The cobra rises before them in a shining image of light, spreading its hood wide and hissing at the column of deepest black, this piece of the Dark that is attempting to rend the two men into nothingness--

-- and then from further away, a corona of golden-white fire flares with blinding brightness, and the Dark recoils swiftly, drawing all of itself back into one large mass and away from Tom and Wellard as it moves now to strike its ancient enemy, answering a call that cannot be denied.