interlude of silence.
'No, you're staying here. Your kind isn't cared for much. I'll stay with you.'
'I'm going with Kaz!' The kender folded his arms, eyeing his companion.
Kaz looked into those eyes and knew that, if he left the kender here, Delbin would somehow follow him just as he had in the mountains. 'I'll take him with me, Father. If I don't, I can promise you he'll find a way to slip away. Better I keep him under my wing for now.'
His companion smiled. Ganth grunted, but held his protest. After a moment's consideration, he finally said, 'Then I might as well go with you and help. Besides, we've still got a few things to talk about. You know, they'll be watching Hecar more than the other prisoners, if only for what he did.'
'What was that? What do they claim he did?'
The elder minotaur looked startled. 'Didn't I tell you? Hecar's supposed to have killed a cleric… one of the high priest's staff, yet!'
Chapter 7
Ganth's words echoed through Kaz's head a
Ganth insisted there was evidence of the incident. Kaz assumed his mate's brother had acted in self- defense. For some reason, they must have set on Hecar and tried to take him into custody. He had been warned about such happenings. Hecar might have resisted, knowing that his arrest was false, and in the struggle with the guard accidentally killed the cleric.
That made some sense, but did nothing to ease Kaz's anxiety. A prisoner who was accused of such a monstrous crime would be heavily guarded. The high priest would want to make a prime example of Hecar… which made the fact that Hecar was still alive all the more puzzling.
Not for the first time did Kaz feel like an absolute stranger in the land that had given birth to him. Nothing made sense anymore.
Things had at least partially quieted in the neighborhood near The Bloody Axe. That suited Kaz; the less who noted his presence, the better. He was hoping he could get away before the nosy innkeeper spotted him.
'Do you have things up in your room?' asked Ganth.
'Yes, and it'll make for less curiosity if I take everything. If I leave some things, they'll wonder what I'm up to. Someone might start asking questions.'
'Then let me clear out your room while you take care of your mount. Just tell me where to find the stuff. I'll leave a few coins for the proprietor so he doesn't bark about your sudden departure.'
Kaz gave Ganth directions, then he and Delbin headed to the stable. It would take his father only a few minutes to return with his things, so Kaz needed to hurry. He hoped there would be no one in the stable. The less talk, though, the better.
It was hard to see in the darkened stable, causing Kaz to momentarily flounder around. Delbin immediately pointed out the animal. Once again the minotaur was impressed with the kender's keen eyesight.
'Help me with the saddle, Delbin. It'll be quicker if both of us pitch in.'
'Okay, Kaz.'
They completed their work in short order despite the dim light. Ganth had not yet returned, so Kaz decided to take the horse outside. He had just maneuvered the horse round when a voice near the entrance called out, 'Hold right there!'
'It's all right. This is my mount. I can easily prove that.'
Only after he had spoken did he notice there was more than one shadowy form blocking his path. The owner of the voice was now flanked by two others, and at least one of them carried a glittering blade.
'Kaziganthi de-Orilg, you will surrender yourself and your companion to us in the name of the emperor, the circle, and the Holy Orders of the Stars.'
The State Guard. Kaz snorted, wondering how the guardsmen had tracked him so swiftly and, more important, why they wanted him in the first place. He had done nothing wrong… but then, he doubted Hecar had, either.
'There must be some mistake. Why would you want me to surrender? I've done nothing to merit your attention.'
'You will surrender now,' insisted the leader. 'Throw the magic axe to the ground and step away from it. Do it now.'
They were determined to arrest him. No amount of protest would deter them. Interesting that they knew about the axe and its abilities. Few minotaurs in the homeland knew. It could be no coincidence; the same power that had sent the hunters in the woods had also dispatched these guards… but who was it? The circle? The priesthood? The emperor himself?
Hecar had killed a high-ranking cleric. That couldn't be a coincidence either. The priesthood must lie at the heart of the conspiracy.
The warriors began to stalk toward him, swords raised. Kaz took hold of his axe and confronted his dark adversaries.
'Put down your weapon,' commanded the leader, a little uncertain.
'I've done nothing wrong. I'm certainly no danger to our people. Why do you want me?'
The guard leader did not answer. Behind the trio Kaz saw two more figures. Here in the crowded stable, Honor's Face would be limited. The stalls, the posts, and the horses would confine his abilities. Kaz didn't mind risking his own life, but there was also Delbin's to consider.
'The kender is of no consequence to you. Leave him be,' Kaz demanded.
They ignored him. A sixth figure appeared some distance behind. The odds mounted against him.
Raising his free hand, the guard leader signaled the others. The figure in back suddenly let out a loud cry and charged into the others from behind.
Taken by surprise, most of the guards were pushed aside. Weapons went flying. One warrior managed to charge Kaz, who met him axe to blade. The close quarters prevented Kaz from making full use of his weapon, but Honor's Face still presented a respectable threat.
'Away with you!' roared Ganth, his tall figure looming over the pack of warriors trying to regroup. Ganth pulled one up and struck him in the jaw, sending the minotaur falling to the earthen floor.
Two minotaurs faced Kaz's father. Another warrior joined the one already dueling Kaz. Against both of them he was hard pressed, unable as he was to fully employ his axe.
Beyond his attackers he could hear swordplay. Ganth laughed and said something, but to Kaz the words were unintelligible.
One of his adversaries suddenly shouted in pain and hopped away. Something brushed Kaz's leg. Delbin, he realized. The kender had something long and sharp in his hands. Kaz identified the shape as a pitchfork the stable hands must have left behind. A brave, loyal companion as always, Kaz thought. It inspired him to fight that much harder.
Thanks to Delbin's diverting action, he was able to press forward. Ganth, too, looked to be pushing his pair back.
A shout came from outside. The entrance to the stable was filled with more armed figures, one of which barked out commands. Reinforcements had arrived to help the beleaguered soldiers.
There was no hope of Kaz and his father escaping now, but there was a slim chance at least one could be saved. 'Delbin! Get out of here! Run and hide! The southern gate's only a short distance from here!'
'But, Kaz-!'
'Do it! I'll keep them occupied! Do it for me!'
