Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [40]
Raegar joined Zahakis at the rail.
“I still do not approve of this fight,” Raegar announced.
“I am sorry you feel this way,” said Zahakis in a tone that meant exactly the opposite. “Did you inform the Legate?”
“I did,” said Raegar, frowning. “He knows that these two brutes are fighting for the favor of their heathen god. Indulging them in this barbaric ritual only encourages them to believe in gods who are dead.”
“I take it the Legate was still not impressed with your argument,” Zahakis said.
“He was not,” said Raegar angrily. “Acronis said the soldiers were bored and that this would provide some amusement and break up the routine. I have spoken to the Bone Priestesses, however,” he added stiffly. “Neither of them will take part.”
“As I understand it, the priestess is important to the spectacle. Perhaps they will attend if I ask them nicely,” said Zahakis with a half smile.
Raegar sucked in an irate breath, but Zahakis walked off, not waiting to hear what the priest had to say. Raegar muttered something, then stalked over to where the soldiers, who had been listening to this exchange with interest, hurriedly returned to their game.
“Gambling is illegal!” Raegar said. “Go to your beds.”
The soldiers glanced at Zahakis, who gave a slight nod, and the men, grumbling, did as they were ordered.
The Venjekar glided over the silver waves.
Skylan was sleepy and he wished irritably that whatever Wulfe was going to do, he’d go ahead and do it. He was just thinking this and wondering what Wulfe had in mind, when Zahakis gave a yell and sprang back from the rail, shaking his left hand frantically.
His startled cry woke everyone. Soldiers fumbled for weapons. The Torgun sat up, staring at Zahakis, who appeared to be wrestling with something that glimmered white in the moonlight.
Bjorn suddenly began to laugh. “It’s a jellyfish!”
The sea creature’s poisonous tentacles wound tightly around the commander’s hand. The soldiers hastened to his aid, though when they reached him, none of them had any idea what to do. No one wanted to grab the thing. Swearing and yelling in pain, Zahakis at last managed to shake the jellyfish loose. It landed on the deck with a soggy plop.
Zahakis wrung his hand and continued to swear. Skylan had been stung by jellyfish before, like hot needles being jabbed into the skin.
Zahakis’s hand was starting to swell from the poison. He grabbed hold of the key ring and yanked it off and flung it to the deck. Then he doubled over, cradling his hand and groaning.
His soldiers gathered around him, all of them offering advice on what to do. One of the men kicked at something at his feet and Skylan saw Wulfe, crawling about on the deck. The soldiers swore at him and told him to get out of the way. Wulfe scuttled off, carrying something wrapped in a bit of cloth, which he dropped in Skylan’s lap.
Skylan rolled over to hide his movements and unwrapped the cloth to find the key ring inside. He was about to slide the key stealthily to Sigurd with orders to unlock his leg irons, when a shadow blotted out the moonlight. Skylan glanced up to find Raegar looming over him. Skylan hurriedly slid the key onto his thumb and closed his fist over it.
But Raegar was not interested in Skylan. He was after other prey. Reaching down, Raegar seized Wulfe by the hair and yanked him to his feet.
“Here is the culprit!” Raegar cried. “He did this to you, Tribune!”
“Did what?” Zahakis asked irritably.
“He sent the jellyfish to attack you,” Raegar said balefully.
The soldiers began to roar with laughter. Zahakis’s mouth twitched.
“Let the kid go, Raegar—”
“Since when have you seen jellyfish fly?” Raegar demanded angrily. “The boy is evil, I tell you. He must die! Aelon commands it!”
Lifting Wulfe off his feet, Raegar flung him headlong into the sea.
The boy landed with a splash and a shriek and immediately sank. For a moment everyone stood staring stupidly at the waves, unable to believe what they’d seen. Then suddenly everyone