The sorcerer closed his eyes and Karnak’s mind reeled. He found himself staring into a dimly-lit chamber, where a creature out of nightmare was battling against a young woman and the gladiator, Senta. He watched Senta struck down, and saw a second arena warrior – Angel – leap to the attack. The scene faded.
‘I would like to be able to show you more, but sadly I had to leave,’ said Zhu Chao, his words ripe with malice. ‘But the monster was Bodalen – and several other of my men, merged by magic.’
‘I do not believe you,’ said Karnak.
‘I thought you might not. So, for your edification, Drenai, here is another scene I took from Kar-Barzac.’
The vision shimmered again, and Karnak groaned as he saw Bodalen and the other warriors falling asleep in the crystal chamber, the bodies beginning to writhe, and merge
‘No!’ he screamed, and wrenched savagely at the chains which held him.
‘I do so enjoy your pain, Drenai,’ said Zhu Chao. ‘And here is a second source of agony for you. Tomorrow Galen will kill your friend Asten, and the Drenai will come, as the Gothir already have, under the rule of the Brotherhood. As indeed will Ventria. Three empires under one Lord. Myself.’
‘You are forgetting Waylander,’ snarled Karnak. ‘By all the gods, I would give my soul to be alive at the moment he kills you.’
‘Before the night is over my powers will be so great that no blade will be able to cut me. Then I will welcome this … Drenai savage!’
‘Welcome him now,’ came a cold voice from the other side of the room.
Zhu Chao spun, dark eyes narrowing as he peered into the shadows by the door. A knight stepped from behind a pillar, and lifted clear the full-faced helm he wore.
‘You can’t be here!’ whispered Zhu Chao. ‘You can’t!’
‘I came in with the men carrying the body. So good of you to lock the others out.’
The assassin stepped closer, crossbow raised. Zhu Chao ran to his left and leapt over the golden wires, making for the centre of the pentagram. Waylander loosed a bolt that flashed for the sorcerer’s neck, but Zhu Chao swung at the last instant, his hand coming up. The bolt pierced his wrist – and he screamed in pain. Waylander took aim. But the sorceror ducked behind the altar of gold and began to chant.
Black smoke oozed around the altar, swirling up to form a massive figure, with hair and eyes of green flame. Waylander sent a crossbow bolt into the huge chest, but it passed through and clattered against the far wall.
Zhu Chao rose and stood before the creature of smoke and fire. ‘Now what will you do, little man!’ he jeered at Waylander. ‘What pitiful weapons can you bring to bear?’ The assassin said nothing. He had no more bolts, and dropped the crossbow, drawing his sabre. ‘Lord Shemak!’ screamed Zhu Chao. ‘I call for this man’s death!’
The figure with eyes of flame spread its massive arms, and a voice like distant thunder rumbled in the room. ‘You do not command me, human. You ask for favours, and you pay for them with blood. Where is the payment?’
There!’ said Zhu Chao, pointing to the chained men.
‘They still live,’ said the demon. ‘The ritual is incomplete.’
‘I will deliver their strength to you, Lord, I swear it! But first, I beg you, give me the life of the assassin, Waylander.’
‘It would please me more to see you slay him,’ said the demon. ‘Shall I give you the strength?’
‘Yes! Yes!’
‘As you wish!’
Zhu Chao suddenly screamed in pain, his head arcing back. His body twisted and grew, stretching, swelling. His robes fell away as new muscles formed, huge and knotted. His body spasmed and a series of terrible groans came from the deformed throat. Nose and chin stretched out, and sleek velvet fur burst through his skin, covering the now colossal eight-foot frame. His mouth opened to reveal long fangs, and his fingers, treble-join ted now, boasted talons.
The creature that had been Zhu Chao stumbled forward, dislodging the delicate golden wires, scattering the black candlesticks.