Chapter 3 Part 1

ICE AND ORACLES
Lord Serpentine Blackheart was seated at a desk in his private quarters reviewing some financial reports when the devil appeared. In a puff of smoke and a stench of brimstone, the creature materialized and immediately bowed low before the tyrant.
"Greetings to the first born of the Godking."
Serpent Blackheart peered up from his desk to acknowledge his guest. "The Firstborn extends welcome to thee, O herald of Asmodeous," he replied in accordance with protocol. "What news of thy master dost thou bring?" he asked in high speech as he casually observed the minor devil's attire. The creature was dressed in rich robes of red and black with an silver medallion dangling from a gold chain around his neck.
Blackheart knew the medallion well, for it was he who had created it. It was a magical device that allowed its possessor to teleport or plane shift from another dimension into the protected areas of his stronghold. Those who attempted such a feat without this amulet would suffer a painful death.
The devil produced a scroll from within the folds of his robe and then proceeded to unroll and read it. "His divine majesty of all Hell requests a meeting with the Firstborn and Lord of Aspberg to discuss the subject of the alliance of the Dukes of Hell to House Blackheart."
Blackheart leaned back in his seat and clasped his hands together in contemplation. The negotiations had been going on for some time. Most of the details had been hammered out via aids and emissaries, but the final meeting and the sealing of the pact still remained. The Dukes of Hell were a powerful force and their billions of minions could make a formidable army if motivated.
He had been taught the politics of Hell long ago and its workings came back to him quickly and easily. Asmodeous was the head of the nine Hells. He maintained his control by keeping the other Dukes of Hell bickering among themselves. If they were united against a common foe, there was little that could stop them. In fact, the last time they had attacked as one, it took the efforts of all the gods to force them to return to Hell.
"We accept thy master's invitation, provided we meet in the chambers of the High Priest of Set in the House of Asp in Aspberg." He and Morteous had conferred a great deal about the meeting place. Blackheart was not above suspecting even a Duke of Hell of treachery. But he knew that on those grounds he had chosen to meet with his future allies, he could invoke both the god, Set, and the Godking should the need arise.
"I will carry thy words to my master and bring thee his royal reply," the devil said as he began to fade within a cloud of smoke.
Serpent Blackheart stood and walked over to the north wall of his chamber where a tapestry in the form of a map of the known world. The newcomers were playing heavily on his mind. Too much depended on their deaths. Next to the tapestry, Serpent struck a small gong. Instantly, a servant entered the room and knelt on the floor.
"Bring me General Kana," he said to the nameless slave.
The slave retreated from the room by closing the door behind him.
Serpent watched him go then walked over to the altar of the snake god, retrieved his staff and sword, and returned to study a map lying on his desk. He was examining the map, which contained geographical data on the northern forest lands, when a herald knocked on the door and announced that the general had arrived.
"Come," he said and watched closely as the general entered. He was a big burly man with a scar across his throat where someone had unsuccessfully attempted to decapitate him.
The general immediately drew his sword, grasped its point and extended it toward the monarch, hilt first in the traditional salute to his liege. "By thy command, my master," he said.
"Kana, old friend, you are too theatrical. We are alone here and I am weary of protocol. Please be seated."
"Thank you m'lord," the general replied as he resheathed his sword and seated himself in a chair near the desk. They had not been at war for over two hundred years and the general found his duties were more like that of a policemen than a soldier.
Still there were many times when he was called upon to place villages under martial law. Those had been times which proved to be very profitable to his private life.
He was certain that Blackheart knew exactly what took place within his realm, but the seizing of opportunity was something that Blackheart found as a favorable characteristic. It had earned him three promotions. Now, the general was waiting in anticipation of another opportunity to ransack another town.
"General, I have a little job for you to do." Blackheart faced his military leader. "I want you to select an outfit of good soldiers for a special mission of extreme importance." Blackheart laid the map he had been studying on the desk. The general stood up and leaned over the map to inspect it.
"M'lord," he cried in alarm, "this is a map of the Twin Cities region! That is a Tycarian province. If my soldiers are caught up there it could mean trouble."
"This will not be an official military action," Serpent explained. "It is a covert operation--just a hit-and-run killing." Serpent pointed to the spot of wilderness on the southeastern coastal stretch near the Twin Cities. I will arrange for a mass teleportation of your men to this spot. I want to ambush a band of people and kill them all. Tell your men that I will pay them each ten thousand in gold for every dead victim."
"It will be done Great One, but there must be thousands who travel that passage each great moon. How will my men know who to kill?"
"I have here in this scroll," indicating the scroll which lay on the desk near the lamp, "a description of the party, its complement and many of the names within it." Blackheart leaned close and whispered through his teeth, "I want all but one of them dead. One is to be brought back to me alive. You will know which one when you meet him."
"It will be done, sire," the general bowed and turned to leave.
Just as Kana was reaching for the door, Blackheart caught him with an uncharacteristically caring hand on his shoulder. "General," the tyrant said quietly. "Don't get caught. If something goes wrong, protect your secrecy."
The general swallowed. That was a suicide order to insure the mission's security if they should be compromised. To renege on that order would subject him to a fate worse than death. A fate that Serpent Blackheart and his kin were fully capable of imposing.