The next time she came, however, he was prepared. His herd leaders were ready for his signal and when he charged after the mare, they gathered up his harem and followed.
The chase went on all that day into the late afternoon.
Now, with the shadows of night spilling across the wrinkled stone brows of the far range, Khysmet had the sudden thrilling knowledge that the mare was tiring.
Her steps became faltering, her breathing labored-flecks of pure white foam flying off her nostrils.
And then she stopped and he shrilled his victory cry, sprinting forward to close the gap and take her.
But there was a flash of lightning and the human woman suddenly appeared, dropping from the sky to land lightly on the mare's back.
Surprised, Khysmet skittered to a halt. And then he and the mare and the woman became a living island, the herd flowing around them like a great animal river, thundering and shrilling as they raced onward, their king forgotten.
Then all was silent, except for the distant rumble of the herd's flight.
The woman's hand lifted gracefully, a single finger bending out to point at Khysmet.
He snorted, not knowing what to do.
Khysmet felt a tingling shower of magic-familiar magic. Magic that had once carried him into and through the maw of an icy hell.
The woman shouted, "Your master awaits!"
Then she and the mare whirled and leaped upward.
Khysmet leaped after them.
Up, up, up … until their pathway became the gathering stars.
In the glittering distance the Demon Moon shimmered in silent, bloody challenge.
Khysmet's mighty heart thundered in anticipation.
The call he'd waited so long for had finally come.
CHAPTER SIX
Palimak crouched in darkness so complete it felt like he was being smothered in a damp blanket. There was no sound other than that of his breathing and the steady drip, drip of water oozing from the unseen ceiling just overhead.
It was painfully cold-like pincers squeezing his joints where they stretched the material of his woolen costume. Icy sea water made a thin, salty sheet on the floor of the tunnel, burning through the soles of his boots. The steel cap on his head, meant to ward off blows from swords or war clubs, was a painful halo of cold.
Suddenly, he felt as if all his energy was being sucked through the cap and he swept it off. The cap fell to the floor with a heart-jolting clang. At that moment a drip of freezing water plopped down and he jumped as if an invisible monster had clutched him by the back of the neck.
"No need to be alarmed, Little Master," Gundara said. "There's no one here."
"Except for the rats," Gundaree added. "You forgot to mention the rats."
"I didn't forget anything," Gundara snapped. "I just didn't want to make our master nervous."
"Maybe he should be nervous," Gundaree argued. "They're pretty big rats."
The two Favorites were each perched on a different shoulder and although they were invisible in the darkness Palimak could tell from their weight that they were full size-about three hands high.
"I don't care how big the rats are," Gundara said. "Our master is very brave."
"Maybe so," Gundaree said, "but there sure are an awful lot of them. And they're getting closer!"
"Stop it with the rats," Palimak ordered. "And get busy making a light."
"I was only warning you," Gundaree grumbled. "No need to snarl at me, Little Master."
"Honestly," Gundara said to his brother, "you're such a quarrelsome thing. I wish Mother had eaten you, like I told her."
"Shut up about Mother!" Gundaree snapped.
"I will not shut up!" Gundara stormed back. "You're nothing but a-"
"Light, please!" Palimak broke in.
"All right! All right!" Gundara said.
There was a low muttering from the two Favorites, then a clatter of little talons as they cast the spell.
Crack! and a glowing ball suddenly appeared, hovering some six feet off the tunnel's floor.
"There's your light, Little Master," Gundara said.
Palimak started when he saw scores of small, furry bodies dart away-seeking the cover of the darkness that loomed just beyond reach of the dim, swirling light.
"And there's your rats," Gundaree said with some satisfaction. "Told you there were a lot of them."
Palimak suppressed a shudder. "Get rid of them," he commanded.
"You're supposed to say a€?please,'" Gundara sniffed, acting hurt.
"Goodness, gracious," Gundaree said. "You'd think we never taught him how to be polite."
Palimak sighed. Bequeathed to him by his father, the two Favorites had watched over him since he was an infant-a mixed blessing despite their powerful magic.
Although they were twins, they were exact opposites in appearance. Gundara had the elegant body of a man, but the head and claws of a demon. Gundaree bore the face of a darkly handsome human perched on a demon's torso. Both were fashionably dressed in tunics, tights, capes and burnished boots. They were greedy, irritating, quarrelsome and had no use for anyone other than Palimak. Although they were commanded to obey him, it was no good arguing with them when they got into one of their moods.
" Please!" Palimak said.
"I'm hungry!" Gundaree complained.
"Pleases go down better with a few treats," Gundara added.
Suppressing a groan of frustration, Palimak dug into his pocket and pulled out a handful of sweets. The two Favorites quickly gobbled them up.
Gundara burped. "Is that all?" he asked.
"We're still hungry," Gundaree added.
"One more word," Palimak gritted, "and I swear I'll turn the two of you into big, fat, slimy slugs!"
The Favorites gulped, then leaped into action without further delay. They jumped to the floor of the tunnel. There was a purple flash and suddenly they transformed into two very large, very deadly cats.
The cats/Favorites darted forward into the darkness. An explosion of fierce yowls and frightened squeals soon followed. A moment later Palimak found himself dodging a stream of gray bodies as the rats bolted out of the gloom and ran straight for him.
"What the hells!" he shouted, as a monster rat ran up his leg.
He swatted it away. Then he kept on swatting, kicking and cursing as a veritable river of squealing rodent bodies flowed around him, over him and even between his legs, trying to escape the Favorites.
Then it was over and he stood angry and panting as Gundara and Gundaree calmly strolled back into the light in their original forms.
"They're gone, Little Master," Gundara piped.
Glaring, Palimak opened his mouth to give them a piece of his mind. Then he shrugged. What was the use? It was his fault for not being specific. Given more than one way to do things, the twins usually chose the route that gave their master the most trouble.
To keep the peace, he managed a "Thanks, boys," then got down to the job at hand.
Palimak motioned and the two leaped back onto his shoulders. He stalked onward, the glowing ball bobbing in front of him, lighting the way. Almost immediately, however, he was brought up short and to his dismay he learned the reason why the panicked rats had rushed him. The passage ended abruptly in a blank-faced wall
"Oh, we meant to tell you, Little Master," Gundara said, "the tunnel doesn't go any further."
Palimak was stunned. "What happened?" he croaked. "This isn't how it looked in either of the visions!
There was an opening! I saw it clear as day. Both times!"
"There's one thing wrong, Little Master," Gundaree said.
"Two things, actually," Gundara added.
"Oh, shut up, you!" Gundaree demanded.