Their escort took them straight to the Imperial Palace. The signs of battle increased dramatically as they neared the palaces. Walls were breached, torn down by battering rams. The gates of the Imperial Palace, massive and impenetrable, had been dismantled, the hinges burned and chopped away.

As they entered the Imperial courtyard, they found hundreds of warriors encamped on both sides of the Avenue of the Conquering Emperor that led up to the palace. Many were being treated for wounds they had received. Akkra noted that the warriors included both Inner Army warriors, mainly from the Hawk Lakari, and Imperial Guard. He did not see any of the tunics of Balder Khan's Outer Army warriors.

They approached the steps of the palace. The stairs were still covered with the debris of the two statues of Att that guarded the entrance of the palace. Someone -- a mob? whatever army won? -- had pulled the statues down. Perhaps it was the symbolic end of Att's tyranny over Tandaria, thought Akkra.

They left their horses at the bottom of the stairs. As they started to ascend the steps, they were stopped by a contingent of Imperial Guards. Several of these guards immediately recognized the Princess, and runners were dispatched to inform superior officers. Akkra, his hands still tied behind his back, and Nest-kor were led into the palace.

The antechambers of the palace were cluttered with tables surrounded by Lakars, Zindars, and other officers of the Imperial Guard. There were very few Inner Army lakaris represented in here, though Akkra did see a few of the Hawk Lakari. Since that was Nar Sidthar's personal lakari, their presence did not bode well.

They entered the vast Reception Hall. At the far end, the Rala throne and the two accompanying thrones remained empty. Below the throne dais, Shanti Raj sat at a table. Akkra allowed himself to relax.

Shanti Raj looked up as an aide told him who was approaching. He jumped from his chair and raced towards Nest-kor. "Your Highness, may the gods be praised, you are safe!" He knelt before her. As he did so, all of the warriors in the chamber bowed down in allegiance.

Nest-kor was both flustered and pleased by the warriors' affirmation of her position. All of her doubts and fears evaporated as she looked around her at the bowed heads that surrounded her. Only Prince Akkra remained standing. "Rise, Magar, rise and tell me what has happened to my empire.

"But before you do, arrest that man!" She pointed at Akkra, who stood motionless, surprised by the vehemence of her command.

Shanti Raj started to protest, but Nest-kor glared at him. "Are you questioning the commands of your Empress?" she demanded.

"No, Your Highness, but I thought--"

"You don't know all the facts, Magar. Put him under arrest and make sure he is well-guarded."

Even as Nest-kor spoke, Akkra had started to react. He had loosened the bindings on his wrists sufficiently to pull the cords off. He pulled a sword out of a Soldar's scabbard, then backed into a defensive crouch. He turned slowly, watching those around him. "I see now how you intend to repay those who help you, Nest-kor. I was foolish to expect anything less from you." He eyed the distance between him and the nearest exit. He knew he had no chance of escape. "You may capture me, Nest-kor, but how many of your warriors are going to fall beneath my sword before you do?"

At that moment, a heavy object flew through the air, hitting the Prince on the side of the head. He crumbled to the ground unconscious.

Shanti Raj shook his head at Akkra's prostrate body. He ordered his warriors to take Akkra to a holding cell. "We will keep him here under guard, Your Highness, until more secure arrangements can be made."

Akkra was picked up and carried off. He was dumped onto the floor of a small, windowless guard room in a lower level of the palace. He slowly awoke to a throbbing pain in his head. He felt his head for blood or other indications of the seriousness of his wound. His head hurt, but otherwise did not appear to be cut.

He checked the room for possible escape but could find nothing. The walls were solid stone, the floor and ceiling likewise. The door was made of a heavy wood. Even if he did have the means of cutting around the hinges, there would be guards on the other side.

The room was sparsely furnished. The only illumination in the room came from under the door. It was dark, but as his eyes became accustomed to the light, he found he could discern shapes and objects around him. A small foot stool stood in one corner, an old pile of straw in another. An upturned water basis was buried in the straw, along with a spoon and an assortment of insects and other vermin. Akkra went to the door and put his ear against it, but he could hear nothing through the thick, rough wood. Experimentally, he tugged on the handle, but as he expected, the door was secured.

Akkra shrugged and settled down against the wall opposite the door. There was nothing to do until someone came to get him. Then he would see what developed.

He dozed off, woke, then slept some more. He lost track of the time, though he was convinced that it was mid-morning at the latest. Then he heard the latch on the door being lifted, and the door slowly and noisily swung inwards.

Akkra shielded his eyes from the sudden light. A small, slender body was silhouetted in the doorway. The person came in and put something on the floor. A guard came in, bearing a torch, which he attached to the wall. The light of the flame revealed that the first person was Tathi. Akkra masked his surprise at seeing her.

Tathi faced Akkra. "Shanti Raj said I could interrogate the prisoner," she said to the guard over her shoulder. The warrior seemed surprised, but grunted his assent. He left the room, pulling the door shut behind him. "I will be outside if you need help," he said.

Tathi appeared to relax. "Prince Akkra, you seem to be in a lot of trouble."

Akkra laughed. "I assure you, Tathi, that I did not plan this! Have you heard what Nest-kor has in mind for me? Or is she simply going to leave me here?"

Tathi's expression was pained. "Akkra, there is so much confusion going on now, no one knows what is happening. I-- I shouldn't be here, but Shanti Raj seemed to think. . . The Princess is attempting to reunite the nobles, but there are so many factions developing that it is unlikely anyone can prevent more strife."

"Where is Balder Khan? Can't he and Shanti Raj combine forces and restore order?"

She shook her head. "Balder Khan is north, pursuing the barbarians--"

"What?" Akkra almost knocked her down as he grabbed hold of her. "Why is he doing that?" he demanded.

"Then you don't know?" Tathi said, the uncertainty in her voice only increasing Akkra's impatience. "I thought Shanti Raj told you and Nest-kor."

"No, he didn't. I was taken away before he told Nest-kor what had transpired after I rescued him from the Tomb."

"You did save him, then, didn't you?" Her tone was suddenly firmer, as though some doubts in her own mind had been washed away. "Shanti hasn't had time to tell me all that happened since Mith Cor was killed, but I suspected most of it. I had hoped that you weren't responsible."

"Tathi, calm down and tell me about the barbarians."

She nodded. "Two days ago, after much fighting between Shanti's warriors and the Inner Army warriors, Nar Sidthar's Hawk Lakari apparently was split apart when they learned Nar's true role in the assassination plot. Most of the lakari surrendered to Shanti's warriors. The rest, along with Nar Sidthar, fled north. We don't know what happened to them, but we think they encountered the barbarian horde that was crossing the northern plains. Balder Khan said that you were responsible for that." Akkra nodded, his expression urging her on.

"Whatever happened, we don't know. But yesterday the barbarians invaded Lodar. Balder Khan took what few troops he could muster and tried to drive them out of the city. They fled back north, with Balder Khan in pursuit.

"Then, yesterday evening, you arrived with Nest-kor. Shanti didn't know what to think. Were you supposed to meet the barbarians after they took Lodar, or were you legitimately returning the Princess to Lodar? Shanti tried to find out from Nest-kor, but she kept insisting that you were part of a sinister plot to take over Lodar."

"May the gods damn that stupid woman," swore Akkra. "I should have let her priests sacrifice her to Att." He saw the look of shock on Tathi's face. He softened his tone considerably. "No, Tathi, I couldn't do that. But Nest-kor is misreading what we propose." Briefly he explained his father's plan to quell revolt by marrying him and Nest-kor.

Tathi sighed. "It makes sense, Dak Akkra. But how do you feel about Nest-kor? Do you love her?"

Akkra shrugged. He wasn't sure how he felt about the Princess. He remembered telling her, during a quiet moment they had together, that he loved her. But she had been asleep then. Had he chosen that particular moment to discuss his feelings because he knew she would not hear? There were so many things about Nest-kor that irritated him to the core. On the other hand, he found himself strangely attracted to her headstrong, sometimes flighty, sometimes serious personality. "I don't think it matters what people like us feel, Tathi. We have our duties to perform. We have no time for feelings."

Tathi shook her red-tinted hair. "I used to think that, Prince Akkra, but now I realize there is more to our lives than duty. If we are not involved with our duty, we can never do it as well as it should be done or as well as we are truly capable of doing it. If you were to marry Nest-kor without the prospect of love, you would only be fooling yourself. And neither of you would ever achieve the greatness your duty demands of you."

Akkra recalled the faces of Bala Chand and Neeri. How would their lives have been better if they allowed duty to dominate them? He smiled, recalling how easy it was for him to see the wisdom of Tathi's words for people like Bala and Neeri, yet how difficult it was to apply those same ideas to his own life. "Tathi, you are indeed wise. I envy Shanti Raj having you by his side." He put his arms around her, intending merely to give her a friendly hug. But she came to him a little too easily, as though this embrace was something both wanted to do, but had never believed could happen. She tilted her head back, and he kissed her desperately, trying to grasp all the passion that could have existed between them, but which they both knew could never be.

It was at that moment, that briefist of human events, that the door to the cell opened up. Akkra and Tathi pulled away from each other and saw Princess Nest-kor in the doorway. The look of shocked surprise on her face was rapidly being replaced with furrows of rage as she glared at them. Finally she turned to the guards. "Bring them out!" she ordered. Her tone was ice. And for the first time since he had encountered her, Akkra felt a wave of trepidation as he realized that Nest-kor could be very vindictive.

Nest-kor's outrage did not seem to last long. Her angry glare was replaced with a stony mask that revealed nothing of the emotions that she was feeling. "Bring the Mazidaran to my chambers," she ordered. She turned her cold stare on Tathi. "Return to your Magar. And thank the gods that you're not important enough to try for treason. You would be wise to remember, Tathi, that we also have laws against adulterous behavior."

Tathi straightened her shoulders and returned Nest-kor's penetrating stare. She betrayed no fear, though her insides were heaving. She well knew the vindictiveness of the Lodaran Imperial family. "I have committed no treason, Your Highness. Shanti Raj knows about my friendship with Prince Akkra. He also knows that my faithfulness to him is unimpeachable." She walked past the Princess, calmly and assuredly, and headed back to the chambers she and Shanti Raj were occupying.

Nest-kor watched her depart. Her teeth were clenched and her breathing became noticeably heavier. She spun to face Akkra. "You will do anything to bring dissension to my Empire, won't you Akkra? Are there any limits to your perfidy?"

"If simple friendship between two people is treason and perfidy, Your Highness, then there are no limits. As far as bringing dissension to your empire, you still haven't seen the truth, have you? You listen to the lies that are fed to you, believing only what is easiest to believe. You don't take the time to look beneath the surface of these so-called assertions to determine whether the facts are consistent or logical. How can you ever expect to rule an empire when you serve only at the beck and call of your devious minions?

"It didn't take revolting armies, barbarian hordes, or conspiring nobles to bring down your father's empire, Princess. All it took was the arrogance to think that the only truth was what Mith Cor wanted the truth to be. You have inherited your father's most damning failing, Nest-kor, and just as that failing caused him to loose his empire and his life, so shall it be your downfall."

Akkra's look of disdain was even more painful to Nest-kor than the sting of his words. She was becoming more and more confused, not knowing what to believe or whom to trust. Shanti Raj seemed to believe that Akkra could be trusted, yet would he continue to believe that if he saw the Prince in the arms of his wife?

Yet when she tried to do what Akkra said, look at the truth beneath the words, what did she see? She had been told that Akkra was responsible for the death of her father? Yet Akkra had twice saved her life, both times from the very people who insisted that Mazidar was the enemy. She had seen the barbarian hordes, the thousands and thousands of them. She had seen first hand their wildness, the propensity to violence. Yet she had also seen the friendliness of the tribes, their willingness to share what they had with her. She knew they were capable of attacking Lodar, but if the entire horde had attacked, wouldn't the destruction be far greater? Shanti Raj had admitted that barbarians had attacked, but he believed it to be only a minor foray by a few hundred of them.

And what of Prince Akkra himself? He infuriated her by saying things that no one should be allowed to say and live. But wasn't that the very essence of what he was trying to tell her? That because of her position, she would be told one kind of truth, while another kind of truth was withheld from her? She began to understand that simply having supreme power did not make one supremely powerful. If she did not know what was truly happening around her, she was, in fact, actually quite powerless.

She felt that she had misjudged Akkra, and now she wanted to correct some of her errors. She would show the Mazidaran that she finally comprehended his message. "Take Prince Akkra to the royal chambers and get him some suitable clothes," she ordered. Having resolved her conflicts, Nest-kor decided to make amends in proper fashion. She would formally receive Prince Akkra as an equal. He would see that she had the makings of a great leader.

Two guards grabbed hold of Akkra's arms, but Nest-kor stopped them. "Prince Akkra is our guest," she said. "Show him the respect due a member of the nobility."

The guards raised their eyebrows, but nodded assent. They released their grip on Akkra, who eyed Nest-kor with suspicion. He was still regarding her with caution as the warriors led him off to the royal chambers.

Nest-kor returned to the Rala throne room where Shanti Raj was still conferring with his Zindars. He looked up as Nest-kor entered the chamber. He came over to her and bowed.

"Your Highness, Tathi told me that you encountered her in a--" He searched for the correct word. "-- in a compromising situation."

Nest-kor nodded, surprised that Tathi would be that open about the incident. Angry as Nest-kor had been, she had decided not to mention anything about what she had witnessed. Was Tathi afraid that rumors might blow the event out of proportion and so had nipped it in the bud?

"Your Highness, let me tell you some facts about Tathi that have never been revealed before to anyone in Lodar." Shanti then related Tathi's history: her royal heritage in Patel, her engagement to Akkra, the capture by slave traders, his purchase of her, and his eventual decision to grant her free-woman status. He also described what he knew of Akkra's visit to his palace. "Tathi did not realize that her visitor was the prince himself. But perhaps you can see, Your Highness, why I have so much respect for Prince Akkra. Some might see him as a rival. I see him as a man of honor."

Nest-kor listened in amazement. Tathi had said that she and Akkra were just friends. Her heart began to race. She had thought that they were lovers. Her anger, she realized, had been caused by her jealousy and fear that Akkra found Tathi more desirable than her. She had to see him, she must talk with him. She had to know, did he care about her? He must! she kept telling herself. He hadn't risked his life for her simply because she was the Princess of Lodar.

She called her guards and asked them to check on the Prince. Within minutes, the guards hurried back, their faces pale with trepidation. "What is the problem?" she demanded.

"He is gone, Your Highness! The guards were overpowered. We found them unconscious or bound up. There is no sign of the Mazidaran!"

Nest-kor's mouth fell open. How could they be so careless? She ordered an immediate search of the entire palace and sealing of all the doors. Shanti Raj began to interrogate all of the guards who watched over the exits of the palace, but report after report came back the same: no one had entered or left the building since the moment the Prince was released from the holding cell.

Tathi had heard about the commotion and the Mazidaran's escape. She jointed Shanti Raj in the Throne room. As the reports confirmed that the Prince was nowhere to be found, she exchanged a knowing glance with Shanti. He caught her eye. "Of course!" he exclaimed. "The garden!"

Nest-kor was puzzled by his excitement. She hurried with him and Tathi into the Imperial Gardens. "He can't be hiding in here," she protested. "The warriors have already searched it."

Shanti led them to the hidden entrance to the tunnel that connected Mith Cor's palace with his. The guards pulled aside the shrubbery that hid the entrance. "That is how the Prince escaped," he said. "By now, he is probably climbing over the wall at my palace."

"But where would he go?" asked Nest-kor. "Perhaps we can catch him."

Shanti Raj shook his head. "I have no doubt where he went, Your Highness, but I doubt we'll catch him. We couldn't hold him when we had four or five guards on him. As for where he went, he is probably going to the mountain people. He still has to make sure they arrive at the Nasilam Steppes."

Nest-kor's shoulders dropped. "Then I have lost him, haven't I? I will never see him again."

Tathi pondered the Princess for a moment. "You do love him, don't you, Your Highness?" She had her answer by the look in Nest-kor's eyes. "Then perhaps there is a means by which you could get him back. But it will be very dangerous for you."

Nest-kor looked hopefully at Tathi. "How? What do I have to do?" she asked.

Escaping his guards was no problem for Akkra. Nest-kor's seemingly conflicting orders through them into lax confusion, which Akkra was prompt to take advantage of. He tripped one guard, rabbit-punched a second warrior into unconsciousness, and threw himself against the other two. They careened into the wall with the Mazidaran banging his fists against the side of one's head. The first guard was on his feet just as Akkra incapacitated another guard. He drew his sword. Against an unarmed man, he became too cocky. He approached rapidly, his sword jabbing at the Prince. Akkra waited until the last possible moment, then leapt aside. The guard found himself lunging towards his comrade. He tried to check himself, but Akkra had stepped behind him. The Prince gave the man a powerful kick that propelled the warrior forward. His helmet crashed into the wall, and the man crumpled to the ground, either dead or knocked out. Akkra grabbed a loose sword and using the pommel as a mallet, pounded the last warrior on the head.

He pulled the men out of the corridor. Quickly cutting strips of cloth off their tunics, he gagged and bound the warriors. He took the clothes of a warrior closest to his size. Then, armed with a sword and a dagger, he headed for the Imperial Gardens.

The gardens were deserted. Akkra hurried over to the wall that contained the secret passage. He spent several worrisome minutes searching the shrubbery for the hidden entrance, then found it almost by chance. He pulled the covering brush aside, entered the cavity, pulling the bushes as well as he could back in front of the opening.

Shanti Raj's palace provided just enough pandemonium to allow Akkra to get a horse from the stable, saddle it up, even wrangle some provisions from a mess tent set up in the courtyard, and leave without arousing suspicion or alarm. His escape was so easy that he kept checking to see if he were being followed.

Leaving Lodar was not as simple as leaving the palace, however. He was stopped at a checkpoint by three soldars. They asked for his papers, which Akkra was unable to produce. He fumbled in his tunic, checked the pouch tied to his saddle, then finally let out a string of barroom epithets. "I must have left them on the table back at Shanti Raj's palace," he said. "Send someone back to get them."

The warriors laughed. "You think we have time to do all the bidding of the fools who pass by here, soldar? You go back and find your own orders, and may your superiors take the whip to you for your incompetence!"

Akkra turned back into the city, daunted, but not defeated. He search several streets until he found an alley that led off into the fields surrounding the city. The city wall in this spot had long ago been torn down to build hovels for the poor who lived on the edges of the city. As Akkra came closer to the end of the alley, however, he saw why no one was overly concerned about the breach in the wall. The ground fell away in a steep embankment. Akkra estimated that it was the height of three men. The loose soil would make it impossible for man or beast to ascend, particularly if warriors were at the to armed with long bows. However, descent should be possible.

He urged his horse over the edge. The animal began to race down the short slope, nearly tripping when it hit the bottom. Akkra, leaning backwards to keep his balance, almost fell off as the animal regained its balance, but he managed to hold on.

He reined the horse around and followed the embankment as it turned north. He was paralleling the river. He knew that the land should level out a little further on, making his travel easier -- and exposing him to patrolling Lodarans. It was a chance he would have to take.

Akkra rode for several hours, finally resting the horse near the remains of a burned-out farm. The ashes were cold. Streaks of black ash carried by water indicated that there had been a rainstorm, since it was unlikely that an attempt to put the fire out would have been made. Akkra estimated that the fire had occurred several days earlier, but he could not determine if it had been done in attack or retreat. There were no bodies around. Either they had been carted off someplace else, buried, or no one had died. He would get no clues from that quarter.

Akkra resumed his ride north. His steed could not maintain the gallop he had attempted earlier, so he permitted the animal to set its own pace. It was well that he did so, since around noon, he encountered the first signs of Outer Army patrols.

He had been riding slowly along the road when he heard the sounds of several horses traveling at a fast gallop. He hid his horse behind bushes that paralleled the road. He rubbed the animals snout and soothed its nervousness. Then he waited for the riders to appear.

There were six warriors, probably a patrol squad scouting the countryside. Judging by their pace and lack of concern, they were in secure territory, probably heading back towards camp. Akkra conjectured that they were going to get a midday meal. That meant that the camp must be relatively close, probably within a mile or so.

Akkra let the riders pass on by, then allow a few more minutes to go by. Sure enough, a few minutes later, a second larger patrol, consisting of ten to fifteen men, rode by. The first group served as a decoy to draw out any potential enemy ambushes, which would then be quelled by the reinforcements that arrive a few minutes later.

After the second group of warriors had passed him, Akkra mounted his horse and continued on down the road, heading towards Balder Khan's camp. The easiest way to find out what had happened was probably the most direct way. He would ask the Conqueror.

He had just passed the perimeter of the camp when he was accosted by warriors posted on guard duty. Their ease evaporated when Akkra revealed who he was. Ten warriors promptly mounted their horses and formed an escort around Akkra. They led him briskly towards the center of the camp.

As they approached the Magar's tent, Akkra saw a small stockade off to one side. Inside four men, all warriors of the Clors clan, were chained to the wooden bars of the enclosure. Akkra didn't know them personally, but he did recognize three of them. They looked up as Akkra approached. They glowered sullenly as he rode by, their eyes revealing undisguised hatred and resentment.

Balder Khan was surprised to see Akkra. His tone, when he spoke, was bitter. "So, Mazidaran, we have finally caught you!"

Akkra hurrumphed in disgust as he dismounted from his horse. His escort did likewise. "You haven't caught me, Balder Khan. I came here of my own free will."

"Then you are not only treacherous, but you're stupid as well. Hand over your weapons, Akkra. I am going to take you back to Lodar."

Akkra made no move to comply. In fact, he assumed a posture of greater relaxation. "I've just left Lodar, Khan. I have absolutely no desire to return there for a long time. I intend to rejoin the mountain tribes and make sure they arrive at their destination safely."

"Help them retreat, you mean!" Balder Khan's anger was ready to explode.

"Why don't you tell me what happened instead of throwing accusations and insults about?" Akkra's voice was calm and unhurried. It had its intended effect on Balder Khan.

"Lodar was attacked by the barbarians," he began. "Despite your assurances that they would give wide berth to the densely populated areas, they stormed the city a couple of days ago. We were able to route them from the capital, but not before they had done considerable looting and pillaging. I have been in pursuit of them since then."

Akkra gestured towards the cage. "These are some of the prisoners?"

Balder Khan nodded. "We didn't get many, since they do not like to be taken alive. We were only able to capture these four because they had been knocked unconscious during battle. I swear by the gods, they would kill themselves trying to escape if we did not keep them bound up."

Akkra nodded. "The Clors believe that if they are captured, their enemies can steal their soul. Only when they die in battle is the soul strong enough to avoid capture and escape to the afterlife." Akkra paused, staring at the four Clors tribesmen. "How many barbarians do you think there were?"

Balder Khan shrugged. "The estimates ranged from hundreds to tens of thousands. Based on the scouting reports, the size of their campsites, horse tracks, I think it was only a couple of hundred."

"In that case, Balder Khan, Lodar wasn't attacked by the entire horde, or even a large part of it. It was attacked by a small band of renegades, probably less than one out of a hundred of the tribal population."

"I don't care if it was ten or a hundred thousand. They still invaded Lodar!"

"Yes, they did. I am not disputing that, Conqueror. But I think it is important to find out why they attacked Lodar."

Balder Khan cocked his head skeptically. "How do you propose to do that?"

Akkra smiled. "Let's ask your prisoners."

The Clors were not pleased to see Akkra. "You foreign traitor!" spat one of them. "Do you now go to betray the mountain tribes even more than you have done? If I had a sword, I would repay you for your vile treachery!"

"How have I betrayed the tribes?" demanded Akkra.

"Act the innocent, son of a Tolkar pig! We brought up the rear of the tribes, since we were the best warriors in case of ambush. Durga was wise not to trust the Tolkars. When Thok reaches the tribal council site, he will take control away from Balan-kazar. The Clors will take control of all the tribes. Then we will return to the lowlanders' cities and raze them to the ground!"

"Tell me, Clor, if your mind can work straight, how I betrayed the tribes?"

"You guaranteed safe passage, pig! Then, when we are most vulnerable, you unleash the Lodaran warriors on us! They attack us from the rear, like the cowards they are. But we Clors bested them, then rode south to teach the city-dwellers a lesson."

Akkra turned to Balder Khan. "Did you take any action against the tribes?" he asked.

"No, but I know who did," replied the Conqueror grimly. "Nar Sidthar. When he fled the city, he took about half of his Panther Lakari with him, the remainder switching to the Imperial forces. We chased them out of the city, but did not have time to pursue them. They must have encountered the mountain people and attacked them."

Akkra faced the Clor. "Clor, you and your people are mighty warriors. You claim you bested the Lodarans who attacked you. Did you capture their leader? Or did you kill him before you could sacrifice him to Chohan?"

The Clor regarded Akkra with contempt. "You insult us, Tolkar. Of course we caught their chief. He is a powerful and wealthy chief, who has already offered us much of their gold for his worthless life. He would have gone to Chohan already, but we must first rejoin our clansmen. It would be improper to deny them the chance to make this great sacrifice and gain the glory and respect of Chohan."

Akkra started walking back towards Balder Khan's tent. The Conqueror hurried after him. "That hardly proves anything, Akkra. They could be lying through their rotten teeth."

"Not likely," said Akkra. "They have no reason to lie, Khan. I think what happened is obvious. Nar Sidthar and his warriors, fleeing Lodar, stumbled upon the rear guard of the clans. A battle ensued, which the Clors won. Either emboldened by the victory or enraged by the attack, they decide to attack Lodar. Now you are in pursuit of them. If you do manage to encounter the main horde, I can assure you that the outcome will not be favorable to your side. Despite your best troops, the mountain people will have you vastly outnumbered. Even the women and children will fight you to the death." He paused to allow his words to have an effect.

Finally the Lodaran nodded. "You are right, Akkra. But I cannot leave Nar Sidthar with them. He must return to Lodar to answer for his crimes." He looked in the direction of the Clor prisoners. "Perhaps I can exchange them for him," he suggested.

"The Clors do not exchange prisoners," said Akkra. "Besides, these four are already dead men. Unless they can redeem themselves by some heroic deed, their capture has already diminished them in the eyes of their clansmen. However, there is a way to get Nar Sidthar back, that is, if they have not already sacrificed him. It is not one I relish." Akkra became momentarily silent, then shrugged. "Conqueror, let's break camp. We have a lot to do."

Balder Khan was puzzled. The Mazidaran had always been an enigma to him. Now his behavior was just plain absurd. "What's your plan, Akkra?" And as Akkra explained what he intended to do, the Conqueror's eyes widened. Finally, after the last detail had been described, the Conqueror shook his head. "This sounds like a sure ticket to a painful death, Prince Akkra. But I'll be damned if I am going to let you do this by yourself. I'll be by your side every minute."

Akkra smiled. "You realize, of course, that if I fail, you will be killed also."

Balder Khan laughed. "It would be worth the price to see someone cut you down to size, Akkra!"

The Mazidaran winced. "I wish you'd pick a better choice of words, Conqueror!"

Akkra's plan was put into effect immediately. While Akkra worked on preparing written orders for the Lakari, Balder Khan met with his Zindars, discussing strategy and tactics. The camp was broken, and during the confusion of tearing down tents, packing animals, and readying armor, the four Clors managed to overcome their guards. The Lodaran's superior forces were able to prevent any fatalities, but all Balder Khan's forces could manage was to wound one of the Clors as they fled on stolen horses.

Balder Khan nodded as he heard the report of the Clors' escape. "You did well, Soldar," he complemented the warrior whose laxity had permitted the Clors to overpower the guards. "I realize it is strange to allow prisoners to escape, but when we return to Lodar, I'll stand you to a flagon of ale and explain it all to you."

The Soldar saluted and left the tent. Akkra put his hand on Balder Khan's shoulder. "Thank you for letting them go," he said. "This way, they can redeem themselves by bringing information about the strength of your camp. You have enough warriors here to prevent even the Clors from attempting to attack. By the time they rejoin their entire clan, it will not matter."

Normally it took only a few hours for the Lodarans to break camp, but Balder Khan allowed the men to take longer than usual. He wanted to give the escaping Clors time to rejoin their raiding party and to give that group time to catch up with the main horde. It was mid afternoon when Balder Khan and Dak Akkra sat astride their horses watching the Lodaran Lakari head back south to Lodar. As they disappeared into the dust clouds kicked up by thousands of horses, Balder Khan turned his horse around to face north. "Well, Akkra, let's go get a traitor."

Akkra and Balder Khan, hidden up on a rocky hill, looked down at the Clors camp. There were few guards posted. The Clors were ever ready for battle, so in a sense, all were on guard. A thousand campfires dotted the valley and hillsides where the Clor clans were resting for the night. Though he could not see them, Akkra knew the remainder of the tribes were camped further north and east. Another half day's march were the steep slopes that led up to the vast Nasilam Steppes.

"Well, Prince, what do you propose? Are you going to ride right in as you did into my camp?"

Akkra pursed his lips. "Ordinarily that would be the safest way to get in. But the Clors are probably alerted that I was in your camp, so they may not trust me. I think we should wait a bit longer, then try to get as close to Thok's tents as possible."

He made himself as comfortable as he could on the rocks. "In the meantime, I'm going to sleep."

Balder Khan watched in amazement as the Mazidaran closed his eyes and dozed off. Shrugging, he too tried to make himself comfortable, but he could not bring himself to fall asleep. Just knowing that there were nearly ten thousand blood-thirsty barbarians within bowshot distance was enough to keep him very alert.

There were few campfires burning when Akkra appeared to wake up. He was instantly awake, such that Balder Khan wondered if he had really been asleep. The Prince studied the camp intently for several moments. "Let's go," he said quietly.

As silently as they could, the two men crept down the slope towards the camp, staying behind larger boulders for protection whenever they could. They passed the periphery of the camp without being detected. Once past the outer perimeter of tents, however, Akkra made no attempt to hide himself. While still quiet, he strode boldly towards the center of the camp. Balder Khan, surprised by the Mazidaran's audacity, hesitated, then hurriedly caught up with the Prince.

They were merely a few dozen paces from Thok's tent before they were challenged.

Upon their discovery, the camp immediately came alive. Soon the pair was surrounded by hundreds of Clor warriors. Although the Clors brandished many weapons, no one attacked Akkra or Khan.

Thok emerged slowly from his tent, followed by his youngest son, Elak, a mere child. His oldest son, Sorga, pushed his way through the crowd to join his father.

"Ah, the Wizard Prince has rejoined the tribes," sneered Thok. "What is the purpose of your visit, Tolkar? Do you bring us another hostage?"

"I have come to take away a hostage," replied Akkra. "I want to take the Lodaran magar back to face charges of treason against his emperor."

"Why would you do this? They are not your people."

"The Lodaran betrayed his people by killing the emperor and causing insurrection. Until his deceit can be brought to light, the flatlanders will blame the tribes for their civil war. You and your warriors have contributed to that unrest, Thok. By returning the prisoner to Lodar for trial, you can restore peace between the flatlanders and the mountain tribes."

Thok's expression was contemptuous. "What if we don't want peace?"

"That," replied Akkra coolly, "is not for you to decide. When you and your clansmen agreed to join this migration, it was with the pledge that the rule of all chiefs would be binding. Is the word of a Clor then so worthless? Is there not a Clor among you who can make a pledge that other men can trust?"

"How dare you come into the Clor camp and insult our honor?" demanded Sorga. "We have kept our pledge not to attack the lowlander's villages and cities. It is they who attacked us, and the Lodaran chieftain will be a gift to Chohan."

Akkra shook his head. "That cannot be. The Lodaran must be returned, or there shall be no peace between the tribes and the Tandarian nations. Release the Lodaran, Thok."

The Clor chief took his sword out of its scabbard. "If you want him so badly, Tolkar, then you must fight for him."

Akkra boldly stared at the older man. "I do not fight just for the Lodaran, Thok. If I fight you, it is for chieftainship of the Clors!"

The Clors warriors were silent only momentarily. Then they began to hoot and shout, urging the combatant to fight. Many of the Clors had no great loyalty towards Thok, and greeted any attempt to overthrow him with enthusiasm. Thok's supporters also relished the fight, since a victory by the Clor moved their tribe one step closer towards domination of all the mountain tribes. Besides, even if Akkra did manage to kill Thok -- which everyone there thought was a virtual impossibility -- the Mazidaran would then have to fight Sorga.

The fight for leadership of the Clors, as with most of the mountain tribes, was based simply on strength pitted against strength. The fight was hand-to-hand, with only those weapons provided by nature.

Balder Khan knew that the Prince had certain skills in hand-to- hand combat, but as he compared the physiques of the two men, he wondered again how the Prince could survive. Thok was twenty years older than Akkra, to be sure, but he also outweighed the Prince by fifty pounds, was half a foot taller, and had more muscles in his arms than Akkra had on his entire body. The only advantage that Akkra had was a speed and agility that might be the Clor's undoing.

Both men stripped off all their clothes and footwear. No weapons could be concealed in the folds of even the smallest garment. The two men faced each other, as the Clors drew around in a large circle. A tribal elder stepped between them.

"This is a fight to the death for leadership of the Clors clans. The fight will continue, as long as is necessary, until one or the other of you is dead. If the fight ends in a draw, whereby both of you are wounded and unable to kill the other, you both shall be put to the sword!

"May Chohan give strength to whichever of you is most worthy to lead the Clors!"

He stepped back into the surrounding crowd, signaling the beginning of the fight. Thok and Akkra slowly circled around, both men crouched and ready to spring. Thok jumped towards Akkra, who side-stepped at the last moment. He brought the edge of his hand down hard on Thok's neck, but the blow seemed to have no effect on the Clor chief. Thok whirled as he landed, grabbing Akkra's waist. The big man immediately wrapped his arms around the Prince, and using the momentum of his jump, pulled both of them to the ground. Thok's powerful arms began to squeeze tighter and tighter. Akkra reached down and groped for Thok's testicles. The Clor, realizing what Akkra was trying to do, squeezed harder even as he tried to inch his arms up around Akkra's rib cage. Akkra had to stop him before the Clor could do that. Akkra found what he was searching for and began to apply as much pressure as he could. Thok bore as much of the pain as he could, then, as it seemed as if Akkra was going to rip his testicles off, the Clor pushed Akkra away.

The two men were instantly back on their feet, once more moving in a circular pattern. More distance separated them as Akkra tried to get his wind back.

Thok, however, knew that he had the advantage, so he kept circling ever closer towards Akkra, using the circle of onlookers as a wall against which to back the Prince. When he saw Akkra move his head to the side to see how much room he had, he charged again. The Mazidaran, however, was waiting for him to come. Akkra rolled with Thok's charge, falling to the ground as Thok came over him. Meeting no resistance, Thok began to sail over Akkra's body. Thok tried to grab the Prince, but Akkra was already tucking his legs up and kicking out at Thok's midsection, catapulting him up and over. Thok somersaulted over onto his back, only to find Akkra standing over him. Akkra smashed the balls of his hands against Thok's temples, dazing the Clor chief. Akkra brought his fist back, ready to slam Thok's nose cartilage into his brain. Death would be instantaneous, and the fight would be ended.

Akkra never got a chance to deal his deadly punch. He felt a sharp pain in his upraised shoulder. He opened his eyes in wonder as he realized that there was a knife buried deep in his upper back. Thok quickly regained his orientation and shoved Akkra aside. Dak twisted around and pulled the knife painfully from his shoulder. He tossed it angrily to the ground.

"Father," yelled Sorga as he tossed a short sword into the ring. Thok grasped the sword in his hand and turned to face the Prince. The crowd grew silent as this double breach of tradition took place. Two of the Clors grabbed Sorga's arms in vice-like grips to prevent any further outrageous acts.

Akkra, glancing around him to ascertain where he was, backed slowly away as the bigger man advanced on him. Akkra knew that Sorga was behind him, and he was alert for any further treachery by the chief's son. Thok glared at the Prince, as he approached step by step. "Come on, Thok, you certainly can't lose now," taunted the Mazidaran. "You are going to fight by a coward's rules, then have a coward's kill." Akkra stopped moving and stood straight up, his arms at his sides. He tried to smile, but the pain in his shoulder made it look more like a contemptuous sneer. And perhaps it was.

Thok yelled an obscenity and raced towards Akkra, the sword pointing out in front of him. Though Thok was barely six paces away when he began his charge, to Akkra, the big man seemed to take forever to reach him. But as he did, Akkra dived to one side. Thok continued on by, unable to slow his momentum and so blinded by his rage, that he failed to divert his sword before it plunged into Sorga's chest. The young man tried to evade his father's sword, but the two men holding him were frozen by the shocking pace of events.

Akkra didn't wait for Thok to regain his composure. As the Clor chief stared in horror at the blood spurting from his son's chest, Akkra leaped onto his back. The Prince gripped Thok's head and twisted it violently back and around, snapping the big man's neck. Thok crumbled to the ground on top of the Prince, who slowly extricated himself.

The Clors were momentarily silent as they began to comprehend that Akkra had defeated Thok. Several of the elders raised a cry, "Hail Akkra, Chief of the Clors!" Then, more and more of the Clors took up the chant, until the skies were throbbing with the exulted cries of the tribe.

Balder Khan hurried over towards the Prince. "By the gods of Tandaria, you did it!" he exclaimed. "I must confess, Prince, I was convinced you were destined for the funeral pyres this time."

"If you don't stop your gab and help me get this wound dressed, Conqueror, you will bring about that destiny!"

Akkra's wound was more painful than serious and was quickly dressed. Akkra immediately met with the tribal elders who seemed a little non-plussed with their new chieftain. Akkra knew what was bothering them. "Elder's of the Clors!" he shouted to gather their attention. "By the traditions of the Clor clans, I have bested the Chief of the Clors and can therefore claim right to his horses, cattle, goats, tents, weapons, women, and children." There was head-wagging of agreement.

"But hear me, elders of the Clors. I know that true leadership of the Clors should go to a member of the Clor bloodline!"

There was considerable murmuring as the old men whispered their interpretations of Akkra's words. Dak held up his hand for silence. "I will yield my position as Chief of the Clors to a warrior of your choosing if certain conditions are met."

"What are these conditions, Akkra of the Tolkars?" asked one of the more respected tribal warriors.

"First, I want the Lodaran prisoner turned over to me and Balder Khan, as I originally requested.

"Second, I want the Clors to live in peace and harmony with the other mountain tribes."

The elders discussed the proposal for only a few minutes before they turned back to Akkra. "We have selected Nalim Tzachek as our leader, Wizard Prince. We are bringing him here now. We will tell him of our will and see if he will abide."

Minutes later, a surprised Clor warrior was instated as the Chieftain of the tribes. The fact that the elders had made a good choice was indicated by the overwhelming enthusiasm of the assembled warriors.

Nalim approached Dak Akkra and Balder Khan. "We agree to the terms you have stipulated, Wizard Prince. I must confess, I am surprised by your actions, but some of us may not be cut out for the rigors of leadership. Here is your prisoner. Take him and be gone."

Akkra and Balder Khan led Nar Sidthar, bound and gagged, over to a horse. They lifted him up, then as a further precaution against his escape, tied his legs beneath the horse's belly.

The Clors watched silently as the three men rode silently to the edge of the camp.

They stopped when they were about half a mile away from the last of the Clor's tents. The first hint of dawn was lighting up the sky. "He wasn't exactly the most grateful person, was he, Prince Akkra?"

Akkra laughed. "No, but then he wouldn't be a Clor if he possessed many social graces!" Akkra gestured towards Nar Sidthar. "Will you be able to manage him with no trouble?"

The Conqueror nodded. "I should be able to rejoin my warriors within a day. They weren't going to go very fast. And you, what are your plans?"

Akkra gestured towards the pink and orange horizon. "I will go that way. I still have to make sure those tribes get where they are supposed to be."

"And what of your father? Is he still bringing his army north?"

Akkra laughed. "Do you still mistrust us, Balder Khan? Put your fears to rest. We have no designs on the Empire, absolutely no wish to conquer it. The Mazidaran army will head back south as soon as I tell them that everything is back to normal up here in the north. I will send a messenger bird as soon as I reach the camp of the tribes."

Balder Khan smiled. "Akkra, the strange thing is that I do trust you. But in my profession, trust comes with difficulty. You can ask me to change my colors, but don't expect it to happen all at once."

"Fair enough, Conqueror. And may the next time we see each other be when we are doddering old men, retired from all this nonsense."

They shook hands, then turned their horses in their separate directions. Neither of them looked back.