Land of the minotaurs

Chapter 18

At Toron's and, surprisingly enough, Delbin's insistence, Hecar and the others headed for the circus instead of returning to the temple. Surrounded by the other minotaurs of the Orilg clan, they looked like simply one more group of interested warriors late for the grand announcement.

"I still don't like it!" Fliara muttered to Hecar. "I don't care what Toron says we should do… and I certainly do not care what that little monster insists, either! We should go back! There's Scurn to consider, if nothing else. That one has hated my brother for years."

"Toron's words aside," Hecar returned, "Delbin was as serious about us not going back as I've ever seen him serious about anything. I know a kender's word generally doesn't count for much, but I know this one enough to understand that his insistence means a great deal. I was also next to Kaz… or what seemed to be Kaz, if I understand Delbin… before the rescue. He was acting strangely. I don't know. I can't say why. But I think we should go to the circus."

"And what can we solve there? We're just a few among many!"

"Is that what you think?" asked Toron, suddenly nearby. Taller than even Kaz, he moved stealthily for a minotaur. He grinned. "Wait until you hear what Helati had planned…" His grin grew wider. "Too bad we might not need it, what with Kaz not coming here after all and the rest of you free. Your sister's quite a speaker, from what I understand, Hecar. She gave Dastrun a good scolding."

"But I thought she wasn't here at all. What do you mean?"

"I'll explain later-" was as far as Toron got when the entire party heard the crash.

The sound reminded Hecar of the war, when siege weapons could level half a city in the name of Takhisis. As part of the advance force, he had watched many a rock crash down on buildings and walls, killing defenders and civilians alike. Hecar had never liked siege warfare; it made no distinctions between worthy opponents and innocent children.

, "By the horns of Kiri-Jolith, what is that?" roared Toron, suddenly gazing skyward. "It can't be a-"

But it was. Hecar and the others knew what word Kaz's brother could not bring himself to utter. They knew the word, but could no more speak it than the dark-furred warrior, so stunned were they by the sight.

A dragon. A red dragon soaring high into the sky, burying itself in the clouds above.

They stood there, trying to make sense of it, but just as the first shock finally passed, they heard a smaller but no less significant crash.

This time a smaller, sleeker dragon, gleaming silver, raced skyward. There was something on its back, something that Hecar was fairly certain was a rider.

"Silver and red," he whispered. He could never forget the battles he had watched in the sky during the war. "Deadly foes. They'll fight to the death. The rider…" It seemed a voice spoke in his head. He nodded to himself, not caring whether the others heard or not. "Yes, it is Kaz. It would have to be."

Belatedly he realized that both dragons flew in the general direction of the circus.

Clouds had gathered over some parts of Nethosak, and Kaz knew that among them hid Infernus. Not for a moment did he think the red dragon was hiding in fear. Rather, Infernus was simply using the heavens to his best advantage, counting on Tiberia's inexperience. This was the first time the silver had flown and, although flight was natural to dragons, Tiberia's unsteady journey so far was an indication of just how much practice she needed.

"What do I do, Kaz?" the silver dragon gasped, pushing hard to gain more altitude. She was clearly frightened, but trusted Kaz to guide her along. "I don't see him!"

"He's in the clouds just above that tower." Infernus might be a master of aerial combat, but the minotaur had picked up a few things during his time as a dragon rider. A creature as large as a red dragon could not hide forever. "Go up! Do it now!"

Arcing awkwardly, the silver dragon rose. Kaz gripped Tiberia and the lance tightly, hoping they would break through the clouds without being attacked. Infernus would not flee. He had to defeat the pair if he hoped to salvage his plan. Fortunately for Tiberia, the red suffered the disadvantage of needing the silver alive. That did not mean Infernus had any intention of sparing Kaz. The minotaur was certain that his death was a priority.

They broke through the clouds… and found nothing.

Kaz craned his neck, searching. "Move ahead, but slowly."

"Should I go higher?"

"No, we-" It suddenly occurred to him what Infernus had probably done. "Yes, higher! Higher! Now!"

Startled, the young dragon was slow to react.

Infernus burst from the clouds just below them, colliding into Tiberia's underside. As soon as they touched, the red dragon twisted so that he could sink his claws into his younger counterpart's sides.

Only by sheer luck did Kaz hold on. He cursed himself for being a fool. Infernus had flown back down and come up under them. It was a simple tactic he should have predicted. Evidently he had been away from war much too long.

"I will shake you loose, gnat!" roared Infernus, twisting both dragons around and around. His greater wing-span gave him more control. Tiberia sought to counter his weight, but could not. "I will watch you plummet to your death as Captain Scurn did so nicely!"

It was impossible to get the dragonlance into position. A long tentacle nearly swatted him from his already precarious angle. The minotaur looked around and saw that what had nearly hit him was not a tentacle but rather one of the ropes left over from the guards' attempt to drag Infernus down. At least two of them whipped about as if alive.

Again the rope flew by. Kaz glanced at it, then he pulled himself tighter against Tiberia and shouted, "The rope! Grab the rope with your mouth and pull back!"

Tiberia did not understand at first. Then, as Infernus increased their spinning, the silver dragon snapped at the tether. She missed, but it hovered within range. Tiberia timed her next attempt better, catching hold of a long length of the rope. Immediately she followed the rest of Kaz's instructions.

The grappling hook was lodged deep in the lower scales of the red's neck. As Tiberia pulled, the hook tore deeper. The sudden pull by the other dragon caused Infernus to lose his momentum and, in part, his grip. He shifted his position to regain his advantage.

Kaz stared at the wings, now closer. He made an estimate of Tiberia's jaws and neck. "The wing! Let the rope loose and bite!"

Below them, the red dragon had obviously decided on the same tactic, but Tiberia was small, and her wings, flapping somewhat erratically, made for a more difficult target than the red dragon's much larger ones. Infernus could not stretch his wings back far enough. The silver stretched as far as she could, opened her maw wide, and bit.

Her foe shuddered and, for a moment, the three simply dropped. Tiberia's jaw remained clamped on the wing.

With a snarl, Infernus brought his lower paws up and, using the incredible strength of his legs, pushed the two leviathans apart. By doing so, he further damaged his wing, for Tiberia did not let go willingly. The red dragon fluttered awkwardly around, trying to compensate for the terrible injury.

Less injured, the silver dragon regained control almost immediately. Kaz shifted. They had to strike now before Infernus was able to adjust. He lowered the dragonlance, aimed, and called out, "Fly at him, Tiberia! Fly at him with every ounce of speed you can muster!"

Her companion nodded, spread her wings to their fullest, and pushed herself toward her foe.

They were too near one another for the silver to pick up much speed, but likewise were they too near for the red to maneuver away in any direction without his younger counterpart compensating.

Kaz gritted his teeth for the collision.

The dragonlance pierced its target in the left side of the chest. Infernus roared in agony and, out of sheer reflex, seized hold of Tiberia. Unable to concentrate hilly on flying, the red dragon began to drop… taking his adversaries with him.

Around and around they spun as they dropped through the clouds. Tiberia flapped her wings as hard as she could, trying to slow if not stop their descent. Kaz realized there was no way the silver dragon could support the three of them, and that Infernus had no intention of releasing his grip. The minotaur tried to pry the dragonlance from the red's chest in the hopes that Infernus might then let them loose, but the lance would not pull free. It was as determined to remain impaled in its target as its target was determined to hold on to Tiberia.

We're going to die! Kaz thought as the first tower tops came into sight below them. We're going to die. Damn you, gray man, we're going to die. I hope you and your balance are happy.

"I… won't… let you… get… hurt… Kaz!" bellowed the silver dragon. "I won't!"

In desperation, Tiberia stretched her neck down as far as she could, focusing on her target. A fireball barely half as large as Kaz struck one of the red dragon's injured paws. Under other circumstances, Infernus might have shrugged it off. Wounded as he was, however, the crimson leviathan reacted with a shriek of agony.

Tiberia flapped her wings with all the strength she could muster, at the same time pushing away from her dark counterpart with her legs and tail. Infernus tried to grab hold again, but the other injured forepaw could not maintain its grip.

The red dragon fell below, backside down. Infernus might have righted himself had he had more time, but they were already too close to the ground.

Only then did Kaz see that they were over the circus.

The streets and stands were already filled with running and milling figures, all trying to avoid the massive forms plummeting down at them. Tiberia could regain control before they reached the circus, but Kaz saw that Infernus was going to land half in the field and half on the stands, crushing hundreds.

"Tiberia! Knock him into the field!" The field was large enough to contain four beasts the size of Infernus if only they could shove him to the side.

He could have saved his breath, for the young silver dragon was already swooping down, evidently having come to the same realization as the minotaur. Tiberia strained with her talons, trying to gain some hold on the hapless, writhing red. Infernus no longer seemed aware of what was happening to him. He merely snapped at the smaller dragon and tried to slash one of Tiberia's legs with his own claws.

The silver dragon seized the one limb. Infernus dug into her paw. Tiberia did not cry out. Her wings shifted.

Infernus crashed into the ground, Tiberia landing on him, then rolling away. Kaz was thrown toward the red dragon.

He bounced against Infernus, then slid helplessly down the crimson terror's side. Belatedly Kaz realized that Tiberia had prevented a major disaster. Both dragons had managed to land on the field.

But what had happened to the silver dragon? Kaz stumbled to his feet and looked around, trying to orient himself at the same time. His left leg seemed on the verge of collapse, his wounded arm was half numb, and his ribs hurt, but he refused to allow the pain to overwhelm him as he searched. Kaz could not see the silver dragon's immense form, though.

Then he saw the small, very human shape lying against one wall of the field. So accustomed to the human form, Tiberia had reverted to it upon unconsciousness.

Kaz prayed the young female was only unconscious.

Then movement behind him reminded the minotaur there was another dragon to consider. Infernus had taken the brunt of the fall and was gravely injured, but the red leviathan was remarkably strong… strong enough still to grasp victory from defeat.

There was only Kaz to stop him. Minotaurs filled the stands, but they stood uncertainly, clearly stunned and confused by the spectacle. By the time they chose to act, it might be too late.

Kaz looked around for some sort of weapon, something he could use to finish off the dragon. To his surprise, he found just what he needed not far from him. It was a godsend, especially considering the shape it had worn when last he had seen it.

Honor's Face, no longer a dragonlance, lay not more than a few feet away. It could not have arrived there of its own accord, yet, there it was. Kaz did not question how it came to be there. He seized it with renewed hope, took one last look at the still form of Ty, then charged toward Infernus.

The dragon suddenly succeeded in righting himself, flipping over and nearly crushing Kaz in the process. But Infernus was not yet recovered enough to rise, much less fly. Still, it wouldn't be long, and Kaz had to move swiftly.

He leapt. The dragon saw him, but too late. The minotaur landed on the upper edge of one wing, then scrambled up to the red dragon's shoulder. Savage jaws snapped at him, but Infernus could not twist his neck enough to reach the minotaur. The red dragon tried to shift enough so that he could bring a paw up, but his injuries and twisted position made it difficult.

Kaz reached the neck. Infernus tried to shake him off, but Kaz hooked his feet into the scales and held fast. He gripped his axe.

"Leave me, gnat, or I will crush you! I command it!"

"No more commands, Infernus, not as high priest or dragon! It's time we were allowed to make our own way in the world!"

"Ungrateful fool!" bellowed the injured dragon, sounding much like the high priest. His voice echoed throughout the circus. "I have guided your race to the glory it has attained! I have molded you into the finest warriors! I sent you into slavery time and again, the better to cull the weak and bring to the forefront the stubbornness, the pride, and the strength you now display! All I ask in return is your allegiance! We will rule the world!"

"You mean you'll rule the world… we'll just do the dying for you." Kaz raised his battle-axe.

"Your kind was nothing before me and will be nothing without me!" Infernus punctuated the statement by snapping at Kaz. The red dragon was clearly weak, thankfully too weak to cast any spell, it seemed.

"We'll take that chance." Kaz aimed.

Infernus suddenly began to push up. Even as the minotaur brought the axe down with all his might, the red leviathan tried to roll over toward him. Infernus intended to crush Kaz beneath him.

"I am your master!" the red terror roared. "I am your destiny!"

Kaz's footing started to fail, but he did not let up. Honor's Face struck the dragon's neck, sinking deep. Infernus, hissing in agony, pushed harder. Kaz raised the weapon again, knowing he might not complete another swing.

"Paladine, let this blow swing true!" he snarled through clenched teeth. His world was tilting, and only one secured foot prevented him from toppling off the spinning beast.

Once again, Kaz brought the magical axe down.

Once again, the axe changed. It seemed larger, longer, the blades growing as huge as Kaz himself. Yet it was no harder to hold the oversized axe and was no more difficult to guide toward its target. In fact, it was almost as if Honor's Face directed his hand toward the most vital spot on the dragon's neck.

The mirrorlike blade struck deep into Infernus… and continued to bite. Incredibly, the cut spread, penetrating the entire neck. Infernus bellowed, and his whole body shook. Kaz lost his grip on the axe and, finally, his footing. He slid backward and would have fallen headfirst to the ground if not for the grappling hook still caught in the dragon's neck. More out of luck than skill, the minotaur caught hold of the rope. He was flung around, but his drop slowed.

The red's shaking ceased.

Still dangling, Kaz waited. Infernus shuddered again, but the motion ended after only a few seconds. Kaz waited a little longer, then began to climb back.

The first thing he saw was Honor's Face. The axe lay on the upper part of the dragon's shoulder. It was back to normal size. Its mirror finish was as pristine as ever.

The second thing he saw was that Infernus's head and neck had been cleanly severed from the body.

Too exhausted to cheer much about the red leviathan's death, Kaz dragged himself over to the axe and picked it up. His battered reflection stared back at him.

"Wish I'd known before that you could do that," he muttered. "It would've come in handy now and then."

All around him, the air filled with thunder. No, Kaz corrected himself, it was not thunder, but the stomping of hundreds of minotaur feet.

Applause and cheers added to the stomping. Kaz heard someone call his name, someone whose voice was familiar to him. Others in the audience, either taking their lead from that voice or recognizing him on their own, also called his name. It quickly grew into a chant that he had no doubt could be heard throughout all of Nethosak.

Then the guards arrived. They started toward the area where Kaz and the dragon were, but before they could get very far, minotaurs began to pour from the stands. They came from all sides. Kaz readied the axe, thinking he could take a few of his enemies with him, when he suddenly noticed that the newcomers were not attacking. They were forming a defensive ring around both the massive corpse and the minotaur, weapons displayed against the guard.

Only then did Kaz recognize several of them as members of Clan Orilg.

"Kaz!" called one warrior. He fought his way through the others and clambered up the dragon as if it were something he did every day. The crowd continued to chant and applaud.

"Hecar? How did all this come about?"

"You can thank Helati and Brogan for it." It looked as if more than simply Orilg had come to his aid. It was not possible for the entire clan to be here, since many members lived far from Nethosak, which meant that a number of the minotaurs defending his position had to hail from other clans.

"Helati had a little talk with Dastrun and the clan… I'll tell you later how she did that. Not even certain I understand myself. She found out what you'd been up to and what you'd been fool enough to agree to. Then she heard you were supposed to die in the circus today, so she reminded the clan of what its honor meant. It finally agreed to help." Hecar glanced at the crowd and grinned. He clearly enjoyed the moment. "We were supposed to charge the field when they brought you out… but no one expected this sort of entrance! That's something I'll have to tell you about in detail later." His eyes widened. "Fliara and the others-"

"Are there." Kaz pointed at one of the entrances. Fliara, Delbin… and, if Kaz was not mistaken, his brother Toron, whom he had not seen in longer a time than Fliara. There was no mistaking that streak of hair or that face.

He wondered if Toron knew about their father. "I think they want to make you emperor, Kaz."

"Polik might have something to say about that."

"I doubt it. He was on the platform taking his victory bows when you and the dragons fell." Hecar shook his head in disgust. "And never have I seen a more pathetic combat. Anyone who did not wonder at his challenger's sluggishness already knew that the combat had been rigged. The longer it went-and it seemed even Polik thought it went too long-the more pitiful it became. It was more a slow slaughter than a battle."

Blinking, Kaz looked down the field. Toward the back end of the great beast he made out a portion of the splintered and exceedingly flattened platform used for imperial challenges. There was no sign of a body on what little of the platform could be seen, and he had no desire to go and verify his friend's words. What was left of the late emperor would be something that would appeal to neither his stomach nor his eyes.

"So you see, they have no qualms about making you emperor. After all, how many minotaurs fight and slay a dragon, especially one of such size, and especially one everyone heard claim it was their master and destiny?" The other minotaur snorted. "As if we would ever accept such a beast as our master!"

Kaz scanned the throng. Hecar was probably correct about the crowd wanting to crown him. Even among those of the circle, there was obvious sentiment for Kaz. One or two members scowled or pretended indifference, but with the exception of those few and a handful of clerics, everyone was saluting the slayer of the dragon.

Dragon? In the aftermath of the red terror's death, Kaz had momentarily forgotten the other dragon, the brave youngster that Kaz considered more responsible for the red's destruction than he.

Abandoning Hecar, he leapt off the massive corpse and went directly toward where he had last seen the young female.

Ty was still there, still unmoving. Kaz broke through the defensive ring and hurried to her side. He knelt down, turning Ty over. The female was breathing. Giving thanks to Paladine, Kaz raised her in his arms. As he did, Ty opened her eyes.

"Kaz?"

"Hush, Ty. It's all right. We beat him. Infernus is dead."

"Did I do good?"

The minotaur snorted. "You did the best anyone could've done under the circumstances. I'm proud of you. Your parents would've been proud of you, too."

Ty smiled, then closed her eyes again.

"The balance is almost restored. You have the gratitude of many, Kaz."

Still carrying the transformed Ty, Kaz turned. The gray man, staff in hand, stood behind him.

"I thought I broke that," the minotaur commented, referring to the staff. "And what's that you're saying about the balance almost being restored? Infernus is dead. The danger is past. When the smoke clears, they'll see that this invasion is going to drive us only to ruin."

"The invasion does not matter without Infernus, Kaz. If they launch it, the minotaurs will fail. This is not their time… if such a time is ever to come. I can promise you that." The mage glanced down at his staff. "As for this, it is more durable than it appears."

"What about the balance, then? What do you mean?"

His hooded companion sighed. "The red dragon is dead, but the silver remains. If she remains too long, one of the Dark Lady's draconian creatures will awaken. Although it might be hard to believe, there are worse dragons than Infernus. Should both dragons remain in the world for very long, the compact made at the end of the war will crumble. It has been crumbling these past eight years. I have been busy, very busy, but for a long time even I did not know the truth. Still, Takhisis will be allowed to renew her drive for conquest much too soon if the hatchling is not dealt with immediately."

"I think you told me that before, but what can I do?"

"There are two choices, Kaz." The gray man studied Ty. "I may take her to where she must go. However, I can take her only if she truly wants to leave."

"And the other choice?"

"She must die, minotaur. You will have to kill her, since I am forbidden to do so. She must die or the world returns to imbalance, and thousands of others must die in the ensuing conflicts."

"I won't kill her! You're mad, mage!" Kaz backed away from the gray figure.

"Then she must leave. She must come with me."

"To what? To where? She obviously knows nothing about where you want to take her! She knows only this world." It seemed unfair to the minotaur that Ty had to be taken from everything and everyone she knew because some gods had made a deal. Ty belonged here. Kaz would be more than happy to allow her to stay in the settlement. In the short time since he had met her, she had proven a brave, honorable companion.

"Kaz?"

He looked down to see that Ty had opened her eyes again. By the looks of her, the young woman had heard everything that had been said. "Ty, I-"

"Kaz, I'll go with him."

"Listen! The gods don't have to have their way! They-"

Ty slipped out of his grip. Her stance was unsteady, but she refused help from the minotaur. She gazed at both Kaz and the gray man. "I know I don't have a choice, really, Kaz. I have to leave." Ty steadied herself. "I don't want another war like the one you've talked about, Kaz. It sounds awful. Fighting Infernus showed me how terrible another war would be."

"Do you mean that?" It still seemed unfair to Kaz, but the female sounded determined.

"I do. If I stay much longer, another dragon will awake. I couldn't face that. Too many people would get hurt or die, including maybe you and Delbin."

"The decision is made, then," announced the gray man. His expression softened. "For what it is worth, Tiberia, I regret it must be so. You deserve to live as you desire. I can say only that you shall at least join your sire and your siblings where you are going."

Ty brightened. "I'll see them?"

"I promise." The gray mage smiled. "Then you all shall have a pleasant sleep."

Sleep was one thing Ty definitely needed. The female required time for her injuries to heal. She closed her eyes, then asked, "Is it far? I don't think I can fly far."

"You will not need to fly." Raising his staff, the gray man looked behind him. A hole appeared, a hole that glowed brightly from within. "We will walk. It is not so far that way." He extended his free hand to the transformed dragon. "If you are ready, we should leave very soon."

Ty turned to Kaz. "Could-could you say good-bye to Delbin for me? I wish there were more time, but… I don't want another dragon like Infernus coming."

"I'll say good-bye to Delbin for you."

She leapt forward, wrapping her arms around the minotaur. Kaz froze, then slowly hugged Ty back. "I won't forget you, Kaz! Thank you for everything."

Kaz lifted her chin, meeting Ty's eyes. "You are an honorable warrior, Tiberia, and a good lass, as my father would have said."

Ty lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry about Ganth, Kaz. If it hadn't been for me-"

"Don't think that. Infernus was responsible. Ganth would thank you. You avenged not only him and my mother, but all those minotaurs who died so that Infernus could mold us to his and the Dark Queen's damnable vision."

From behind Ty, the gray man called, "Tiberia. It must be soon. Already there is stirring."

Breaking away, the young human dragon joined the mage. Ty looked back at Kaz and smiled.

"Paladine watch over you, Ty," the minotaur called.

"Thank you again, Kaz… I'll think of you."

"And I you."

"You have my gratitude, too, Kaz," added the gray figure, somewhat sadly. "And my apologies for what I had to do. Know that your father… and mother… watch over you."

"I understand… and thank you, mage."

With that, the pair walked into the hole. As they entered, Ty waved one last time. The hole vanished as she lowered her hand.

It was over, just like that. Kaz felt cheated. The female had hardly time to recover and enjoy some peace with her newfound friends. She had hardly time to see the world. Then again, as a dragon, she might someday see a world that existed long after Kaz was gone.

"Kaz!" There was no mistaking Delbin's voice. "Kaz! Is Ty all right? Where is she? I thought she was over here, but-"

"Take a breath, Delbin," said Hecar.

Kaz turned to face his friends and family. Hecar stood there with Delbin and Kaz's brother and sister. They were not alone, either. There was an entire contingent of minotaurs, not all of them from the clan of Orilg. One group in particular simultaneously interested and worried him. They were members of the Supreme Circle. There also was a handful of clerics.

"I'll tell you about Ty later, Delbin," he said, warily watching the others close in on him. "I promise."

The circle paid little mind to Kaz's friends and relations, barging through the gathering without comment. Kaz looked them over and saw that all eight members were there, their identities marked by the clasps of their cloaks. Three he recognized personally, but the others not at all.

"Hail, Kaziganthi de-Orilg!" called a scarred warrior with gray fur on top and one eye covered with a patch. His name was Athus, and Kaz recalled him from the war. Athus had never struck him as someone who would bow to the high priest's dictates, but it was difficult to say how the old warrior had changed over the years.

"Hail, Athus." Kaz surveyed the gathering. "Come to personally arrest me this time?"

"His Holiness-" began one cleric.

"There is your high priest." Athus pointed at the red dragon's huge form. "We all heard the voice. We all know that voice and that tone even if the form is different. Am I right, Kaziganthi?"

"You are."

"It is a He!" The same cleric pushed forward. "When the high priest comes-"

Kaz snorted. "You should begin thinking more about which of you is going to be the new high priest, rather than wasting time on empty protests. Jopfer, as you knew him anyway, is dead. That leaves a vacancy that must be filled, don't you think?"

The cleric shut up. Kaz watched with amusement as the robed figures began to eye one another. These were some of the red dragon's highest-ranking servants. Any one of them could claim the right of succession. There would be some duels before the week was out, which did not sadden Kaz in the least.

Athus also seemed to enjoy the clerics' sudden realization. He finally shook his head, responding to Kaz's earlier question. "No, Kaziganthi, we've not come to arrest you. Far from it. If anything, I think the majority of us are quite pleased to see you."

That was exactly as he had feared. Kaz remained quiet, waiting.

"Emperor Polik is dead." A trace of a smile again escaped Athus. "Definitely dead. As his challenger died before him, there is a void that must be filled, a void even more important than that which the priesthood faces." The graying minotaur ignored dark looks from more than one cleric. "I think we've all seen and heard enough today to know who exemplifies what we most seek in an emperor. Honor, bravery, determination to face all odds in the course of one's duty, and, of course, the cunning and strength needed to attain victory in combat."

"Listen all around you, Kaziganthi," spoke one of the other members, a shorter, wider minotaur with one crooked horn and, for one of their kind, what would be called a flat snout. "They are still chanting your name. They want you, Kaziganthi! We want you!"

Athus nodded. "We salute you, Emperor Kaziganthi, slayer of dragons and champion of the people!"

The clansmen of Orilg who stood nearby cheered, especially Kaz's siblings. But Hecar seemed less enthusiastic. He was proud of his sister's mate, but he knew Kaz better than the rest. He was probably the only one here who truly knew what Kaz thought of becoming emperor.

Kaz faced the circle and the clerics. He could not deny feeling pride that he had been so chosen. It was the greatest accolade his people could have given him.

"I prefer Kaz as a name," he responded, standing as tall as he could. His body wanted to lie down and sleep for a month, but he did not listen to it, not yet. "And I prefer to decline your offer. I'm not the kind of emperor you want, and I never will be. You'll have to fight that out among yourselves."

As soon as he was finished speaking, Kaz walked past the stunned and gaping minotaur leaders, joined his family and friends, and headed for the circus's nearest exit.