The Gods Awaken

Safar's reply came from quite close. Frighteningly so. And he didn't speak aloud, but used a newly discovered inner 'voice.'

Don't worry, Safar said. I'm not trying to kill you. I'm just climbing down there so I can 'talk' toyou without speaking aloud. Funny, being blind made it easy. I sort of turned my eyes inward andfound you.

Iraj didn't believe him. Don't lie to me, he said. I know very well you'd like nothing better than to seeme dead. After all, if I were in your position I'd do the same thing.

That's the main difference between the two of us, Safar replied. You always thought I desired thesame things you did. That's never been the case. You wanted to be Esmir's King of Kings. I had nosuch ambitions.

Don't fool yourself, brother, Iraj retorted. All you ever wanted to do was save the world. Tell methat's not as insanely self-centered as my own wishes. Come on-Safar The Savior! No godappointed you to such a world-shaking role? You did! I was there, remember? And at the sametime, boy that I was, I anointed myself the future King of Kings.

I won't quarrel with you, Safar said. Arguing about details won't get us anywhere.

Iraj sneered. You're afraid to admit I'm right, that's all.

Safar sighed. Let's deal with this later, he said. I'll admit you're right about one thing. When I firstrealized what was happening I decided to figure out a way to kill you, without killing myself. Butnow I realize we're fated to play this game out together. And the only way either one of us is goingto survive, much less realize our goals, is to cooperate.

Agreed, Iraj said.

Truce, then? Safar asked.

You have my word, Iraj said.

Safar nearly said something sarcastic about the worth of Iraj's word, but bit it off.

Instead he said, Then let's go greet our new subjects, brother mine. And find out all we can aboutwhat's going on.

Done! Iraj said. I'll give you my strength and you give me your magic and nothing can standagainst us.

Ever the conqueror, Safar sighed.

I won't quarrel with that, brother, Iraj said. Conquering is my destiny.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

THE ISLAND QUEEN

When Palimak left Safar's cabin he was so stricken with fear and grief at his father's condition that he fled to his own quarters before anyone could stop him to ask when Safar would emerge.

He had to think. He had to get his emotions in check before he told the others that his father was blind.

Considering his own reaction, Palimak had no doubt that unless he handled the situation carefully everyone would panic.

Although he'd only recently turned fourteen, Palimak knew they all looked up to him as someone much older and wiser than his years. Despite the fact that demons matured at a faster rate than humans, both emotionally and physically, right now the human side of him ruled and he felt like a mere child incapable of handling such a burden.

He mixed himself a weak solution of water and sweet wine to settle his nerves. But when he took a sip the drink had the opposite effect and he rush to a basin to empty his stomach.

Then he wiped his face, washed out his mouth with mint water and sat on his bunk to think…

…The voyage from Aroborus to Hadin took many weeks. And although the seas were strange and filled with danger, the journey was without incident.

Even so, everyone kept looking over their shoulders for the reappearance of Rhodes and his fleet.

Though they'd only suffered the deaths of two young men in the fight with Rhodes, all the Kyranians were grief-stricken at this loss.

Safar's collapse added even more tension to the atmosphere.

Coralean was all for turning back to Syrapis, reasoning that with Safar in a coma the mission had no head, and therefore no purpose.

Many of the other Kyranians agreed, but Palimak-supported by Leiria and Jooli-insisted that they press on. Safar had undergone such trials before, Palimak said, and given time and careful nursing, would likely recover.

It was Eeda, however, who turned the tide of opinion. Although she was young, her words were wise.

She was also quite visibly with child, which gave even more depth to her appeal.

'Back in Syrapis,' she said, 'we all saw what is going to happen to this world if Lord Timura doesn't reach Hadin in time to intervene. I don't want my child born into the doomed land we saw in Lord Timura's vision. And I don't think you want to condemn your dear families to such a horrible fate.'

Coralean spoke for the others when he argued, 'That's all very well and good, dear wife. But Coralean must speak plainly when he warns that the chances of success appear small. If Safar doesn't recover-or worse, should he die-where will we all be then?

'Hadin is a land unknown to us all and may be filled with many enemies. If our fates are perilous, wouldn't it better to face those perils surrounded by our friends and families, rather than among strangers?'

'Forgive me for seeming quarrelsome, lord husband,' Eeda replied. 'But I, for one, would rather die bravely facing the unknown. With some hope-however slight-that we can cure this world of its afflictions.

'For me, the alternative is to cower like some lowly insect while unknown forces drag myself and my child-as well as my dear husband-to certain death. Why, in the vision Lord Timura revealed to us, there might not even be anyone left to bury us and sing our souls to the heavens once we are gone.'

A long silence followed this powerful argument. But Coralean, a man who could see all sides, felt it his duty to point out other dangers.

'What of that devil Rhodes?' he asked. 'Somehow he has eluded us. He has three ships loaded with soldiers. What if he is even now returning to Syrapis to launch a surprise attack on our homes to revenge himself for his failure here?'

Palimak replied, 'I think my grandfather, Khadji Timura, is well able to protect our people against Rhodes. When you left Syrapis to help us, that was the plan you worked out with everyone, wasn't it?

And once you'd found us, you told them all that you were to proceed to Hadin, leaving the safety of our people in my grandfather's capable hands.'

There was another long silence. No one-especially Coralean-could argue with that statement.

It was Biner who then put paid to the discussion and spiritless mood by rising up from his place and declaring:

'Damn everything but the circus!'

Arlain and the other show people leaped to their feet and joined the ringmaster in a fabulous impromptu performance.

Palimak rushed to help them. And although there were no stretched wires, or tents, or costumes and make- up, they all brought the circus to life on that bare deck.

Incredible feats of acrobatics dazzled one and all. Stirring music from Elgy and Rabix lifted glum spirits.

This was followed by a frantic clown chase-with all the circus people joining in-that soon brought roars of laughter to all the people. Laughter that echoed over the endless wine-dark seas, making them seem like a natural and friendly part of the act.