Michael Foster - She Who Has No Name

‘We live another day,’ Eric stated flatly.

‘We do,’ Samuel said.

‘But it’s only a matter of time until we meet our end here, Samuel. I am sure.’

‘I will think of something. The Queen wants a show of magic. We cannot give it to her if we are dead.’

Eric was quickly dragged away, but Samuel was again taken before the Paatin Queen.

‘Are you actually trying to disappoint me, Samuel?’ she asked forlornly. ‘How can I believe all the wonderful things I have heard about you if all you do is brawl like a street-thug? You act more like a drunkard than a magician,and I have any number of those to throw to their deaths. Unless you are of some worth to me, Samuel, I think you know what will happen to you.’

‘Give me some time,’ Samuel said. ‘If you let my friendsoutfrom the dungeons and give them time to recover their strength, we will fight together and give you a spectacle the likesof whichyou have never seen before.’

‘A spectacle? I did hear that the destruction of Ghant was a marvel to behold,terrible and beautiful. None of my wizards could achieve such utter devastation, yet I would not like something like that happening in my city. I am not altogether foolish, my dear. Your friends will stay in their cells. I will keep them safe and wellcaredfor and under watch in my dungeons-away from harm’s way. Do not think you can do anything, Samuel. My Paatin wizards are ever close at hand and here in my city, I am akin to a god.’

‘Then I will need something else if I am to give you a show.’

‘Something else?’ she enquired with a smile. It seemed as though she actually enjoyed his brazenness. ‘What is it?’

‘Your ring.’ He folded his arms and waited patiently, noting the moment of comprehension on her face that followed.

‘So this is why you refuse to use your powers, Samuel? Why,you don’t have any! How delicious. The Saviour of Cintar is no magician at all, but a common man, stealing his power from the gods.’

‘Oh, I am a magician,’ he corrected, ‘but my power was lost. Lend me your ring, and I will show you what can be done with it.’

She looked truly amused by his suggestion. ‘I am not so foolish, Samuel. This ring never leaves my finger. You will have to find your power or die. I will grantyou three days.’

She gave a flick of her wrist and turned her bare back to him, leaving Samuel to be escorted back to his room.

Three days to find a plan or die. Three days to free the others, steal the ring, kill the Queen and escape to freedom. It seemed quite a challenge. If he did not meet it, he would be forced into the arena again, and he doubted his luck could hold for anotherchallenge.

Samuel stalked about his room, eating from the bowl of apples and drinking water from his porcelain jug, knowing that the others were still starving in their cells, buried under a mountain of stone. Lomar was their only hope, for he was still free and in the city, yet he had no idea if the man even knew they were alive. With his magic, Samuel was sure he could accomplish anything, but that damned Balten had taken his ring and,without it, he was helpless. He spent the morning feeling skittish and lost, desperate for some solution to pop into his head.

‘Need to stretch your legs?’ came a voice from the door and Samuel turned about, startled. It was Utik’cah, standing in the open doorway.

‘You surprised me,’ Samuel said. Then he had time to absorb the desert-man’s words. ‘What do you mean? I can leave?’

‘Of course,’ the dark man returned solemnly, bowing his head. ‘Alahativa grants you her courtesy. You may roam the palace and grounds to your leisure.’

‘Do you trust me?’

‘That is not important, Lord Samuel. We have been commanded not to stop you, but we will keep your friends. You know the consequences if you do not return to your room.’

Samuel understood. ‘Very well. It will do me good to get out of this room and clear my head. Will you walk with me?’

The Paatin man seemed genuinely surprised by Samuel’s offer, but it took him only a moment to return to his sober state. ‘If you wish.’

Samuel stepped out past him, half-expecting a hoard of bare-chested warriors to fall upon him with their swords, but the corridor was empty and welcoming. ‘Lead me then. Take me somewhere you would go in my place.’

Utik’cah smiled somewhat. ‘I am not in your place, but I understand. Follow me.’

The white-robed Paatin led Samuel through the halls of the splendid palace. Every mote of space was somehow lavish, beyond even the splendid decor of the palace in Cintar.

‘How did the Queen assemble such riches?’ Samuel asked of his guide. ‘I have never seen such wealth in one place.’

‘What you see around the palace are gifts from her people and the wealthy leaders of the clans. Everything she receives belongs to the people, so she has no need ofcoffersor troves in which to secret away her gold. Everything is laid out to be seen and appreciated.’

‘Isn’t she worried the servants will steal something?’

‘Why would they steal what is already theirs?’ Utik’cah replied,with genuine curiosity.

They came shortly to an open courtyard. There were several young ladies sitting around a pond that wasteemingwith golden fish but,when they saw the two men approach,they deftly shuffled away, keeping their eyes to the ground.

Utik’cah settled himself on a stone banister and pulled one booted foot up beside his rump to be comfortable, so he was hugging his knee. ‘So what do you want to ask me, Lord Samuel of Cintar?’

Samuel sat on the same length of stone, curved around the pond. ‘I am curious more than anything, about your Queen. Did she really create this city?’

‘So they say. No one alive now was alive then to see it, save for her.’

‘How can it be that she is so old? She looks only several years younger than you.’

‘I do not question such things, Lord Samuel. This is one of the mysteries that we do not question. We are only thankful to have her.’

‘But she seems to relish the misery of others? How can your people love her when she is such a tyrant?’

‘Strong leaders are appreciated in the desert. If she were any less, she would never have survived; she would never have the respect of the people. She rules with an iron fist but she also has infinite compassion. Perhaps it is because she is a woman that you question her actions? I have heard your Emperor was an ever greater tyrant and his slaughter knew no bounds.’

‘Perhaps that is true,’ Samuel mused. ‘Then I killed him.’

‘You seem a reckless people. We are much more resilient than you.’

‘Perhaps that is so. I want to ask you one more thing. Do you know where the Queen found her ring?’

‘I do not,’ came the answer. ‘She has many jewels and trinkets and I am not interested in such things.’

‘Have you ever seen her use her magic?’

‘Her magic is vast and wonderful, but I think we delve into questions I would rather not answer, Lord Samuel. Alahativa has not told me to hide anything from you, but I fear my answers would not be the ones you seek. I will go now. I have our armies to tend to. Enjoy your walk. I will arrange for your meals to be brought to your room.’

With that, he stood and strode away around past the pond. Samuel sat in silence for several minutes, before calling out to the magician hiding in the shadows. ‘Come out. I am alone.’

A tall figure, draped in black, stepped from amongst the leafy plants in the corner of the courtyard. He came over briskly and pulled the cloth from his hidden face. Spells of concealment dropped away as he came.

‘Samuel,’ he greeted, for it was Lomar who had been hiding amongst the bushes, ‘how did you know it was me? Oh, I forget. How foolish of me to underestimate you.’