Land of the minotaurs lh-4

by Richard A. Knaak

  "Where is the axe now?" Hecar asked.

  "Scurn has it. For some reason, he couldn't see his face reflected very well in it."

  Helati's sibling grunted. "I'm not surprised… but I guess he'll be a little taken aback when the axe disappears."

  "What about your little friend, Lad?" Ganth suddenly asked his son. "Think he'll be okay? I feel sorry for the little one. I've met some kender, and they're not too bad… from a distance. He's a good one, though, a real surprise. I hope he makes it to safety."

  "They haven't told us anything, which makes me think he's managed to avoid them. I can only hope Delbin gets out of Nethosak and heads west or south. If west, he can join up with his own kind again and disappear. I'm wondering, though, if maybe he might go to the human areas in Solamnia. He always liked the knights. He might very well ask them for help." Kaz shuddered, thinking what might happen if Lord Oswal or Sir Bennett took Delbin seriously. Would they try to send aid? He hoped not. That would only tangle the situation further.

  "He'd go there all by himself?" Hecar asked, astonished the kender was capable of such a trek.

  "You'd be unwise to underestimate him, Hecar. Scurn and his bunch have made that mistake. So have a lot of others since I've known Delbin. I cannot guarantee that he will make it, but he has a better chance than most."

  "A kender. He's that dedicated to you?"

  "He is. Never underestimate their kind. I know."

  "Well, his chances are better than ours right now, Lads, so what do you say we think on it while we wait for our meal… We do get one, don't we, Hecar?"

  The other minotaur grunted. "Some might call it a meal, Master Ganth. Some might even dare call it food. You'll see what I mean, but I'll warn you now not to smell it, or concentrate your hopes on the taste."

  Ganth and Kaz looked at one another. The former finally spoke. "We'd better see about trying to escape soon, then. Dying in combat in the circus is one thing, but dying from bad food would be an embarrassment to our ancestors."

  Delbin sat in the dark, in the small room he had discovered the night before, chewing on a piece of meat that had somehow found its way into his hands. Delbin Knotwillow had an amazing tendency to find just what he needed, just when he needed it.

  I hope I can get him out.

  Delbin was fairly certain that Kaz was somewhere near the circus. Had not Kaz said that matters of justice were decided there? Since he had been taken by the guard, he would probably go to the circus at some point. It sounded good to the kender, who was naive enough to discount a thousand other places the prisoners could have been taken. It also sounded good because Delbin wanted to see the circus anyway.

  Delbin had no way to accurately measure time, but he was certain the other minotaurs had long ago ceased searching this area. Still, to go out in the daytime might be too risky, even for him. Kaz would have thought so, and Delbin was trying to think like Kaz as much as possible.

  At least he did not have to fear discovery here. Delbin had found a small room in a storage building that was filled with equipment used for sailing… or so the kender had decided after a cursory examination of some half-hidden objects. Delbin had no idea what some of the other various items stored in the building were used for, but they had a military look to them.

  I have to go outside soon, Delbin decided. Something terrible might happen to Kaz. Yet, still he did not move. He needed a brilliant plan.

  He ate a piece of fruit that had accidentally fallen into his pouch, and wondered where all the food had come from. Fortune had smiled on him.

  His journey through the city had been a fun time, despite the danger. Delbin had come seen gully dwarves running around picking up trash, and had used their similar heights to fool a couple of his pursuers. In fact, any time he thought someone might have noticed him, he squatted low and put on a befuddled expression. No one had stopped him, so he was pretty sure they thought him a gully dwarf, though Delbin didn't think it was right that the poor creatures were forced to clean the streets in the first place.

  He thought about Kaz and his possible whereabouts. Kender liked to talk, and so, with no one else to talk to, he went over matters with himself, the most loyal audience any kender had. "He should be at that big arena they call a circus but which really isn't, because I always thought a circus was a fun place with animals and jesters, but this is supposed to be a really big place where a lot of people just fight one another, and sometimes they must fight animals, because there's supposed to be a menagerie there, too, but I don't think-"

  Delbin absently took another piece of fruit from his hoard and bit into it. Swallowing, he continued, "I'll bet they've got some cells really deep down below the big arena. They've probably got Kaz and Ganth prisoner down there. I'll bet if I went there, I could find a way to free them…"

  The kender thought hard, his expression as intense as possible for one of his kind. Delbin wanted to do his best to find Kaz and rescue him. Kaz would do the same for him, after all.

  "I'll have to wait until night, that's what I'll have to do, because then I can go looking in the circus without a bunch of big minotaurs bothering me. I can at least see what's there, so that I can think of a really good plan." The kender frowned. The topknot in his hair bobbed back and forth as he shook his head. "But Kaz would want me to stay away from there, because if I go there now and they see me, then maybe they might catch me-"

  Delbin straightened, steeling himself. Even if Kaz got mad at him, he had to try to help the minotaur. Ideas began to form, neat, ingenious ideas… at least in the eyes of the kender, that is.

  It would be so simple, so masterfully done… and even if there was an element of danger to it, the kender saw that only as added excitement flavoring this new, grand adventure.

  "Don't you worry, Kaz," he whispered into the dark, eyes shining in anticipation. "I'm coming to save you!"

  Chapter 9

  A Secret Prisoner

  "I am disappointed in you, Captain Scurn."

  Scurn shivered as he faced the high priest with the news that the blasted kender was still at large. Scurn was no coward and, despite his exalted position, the high priest was more a scholarly type than a great warrior. In single combat the soldier was certain he could easily defeat the figure looking down on him. Of course, that was an opinion he would never dare voice to others.

  The high priest was not alone. Acolytes lined the path to the dais, strong sons of Sargas, who Scurn knew would willingly throw themselves at him unarmed if their master so commanded. They stared straight ahead, but the captain knew very well they watched his every move.

  "Holiness, the guard is still looking. It's only a kender, anyway. A mischief-maker, nothing more! My commander-"

  "Has nothing to do with this, Captain. You presented yourself to my subordinates as someone striving to rise in rank and who saw, wisely, that such a path must be harmonious with my goals. You have benefitted from my goodwill, but in return you have not given what I required of you." The high priest leaned forward angrily. "I want the kender found. This creature is loyal to Kaziganthi. Not only might he cause unnecessary and politically embarrassing trouble in some kenderish attempt to redeem his comrade, but it has occurred to me that he of all of them might be used against the prisoner. This Kaziganthi sees himself as something of a champion to the small, I think. Therefore, I want him found. He cannot have escaped the city. The gates are too closely guarded. Find him. Do you understand that, or shall I endeavor to find out if any of your men can do better?"

  "No, Your Holiness. I'll find the little vermin. I will."

  Leaning back, the high priest regained his composure. "You had better." He waved a hand, dismissing the subject. "You will be pleased to know that on the morrow the criminals will face separate challenges that shall give them a chance to recover the honor of their clan… and shall put an end to at least one of them if Kaziganthi does not cooperate."

  "Tomorrow?" Scurn was unable to hide his surprise. The leader of the temp
le worked in swift fashion. "Which one?"

  "That is undecided, but I believe it will be the one called Hecar. His usefulness is at an end, but as the brother of Kaziganthi's mate, his death will have a profound impact. It may be enough."

  "That's good news, Holiness."

  "It will not be such good news if you find yourself joining them, Captain. I still desire the kender. If necessary, I will have Kaz's family and friends executed one by one until he sees the error of his judgment." The high priest steepled his fingers and sighed. "The fate of the cause outweighs the regret I feel for being forced to such dire actions. Kaziganthi is a symbol to many, Captain, a symbol that can still be wielded for the greater glory of the minotaur race… but only if he can be turned."

  Scurn got the hint. "I'll double the number of soldiers involved in the search. By tomorrow, we'll have the kender… though why the creature is important to Kaz, I'll never understand."

  "You do not need to understand. That is my concern. Simply find this valuable little creature. And do so very soon, lest you share the fate of the criminals in the field."

  The captain swallowed. Then, realizing he had just, been dismissed, Scurn bowed and quickly retreated from the chamber.

  When he was gone, the high priest looked down on his subordinates. As one they turned their gazes to him, respect and fear combined in their eyes.

  "What word from our own?"

  The acolyte nearest his left side replied, "They find nothing so far, Holiness. No sign has been seen of the kender."

  "He has certainly not taken himself from Nethosak through magical means. I think I would have been able to sense that." The high priest allowed himself a slight look of frustration. "Not that I would expect magic of a kender."

  An acolyte across from the first spoke. "Holiness, there have been rumors."

  "Rumors of what?"

  "That a kender has been sighted in the streets. These rumors have not been verified. No trace of any such creature has been discovered-"

  "But it is not the type of sighting to arise without substance." He rubbed his jaw in contemplation. "I wonder… yes… the kender would probably do that. If he's as loyal as reported, general mischief would be less likely. It's more possible he will seek to emulate his brave friend. This is good. We shall let the kender wander about."

  "Master?" asked the second acolyte, not understanding.

  "If the guard and our own cannot find the kender, perhaps the kender will reveal his whereabouts to us." The high priest actually smiled. "A determined kender will generally find what it seeks, and this particular one, I think, seeks his minotaur comrade. I will have notices put up, reminding all that the criminals of the state will be sent into the circus on the morrow."

  "But how will this help us find the kender, Holiness?" asked the first acolyte.

  The high priest grew visibly annoyed. "The kender has proven through his determination that he cares about his companion, the great minotaur warrior. He will, in his own way, seek to free the minotaur. We must see to it that he is encouraged to investigate the circus just in case he does not understand they are being held there. A way must even be left open for him, the better to trap the insipid creature. The guards at the circus must be forewarned. You, Merriq, for being so inquisitive, have volunteered to lead a group of our own people in searching the circus from top to bottom, after which you will coordinate the successful capture of this pack rat."

  Merriq bowed and asked no further questions, realizing he had already pushed his luck.

  The high priest rose and leaned over his desk. "I think perhaps that some of you have grown lax in your work and, perhaps, your faith. We have been entrusted from time immemorial with the heavy task of keeping the vision strong, of preaching to the masses the dream of destiny set down by Sargas when he took a few worthy ogres and transformed them into the first minotaurs. The Supreme Circle is the arm, making certain the empire functions on a physical level. The emperor is the heart, the symbol of perfection that all strive for in battle. We, however, are the soul, and that is the most important of the three. If the people lose faith in their destiny, we have failed. The arm will grow weak and the heart will cease to beat. That is why you must all be strong, determined in your tasks and belief. There can be no room for the weak."

  The acolytes nodded, but remained silent.

  Stepping around the desk, the high priest raised his hands high in supplication to the sky. "We stand as warriors in the circus of the soul. We must triumph, or our entire race will fall into the degeneration that befell the ogres. Merriq, you will begin the litany."

  The senior acolyte bowed, then, clearing his throat, began, "We have been enslaved, but have always thrown off our shackles…"

  Around him, the others repeated his words. All closed their eyes and, imitating the high priest, raised their hands skyward.

  The figure on the dais lowered his hands and watched those below, satisfied that there would be no hesitation, no matter what commands he gave them. They were dedicated to the dream, though they did not know he had altered that dream. They would do anything in the name of Sargas, but in reality it was he they worshipped. He was their god, even if they did not realize it.

  Before long, however, everyone would know… and by then it would be too late.

  Night crept forth, but in the cells below the circus it was hard to tell the difference between darkness and light. Only the change in guards and the fact that they had been fed at least an hour before gave Kaz and his companions any notion of the late hour.

  "I feel as if I've been rotting down here forever," Hecar grumbled. "If you'd not come when you did, it's very likely I'd have lost my next challenge simply to put an end to this infernal monotony."

  "That's no way to talk. A warrior must always look to victory."

  "This place has a way of 'sapping any such enthusiasm, Master Ganth. Trust me."

  "We still have to wait a few hours more. They'll relax their guard by then. No one has ever escaped from these cells." Kaz tried to make his voice encouraging. "We will be the first."

  Ganth grunted. "Maybe you'll tell me how we'll escape even if you get your wonder weapon, Lad. You won't be able to swing it too well from inside here."

  "You don't know the power of Honor's Face, Father. Trust me."

  "I promise not to leave your side just so you can prove me wrong." The older minotaur chuckled for a moment, then grew silent.

  More time passed. Kaz spent the time twisting his wrists this way and that, trying to find the best angles for what he planned. He could succeed with such a mad plan only because of the magical axe. Any other weapon would be either too dull and blunt or too unmanageable. Only his magical battle-axe had the ability to cut through almost anything as if it were water.

  He had a suspicion that Polik would be in the audience in the arena tomorrow. He knew the Polik of old well enough to know that the emperor would want to watch the death of his onetime rival personally. That suited Kaz just fine. He had learned to throw his axe great distances with surprising accuracy. After that, the minotaurs would need a new emperor… something that, in his opinion, was long overdue.

  Of course, if the high priest was also present, Polik might survive after all. Kaz had a fair notion of who was the true power, and if he had only one chance to throw his axe, Jopfer would be the one.

  The hallway outside suddenly resounded with the clatter of arms and the marching of feet. Beside him, Ganth stirred and Hecar, who had been slumbering, woke. They listened in consternation as guards continued through the hall.

  "All corridors must be checked! All cells lit! Let no space large enough to hide a rat be left unsearched!"

  "What in the name of Kiri-Jolith is going on out there?" Hecar whispered. "Why are they suddenly so active?"

  "I don't know," Kaz replied, "but it's some kind of search. Maybe a prisoner has escaped." He snorted. "Couldn't have happened at a worse time."

  "Maybe they'll go away soon and things'll calm dow
n, Lad."

  "Maybe." This was no ordinary search, however. It sounded as if they were stationing men as well as searching the cells.

  Sure enough, the door to their cell flew open and a pair of the State Guard's men marched inside, swords ready. Each also bore a torch.

  "You should've warned us you were coming, lads," called Ganth. "We would've been better prepared. Sorry there's nothing to eat or drink."

  "Quiet, you!" snarled one of the newcomers. Two of them prodded at dark corners with their swords, then double-checked with their torches.

  "I'd be more careful," Kaz added. "The rats don't take kindly to being disturbed."

  One of the guards gave him a dark look. "The only rat we're looking for has got two legs, and we'll find him yet."

  The guards retreated from the cell. The door was once more bolted shut. However, activity still continued outside.

  "What in the name of infernal Sargas is going on out there, Kaz?" Hecar strained to see. The occasional head or axe went by in a blur.

  "I don't know, but pray they quiet down and go away soon or we may not be able to try to escape. Even Honor's Face won't be enough to deal with all those soldiers."

  An hour later, however, it was clear that the searchers were not going to leave for quite some time. Kaz fidgeted. He knew how much more difficult it would be to try to enable any of them to escape if they had to do so from the arena itself. But there seemed no choice.

  So be it, then. I'll do what I can for them and die myself if need be. Kaz grimaced. And to think I swore I'd never let myself die in the circus, not for the pleasure of the emperor!

  Kaz swore a new oath then, one in which he vowed to make certain that neither Polik nor Jopfer would find pleasure in his death.

  The night continued to dwindle. Dawn had to be only two or three hours away. Kaz and the others had just about given up hope that the search would end when the halls suddenly grew quiet and the torchlight dimmed. Hecar nudged Ganth, who had dozed off. Kaz twisted in an attempt to see a little more of the hallway, but the bit of blank wall he could make out told him nothing. There might be a legion of sentries out there, and then again there might not be.