“How do you plan on getting him into the city if the ring only works for Sakovans?” Klaarg asked.
“He need only get close to the city,” Alazar responded. “There he will fake an accident and be discovered by the Sakovans. I am counting on the Sakovan nature to take care of their own to get him into the city. I am sure it will work.”
“And no great loss if it doesn’t,” smiled Klaarg. “What do you want him to do once he is inside?”
“Two things,” Alazar explained. “I want the leader of the Sakovans assassinated and I want the magic spell concealing the entrance to the city disabled.”
“So that is why you need a mage for this,” Klaarg realized.
“And a killer,” smiled Alazar.
“So all you need from me is to get him out of the Imperial Prison and send him on his way after he has learned his role?” Klaarg questioned.
“I will make the jailbreak easy for you,” the First Minister assured. “The boy is kept in the mage ward. There will be no guards on duty. You will also need to monitor him to make sure he enters the Sakova and doesn’t try to run away. That is why he is being broken out instead of released. If he decides to run, he will be returned and hanged. You may tell him that a Royal Pardon awaits his return, but do not mention my name at any time.”
“Is it safe to mention your name after he finished the task?” the head assassin asked.
“No,” sneered Alazar. “After he has completed the task, you are to kill him. His usefulness will be over. See that he makes it to the Sakova and kill him when he leaves, whether his task is done or not.”
The First Minister rose indicating an end to the audience and walked over to the open bookcase door. “I want Temiker and Lyra, Klaarg,” Alazar reminded the assassin. “It is time that I start seeing some results from my investment. I am sure that you will bring some pleasant news the next time we meet.”
Klaarg avoided eye contact with the First Minister as he slipped into the dark corridor behind the bookcase. Alazar slid the secret door closed and returned to his desk. He grabbed the pile of official forms and scanned through them. Putting three of them aside because they required closer attention, he penned his name to the rest and carried them with him as he left his office.
The First Minister, in his flowing crimson robe, strode to a staircase leading to the basement prison and walked to the mage containment ward. The guard at the door did not question the right of the First Minister to enter and opened the door for him. Alazar strode in without acknowledgement, feeling the chill of the anti-aura spell as he did so. He made his way through the long corridor of cells until he came to the maximum security section and was greeted by another guard. He indicated silently the cell he wished to visit and the guard unlocked the door. Alazar opened the door and stepped in closing the door behind him. He smiled as he acknowledged that the door was not locked behind him.
Alazar met the glare of the prisoner and ignored it. He sat down at the small table opposite the man and smiled. “I have good news for you, Malafar,” he grinned. “We have located your missing daughter and brother.”
“That is their misfortune, Alazar,” Master Malafar growled. “It will make little difference to me who you have found. Whatever it is you want, you shall have to make do without my help.”
“Why are you so obstinate?” Alazar quizzed. “You do not even know what it is I wish of you.”
“Why?” Master Malafar growled. “Why? You send men into my academy and kill everyone and you have the nerve to ask why I won’t aid you in whatever scheme it is you have? Are you daft? Do you really expect that I would ever aid you in anything after that? You might as well kill me now if you are waiting for my help because you will be long dead before you ever get it.”
“Ah such temper,” sighed the First Minister. “I have told you many times that it was not the government who attacked your precious academy. We caught most of the rogue villains who plundered your home and executed them. We only hold you here for your protection until we catch the rest of them. Still there are some things that a Master Mage of your caliber can help us with while you are here. Why do you resist helping your country when it needs you?”
“I have always been a loyal Omungan,” Master Malafar declared. “Did I not give my only son into the service of the Katana? How dare you question my patriotism. When will my request to speak with the Katana be honored?”
“I am First Minister of Omunga,” Alazar stated stiffly. “Anything you wish to discuss with the Katana can be discussed with me. The Holy Katana cannot be bothered by every request for an audience and you have shown a great reluctance to help your nation when it needs your services. Besides, I have told you before that the Katana still believes that your son was a Sakovan assassin. He is afraid that you may be as well, despite my many assurances that you are a patriot.”
“Bah,” scowled Master Malafar. “Why do you waste my time with such dribble? Alfred was a fine patriot and an excellent judge of character and it was you who he did not trust. Those were not a band of rogue thieves who invaded my academy. They were well trained assassins and sent there to obtain me and now you have need of my services. Amazing coincidence I suppose. Why would you need the services of a fool? For that is what you think I am if you expect me to believe your tales. Go away and leave me. I tire of your game and do not wish to play any longer.”
“You are indeed a fool, Master Malafar,” smiled Alazar as he studied Malafar’s face for telltale signs of emotion. “A stubborn fool indeed. I am trying to save your life and the life of your brother Temiker and you spurn me. Your daughter Lyra needs your help and you spurn her as well. It is not only death that they face you know. These rogue villains have a history of torture. I shudder to think of hearing about the torture of such a fine young thing as Lyra. She probably has not even learned about the joys of life yet and now she has to face the endless pain of torture.”
Alazar smiled as he caught Malafar’s eye twitch at the mention of torture for Lyra. The First Minister knew he found the angle he was looking for. It was obvious that the mage would allow his brother to die, but his daughter was another thing entirely. A quick death for her he might be able to withstand, but torture of his sweet daughter would get Malafar’s attention. Satisfied that he had found the key to ensuring Master Malafar’s cooperation, Alazar rose to leave.
“Very well, Master Malafar,” sighed the First Minister, “I will mention your request to the Katana once again, but I assure you that he will not acquiesce to your demand. I will come to see you the day after tomorrow.”
Alazar did not wait for a response but exited the cell. The guard was waiting outside and immediately locked the door. Alazar pointed to another cell, which held the young mage who Klaarg was going to free, and the guard unlocked that one as well.
The First Minister turned to the guard and handed him the stack of forms from his desk. “I am going to be in there for some time. Deliver these for me and then return.”
“I cannot leave my post, First Minister,” the guard stated. “There must be a guard in here at all times.”
“So send in the outside guard,” snarled Alazar. “These paper are important and must be delivered immediately. Do you not think that the First Minister knows which is more important, you handholding me while I see a prisoner or seeing that these important papers are delivered on time?”
“Of course I meant no such slight,” trembled the guard. “I will send in the outside guard immediately.”
Alazar snickered as the guard disappeared out the door and he moved several cells closer to the outside door while he waited the replacement guard. The outside guard appeared quickly and Alazar picked a cell at random and pointed to it. The guard dutifully unlocked the cell door and Alazar stepped inside. He stood for several long moments staring at the sleeping prisoner and then exited the cell.