‘Yes. The Queen has granted you her hospitality. Just don’t do anything foolish.’
‘What did you have to do to seal that bargain?’ Canyon asked suspiciously.
‘Nothing,’ Samuel replied. ‘Yet.’
‘Have you found the Empress?’ the Emperor asked.
‘Not yet, but I am nearly there. I just need a little more time to narrow down the search.’
Canyon asked to meet his god after that and Samuel became their guide in the palace. He took them to the Koian woman, who showed no emotion on seeing her countryman and he left them alone to talk, hinting to the girl that he would be next door if she needed him, but she only scowled at him and flicked her finger at him to go.
Samuel called for Utik’cah and the man seemed unhappy that he had been summoned, as if he had been dragged from some important task
‘Alahativa has told me you are free now to do as you please. There is no need to call for me any longer. You know your way around the palace and any of the palace servants will see to your needs, if you can make your intent known.’
‘I would like to see your Queen.’
‘As I have mentioned before, Lord Samuel, one can only go before Alahativa when one is summoned, unless it is truly important.’
‘Then take me to her. It is important.’
Utik’cah sighed and led Samuel away, but this time they climbed into a higher section of the palace that they had not visited before. They passed through a series of narrow, rounded passageways, each decorated with translucent curtains of varying colours that they had to push aside.
‘How many cities are there hidden in the desert?’ Samuel asked as they walked.
‘Nothing is hidden. We all know where our settlements lie. It is only that you don’t. But,to answer your question,this is the only city. Alahativa allows this place to exist, but the desert will not normally support such great populations. We have a few small towns, but most Paatin are wanderers.’
‘I understand there is onesmall townnearby.’
‘Yes-Yi’sit. That is perhaps the next largest settlement after Hol, but it is minuscule in comparison. Its life springs from a small well.’
‘I have not seen many wizards here. Is that where they all live and study?’
‘You are perceptive, Lord Samuel.’
‘And what else is there?’
‘I think it is better you ask Alahativa such questions.’
At that, Samuel smiled, for he was getting to know his Paatin mentor well, and they hadapproacheda topic that the man could notdiscuss. It bode well, from Samuel’s point of view.
Veiled serving girls drew back lush,velvet curtains as they neared their destination. Utik’cah stopped with Samuel at the entrance, and left him to continue in on his own.
Some of the servants had apparently made the Paatin Queen aware of his presence, as she presently called for him from the rear of the room. Samuel ventured in, under the long-lashed gazes of the many waiting girls and women. He had no idea what all of them could possibly be busying themselves with, for their only duties seemed to involve their presence, but he had little time to continue such thoughts.
‘Come, Samuel,’ called the Desert Queen.
Samuel hesitated before another curtained section of the room, but one of the servants whispered to him in the Paatin tongue and motioned for him to continue, so he found the point where the curtains overlapped, and he slipped inside.
He found himself in a small area of cushions, surrounded with candles on stands. Alahativa was sitting amongst the rugs and pillows.
‘Come, sit beside me,’ she urged and Samuel again found himself feeling uncomfortable beneath her hungry gaze.
He went to tread on her cushions but she raised a warning finger and pointed to his sandals, which he deftly slipped off before sitting beside her.
‘I am glad you have come, Samuel,’ she said. ‘I was only just thinking of you. I have something to ask.’
‘Tell me. What is it?’
‘I was not going to demand this of you so quickly, but your appearance tonight is fortuitous, for I have received worrying news. I hear your friends are enjoying my hospitality. Now I have something to ask of you. You are familiar with my arch-wizard-Om-rah?’
‘Yes. Of course.’
‘Then you know that he has become something unnatural. He was once a man, but he has delved too deep into his magics, and they have changed him. Until now, I looked upon him as a resource and a blessing. He has always been loyal to me, but his mind is becoming less and less rational. He is becoming a danger to me and to those around him.’
‘And now that you have me, he is no longer required.’
‘That it perhaps an interesting way of wording it, but yes. As I said, Samuel, the war is all but won. Beasts like him will not be required in my new world. He has grown so powerful that I am not sure I could stop him if I wished. Can you do it? If you live, you will be my new arch-wizard-if that is what interests you.’ She leaned forward and stroked his stubbled chin with her finger. ‘But I forget; you are not compelled by such propositions of power. Be that as it may, you can take the title or not. It will be yours if you choose, but Om-rah is a threat to me. Will you kill him for me? Can you do it?’
Samuel let himself appear thoughtful for a few moments. ‘I can. I will. But as you know, my full power has not yet returned. I will need your help.’
‘I will not assist you in this, Samuel. I am a Queen and I cannot be seen to oppose him-not after all I have done to raise him to the state of a demigod. And he is immune to the poisons and potions I could normally use for this kind of purpose. A scuffle with Om-rah could become quite messy if not ended quickly. And I know what you are about to ask. My ring never leaves my finger, Samuel. I will not let you use it, even for this.’
‘Then it poses quite a problem. I’m not sure if I can do it. He is very powerful.’
‘Then let me think about it, also. In the meantime, there are other matters which we can discuss.’ She leaned even closer and whispered in his ear. ‘I know you are unlike my wizards, Samuel. You have not been“ unmanned”and you still possess the spark of youth, unlike your fellow magicians. Magic has not sapped your strength and I must admit this has been one of the things that has intrigued me most about you.’ Samuel leaned away, but she smiled demurely and sat up beside him. As the fabric of her gown slid, he realised it was altogether transparent, revealing her perfect body underneath. He turned his head instinctively, but she grasped his chin and pulled him back towards her, stifling her amusement at his embarrassment.
‘Why do you laugh at me?’ he asked.
‘For a young man, you are so prudish, Samuel. I don’t mean to offend you, but you are such a source of entertainment to me. I lay myself before you and you sit tightly, as if we were discussing trade or politics or something equally bland.’
‘I am a magician.’
At the word,she began to scoff, but stopped herself short upon noticing his further annoyance. ‘You are a man, Samuel, and I am a woman. It is no more complicated than that. Every day we play our roles and wear our costumes and disguises, but that has little to do with who we truly are. We coat ourselves in the things we wish others to see, one upon another, layer upon layer,burying ourselves like fragile caterpillars within cocoons of deception. We spend our lives building up these facades and decorating them, pretending they are what we want to be but,in truth,they only serve as paper barriers to protect us from fears we have not dared to face. The more of these lies we can discard, the more we can find our true selves underneath. But such a thing is not easy, is it? To face our fears? To lay ourselves bare andbevulnerable? I have always believed that our true strengths lie within our skins, not upon them. I lie before you naked, Samuel-nothing more than what you see. I am offering you myself, and nothing else, wrapped only in truth.’
She smiled-an open and honest smile-and,for the first time, Samuel caught a glimpse of a woman looking back at him, rather than a queen or a witch or a captor.
‘I know my body attracts you, Samuel. I will grant you such pleasures, and in the morning,you need say
