Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [130]
Chloe was frightened, but unlike many of the other girls, who were shivering and covering their eyes, she only gave a little gasp and reached out to Zahakis. Her first concern was for Skylan, and she looked over to where he was standing in the player’s area. She spotted him easily by his blond hair. He stood with his arms crossed, his shoulders back, studying the fury with narrow-eyed concentration as he might have studied any foe he was to meet on the field of battle. Chloe leaned close to Zahakis.
“Do you know any prayers to Torval?” she whispered.
“I don’t know any prayers to any god, Mistress,” Zahakis said. “Why do you ask?”
“I want to ask Skylan’s god to protect him,” she answered. “And I don’t know how to pray to Torval. I don’t want to offend him.”
“From what I have heard, Torval is not a god to stand upon ceremony,” said Zahakis, hiding his smile. He added hurriedly, “Just don’t let anyone hear you!”
Chloe nodded and, folding her hands, she whispered, “Torval, you don’t know me, but I know you. Skylan told me about you. He’s my champion. I hope you don’t think I’m being too presumptuous. I want to ask you to protect him from this monster. Thank you.”
Hoping Torval could hear her over the carousing in his Hall, she put her chin on her hand and stared intently at the fury, who was stepping down out of the chariot.
“If she is fae, she must be very strong,” said Chloe. “I wonder how the Empress’s people managed to capture her? And who is that man who is with her? The one in the gray robes.”
Zahakis had been regarding this man with interest. “He is a druid.”
“A druid!” Chloe drew in an excited breath. “I’ve never met a druid. Do you suppose he would come to dinner? You must tell my father to invite him, Zahakis.”
“You are your father’s daughter,” said Zahakis, continuing to keep an eye on those around him. He was startled to see his interest returned. Xydis, the Priest-General, was looking at him. The Priest-General rose to his feet and began to descend the stairs.
“The Priest-General is coming,” Zahakis said in a warning undertone.
“Don’t worry,” said Chloe. “I’ll be good. I won’t say anything to embarrass you.”
Zahakis rose to his feet and stiffly saluted. Xydis acknowledged the Tribune with a cool glance. The Priest-General bowed to Chloe and said he was glad to see her looking so well. Chloe shifted among her pillows and smiled politely. She was mistress of the household, in the absence of her mother, and she asked the Priest-General if he would take some wine and a honey cake. He politely declined, then indicated, with a look at Zahakis, that he wanted to speak to him.
“Walk with me, Tribune,” said the Priest-General.
Zahakis accompanied the man to one of the recessed entrances leading into the royal box. People here were milling about, talking excitedly about what they had just witnessed. The hubbub was such that the two men did not have to bother to lower their voices.
Xydis did not look directly at Zahakis as he spoke. The Priest-General stood with one arm crooked, holding the folds of his robe, gazing out onto the playing field as though he were discussing the game.
“You will be interested to know, Tribune, that the Empress received this monster as a gift. She has no idea who sent it or where it came from. The messenger who delivered it stated that the creature was trained to fight in the Para Dix. The Empress cannot confirm this because her trainers were too terrified to have anything to do with the monstrous thing. You might want to inform Legate Acronis.”
Zahakis frowned, not sure he understood what Xydis was saying and less sure as to why he was saying it.
“In addition, the drawing was rigged, Tribune,” said Xydis, smiling and bowing to an acquaintance. “The gift-giver specified that the fury was to fight your team.”
The Priest-General walked away, going off to join friends. Zahakis stood in the entryway, mulling over what he’d heard. He took only a moment to make