me.” He turned on the road and headed toward Yoth.
Eight other ravagers accompanied their captain from the main body. Roderick followed them with trepidation. His body was trembling, and a wild, dangerous lust for battle rose in his breast. Once again, his emotions were swinging between extremes.
It means that you are losing control of your mind.
Roderick had begun to hate that nagging voice. Why wouldn’t it leave him alone?
The riders made their way toward the town on the hill. The road was empty save for a single dog that barked furiously as they approached, then fled with its tail between its legs when they got too close. Stray goats bleated at the riders, but their shepherds had disappeared. Closer to the town walls, the fields were also empty, though here and there were sheaves of wheat, abandoned scythes and other tools tossed down. On the road ahead, a handful of people were hurrying into the town as the iron gates swung shut. They slammed closed with a boom and the clank of a reinforcing bar falling into place just before the ravagers arrived.
Two men appeared on the walls about fifteen feet above them. One held a bow with a notched arrow; the other wore a fine robe with a jeweled turban on his head. This second man called down, “Who are you, and what business have you in Yoth?”
Pradmort answered back. “We are warriors of the dark wizard, as any fool could see. As to our business, that is up to you, my lord. Do you obey my commands, or do you fight against us?”
“I am the emir of Yoth, and I answer only to the high khalif.”
“What of your Chalfean lord? Doesn’t he command your allegiance?”
“The Chalfeans make unreasonable demands. They forced us to bear the weight of the enemy attack and offered no reinforcements.” The emir shook his head. “I refuse to obey a command which will see my people destroyed, my slaves slaughtered, my women carried away to serve as whores for the barbarian lords.”
“Your khalif gives full suzerainty to his master in the Dark Citadel. So when you disobey the khalif, you disobey King Toth himself.”
“Perhaps. But until Toth comes, I will have nothing to do with you or the Chalfeans.”
The captain smiled. “In person? You wish to see the dark wizard in person? You are a brave man, Emir. How many men-at-arms do you have? A hundred? Two?”
“More than enough for you,” the emir sneered. “Our walls are strong, and I doubt you have brought Cragyn’s Hammer to batter them down. Perhaps you have wizards. No? I thought not.” The emir smiled. “It is harvest time, and the keep is well stocked. We can hold out until spring, if necessary, while you do not have that luxury. Indeed, I wonder if Veyre will even stand come spring. Some say that Toth is already dead.”
“So that is why you revolted against your khalif. You are counting on the armies of the Free Kingdoms to rescue you.” The captain removed his helm and let his blond hair show. “Are you certain that the Knights Temperate stand against King Toth?”
The emir frowned. “I have no idea who you are, pale knight, but you don’t frighten me. Now continue on your way, and we will not harry your troops. If Toth wishes tribute, let him come for it. I will pay.”
The ravagers turned away. One of the men asked, “What now? Do we leave the emir unpunished for his treachery, or do we lay siege?”
“Neither,” Roderick guessed. He glanced to Pradmort, afraid of another stinging rebuttal, but none came. The captain watched him with a half-smile. Roderick continued, “We don’t need wizards or infernal devices to break down the gates of Yoth. We have a giant.”
“A good plan,” Pradmort said. “I had come to the same conclusion. Come, it’s almost night and our enemy and his hounds will be abroad to hunt for our souls. We will attack Yoth by morning.”
Yes, a very good plan, Roderick, the small voice said, but Roderick heard—what?—worry? So your goal now is to crush all
Eight other ravagers accompanied their captain from the main body. Roderick followed them with trepidation. His body was trembling, and a wild, dangerous lust for battle rose in his breast. Once again, his emotions were swinging between extremes.
It means that you are losing control of your mind.
Roderick had begun to hate that nagging voice. Why wouldn’t it leave him alone?
The riders made their way toward the town on the hill. The road was empty save for a single dog that barked furiously as they approached, then fled with its tail between its legs when they got too close. Stray goats bleated at the riders, but their shepherds had disappeared. Closer to the town walls, the fields were also empty, though here and there were sheaves of wheat, abandoned scythes and other tools tossed down. On the road ahead, a handful of people were hurrying into the town as the iron gates swung shut. They slammed closed with a boom and the clank of a reinforcing bar falling into place just before the ravagers arrived.
Two men appeared on the walls about fifteen feet above them. One held a bow with a notched arrow; the other wore a fine robe with a jeweled turban on his head. This second man called down, “Who are you, and what business have you in Yoth?”
Pradmort answered back. “We are warriors of the dark wizard, as any fool could see. As to our business, that is up to you, my lord. Do you obey my commands, or do you fight against us?”
“I am the emir of Yoth, and I answer only to the high khalif.”
“What of your Chalfean lord? Doesn’t he command your allegiance?”
“The Chalfeans make unreasonable demands. They forced us to bear the weight of the enemy attack and offered no reinforcements.” The emir shook his head. “I refuse to obey a command which will see my people destroyed, my slaves slaughtered, my women carried away to serve as whores for the barbarian lords.”
“Your khalif gives full suzerainty to his master in the Dark Citadel. So when you disobey the khalif, you disobey King Toth himself.”
“Perhaps. But until Toth comes, I will have nothing to do with you or the Chalfeans.”
The captain smiled. “In person? You wish to see the dark wizard in person? You are a brave man, Emir. How many men-at-arms do you have? A hundred? Two?”
“More than enough for you,” the emir sneered. “Our walls are strong, and I doubt you have brought Cragyn’s Hammer to batter them down. Perhaps you have wizards. No? I thought not.” The emir smiled. “It is harvest time, and the keep is well stocked. We can hold out until spring, if necessary, while you do not have that luxury. Indeed, I wonder if Veyre will even stand come spring. Some say that Toth is already dead.”
“So that is why you revolted against your khalif. You are counting on the armies of the Free Kingdoms to rescue you.” The captain removed his helm and let his blond hair show. “Are you certain that the Knights Temperate stand against King Toth?”
The emir frowned. “I have no idea who you are, pale knight, but you don’t frighten me. Now continue on your way, and we will not harry your troops. If Toth wishes tribute, let him come for it. I will pay.”
The ravagers turned away. One of the men asked, “What now? Do we leave the emir unpunished for his treachery, or do we lay siege?”
“Neither,” Roderick guessed. He glanced to Pradmort, afraid of another stinging rebuttal, but none came. The captain watched him with a half-smile. Roderick continued, “We don’t need wizards or infernal devices to break down the gates of Yoth. We have a giant.”
“A good plan,” Pradmort said. “I had come to the same conclusion. Come, it’s almost night and our enemy and his hounds will be abroad to hunt for our souls. We will attack Yoth by morning.”
Yes, a very good plan, Roderick, the small voice said, but Roderick heard—what?—worry? So your goal now is to crush all
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