bothered him, and he would correct her attitude later. For the time being, he would let her be, knowing she had lost enough pride and dignity for one day.
'There is one tharchion in particular to concern ourselves with. He is nearly forty and squat, but he has a broad and sturdy frame. His body fits his place of work. The tharchion has a husky, barrel-like chest. Although he is clean-shaven on his head and face, wisps of black hair can be seen under his arms and just above his breastbone.' Maligor's description was detailed and precise.
'Despite the tharchion's high position in Thay, he chooses to paint his head, like many of the women in Amruthar and Eltabar, rather than suffer permanent tattoos. The principal design on his head is a pale orange, four-taloned hand.'
'The symbol of Malar, the Beastlord,' Asp interjected.
'He wears other symbols, too,' Maligor added, 'but I'm afraid he was sweating rather profusely, afraid of my gnolls and of being in my dungeon. Unfortunately the paint ran and I couldn't make them out.'
'You have a tharchion in your dungeon?' The naga was astonished. She was keen on Thayvian politics and goings-on, far more knowledgeable than she would admit to Maligor. But she hadn't heard of any tharchion disappearing.
'Had. When I was finished with him, the gnolls ate him. His bones are scattered along the escarpment. So, no, I don't have a tharchion in my dungeons. Now, to continue with my description.
'His clothes were well made and in good repair, but they were dirty, covered with dust and powdered rock from walking about in the mines.'
'The tharchion the Council of Zulkirs assigned to oversee Thay's gold mines! You killed him?'
'I need you to look like him.' Maligor waited a moment to let Asp absorb everything. 'In fact, I need you to look
Asp glared at him. 'There's been no news of the tharchion's disappearance. Someone has to know.'
'I don't think so,' Maligor continued, pleased with himself. 'You see, the council thinks he's outside of Thay. Well, his bones are, at least. Let's see what you can do.'
The spirit naga backed away from his chair and concentrated. It was difficult for her because her mind was filled with questions. The transformation took longer than usual. All spirit nagas possessed the innate ability to change their appearance to human or demi-human bodies, although Asp only did so on Maligor's orders. She found the forms distasteful and at a disadvantage because they had legs instead of a tail.
Her beautiful features dissipated, running from her body like melting wax. She stood before Maligor a faceless, limbless column of flesh that began to take on new features. A head emerged from the column, bald and with pudgy cheeks. Eyelashes sprouted from the flesh over emerging, round eyes. Bulges appeared on the face and molded themselves into ears, a nose, and pale, bulbous lips. An age spot materialized below her left cheek-Asp remembered seeing that on a painting of the tharchion.
The transformation continued down the length of her body. A chest formed and became broader. Flab appeared along her midsection, and patches of black hair sprouted just above the breastbone and beneath the figure's flabby arms. The column of flesh separated below the man's groin, becoming stocky legs ending in short, wide feet.
The physical changes made, the naga created clothes-plain but functional, trappings she imagined someone like the tharchion would wear in the mines. The clothes looked like cloth and would feel like material to the touch, but because they were part of her body, they could not be removed. If necessary, she could polymorph them to appear different-sweat-stained perhaps, or of fine quality if the tharchion had to meet important guests.
'Excellent!' Maligor crowed with delight. 'That's very close. You'll have to make a few adjustments here and there. His earlobes hung lower, I recall, and his fingers were shorter and thicker. I'll give you a mental image of the man in a little while, and you can make the necessary changes before we leave.'
The naga had recovered a fraction of her pride and enough courage to pursue answers to her questions. 'Tell me what this is about, Maligor. I know now it has something to do with the mines, but if you take the gnolls up there, they won't have a chance. Every wizard in the area will put his forces against you, especially the other zulkirs. The mines have been set up so no one wizard can control them. Your gnolls won't have a chance.'
'You don't listen well, do you, dearest Asp? I told you the gnolls are after a wizard's land. There are enough gnolls to attract the attention of the nearby wizards. The gnolls will keep everyone occupied while we make our bid for the mine. No one will even notice.'
Then Maligor told her of the multitude of darkenbeasts that would leave at dark when all eyes were on the gnolls.
'We'll leave with them, you and I. It will be truly glorious.'
'A wonderful plan,' Asp admitted with a hint of sarcasm. 'But you will eventually be found out. If you take control of the mines-and even if you set me up as the tharchion-someone will notice when the gold goes into your pockets and the country gets nothing. Then you'll be undone.'
Maligor beamed. He had been waiting to unravel the meat of his scheme.
'The country will be undone. But it will take time. Dear Asp, if everything goes well-and I am certain it will-no one in Thay will be the wiser that there has been any change in the operation of the mine. You see, with you in place, business will go on as usual, and the country will continue to have a steady stream of gold filling its coffers. However, during the next several years, we will skim the mined gold-in increasing amounts as the next decade draws to a close. You will claim that the veins are beginning to thin out, and all the slaves and workers who will be in my control will agree with you. And if any zulkirs care to investigate, we will use magic to hide certain rich tunnels. They will believe you, and we will become rich.
'Nor do I intend to stop there. You see, the wizard Maligor will not have made any bids for power during those years, possibly crushed from the defeat of his gnoll troops in their attempt to wrestle land from a young illusionist. Of course, I will have to fabricate another story if they really do take the land. Perhaps the wizard Maligor was satisfied with that expansion and has no plans for any other.'
Asp continued to listen, fascinated by the scheme that was sounding more and more plausible.
'However, the wizard Maligor will have been researching magic-alchemical spells that will turn lead into gold. The research will be successful, using our pocketed gold as proof. And my alchemical achievement will be a boon to Thay's economy. The country will have gold once more. Of course, to get the gold, other Red Wizards will have to come under my influence. In the end, I will be the most powerful Red Wizard in Thay. Nothing will stand in my way.'
'And what of me? What will happen to me?'
The Red Wizard's face softened slightly and he leaned close to Asp.
'Your domain will be the mines, dark and dismal as they may seem to you. But it will not be forever. You will have a share in all of this, I promise. Every great man needs his queen.'
Maligor was relieved that Asp appeared to be accepting that story. He would keep her with him as long as she proved useful. If she became too hotheaded and belligerent, however, he would have to find another naga.
'The plan is wonderful,' she hissed. 'I had wanted glory at the head of an army, but the subtlety of this intrigues and excites me. When do we move?'
Maligor grasped her pudgy male hands as he rose from the chair. He couldn't bring himself to embrace her while she was in the guise of the tharchion.
'The gnolls will move out tonight, about an hour after the sun sets. Since it will be dark, it will take a substantial amount of effort on the parts of the wizards to follow them and guess their intended target. Then, with all eyes on them, I will loose the darkenbeasts, creating a low-lying fog to cover their exodus and casting spells of silence to hide their cries. I have more darkenbeasts, too, not far from here. There are more than enough to capture the mines.'
Asp appeared puzzled. 'And how will we reach the mines?'
'Magic,' Maligor replied. 'We will fly, too. Then we will sit back and watch my creatures do their work.'
'You are brilliant, Maligor,' Asp said, her tharchion eyes shining.
The Red Wizard left her several hours later to meet with the gnoll army. As the sun set, he stood before the dog-men, resplendent in his youthful appearance and scarlet robe. Maligor paced grandly in front of them until he was satisfied all eyes were on him.
'We will move soon!' the Red Wizard began. 'The night is our ally. You can see in the blackness, but your
