For some reason they hadn't. The plan was simple enough. Manacia intended to first conquer the regions north of the Gods Divide. The mountain range was a natural barrier that would allow him to work his will, then gather his strength for the final assault over the mountains. True, the ancient maps gave no hint on what route should be taken to cross the Divide. But Manacia was confidentgiven time and absolute rule over the northern humanlandsthat passage would be found. He would find Kyrania, by the gods! Or there were certain lazy, talon-dragging generals who would experience his royal wrath.

To accomplish the first part of his planthe subjugation of the northhis forces would cross the Forbidden Desert and set up a base camp just beyond the edge. Supply trains and reinforcement columns would pour into that camp, while the main force leaped forward to wipe out the humans.

It was Manacia's opinion that surprise would carry the day. Yes, he wanted a large force to mount the invasion. But it needn't be as large as his generals said, or attached to such unwieldy supply lines. No one in the humanlands had even a glimmer that their demon enemies were gathering for an assault. Manacia had made certain of this by refusing any request to send vulnerable scouting parties to investigate the humanlands. He'd already taken too great a chance by sending Sarn and didn't intend to dare the fates by repeating that error.

His generals, however, had seized on this secrecy, saying the blade cut both ways. Yes, they said, the wise course was to keep the humans in ignorance. But that meant the demons would know nothing of what transpired in the humanlands. When the king struck, he'd be cutting at the dark. There was no way of knowing who might return the blow and with what force.

The only safe thing, prudent thing, to do, his generals said, was to attack with a well-supplied army of such size that anyone who opposed them would be doomed.

Manacia's generals were a backbiting lot, always maneuvering behind the scenes to attack their brother officers, but on this issue they were united. In a rare alliance, Lord Fari and Prince Luka also joined together to back the generals.

Fari, kept from probing the humanlands with intelligence-gathering spells, had similar concerns as the military. So did the prince, who as heir to the throne was expected to lead the vanguard of the invasion.

"If I am to have the high honor of carrying your banner into glorious battle, Majesty, the prince said, I want to make certain there is no chance it is sullied or befouled in any way.

"I would fight to the death to prevent that from happening."

"Quite right, too, King Manacia said. My father expected the same from me when I was Crown Prince. And I risked my life many a time for his standard."

Prince Luka placed talon to breast and bowed low, honoring his father's youthful bravery. As he did so, he thought, You cunning old fraud. You cut your father's throat in his sleep and seized his standard. And if I only have the chance, I'll do the same to you.

"You are a constant inspiration to me, Majesty, the prince said, smoothly. And I'll need ten thousand fiends for my vanguard."

The king gave them to him.

After much discussion with his generals, he also agreed that a five hundred thousand demon army would be raisedthe largest force in the history of Esmir. Backing them with war magic would be two thousand wizards, led by Lord Fari.

The preparations were massive and seemed to move on as slowly as the Turtle Gods carried the continents across the seas.

Making the task even more difficult were countless emergencies calling for his armies attentions. Within a single month troops had to be rushed to trouble spots a half-a-dozen times.

Manacia felt as if his whole kingdom was bulging at the seams, ready to erupt.

The feeling was intensified by the nightmares. As troubled night bled into troubled night, the king began to fix on the two human devils who always led the rushthe golden haired one and his blue-eyed companion. They became very real to him and he began to wonder who they might be.

When he could bear it no longer he called on Lord Fari and his wizards for an answer. He tried to make light of the dreams, but he knew he was fooling no one and Fari would mark it down as a weakness.

Starcharts were cast, but proved useless since no chart agreed with the next. With the gods at sleep, the heavens held no answers, although the dreamcatchers were ignorant of the reason for their failure.

Bone cups were rattled, the king had his palm read scores of times. All to no avail.

Finally Lord Fari had a human slave brought forth. He was tortured so his cries would please the gods, then while he was still alivehis belly was slit so the king's wizards could read the entrails.

Manacia watched with much interest as Fari leaned over the moaning victim, sniffing at the gaping wound.

"A healthy odor, Majesty, the old wizard reported. That's a lucky sign."

He scooped up a coil of entrails with a claw.

"Mercy, have mercy, the victim groaned.

Fari peered closely at the rope of tissue. Better still, Majesty, he said after a moment. This is a good strong bowel, symbolizing the soundness of Your Majesty's policies."

The human made a weak cry as Fari pulled up more of his innards. Please, the man whimpered, please."

"Aha! the old demon said. Here's our trouble, Majesty."

He held out a glistening coil. A thick rope of internal muscle jutted off of it, dividing into two blunt-ended tubes about an inch out.

"It's a cancer, Majesty, Fari said. Attached to the main branch. You see how it divides into two?"

Manacia nodded, he did indeed. Fari extended a talon and sliced each tube. Black blood gushed out.

"Mother of mercy! the victim screamed. And then he sagged, unconscious.

Satisfied that he had enough information, Fari let the entrails fall. Two slaves slithered over on their bellies to offer him perfumed water and towels to clean his claws.

Fari paced back and forth, wiping his claws and thinking. While he thought two other slaves approached and dragged the human away.

Fari noticed and his snout came up. The king will want the heart for his dinner, he ordered the slaves. Then he went back to his pacing.

Finally, when Manacia thought he no longer bear the suspense, Fari began to speak.

"Here is how I read it, Majesty, he said. The cancer, I fear, does represent a threat. The twin ropes drawing off energy from the main bowel are the two humans who bedevil Your Majesty's dreams. One is a king. The other a wizard."

"So what if one's a wizard? Manacia growled. Human magic is too weak to be a threat to us."

"Most certainly, Majesty, Fari said. But perhaps when joined with the king he makes a more imposing adversary. I cannot say. The entrails gave no clue to such things.

"But they did tell me that right now these two forcesking and wizardare apart. They began together, but then separated for some reason. At the moment each is independent of the other."

"When will they come together? the king asked.

Fari sighed, wiping the last of the gore from his claws. That was not revealed to me, Majesty, he said. He let the towel fall and a slave scrabbled over to pick it up.

"But what of my invasion? the king pressed. How long dare I wait? It seems to me the longer the delay, the more chance there is these two forces will come together."

"Quite true, Majesty, Fari said.

"Advise me, the king demanded. When do I invade?"

Fari didn't hesitate. The old demon felt quite sure of himself. The entrails had been that plain.

"In the spring, Majesty, he said. Soon as the first snow melts."

"And what of this king and this wizard? Manacia asked. They won't be together by then?"