Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

That morning when Sarn sent him out to scout the way the horse dealer knew this day would be his lastunless he came up with a miracle. Badawi's luck had seemed to desert him after he'd discovered the old Timura pot from Kyrania. They'd traveled over four hundred miles since then and hadn't even found a goat path, much less a full blown caravan track leading over the Gods Divide.

As he sang praises to all the holy presences he could think of, Badawi suddenly spotted a mound of camel dung a few feet away. His heart leaped with greater joy andstill on his kneeshe scrabbled over and broke the sun-crusted mound open, revealing a still-moist center.

Just then Sarn came riding up, his column of demon bandits not far behind. When Badawi saw him he scrambled to his feet. Look, Master! he shouted, displaying two big handfuls of dung as if they were a great treasure.

"What's that in your hands, you filthy human? Sarn growled.

"Camel dung, O Master, Badawi said, doing a little dance of joy, spilling the stuff on the ground. The gods have guided your unworthy slave across a thousand miles of wilderness to find the very thing you have been commanded to seek."

"Have you gone mad, human? Sarn said. What do I want with camel dung?"

Badawi didn't seem to hear. He'd seen still more of the droppings and he raced over to them, leaping from mound to mound like a fat toad, scooping up dung and throwing it into the air, crying, Praise the gods!"

At that moment Giff came up. What's wrong with the human? he asked.

"I think I've pushed him too hard, Sarn said. He's seems to have lost his senses from the strain. He sighed. I suppose he's of no use to us anymore. You can kill him if you like, Giff. Just be a good demon and don't say I told you so.

Giff grinned and started to draw his sword. But Badawi had overhead them. He hurtled over to the two demons, anger momentarily overcoming his fear.

He shouted, Kill me? Why would you do such a stupid thing? I've found your route over the mountains, haven't I? Badawi pointed to a wide track winding up into the hills. There lies Kyrania! he shouted. There lies the Valley of the Clouds!"

Badawi became overly excited from his discovery. Excitement bordering on dangerous hysteria. You'd never have discovered this on your own! he cried. Only I, Badawi, could manage such a thing.

"Furthermore, haven't I also just shown you evidence that a caravan passed this way not more than three or four days ago? He indicated the dung-strewn trail with a stained hand. Or do you suppose all these animals were out wandering in the middle of nowhere looking for a comfortable place to shit?"

As soon as his outburst ended Badawi realized what he'd done. His nerve collapse and he fell to the ground. Forgive me, Master, he begged. He beat his head against the ground and threw dust over his head. This insignificant beetle of a slave has offended you, Master. Cut off a hand, if it pleases you. Pluck out this miserable tongue that wagged without thought when the brain became overly excited by discovery. Only spare me, Master. Spare me. And I shall serve you faithfully, content with crumbs for food and lashes for praise for so long as I live."

While Badawi begged, Giff kicked his mount forward to examine the signs.

"I hate to admit this, he said when the horse dealer was done and reduced to a weeping wreck, but the human is right. A caravan did pass this way not long ago."

Badawi wiped his eyes and blew his nose on his sleeve. You see, Master, he said, I spoke the truth. Even Giff says so. And we both know how much he hates me. I deserve it, of course, although"

"Shut up, human! Giff said. If you dare foul my name again by speaking it aloud I'll cut off your head to make a pisspot!"

Badawi bowed, trembling. Please, sir, he said. I meant no harm."

Sarn ignored the exchange. He was noting the width and depth of the trailmore of a wide road, now that he really looked at it. A road worn into the very rock from centuries of use. He stared up at the snow-capped mountains, wondering how rich a prize the caravan would make.

As if reading his thoughts, Badawi said, My guess is that it's out of Caspan, Master. He pointed northwest, roughly indicating where Caspan would be. The caravan master is no doubt heading across the Gods Divide to Walaria. He pointed south across the mountains. It's a journey of several thousand milesgoing there and back, of course. As you no doubt have already supposed, Master, no merchant would travel so far if he weren't expecting to make a handsome profit for his efforts. Seize that caravan, Master, and you will possess a fortune."

Giff had been listening closely, realizing all the horse dealer had said was true. Added to these glad tidings was another fact that delighted him even more.

He clacked his talons to catch Sarn's attention and when he had it he said, quite simply, Are we done with him now?"

Badawi gawped. What do you mean, are we done with him now?

The two demons ignored him. Actually, I really don't see any further use for him, Sarn said. We've found what King Manacia wanted, plus what we wanted. And soon as we take the caravan we can return home."

"Done with who? Badawi pressed. Who do you mean, lords?"

"You promised I could kill him, Giff pointed out.

"Do you mean me? Badawi said. Then he began to weep again. Not me, he sobbed. You can't mean me!"

Sarn pulled a huge, gem encrusted ring from a taloned hand. He tossed it to Giff, who plucked it out of the air.

"I'm buying my promise back, Sarn said. I've had to put up with him more than you. I had to pretend I didn't completely loathe him. He gnashed his fangs. It's not good for a demon's health to keep things inside that way."

"I'll do anything, Master, Badawi sobbed. Anything."

Giff growled laughter and jammed the ring on his finger. Consider the promise retrieved, he said.

Sarn kicked his mount closer to the sobbing Badawi. His steed's snout curled back in disgust at the human's smell. The beast snarled in fear, but Sarn steadied him by digging a heavy heel into his ribs.

"Look at me, human, the demon said.

"No, no, I won't look! Badawi cried, trying to scrabble away.

"I said look! Sarn roared.

Badawi sagged to the ground as if the demon's shout had been a blow. They he slowly looked up. Huge yellow eyes stared down at him. Sarn gestured and the horse dealer's body suddenly stiffened. Badawi had no will of his own, but he still had thoughts and he still had fear.

"Don't hurt me, Master, he shrieked.

"I don't intend to, human, Sarn answered. I wouldn't foul my hands with your cowardly blood. No, you shall have the death you deserve, human. The death the gods must have decreed, or the idea would not have come so quickly into my head."

"Please, Master! Badawi begged.

"Silence! Sarn shouted.

Badawi was struck dumb.

"Take this knife, Sarn said, handing over an ornate dagger. Badawi's fingers, acting against his will, stretched out and took the knife.

Sarn pointed to the ground. Dig your grave there. Make it deep, so no unsuspecting jackal will poison itself with your rotted corpse. And make it wide to contain your bloat."

Like a clockwork machine Badawi came to a crouch and started digging.

"When you're done, human, Sarn said, climb into the grave and cut your guts out. I want you to do it slowly. To cause yourself as much pain as if I were doing the cutting."

He rode off laughing.

Badawi's mind screamed, No, no, I won't do it!"

But he kept digging, gouging the hard ground with the knife, scooping up dirt and rock with bleeding fingers. He couldn't slow down, much less stop. And he knew once he did stop he'd have no choice but to carry out the rest of Sarn's sentence. As commanded, he'd take his own lifeas slowly and painfully as a spirit possessed could manage.