Land of the minotaurs

the elves even though he and his warriors were outnumbered three to one!'

'Mesonus lost that battle, however glorious it's been proclaimed since,' Ganth returned, snorting.

'You will be still, Ganthirogani. Think of it, Kaziganthi. Legions at your command. You are respected by humans. You can be feared by them in the same way. You understand their tactics better than any of our present officers. Your service to your people could lead to the throne itself before long, you know.'

'I've no desire to sit on that piece of abused marble.'

'Consider carefully. This offer is not made lightly.'

Kaz snorted. 'That's no offer. That's a threat. I want nothing to do with your coming debacle.'

At a slight nod from the cleric, Scurn abruptly turned on Kaz and slapped him with the back of his hand, causing his head to rock to the side.

The high priest eyed him quietly for some time, then glanced at Scurn. 'Captain, the criminal Kaziganthi is guilty of endangering the integrity of the state. He has become the focus of dissension and has undermined the authority of the emperor himself. The patriarch of Clan Orilg has already agreed that there is a debt of honor here so great that it can only be judged in the circus.'

'What's that?' Ganth snarled. 'Even he wouldn't agree to such nonsense! You can't mean that! What could have gotten into you, Jo-'

A member of the guard struck Kaz's father. Ganth clamped his bleeding mouth shut, but continued to glare at the high priest.

Despite what had happened to his sire, Kaz remained silent. He listened carefully to what the cleric said.

'They will be brought to the circus, there to face a chosen adversary against whom they will be allowed to regain some portion of the honor they have squandered.'

'Yes, Holiness.' Scurn looked at his former opponent with some satisfaction. 'You heard. Come with us willingly or be dragged, Kaz.'

Kaz smiled slowly, allowing both the high priest and Scurn to digest the smile. 'Let's go, then.'

His attitude disconcerted not only Scurn, but, much to his satisfaction, even the high priest. The cleric was quick to recover, however, 'Remember, my sons, you will be fighting to recover your lost honor. Dwell on that thought.'

And at the same time, remember we're not supposed to survive, honor or not, Kaz thought. He snorted at the hypocrisy.

'Come on,' growled the captain.

'One more thing, Kaziganthi,' called the hooded figure. 'It is always possible for you to avoid this sentence if you see the error of your ways. Not simply you, but also those close to you.'

'I'll try to remember that.'

The high priest turned away from them.

As they were taken from the audience chamber, Ganth muttered, 'I can't believe what's become of that lad! He's turned into a foul creature, he has!'

'What're you talking about?' asked Kaz, only partly paying attention. He had been thinking that despite their predicament, this was still an opportunity. Hecar would be in the circus also. This would be a chance to speak to him. Kaz knew the circus well, including the underground passages and gates. Once they located Hecar, he could see a possibility of the three of them escaping. Honor's Face would prove invaluable there. Scurn might have it for now, but it would turn up when Kaz needed it. It always did.

'It's him! Jopfer!' Ganth hissed. 'He sailed on Gladiator when Hecar did, then went to work for a member of the circle. He was a studious boy who should've been seated in the circle by now. How, by old Sargas, did he come to be the high priest… and why does he act as if he doesn't know us?'

'Jopfer?' Slowly the name brought recognition. That was why the high priest seemed familiar. Kaz had a memory for faces, even ones he had seen only once, but that had been years ago and Jopfer was much older now. 'He was one of Hecar's best friends, once.' Hands shoved both of them forward. 'Pick up the pace and stop talking!'

Kaz grunted, wishing his hands were untied. To Ganth, he finally muttered, 'Well he's not one now.'

With some concern, the high priest watched the two prisoners depart. Kaziganthi was a minotaur of impressive personality, the type that could be a great asset to his plans if only it were possible to make the prisoner see that his best hopes lay in cooperation, not defiance. A minotaur like this one, however, would be hard to break, much less bend. The techniques that could have been employed would leave him a shell. Someone like Kaziganthi would grow only more stubborn under torture. The high priest knew that. He had spent lifetimes studying the race.

No, Kaziganthi and his equally recalcitrant sire were best left to the circus for the time being. If, in the end, the former could not be convinced to join, not even for the sake of his companions, then the master cleric would see to it that their deaths would make them sterling examples of what happened to those who defied the destiny he had worked so long to impress upon the minds of his children. Their deaths would spell the end of Kaziganthi's settlement. There would be no more desertions. The plan he had worked on for so long, first for her, and now, astonishingly enough, for himself, had to proceed. There would be a master of Krynn, and it would be he.

I will let neither a rebellious minotaur… nor a potentially volatile infant… destroy what I have worked centuries to build, he thought. The minotaur will die in the arena if necessary, and the female… my female… will remain my permanent guest. So it will be.

Thinking of the other, the one who was most important to his continued existence, the high priest decided it was time to visit again his secret guest. If the fools who followed his commands only knew what she was, they would have fled from the citadel in outright fear. Fortunately, even she did not truly understand the truth.

By the time she did, she would be his puppet. By then, Kaziganthi de-Orilg would also be his to control… or dead and burned, a memory of ashes soon to fade from the minds of his children.

However, there was one matter with which the hooded cleric still had to deal. He reached to his side and pulled an almost invisible cord. A few moments later, one of his chief acolytes appeared.

'Yes, Holiness?'

'Tell the emperor I wish to see him… now.'

'Yes, Holiness.'

The high priest ignored the acolyte's departure; his thoughts returned to the future. His future.

I will not let this opportunity escape me. The world is ripe for my picking… and the minotaur, if he will not obey, is expendable in the end.

Chapter 8

Escape Plan

Helati carried the infants outside and stared in the direction in which Kaz had ridden off so many days ago. She knew he would not suddenly come riding up to her, but the desire to see him was so strong that she could not help but continue to wait and hope. The twins were unusually quiet, as if they, too, watched for their father's return.

'Not back yet, is he?'

She had been so preoccupied that she had not even heard the newcomer. Turning, Helati shook her head and replied, 'No, Brogan, but it's much too early. You know how long it takes to reach the empire, much less Nethosak. He will have just entered the city by this time.'

'Which doesn't make us any less concerned about him.' Brogan walked up next to her and leaned forward. His voice was steady. 'Just say the word, Helati, and I'll gather the others. We'll ride to Nethosak and help him.'

'I can't do that, because he wouldn't want me to do that. Kaz works best with little assistance from others.'