'Inhumans? What are they?" asked Lukien.
'That is what we call ourselves," replied Minikin. "The world looks at us and thinks we are inhuman, so that is our name."
'But that's an insult," Gilwyn protested.
'Words, Gilwyn," replied Minikin. "That is all they are. Cruel names are meaningless. That is why we accept the slurs others pin on us, to remind ourselves that we are far more than just someone's misguided opinion. I call myself Minikin because I was called that when I was young. My friend behind me is named Trog, because cruel men called him a troglodyte." She turned to her mute companion, beaming warmly.
"But you see? Trog does not mind. He has learned to ignore the insult, and now it cannot hurt him."
'I still don't like it," said Gilwyn. "Inhumans. It's a terrible name."
Minikin's smile widened. "That's a great shame, Gilwyn. Because you see, you're already one of us."
The statement hushed the gathering. Minikin's twinkling eyes watched Gilwyn, who simply stared back in disbelief.
'What do you mean?"
'Gilwyn, haven't you wondered why you were able to look at Queen Cassandra without breaking the spell of the amulet?"
Gilwyn nodded. "Yes..."
'You were marked as an Inhuman," said Minikin. "So you did not look upon Cassandra with human eyes." She smiled sadly at Lukien. "I am sorry, Sir Lukien, but Gilwyn didn't know. He was able to look upon your beloved without harming her. Not so with you, I'm afraid."
'What?" sputtered Lukien. He looked at Gilwyn in shock. "He's one of you?"
'Am I?" asked Gilwyn. "What do you mean, you marked me?"
'When you were born I heard about your deformities," began Minikin. "I went to your mother and told her I could take you to a place where the problems of your body would not limit you, a place where you would be safe and cared for. But your mother was certain you would be safe in the castle. She assured me that your new king, Akeela, would not let any harm come to you." The little woman glowed with pleasure. "Obviously your king kept his promise. But I couldn't know for certain that he would, so I marked you with a kiss. That way, part of you would always know that Grimhold exists, and that you could come to us if you were ever in need."
Gilwyn was ashen. "I... I don't believe it."
'Every word of it is so," said Kadar. He reached out and gently touched Gilwyn's clubbed hand. "You were marked as someone special, boy. You have always been one of the Inhumans. And hear me-there is nothing for you to fear."
'Inhuman," whispered Lukien. A great feeling of regret rose in his chest. "I looked at Cassandra. I killed her because I'm not one of you."
Thorin put his hand to Lukien's shoulder. "You couldn't possibly have known."
'No," agreed Minikin, "you couldn't. The amulets protect themselves from falling into the wrong hands.
I have no control over the Akari inside them."
'Akari?" repeated Gilwyn. "That's the second time you mentioned them to me. What are the Akari?"
'It is a lot to explain," said Minikin. "The amulets are home to powerful spirits. It is they who grant what you call magic."
'And you've worn the other amulet all along," said Lukien with a sigh. "Great Fate, what fools we were." He looked apologetically at Kadar. "Forgive us, my lord. Figgis, the man who sent us here, was mistaken. He was a great scholar, but he thought the other amulet was worn by your wife."
'Your scholar was not so mistaken," said Minikin. "I am not Kadar's wife, it is true. But he is my zirhah. Do you know that word?"
Both Lukien and Gilwyn nodded. "Zirhah," Lukien repeated. "That's the word Figgis used. It's Jadori for wife."
'It is Jadori for wife and for servant," corrected Minikin. "Figgis told you what he read in the old texts,yes?"
'Yes," said Gilwyn. "He said that the master of the place beyond the desert wears the amulet, and that his zirhah wears the amulet's twin."
'And the place beyond the desert is Grimhold, not Jador," said Lukien. "Figgis had that part right at the end."
'But the Master of Grimhold isn't Kahan Kadar," added Gilwyn. Like Lukien, he too was beginning to understand. He looked at Minikin and said, "You're the Master of Grimhold."
'And Kadar is my zirhah," said Minikin. "My servant. That is why we call him Shalafein, the great protector. He protects me and the other Inhumans from the outside world. Because of that he was given the amulet long ago."
'But why?" asked Thorin, still confused. "Why do you protect them, Lord Kadar?"
Kadar's face tightened. "It is not important for you to know. All that matters is my oath to them. And why you have been called here."
'Tell us," said Lukien. "What do you want of us?"
Kahan Kadar leaned back and considered Lukien as if he were the only person in the room. "I have been thinking of you, Bronze Knight. Ever since I knew of your coming."
Lukien and his friends glanced at each other.
'Yes," Kadar continued, "I knew. Ela-daz told me. I waited for you, and I wondered what I should do. But my rage is dead, you see. As I told you, I cannot punish you more than you have been punished already."
'Then you'll let us help you?" asked Lukien hopefully.
'We have an army of our own to fight your King Akeela," said Kadar. "We will defend Jador and Grimhold against him. He has only horses, and he does not know the desert."
'He's strong, my lord, make no mistake," warned Thorin. "And he has all the riches of Luria, too. He'll buy whatever transport he needs to bring his army across the desert, horses and all."
'It does not matter," said Kadar. "We will fight him. To our deaths if we must."
'Then let us help you," Lukien pleaded. "We know Akeela and Trager. We know their tactics. If we fight with you, you'll have a better chance."
'Much better," stressed Thorin. "And still it won't be easy."
'But we have some time left," said Lukien, suddenly excited. "Akeela's got a whole army with him. He can't travel quickly. That will give us time to form our defenses. If- 'Stop," ordered Kadar. "There's no need to speak of Jador's defense, Bronze Knight. I will see to it.
You will go to Grimhold."
'Grimhold? Why?"
'They have need of you," said Kadar. "You will help defend them."
'Excuse me, my lord, but that's foolish. You're going to make your stand here in the desert, right? So then that's where I should be."
'You will go to Grimhold with Ela-daz," said Kadar evenly.
'But why, damn it?" Lukien jumped to his feet, surprising them all. "Kadar, I'm a fighter. And I'm damn good at it. Please don't make me go and nursemaid a bunch of cripples!"
As soon as he said the word, Lukien regretted it. From the corner of his eye he saw Gilwyn's hurt grimace. Minikin's face was icy.
'Sit down," ordered Kadar. His voice was calm but steely. Lukien obeyed, kneeling again next to the table. Kadar continued, "You came here because you wished to right a wrong, yes?"
Lukien nodded. "Yes."
'Did you not slay my wife? Do you not think you owe me something?"
'Yes, Kadar, but-"
'Then you will go to Grimhold with Ela-daz. You will help to defend it from the army of your king.
One more man with a sword will not make a difference here. But Grimhold is a mountain keep. And they have no soldiers there. They will need your skills."
Lukien sighed and shook his head. None of it made any sense to him. "Kadar, I'm a soldier, and Iknow General Trager's tactics."
Kadar waved the comments off. "It is decided. You will go to Grimhold. Baron Glass will stay in Jador."
'Me?" blurted Thorin. "Why?"
'Great Fate," whispered Lukien. "I thought the child would die."
'She did not die," said Kadar. "She was born that night. Ji-tendra drew her last breath expelling her from her womb. But she was born too soon. She was..." Kadar searched for the right word. "Let us say she was born like the folk of Grimhold."
'You mean deformed?" asked Lukien. He felt the same stab of pain as the night he'd killed Jitendra.
"Kadar, I'm..."
'Sorry?"
Lukien nodded. "Yes. I know it's worthless, but what can I do but apologize?"
Kadar replied, "You can go to Grimhold and protect my daughter. You owe me a debt, Bronze Knight. You will be her shalafein, her great protector. If I die fighting King Akeela, then at least she will have you to defend her."
'I don't understand," said Lukien. "If you love her so much, why did you send her away? You could have cared for her here."
'No. The heat and light of Jador is too much for her. That is why she stays in the mountain of Grimhold. You will understand when you meet her." Kadar's expression filled with hope. "Will you do this for me? Will you protect my daughter?"
The request was almost a plea. Lukien agreed eagerly. Finally, there was something he could do right.
'Yes," he said, "I'll defend her. I'll do my best for her, Kadar. I promise."
'Do you not also know the tactics of this general?" asked Kadar.
'Well, yes..."
'Good," said Kadar. "Then you will stay, Baron Glass. You will help us. The Bronze Knight will go to Grimhold. The boy, too." Kadar turned to Lukien. "You will leave in the morning."
'No, I still don't understand," argued Lukien. "Explain it to me."
'Sir Lukien, Kahan Kadar has explained it," said Minikin gently. "Do you not agree that you owe him a debt?"
'My debt is to Jador, not to Grimhold," snapped Lukien.
'Your debt is to me," said Kadar sharply, "and I will claim payment any way I wish!"
His shouts rattled the room, so that even Minikin's mute bodyguard glanced at him. Kadar looked away, smoothing out his vestments as he composed himself.
'Go," he commanded. "All of you but the Bronze Knight."
Minikin quickly rose. Smiling, she held out her hand to Gil-wyn. "Come, Gilwyn, let's walk together."
Gilwyn hesitated, but Lukien shooed him off. "It's all right," he said, "go on. You too, Thorin."
Thorin looked wary. "Are you sure? I could stay."
'I wish to speak to the knight alone, one-arm," said Kadar. "Leave us."
Thorin relented, following Gilwyn out of the chamber with the midget woman and the giant. When the beads of the curtain stopped moving, Lukien stood up.
'All right, the truth now," he said. "There's something you're not telling me. Why are you sending me to Grimhold?"
'To defend it," said Kadar.
'But why?"
'Because my daughter is there!"
The words came in a torrent. Kadar's face reddened. He looked away, annoyed with himself.
'Your daughter?" asked Lukien. "What daughter?"
'The child my wife was carrying," said Kadar bitterly. "The one she birthed the night you killed her."
Minikin's request, Gilwyn followed her out of the chamber with her bodyguard Trog as they headed back toward the palace gardens. She had asked Baron Glass to leave them alone for a while, so that she could explain some things to Gilwyn privately. Ever protective of his young charge, the baron hadhesitated to leave Gilwyn's side, but Gilwyn had reassured him. For some reason he couldn't explain, he felt perfectly safe with the white-haired lady, and even her monstrous bodyguard did not frighten him.
Now Gilwyn and Minikin strode slowly along the garden's flowered lane, Trog's enormous shadow blocking out the scorching sun behind them. Minikin had been very quiet as they 'You mean she's dead now?" Gilwyn shook his reeling head. "Gods, I don't believe this..."
'It's true, Gilwyn. When we die we don't simply blink out of existence. We continue. Our spirits are eternal. Even in Luria, with all its varied beliefs, most people hope for that, don't they?"
'Well, yes, but no one knows for certain."
'I know for certain," said Minikin. "I know that we go on when we die, all of us. And sometimes, spirits do not pass into the next world, but rather stay here to assist others. The Akari are like that."
The claim confused Gilwyn, but then he remembered his strange recollection of Grimhold months ago, when he'd first seen Minikin. "Yes," he whispered. "I remember now. When I first saw you in Koth, I thought of Grimhold. I couldn't get it out of my mind. Was that my Akari speaking to me?"
'Indeed," said Minikin. "And as you come to know her better, you will learn how she can help you."
'You mean with magic?" Gilwyn asked.