Red Magic - Jean Rabe [102]
Asp continued to listen, fascinated by the scheme that was sounding more and more plausible.
"However, the wizard Maligor will have been researching magic-alchemical spells that will turn lead into gold. The research will be successful, using our pocketed gold as proof. And my alchemical achievement will be a boon to Thay's economy. The country will have gold once more. Of course, to get the gold, other Red Wizards will have to come under my influence. In the end, I will be the most powerful Red Wizard in Thay. Nothing will stand in my way."
"And what of me? What will happen to me?"
The Red Wizard's face softened slightly and he leaned close to Asp.
"Your domain will be the mines, dark and dismal as they may seem to you. But it will not be forever. You will have a share in all of this, I promise. Every great man needs his queen."
Maligor was relieved that Asp appeared to be accepting that story. He would keep her with him as long as she proved useful. If she became too hotheaded and belligerent, however, he would have to find another naga.
"The plan is wonderful," she hissed. "I had wanted glory at the head of an army, but the subtlety of this intrigues and excites me. When do we move?"
Maligor grasped her pudgy male hands as he rose from the chair. He couldn't bring himself to embrace her while she was in the guise of the tharchion.
"The gnolls will move out tonight, about an hour after the sun sets. Since it will be dark, it will take a substantial amount of effort on the parts of the wizards to follow them and guess their intended target. Then, with all eyes on them, I will loose the darkenbeasts, creating a low-lying fog to cover their exodus and casting spells of silence to hide their cries. I have more darkenbeasts, too, not far from here. There are more than enough to capture the mines."
Asp appeared puzzled. "And how will we reach the mines?"
"Magic," Maligor replied. "We will fly, too. Then we will sit back and watch my creatures do their work."
"You are brilliant, Maligor," Asp said, her tharchion eyes shining.
The Red Wizard left her several hours later to meet with the gnoll army. As the sun set, he stood before the dog-men, resplendent in his youthful appearance and scarlet robe. Maligor paced grandly in front of them until he was satisfied all eyes were on him.
"We will move soon!" the Red Wizard began. "The night is our ally. You can see in the blackness, but your adversary cannot."
Asp, in her tharchion guise, watched Maligor from the shadowed recesses beyond the tower window. She couldn't help envying the admiration he was receiving from her gnolls.
"We are unstoppable!" she heard Maligor cry. She stared at the growing enthusiasm in the gnoll army. "With your strength, your sword arms, and your courage, you shall tread over the opponent's forces, grinding them beneath your hairy heels."
The wizard's voice quickened and rose. The words carried to even the gnoll soldiers gathered at the back of the throng. "The ground will turn red from your victims' blood. The sky will turn black from the flock of ravens drawn to feast upon the corpses of our enemies. Victory is ours!" he screamed.
"For Maligor!" the gnolls replied as one.
The Red Wizard cast his arm to the northeast. "There, near Eltabar. Take the lands of the young Red Wizard. Crush him utterly!"
The gnolls beat their weapons upon their shields, creating a din of clanging metal that drowned out the rest of the Red Wizard's victory speech.
The dog soldiers marched, and all eyes from Amruthar were on them.
Maligor ran into his tower as he mumbled the words of an incantation. He continued mouthing the spell as he raced down the stone steps to join his darkenbeasts below.