more would have burst a dam of tears.
Safar eyed Hantilia. Why was she bringing this up now? Why hadn't she told him this tale before so he could break the news to Palimak gently, instead of possibly unnerving the boy on the very day when he needed all of his strength and concentration.
'We'll never be able to repay Your Majesty for this kindness,' he said to the Queen. 'My son has long wondered about the mystery of his birth. Now he knows for certain what all of the people who love him have guessed for many years. That his mother was the kindest and sweetest of beings. A princess admired by all.'
Then, to Palimak, 'Maybe when we get back from seeing the Oracle you can have a longer visit with the Queen and she can tell you more.'
Hantilia gazed at the two. It was a touching scene-father comforting son as best he could under the most trying of circumstances. She sensed Safar was suspicious of her motives. She was sorry for that. She wished she could tell him that all she'd done and said had been either ordained or commanded. But she couldn't.
Meanwhile, the boy was looking at her expectantly. And so the Queen said, 'Your father's right, my dear. We can have a nice long chat when you return. And that's a promise.'
At that moment the first of Iraj's scouts reached the entrance to the Caluzian Pass. There were six of them, all demons, and all hand-picked for their magical skills as well as for their tracking abilities.
Like Dario and Leiria they instantly saw the danger of ambush. They could also sense the strong magic emanating from somewhere deep within the bowels of the passage. This time, however, instead of the spell of humor and giddy well-being that had greeted the Kyranians, a tremendous sense of dread and certain doom radiated out at them. The spell was so strong it leaked through the shields Fari and his wizards had cast to protect them.
Shivering and gnashing their fangs in fear, the scouts drew back until they were out of range. They regrouped, repaired their shields and considered. Courage regained, several of the younger scouts wanted to continue on. Huge rewards had been offered to the first scouts who picked up the trail of Safar and the Kyranians.
Their leader, however, was a scarred veteran of similar encounters when golden bounties had outweighed common sense.
'All the gold in Esmir,' he said, 'won't buy us a drink in the taverns of the Hells. Let some other fiend get rich, if he dares.'
With that, he unsaddled his mount and settled down to wait for the rest of the army to catch up. He broke out a package of rations and started to eat, calmly ignoring the others who were heatedly debating the pros and cons.
In the end, rare common sense prevailed over greed. Grumbling about missed opportunities, they followed his example.
Deep within the passage hollow eyes peered out at the scouts. Pale lips parted in a ghastly smile of anticipation at all the blood that would soon flow.
Then the Guardian warrior lifted his spectral horn and blew.
Hantilia shivered. The warning was for her ears only and so no one else heard the Guardian trumpeting news of Iraj Protarus' approach. The Queen signaled her assistant, who was posted at the far end of the courtyard. Then she turned to Safar and Palimak, hiding her concern with a broad smile.
'It is time, my dear ones,' she said 'for us to bid you farewell.'
Despite her efforts to hide it, Palimak caught the eddy of magic emanating from the Queen as she gathered her powers.
At the same moment Gundara whispered a warning, 'Watch out, Little Master. Something's going to happen!'
Khysmet shifted under him, snorting and swishing his tail. Alarmed, Palimak glanced at his father, who gave him a slight nod-he'd noticed too. The boy felt something soft fall over him as Safar cast a shielding spell to protect them from betrayal. Nerves tingling, the boy glanced over at the Queen. The flame in her eyes burned brighter. Whether there was good or evil there, he couldn't say.
Then the acolytes lifted their voices higher, singing, '
And Hantilia intoned, 'In the name of the Mother of us all, I command the Way be opened!'
She gestured and the far wall of the courtyard dissolved before their eyes. Beyond was a flower-lined pathway leading down a graceful hill to where the two rivers met. And where the Temple of Hadin waited.
The Queen pointed a long claw at the temple. 'Go!' she commanded. 'The Oracle awaits!'
Safar didn't hesitate. It was too late in the game for doubts, or for second-guessing Hantilia's motives. He grabbed the reins and swung into the saddle behind Palimak.
He saluted the Queen. 'Until we meet again, Majesty,' he said.
Hantilia smiled at him and he saw tears gathering in her eyes. 'Yes, Safar Timura,' she said, forcing one last lie. 'Until we meet again.'
Safar flipped the reins and Khysmet started forward-the chanting crowd parting to let them through. He felt Palimak shudder.
'Are you sure you want to do this, son?' He whispered. 'Say the word and we'll turn back now.'
Palimak shook his head. 'I'm not afraid for us, father,' he said. 'Just for them.'
From her throne Queen Hantilia watched Safar and Palimak ride toward the gateway-and the flowered path beyond. Unlike Leiria, she didn't have to stop and wonder if she'd ever see them again. She knew better. The Oracle had been quite clear on this subject from the very beginning.
They reached the gate and Khysmet hesitated a moment, then pressed forward. The air shimmered and there was a faint pop! like a bubble bursting, and then the horse and its riders were gone. But she could still hear the clip, clop of Khysmet's hooves on the seemingly empty pathway.
The Queen gestured and the gateway closed. She turned to her red-robed acolytes.
'Let the Great Sacrifice begin,' she commanded.
Their voices rose in a loud chorus and she joined them in song:
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,
Behind her the snake of Asper stirred into life, two pairs of eyes glowing blood red. Tongues flickering out to taste the air.
In the Kyranian encampment everyone heard the singing and stopped what they were doing, turning toward the city to listen.
'What in the Hells are they up to?' Leiria said to the group gathered about the airship.
The ship, which was straining against the strong cables that kept it earthbound, was crowded with crates of equipment that Leiria, Biner and the others had already loaded.
The muscular dwarf scratched his head. 'Singing, I guess,' he said.
Arlain, who was passing up a crate to Kairo, snorted. 'Of courth, they're thinging!' she said. 'Anyone with ear'th on hith head can tell that! The quethtion ith,
'I hope Safar and Palimak are all right,' Khadji said. 'I still think we should have sent a good strong force along with them … just in case.'
Leiria sighed. 'Once Safar gets a plan set in mind,' she said, 'there's no moving him from his course.'
