Free The Warrior's Tale by Allan Cole, Chris Bunch Page A

to the edges of his authority. If the war continued to go badly my protest would be made much of by politicians looking for someone to blame.
    He sighed deeply, then slumped into his camp chair. 'What do you want of me, Captain?' he pleaded, trying his best to sound like a tired, but reasonable man.
    'I want you to make many mothers happy, sir,' I said. 'I want you to end this bloodshed and be the hero of all Orissa. I want you to give the orders that put my plan into action.'
    He drew in a long, shuddering breath. 'I can't do that,' he said.
    'Why not, sir?'
    'Your plan is without merit.'
    'If this is so,' I answered, 'then tell me why. Let me learn from your wisdom, sir, and I'll withdraw my protest. Tell me, sir, where did I err?'
    Jinnah looked about for support, but before any of his aides could weigh in, Gamelan broke his long silence.
    'Yes, General,' he said, i should like to hear those reasons, myself.' Jinnah turned to him, startled. The Evocator toyed with his beard. 'I've gone over her report, and I see no flaws. Of course, I'm not a professional, but ...'
    Despite his mild manner, the old man was a powerful presence now that he had spoken up. His eyes were mild, but Jinnah v isibly
    shrunk under their gaze.
    'Perhaps I should give it further study,' Jinnah said nervously. He tossed my report over to Hux. 'I want a staff team on this,' he said, his manner brusque. 'Tell them I need an answer within the week.'
    'A week?' I shouted, forgetting myself as I saw everything about to vanish down that familiar paper-shufflers' tunnel. 'There'll be another thousand dead within that time!' My outburst was a mistake. I'd given Jinnah the avenue he needed. His thin lips drew back in a wide smear of satisfaction. -
    But before he could strike, Gamelan stepped in again. 'Y es, yes,' he said, rather absentl y, as if I'd spoken in reasonable terms. 'I fear this must be done now, or not at all.'
    He fumbled in a pocket of his black wizard's cloak and as he drew out his hand the acrid stench of sulphur filled the room. Jinnah's eyes widened as the Evocator opened his palm, exposing five ivory knucklebones with mysterious red symbols etched on them. The room crackled with energy. We were looking at the casting bones of a Master Evocator. I heard Cholla Yi whisper a prayer to whatever pirate god he worshipped. Hux and the other aides were so frightened they looked as if they were about to bolt. On the other hand, I was so swept up with my challenge that I felt nothing, not even a tinge of awe.
    Gamelan's eyes were now a glowing yellow. He held the bones out to Jinnah. 'Cast them, General,' he said.
    Jinnah averted his gaze from the yellow, lion's glare. He licked dry lips. 'But I thought, you ...'
    Gamelan shook his head. 'It is upon you, my General, that our fates rest.'
    After a long hesitation Jinnah reached with a trembling hand. Gamelan let the bones fall into it. Jinnah reflexively clasped them tight. And Gamelan began to chant:
    Bones of Fate
    Reveal thy tally:
    Who shall win?
    Who shall lose?
    Who shall greet thee
    In the Demon's Pyre?
    Jinnah shrieked in pain and flung the casting bones onto the field table. The smell of his burnt flesh fouled our nostrils.
    Jinnah sucked on his injured hand. 'I ... I... can't,' he croaked.
    I heard fearful whispers from the other men. I kept my own feelings frozen in heart and brain. The only comfort I allowed myself was a hand firmly clasping the hilt of my sword. It did my nerve no good, however, when I saw the look of shock on the Master Evocator's face.
    ' Its happened? he hissed.
    'What?' Jinnah said. Fear made it a whisper.
    Gamelan shook his head, commanding silence. He turned this way and that, sniffing and listening to every small sound of the night. I felt my skin prickle as his senses ferreted about. Somewhere far off we heard a direwolf pack howl over a fresh kill.
    Gamelan whirled to confront Jinnah. The Archons have made some kind of breakthrough,' he said. 'We must act