Land of the minotaurs

Chapter 9

"I am disappointed in you, Captain Scurn."

Scurn shivered as he faced the high priest with the news that the blasted kender was still at large. Scurn was no coward and, despite his exalted position, the high priest was more a scholarly type than a great warrior. In single combat the soldier was certain he could easily defeat the figure looking down on him. Of course, that was an opinion he would never dare voice to others.

The high priest was not alone. Acolytes lined the path to the dais, strong sons of Sargas, who Scurn knew would willingly throw themselves at him unarmed if their master so commanded. They stared straight ahead, but the captain knew very well they watched his every move.

"Holiness, the guard is still looking. It's only a kender, anyway. A mischief-maker, nothing more! My commander-"

"Has nothing to do with this, Captain. You presented yourself to my subordinates as someone striving to rise in rank and who saw, wisely, that such a path must be harmonious with my goals. You have benefitted from my goodwill, but in return you have not given what I required of you." The high priest leaned forward angrily. "I want the kender found. This creature is loyal to Kaziganthi. Not only might he cause unnecessary and politically embarrassing trouble in some kenderish attempt to redeem his comrade, but it has occurred to me that he of all of them might be used against the prisoner. This Kaziganthi sees himself as something of a champion to the small, I think. Therefore, I want him found. He cannot have escaped the city. The gates are too closely guarded. Find him. Do you understand that, or shall I endeavor to find out if any of your men can do better?"

"No, Your Holiness. I'll find the little vermin. I will."

Leaning back, the high priest regained his composure. "You had better." He waved a hand, dismissing the subject. "You will be pleased to know that on the morrow the criminals will face separate challenges that shall give them a chance to recover the honor of their clan… and shall put an end to at least one of them if Kaziganthi does not cooperate."

"Tomorrow?" Scurn was unable to hide his surprise. The leader of the temple worked in swift fashion. "Which one?"

"That is undecided, but I believe it will be the one called Hecar. His usefulness is at an end, but as the brother of Kaziganthi's mate, his death will have a profound impact. It may be enough."

"That's good news, Holiness."

"It will not be such good news if you find yourself joining them, Captain. I still desire the kender. If necessary, I will have Kaz's family and friends executed one by one until he sees the error of his judgment." The high priest steepled his fingers and sighed. "The fate of the cause outweighs the regret I feel for being forced to such dire actions. Kaziganthi is a symbol to many, Captain, a symbol that can still be wielded for the greater glory of the minotaur race… but only if he can be turned."

Scurn got the hint. "I'll double the number of soldiers involved in the search. By tomorrow, we'll have the kender… though why the creature is important to Kaz, I'll never understand."

"You do not need to understand. That is my concern. Simply find this valuable little creature. And do so very soon, lest you share the fate of the criminals in the field."

The captain swallowed. Then, realizing he had just, been dismissed, Scurn bowed and quickly retreated from the chamber.

When he was gone, the high priest looked down on his subordinates. As one they turned their gazes to him, respect and fear combined in their eyes.

"What word from our own?"

The acolyte nearest his left side replied, "They find nothing so far, Holiness. No sign has been seen of the kender."

"He has certainly not taken himself from Nethosak through magical means. I think I would have been able to sense that." The high priest allowed himself a slight look of frustration. "Not that I would expect magic of a kender."

An acolyte across from the first spoke. "Holiness, there have been rumors."

"Rumors of what?"

"That a kender has been sighted in the streets. These rumors have not been verified. No trace of any such creature has been discovered-"

"But it is not the type of sighting to arise without substance." He rubbed his jaw in contemplation. "I wonder… yes… the kender would probably do that. If he's as loyal as reported, general mischief would be less likely. It's more possible he will seek to emulate his brave friend. This is good. We shall let the kender wander about."

"Master?" asked the second acolyte, not understanding.

"If the guard and our own cannot find the kender, perhaps the kender will reveal his whereabouts to us." The high priest actually smiled. "A determined kender will generally find what it seeks, and this particular one, I think, seeks his minotaur comrade. I will have notices put up, reminding all that the criminals of the state will be sent into the circus on the morrow."

"But how will this help us find the kender, Holiness?" asked the first acolyte.

The high priest grew visibly annoyed. "The kender has proven through his determination that he cares about his companion, the great minotaur warrior. He will, in his own way, seek to free the minotaur. We must see to it that he is encouraged to investigate the circus just in case he does not understand they are being held there. A way must even be left open for him, the better to trap the insipid creature. The guards at the circus must be forewarned. You, Merriq, for being so inquisitive, have volunteered to lead a group of our own people in searching the circus from top to bottom, after which you will coordinate the successful capture of this pack rat."

Merriq bowed and asked no further questions, realizing he had already pushed his luck.

The high priest rose and leaned over his desk. "I think perhaps that some of you have grown lax in your work and, perhaps, your faith. We have been entrusted from time immemorial with the heavy task of keeping the vision strong, of preaching to the masses the dream of destiny set down by Sargas when he took a few worthy ogres and transformed them into the first minotaurs. The Supreme Circle is the arm, making certain the empire functions on a physical level. The emperor is the heart, the symbol of perfection that all strive for in battle. We, however, are the soul, and that is the most important of the three. If the people lose faith in their destiny, we have failed. The arm will grow weak and the heart will cease to beat. That is why you must all be strong, determined in your tasks and belief. There can be no room for the weak."

The acolytes nodded, but remained silent.

Stepping around the desk, the high priest raised his hands high in supplication to the sky. "We stand as warriors in the circus of the soul. We must triumph, or our entire race will fall into the degeneration that befell the ogres. Merriq, you will begin the litany."

The senior acolyte bowed, then, clearing his throat, began, "We have been enslaved, but have always thrown off our shackles…"

Around him, the others repeated his words. All closed their eyes and, imitating the high priest, raised their hands skyward.

The figure on the dais lowered his hands and watched those below, satisfied that there would be no hesitation, no matter what commands he gave them. They were dedicated to the dream, though they did not know he had altered that dream. They would do anything in the name of Sargas, but in reality it was he they worshipped. He was their god, even if they did not realize it.

Before long, however, everyone would know… and by then it would be too late.

Night crept forth, but in the cells below the circus it was hard to tell the difference between darkness and light. Only the change in guards and the fact that they had been fed at least an hour before gave Kaz and his companions any notion of the late hour.

"I feel as if I've been rotting down here forever," Hecar grumbled. "If you'd not come when you did, it's very likely I'd have lost my next challenge simply to put an end to this infernal monotony."

"That's no way to talk. A warrior must always look to victory."

"This place has a way of 'sapping any such enthusiasm, Master Ganth. Trust me."

"We still have to wait a few hours more. They'll relax their guard by then. No one has ever escaped from these cells." Kaz tried to make his voice encouraging. "We will be the first."

Ganth grunted. "Maybe you'll tell me how we'll escape even if you get your wonder weapon, Lad. You won't be able to swing it too well from inside here."

"You don't know the power of Honor's Face, Father. Trust me."

"I promise not to leave your side just so you can prove me wrong." The older minotaur chuckled for a moment, then grew silent.

More time passed. Kaz spent the time twisting his wrists this way and that, trying to find the best angles for what he planned. He could succeed with such a mad plan only because of the magical axe. Any other weapon would be either too dull and blunt or too unmanageable. Only his magical battle-axe had the ability to cut through almost anything as if it were water.

He had a suspicion that Polik would be in the audience in the arena tomorrow. He knew the Polik of old well enough to know that the emperor would want to watch the death of his onetime rival personally. That suited Kaz just fine. He had learned to throw his axe great distances with surprising accuracy. After that, the minotaurs would need a new emperor… something that, in his opinion, was long overdue.

Of course, if the high priest was also present, Polik might survive after all. Kaz had a fair notion of who was the true power, and if he had only one chance to throw his axe, Jopfer would be the one.

The hallway outside suddenly resounded with the clatter of arms and the marching of feet. Beside him, Ganth stirred and Hecar, who had been slumbering, woke. They listened in consternation as guards continued through the hall.

"All corridors must be checked! All cells lit! Let no space large enough to hide a rat be left unsearched!"

"What in the name of Kiri-Jolith is going on out there?" Hecar whispered. "Why are they suddenly so active?"

"I don't know," Kaz replied, "but it's some kind of search. Maybe a prisoner has escaped." He snorted. "Couldn't have happened at a worse time."

"Maybe they'll go away soon and things'll calm down, Lad."

"Maybe." This was no ordinary search, however. It sounded as if they were stationing men as well as searching the cells.

Sure enough, the door to their cell flew open and a pair of the State Guard's men marched inside, swords ready. Each also bore a torch.

"You should've warned us you were coming, lads," called Ganth. "We would've been better prepared. Sorry there's nothing to eat or drink."

"Quiet, you!" snarled one of the newcomers. Two of them prodded at dark corners with their swords, then double-checked with their torches.

"I'd be more careful," Kaz added. "The rats don't take kindly to being disturbed."

One of the guards gave him a dark look. "The only rat we're looking for has got two legs, and we'll find him yet."

The guards retreated from the cell. The door was once more bolted shut. However, activity still continued outside.

"What in the name of infernal Sargas is going on out there, Kaz?" Hecar strained to see. The occasional head or axe went by in a blur.

"I don't know, but pray they quiet down and go away soon or we may not be able to try to escape. Even Honor's Face won't be enough to deal with all those soldiers."

An hour later, however, it was clear that the searchers were not going to leave for quite some time. Kaz fidgeted. He knew how much more difficult it would be to try to enable any of them to escape if they had to do so from the arena itself. But there seemed no choice.

So be it, then. I'll do what I can for them and die myself if need be. Kaz grimaced. And to think I swore I'd never let myself die in the circus, not for the pleasure of the emperor!

Kaz swore a new oath then, one in which he vowed to make certain that neither Polik nor Jopfer would find pleasure in his death.

The night continued to dwindle. Dawn had to be only two or three hours away. Kaz and the others had just about given up hope that the search would end when the halls suddenly grew quiet and the torchlight dimmed. Hecar nudged Ganth, who had dozed off. Kaz twisted in an attempt to see a little more of the hallway, but the bit of blank wall he could make out told him nothing. There might be a legion of sentries out there, and then again there might not be.

"Are you going to try it, Lad?" whispered his father. "Time is getting short."

"Maybe in just a minute-" He cut himself off as a clicking noise warned all three that the door to the cell was being opened. Kaz stared, wondering who or why…

The door moved slowly, then stopped before there was barely enough room for a jackrabbit to slither through. A wary breath later, a small figure peered through the crack and smiled at the trio.

"Delbin!" Kaz barely managed to keep it a whisper.

"Hi, Kaz!" Of course, to Delbin the entire situation was probably like a bizarre game of hide-and-seek. "I found you! I knew it must be you in here when people said they brought in some warrior who didn't have the sense to surrender against a full squad of the guard-"

"Delbin, what are-?"

The wiry figure put a finger to his lips. "Shh! I can't save you now, Kaz, because the guards are coming right back and you can't sneak into the places I can, which they did check, but they don't look very hard or very well, and you wouldn't want to hide in some of those places anyway…" He clamped his mouth shut, then, much more slowly, added, "I just wanted to tell you I think I found a good way to rescue you-"

"Delbin! Get out of here. I want you to get out of Nethosak as I told you to do the first time!" Only Paladine knew how the kender had been able to get in here, but Delbin was only endangering himself. He could not possibly help Kaz. "Go now!"

"But I wanted to tell you how I'll rescue you from-"

"Get going," added Ganth, ears straight as he listened for the return of the State Guard. "Or come morning you might end up helping us entertain the crowds in the arena!"

"You're going to be in the arena?" The kender's tone was so cheerful it grated on the minotaurs. "That'll make it so much easier for me! Just wait!"

To their surprise, the kender stepped back and began closing the door.

"Delbin!" called Kaz as loud as he dared. "Leave the city!"

The door closed, but a moment later, the minotaur's tiny friend pulled himself up so he could see through the bars. Still smiling, Delbin replied, "Oh, don't worry, Kaz! I'm not going to leave without all of you! I'll rescue you tomorrow, real dramatically, when you're in the arena!"

Before Kaz could say anything else, Delbin abruptly dropped out of sight. Several moments later, a sentry thrust his ugly muzzle against the bars.

"No more noise! Sargas take you, you fools! You should get some rest so you can at least put on a half-decent showing before you're all killed." He snorted. "Now quiet down. Soon it'll be first light."

He stepped away from the bars as one of his comrades joined him. The second guard was more agitated.

"A representative of the high priest is here! He's got men of his own, and they're coming down here to search the area and check on the prisoners!"

The first snorted in disbelief. "We just finished searching this place from top to bottom at the orders of the circle! What's a cleric going to find that the guard hasn't?"

"We may find nothing, my son. But then again, we may," replied a third voice. "It is not for us to question the wise actions of His Holiness."

"My-my apologies! I didn't mean-"

Kaz and the others looked at one another. One of Jopfer's acolytes? With a new band to search the cells?

They obviously had not discovered Delbin or someone would have mentioned it already. That was some relief to Kaz.

"I am Brother Merriq. You shall assist us in any way necessary. Those orders come from both your superiors and the office of the high priest."

"Yes, Brother Merriq."

"Search there and there," the prisoners heard the cleric command. "You search over there."

"That's done it, Boys," Ganth commented sourly. "They aren't leaving anytime soon. It's to the arena with us. At least we'll show them how a true warrior fights!"

Kaz shook his head. "I've got a plan for that, too. Riskier, but the only choice we've got, it seems."

"Lad, what could you possibly hope to do in the arena? Is this something to do with that kender?"

He had momentarily forgotten Delbin's plan.… possibly because he did not want to think about what sort of wild notion had been at the core of it. "No, nothing to do with him. We can't talk about it now, though."

His words were truer than he thought. A new face suddenly thrust itself into the barred window. Calculating eyes studied the three forms. "This is them, then?"

"Yes, Brother Merriq."

The representative sniffed. "Not much to look at… and even less to look at come the day. Their combats are scheduled?"

"Aye. Molus has the proper list, but I think the one who's been here longer goes first, then the old one, and then the one called Kaz."

"Change that." Merriq's eyes focused on Kaz, who stared back, determined not to lose this small but crucial test of willpower. "His Holiness would prefer that Kazi-ganthi of the clan Orilg be the first of the three to face combat. Here are his orders."

The sooner I'm out of the way, the better? Or is it that you still think to scare me into renouncing my life and becoming your symbol to the masses?

Clearly Merriq awaited some reaction from Kaz, but when the prisoner did not satisfy his desires, the robed figure turned from the door. "I trust there will be no trouble seeing to it that the change in schedule is made."

"No, Brother Merriq! I'll alert the Master of Combat even now if you like."

"Simply tell him when he arrives. That should prove sufficient, don't you think? He will not argue with it much, will he?"

"As you say, Brother Merriq."

"Open the cell door."

"Yes, Brother Merriq." The door rattled, then swung wide enough to admit both the high priest's man and one of the sentries.

As he entered, Merriq looked around. "This cell was searched from rafter to floor? All corners?"

"Aye, Brother."

"Then it should be secure, I suppose." The tall, robed figure strode over to the captives and stared down at Kaz. "You are Kaziganthi de-Orilg."

"Since you were there when I was brought to your master, that should come as no surprise, even to you."

"A flippant tongue, typical of a heretic and traitor. Also typical of a fool. One would think you might start pleading for clemency by this time."

Kaz snorted. "Now what good would that do? Your master would never grant it, and we both know that."

"True, but you could try anyway." Merriq squatted, the better to stare Kaz in the eye. "Things could be made easier for you and your friends if you would change your mind. His Holiness has offered you such as most warriors only dream of achieving. Only a fool or a lunatic would reject such glories."

"I can only give you the same answer I'd give your master again. I'm no one's puppet. It would go against my honor… which might be something you'd never understand, Brother Merriq."

The cleric glared, but did not respond to the slight. "It would also be wise to tell us where the kender is. He will only come to worse if he is not placed safely in custody."

"Hopefully, he's far from Nethosak and far from your reach."

"He is still in the city," Merriq returned. "We are certain of that. You would do him a great favor by telling us where to find him. There are many ways to die."

"I think the man must be deaf, Kaz." Ganth shook his head. "He asks a question, gets an answer, then asks the question again."

Kaz grunted. To his inquisitor he said, "As if your master cares about a kender's safety."

"The high priest cares about all the children of Sargas, even those of the lesser races."

The high priest wanted Delbin alive… alive to use as a threat against Kaz. More and more, Kaz wondered what sort of game Jopfer was playing. Even the emperor and the Supreme Circle might not know Jopfer's agenda.

"I can see there is nothing to be gained in trying to talk sense to you," Merriq remarked. "Very well. Then, by the will of Sargas, I pray you fight well tomorrow and, by doing so, redeem your lost honor in the eyes of your fellows. Fight well and your memory may still be honored."

Merriq departed without a second glance. The warrior who had let him in gave Kaz and the others an almost sympathetic glance before quickly following.

"We must search down this hallway again. If the kender shows up, he will have to make use of one of these exits," Merriq said to someone. His voice dwindled as he moved off. However, guards still continued to move through the corridor and Kaz could make out the horns of a sentry on duty across from his cell door. He suspected it was one of the temple soldiers and not one of the State Guard's men.

"That's it, then, Lads. It's the arena for certain now."

"What can we do?" asked Hecar. "Kaz goes first. You heard that robed serpent. They want him first so he's out of the way as swiftly as possible. Why don't they just kill us in here?"

"Now that wouldn't be sporting, Hecar! Must keep up illusions, our high priest. Besides, I think you, Kaz, are supposed to live. Hecar and I, we are more likely to be the object lessons. Still, I could be wrong. I'm certain that more than a few will remember my son and the last time he was out there. Maybe this is also an attempt to prove that no one can defy the emperor and the others." Ganth shook his head. "I don't know what to think."

"The emperor? No real need to defy him." Hecar grunted. "Polik's the high priest's puppet. That's obvious."

"Worse than that," Kaz responded, finally stirring from his thoughts. "Jopfer's got the Supreme Circle in the palm of his hand, too, I'd say. Which doesn't matter for the moment, I suppose. What matters is us getting out." He forced a smile that he hoped looked cunning. "You two be prepared to act tomorrow. Watch me. As soon as I move, you've got to head down a certain tunnel across the field that I'll point out. It's the quickest and easiest way out. They keep the animals they use in the circus in that area. There'll be fewer sentries on duty there. In a situation of great chaos, it won't be that hard for you to slip free."

"What about you, Lad?"

"I'm the great chaos," he said. "And I'll be right behind you," he added, lying.

Hecar's brow was furrowed. "What sort of situation could cause enough chaos to make them ignore us?"

"You'll be better off not knowing. Just trust me. It'll work." He had his doubts, but did not voice them.

"What about Delbin, though, Kaz? He said he had something in mind. What happens if he puts whatever mad idea he has to work just as you're about to put your own plan into play?"

Kaz did not want to consider that particular problem. Hopefully, Delbin would follow his wishes and leave Nethosak. If not…

"Pray Paladine and Kiri-Jolith can use some good warriors at their side, because if they don't, old Sargas is going to have the last laugh in the afterlife."

Delbin returned to his hiding place with little more than two hours of darkness left.

"Well, I found them," he said to himself, speaking quietly but firmly in order to keep his thoughts organized the way he thought Kaz would in his position. "They're in a place under the circus, but it's not a very nice-looking place, and it's got rats in some places, which seems strange, since everything aboveground is so clean. They're locked up, and I would've gotten them out except some minotaurs in funny black-and-red robes who I heard worship Sargas, who is a peculiar god to worship since he's not very nice, came in and started looking for me. I had a good talk with Kaz and told him I'd be back because while I was there I got a great idea for a really big diversion that'll keep everyone there busy while they escape." He smiled in the dark, pleased with his personal rundown of events. Kaz would have been proud of him, Delbin was certain, even if the minotaur had declared he ought to leave the kingdom.

The kender set to work on his master plan. Everything was falling into place.

The high priest did not sleep as others slept. Sometimes he thought and plotted; other times he simply paced. Soon he could reveal the glorious truth to his children. Until then, however…

This dark morning, dark because there was at least an hour before sunrise, he had to visit his guest. She had grown unsettled of late, something which in turn unsettled the high priest. In the short time since she had become his guest, a decision not of her making, she had been, for the most part, quiet and frightened. The high priest preferred that. He encouraged those emotions, while at the same time being careful that she did not come to harm. Her good health was vital to everything. She had to be kept secured, but otherwise he made certain she did not hunger much or grow unduly ill.

Deep below the main part of the temple, in the special cells in which declared heretics were once placed, she awaited. The cleric walked unescorted past empty cells, turning corner after corner until at last he found the only one presently occupied.

Something scurried away from the door of the cell, a short, dumpy little figure whose presence disgusted him. "What are you doing there? Get away from that door!"

"Sorry, Great One! Sorry! Galump mean nothing!"

"Get away from here! Go back to your garbage! If I see you here again…" He let the threat trail off as the gully dwarf scurried away. If the little creature had not been trained to perform certain acts of spying for the priesthood, the high priest would have dealt with him there and then.

A slight clink from within the cell informed him that his guest was awake. Had she been talking to the foul little creature? The only other ones she saw were the guards that watched the corridors. But they were strictly forbidden to speak to her. No one was allowed to speak to her but him.

Moving to the door, he peered into darkness. "You are awake, my little one, so do not pretend otherwise."

From the darkness of the cell there came the sound of chains clanking. A moment later, the prisoner appeared out of the darkness.

In Solamnia, Ergoth, or any of the human lands, she would have seemed perfectly in place. Here in the empire, she was a striking contrast. Humans were not often seen or well-liked here, especially after years of domination by the warlords. Crynus had left a legacy of hatred.

"What do you want of me? Why can't I go home?"

She appeared young, perhaps fifteen, sixteen summers if he was a judge of human looks, but the cleric knew appearances could be very deceiving, and the girl was perhaps the greatest deceiver of all. Her innocent face, draped by long, silver hair that might have seemed more appropriate to an elf, belied what he and he alone knew to be the truth: there was power within her.

"This is your home, female. This will always be your home. Understand that now, and all other things will become much easier for you to accept." He indicated the cell. "You have a comfortable chamber. I have seen to that. The chains are required since you have yet to acknowledge that I am your master. My will is your will. When you truly accept that, then they may be removed."

"I want to go home!"

"What home is that? What life do you recall other than wandering by yourself, surviving by yourself, in the mountains and forests? Running from others who understand less than you yourself do. Surviving on what you were able to scrounge." Despite himself, the high priest grew angry. "Is that what you think your life was meant to be? Do you realize the danger you face, not having been trained in your abilities? You could be killed, either intentionally or accidentally. Do you know what that would mean?"

Her frightened yet still perplexed expression infuriated him. There was much he wanted to tell her, information he needed her to know in order to better understand. But to tell her this soon was to increase the potential of a deadly threat.

"I don't understand you at all," she insisted. "You keep talking as if I'm so very important to you. Of what importance can I be to you? I don't even know you."

"You are very intelligent, female, despite a lack of training. You have always known more, learned easier, than those around you. Look into yourself, then look into my eyes and see how closely we are linked. Look closely…"

She raised her hands, palms toward him. "No!"

Her hands glowed white.

The chains shimmered blue.

With a gasp, the young girl slipped to her knees, barely able to keep from falling to the floor. As her hands ceased glowing, the chains did the same.

"That is an object lesson. You must cease attempting to defy me. I do not like having to hurt you, but I will be obeyed. There is too much at stake here. I have worked too long for either you or a recalcitrant minotaur to disrupt things."

The girl did not answer him. The high priest frowned, deciding this was a waste of his precious time. The female had been in moods like this before. It was a sign of her childishness. Under his tutelage, such moods would soon become a thing of the past.

"Sleep now," he finally commanded. "Tomorrow we will talk again. Tomorrow we will begin new lessons."

As he turned and walked away, he heard her begin to cry. The sound encouraged him. She was at last beginning to break. Soon she would be his obedient servant… and her power, matched with his, would make his dream unstoppable.