thrusting it through the center of her torso in another surely fatal blow. This time crimson blood showered forth, quickly gushing into a pool on the floor. His next thrust cut her deeply across the stomach, and blood of pure, midnight black spilled forth.
'Die! Why don't you die?' he choked.
He attacked again, slashing wildly with the great sword, chopping her head from her shoulders with one brutal slice. The bright white liquid erupting from the wound like thick milk was a final, grotesque horror. Overcome, he turned away and retched the contents of his stomach over the floor.
Yet still, as her head thudded to the flagstones and his heart broke within him, her body did not fall. Instead, it seemed to shrink, as if the multicolored blood had inflated her skin, as if the very stuff of her body flowed outward from the gaping wounds.
Ariakas stumbled backward, noticing that the blood flowing around her was no longer liquid, no longer col shy;lecting in sticky pools on the floor. Instead, it became like smoke, swirling upward into the air, forming serpentine columns, coiling into five great snakes. Each slinking form was the color of one shade of her blood.
The sword fell from his nerveless fingers as the snake-like shapes writhed, spreading and encircling him in their coils. He saw wicked heads take shape at the end of each snake, each with a pair of eyes that glittered wisely at him. Five horrific mouths gaped, and the smoky snakes thickened in the air until they seemed solid and real. Yet he sensed in the depths of his soul that these things were not real, that he beheld a presence that came from beyond Krynn. It was only the sacrifice of his lady that allowed this grim creature to appear, to reach out and speak to him.
'Tell me, Lord Ariakas,' commanded one of the snakes-the red one-in a voice that was sibilant and heavy with might and power. 'Do you know, yet, whom you serve?'
He could only shake his head.
'Take up your sword, warrior,' commanded the crim shy;son serpent.
Numbly, he reached down and raised the weapon. He noticed, with distant surprise, that the blade was a clear, unblemished white in color.
'Do you know that I have been with you for many years, Lord Ariakas?'
He nodded, believing it. 'When I woke in the night and knew someone had been through my camp.. had stolen the locket…?'
'Yes, it was I who awakened you,' hissed all the dragon heads. 'And I have been testing you for years, and you have measured full to my standard.'
'Testing?' demanded the human boldly. He gestured to the place where the lady had finally fallen. 'This … this was butchery!'
'This was the final test, warrior-and once again, you passed. Know this, Ariakas: I shall give you power beyond your dreams … make you strong, stronger than you have ever imagined! You shall have women-all the women you want or desire! And you shall serve me well for all the years of your life.'
Ariakas listened mutely, holding the great sword against the ground.
The voice took on an iron edge. 'But remember, war shy;rior-you were to obey without question!'
Racking pain seized Ariakas by the bowels, constrict shy;ing his insides into an agonized mass of tortured flesh. With a cry of pain he slumped to the floor, sobbing and thrashing as the pain worked its way through his veins, upward into his neck, pounding like a great warhammer against the inside of his head. He knew that he was dying-no man could hope to survive such pain. And then, as quickly as it had begun, the agony ceased.
'Remember well, Lord Ariakas, the cost of disobedi shy;ence.'
He nodded weakly, gasping as he climbed to his hands and knees. The pain was gone, but sweat still rimmed his head, and the memory of the punishment was nearly enough to send him cringing to the floor.
'Now rise,' she continued. Her tone was no longer harsh, and, slowly, he obeyed.
'Take that blade as my talisman,' continued the voice. 'You have passed my tests and proven yourself worthy. For many months you have known the wealth of my beneficence-and now, today, you have learned the depths of my determination.'
He could only listen, his heart pounding in over shy;whelming awe.
'You will go to Sanction, and there you will work in my name. You will be my servant, as this woman was my servant-as the moneychanger Habbar-Akuk is my servant, and a thousand others who are my agents.
'And you, of them all, shall sit at my right, Lord Aria-kas-this I know, and I pledge.'
'But-why did she die? Why did you make me kill her?'
'Fool!' The fury of the retort sent him reeling back shy;ward, flailing for balance. 'She was a tool-her purpose was to find you and to begin your training. Know this, Lord Ariakas: for as long as you live, as the gift of my generosity and the price of my favor, you shall have any woman you want-but each woman who gives herself to you shall perish within the year! As with this lady-her purpose will be done, her time past. But for you, Lord Ariakas-your time is just beginning!'
Ariakas tried not to succumb to his awe. His mind reeled between dark visions of horror, and wild fantasies of erotic fulfillment. She would offer him one and make the other her price… and yet, he knew that he would be willing to pay.
'Why do you send me to Sanction? What do you expect of me?'
'In that great city you shall go to my highest temple. They will know you there, and teach you. … In time, you shall become my exalted-first among my high-lords! But you have much to learn first, and they will teach you in the temple.'
'They already expect me?' wondered the warrior in disbelief.
'You carry my talisman in that sword,' replied the five-headed serpent with a hint of rebuke. 'That blade will be the key to your teachings and the tool of your success. It shall serve you as faithfully as you serve me.'
Ariakas looked at the pure white blade, impressed in spite of himself with the flawless perfection of the sheen. 'This talisman … what does it do?'
'You shall find out when you need it,' the vision replied. 'But remember this command, Lord Ariakas- and keep it close to your heart, lest in the end you fail me.' Here the words took on a deep and rhythmic tone, and the force of the command riveted Ariakas to the spot. 'This sword is my symbol, and with it you shall rule over vast hosts! But remember this thing, if you would achieve your lasting glory: Hold the blue blade, war shy;rior-for in the heart of the world it shall set fire to the sky!'
His mind reeled with the import of the words, though they mystified him-and he dared not ask for explana shy;tion. Instead he bowed in humble acceptance.
'Tell me, then,' he inquired instead, forcing every measure of his courage into the words. 'Who are you- whom do I serve?'
'I am known by many names. but when I have made my return, I will choose to share the one by which all Krynn shall know me. You, noble warrior, will pave the path of that return!'
'But what is your name?' demanded Ariakas.
'You shall call me Takhisis,' hissed the crimson ser shy;pent while the four other heads chortled in agreement. 'But within your lifetime all Krynn shall tremble before me! And the masses will know and fear me everywhere as the Queen of Darkness!'
Chapter 10
Perhaps because it stood on the brink of destruction, Sanction was a city more vibrant, more alive, than any place Aria-kas had ever been. As he sat on a bench in his garden, slightly uphill of his sprawling, many-roomed house, he looked at the volcanic Lords of Doom and felt a great sense of awe … and destiny.