Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

A blazing full moon greeted the royal visitors as they entered the tent. Safar made the moon a spotlight, picking out the grand moment of each performance, then dimmed it with onrushing clouds during costume changes. Flares burst up in the arena during the featured performances, turning all into a mystical herky-jerky of amazing motion.

To close the first half Safar and Arlain debuted a new act they'd been working on for some time.

From the time of its inceptionwhich had merely been to improve on the old saw the maid in half gagthe trick had grown into a full-blown tale. Safar cast himself as the villain of the piecean evil wizard. Arlain and Biner were the odd loversthe ugly dwarf and the beautiful creature who was part woman, part dragon.

In the story Safar hunts the lovers in bleak otherworlds full of swirling lights, fountaining smoke and spurting flames. Eventually he corners them, appears to slay Biner, then captures Arlain. She fights off his attempts to ravish her but is punished by being put into a deadly trance. In that trance Safar levitates her, then proceeds to slice her in two with his sword. Defiant to the last, Arlain breathes fire. Then the fire is gone. Suddenly Biner is aroused. He heals Arlain. A fight commences. And in the end the two lovers defeat Safar and embrace. Then a lovely note piped by Elgy and Rabix brings the lights down.

Tears and cheers greeted the three performers when they took their bows.

Despite his worries, Safar was feeling mightily pleased with himself as he rushed off to get ready for the second act. The high wail of a herald's horn brought him up short. He turned, alarmed at this sudden interruption of circus routine.

In the royal box Queen Arma was on her feet. In front of her was a boy dressed in the elaborate livery of a court herald. At a signal from the queen he raised his horn and blew againcommanding all present to be silent and attend to the queen.

Arma was a middle-aged woman, running to fat. She had a round pleasant face made to seem rounder still by the tall forepeaked crown she wore. Sitting beside her was her consort, Prince Crol, a handsome, silver-haired man in the glittering dress uniform of a general. The queen drew in her breath to speak and just before the first words issued from her lips Safar saw the soldier gesture and felt the sting of magic. He knew immediately the man was a wizard and the gesture was a magical spell to amplify the queen's words so all could hear.

"Citizens of Sampitay, Queen Arma said, high-pitched voice filling the main tent. I am sure we are all having a lovely time tonight, are we not?"

The richly dressed crowd answered with loud applause. Arma turned her head, nodding at Methydia who stood near the performers exitregal-looking in her own right in a dazzling red gown and slender tiara, decorated with a tasteful spattering of gems.

"We have the good Lady Methydia and her talented troupe of entertainers to thank for bringing a bit a joy to Sampitay during its crisis, the queen said.

Methydia bowed low, but from the stiffness of her bow Safar could see she was as surprised as he at the queen's remarks. And what was that Arma said about a crisis?"

"As you all well know, Arma continued, your queen and her representatives have been in almost constant communication with King Protarus and his emissaries for over a month now."

The crowd murmured, troubledas was Safar at the mention of his old friend's name.

"We have kept you all well informed regarding the nature of those communications, Arma said. The first message was a demand that this kingdom end its long and historic policy of neutrality. Protarus commanded itand it would be wrong of us to use a weaker word to pretty up his barbaric diplomacy. Our answer to that outrage was a firm although courteous reply that this queen is not his to command!"

A thunderclap of applause greeted this statement. Safar thought of Iraj and knew it would have been unlikely for him to take the queen's refusal well.

"Shortly afterward, Arma went on, Protarus emissaries arrived with new demands. He was no longer asking us to ally ourselves with him against his enemies. Instead, he commanded our immediate surrender. He even gave us this… and Safar saw her raise up a familiar banner, bearing the red demon moon and silver comet that was the sign of Alisarrian…to hoist over the palace, marking our subjugation."

The crowd reacted angrily, shouting words of defiance.

Queen Arma waited until the shouts died down, then said loudly, We refused!"

More shouts and thunderous applause. The queen waited, then at a key moment she signaled for silence.

"It would dishonest of me, my loyal subjects, Arma said, if we didn't admit our nights were long and sleepless with worry after we made that reply. King Protarus, whose armies now range at will across the Plains of Jaspar, is not known to brook any defiance from any kingdom or monarch whom he deems to stand in his way. Fearing reprisals, we put our own troops in a state of readiness. We were prepared to die to the last defending the sanctity of our realm."

Pandemonium reigned for many long minutes as the crowd roared its approval.

When they had quieted, Arma said, Tonight it is our supreme pleasure to announce to you the gods have stood firm with the good and righteous people of Sampitay."

She'd dropped the banner and was now holding up a long slender parchment roll.

"This is the latest communication from Protarus, she said. I received it only this morning.

"Apparently the young King Protarus has seen the error of his ways. He now understands the value and rightness of our neutrality. He has taken back all his demands and now only asksquite politely, I might addthat we sell his army badly needed supplies at a fair price."

The queen's news charged the crowd into an even greater fever. They shouted joy until they were hoarse, applauded until their fingers were numb.

Then Arma said, What say you, my loyal subjects? Shall we be magnanimous in our victory? Shall we show King Protarus what civilized people are like?"

Shouts of agreement sealed the bargain. People wept and clutched one another, praising the gods for coming to their aid in this time of need.

In the middle of the chaos, Safar crept over to Methydia. This isn't good, he said. I know Iraj. He'd never back down so easily."

Methydia nodded. Safar had told her about his boyhood friendship with Protarus and the vision he'd had of Iraj's conquering army. He'd left out only the fight with the demons.

"We'll finish this show and make ready to leave, she said, not bothering to lower her voice in the din of all those tearful, joyous people. We'll depart at dawn, she continued. The whole city will be so sick with from celebrating no one will notice."

They completed the show, although the whole troupesensing the wrongness in the airwas much subdued. The queen thanked them when it was over and rewarded Methydia with more bolts of rich Sampitayan silk.

It wasn't easy to make preparations to slip away. There were so many well-wishers and celebrants about the troupe could do little more than pack their things and place them as close to the Cloudship as possible. The roustabouts were given strict orders to rouse everyone an hour before dawn so they could board the Cloudship and flee.

They slept in the tents that night, their most important belongings close at hand so they could make a hasty exit.

"I wish I could send a message to Iraj, Safar said as he and Methydia settled down for a few hours sleep.

"What would you say? Methydia asked, wiping away the last vestiges of her makeup with a damp sponge. Spare the city? Or just spare us? She gave him a cynical look. I'd like to know the proper way to appeal to a blood-thirsty barbarian."

Safar shook his head. Iraj is no barbarian, he said.