"The final remains of Humbart Wessel," Zayl quietly announced. "Soldier, mercenary, adventurer—"
"And the last man to see Gregus Mazi before he vanished into the shadowed city to try to complete his foul plan."
From the direction of the skull, a hollow and exasperated voice retorted, "Old Gregus would've never harmed another soul!"
Kentril barely held onto his sword. He had known that Zayl's kind could raise the spirits of the dead, but a talking skull was just a bit too much even for the hardened soldier. "What're you up to, necromancer? What's your plan?"
With a frustrated sigh, Zayl answered, "My plan is to find out the truth, Captain Dumon, as it relates to the balance of the mortal plane. In attempting that, I went in search of something to use to summon the spirit of GregusMazi so that I could perhaps find some way to help break his spells."
"And did you?"
The sound of revelry passed nearby. Quickly putting the skull back into the pouch, Zayl waited until the merriment faded away. Then, beckoning Kentril to look toward Nymyr, he continued, "In the mountainside sanctum once used by the sorcerer, I retrieved that which I could use to call him back. I cast a spell that I have cast a hundred times and more, all without failure." His countenance grew grim. "This time, though, no shade from beyond answered."
The captain found this entirely unimportant. "So you failed at last. One dead man escaped your power."
"He escaped because he was not dead in the first place."
Zayl let his words sink in. Kentril frowned, not certain he understood and, if he did, not certain that he wanted to know such news. "But Juris Khan told us plainly that he and Mazi fought, and after Mazi trapped him, Khan still managed to destroy the villain before any further harm could be done to Ureh."
The shadowy spellcaster nodded sagely. "Yes, Juris Khan did say that."
"Then Gregus Mazi is dead."
"He is not. I know this. The only reason for my failure is his continued life."
Sheathing his sword at last, Kentril turned toward the palace. Sudden fear for Atanna had replaced his uncertainty about his own sanity and even his distrust of the necromancer. "We've got to warn them! There's no telling where Mazi might be."
Zayl, however, clamped a slim but strong hand onto the mercenary's shoulder. Leaning near, he whispered, "There is… and I have performed that spell. Gregus Mazi is still in Ureh, captain." His gaze also shifted to the grand structure atop the hill. "And I fear that he is in the palace itself."
ELEVEN
If Zayl had told Kentril that Diablo himself resided in the palace where Atanna lived, the veteran soldier could not have been more horrified. Gregus Mazi, the man who had cursed a kingdom and lusted after Khan's daughter, not only lived but lurked near enough to do her harm. Never in his life had Kentril wanted so much to slay a person, not even after so many campaigns. During those, he had been performing a duty for which he had been paid, nothing more. Here, though, the task had a personal nature beyond any he had ever confronted.
"Where in the palace?" he demanded of Zayl as the duo worked their way to the hill. "Where?"
"Below it, actually. As for a precise location, that cannot be ascertained. There are forces in play the likes of which I have never come across. Spells I cast that should work to delve deeper are twisted and turned, rendering them useless. If I get closer, perhaps that will change."
"They've got to be warned," Kentril insisted. "They have to know the danger's right below them."
At the base of the ancient steps, the necromancer forced his companion to halt. "Captain Dumon, have you noticed anything amiss in the palace so far?"
"Only that some of my men haven't returned."
"But neither Lord Khan nor his daughter seems at all at risk."
The soldier did not like the way Zayl spoke. "What of that?"
"You have fought in many battles, in many wars. Doyou announce to the enemy your intentions, or do you instead try to trick him, to leave him unsuspecting?"
Kentril's eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to tell me we should say nothing to them?"
"Not until we at least discover more—or until we sense some danger to them."
"And what would you suggest, necromancer?"
Zayl glanced around, making certain that no one stood near enough to hear. "We find out what lies beneath first."
A part of Kentril thought Zayl's suggestion foolish, that the right thing to do would be to alert Atanna of Gregus Mazi's return. Another part, though, feared that the corrupted sorcerer would also find out. Surely Mazi watched Khan and his daughter closely to make certain that they did not know of his hidden presence. Alerted, he would most likely strike and strike to destroy.
But the odds were good that the villain also watched his old master's guests. If they simply went in hunt of him, he would surely lay traps designed to kill all.
"We won't tell them just yet," Kentril finally agreed. "But we'll need some sort of distraction that would capture his interest so much that he won't pay any mind to searchers."
"He's got a point there," came Humbart's muffled voice.
Zayl tapped the pouch, then nodded agreement.
They kept silent about their goals as they reentered the palace some time later. Neither had yet thought up a manner by which the attention of the hidden spellcaster might be diverted, but both knew that they could not wait long. Surely Gregus Mazi had some imminent mischief in mind.
Thinking of that, Kentril sought out Albord. He found the younger mercenary just preparing to set out with two others for the city, which fit in directly with the captain's plan. Pulling Albord aside, Kentril whispered, "Don't ask why, but I have orders for you."
Although his body revealed no reaction to his commander's surprising words, the blond fighter's eyes let Kentrilknow that Albord understood the seriousness. "Aye, captain?"
"I need to cut short the men's celebrations for the time being. I want you three to go down and collect the others you find. I want everyone up here and accounted for. Anyone who can't be found, let me know. Above all else, don't split up, and don't let any of the locals know what you're up to… and if anyone offers to help you find someone missing, refuse that help."
This at last brought some reaction. "Just how serious is this, captain?"
Kentril recalled his own encounter, when the city had been transformed into a nightmare straight out of Hell. He had finally come to the conclusion that the two women had used some exotic potion that had not only weakened him but also caused his horrific hallucinations. It had been said that some assassins used such potions on their nails and that only a touch might be needed to affect a victim. "Serious enough. Beware especially of two women, one in gold and both far too eager for your company."
As he sent Albord and the others off, Zayl rejoined him. "What did you tell him?"
"Enough to be wary. It won't look out of the question that I would be checking up on my men, necromancer. Mercenaries have a tendency to wear out their welcome quickly in times of peace, and having them all called in will just seem like a simple, honest precaution."
"Do we tell Master Tsin as well?"
Kentril shrugged. "I don't know. I do want to tell Gorst right away, though, and he's near the sorcerer."
They quickly hurried to the library but found, to their mutual surprise, that it was empty. The table where the Vizjerei had sat for so long still lay all but hidden under a cluttered pile of books and scrolls, but Tsin and the mountain of notes he had made had vanished.