“KHAN-TRAL DEALT THE FINAL BLOW, SO THE KILLS ARE HIS!” the swordsman shouted as he turned and winked at Anna.
Sobak met Anna’s gaze with a wide smile and mouthed “Wow!” and turned to admire the handsome warrior who had saved her.
“KHAN-TRAL WILL HANDLE THIS,” he said as he stormed into the cabin. There was a commotion, and the old woman climbed awkwardly out of a window, pushed from behind by her husband, who disappeared out of view back inside and then flew out the window himself. Then there was silence.
The warrior emerged from the cabin carrying a dead Pointee in each hand and one over his shoulder. He dumped them on top of the other three. Then he lifted Sobak off the shuffler. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his chest, and kissed him on the lips. The warrior politely pulled her away, set her down on her feet, and nudged toward her mother, who ran to meet her with tears in her eyes.
Her father surveyed the carnage all around in shock, and stumbled toward the warrior. Anna and Lamb emerged from the barn and rushed to join them.
“We are in your debt-” the old man started to say sheepishly to the giant before him.
“NONSENSE,” the warrior shouted, and Anna realized that that was his normal speaking voice. “THERE IS NO NEED FOR GRATITUDE. KHAN-TRAL’S PURPOSE IS TO SLAY THESE FOUL BEAST-MEN!”
“You are Khan-Tral,” Anna said, “the companion of Deb-Roh?”
“KHAN-TRAL AND DEB-ROH ARE BLOOD BROTHERS,” the warrior shouted, smiling as he looked over Anna. “BUT THEY HAVE NOT TRAVELED TOGETHER SINCE DEB RAN AFOUL OF THE WIZARD.”
“You mean Gho-Bazh,” Lamb said. A brief look of annoyance shot across Khan-Tral’s face as he turned from Anna to Lamb, but his infectious geniality and confidence returned immediately.
“KHAN-TRAL IS NOT A FRIEND OF THE WIZARD WHO HAS ENCHANTED HIS FRIEND AND FELLOW TRAVELER. HIS JOURNEYS HAVE BEEN LONELY AND DULL THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.” He smiled back at Anna again. “UNTIL TODAY. PERHAPS THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOOM BRINGS A CHANGE OF FORTUNE WITH HER.”
Sobak, forgotten by the others, huffed with disappointment at the handsome warrior’s clear interest in her older sister. Khan-Tral looked down, smiled to the girl, and tousled her hair. She was not amused.
“Nevertheless,” her father continued, “we thank the gods for sending you to us.” He looked disappointingly toward Anna and Lamb, “Thank you for killing these cursed beast-men before they destroyed our home.” Anna opened her mouth to speak, but Khan-Tral spoke first.
“KHAN-TRAL COULD NOT HAVE DEALT WITH THE FOE WERE IT NOT FOR THE QUICK THINKING OF YOUR DAUGHTER AND THE MARKSMAN FROM THE BARN.” He took Lamb’s arm in a gesture of camaraderie. “HAD THEY NOT SEEN TO THE GIRL, KHAN-TRAL WOULD HAVE HAD TO DELAY HIS ASSAULT UNTIL THEY WERE SAFE.”
“Still,” the woman said, standing behind Sobak with her hands on the girl’s shoulders, “we owe you our gratitude. You must accept a meal from us.” The warrior glanced from the woman, to the man, to Anna, to Sobek, and finally to Lamb, and then shrugged.
“IF IT PLEASES YOU,” he said genially, “KHAN-TRAL WILL DINE, SO LONG AS THIS PRETTY YOUNG ONE SITS WITH ME.” Sobak blushed and giggled, then broke free of her mother’s grip, took the warrior’s hand, and tried to lead him toward the door. “BUT FIRST WE MUST DEAL WITH THIS MESS.”
◆
Khan-Tral insisted on carrying the bodies of the dead beast-men across the road and up onto the Endless Barrens of None. There, he stood in silence with his arms crossed as the corpses burned brightly just before the sun rose. Anna and Lamb stood at the lip of the rise and watched him.
For the first time, the enormous warrior was silent. Lamb kept his bow at the ready and scanned the wasteland before them for any signs of trouble. Anna found herself admiring Khan-Tral’s broad shoulders and bulging muscles. His shoulder-length black hair blew agreeably in the warm breeze. She sighed with a smile.
Khan-Tral turned toward her at the sound and smiled lustily. He motioned for her to join him by the pyre. Anna blushed and giggled quietly. Then she padded over to the warrior.
“Khan-Tral is pleased that you accepted his offer,” the warrior said loudly, but not shouting, with a knowing smile.
“So you do have a lower volume,” Anna replied, meeting his gaze with a smile of her own.
“How do you find yourself under his control?” Khan-Tral gestured toward Lamb, who remained concealed at the lip of the plain, and then at her wrist cuffs. “It does not suit you.”
“I am not his property,” Anna replied quietly, but with irritation. “We are traveling together to do a job!” She crossed her arms. “Why does everyone think I am his slave? Do I appear to be servile?”
“There are slaves,” he said, peering down into her eyes, “who serve as more than just companions. They are given great latitude. Some even have slaves of their own.”
“I am not a slave,” Anna said, clearly annoyed now. She heard Lamb approaching quickly. “Nab and I have been sent on an errand in exchange for our freedom.”
“An errand for who?” Khan-Tral asked curiously.
“We have been tasked by Queen Sif of Brynner with killing the sorcerer, Gho-Bazh,” Lamb said abruptly. Anna detected jealousy in his voice and noticed that the doctor was standing very close to her. She found herself pleasantly amused.
“You would seek to kill the wizard?” Khan-Tral chuckled. Then he thought for a moment. “And you would go to his palace to do so?” He doubled over with laughter.
“Yes,” Lamb replied in a tone of superiority. Anna looked at him in curiosity.
“We are actually seeking to rescue Deb-Roh,” Anna said. “Queen Sif’s mission was merely a means to an end.”
Khan-Tral sobered and scrutinized Anna, and then Lamb. He kept his gaze on the two for a long moment, and then grinned.
“You would release Khan-Tral’s blood brother from the wizard?” he said with a smile. Then his expression turned sour. “And how would you seek to dispel the enchantments that hold Deb-Roh prisoner?”
“We have not worked that out yet,” Anna said.
“Our understanding is that killing the wizard will break his spells,” Lamb replied pointedly. “Once Gho-Bazh has fallen by my bow, Deb-Roh will be free.” Anna found herself attracted to Lamb’s confidence and posturing.
“Then Khan-Tral will lend Nightbane, the Razor of Delusions, to the task.” He drew his sword, knelt before Anna, held it out before him in both hands, and smiled at her.
Then he stood abruptly, sheathed the sword, gave Lamb a look of superiority, and returned toward the escarpment and the cabin.
◆
The meal was awkward. Anna sat next to Lamb and found herself glancing at Khan-Tral, much to annoyance of Sobak, who was sitting next to him. At the same time, Lamb continually closed the gap between him and Anna until they were touching. The tension in the room was amplified by the lack of any conversation.
Anna slid away from Lamb and broke the silence. “What brought you here?”
“KHAN-TRAL GOES WHERE THE ROAD TAKES HIM.” As soon as they had left the Endless Barrens of None, he had resumed shouting.
“No,” Anna said. “I mean what brought you down this road, to this farm, at this time?”
“FATE,” the warrior replied simply, but then added, “AND I SAW A BAND OF BEAST-MEN COMING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY STARTED SNEAKING ABOUT WHEN THEY GOT CLOSE TO THIS HOUSE.”
“So the Pointees were coming here,” Lamb said suspiciously. “Could they have known where we were?”
“So now you have angered the Red Wizard!” the old man said. “What more is there to your tale?”
“THEY INTEND TO KILL HIM AND RESCUE DEB-ROH,” Khan-Tral shouted conversationally. “A WORTHY QUEST! NIGHTBANE, THE RAZOR OF DELUSIONS, WILL FEAST ON THEIR FOES.”
“You have brought the wrath of the Red Wizard on our house,” Nygof’s father growled. “First we have to abandon our lives because of you to live alone in this wasteland, and now the Red Wizard, of all people has sen
t his soldiers to attack us. So we must again find a new safe haven elsewhere.” He glared at Anna. “Where are we to go, Nygof? The Endless Barrens? We can’t go to a city! We will be found there for sure.”
“FEAR NOT,” the warrior shouted as he stood and drew his sword. “KHAN-TRAL AND HIS COMPANIONS WILL KILL GHO-BAZH AND END THE RED WIZARD’S TYRANNY!”
“We are not your companions,” Lamb said pointedly as he stood. “It is our mission and we are letting you accompany us.”
“ONLY BECAUSE YOU NEED KHAN-TRAL’S SWORD, ARCHER!” Lamb noted his glance toward Anna. “WE WILL SEE WHO CLAIMS THE PRIZE!”
“Enough!” Anna said, standing herself. “We must work together if this mission is to succeed. It matters not who kills Gho-Bazh so long as Deb-Roh is released from his prison.” She turned toward the old woman. “Thank you for sheltering and feeding us. We will take our leave now.”
Before anyone else could speak, Anna walked outside and slammed the door, which flew open again after slamming Sobak in the face. Her nose bled as she ran to Anna and embraced her.
“You can’t leave me again, Nygof,” the girl cried. “You only just got here. And if we have to leave, you won’t know where to find us.” She sobbed, leaving wet spots where her eyes and mouth pressed into Anna’s shirt. Anna hugged Sobak back.
“I have to go,” she said compassionately. “We have a job to do,” she paused, noted Lamb carrying her coat through the door, “and we are not welcome here.” She held the girl at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “I will find you, wherever you are,” she lied. She never expected to see the girl again, but she needed to escape that house.
“Do you promise?” Sobak said through her tears.
“We will meet again,” Anna said with a hopeful expression. Sobak wiped the tears from her eyes, but then embraced Anna again.
“I love you, Nygof.” Anna choked up. She did not have any real siblings, but this felt so real. She kissed the top of Sobak’s head and separated from her. Anna walked toward the barn, following the men, but turned back to see Sobak, now flanked by her stoic parents, watching mutely.
Chapter 18
?
They traveled up the road in silence for several hours. Both of the men pressed increasingly closer to Anna as time passed. On two occasions, Khal-Tral and Lamb argued over who detected an oncoming wagon, and at Anna’s insistence, the trio hid in the neighboring foliage until they had gone by.
The continued posturing made both of them less attractive to Anna, who began to wonder where her lust had come from in the first place. She had never been attracted to the doctor, and the muscle-bound warrior was so conceited that she could feel it if she concentrated on ignoring his physique. Finally she had had enough.
“I do not know what is happening here-” she started to say.
“Khan-Tral thinks it is quite clear,” Khan-Tral said seductively.
“I doubt that,” Lamb retorted as he moved his shuffler closer to the swordsman.
“Enough already,” she spat, putting herself and her mount between them. “I do not know what is happening here,” she repeated angrily, “but the flirtation and competition must stop now!”
She looked from Khan-Tral to Lamb. The warrior bore an expression of amused disbelief. The doctor was still focused on the swordsman.
“I am not interested in either of you. We have to work together on this mission. That is all.” She turned suddenly to Khan-Tral, raising her finger, “And there will be nothing more after it is completed!”
For the first time since they had met him, the swordsman was speechless. Lamb was also silent and bore a hurt expression.
Anna softened and put her hand on Lamb’s cheek. “Harry, we are the closest of friends and colleagues, but that is all. We must get Brian home to his mother.”
She turned to Khan-Tral. “We need your help to rescue Deb-Roh. But I am not a prize to be won.” She put up her finger to silence his interruption. “We do not belong here,” she said, indicating Lamb and herself. “We need to find Brian Teplow and bring him home with us. But we don’t even know where to begin.”
“Who commands you to kill the Red Wizard?”
“Queen Sif of Brynner had me imprisoned,” Anna said, displaying the irons on her wrists. “Nab secured my release in exchange for killing Gho-Bazh. We escaped our minders.”
“SIF IS THE CAUSE OF YOUR TORMENT?” Anna nodded. “THAT WOMAN IS THE ROOT OF THE RIFT BETWEEN MY BROTHER AND I.”
“You know Sif?” Lamb asked, his jealousy renewed.
“KHAN-TRAL AND DEB-ROH FOUND HER CRAWLING THROUGH THE ENDLESS BARRENS OF NONE. THEY HELPED SAVED HER FROM THE BEAST-MEN, BUT SIF ENSORCELLED DEB-ROH AND DROVE THEM APART. WHEN KHAN-TRAL’S BROTHER WAS IN GHO-BAZH’S CLUTCHES, THE RED WIZARD CAST SIF ASIDE, AND NOW SHE IS AN ABOMINATION.”
“You met her when she first arrived here,” Lamb said softly.
“She was a beautiful woman when they found her. She changed into that creature after Gho-Bazh got his prize.”
“So she was a lure to capture Deb-Roh,” Anna said speculatively. “Perhaps you know other details that could be useful to us. What can you tell us about Kreipsche and Gho-Bazh’s palace?”
◆
“I knew he looked familiar,” O’Malley cried after concentrating on the muscle-bound swordsman. “I killed that man at the agent’s apartment.”
“It would appear that his counterpart survives here,” the voice from the cylinder said.
“He summoned a monster to attack me, but I shot him before it arrived. His name was Gulden.”
“He seems to be assisting your friends now.”
“Indeed.” O’Malley was curious about the juxtaposition of the players as compared to the accounts of Brian Teplow. “If I understand correctly, Anna and Harry have been transported to Brian Teplow’s subconscious.”
“That is not correct. They are in an actual realm of his creation.”
“But he is the author of all,” the priest asserted.
“As you have said previously, people and events have been altered from Teplow’s account. You said that his allies have become adversaries. Perhaps the opposition is now on their side.”
“Or they are on the wrong side-” O’Malley mused. Perhaps the goals of the Junazhi were contrary to Brian’s. What if Anna and Lamb were inadvertently making things worse?
“The Junazhi are impartial,” Bierce said. O’Malley had forgotten that the mind in the can could read his surface thoughts. “They know nothing of young Teplow’s intentions or desires.”
“Are you certain of that?” O’Malley queried. “How do you know you are completely clued in?”
“You raise a valid conjecture, Father O’Malley. It is possible that the Junazhi have concealed information from me. However, my interpretation of how their collective mind works is that concealing thought is beyond them. Still, it is possible that there are things pertaining to this endeavor that I myself do not understand. I will pursue this inquiry.”
With that, the lights of the sensory device attached to the cylinder started flashing rapidly. The pulses were so bright and quick that O’Malley had to look away before they made his head hurt. Instead, he turned back to the image Lamb was providing.
◆
Over the next few days, Khan-Tral told the others what he knew of the Red Wizard and his kingdom. Kreipsche was not a city as much as it was an enormous fortress. It ran parallel to the River of Misgiving, which flowed into the Sea of Plenty. The walls of the fortress were thirty arm-spans tall and twenty arm-spans thick.
The palace was a massive keep in the center of the fortress complex. It was also surrounded by an equally high wall, with an open courtyard on all sides. The square tower was five stories tall. Untold magics defended the keep itself, but the fortress was guarded by a legion of beast-men armed with the energy sticks.
“Do you have any knowledge as to where Deb-Roh might be kept?” Lamb asked. Since Anna’s declaration, the two had become mo
re constructive than adversarial.
“And do you know of any ways into the fortress where we might not be seen,” Anna added.
“THE RED WIZARD SEES DEB-ROH AS A GREAT PRIZE,” Khan-Tral said. “KHAN-TRAL HAS HEARD RUMORS THAT HIS BROTHER IS ON DISPLAY IN THE THRONE ROOM.”
“On display?” Lamb asked.
“SO HE HAS HEARD. KHAN-TRAL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.”
“That means that we will need to go to the throne room and find out,” Anna said flatly. “A dungeon might have been easier.”
“Indeed,” the swordsman mused quietly. “If he were in the dungeon, we could use the catacombs to get inside.”
“There are catacombs?” Anna asked.
“Why yes. But they don’t go into the keep, only to the dungeons.”
“But they would get us within the walls,” Lamb said, matching Anna’s enthusiasm.
“True,” Khan-Tral considered. “Of course, they go into a cell. We would then need to escape from that. The tunnels were designed for getting out, not getting in.” He thought for a moment. “That’s assuming that they have not been blocked, and that we can get past the traps and monsters that lurk there.”
“How much longer would these catacombs take than continuing on the road?” Anna asked.
“IT MIGHT BE QUICKER,” Khan-Tral said. “IF WE TAKE THE ROAD, WE HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE NORTHERN END OF THE GROANING SLOPES OF WOE.” He indicated the mountains that rose steeply on their left just beyond the narrow band of trees. “THE CATACOMBS RUN THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS THEMSELVES.” He considered the route. “YES, KHAN-TRAL THINKS THE CATACOMBS COULD BE MUCH FASTER.”
“What kinds of traps and monsters?” Lamb asked cautiously.
“NOTHING WE THREE CAN’T HANDLE!” the warrior replied, exuding confidence.
“And these catacombs go through the mountains?” Anna asked. She had been on several archaeological expeditions in mountainous terrain, and mountain ranges tended to actually be wider than they were high in most cases. The few exceptions she knew of were where some of the peaks had collapsed into a neighboring sea.
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