The Sorcerer_s Skull

Nashira laughed lightly and said, " You flatter me. I' m not all that pretty. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you name me lovely, then I must be."

Lan Martak basked in the warmth of her smile. While the woman was pretty, he had encountered lovelier ones. Zarella. Perhaps even Inyx. He felt a pang of regret. Staying in Melitarsus looked so attractive, but his duty lay elsewhere. Every day, every hour he delayed, might put Inyx into greater danger.

" Stay in our fair town and sample all we have to offer."

" The temptation is great, Suzerain-"

" Nashira," she corrected. " I don' t stand on ceremony. We are very casual in Melitarsus."

" Nashira," he said. " But Krek and I seek a lost companion. We think she might be headed for Mount Tartanius."

" Mount Tartanius? She' s a pilgrim, then?"

" No." Lan felt reluctance to tell even this charming woman of the Cenotaph Road and Claybore' s existence, yet he must. But to ruin the mood:

" Oh," said Nashira, " then she must also walk the Cenotaph Road. There' s been some activity atop Mount Tartanius that draws the pilgrims. They think a new road has been opened there now. It' s a matter of faith with many of the cults that a cenotaph will provide the interworld travel they require from their religion."

" I' ve walked the Road," Lan said slowly. Nashira knew about the Cenotaph Road. Lan felt a surge of magic, then a slow fading, almost as if spells were being allowed to decay of their own accord.

" And followed adventure, you and Krek. Tell me, is the spider as mighty a fighter as he appears? He is frightful in the way he gobbles down those insects."

" He is stronger than any ten men, but he seldom fights."

" What?" Surprise, a hint of anger? " Why not?"

" He is a peaceful being. Like most spiders, he is more content to sit and wait rather than initiate."

" I see."

Nashira said nothing more, and silence fell. When Lan had eaten his fill and had begun to feel uncomfortable with the lull in conversation, he spoke.

" This has been a wonderful evening, Nashira. Thank you very much."

" Do come again tomorrow. For lunch. Yes, I' ll be free of all my courtly duties by noon."

" We must ride on."

" To Mount Tartanius?"

" To find our companion."

" Well, Lan, this is difficult for me to say, but that wouldn' t be wise." Seeing him tense, Nashira hurried on with her explanation. " The grasshoppers you defeated on your arrival to our world are swarming between here and the Sulliman Mountain Range. No two travellers are likely to survive the journey until fall chill brings a killing of the insects' food sources."

" We must try."

" Allow me to prepare an escort for you, then. An armed guard of company strength might win through."

" You are too kind."

" No, I just want you to agree to lunch tomorrow. Is that such a large price?"

Lan Martak felt magics flowing about him, but he couldn' t decide if they were arcane or more secular. His silence lengthened uncomfortably.

" I insist," Nashira finally pressed. " One doesn' t argue with the Suzerain of Melitarsus, does one?"

While Nashira' s tone was light and joking, Lan felt a sharp bite to the words. No one ruled a city- state the size of Melitarsus without having at least an undercurrent of steel. Otherwise, a puppet sat on the throne while the real power resided elsewhere. Nashira ruled Melitarsus benevolently from all that Lan had seen, but she still ruled.

" Oh, yes, Lan, do accept Mama' s offer," Kyle piped up. The child' s wide- eyed innocence convinced Lan.

" Only until you have the troops assembled to guard Krek and me on our way to Mount Tartanius."

" You' ll love this little place I' ve set aside for you," the woman continued. " You' ll stay the night, of course." Her long, flowing dark hair caught the summer sun and sent back highlights of blue amid the black. In that moment, she reminded Lan a good deal of Inyx. Lan felt guilt at the thought of spending still another day in Melitarsus when he should be out seeking Inyx.

" I can only stay overnight. After lunch Krek and I must be on our way to Mount Tartanius. If the pilgrims can make it through the ' hoppers, then we can, also."

" Oh, Mama, look, look!" cried young Kyle. The boy pointed as Krek devoured the last of his meal. " See how hungry the spider is! None can stop him, none!"

" He is powerful. Look at the mandible action. Those can surely slash a man in half with one cut." The feral light in the lovely woman' s eyes dimmed as she turned to Lan and said, " Your friend is needed here. He does the work of a dozen guards against the grasshoppers."

" Come, Lan, see the palace where Mama wants you to stay. I' m sure you' ll like it." A tiny hand gripped his and pulled him along.

" Palace?"

" Kyle exaggerates. To him, anything larger than his quarters is a palace." The Suzerain trailed along behind, her billowing gown showing off her long, trim legs and the swell of her womanly breasts. Lan glanced behind him occasionally to drink in her beauty. She moved with such precision and grace that it was impossible to keep from staring. Nashira didn' t mind; if anything, she basked in the attention.

" Here, Lan, isn' t it marvelous?" The child stood and pointed.

" That' s where you want me to stay?" Words choked in the man' s throat. Kyle' s estimation had been on the conservative side. This wasn' t as much a palace as it was a small portion of Paradise. The neatly cropped lawns swept out for a mile behind. Trees dotted the landscape, and a small stream meandered across the meadows. The lushness of newly trimmed grass rose to bring back memories long buried in Lan' s mind. Only in the distance did he see anything to spoil the illusion. The stone wall around the city- state gave the lie to limitlessness.

But the building itself shamed even the parklike qualities Lan admired so much. The walls were of finely wrought silver and gold; on closer examination he saw some artisan had spent considerable time creating scenes and stories. As he walked along the wall, a mural detailing the history of Melitarsus unrolled for his amusement. Some of the characters were bawdy, some sedate, all magnificently done.

" You like the outside, Lan? The inside is even nicer," cried Kyle. The boy pulled him along like a captive balloon.

" I don' t believe this. It: it' s magnificent." Lan' s words barely touched what he felt. Everything about this building exceeded his wildest dreams. He took a deep breath; he' d possessed great wealth once before, and it had almost ruined him. The gold and jewels changed him, made him into something he wasn' t. It required long practice to be wealthy without becoming arrogant. Nashira obviously had the practice; he didn' t.

" I shouldn' t," he said.

" But Lan, it' s only for the night. You leave in the afternoon," she said, her words honeyed and enticing. " We wish to leave you with only good memories of the city."

" I have fine ones already. I know Krek does. He is nearly bloated from dinner. But this!" Lan spun and studied the walls, the floor, the frescoed ceiling. The statuary of the finest marble, the busts of bronze, the oil paintings of extreme delicacy and craft, the very building itself was a masterwork. Ten mechanicals silently bowed, treating him as if he were the ruler of Melitarsus. He had the feeling all he had to do was snap his fingers and anything- anything at allwould be delivered to him.

" It' s our guest house. Seldom is it used," said Nashira. " We reserve it for only the best."

" Like you!" chimed in Kyle.

" I' ll stay. For the night."

" Good. You have these mechanicals. Simply call for them for anything you require. And there are human servants, also, if you prefer a more personal touch. Many guests are put off by being served by artificial beings." Her long, slender fingers lightly brushed his cheek. " But do enjoy yourself, Lan. Please." He felt both the erotic touch and the electric thrill of a magical spell. Then both Nashira and Kyle silently left.