" he shouted. "TOO MANY NAMES!"

The madman lunged at Zebulun, his meaty hands before him. Quick as a cat, Zebulun stepped out of the way, grabbed the madman’s left arm, and used his own momentum to throw him to the ground, winding him. The man breathed hard for a moment before lifting himself to his hands and knees. He gave Zebulun a look of pure hatred.

"NEVER!" yelled the madman as he charged again. "YOU DON’T GET TO!"

He grabbed Zebulun by the wrist. Zebulun grabbed the madman’s other wrist. Both tried to force the other down.

The madman’s strength was unearthly. Zebulun’s strength, substantial though it was, was no match for his. Zebulun focused his will and let the power of Ur flow from the spiritual plane and into his sinews. The madman watched in mounting horror as Zebulun forced him to his knees.

The madman let go of Zebulun’s wrist and hit him square in the chest with a powerful blow. Zebulun staggered backwards and fell, breathing hard. The killer stood up and crept towards him.

"Leave him alone!" said Quinn.

The madman whipped his head towards Quinn. Zebulun looked up in confusion. Quinn sat with the horses a few yards away, sling in hand.

"I told you to stay back," said Zebulun.

"I couldn’t see anything back there!" said Quinn. "I don’t want to miss this fight. And it’d be tough to hit him with my sling from that far back, if I wound up having to save you."

Zebulun shook his head and stood up. The madman looked at him, then at Quinn, then back to Zebulun. He lunged.

Zebulun dodged.

Zebulun fought defensively, using economy of force. When he couldn’t dodge in time, or throw his opponent, he wrestled his way out of the madman’s grip. The power of Ur sustained him.

After twenty minutes of rage and frustration, the madman cried out and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his massive face. His breath came in heaping sobs. "Why?" he asked. "Why?"

"I can help you," said Zebulun.

Zebulun put his hands over the madman’s head, who ignored him. Energy flowed from the spiritual plane, healing the man’s damaged brain and psyche. He wept harder as the healing progressed. "Why?" he kept asking. "Why me?"

After a moment, Zebulun stepped back. Quinn came over to look. The man collapsed to the ground and stared up at them. His eyes were hollow, but sane.

"I’ve never felt so tired," he said. "It’s as if I’ve been having a nightmare for years and years."

"It’s over," said Zebulun.

The man looked up at him with awe, gratitude, and some fear. "Daniel," he said. "My name is Daniel."