"In fact, all of you did very well. This whole operation went far better than I had expected. It is an ancient axiom that no battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy. But this one went too well: Gorgon should have anticipated our counterstrike and yet it appears he didn't. Perhaps I am being too suspicious, but it seems as if everything went too perfectly--and when dealing with Gorgon, that makes me worry."

Kochanski was so thankful to be alive that he wasn't even resentful, and burst out, "I don't care about the whys so much as being glad that I'm still in one piece. I've never been so scared in my life--and that includes any of the bombing missions back on Earth, including Schweinfurt. Those demons freeze my very blood."

"That's why they're called demons," growled Allic. "I suppose I have to agree with the tactics, Jartan, but I don't have to like them."

"Storm said it best when she said convincing bait. The key word is 'convincing,' son. Without that, Gorgon would never have committed his forces to a place where we could ambush him. So think of it as a means to an end and move on."

"Right," responded Allic dryly. "So what's next, Jartan?"

"Well, I've been in touch with my siblings back on Haven and we have decided that since Gorgon and his realm seem to be in disarray, we should repay his aggression with a little maneuver of our own. Minar and Chosen are coming here with their own forces and we are going to use this world as a jumping-off point to take at least two more buffer dimensions. We just might have a real opportunity to get that scum."

He hesitated before continuing, "If we do have the advantage, we'll go over to a full offensive and push in as far as possible. With luck we might even strike into the heart of his realm."

Storm gave a low whistle. "That's a tall order."

"What's the matter, sister?" Allic said peevishly. "You want to live forever?"

"I'm not taking any risks that aren't worth it," Jartan replied with a slight edge of rebuke. "It's just there might be a chance here to push Gorgon's weakness to our maximum advantage. We would be remiss not to take it. He's been a threat for far too long."

"Just as long as there are no surprises from my own side," Allic retorted.

Mark cringed inwardly, waiting for an explosion. He could sense there was a silent conversation now raging between Jartan and his son.

After several tense minutes, Allic finally nodded and sat down.

"Every family has its little spats," Leti sighed, forcing a smile in an attempt to break the tension. Allic grinned back at her, and Mark could sense that his liege lord had won some face-saving point and was now satisfied.

"As I was about to say," Jartan continued as if nothing had occurred, "if the campaign is successful it means we can develop this world as a settled colony, rather than as a military outpost, since it will no longer be a buffer area."

"Therefore, in reward for your services I am awarding all members of the first assault landed estates here, to be held in perpetuity by you and your children. The area that each offworlder will hold here will be larger than entire provinces on Haven. Granted, it is a wilderness now, but in times to come this world will grow and prosper, as will your families and descendants after you. Allic, Leti, and Storm will jointly administer this world and it will be considered part of their realms."

The offworlders grinned at each other, their weariness forgotten. Mark looked over at Allic and smiled.

"That headstrong son of mine had nothing to do with this decision. I had formed it before I sent all of you out," Jartan's thoughts whispered to Mark, "but I should add he argued for it on your behalf, so let's just have him think it was he who pushed it through."

Mark chuckled inwardly.

"Take a few days to rest up, go visit your new lands, and then we'll gate you back to Haven. All of you offworlders have done enough campaigning for now. With the reinforcements coming in from Minar and Chosen I'll have more than enough sorcerers."

"Well, I'll be damned if I'm going back," Allic replied, "I've got some personal scores to settle with Gorgon, so don't ask me to play palace guard."

Jartan chuckled. "Still trust me enough to fight by my side?"

"Come on, father," Allic laughed, "please spare me the injured parent routine."

"It's just that you need a rest. A lot has happened to you over the last several months."

Mark watched Allic closely. Had it been up to him, he would have ordered the demigod to stand down.

He'd seen too many men get pushed to the edge by combat. Allic's recent near-fatal injury and the shattering battle before Landra had been bad enough. The battle fought only hours before seemed to have put a cap on it. He could sense the brittleness in Allic, the jerky edge to his movements, the exhausted look in his eyes. The demigod was a classic case of combat fatigue.

"Don't let him go," Mark whispered inwardly, forcing his thoughts to Jartan. "Find an excuse."

"He's still a bit sensitive over the last issue," Jartan replied silently. "Though I thank you for the concern.

But if I send him back now he'll lose face, and some might think I'm displeased over his emotional outburst. Don't worry, Mark, I'll try to keep him close by my side."

"This does upset my planning a bit," Jartan said aloud. "Leti, would you mind going back and acting as steward till my return?"

Leti looked at Ikawa. "I think I could find it in me to follow this obviously unfair order," she replied with a grin.

"Figured you would."

Storm gave Leti a slight, petulant frown. "You always get all the fun assignments. I always said he liked you more," she whispered, and her gaze focused wistfully on Mark.

"Enough of this!" Jartan laughed.

"If you, Minar, and Chosen are going on this assault, who will be in charge of Haven?" asked Leti.

"My sister Aleena will be nominal leader, but I am not expecting much to happen. If there's an emergency, attempt to contact her. You don't necessarily have to stay in Asmara--my people there will keep things running. Just stay in touch, and see what you can do for Aleena. We've all been neglecting her; I can understand her mourning, but a long time has passed since the Great War."

"It'll be tough. You know how she is."

"Well, I'm not anticipating anything serious, and we won't be gone that long."

Mark remembered what Kochanski, who was fascinated by the history of Haven, had told him about Aleena. The goddess had been mated with the dead god Danar and was still mourning his death, isolating herself almost completely from society.

"She can't be relied on if something unexpected comes up," Storm interjected.

"Don't worry," Jartan replied. "This campaign won't take long. Sarnak seems to be out of the picture, and Boreas will assist you in case he should finally reappear. As for Patrice--I doubt she would dare to act up while we're gone."

The flames in the pit seemed to come alive as Gorgon's presence filled the fire.

"You're hurt!" Patrice cried, stepping forward. Again, his visage was almost gentle, innocent, with soft features and rounded eyes. A jagged wound cut across his shoulder, oozing what appeared to be blood, but shimmered like molten steel.

Gorgon's image shook his head. "It is but a trifle. I almost forgot that I was supposed to lose when I closed with Jartan."

He bared his teeth, as if suppressing rage and frustration.

"The plan worked better than you can imagine. Without it I would have not prepared such an escape beforehand and he would have killed me. Who would have thought that he could have prepared such an elaborate ruse. And the power he was able to focus!"

"He has lost none of his cunning. That's why"--and at the last second Patrice stopped herself from saying "my"--"our plan is so brilliant. We use his own strengths against him."

The image in the fires seemed to study her for several moments.

"I have given up much already. My armies on the outer marches have been crushed, and I'll loose a dozen or more outposts as they move to take advantage of my supposed weakness. But each step in will draw them further into the web, and further away from Haven. Now, what of your tasks?"

Patrice felt his almost overpowering will focus on her. His eyes were mesmerizing in their power. Pulse racing, she felt an almost sexual charge course through her, and she fought desperately to master herself.

Gripping the arms of her chair tightly, and a little short of breath, she responded with an attempt at a sneer.

"Armies decimated. Outposts lost. Gorgon, your 'armies' undoubtedly included most, if not all, of the demons that are useless or potentially troublesome. When you have taken Haven there'll be other servants who are far more pleasing."

There was a roar of laughter from the demon lord, but the pressure of his will upon hers did not lessen, it merely took a different path.

"Most astute, Patrice. There were several in the unfortunate assault whose ambitions might eventually have become a nuisance. And I have very carefully blocked the portals to my key dimensional points.

The outposts that are open to attack will fall, but are not critical."

Again his attention on her intensified.

"I am fortunate in my ally. Perhaps your cunning can equal Jartan's. However, you have not answered my question. How goes your plan to infiltrate Jartan's treasure vault? Without the portal crystal of dead Horat we can go no farther."

Patrice felt like she was losing control, and with an almost physical jerk she tore her gaze away from his, her aura almost blinding as she fought his mental assault.

Taking deep breaths she fought to get her racing heart under control. Then her temper snapped, and her aura became flame and she a creature of living fire. Surging to her feet, she flew to the edge of the pentagram and screamed, "This is my plan, and I can carry my part of the bargain. But I will not be trifled with or I'll call more than your image through this gate and teach you the lash of my power."

Gorgon lowered his gaze. "It is our way to push and dominate. You look so helpless when you are human that I sometimes cannot help myself."

"The gate will be ready when the time comes," she snapped, and with a wave of her hand broke the spell that kept the narrow portal open, and Gorgon faded from view.

Shaken by the encounter, Patrice entered the pit of flames to relax and cherish the fires, being very careful not to overstep the boundaries of the pentacle that opened the gate.

There was no doubt about it: Gorgon was too strong for her. She probably could beat him if he were restrained by the pentacle, but would not be able to withstand him in open combat. Again she felt the desire within her building. To mate, to consummate, with a demon lord like Gorgon--what would it be like?

Reason returned.I must have the remaining Crystals of Fire. Only then will I be strong enough to control him.

She spoke aloud amidst the roar of the fires, "And then I will do what I want!"

The light from the moons came through the open window of Imada's quarters in Jartan's castle, setting up a gentle cross-hatching of silvery hues. Almost spellbinding in intensity, the moonbeams crept across the floor as the moons glided across the sky.

When they touched the figures in the bed, there was a sigh and the woman stirred.

Carefully, the sorcerer within Vena stripped aside the layers of pain that hid her. Vena's memories, the anguish of remembering the screams of her parents as they were burned alive by Sarnak's assault of their village, and her own rape, became a gossamer web that the sorcerer peered through cautiously.

A moment later, she emerged. The body was still Vena, but the spirit that guided it was Ulinda; over 900 years old, filled with the inner cunning that had caused her to rise into Patrice's most trusted circle.

With a touch of her hand she sent Imada into a deeper sleep, and rose from the bed.

Moving gracefully to the open window, she gloried in her new youth and beauty, standing naked in the moonlight.

She raised her arms over her head as if to absorb the light, and triumph raced through her.To be young again, she exulted.No matter what happens, I feel young again.

Dressing quickly, Vena left their room and went down to the garden in the courtyard below. There she walked around as if unable to sleep.

Stopping to sit on a bench under a tree, she seemed to relax while watching the beauty of a large fountain that poured forth water in majestic blues and white. Opening the case that she always carried with her, she took out a harp and began to softly strum a song.

Even the sorcerers on watch thought nothing of her presence, and other than an occasional check to insure her safety, ignored her.

Feeling the touch of the sorcerer on duty move on, Vena seemed to gesture to a bird on one of the lower branches of the tree. Moments later, the bird alighted next to her hand as it stretched along the back of the bench. A short hop to her shoulder, the exchange of the message telling her to proceed, and it was gone.

So. It is time at last,she thought. Fear of what she was about to undertake threatened to overwhelm her, and for a moment she considered the possibility of remaining as she was. But the bonds that were upon her were unbreakable, and she found her body moving toward the passageway even before her thoughts on the matter were finished.

Realizing the futility of attempting to fight the compulsion, she accepted the course of action and became one with her goal.

Ten minutes later she was at the door of Enaar's room. Very carefully, she probed the latch and entered silently. There she breathed a sigh of relief. Once inside a private apartment she was safe from the scrutiny from the sorcerers on watch.

There on the bed lay Jartan's chief custodian of the treasure vault. Recently widowed, he seemed to radiate such torment even in his sleep that Vena had no trouble assimilating his thoughts.

His late wife had become accustomed to shopping in a store outside the protection of the palace over the last several months. There she had been finding rare and wonderful manuscripts that were of particular delight to her husband, at almost unbelievably reasonable prices. Even the store mistress had become a friend.

The tragedy that had occurred just five days ago had been almost unheard of. The explosion at the lamp oil shop next door had burned down almost half a block and caused a dozen deaths.

The shop mistress' testimony, and Enaar's identification of his wife's scorched crystals, were proof of an unfortunate accident that had shocked the court.

Standing in the bright moonlight, Ulinda used the data she had recently gotten from Patrice's agents in the city, who had interrogated the unfortunate--and still alive--wife, to carefully infiltrate Enaar's subconscious.

Only after about half a turning was she able to start to direct his thoughts. Years of similar efforts in Patrice's pleasure gardens stood her in good stead as she began to exert more and more control over his subconscious.

Stripping off her gown, she crawled in his bed and began to caress him, keeping him in a deep enough sleep that he would not awaken, but alert enough that she could control his dream.

Ten minutes later she had the information she needed. A simple dream of his wife trapped in the treasure vault had revealed everything. Not only did she have the code words to silently open the doors and put the ever-alert guard demons to sleep, but she knew the location of Enaar's private passageway.

A touch of her hand and Enaar's sleep deepened, his breath coming slower and slower. There was the faint whisper of his lost love's name, and then the breathing stopped.

It was best, she thought, though to her own surprise she felt a faint touch of pity. She could sense the agony of his loss, and it would appear that his old heart had simply given out from the pain of what he was enduring. Besides, only he and Jartan knew the codes by heart. It'd take time for someone else to get in to run the routine security check, and by then she'd be long gone.

An hour later she was back in her bed beside Imada. The two Crystals of Fire and Horat's massive portal crystal were now hidden in her harp case. There had still been room in the case, so Vena had taken something for herself, too. After all, with the risks she was taking, she deserved some extra compensation.

Carefully she retreated back through the veils of Vena's subconscious until only Vena was left, sleeping the sleep of the innocent.

Disappointed, Ikawa saw the portal's exit point looming up. If given his own way, he would have gladly embarked on an endless tour of Jartan's far-flung outposts, if only for the sheer joy of the jump-throughs.

The sensation of free-fall now gave over to a sense of returning weight and of a slowing down. The cone of light closed in, enveloping him, as if it was now swaddling him in a soft cushion to deaden the fall. He felt his feet touch ground. Rolling aside, he hit the cool turquoise floor of Jartan's main portal room. The glow was behind him now. Hands reached out, helping him to his feet.

Smiling, Ikawa looked around. Shigeru stood to one side, green-faced, looking about anxiously as if in sudden need of a bathroom. Walker was by the wrestler's side, unable to contain a teasing smile.

"I love that part when we slammed through the dimensional gate," Walker chortled, holding his hands up and waving them about as all flyers do. "It's better than pulling off a power dive."

"Do you want me to change the color of your tunic?" Shigeru groaned. "My stomach will be happy to oblige."

With mock horror Walker stepped back, to the good-natured laughter of the Japanese and Americans who stood clustered together.