Rising out their midst was his father's royal elephant. The huge animal moved smoothly across the square to Luka.
Manacia grinned down at him from the howdah, fangs displayed in full gleam.
'Thank the gods you are still with us, my son, he shouted. I saw you fall and feared for the worst.'
Luka bowed, fighting not to show pain.
'Caspan is yours, Majesty! he cried. It is my gift to you, and demon history!'
And he thought, this was for you, Mother, for you!
And Manacia thought, how dare he make a gift of what is already mine? Then he remembered the day when he'd said something similar to his own father.
The next time Luka falls, he thought, I must make certain he doesn't rise again.
Manacia was a dutiful king, a hard working king, and he had at least twenty other sons to take Luka's place.
I'd best choose the youngest to succeed him as heir to my throne, Manacia thought. Princes grow up so quickly these days.
Why, I was nearly thirty winters old before I slew my father.
'Coralean is desolate, the caravan master said. He is a coin clipped of its worth. A sway-backed camel with more fleas than spirit.
'It seems it is Coralean's fate that each time he greets you, my king, whom I dare call friend, that he drags demons, or news of demons, into your highness august presence.'
'Come now, Coralean, Iraj protested, I'm not one of those city-bred despots who forgets his friends soon as he wins the throne. And I'm certainly not one to harm the messenger who brings ill tidings.
'Isn't that right, Safar?'
Safar stirred in his seata smaller version of Iraj's traveling throne.
'Actually, he deadpanned, Iraj had his royal torturers put out the eyes and slit the tongue of the last fellow who was in here babbling about demons.'
Iraj frowned. What a thing to say, Safar, he protested, I gave the man a purse of gold. Don't you re he broke off, laughing. You're joking again, he said.
Then, to the caravan master, You see how it is, Coralean? My friends are always making jests at my expense!'
'King Protarus speaks the truth, Safar said. You'll notice I still have both my eyes and a whole tongue, and yet I bring him bad news daily.'
He gestured at the empty main room of the command tent. Why, our king is so grand a monarch he even permits his friends to use his common name in private.
'Isn't that so, Iraj?'
More laughter from the king. Don't pay any attention to him, Coralean, he advised. Safar is just punishing me for ignoring his advice.'
He leaned out from his throne. I had to let my men sack the last city we took, he said. I was short of gold and they hadn't been paid all winter. Safar was opposed to the sacking. He said it was bad business.'
Coralean's merchant smile lit the dim room. An honest dispute among right-thinking men, he said. One looks at future profits. The other at more immediate concerns. There is no right or wrong in such a disagreement.'
He bowed his craggy head in Iraj's direction, saying, The pity should go to the master, who must torment himself for being forced to ignore his advisors and act according to his best judgment.'
The look of pleasure on Iraj's face made Safar fully appreciate why Coralean had been so successful in his long and dangerous career. Despite his common man pretense, Iraj had proven to be a prickly monarch. His dark moods had made the winter long. Then spring had brought the first news of the demon invasion and had plunged him deeper into depression. Iraj had allowed the first city he'd taken to be sacked not to please his men, but to vent his rage.
'What a lucky man I am to have two such loyal friends, Iraj said. One uses wise and well-put phrases to guide me, the other amusing barbswhich also serve to remind me I am only human.'
Don't forget money and magic, Safar thought. We bring you that as well.
Safar had created and cast his first battle spell to help Iraj take the city he later sacked. Coralean, that canny old merchant, had funded Iraj's ambitions from the start. He'd been handsomely rewarded with exclusive trading contracts.
You haven't done so badly either, Safar chided himself. In the short time he'd been at Iraj's side Safar had become a wealthy man by anyone's measurement. As Grand Wazier he had been given vast tracts of land and chests of rare gems and metals.
'So tell us your news, my friend, Iraj said to Coralean. Don't spare my feelings. I'm braced for the worst.'
'Caspan has fallen, Coralean said.
Coming from such a normally loquacious man, his brevity was a shock. Iraj flinched, then tried to cover his concern.
Fingers rapping on the arm of his throne gave him away. I see. Well, we were expecting that. Weren't we Safar?'
Safar nodded. They'd heard rumors of Manacia's drive toward Caspan and he'd made a castings that did not bode well for the city's defenders.
'Coralean barely escaped with his life, the caravan master said. I sent my wives into hiding and fled the city just in time.'
He went on to describe the series of battles that led to the taking of Caspan. Trying to add a note of cheer he went into some detail on the great losses Manacia had suffered in the campaign.
But Iraj kept rapping his fingers against wood. So few, he murmured. I'd hoped he would have suffered more.'
He looked up at Coralean. I suppose it won't be long before he comes over the mountains, he said.
'I fear so, Coralean said. The last I heard he was preparing his army and searching for the route to Kyrania.'
The mention of Kyrania was a heavy spear aimed at Safar's heart. Intentional or not, Safar bent a closer ear to what Coralean had to say.
'A caravan master's life isn't worth a copper on that side of the Gods Divide, Coralean said. Many of my brother merchants have been seized and tortured for the information. Luckily the demons know so little of human affairs they keep seizing the wrong men.
'But they only need one success and Manacia's army will be on the march to Kyrania.'
Iraj was silent for a time; fingers rap, rap, rapping. Then he said to Coralean, voice so low he could barely be heard, Leave us for a time, my friend. I must speak with my brother.'
The caravan master bowed, murmured a few kind words and departed.
Soon as he was gone Iraj turned to Safar, face full of anguish. You said I would be king of kings! he cried.
'And you will, Safar replied.
'Are you certain your talent isn't playing you false? Iraj demanded. Am I a fool, bound to a fool's vision?'
'Let me speak plainly, Safar said. There's no question that you are a fool. Who else but a fool would want to be king of Esmir? But fool or not, that is your destiny.'
'Beware! Iraj snapped. I'm in no mood for insults, friendly though they may be.'
'If you don't want to hear the truth, Safar said, then command my silence.'
'I've given you power, Iraj said.
'Take it back, Safar replied. It's more of a burden than I care to shoulder.'
'I've made you rich, Iraj pointed out.
'In Kyrania, Safar said, wealth is a bountiful harvest that all share.
Iraj grew angry. Are you saying that in your view all I've given you is worthless?'
Taking a lesson from Coralean, Safar replied, Not your friendship. I value that most highly, Iraj Protarus.'
Iraj was mollified. His finger rapping ceased. What should I do, brother? he asked. How do I achieve what your
