Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

But the bird only sank its claws deeper, grating against the bone.

Screaming, Kalasariz flung himself about, trying to shake the bird from his wounded hand.

"Stop that you stupid human! the bird shouted at Kalasariz. You're hurting me."

Then the bird transformed into a snarling little fiend with long sharp teeth. It leaped onto Kalasariz face, clutching his cheeks with its talons. Then it bit him on the nose.

Kalasariz froze. He felt pain, felt the creature clinging to his face, felt blood flow into his mouth, but he couldn't move. Couldn't even twitch, much less make a sound.

He heard footsteps and saw a figure step from the tree.

And Kalasariz, a man who refused to recognize even mild surprise, much less stark terror, knew both.

"You'd better let go of him, Safar said. You're getting blood all over your clothes. And you know how you hate that."

Gundara released Kalasariz, then hopped to the ground. The little Favorite examined his gore-stained costume.

"Now, look what you've done, he accused Kalasariz. If you'd have stayed still like you were supposed to there'd have only been a little pinch. And almost no blood."

Kalasariz, stricken dumb as well as spellbound, could only manage a strangled gag. He saw Safar haul out a stone idol, shaped like a turtle.

"Why don't you go clean yourself up? Safar said to Gundara. You can have your treats later."

"What a good master, Gundara said. What a kind master."

He hopped up on the stone, shrinking in size so he'd fit. He hesitated, clearly torn. You won't forget, will you? he said to Safar. The sweets I mean."

"I won't forget, Safar reassured him.

"Promise?"

Safar sighed. I promise, he said, as patiently as he could.

Gundara squealed delight. Then"Look out, Gundaree! Here I come!"

And he vanished into the stone.

Safar put the idol away and approached Kalasariz. He looked him up and down. The spymaster felt another shock when he saw how blue Safar's eyes wereblue as that sky, blue as that cold lake he'd admired only minutes before.

"I suppose you're wondering why you are still alive? Safar said, so mild it was frightening.

Kalasariz hadn't reached that point yet, but as soon as Safar mentioned it his mind made the leap. His reaction was so violent that a faint tremble of fear made its way through the numbness.

"Good, Safar said. I can see it in your eyes. Now that you traveled that far you're a bright enough fellow to know the answer. Am I right?"

Kalasariz made a gagging sound.

Safar looked disgusted. He snapped his fingers and Kalasariz suddenly had the ability to speak. Although he was still as immobile as a statue.

"Thank the gods you've come, Safar! Kalasariz blurted. You're just in time to"

Safar snapped his fingers again, returning him to dumbness.

"Don't bother with your lies, Safar said. I've spoken to my father. I know what's going on here. And I know you're responsible."

He leaned closer, face inches away from Kalasariz. For your sake, I hope I've made myself clear."

Kalasariz choked on an answer rising up in his frozen throat. Another snap of the fingers and it burst out.

"Yes! Very clear!"

"I'll decide whether to continue to let you live after you've helped us with the demons, Safar said. How many pieces of you remain to enjoy that life is entirely up to you."

Some of Kalasariz craft returned to him and with it, boldness.

Still, he stumbled on his first attempt. I can do more than rid Kyrania of the demons, AcoI mean, my friend."

Safar seemed amused. You almost called me acolyte, didn't you? he said. Odd, isn't it, how things change? The grand become small. He gestured at Kalasariz. The small become grand. He touched his breast.

Kalasariz recovered from his mistake. He smiled that old thin smile.

"Yes, it is odd, Lord Timura, he said. But you see how easily I can change with the events? Your new title comes flows smoothly to my lips, sir. And I must say it fits very you very well."

Safar chuckled. You're good, Kalasariz. I have to admit that."

The spymaster moved for that gap. Good enough, Lord Timura, to be of immense value to your king. I know the demon court well. I know King Manacia, Prince Luka and their Grand Wazier, Lord Fari. I know their weaknesses, which are legion, and other important things as well.

"King Protarus might be very angry with you if something happened to me and he missed such a great opportunity."

"Oh, it's an absolute certainty that Protarus would want to hear all these things, Safar said. Preferably from your living lips, rather than a dry report I made after I tortured the information from you.

"But understand this, Kalasariz. The king and I are friends. Close friends. If I killed you I would go to him and confess my error. Then I'd excuse myself, saying, But I couldn't help it, Iraj!

He paused, chilling Kalasariz with his easy grin. I call him Iraj in private, you know. And he calls me Safar. Just like when we were boys playing together."

Then he went on, Anyway, I'd say, I couldn't help it, Iraj! I had this sudden hate for him. I wanted his blood to answer for his crimes against me and my family. Then I'd hang my head in shame and wonder aloud if my mistake was so grave that it might cost us many more lives to win the war.

"And you know what he'd say? He'd say, and Safar deepened his voice to sound like Protarus, 'Well it couldn't be helped, Safar. I'd have done the same thing in your place. When blood cries, it must be answered. Come, my friend. Let us send for the women and strong drink. We'll mourn your failings like men should. We'll get drunk together and pleasure ourselves until dawn!

Kalasariz stomach burned as if lava had flowed into it.

Safar laughed at his discomfort.

"You see how it is for you? he said to Kalasariz. You understand your position."

"Yes, Lord Timura, Kalasariz said, barely controlling the quiver in his voice. I understand quite well."

He heard a rustle in the woods and saw several soldiers step out behind Safar. They wore the uniforms of Protarus men.

Then he noticed the soldier leading the group was remarkably handsome.

No… beautiful! And it was a woman, not a man.

She came up to Safar. That was magnificently done, Lord Timura, she said.

But her voice was low and the way she spoke revealed that she called him by more loving names in private.

She gave Safar such a look of adoration it crept past Kalasariz numbness and lit his cunning.

Adoring women, he thought, can be very dangerous.

Both to the enemy of the man who'd earned that devotion.

And to the man himself.

Kalasariz raised his cup in a toast. My friends, he said, this night is just one more proofno matter how smallof King Manacia's grand vision of a united Esmir."

He glanced around the open air banquet area. Rough board tables were spread across a freshly mowed lawn. Immense mounds of food were heaped on the tables, with jugs of heady Kyranian wine running down the center. Demons, scores of demons, sat before the tables, fixing him with their yellow eyes. Cups lifted expectantly, waiting for him to end his toast.

"Even here in far Kyrania, he continued, a human sits among his demon brethren, supping and drinking. An equal among equals. A mortal"

"Oh, finish the damned toast, Kalasariz! the big demon sitting beside him growled. I'm thirsty!"

"Yes, well, uh, Kalasariz faltered, UhHere's to King Manacia! Long may he reign."

The demons shouted approval, downed their drinks and turned back to their tables, refilling goblets and stuffing their maws with steaming food.

Nervously, Kalasariz slopped wine in his cup and downed it in one quick gulp. Hidden under his clothingnext to his skinwas the stone idol, so warm with anticipation it was almost hot. Once in awhile he even heardquite faintlyGundara's excited hiss of Shut up, shut up, to his twin. Kalasariz had been warned that any suspicious action would bring the little Favorite boiling out to punish him.