Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

"I wish I could bring them back, Safar said. The gold is all I can do."

"We'll make the best damn circus we can, Biner said. We'll make you proud of us."

"I already am, Safar said. And for the rest of my life I'll remember the months I was with you."

"You're a rich man, now, Biner said. A powerful man. But if you should ever need us… Emotion overcame him and he turned to honk his nose into a rag. When he'd recovered, he said, Hells, you know what I mean!"

"Sure I do, Safar said, wiping at his own tears.

Then he embraced them all one by one.

When he was done he rushed off before he weakened and slipped away with them in the night.

The next time Leiria came to his bed he nearly refused her. In the end it seemed easier to accept her embrace than send her away. She was an ardent lover, a skilled lover. He never again called out Methydia's name, although it was Methydia he thought of. He didn't know what to make of Leiria. Was she truly smitten? Or was she Iraj's spy? She never gave a sign either way. At night she was fire in his arms, by day the cool professional, measuring any man who approached him for signs of ill intent.

Because of his doubts he waited several nights before he delved into a most important task. Then he gave her a difficult errand that would take much time to accomplish.

When she was gone he drew out the stone turtle and summoned Gundara.

The little Favorite was still extremely weak and couldn't take full form. Safar could see the tent walls through his wispy figure.

"I hope you don't have anything hard you want to do, master, Gundara whined. I'm not feeling very well, you know."

"I have a treat for you, Safar said, offering Gundara a sweet he'd saved from the dinner table.

Listlessly, Gundara took it from his hand. He licked at the sugar, then sighed and let the sweet fall to the ground.

"Doesn't taste as good as it used to, he complained.

"I've never had a chance to thank you for the warning that night, Safar said.

Gundara made another deep sigh. I almost couldn't get out of the stone, he said. Gundaree pushed and pushed as hard as he could. It nearly killed us both."

"I'm sorry for that, Safar said. Still, you saved my life."

Gundara shrugged. I just hope I don't have to do it again real soon."

"So do I, Safar said. But what about now? Am I in the presence of enemies?"

"Assuredly, master, Gundara said. There are enemies all around you. So many I can't single anyone out in particular. Right now they seem afraid to do more than hate you. My advice, master, is to be as careful as you can."

"What about Iraj? Safar asked. What about the king? Is he my enemy?"

"No, the Favorite answered. But he's a danger to you. All kings are. Beware of kings, master, is the best advice I can give you."

"And what of the woman Leiria? Safar asked. Does she mean well, or ill?"

"I'm too weak and her thoughts too confusing to say, master, Gundara answered. When she's with you, she adores you. But when she's near the king, she adores him. All I can tell you is don't trust her… and keep her close."

Safar hid his disappointment. He'd hoped to get more from the little Favorite.

"Is there anything I can do for you? he asked. Anything at all to speed your recovery?"

"Rest, master, Gundara said. That's all we need and that's all that can be done. We'll be better by and by."

Safar thought, by and by could mean a hundred years to a Favorite. He hoped that wasn't the case.

He started to make a motion to send Gundara back into the stone.

"Wait, master, Gundara said. I almost forgot something."

The Favorite made a gesture and a small object appeared in his hand. He gestured again and the object plopped into Safar's palm, growing before his eyes.

It was a thin, battered old book bound in leather.

"Nerisa and I stole this from Umurhan's library, Gundara said. She gave it to me to hold for you."

Safar looked closer. He caught his breath. On the cover, in worn gold leaf, was a familiar symbol.

"It's Lord Asper's book, Gundara said. The one you were looking for. Then he vanished into the stone.

Fingers trembling, Safar opened the book. It took him a few moments to translate the scratchings. Then the words jumped out as if they were alive:

"Long, long have I bewailed this world. Long, long have I mourned our fates. Swords unsheathed, banners unfurled, Charge the ramparts fired with hate. 'Slay the humans! we all cried. 'Drive the devils from our lands!' I shouted the loudest, but I shouted a lie. I feared to tell them all were damned! Demon and human from a single womb, Bound for Hadin where once I spied A common death and a common tomb…

Safar grunted in frustration. Insects had destroyed the rest of the page.

He flipped the leaves. A few were damaged, most were not, but the rest of the book seemed to consist of magical formulas and scribbled notes, with other bits of poetry here and there. It would take much time to decipher the demon wizard's formulas and notes. But at least he'd finally found somethingor someoneto point the way.

He thought of Nerisa. Actually, she'd never been far from his mind. Not a day passed when her face, with its huge sad eyes and crooked little grin, didn't rise up to haunt him. He smiled, thinking this bookAsper's bookwas her final gift to him.

Outside his room he heard Leiria approach. He put the book away.

Poor Leiria, he thought. Two dead women for rivals, instead of one.

The army marched a week later, Iraj at its head and Safar at his side. Sampitay's citizens turned out for the march, lining the main road and shouting praises and well wishes to the Good King Protarus.

Not long after another city fell, adding to the jewels in his crown. Iraj dealt with this city like Sampitay, following Safar's advice on the treatment of its citizens and the manner of government. A month went by, a month filled with conquests. Some were bloody, some were not.

Then winter came and Iraj's army took up camp. There was plenty of fuel for fire and plenty of food and drink. Messengers came and went, caravans crept over the snow, carrying gold from the tax gatherers to fill Iraj's treasure house.

But the king was moody, pacing the grounds and staring out across the distance at the Gods Divide, cursing all the cold days that remained until spring.

And he swore to his friend and Grand Wazier, Lord Safar Timura, that he would march for the mountains when the first green buds burst from the ground.

The Demon Wars

It was the largest military gathering in the history of Esmir.

A demon armyhalf-a-million strongformed up along the edges of the Forbidden Desert, armor glowing in the pale spring sun. It looked like an enormous dragon with glittering scales and outstretched wings, poised to take flight to ravage the human lands. Whole forests of spears, pikes and archers formed its body. Huge baggage trains of arms and supplies made its tail. Trumpeting elephants and snarling cavalry mounts, mixed with the rattle of weapons and the shrieks of campfollowers gave it a voice.

Forming its head were ten thousand mounted troops, commanded by Crown Prince Luka.

It was an elite force, composed of the finest young demons in the land. All were of noble blood and all were anxious to shed that blood for Gods and King. They'd been whipped into a fighting frenzy and were impatient for the signal launching them across the desert. They grumbled loudly at any and all delays, gnashing their fangs and casting anxious yellow eyes at their adored Crown Prince, who was at the moment conferring with his father, King Manacia, and his Chief Wazier, Lord Fari.