Viperhand - Douglas Niles [78]
"I must disbelieve the tales I have heard-lies, doubtlessly-that it was you who ordered the legion attacked in Palul." Cordell paused to gauge the Revered Counselor's answer.
"Yes, lies," said Naltecona with a downward look. "The chiefs who would practice such treachery will certainly be punished!"
"I believe that they already have been," noted Cordell dryly. "I only hope that their numbers do not grow again, for our reprisals must, at that instance, become truly harsh."
"You have my word on it," replied the Revered Counselor of Nexal.
"Very well." For a while, they talked pleasantries, as Cor-dell found himself expressing genuine astonishment and delight at the wonders of Axalt's palace. They walked through huge gardens with pleasant, meandering paths, fountains and pools, and brilliant-flowered plants and bushes.
Huge rooms seemed to be nothing more than airy galleries, with splendid tapestries, featherpictures, and paintings on the walls. Other walls were lined with niches, and in these stood small statues of jade and obsidian.
Finally they came to a chamber holding many objects of gold. As they entered, several full-size replicas of human heads, each heavier than a man could lift, stared from niches along the wall.
"The likenesses of the Revered Counselors of Nexal," explained Naltecona. "It is a line that goes back through fifteen men, all of them members of my family."
Poshtli watched Darien's and Cordell's eyes as they walked along the gold-lined wall. The elfwoman's were cold, unaffected by the riches. But Cordell's dark eyes flashed, washing over the golden objects with a lust that the warrior could almost feel.
"It is a grand tradition," said Cordell. "I want to assure you that we have no intention of bringing it to an end."
Naltecona paused and looked at the captain-general after Darien translated this statement. The two men found each others' eyes inscrutable.
"And now I must speak frankly," said Cordell. "I do so, knowing you will see and understand."
As he spoke, he raised his arms and stepped forward, blocking Darien. As soon as she translated his words, she added a quiet phrase of her own, an enchantment, as she cast the spell upon Cordell himself.
Naltecona gasped and stepped backward, awestruck as the captain-general began to grow. Poshtli reached reflex-ive!y for his maca, forgetting that he was unarmed. He stared in awe, unaware of Darien's spell. Cordell's body and his clothing and sword, began to increase in size until he quickly attained a height of some twelve feet. His head almost touching the inside of the thatched roof, the commander planted his fists on his hips and stared down at Naltecona.
The Revered Counselor took another backward step, but then stood firm, fighting an almost overwhelming compulsion to flee.
"You are a great man, Naltecona of'texal." said Cordell, his voice a deep "umble. "But so, you must understand, am I. Let this little demonstration convince you of that."
"Indeed, so it does," whispered the Maztican. As Naltecona and Poshtli stared at Cordell, Darien slipped off to the*side. She quickly and silently cast a spell upon the section of wall between two of the golden busts. This time, however, Poshtli observed the gesture. When Cordell spoke again, Darien picked up the translation smoothly, while Poshtli stared at the wall and wondered.
"Know, too, that any treacheries planned against us will be found out! We will learn of such acts through ways you cannot possibly imagine." Cordell turned, addressing the section of wall Darien had worked her magic on moments earlier. "Is this not so?"
The surface of the wall distorted and stretched for a moment, then revealed the clear outline of a giant human mouth. The lips and teeth and tongue were pale, like the wall, but their shape was unmistakable.
Then the mouth spoke. "Indeed, Master, it is so."
Naltecona shook his head in shock while Poshtli narrowed his eyes. Sorcery or not,