The Quest

'We are surrounded by fools and poltroons,' he complained. 'How was this insurrection allowed to flourish under our very noses?'

'I smell the odour of the putative magus, Taita of Gallala, in this,'

Ek-Tang answered. 'I have no doubt that he has instigated this outrage. He comes directly from Egypt and Nefer Seti. No sooner do we welcome him into Jarri than the country is plunged into the first rebellion in two hundred years.'

'Two hundred and twelve years,' Aquer corrected him.

'Two hundred and twelve,' Ek-Tang agreed, his voice crackling with irritation, 'but such pedantry serves no good purpose. What is to be done about the rabble-rouser?'

'You know that Taita was the special guest of the goddess and that he has gone to meet her on the mountains. Those who are summoned by Eos never return. We need spare no further thought for him. You will never see him again. Those he brought with him to Jarri will soon be arraigned—' Aquer broke off and his angry expression cleared. He smiled with anticipation. 'His ward, the girl he called Fenn, will receive my special concern.' Taita saw his aura throw off sparks of lust.

'Is she old enough?' Ek-Tang asked.

'For me, they are always old enough.' Aquer made an expressive gesture.

'Each of us has his own tastes,' Ek-Tang conceded. 'It is as well that we do not all enjoy the same amusements.' The two oligarchs rose and, arm in arm, left the hall. Taita returned to the witch's boudoir and barred the door before he made the first cast for Fenn. Almost immediately her sign appeared in his mind's eye, and he heard her sweet voice ring in his head: 'I am here.'

'I cast for you earlier. Are you in danger?'

I

THE QUEST

'We are all in danger,' she replied, 'but for the moment we are safe.

The land is in turmoil. Where are you, Taita?'

'I have escaped from the mountain and I am hidden near the Supreme Council chamber.'

Even over the ether her surprise was clear. 'Oh, Taita, you never fail to amaze and delight me.'

'When we meet I will have much more for your delight,' he promised.

'Are you or Meren able to come to me or must I find you?'

'We are hidden too, but only five or six leagues from where you are,'

Fenn replied. 'Tell us where we must meet you.'

'To the north of the citadel a narrow valley is carved into the foothills.

It is not far from the mountain road, about three leagues from the palace.

The entrance is marked by a distinctive grove of acacia trees on the hillside above it. Seen from far off, it is shaped like the head of a horse.

This is the place,' he told her, and transmitted an image of the grove to her across the ether.

'I see it clearly,' she replied. 'Sidudu will recognize it. If she does not I will cast for you again. Go to the valley quickly, Taita. We have but little time left to flee this wicked place and the wrath of the Jarrians.'

Swiftly Taita searched the boudoir for a weapon or some form of disguise, but found neither. He was still bare- footed and dressed in the simple tunic, which was filthy with dust and soot and scorched by drops of burning magma. He went quickly to the outer door and let himself through into the empty audience hall. He had a clear memory of the route he must follow to reach the entrance through which That had brought him on his first visit to the citadel. He stepped out into the corridor to find it deserted. When the oligarchs had left, they must have dismissed the guards. He made for the rear of the building and had almost reached the tall double doors to the rear courtyard when a loud voice halted him.

'You there! Stand and give account of yourself.'

In his haste Taita had neglected to spin about himself a spell of concealment. He turned back with a friendly smile. 'I am confused by the size of this place, and I would be glad of your assistance in finding my way out.'

The man who had accosted him was of one of the citadel guards, a burly middle-aged sergeant in full uniform. He had drawn his sword and was striding towards Taita with a belligerent scowl.

'Who are you?' he shouted again. 'You have the look of a dirty, thieving rascal to me.'

'Peace, friend.' Still smiling, Taita held up both hands in a placatory gesture. 'I carry an urgent message for Colonel Onka.'

'The Colonel has left already.' The sergeant held out his left hand.

'Give the message to me, if you are not lying and you truly have one. I will see it gets to him.'

Taita pretended to grope in his pouch, but as the man came closer, he seized his wrist and pulled him off balance. Instinctively the sergeant pulled back with all his weight. Instead of resisting Taita went with him and used the impetus to crash with both elbows into his chest. With a shout of surprise the man lost his balance and went over backwards.

Quick as a leopard, Taita landed on top of him and drove the ball of his right hand up under his chin. The vertebrae of the sergeant's neck parted with a loud crack, killing him instantly.

Taita knelt beside him and began to untie his helmet, intending to use his uniform as a disguise, but before he could get the helmet off his head there was another shout and two more guards rushed down the corridor towards him with drawn swords. Taita prised the blade out of the dead man's hand, and sprang to his feet to face his attackers.