Page 57 (1/2)

"But," Unrak added, "I'ht need a little guidance Do you suppose, father, that I ht be able to persuade you and your friends to co any mistakes, you understand"

Hettar rose and shook Barak's hand "Congratulations," he said si," Barak said, "does that satisfy your sense of propriety?"

Relg considered it "Why yes," he said, "as a rin Barak had ever seen on his harsh face "When do we leave?" he asked

His Imperial Majesty, Kal Zakath of Mallorea, stood at thein a high tower in Maga Renn, looking out at the expanse of the great River Magan A huge armada of craft of all sizes dotted the surface of the river up-of the city and ression to the wharves where the iiments waited to embark

"Have you had any further news?" the Es are a bit chaotic down there, your Imperial Majesty," Brador, the brown-robed Chief of the Bureau of Internal Affairs, reported, "but it appears that theto take place in Peldane Urvon has beendown from the north, and Zandramas annexed Peldane last month to put a buffer between hi her forces into Peldane to meet him"

"What's your assessment, Atesca?" Zakath asked

General Atesca rose and went to theon the wall He studied it for a er at it "Here, your Majesty," he said, "the town of Ferra We ical forward base of operations The River Magan is about fifteen miles wide at that point, and it shouldn't be too difficult to interdict any further movement across it from Darshiva That will eliminate Zandramas' reinforcements Urvon will have numerical superiority when they h Both sides are fanatics, and they'll fight to the death After he wipes out Zandramas' army, he'll stop to lick his wounds That's e should hit him He'll be weakened, and his troops will be exhausted Ours will be fresh The outcoan and mop up in Darshiva"

"Excellent, Atesca," Zakath said, a faint s his cold lips, "There's a certain ironic charm to your plan First we have Urvon eliminate Zandra the Disciple of Torak do my dirty work for me"

"With your Majesty's permission, I'd like to lead the forward eleeneral said "Zandramas will almost have to counterattack, since we'll have cut her army in two We'll need to fortify the town I'll also need to put out patrols on the river to keep her fro to slip her troops into Peldane around our flanks It's a fairly crucial part of the operation, and I'd like to supervise it ave his consent, "I wouldn't really trust anyone else to do it anyway"

Atesca bowed "Your Majesty is very kind," he said

"If Isoents there report that there are soit and the Alorns"

"The Murgos and the Alorns?" Zakath asked incredulously "They've hated each other for eons"

"Perhaps they've found a coested delicately

"Me, you ical, your Majesty"

"We have to put a stop to that I think we'll have to attack the Alorns Give the close to home to worry about so they won't have tios"