The wizards and the warriors

***

'With this, I can conquer the world,' said Heenmor.

He was talking about the stone egg which sat on one corner of the table: a sullen grey weight lit by dull light from the twelve firestones which studded the walls of this chamber high in the Tower of the order of Arl. The everlast ochre light cast no shadows.

'Aren't you interested?' said Heenmor, in a voice which mocked his opponent.

Elkor Alish, warrior of Rovac, said nothing, but studied the wizards and the warriors arrayed on the chess board. In chess, as in real life, a wizard had a hundred times the power of a warrior – but wizards could still be killed.

'Aren't you interested?' said Heenmor again. 'Believe me: the death-stone has power enough to conquer the world.'

Alish raised his eyes.

'What exactly does it do?'

***

'I'd love to know what Heenmor's taken from the Dry Pit,' said Garash, stumbling along a punishing mountain trail. 'I'd love to know what it does.'

'We'll find out soon enough,' said Phyphor.

T only hope it's something worth risking our lives for.'

'We're not in this for personal gain!' said Phyphor sharply.

'No, no, of course not,' said Garash hastily. Then went sprawling as a stone slipped beneath his feet.

'Test each stone before you trust it,' said Miphon. Garash swore, and ignored him. 'I'd still like to know,' said Garash, 'Just what it is and what it does.'

***

'So you'd like to know?' said Heenmor. 'Yes,' said Elkor Alish.

'Ah,' said Heenmor, 'That's… that's a secret.' And Heenmor smiled.

When Alish had been initiated into the Code of Night, they had told him this: remember that the wizard, scorning us, is apt to forget how fast your sword can end his life. Alish had never forgotten – which was why, face to face with the ancient enemy, he matched Heenmor time and again at chess, enduring the wizard's contempt.

But what was the death-stone? What did it do? Why was it so important? Why did Heenmor boast about it? 'Why do you invite me here so often?' said Alish.

'Perhaps I just like a game of chess,' said Heenmor.

'There's more to it than that.'

'You're right. There is. The truth is, I want to recruit a bodyguard. You, perhaps. I want the best. They say you're the best. But is it so? They call you the man who does not shed blood. That's a strange name for a Rovac warrior, isn't it?'

'My name is Elkor Alish.'

'The man who does not shed blood.'

Yes, that was what they called him now. But in the Cold West, men had known him by other names: Red Terror, Bloodsword, He Who Walks, Our Lord Despair. In the Cold West, he had been a great mercenary leader, until the day when, sickened of the slaughter, he had chosen to commit himself to the vows of the Code of Night: to destroy the ancient enemy and take the continent of Argan for the people of Rovac.

'I can kill if I have to,' said Alish.

'I've seen no proof of it,' said Heenmor.

Alish focused on the chess pieces: castles, merchants, sages, wizards, warriors, hell-banes, battering rams -and the Neversh, each with six wings, each with two feeding spikes reminiscent of the tusks of the mammoths of the Cold West. He remembered hunting mammoths with Gorn, Falmer and Morgan Hearst. Falmer was dead now: may the deep hell be gentle on his soul.

'Why are you telling me about the death-stone?' said Alish.

'To tempt you to my service,' said Heenmor. 'Believe me: the stone egg gives me power enough to conquer the world. Serve me, and you'll be richly rewarded.'

'With such power, what do you need me for?'

'To protect me from my enemies. Certain wizards are on my track. Jealousy makes them murderous. They wish to kill me for the death-stone.'

'If it makes you so powerful, what do you need me for?'

'When my enemies come, I'll have to flee,' said Heenmor. T need time yet to perfect my mastery of the death-stone. Till then, I need a bodyguard. It takes more than one pair of eyes to watch out the night.'

T have a job already.'

'What? Guarding Prince Comedo? Guarding that little smear of excrement that vaunts itself as a prince of the favoured blood? Is that the height of your ambition?'

'How can you, a wizard, dare recruit a Rovac warrior?'

T dare anything,' said Heenmor smoothly. T know your oath will bind you. if you enter my service.'

Heenmor's lethal copper-strike snake was coiled on one side of the table, watching. The death-stone sat on the other side. Alish knew himself fast enough to kill the wizard or the snake. But not both. Reaching to the chess board, he moved one of the Neversh to confront one of Heenmor's wizards. Heenmor moved the threatened piece out of range.

'Perhaps Morgan Hearst will accept my offer,' said Heenmor. 'He's a warrior's warrior. I've watched him matching swords with that peasant, Durnwold. Training troops for the spring – and the war Comedo's promised him. He's a killer, isn't he? You can see it in his eyes. Maybe he's my man.'

'Ask him and see,' said Alish.

Would Hearst yield to temptation? Surely not. A Rovac warrior could never pledge himself to a wizard. Alish studied the chess board, trying to work out how to kill Heenmor's two remaining wizards.

'Alish,' said Heenmor, 'All I need is a little time. Then I'll have perfect control of the death-stone. That means power. Enough power to rule the world – or destroy it. Join me. Serve me. What's the choice? To stay here? In Estar? Here is almost like being nowhere.

Winter's ending. My enemies are coming – I'm sure of it. Make your choices, Alish!'

Alish smoothed his hands over his long black hair, thinking carefully. If he struck at Heenmor, the snake would kill him, but what if he grabbed for the stone egg sitting so near to hand?

Heenmor gestured at the stone egg.

'The man who rules this rules everything,* said Heenmor. 'Even if he can't rule himself.'

Alish hesitated – then snatched up the death-stone.

Heenmor laughed.

'So,' he said, 'You do have ambition.'

The stone egg felt cool and heavy.

'See the script on the side of the death-stone?' said Heenmor. 'Any wizard can read it. Raise the death-stone above your head. Say the Words. Do it!'

Alish looked at the characters cut into the stone egg: cursive scrolls, loops and hooks, shapes that imitated worm-casts or the convolutions of the intestines. They meant nothing to him.

Heenmor laughed again.

Suddenly the death-stone kicked, as if it was a living heart.

'Use it now,' said Heenmor. 'Use it – or if you hold it any longer it will kill you.'

Alish threw down the stone, scattering the chess pieces. The snake raised its head and stared at him.

'One day I'm going to kill you.' said Alish. 'One day I'm going to kill every wizard in the world.'

Heenmor laughed, as one might laugh at a child.

CHAPTER FOUR

Salt Road: main trading route serving the continent of Argan, the Ravlish Lands and the Cold West.

Starting at the Castle of Controlling Power by Drangsturm, runs north through the cities of Narba, Veda, Selzirk and Runcorn, through the lands of Chorst, Dybra and Estar, then into the Penvash Peninsular.

Turning west, reaches the Penvash Channel then proceeds through the Ravlish Lands to the city of Chi'ash-lan and the Cold West.

Goods traded along the Salt Road include: salt, silk, slaves, animals, hides, gold, silver, lead, copper, bronze, keflo shell, linen, hemp, glass, crystal, wood, wool, quernstones, lodestones, leeches, sponges, olive oil, lemons, citrons, coconuts, rare birds, amber and ambergris.

News, rumour, gossip and slander also, of course, travel the Salt Road.