our land: the rebel horde now
closes on Anwar-teng."
Anwar, Calandryll realized, meant
"the Gate." An ugly suspicion stirred: he asked, "What
importance does Anwar-teng have?"
Ochen composed himself with visible
effort, taking up the tale again. "With the ending of the Great Khan's
tyranny the land was, for some while, in disarray. Families vied for supremacy,
outlaw bands roamed at will. Order was restored only when the
wazir-narimasu—the greatest of the sorcerer- priests—leant their support to the
Soto-Imjen, declaring that clan supreme by birth and blood. Even then, that the
Soto-Imjen should not wax prideful as had the Great Khan, the clan was required
to renounce its ancestral hold and reside in Anwar-teng, sworn to the defense
of that place. They took up residence in the holy city, peace reigned . .
." He paused, barked a single, bitter laugh. "Until recently! But I
run ahead of my tale—that none should again seek to establish himself supreme, it
- was decreed that while the Khan should be of the Soto-Imjen, each hold should
send representatives— Shendii—to Anwar-teng to sit in the Mahzlen, the Great
Council, advised by the wazir-narimasu. Our Khan is now Akija Soto-Imjen, who
is but seven years of age. Therefore, a regent was named— Nazichi Ojen-Canusi,
of Bachan-teng—which was thought a wise decision until Nazichi declared himself
Khan! He looks to establish the Canusi in place of our rightful ruler, and in
his support the representatives of Zaq-teng, Fechin-teng, and Bachan- teng
withdrew from the Mahzlen. Now the armies of those holds march out in battle
array.
"Anwar-teng lies under siege.
Do the insurrectionists take that place, then they possess a dreadful threat to
hold over those loyal to the Soto-Imjen and the Mahzlen."
"The loyal Shendii would die in
battle first," Chazali declared, his voice dour as his face. "Or take
their own lives before surrender."
"Whichever," Ochen said,
"chaos must surely follow. Do the rebels take Anwar-teng, they will next
move against Pamur-teng and Ozali-teng. Such bloodshed must be food and drink
to Tharn; and such warfare must render the finding of this Rhythamun mightily
difficult."
"Ahrd!" Bracht's voice was
soft. "We ride into another war."
"But you say Anwar-teng houses
these wazir- narimasu / " Calandryll said, "and that they
are your most powerful sorcerers. Can they not defeat the attackers?"
"Were it so simple." Ochen
spread helpless hands. "But the wazir-narimasu are sworn to peace. Theirs
is another duty, and they are bound by such gramaryes as divest them of all
power do they turn to warfare. Thus are they helpless in this matter."
Calandryll was about to speak, to
put another question, but Bracht forestalled him. "And you," the Kern
demanded, "the wazirs like you—are you so bound?"
"No." The old man shook
his head. "We may use our talents in hostile manner,* though we prefer we
should not."
"Save those traitors with the
rebellious tengs," Chazali grunted. "Their conscience is not so
fine."
"Then why," Bracht began,
halting as Ochen once more raised a hand, anticipating the question.
"Fd ride with the loyal
armies," the wazir declared, "as would Chazali and Temchen, were
there not other matters—likely of greater import. This keep"—he waved a hand,
indicating the chamber, the walls beyond—"is manned by one hundred chosen
men. By turn and turn about each teng sends a century to guard the Daggan Vhe.
For this turn, it was the task of Pamur-teng, which sent its soldiers honestly.
A century of warriors out of Pamur-teng occupied this keep—all are dead now.
Slain by fell wizardry.
"Your coming, as I have told
you, was
closes on Anwar-teng."
Anwar, Calandryll realized, meant
"the Gate." An ugly suspicion stirred: he asked, "What
importance does Anwar-teng have?"
Ochen composed himself with visible
effort, taking up the tale again. "With the ending of the Great Khan's
tyranny the land was, for some while, in disarray. Families vied for supremacy,
outlaw bands roamed at will. Order was restored only when the
wazir-narimasu—the greatest of the sorcerer- priests—leant their support to the
Soto-Imjen, declaring that clan supreme by birth and blood. Even then, that the
Soto-Imjen should not wax prideful as had the Great Khan, the clan was required
to renounce its ancestral hold and reside in Anwar-teng, sworn to the defense
of that place. They took up residence in the holy city, peace reigned . .
." He paused, barked a single, bitter laugh. "Until recently! But I
run ahead of my tale—that none should again seek to establish himself supreme, it
- was decreed that while the Khan should be of the Soto-Imjen, each hold should
send representatives— Shendii—to Anwar-teng to sit in the Mahzlen, the Great
Council, advised by the wazir-narimasu. Our Khan is now Akija Soto-Imjen, who
is but seven years of age. Therefore, a regent was named— Nazichi Ojen-Canusi,
of Bachan-teng—which was thought a wise decision until Nazichi declared himself
Khan! He looks to establish the Canusi in place of our rightful ruler, and in
his support the representatives of Zaq-teng, Fechin-teng, and Bachan- teng
withdrew from the Mahzlen. Now the armies of those holds march out in battle
array.
"Anwar-teng lies under siege.
Do the insurrectionists take that place, then they possess a dreadful threat to
hold over those loyal to the Soto-Imjen and the Mahzlen."
"The loyal Shendii would die in
battle first," Chazali declared, his voice dour as his face. "Or take
their own lives before surrender."
"Whichever," Ochen said,
"chaos must surely follow. Do the rebels take Anwar-teng, they will next
move against Pamur-teng and Ozali-teng. Such bloodshed must be food and drink
to Tharn; and such warfare must render the finding of this Rhythamun mightily
difficult."
"Ahrd!" Bracht's voice was
soft. "We ride into another war."
"But you say Anwar-teng houses
these wazir- narimasu / " Calandryll said, "and that they
are your most powerful sorcerers. Can they not defeat the attackers?"
"Were it so simple." Ochen
spread helpless hands. "But the wazir-narimasu are sworn to peace. Theirs
is another duty, and they are bound by such gramaryes as divest them of all
power do they turn to warfare. Thus are they helpless in this matter."
Calandryll was about to speak, to
put another question, but Bracht forestalled him. "And you," the Kern
demanded, "the wazirs like you—are you so bound?"
"No." The old man shook
his head. "We may use our talents in hostile manner,* though we prefer we
should not."
"Save those traitors with the
rebellious tengs," Chazali grunted. "Their conscience is not so
fine."
"Then why," Bracht began,
halting as Ochen once more raised a hand, anticipating the question.
"Fd ride with the loyal
armies," the wazir declared, "as would Chazali and Temchen, were
there not other matters—likely of greater import. This keep"—he waved a hand,
indicating the chamber, the walls beyond—"is manned by one hundred chosen
men. By turn and turn about each teng sends a century to guard the Daggan Vhe.
For this turn, it was the task of Pamur-teng, which sent its soldiers honestly.
A century of warriors out of Pamur-teng occupied this keep—all are dead now.
Slain by fell wizardry.
"Your coming, as I have told
you, was
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