"I meant no offense," said Delon. "I merely wished to explain that your father would easily pass as a Kistanian, regardless of his eye color."

Ferret said, "That may be true, Delon, yet in Pendwyr the Rovers in the cells next to mine were all dark eyed."

Mayam rapped the table. "It is of no moment to Burel's tale." She turned to the big man. "Please go on."

"Some two years after reaching Kistan, by happenstance my father became a crewman on a powerful Wizard's ship. The ship came to Aban, where the Mage hurried ashore to confer with the high priest of the Fists of Rakka.

"While they were in conference, my father discovered in the Wizard's quarters a chest containing scrolls. Ordinarily this chest was locked, but on this day it had been left unlatched, overlooked by the Mage in his haste. From those scrolls my sire could read he discovered why the Rovers were raiding more frequently: it was to finance a campaign of terror that was to come. Among these scrolls, however, there was one which told of the secreting away of a powerful talisman-a jadelike green stone hidden in a chest of silver. But before my father could read more than a line or two, the Mage returned and my father just barely escaped detection. Even so, he had learned enough to tell the High King what was afoot, and that eve, bearing only his sword and helm and breastplate, he slipped over the side and fled.

"But apparently the Mage discovered that he had left the chest open, and through castings, or charms, or other such arcane art-who knows the ways of Mages?-he determined that my sire had delved within. Enraged, the Mage sent some of the crew to capture my sire.

"Somehow my father learned they were after him and he sought out the aid of those opposed to the Fists of Rakka. Yet the hounds were upon him and, guided by my mother, he fled across the land to ultimately come to here, for she was an adherent of Ilsitt and she knew the way.

"But when the crew returned to the Mage and told of their failure, for they had lost his track in the Demon's Maze, the Mage summoned a true demon and set it in pursuit, or so we believe.

"And that demon came to the gate and challenged my sire, bellowing that he would die for knowing of the green stone.

"By this time, my mother was pregnant with me, and my sire took up his sword and armor and helm and went forth to slay the demon."

Burel turned to Mayam. "Here I believe that you should continue, for 'twas here you became a witness."

Mayam cleared her throat. "Three days the monster bellowed, three days of incessant haranguing, the creature calling out that he would not leave until the blood of Ulry stained the crimson walls. Eruth begged Ya sidi Ulry not to go forth, for they were safe here upon holy ground where demons fear to tread. Yet Ya sidi Ulry was adamant, saying that he would have no demon after his blood or after the blood of his child, for so he deemed was the command the Wizard had given the demon. And on the fourth day Ya sidi Ulry donned his breastplate and helm and took up his great sword and went out when the sun stood on high.

"At that time I was but an acolyte, and it was my duty to stand watch atop the entry bluff that fateful day some thirty-five years past. Although I was nearly two hundred fathoms above, I could see the events quite plainly:

" Ya sidi Ulry emerged with his great sword, to face that black monster waiting there in the canyon below. The creature had a sword of its own, a black thing to match its own blackness. And they came together with a great shouting rush. Ya sidi Ulry fought mightily, yet it seems no matter what he did the demon was immune from harm. And it laughed and toyed with him for what seemed an eternity, but at last it slew him, beheaded him with a single, wide-sweeping stroke.

"And then it strutted back and forth before the entry tunnel and raised up Ya sidi Ulry's head by the hair and bellowed of its victory and called for Eruth to come forth and be slain as well. But she did not answer his challenge, and two days later it vanished sometime in the night. Just exactly when it had gone, or where or how or why, we did not know. It simply no longer stood outside and called for Eruth to come forth.

"It was then and only then that we ventured out through the gateway to claim Ya sidi Ulry's remains, and we wept for him and laid him in his cairn. I think Eruth wished to die right then and there, but she knew she had to live for Ya sidi Ulry's child. And so, in the event that it would be a male child, she stored away Ya sidi Ulry's sword and helm and armor, and then covered her beloved with a mound of stones.

"Seven months later, Burel was born. Shortly after, the next supply train arrived bearing word that the plans of the Fists of Rakka had been thwarted by the High King, and so the information we had seemed useless."

"Useless?" said Egil. "But what about the green stone? Not only was it the cause of Sir Ulry's death, it is central to our quest."

Mayam shook her head. "For all we knew it was merely a Wizard's talisman, and all Mages have talismans which they jealously guard. And even though the Wizard sent a demon after Ya sidi Ulry simply for knowing of the stone's existence, we knew not its import until we heard Dara Arin's tale."

Aiko raised an eyebrow. "The odds grow steeper the farther we go, for now to find the green stone we must read a Wizard's jealously guarded scroll, and Wizards wield deadly power."

"Now wait just a moment," objected Alos. "Before anyone goes baring off after some Wizard's scroll"-he glanced at Burel-"I'd like to know how this man's story makes him the cursed keeper of faith in the maze."

"There is peril linked to him," said Aiko, touching her chest where a tiger lay. "It has beaten at me constantly, ever since we reached the maze."

"The peril-the curse-is tied to the blood of my sire," said Burel, "or so my mother held. Blood, I might add, which runs through my veins.

"My mother believed that somewhere in this world a demon waits for me, the very same demon which slew my father. She told me I should never leave these holy grounds. Yet I have always known there would come a time when I would need to go, not only to face the demon but also to face the Wizard who bound it to this task." Burel now turned to Arin. "I am the cursed keeper of faith in the maze."

Arin glanced at Aiko, who nodded. The Dylvana took a deep breath and said, "I do so accept thee, Burel." Arin then looked at Mayam. "Tell me, Abbess, dost thou know the name of this Mage who holds the scrolls of the stone?"

Mayam glanced at Burel then said, "Indeed, we do. His name is Ordrune."

CHAPTER 54

Ordrune!" Egil slammed the flat of his hand down to the stone table.

Startled, Mayam said, "Yes, Ya sidi Ulry so named him."

Egil turned to Arin. "This is why I am the one-eye in dark water, love, for I know the layout of Ordrune's lair." Unbidden, Egil's mind flashed back to that terrible time:

Egil was shackled to a ring in the floor and he and the Mage faced one another-one silent, the other sneering.

"I am Ordrune, Captain. And your name…?"

Egil said nought.

"Your silence is of no moment, " said Ordrune. "I will have your name shortly. You will be eager to speak." The Mage turned aside and made his way across the room.

The chamber itself was completely circular, perhaps thirty feet in diameter. Here and there stood tables laden with arcane devices: astrolabes and geared bronze wheels and alembics and clay vessels, mortars and pestles, clear glass jars filled with yellow and red and blue and green granules, braziers glowing red… with tools inserted among the ruddy coals. Small ingots of metal lay scattered here and there: red copper, yellow brass, white tin, gleaming gold, argent silver, and more. And 'round the walls there were casks and trunks and cabinets of drawers and a great, ironbound, triple-locked chest, and desks with pigeon holes above, jammed with scrolls and parchments and papers. And four tall windows equipped with drapes were set in the stone at the cardinal points. Elsewhere, tomes rested on stands; books resided on shelves. Here and there were chairs, equipped with writing flats, with pens and inks and vellum sheets alongside.