"That's the trouble with religion, Quan said with some sympathy. Always forbidding this and forbidding that. There's so many forbiddens that a poor fiend barely knows what to do."
He stripped the rest of the meat off the spear and popped it into his maw. He chewed mightily, then swallowed, a look of pure bliss on his face.
"You know the first thing I'd do, he said, if I were king?"
"What's that? Kalasariz asked.
"I'd banish religion. Toss it right out. Start my own religion. And the first thing I'd do after that is turn the forbiddens on their head. All that was forbidden would become compulsory. And everything that was compulsory would go the king's committee for a good long study."
He gave Kalasariz a friendly jab with his claw.
"I'll bet I'd be damned popular, he said. The most popular king in his"
And Quan broke off as his eyes suddenly glazed over and he pitched forward.
Kalasariz yanked his arm away and Quan's head struck the table with much force.
The banquet area was suddenly filled with similar sounds of demon heads slamming into wood. Then there was silence.
Kalasariz looked about and saw the demon guards had noticed something was amiss and were running forward.
Leiria shouted a war cry, ripping off her robe to show the mail beneath. She drew her sword and rushed the guards. Other cries rang out as Safar's soldiers revealed themselves and leaped into the fray.
It was quick, bloody work. Before Kalasariz knew it all the demons but three were dead. And Leiria, along with half a dozen human soldiers, was pressing in to end that annoyance.
Safar dumped Quan's corpse out of the chair and slid into it. He cleaned a winecup with his sleeve and filled it up.
"I won't ask you for a toast, he said to Kalasariz. Your friend was right. He indicated the dead demon slumped on the ground. You're much too long winded."
And Safar drank the wine down.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Safar slipped the stone idol from his pouch. He patted it, long soothing strokes like a child caressing a cat.
He leaned close, whispering, Behave yourself, now. We're in the company of the king."
Still stroking the idol, he walked over to Iraj, who was staring up at a painting, deep in thought.
They were in Alisarrian's cave, torch light reflecting off the luminous walls. The picture Iraj was musing over was the magical painting of the Conqueror in his heroic pose.
"I still feel like a boy, Iraj murmured to Safar.
Then he turned, a wry smile on his face. When we were here before, he said, I was hiding from my uncle and his friend. As it turned out, neither were more than petty chieftains. But at the time what I had to overcome seemed like the greatest problem in the world."
He gestured at the heroic figure of Alisarrian, who had Iraj's golden beard, but Safar's blue eyes. When I saw thatsomehow, for reasons I can't explainit made my dream of ruling all Esmir seem not so difficult. He shrugged. I mean, all I had to do is defeat my uncle, then Esmir would crack like an egg. It felt that easy.
"Now I see the picture differently. I see a man whose accomplishments I truly admire. I've stood in lesser boots and fought in lesser battles. It's difficult enough to hold on to what I've won, much less win more."
"I'm sure Alisarrian had similar doubts about himself, Safar said. Maybe even more so. He didn't have a great Conqueror to emulate, after all. You know it's possible because it's been done before. He didn't have that advantage."
"And the demons, Iraj said, brightening a bit. He also had to face the demons."
"Exactly, Safar said. Not only that, but no human king had ever defeated a demon army. You know that can be done as well, thanks to Alisarrian."
Iraj frowned again. Except Alisarrian was not only a great general, but a great wizard as well. I'm only good at war. I know nothing of magic."
"You've got me, Safar said.
"Sometimes that worries me, Iraj said. What if I didn't have you?"
"That's nonsense, Safar said. The Fates have apparently decided to put us together. Why worry yourself over something that couldn't have happened?"
"Yes, Iraj said, eyes gleaming, but what if you decided to leave me?"
Safar snorted. That's ridiculous, he said. Why would I do that? For money? You've made me rich. To be richer? Money doesn't mean anything to me anyway. What's next?
"Power? As in power over others? You know I have no such desires."
Iraj's mood lightened. The dangerous gleam in his eyes vanished. That's true, he said. You don't even have any respect for power. As I am always reminding you, my friend, when you give a kingly fellow like myself such a difficult time."
Safar grinned. I know you're human, he said. I saw the Ubekian brothers beating on you like a temple drum."
Iraj made a face. At the time I thought, wait'll I get to be king. I'll chop off your tiny heads. Now that I am king it doesn't seem so important."
Safar guffawed. Can you imagine their faces, he howled, if you came walking up to them right now and… the rest was lost in laughter.
Iraj joined him and the cave rang with the sound of the amusement of two old friends. But there was an edge to it and it went on too long. It was the kind of barely controlled laughter that grips people when they are facing a fearful task.
When it stopped, it ended abruptly. The two young men avoided each other's eyes, embarrassed.
"We'd better get started, Safar said, voice a little thin.
Iraj nodded. Yes, we'd best."
"Sit over there, Safar ordered, pointing to a place at the edge of faded pentagram inscribed on the cave floor.
Iraj did as he was told and Safar sat across from him. Within the pentagram were a host of ancient magical symbols, the ones that had once so mystified him. Some still did, but he was learning more daily from the Book of Asper.
Safar placed the turtle on one of the symbols. The stone began to glow, but very faintly.
"That's the comet, he said.
Then he slid the idol onto another symbol. The idol glowed a little brighter.
"That's the demon moon."
He moved the turtle to a point between them.
"That's us, he said. Approximately, that is. The real heavenly bodies are moving together right now. In fact, we should see the demon moon very soon."
Iraj shook his head in admiration. That's something, Safar, he said, sounding like a boy watching a circus performance. Really something."
Safar kept his features immobile. He couldn't help but play the stony-faced master performer. Besides, he'd noticed it didn't hurt to keep Iraj's awe of his magical abilities stoked to the fullest.
"When I cast the spell, he said, you must sit absolutely still. Do or say nothing. You'll see me here beside you. But I won't be in my body."
He gestured toward the cave mouth. My spirit will be out there someplace. He pointed at the stone idol. Keep your eyes on that, he said, and you'll see everything my spirit sees."
Iraj squirmed. Remarkable, he breathed.
"Are you ready? Safar asked.
Iraj licked his lips and nodded. Safar tossed a handful of glass pellets on the floor. Iraj gasped. Curling up were columns of thick smoke, all of a different color, all filled with glittering bits that floated up and down the columns.
This wasn't something that was really necessary, but Safar had learned from Methydia to put on a good show.
He drew in his breath. Deeper and deeper, drawing as if his lungs were a giant's. The columns of smoke, coiling around each other like ribbons, wreathed into his mouth, following the inrushing air.