chose so poorly, but at least the final result has been as required. You are here now, and you have done all that you were asked.’
‘That’s enough!’ the Emperor roared. ‘It’s one thing to deceive us and use us like this, but why torture us all the while? You act as if to befriend us, then you set us against each other. You kidnap and kill our loved ones as if their lives meant nothing. We wouldhave helped you if you had been truthful to us. All you needed to do was ask. You are an animal!’
But Cang only smiled dispassionately and shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘No, that is not the way that people behave-not at all. You would never have believed me, and you know it. None of you would. Indeed, with many of you I
‘Damn you, Cang,’ Samuel cursed. ‘We will get your damned relic. Just let us out of here so we can see to our work!’ Samuel hoped the others would agree with him, if only so they could leave the room.,He wasfilledwith disgust, but the one who spoke next surprised everyone in the room.
‘Magician Cang,’ said the Koian woman for,so far, she had been silent and still in her usual way.But now she pinned the knotty magician with an icy gaze that shone out from beneath her hood. ‘It seems we have been manoeuvred into a place of yourchoice, at a cost beyond description, but I have heard and considered all that you have said. I do not know your full intent, but we will do as you say.
‘Since coming to this land, you have all insisted that I am not a god and perhaps that is even so, but let me just say that Ambassador Canyon is mine to do with as I wish. He will come with us and not die until the time of my choosing. His punishment for his actions willalsobe of my choosing. We will return your trinkets for whatever you intend, and we may even help you destroy this demon that you speak of, but know this-when we are finished, whether we are successful or not, you will die, too.’
Cang actually appeared entertained by her remarks and he clapped his hands with a look of glee. ‘Well done, my girl! I see there are the makings of a woman inside that heartless shell, after all. I accept your terms, but all of you know this in return. Of all the people in the world, I am the only one who can fit the pieces of this plan together. Once we are done and the world is safe, I will be happy to die, for my life will have no meaning once that goal has been achieved. Still, to give you some motivation, there will be a reward waiting for each of you upon your return. I am the only one who can give each of you what you most desire. Each of you has a secret craving,a meaning that you have been seeking your entire lives. When you come back, I will give it to each of you.’
‘There is nothing you have that I would want,’ she spat out with unbridled disgust.
‘That’s not what I have been led to understand, my fine young puppet. I have heard of something you want most beyond anything else in the world. Would you not like to have it back-that thing which you have lost-your name?’
At that, the Koian woman froze. ‘You lie,’ she said. ‘I have no name. I am a god.’
The brown-robed magician sitting before them only sneered. ‘You are not a god, you are a pathetic tool for Canyon and his likes, used to exploit your people and keep them under your ruler’s thumb. You do have a name and not even Canyon had forethought enough to discover it. But I did. You were taken from your mother while she was shouting and screaming,and she called your name for years to come, until she went mad with despair. My ears and eyes are everywhere and I know your name well. Before I die, I may even tell you, but you are charged to complete your task first.’
She looked at her ambassador. Her hard exterior now looked brittle and she was trembling upon her seat. ‘Is it true?’
‘You may have been given a name-I don’t know. You were brought to the temple when you were only a babe. We never asked. It never mattered. Our god has no need of names.’
The woman composed herself and returned her glare to Cang, but he ignored her completely. Instead, he put his back to her and looked at Eric. ‘Master Pot, I know what you desire. Return successfully and it shall be yours.’
‘I want nothing of yours,’ Eric retorted with disgust.
‘As you say, but I know what lies in your heart. Please me, and it is yours. Samuel, yours is the most obvious and easiest of desires to grant, for I know exactly the one who killed your mother.’
‘I have already slain that demon, Cang,’ Samuel stated. ‘I killed Ash long ago.’
‘Of course,Ash was in command that day, and I know you feel you have avenged yourself with his death, but it was not Ash who did all the frightful stabbing on that fateful eve. There is one last living member of Ash’s witch hunters, for all the others have now perished. You slew Bardick, his accomplice, and the others in that band have met their own fates in different ways over the years. I have your mother’s killer squirrelled away safely for you. Only I know his hiding place. Complete your task and I shall give him to you.’
‘You lie,’ Samuel said.
‘Again, believe as you wish. His name is Cadin. He has a particular way with words and a nasty habit of chewing Fiskian tobacco that has since cost him most of his teeth. He was a magician of sorts, with a talent in scrying for magic, but he abandoned that life years ago to pursue a career in petty thuggery.’
Flashes of that evening came back to Samuel,when his family had been killed,when he had witnessed the two men standing over his mother. Samuel had absorbed Bardick’s memories just before he had killed the man, and he knew Cang’s words were true. Cadin,indeed,was the man’s name and somehow his face shone in Samuel’s memory as if he were standing now in the room, standing over the body of Samuel’s mother and drenched in silver moonlight.
‘Suit yourself,’ Cang said upon Samuel’s silence. ‘I am sure he is not enjoying my attention and perhaps he will even be grateful for a quick end at your hands. Whatever you decide, I will keep him safely for your return.’
Despite his attempts to think otherwise, Samuel could not help but relish the idea.
Cang looked at them one by one, as if waiting for any of them to say more. ‘If no one has anything to add, then I shall assume the matter is settled. Balten will continue with you to Hol, the Paatin city. He will assist you however he can. Do not blame him for any ill feelings you may have for me. He is only a humble servant and knows little of my plans-for practical purposes. Master Celios will stay with me and I will use him to keep track of your progress.’
With that, the spell around them dropped away and Samuel found he could move his legs freely.
‘Horse!’ the Koian woman commanded and the warrior exploded from his seat, unleashed like an arrow. Cang made no attempt to move or cast a spell, for he had no need to. The Koian warrior’s fate was sealed as soon as he left his seat-he fell dead at Cang’s feet with his clenched fist still held out before him.
The god-woman hurried up and stood over her fallen protector. Her emotions were hidden within her hood, and she hoveredabove himmotionless.
‘Such foolishness. You see?’ Cang told them as he stoodup, ignoring the ruined corpse. ‘Everyone in this room has a purpose. His was to demonstrate how you should choose carefully from this point on, and not take any rash actions. His life would have been better served in the Desert Queen’s city, but now you will have to make do without him. It would be wise for you to remember your wits whilst within her realm, for she has great power and a short temper. Go now. Return when you are victorious.’
The door opened once again and Balten could be seen, waiting obediently on the other side.
‘Let’s go,’ Eric said and led the way out.
‘Come,’ Samuel said, stopping beside the god-woman. He placed one hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged away from his touch. She stood as if frozen above Horse, staring down at his body as if it could somehow bring him back to life. ‘Suit yourself,’ he said and went on without her.
Not even Cang noticed the tiny,wet drops that had fallen onto the dead warrior’s cheek.
There was little else they could do but continue on their way, riding on a string of horses provided by the temple workers. Although it was apparent they had all been tricked onto their current path, their goal remained the same. If they could retrieve the second relic while saving the Empress and her son, then so be it.
‘Why do you follow him?’ Samuel asked of Balten, as theytraversedacross the waste. ‘I have never met such a repulsive man.’
‘To save the world,’ wasBalten’sresponse.
‘Do you really believe he means for that? He seems more like a heartless devil himself.’
‘Sometimes it takes a devil to beat one, Samuel.’
