Zabarra simply sighed. “If you knew anything at all, you would also know that what you suggest is quite impossible. Simply put, because the
Paragon has been with Nicholas for so long, it requires a brief amount of time to ready itself before joining with a new host. Time to return to a ‘virgin’ state, if you will.”
Kluge scratched the back of his neck, lost in thought. He was now genuinely interested in the puzzle that lay before him. “Then how is it, Mistress, that the Paragon does not die in the interim without a host?” he asked.
Zabarra pointed to the chalice. “The Paragon is placed in the chalice and covered with the water of the Caves. The water and the Paragon have a special bond. It was very long ago when the life-giving properties of the Caves were first discovered, and since that time they have been coveted by many.” Her gaze seemed to drift away temporarily to another place, another time. Quietly, sadly, she added, “Wars have been fought over it.” Regaining her composure, she said, “The water in the chalice sustains the Paragon, and the same water can go on doing so for only a certain amount of time without being replenished. When the water has changed from red to clear, the Paragon is once again ready and can be placed around the neck of the new king.”
Her green eyes leveled an even harsher gaze upon Kluge. “This shall be the time of your attack—precisely when the Paragon is placed in the chalice, and the royal family and the Directorate of Wizards are at their most vulnerable. When the stone is immersed in the water the wizards are completely without their powers, as are we. This is why you and your troops have been chosen to take initial control of the situation in our stead. However, if you act either too soon, before the Paragon is immersed, or too late, after the Paragon is retrieved, you won’t have to worry about the Royal Guard.” She raised an eyebrow to make her point. “The Directorate will once again be in full possession of their abilities, and you and your grotesque Minions will die. Horribly.”
Kluge ignored the implied insult and turned his head imperceptibly toward Succiu. Oddly, he noticed what appeared to be a look of concern. Such a look upon her usually mischievous face was rare. He had at first felt that his battle orders were complete, but after seeing her expression he wondered if there was even more yet to come.
As if on cue, Zabarra returned to her throne and Failee once again stood. She walked to the front of the marble viewing wall, and for a time watched the images of happy people busily preparing for a celebration. Then she faced the entire group.
“Commander,” she began earnestly, “Mistress Succiu is to accompany you on your mission.”
Kluge’s head snapped involuntarily toward Succiu in disbelief, trying to read her face for clues. He once again found that of concern, but for whom? As a sorceress, she couldn’t possibly be concerned for her own welfare. Succiu, he knew all too well, was far too powerful and vicious for that. But it did explain something that had been troubling him.
Several months ago the Coven had ordered the construction of a very special warship. Instead of being built for battle it had been built for luxury and speed, and included two amazingly beautiful staterooms. One of these staterooms had no windows, and its outer door could be bolted only from the outside. He now knew that this particular stateroom was meant for Shailiha. Apparently, the other was to become the private quarters of Succiu. The two rooms had a connecting door, lockable only from Succiu’s side.
Failee folded her arms over her breasts. “After your initial mission is complete, you are to stay in Eutracia for two more suns. During this time, the Minions are to lay waste to as much of the population as possible. Your warriors may take whatever pleasure they desire from the females. Just make sure they are not negligent regarding their overall orders. You are also to kill all livestock and burn any and all available structures and crops to the ground, save the palace itself. We may eventually have a use for it. In short, you are to destroy as much of Eutracia as possible. But understand this well. It is imperative that you spend no more than two suns’ time in doing so. Upon the morning of the third sun, you are to return home.” Failee’s face looked as hard as stone.
She turned back to the scene on the wall before speaking. “Basically, your orders are simple, and can be summed up in two sentences: Remove the Paragon, the princess, the chalice, and the water as instructed. And, excepting Princess Shailiha and our ally at court, if it moves, kill it.”
Questions were still scratching at the back of Kluge’s mind, and since they had not been addressed, he felt it necessary to ask.
“Mistress,” he began quietly, “if I may, I have several more questions.”
Vona’s red hair rippled across her shoulder as she turned to face Kluge. “You have too many questions for my taste,” she said harshly. “Just take your flying gargoyles and go do your job.”
Failee seemed to be more forgiving. “What are they, Commander?” she asked.
“First, if I may know the reason that Mistress Succiu is to accompany us?” He thought he might choke just getting the words out. “And second, without knowing the identity of your confederate at the Eutracian court, how am I to ensure his safety from my warriors? And, forgive me, Mistress, but we have often heard it said throughout Parthalon that the Sea of Whispers is uncrossable, that no voyage of any duration has ever returned home. How then are we to ensure our safe passage over and back?” He once again cast his eyes down the entire length of the table to make sure he had not slighted any of them.
“You have answered your second and third questions with your first, Commander,” Failee said easily. “Mistress Succiu will be able to point out our friend at court, because she is familiar with our confederate’s most recent countenance.”
Kluge’s head was spinning. Most recent countenance? What does that mean? He decided it was better not to ask. Failee used her long fingernails to surgically remove another red grape from the bowl of fruit and delicately placed it into her mouth, unpeeled this time.
“And as far as crossing the Sea of Whispers is concerned, the Coven has done it once before. And done it in a way that will ensure our continued success at our leisure. Mistress Succiu is familiar with the means to cross. You have simply to follow her orders. But there is yet one more reason for the second mistress to accompany you.”
A glance at Succiu’s face showed him that her usually malevolent smile had returned. Whatever her duties in Eutracia were to be, he could tell she was looking forward to them.
For the first time Kluge realized that the mistresses had never referred to their ally at court by any gender. He was left wondering whether it was a man or a woman. He shrugged his shoulders slightly. It was apparently unimportant to his orders.
Finally, Failee seemed to be satisfied. With an unexpected wave of her arms, the scene at the Eutracian court vanished, and the limitless depths of the black marble wall returned. The blue shaft of light through the ceiling also vanished, and the ceiling stone that had been suspended in the air for so long now began to scratch its way back into place.
Kluge watched as the rectangular table morphed back into its original five-pointed shape, the thrones moving back to their original positions. He looked at Failee. She seemed somehow refreshed. Except for the mild fatigue on her face, it was as if none of it had ever happened. Picking up the packet of maps, he walked over to the spot where he had lain his helmet and picked it up, once again holding it beneath his left arm and standing at attention.
The sorceresses were looking at him as if they expected him to speak. But there was no reason for him to. His most important questions had been answered. His mission was abundantly clear, and he would carry it out as effectively and as ruthlessly as possible. And after seeing Succiu’s reaction when the prince of Eutracia had walked by, he recognized that the mission had now taken on an unmistakably personal flavor, as well.