Luka stared at Kalasariz in amazement.
"This is insane, the demon prince said. How dare you approach me in such secrecy? If my father hears about it he'll have us killed!"
"If you'll forgive me for pointing this out, Highness, Fari said, I think this human expected us to understand that… and therefore say nothing."
He looked at Kalasariz, yellow eyes glowing. His tones, however, were mild when he said, Either by foolish design, or cleverness, it seems you have made us all conspirators."
Kalasariz kept his features blank. This was no time for arrogance to creep through. I'm hoping it was by clever design, Exalted One, he said. Clever for all of us, that is."
The Crown Prince was not mollified. What angers me most, he said, is for some reason this Protarus, this upstart king, believes I am such a traitorous son that I'd not immediately speak out."
"And me as well, Highness, Fari murmured. I'm here beside you."
Again he glared at Kalasariz. But again his tones were mild. I suppose you told him about the habits of our court, he said. Filled him in on our personalities."
"I said as little as I could… under the circumstances, Kalasariz replied.
Fari's talon shot out. A burning light speared into Kalasariz who shrieked in pain.
"You really should learn to scream with less vigor, Fari said, letting the talon drop. Someone might hear us and the conspiracy would be exposed."
"I told them everything, Kalasariz gritted. Anything they asked."
Fari turned to Luka. I think from here on he'll be more careful with the truth, Highness, he said.
Luka nodded. He'd become calm. More measuring. I suppose Protarus knows that you and I are not the fondest of friends, he said to Fari.
"I expect so, Highness, Fari answered.
Luka looked at Kalasariz. Why does Protarus believe we'd choose each other to help hatch a plot? he asked.
"I don't know, Your Highness, Kalasariz said. He simply gave me the message and ordered me to deliver it. In private."
"And that message is?"
Kalasariz took a deep breath, then plunged into it. King Protarus sends his greetings, warm wishes for your health and said he hopes all will go well with you in the coming battle."
"He does intend to fight, then, Fari said.
"Never doubt that, Exalted One, Kalasariz said. Protarus will fight."
"But the odds against him are impossible, Luka said.
"King Protarus guessed you would say that, Your Highness, Kalasariz said. And he told me in reply that it was not unknown for the impossible to become possible during the Demon Moon."
Fari chuckled. A lovely myth, he said. I've heard it before, although it is very old."
"When the battle comes, Your Highness, Kalasariz continued, he asked that you watch carefully. And if something should happen which gives you pause, to think on his offer.
"If you give him Manacia, he will give you his throne. He said he believed you would be an able administrator of the demonlandsunder his direction, of course."
"I think we should just kill this worm, Luka said to Fari. Kill him quick. And go about our business as if nothing happened."
"Don't be so hasty, Highness, Fari advised. You will note the message is addressed to both of us. He requires agreement from two traitors, it seems, or his plan won't work. Curious, isn't it, that he also believes we both hate your father more than we dislike one another."
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"That's it? Luka said to Kalasariz. He only asks that we watch, and if the course of the battle goes badlyfrom our point of viewthat we consider changing our alliance?"
"Yes, Highness, Kalasariz said.
Another long silence. Broken by a dry chuckle from Luka.
"Ridiculous, he laughed.
Fari also laughed. Ridiculous in the extreme."
"One other thing, O Great Ones, Kalasariz said. Safar Timurahis Grand Waziercommanded me to give you this."
He handed Lord Fari a scroll. The old demon unrolled it and examined the contents. After a time he lifted his head, troubled.
"It's a formula for a spell, Highness, he said to Luka. A formula that breaks the curse of the Forbidden Desert."
"Meaning the humans can cross as easily as we can, Luka said. What of it?"
"It pains me to admit this, Highness, Fari said, but I've never seen a spell so granda spell we worked years to perfectdone so simply. It's really quite elegant. And it has the feel of something that came through inspiration, rather than from years of tedious experiment."
"Quick or labored, Luka said. Why should it matter?"
"Oh, it probably doesn't matter at all, Highness, Fari said. Although I'd be derelict in my duties if I didn't point out that only a master wizard could have done such a thing. A master wizard as great, or greater than your father."
Luka peered into the old demon's eyes. Then he turned away. There was another long and uncomfortable pause.
"We probably shouldn't bother the king with this, Luka said at last.
"I absolutely agree, Highness, Fari replied with barely disguised relief. There's no need to burden him with such foolishness."
"What about me? Kalasariz blurted, not certain which way things were going.
"Oh, I'd sugg est you watch the battle, Fari said. He turned to Luka, Isn't that right, Highness?"
"Yes, yes, that's what I'd do, the demon prince said. Watch the battle. And see."
CHAPTER TWENTY
King Protarus quick marched his army to the place of the Two Stones.
His scouts told him King Manacia's main force was two days away. Protarus had perhaps fifty thousand fighting men, nearly all mounted. With these he would oppose about three hundred thousand demons, some mounted, most afoot.
On the surface these odds seemed insurmountable. Protarus generals told him so in daily meetings. They pointed out he had another seventy-five thousand men spread over his realm, keeping the peace. To this he could add two hundred thousand men who had recently volunteered to fight the hated demon enemy. If Protarus waited a month that number would easily reach five hundred thousand. So many hot-blooded young men were pouring in, begging to fight, Protarus recruiters were nearly overwhelmed.
"I mean to fight now, Protarus told them. Not a month from now. A month is too late. A month is certain defeat.
"And we don't have two days to prepare for Manacia, but a day and a half. I want him here faster. I want him here in time to settle into a comfortable camp. He'll want to feed his men, rest them and then surprise us with a dawn attack."
"How can get we get him here more quickly, Your Majesty? one his aides asked. We can't command Manacia to speed up."
"True, but we can entice him, Safar said.
Then king and grand wazier explained how this thing could be done.
The desert heat formed twin devils that attacked Manacia from above and below. The appalling discomfort made him angry and his slaves kept well out of kicking range. Manacia thought the gods were being unreasonable to the extreme. They'd determined his fate, hadn't they? They'd decreed he would be King of Kings. If this were the caseand Manacia had no reason to doubt itit seemed unfair and undignified to make him suffer so.
Angry as Manacia was at the gods, his wrath knew no end when he considered the pretender, Iraj Protarus. Manacia had heard reports that Protarus shared his ambitions to rule Esmir. How dare he? Why, he was nothing more than a dirty plains savage.
Manacia's belly lurched uncomfortably with each roll of the elephant. The smells around himbeast smells, unwashed demon smellswere so thick it was difficult to breath without gagging. The sounds were so chaotic it was impossible to thinkgroaning life on the hard march, shrieking wheels in the heat, distant cries of demon kits and the babble of their complaining mothers.