by Allan Cole
And it was going to be a long pull for them, for even now the enemy ships were turning tail and fleeing, with four of Coralean's vessels in hard pursuit.
Directly beneath the airship, the Nepenthe was sinking. But he could see one of Coralean's shipsconverging on it to take off the survivors. Many of whom wore the uniforms of the youngKyranian soldiers Safar had left behind.
Already Biner was shouting gleeful orders to his crew to lower the airship so they could assist in the rescue effort.
Leiria fell into Safar's arms, laughing with joy. Everyone else whooped in glee, hugging or slapping each other's backs.
Just then, a strange feeling came over Safar. It seemed as if he'd suddenly become another person-standing slightly away-observing the scene. All the happy people, with his other self, his Safar self, at their center. Leiria clasping him tight.
And he thought, in an inner voice that was not his own: Well done, brother. Well done.
Then he was back in his own body again, trembling with alarm. He pushed a bewildered Leiria away and ran to the place where he thought his other self had been standing.
There was no one there, only a stack of empty ballast sacks. He looked about, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Leiria came up to him, concern in her eyes. "What's wrong, Safar?" she asked.
Still dazed, Safar nearly blurted something about Iraj. But he recovered just time.
"Nothing," he replied. "I'm just a little tired from the excitement, I guess."
She started to embrace him again, but Safar held her off as gently as he could. For some reason he felt that if touched her it would be a violation of her flesh. That if she knew him for what he was, she'd feel sullied. But that, like his bitten off response, also seemed insane.
Safar stood quite still for a moment, the world spinning around him. Finally, the mad whirling stopped and he felt whole again.
What now he wondered. What now?
And then the ghost voice intruded once again to answer: We go to Hadin, brother. Just as we plannedall along.
At that moment Safar knew the answer to a much deeper question. Now he knew where Iraj Protarus had gone.
The deck of the airship rushed up to smite him. And then all he knew was darkness.
Part Four
Goddess of the Hells
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
THE TWO KINGS
Safar was trapped in the prelude to the end of the world.
And oh, how he danced.
Danced, danced, danced.
Danced to the beat of the harvest drums.
All around him a thousand others danced in joyous abandon. They were a handsome people, a glorious people, led by their beautiful young Queen who cried out in ecstasy.
Beyond the grove, a backdrop to the Queen, was the great conical peak of a volcano. And he knew that at any moment the volcano would erupt and that Safar, along with the joyous dancers, would die.
Was this real? Was he truly on the shores of Hadinland, destined to be swallowed in a river of molten rock? Or was it just a night terror that would end if only he could open his eyes?
Open your eyes, he thought! Dammit, man! Open them!
And then, with a jolt, he thought, Iraj! Where is Iraj? He tried to look around to find him but then Palimak's voice intruded, calling:
"Father? Father? Open your eyes, father!"
And he thought, Oh, yes. I know where Iraj is now.
So he opened his eyes. Or was it Iraj who opened them for him? Never mind. That was something they would have to sort out later between themselves.
The main thing was, his eyes were open now.
But all he could see was darkness. He blinked, but the darkness stubbornly remained.
Alarm crept in, but he pushed it away. Obviously, there was a reasonable explanation. It was probably night and Palimak most likely kept the room dark so as not to disturb him. He could sense Palimak bending over him.
"Where are we, son?" he asked.
"We're in Hadin, father," Palimak replied.
"So soon?" Safar asked, although he was only a little surprised.
"You were unconscious a long time, father," Palimak said. "You had us pretty worried, what with the fever and all. But that's broken now, thank the gods. Jooli and I took turns treating you during the whole voyage."
Safar nodded understanding. "I dreamed I was trapped in that other world again," he said. "Dancing on the sands of Hadinland. I suppose it was the fever that caused it."
"Do you feel well enough to get up now, father?" Palimak asked. "Coralean has some people waiting to see you. They're all most anxious."
The young man paused, then-with amazement in his voice-he added, "It's a delegation from Hadin.
They say you are their long, lost king."
Safar was astounded. "King?" he asked. "How could I be their king?"
Inside him, Iraj stirred in his nest. He said, I told you long ago, brother, that we were both destinedfor great things. And here is final proof. We are kings of a people we never even met!
Safar wanted to tell Iraj to shut up. His presence inside Safar's body was all too disturbing as it was without Iraj prattling in his ear. Safar felt confused, dazed, as if he had not quite awakened from a terrible dream.
He brushed his face with his hand, attempting to wipe away the confusion. Then he realized Palimak was trying to give some sort of explanation about the people who believed Safar was their king. He nodded, pretending he'd heard the answer.
He said, "I'll get up, son. Just bring me some clothes. And some water to bathe in."
Then he chuckled and said, "And please bring me a light. I'm not a cat, you know. I can't see in the dark."
His request was met by a long, frightening silence. "Did you hear me, son?" Safar pressed.
Palimak's voice shook when he answered. "I heard you, father." Another long pause. Then, "But it's broad daylight out, father. You shouldn't need a light!"
Inside him, Iraj jolted in shock. What's this? he demanded. Are we blind? Or is this the boy's idea ofsome cruel jest? By the gods, I'll have him…
Safar slapped his own breast, cutting Iraj off. He had to think, dammit! What was happening to him?
Was he going mad?
"I must have misheard you, son," he said at last. "It's not really daytime, is it?"
He reached out desperately and Palimak clasped his hands in a tight grip. "Tell me it's night, son," he pleaded. "Tell me!"
Safar felt wet drops fall on his cheek. Was Palimak crying?
"Can't you see me, father?" Palimak begged. "I'm right here in front of you. And it's daytime, with a bright shinning sun. Honest to the gods, it is!"
Palimak's panic had the reverse effect on Safar. He became quite calm. If he was blind, so be it. Maybe he'd regain his sight later. Maybe not. The main thing was that there were far more calamitous events than his own personal misfortune that needed to be dealt with.
He patted the young man's hand. "Never mind, son," he said. "I'm probably just suffering from some sort of shock. Caused by the illness, no doubt. I'm sure I'll soon recover my sight. It's a temporary ailment, nothing more."
When Palimak replied, his voice was steadier. "Aunt Jooli told me about Lady Lottyr-the Hells goddess," he said. "Maybe the illness was something she caused."
"That's the answer," Safar said, hope growing. "Lottyr's at fault. Well, then. Now that we know the cause all we have to do is come up with some sort of spell to counter her. Couldn't be simpler."
He struggled upright, Palimak putting an arm behind his shoulder to help. After a brief moment of dizziness, Safar felt amazingly strong and full of energy. That was an incredible relief, for deep down he'd worried he'd be physically unfit as well as blind.
"If you'll help me wash and dress," he said to Palimak, "I'll attend to this delegation you mentioned."
He grinned. "Can you imagine?" he asked. " Me, a king! Nothing could be more amusing."
Palimak told him to wait in bed
while he went to fetch the things he'd need. Safar listened to the departing footsteps and the sound of the door opening and closing.
When he was sure he was alone he said, "We're going to have to work out some better means of communication, Iraj. I can't just have you charging around with your every thought and confusing matters.
Otherwise, they're going to think I've gone mad."
Inside him, Iraj laughed. He said, You've always been a bit mad, Safar. As have I. Still, you have apoint. We'll need to figure out something. However, I must warn you: if you intend to tell thisdelegation from Hadin that you are not their king you'll get no cooperation from me. Never forget,there's not one crown at stake, here, but two. Hadin will have two kings, not one, if I haveanything to say about it!
Iraj's last words hit Safar like a hammer. Two kings of Hadin! Immediately, he remembered a riddlefrom Asper's book. He'd always known the answer to the riddle would be crucial. But he'd neverguessed just how much he'd be personally affected by it.
Iraj suddenly found himself awash in Safar's hot-blooded excitement. What's going on? he demanded.
Y our thoughts are too confusing to make out!
Safar answered by reciting Asper's riddle aloud:
"Two kings reign in Hadin Land,
One's becursed, the other damned.
One sees whatever eyes can see,
The other dreams of what might be.
One is blind. One's benighted.
And who can say which is sighted?
Know that Asper knocked at the Castle Keep,
But the gates were barred, the Gods asleep."
Iraj thought a moment, then said, So, we're the two kings, right?
"That's what it would seem," Safar replied.
Clever fellow, that damned old demon, Iraj observed. You were always going on about him, but Inever paid much attention. Now it seems the old boy had this thing charted from the beginning.
Safar didn't reply and Iraj suddenly realized he was concentrating on something else.
What are you doing? he demanded? Frantically, he scrabbled for the protection of his sorcerous nest. Ifyou try to kill me, he said, I swear you'll suffer for it!
Safar's reply came from quite close. Frighteningly so. And he didn't speak aloud, but used a newly discovered inner "voice."
Don't worry, Safar said. I'm not trying to kill you. I'm just climbing down there so I can "talk" toyou without speaking aloud. Funny, being blind made it easy. I sort of turned my eyes inward andfound you.
Iraj didn't believe him. Don't lie to me, he said. I know very well you'd like nothing better than to seeme dead. After all, if I were in your position I'd do the same thing.
That's the main difference between the two of us, Safar replied. You always thought I desired thesame things you did. That's never been the case. You wanted to be Esmir's King of Kings. I had nosuch ambitions.
Don't fool yourself, brother, Iraj retorted. All you ever wanted to do was save the world. Tell methat's not as insanely self-centered as my own wishes. Come on-Safar The Savior! No godappointed you to such a world-shaking role? You did! I was there, remember? And at the sametime, boy that I was, I anointed myself the future King of Kings.
I won't quarrel with you, Safar said. Arguing about details won't get us anywhere.
Iraj sneered. You're afraid to admit I'm right, that's all.
Safar sighed. Let's deal with this later, he said. I'll admit you're right about one thing. When I firstrealized what was happening I decided to figure out a way to kill you, without killing myself. Butnow I realize we're fated to play this game out together. And the only way either one of us is goingto survive, much less realize our goals, is to cooperate.
Agreed, Iraj said.
Truce, then? Safar asked.
You have my word, Iraj said.
Safar nearly said something sarcastic about the worth of Iraj's word, but bit it off.
Instead he said, Then let's go greet our new subjects, brother mine. And find out all we can aboutwhat's going on.
Done! Iraj said. I'll give you my strength and you give me your magic and nothing can standagainst us.
Ever the conqueror, Safar sighed.
I won't quarrel with that, brother, Iraj said. Conquering is my destiny.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
THE ISLAND QUEEN
When Palimak left Safar's cabin he was so stricken with fear and grief at his father's condition that he fled to his own quarters before anyone could stop him to ask when Safar would emerge.
He had to think. He had to get his emotions in check before he told the others that his father was blind.
Considering his own reaction, Palimak had no doubt that unless he handled the situation carefully everyone would panic.
Although he'd only recently turned fourteen, Palimak knew they all looked up to him as someone much older and wiser than his years. Despite the fact that demons matured at a faster rate than humans, both emotionally and physically, right now the human side of him ruled and he felt like a mere child incapable of handling such a burden.
He mixed himself a weak solution of water and sweet wine to settle his nerves. But when he took a sip the drink had the opposite effect and he rush to a basin to empty his stomach.
Then he wiped his face, washed out his mouth with mint water and sat on his bunk to think…
…The voyage from Aroborus to Hadin took many weeks. And although the seas were strange and filled with danger, the journey was without incident.
Even so, everyone kept looking over their shoulders for the reappearance of Rhodes and his fleet.
Though they'd only suffered the deaths of two young men in the fight with Rhodes, all the Kyranians were grief-stricken at this loss.
Safar's collapse added even more tension to the atmosphere.
Coralean was all for turning back to Syrapis, reasoning that with Safar in a coma the mission had no head, and therefore no purpose.
Many of the other Kyranians agreed, but Palimak-supported by Leiria and Jooli-insisted that they press on. Safar had undergone such trials before, Palimak said, and given time and careful nursing, would likely recover.
It was Eeda, however, who turned the tide of opinion. Although she was young, her words were wise.
She was also quite visibly with child, which gave even more depth to her appeal.
"Back in Syrapis," she said, "we all saw what is going to happen to this world if Lord Timura doesn't reach Hadin in time to intervene. I don't want my child born into the doomed land we saw in Lord Timura's vision. And I don't think you want to condemn your dear families to such a horrible fate."
Coralean spoke for the others when he argued, "That's all very well and good, dear wife. But Coralean must speak plainly when he warns that the chances of success appear small. If Safar doesn't recover-or worse, should he die-where will we all be then?
"Hadin is a land unknown to us all and may be filled with many enemies. If our fates are perilous, wouldn't it better to face those perils surrounded by our friends and families, rather than among strangers?"
"Forgive me for seeming quarrelsome, lord husband," Eeda replied. "But I, for one, would rather die bravely facing the unknown. With some hope-however slight-that we can cure this world of its afflictions.
"For me, the alternative is to cower like some lowly insect while unknown forces drag myself and my child-as well as my dear husband-to certain death. Why, in the vision Lord Timura revealed to us, there might not even be anyone left to bury us and sing our souls to the heavens once we are gone."
A long silence followed this powerful argument. But Coralean, a man who could see all sides, felt it his duty to point out other dangers.
"What of that devil Rhodes?" he asked. "Somehow he has eluded us. He has three ships loaded with soldiers. What if he is even now returning to Syrapis to launch a surprise attack on our homes to revenge himself for his failure here?"
Palimak replied, "I think my grandfather, Khadji Timura, is well able
to protect our people against Rhodes. When you left Syrapis to help us, that was the plan you worked out with everyone, wasn't it?
And once you'd found us, you told them all that you were to proceed to Hadin, leaving the safety of our people in my grandfather's capable hands."
There was another long silence. No one-especially Coralean-could argue with that statement.
It was Biner who then put paid to the discussion and spiritless mood by rising up from his place and declaring:
"Damn everything but the circus!"
Arlain and the other show people leaped to their feet and joined the ringmaster in a fabulous impromptu performance.
Palimak rushed to help them. And although there were no stretched wires, or tents, or costumes and make-up, they all brought the circus to life on that bare deck.
Incredible feats of acrobatics dazzled one and all. Stirring music from Elgy and Rabix lifted glum spirits.
This was followed by a frantic clown chase-with all the circus people joining in-that soon brought roars of laughter to all the people. Laughter that echoed over the endless wine-dark seas, making them seem like a natural and friendly part of the act.
Flying fish leaping high, as if laughing with the crowd. Grinning dolphins gamboling in the shipsa€™ wake, playing like merry children in a watery nursery.
It was those people and those actions that kept the voyage from collapsing at the start. And although the cheer was short-lived because Safar remained in his coma, the closer they all came to Hadin, the more determined everyone became to complete the journey.
After Safar's condition, the main worry was Rhodes. Had he returned to Syrapis? Or was he lying ahead somewhere, ready to ambush them?
Biner made several long flights in hopes of catching sight of Rhodes. But the king and his minions were never seen. After a while everyone assumed that he had sailed back to Syrapis and that it would be their friends and families at home who would have to contend with him. This was worrisome, to be sure, but it also meant that Rhodes was no longer their responsibility.
