Richard Knaak - Land of the minotaurs

"They've got him in the circus, Lad, tried and convicted as a criminal."

"The circus?" Kaz knew what that meant. As a criminal, Hecar would be given an opportunity to redeem his lost honor by facing impossible odds. He would fight to the death… his death. The odds against him would always be too great, but that was how it worked. If he died bravely, he redeemed not only himself, but the clan he had shamed. "I've got to get him out of there before it's too late."

"Before you do that, let me say something. He's fought three combats already, Kaz. Think about it. Three."

"Three-? That's impossible!" Hecar was good, but not that good. Not under such conditions as the circus would have imposed.

"Three fights that a good warrior like Hecar could win, as difficult as the odds were." Ganth scratched his chin as he eyed his son. "If I was a suspicious sort, Lad, I'd think they were giving him a fair chance of surviving. Put him in danger, but danger he can handle. That's not how it works. They're supposed to give him impossible odds so he can die heroically. Makes me think they really want him to live for some reason."

"What purpose would that serve?"

"Just a thought," Ganth replied, shrugging.

"We have to get him out of there, Father." Kaz paused, "I have to get him out of there."

"Hecar's my friend, too, Kaz, not to mention a former crew member of mine. I don't take kindly to my lads being mistreated, not by the enemy or the emperor, which is almost the same thing these days. We'll get him out." Ganth yawned. "But a good battle plan was never forged by slumbering fools. We should get some rest. Hecar's not scheduled to fight again just yet. I've got some friends who know about these things, in case you're wondering. We can figure out what to do tomorrow."

Kaz agreed, despite the urge within him to go charging into the circus and kill everyone who stood in the way of rescuing Helati's sibling. "Tomorrow, then."

"You'll stay here. I can find room for you and the… Delbin here. It'll be safer than anywhere else, and it will save us time."

"My things are at an inn."

"Yes. Can't you leave 'em, Lad?"

"Most, but not my horse. It won't take long. I'll be back soon." Kaz made to rise.

"I'll send someone."

"The horse won't like that." Only those whom Kaz introduced properly to the horse could get near the fierce steed without risk. Delbin was one of the few he could recall who had not had difficulty becoming acquainted with the massive Solamnic war-horse. "I'll have to do it."

"I'm going, too!" announced the kender, who had, up to this point, maintained yet another remarkable interlude of silence.

"No, you're staying here. Your kind isn't cared for much. I'll stay with you."

"I'm going with Kaz!" The kender folded his arms, eyeing his companion.

Kaz looked into those eyes and knew that, if he left the kender here, Delbin would somehow follow him just as he had in the mountains. "I'll take him with me, Father. If I don't, I can promise you he'll find a way to slip away. Better I keep him under my wing for now."

His companion smiled. Ganth grunted, but held his protest. After a moment's consideration, he finally said, "Then I might as well go with you and help. Besides, we've still got a few things to talk about. You know, they'll be watching Hecar more than the other prisoners, if only for what he did."

"What was that? What do they claim he did?"

The elder minotaur looked startled. "Didn't I tell you? Hecar's supposed to have killed a cleric… one of the high priest's staff, yet!"

Ganth's words echoed through Kaz's head a s they made their way back to The Bloody Axe. Hecar had killed a ranking priest? That hardly sounded like Helati's brother. Hecar was no murderous fool, forsaking all sense of honor to strike down one of the state clerics. True, Hecar had little love for them, but even he would not have attacked one without strong cause.

Ganth insisted there was evidence of the incident. Kaz assumed his mate's brother had acted in self-defense. For some reason, they must have set on Hecar and tried to take him into custody. He had been warned about such happenings. Hecar might have resisted, knowing that his arrest was false, and in the struggle with the guard accidentally killed the cleric.

That made some sense, but did nothing to ease Kaz's anxiety. A prisoner who was accused of such a monstrous crime would be heavily guarded. The high priest would want to make a prime example of Hecar… which made the fact that Hecar was still alive all the more puzzling.

Not for the first time did Kaz feel like an absolute stranger in the land that had given birth to him. Nothing made sense anymore.

Things had at least partially quieted in the neighborhood near The Bloody Axe. That suited Kaz; the less who noted his presence, the better. He was hoping he could get away before the nosy innkeeper spotted him.

"Do you have things up in your room?" asked Ganth.

"Yes, and it'll make for less curiosity if I take everything. If I leave some things, they'll wonder what I'm up to. Someone might start asking questions."

"Then let me clear out your room while you take care of your mount. Just tell me where to find the stuff. I'll leave a few coins for the proprietor so he doesn't bark about your sudden departure."

Kaz gave Ganth directions, then he and Delbin headed to the stable. It would take his father only a few minutes to return with his things, so Kaz needed to hurry. He hoped there would be no one in the stable. The less talk, though, the better.

It was hard to see in the darkened stable, causing Kaz to momentarily flounder around. Delbin immediately pointed out the animal. Once again the minotaur was impressed with the kender's keen eyesight.

"Help me with the saddle, Delbin. It'll be quicker if both of us pitch in."

"Okay, Kaz."

They completed their work in short order despite the dim light. Ganth had not yet returned, so Kaz decided to take the horse outside. He had just maneuvered the horse round when a voice near the entrance called out, "Hold right there!"

"It's all right. This is my mount. I can easily prove that."

Only after he had spoken did he notice there was more than one shadowy form blocking his path. The owner of the voice was now flanked by two others, and at least one of them carried a glittering blade.

"Kaziganthi de-Orilg, you will surrender yourself and your companion to us in the name of the emperor, the circle, and the Holy Orders of the Stars."

The State Guard. Kaz snorted, wondering how the guardsmen had tracked him so swiftly and, more important, why they wanted him in the first place. He had done nothing wrong… but then, he doubted Hecar had, either.

"There must be some mistake. Why would you want me to surrender? I've done nothing to merit your attention."

"You will surrender now," insisted the leader. "Throw the magic axe to the ground and step away from it. Do it now."

They were determined to arrest him. No amount of protest would deter them. Interesting that they knew about the axe and its abilities. Few minotaurs in the homeland knew. It could be no coincidence; the same power that had sent the hunters in the woods had also dispatched these guards… but who was it? The circle? The priesthood? The emperor himself?

Hecar had killed a high-ranking cleric. That couldn't be a coincidence either. The priesthood must lie at the heart of the conspiracy.

The warriors began to stalk toward him, swords raised. Kaz took hold of his axe and confronted his dark adversaries.

"Put down your weapon," commanded the leader, a little uncertain.

"I've done nothing wrong. I'm certainly no danger to our people. Why do you want me?"