The Secret Of The Unicorn Queen -The Dark Gods by Josepha Sherman Page B

Dynasian's comrade, Ankzar's ally, the unlawful possessor of Dr. Reit's Tracker—this was the wizard Mardock! 

12

Plots and Counterplots

        Sheila stared at Mardock in complete shock. What was he doing here? The last time they had met, he was still in the pay of Emperor Ankzar. Well, nobody ever said sorcerers couldn't quit their jobs, Sheila thought, just like ordinary folk. 
        Oh, but this was too much. One enemy was bad enough. But Mardock and Kumuru-what sort of unholy alliance could they be plotting? Sheila clenched her fists in frustration. From where she stood, she couldn't make out a word that they were saying. She would have to get just a little bit closer. 
        As she began to tiptoe forward again, the scabbard of her sword swung against the column with a sharp clink! that seemed to echo throughout the vast hall. Sheila froze in horror, sure that both sorcerers were going to pounce on her. But to her relief, they were too busy arguing to notice anything else. And now she was close enough to hear them clearly: 
        "But I tell you, King Kumuru, you're making a mistake!" 
        "Oh, I think not, sorcerer.” 
        "No, wait. Hear me out. Please." Mardock's voice softened to a coaxing purr. "Your Majesty, I know you have Power. Vast Power. But . . ." He shrugged. "Let us face facts. For all your magic you are still but one man, alone, with no one to guard your back or help you increase your strength." 
        "And you would be that guard, eh, Mardock?" Kumuru's voice was just as silky. 
        "Why, yes, King Kumuru." Mardock smiled charmingly. "And I promise you, you'd not regret my aid." 
        "Because I'd no longer be alive to regret anything?" 
        "No! I mean, yes! I mean—Your Majesty! I am no traitor!" 
        "I think the late Dynasian of Campora might have told a different tale." 
        "I did not betray him!" Mardock raged. "It was that cursed Laric and his cursed Unicorn Queen who spoiled everything! Why, I would have ruled-" 
        Mardock stopped short, dismayed at what he had almost said. But it was already too late to hide. 
        "You would have ruled Campora, sorcerer?" purred Kumuru. "As you would rule Samarna? Oh, I think not!" 
        "Wait! Hear me out. Dynasian was a fool, but you are not. You can appreciate what I would mean to you.” 
        "Sleepless nights and a back ever imperiled." 
        "No! Listen to me! You are a sorcerer, you know Power. I have my own Power, great Power! If we united-" 
        "Unite with you?" Kumuru's high laugh dripped with scorn. "You, little worm? Why, you have your petty little magics, true. But I am the priest of the Dark Gods themselves! You are weak, pathetic, compared to me!" 
        And to make his point, Kumuru shouted a sorcerous Word, flung out his arm in a commanding gesture—and Mardock was thrown to his knees! 
        "You would dare!" Mardock gasped in shock. 
        Kumuru laughed. "I would, indeed, fool!" 
        That was too much for Mardock. "Then you will meet your doom!" he shrieked, eyes blazing in insulted fury. As Mardock shouted out the twisting words of a spell, angry green lightning flashed from his pointing hands. 
        Sheila stood transfixed, expecting to see Kumuru turned to ash. But the bilious lightning simply bounced off the king's chest and vanished! 
        Mardock stared, mouth agape, looking every bit as astonished as Sheila felt at his spell's failure. 
        "Poor Mardock," Kumuru taunted with mock concern. "You never realized the truth, did you? Oh, I am not like you, Mardock, with your innate, inner magic. Your finite magic, limited to whatever paltry strength resides within your foolish body. I have no inner magic." 
        "But you-" 
        “Be still, Mardock." Kumuru drew himself up proudly. "I have something better than your petty magic: I can draw upon the endlessly powerful reservoir that is the sorcery of the Dark Gods