Malikada was suddenly frightened. He tried to back away, but found that his legs would not obey him. The perfumed handkerchief dropped from his fingers, and his arms fell uselessly to his sides. He was paralysed. He tried to shout for help, but, as his mouth opened, no sound came forth.
‘I don’t suppose,’ said the creature within Kalizkan, ‘that you are interested in my cause, save that to tell it will extend your life by a few moments.’ The body of the wizard seemed to shimmer, and Malikada found himself gazing upon a rotting corpse. Half the flesh of the face had disappeared, the other half was grey-green and maggot infested. Malikada tried to shut his eyes, but
162.
even that was lost to him. ‘My people,’ said Kalizkan, ‘lost a war. We were not killed. We were banished, to a grey, soulless world alongside your own. A world without colour, without taste, without hope. Now, thanks in small part to you, Malikada, we have the chance to live again. To feel the cold, heady night winds upon our faces, to taste the sweet joys that spring from human fear.’
Kalizkan came closer, and reached out his hand. Talons sprouted from the fingers. ‘Oh yes, Malikada, let your terror flow. It is like wine, soft upon the tongue.’ With an agonizing lack of speed the talons slowly pierced Malikada’s chest.
‘And now you can help me complete my mission. The queen, you see, has escaped from my home, and I need your form in order to use your men to hunt her down.’
The fierce pain of fire flowed through Malikada, searing its way across his chest, down into his belly, and up the spinal cord, exploding into his brain. It was an agony beyond enduring, and Kalizkan shivered with pleasure at it.
The talons ceased their probing as they closed around Malikada’s heart. ‘If I had more time,’ said Anharat, ‘I would hold you like this for some hours. But I have no time. So die, Malikada. Die in despair. Your world is ruined, and soon your people will be food for the Windborn.’ The Ventrian’s corpse twitched. The rotting body of Kalizkan fell to the floor.
Within Malikada now the demon stretched out his new arms. Kalizkan’s body burst into flames.
Stepping back the new Malikada strode to the cave entrance. Lifting his hand he focused his concentration on the rocks above him. Dust filtered down, the rocks groaned. Malikada stepped into the sunlight.
163
And the cave ceiling crashed down behind him, blocking the entrance.
He strode down to where his men were waiting, pausing only to sniff the smoke rising from the great pyre. There was a delicious sweetness to it.
Back at his tent he summoned Antikas Karios. The swordsman bowed low.
‘Go to the city and find the queen,’ said Malikada. ‘Protect her until my arrival.’
‘Yes, my lord. Protect her from whom?’
‘Just make sure she is there when I arrive.’
‘I shall leave immediately, my lord.’
‘Do not fail me, Antikas.’
An angry look came into the swordsman’s deep, dark eyes. ‘When have I ever failed you, cousin?’
‘Never,’ replied Malikada, ‘and now is not the time to start.’
Antikas said nothing for a moment, but the demon within Malikada felt the swordsman’s piercing gaze. Coolly he cast a small spell, which radiated from him, surrounding Antikas. The swordsman relaxed.
‘It will be as you command,’ he said.
‘Take spare horses and ride all night. Be there before the dawn,’
The carriage moved slowly through the city streets. Crowds were everywhere now, and as dusk deepened, the riots began in the poorer quarters of the city. Several buildings were set afire. ‘Why do they do this?’ asked Axiana, watching the distant smoke, and hearing the far-off screams. ‘What purpose does it achieve?’
Dagorian shrugged. ‘That is hard to explain, your highness. Some people are in a state of panic. They fear the Cadians will descend on them with fire and sword.
164
Others know that with the army destroyed they are free to commit crimes they would otherwise have been punished for. They see the disaster as an opportunity to obtain wealth they could not hope to earn. I do not know all the reasons. But there will be many deaths tonight.’