"Truly a mighty host." The Hunter leaned forward. "Which begs the question: why wait? Einan could be yours."
The Sage shook his head. "If only it were that easy. There are many factors at play, things you cannot see unless you are the one pulling the strings."
The Hunter snorted inwardly. Of course there is. You just don't want to admit you are too afraid of the gods to act. The Abiarazi may have once been mighty warriors, but every one he'd encountered preferred to operate in the shadows.
The Sage seemed eager to change topics. "Did you know the name 'Elivasti' means 'wanderer' in the ancient tongue of the Serenii? The Serenii disappeared from Einan long ago, and it is said the Elivasti roamed the world in search of their forefathers."
The Hunter's eyebrows shot up. "Is that so?" His words came out strangled.
Sir Danna, the Cambionari he'd encountered on the road to Malandria, had asked him his horse's name. The name “Elivast” had slipped from his tongue without thinking. Had it come from a memory buried deep in his mind?
Visibos, the apprentice Cambionari, had reacted strangely when he spoke the name. If the Beggar Priests knew the truth of the Bucelarii, did they know about the Elivasti as well?
"If you would like to explore the city of the Elivasti," the Sage was saying, "I would be pleased to send someone to escort you tomorrow."
The Hunter stiffened. "And here I thought you were starting to trust me."
The Sage waved him off. "You misunderstand my intentions, Bucelarii. I am sending you a guide to show you around. Unless you would prefer to get lost in the camp of the Elivasti?"
The Hunter scowled. "Very well."
"I promise you it is for your benefit alone. You have free rein of my temple, unwatched, unescorted." He held out a hand. "As befits an ally."
The Hunter hesitated a moment, then clasped the demon's hand. The Sage's grip belied his slight frame. "Then you have my thanks. And I will take you up on your offer to explore Kara-ket. The works of the Serenii are truly wondrous."
The Sage locked gazes with him. "More than you could possibly imagine."
The Hunter held back a shudder. For a moment, the Sage unsettled him more than any Abiarazi he'd encountered. Something about the ferocity of his unblinking stare made him feel as if the demon sought to pierce to the core of his being. Those dark, empty eyes that met his held only glittering ice.
Chapter Thirteen
The Sage's intensity disappeared and his confident grin returned. "What say you to a game of Nizaa?" He snapped his fingers and held up his goblet. "Do you play?"
The Hunter wanted to refuse and excuse himself. I didn't come here to play games. He needed time to explore the temple, learn his way around, if he was to be ready when the moment came to eliminate the Warmaster and the Sage. He had no problem with the Sage thinking him rude, but he had a reason to stay. The more the demon talked, the greater the chance he unwittingly revealed something important.
He inclined his head. "After such a generous feast, I can hardly decline the request."
The Sage chuckled. "I had hoped you'd say that."
One of the Sage's silent servants entered and set a Nizaa board atop the table between them. The board was made of solid bloodwood enameled with a diamond finish that sparkled in the soft light. Gold and silver shone from the individual squares. Delicate threads of platinum, entwined in complex patterns, glittered around the edge.
The demon produced a pair of boxes and held one out to the Hunter.
The Hunter hesitated before taking the box. "Some, though it has been some time since last I sat before a Nizaa board. And certainly none this magnificent." He ran a finger over the metallic figures. Though they showed wear from frequent use, the intricate features remained visible.
The Sage grinned. "You prove yourself a man—forgive me, a Bucelarii—of many talents." He opened his box, revealing pieces painstakingly cast from red and white gold. "Did you know that Nizaa is descended from a game played by the Serenii? Though the version of the game we know only a few centuries old, it originated among the ancient people. Indeed, the very name, 'Nizaa', means 'defeat' in the tongue of the Serenii."
The Hunter couldn't mask his surprise. He'd known Nizaa was old, but dating back to the Serenii?
"I find the game a fascinating one." The Sage stroked his pieces as he arrayed them on his side of the board. "On the face of it, it is a simple game of matching wits and tactics. But I find that it reveals a measure of one's character." With that unnerving smile, he leaned forward and spoke in a voice of hushed reverence. "It is a dance, a gamble, a battle, all rolled into one. I can learn a great deal about my opponent by the way he plays."
The Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
The Sage's thin lips stretched into an amused smile. "Come. Your armies will not position themselves."
The Hunter drew his own pieces from the box. First, twelve larger, ornate figures depicting the gods of Einan—all except the Long Keeper. Each had a unique range of movement and served a different function. Next came eight small pieces, the Serfs.
The board, eight squares wide and fourteen long, contained silver spaces for the "valley" running down the center, and gold for the "mountain" and "stronghold" on the right and left of each player's hemisphere. He began to place his pieces—the twelve gods on the two closest rows, and the eight serfs occupying the next two rows.
The Sage tapped his side of the board. "Notice the difference between your configuration and mine. You set your stronger pieces—the Watcher, the Mistress, the Swordsman, and the Lady of Vengeance—at the forefront of your battle lines. You place the more strategic pieces—the Bright Lady, the Illusionist, and the Maiden—to guard your flanks, with the weakest ones—the Master, Beggar, and Lonely Goddess—at the heart of your defense, protected from my attacks. You play an offensive game, but with a solid defense—proving yourself adept."
The Hunter shrugged. Graeme, the alchemist from Voramis, had introduced him to the game. By either innate skill or beginner's luck, he'd defeated his fat friend every time. This setup of the pieces seemed…right, though why, he couldn't say.
"But now examine my side." The Sage spun the board to give the Hunter a closer look. "Instead of keeping the Beggar and Lonely Goddess in close proximity to each other, I have separated them, where they are more powerful. The Maiden and the Apprentice lead the serfs into battle, with the Swordsman and the Bloody Minstrel for support. The Lady of Vengeance and the Illusionist guard the flanks. Instead of the direct game of strength, I prefer the route of cunning and strategy."
The Hunter found himself drawn into the Sage's explanation. He'd only ever played Nizaa to pass the time, but the demon had clearly invested time into learning the game's intricacies.
The Sage inclined his head. "Challenger opens."
The Hunter moved his first piece, the Swordsman. Its range of movement spanned the entire board, making it the most versatile—and thus, most useful—piece in the game.
"Interesting." Without hesitation, the Sage moved one of his serfs forward. Serfs, the weakest pieces in the game, could move only a single space.
The Hunter countered by moving a serf toward the squares marking the mouth of the "valley" that ran through the center of the board. This would provide the Hunter an advantage. Nizaa could be won in one of two ways: eliminate the Master from the board, or defeat all of the opposing player's serfs. In the valley, the serfs would be safe from the more powerful pieces belonging to the gods. To defeat him, the Sage would have to attack the valley with his own serfs.
"Clever," the Sage said, rubbing his hands together. "Always search for the position that provides an advantage." He advanced another serf, this time toward the "stronghold" on his side of the board.
The "valley" prevented the gods from crossing from one side of the board to the other. Short of circumventing the valley, the only way of moving the gods' pieces across hemispheres was to use the "stronghold" or "mountain". But if a serf held one of th
e two squares of either high ground, it could eliminate a god piece. Holding a mountain or stronghold offered a unique advantage, one both players sought to exploit early in the opening. These prime positions could mean the difference between a win and a loss in the mid- and end-game.
The Hunter tapped his lips. What now? He imitated the Sage's play and moved his serf to seize the vantage point.
"Adaptable, I see." The Sage leaned on the table, steepling his fingers as he eyed the Hunter.
Keeping his expression blank, the Hunter waited for the Sage to make his move. You have no idea how right you truly are. He met the burning, unblinking gaze, and resisted the urge to cringe. For a heartbeat, it was as if the demon knew what he was thinking.
The moment passed, and a grin tickled the corner of the Sage's lips as he advanced his Watcher. "Now, let's see what happens when faced with a real threat."
The Hunter studied the board, searching for a move.
"Tell me of yourself, Hunter." The Sage fixed him with that unblinking stare. "I would hear your story."
"Not much to tell," the Hunter said as he pushed a serf forward.
The Sage's answering move came without hesitation. "A man in your line of work must be careful what they reveal and to whom. But surely after all I have told you of the Abiarazi, Kara-ket, the Serenii, and the Elivasti, there is trust enough for you to share a few details of your life. Thus far, all you have told me is of your suffering at the hands of the First."
The Hunter pondered his words carefully. He had a very fine line to walk. In an attempt to buy himself time, he tapped a piece as if considering a move.
"Well," he said in a slow voice, "what would you have me tell you?" Better to let him reveal what truly interests him. If he's anything like the others, he'll want to know about Soulhunger. Every Abiarazi he'd encountered had lusted after his blade, Thanal Eth’ Athaur, the emblem of his Bucelarii heritage. They all craved the power it offered—the power to feed Kharna, the Great Destroyer, the souls of men and return him to life.
"You say your memory has holes, correct?" The Hunter nodded. "Then tell me what you do remember. Start from the beginning. Tell me how you became the Hunter of Voramis. No doubt that is a fascinating story."
The Sage's interest caught him off guard. No one had ever asked him that question before.
The Hunter hunched his shoulders, as if reliving a painful memory. "How does anyone fall into that line of work? Necessity, I suppose."
The Sage ate and drank in silence, his burning gaze fixed on the Hunter's face.
"When I first arrived in Voramis…fifty or so years ago…I found myself without a copper bit to my name, Soulhunger my only possession." This much of his story was true; now came the lies. "As I walked through the city, I was set upon by thieves. They made the mistake of trying to take Soulhunger from me." He flexed his hands. "They didn't expect my…resistance."
The Sage's face remained expressionless, but he leaned forward. "It is the way of the world. Kill or be killed." His slim fingers toyed with the stem of his crystal goblet.
"Indeed." The Hunter took a deep breath. "But as Soulhunger drank, I was overwhelmed by the rush of power. Like a tidal wave dragging me on its surges. Oh, such power…" He trailed off, letting a grin tug at his lips.
"I have felt it," the Sage breathed, his dark eyes filled with longing. "A sensation unlike any other."
"And the voice in my head, the voice of Thanal Eth’ Athaur, its screams joined the cries of the men whose souls it consumed. Their deaths sated its demands, and it fell silent."
Careful, he told himself. Make sure he only sees the side of you he wants to see. The amount of truth in his story surprised him. He had felt the urge to kill, had become an assassin as a means of earning a living. Yet he hadn't been attacked, but acted to save another's life. The demon would want to see his ruthless, bloodthirsty side. He would play on that.
"Days later, when it returned, it begged for more. Try as I might, I could not resist the dagger's pleas, or the allure of power. It only made sense to profit as I satisfied my urges."
The Sage gave a crisp nod. "A gift like that should never go to waste."
"As you say." The Hunter's lips twitched. He's buying it. He drew in a deep breath. "It took a few years to make my mark on the city of Voramis. Once I eliminated my competition—a handful of amateurs operating outside the Bloody Hand—it was simply a matter of building a network of people who would refer clients to me. After a few high-profile killings and a great deal of rumor, the Hunter of Voramis was born."
"And the name 'the Hunter'? Where did it come from?"
The Hunter shrugged. "To be honest, I cannot say. In the beginning, I had no name. I killed without caring what people called me. But after I tracked down a particularly difficult target who had escaped across the Frozen Sea, my client spread rumors of a 'ruthless hunter'. From there, the name 'the Hunter' stuck."
"Fascinating." The Sage emptied his cup and held it out to the servant.
"Eventually, I gained a reputation as the only assassin bold enough to take on the nobles of Voramis and Praamis—something not even the Bloody Hand dared."
The Sage shook his head. "My orders to the First were clear: rule from the shadows, but avoid direct confrontation with the king and the Heresiarchs." His lips twisted into a wry smile. "Who knew he would be clever enough to place himself as head of both the Bloody Hand and the Dark Heresy? He may have been a terrible lieutenant, but Urn-krh-zil was never a fool."
The Hunter forced his fists to remain unclenched. The demon masquerading as Lord Jahel and the First had slaughtered the only people in Voramis that had mattered to him. He could summon only vitriol for the memory of the creature he'd slain in the Serenii tunnels.
"Until, of course, he made the mistake of harming those under your protection."
The Hunter tilted his head. "I did not start the war with the Bloody Hand."
"You certainly finished it." The Sage's expression grew sharp. "Tell me." Those empty eyes pierced the Hunter to the core. "What happened? Who did you lose?"
The Hunter's jaw tightened. "People who trusted me to protect them." He ignored the blood trickling from his lacerated fingers. He'd phrased his answer with a purpose. Abiarazi could never comprehend love; they saw sentiment as weakness. But even a demon would understand and respect loyalty to one's vassals or dependents. "People who didn't deserve what was done to them."
Easy, he told himself as heat surged in his veins. This is all a farce. He had to get his very real emotions in check. He could not show the Sage any weakness to exploit.
"If it is any comfort, that is the reason I did not send a squad of Elivasti to throw you off the cliff the moment you stepped foot on Shana Laal."
The Hunter's eyes narrowed, his grip on his chair tightening.
The Sage ran a slim finger around the rim of his glass. "Your actions were the natural reaction to what was done to you. Furthermore, had the First heeded my instructions to leave you alone, you would never have come here. An outcome for which I am truly pleased, even if it did cost me two lieutenants and an entire organization dedicated to my cause." He stroked his upper lip. "I believe I have come out better for the trade. You could be of invaluable service to me—to all Abiarazi."
The Hunter raised an eyebrow. "And what cause is that?" He nudged a serf forward to eliminate one of the Sage's. He had to be as cautious with his words as each move on the Nizaa board. He couldn't appear too eager, but he didn't have time to waste. "For all that you have told me of our kind, you have told me very little of yourself. Or the cause you would have me join."
The Sage's brow furrowed. "Why, the only cause to which all Abiarazi and Bucelarii are sworn. To restore Kharna to Einan and bring about his eternal reign!" Zeal flashed in the demon's eyes. "I believe with your help, and that of Thanal Eth’ Athaur, we can do the impossible."
"How?" The Hunter tried to sound nonchalant. "How can you possibly hope for just the two of us to break him free
of the prison to which he was condemned by the gods themselves?"
The Sage held up a hand. "In due time. You have honored me by telling me the truth, and I will return the favor. But not yet. Not until I'm certain I can trust you."
"Of course." The Hunter suppressed his impatience. "One can never be too cautious."
They fell into silent play for a few minutes. The Hunter was keenly aware of the Sage's eyes on him, but he ignored the demon's scrutiny.
"The Warmaster, he reminds me a great deal of the First of the Bloody Hand." He grinned inwardly at the Sage's barely perceptible stiffening. Good to know I can catch him off guard.
"Why is that?" An eager tone crept into the demon's voice.
The Hunter kept his gaze on the Nizaa board. "His ruthlessness, the way he responds when thwarted."
The demon's posture relaxed. "I agree. Their temperaments were shaped by the fiery world from which they came. They do not hesitate, do not back down."
"A trait that can be as much a flaw as a strength." The Hunter met the demon's eyes now. "One I find repellent, after the events of Voramis."
A smile played on the Sage's lips. "You'll hear no argument from me, Hunter. For all the Warmaster's uses, his combustible nature has proven a detriment on more than one occasion."
"So why not sever the partnership?" The Hunter posed the question casually, but excitement surged within him. If he could goad the Sage into action, perhaps the demon's army could take care of the Warmaster for him. "Surely with the army of the Elivasti on your side, it wouldn't prove too difficult."
The Sage's face hardened. "If only it were that simple."
When the demon offered no further explanation, the Hunter considered pressing the issue. Why wouldn't the Sage send his men after his rival?
His mind worked at the problem, but he couldn't figure it out. His distraction cost him pieces he could ill-afford to lose. Within a quarter hour of play, only three of his eight serfs remained, as did his Bright Lady, Swordsman, Beggar God, and the Master. The Sage had twice as many serfs, and his gods outnumbered the Hunter's. His only hope lay in a stalemate. Little chance of that!
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