Beyond the palace lay the boxlike building housing the central quarters of the Supreme Circle, the administrators of the empire. It was slightly more elaborate than the previous two structures. The front entrance, a steep set of wide steps rising to twin pairs of tall, iron doors, bore the emblems of the great houses of the empire, from which the administrators tended to come. Banners representing those and the lesser houses hung above. Minotaurs clad in gray kilts, part of the State Guard, protected this place, their eyes most often turned toward the temple. In times past, they had served the priests almost as the acolytes did, but since long before Aryx’s time, their loyalties had shifted. The guard was now as wary of the temple as the Supreme Circle was.
Remembering the late, unlamented Garith, Aryx wondered how the Supreme Circle fared. Like Chot, the surviving members were probably at a loss as to exactly what function they served just now.
Pushing aside such thoughts, Aryx finished orienting himself, then began wending his way through Nethosak toward distant House Orilg. It would be good to return to those who knew him, especially if one or more of his family were there. Some of his brothers, Aryx knew, were either training in the wilds or aboard ship themselves, but a few, like his youngest brother Seph, surely had to be somewhere in the capital.
He had made only slight progress when the thunder of hoofbeats made him pause. Aryx moved to the side mere seconds before a quartet of riders passed swiftly. The riders paid little attention to those in their path, nearly running down an elderly woman who happened to step outside a building at the wrong time. She cursed quietly at the vanishing forms, then continued on her way, but others stood and glared after the foursome long after they had disappeared.
Knights of Takhisis. He knew that they were here, that they now commanded the capital, but to actually see them riding arrogantly through the streets shook him to the core.
Aryx started to step out into the street, then quickly pulled back again as two more riders appeared. However, not only did this pair ride more slowly, but they were accompanied by a full squadron of minotaurs, all armed and carrying packs. Aryx recognized one, a brown youth with a short snout who had been an acquaintance of his younger brother. The warriors stared ahead, somber, unflinching. At the rear of the marching column rode two more knights, their human faces hidden behind black visors.
The Knights of Takhisis had already begun gathering able-bodied warriors for their mission. Aryx had assumed that it would take the humans a few more days before they began that part of their plan. The swiftness of Lord Broedius surprised him. He only hoped the commander would know what to do with them. Too often, past masters had wasted minotaur lives as freely as they breathed the air.
With the column gone, Aryx tried to move on, but his progress quickly slowed. The streets were growing more and more crowded by the minute. Massive carts rumbled back and forth, those headed toward the dock filled with supplies of all sorts, clearly intended for a long-term journey. Now and then a knight on horseback moved through the crowds shouting orders or rushing to some unknown destination. Many of the faces Aryx studied eyed the humans with loathing, although never when one of the knights turned toward them.
More squads marched by, heading, no doubt, for different parts of the port. Several times Aryx spotted familiar faces, some of them from his own clan, yet none from his family. Again it amazed him that so much activity already took place. The minotaurs prided themselves on their efficiency, but so far the knights had proven themselves at least their equals. Yet despite that efficiency, the knights lacked one important trait, one that became more evident each time one of them passed or gave a command. There seemed little if any respect in their tones; they commanded as one commanded cattle, not soldiers.
“Broedius must want the first ships off by tomorrow morning,” Aryx muttered to himself. “It’ll be interesting to see if everything goes as planned.”
He forgot all about knights and missions as a familiar and very welcome face passed by in the crowd. Aryx abandoned his position, rushing out to greet a slim, young, light brown figure carrying a sack over his shoulder. “Seph!”
The other minotaur looked around, saw him, and nearly dropped his sack. “Aryx! When did you get back?”
They clasped one another briefly, joy blotting out even the nearby presence of a pair of knights. Of all the familiar faces he could have run across in Nethosak, this one was one of the dearest to Aryx.
Seph grinned at his older brother. “Aryx! We’ve all wondered what happened to you! Your ship’s been gone over a year, with no word for six months at least! We knew you’d be gone a long time, but not that long. When did you arrive home? What did you see? Did you get into any battles?”
Another human rode by. Aryx snorted, not liking so many so nearby. “Maybe we should find a better place to talk. Is there a good inn nearby? It’s been too long since I was home and I don’t recall which were best.”
“There is, but don’t expect much right now. These … these humans are closing most places down, claiming all supplies for their grand mission! Did you see them arrive, Aryx? It’s said that Sargas himself came with them. It must be true, because even the emperor and the Supreme Circle back the humans’ efforts.”
Aryx sobered. “I know all that. Let’s find that inn first, and then I’ll tell you what’s happened with me. I promise.”
His young brother led the way, soon bringing them to an inn called Champion’s Roost. The duo entered, finding only two other customers seated. They located a table, and a moment later a heavy elder minotaur came to see them. Although much muscle had given way to fat, the tarnished medallion he wore about his neck proudly proclaimed him a former champion of the arenas. His pronounced limp explained why he no longer fought.
“I’m Jol. Won’t be too much since those humans came, but I can offer you good soup and some ale for now.”
They settled quickly on that, the better to return to their conversation. Seph still bubbled over with enthusiasm at the return of his brother. The nearest in age to him, his younger brother had spent most of his time growing up with Aryx. “Kaz’s axe! I still can’t believe I ran into you in the midst of all this! So tell me, Aryx, when did the Kraken’s Eye make it in to port? How’s Captain Jasi for a commander? I heard she’s tough but fair.”
“The Kraken’s Eye sank, Seph. I’m the only survivor.”
Seph stared, wide-eyed. Aryx pretended not to notice. For now, he didn’t want to tell his brother the entire truth. Instead, he added, “The enemy took us in the fog. We fought. I fell overboard. The waves swept me away. The last I saw, the top half of the Kraken’s Eye was on fire and the ship itself had begun to list.”
“Gods! Was it a terrible battle? How’d you survive?”
“Yes, it was terrible.” Aryx felt every muscle in his body tense at the bloody memories. “If not for the Vengeance, I’d probably have drowned.”
“The Vengeance?”
“One of the three black ships. The humans found me, Seph.”
His brother’s eyes widened more. “You sailed in with the Knights of Takhisis?” Instead of horror, Seph’s expression revealed only excitement. “Did you see him? Did you see Sargas?”
“I saw him,” Aryx returned somewhat vaguely. “He likes to call himself Sargonnas these days. He likes to look human these days, too.”
Jol approached, bringing their soup and ale. He set them down. Aryx realized he had no money with him, but Seph reached into a pouch and paid. When the innkeeper left, Seph continued his questioning.
“What do you know about all this, Aryx? A lot of folk are rumbling about the humans taking over, but Sargonnas must have a good reason. We’re his chosen, aren’t we?”
Aryx had begun to hate that word. If the minotaurs were the god’s chosen, he had a peculiar way of showing it. Likely a lot of others were thinking the same thing. Wanting not to speak of it, at least for a while, he changed subjects. “How are our parents, Seph? Are they in Nethosak? What about Kylo a
nd the others?”
“Father and Mother are on Kothas, dealing with clan business. Kylo’s on a voyage somewhere … left three months ago. None of the others, including Oreta, are in Nethosak, although I think Hecar’s supposed to be back from his voyage in a week … though that might’ve changed.” Seph leaned forward, eagerness spreading across his face. “I would have gone along with Mother and Father, but I’ve just received my first posting!”
This was news to Aryx. He knew his younger brother had grown old enough to take his own place in the forces of the empire, but not that he had already been posted. A minotaur’s first posting had always been considered a rite of passage, marking him as a true warrior. “Congratulations!”
“I was supposed to join them in three days, but I received word this morning to put all plans on standby. Looks now like we all might be shipping out. I’ve heard rumors that the Knights of Takhisis are taking everyone who can fight.”
“They’d be mad to strip the islands of every capable fighter,” Aryx snarled, suddenly having too much of the humans’ arrogance. The bitterness he had felt aboard the Vengeance came bubbling to the surface. “If they keep this up, they’ll destroy us for the sake of their war!”
Seph straightened, giving him a look of warning. Aryx quieted, then casually glanced at the doorway. Two Knights of Takhisis, faces covered by visors, had entered, and their stance indicated that they had not come to dine. One of them looked at the two minotaurs seated on the other side, then at the brothers. The knights marched toward the first pair, questioning them. One of the minotaurs snorted, but both replied to the humans’ words, also showing them certain papers. Seemingly satisfied, the knights then proceeded to Aryx and Seph’s table.
The taller of the two raised his visor, revealing a thin, lightly bearded face. Aryx had not had much opportunity to judge humans by age, but he suspected that this knight had only just earned his rank. The man could be no older than Aryx, if that much.
“All minotaurs of fighting age are to present themselves to their clan houses for listing so that they may be organized into units and prepared to be shipped out as soon as possible. Those not yet scheduled are permitted free travel throughout Lacynos until their assigned time. Have you your posting papers?”
Aryx had no idea what the man meant. “I’ve been busy in the Temple of Sargonnas. Lord Broedius knows why.”
“Have you a record of this?”
“You’ll just have to take my word.”
The knight’s expression darkened. “Lord Broedius, in conjunction with the orders set down by the glorious Lord Ariakan, has arranged with your leaders for this system to be put into place, the better to accurately organize island forces. You will come with us now and rectify your error.”
A dangerous rumble rose from the Seph’s throat. Aryx glared at the human. “Are you suggesting that I’d be so dishonorable as to lie to you?”
The other knight put a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Those who dare disobey the edicts face severe punishment.”
“I was aboard the Vengeance, human,” Aryx growled, rising. “I accompanied Sargonnas himself!”
His words fell on disbelieving ears. The two knights started to pull their weapons free.
“They are not yours, good knights.”
Rand stood by the doorway, the picture of calm. The blond cleric walked between the two parties, putting himself in the path of any weapon.
“We’ve our orders, cleric,” the second knight muttered, clearly recognizing Rand but refusing to give in.
“And they apply to all but these. What this one said is true. He is favored by Sargonnas, who is your own mistress’s consort, as you know.”
The cleric of Kiri-Jolith stared at both men, his straightforward expression daring them to contradict him. At last the two knights quieted. The first one eyed the brothers with some lingering anger. “Very well, then. We shall be on our way.”
Still glaring, the ebony-clad warriors departed the inn. The group watched them leave, Aryx not at all certain that they would not suddenly change their minds.
“So here you are,” Rand continued as if nothing had occurred. “When Sargonnas took you with him yesterday, I must say I feared for you a little. Carnelia said she was glad to be rid of you, but she only spoke from frustration at being left behind.”
“Did you come looking for me?”
“In a sense. That was why I happened to be here at so opportune a time. To be honest, I have been trying to locate you since yesterday, but until shortly after the fifth hour, I was unable to tell if you even remained in Nethosak.”
So despite his powers, the cleric had not been able to find him before now? Aryx had remained in the temple almost all that time. Being in the Temple of Sargonnas had evidently shielded him from the human’s skills.
“The Blessed One decided to keep me nearby for a time,” Aryx finally informed Rand.
“So I should have guessed. You are marked by him. I can see it. Marked as well by Kiri-Jolith. You could say that you are doubly blessed.”
“Or doubly cursed,” Aryx blurted.
“One could see it that way, too, yes.”
Seph had remained silent during the entire exchange but had been unable to keep his eyes from the human. Aryx realized that his brother had never seen a human this close, at least not one that acted as a friend rather than a potential foe. “Seph, this is the cleric, Rand. Cleric, this is my youngest brother.”
“Yes, he has the same look about him as you do.”
“What look is that?” Aryx’s brother asked.
“The one Kaz Dragonslayer is said to have had. Courage, determination, and a tendency to leap headfirst into the fray.”
This evoked a laugh from Aryx, his first true laugh since the ravaging of the Kraken’s Eye. “That could apply to all young minotaurs, human! Certainly Kaz didn’t remain that way as he grew older. Those that do tend not to grow too old.”
Rand only smiled in response. Then the smile faded a bit. “A word of advice. It might be best to keep your brother around you for a time, Aryx, or else he might be shipped out soon. I thought you two might prefer to stay together.”
Aryx thanked the human for his concern. At least this way he could watch over his brother should danger rear its head.
Seph studied the human’s robes. “Cleric, would you be willing to give me your blessing?”
“I would be remiss if I did not.” Rand touched Seph first on the forehead, then the chest. “Head and heart. If we do not heed both, we fail as warriors. If we do not heed both, we are not whole.”
The two minotaurs who had been seated on the other side of the room rose, clearly not at ease around the cleric. As they abandoned the inn, one started to cough, as if something had suddenly filled his lungs. He continued to cough for as long as he was in range of their hearing.
“I wish Broedius would give me the authority to look over some of your people. That is not the first of those peculiar coughs I have heard. Could it be this continual mist?”
Aryx tensed at mention of mist. “Why do you say that?”
“Today the fog does not seem willing to lift, despite the sun. In fact, the farther out at sea one looks, the thicker it seems to be getting. Almost as bad as it was when we found you.” The human gave Aryx a pointed look. “Is this normal for your islands?”
Flickering images of the Kraken’s Eye and its destruction coursed through the gray minotaur’s mind. Suddenly both food and ale lost all taste. “Thicker, you say?”
“Yes, very thick, I’d say.”
“Did you notice any sort of odor or scent when you stood near the sea? Especially from the direction of the mist?”
“Other than fish?” Rand chuckled. Then, seeing the minotaur’s concerned visage, he grew serious again. “Yes, now that you mention it, there was a scent of sorts. Something I had smelled recently, I think.”
“Aboard the Vengeance? A sort of musky smell?”
The cleric pondered. “Mus
ky? I do not think it … well, perhaps you are right. Just faint, but, yes, I would say that it was somewhat musky. Why do you—”
Rand had no chance to complete his question, for suddenly there burst through the doorway more than a dozen armed knights, with weapons drawn. Aryx rose, reaching instinctively for his axe. Seph followed suit. However, the cleric quickly stepped before the pair, preventing them from charging the oncoming figures.
An officer, his face veiled by his visor, slowly walked in, clearly expecting to discover the two parties in combat. Upon learning otherwise, though, the Knight of Takhisis quickly recovered. He glanced first at Aryx, then Rand.
“Cleric.” It was Drejjen’s voice. “I hadn’t expected to find you here.”
“I go where I must, where I am needed.”
Drejjen ignored him. Opening his visor, the human peered at Aryx. “Open arms against her majesty’s servants? Treason, I would—”
“No treason,” the cleric of Kiri-Jolith interrupted politely. “Simply the reflexes of well-trained warriors when a force of black-armored figures come charging in with swords drawn.”
Drejjen’s eyes narrowed, making him look like a wolf who had just seen his prey escape. However, his expression shifted almost immediately thereafter, becoming almost apologetic. Stroking his short, well-groomed mustache with one gauntleted hand, he considered Aryx. “You’re correct, of course. I knew only that some minotaur defied the orders of Lord Broedius. Had I known it was this one, I’d have understood.” He performed a sweeping and quite mocking bow for the minotaur. “My most humble apologies.”
Rand stared at Aryx. Not at all pleased, the minotaur slowly lowered his weapon back in place. Seph did likewise. Drejjen watched carefully, as if hoping for some excuse to unleash his men.
“You see?” the cleric said to all. “No harm done.” To the arrogant officer, Rand added, “Forgive us for distracting you from your work, Drejjen. I hope we will not keep you from it any longer.”
Now the knight smiled, an expression that raised Aryx’s hackles. “Oh, you’ve not wasted my time! In fact, you’ve made my job easier.”
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