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“And who are you?” asked the commander.

“Your humble servant, Caxal, spokesman for these folk of

Ulatos. Have you come to aid our conqueror, the captain-general?”

Don Vaez evaded the question. “Where is the captain general now? Do you know?”

“He journeyed to Nexal, Silver One, many months ago. There he intended to confront the great Naltecona. There he shall win his greatest victory!”

“Splendid!” replied the rider, with a tight smile. “And when he returns here, I shall be waiting to… reward’ him.”

The houses of Kultaka City stood empty as the streets resounded to the steady cadence of the vast, brutal army. Hoxitl’s column marched into the abandoned community, but well aware of the monstrous advance, the Kultakans had fled into the surrounding hills some days earlier.

Had their army been here, the courageous people might have stood against the onslaught. But the Kultakan force had accompanied Cordell to Nexal and had now been driven far to the south, beyond even knowledge-not to mention rescue-of their homeland.

The great colossus of Zaltec now led the army, and the humans fled from his image in terror whenever it loomed imminent. Hoxitl walked just behind the towering monolith! though his twenty-foot height was dwarfed by the size of Zaltec. The slavering beasts of the Viperhand followed tattle tracks of both monstrous forms.

Ogres and ores smashed through the doors of houses, seeking whatever foodstuffs had been left behind. Objects of gold and silver, plus the few weapons left in the city’s armory, fell into the hands of the brutal invaders.

The trolls scrambled up the stairs of the city’s pyramids, plundering the temples for their objects of value. All of the creatures sought human victims, but there were none to be found.

For the first time, as they pillaged the abandoned city, the creatures of the Viperhand began to work in the units that

Hoxitl had begun to designate. They divided the city into sections, and each area became the property of a great regiment of ores, accompanied by its masters, the ogres. The beasts took a savage joy in working in such brutal teams, and Hoxitl began to instill in them the discipline to remain together in their regiments on the march and in battle.

Finally, after only a few hours of rampaging, Hoxitl summoned the creatures before him once again.

“Creatures of the Viperhand!” The cleric-beast’s voice rolled through the great square, a deep and rumbling command. “We shall not tarry here. Our true target lies on the coast. Only there we will confront our destiny!”

The beasts formed into ranks for their long march, exhorted by their master’s commands. Their brutish faces turned once again to the east, and they started on the long leg of the march that would take them to Payit and Twin Visages.

Before them, as always, lumbered the monstrous monolith of Zaltec. The great stone image had come to represent a mountain of strength to these creatures, and behind an image so mighty, so obviously unstoppable, it’s no wonder that they felt a savage sense of invulnerability. Each of their leader’s footsteps caused the earth to tremble, and the numbers of his army swelled and pressed forward, ready to kill for their master’s pleasure.

* * * * *

Poshtli sensed a change in the ‘s flight as Qotal veered to the side, or coursed downward-or somehow altered his direction. Always that accursed ether surrounded them, and the warrior had no sense of direction or bearing.

“What is it?” he asked.

A summons-a plea, rumbled the great dragon. Someone calls me.

“Who?”

It is one of great power, great wisdom, else I should not be able to hear.

“Can you tell where he is?” Poshtli tried to see through the gray haze, but as always there was nothing there.

In the True World. I cannot go to him, hut I can let him feel my power. The dragon’s thoughts contained determination and regret.

“To help him? How, if you cannot go back there?”

He channels my power through himself.

“Is