"O Horat, do you now know?" Sarnak whispered.
"Do you now know that still there are some who revere your memory, and plan to avenge your death? Perhaps still we can bring you back, if the offerings are rich enough. Soon I shall give to you a worthy sacrifice."
Sarnak's features turned almost wistful. There was still time to change the plan that he had formed years ago. The body of Ander had been brought in and he could see it was perfect for what he was about to do. Ander's death made the plan far easier, for it would be the perfect bait. His features hardened again. Soon the altar would greet yet more. With luck even Jartan's son would lie here.
"Who are they?" Sarnak asked his communications commander.
"We believe Allic is with them. The presence we've detected could only be a demigod in his wrath."
"The rest of the two armies?"
"A signal came in an hour ago from our spies in the Ventilian Hills. The armies are force marching; a number of stragglers are already falling behind."
"And the Subata?"
"Just now reorganizing."
"It could have gone better, but I have no need for complaint," Sarnak said softly. "True, we could have hoped that the Torms would have destroyed Allic and his men. But the fact that Allic left his city almost defenseless is enough. You have done well with placing your spies, Kala. Your reward will reflect it."
The young sorcerer bowed low, keeping his features set so that his pleasure would not show you. "All to serve you, my lord."
"Nonsense," Sarnak said coldly. "We all serve to advance our personal desires. It is merely in my best interest to reward success, as I would punish you if you failed. So don't flatter me with your pious mumblings. Do we understand each other?"
"Yes, my lord," Kala replied coolly, looking up to face his master. He breathed an inner sigh when he saw that Sarnak was not angry. With Ralnath detached to a secret command, Kala had found himself elevated to the post of controller of Sarnak's battle command center, with the offworlder as an advisor. He knew that this might be his chance to gain favor with his lord, as long as Mokaoto did not claim the credit when victory was won.
"Just a moment, my lord, something else is coming in," Kala said quietly.
He walked to the far corner of the room, responding to the quiet urging of a tiny paging crystal that rested in his ear. Curious, Sarnak followed him. The room's northern alcove was now taken over by the communications team. A table was covered with maps, sheaves of reports, and a series of communications crystals. Each crystal was worked by an apprentice who sat hunched over the glowing gems, receiving reports and forwarding orders back to the various commanders, sorcerers, and observation positions covering the various approaches to the city.
Sarnak gazed at this organizational masterpiece with pride. None of his rivals had such an organization. Mokaoto had suggested some of the changes, citing the system used back in the wars on his world. Now, there is where they truly understand how to organize fighting, Sarnak thought wistfully.
In the far corner of the alcove were half a dozen of his best sorcerers. Touching hands, they sat in a circle around a glowing blue crystal. Through their efforts they had so far been successful in blocking all communications into and out of the beleaguered city.
If only Jartan or Minar had not directly intervened, Allic would still be in the south. Still, Sarnak could use this to his advantage...
"My lord."
Sarnak looked up at Kala, who had returned from a hurried conference with his staff. "Go on."
"There's no mistaking it. Allic is less than half a turning away. Even now he's trying to break through to talk to Valdez."
"Very good," Sarnak said, a thin smile creasing his face. "Inform Verg and his demons that I want a full air assault on the southern approaches to the western town launched in a quarter turning. I want every one of them up. Verg will know what to do from there, he's been briefed."
"As soon as the attack is launched, lower the jamming so Allic can talk with his people. Once you've done that, everyone here is to evacuate to my new headquarters. One of my guards will show you the way."
"My lord?"
Sarnak smiled. "I have my reasons."
"Yes, my lord." Bowing, Kala started to turn away.
"And one more thing," Sarnak said quietly. "My son is to meet me here at once."
Some of the communications apprentices, who had of course been listening to every word, looked up and exchanged quizzical glances.
"Your son, my lord?"
"Yes, damn you, my son. Are you deaf?"
"As you command." Kala hurriedly withdrew.
Sarnak stood watching as the orders were issued. Satisfied with the progress of his plans, he walked over to the altar and settled down to wait.
"Once you've done that, get out of here. I wanted this building cleared in a quarter turning!"
Their flight north from Wolf Pass had been slow, for even Allic finally had to admit that he and his sorcerers had been pushed past the edge of exhaustion. Halfway into their journey they had finally settled to ground for several hours of exhausted rest. Mark had been first to stir and had found Allic standing alone, looking off to the north.
"Perhaps too late," Allic had whispered. "If Landra falls, it will be all my fault. All those people―those thousands of people who looked to me for protection―all lost because I did not take the time to think this crisis through, but acted from blind instinct. Always before, that instinct worked. Sarnak knew precisely how to manipulate it. He bested me before the first battle was joined."
"You did what you thought was right."
"But was that good enough? I must turn this, I must turn it back or lose my life in the trying. Otherwise there is no honor, no joy left to me."
Mark wanted to help, but he knew that the burden of command could only be borne by one.
"I first served you because I needed to in order to survive in this world," Mark said firmly. "I serve you now, Prince Allic, because I want to. If you are defeated, that will be a defeat I'll share, for I believe that you fought to the best of your ability."
Allic laughed sadly. "I heard your Kochanski once repeat an old Earth saying about victory having a thousand fathers."
"And defeat is an orphan," Mark continued.
"Not here," Allic responded. "This orphan is mine alone." He turned away from Mark to rouse the others for the last leg of their flight.
Minutes later they were back in the air.
From fifty miles out they could see the columns of smoke rising thousands of feet into the air. Again Mark found himself thinking of a bombing run as they turned into a final straight-line approach. The only things missing were the black puffs of flak, and the never-ending passes of the fighters' winking death. Now just twenty-five miles out, individual fires, flashes from wall crystals, and the detonations that followed could be plainly seen.
But this time he was not lining up to bomb an enemy target. This was his home under attack. For the first time he found he could truly understand what it must have felt like for the fighter pilots he had faced, fighting desperately to beat back the waves of destruction.
Mark looked at Ikawa and the Japanese contingent. Ikawa looked back to him and nodded. Mark knew that his own men were thinking similar thoughts, and he wondered if the Japanese were having their memories thus kindled, as well. He hoped not, for any memory of their former enmity could not be afforded now.
The formation was in close order, Allic and Pina together in the middle, the Japanese slightly higher to port, the Americans to starboard. Allic's shield was glowing white hot. In spite of his earlier comments to Mark, it was obvious that he was working himself into a towering rage at the sight of his city being destroyed.
"I've just made contact," Allic roared, his voice booming across the open sky. "Their demons are attacking the western half; the east is already taken except for the citadel."
He surged ahead.
"My lord," Mark cried, trying to come alongs
ide him, while the other Americans struggled to keep us speed.
"My lord," Mark repeated, "go to the citadel first. Talk to Valdez, find out more before we attack."
"The enemy is in the air!" Allic shouted. "We strike them as we come in. I'll have the advantage of surprise."
Mark wanted to argue. He looked over towards Pina who flew on the other side of Allic. Pina merely nodded, resigned.
"Bogeys, hundred plus," Giorgini announced.
"That's affirmative," Jose cried. "I'm seeing hundred―make that hundred and fifty plus."
"Bandits, bandits, look at them sweeping in along the wall," Walker countered.
Any hope of argument was gone. Allic pushed forward, far outstripping the others in his haste to reach the city.
"You provide cover for us," Pina shouted. "I'll try to keep pace."
Mark was tempted to try to stay with Allic, but thought better of it. His team might be able to keep formation, but the Japanese would soon be strung out behind and too vulnerable. The best that he could hope was that Allic's fury would be enough to sweep all before him, giving his support team time to come up and cover him from above.
"Damn!" Jose yelled. "I hope those hotshots with the wall cannons don't hit us thinking we're with Sarnak."
"There's nothing we can do about it," Mark responded. "Assume all fire to be enemy. Keep your eyes open."
They held straight in their flight for several more minutes. The sky was clear, so at least they wouldn't have to worry about being pounced on from above.
Mark could now clearly make out individual targets as the range closed to less than a league. The demons were in two groups, one to draw fire running parallel to the wall, while the second would sweep down from above, pick up individual men, and cast them down. Rolling clouds of smoke poured up from the walls, where shields had been overloaded, obscuring the view.
It appeared that the demons had yet to see the threat coming in from above and to their flank. Mark could only hope that their surprise would be complete, and his men could slash through them before being discovered.
"Get ready to go on my command," Mark said.
"They're breaking!" Walker shouted. "They've spotted Allic. Look at them scatter. Come on, let's go!"
* * * *
"Are you ready, my son?" Sarnak asked, smiling almost wistfully at the young man before him.
Estin nodded excitedly, his dull face aglow.
"And then it will all be mine, isn't that what you said, Father? It'll all be mine!"
"Of course, my boy, of course. Now lie down."
"But it's covered in blood, Father. I don't like that."
"Never mind, my boy. You'll have fresh new robes once you've defeated him, robes worthy of a king."
"A cape of gold cloth! Promise me, gold, with silver thread, just like yours?"
Sarnak nodded and placed his hand upon Estin's forehead, covering his eyes.
"Are you changing me again, Father?"
"Yes, remember our plan? We looked together at the body of Ander and then I shared my plan with you."
"No. Should I?"
Suddenly he felt a moment of compassion, almost of doubt. The boy was excellent material for a changeling, with a power to draw on that could only have been a sacrifice from his own flesh.
"Hush now, boy. Close your eyes."
The spell took form, his strength flowing out to change, to shape, to deceive those who might approach. The face and body beneath his hands shimmered, shifting as muscle, bone, and sinew took that which was misshapen, a caricature of manhood, and made it into another form. If only I had the power to make this forever, to shape not only body but mind, as well, then it would all be different, Sarnak thought sadly.
His face bathed in sweat, Sarnak reached beneath his robes and produced a glowing crystal of deepest red, which seemed to swallow light itself.
He slipped it beneath his son's tunic.
"You now have the power," Sarnak whispered. "When he comes to you, all you must do is reach up and embrace him. Then will the red crystal touch its opposite. It will be drawn to it like metal to lodestone. When the two meet, Allic will be destroyed, and you alone shall be left to rule his realm."
The boy smiled―but it was Ander's face that was smiling.
"Good-bye, my son," Sarnak whispered, and he started to withdraw.
"When I am a king," Estin said in Ander's voice, "will you love me then, Father?"
Sarnak gazed at him in silence, hesitating. Then he remembered what had to be won, what had to be sacrificed, if he was to succeed. Only by using his own blood could he bait the trap property.
"Of course," he whispered, his voice barely heard, and strode from the temple.
He walked down the sunlit corridor of the ruined temple. Emerging through the shattered doors, he saw that all was in place, the pennants of his court shifting slowly in the gentle breeze. His staff had not understood why he had wished to openly reveal his location. Before the glass turned again they would understand. Looking off towards the city, he watched for a moment as another volley of blasts struck the main citadel―but still the walls held.
He turned his gaze towards the western part of the city where the demons were attacking. One, then another broke away, and in an instant the entire force was flying low across the river. From out of the smoke above them he could see two forms emerging. Only a fool would not know that one of them was a demigod, his wrath visible for all to see.
It was time. Without another look back to the temple, Sarnak flew down the hill and joined his staff and waiting reserve of sorcerers concealed in the opening to the tunnel.
* * * *
Shouting with rage, Allic dove for the kill. Pina was flying close in beside him, ready to block with his left hand any bolts that might be fired at them by the demons―whose assault had broken long ago.
They skimmed low across the river. An angry shot fired by Allic smashed into a demon. Howling, the creature tumbled into the water and disappeared in a cloud of steam.
Flying full out, the two crossed the river, charging through the plume of steam, and swept up the bank of the river, firing on the ground forces which scattered at their approach.
"My lord, I have Valdez," Pina shouted. "He's calling for you to pull in!"
"Tell Ander to sortie on me, now!"
Pina called in the command; then his face turned pale. "Ander was lost this morning, my lord!"
Allic paused, as if deciding. "Then Sarnak dies now! The temple of First Sighting―look, his damned pennants are there!"
"My lord, at least bring up support."
"I have the advantage of surprise," Allic cried. "Follow me!"
They swept up off the river. The demons scattered in every direction, but Allic's attention was now focused on the temple.
Already Pina sensed that something was dangerously wrong. Sarnak's headquarters should have been bristling with defenses, but no fire answered their approach. He followed as Allic pulled up and cut into a high banking turn directly over the burned out temple. Pina braced for the blasts from Sarnak's heavy crystals, but still there was nothing.
"Sarnak, you bastard!" Allic roared. "Come up to meet me. One to one, Sarnak!"
His only answer was the distant booms rumbling back from the city.
"My lord!" Pina pointed into the wreckage. "Ander!" Allic was already diving.
And at that moment Pina knew. Gathering his strength, he pulled into a dive, racing Allic to the ground.
"No, my lord, it's a trap!"
The temple disappeared in a fireball.
* * * *
"Jesus Christ!"
Horrified, Mark watched as the temple ruins exploded.
For a moment the party slowed, stunned, unsure of what could be done. The fire burst rolled upwards, flattened out, raining debris.
"We've got to check." Mark fought back tears of rage.
"Check for what?" Younger snapped. "Let's just get the hell outa here―this fight's for su
ckers. Screw Allic, he got what he deserved."
"If you break one inch," Mark grated, "you'll be dead before you hit the ground."
He stared at Younger coldly. The lieutenant, his lips compressed with rage, finally nodded.
"Ikawa!"
"Here, Mark."
"Give us air cover. We're going in to take a closer look."
"Going down, now!"
The American formation dropped while the Japanese surged ahead. They swooped on the temple, debris raining around them.
"Look over there," Saito cried, "beyond that fold in the ground! It looks like a tunnel opening. Look, there's a group of sorcerers coming out."
"Hit it," Ikawa shouted.
"That did it," Sarnak said as the concussion washed over them.
"Your son," Kala said, looking at his master with fear and revulsion. "Your son was in there."
"Yes. My son," Sarnak said quietly. "He could be shaped as a changeling," he continued, as if justifying to himself the sacrifice. "He had the Essence in abundance, but was not fit to rule. Thus I had designated him almost from birth to fulfill this sacrifice. With his power, and that of a shard of a crystal of Horat, I forged the weapon. But to use it I needed sacrifice of my blood."
Sarnak turned and looked at Kala.
"Why do you object?" he asked.
Kala was silent.
"There're sorcerers coming in," an assistant next to Kala said. "Looks like the offworlders."
Sarnak looked back at his reserve sorcerers.
"Kill them. I wish then to go up and examine the ruins."
The sorcerers rushed forward to attack.
"They're coming in low," Kala shouted. "Get down!"
Firebolts snapped from Ikawa's formation, slamming the hillside, so that the lip of the tunnel glowed with energy. There should have been wall crystals here to defend this point, he realized, but perhaps Sarnak did not have enough of those weapons to go around and was using everything he had for the offensive.
The hillside suddenly slipped away, blocking the tunnel entrance. He had cut them off, at least for a couple of minutes. The demons were rallying a mile or so to the north. There were far too many of them, and even as he thought about the threat, the host wheeled in position and started to close. Mark and the others were low, searching the smoldering rubble. There wouldn't be much time to find the remains and get out.
Crystal Warriors Page 27
