Rhodes shrugged. "Yes, mother," he said. "I remember it very well."
"Even so, perhaps I should tell it again to refresh your memory," she said. "And also for the benefit of our new friend who resides within you."
But to Kalasariz" disappointment, Rhodes chose this time to dig his heels in. "If you please, mother,"
he said, "let"s leave it for another time. I"ve much to do, what with the earthquake. Besides, I"m far more interested in what you intend to accomplish with that."
He pointed at the diorama. "How will it help in our fight against Palimak Timura?"
Clayre frowned, clearly irritated at her son"s impatience. Then she shrugged, "Very well," she said. "I"ll leave the story for another day. As for that model, I"d intended to use it as a focal point for a spell I cooked up with Charize. A bit of magic that would cause the Kyranians no end of trouble and more than a few deaths. With luck, it might have even resulted in the rather gruesome demise of Palimak Timura himself."
The witch queen sighed. "But Charize"s own death put paid to that plan. As I said before, alone I don"t have enough magical strength to perform the necessary sorcery."
She smiled. "But that was yesterday"s disappointment. Today, the sun is shining brightly and our hopes are reborn. For now we not only have the a.s.sistance we require, but a whole new plan to bedevil our enemies."
"When do you want to start?" Rhodes asked, a.s.suming correctly that his role as host to Kalasariz meant his presence would be needed.
Clayre motioned at the table. "I"m never one to put off a devilish deed that needs to be done," she said.
"So why don"t we begin now?" She gestured for him to approach the table.
Rhodes obediently moved forward. Then he hesitated. "There"s only one thing," he said.
"And that is?" Clayre asked.
"Have you forgotten your granddaughter is being held hostage by the Kyranians?" He pointed at the model. "What if this spell endangers Jooli?"
The witch queen raised an eyebrow. "Do you really care?" she asked.
Rhodes shrugged. "Not particularly," he replied. "She"s always been more of a bother than she"s worth."
"My sentiments exactly," Clayre said. "As granddaughters go, she certainly lacks a certain ... well, reverence." Her attention returned to the model. "Now, let us begin."
And she started to weave her spell. Inside the king, Kalasariz wriggled with delight. It was good to be back on a winning side again.
The only thing troubling him was that Rhodes didn"t seem very enthusiastic. Was it because of this Jooli person? The one Kalasariz guessed might be the king"s daughter?If so, perhaps his reluctance was understandable, even though Rhodes plainly disliked his own child.
Although Kalasariz had little empathy for people stricken with parental love, he had a professional understanding of that all-too-human malady. The spymaster had relied on it many times as a lever to get his own way.
Then he caught a stray thought from Rhodes. And, dammit, he was still wondering about that horse!
That"s the trouble with kings, Kalasariz thought. They can"t seem to keep their minds on the job at hand.
Important tasks. Like killing people!
A blue light formed over the model of the Kyranian stronghold. Tiny figures began to appear. Men and women. Children and animals. And then the figures came to life!
Clayre said, "One thing I noticed about Palimak and his friends when they were visiting Charize was that they absolutely hate and fear rats."
She placed a cage next to the now-living model of the Kyranian stronghold. Inside was a large gray rat.
She poked it with a long needle and it squealed in pain and fury.
Clayre laughed as it attacked the bars of the cage. "I"ll give them rats," she said, "like they"ve never seen rats before!"
And then she opened the cage and the enraged rodent leaped onto the model.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
HORSE MAGIC.
Leiria watched the crowd of angry villagers march up the hill from the market place. She leaned easily on her spear, smiling as if they were only a few friends coming to call for dinner, instead of an unruly mob in the making.
She whistled a casual little tune. Behind her Renor and Sinch took her signal and slipped through the gatehouse entrance. They shut and barred the door. As planned, they would take up position inside in case things really got out of hand and the crowd took it into its minuscule group mind to break through.
Besides herself, she had only Coralean--who stood at her right--and five other soldiers loyal to Palimak.
"I think we can manage well enough," she said to Coralean. "There"s only a hundred or so of them."
"Sometimes there"s profit in violence," the caravan master said. "Although, as all who know Coralean would confirm, I loathe to engage in that sort of business. Unless, of course, there"s no other way of conducting one"s affairs. After all, a good family man must consider the well-being of his wives and children. And only the greatest liar in the world would cast doubt on Coralean"s dedication to his family."
Leiria nodded at the approaching crowd. "Do you see any profit there?" she asked.
Coralean stroked his beard, considering. Then he shook his mighty head. "They have nothing of value,"
he said. "Only their own foolish thoughts."
Leiria sighed. "I"m afraid this is turning out to be one of my least favorite days," she said. She glanced up at the empty sky. "I wish Biner and Arlain were here with the airship," she said. "That"d sure keep this group peaceful."
The circus troupe had taken the airship out on a routine surveying expedition. There were no decentmaps of Syrapis and Leiria had been intent on filling that gap since their arrival on the island.
Unfortunately, the latest mission had coincided with what appeared to be turning into an uprising.
"It is probably for the best they aren"t here," Coralean said. "Our Kyranian friends hold the circus folk in awe. And if Biner was forced to act against them on our behalf, they"d lose all influence over them."
He shrugged his ma.s.sive shoulders. "Only two people can truly help us in these circ.u.mstances. Safar, who is ill. And Palimak, who is unavailable."
When Leiria had risen this morning she"d found a note waiting for her from Palimak. He"d said he was involved in a long and dangerous job of spellcasting. Under no circ.u.mstances was anyone to disturb him or enter Safar"s room.
Leiria had checked the door to the room and found it barred. She"d smelled the faint scent of magical incense and ozone wafting through the crack under the door. She knew from things that Safar had said in the past that if she ignored Palimak"s wishes, it might result in the deaths of her two friends.
Then she"d received a much more disturbing message from Masura--who"d apparently overthrown Foron as chief of the Council of Elders. The new headman said that he and the other villagers demanded an immediate hearing. Since she didn"t dare disturb Palimak to get help, she"d politely asked Masura for a delay.
The headman, however, was evidently so intent on a confrontation that he"d sent back a note refusing her request. He"d even had the temerity to threaten herself and Coralean with immediate expulsion.
The result of this heated exchange of paper was presently being played out in the ma.s.s march on Palimak"s headquarters.
Leiria heard a faint sc.r.a.ping noise and turned to see Jooli climbing out through one of the fortress"s windows. The royal hostage dangled by her fingertips for a moment, then dropped lightly to the ground.
She casually brushed herself off and strode over to join Leiria and the others.
"You shouldn"t be here, majesty," Leiria said.
"Just call me Jooli," the young queen said. She nodded at the crowd coming up the hill. "This doesn"t look like the best time to stand on court formalities."
Leiria looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Whatever I call you," she said, "the point is that you are supposed to remain in your quarters. We"re responsible for your safety."
Jooli chuckled. "How safe will I be if your friends have their way? I doubt if those people will honor any agreement you have with my father."
"She does have logic on her side, Captain," Coralean pointed out.
"I"m also bored to tears," Jooli put in.
She stretched her long arms and worked her shoulders, getting the stiffness out of her muscles.
"I could use a bit of exercise," she said. "And I thought perhaps your fellow Kyranians would provide it."
Then she indicated Leiria"s sword. "Loan me your blade," she said, "and I"ll stand with you."
Leiria hesitated. Queen Jooli had mystified her from the very first meeting. She clearly despised her father. Had been instrumental in freeing Palimak and Safar from the monsters in the cavern. And hadspent her short term as a hostage acting more like one of Leiria"s warrior companions than the daughter of their greatest enemy.
At that moment Leiria realized she"d grown to like Jooli. And was possibly even beginning to trust her.
She drew the sword and handed it over. "Have at it," she said.
Jooli smiled, took the sword and gave it a few experimental swings. "Nice balance," she said. Then she turned to face the villagers, who were nearing the top of the hill.
Naturally, Masura was leading the crowd. But Leiria noted with extreme interest that only four other members of the Council of Elders were present. Foron, the ousted former headman was notably absent.
Obviously, Masura"s victory was far from unanimous.
Then she heard a commotion and saw another group approaching the crowd--angling in from a path that village boys used when taking the goats to pasture. It was a much smaller group, but it included Khadji Timura, Safar"s father, and Foron. Several other influential villagers were also present.
"With fortune," Coralean observed, "wiser heads might prevail."
Jooli snorted. "If not, I"d be happy to lift a few of the stupider ones from their shoulders."
Leiria said nothing. The prospect of killing people she"d fought beside and had lived with for several years was depressing, to say the least.
The two groups met. Although she couldn"t make out what he was saying, Leiria caught the gentle sound of Khadji"s voice. A renowned potter, Khadji had been much respected long before his son"s accomplishments had won him so many honors. Foron joined in, as did the others, and the conversation grew animated--much hand-waving and point-making gestures.
Then Masura"s voice rose above the others. "We"re through listening to the Timuras! I say we drag Palimak out here and make him answer for his crimes!"
There was a roar of approval from Masura"s followers. They shoved Khadji and the others aside and continued their march up the hill. The crowd was working itself up, shouting oaths, sliding over into ma.s.s hysteria.
"Get ready," Leiria warned.
And there was a creak of leather battle harness and a rattle of metal as her people braced for the onslaught.
Queen Clayre chuckled at the scene before her--the tiny figures of Foron"s mob charging toward Leiria"s small group.
"Well, well," she said. "Apparently we have some new friends among the Kyranians to a.s.sist us. It"s so much easier to make magical mischief if people hate each other!"
King Rhodes" attention was riveted on the drama unfolding in the model of the Kyranian stronghold.
He"d never realized the Kyranians were so divided. By the G.o.ds, if only he had a few troops present, he"d wipe them out with ease!
Then he frowned. Where was Palimak? He peered closer and couldn"t find a trace of his enemy. Then hespotted his daughter lined up with Captain Leiria and Lord Coralean, waiting to hurl back the mob.
"What"s Jooli doing helping them?" he rumbled.
"Never mind that now, son," Clayre advised. "I need your full attention to cast this spell."
"Be d.a.m.ned to her!" Rhodes growled. "She has no business getting involved."
The soothing voice of Kalasariz came from within. Don"t trouble yourself, majesty. All who betray you will be punished. This I swear to you.
With Kalasariz sending out calm feelings, Rhodes relaxed and once more started concentrating on the spell.
Meanwhile, Kalasariz was loving every minute of this new and most powerful experience. He could feel the tingling of Clayre"s magical energy coursing through the king"s veins. And within his spirit self he could sense the agony of the creatures that were Fari and Luka as they leaped about to do his bidding. It was a delicious feeling to witness his enemies humbled so. They were less than insects in this new world he"d carved out for himself.
Clayre muttered spell words, sprinkling powders over the model.
The blue light intensified as she continued to weave her deadly spell.
As the crowd approached, Coralean made one more attempt to settle things peacefully. He stepped forward, raising his hands high. So powerful was his personality that the crowd came to an immediate halt and fell into silence.
"People of Kyrania," he said, his big voice carrying to the most distant edges of the crowd. "All of you know in your heart of hearts that Coralean is your oldest and dearest friend. And I call upon your affection for me--and upon our long and profitable a.s.sociation--to hear Coralean"s words."
There were murmurs of agreement in the crowd. Masura glowered, furious at the caravan master"s effect on the others.
"Please, my dear friends," Coralean continued, "do not shame yourselves this day. Do not sully Kyrania"s long tradition of peaceful discussion and compromise. It is this quality of yours that has most endeared you to me over the years. A quality that I hold in the highest esteem."
Masura shouted: "The time for talk is over! We"ve had enough Timura trickery."
Coralean looked hurt. "Do you accuse me, Coralean, of anything but honest intentions, my friend?"
"You"re no friend of mine!" Masura shouted. "You"re nothing but a paid toady of Palimak Timura!"