Think of me as a slow student, said Kaspar dryly, as he sat on the edge of his desk, looking down at the two men. He motioned for them to bring their chairs closer and returned to sit behind his desk.
Amirantha sat, then for a moment stared at Kaspar of Olasko, second most powerful man in the Kingdom of Muboya. He recognized at once this was no ordinary courtier but a man who had seen much, and who could be very dangerous. Amirantha had no fondness for danger, preferring to give it a wide berth. Avoiding this mans displeasure was the safe course.
Slowly he said, I was born in a village far to the north, one of a dozen inhabited by a people called the Satumbria. I suppose at one time or another we were nomadic, like some of the tribes to the east of us, but for many generations we had occupied a particularly nice valley, and the surrounding meadows.
We paid tribute when we had to, to whichever city state or local robber baron claimed us, but for the most part we were left to our own devices and did as well as any poor farmers could expect in that time. We even had a town hall of sorts and a ruling council, which was more of an excuse for the men to sit around, argue, and drink.
Our women were the caretakers of the children and the ancestors, and we worshipped our forebears as well as the gods. He paused. In fact, we probably stinted in our devotion to the gods and paid more attention to our ancestors. He glanced at Brandos, who was paying close attention, as he hadnt heard parts of this story before.
My mother had the vision, or second sight, as it was called. That made her both revered and feared. As was our custom, she was made to live apart, in a hut on a hill away from the village, but was provided food and other necessities. She was expected to live alone, yet be our eyes into the next world, providing guidance and wisdom.
She was also to have lived a chaste existence, but as you can see by my presence, that was never the case. She was, by any standard, a beautiful woman and men sought her out.
She bore three sons. I was the youngest. None of us knew our fatheror fathers, for we didnt know if we shared one. My mother was adamant about never mentioning who he or they might have been.
In the end, it was the three of us, raised and taught by our mother. He shifted his weight in his chair, as if speaking of this made him uncomfortable.
If Kaspar was impatient to get to the point, he didnt show it, merely saying, Go on.
None of us could readwe came to that later. But we all were taught magic by our mother. All three of us inherited some of her gifts, though they manifested in different ways.
We were all practitioners of what are called the dark arts, for my mother was a woman of dark secrets. I suspect her gifts came at a price, perhaps through a compact with dark powers, but I only speculate.
As a child, I sensed presences, the existence of things I could not see, and longed to call them to me. Nalnar was the first to answer, and while he is not overtly malicious, he has no natural sense of constraint. He injured me severely before I could subdue him. Once I bent him to my service, he became a lifelong companion. I can now summon him with a single word, and his obedience to me is absolute. Of all those I have summoned from the demon realm, he is my most reliable servant.
You have others? asked Kaspar.
Yes, said Amirantha. Several, most of whom are fully controllable.
Most?
There are a few I have come to dominate lately, but upon whom I will not rely, said the Warlock, shifting his weight in his chair as if uneasy discussing his craft with another.
Brandos raised his eyebrows and in a semi-mocking tone said, They tend to try to bite your head off until you get to know them better.
Kaspar was silent a moment, then said, This is beyond me. There are some people with whom I need to have you speak, but before then, I would hear the rest of your tale.
Amirantha let out his breath slowly, as if uncertain what to say next, then shrugged and said, Its difficult to know how to explain. We were left to our own devices much of the time; Mother was a little mad, Im certain, but she was also a woman of remarkable gifts.
There were three of us, and I was the youngest, as I have said. It may be her madness was passed along to my eldest brother, for he wasdifferent. He became obsessed at an early age with death, or more precisely, the actual moment of death, when life flees, and the meaning of that transition. He would often kill things just to watch them die.
Our middle brotherhe was less mad than our eldest brother, but that didnt make him sane. He had his own madness, but with him it was rage. He was born angry, and he stayed angry. We used to fight all the time, for he was frightened of our elder brother, and I was the youngest. So I became the target of all his ire. Only my mother prevented him from severely injuring me several times when we were children.
It is how, ironically, I became a Warlock of Demons. My brother was administering a thrashing and I called to Nalnar to come help me, and he appeared. Hes small, but he can be very nasty when he needs and has enough flame magic to burn down a good-size house if hes of a mind to. He drove off my brother and left him with a nasty set of scars. Thats when my brothers hot anger turned to cold hatred.
Hes been trying to kill me ever since.
And other people think they have family problems, Kaspar said dryly.
Amirantha studied the General for a long moment, then smiled. It does appear absurd when narrated, doesnt it?
Somewhat, but I have seen many things in the last twenty years, things that before then I would have scoffed at and ridiculed.
Still, added Kaspar, you havent gotten to why your family difficulties concern the Kingdom of Muboya.
Its difficult to explain in a short time
Oh, take all the time you need, said Kaspar, as he glanced through the doorway where his guards stood ready to answer his call. As much trouble as youve caused to gain my attention, it would be foolish of me not to give it to you. After all, if you dont provide a compelling reason for unleashing that odd little friend of yours in my offices, youll have ample time to contemplate your folly chained to the wall of the Maharajas dungeon.
So, please continue, said Kaspar agreeably.
Amirantha and Brandos exchanged glances, but said nothing to each other. The Warlock said, After that fight, when Nalnar scared my brother, we three spent as much time apart from one another, and therefore from our mother, as we could manage once we reached a certain age.
I spent a great deal of my time in caves near our hut, calling up Nalnar and learning as much as I could from him about the demon realm. It took a great deal of luck, frankly. I almost got killed a number of times until I began to puzzle out some sense of how these creatures are, how they respond to being in our realm, what drives them.
This is all very interesting, said Kaspar. Go on.
My brothers meanwhile became immersed in their own areas ofinterest. My eldest brother was probably the least talented among us, but the most driven. My other brother had flashes of brilliance, but no discipline. Hes quick to learn, and has mastered many things. I fell somewhere in the middle, I suppose. I am very good at what I do, but what I do is within narrow limits. He looked at Kaspar. I really dont understand much about other types of magic, if you must know.
Your brother? Kaspar prodded.
Amirantha sighed. I suspect Im having difficulty coming to the point because I want to acquaint you with just how difficult a task my brother achieved.
Which brother?
The middle brother, Belasco.
Continue.
Amirantha said, I say with no false vanity that I know perhaps as much as any man living what there is to know about demons. My knowledge is hardly exhaustive, as I discovered recently when encountering the battle demon my brother conjured into existence instead of the one I was summoning.
Thats the point of it, my lord Kaspar. Not only did my brother find meand I have been successfully avoiding him for nearly fifty yearshe found me in the middle of a conjuration that should be far beyond his ability to understand, let
alone influence. Moreover, he introduced a component to my own magic of which I was unaware at the time, bending it to his willno small feat aloneand almost got me killed, which I suspect was his goal.
Heres the thing: if he has become that powerful he probably could have come up with a far simpler means of disposing of me, say conjuring up a massive ball of flames in the cave, which would certainly have incinerated me before I could have gotten magic wards up to protect me. But instead he chose to kill me in a fashion that was both ironic and insulting. He expected me to recognize at the last instant he was the author of my death, and wanted me to know that hes now better than I am at my craft.
Kaspar sighed. So, your brother hates you and wishes you dead. Hardly an original tale. But we still havent reached the point where I need fear for the safety of this Kingdom.
The demon my brother conjured into being was of a type Ive never encountered.
So? asked Kaspar, not seeing any significance.
By our measure, demons tend to be stupid, or at the least are not very clever. Their existence is one I can scarcely imagine, and I have more knowledge of them than most men; its a lifetime of combat and struggle, and guile serves better than intellect. One hallmark of intellect is reflection, and the idea of a reflective demon islaughable, really.
But they can be cunning. The demon I faced was not merely cunning, he was intelligent. Once he saw his usual rage and physical power were ineffective, he changed his approach and began to use magic.
I know nothing of demons, but I have heard stories from those who have encountered one in the past, began Kaspar.
Amirantha looked intrigued. I would like to speak to them if possible.
More than possible, said Kaspar. Its a near certainty, but Im still not clear on why an intelligent magic-using demon is something I need worry over.
There is a demon realm, General, a world apart from our own. Ive read a few ancient records, but there is no certain knowledge of what that place is like. But we do know a few things. If demons could, they would happily invade our world, for here is an abundance of life that is intoxicating for them, and it is life that is mostly helpless against them. The stoutest warrior I knowhe indicated Brandoscould keep that demon at bay only for a few moments, just long enough for me to effect its destruction.
Imagine if you could, a dozen such coming into this palace at one time. I am the most powerful master of demons I have encounteredand there are not many of us in any eventand I could perhaps best two, even three such creatures given perfect circumstances.
Life rarely provides perfect circumstances, offered Brandos.
Yes, said Kaspar. I think I see where this is going.
Yes, said Amirantha. Imagine now an army of such creatures.
Thinking of his past encounter with the Dasati Deathknights on the now destroyed world of Kelewan, Kaspar said, I think I can imagine such. He sat lost in thought a moment, then asked, How would you control such an army?
Amirantha took a deep breath, the rise and fall of his shoulders communicating what he said next. I have no idea. Perhaps they have rulers, or some sense of loyalty; my dealings with those I have mastered lead me to think everything in their realm is predicated either on power or usefulness; a demon will serve a greater demon rather than be destroyed; a demon will spare a lesser demon if he can be useful. Beyond that I have no notion of how such an army of creatures might be controlled.
Kaspar fell silent and said, Yes, you most certainly need to speak with some friends of mine.
He moved toward the door and signaled for his secretary, who had been hovering outside the room with the guards, waiting for his masters command. Secure quarters for these two and give them a good meal. Tomorrow I take them on a journey with me.
Sir? asked the secretary. A journey?
Yes, said the General. Ill inform the Maharaja personally, tonight.
By sea or land? asked the secretary.
By land, said the General. Ill need a half-dozen of my personal bodyguards.
Only a half-dozen?
Six will do. Have two horses prepared for these two, said Kaspar, pointing at Amirantha and Brandos. Well need enough provisions for a week of traveling overland to the east. That will be all, he finished, waving the man away.
Returning to his desk, Kaspar sat down. Then he said, Belasco, you say?
Yes, said the Warlock.
He was the middle brother?
Yes, said Amirantha. Hes become something far greater than I imagined.
Your eldest brother? asked Kaspar. What of him?
I dont know, said Amirantha. He was, as I said, obsessed with death and dying. He was a powerful necromancer by the time I departed our homesomewhat in a hurry, Im sorry to say, as my only reason for being there ended. My eldest brother had become fascinated by a necklace Mother had foundhed remove it from her small cache of her most treasured things, bringing down her wrath.
He claimed it spoke to him. Finally, one day, he murdered Mother. He spoke almost dispassionately, though there was a hint of feelings behind his words. It was a particularly grue-some and messy murder, but it provided him with a very powerful burst of magic.
I caught a glimpse of him covered in her blood, invoking some dark power as he stood wearing that necklace.
Glimpse? asked Kaspar.
I was running for my life, said Amirantha. Belasco had already shown the presence of mind to flee, using some translocation spell or an invisibility spell or something of that sort. I was forced to outrun my eldest brother, who was fatigued from killing our mother, else I think he might have overtaken me.
I was desperate and summoned a demon named Wusbaghrith, who carried me off. Hes a foul creature, but he has massive wings. Fortunately, I had enough control to get miles away from Sidi before the demon tried to kill me.
Kaspars eyes widened. What did you say?
I said I had enough control to get miles away from my brother before he tried to kill me.
The name? What was your brothers name?
Sidi. Why?
Kaspar took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Do you know the name Leso Varen?
No, said Amirantha. Should I?
Kaspar regarded the Warlock. You never saw your brother Sidi again after he murdered your mother?
No, I saw him twice, once in the City of the Serpent River and once across the sea in the town of Lands End, in the Kingdom of the Isles.
I know the place, said Kaspar.
Both times I avoided him before he saw me, but I never spoke with him again, if thats what youre asking. If I could, Id happily cut his heart out and feed it to one of my demons. She may have been a crazy witch, but she was our mother, and he slaughtered her.
Your brother is dead.
You knew him? asked Amirantha, showing the most emotion he had since entering Kaspars palace.
I had the unfortunate luck to have him guest with me for a while. He used the name Leso Varen and caused me Kaspar stopped, as if weighing his words. Finally, he said, He caused me great personal injury. But I do know that he was identified by someone I trust implicitly to have been a necromancer named Sidi before assuming that identity. And I know he is dead beyond reclaiming.
General, said Amirantha. Please, I must know how he died.
Kaspar nodded and quickly recounted the role Leso Varen played in the war with the Dasati. He glossed over the role played by the Conclave, choosing to allow Pug to decide how much to trust this Warlock and his companion. Kaspar was a good judge of men and thought the pair reliable enough if watched closely, but it wasnt his judgment to make.
Ten years after the fact, knowledge of what befell the Tsurani home world of Kelewan had spread throughout the land; many of the survivors had sought refuge in Muboya, a large cadre of Tsurani warriors personally serving as the Maharajas core troops. But the details were shrouded in rumor and speculation, for even those who had lived through the horror of the Dasati invasion knew little of the truth about that war, that an a
rmy from another plane of reality had attempted to obliterate all life on Kelewan, in preparation for remaking it as their own.
Kaspar told the story as best he could, surprised at long-buried emotions that tried to rise up, for it had been one of the most difficult and horrific experiences of his life. At the end, as best we can determine, your brother perished on the Dasati home world at the hands of some horror attempting to enter our realm, or he was obliterated with the utter destruction of Kelewan.
More than one witness to his presence on Kelewan, in proximity to what we called the Black Spherethe gateway to the Dasati home worldconfirm this. I have friends who know more than I about such matters, and they are convinced that had he had one more soul vessel to which he might flee at his death, it would have had to be on Kelewan, and therefore it was also destroyed with the planet.
A mix of emotions played across Amiranthas face. II guess I will accept what you say, General, and put asideold hatred.
Brandos said, Thats a hell of a tale, General. He looked down, shook his head slowly, and said, You hear storiesthe entire world destroyed? His expression told Kaspar the old fighter didnt want to believe this, but did.
Kaspar just nodded, remaining silent.
Amirantha looked away for a moment, then turned and looked Kaspar in the eye. Whatever pain and regret had flashed there for a moment was now replaced with a clear-eyed certainty. That doesnt change anything, though. I must stress this: whatever troubles Sidi caused you are as nothing to what Belasco is capable of.
Are you sure? asked the General.
Absolutely. For while Belasco was always the dabbler, he learned many things. He had a prodigious curiosity and he would undertake something single-mindedly until he mastered it.
And while Sidi was insane, Belasco is insane and brilliant. Of the two, hes far more dangerous.
Kaspar was silent while he weighed the warning. He sighed. Leso was as dangerous a man as any Ive met, so to hear you say your other brother is more so He fell silent a moment. Finally, he said, Ill have you escorted to your quarters. We leave at first light. He walked out of the room, leaving Amirantha and Brandos sitting in their chairs.