The Crystal Sorcerers by William R. Forstchen

reassuringly, looking up at the Japanese officer with obvious relief.
    Ikawa felt a swelling of affection for this man, who had come racing out to him the moment he had heard that one of his samurai had been injured. This truly was a daimyo worth serving.
    Standing, Allic walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked down. "Sarnak must have kept them as pets, tossing in people he no longer needed."
    A sick rage washed over Ikawa at the thought of the human skull he had held only moments before.
    "A little interruption, I gather," Allic said, looking over at Storm in an attempt to lighten the mood. .
    "Ah, shut up," she replied huffily, and even Ikawa laughed as Allic looked over at him and winked.
    The lightness of Allic's mood, however, quickly shifted to seriousness.
    "You better be ready to fly tomorrow," he said to Ikawa.
    "Brother, are you insane?" Leti said protectively. "He'll be laid up for at least several days."
    "I need him--in fact, I need all of you." The tone of his voice ended all dissent. "Word just came from Jartan. We must report to him in Asmara at once. Gorgon has made his first move."

Chapter 4
    "My lord, there is an emissary from Boreas waiting to see you."
    Pina, chief steward and battle advisor to Allic, nodded to the courtyard outside the main briefing room, where a solitary figure stood in the shadows.
    Since Allic's hurried return to Landra on his way to his father's court in Asmara, the audience chamber had been a swirl of activity as the business which had piled up in his absence was quickly attended to.
    "He's been waiting for you for three days," Pina said evenly. "I've assured him the delay is not intended as a slight, but he doesn't looked pleased."
    "Boreas?" was Allic's astonished rejoinder.
    Varma stopped in his rounds of refilling everyone's drinks and interjected, "I've tried to talk to him twice, and he's the coldest, most closemouthed sorcerer I've ever met."
    Allic lifted an eyebrow at Pina.
    "I agree with Varma--he's one of Boreas' descendants. He definiteiy has a touch of the Frost."
    "Interesting," Allic mused. "By all means, bring him in."
    As Pina left the room Mark spoke up.
    "I don't believe I've ever heard the name Boreas. Is it a place or a person?"
    "Boreas is one of the oldest demigods still living. He is the eldest child of Bore, the Creator that Horat killed to start the War of the Gods three thousand years ago."
    Allic drained his mug and continued as Varma refilled it.
    "Boreas is my cousin by blood, but over the years he has turned into something that I can't understand. His realm is in the far north, in the icefields and fjords of the polar ice cap. He is a creature of ice and bitter cold that few would want or could stand against."
    Varma dropped his facade of the jester and once again revealed the brilliant mind that he hid from all but a few.
    "The histories of the Great War mention that the Frost Demons attempted to attack Haven during the conflict and confusion. Boreas and his battle team went to their universe to, as he put it, ' have a little discussion.' He decimated three worlds before they were able to buy him off."
    "It has never been proven that they bought him off," Allic snapped.
    "Well, be that as it may, we can't dispute the fact that something broke the power of the fire demons at the battle of Grada. It has been implied many times that Boreas has a Great Weapon that not even the gods know about. He is a demigod cloaked in legends."
    Allic gave a snort of disdain at Varma.
    The door opened and Pina entered with a tall, lean sorcerer. Mark was impressed. Even the comfortable temperature of the room seemed to go down appreciably.
    The man was dressed in gray and white, and his face was as devoid of emotion as a week-dead fish.
    He stood before Allic and bowed.
    "Prince Allic, I am Traca. I bring you greetings from your cousin Boreas, Prince of the North."
    Allic waved an airy acknowledgment, and responded graciously. "It is always a pleasure to hear