ECHOES OF THE GREAT SONG by David A. Gemmell

Ammon stepped forward. ‘You say they killed the king?’

Oris stared at him, suspiciously. ‘Customers,’ said Sadau, lamely.

‘Yes. They dragged his body out to the main square and hung it from a rope.’

‘How did they know it was the king?’ asked Anwar.

‘How would I know? He was dressed in a long blue robe. They found him in the palace, I guess.’

‘How sad,’ said Ammon. ‘I always liked him.’

‘We better be getting home,’ said Oris. ‘The gods alone know what tomorrow will bring.’

As they were leaving, Ammon asked Rula if she would take charge of the abandoned toddler. She said that she would and he gave her a gold coin which she instantly handed to Oris. The big riverman looked closely at Ammon. ‘Have I seen you somewhere before?’ he asked him.

‘Quite possibly. I travel the Luan regularly.’

‘Right. Well, may the gods protect you. May they protect us all.’

Sadau closed the door behind them. Then he turned to the king. ‘They think you are dead,’ he said happily.

‘Not for long. Someone will see the body and know it is not me. But for now we appear to be safe. Tomorrow you will help me find a way to leave the city.’

‘Please, lord,’ begged Sadau, ‘I am not a brave man! I learned that when I watched the Avatar, Viruk, kill all my comrades.’

Ammon smiled. ‘You underestimate yourself, potte You mistake natural fear for base cowardice. You ai not a coward. Had I been in your place I too woul have thrown the head into the Luan. That is one of th reasons why I did not have you killed. Look at me. Loo me in the eye.’ Sadau did so. ‘Do I look to you like foolish man?’

‘No, lord.’

Then trust what I say. You have more courage tha you know. And tomorrow we will leave this city and you will be safe. Is that right?’

‘Yes, lord,’ said Sadau, glumly.

Rael was in a cold and bitter mood. The council meeting had been awkward in the extreme, the Vagars saying littk leaving Mejana to voice their concerns. Well might they be silent, he thought. Traitors all. What especially galled him was that most of the Vagars present were men known to him, men who had prospered under Avatar rule, merchant and artists, many of whom had been entertained by Rae at official functions. Now he knew they had plotted to kill men like Baliel and Ro. Perhaps even himself. He wanted to strike out at them, send soldiers to their homes and drag them from their beds.

Forcing such sweet thoughts from his mind he turned his attention to Talaban, who was sitting quietly on a couch staring into a goblet of wine.

‘You are very quiet,’ he said. ‘Did she bewitch you?’

‘I rather think she did,’ said Talaban with a rueful smile. ‘I made a fool of myself. I couldn’t take my eye off her. My tongue seemed twice its size and I spoke like a dolt.’

‘Do not be deceived, Talaban. She is the greatest enemy we could imagine.’

‘Hard to believe, sir.’

‘Trust me. You don’t know what she is – what she will become.’

‘I know she is helping us and she is ready to take the battle to the enemy.’

‘That is now,’ said Rael. ‘Every day she will grow in strength and knowledge. She will change, Talaban.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘She is crystal-joined.’

Talaban reacted as if struck. ‘No! That cannot be!’

Rael misread the cause of his concern. ‘It can – and is. Viruk found her in a local village. He bedded her and realized she had a cancer in her lungs. Typically he broke the rules and used his crystal to heal her. No real problem there. Except that she happened to be that one in a score of millions. The crystal changed her, became part of her. The process is continuing. Today she can read minds, heal wounds, and her soul can fly to the farthest corners of the earth. But tomorrow, or next month, or next year, she will be like the Crystal Queen, her powers vast. Do you believe that such a being will willingly die?’