Savage Games of Lord Zarak Read online

  Though all the boys had had quite a bit of practice with blades, Jake was truly bad. On the other hand, Dave was by far the most able swordsman, even as Sarah was by far the best with a bow.

  Roland came strolling up and stood with Josh, watching the practice for a while. “I can only hope we don’t meet anybody that’s got a weapon during this adventure we’re going on,” he said.

  “Why would you say that?” Josh asked him. He knew that some insult was coming.

  “Because unless the rest of you can handle a sword better than those two, we’re a lost cause.”

  Dave stepped back, and his face reddened. “Maybe you’d like to try a bout, Roland.”

  “It wouldn’t be fair, Dave. You’re just not in my class.”

  “Oh? Well, maybe you’re not as good as you think you are.”

  “Oh yeah? I’m as good as I think I am.”

  It looked as if Dave was gritting his teeth. Then he reached for a sword and held it out to Roland Winters, hilt first. “Here. Take this, and let’s have a go at it. Let’s see how good you are.”

  Roland shrugged and covered an exaggerated yawn. “Well, all right. I’ll use my left hand. That’ll give you some break.”

  “No. Give it your best shot,” Dave said. “I want to see how great you really are.”

  The two boys lifted their swords. Dave, clearly infuriated by the arrogance of Roland Winters, attacked at once. His sword flashed in the sunlight as he put forth his best effort.

  Sarah and the other Sleepers drifted up to watch.

  Josh saw at once that it was hopeless. Roland lazily parried Dave’s every thrust. From time to time he would change his sword to the other hand, and he seemed to be just as good with his left as with his right.

  “Wow, he’s amphibious!” Josh breathed.

  “You don’t mean amphibious. You mean ambidextrous,” Jake told him. “He can use either hand equally well.”

  It was obvious that Roland was simply toying with Dave. Finally the stranger parried a blow and in a quick motion brought down his blade on Dave’s sword, near the hilt. It tore the sword from Dave’s hand.

  Instantly the blunted point of Roland’s sword was right over Dave’s heart. “Well, bout’s over,” he said.

  “That was real good, Roland,” Josh said reluctantly. He was very annoyed, but he had learned that he sometimes had to be peacemaker as well as leader. “You must have had a lot of practice.”

  “Yes. Quite a bit.” Roland turned to him. “You want to try it, Josh?” he asked.

  At once Josh knew that this was a challenge to his leadership. He also knew that he had no chance whatsoever against Roland. Still, he could not back down, so he said mildly, “I’m not as good as Dave, and I can always use some good advice. Maybe you can give me some.”

  “Sure. Be glad to help you along, Josh. Come on. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  Josh was even more helpless before the flashing blade of Roland Winters than Dave had been. And since Josh was the second best swordsman among the Sleepers, it was obvious that none of them could stand up to this tall boy who cruelly laughed at their weaknesses.

  “As I said,” Roland commented when their practice bout ended, “I hope we don’t meet anything dangerous on this mission. Except for me, there’s not a one who could stand up to a really bad situation.”

  Sarah replied hotly, “Reb here has killed a dragon. How many dragons have you killed, Roland?”

  “Never met one. But if I did, I could handle it.”

  Jake said, “Well, I see there won’t be any of the rest of us bragging about anything. You do enough bragging for all of us.”

  “If you can do it,” Roland said coolly, eyeing the small boy with disdain, “it’s not bragging. You all need help with any of your other weapons?”

  Josh suddenly winked at Sarah. “Maybe you could show us a little bit about how to use a bow.”

  “Glad to.” Roland waved his hand. “Always glad to give advice.”

  The Sleepers went to the targets that had been set up, and Josh broke out the bows. “Here, Roland, you can take your pick.”

  “Hm, I’ve seen better bows. I guess this one will have to do.” He strung it easily, something that was very difficult for most of the Sleepers because this was a powerful bow. He made it look so simple.

  Roland Winters eyed the target. Then he notched his arrow, and he drew back the string. The motion seemed to be effortless, and Josh remembered how he himself had to struggle to draw that particular bow. He was always just as likely to send the arrow over the trees as into the target.

  Roland released the arrow, and it struck the top of the bull’s-eye. He turned to Sarah with a challenging smile. “Let’s see you kill a dragon, Sarah.”

  Sarah stepped forward. In one smooth motion she notched an arrow, drew it, and sent it flying. Before it struck, she had notched another. The first arrow hit the center of the target. Before it had stopped quivering, another was right beside it. Four more quickly followed in order. Plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk.

  Roland gaped at the arrows clustered in a space no larger than his hand. His face grew red. He said, “Not bad.”

  “No. Not bad,” Josh said.

  Reb was grinning broadly. “You want to give Sarah a few lessons?”

  “I don’t need any of your smart talk! Maybe she can shoot, but that’s not all there is to weapons.” Roland turned and stalked off.

  “He just can’t stand to be beaten, can he?” Abbey said. “What a drip!”

  Roland was still off in the grove of trees somewhere when supper time came.

  Sarah said, “I don’t care if he stays out there all night. He won’t like anything we’ve cooked, anyway.”

  The Sleepers sat down and plunged into the meal. Actually it was really very good tonight. They had fresh fish, and Reb had insisted on making hush puppies—crisp deep-fried balls of dough. They had onions and garlic and other spices in them.

  Wash said, “Mm! Mm! I think the hush puppies are better than the fish!”

  “Why do they call them hush puppies, Reb?” Abbey asked curiously.

  “Back home, we always had a bunch of dogs crowding around when we were trying to eat. My pap would toss one of these to them when they got too pesky and say, ‘Hush, puppy!’”

  “That sounds like just another one of your tall tales, Reb.” Josh laughed at him. He liked Reb Jackson very much. “Tell us another one of your hunting lies.”

  But Reb was out of the mood. He had eaten enough for two boys his size, but still there was a frown on his face. Finally he said, “I wish that Roland Winters would get lost in the woods and never come back!”

  “That would be a sad thing, Reb.”

  Everyone jumped to his feet, for there in the open door stood Goél!

  Goél entered with a slight smile on his face. He was wearing the same light gray robe that he always wore. The hood that sometimes shaded his face was pushed back. His hair was light brown and had a slight curl to it, and his features were tanned. Sometimes his eyes seemed gray, and at other times there was a blue tinge to them. And just now his eyes seemed happy. “I’m glad to see you all. Sit down, and I’ll join you.”

  “Have some of this fish—and some of Reb’s hush puppies.”

  “I believe I will, Sarah.” Goél began to eat hungrily, and he listened as each one spoke.

  When all had finished eating, Reb glanced around and said quietly, “Got something to talk to you about, sire.”

  “And what is that, my son?”

  “It’s about this guy Roland Winters. He’s impossible. Where’d you dredge him up?”

  “That’s a strange expression—‘dredge him up.’ As a matter of fact, Reb, his father is one of my best servants.”

  “Well, his son didn’t get any of that,” Jake said sourly. “If I ever went on a two-week canoe trip with him, I think one of us would shoot the other.”

  Goél looked at Jake but said nothing.

  Jake’
s face turned red, and he muttered, “Well, it was just a thought.”

  “So you’re all agreed that Roland is ‘impossible’?”

  “He’s very difficult, sire,” Josh said. “No doubt about it. But I’m sure you knew that when you sent him to us.”

  “I did indeed.” Goél leaned forward and put his hands together. He had strong hands, although the fingers were slender. He did not speak for a time but kept looking thoughtfully around the circle. “I understand your problem. He is a difficult young man. But as I indicated, his father is one of the best men that I’ve ever known. He asked me as a very special favor to see if I could do something to help his son.”

  “Well, he’s a bully and a bragger,” Reb complained. “I hope you’re not intending to send him with us, Goél. Because I flat out won’t go. Not with him.”

  Shocked silence fell over the table. None of the Seven Sleepers had ever downright refused to obey a command of Goél. But Reb’s lips tightened, and he sat up straighter. He could be stubborn, Josh knew. For a time Reb’s eyes met those of Goél, but then he could not hold Goél’s steady gaze, and he bowed his head.

  “I will never force anyone to serve me, Reb,” Goél said quietly. “If you cannot serve me out of love, it is best that you go and find someone else to serve.”

  Reb looked up. The words seemed to startle him. And perhaps he saw something in Goél’s face that hurt him, for he stammered, “Well . . . well, I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t do it. I meant that . . . that I don’t want to do it.”

  “All of us have to do things we don’t want to do, Reb.”

  “Even you, Goél?”

  “Yes. Even me, Reb. But I ask this of you as a favor, and it will not be a command.”

  At this moment the door opened, and Roland stepped inside. He looked surprised to find Goél there, and some of his self-confident manner left him. “Well, Goél . . .” he said rather haltingly, “I’m . . . I’m glad to see you.”

  “I’m truly glad to see you, Roland. Have you eaten?”

  “No. Not very hungry.”

  “You’d better try some of these hush puppies. Reb makes the best hush puppies that I’ve ever tasted, and the fish is delicious.”

  Roland, however, turned sulky. He shook his head. “Don’t care for any.”

  Goél studied the tall boy for a long moment. Then he looked around the table and said, “I’ve come to send you on a new mission, my friends. As usual, there is some danger involved, but you have never failed me, and I cannot tell you how proud I am of all of you.”

  “Can you tell us anything about this mission, sire?” Josh asked.

  “Also as usual, I am sending you into a situation where the Dark Lord has gained power. This time he has gained power in very high places. My heart grieves for the people involved, and I’m sure yours will as well.”

  After talking about the new assignment for some time, Goél took a deep breath and stood to his feet. “Roland, I have asked you to join with my servants the Seven Sleepers. They are some of the most faithful of all my servants. Now, I must tell you that if you go with them, you will be under the authority of Josh. I have appointed him the leader, and if you cannot obey him, then tell me so at once.”

  A flush spread over Roland Winters’s face, and he glared at Josh.

  Josh thought, He thinks he ought to be the leader. I doubt that he’ll go under my authority.

  But for whatever reason, Roland finally nodded. “As you say, Goél.”

  “Good. Now, we will talk of other things. Later on, I will give you a map. I think you will find that travel to the land where I am sending you this time will be much easier than some journeys in the past.”

  “I wish we had a coach to ride in. Pulled by six white horses,” Abbey said dreamily.

  “You will have something better than that, my daughter,” Goél promised with a smile.

  Roland ate no supper, and he left almost at once.

  When he was gone and Sarah had opportunity, she slipped up close to Goél. “Sire,” she said, “I don’t understand why you want that boy to go with us. He truly is impossible!”

  “Beyond hope?” Goél suggested.

  “Well . . . I don’t like to think anyone’s beyond hope, sire, but . . .”

  Goél put a hand on her shoulder. “There is hope for Roland just as there is hope for you, my daughter. But there is much in him that will have to be purged away. That is the way improvement comes. Everything is burned away except the gold itself.” His grip tightened on her shoulder, and he smiled as she looked up at him, not fully understanding. “I remember that you had to go through some fires yourself in order to learn. Do you recall?”

  “Yes, sire. I remember. It was hard.”

  “But you have been sweetened by those hard times.” His face grew serious, and he said, “Try to be a friend to Roland, Sarah. He needs a friend desperately.”

  “He doesn’t seem to need any. He doesn’t act like he wants any!”

  “But his heart is hungry. No one as arrogant and proud as Roland Winters can be truly happy. So I’m depending on you—and the rest of the Sleepers—to help him.” He added thoughtfully, “This will be a double mission. One is to help the people of the land where I will send you, and the other is to help bring Roland Winters out of what he has become so that he will be a good and a faithful servant of mine.”

  Sarah sighed. “That’ll take a miracle, Goél.”

  “Well,” he said, patting her shoulder, “there is precedence for that. Now, do your best, and I will expect to see this ‘miracle.’”

  3

  The Eagles

  we’re just going to have to be patient with him.” The Sleepers were gathered about the table for a final breakfast. Goél had disappeared sometime during the night. Roland Winters had eaten his breakfast quickly, then left the house without saying more than a half dozen words.

  Sarah looked around at the dissatisfaction on the faces of her friends. “I know he’s difficult,” she said, “but Goél doesn’t do things accidentally. He’s sending Roland with us because he has a purpose.”

  “His purpose seems to be to keep me as mad as a wet hornet,” Reb muttered. “Every time that guy Roland says something, mad just goes all over me. I just can’t help it.”

  Wash suddenly reached out and struck Reb lightly on the arm. “You remember when we first came to Nuworld?”

  “Sure, I remember.”

  “You remember how much you didn’t like me?”

  Reb looked uncomfortable. “Well, that was different.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Wash said. “You just plain didn’t like me.”

  “It is too different! You’re a nice guy, Wash. I just had to find out about it. But there’s nothing nice about Roland Winters.”

  Josh got into the conversation then. “We’re going to have a pretty hard time on this assignment, I think. We always do, but it’s going to be even harder if we don’t get along. You remember how we’ve had arguments among ourselves and how tough it was.”

  “That’s right,” Jake said. “I guess if I learned to get along with you, Abbey”—here the redhead winked at her and grinned broadly—“I can get along with Roland Winters.”

  Abbey sniffed. “Doesn’t look like he wants to get along with us. He won’t have anything to do with any of us.”

  Sarah was uncomfortable with all this. She did not want to repeat her conversation with Goél concerning Roland, but she felt she had to say something to change their thinking.

  “You know,” she said slowly, “I remember a boy back in the sixth grade. Jimmy. He was the torment of my life—and not just me, either. Everybody else! He was sort of like a Roland shrunk up.” Sarah grinned and then sobered again. “I couldn’t stand him.”

  “So what did he do to remind you of our friend Roland?”

  “He was always showing off and always bullying kids that were smaller than he was. I thought he was just awful. And I said awful things about him. We all did, bu
t then one day I found out something about his problem. Our teacher took me over to one side and told me things about him that I hadn’t known.”

  “What was that?” Abbey asked.

  “She said his father had been killed in the war, and his mother had a terrible disease, and that Jimmy had to do most of the work around the house. I never knew that before.” Thoughtfully, Sarah looked out through the window. “When I found that out, I started being nice to him no matter what he said or did to me. And you know what? It worked. He did better. He was really unhappy on the inside, but he didn’t want anybody to know about it.”

  “And you think Roland’s like that?” Wash demanded. “Big and tough like he is?”

  “I think he may be trying to cover up some things. A wise person told me one time that nobody who’s proud and a bully can really be happy.”

  They sat talking about Roland Winters and his problem—whatever it was—for some time. Finally Josh heaved a big sigh. “I know he’ll be hard to get along with, but I’m determined to do the best I can to be a friend to him. He may not want my friendship, but at least I can make the offer.” He added, “And now we’d better start getting our gear pulled together.”

  Goél had told the Sleepers to travel light, so all of them put only what was necessary in their knapsacks. Primarily they carried weapons—bows, arrows, swords, knives—but they also had learned they needed to take along some cooking equipment and weatherproof ponchos.

  Goél found them completing preparations. He said, “It is time for you to leave.” He glanced at Roland, who had rejoined the group, but did not speak to him directly.

  “The enemy on this mission, you must remember, will not primarily be an army,” he told them.

  “That’s good news.” Jake sighed with relief. “I’d hate to think we were taking on a whole army.”

  But Goél’s face was very serious. “The greatest enemy this time is pride.” After a moment he went on quietly, “You’ve already learned the dangers that can come from wild beasts and from the swords or the arrows of your enemies in human form. You have practiced hard to deal with this kind of weapon. But there is something just as deadly—in another way—as an arrow in the heart, and that is pride in the heart.”