When The Gods Slept (The Timura Trilogy) by Allan Cole

Author:Allan Cole [Cole, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-08-17T06:00:00+00:00

Here are the hypocrites of Walaria,

Cursed be. Cursed be.

King Didima and Umurhan and Kalasariz,

The unholy three. Unholy three.

Devils and felons are welcome in Walaria,

Say the three. Say the three.

The scroll burst into flames and Safar flung it into the faces of the charging soldiers. The fiery bits exploded into a white-hot mass flinging the soldiers back, screaming and twisting in pain.

Safar snatched up the stone idol and Gundara hopped onto his shoulder, crying, “Run, Master! Run!”

He leaped off the platform into the madness of the crowd. A soldier slashed with a sword, but Safar dodged the blow and cracked his head with the idol.

Behind him Olari had shouted the other condemned youths into life and they all swarmed off the platform and raced for cover.

Didima’s amplified voice thundered, “Seize the traitors! Don’t let them escape!”

Safar rushed toward the place where he’d last seen Nerisa. Gundara conjured a flaming brand that shot off spears of magical lightning. Holding tight to his master’s collar, he waved the brand about, scattering the crowd. Safar came to the spot where Nerisa had been attacked.

There was nothing there but a drying pool of blood.

“She’s dead, Master,” Gundara shouted. “I saw her die!”

Rage gripped Safar and he whirled around to face the royal stage. He saw Didima and Umurhan being rushed away to safety by Kalasariz and his men.

He was helpless in his fury. He could feel great pools of power gathering near him. He only had to reach out and take it and then strike. But his enemies disappeared before he could form the killing spell and then a mass of armed men was charging toward him.

He gestured and a white cloud formed overhead. A deadly hailstorm erupted from that cloud, ripping through the soldiers’ ranks. Men cried out, falling to the ground, moaning from broken heads and limbs.

Gundara kicked at him with small sharp heels. “Run, you fool!” he shouted. “Quick, before they send more!”

Safar ran.

He bounded up the emptying stands like a mountain goat until he came to the highest wall. On the other side was a broad street leading to the main gate - not more than a hundred yards away. Just beyond was freedom. Safar jumped, tucked and rolled when he hit, and raced for the unguarded gate.

And then he was gone.

*****

Despite the chaos Safar left in his wake, Kalasariz regained order by day’s end. He shut down the city at Last Prayer, imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew. All violators were killed on the spot. Then he sent his men out to seize anyone who might threaten the throne before Didima had a chance to recover the dignity of his office. Only one of Safar’s seven companions was recaptured. The rest, including Olari, seemed to have vanished. Kalasariz wasn’t concerned about the missing youths. He’d always seen them as more of a symbol to be exploited than a real danger.

He’d once viewed Safar Timura as such a symbol. Now he wasn’t so certain. Umurhan certainly viewed Timura as a threat, demanding that

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