know my name?” Lief demanded, holding the topaz tightly.
I have the gem that shows the future. I am all-powerful. I am Reeah, the Master’s chosen one.
“And who is your master?”
The one who gave my kingdom to me. The one they call the Shadow Lord.
Lief heard Jasmine make a stifled sound, but did not turn to look at her. Instead, he held Reeah’s gaze, trying to keep his mind blank.
“Surely you have been here for a very long time, Reeah,” he called. “You are so large, so magnificent!”
The snake hissed, raising its head proudly. As Lief had thought, its vanity was as great as its size.
A tender worm I was when first I came into the cellars beneath this city. A race of snivelling humans lived here, then. In their ignorance and fear they would have killed me, had they found me. But the Master had servants among them, and these were awaiting me. They welcomed me, and brought me rats to feed upon, till I grew strong.
Out of the corner of his eye Lief caught a glimpse of Jasmine. She was climbing one of the columns that supported the roof. Gritting his teeth, he forced his mind away from her. It was vital that Reeah’s attention remain with him.
“What servants?” he called. “Who were they?”
You know them, hissed Reeah. They are branded with his mark. They have been promised eternal life and power in his service. You wear their garments, to deceive me. But I am not deceived.
“Of course you are not!” Lief cried. “I was testing you, to see if you could really see into my mind. Who else would have known where to find rats, what would make them breed, and how to trap them? Who else but the city’s rat catchers? It was a clever plan.”
Ah, yes, hissed Reeah. There were few rats, then. My kingdom had not yet achieved the glory of its destiny. But my Master had chosen his servants well. They bred more rats for me — more rats, and more. Until at last the walls teemed with them, and disease spread, and all the food of the city was consumed. And then the people begged the rat catchers to save them, little knowing that they were the very ones who had caused the plague.
Its wicked eyes glowed with triumph.
“So the rat catchers seized power,” said Lief. “They said that the rat plague had come through the people’s own wickedness, and that there was nothing left but to flee.”
Yes. Across the river to another place where they would build again. When they were gone, I came up from beneath, and claimed my kingdom.
Lief felt, rather than saw, that Jasmine was beginning to walk along the great beam that spanned the hall right beside the great snake’s head — walking as easily and lightly as she had walked along branches in the Forests of Silence. But what was her plan? Surely she did not think her daggers could pierce those shining scales? And where was Barda?
The great snake was growing restless. Lief could feel it. Its tongue was flicking in and out. Its head was bending towards him.
“Reeah! The new city is called No Rats — Noradz,” he shouted. “I have seen it. The people have forgotten what they once were, and where they came from. Their fear of rats has broken their spirit. The rat catchers are called Ra-Kacharz now, and are like priests, keeping sacred laws. They carry whips like the tails of rats. They are all-powerful. The people live in fear and slavery, serving your Master’s purpose.”
It is good, hissed Reeah. It is what they deserve. So you have told your story, Lief of Del. Your pitiful magic, yourpuny weapons, and your smooth tongue have amused me — for a time. But now I am sick of your chatter.
Without warning, it struck. Lief slashed with his sword to protect himself, but the snake’s first sweep struck the weapon from his hand as if it were a toy. It spun away from him, circling high into the air.
“Jasmine!” Lief cried. But there was no time to see if Jasmine had caught the sword. The snake was about to strike again. Its huge jaws were open, its fangs
I have the gem that shows the future. I am all-powerful. I am Reeah, the Master’s chosen one.
“And who is your master?”
The one who gave my kingdom to me. The one they call the Shadow Lord.
Lief heard Jasmine make a stifled sound, but did not turn to look at her. Instead, he held Reeah’s gaze, trying to keep his mind blank.
“Surely you have been here for a very long time, Reeah,” he called. “You are so large, so magnificent!”
The snake hissed, raising its head proudly. As Lief had thought, its vanity was as great as its size.
A tender worm I was when first I came into the cellars beneath this city. A race of snivelling humans lived here, then. In their ignorance and fear they would have killed me, had they found me. But the Master had servants among them, and these were awaiting me. They welcomed me, and brought me rats to feed upon, till I grew strong.
Out of the corner of his eye Lief caught a glimpse of Jasmine. She was climbing one of the columns that supported the roof. Gritting his teeth, he forced his mind away from her. It was vital that Reeah’s attention remain with him.
“What servants?” he called. “Who were they?”
You know them, hissed Reeah. They are branded with his mark. They have been promised eternal life and power in his service. You wear their garments, to deceive me. But I am not deceived.
“Of course you are not!” Lief cried. “I was testing you, to see if you could really see into my mind. Who else would have known where to find rats, what would make them breed, and how to trap them? Who else but the city’s rat catchers? It was a clever plan.”
Ah, yes, hissed Reeah. There were few rats, then. My kingdom had not yet achieved the glory of its destiny. But my Master had chosen his servants well. They bred more rats for me — more rats, and more. Until at last the walls teemed with them, and disease spread, and all the food of the city was consumed. And then the people begged the rat catchers to save them, little knowing that they were the very ones who had caused the plague.
Its wicked eyes glowed with triumph.
“So the rat catchers seized power,” said Lief. “They said that the rat plague had come through the people’s own wickedness, and that there was nothing left but to flee.”
Yes. Across the river to another place where they would build again. When they were gone, I came up from beneath, and claimed my kingdom.
Lief felt, rather than saw, that Jasmine was beginning to walk along the great beam that spanned the hall right beside the great snake’s head — walking as easily and lightly as she had walked along branches in the Forests of Silence. But what was her plan? Surely she did not think her daggers could pierce those shining scales? And where was Barda?
The great snake was growing restless. Lief could feel it. Its tongue was flicking in and out. Its head was bending towards him.
“Reeah! The new city is called No Rats — Noradz,” he shouted. “I have seen it. The people have forgotten what they once were, and where they came from. Their fear of rats has broken their spirit. The rat catchers are called Ra-Kacharz now, and are like priests, keeping sacred laws. They carry whips like the tails of rats. They are all-powerful. The people live in fear and slavery, serving your Master’s purpose.”
It is good, hissed Reeah. It is what they deserve. So you have told your story, Lief of Del. Your pitiful magic, yourpuny weapons, and your smooth tongue have amused me — for a time. But now I am sick of your chatter.
Without warning, it struck. Lief slashed with his sword to protect himself, but the snake’s first sweep struck the weapon from his hand as if it were a toy. It spun away from him, circling high into the air.
“Jasmine!” Lief cried. But there was no time to see if Jasmine had caught the sword. The snake was about to strike again. Its huge jaws were open, its fangs
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