Nemmerle's rescue

The other boys flee in terror. Vetch tries to pull the shadow off Ged but is frozen in place. The Archmage Nemmerle appears, his staff glowing with silver light. He touches Ged with his staff, driving the shadow away. The night is healed, and the balance of light and dark is restored. But Nemmerle has spent all his power to save Ged. He is left dying. The shadow has escaped into the world. Ged is carried away, horribly wounded. The event is a catastrophe: a young wizard's pride has loosed an evil force, and the greatest mage of the age has given his life to contain it.