make a footstool here!' Null, a nondescript man, had joined Kermin during the course of the instruction from Iuz. Both now backed from the chamber and were gone. Half of the Greater Six remained, and Iuz now addressed them, calling in the remaining Lessers as he did so.
'Halga, My Grand Priestess, and Vayne, too, for your magic, you two shall remain here for staff duty. Radduj, Beesting — a fine pair to venture into the upper reaches of the Vesve. There you will whip the sniveling Celbits and Jebli into a frenzy of hate against men and elves. Make the forest and the northern portion of the Valley of Highfolk a charnel house. You will have assistance.'
'As you command, Eldritch Lord,' the two intoned in reply, then departed.
'Ormuz, arch-mage — with Patch, My High Priest, you will go to the southern portion of the Vesve and likewise incite the bands there to murder and pillage. You will have companies of My Woodsrunners and Eiger Guards. This is a most crucial part of My plan, so you two will remain until all others have gone. Then will I give you final instructions…'
The huge bronze doors to the throne room were suddenly opened by the miserable slave demons, the dretch, to allow the grand entrance of Eclavdra. In addition to her entourage of dark elves, the drow noblewoman was flanked by a pair of succubi and a cadaverous cleric arrayed in the full panoply of a priest of Graz'zt. Eclavdra strode into the chamber, bowed slightly, and allowed a tiny smile to cross her lips as she addressed Iuz.
'My Lord has requested my attendance?'
Iuz was torn between laughter and fury. His demon sire had learned of Eclavdra's humiliation at the cambion's hands and had sent her guards. The strikingly lovely and totally evil drow had accepted these reinforcements as a confirmation of her own status, and again she was speaking to Iuz as an equal. What had Graz'zt promised her? Certainly queenship of all the dark elvenfolk — who could guess what else? Well, no matter…
'Requested? Well, I will let that pass, for there is much cause for magnanimity,' said Iuz with a mocking tone. 'My plans go ahead as expected. The Hierarchs are in confusion. The fraternity of devils' curs is beset with difficulties. I send forth My hosts on all fronts, and… it… comes near!'
A brief look of confusion passed over the features of the beautiful drow. 'All fronts, Lord Iuz?' Eclavdra asked.
'Just so. My magus, Mole, will need the assistance of your best company of fighters, dear Eclavdra, during his… foray… into the lands to the southeast.' Iuz paused and gave the drow noblewoman a meaningful glance. Then he added, 'You and the remainder of your force here should most certainly accompany the expedition I am sending into the Vesve to bring retribution to the lowly elves and their ilk who dare to resist My will there.'
'Molag?'
'A diversion, Lady — though indeed I would have My city back…'
'And who goes into the lands of the Hierarchs?' the dark elf high priestess of evil inquired slowly.
Iuz seemed slightly confused and surprised by the question. 'No fear as to that. Fully half of My chosen ones will bring woe to those faceless wearers of cuckoldry — four of the best to confront the Hierarchs directly, and a pair to raise allies amongst the Free Lords of the East.'
'So,' murmured the drow noblewoman, 'that explains the great disturbance to the south — at the very gate into the realm of the Hierarchs, I am told — '
'What?' the cambion demanded. 'What's that you say?!'
Eclavdra went on blithely. 'And The Reaper himself was thought to have had something to do with the flux and disruption of forces arcane…' She trailed off, pondering, hardly glancing at the stony-faced demi-demon sitting enthroned before her.
Suddenly Eclavdra's beautiful face worked with fury. 'You foo…' She bit the word off when she saw the burning and sickly fire within Iuz's eyes, contained her anger, and smoothed her countenance and her words. '… fortunately… ah… seek to take advantage of the Hierarchs' weakness now, of course. So instead of going westward into the depths of Vesve's timber, I will send all of my minions — your servants, Lord Iuz — eastward with the army attacking Mo-lag.' Snarling, Iuz spat, 'I command otherwise!'
'Yes, Lord of Evil, but I am only a mere ambassador. I must do as my Master Graz'zt commands, even before I obey you. It is your father's wish that the drow force be sent to the area of greatest… threat, shall we say?'
Iuz shot from his throne, his visage a mask of terrible rage. The drow noblewoman took an involuntary step backward, closer to her attendants. This made the cambion pause and glare at them. Corpselike cleric and demonesses alike fingered the basalt symbols of Graz'zt that they wore around their necks, but all stood resolute.
The ire slowly drained from Iuz, and he spoke again. 'As you point out, My father Graz'zt wishes otherwise, and he, like Me, is a sovereign in his own realm. Because he is all these things, and more, I choose to grant your request to send your force against our enemies squatting in Molag. Now begone! I have had enough of drow and their servants for today!'
The chamber was absolutely silent as Eclavdra and her train departed. As the bronze doors boomed shut behind them, Iuz surveyed his minions without expression. Each betrayed an emotion — outrage, shock, anger, unbelief. 'Ahh,' the cambion thought to himself with pleasure. 'All save Halga suspect nothing…'
Iuz waved a huge, taloned hand toward his servants and addressed them. 'Come close and gain wisdom.' As they advanced toward him, he continued.
'Am I not Iuz, Lord of Ancient and Eldritch Evil? Would you serve a lesser being? Why, then, do you doubt Me now? But we must take precautions, for this palace is as rife with traitors and spies as the Vesve. None do I trust, save you — and you but little! Now, cast your wards and meshes to prevent all from learning what you are about to have revealed.'
There was a flurry of activity as the greater and lesser members of Iuz's chosen did as commanded. 'All is secure, Lord,' said Halga after a time.
Iuz nodded and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. 'I am much pleased with My faithful servants — you especially, and one who is coming to join you. All my enemies have proved themselves to be fools and dupes. Mark you, all! The lickspittle slaves of the self-righteous do-gooders brawl with the lock-stepping prancers after devils' dung. Their champions chase after decoys. Hierarchs invoke their vaunted master, and that one plays the Prince of Fools!'
At this revelation, Halga dared to ask, 'Lord of Pain, will you enlighten us further?'
Iuz was feeling magnanimous. 'Yes, My little ones, I shall! Ormuz, you are a good left hand to Me, and Patch the thumb of it. You must reach most carefully into the Vesve and withdraw a dwarf and what he bears.'
'You mean…' said the cleric, Patch, in awe.
'Yes,' leered Iuz horribly, 'and wise you were not to speak of… it. The dwarf is called Obmi, an old and well-used servant of Mine. Cherish him, but if a choice must be made, bring what he bears and leave him to his own recourse. Ormuz and Patch, in this you cannot fail!'
The pair bowed in acknowledgement of their charge.
'Splendid! Now, Halga, you are My right hand and Vayne its thumb, as it were. I must coordinate a great effort now. You are the ones who will assist Me in this first step toward rulership of Oerth… and more, too, when the time is ripe. None must be certain of My plans and motives. Will I send My forces to Vesve and the elven realm of Highfolk? We know that will be, but it is a sideshow. Molag and the Hierarchs? Of course, but as dear as is My desire to bring those sheep to skewering, it too is a distraction. The Bandit Kingdoms? Again, certainly! They are but petty allies, good for any time I choose, but let the Shield Lords and Furyondy think otherwise.
'Eclavdra and her drow? She will aid in the subterfuge; all the better unknowing! Better still, she will help to hoodwink the one who proudly names Me Son. Drow companies will bedevil the marches to the far west, and Veluna will turn that way in fear and consternation, torn between the hordes of the Scarlet Brotherhood in the Kron Hills and the threat of what might transpire in Bissel. Long is My memory, all-pervading My tentacles of action.
'And there is yet more! My dearest mother has duped those red-wrapped bundles of filth. Their war is only a distraction for her. I am well informed that she has come upon the prison of Queen Zuggtmoy, and in a short time My Lady of Fungi will join Us here in Dorakaa. With Iggwilv, she shall share My coming triumph!'
Iuz paused to allow admiring looks and murmured praise to wash over his obscene bulk. 'Our Lord of Evil is all victorious!' offered one underling. 'We acknowledge the everburning Evil which now lights the Empire of Iuz!' said another.
It went on like this for some minutes. Then the cambion made a small gesture, and there was silence
