The Reign of Wizardry by Jack Williamson Read Free Book Online

the popping eyes of Snish—peered back at the three long-robed men on the other galley.
    “The yellow-robe,” Tai Leng told him, “is Amur the Hittite, himself. He is the richest man in the world, and probably the most crafty.He is no wizard, but his wealth can bind warlocks to serve him.”
    “I’ve heard of Amur,” said Theseus. “What does he want?”
    “Amur,” said the yellow woman, “learned of the same prescience that caused Minos to dispatch the new orders for your death. And the Hittite, being a crafty man, formed a scheme to turn the situation into silver and gold.”
    “And what is the scheme?”
    Tai Leng watched for awhile, silently. “Amur is unwilling to reveal his plan, before the Minoan priest,” she said at last. “But soon you will know. Because he and the admiral are coming aboard, to speak with you.”
    Theseus saw that the flagship was veering toward them.
    “Whatever his plot is,” warned her nasal singsong, “it means no more good for you than the papyrus from Minos. For Amur is sometimes called the scorpion,and his craft is a venom that poisons men.”
    Once again the Cretan marines grappled the trader, lashed it to the flagship. Small brown officers assisted Admiral Phaistro and Amur the Hittite over the rails. Theseus walked to meet them, staring curiously at the Hittite.
    Amur was a swarthy man, with the powerful hooked nose of his race. His dark eyes were beady, cunning, set too close together.Shaven, in the Cretan fashion, his face had a bloodless, waxen look. His limbs were thin, but his body seemed fat, bloated. He was laden with golden jewelry. His hungry eyes flashed about the empty decks, then glittered at Theseus with a concentrated malice.
    “This is my ship, that my nephew commanded!” His voice had a husky, whispering quality. “Where is the amber and tin and silver that he broughtfrom the north coasts? And the bales of fur, and the blond slaves?”
    “You might go fishing for them,” Theseus grinned. “Or ask the wizards.”
    Amur stepped close to Theseus, and his eyes glittered craftily. “I have asked the wizards,” his dry voice rasped. “I climbed to the high tower of the great Daedalus himself, and paid him five talents of silver for the spinning of his shining ball—the warlocksthink of nothing but robbing honest men with their fees!
    “But he showed me your red-sailed galley, Captain Firebrand, fleeing up into the islands with my treasure. I have spoken to Phaistro, who is my friend.” Amur leered at the purple-robed admiral. “And another fleet will be dispatched, upon a favorable wind, to intercept the pirate.”
    His hands drew into thin, tense claws, and Theseus sawthat the yellow fingers were heavy with golden rings.
    “All my treasure will be recovered,” grated the flat voice of Amur. “To the last grain of silver! The pirates will be captured, for my slave pens.” The small eyes gleamed. “And you, Captain Firebrand, shall restore my five talents of silver—twenty times over.”
    Theseus waited, thoughtfully fingering the inlaid hilt of the Falling Star. Herewas another type of man, it came to him, whose power was almost as evil as wizardry. Amur stepped back from him, anxiously.
    “Hold your blade, Captain Firebrand,” he rasped anxiously. “For I have come to save your life.” He came nearer, dropped his voice. “The warlocks have read the tablets of time,” he whispered swiftly. “They find indications of your victory if you enter the Minoan games.”
    Theseus touched the Falling Star, and grinned. “I read the same omens in my blade,” he said.
    The close-set eyes of Amur narrowed. “Minos has dispatched orders for your death,” he rasped. “But I have come to save your life for the games. For Minos requires no proof of your death but your sword, and the body of a slave can fill the weighted box we sink into the sea.”
    Theseus grinned again. “Yourown body could!”
    Amur flinched, but his hoarse whisper raced on: