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desolate higher mountains of the interior were there factories and mines spewing refuse into inacessible valleys and pits.
    In the center of the land, high above a river valley stood a mighty walled city that glowed in the moonlight of the Twin Sisters.
    Sarnak the Accursed, so named for his unproven part in the betrayal and death of one of the Creators, sat on his throne in his darkened chamber. He had watched Mornan's efforts and her death through a crystal―the mate of the one she had used.
    For most of the night he had been watching, and with Mornan's death he had to fight for self-control. But finally even his iron control weakened and his rage began to show, causing his aura to grow brighter.
    Now Sarnak pushed his crystal aside and looked around the room. He was tall and lean, with dark hair and black eyes that were large and mesmerizing, and few there were who dared to face that gaze in the moments of his wrath.
    "Who selected those incompetents with Mornan?" he asked, death in his voice.
    "Wika made the initial assignment." Ralnath, Sarnak's chief sorcerer tried to conceal the fear in his voice.
    "And who approved Wika to coordinate this mission in the first place?"
    Silence.
    "I want an answer," Sarnak said softly.
    "I did, my lord."
    Sarnak turned away with a snort of disgust. Everyone in the room did his best not to draw attention to himself as Sarnak moved to his master crystal, activating it with a wave.
    Quickly Sarnak merged it with those observation crystals set high in his border mountains that overlooked Allic's realm. The room again became dark as his aura slowly died, his frustration giving way to the cold analytical force that was the heart of his power.
    "Allic is projecting his power in a field of interference so I can't see very much," he said to Ralnath, who had come to stand by his side. "But I sense an alien presence, perhaps men from another plane. They're definitely not the demons we had planned for."
    He looked coldly at Ralnath. "Which of our forces can get in there and find out what they are before Allic arrives?"
    The head scribe, standing in the far corner, consulted his master file and nervously walked over.
    "At this moment," the scribe said, "we've almost emptied that part of the border to prevent any possible suspicion of our involvement. But there is a force of twelve demons under Chaka that can be there within two turnings."
    "Send them in immediately, I want at least one prisoner for interrogation; the rest are to be destroyed before Allic can get his hands on them."
    "At once, my lord."
    Sarnak turned and swept them with his gaze.
    "All of you leave me except Ralnath."
    Ralnath could sense the relief of the others as they fled the room, leaving him to his fate. He could remember more than once hurrying from the room as well, and returning later to remove what was left of a man or woman who had failed. He braced himself.
    "I want Wika relieved of his post and crystals. Have him chained to the gallows against possible execution. I'll decide his fate later." Sarnak paused, staring at Ralnath.
    "You know that my first move in this campaign has ended in a fiasco because you approved that idiot's selection of sorcerers?"
    Ralnath nodded. "My lord, each had done well in the trials, according to Wika's reports."
    "I want you to check the validity of those trials, and if there is any falsification you will personally remove the heads of Wika's wife and children and tie them to his chains. I can't help but suspect that he gave the task to Mornan as a reward for more than just her behavior on the testing field."
    Ralnath breathed an inner sigh of relief. The blame was to fall on Wika and not on him.
    "Ralnath, I understand your mistress has just given you twin sons."
    He froze for a moment, then nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
    "Never fail me again, Ralnath. Now get out of my sight."
    * * * *
    "Gather round to me." Mark made a quick count.
    "Who's missing?"
    "It's Jose", Captain,"