by John Marco
‘Don’t even think about it,’ he whispered. ‘Don’t even move.’
While Nagrah argued, Alazrian let his eyes skip over the warriors. All wore jackets of grey tied with tar-black sashes, and all bore the same duel-bladed weapon; a jiiktar, Falger had called it. But most remarkable of all was the tattoo each of them bore on their cheeks. Burned into the face of every warrior was a black bird, the same symbol flying from the banners in the camp. A raven, Alazrian guessed. Suddenly he was sorry he had come; not only to the camp but to Lucel-Lor at all. Where is Biagio now? he wondered.
Then another figure bolted out of the camp. This one was thinner than the others, with an emaciated, wild face and long filthy hair. The man scrambled out to them, and Alazrian realized in horror that he wasn’t Triin at all.
‘My God,’ exclaimed Jahl. ‘Who is that?’
‘Rook,’ said Nagrah. ‘Good. He will help us.’
‘Rook?’ asked Alazrian. ‘Who’s he?’
The warriors stopped arguing as the wildman shouldered past them, coming to a skidding stop in front of Jahl. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open.
‘Sweet Mother of God,’ he cried. ‘You’re Narens!’
Alazrian and Jahl glanced at each other, bewildered.
‘Yes,’ said Jahl. ‘We are. What are you?’
The man fell to his knees before Jahl and snatched up his hand. Disgusted, Jahl tried to pull away from the insistent grip.
‘Take me back with you, I beg you! Get me out of here!’
‘Who the hell are you?’ Jahl pulled free his hand, but the man wrapped himself around his legs.
‘Please!’ he cried. ‘Get me away from these savages!’
‘Nagrah, who is this?’ insisted Alazrian.
‘This is Rook,’ repeated the cunning-man. Gently he kicked at the man, trying to dislodge him from Jahl’s leg. ‘Get up, dog. We have business with your master.’
‘No, please, listen!’ He released Jahl’s leg and instead took hold of his belt. ‘You have to get me out of here. You have to take me back with you. Help me, goddamn it, please . . .’
Jahl whirled on Nagrah. ‘What is this? Who is this man?’
‘He is Rook. A slave.’
‘Slave?’ questioned Alazrian. ‘A Naren?’
‘Captured by the warlord during—’
‘I am Naren!’ cried Rook. ‘I was stranded here during the war. Praxtin-Tar keeps me as his slave. But I’m not a slave. I’m a Naren!’
‘Obviously,’ spat Jahl. Alazrian could see the rage building on his face. He turned to Nagrah, heedless of the warriors. ‘What sort of devil is this Praxtin-Tar? To enslave a man so is—’
‘Hia sar!’ barked the lead warrior. He poked at Jahl with his jiiktar, silencing him. Nagrah stepped up and angrily batted at the weapon.
‘Eesay!’ he hissed at the warrior. ‘Praxtin-Tar j’tira miko!’
There was more back and forth between them. Rook took hold of Alazrian’s leg and listened, panting nervously. What he heard astonished him. He looked up at Alazrian in disbelief.
‘You’re looking for Praxtin-Tar?’ he asked.
‘You understand them?’
Rook nodded. ‘I speak their filth, or most of it. But why? You must run from here! Go now, while the cunning-man can protect you. Take me with you!’
‘We cannot,’ said Jahl. ‘We have business with the warlord.’
‘Business?’ railed Rook. ‘What the hell . . . ?’
Alazrian leaned down and whispered, ‘Rook, can you translate, tell me what they’re saying?’
‘Boy, this is madness. You have to leave, right now!’
‘Shhh,’ urged Alazrian. The warriors were watching him. ‘What are they saying?’
Exasperated, Rook took a breath and listened. ‘The cunning-man wants to take you to see Praxtin-Tar,’ he explained. He bit his lip as he struggled to decipher the argument. ‘He says Praxtin-Tar has need of you, that you are very important.’ Rook glanced up at Alazrian. ‘Are you important?’
‘Stop asking questions,’ hissed Jahl. ‘What else are they saying?’
‘It is difficult,’ said Rook. He cocked his head. ‘They do not trust you.’
‘Make them listen, Nagrah,’ Jahl urged. ‘We have to see the warlord.’
One of the warriors kicked him, sending Jahl sprawling to the dirt. Alazrian hurried over to him. Jahl spat at the warrior’s feet, about to spring into a fighting stance.
‘No!’ ordered Nagrah, holding out his hand. ‘Do not move, Jahl Rob. Do nothing.’
‘Son of a bitch,’ growled Jahl, barely holding himself back. ‘You want to fight, you Triin trash?’
‘Quiet!’ roared Nagrah. He whirled on the warrior who’d struck Jahl, taking up fistfuls of his jacket. A burning stream of Triin curses flowed as he shook the warrior. The warrior dropped his jiiktar and held up his hands. Nagrah sneered and pushed him away. Then he turned on Rook. ‘You will take us to your master, slave,’ he commanded. He gestured to the warriors. ‘And if any of these heretics try to stop us, you will tell Praxtin-Tar that they have robbed him of a great service today. Then Praxtin-Tar will kill them.’ He repeated the words in Triin.
The warriors all lowered their weapons. Alazrian helped Rook to his feet.
‘Nagrah,’ he whispered uncertainly, ‘will they listen to you?’
The cunning-man straightened his saffron robes. ‘They know me. I have some influence with the warlord.’ He motioned to Rook. ‘You. Take us to Praxtin-Tar.’
Rook obeyed. ‘This way,’ he said. ‘Praxtin-Tar is with his men.’ But when they had taken only a few paces, the slave grabbed hold of Alazrian’s arm and whispered, ‘Help me, boy. You must get me out of here.’
Alazrian pulled free. ‘I have to speak to the warlord first.’
‘The warlord won’t listen to you! You have to help me . . .’
Nagrah slapped Rook’s head. ‘Do not talk, Naren. We are not here for your sorry self.’
Alazrian was mortified. Nagrah seemed to have the same disdain for Narens as the warriors. He fell back a pace, away from Rook, and walked beside Jahl as the slave took them toward the heart of the camp. The warriors on horseback rode at their flanks, looking down contemptuously, while other men and slaves stared at them as they approached. Triin children peeked out from behind their mothers’ skirts, and women with weary faces glared at them over wash basins, their grey eyes lifeless. Were these more slaves? Alazrian wondered. He had already had a taste of Praxtin-Tar’s harshness, and didn’t doubt the warlord would enslave women.
When they came at last to a huddle of cheering men, Rook stopped and pointed. ‘Praxtin-Tar is there,’ he said to Nagrah. ‘In the middle. Look.’
Several dozen warriors were arranged in a circle, shouting at something in the center. Alazrian heard the cheers and cries, and what sounded like an animal growling. Nagrah pushed through the crowd, shoving the warriors aside. Alazrian and Jahl followed. Inside the circle was a spitting cat, as big as a tiger and as white as snow. A long snout was drawn back in a snarl, revealing rows of razor teeth. Its claws were bared and dug into the dirt as it sat back on its haunches, ready to pounce, and its yellow eyes tracked its tormentor as he circled, unarmed except for a length of weighted rope. The man moved like a dancer, slowly, hardly breathing. He wore the ash-grey of Praxtin-Tar’s warriors, but his jacket was torn to tatters, and his bare chest bore the bleeding scars from the beast’s paws.
‘That’s him,’ said Rook. ‘Praxtin-Tar.’
‘What’s he doing?’ asked Jahl.
Rook sneered. ‘Proving himself.’
Nagrah shook his head and sighed. ‘That is a man who wishes to die.’
Together they watched as Praxtin-Tar stalked the swaying cat – a snow leopard, Alazrian guessed. Known as man-eaters, snow leopards were sought for their pelts by hunters and generally shunned by everyone else. Everyone, it seemed, but Praxtin-Tar. Alazrian watched as the warlord awaited the beast’s attack, moving
his hands slowly back and forth. The leopard eyed him uncertainly, then its mouth opened in a hissing roar. Sweat fell from the warlord’s forehead, drenching his chest. He began swinging the rope overhead. Again the cat growled, swiping a lightning-quick paw. Praxtin-Tar backed away. The crowd of warriors laughed.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Alazrian. ‘What’s he doing?’
‘A challenge of strength,’ replied Nagrah. ‘Praxtin-Tar has tried for months to take Falindar, and he has failed. Perhaps he is proving himself to his men.’
‘How stupid,’ said Jahl.
‘But he’ll be killed!’ exclaimed Alazrian.
Nagrah chuckled. ‘I doubt it.’
Before Alazrian could reply, Praxtin-Tar made his move. He sprang for the leopard, holding the rope between both hands. The cat dodged the attack and brought up a blinding paw, raking the warlord across the arm. Praxtin-Tar howled in rage. Blood oozed from the wound, yet he kept moving. His long arms coiled out like cobras, ensnaring the cat as he barreled into it. Man and beast careened across the ring, smashing into a stand of warriors, sending them scattering. The crowd cheered; Praxtin-Tar howled. He was on his back with the cat against his chest, fighting to hold the beast as it thrashed, swiping its paws and snapping its fanged jaws. Praxtin-Tar rolled over, cursing and grunting as he worked the rope around the leopard’s throat. His hands fell in range of the jaws and the teeth came down, slashing his palm. More blood flew. Praxtin-Tar dropped the rope and brought his arm across the leopard’s windpipe. With all his weight he fell upon the cat, crushing it. The leopard ceased thrashing. Its eyes bulged as it struggled for breath. The warriors went wild. Bloody and exhausted, Praxtin-Tar held his choke hold, every vein in his neck swelling. But he did not kill the beast. There was no snapping of bone, no final, violent twist of its neck. Slowly, with monumental effort, the warlord waited for the beast to lose consciousness. A minute later the eyes shut. The head collapsed into the dirt; the leopard lay still.
‘Is it dead?’ asked Alazrian, horrified.
Rook scowled at Praxtin-Tar from the safety of the crowd. ‘Praxtin-Tar never kills them. He merely masters them.’
‘You mean he does this often?’ asked Jahl. ‘I don’t believe it.’
‘There’s a lot here you won’t believe. You should not have come.’
Praxtin-Tar knelt beside the unmoving leopard, grimacing as he studied his wounds. Then he tossed back his head and screamed, thrusting a fist skyward. His men stomped their feet and sang in wild praise. A few of them swarmed around the unconscious cat, fixing a collar around its neck and a muzzle over its mouth. The warlord got unsteadily to his feet. He was slick with blood and sweat, and his jacket hung in tatters from his shoulders. A series of wounds striated his chest, dripping blood down his belly and onto his thighs. He staggered forward, favoring his right leg and tucking his wounded hand beneath his armpit. Yet on his face was the most remarkable smile, as if the pain meant nothing and the adoration of his men could heal his many cuts.
Then he saw the strangers. His brow furrowed for a moment, his eyes skipping over the group. He looked at Rook questioningly, then at Nagrah. When his gaze fell finally on Alazrian, the boy felt his soul shrivel. Praxtin-Tar’s scowl was hard and irresistible, and it bore through Alazrian like a drill. The warlord staggered forward and pointed his wounded hand, growling in Triin.
‘Nin-shasa kith?’
‘Eesay, Praxtin-Tar,’ replied Rook. The slave quickly debased himself, falling to his knees before the warlord. ‘Eesay nooal’aka.’
Nagrah took over, stepping in front of Rook to confront the ruler. He spoke quickly and without fear, using the same disdainful tone he had used against the warriors. To Alazrian’s surprise, the warlord listened to him. A dumbfounded expression crossed his face, and again he studied Alazrian and Jahl as he listened to Nagrah, clearly astounded.
‘What’s he saying?’ whispered Jahl. He gave Rook a nudge with his boot. ‘Can you translate?’
‘Shhh!’ hissed Rook sharply.
Alazrian understood none of it. As Nagrah continued speaking, Praxtin-Tar’s gaze remained on him.
‘They’re talking about me,’ he guessed. ‘Rook, what are they saying? Tell me, please.’
Rook hesitated, but another kick from Jahl got his attention.
‘The cunning-man says you are travellers,’ said Rook in a low voice. ‘He says you have come from Nar, and that you have business with . . .’ Rook looked up at them. ‘The Jackal?’
‘Go on,’ urged Alazrian. ‘What else are they saying?’
Rook listened intently. ‘Uhm, this priest has come before. Praxtin-Tar knows him, but he is angry.’ The Naren hesitated. ‘I’m not understanding this. They’re talking about you, boy. Some religious nonsense, I think. I don’t get it.’
‘Go on,’ whispered Alazrian.
Praxtin-Tar stared at him in disbelief. As Nagrah spoke, the warlord’s eyes roamed over Alazrian. Alazrian stayed very still.
‘Praxtin-Tar isn’t believing him,’ said Rook. ‘It’s not making any sense.’
‘Yes, it is,’ said Alazrian. ‘Rook, tell me everything, word for word. Can you do that?’
‘But it’s gibberish . . .’
‘Just do it, please.’
Rook sighed. Nagrah was talking. The Naren struggled to translate.
‘He claims to be genuine,’ said Nagrah. He pointed at Alazrian. ‘You have been looking for your link to heaven, Praxtin-Tar. Well, there he stands!’
Praxtin-Tar laughed. ‘You have seen these miracles?’
‘I have not,’ replied Nagrah. ‘But the boy is earnest. I believe his claims.’
Rook suddenly turned on Alazrian. ‘What claims?’
‘Keep translating,’ urged Alazrian. ‘Please.’
The slave went back to the conversation.
‘Bah,’ scoffed Praxtin-Tar. ‘How dare you waste my time like this? If you were not a cunning-man, I would kill you.’
‘Let him prove it,’ said Nagrah. ‘The boy is a healer. That is why I brought him here.’
Praxtin-Tar looked down at his bloodied hand in bewilderment. ‘For these?’ he asked. ‘These wounds are nothing. And I have my own healer to bind my cuts.’
‘Not for you, you arrogant fool. Crinion still lies near death, does he not?’
Praxtin-Tar’s expression was dangerous. ‘What about him?’
‘This boy can heal him. He has the magic of Tharn. He says he can bring life to Crinion again.’
Praxtin-Tar growled something, then shoved Rook aside, sending him sprawling. The warlord took hold of Alazrian’s collar and pulled him forward until their faces met.
‘What’s he saying?’ asked Alazrian nervously. ‘Nagrah? What’s he want?’
Praxtin-Tar bared his teeth, shouting as he shook the boy. Nagrah took Praxtin-Tar by the shoulder and spun him around, then slapped him hard across the face. The astonished crowd gasped. Praxtin-Tar purpled with rage, raised a hand against Nagrah, and held it there, trembling. Nagrah remained still as stone. Rook rushed to his feet as his master and the young priest exchanged a verbal barrage. He hurried to Alazrian’s side to translate.
‘Praxtin-Tar means to kill you, boy,’ Rook said. ‘I told you not to come here!’
Something inside Alazrian popped. ‘But I am a healer!’ he insisted. He stepped forward, brushing off Jahl’s grasp as the priest tried to stop him. He jabbed a finger into the warlord’s chest and said, ‘You want to kill me? Go ahead. My own father wants to kill me! You’d be doing him a favor.’
‘Alazrian,’ cried Jahl. ‘Get away from him!’
‘But if you kill me, Praxtin-Tar, you kill your son. Because believe it or not, I am a healer. I don’t want to be, I can’t explain it, but that’s the way it is. So what’s it going to be?’
Smoldering eyes stared back at him from a bloody face. Praxtin-Tar was breathing hard, and for a moment Alazrian thought he really would die. But then came Nagrah’s voice again, calming the
warlord.
‘The cunning-man is asking Praxtin-Tar to trust you,’ Rook explained. ‘He says that if you have magic as you claim, you will heal Crinion. Then the warlord must let you go to the Jackal.’
‘And if he doesn’t heal Crinion?’ asked Jahl.
‘Then you will all be put to death. Even Nagrah.’
Nagrah pressed Praxtin-Tar for a reply.
‘He is asking if the warlord agrees to the terms,’ said Rook.