'It's time for the Great Sacrifice to begin!'
The Queen's messenger came and went and Safar retired to his tent with Palimak to get ready. They dressed in comfortable clothes-trousers, tunics, cloaks and boots-as if they faced a long journey, instead of just a short stroll to the Queen's palace.
They both carried small packs filled with magical devices and potions, as well several purses of various things hanging from their belts. Besides this, Safar had his silver dagger tucked into his sleeve and Palimak had the stone turtle containing Gundara and Gundaree tucked safely away in a large pocket inside his tunic. For weapons, Safar made sure they both had bows and a quiver of arrows. Palimak's bow was the one he'd used in the circus act, which Safar deemed more than sufficient to do the job.
As for swords, however, Safar made a little ceremony out of giving Palimak a steel blade that been especially cut down for him, as well as a knife to balance out his belt.
Palimak straightened, a few more years of added maturity furrowing his youthful brow.
Safar stood back to admire the figure he cut. 'With you at my side, son,' he said, 'they don't stand a chance.'
Palimak chortled with delight, eyes turning demon yellow with excitement. 'Let's go get them!' he said.
With that they exited the tent to say their farewells.
The Timura family waited outside. Leiria stood a little away from them, holding Khysmet's reins, saddle bags packed and ready.
Safar's mother and sisters and female cousins fussed over them, weeping all the while, while his sisters'
husbands slapped them both on their backs and wished them 'gods speed.'
When they came to his father, Khadji knelt and embraced the boy, saying, 'I'll show you some new pottery tricks when you get back.' As always, Safar's father had difficulty saying what he really meant.
Palimak patted him and said, 'I can hardly wait, grandfather.' Trying to sound really excited about the promise and that the shining adventures he believed awaited him would be boring delays for when that moment came.
Khadji nodded, then rose to face his son. He was frowning, a little ashamed. 'I guess I haven't been much help to you these last few days, son,' he said.
'It was a spell, father,' Safar assured him. 'Nothing to do with you. There's no fault.'
'Still,' his father said, 'I'm not happy with myself.' He straightened, looking at Safar squarely. 'It won't happen again.'
Safar covered a confusion of emotions by giving his father a bear hug, slapping his back and telling him everything was going to be 'fine, just fine.'
Then they pulled apart. Safar's father seemed about to say something-lips opening, a clot of words gathering to be blurted. The moment passed and he shook his head.
'Tell the Oracle she'd better treat you right, son,' he said. 'Or she'll have another Timura to deal with!'
'I will, father,' he said.
Safar took Palimak's hand and they turned and walked to where Leiria waited with Khysmet.
'Biner and Arlain send their apologies,' she said. 'They're busy rigging out the airship and loading up the gear.'
'Make sure they take those packs I set aside for them,' Safar said.
'They were loaded first,' Leiria replied. 'I watched them do it myself.'
In the distance they heard Sergeant Dario curse the laziness of an errant soldier. Safar smiled.
'Sounds like you have everything else in order, too,' he said.
'Dario and I are being extra hard on everyone,' she laughed. 'We both figure they had their fun in Happy Land. Now it's time to whip out the rest of the softness in them.'
'After all these months,' Safar said, 'I can't think of anyone who's still soft.'
'Neither can I,' Leiria grinned, 'but you tell that to Dario! He thinks everybody's too soft. I swear, when he dies they'll make a special rank for him in the Hells. Tormentor in chief, or something.'
The two of them laughed. Palimak joined in, although a little weakly since he wasn't quite sure what they were laughing at. From what he'd seen of Dario he deserved the title, so where was the joke? There were some drawbacks to getting older and Dario, he'd decided, was definitely one of them. He shuddered when he thought of the day he'd join the older lads in training under Dario's baleful eyes and snarled insults and orders.
He snapped his fingers, saying, 'I'm not worried about this Oracle at all!'
Safar and Leiria stared down at him. 'What did you say?'
Palimak blushed, realizing he'd spoken aloud. He shrugged and gave the child's universal answer:
'Nothing.'
Leiria gave him a hug. 'No matter what happens,' she said, 'I want you to remember Auntie Leiria's First Rule of Soldiering-When In Doubt, Find A Big Rock To Hide Under.'
More laughter, final good-byes, and Safar swung into Khysmet's saddle. He hoisted Palimak up behind him, blew Leiria a kiss and wheeled the horse to trot away.
Leiria stared after them, wondering if she'd ever see them again.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
There was not a soul to be seen as Safar and Palimak rode toward the city. The fields were empty, the farm house chimneys cold.
When they came to the gates there was no one to greet them, much less challenge them, and when they entered the city it seemed more like a great mausoleum, with only ghosts to watch as they passed by shuttered windows and closed doors.
'Where is everybody, father?' Palimak asked, unconsciously whispering.
'I don't know,' Safar said.
Then they heard faint music and even fainter voices lifted in song. The sound was coming from Hantilia's silver palace.
Safar nodded toward the sound. 'I expect we'll have our answer soon enough.'
He tapped Khysmet's reins and the horse turned toward the palace, hooves clip-clopping in eerie time with the song.
They paused at the open palace gates. Inside were hundreds upon hundreds of red-robed Caluzians-so many the Queen's grand courtyard was filled to the overflowing. Her acolytes made a great circle many beings deep and in the center was Hantilia-most regal in her Asper robes and golden crown perched above her demon's horn. She was sitting upon a glorious throne made of ivory studded with many colorful gems. It had a sweeping back rising to form the symbol of Asper-the two-headed snake, wings spread wide as if ready to strike.
Hantilia sat calmly, a beatific smile on her face, as her subjects sang:
Sweet Lady, Lady, Lady.
We take the sin, we take the sin,
Holy One.
On our souls, on our souls,
Sweet Lady, Lady, Lady.
No one else, no one else,
Holy One.
It is our fault, it is our fault,
It was a haunting chant that stirred deep emotions in Safar, although at first he didn't know why it should hold any meaning for him. Then he remembered the vision in Asper's tomb where Queen Charize had reigned over a
