by Allan Cole
He reached out a hand to grab a spear as she went by. Safar stepped between them, raising the jug and then leaning over, pretending to top up the wine cup.
"Don't eat the kabobs, he whispered, then withdrew.
Kalasariz suddenly found his mouth had gone dry thinking about what he'd almost done.
Beside him Quan munched with much gusto. This is delicious, Kalasariz, he said. You should try it!"
He waved the spear of savory meat beneath Kalasariz nose. The delicious odor, magically enhanced, was so powerful he nearly forgot himself again. He snatched his hand back just in time.
"I wish I could, he said, making a mournful face. It does smell wonderful. But I'm forbidden to eat lamb this month. My religion, you know."
All over the banquet area the other demons were gobbling down the kabobs, smacking their lips, wiping their chins and shouting for the slaves to bring more.
"That's the trouble with religion, Quan said with some sympathy. Always forbidding this and forbidding that. There's so many forbiddens that a poor fiend barely knows what to do."
He stripped the rest of the meat off the spear and popped it into his maw. He chewed mightily, then swallowed, a look of pure bliss on his face.
"You know the first thing I'd do, he said, if I were king?"
"What's that? Kalasariz asked.
"I'd banish religion. Toss it right out. Start my own religion. And the first thing I'd do after that is turn the forbiddens on their head. All that was forbidden would become compulsory. And everything that was compulsory would go the king's committee for a good long study."
He gave Kalasariz a friendly jab with his claw.
"I'll bet I'd be damned popular, he said. The most popular king in his"
And Quan broke off as his eyes suddenly glazed over and he pitched forward.
Kalasariz yanked his arm away and Quan's head struck the table with much force.
The banquet area was suddenly filled with similar sounds of demon heads slamming into wood. Then there was silence.
Kalasariz looked about and saw the demon guards had noticed something was amiss and were running forward.
Leiria shouted a war cry, ripping off her robe to show the mail beneath. She drew her sword and rushed the guards. Other cries rang out as Safar's soldiers revealed themselves and leaped into the fray.
It was quick, bloody work. Before Kalasariz knew it all the demons but three were dead. And Leiria, along with half a dozen human soldiers, was pressing in to end that annoyance.
Safar dumped Quan's corpse out of the chair and slid into it. He cleaned a winecup with his sleeve and filled it up.
"I won't ask you for a toast, he said to Kalasariz. Your friend was right. He indicated the dead demon slumped on the ground. You're much too long winded."
And Safar drank the wine down.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THREE PRELUDE TO BATTLE
Safar slipped the stone idol from his pouch. He patted it, long soothing strokes like a child caressing a cat.
He leaned close, whispering, Behave yourself, now. We're in the company of the king."
Still stroking the idol, he walked over to Iraj, who was staring up at a painting, deep in thought.
They were in Alisarrian's cave, torch light reflecting off the luminous walls. The picture Iraj was musing over was the magical painting of the Conqueror in his heroic pose.
"I still feel like a boy, Iraj murmured to Safar.
Then he turned, a wry smile on his face. When we were here before, he said, I was hiding from my uncle and his friend. As it turned out, neither were more than petty chieftains. But at the time what I had to overcome seemed like the greatest problem in the world."
He gestured at the heroic figure of Alisarrian, who had Iraj's golden beard, but Safar's blue eyes. When I saw thatsomehow, for reasons I can't explainit made my dream of ruling all Esmir seem not so difficult. He shrugged. I mean, all I had to do is defeat my uncle, then Esmir would crack like an egg. It felt that easy.
"Now I see the picture differently. I see a man whose accomplishments I truly admire. I've stood in lesser boots and fought in lesser battles. It's difficult enough to hold on to what I've won, much less win more."
"I'm sure Alisarrian had similar doubts about himself, Safar said. Maybe even more so. He didn't have a great Conqueror to emulate, after all. You know it's possible because it's been done before. He didn't have that advantage."
"And the demons, Iraj said, brightening a bit. He also had to face the demons."
"Exactly, Safar said. Not only that, but no human king had ever defeated a demon army. You know that can be done as well, thanks to Alisarrian."
Iraj frowned again. Except Alisarrian was not only a great general, but a great wizard as well. I'm only good at war. I know nothing of magic."
"You've got me, Safar said.
"Sometimes that worries me, Iraj said. What if I didn't have you?"
"That's nonsense, Safar said. The Fates have apparently decided to put us together. Why worry yourself over something that couldn't have happened?"
"Yes, Iraj said, eyes gleaming, but what if you decided to leave me?"
Safar snorted. That's ridiculous, he said. Why would I do that? For money? You've made me rich. To be richer? Money doesn't mean anything to me anyway. What's next?
"Power? As in power over others? You know I have no such desires."
Iraj's mood lightened. The dangerous gleam in his eyes vanished. That's true, he said. You don't even have any respect for power. As I am always reminding you, my friend, when you give a kingly fellow like myself such a difficult time."
Safar grinned. I know you're human, he said. I saw the Ubekian brothers beating on you like a temple drum."
Iraj made a face. At the time I thought, wait'll I get to be king. I'll chop off your tiny heads. Now that I am king it doesn't seem so important."
Safar guffawed. Can you imagine their faces, he howled, if you came walking up to them right now and… the rest was lost in laughter.
Iraj joined him and the cave rang with the sound of the amusement of two old friends. But there was an edge to it and it went on too long. It was the kind of barely controlled laughter that grips people when they are facing a fearful task.
When it stopped, it ended abruptly. The two young men avoided each other's eyes, embarrassed.
"We'd better get started, Safar said, voice a little thin.
Iraj nodded. Yes, we'd best."
"Sit over there, Safar ordered, pointing to a place at the edge of faded pentagram inscribed on the cave floor.
Iraj did as he was told and Safar sat across from him. Within the pentagram were a host of ancient magical symbols, the ones that had once so mystified him. Some still did, but he was learning more daily from the Book of Asper.
Safar placed the turtle on one of the symbols. The stone began to glow, but very faintly.
"That's the comet, he said.
Then he slid the idol onto another symbol. The idol glowed a little brighter.
"That's the demon moon."
He moved the turtle to a point between them.
"That's us, he said. Approximately, that is. The real heavenly bodies are moving together right now. In fact, we should see the demon moon very soon."
Iraj shook his head in admiration. That's something, Safar, he said, sounding like a boy watching a circus performance. Really something."
Safar kept his features immobile. He couldn't help but play the stony-faced master performer. Besides, he'd noticed it didn't hurt to keep Iraj's awe of his magical abilities stoked to the fullest.
"When I cast the spell, he said, you must sit absolutely still. Do or say nothing. You'll see me here beside you. But I won't be in my body."
He gestured toward the cave mouth. My spirit will be out there someplace. He pointed at the stone idol. Keep your eyes on that, he said, and you'll see everything my spirit sees."
Iraj squirmed. Remarkable, he breathed.
&nbs
p; "Are you ready? Safar asked.
Iraj licked his lips and nodded. Safar tossed a handful of glass pellets on the floor. Iraj gasped. Curling up were columns of thick smoke, all of a different color, all filled with glittering bits that floated up and down the columns.
This wasn't something that was really necessary, but Safar had learned from Methydia to put on a good show.
He drew in his breath. Deeper and deeper, drawing as if his lungs were a giant's. The columns of smoke, coiling around each other like ribbons, wreathed into his mouth, following the inrushing air.
Then he exhaled. It made a sound like a hard wind whistling through a narrow opening. The ribbon smoke, now tightly coiled into a hazy rope, shot out, bursting over the stone idol like a waterfall.
Safar's vision hazed and he saw things as if in a dream. He saw Iraj look startled, mouth gaping open. He saw Gundara, the object of the king's amazement, leap out of the stone and crouch there, chittering. He heard Gundara squeak one, Shut up! Then gleap and snap his jaws shut when he saw Iraj.
Suddenly wings burst from the little Favorite's backlarge gossamer wings, pearly like the snow butterflies that come in early spring. Gundara reached out a claw. It stretched, then stretched more, reaching beyond belieflonger and longer, closing the distance between Favorite and master.
Safar raised his own hand. A spectral image of that hand emerged from his body.
His spirit self gripped Gundara's claw.
Then he was flying, flying through mountain stone, then erupting out of the mountain itself and taking to the air. He had no sense of Gundara's presence. It was as if Safar were doing the flying, soaring with the wind, moving his arms to correct his flight.
He flew north, over the topmost peaks of the Bride and Six Maids. Far below he saw a boy leading a flock of goats to pasture. He cleared the last peak, so close he was tempted to see if his spectral hand could disturb the snow.
He soared down the mountain slopes, caught a warm wind, then sailed out over the great northern desert.
Above him thick clouds skated under a blue sky. Below, the white desert sands glittered in the sunlight. Beyond, a limitless horizon.
Safar shifted his arms and flew up to the clouds. He caught a wind and skimmed beneath them, heading for the thin blue line marking the spot where sky and earth met.
He flew on for a time until he came to a place where two enormous rocks speared out of the stony ground. They were sheer on all sides and each seemed to be formed from a single piece a hundred feet high. They were so large they seemed close together, but when Safar came upon them he could see they were a less than half a mile apart.
He flew on toward the still empty horizon.
When he first saw the army he didn't know what he was looking at. It emerged as a long dirty line rising from the horizon's rim. Beneath the line he saw a streak of solid black. The closer he went the broader that streak became, but fading grayer, like charcoal on a sketch. Slowly the streak separated into figures. And then the figures became soldiers.
Demon soldiers.
Safar shot over them, spectral heart fluttering against spectral ribs.
The whole desert plain swarmed with demons, a colossal colony of monstrous ants streaming south toward the Gods Divide. They flowed beneath him, wide columns of demon soldiers, led by thick spears of mounted cavalry. Hundreds of great baggage trains followed in their wake, winged by immense herds of animals to supply fresh food and mounts.
It took a frighteningly long time to come to the end of the demon army. When he did, he swung around and flew toward the frontlooking for the heart of this great creature.
He found Manacia and his court just behind the main cavalry units. The demon king lolled in a rolling howdah perched on a glorious white elephant. Safar recognized the elephant immediately. It was the same one he'd seen Iraj ride in that long ago vision.
Steeling himself, he flew nearer. Manacia's huge head and massive jaws were just becoming clear when Safar felt the sting of magic. It was like running naked through a swarm of bees.
Safar shot upward, rising as fast as he could, then the stinging sensation was gone and he knew he was beyond Manacia's reach. When he'd recovered he realized it was some kind of shield, or warning net, or both. Safar tested for danger and was relieved when he became certain Manacia hadn't noticed his presence. Then, gathering his nerve, he flew around the shield, testing its width and breadth. Soon not the only size became apparent, but also that he was safe as long he kept to the edges.
From far off he heard someone call his name. Safar… Safar…"
A hole opened up and he fell into it, plunging down and down, through smoke and heat and then boom! he was back in the cave, crouched on his knees and spewing his guts onto the floor.
When he was done Iraj wet the edge of his cloak and gave it to him to wipe his face, then he handed him a cup brimming with strong brandy. Safar drank it down like water. One more and his nerves steadied.
"I thought I told you to keep silent, he said. You could have killed me."
Iraj looked surprised, then sorrowful. I'm sorry, he said. I thought it was seeing all those demons that made you sick. I was almost ill myself."
"Sure, it scared the Hells out of me, Safar said. But it was being snatched back so quickly that made me sick! I know you're my lord and master and all, but have a pity, Iraj! Go easy, next time."
While Iraj hung his head and muttered apologies, Safar braced himself with another cup of false courage. Then he picked up the stone idol, whispered a promise of rewards to come for good little Favorites and returned it to his pouch.
"When I saw Manacia's army, Iraj said, I thought, this is hopeless! Unstoppable! I might as well go dig myself a deep hole and pull the dirt in after me."
"I had similar thoughts, Safar said, but I couldn't see how I could dig a hole deep enough."
"In the entire history of Esmir, Iraj said, there is no precedent for what we're facing. No army that size has ever been fielded. And if we closed with him, there's no comparison to any battle ever fought."
"Let's not close with him, Safar said. That's my strong advice to you."
"Actually, Iraj said, that's advice I'll immediately reject. The only way we can win is to meet him head-to-head on the field of battle."
"Come, Iraj! Safar objected. Put a little more brandy in your blood. And quickly. Senses must be regained."
"I'm not joking, Iraj answered.
"I know you're not, Safar said. That's why I am! Otherwise I'd be frightened to death. You wouldn't say such a thing if you didn't mean it.
"Sometimes I wonder about your sanity, my friend, but never your ability."
"After I was done quaking, Iraj said, it came to me that if an army that size had never been fielded before, it was also true no army that size has ever been commanded before."
Safar nodded. I see what you mean. Manacia would be have to be not only the greatest general ever, but so far above all the others he'd be a giant among generals."
"He's able enough, Iraj said. I'll give him that. I've gathered some very reliable intelligence on his battles. He's no fool. And he has that son of his, Luka, leading every attack. There's no fear in themat least that they showwhich is fairly impressive in itself.
"Luka's demons attack so fiercely, so professionally, it takes the heart right out of the enemy. Several times Manacia hasn't had to do much more than mop up."
"Then you have to eliminate Luka, Safar said.
"Perhaps, Iraj said. I don't know. I'm thinking about the big army, right now. That's what I have to beat."
"Assuming we survive Luka, Safar said.
"I'm not saying it'll be easy with Luka, Iraj said. But I have to jump past that. Return to it later. Otherwise I can't think of a way to solve the big problem."
"Do you have any ideas? Safar asked.
"A few, Iraj said. But very vague. Number one, I have to use his size against him. Number two, I have to make him smaller."
"Don't for
get, Safar said, it won't be just demon soldiers we'll encounter, but demon magic as well."
Iraj's contemplative look turned to concern. What of it? he asked. What did you see… if that's the word for a wizard looking at another wizard."
"Close enough, Safar said. As close as your problem as a general is to my problem as your Grand Wazier.
"Manacia is very strong. Stronger than me, perhaps. I can't say because I have no experience in such things. I've never fought a battle. Hells, I had more two-fisted fights as a boy than I've ever had magic against magic."
"I was there for your first sorcerous fight, Iraj reminded him. And it so happens it was against demons."
Safar started to protest, but Iraj waved him down. Don't tell me you were lucky, he said. Of course, you were. I'm lucky. Not just good, but lucky. So are you. And lucky wins."
"I won't argue, Safar said. We'll find out if you're right soon enough."
"But you do have some ideas about Manacia? Iraj asked.
"Only one just now, Safar said. And that's thisManacia may be the wizard of all wizards, but he's no magician."
Iraj looked at him, puzzled. What are you talking about?"
"Something I learned in the circus, Safar said. Smoke and mirrors.
"The art of the Grand Illusion."
****
While the demon army marched, the humans prepared to meet them.
Manacia's progress was slow. The sheer size of his forces, as Iraj had predicted, made him unwieldy and kept the pace to that of a desert tortoise. He also had to maintain huge supply lines stretching all the way to Caspan.
The humans used that time well. Gear was repaired, horses shod, weapons honed. New training instituted in which speed and quick thinking were emphasized. Iraj wanted no brave death charges. Against Manacia's might, he couldn't afford the losses. Loads were lightened; they'd take only what they needed into the desert. Supplies would also be the minimum required to reach Manacia.
If they lost there'd be no return. If they won they could take what they wanted from Manacia.
As they prepared, Iraj's musings became full blown ideas. He introduced new tactics and had special equipment made.