"From Alzuth?" the Chezru Chieftain asked, referring to the next r~ city in line south of Pruda, and, to his thinking, the next city in JJL. line for the Dragon of To-gai. Only a couple of weeks before, Yakim Douan had heard of the fall of Pruda, and now, hearing that frantic men had arrived bearing news of another disaster, he expected that Alzuth had fallen.

His new attendant, a skinny and tall Shepherd named Took, shook his head slowly. ?Garou Oasis, God-Voice," he said quietly.

The others in the room, Yatols who had come in with reports of increas-ing pirate activity and other unsettling events, began to whisper nervously. The Chezru Chieftain motioned for them to remain calm, but his own ex-pression showed that he, too, was a bit unsettled by the unexpected news. For Garou Oasis was not along the plateau line directly south of Pruda, as he had expected the Dragon of To-gai to run, but was farther inland, far-ther east, and along the southwestern road out of Jacintha.

Yakim Douan slumped back in his chair, his face tight with concentration.

"God-Voice, what does it mean?" Yatol De Hamman asked desperately. ?Does the Dragon of To-gai intend to charge at Jacintha? ?

Again, the Chezru Chieftain patted his hand reassuringly in the air. ?Show the emissaries in," he instructed Took, and the man bowed repeat-edly, skittering for the door, and returned in a moment with three dirty men, one of whom, Doyugga Doy, Yakim Douan recognized as an ambas-sador from Garou.

"God-Voice," Doyugga said, prostrating himself on the floor before the Chezru Chieftain. ?I beseech you! She is mighty beyond words! Her horse can change into a great dragon, wielding fire as she wields fire! And the barbarians follow her without regard to their own lives! They are mad, God-Voice! Mad, I say!" ?The oasis was overrun?" Yakim Douan asked calmly.

"Crushed!" the man replied. ?They swept in like a sandstorm. I think that they were sand, yes, magically transformed sand, sweeping in on fast grinds. My master, Yatol embrace him, brought in all of the villagers, as many as our fortress could hold, but the Ru leader turned her horse into a dragon and smashed down our walls! And then her warriors flew in on the wind, as many as grains of sand!"

The other Yatols began talking amongst themselves nervously, exclaim-ing ?dragon!" or ?sandstorm!"

repeatedly, but Yakim Douan was less im-pressed. He had been hearing these stories over and over again, about every war that had been fought in the last few centuries. Without fail, those flee-ing exaggerated the strength of the enemy, if only to put aside any blame they might otherwise have to shoulder for running away in the first place.

Still, Yakim Douan understood that he had to take this threat seriously, though he doubted that the To-gai-ru, even if all of their tribes had com-bined into a singular force, could have any chance of doing much harm at all to mighty Jacintha.

But there remained the issue of this dragon...

"You saw the wurm yourself?" he asked Doyugga, and the man's head began to bob.

"God-Voice, it was as large as a great house! Its breath was fire, its tail thunder! Its claws dug the stone as easily as if it was mud! It pulled my friend Yuzeth, Yatol embrace him, right from out beside me, crushed him in its great jaws and swallowed him! I saw, God-Voice, I saw!"

He was bobbing up and down and sobbing uncontrollably as he recounted the story, and so Yakim Douan motioned for a pair of guards to come and gather him up and drag him out of there.

"Where is Yatol Tohen Bardoh?" the Chezru Chieftain asked his attendant.

"He marches north along the plateau ridge, and should make Dharyan in a few days, God-Voice."

"Will you send him, too, into To-gai?" came a question from Yatol De Hamman, and only when Yakim Douan fixed him with a threatening stare did he seem to realize that he was way over the line of good judgment. The fact that Shauntil and fifteen thousand Jacintha warriors were running about the seemingly empty steppes of To-gai, while this Dragon and her army were cutting a swath of destruction across Behren did not sit well with Yakim Douan - and Yatols offering sarcasm on the matter might well find themselves hanging by their necks outside the Chezru temple.

Yakim Douan's stare reminded the upstart and angry De Hamman of just that.

"Send word to Governor Pestle to turn Yatol Bardoh and his forces straight east for Jacintha," the Chezru Chieftain commanded. That brought murmurs of discontent among the gathered Yatols, most of whom com- manded cities in the western provinces of the country, and who would depend upon that great combined force now led by the fearsome for protection from the Dragon of To-gai.

"They wish to lead us on a fruitless chase about the desert, but Yato] vili show me the way to them, and this unpleasant business can be finish once and for all," Yakim Douan said to quiet them. He glared at Yatol D Hamman before the man could utter a word.

"You were going to note that Yatol led me errantly in sending Shauntil into To-gai? ? he asked.

The man blanched. ?No, God-Voice. Never would I - "

"Spare me your lies, Yatol," Douan replied. ?I understand your fears ?

"If you were in our tentative position, you would feel the same," Yatol De Hamman said defensively. ?The pirates that Yatol Peridan has coddled have been bought by the Dragon of To-gai's ill-gotten gains, and now attack my coastline mercilessly."

"No," the Chezru Chieftain insisted. ?If I were in your position, I would trust in Yatol, and hold all confidence that this Dragon of To-gai would soon enough run out of tricks and out of luck. I will find her, and I will de-stroy her and all of her followers. And if there is truly a dragon, a great beast of mythology, flying beside her, then I will destroy it as well, and what a fine trophy its horned head will make upon my wall!"

That brought some murmurs of excitement, even a bit of laughter, from the gathered Yatols. But Douan ended it abruptly by fixing Yatol De Ham-man with an imposing stare. ?And when I am done with her and her follow-ers, I will indeed send Yatol Tohen Bardoh into To-gai, to join with Chezhou-Lei Shauntil to punish the upstart To-gai-ru for the trouble they have caused to me."

The next day, a report came in from southern Behren that a band of out-laws had attacked a small settlement before being hunted down by the local YatoPs forces. One of the captured raiders had invoked the name of the Dragon of To-gai, and had carried a pouch bulging with coins bearing the Pruda stamp.

A few days later, an emissary from Avrou Eesa, Yatol Bardoh's own city, arrived with news that demands of ransom had been sent to prominent merchant families, payment for the return of a band of merchants captured at Garou when they had been denied entrance to the fortress.

"Find Doyugga Doy and learn if this is true, that a band of merchants visiting Garou Oasis had been denied entrance to the fortress at the time of attack," Douan instructed Took.

"I will return with the response, God-Voice," Took said obediently, offering yet another series of his ridiculous bows. Watching him, Yakim Douan could only think of a drunken stork, and how he missed Merwan Ma at that time!

"That is not necessary," he said to the attendant. ?Ask the question and hear Doyugga Doy's answer."

"And if it is true?" him hung in the square, publicly, and speak his crime as cow-dice," Yakim Douan declared. ?This is not the time for cowards, my friend. I'U not suffer them to live."

"Yes, God-Voice," the obviously shaken shepherd said repeatedly, back-? a out of the room and continuing his endless series of ridiculous bows.

Douan, glad to be alone, slumped back and blew a frustrated sigh. This ne was getting the better of him. She, if it truly was a woman, was hitting helter-skelter, and finding perfect tactics to overwhelm each target. Douan had spent the morning with some of his Chezhou-Lei, going over the re-norted descriptions of the battles, and they had all agreed that this Dragon of To-gai was a cunning adversary.

Two weeks earlier, Garou Oasis had fallen, which meant that even now, the Dragon of To-gai might be looking across the sands at Jacintha.

So Yakim Douan had sent his Chezhou-Lei out to gather every garrison within the area and form a defensive perimeter about Jacintha, even be-fore the arrival of Yatol Tohen Bardoh and fifteen thousand soldiers. He expected that many of the outlying Yatols would soon be crying for an audience - and De Hamman would scream loudest of all - fearful that he was protecting himself at their expense, but so be it. He certainly could not let Jacintha fall!

But while Yakim Douan could feel secure in his own safety and in that of Jacintha, he understood well that he could not allow the Dragon of To-gai to continue her rampage through the outer provinces. So far, his scouts had been unable to find her.

Reports of the fall of another city, Teramen, located between Garou and Dahdah Oasis, came in the next day.

Yakim Douan huddled about a large map with the newly arrived Yatol Tohen Bardoh and a few of his Chezhou-Lei commanders. All of them were surprised indeed at this latest choice of target.

"But it does make sense, God-Voice," one did admit. ?From Teramen, the Dragon of To-gai can resupply, and can then hit back to the northeast, at Dahdah Oasis, or can even turn back to the northwest and strike at Dharyan once more, within a week."

Yakim Douan let his head loll forward at that prospect. Had he not just brought in Yatol Bardoh and fifteen thousand soldiers from Dharyan?

"I will force march back for Dharyan, God-Voice," offered Yatol Bar-doh, a man of nearly sixty years, but in fine physical condition and with an-gry fires burning bright in his dark eyes.

"To Dahdah Oasis," Yakim Douan corrected. ?Then split your force, with one contingent marching fast for Dharyan, and the other turning southwest to cut off any escape by the Dragon of To-gai to the south. If she hits at Dahdah, you will have her. If at Dharyan, then force her north into the mountains, or back to the To-gai steppes, where your forces and Shauntil's can close about her and destroy her."

"Yes, God-Voice," the man replied, and he stormed out of the room h' hard soles echoing loudly against the white-and-pink marble.

"She will beat us to either location, and so she may get one more vict perhaps even two," Yakim Douan told his warlords. ?But then she will K mine."

They all seemed quite pleased with themselves.

Of course, when Yatol Bardoh and his force arrived at Dahdah Oas' they found the place perfectly quiet and secure. Those who force-march rl ahead down the western road were greeted at Dharyan by the blowin horns of intact Governor Carwan Pestle. And those who hastened alone ? southwesterly route traveled all the way to the foot of the plateau divide without any sign of the invading To-gai-ru army.

A few weeks later, with the summer of God's Year 843 fast turning to autumn, Abellican reckoning, a fleet of many ships - mostly Behrenese pirates - sailed out of Entel for the open Mirianic. The fleet bore Aydrian Wyndon, Brynn Dharielle's friend of old - and all of old Abbot Olin's hopes - to a distant island that was rumored to be covered with millions of valuable gemstones. That same day, in Jacintha, Yakim Douan heard the first reports of lines of beleaguered refugees streaming down the road from the conquered southern city of Alzuth.

"They fought well," Pagonel remarked to Brynn, when he caught up to the woman outside the conquered city of Alzuth. The place had been fully looted and gutted, with all Behrenese survivors sent on the road to the northeast.

Alzuth had proven to be the toughest battle yet. Brynn had used her bait and ambush tactic, and indeed, a force had come charging out the gate be-hind her fleeing force.

But a second force, great in number, had followed the first, coming on the battle even as Brynn's main army had descended upon the pursuing Alzuth force. While the fierce To-gai-ru had won the day anyway, several hundred had fallen out in the desert, prompting Brynn to use Agradeleous once more in the attack upon the city.

So Alzuth had fallen, yet another great victory for the Dragon of To-gai, and greater still because her followers understood that her ploy of unpre-dictability had worked yet again, luring thousands of Behrenese soldiers out along the road much farther north, far from the actual fighting. With Agradeleous continuing to supply the To-gai-ru, their mobility could not be matched and their route could not be predicted.

Still, they were only five thousand strong, and so a city like Alzuth, braced for battle, proved a formidable foe.

"The Behrenese defended their homes well," Brynn admitted, and the mystic nodded.

"The Chezru Chieftain will begin a sweep south, likely," Pagonel said.

"And one west and south from Jacintha. Soon enough, I expect, he will rec- nize that he cannot hope to outguess you."

"JVlv warriors are weary and battered," said Brynn. ?Many carry wounds hat require rest, though they'll not rest if I show them a city to conquer."

pagonel nodded again. It was true enough - nearly every To-gai-ru war-.?or had been wounded at one point or another, and many of the horses car-ried scars.

"We should turn south and take respite," Brynn decided. ?In the fields about the Mountains of Fire, perhaps.

We rest and heal, and then Behren uill be an open slate upon which we can strike our next mark."

"As long as you keep the wealth flowing to the mercenaries and the pirates, the Behrenese will know no rest,"

said Pagonel. ?Though your de-lay may allow the Chezru Chieftain finally to pull his wayward force out of To-gai."

"Unless we make him believe that we have returned to the steppes," Jrynn said with a wry grin. ?I will take Agradeleous out there and level sev-ral outposter settlements. Perhaps we can lure even more of the Chezru Chieftain's soldiers out onto the open steppes, where the winter winds will find them and bite at them."

The mystic nodded, then he motioned to a pair of diminutive forms walking toward them.

Brynn's smile was genuine, and only then did she realize that she had not spoken with Juraviel and Cazzira in many days.

"A fine morning," the elf greeted. ?Though Agradeleous warned us of a dust storm growing in the west."

"And where is Agradeleous?" Brynn asked, glancing all about.

"Out fetching water," Cazzira replied.

"We have all the water we can carry from Alzuth," said Brynn, a bit of suspicion creeping into her voice. As she hadn't seen the elves of late, she hadn't seen the dragon since the fall of Alzuth.

"Perhaps he has found nomads to destroy," Juraviel remarked, and when irynn looked at him with obvious alarm, he merely shrugged. ?It is his nature."

"He will go back to his hole when I instruct him to do so," said Brynn. ?I lave his word."

"And the word of a dragon is to be trusted," Juraviel assured her. ?But did Agradeleous give to you his word that he would not fly out and take any affered opportunities to attack our enemies?"

Brynn shook her head. ?I will have that word next."

"Take care how tight you hold the leash about Agradeleous," Cazzira. warned. ?The dragon's curiosity and loneliness has brought some concilia-tion from him, but that is not the nature of such beasts. And Agradeleous is well aware that you need him as much as he needs you - more so, perhaps, both in tilting the course of difficult fights and in keeping your army supplied well enough to move freely about the desert. The dragon under stands his value, even if he does not enjoy his role as supplier and not war rior. If you push too far, Agradeleous will use that value against you, do not doubt."

It was good advice, Brynn knew.

"I have heard whispers that we will break now from the battle," said Juraviel.

Brynn nodded. ?We are weary and wounded. It is time for some rest both for our health and to put our enemies further off-balance. Let them' march hard against the windstorms, and the snows of the steppes, while we prepare for renewed battle in the spring."

Juraviel and Cazzira exchanged looks which struck Brynn as somewhat out of place.

"What? ? she prompted.

"Perhaps the break in the fighting would be the proper time for me and Cazzira to take our leave of Behren,"

Juraviel replied. ?We have become no more than observers in this fight, for now your hold over Agradeleous is even greater than our own. Cazzira longs for Tymwyvenne, as do I, for another adventure awaits us in the north, one more pressing to both our peoples."

Brynn winced at the unexpected words, and for a moment, true panic set in. How could she continue to wage the war without the counsel of Belli'mar Juraviel? Even though she spoke with him less and less, she had always taken great comfort that he would be there for her when she most needed him. She looked to her human companion, at first desperately, as if silently ask-ing him to intervene and argue against that course.

But then, in just seeing Pagonel, Brynn came to understand that he, and not Juraviel, had become her true advisor.

Still, when she looked back at the elves, at Juraviel, who had been her companion for years, she feared that she would miss them terribly.

But she understood, as well, their desire to be gone, for a great adventure indeed awaited them in the lands north of the mountains. Brynn had no doubt that these two, so spiritually joined, so alike of mind and tempera-ment, would find a way to unite their peoples. Then how much stronger Lady Dasslerond's position would become, should the demon dactyl's stain push the Touel'alfar out of Andur'Blough Inninness, if she had Tymwyvenne's strength and friendship behind her.

It occurred to Brynn then, for the very first time, that the discovery of the Doc'alfar had greatly lessened the importance of her journey to free To-gai, from the perspective of the Touel'alfar. She looked at Belli'mar Juraviel cu-riously, and then appreciatively, recognizing that he could have left her long ago, that he could have left the dragon's lair heading north and not south.

"What will you tell Lady Dasslerond about my efforts?" she asked.

"I will tell her that you have performed amazingly well," the elf answered wjthout hesitation. ?I will tell her that if To-gai is not free by the hand of Rrvnn Dharielle, then Behren is simply too great a foe for To-gai to break.

There is nothing more that you, or anyone, could possibly do to facilitate a ?uccessful revolution. Every course you have taken is the correct one, from dodging the Behrenese armies to outguessing the leaders of each walled jtv to enlisting mercenaries and pirates in the south and east. Even your actions in controlling and utilizing Agradeleous have been beyond anything I could have expected."

Brvnn took all the compliments with the severe caveat that they were be-ing given as justification for Juraviel, perhaps her greatest friend in all the world, to leave her.

"It is a story not yet fully told," she countered. ?Though one that will likely be completed, for good or for ill, within the next year. Are you not bound to see it through to the end?"

Juraviel paused and stared ahead blankly for a bit, digesting it all. ?Would you have me stay?" he asked, simply and sincerely, and Brynn understood that if she said that she would, then he would not leave.

But the honesty of that question evoked a sense of true responsibility in the woman. She understood the emotions driving Juraviel, for a return to Tymwyvenne, and then with the Doc'alfar to Andur'Blough Inninness, could be as important to the elves as these battles in Behren were to the To-gai-ru. Given that, was she acting responsibly as a friend by imploring Ju-raviel to stay here with her?

"When the war is complete, if we are victorious, I will send couriers to the land about Tymwyvenne to give a full recounting of the events," she of-fered, and then she smiled widely, ?But only if I have Cazzira's promise that my couriers will not join the army of the Tylwyn Doc!"

Both elves laughed at that, as did Brynn, but Pagonel just looked from one to the other curiously.

"I will explain it another day," Brynn offered to the Jhesta Tu.

"A day when I am far, far away, no doubt," said Cazzira, and the three shared another laugh.

They chatted easily for some time then, about the adventures that had taken them to To-gai, and with many promises that one day they would meet again. Then Juraviel walked up to Brynn and took her hands in his own.

"There are those among my people who doubt the wisdom of training the rangers," he explained. ?When they do, we speak to them of Mather, of Andacanavar, who still roams the wilds of Alpinador, and of Elbryan the Nightbird, who saved the world from the demon dactyl. And now, when the doubters speak up, they will be reminded of Brynn Dharielle, the Dragon of To-gai, who freed her people from the oppression of Behren."

"The To-gai-ru are not yet free," Brynn reminded.

"But they shall be, and soon enough," said Juraviel.

Brynn bent down a bit then and kissed her dear friend on the cheek, and they hugged tightly and for a long while, and more than one tear made its way down her brown cheek.

"Let us set the army on the road south," she said after a bit. ?Then I wjii fly you to the base of the mountains, a quick start on your road to Tymwyvenne."

They heard a distant call for Brynn at that same time; one of her corn manders needed her assistance. She backed away from Juraviel and wiped away her tears, then squeezed his hand once more and headed away with Pagonel.

"It is more difficult to leave her than you expected," Cazzira remarked to Juraviel when they were alone.

"I knew it would be hard. I found Brynn after I had lost a dear friend Nightbird, and feared that I would never mend the hole in my heart. I miss him still, I always will, but Brynn Dharielle taught me to smile once more.

She reminds me yet again of why we train the rangers, of the good that they can do in the world."

Cazzira stepped in close beside him and took up his hand in her own, squeezing it gently. Juraviel turned a grateful look toward her, but one that fast shifted to a more serious and fearful expression.

"Do you think that she will win?" the Touel'alfar asked in all seriousness.

"I do not truly appreciate the power of her enemies," Cazzira replied. ?But Pagonel does, and I believe that he thinks she will win out."

"You are surprised by these humans," Juraviel remarked.

"It makes me regret our practice of giving them to the bog," Cazzira ad-mitted. ?Never have my people viewed them as anything more than the goblins. I did not understand that they could be so self-sacrificing for prin-ciple, or so loyal."

"Tymwyvenne will change in the years ahead."

"Tymwyvenne already has," Cazzira replied. ?The fact that you, and es-pecially Brynn, still draw breath is proof of that!"

Juraviel, still watching the woman and Pagonel walk away, merely nodded.

"Have you yet solved the riddle of why your Chezru Chieftain desired you murdered?" Pagonel asked, sitting beside Merwan Ma that same night, in a sheltered place off to the side of the main To-gai-ru encampment.

Merwan Ma looked at him and snickered. Always the same question, every day. ?You are a patient one," he said.

"I am willing to allow you to come to accept the truth of it in your own time," the mystic replied. ?I believe that you will tell me, one day soon, be-cause you will realize that the cause I support is just."

"Just?" the Shepherd scoffed. ?You call the destruction of cities just? You believe that the blood of the thousands spilled upon the desert sands is just?"

"Regrettable, but unavoidable," the mystic answered, breaking out his ck and handing some food to his prisoner. ?Do you believe that there is other way for To-gai to break free of the iron grip of your former mas-er? Or is it that you believe that grip to be just? ?

"Chezru Chieftain Yakim Douan is the God-Voice," Merwan Ma insisted, nd he pushed the food away. ?His decisions are inspired, divinely so. He onquered To-gai to show the To-gai-ru a better way of life, and though there was immediate pain - "He conquered To-gai to fatten the purses of his greedy Yatols," Pagonel interrupted. ?And to increase his own power, though now, with Brynn's campaign, he may be regretting that decision!"

"You know nothing."

"I know what I see, and what I have seen from your God-Voice is imperi-alistic and opportunistic, and nothing more."

"Because you do not understand that he speaks with Yatol!"

Pagonel drew out his knife again, and flipped it over in his hand so that the handle was out toward Merwan Ma. ?You know what Yatol com-manded concerning you," he said dryly.

"I know no such thing," the defiant Merwan Ma replied. ?I know what a rogue Chezhou-Lei tried to do, and I am grateful that you saved my life. Be-yond that, I have only your reasoning that the act was somehow connected to my master."

"My reasoning and your own memory," said Pagonel. ?For you under-stand more than you will reveal. You know something, about the Chezru Chieftain likely, that he finds dangerous. Deny it as you will - to me, for you cannot deny it to yourself. When you view the act of the Chezhou-Lei and my reasoning in light of your own memories, you know that I am correct."

"I will not betray Yatol, however you choose to twist my words!"

Pagonel smiled and rose in response, leaving the food beside the trou-bled young man. ?We are moving this very night, so you should eat, and eat well."

"To another city, to justly murder everyone within?" the Shepherd asked sarcastically.

"To the Mountains of Fire, to heal our wounds and rest out the winter sandstorms," the mystic replied, and a horrified expression crossed Mer-wan Ma's gentle face.

"The home of the Jhesta Tu!" he said.

"Near to it, though few, if any, will view the Walk of Clouds."

"But I am doomed to that fate, I suppose," said Merwan Ma, eliciting a puzzled expression from Pagonel.

"That you might use your ancient torture techniques upon me to gather the information you desire," the Shepherd reasoned.

"Ancient torture techniques?"

"I know all about your order, about how you can take the skin from a man without killing him, that his whole body burns with horrible fires' T know about your rituals, drinking the blood of babies and enemies. You b lieve that because you hide in the mountains far to the south that the worlH would have forgotten about the atrocities of the Jhesta Tu, but we have nOt I assure you!"

His bluster was somewhat tempered by the sincere laughter of Pagone] ?You know the stories the Chezhou-Lei tell, and the Yatols tell, becaus they fear that if their subjects learned the truth of the Jhesta Tu, we would not be so hated. And they need to hate us, don't you understand? Because without an enemy to hate, without a threat from somewhere, keeping a na-tion in obedience is a much more difficult process."

Merwan Ma hardly seemed convinced.

"Yes, you will visit the Walk of Clouds, Merwan Ma," Pagonel remarked "If only because I wish you to see the truth of the Jhesta Tu with your own ?

eyes.

"Why would that be important to you?"

"Because I suspect that you are intelligent enough to see the truth, of my order and of so much more,"

Pagonel replied, and he bent low and patted the man on the shoulder. ?I will leave you to your thoughts, and to your memories, my friend," he said, and walked away.

A perfectly miserable Merwan Ma lowered his head into his hands, want-ing simply to clear his mind of concerns and memories, and of future prob-lems. But that last word Pagonel had uttered, ?friend," stayed with the poor Shepherd for a long, long time.

Once he had thought Yakim Douan to be his friend.

"You rode three horses into the sand to rush here to tell me that Yatol Bardoh will not be following you back to Jacintha, as I have ordered?" Yakim Douan said to the poor, trembling courier.

"Yatol Bardoh instructed me to deliver his response to you as quickly as possible, God-Voice," the man stuttered.

"His response?" Douan asked incredulously. ?What makes you, or him, think that he has the option of any response? He is to do as I instructed, do you hear?"

"Yes, God-Voice!"

Yakim Douan eyed the man threateningly for a short while, watching him squirm under that withering glare.

Then he put on a disgusted look and waved the man away. ?Ride five more horses into the sand, if that is what it takes," he instructed. ?Find your Yatol and tell him that the God-Voice is watching his every move closely, and is not amused."

"Yes, God-Voice," the trembling man said repeatedly, and he bowed with every retreating step.

Yakim Douan waved everyone else out of the room, as well, and collapsed in his chair, thoroughly frustrated.

With the Dragon of To-gai nowhere to be found, he had ordered Yatol Bardoh and his fifteen thousand soldiers rk to the Jacintha perimeter, to set defensive positions against this most strating of enemies. But Bardoh's courier had come in to inform Douan , t jjjg man was turning for Avrou Eesa, his home city, and was taking the Idiers with him, ostensibly to help guard the farther reaches of Behren, ', outer rim of the country, which was obviously more vulnerable to the Dragon of To-gai.

But Yakim Douan had lived through centuries, and he understood the southern turn to be much more a militarily tactical movement. Yatol Bar-doh was using this time of crisis to further his own position, obviously.

With Grysh dead, Bardoh was probably the second most powerful man in all of Behren, especially when he had fifteen thousand of Yakim Douan's soldiers at his disposal!

Both Douan and Bardoh knew that the outer cities were not very pleased with the tight defensive stance about Jacintha and her neighboring cities, and were feeling abandoned and afraid. So now Yatol Bardoh could act the part of savior to them, and if Douan went overtly against him, even under the pretense of commands from Yatol, he would risk losing the loyalty of all those people in the outer regions. Yes, they were Chezru by religion, but the pragmatism of simple survival often trumped the tenets of religion.

So now Yatol Bardoh apparently saw his chance to further his own posi-tion among all the towns of the south and west. Given the fact that Yakim Douan had been speaking fairly openly about a time of Transcendence for a couple of years, who could guess how powerful the man hoped to become?

Yakim Douan took a deep, deep breath, trying to steady himself. He had to look beyond the immediate situation, beyond the Dragon of To-gai. She would be put down soon enough, obviously, but because of Yatol Bardoh's impudence, Douan had to look ahead to the time of Transcendence. He had to find a way to placate the man, to satisfy his ego and his craving for power and glory, then he had to make sure that the man would follow the precepts of Transcendence.

Else all could be lost.

"Damn you, Dragon of To-gai!" Yakim Douan said suddenly, and he pounded his fist forcefully on the arm of his chair.

He heard a scuffle to the side then, and turned fast to see Shepherd Took staring at him wide-eyed.

"What is it?" he demanded.

"I wanted to tell you that Yatol Bardoh's courier is already away, God-Voice," the man stuttered. ?Riding hard down the western road to Dahdah Oasis, and then to Dharyan."

"Get out," Douan ordered, and he waved his hand.

With many bows, Shepherd Took retreated.

Yakim Douan made a mental note that he would have to execute his lat-est attendant in the morning for spying upon him.

With a frustrated growl, the Chezru Chieftain ran a hand thrc hrnning hair, for that thought only illustrated how absurd and o n?

trol this whole situation had become. How he missed Merw n Ma He reconsidered then his order to kill the man, and was sorrv f ment to think of the faithful and competent attendant lying dead un7 sands of Dharyan. How extraordinary Merwan Ma truly had bin to believe then, for the string of prospective attendants that had foJ"

the man had been anything but.

tollo And Yakim Douan understood well that he could not risk Iran without a thoroughly competent and undyingly loyal attendant'at his