The Hidden City

duty. Klael will trouble us in some measure, as is Klael’s wont. Then, as is our custom, Klael and I will meet.’
    ‘And thou wilt once more banish him?’
    ‘That is never certain, Anakha. I do assure thee, however, that I will strive to mine utmost to cast Klael out—even as Klael will strive to cast me out. The contest between us doth lie in the future, and as I have oft told thee, the future is concealed. I will approach the contest with confidence, however, for doubt doth weaken resolve, and timorous uncertainty doth weigh down the spirit. Battle should be joined with a light heart and joyous demeanor.’
    ‘You can be very sententious sometimes, World-Maker,’ Aphrael said with just a hint of spitefulness.
    ‘Be nice,’ Bhelliom chided mildly.
    ‘Anakha.’ It was Ghworg, the God of Kill. The huge presence came across the frosty meadow, plowing a dark path through the silver-sheathed grass.
    ‘I will hear the words of Ghworg,’ Sparhawk replied.
    ‘Have you summoned Klael? Is it your thought that Klael will aid us in causing hurt to Cyrgon? it is not good if you have. Let Klael go back.’
    ‘It was not my doing, Ghworg. Neither was it the Flower-Gem’s doing. It is our thought that it was Cyrgon who summoned Klael to cause hurt to us.’
    ‘Can the Flower-Gem cause hurt to Klael?’
    ‘That is not certain. The might of Klael is even as the might of the Flower-Gem.’
    The God of Kill squatted on the frozen turf, scratching at his shaggy face with one huge paw. ‘Cyrgon is as nothing, Anakha,’ he rumbled in an almost colloquial form of speech. ‘We can cause hurt to Cyrgon tomorrow—or some time by-and-by. We must cause hurt to Klael now. We cannot wait for by-and-by.’
    Sparhawk dropped to one knee on the frozen turf. ‘Your words are wise, Ghworg.’
    Ghworg’s lips pulled back in a hideous approximation of a grin. ‘The word you use is not common among us, Anakha. If Khwaj said, “Ghworg is wise”, I would cause hurt to him.’
    ‘I did not say it to cause you anger, Ghworg.’
    ‘You are not a Troll, Anakha. You do not know our ways. We must cause hurt to Klael so that he will go away. How can we do this?’
    ‘We cannot cause hurt to him. Only the Flower-Gem can make him go away.’
    Ghworg smashed his fist against the frozen ground with a hideous snarl.
    Sparhawk held up one hand. ‘Cyrgon has called Klael,’ he said. ‘Klael has joined Cyrgon to cause hurt to us. Let us cause hurt to Cyrgon now, not by-and-by. If we cause hurt to Cyrgon, he will fear to aid Klael when the Flower-Gem goes to cause hurt to Klael and make him go away.’
    Ghworg puzzled his way through that. ‘Your words are good, Anakha,’ he said finally. ‘How might we best cause hurt to Cyrgon now?’
    Sparhawk considered it. ‘The mind of Cyrgon is not like your mind, Ghworg, nor is it like mine. Our minds are direct. Cyrgon’s is guileful. He threw your children against our friends here in the lands of winter to make us come here to fight them. But your children were not his main force.
    ‘Cyrgon’s main force will come from the lands of the sun to attack our friends in the city that shines.’
    ‘I have seen that place. The Child Goddess spoke first with us there.’
    Sparhawk frowned, trying to remember the details of Vanion’s map. ‘There are high places here and to the south,’ he said.
    Ghworg nodded.
    ‘Then, even further south, the high places grow low and then they become flat.’
    ‘I see it,’ Ghworg said. ‘You describe it well, Anakha.’ That startled Sparhawk. Evidently Ghworg could visualize the entire continent.
    ‘In the middle of that flat place is another high place that the man-things call the Tamul Mountains.’
    Ghworg nodded in agreement.
    ‘The main force of Cyrgon’s children will pass that high place to reach the city that shines. The high place will be cool, so your children will not suffer from the sun there.’
    ‘I see which way your thought goes, Anakha,’ Ghworg said. We will take our children to that high place and wait there for Cyrgon’s children. Our children will not eat Aphrael’s children. They will eat Cyrgon’s children instead.’
    ‘That will cause hurt to Cyrgon and his servants, Ghworg.’
    ‘Then we will do it.’ Ghworg turned and pointed toward the landslide. ‘Our children will climb Klael’s stairway. Then Ghnomb will make time stop. Our children will be in the high place before the sun goes to sleep this night.’ He stood