Abuud: the One-Eyed God

His left ear appeared to have been cut off and his eyes were set deep into his face.

"I have an offer for the Prophet Azmet," Arik stated to the torturer.

"You will have more than one offer for him before I get done with you, lad," snarled the torturer.

"Actually, I will be of little use to Azmet after you get through with me," Arik stated defiantly. "We can offer Azmet the city of Tagaret on a silver platter. That is what Azmet desires."

"If you can do that then you can offer him two cities after I make you suffer a bit," retorted the bald-headed giant.

"Are you willing to stake your life on that?" questioned Arik. "I am offering Azmet exactly what he wants. After you torture us, he will never get Tagaret. That I can guarantee you. Worse for you, Azmet will know that he failed because of his torturer. I can imagine that his treatment of you will be far worse than what you do to me."

"Give me the other one," the torturer snarled to the guards.

"You are not listening," growled Arik. "It does not matter which one of us you torture. If either of is mutilated, Tagaret will never fall to Azmet. You obviously do not know the Prophecy of Alcea very well. We are the twins the prophecy speaks of. Whatever befalls us befalls the city of Tagaret. When one of us pricks a finger, scores of people in Tagaret die. By the time you finish torturing just one of us, there will be no city of Tagaret to welcome the Prophet Azmet. Your actions will have destroyed what he seeks."

"Rubbish," growled the torturer. "I know of no such prophecy."

"Yes," Arik shook his head, "and you being such a learned man as you are, I would never have guessed that your education skipped over the Prophecy of Alcea. The point is that we are offering what the Prophet Azmet wants, and we offer it without hesitation. It is your skin that will be peeled. If you are set to continue with your own destruction then lead me away. I am sure these guards are loyal enough to Azmet and will report this conversation."

"Perhaps you should check with the Prophet of Abuud before making this decision," one of the guards said to Achmed, the torturer. "I do not plan to be punished along with you for your mistake. If you demand the prisoner then I must report immediately to Azmet what I have heard."

"You dare to defy me," snarled Achmed. "Perhaps I should take you to my work room."

Both guards stepped back and drew their swords. "We are faithful to the Prophet of Abuud," retorted the guard. "We are prepared to ascend to Paradise at any moment. If that moment comes against you then it will be Abuud's will. You will not get these prisoners until Azmet has been notified of the prophecy the lad speaks of."

"Get back in the cell," ordered the other guard.

Arik nodded and returned to Tedi. The cell door slammed shut and Tedi handed Arik's dagger to him.

"What did that accomplish?" Tedi whispered to Arik.

"It bought us a little time," Arik whispered back. "If Azmet buys into the prophecy then he will have to transport us to Tagaret. At least there will be some chance of being rescued that way."

"As you said before," Tedi smiled weakly, "we should never give up hope. I know you already realize this, but I am glad that you are here with me. I do not understand how you think sometimes, but I want to learn to think just like you."

"There are times that you think more clearly than I do," offered Arik.