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Chapter Seventeen
In a dark chamber of hollowed stone, Ba
Opening his eyes, Ba
He recognized this place. It was the heart of his master’s power, a place of bargains and ancient compacts, redolent with the odor of dust and betrayal. Ba
Hours passed in the darkness before he heard the sounds he knew would come. An iron door creaked open, admitting a gust of dank air, and then a footfall echoed through the room. It was a heavy sound, the scraping of stone on stone.
The footsteps were just a heartbeat too far apart to be human; their ringing impact suggested the approach of unstoppable power. Ba
“Ba
“Yes, my lord.” Ba
There was a snort of derisive laughter. “You do not care to look upon my countenance? Do you not trust me, Ba
Raesene – the creature men knew as the Gorgon – stepped into the candlelight. He was massive, with a deep chest and long, powerful arms. His legs were doubled back like a satyr’s, and his feet were obsidian hooves; his flesh was a dusky gray that had the quality and feel of stone. The Gorgon’s face was awful, a bestial visage crowned by sharp spikes or horns, but buried beneath the hideous features there could still be seen the outlines of the face of a man. He wore fine black breeches, and a matching tunic embroidered with gold designs. The garments were regal, befitting a lord, but they left the wide expanse of his chest and the rippling power of his arms bared, a veneer of civilization covering an ele- mental force of destruction.
Resisting the urge to throw himself to the ground and grovel for mercy, Ba
Mhoried was the nearest of these to his reach.
In a rumbling voice, the Gorgon asked, “Well? Have you anything to say for yourself?”
Ba
“The siege pro g resses well, as you say. But due to your incompetence, I am now forced to take matters into my own hands. This makes me wonder what I have received in exchange for the formidable powers I placed at your command.”
With an iron effort, Ba
“Allow me to return to Mhoried, my lord. I am certain I can bring down Gaelin, given another chance.”
Raesene stepped forward and laid his hand on Ba
Trailing a step behind Raesene, Ba
He allowed the barest degree of optimism to creep into his thoughts.
The Gorgon led him through the black halls of the Battlewaite, moving with relentless purpose, never speaking a word.
For his own part, Ba
“I only presumed it pleased you, my lord.”
The Gorgon smiled, a fierce expression. “Do not let my aspect deceive you, Ba
“All of this is for Tuorel’s gain? I did not realize that he was in your favor, Prince Raesene.”
“On the contrary, Ba
Ba
The Gorgon turned his attention to the human sorc e rer beside him. “Because the necessary first step of this plan, a step I relied on you to complete, remains to be taken. Tuorel has not yet finished his conquest of Mhoried. Had you pursued your duties with more diligence, this affair would be concluded, and I would be free to turn my attentions elsewhere. Now a Dieman host marches to Mhoried’s relief, and Tuorel is about to be caught between Gaelin’s rebels and Vandiel’s soldiers.”
“Diemed joins the war?”
“ F rom what I understand, your treatment of Princess Seriene had something to do with it,” the Gorgon said wryly. “When you struck at her and Gaelin in the form of his Vos friend, she decided you had to be stopped. Now I find I must commit Kraith of Markazor to Mhoried again to reinforce Tuorel.”
“I am sorry, my lord. I did not mean to involve Diemed through my attempts to capture Gaelin for you.” Ba