title: Death Spiral: The Collapse of Cinar, Norshield and Mount Real
author: William A Urseth
description: <P>William Urseth is president of Strategic Research and Marketing and the editor-in-chief of "Menz Tournament Hunter" magazine. He is the cohost of "Quest for the One." He lives in Montreal, Quebec.</P>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  ## THE OBSIDIAN KEY
  
  
  BOOK TWO OF THE LEGEND OF ASAHIEL
  
  
  ## ELDON THOMPSON
  
  
  ![](images/00002.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  MATT BIALER
  
  
  for leading the crusade
  
  
  when there was nothing but a dream
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Contents
  
  
  [
  
  
  Map of Yawacor
  
  
  [
  
  
  Map of Pentania
  
  
    
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  The winter storm tore across the land, ripping and snarling…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Two
  
  
  Torin ducked beneath the swinging sword, close enough to feel…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Three
  
  
  Torin blinked in the tomblike stillness that followed. He gaped…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Four
  
  
  The answer to that had seemed obvious enough.
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Five
  
  
  A shower of sparks cascaded over his naked arm, covering…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Six
  
  
  More often than he could remember, Xarius Talyzar had killed…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Seven
  
  
  Faldron awoke to the dim light of a guttering candle.
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Eight
  
  
  Despite the foul weather, muddied roads, and host of doubts…
  
  
  [
  
  
  Chapter Nine
  
  
  No sooner had Torin stepped aboard the Pirate’s F