what Pelops had told him. Sarmaians were very formal; each letter of the law must be observed.
Kreed said, 'But what of Tarsu, my Queen? This comes as a surprise. I thought you well satisfied with the blind one.'
She moved the wand carelessly, a motion of whimsy that bespoke more to the alert Blade than a thousand words. He was not home free yet. Behind her smooth, pale facade was a woman. Fickle, shifting, changing as the wind. Absolute ruler of Sarma. He felt a slight chill returning.
'Tarsu is well enough,' said Pphira. Her eyes dwelled on Blade's huge shoulders and she nearly smiled. Nearly. Actually the only rift in the enameled composure of her face was a faint glint of teeth, tiny and even.
'Tarsu serves well enough,' she said again. 'And yet at times he bores me. The novelty of his blindness has worn off, for one, and he has not yet gotten me with child. So he does not serve his purpose, nor I mine as Queen of Sarma.'
She pointed the wand straight at Blade. 'This one does not cringe. And he does not lie.'
Blade had no trouble repressing his smile. This was no time for smiles. He had lied, of course. Mightily, but very skillfully. And had struck gold in an unexpected manner which, at this moment of decision, did not seem very important.
Pphira went on speaking, emphasizing her words with the wand.
'He says that he and his twin brother were wrecked and cast ashore by a great wind. This is true. There was such a storm on the Purple Sea. We lost many of our own ships.'
Pure coincidence, for which Blade was now grateful.
'He did have a twin brother,' continued Pphira. 'We have had word of this other stranger by courier, as you well know. By mischance he was carried far out to sea, captured by pirates, then left to die in the Burning Land.'
Blade could not restrain himself. He had been constrained to silence, under threat of instant death, yet he broke it now and shouted.
'My brother? This twin of mine! You say he is alive?' It was the first hint that the Russian agent had landed in the same Dimension X.
The Five stared at him coldly. Malice and sadistic pleasure glittered in ten beady dark eyes. Blade had spoken without leave. Blade was condemned.
Blade watched only the Queen. In her eyes he thought he read amusement and even approval.
Kreed said, 'He must die immediately, my Queen. A pity - Otto the Black would have been pleased with him.'
The Queen waved the wand at the old Head Priest 'Enough of this, Kreed. Formalities are all very well, but I weary of them. I rule Sarma. I will say when Blade dies - if he does.'
But Kreed persisted. 'He has spoken in the presence of the Five, and in your presence, Majesty, without permission. You know the ancient law - that is sacrilege! None may flout the old law, Pphira. Not even - '
The Queen smote her leg with the wand. 'Enough, Kreed! You presume too much. You offer to teach me, Queen of Sarma, the law?'
'But, Majesty, I - '
She ignored him. Blade did not. As Kreed bowed low and backed away he saw a smirk of satisfaction on the old man's face.
The Queen pointed her wand at Blade. She smoothed her skirt, of ankle length and worked in gold arabesques, around her taut buttocks and trim thighs. On either side the skirt was slit nearly to the hip.
'You may approach the throne, Blade.'
He left the block of stone and did so. Behind him he heard the hissing of indrawn breath. He wondered at the smirk on Kreed's face. Had the old man wanted Pphira to break the law?
Pphira leaned to tap his great bare chest with the wand. 'You will kneel to me, Blade.'
He did not think it a time to quibble. He went to his knees before her, but kept his head proudly erect and stared into her eyes. For a long moment their glances locked and held, then her eyes moved elsewhere, down his body and back up again. She nodded slightly and a tip of pink tongue slipped through her small white teeth.
'A giant,' she said. 'You make nearly two of poor Tarsu. Yet I think you will have trouble killing him. We must be fair. You will be as blind as Tarsu.'
His spine was an icy bar. They were going to blind him? The spasm of despair passed. It was not likely. Yet -
To brush away the thought he blurted out, 'My brother, Queen? You tell me he is alive?' Where? How to get to him? How to find him and kill him as ordered? In the last few minutes all his plans, the entire perspective, had been altered.
'I did not say he is alive, Blade. I said that he was marooned in the Burning Land by pirates. None live in the Burning Land. There is no water and the sun flames like the mouth of Bek-Tor.'
From behind Blade came affirming nods and hisses. The Five were in agreement.
Blade had been thinking fast. Now he made his first tentative positive move. He had been helpless. Now, though still in a chancy position, he was not quite helpless. Not if he played his cards right.
His eyes held Pphira's. He did not entreat. He spoke boldly and with resolution. He was prepared, remembering what J had told him about Code Gemini.
'I must go and seek for my brother, Gemma, your Majesty. We have been very close all our lives. I cannot forsake him now. If there is a bare chance that he lives I must find him. I ask your gracious permission - '
