"Don't touch anything!" Zedd ordered as Great was about to inspect the round table on which the Galactic map could be summoned. Great raised his hands in the air, whistling as he did so.

"What did you show my familiar," Zedd said as he beckoned the ex-Quartermaster to a seat on the opposite side of his desk, "that made him promise you freedom?"

"All business like and straight to the point, eh?" Great asked. "What about some tea first? b.u.t.ter me up before I spill the beans!"

Zedd smiled and obliged. He summoned a tea pot from a cupboard near the captain's desk. The pot settled on a stove which Black Eyes ignited with a spell.

"While we patiently wait for your tea," Zedd said. "How about you tell me about Ulmir's Quartermaster first? How about this for b.u.t.tering up?"

Great shrugged. He pulled a smoking pipe from a pocket inside his tweed jacket, lit it up then started puffing. "I come from a family of giant dwarves," he started.

"Don't jest!" Zedd interrupted. "I'm not my familiar, nor am I your benefactor, at least not yet."

Great's playful demeanor instantly disappeared. He frowned, took another puff from his pipe then shrugged. "I'm n.o.body, really. I was an apprentice at me pa's smithy. Wasn't good with a hammer," he took another puff then went on, "kicked me out after I ruined a good sword! Old b.u.g.g.e.r he was!"

"How did you end up in Ulmir's Castle?" Zedd asked.

"Took part in the Great Hunt," Great answered. He was about to throw his ash on the floor when he met Zedd's foreboding gaze. The latter produced a bucket and pushed it at the Quartermaster's feet. "A bloke got a lucky hit after the hunt ended," Great went on with his story. "Held a nasty grudge after I hit 'im that one. I hammered 'im to the knee then spilled 'is brains on the floor," he took a puff then laughed out loud.

"That woulda shown me pa!" he went on after the laughter subsided. Zedd only watched, his face unchanged. "Couldn't use a hammer he says, ha! I broke the bloke's knee, when his spear almost pierced my throat. He never forgave me for it.

"I didn't win the Hunt, but after it ended, the poor fella attacked. I got this to remember 'im fer!" he pointed at his missing eye. His blackened teeth showed from under his bushy mustache as he smiled. "He lost 'is 'ead fer it!"

"So they kept you in the castle to treat your wounds?" Zedd asked.

"Couldn't grow me eye back," Great hissed. "But they offered me a job. It was better than going around the desert, tryin'a make a livin'!"

"Why did you want to leave?" Zedd asked.

To this question, Great's expression changed. "Why'd yeh destroy the place?" he said. "Twas the right thin' ta do, thas'all! That Lord Supreme fella, he gave me the creeps every time he came for a visit!"

"Do you know who that is?" Zedd asked.

"Not the faintest idea," Great replied. "I'd like to keep it at that, if yeh don't mind!"

Zedd adjusted himself on the chair. "Riding with me means you'll get to know things. Things most people wouldn't want to know. Are you sure you're in for the ride?"

"There's a big fight comin', and I ain't joining the losing side!" Great replied.

"Then you should know who Lord Supreme is."

"Maybe another day huh?!"

Zedd nodded. "What makes you sure I'll be the winning side?" he asked with a grin.

"The losin' side's with the people," Great retorted. "A big war's looming about, I can feel it me old bones. And in war, the innocent and helpless die first. I ain't sticking around with them fools who left. I'm a Quartermaster. I'll be safe as long as I make meself useful!"

"Wiser words have never been spoken," Zedd said, his grin even wider. "Make yourself useful and you'll have my protection. Think of betraying me and I'll make sure losing one eye wasn't your life's tragedy."

Great shuddered.

"So," Zedd said, cheerful, "tea's ready!" He flicked his hand and the tea pot floated then landed beside Great. Two cups had appeared, one before Zedd and the other in front of the Quartermaster. The teapot floated and served each a cup then went back to its initial place, above the stove.

"How about you tell me about that promise of yours?" Zedd asked after Great took a sip from the tea and nodded approvingly.

Great took a deep puff from his pipe then released a blue smoke. The smoke slowly materialized into a serpent with beautiful, tiny wings. It floated in the air and went straight for Zedd, whose black eyes widened.

Zedd remained silent for a while, observing Great's unfading grin. His frown spoke a thousand words.

"Don't like my magic trick?" Great asked.

"Do you know who that snake is?" Zedd hissed, his eyes but slits at that point.

"Tis an old tale from my village," Great answered. "I get you don't like the sight of it."

"I don't like the details you put into it," Zedd retorted. "You have some magic in you, yet you waste it in smoke tricks!"

"What's wrong about that?" Great asked, taking another puff.

"Don't!" Zedd said, raising a hand to stop the Quartermaster. "Don't release that snake again!"

Great let out a long, white smoke from his nostrils then raised a questioning eyebrow at Zedd.

"Has anybody seen you do this trick before?" Black Eyes asked, "except Myles, of course," he added.

"Everybody at the Castle," Great answered. "Twas my way of providing entertainment in slow days."

"No wonder Utar kept you around," Zedd said. "To make such an exact replica, it means you've seen the snake before, am I right?"

Great nodded.

"Where, if I may ask?"

"Met 'im on my way to Kozag, years ago," Great answered. "I'm not from the desert yeh see? I was born in Angon."

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Zedd let out a long whistle. "You've come a long way," he said. "And let me guess, Great isn't your real name, is it?"

The Quartermaster flinched.

"I won't ask for your real name though," Zedd asked. "I'll find out eventually, but I won't ask."

"Appreciate it," Great replied.

"Did you meet the snake at sea?" Zedd asked.

"How'd yeh know?"

"I've met him before," Zedd answered. "There was a time when I was a sailor. Our s.h.i.+p met a disastrous storm. The snake saved me but killed everyone else. I didn't know why until years later. It's safe to a.s.sume the same happened to you?"

"Yeah," Great answered. "Only difference, I dunno why he b.l.o.o.d.y kept me alive. Never forgot 'is scales and 'is wings though. Great thing with its gigantic sharp fangs, and the tongue…" Great shuddered, "the sharp tongue that'd pierce a s.h.i.+p's hull in the blink of an eye!"

"Do you wish to know his name?" Zedd asked.

"Osmen," Great answered. "I know 'is b.l.o.o.d.y name. Although I wish I didn't!" Noticing Zedd's questioning eyes, Great added, quite exasperated. "I can read yeh know!"

"Where'd you find his name? I don't know of any books, none that remain unburned though, that mention him!"

"Ulmir's Castle had a library," Great said. "The biggest I've ever seen. Tis there I found the book."

"It all connects now…" Zedd said, thoughtful. "What did the book say about him?"

"I offered teh give yer familiar the memory, a Fragment," Great said, taking another puff and releasing white smoke. He wouldn't release the snake anymore, not with Zedd frowning at him in that fas.h.i.+on. "I don't need such a memory to haunt me days! Take it, let the cursed knowledge haunt you too."

Zedd stood and approached the Quartermaster who was sitting on the opposite side of his desk. "Are you sure you want to part with it?" he asked.

"Gladly!" Great replied.

"So be it," Zedd put his hand on the Quartermaster's head, as he did for the others he'd sent to Yanoku. "Think of the day you met Osmen. I'll do the extraction. Don't fight it!" he told Great before he started the process.

The little man's body glowed snow white while Zedd's body had a dark aura enveloping it. Both energies collided for a moment before Zedd's energy took over. It penetrated Great then merged with it. A moment later, everything went back to normal.

"I made sure not to invade your personal memories," Zedd said after the extraction was done. "Your energy's pure, who taught you magic?"

"A priest yeh killed in the Castle," Great answered. "He wasn't a friend, so don't beat yerself about it."

"I never do," Zedd replied. "Remorse isn't my strong suit."

"Didja find what yeh wanted?"

"I'll make sure I repay this debt properly," Zedd answered. "You may need a rest. The extraction might have drained your energy. I tried to be careful, but your initial resistance almost killed you."

Great indeed looked exhausted. Blood had drained from his face. He was clearly out of breath, incapable of standing from his seat.

"Drink the tea," Zedd urged. "You'll feel better after that. But make sure you get enough rest."

Great nodded. "One o' these days," he said after taking a sip. "Ye'll have teh tell me about yer story!"

"It's nothing interesting, really," Zedd answered, smiling warmly at the Quartermaster. "It's b.l.o.o.d.y, filled with betrayals and tough times. You won't like it."

"I don't like stories where the righteous wins, if that's what yer afraid of!" the little man retorted. "Everyone's gotta deal with something. It takes a great deal to make a man heartless."

"You bet," Zedd replied. "Now off you go. I'll wake you when we get to our destination."

Great reluctantly obeyed. He clearly wanted to know about Zedd's past.

"How about I tell yeh my name?" Great said, his hand on the door k.n.o.b. "Will yeh tell me yer story?"

"I might," Zedd answered. "But not today, you gave me a great deal to mull over."

Great nodded, opened the door then left.

'Osmen,' Zedd thought as he was left alone in his private quarters. 'You'll soon be mine.' He looked at a parchment he'd spread on his desk. It contained a poem of some sort.

'The Holi Wars are in two years. I'll make sure I weaken them before it starts!'

***

The parchment read as follows:

To you, dear reader, who's been following my story, here's the rest. Make sure you're well seated, for it is a d.a.m.n long one. If you thought my story so far had been tragic, yeh ain't seen s.h.i.+t! (I like to borrow words and expressions from others.)

The Holi Wars were about to start, and I was in dire situation. I won't let the suspense eat at you, here's the rest. But before I start, here's a song by the people of Angon I'd like you to mull over.

The Phoenix withers and dies,

The Roosa'al invade your lives.

Beware the vicious Wild Hunt,

Their weapons, sharp and blunt.

Kill ten and them you shall join,

The Holi Wars is where you're going.

If the Ori Sisters you dare challenge,

The threads of fate you must scavenge.

Lure them with the golden flute,

Sneak past them and steal their fruit.

But if light s.h.i.+nes bright in your eyes,

Seek the three legged bird in the skies,

Don't you let him hear your cries.

Osmen awaits in Mount Condurr,

Don't cower, step back or surrender.

The pure Unicorn will give its blood,

Willingly, lest you drown in mud.

And Abrath, the Venomous King,

Will give its plume,

If you forsake everything.

The phoenix rises from ash,

Finds the chosen one,

Thus the champions clash,

And the summoning is done.