Tijil's Fang - A Prelude
by Robert Ekblad.
edited by Jonathan Blake.
Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved.

Darklord Khatellu was consumed with working with Mordak's Coffin and the Tome that had accompanied it. Day after day he would spend at the Coffin trying to decrypt its ancient carvings and rebuking his Nadziranim for not being able to help him. Mordak's Tome was a great help, but the information in it also frustrated the Dark Lord. Phrases like: "Use The Fang of the Cobra Mistress to control the door to the Realm of the Dead" caused the Darklord to growl in dismay. Rarely had Khatellu been so touchy. Even less rarely had it been so dangerous to be in the same room as the Darklord as when he experimented with the Coffin.

The Coffin worked differently depending on how it was prepared before being closed. Already had Khatellu explored the Coffin's ability to cause rapid death and decay on anything that was put into the Coffin. Gleefully had Khatellu forced Giaks, Drakkarim, Helghast, Vordaks, Humans and Liganim as well as several other creatures to lie in the Coffin and be consumed by its powers. Khatellu and his Nadziranim had been quite interested by the messy, smelly results of these experiments.

Khatellu was very frustrated that he didn't possess the Fang of the Cobra Mistress because it was mentioned in many places in Mordak's Tome; and, most especially because it enabled a special power in the coffin. To Khatellu this power was the principal reason for him accepting Wayl's suggestion to procure Mordak's Coffin in exchange for the Sphere of Decay. Khatellu knew that the Cobra Mistress was a name often used for Tijil, a Lieutenant of Agarash the Damned who had been incarcerated by the Elder Magi for millennia. According to legend, Tijil had foreseen her own imprisonment and encapsulated her powers into her two Fangs before she was imprisoned. Legend has it that one of her Fang's fell into the Cener Druids hands and that they used it to defeat the Elder Magi. However, it mysteriously disappeared during the Golden Age of the Shianti. The Cener Druids long lamented its disappearance. The other Fang is rumoured to have fallen into the hands of Vag'kroag, the ruler of the Hellswamp. After Vashna's death, several Darklords tried to get a hold of this treasure. It was rumoured that some of them succeeded but, to the Darklords dismay, their minions never returned and the knowledge of the Fang's whereabouts was lost.

Khatellu licked his sharp teeth in anticipation. Wayl had told him that she had been able to determine the Fang's position--that it was to be found in the Durncrag mountains not far from the start of the River Xane. Khatellu entered the Throne hall in the fortress of Nadgazad. Surveying this vast chamber he noticed with satisfaction that all the creatures he had summoned were present. Khatellu moved gracefully to the throne and paced back and forth watching the congregated creatures. First, there was a dozen or so Drakkarim led by the Drakkar called Fezmarn. In addition, there were a few Nadziranim and a human called Amantar, flanked by a giak. Khatellu suddenly felt hungry--he sprang...

...straight towards a trio of giaks standing by a pillar and felled them with his razor-sharp claws. He gorged himself on their bodies and within a few seconds there was little more than a pool of blood and a pile of bones to remind the world of the giaks' existence. The giak standing by Amantar visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Khatellu sat down on the throne. Then he noticed Avarice the Betrayer and his follower, Dark Phoenix. The darklord growled when he noticed that the latter had had the bad judgement to carry the magical blade he had found a few months ago. At least he didn't carry it unsheathed; but, the darklord still didn't like having that blade near him.

The Darklord spoke: "My faithful servants! I'm sure you wonder why I've brought you here to today."

A few of the spectators shuffled and the Nadziranim's colours changed to a darker hue. The darklord using pleasant words like "faithful" was usually a very bad sign, reserved for occasions when the darklord felt particularly cruel. The darklord was either going to kill them or send them to probable death.

The darklord saw the reaction, and enjoyed himself. After having savoured their fear for a while, Khatellu ruminated that Naar himself would have liked this. "I give you Wayl!" Khatellu thundered.

In strode a stunningly beautiful woman. Her forms was graceful yet powerful. She had long ebony tresses, and wore a magnificent dress which glowed in a deep blue light. Her eyes were like gleaming amethysts, and her face made the men-folk feel remarkably weak. Those who looked more closely at her face were met with an unsettling stare. Those who had met Wayl as a Liganim felt a ripple in their mind and saw for a short instant Wayl's eyes as they had appeared then: like a well of burning red blood, with pools of black darkness. Wayl raised her hands and a font with water appeared in the Throne room. Her eyes flashed and she twined her hands, the water in the font boiled and formed a fog, she clapped her hands, and the image of a human-like creature with the head of a cobra and the form of a woman appeared in the fog. The cobra-human hissed and revealed two large, long fangs. Many in the audience shied away from the sight which caused the cobra-human to spew a coarse, guttural laugh. "You wantest my teeth. Come and take them." A new long laugh. The woman continued menacingly: "In exchange I'll drain the blood from your bodies and consign your worthless souls to the Pit of Eternal Pain." The woman continued to laugh hysterically, and the image faded away, her evil laughter still ringing in the ears of the audience.

"Your task," Khatellu boomed, "Is to procure one of the Fangs of the woman you saw."

There was silence in the room--a long silence.

"Fezmarn, you and your Drakkarim will lead this operation. To aid you, you have Amantar and Dark Phoenix."

"Yes, my master," Fezmarn said.

"Yes my lord," intones Amantar.

Dark Phoenix turns and looks at his master Avarice, who seems to be upset. "Since when do you command my servants, sire?"

"Since you failed to destroy the Order of the Kai, Avarice. Failure has its price," the Darklord glared at Avarice. "You should be relieved that I've chosen not to exact the punishment you really deserve."

Avarice glared back at the Darklord. He knew that the reason Khatellu had let him live was that he still found him useful, and interesting. Also, much to his surprise, he had learnt that Wayl had spoken in his behalf. Avarice made a slight nod towards his apprentice, and then made to leave the hall. Khatellu spoke:

"Tijil's Fang can be found in the Durncrag mountains, not far from where the River Xane runs down. Prepare yourselves well for this mission. Your lives will depend on it."

"Yes, my master."

"You're excused," growled Khatellu and left the throne room. Fezmarn looked at Dark Phoenix and Amantar a long while and the two in turn stared at him.

"We need to get a party together, and I propose to be the leader," said Amantar, breaking the silence.

"Khatellu said--" Fezmarn started.

"I don't care what Khatellu said, he isn't here. Now, since I am the most powerful in this chamber, I will lead. Anyway, you won't get anywhere without me," Amantar stated.

Arrogant brat, thought Fezmarn. It's more likely that you won't get anywhere without us.

Aloud, Fezmarn said: "What, then, is your plan?"

"I'm going to lead this group, and we shall triumph. We are the most powerful of Khatellu's servants and we need our full strength for the journey ahead: me for my magic, Fezmarn and his Drakkarim for their fighting abilities and you, Dark Phoenix for your weapon."

"What, then, is your plan?" Fezmarn repeated.

"You will listen to me and do as I say. Even though you might think otherwise, I am doing this for your benefit. Understand, Fezmarn?!"

Dark Phoenix unsheathed the Hellswerd and stood up. "I'm taking orders only from Avarice, my master!"

"Don't come near me with that sword, boy!" Amantar cried.

"We'll just have to see about that, won't we", snarled Dark Phoenix, and glared at Amantar.

Fezmarn broke off the tense situation by repeating his demand: "Tell of us your plans Amantar!"

"We equip ourselves and then fly to the River Xane," Amantar responded.

Fezmarn sighed to himself, and then turned around and left the Hall with his Drakkarim in tow. "Phoenix, come with us. We're off to get supplies!"

Dark Phoenix sheathed his blade and hurried to follow the Drakkarim, leaving a bewildered Amantar and his Giak toady standing in the Throne Room.

"Aren't you going to follow them?"

Amantar started. It was that woman, Wayl, who asked the question and interrupted Amantar's thoughts.

"No. They can get their equipment for themselves," Amantar said. "I'll get mine."

"I would advise you to follow them, Amantar; then, perhaps, you'll learn to pay attention in the future," said Wayl.

"I was paying attention," Amantar said stubbornly.

"No, you were not, Amantar."

"I was too," Amantar replied.

Wayl giggled and left Amantar and his Giak standing than in the Throne Hall. Both of them were confused now more than ever.

Finally, Kalgr the Giak asked: "Follow others or equip ourself?" 

More coming next issue. . .