Джеффри Лорд: Monster Of The Maze

They clasped hands and Ogier poured more wine. He tipped his cup and let a little of the wine spill on the ground. «For Thane. He was a good man. I am glad you slew Galligantus.»

Blade spilt his own libation and they drank. Ogier retired to his camp desk and Blade to a chair. «And now,» said Blade, «let us get to it. Tell me of the black crow, the big one.»

At that moment, as though summoned by Blade's words, a black priest came into the tent. Without formality or permission he strode arrogantly to Ogier and spoke in a harsh voice. Blade, caught up in the figure of speech, thought it more a croaking caw than ordinary speech.

«Casta, the High Priest, comes this night to the Plain. The Princess Hirga will accompany him. Casta will be in his quarters in the monolith of the Izmir and he bids you attend him there when the moon rises.»

Ogier opened his mouth. Before he could speak the priest held up a hand and turned to stare at Blade. Blade stared back. The priest was hooded, his face cloaked but for the burning dark eyes that examined Blade and missed nothing. The priest turned back to Ogier. «You are to come alone.» He stalked out.

Ogier cursed for a full minute. Blade listened and grinned. He had been a soldier himself in Dimension H. He waited until Ogier ran out of breath. Then he said, «I begin to see your plight. I was told, but now I have seen. They are arrogant, these crows.»

Ogier nodded glumly. «And full of guile. And powerful and numerous. I have sought to fight guile with guile, to avoid an open break, but I think I am not the man for it. I had best fight Casta before he seduces more of my troops, whilst I still have at least half an army.»

Blade had noted the priests on his way inland. At the coastal camp and at every camp on the way-always there were the priests with groups of soldiers around them to listen. The black priests talked and talked and talked.

«That is your problem. now,» he told Ogier. «Mine is why Casta did not invite me to this meeting. He must know that I have returned. In minutes now he will know that I have been closeted with you. The news will be signaled to the palace-city.»

«That is no great mystery, Blade. He will seek to talk to us alone, each apart, and make the best bargain he can with each. And to set us at each other's throats if he can.»

Blade smiled at the warrior. «That he will never do, my friend. But still I am puzzled-why does Casta come here, to the tomb of the Izmir where he is surrounded by your troops?»

Ogier poured wine. «We have a truce. I observe such vows and, until now, he had done so. He comes at least twice weekly to the monolith. I know not why, but it must be that there is something there he needs, must have or must do, something that can only be done there. I have not inquired nor will I. I do not wish to know, for I have heard stories that chill my blood and I am not a superstitious or unnatural man.»

Blade remembered that living skeleton seated behind the table and fondling a skull. The eyes like dark coals aflame. He thought of Hirga and her scorn and the foul smell, and the scales littered about her bed. There was something in all this that mystified and frightened him. That was Dimension-X thinking.

There was a natural, or an unnatural, explanation for everything. Logic of a particular context, a relative frame of reference, a way of doing and seeing and understanding that made sense within its own limitations. That was Home-Dimension thinking.

Blade made up his mind.

He went to Ogier and clapped him on the shoulder and gazed deep into his eyes. «Ogier, there are some things I would ask of you. The first is that you hear me out and make no objection until I have finished.»

Ogier nodded. «Ask then.»

«When does the moon rise tonight?»

The General fumbled through a pile of charts on his desk. «It is late tonight-a little past the night noon.»

«Good. Now, you have no objections if I kill a few priests?»

Ogier shook his head and did not speak.

«I thought not. And you have no objections if I kill Casta, the blackest crow of all?»

Ogier stared with wide eyes. «I do not object. I would like to do it myself. But how? You cannot come at him. He is too well guarded. And even an attempt on his life will begin the war I have been seeking to avert.»

Blade studied the tent wall for a moment. Had that bulge been there before? He moved closer to the bulge, signaling to Ogier for silence. Dusk had fallen and the night was purpling fast. Blade drew his dagger.

He spoke loudly. «I do but jest, Ogier. We would both like to kill Casta, but it would be wiser not to. We must deal with him. Make bargains. And keep our vows at least until he breaks his.»

Blade thrust his dagger hard into the bulge. There was a muted scream. The bulge slithered and collapsed and was gone. Blade raced out of the tent.

Nothing. Nothing but some blood on the tent wall and the ground. Blade cursed. Ogier, behind him with drawn sword, explained it.

«Some of the crows wear armor now under their robes. This one did. It turned your point enough.»

He turned to the soldier who had been standing sentry before the tent. «You saw nothing of a black priest slinking about?»

«Nothing sires. I have only just come on duty.» The man did not meet their eyes.

Ogier took his name and company and they went back into the tent.

«A month ago I would have had him flayed,» Ogier grumbled. «Now I take his name and will do nothing but transfer him to dirty jobs. He has been won over by the priests.»

Blade filled his wine glass. «I am right, Ogier. We must act, and with speed. I will kill Casta this night. You must make your plans accordingly.»

Ogier shook his head in wonderment. «Being a prisoner has affected your thinking, Blade. The man escaped. He had heard enough. Casta will be warned and ready for you.»

«I agree. But even so I must do it. There is a time for swift and direct action, Ogier, and this is such a time.»

«But how? I have just said it-Casta will be warned. You will walk into a trap.»

«That is part of it,» said Blade. «If I go alone-and I will-he will let me get so far before he closes the trap. I have seen a side of Casta that you have not, and I think that he does not really want to kill me yet. I have knowledge that Casta yearns after. He would have me prisoner, broken and weak, perhaps tortured, but he wants me alive and able to speak. He will let me into the tomb of the Izmir. It will pleasure him. So long as he thinks he has the upper hand and can take me any time he chooses.»

For a long time Ogier did not speak. Then: «I would not have you do this, Blade, but I cannot stop you. If you can kill him it will be a boon for Zir, though I think you had best kill the Princess Hirga also. And I will have to act in unison with you and pray for luck.»

Blade eyed him. «You advise against it. I listen and I discard that advice. I go. And you, no matter your misgivings, are with me?»

Ogier put his sword on the camp desk. He laid his hand on it at the hilt. «By this weapon I swear it. Come success or death. It is time. I have taken enough from that crow.»

«Then come to my tent for an hour, Ogier, and we will whisper. It is quieter there and less suspect. Pick us a guard of six men you can trust.»

«I think I can find that many,» the General said dryly. «The crows have not yet corrupted all of them.»

It was full dark when Ogier left Blade alone. Blade bade him take the guard with him. «I will not need them. From now on I act alone and involve no other man. See that you keep your promise to care for the woman, Valli.»

«I will keep it.»

«And care for her child, if she has one. I think she will.»

«That also, Blade. Things will change in Zir if I come to power. No more babes will be strangled.»