Shades Of Memnon

CHAPTER 5: "SEE NOW, SERVANTS OF THE SERPENTS"

  As the giant Tamahu approached, I raised my sword in defiance. I knew I could not stand long against him, but I planned to hold him off just long enough for Neftiji to escape. Casting a quick glance over my shoulder, I saw her leaning over the side of the wagon, gravely concerned about the battle. My only hope in the fight was the knowledge that Kho-An-Sa wanted me alive.

  Cronn approached me warily, tossing his sword from his right to his left hand. He made several small leaps and feints in an effort to unnerve me, but I held my ground, circling around him like a panther. He swung his sword again and I jumped back. Then he swung again, incredibly fast for a man of his immense bulk, and I sidestepped. Then suddenly he rushed me.

  Blow after blow rained down upon my sword and I had no choice but to block them. Cronn knew that my arms, as small as a child's compared to his, would tire and then he would have me. As the tremendous blows came down, I heard Neftiji call my name, but I could not let her sway my attention.

  Sweat poured from my body beneath the hot robe and I began to falter. The giant, however, never seemed to tire as he jabbed and sliced his blade towards my head. As I heard my sister calling again, I hit upon a desperate plan to trick my opponent.

  Standing still with my sword upraised, I let him rain blow after blow as I blocked them. I knew he could see the perspiration flowing down my face and I pretended to wheeze and gasp. When he hesitated slightly, I fell to the burning sand as if stricken by the heat. Watching with my eyes half closed, I saw Cronn lower his weapon and nudge me with his foot. After nudging me again, he shoved the huge blade into the sand and bent to pick me up.

  Quickly I seized my sword again and reared back to plunge it into him. But he was a seasoned warrior and twisted his body the second he saw me move, causing my sword to stab into his side, instead of his heart, as I intended.

  He howled in pain as I jumped to my feet, wrenching the blade from his body as I rose. Though he kneeled before me, his large head was at my chest and I aimed my blade for it, determined to put an end to the bestial giant forever. Then a familiar voice cried out.

  "Stop!"

  I looked over my shoulder at the wagon to find it surrounded by Tamahu warriors. In the midst of them stood Kho-An-Sa, holding my struggling sister.

  "Great Sekmet, young panther!" Kho-An-Sa shouted across the sand. "You are indeed your pa's son! But the time for this battle is over. Put down that blade if you value your sister's life!"

  I looked down at Cronn, then stepped back and let the sword drop to the ground. Though he bled heavily from the wound I had inflicted, he immediately seized his sword and sprang to his feet. He raised his weapon over me while Kho-An-Sa shouted at him in the language of the northerners. He then looked towards Kho-An-Sa, then back toward me, letting loose an angry roar of bitter frustration. Then, very slowly, as if it pained him to do it, he lowered his blood-encrusted sword.

  "Now," Kho-An-Sa said smugly. "Let us leave this place and journey on to Petra."

  Kho-An-Sa had with him a six-wagon caravan. They put me in with the injured Cronn, a healer who was working on his wound and several other warriors. Neftiji was forced to ride with the magician. Then we turned towards the north, following the trail that Khalibar had been traveling. The trip lasted many days and since Neftiji and I were not allowed near each other, I took the opportunity to observe the strange habits of the Tamahu warriors more closely.

  They were careful to cover themselves with white cloth and seemed especially concerned with avoiding the rays of Aten, which, unchecked, caused painful red inflammations upon them. As I watched them quarrel over the cloth at the hottest times of the day, I realized that they were just as curious about my skin. At first some of them touched me, then looked at their hands as if expecting something to rub off. Obviously most of them had never seen a Kushite, just as many Kushites had never seen a Tamahu of the light haired sort that these men were. As for me, I hoped that Aten would burn them all to ashes or chase them back to their cold barbarian lands forever. It was indeed a puzzle to me how a Kushite, even an evil one like Kho-An-Sa, could have become connected with these strange men.

  Finally, after many days of riding, the great red mountains around Petra loomed before us. Soon we negotiated a narrow winding highway flanked by otherwise impassable cliffs. Great falcons circled above as we made our way up a long undulating road.

  About midway through the trail, a stone structure appeared. Built from wall to cliff wall and strongly garrisoned, the gate effectively barred our path. As we approached, its large wooden doors opened and a group of Shashu emerged, brandishing swords and spears. Confronting us aggressively, they seemed to demand information. Kho-An-Sa spoke to them briefly and they opened the gate to let us pass.

  Soon we came to a second gate and went through a similar routine before we continued. Then we approached a tall main gate, more strongly fortified than the others. Once again a few words from the magician was all that was needed to allowed us to pass through.

  Passing the final check point, we entered the city, where I was immediately struck by its beauty and wonderful sense of order. The streets were lined with colorful, well-constructed dwellings of clay, mud and wood, laid out in carefully planned squares and triangular patterns. But what really set the city apart from others I'd seen, were the huge temples and tombs carved directly into the red stone of the surrounding cliffs.

  Great columns of intricate detail lined the entrances and the walls were covered with delicate carvings and vibrant paintings. Never had I seen workings in stone to match these except for the greatest temples of Kamit. The people who had carved them must surely have been favored by Tehuti.

  The caravan stopped before a temple, where Kho-An-Sa's men began unloading items. The magician himself went inside, followed by several warriors and Neftiji. I was hustled in behind them, still amazed at the effort it must have taken to carve all this from the living stone. After walking down many long and winding corridors lit by torches, we finally stopped before a huge doorway. Kho-An-Sa hesitated, straightened his back and puffed out his chest, and then we entered.

  The room we stepped into was huge, dominated by several large thrones situated upon a high dais. Several dozen men and a few women stood before the thrones, milling about two large candlelit tables covered with maps and writing instruments. When we entered, a tall Tamahu with yellow hair and a long white robe stepped forward. After greeting Kho-An-Sa in the language of the northerners, he shot a glance at Neftiji and I.

  Kho-An-Sa pointed to me, smiling as he talked, but the yellow haired man seemed to be angry. A chill ran up my spine when he looked at me again with a bitter scowl, pulling his finger across his throat in a cutting gesture.

  Others approached them and offered greetings before joining in the argument between Kho-An-Sa and the Tamahu. After several minutes, Kho-An-Sa raised his hand for silence and spoke again, briefly. They all seemed to accept this and turned back to their tables, all except the yellow haired Tamahu in white. Giving my sister and I an evil sidelong glance, he sulked angrily from the room.

  I looked at Neftiji to see if she had noticed this. But she seemed to stare blankly ahead. I was beginning to sense that something was wrong with her when a loud gong sounded and everyone directed their attention toward the thrones.

  Several men and two women walked up to the dais and seated themselves. Kho-An-Sa was one of them. The gong sounded again and the rest made two single file lines facing each other, creating an aisle leading to the thrones. Neftiji and I were shoved down it and pushed roughly to the floor. I seized my sister's hand to comfort her and found it limp. Then I looked into her eyes and to my horror, found them quite expressionless.

  "Neftiji," I cried desperately. "My sister, what has he done to you?" I pleaded while seizing her and holding her close, but she was lifeless and did not return my embrace.

  I looked upon the dais to find Kho-An-Sa sitting upon his throne, smiling knowingly. Squin
ting up at the magician, I raised my fist in anger.

  "What have you done to her?" I screamed." What have you done to my sister?"

  Kho-An-Sa looked at the others sitting near him. All nodded and smiled, except the yellow-haired one, who sat upon the far right throne with a hateful and disappointed expression.

  "It became clear to me, young panther," said Kho-An-Sa, "that you would continue to try foolish escapes unless drastic action was taken."

  "What drastic action? I screamed. "What did you do to her?"

  "Your sister is now bound to me," he replied. "I have left her with a small sliver of life, which only my knowledge can maintain."

  A rage, so terrible I never wished to feel it again, came over me. "You...monster!" I cried. "Some day..." I tried to continue but was snatched closer to the throne by two warriors.

  Kho-An-Sa leaned forward. "Your threats are meaningless to me. I have your sister and all those seated here are to witness your pledge to serve me."

  The room was totally silent. All eyes were upon me as I stood there trembling with rage.

  "There are some among the Servants of the Serpents who have a blood grudge against the seed of the Great Memnon of Troy," said Kho-An-Sa, gesturing toward the yellow-haired Tamahu. "They would have sought you out eventually and taken your life. I give you a chance to live. Serve me and live. Refuse and I give you to them. You...and your sister."

  I looked into Neftiji's face again, only to find her blank stare too much for me to bear. I then scanned the faces upon the thrones, locking eyes with the yellow haired Tamahu. He stared back, scowling with such intense hatred that it was almost palpable. Though I knew nothing about him then, I sensed that this man would forever be my mortal enemy, and that one day we would fight to the death over it.

  Kho-An-Sa's voice broke our link of hatred. "What say you, Memna-un, son of the Great Memnon of Troy?"

  I pulled my sister close to me. I knew not if she understood me, but I whispered into her ear regardless.

  "Forgive me, my sister. One day I will find a way to free you. Forgive me for what I must do."

  "Your answer, young panther," Kho-An-Sa said. "I will not ask it again."

  All of those seated on the thrones leaned forward in keen anticipation. A hush fell over the entire room. Looking up into the evil eyes of Kho-An-Sa, I got down on one knee.

  "Yes," I said. "I will serve you."

  The yellow-haired Tamahu stamped his feet, then rose and stormed from the room, while the rest of those present exploded in cheers. I realized what my pledge meant to them, as they began chanting my name in the northern style they had used years ago for my pa.

  MEM-NON! MEMNON! MEM-NON! MEMNON!

  They rejoiced because the son of the most famous fighter for justice had just pledged his arm to the forces of evil. I looked down at my feet and thought of my parents. I could only beg their forgiveness until I could find a way to free my sister. The chanting grew louder as I prayed.

  "MEM-NON! MEM-NON! MEMNON! MEM-NON!"

  "May Amen the great...."

  "MEM-NON! MEM-NON! MEM-NON! MEM-NON!"

  "...have mercy...."

  "MEM-NON! MEM-NON! MEM-NON! MEM-NON!"

  "...upon my ka."

  Days later I sat in a large chair in the room assigned to me by Kho-An-Sa, brooding over the fate of my sister. My mind was jumbled and confused, and I could not still my heart due to the turmoil. That and the shame I felt for pledging my loyalty to that evil magician would not let me contact Kam-Atef.

  I glanced at the door to my room, expecting Kho-An-Sa's messenger to arrive at any second. This was the day I had been told I would begin my "training," and what that meant I did not know. Kho-An-Sa said it would involve "strengthening my bones," but my only concern was that it strengthened me enough to one day plunge a blade through his evil heart.

  At last the man appeared. Bowing low, he beckoned for me to follow. As we left my chambers, I observed him closely. By the look of his long, straight black hair, dark brown skin and sharp features, he was an Eastern Kushite. A brand upon his shoulder marked him as a slave. Then it dawned upon me that I had only seen Kushites in servile positions in Petra. As we walked down the long corridors, I tapped him on his shoulder.

  "What is your name?" I asked.

  He stopped and turned towards me.

  "Can you understand me?" I asked. "Can you speak Kamitic?"

  The man looked around suspiciously.

  "Yes," he replied in a low voice.

  "Why do you whisper?" I asked.

  Two Shashu warriors turned down the corridor and walked towards us. My guide immediately lowered his eyes and turned away from me to bow to them. They seemed to barely notice him as they walked by, but looked at me with great curiosity. After they turned down another corridor we were once again alone. I drew close to him and lowered my voice also.

  "Do not be afraid," I said. "Please, tell me, what goes on in Petra?"

  "My people are the Nabata," he replied. "We came here from the land of Nimrod and built Petra long ago. For centuries we prospered as a trade center and peaceful meeting place for all nations. Then they came, and through deception and cruelty, conquered us. Now we are slaves in our own land."

  I noticed the pain in the man's voice. His loss was great and terrible.

  "Who?" I asked. "Who came?"

  "All of them. The Shashu we already knew, for we had traded with them for ages. We knew little of the Tamahu, who along with the Shashu, laid siege to our defenses as if we had had none at all. But we held our ground successfully until others came. These others we could not stop. They came from the sky. Strange Kushites came from the sky! Then their monsters attacked. . .and all was lost."

  "What is your name?" I asked. "How is it you know the Kamitian language?"

  "I am Hazz. I was once a trader. I have traveled to Kamit many times."

  I listened intently as he told me more about Petra. His great land had been subjected to inhuman suffering under the domination of this strange coalition. He looked at me inquisitively and shook his head.

  "Even here we have heard about your pa's exploits against these people. Why do you serve them? How can you betray your very blood?"

  I turned from him in shame, gazing down the corridor to keep from looking him in the eye.

  "I do not do it willingly, my friend," I answered. "Of that I can assure you. Now, take me to Kho-An-Sa."

  We walked down several corridors until we came to stairs that were cut into the wall of the temple. Here Hazz stopped, pointing up the long torch-lit tunnel.

  "I am allowed to go no further, Memnon," he said. "I hope we can talk again soon."

  "Surely," I replied. "And I thank you, Hazz."

  I mounted the stairs and found them dark, narrow and endlessly winding. They seemed to go on and on, and I once again marveled at the craftsmanship needed to cut such a pathway through solid rock. For long minutes I climbed from stair to stair, sometimes winding to the right, sometimes to the left. I felt I must be ascending to the very top of the mountain, and when I at last emerged I was struck by the intense rays of Aten.

  As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw that I was indeed at the summit, standing in an open air temple at the very top of the mountain. Several large wooden shrines were situated atop tables of solid white rock, which gleamed brightly from the intense light falling from the sky. Directly before me a long outcropping thrust out from the face of the mountain, jutting towards the southern wastelands in the distance. Upon the outcropping sat an altar carved from the white stone, polished to a dazzling sheen. Next to the altar stood Kho-An-Sa and another man, a Kushite I had seen upon one of the thrones.

  "At last, young panther," Kho-An-Sa said, gesturing at the man next to him. "This is Sung Li, your trainer and instructor."

  I looked closely at this man called Sung Li. Never had I heard a name like his, nor had I ever seen a Kushite quite like him. He was very short, with straight hair and dark shiny ski
n like an eastern Kushite. But his eyes were greatly slanted in a way I had never seen. He wore a dazzling blue robe of gleaming material I had noticed only on the very rich, or on members of the Shekem's court. As Sung Li bowed gracefully, Kho-An-Sa noticed my curiosity.

  "Sung Li is of the Shang peoples. They rule a large kingdom far to the east, on the other side of the world. You must obey him as you would me."

  I approached Sung Li, bowing humbly in return. Then he motioned for me to sit down upon the altar. To my surprise, the white rock felt cool under the direct rays of Aten, and I wondered what sort of stone it was carved from.

  "I learn Kamitic words just to teach you," Sung Li said with a strange accent. "You must listen. Listen and I make you strong. Understand?"

  I nodded and Kho-An-Sa looked on approvingly.

  "First thing, take off clothes. Lie down and I be back," Sung Li said.

  I took off my robe, waist wrap and sandals and lay down upon the altar.

  Kho-An-Sa approached and stood over me. "Long ago, young panther, men had the fire of Aten, the force of Ra in their marrow," said Kho-An-Sa. "The bones of men then were unbreakable, but we lost that and much more many ages ago."

  Sung Li appeared with a pot and put it down next to me on the alter. He then reached inside, withdrawing a handful of a strange smelling oil. He rubbed it on my skin and I flinched, for wherever the substance touched me, the rays of Aten intensified and burned. I tried to get up, but they both held me down by my shoulders.

  "Be still," Sung Li said. "This make you strong. Strong like long ago."

  "Do you know why a stone is hard, young panther?" Kho-An-Sa asked. "It is because the force of Ra is tight within that stone and hardly leaks out. This is what will happen to your bones. No one will ever be able to break them."

  Sung Li continued rubbing the oil all over me. Soon I became accustomed to the heat and now felt my bones tingling inside my body.

  "The chi will be solid in your limbs, young man," said Sung Li. "You will be great warrior."

  "Chi?" I asked. "What is this 'chi'?"

  "Chi! Rau! It is Life!" Kho-An-Sa said. "Whatever the name, it is the force of life, the serpent fire that dwells within us all."

  I had never felt such intense heat, but it was not like normal fire. It was as if my body was absorbing the very rays of Aten and storing it inside. The altar became cooler as my own heat intensified. I started to become sleepy.

  "What...have you...done to me?" I asked weakly.

  The voice of Kho-An-Sa seemed to come from far away. "I give you strength, young panther," Kho-An-Sa answered. "Strength beyond your dreams."

  My eyes closed and weariness overcame me. As I drifted into slumber, Sung Li poked at my limbs and rubbed more of the oil into my skin.

  I know not how long I slept, but when I awoke I found my body totally paralyzed. Only my eyes were still under my control, which revealed the hundreds of small silver needles poking into my skin. Sung Li stood over me, poking me with more of the strange silver rods and methodically tapping them into my flesh with a tiny hammer.

  "Ah, young man," said Sung Li. "I see you wake."

  He pressed his face down close to mine, smiling.

  "You, no worry. You be strong. You, be best I ever work on. You see," he said and continued tapping in his needles. Suddenly, I felt a rush of energy course though my body. My limbs jerked uncontrollably as it raced though me. After a while, I recognized that the force seemed to be following specific pathways throughout my body, especially up my back.

  Sung Li seemed greatly pleased with what was happening to me. "Yes!" he cried gleefully, clapping his hands. "The dragon moves within you! The serpent fire awakes! Young man, move your fingers!''

  I concentrated on my hands. But my muscles would not respond. Then I felt a special heat whisking through my body, racing down my arms. I was then able to wiggle my fingers and twist my hand around slightly.

  "Oh, you doing good," Sung Li said excitedly. "Now move toes."

  I then focused on my toes. Once again, the muscles would not respond at first, but then the energy raced down my legs to my feet and I wiggled my toes vigorously. Sung Li clapped his hands gleefully again. "You the best I ever work on! You control the chi so quickly! Move leg now."

  I moved my leg in the same manner, then Sung Li made me move other parts of my body with the force of this Rau-chi. I was amazed at how it animated my limbs without using any particular muscle. The implications of this control dawned upon me when Sung-Li extracted the needles from my arm. When I once again felt my muscles, he instructed me to reach toward him. When I did, my arm shot out with such force that I almost fell from the altar. He then removed the needles from my face but I could not speak. My jaws jerked and my tongue clicked vigorously in my mouth when I tried. Sung Li laughed like a child, placing his hand upon my head. "Focus chi, young man," he said. "You now aware and it will stay with you. Now you learn to control it."

  I lay upon the altar for many days beneath the needles as Sung Li taught me to control the force and direct it. Soon I was able to hold the force down and move normally. But even at rest I felt it bursting and rushing throughout my body. I asked Sung Li about the nature of this energy.

  "This force you call Rau and I call chi is in all creation," he replied. "All men born with it. More come from food and sun. Kushite men get more from rays of Aten, absorb more Rau than others, but lose it because few can direct it."

  "Why then can I feel it?" I asked.

  "You been upon altar for full moon, young man. Your muscles shut down by needles and your chi increased by herbs. I open your awareness of these channels, the rest come from you."

  I remained in the open air temple for five more moons, alternating between long periods of sleep under the needles and herbs and study with Sung Li when I would be awakened.

  My Shang instructor introduced me to many strange practices, including the consumption of only vegetables, which he said I would have to continue for the rest of my days. He also kept me under the baking rays of Aten, but because of his ministrations, I rarely needed water. Other things happened as I learned to manipulate the Rau force through my body.

  My sense of touch extended beyond my flesh, allowing me to feel the presence and shape of objects before seeing them. And when I opened my mouth for food, I could taste it without placing it on my tongue. Even my eyesight and sense of smell were greatly enhanced when I channeled this powerful Rau force into these senses.

  After accidentally breaking plates during meals and crushing drinking vessels, I found I had to relearn every movement of my body to compensate for this rise of power inside me. Sung Li taught me techniques to rest my head and still my heart, similar to those Kam-Atef had shown me. But these exercises were for the manipulation and redirecting of the Rau force, not simply to calm the spirit.

  Kho-An-Sa came to visit us many times, and seemed greatly pleased with my progress. On these occasions he would appraise me like a prize bull, always assuring me that my sister would be safe as long as I did as I was told. I never liked the sinister tone he used nor the strange looks he gave me on these visits.

  "Soon," Kho-An-Sa would say, "soon you will be ready young panther."

  One day Sung Li used an unpleasant demonstration to show me what he had done to my bones. I was sitting upon the white altar, naked and bathed in the rays of Aten at midday. My feet were touching the ground and my knees were pointed toward Sung Li.

  "Tell me, young man," he asked, "how do your limbs feel?"

  I focused on my arms and legs. "They feel...heavy," I said. "Somehow thicker, but I have not grown."

  "Oh, you have grown, young man," Sung Li replied knowingly. "You have grown on the inside, in your bones."

  Suddenly he produced a knife from the folds of his robe, and before I could move, he plunged it into my right knee. I howled in pain and seized him by the throat, but he flicked my hands away effortlessly and withdrew the blade.

  I pus
hed him away, and leapt from the altar, limping towards the entrance to escape this man who I thought had gone totally mad. But before I could reach the doorway, Sung Li dashed before me with incredible speed, barring my way to the exit.

  He then brought the knife up for me to see and I gasped in astonishment. The bronze blade was bent and cracked. Dripping with my blood, it was destroyed as if it had been dashed against a stone. Looking down at my knee, I found it cut to the bone, but instead of ivory white, the bone gleamed ebony black. Sung Li addressed me with a satisfied smile.

  "Rau is in your bones and nothing will break them," he said. "Like the days of the last age, when men were nourished only by Aten, your bones have been burned by chi."

 

  I awoke on the morning of my last day in the temple to find Sung Li and Kho-An-Sa standing over the altar. They held a bull's hide between them, looking at me expectantly.

  "It is time for the last phase of your training, young man," said Sung Li.

  "You have been given strength that few besides the Shekems of Kamit know in this age, young panther," said Kho-An-Sa. "It is time for the Ceremony of Rebirth."

  I stood up as they laid the bull skin onto the white altar. They then directed me to lie on it as they performed a special ceremony. Kho-An-Sa made signs in the air and chanted, while Sung Li wrapped the skin around me and stitched it closed. As Kho-An-Sa's strange words echoed out into the desert air, I was overcome by an urge to close my eyes and sleep. As I drifted into slumber, I felt water being poured upon the skin and smelled the fragrance of myrrh, the incense of Seker, governess of power and death. I then fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

  I was drawn back to consciousness by the sound of drums and the incense of Auset, the Neter of birth. When I opened my eyes, I found myself still inside the skin, but felt tugging and pulling from the outside. Suddenly the stitches tore loose and light from several torches flooded in. Voices were all around me as I stood up confused. When my eyes finally adjusted to the light, I found myself in the great hall, before the thrones once again.

  The room was filled with the people of the coalition that had conquered Petra. On one side stood dozens of Tamahu, on the other side Shashu, and behind me stood a group of the mysterious Kushite Shangs. This time though, a group of red-skinned people were present, wearing long robes and feathered headdresses. Before me sat the leaders on their thrones, with Kho-An-Sa once again in the middle.

  "See now, Servants of the Serpents, I have before you the son of your greatest enemy, empowered and ready to serve me," Kho-An-Sa shouted to the crowd. "There are some here who would do all they can to destroy the seed of Memnon of Troy, but I say to you, what better revenge than to make him work for our cause? What sweeter vengeance could there ever be?"

  Interpreters translated for the various peoples of the crowd, and loud cries of approval rose from the Shashu and the Shang. The yellow-haired man and many of the Tamahu remained silent. Kho-An-Sa gazed at me intently as I stood there, naked and reborn in this place of evil.

  "Young Memnon, are you ready to serve me?"

  "Where is Neftiji?" I asked.

  He clapped his hands and a warrior led my sister out into the open. She still had the same blank look upon her face, and I vowed silently that Kho-An-Sa would pay for her suffering.

  "Yes," I said hesitantly. "I am ready to serve you."

  Loud cheers erupted again throughout in the chamber, until Kho-An-Sa held up his hand for silence. "Those of you who doubt my wisdom will think differently as you watch our enemies fall before my power, under the sword of my warrior that stands before you. Cronn! Step forward!"

  The giant Tamahu stepped out of the crowd.

  "Give the young Memnon a weapon," Kho-An-Sa ordered.

  Cronn walked over to the crowd of Tamahu and snatched a sword from one of them. He then walked over to me and put it in my hands, while Kho-An-Sa and the others leaned forward on their thrones.

  "Now Cronn," Kho-An-Sa ordered. "Kill him...if you can." The crowd moved back as Cronn drew his huge sword with a savage howl. I stepped back and prepared to defend myself.

  The giant rushed me immediately, charging forward with a scowl of rage. His sword came down with enough force to split me in two, but I sidestepped, and, quicker than I had ever moved before, flicked my sword past his defenses and slashed him on his side. The crowd gasped in surprise as the unbeatable Cronn turned towards me, blood gushing from the wound I had inflicted. He then raised his sword to beat it down upon me as he had done in our last fight, but this time, as blow after blow rained down upon my upraised sword, I hardly felt the shock.

  For long minutes I held my hand aloft, blocking blow after blow with ease, as Cronn continued pounding away. My blade began to dent and bend from the blows while the sound of metal striking metal rang out. Finally, the giant tired and stepped back, a puzzled look upon his face. Kho-An-Sa leapt to his feet.

  "You see!" he cried. "You see! Witness my work! Cronn, try again!"

  This time Cronn took a different tactic. He came at me charging like a bull, swinging his sword at my midsection. I knew he expected to knock me down, so rather than trying to dodge him, I ran toward him instead. Our swords clashed, shooting sparks high in the air, as our bodies slammed together like two heavy stones. Locked together tightly, we snarled and pushed each other, trying to make the other give ground.

  I stood my ground, but though the Rau in my bones made me resistant to his bulk, he was still far heavier. Slowly he pushed me back toward the raised platform underneath the thrones. As we came closer to the wall, he increased his efforts, no doubt thinking of smashing me against it, then striking me dead as I reeled.

  Almost as if by instinct, I focused my Rau through my arms and up the blade, until I could feel Cronn's body pressing against it. As I focused the force against him, his eyes widened in surprise as he felt it. Tense moments passed. Perspiration poured from his face while grunts of hateful determination poured from his throat. Finally, I threw the Rau force forward in a might surge, causing him to push back in stubborn defiance. I then stepped lightly aside.

  Launched forward by his own strength, Cronn crashed violently into the dais and fell upon his face. The entire chamber exploded with laughter, with even most of the Tamahu joining in his humiliation. Growling angrily, the giant leapt to his feet, but when he turned around the tip of my sword was at his throat. The chamber fell silent as the giant gazed down upon me, his eyes filled with fear and surprise. I looked to Kho-An-Sa for the signal.

  "He lives," Kho-An-Sa proclaimed. "Let him go, Memnon."

  I snatched the point away from his throat, slicing into his red beard as I drew it back. Cronn lowered his head and dropped his sword, then turned and walked slowly from the chamber. Once again cheers rocked the room, and Kho-An-Sa stood up proudly, shouting above the crowd and pointing at me.

  "Yes!" he cried. "Yes! And he is mine! Mine!"

  Once again the yellow-haired Tamahu left his throne and stormed from the chamber. A few Tamahu from the crowd went with him. Kho-An-Sa watched them leave with a smug grin, then continued to rant before his throne.

  "Such a warrior needs a fitting weapon," the evil magician cried. "So within the week we leave for the north. There the great blacksmith shall forge my warrior a fitting blade. Let our enemies tremble! Tremble! Our own dark panther will stalk the plains of this world! And he is the son of their greatest protector!"