A long line of grim-faced warriors of the Hawk Lakari escorted Shanti Raj and his warriors into the Tomb, the huge fortress on the east bank of the Otarand River. No one knew how many of Mith Cor's enemies had died in this terrible place or still rotted away in the Tomb's hundreds of subterranean cells, but the number was easily in the thousands.

It did not surprise Shanti Raj that Nar Sidthar was using the Tomb as his headquarters. The Tomb was easily the most defensible point in Lodar, built as it was on a promontory overlooking the river. Access from the river side was nearly impossible, at least for any large scale attack. Approach from the east was possible, but the inclined slope put any attackers at a severe disadvantage.

Normally the entire plain in front of the Tomb was empty. However, it was now occupied by the majority of the Inner Army.

Shanti Raj estimated that nearly sixty thousand troops were encamped outside the walls of the Tomb. The Tomb itself could hold nearly five thousand. That meant Nar Sidthar had another thirty-five thousand camped elsewhere.

As they passed beneath the thick portals of the gate, Shanti Raj kept alert for any indications of what Nar Sidthar was intending to do. While he believed most of what Balder Khan had told him, he still could not believe that the Magar of the Inner Army was a traitor. As his eyes searched the large courtyard of the Tomb, however, he began to suspect that Balder Khan was right.

Hundreds of warriors were busily assembling siege equipment: battering rams, catapults, ladders. What siege equipment could possibly be used to defend Lodar? Shanti Raj knew the answer even as he asked the question. None. The only need for siege equipment was to storm the walls of any nobles who opposed a change in the Imperial rule. Nar Sidthar was preparing to usurp the throne of Lodar!

Shanti Raj was led into the main chamber hall of the Tomb. His warriors were directed to wait in a side room, while the Magar himself was led through the large chamber to a smaller one at the far end. As he entered, Shanti Raj spied the Magar of the Inner Army seated at a table in one corner of the room. Behind him was a huge map of Lodar, with various movable colored symbols attached to it. Judging by the location and colors he could see, Shanti Raj concluded that the symbols represented the various Lakaris of the Inner Army and Imperial Guard.

There were others in the room besides the Magar. Several Zindars were in the process of giving Nar Sidthar progress reports. Several warriors were busily recording the information on large pieces of paper. And there were several individuals whose presence surprised Shanti Raj.

There were also three Priests of Att.

Nar Sidthar looked up as Shanti Raj entered. He smiled broadly, indicating a place for Shanti to sit down. "Shanti Raj, what a pleasure it is to see you! I was about to pay you a visit, but I was getting bogged down in some administrative headaches. Conditions seem to be deteriorating quite rapidly in Lodar. We've had reports of riots on the north side of Lodar, in the warehouse district. And there have been some reports of looting in the main bazaar."

"Yes, I have seen some evidence of the problems," said Shanti Raj. "The rioters have even attacked Balder Khan's palace. Burned it to the ground."

Nar Sidthar nodded. "Terrible thing, that," he said sympathetically. "I understand that a lot of people were killed. I was even informed that Balder Khan perished in the blaze."

"Then you were informed incorrectly," said Shanti Raj. "The Conqueror yet lives."

Nar Sidthar's eyes narrowed sharply. Then he seemed to relax. "That is good news!" he said. "Lodar can ill afford to lose one of Balder Khan's talents." He dismissed his Zindars. The Priests, however, remained in the room. "What can I do for you, my friend?"

"Let me be frank, Nar Sidthar," said Shanti. "Given the deteriorating condition of the city in the wake of Mith Cor's assassination, we need to restore order as quickly as possible. I propose that we work together to accomplish that."

Nar Sidthar nodded. "Yes, I was considering making the same proposal to you, Shanti. Go on."

"Once we have the city quieted down, then we must do everything we can to locate Nest-kor. She is the one person, I believe, who can restore calm to the Empire and ensure the continuity of the government."

"Excellent idea," said Nar Sidthar. "As I indicated, I was thinking along the same lines. I am amazed that you have shown up here with a similar suggestion. In fact, I have already had a set of documents drawn up to do just that." He snapped his fingers and one of the Priests hurried over, carrying two large documents. "If you would just review these and sign them, we can begin immediately."

Shanti Raj hesitated, his suspicions aroused. "Just what am I signing?" he asked, starting to read the documents.

Nar Sidthar laughed. "No need to concern yourself, Shanti. The first document merely pools our two armies under one supreme command. The second document defines the command as consisting of you and me as co-Magars, either one of whom can issue commands binding on the entire army."

Shanti Raj scowled as he read the documents, but they were as Nar Sidthar described. Still hesitating, but unable to see any way out of signing them without arousing Nar Sidthar's suspicions, he picked up a stylus and signed them. Nar Sidthar smiled broadly as Shanti Raj put down the stylus.

"Thank you, Magar," he said. "Now let me carry out my first command as sole leader of both our armies."

Shanti Raj bristled with anger. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded.

"Simply that you are under arrest, Shanti Raj." Nar Sidthar clapped his hands and a dozen warriors hurried into the room. "Take him below and lock him up," he ordered.

"You'll never get away with this, Nar Sidthar!" shouted Shanti Raj as he was dragged from the room.

Nar Sidthar smiled pleasantly. "But I already have, my friend. I already have."

Balder Khan rode slowly through the back streets of Lodar, the hooves of his horse bound in cloth to muffle any sounds. Behind him, the main bazaar was a wall of flame. Ahead of him, he heard the cries of looters and the clash of steel as warriors tried to restore order. The rioting which had started with the destruction of his palace had now spread to several parts of the city. Most of the city's population cowered in their homes, hoping the carnage would pass them by. Many were already fleeing, carrying what they could of their possessions on their backs. Sometimes they were fortunate enough to have an escort of Imperial Guards or even some of his own warriors who had managed to escape from his palace. More often, they were undefended, easy prey for the looters and brigands, many of whom wore the tunics of the Inner Army's Hawk Lakari.

When Balder Khan met any of his warriors, he directed them to re-assemble south of the city, which they willingly agreed to do. Most were anxious to join him right now, but he wanted to avoid too large a collection of strength that might draw Nar Sidthar's hand pre- maturely.

He had seen enough to convince him that members of the Hawk Lakari were responsible for the destruction of his own palace and the subsequent riots that broke out in various sectors of the city. Their objective, which they had accomplished very successfully, was to tie up the Imperial Guard in putting out fires and quelling minor outbreaks of rioting. By preoccupying the Guard, the Inner Army had virtual free reign of the city.

As he neared the Otarand River, the sounds of strife became much more frequent. Numerous times, the Conqueror found himself challenged by a single or pair of looters who thought him easy prey. Each time, they learned to their dismay that Balder Khan was better left alone.

The lower warehouse district was not yet burning, though Balder Khan saw several Hawk warriors sneak into an empty building. He started to ride past them, then reconsidered. Tying his horse up in an alley, he followed them from a distance.

Once inside the building, they began to start a fire in a pile of dried clutter in one corner. They were intent on their crime, so did not hear his approach. By the time they did hear his footstep, Balder Khan was within striking distance. Two of the arsonists were cut down with one lucky cut of his sword. The other three tried to defend themselves, but Balder Khan backed them into their own fire. As the flames caught on one's tunic, the others tried to escape, an attempt that failed. Balder Khan caught up with the one whose tunic was now a ball of flame and put him out of his misery.

The fire they had started took hold, and the abandoned building burst into flames. Balder Khan retreated from the building, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the fire engulfed the nearby grain warehouses.

The quays were abondoned. All of the barges and boats were taken far downstream by their owners or captains at the first sign of danger. The river people were too familiar with violence to take unnecessary chances. However, there were some barges on the river, huge flat barges burning uncontrollably. As Balder Khan stared at them, he realized that they contained piles of human bodies, covered with pitch and set aflame. And as he stared at them with increasing horror, he could hear moans and cries coming from the people trapped on the barges who were not yet dead. He could only hope that the smoke would sufficate them quickly enough to end their torment.

He rode in the shadows, the dull, muffled clopping of his horse's feet hidden by the slapping sounds of the river hitting the quay stones. He was heading for the Bridge of Sorrows, one of the two large bridges that crossed the Otarand. He suspected that if Nar Sidthar's main troop strength was on the east bank, that was where they would be least likely to look for him. Once there, he could head south, ford the river downstream, and rejoin his warriors.

He was almost within sight of the bridge when he heard the pounding thunder of cavalry behind him. He urged his horse into the dark cavity of an alley, just barely in time to avoid detection by the galloping company of men that sped past. Probably a hundred riders raced by, heading for the Bridge of Sorrows. He waited until they were past, then prepared to continue surreptitiously on.

A sound behind him alerted him to danger. He froze, listening. He could hear a muffled struggle, as though someone were trying to keep someone else quiet. His eyes searched the dark corners of the alley, but he could see nothing. He dropped the reigns of his horse and pulled out his sword. Cautiously, he edged his way back into the alley.

He heard the snap of someone's fist hitting bone. Quickly, he jumped in that direction, just as a man stood up in the shadows, his sword drawn to meet Balder Khan's. Despite the darkness, however, the Conqueror had no trouble finding the man's vulnerable spots, and within seconds, Balder Khan's adversary lay in an ever-spreading pool of blood.

The Conqueror bent down to find out who the man had hit. He found a woman, wrapped in a cloak, but otherwise unclothed. He tried to turn her over, but she was still unconscious. He picked her up and carried her to the mouth of the alley. Propping her against the wall, he turned her face towards the dull red light provided by the burning barges.

With shock, he realized it was Isma.

He pulled her close to him, craddling her in his arms as he softly called her name over and over. He put her gently back against the building, then hurried down to the water's edge. He wetted a cloth and returned to her. Wiping her face, he managed to revive her.

She stared at him dully, not fulling comprehending who he was. Then, apparently recognizing him, she broke into quiet sobs. "Oh, Bal, I didn't think I would ever see you again," she said.

"Just be quiet now," he said gently. "We'll get you out of here. I feared you had been killed when the razed the palace."

She shook her head. "I was about to leave when the Inner Army warriors broke in. They took me and many of the female servants out a side entrance. Our warriors tried to defend us and give us time to escape, but there were too many of Nar Sidthar's warriors."

"What happened then?" asked Balder Khan.

Isma shuddered, her whole body trembling from the memories of her ordeal. Balder Khan put his arm around her shoulder to calm her down. "They took us to the main Temple of Att. There we were stripped of all our clothes and jewelry. Then we were examined like cattle at the market, being inspected by potential buyers. They divided us into two groups, the young and attractive women who were put into one room, and the older and less attractive women who were taken to another part of the Temple.

"We had to wait a long time before anything happened. Then the Priests started to take us, one by one, into Att's chamber. We could hear the screams of the victims. The fortunate ones only screamed for a short time, since we think they were sacrificed to Att. The unfortunate ones were raped and tortored by the Priests. Their agony was prolonged through the night.

"Finally it came my turn. I was determined that I would do my utmost to kill as many of them as I could, but I was bound with my arms behind my back, so what could I do? They took me to the altar. I could still see and smell the warm blood dripping off the stones where they had killed their victims just a few minutes earlier.

"They cut my bonds in order to tie me to the altar. I saw my chance, and kicking one of the priests, I grabbed his knife. He died even before he had a chance to finish his scream. Another came at me, and I wounded him. One tried to jump me from behind, and I jabbed the knife into his face. I think he, too, died. Then, there were too many of them. They pulled the knife from my hand and started to beat me. Despite my efforts, they didn't kill me, though I had killed at least two of their people. They finally tied me down to the altar, with my arms and legs outstretched."

"You don't have to say anything more," said Balder Khan, barely able to contain his own outraged anger. He vowed to himself that before he died, he would rid Lodar of all traces of the worship of Att.

"I need to talk about it, Bal," said Isma. "I need to get it out of me. After they tied me down, they raped me, Bal. They raped me and beat me, as a punishment for killing their priests. I lost count of how many there were, since I think I became numb with the pain. I might even have been unconscious for a time. I don't know. Finally, I heard Rati Baja call a stop. He had them untie me and brought before him. I was so weak, I could not stand, but had to be held up by two of the priests. He cursed me for being your woman, Bal. Oh, at that moment, I was so glad that I was your woman! If it angered those monsters, it made me happy! With the last of my strength, I spit at him and his wretched god. He became enraged, and said that if Nar Sidthar had not demanded that I be brought to him, Rati Bajah would personally sacrifice me to Att.

"After that, one of the priests put me on a horse and started to take me here. We lost our horses to a mob, but he managed to pull me into hiding. After several hours, we finally arrived at this alley. Apparently he had not had his turn at the Temple, since he said he was going to take it now before we crossed the Bridge of Sorrows.

"I tried to defend against him, but I was so weak I could hardly move. Then he heard you and he became panicky." She looked at him. "I hope you are not upset with me, Bal."

"Isma, why should I be upset with you? I am only glad that we are back together. When I thought you were dead, I was so miserable, but now that I know you are alive, I have hope again. We will have our revenge, Isma, I promise you that. It may take us a while, but I swear that the earth will someday be rid of Att and his minions." He wiped the blood and tears from her face and kissed her on the cheek, rocking her gently in his arms. "But now, Isma, we must get out of the city. There is still a lot of danger, and this whole area will be in flames before morning. Do you feel strong enough to travel?"

Isma smiled weakly. "I don't have much choice, do I my love? With you beside me, though, I am willing to brave any danger."

"That's my Isma!" said the Conqueror. He helped her onto his horse, then climbed up behind her. Slowly they rode back onto the quayside. He knew that with Isma with him, his chances of escaping were greatly diminished, but he knew he could not leave Isma behind. There simply was no safe place left in Lodar.

They slowly approached the bridge, dimly outlined by the funeral barges floating on the river. He searched the bridge for any sign of guards, but he could see none on this side of the river. The other side was hidden in shadow and too distant to be able to determine whether warriors guarded it. He stopped his horse, and listened for any sounds of voices or animals. The river was strangely silent, though behind him he could hear the roar of distant fires elsewhere in the city.

Could it be that the bridge is unguarded? he thought. Impossible! He could not imagine even Nar Sidthar leaving the bridge unguarded. On the other hand, he was surprised that the bridge was deserted. There were only a half dozen river crossings out of Lodar. He would have thought that thousands of people would be struggling to get across this bridge. It was inconceivable that the entire southeastern district of Lodar was deserted!

Despite his distrust of the situation, Balder Khan urged his horse slowly across the bridge. When he was about half-way across, he stopped, searching the far side for any sign of warriors, but still the shadows would not yield their secrets. He had just started forward when he heard a sound behind him. He twisted around, but even as he did, he knew it was a trap. Riding out of the city were hundreds of warriors of the Hawk Lakari, their lances already down for the attack. He started to urge his horse forward, when the far end of the bridge burst into a wall of flame.

Balder Khan stared frantically ahead and behind him. He could not challenge the lancers, especially with Isma with him. He considered jumping the horse over the side of the bridge into the river, but it would only be a matter of time before Nar Sidthar's warriors pulled them out of the water. Besides, here the current was too strong, and he doubted that Isma would be able to survive.

The only alternative was to brave the flames. He only hoped that the fire was not too large.

He kicked his horse in the side, urging it to a full gallop. The warriors at the city-side of the bridge gave a shout and started to race after him across the bridge. As he and Isma neared the wall of fire, Balder Khan wrapped his cloak around Isma to protect her as much as he could. He put a cloth over the horse's eyes, so the animal would not panic as it neared the fire.

Onwards they raced, the flames growing in size as they approached. The horse began to smell the fire and started to panic, but Balder Khan forced it on. Then, with a tremendous leap, the horse and riders cleared the leaping flames. On they plunged, carried forward by their momentum, through a thin line of shocked warriors who scrambled to get out of the path of the bounding horse.

A barrage of arrows whipped through the air. Isma cried out, just as Balder Khan himself felt a sharp pain in his thigh. The horse, a much larger target than the riders, stumbled as it too was hit many times over. The horse's front legs collapsed, and the riders and animal started to roll forward. Balder Khan and Isma were flung off, landing painfully on the stone quay. Even as he fell, however, the Conqueror had his sword drawn and ready to defend himself and Isma against the onslaught of warriors.

Twenty of them circled the Conqueror. No one moved. Balder Khan had no place to go, they feared challenging the famed Conqueror. After what seemed an interminably long time, the circle broke, and Nar Sidthar strode forward.

"What a pleasant surprise, Balder Khan! We have been expecting you, though even I did not expect your arrival to be quite so dramatic! And who do you have with you? The Lady Isma? Ah, I am pleased that Rati Bajah chose such a dependable person to deliver you to me. Unfortunately, now that I have the Conqueror, I don't need you, Isma. However, do not fear. I have no intentions of sending you back to Rati Bajah. I have plans for you and your lover." He snapped his fingers, and a dozen archers pushed their way into the circle. "Now, Conqueror, put down your sword and come peacefully."

Balder Khan looked around him and realized the hopelessness of his situation. Reluctantly, he dropped his sword. Immediately, he was grabbed by several warriors, who held him in a vice grip. "You're a damn traitor, Nar Sidthar!" he shouted. "You are behind the assassination of the Emperor! You won't get away with it!"

Nar Sidthar walked slowly up to the Conqueror, smiling pleasantly. As the guards held Balder Khan, Nar drove his knee into Balder Khan's groin. Balder Khan doubled over with the pain, but he refused to cry out. Nar Sidthar, angered that he could not evoke a cry from his enemy, motioned to his warriors. "Take them to the Tomb!" he cried. "Lock them up with the other one."

As the Magar of the Inner Army, soon to be the Emperor of Lodar, watched his warriors drad away his most dangerous adversary, he smiled. Now there was nothing between him and the throne of Lodar! Then his smile wavered. No, there was still one possible barrior. The Princess Nest-kor. As long as she remained alive, his hold on Lodar was tenuous. As long as she remained alive. . . .

Silence reigned supreme in the damp, cold cell in which Balder Khan, Isma, and Shanti Raj found themselves. Balder Khan was surprised that Nar Sidthar put the three of them together, but perhaps he did it to flaunt the hopelessness of their situation in their faces. If that was his intent, he had succeeded.

Balder Khan was chained to one wall. Approximately three paces from him, he could hear Shanti Raj. Isma was chained on the opposite wall. There was barely enough light to see once one's eyes adjusted to the gloom. A crack of light crept under the massive steel-reinforced door. That light, however, lasted only as long as the torch in the corridor remained lit. Already, it had gone out, plunging the cell into total blackness.

At first they had talked, revealing what information each had. However, that soon stopped, when it became apparent that they would not be able to do anything about their predicament. Both men had tugged and pulled at their chains, but to no avail. The links of the chains were strong, and the rings holding the chains to the wall were pounded into solid rock.

Bal and Isma had also given up talking to each other, as the torment of their separation became greater and more painful to them. Shanti Raj tried to comfort each of them, but his words of encouragement seemed shallow and lacking conviction. In addition, while trying to cheer up his two companions, he was reminded that of his own Tathi. He greatly feared that she had not escaped Lodar, but had suffered a heinous fate.

The fact that they did not talk to each other, however, did not mean that they were not busy. Every moment was a constant battle against rats, huge viscious rats which would come close and try to bit off toes or flesh from their legs. They would kick out at the rats, who would scamper away, knowing that in a few days their victims would be too weak to kick.

When they weren't fending off the rats, they had to fend off centipedes. The centipedes were actually more of a problem than the rats. First, there were more of the insects than rats, and second, the rats at least had enough intelligence to avoid being kicked or squashed. The centipedes made no attempt to escape, but only blindly pursued their prey.

They had been there perhaps a day or so -- it seemed more like a week -- when the cell door opened. Two large guards entered the room, carrying a lantern. Two more guards dragged another individual by his feet into the cell. Unceremoniously, they dumped his body against one wall. The light from the lantern hurt their eyes. By the time their pupils had adjusted to the increase in light, the guards had chained a newcomer up along the wall next to Isma. One of the guards took a minute to grab at Isma, but she kicked him in the crotch. The guard screamed in pain, while his companions laughed at his ill fate. That only enraged the guard, who took his revenge by kicking Isma. Balder Khan and Shanti Raj pulled at their chains and shouted insults at the guards, but they could do nothing. When it seemed that Isma was unconscious, the guard tired of his revenge and they departed. The door slammed shut and darkness prevailed.

"Isma, can you talk?" asked Balder Khan, his voice tense with worry.

Isma moaned, then sat up. "I'm alright, Bal. I don't think he broke anything, but it sure hurts! Let me check on this man."

"Who is it?" asked Shanti Raj.

Isma chains were longer than Shanti Raj's or Balder Khan's, affording her the ability to move a few paces. She could just reach the man's body. He was barely conscious and able to speak only a few words at a time before he passed out. Isma stared over where she knew Balder Khan and Shanti Raj to be.

"It's Dak Akkra!" she announced.

The two magars were astounded by the news, and spent the next several hours discussing all the possible implications of Prince Akkra's presence in Lodar. The most serious possibility they considered, of course, was that Nar Sidthar had captured the Princess. If that were true, both men realized, then Nar Sidthar could consolidate his usurpation of the throne.

Balder Khan and Nar Sidthar awoke the following morning after a fitful slumber. The rats and centipedes had done their best to ensure that their sleep was filled with constant interruptions.

As they tried to stretch the pains and aches out of their body, both men became aware of a scraping sound coming from the back wall of the cell. Balder Khan was about to ask what was the source of the sound when he felt a hand on his cheek. He jumped back in surprise, almost too terrified to scream. "Who goes there?" he demanded. While the Conqueror feared nothing on the battlefield, who knew what terrors lurked in the Tomb?

He heard Isma's soft, melodious laughter only scant inches from his face. Then he felt her arms encircle his chest as she hugged him.

"By all the gods of Tandaria!" he exclaimed. "How did you get free, Isma?"

Isma's laughter was like joyous music. "Akkra freed me, my lord! He is really quite remarkable."

"I sure wish you had felt that way a week ago," commented the Prince from the back of the cell. "I always had the feeling you didn't trust me."

"I still don't trust you," Isma retorted with mock indignation. "Especially after this morning!"

"What happened this morning?" demanded Balder Khan, taking her words more seriously than she intended.

Isma shushed him playfully, taking advantage of the dark to rub her body up against his. "Prince Akkra, can you free them?"

Just as Isma spoke, there was a flash of light in the corner of the room. A fire ignited, and it its glow, Akkra found a couple of old torches stuck in the wall. The pitch was dried but still usable. He ignited first one, then the other, flooding the cell with light. After a few minutes, everyone's eyes had adjusted to the flickering torchlight.

Akkr walked over to the two Lodaran magars. He pulled Isma away from Balder Khan and put his arm around her shoulders, then stood contemplating the two men. "I don't know, Isma, I kind of enjoyed having you all to myself. Perhaps we should reconsider and just the two of us escape from here."

Balder Khan was furious. "Akkra, you have a lot of explaining to do! If you have the means of releasing us, I demand that you do so right now."

Akkra began to fumble awkwardly with the locks. "These locks are a lot more rusty than the ones on our chains, Isma. I may not be able to open this one." As Balder Khan began to bellow, Akkra tried to sooth him down. "Now show a little patience, mighty Conqueror. I am only doing this because Isma would never forgive me if I didn't. Besides, I may need some help moving these stones."

Akkra finished unlocking the chains with a dramatic flurry and the lock snapped open. Soon Balder Khan was freed of his restraints. Akkra turned his attention to Shanti Raj's manacles. The Magar of the Imperial Guard eyed the Mazidaran with cool detachment. Akkra felt the other man's eyes boring into him. "We have a mutual acquaintance, Lord Shanti Raj," he commented. "Her Ladyship Tathi."

"Yes, I know," said Shanti Raj drily. He did not seem inclined to discuss Tathi, however. He still feared that she might not be alive. It was better to avoid thinking about what might have happened to her. "How did you end up here, Akkra?"

The Prince smiled, shrugging nonchalantly. "I guess the gods are just punishing me for being a do-gooder, Shanti. I was trying to return your Princess to Lodar. Do to a few minor misunderstandings, they assumed I had a larger role in Nest-kor's misfortunes than I actually had. When I could not convince them otherwise, we mutually agreed that I should visit some of the finer resorts Lodar has to offer. They brought me here to meet with Nar Sidthar. We didn't hit it off very well, I'm afraid. They were about to search me. I didn't want them to do that, so I tried to escape. They beat me up pretty badly, then decided to put me down here. I never expected to find myself with such illustrious or --" He looked at Isma, who turned away blushing. "--beautiful company. Quite frankly, this has been one of the more interesting evenings I have spent in Lodar."

"Damn, Akkra, stop your joking! Why did you bring the Princess back here?" said Balder Khan. "Lodar would have been better off if you had kept her with you, Akkra."

The Mazidaran was confused. Before he could respond, however, Shanti Raj demanded to know how Akkra had encountered Nest-kor. The Prince briefly reviewed the events of the past few days.

The Conqueror slapped his thigh. "My theory was right. It was a plot of the nobles all along!" In his turn, the Conqueror briefly described the events of the past few days. When he related how Akkra's party had been murdered and subsequently implicated in the assassination, the Mazidaran Prince became quietly furious.

"None of them survived?" he asked quietly. Balder Khan shook his head, as the Prince walked to the other side of the cell. He stood staring at the slime-covered rocks of the wall for a few minutes, then he turned back to face the three Lodarans. "I can assure you that my people had no hand in the assassination. I regret the death of the Emperor. I think he wanted peace in Tandaria, and together, we might have attained it. But I can assure you, Mazidar had no part of this plot."

He paced the room, walking off his anger and grief. The two magars and Isma instinctively left him alone. Finally, he stopped and faced the two warriors. "So, Nest-kor is now the Empress?"

Shanti Raj shook his head in negation. "We fear that she will be Empress in name only, if even that. Nar Sidthar has taken control of the capital, and plans to usurp the throne. If his hold on the army and the populace is weak, he may take Nest-kor as a consort, thus legitimizing his rule. How long she would survive is anybody's guess."

"There is another possibility," interrupted the Conqueror, his voice grim and foreboding. "If Nar Sidthar's power is weak, he might need to use Nest-kor. On the other hand, if he feels he has strong support of the armies, the priests, and most of the people, he might have Nest-kor killed. He could then use that as a pretext for assuming total control."

Akkra glanced from one man to the other. "Then what you're saying is that Nest-kor's life is in danger?"

Shanti Raj nodded. "Our only hope is to find her and keep her safe from the rebels. But we have no idea where she is."

"I do," said Akkra, his lips tight with determination. "I overheard the priests of Att say they were taking her south, to Sind."

Balder Khan and Shanti Raj stared at each other, consternation on both their faces. "Rati Bajah!" The name came simultaneously from both men. "The High Priest is going to sacrifice her to Att!" exclaimed Balder Khan.

"We've got to get to her," said Shanti Raj, as he began to look desperately around the prison cell. "We've got to get out of here. We need a weapon to subdue the guards when they bring food."

Akkra laughed. "You don't think we're going to escape that way, do you?" he asked. "I was pretty badly beat up when they brought me down here, but not so badly that I didn't check out their security. Besides the lock on this cell door, there are at least three other locked gates we would have to get through. In addition, if the guards ever discovered that we had gotten loose from this cell, they have the means of flooding this entire lower level. We would be drowned like rats."

"You seem to know an awful lot about this prison, Akkra," said Shanti Raj. "How is that so?"

Akkra smiled. "You forget who built the Tomb! It was built by Mith Cor I, using slaves from the region around Mazidar. When they built the Tomb and several other buildings, they added a few features the Lodaran overlords did not know about. Over the years, we have located enough of the survivors to piece together a pretty good picture of most of the major buildings built during that era. Unfortunately, our information is scanty at times. For instance, we did not know about the tunnel from your palace to the Imperial Palace."

Shanti Raj barked out a laugh. "So that was you!" he said. "I suppose Tathi showed you the escape route?"

Akkra nodded. "Apparently that tunnel continues past the palace, under the rive, and ends here at the Tomb."

"Then all we have to do is find where the tunnel is," said Balder Khan.

"You don't have to look very far, Conqueror," said Akkra, pointing towards the back wall. "The tunnel is on the other side of that wall. All we have to do is pull one of the stones out."

Shanti Raj protested. "But that is solid rock there, Akkra!"

The Prince shook his head, walking over to the wall. "No, it just looks solid. One section actually slides out. I just don't remember if it slides into the cell or into the tunnel. I was just starting to explore the wall when you gentlemen woke up."

Isma came over and joined them. "It seems rather obvious to me which way it would be built," she commented.

"Oh," said Akkra, "perhaps you could enlighten us?"

"I would design the escape route so that I could push the rock from the inside of the cell into the tunnel. After all, you would want to break out of a prison, not into it. And if the rock is in the tunnel, the escapee could put it back into its position, thus throwing any pursuit off the trail."

Akkra nodded, his look of admiration for Isma not lost on the Conqueror. "Let's try that then." The four of them then began pushing against various parts of the wall. After considerable effort that tired them out but did not appear to budge any part of the wall, they stopped to reconsider.

"There's something we are not considering," said Akkra. His breath came in short bursts. Pushing against rock walls was no easy task!

"The rock must slide down from the tunnel," suggested Shanti Raj. "That would give it a secure fit if it were replaced from the other side. And I would think that it must be tapered in some way, with the narrow part on the cell-side of the wall."

Akkra nodded. "That makes sense. The only question is, where is it?"

"Are you sure there were escape holes in every cell? Perhaps this one doesn't have one," said Balder Khan.

"The information we're dealing with is thirty, forty years old. It is possible that the men forgot or were confused by time. However, the ones we talked to agreed that it was the most secure cells all along one back wall. These are the only cells that match that description."

"Is the passageway at the same level as the cells?" asked Isma.

Akkra stared at her in surprise. "Actually, I don't think so, now that you mention it. They said that if the cells were flooded by opening the valve on the pipe from the river, the passageway would still have air in it. In fact, it would be the only viable means of escape."

Isma beamed. "Then our problem is solved. We have been looking too low. The escape stone is closer towards the ceiling."

The four of them hastened to explore the stones, pushing against any oddly shaped outthrusting of rock. Balder Khan gave a cry of surprise. The others hurried over to his side. Reaching high up, he pushed. There was a sound of rock scraping over rock.

"Is the stone heavy?" asked Shanti Raj.

Balder Khan shook his head. "No, it actually feels very light. But it is stuck, probably due to dirt and moisture getting into the cracks and sealing it in. But I think I can get it. The stone is just at an awkward angle." He pushed, his large muscles buldging with the strain of his exertion. Akkra wondered how a lesser man would be able to escape from here if the exit were that hard to open. Finally, the stone slipped up and out, revealing a black hole approximately two feet across.

The others let out a subdued cheer. "Who's first?" asked Shanti Raj.

"Akkra, you go first," said Balder Khan. "You're thinnest and will be easiest to get through that hole."

"But we don't know what we'll find up there," said Akkra.

The Conqueror nodded. "I know." He cupped his hands so Akkra could climb up.

Shrugging his shoulders in resignation, the Mazidaran stepped onto Balder Khan's hands, then climbed onto his shoulders and slipped his head and torso through the hole. Reaching up, he grabbed the outer edge of the hole and pulled himself through. As predicted, the hole was at the floor level of the passageway. The stone plug was lying just beside the hole. He leaned back down the hole and asked them to pass him a torch.

He planted the torch in the dirt of the passageway. The tunnel was not very high, with barely enough room for Akkra to get into an awkward crouch. One end extended off until it was lost in darkness. The other end appeared to terminate at the end of the row of cells.

He leaned back down and called for them to send Isma up next. Soon he was pulling her through the hole. Shanti Raj passed the remainder of the torches through and then climbed up himself. Only the Conqueror remained in the cell. He leaped up and grabbed hold of the edge of the hole. Once there, however, he was stymied. He had some difficulty squeezing through the narrow aperture, but with much groaning and cursing, Balder Khan finally pulled himself through. Akkra was not sure how much encouragement he provided the Conqueror with his suggestion that they just leave Balder Khan stuck in the hole, but it was shortly after that remark that Bal was able to twist his shoulders enough to get them through the opening.

They replaced the plug, finding an iron ring on the passage side of the stone. Obviously it was to enable someone to break into the Tomb also.

The tunnel became progressively damper as they approached the river. They were still some distance from the river when they found themselves crawling through muddy water.

"Why doesn't this tunnel fill up with water?" asked Balder Khan.

"Most of the tunnel is dug out of the bedrock under the river," said Akkra. "But I think the tunnel itself drains into another river, one that is underground."

"The Mazidaran slaves didn't build this tunnel," said Shanti Raj. "It would take years to dig this out."

Akkra grunted an assent. "The Mazidarans only dug the part that goes to the Tombs. The rest of these tunnels were built much earlier, probably during Sarchem's regime. We should be coming to the original tunnels soon."

Akkra had no sooner spoken than his prediction came true. The small, muddy tunnel opened onto a larger tunnel, one in which they could stand up. All of them stretched the pains out of their bodies, then began to debate which direction to head in. They knew that one direction led back under the river to the Imperial Palace and Shanti Raj's palace. The other direction was an unknown. While Akkra argued that it must lead to an exit located on the eastern side of Lodar, he really didn't know. On the other hand, he opposed Shanti Raj and Balder Khan's suggestion that they go to one of the two palaces. The chance that Nar Sidthar had taken control of both of them was too great.

Eventually, they acquiesced to Akkra's decision, and headed away from the river.

The tunnel continued straight for a considerable period of time, then began to curve gradually towards the north. Finally, as Akkra was beginning to regret his insistance on coming this route, the tunnel ended in a large antechamber.

The group moved hesitantly to the center of the room, the light from their torches dimly revealing the contents of the chamber. On one side they found several stacks of chests, sealed with ancient padlocks, now thoroughly rusted. There were more than twenty of the chests, each solidly built of the finest wood. Each chest was two feet by two feet by three feet long. Balder Khan tried to lift one of the chests, and grunted in surprise.

"This is heavy," he commented. "I wonder what could be in them?"

Along another portion of the wall was another stack of objects. This stack contained decayed skins of buffalo, which were wrapped around a large supply of swords, poniards, and dirks. Akkra unwrapped the weapons and passed them out to the others. Balder Khan lifted one of the swords to test its balance.

"By the gods, this is a good weapon!" he announced. He tested the blade on one of the sealed boxes. The sharp edge cut through the wood with surprising ease. After a few hacks, the lock fell away. He lifted the lid of the trunk. He whistled when he saw the contents. The others crowded around, their torches revealing the piles of gold coins and prescious jewelry that crammed the trunk.

"There must be a fortune here," said Nar Sidthar. "Sarchem's lost treasure!"

"I'll wager these are the ones who took it," said Akkra, pointing against a far wall. The others looked in the direction he indicated. There they saw a pile of skeletons, the bones now intermingled with each other. "Whoever was responsible for bringing this treasure here probably had the slaves who transported it killed so they couldn't reveal its whereabouts."

"But what happened to the person who had the slaves killed? Why didn't he come and take the treasure away?" asked Isma.

The Mazidaran shrugged. "Perhaps he was caught and killed by Sarchem. I doubt we'll ever know. However, he wouldn't bring this treasure here unless there is a way out. Where is it?"

They searched the walls of the room, but could find no exits. The only opening was the tunnel from which they came. Finally Akkra slapped his forhead. "Of course!" he cried, "It's obvious!"

"Not to me," said Balder Khan with annoyance. "Where is the exit, Akkra?"

Akkra held his torch aloft. "Look how the smoke is drawn towards the center of the room. See that? There is an air current, pulling the air up through a central shaft. That is the exit."

The four of them crowded around the middle of the room, peering up at the rough ceiling. The roof of the room was roughly dome shaped, and the center of the dome did appear to be a large, gaping hole. However, the shadows were very dark and none of them could be at all certain of what they saw. Only Akkra was convinced that the dark shadows concealed an exit.

"That's great," snorted Shanti Raj. "If there is a hole, it is fifteen feet above us! How are we going to get up there?"

"We'll have to climb up," said Balder Khan, starting to drag the treasure chests over to the center of the room. He had dealt with Akkra long enough to begin to trust in Akkra's judgment. The others stared at him a moment, then began to follow suit. They did not bother emptying the chests at the bottom of their stack, but the ones on top had to be opened and their contents spilled onto the floor. Soon a king's ransom was piled in the corner of the room. The empty chests, however, were assembled into a makeshift stairway. Each step was the height of two trunks, and though it appeared somewhat unstable, the structure readily supported Balder Khan's weight.

He climbed to the top as the others watched uncertainly. He raised his torch up into the opening, now clearly visible in the flickering light. "Aha!" he cried. "Akkra, you are a wizard! There are some iron rungs built into this shaft. In fact, it looks like the bottom of a well!" He started to climb the rungs of the ladder as the others scrambled up after him.

Balder Khan climbed upwards for about thirty feet when he stopped. "Oh, oh," he called down. "We have trouble up here."

"What is it?" asked Shanti Raj, right below him.

"It looks like a barrier of some sort. It could be a false bottom to the well."

"See if there is a trap door in it," suggested Akkra. "It can't stop up there."

Balder Khan, trying to hold onto the rungs and his torch simultaneously, finally managed to pull out his sword. He jabbed at the barrier just above his head with the sword until he felt something give way. He began to push with all his strength, and finally a section of the barrier began to rise upwards. He climbed up higher and pushed the trap door upwards. A cloud of dust and debre fell down on those lower on the ladder, producing a series of coughs and curses.

Balder Khan climbed up onto the false floor of the well, then helped each of the others up. Surprisingly, the floor supported their weight. Shining their light on this part of the shaft revealed that it was, in fact, an abandoned well, though it was doubtful if it ever had water in it. Except for their torches, the well was dark, indicating either that it was night time or that the well was covered at the top. All of them were anxious to get out of the well, so without any more comments, they resumed their upward climb.

Once at the top, Balder Khan had no problems pushing the wooden cover off the well. It was night time, fortunately, and no one was around. This part of Lodar was outside the walled city and consisted of a series of villages in close proximity to each other. This well was actually outside of any specific village, a fact that afforded them additional protection from discovery. They extinguished their torches and climbed out of the well. Akkra and Shanti Raj carefully replaced the wooden cover, then joined Balder Khan and Isma in the shadows of a nearby building. The four of them crept into the building. Akkra was pleased to see that it was a horse stable, with a dozen animals dozing quietly. Saddles and bridles were hung on one wall.

"Now what do we do?" asked Isma.

"I've got to get to my army," said Balder Khan, "before this insurrection gets any more out of hand." He turned to Shanti Raj. "You should try to re-establish any contacts with the Imperial Guard. I can't believe they would support Nar Sidthar if they knew you were alive."

"Nor I," agreed Shanti Raj. "But what of Nest-kor?"

"I will find the Princess," said Dak Akkra grimly. "I feel somewhat responsible for her being back in the hands of her enemies."

"This isn't your battle, Prince Akkra," said Shanti Raj. "You don't have to do this."

Akkra laughed. "They have laid the blame for the revolt at the feet of Mazidar. At this moment, they are probably preparing for war against Mazidar. I have to do what I can to save my kingdom."

"And what of the mountain tribes?" asked the Conqueror.

Akkra looked concerned. He knew that without him, the chiefs might have difficulty holding the tribes in check. On the other hand, the plans were well laid out. "If you can be sure that Lodaran warriors don't attack them, they will safely pass well north of here. I don't think there will be any troubles."

Shanti Raj nodded. "I will do my best, Prince Akkra. If you're part of us, may the gods be praised. We need all the help we can get."

The three men shook hands and quickly saddled up four of the horses. The animals made some noise, but no one checked to see what the disturbance was. As quietly as they could, they led the animals outside the stable and away from the village buildings. Once a sufficient distance away, they mounted. Shanti Raj headed for the river to rejoin his warriors. Akkra, Balder Khan, and Isma headed southeast. They had a long ride ahead of them, and at this point no guarantee of success.

In fact, thought Akkra as they rode in silence, it is already as bad as it can get.

Little did he know how wrong he was.