So did the prince, who as heir to the throne was expected to lead the vanguard of the invasion.
'If I am to have the high honor of carrying your banner into glorious battle, Majesty, the prince said, I want to make certain there is no chance it is sullied or befouled in any way.
'I would fight to the death to prevent that from happening.'
'Quite right, too, King Manacia said. My father expected the same from me when I was Crown Prince. And I risked my life many a time for his standard.'
Prince Luka placed talon to breast and bowed low, honoring his father's youthful bravery. As he did so, he thought, You cunning old fraud. You cut your father's throat in his sleep and seized his standard. And if I only have the chance, I'll do the same to you.
'You are a constant inspiration to me, Majesty, the prince said, smoothly. And I'll need ten thousand fiends for my vanguard.'
The king gave them to him.
After much discussion with his generals, he also agreed that a five hundred thousand demon army would be raisedthe largest force in the history of Esmir. Backing them with war magic would be two thousand wizards, led by Lord Fari.
The preparations were massive and seemed to move on as slowly as the Turtle Gods carried the continents across the seas.
Making the task even more difficult were countless emergencies calling for his armies attentions. Within a single month troops had to be rushed to trouble spots a half-a-dozen times.
Manacia felt as if his whole kingdom was bulging at the seams, ready to erupt.
The feeling was intensified by the nightmares. As troubled night bled into troubled night, the king began to fix on the two human devils who always led the rushthe golden haired one and his blue-eyed companion. They became very real to him and he began to wonder who they might be.
When he could bear it no longer he called on Lord Fari and his wizards for an answer. He tried to make light of the dreams, but he knew he was fooling no one and Fari would mark it down as a weakness.
Starcharts were cast, but proved useless since no chart agreed with the next. With the gods at sleep, the heavens held no answers, although the dreamcatchers were ignorant of the reason for their failure.
Bone cups were rattled, the king had his palm read scores of times. All to no avail.
Finally Lord Fari had a human slave brought forth. He was tortured so his cries would please the gods, then while he was still alivehis belly was slit so the king's wizards could read the entrails.
Manacia watched with much interest as Fari leaned over the moaning victim, sniffing at the gaping wound.
'A healthy odor, Majesty, the old wizard reported. That's a lucky sign.'
He scooped up a coil of entrails with a claw.
'Mercy, have mercy, the victim groaned.
Fari peered closely at the rope of tissue. Better still, Majesty, he said after a moment. This is a good strong bowel, symbolizing the soundness of Your Majesty's policies.'
The human made a weak cry as Fari pulled up more of his innards. Please, the man whimpered, please.'
'Aha! the old demon said. Here's our trouble, Majesty.'
He held out a glistening coil. A thick rope of internal muscle jutted off of it, dividing into two blunt-ended tubes about an inch out.
'It's a cancer, Majesty, Fari said. Attached to the main branch. You see how it divides into two?'
Manacia nodded, he did indeed. Fari extended a talon and sliced each tube. Black blood gushed out.
'Mother of mercy! the victim screamed. And then he sagged, unconscious.
Satisfied that he had enough information, Fari let the entrails fall. Two slaves slithered over on their bellies to offer him perfumed water and towels to clean his claws.
Fari paced back and forth, wiping his claws and thinking. While he thought two other slaves approached and dragged the human away.
Fari noticed and his snout came up. The king will want the heart for his dinner, he ordered the slaves. Then he went back to his pacing.
Finally, when Manacia thought he no longer bear the suspense, Fari began to speak.
'Here is how I read it, Majesty, he said. The cancer, I fear, does represent a threat. The twin ropes drawing off energy from the main bowel are the two humans who bedevil Your Majesty's dreams. One is a king. The other a wizard.'
'So what if one's a wizard? Manacia growled. Human magic is too weak to be a threat to us.'
'Most certainly, Majesty, Fari said. But perhaps when joined with the king he makes a more imposing adversary. I cannot say. The entrails gave no clue to such things.
'But they did tell me that right now these two forcesking and wizardare apart. They began together, but then separated for some reason. At the moment each is independent of the other.'
'When will they come together? the king asked.
Fari sighed, wiping the last of the gore from his claws. That was not revealed to me, Majesty, he said. He let the towel fall and a slave scrabbled over to pick it up.
'But what of my invasion? the king pressed. How long dare I wait? It seems to me the longer the delay, the more chance there is these two forces will come together.'
'Quite true, Majesty, Fari said.
'Advise me, the king demanded. When do I invade?'
Fari didn't hesitate. The old demon felt quite sure of himself. The entrails had been that plain.
'In the spring, Majesty, he said. Soon as the first snow melts.'
'And what of this king and this wizard? Manacia asked. They won't be together by then?'
'I don't believe so, Majesty, Fari said. They're too far away from one another. And unless some great wind sweeps one up and delivers him to the feet of the other, we have nothing to fear.'
The storm that hastened the Cloudship over the Plains of Jaspar lasted for more than a week. The winds that drove it were as fierce as the love-making in Methydia's cabin.
For Safar it was a wondrous journey to the heart of a woman. In many ways Safar had always preferred the company of women. He'd been raised in a household of generous and intelligent females. As a child he'd sat in their company, so quiet they soon forgot he was about, and he'd listened intently to their troubles and dreams. Safar thought women dreamed better than men. They saw nuances and dimensions where men only saw flat featureless plains. Safar had been unfortunate in his first adult experience with women. Astarias had wounded him. Although he'd been careful not to judge all women by that experience, he couldn't help all the small doubts and fears that remained.
Methydia wiped them away in a stroke.
For Methydia the affair was altogether different. It shook her sensibilities. It rocked her mortality. She'd had many affairs; some for gain, some for lust, perhaps one or two for lovealthough as she grew older she'd started to think all three were the same and equaled love of self. But with Safar there was something extraa tantalizing mystery just beyond her grasp.
What Methydia always liked about young men was that they appreciated you so much. A woman merely had to be a woman and take the upper hand. Young menwell brought up young menwere so accustomed to obeying their mothers they were invariably relieved when responsibility was taken from them. She could beguile them with a look. Arouse them with a touch. Hold them at bay with a frown. Methydia was a consummate actress and could be all things to all men, but with the young it took less effort. There was more time to enjoy. As Biner often said, The boss likes her toys, she does. She likes em young with a key to wind em up.'
Safar could have been such a toy, although she'd plucked him from the desert only out of kindness. When he became well and she'd noted his personality was as pleasing as his appearance, she'd considered him for her bed.
But what truly captivated Methydia was Safar's magical self. It was a beautiful essence, powerful and passionate. It was potentnever in her witchy days had she sensed such strengthbut there was good at the heart of
