Jooli snorted. 'If not, I'd be happy to lift a few of the stupider ones from their shoulders.'
Leiria said nothing. The prospect of killing people she'd fought beside and had lived with for several years was depressing, to say the least.
The two groups met. Although she couldn't make out what he was saying, Leiria caught the gentle sound of Khadji's voice. A renowned potter, Khadji had been much respected long before his son's accomplishments had won him so many honors. Foron joined in, as did the others, and the conversation grew animated-much hand-waving and point-making gestures.
Then Masura's voice rose above the others. 'We're through listening to the Timuras! I say we drag Palimak out here and make him answer for his crimes!'
There was a roar of approval from Masura's followers. They shoved Khadji and the others aside and continued their march up the hill. The crowd was working itself up, shouting oaths, sliding over into mass hysteria.
'Get ready,' Leiria warned.
And there was a creak of leather battle harness and a rattle of metal as her people braced for the onslaught.
Queen Clayre chuckled at the scene before her-the tiny figures of Foron's mob charging toward Leiria's small group.
'Well, well,' she said. 'Apparently we have some new friends among the Kyranians to assist us. It's so much easier to make magical mischief if people hate each other!'
King Rhodesa€™ attention was riveted on the drama unfolding in the model of the Kyranian stronghold.
He'd never realized the Kyranians were so divided. By the gods, if only he had a few troops present, he'd wipe them out with ease!
Then he frowned. Where was Palimak? He peered closer and couldn't find a trace of his enemy. Then he spotted his daughter lined up with Captain Leiria and Lord Coralean, waiting to hurl back the mob.
'What's Jooli doing helping them?' he rumbled.
'Never mind that now, son,' Clayre advised. 'I need your full attention to cast this spell.'
'Be damned to her!' Rhodes growled. 'She has no business getting involved.'
The soothing voice of Kalasariz came from within.
With Kalasariz sending out calm feelings, Rhodes relaxed and once more started concentrating on the spell.
Meanwhile, Kalasariz was loving every minute of this new and most powerful experience. He could feel the tingling of Clayre's magical energy coursing through the king's veins. And within his spirit self he could sense the agony of the creatures that were Fari and Luka as they leaped about to do his bidding. It was a delicious feeling to witness his enemies humbled so. They were less than insects in this new world he'd carved out for himself.
Clayre muttered spell words, sprinkling powders over the model.
The blue light intensified as she continued to weave her deadly spell.
As the crowd approached, Coralean made one more attempt to settle things peacefully. He stepped forward, raising his hands high. So powerful was his personality that the crowd came to an immediate halt and fell into silence.
'People of Kyrania,' he said, his big voice carrying to the most distant edges of the crowd. 'All of you know in your heart of hearts that Coralean is your oldest and dearest friend. And I call upon your affection for me-and upon our long and profitable association-to hear Coralean's words.'
There were murmurs of agreement in the crowd. Masura glowered, furious at the caravan master's effect on the others.
'Please, my dear friends,' Coralean continued, 'do not shame yourselves this day. Do not sully Kyrania's long tradition of peaceful discussion and compromise. It is this quality of yours that has most endeared you to me over the years. A quality that I hold in the highest esteem.'
Masura shouted: 'The time for talk is over! We've had enough Timura trickery.'
Coralean looked hurt. 'Do you accuse me, Coralean, of anything but honest intentions, my friend?'
'You're no friend of mine!' Masura shouted. 'You're nothing but a paid toady of Palimak Timura!'
There was a flash of steel as Masura suddenly drew a blade from beneath his cloak and leaped forward to strike the caravan master down. So unexpected was his attack that even Coralean, an experienced fighter and agile despite his size, was caught unaware.
He threw up an arm in surprise and Masura aimed his blade at the caravan master's exposed heart.
But Leiria was quicker, jumping between Masura and Coralean. She felt a hot, stinging sensation as Masura's short sword cut into her arm. But she turned with the blow, catching the main force on her body armor. Then she grabbed Masura by the throat and hurled him backwards.
'Assassins!' Masura screamed. 'Assassins!'
Only a few people had seen his attack. Most believed it was Leiria who had struck first.
Chaos erupted and the screaming mob surged forward.
Rhodes watched in joy as the Kyranian mob attacked his most hated enemies. He burned in even greater delight in anticipation of what would come next.
Kalasariz shared his delight, soaking up the hot juices flowing through the king's veins. Meanwhile, he whipped his little slaves into a frenzy, driving Fari and Luka to greater heights of pain. Drawing on the powerful magic their agony produced.
Queen Clayre shouted, 'Now!' and stabbed an elegant finger at the model of the Kyranian fortress.
Kalasariz felt the pull of her powerful magic and delivered his own pent-up sorcery in twin hammer blows of energy that blasted through the king's eyes.
The blue light hovering over the model turned white hot, then burst. Fiery particles rained down on the melee below.
It was Jooli who caught the first hint of danger. A man was lunging toward her and she parried his sword thrust and kicked his legs out from under him.
But as she turned to confront the next attacker her hackles suddenly rose and her hair stood up on her scalp like hot needles.
Instinctively she looked upward and saw an enormous blue cloud floating overhead. The cloud was shaped like the face of a beautiful woman-a familiar face with two enormous eyes that glowed with evil power.
'Beware!' Jooli shouted. 'It's my grandmother!'
No one heeded her warning. They were too busy fighting.
In the next instant all that changed. A lightning bolt shot from cloud to ground.
There was an enormous, ear-bursting crash and suddenly the air was filled with fiery particles raining out of the sky.
Someone screamed in pain as a particle settled on his flesh. Then another person cried out as his hair caught on fire.
The two victims broke from the crowd, running wildly, blindly away. Shouting, 'I'm on fire! I'm on fire!'
The crowd scattered under the deadly rain, people diving for any shelter they could find.
'With me!' Jooli shouted, whirling and running for the shelter of the stone overhang that protected the door.
Leiria, Coralean and the others knotted in beside her. Pounding at the door for Renor and Sinch to let them in. Mistaking the hammering for the mob trying to get in, the two young guards ignored their entreaty.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, the hot rain stopped. People peered out from their hiding places-farm carts, trees, big clay jars they'd upended.
'What in the Hells-' Leiria began.
'She's not done with us yet,' Jooli broke in, cutting her off.
'Who are you talking about?' asked a bewildered Leiria.
