carpet, hands clapped to his ears. A split second later the audience chamber shuddered as crack after crack of thunder exploded beneath the frescoed ceiling. Two window panes shattered and one of the chandeliers plummetted to the carpet in an explosion of blue diamond splinters. From the crystal in Shugat's upraised hand writhed a white-hot whiplash of light.
As Tavistock heaved to his feet, roaring, and Lional, shouting, grabbed at his mane, Gerald threw himself behind the throne. Reg tumbled to the floor beside him.
'God, Reg! Say something! Quick, before he kills Lional!'
'Let him kill Lional!' she yelled.'It'll serve the mad bastard right!'
'No! If Shugat kills Lional there really will be a war, even if Rupert has to draft his vampire butterflies! Go on Whatever happens after that can't be worse than this!' 'That's what you think!'
Heart pounding, he inched his way out from behind the throne to see what was happening. Shugat advanced towards Lional, the whip of light lashing back and forth, seeking contact. Lional let go of Tavistock and faced the holy man, lips curving in a strange smile. His hands came up, as if to ward off death… 'Speak, Reg! You have to! NowV
With a furious curse and a cackling cry she launched herself into the air. ' Vorsluk! Vorsluk! Vorsluk speaks!'
'Look, Shugat!' shouted Nerim and pointed, still prone on the carpet.'The gods are with us!'
Shugat's mouth fell open. The whiplash of light abruptly died, the rolling thunder stopped and the audience chamber ceased its shaking. Turban askew. Nerim staggered to his feet and stared at Reg as though he'd never seen a bird flying in his life. Lional, still smiling, lowered his hands.
At the far end of the chamber the doors flew open and a cohort of palace guards tumbled in, ceremonial pikes flailing.
'Your Majesty!' cried the chief guard. 'Are we under attack?'
'No!' said Lional. 'Get out, you fools, and close the doors!'As the guards retreated in confusion he turned his attention to Reg. 'Oh, mighty Vorsluk, great god of Kallarap, speak to us! Reveal your sacred will!'
Still flying, Reg let out another wild cackle. 'Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Mighty are the deeds of Vorsluk and also Lalchak and Grimthak! Great is their power and just their retribution! The Three watch over all, understand all, judge all. Patience will be rewarded. Events shall unfold as the Three desire. Attend your duties and be obedient.' 'Aiieeeel' cried Nerim.'The god speaks!'
Shugat stayed standing, clearly shaken but stubborn to the last. 'That — that — is not how Vorsluk speaks to me.'
As Reg, panting, landed on the back of Lional's throne, Nerim managed a shaky bow.'King Lional, the gods of Kallarap have favoured you mightily. I shall return to mine brother the sultan, may he live forever, and — '
'Silence, Nerim!' Shugat shouted. 'You are dazzled by trickery, like a child in the bazaar! The gods do not — '
'I am no child!' Nerim retorted. 'I am the sultan's brother! His Blood, and his emissary in this land. Did you not tell Zazoor the gods wished you to come here? This is why! So their will might be revealed!'
The crystal's fire woke briefly as Shugat shuddered. 'Now you explain to me the will of our gods?'
'No, no, Holy Shugat!' Nerim gasped, his momentary defiance wilting. 'But do you not teach the Three are omnipotent? All that is come to pass here must be their doing… mustn't it?'
Shugat stilled. Gerald, stranded on the dais, hauled himself back onto his feet and held his breath, not daring to look at Reg. Three feet distant Tavistock shook his maned head and grumbled.
Lional said brighdy, 'Of course it must. Dear Shugat, can you think that I am not amazed? I never dreamed your gods would come to us. They never have before. But here they are and we must obey'
Saying nothing, Shugat pressed the crystal back into his forehead. Nerim, nodding, said, 'Yes, O King. That is our sacred duty.'
'Exactly' said Lional, and perched on the edge of the dais. Still grumbling, Tavistock joined him. The grumbling became a pleased rumble as Lional petted his face. Gerald watched Nerim's awestruck expression and felt sick all over again.
I'll never undo this damage now. Not ever. Wliat a bloody disaster…
Eagerly Nerim said, 'You say the gods wish us to be friends? Then we are friends!'
Lional frowned. 'Well, I thought we already were, Nerim. I've always felt nothing but affection for the Kallarapi nation. How could I not after six happy years getting to know its sultan in the rough and tumble fashion of schoolboys everywhere?'
Nerim blinked, and glanced at Shugat for some kind of guidance. But Shugat was once more a man in a trance, silent and uncommunicative. Eyes dull and hooded, supporting himself upon his staff, he appeared weary to the bone, all the fire in him burned to ash.
'I am sure mine brother the sultan, may he live forever,' said Nerim, with a last worried glance at Shugat, 'will be pleased to hear you say so, O King. And with the gods' help I know we can put our misunderstandings behind us.'
'Of course we can,' said Lional.'Tell me, Nerim, Zazoor hasn't gone and found himself a wife lately, has he?'
'A wife?' Nerim shook his head. 'Alas, O King. The gods have not yet seen fit to choose a woman worthy of such an honour.' He flickered another glance at Shugat and lowered his voice. 'It has been a matter of some concern. Perhaps, O King, since you have the gods' favour, you could speak to them on our behalf?'
Lional smiled, his ringed fingers threading through and through Tavistock's gold-dusted mane. 'What a lucky coincidence, Nerim. As it happens the gods have already made their wishes known to me.'
'They have?' said Nerim, incredulous. 'Truly O King, the gods of Kallarap are great! Who is the woman?'
'Someone you've already met,' said Lional, one arm draped possessively across Tavistock's shoulders. 'Someone very close to my heart.'
Gerald pressed a hand to his roiling guts. Oh God. Not Melissande…
Reg flapped from the throne to his shoulder. 'Criminy,' she muttered. 'He can't be serious, madam'U go spare…'
Nerim looked confused. 'Yes? And this someone is…?' 'My sister!' said Lional, impatient.'The princess!'
'The princess?' Nerim echoed, and turned again to the holy man. 'Shugat, did you hear? The gods wish for the sultan, may he live forever, to take Princess Melissande as wife!' Shugat said nothing.
'I knew you'd be pleased,' said Lional, beaming. 'I know I'm pleased.'
Nerim swallowed. 'Er — I fear the honour is too great, O King…'
'Nonsense,' said Lional briskly. 'It's what the gods want, Nerim. And we've already agreed that what the gods want the gods get.' He laughed. 'Nerim, Nerim, don't you realise what this meansT
'No, O King,' Nerim whispered. 'What does it mean?'
Hell's bells and buckets of blood! cried Gerald inside his aching head. That's what it means]
'It means we'll be brothers, Nerim!' Lional crowed.'You and I and Zazoor. Oh. And Rupert of course, unfortunately. On second thoughts, let's forget Rupert, shall we? It'll be you and I and Zazoor! One big happy family, with Melissande playing mother. Isn't that just wonderful? Aren't the gods divine?'
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
There was a loaded silence in the audience chamber once the stunned Kallarapi delegation had departed.
Lounging on his throne Lional looked at Gerald, eyebrows elevated. ''Prayers and fasting', Professor? Do feel free to explain that little unsolicited piece of inspiration.' Sprawled at his feet, Tavistock snarled.
Through teeth gritted so hard they were nearly breaking, Gerald said,'My apologies, Your Majesty. I thought you might appreciate a chance to think about what you were doing.'
Lional's fingers drummed on the arm of his throne. 'Well, I didn't.'
'No, Your Majesty,' he replied, reckless with rage. 'It's clear to me now you had no intention whatsoever of
