'That's the demon moon.'
He moved the turtle to a point between them.
'That's us, he said. Approximately, that is. The real heavenly bodies are moving together right now. In fact, we should see the demon moon very soon.'
Iraj shook his head in admiration. That's something, Safar, he said, sounding like a boy watching a circus performance. Really something.'
Safar kept his features immobile. He couldn't help but play the stony-faced master performer. Besides, he'd noticed it didn't hurt to keep Iraj's awe of his magical abilities stoked to the fullest.
'When I cast the spell, he said, you must sit absolutely still. Do or say nothing. You'll see me here beside you. But I won't be in my body.'
He gestured toward the cave mouth. My spirit will be out there someplace. He pointed at the stone idol. Keep your eyes on that, he said, and you'll see everything my spirit sees.'
Iraj squirmed. Remarkable, he breathed.
'Are you ready? Safar asked.
Iraj licked his lips and nodded. Safar tossed a handful of glass pellets on the floor. Iraj gasped. Curling up were columns of thick smoke, all of a different color, all filled with glittering bits that floated up and down the columns.
This wasn't something that was really necessary, but Safar had learned from Methydia to put on a good show.
He drew in his breath. Deeper and deeper, drawing as if his lungs were a giant's. The columns of smoke, coiling around each other like ribbons, wreathed into his mouth, following the inrushing air.
Then he exhaled. It made a sound like a hard wind whistling through a narrow opening. The ribbon smoke, now tightly coiled into a hazy rope, shot out, bursting over the stone idol like a waterfall.
Safar's vision hazed and he saw things as if in a dream. He saw Iraj look startled, mouth gaping open. He saw Gundara, the object of the king's amazement, leap out of the stone and crouch there, chittering. He heard Gundara squeak one, Shut up! Then gleap and snap his jaws shut when he saw Iraj.
Suddenly wings burst from the little Favorite's backlarge gossamer wings, pearly like the snow butterflies that come in early spring. Gundara reached out a claw. It stretched, then stretched more, reaching beyond belieflonger and longer, closing the distance between Favorite and master.
Safar raised his own hand. A spectral image of that hand emerged from his body.
His spirit self gripped Gundara's claw.
Then he was flying, flying through mountain stone, then erupting out of the mountain itself and taking to the air. He had no sense of Gundara's presence. It was as if Safar were doing the flying, soaring with the wind, moving his arms to correct his flight.
He flew north, over the topmost peaks of the Bride and Six Maids. Far below he saw a boy leading a flock of goats to pasture. He cleared the last peak, so close he was tempted to see if his spectral hand could disturb the snow.
He soared down the mountain slopes, caught a warm wind, then sailed out over the great northern desert.
Above him thick clouds skated under a blue sky. Below, the white desert sands glittered in the sunlight. Beyond, a limitless horizon.
Safar shifted his arms and flew up to the clouds. He caught a wind and skimmed beneath them, heading for the thin blue line marking the spot where sky and earth met.
He flew on for a time until he came to a place where two enormous rocks speared out of the stony ground. They were sheer on all sides and each seemed to be formed from a single piece a hundred feet high. They were so large they seemed close together, but when Safar came upon them he could see they were a less than half a mile apart.
He flew on toward the still empty horizon.
When he first saw the army he didn't know what he was looking at. It emerged as a long dirty line rising from the horizon's rim. Beneath the line he saw a streak of solid black. The closer he went the broader that streak became, but fading grayer, like charcoal on a sketch. Slowly the streak separated into figures. And then the figures became soldiers.
Demon soldiers.
Safar shot over them, spectral heart fluttering against spectral ribs.
The whole desert plain swarmed with demons, a colossal colony of monstrous ants streaming south toward the Gods Divide. They flowed beneath him, wide columns of demon soldiers, led by thick spears of mounted cavalry. Hundreds of great baggage trains followed in their wake, winged by immense herds of animals to supply fresh food and mounts.
It took a frighteningly long time to come to the end of the demon army. When he did, he swung around and flew toward the frontlooking for the heart of this great creature.
He found Manacia and his court just behind the main cavalry units. The demon king lolled in a rolling howdah perched on a glorious white elephant. Safar recognized the elephant immediately. It was the same one he'd seen Iraj ride in that long ago vision.
Steeling himself, he flew nearer. Manacia's huge head and massive jaws were just becoming clear when Safar felt the sting of magic. It was like running naked through a swarm of bees.
Safar shot upward, rising as fast as he could, then the stinging sensation was gone and he knew he was beyond Manacia's reach. When he'd recovered he realized it was some kind of shield, or warning net, or both. Safar tested for danger and was relieved when he became certain Manacia hadn't noticed his presence. Then, gathering his nerve, he flew around the shield, testing its width and breadth. Soon not the only size became apparent, but also that he was safe as long he kept to the edges.
From far off he heard someone call his name. Safar… Safar…'
A hole opened up and he fell into it, plunging down and down, through smoke and heat and then boom! he was back in the cave, crouched on his knees and spewing his guts onto the floor.
When he was done Iraj wet the edge of his cloak and gave it to him to wipe his face, then he handed him a cup brimming with strong brandy. Safar drank it down like water. One more and his nerves steadied.
'I thought I told you to keep silent, he said. You could have killed me.'
Iraj looked surprised, then sorrowful. I'm sorry, he said. I thought it was seeing all those demons that made you sick. I was almost ill myself.'
'Sure, it scared the Hells out of me, Safar said. But it was being snatched back so quickly that made me sick! I know you're my lord and master and all, but have a pity, Iraj! Go easy, next time.'
While Iraj hung his head and muttered apologies, Safar braced himself with another cup of false courage. Then he picked up the stone idol, whispered a promise of rewards to come for good little Favorites and returned it to his pouch.
'When I saw Manacia's army, Iraj said, I thought, this is hopeless! Unstoppable! I might as well go dig myself a deep hole and pull the dirt in after me.'
'I had similar thoughts, Safar said, but I couldn't see how I could dig a hole deep enough.'
'In the entire history of Esmir, Iraj said, there is no precedent for what we're facing. No army that size has ever been fielded. And if we closed with him, there's no comparison to any battle ever fought.'
'Let's not close with him, Safar said. That's my strong advice to you.'
'Actually, Iraj said, that's advice I'll immediately reject. The only way we can win is to meet him head-to-head on the field of battle.'
'Come, Iraj! Safar objected. Put a little more brandy in your blood. And quickly. Senses must be regained.'
'I'm not joking, Iraj answered.
'I know you're not, Safar said. That's why I am! Otherwise I'd be frightened to death. You wouldn't say such a thing if you didn't mean it.
'Sometimes I wonder about your sanity, my friend, but never your ability.'
'After I was done quaking, Iraj said, it came to me that if an army that size had never been fielded before, it was also true no army that size has ever been commanded before.'
Safar nodded. I see what you mean. Manacia would be have to be not only the greatest general ever, but so far
