The Tribute King

rt and Gray Land the

ousand Tributes

y from the Fire

ty from the Win

fty from the S

fifty from the S

eck, wore no protective eyewear; part of him, fueled by his inner fury carried with it the hope that the sun's dazzling rays or the eternally blowing sand actually would blind him

sonings reserved only for royalty. His last satisfying roll among silken sheets with perfumed brothel girls, the last satisfying crunch of his opponents' faces as he pummeled them into the ground in the sparring matches he enjoyed. His last

ercraft's metal deck railing, he rode out his fit of suppressed rage, and then felt Lazlo coming up from behind. He didn't need to turn his head; the p

l be Prince when you return. Look on the bright side, your

ssed before them: lattices of wind bare steel, husks of a world of the most ancient past vanished, now mere temporary shelters fr

ribes need the Gray Lands' water. And a

gave the vaguest hint of a cringe, as his sarcasm seemed to whip into the air and strike him in h

isowned...the disposs

ath march?" Voran snapped. "Tell me that, if

the passengers share your

it, and fixed his expression into a scowl. Silenc

y said. "Honestly, Lazlo! I sincerely have to q

majority only h

et married to the snake people, or die a slow death in the desert...or a quick dea

said. "And by the way, I wouldn't recommend calling the

oug

r. There was a glint of contrition in his brown eyes, but his sternness remained as he turned

ir and youthful face. He turned and ambled back towards the entrance to the relative coolness of the decks below, pas

ed out. His friend paused

my side

n with something deeper than the anger he had kept inside since

e too h

Lazlo answered, but Voran could easily detect t

ing, but I ought to know better than to take my anger out on you. It was...unbecoming, especiall

n our desires turn down

nd what he had nearly wrought so many years ago. "You didn't have to come with me, though, but you did. You have no part in my p

go, I go,"

sive noise. "You play to

smile. "It helps to be

go alone," Voran, returned Lazlo's expression with a gr

d, at first tentatively, but then more heartily as the Prince joine

removed the dark lenses from their pouch at his waist and slipped them

at I did," Voran said, "to dr

d days of better judg

I deser

was done, was done. And he would have sooner taken on a megarachna barehand

ate mother had made for him, hung over the porthole. Its spidery threads and knit yarn icons of the gods we refitted with tiny bells that were silhouetted by the silvery light of the de

it hadn

del that did not know him, and where people shrunk away from the tiny serpents that he claimed were his children. It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming when he gasped a

broken upon it, but thus far unread. He unwound the first line,

rince of Fire Mountain, with anti

is arm, ready to cast it out the window into the consuming desert. But listlessness took over, and h

ven have to say to him? An

ve any ounce of potential slumber farther and farther away. With regretful anguish, he wondered why he had failed t

o overcome when it was all over; it would no doubt make those three years so much more bearable. Voran sighed into his pillow, h

audible, and then grew in volume minute by minute until i

ttle more than his under tunic and loose breeches. His sword and scabbard were girded about his hip from its leather belt. He was greeted by the sig

imacing at his hastily donned attire."You've brought your sword, spoiling fo

es fixed upon the sands of the desert, pale greenish silver with the moons' light. Something was indeed going on

re he had gotten them, but then shook his head. The young man was nothing if not resourceful. He brought the lenses to

gh to spot; their black robes hid them from a distance, but they were quite visible magnified, and their blades glin

trained these guards well. Most soldiers would have been

epeated. "So they're malcon

chatter. In the distance, a plume of sand rose from a sudden burst of flame, and Voran thought he saw at least

nd Sea tribesmen to participate in the Tribute by threat of military action. It was only they who opposed it, and always had from the ending days of war with t

ief mental calculation. "There might be a few of their companions brought along whom they're t

perhaps slain or unhorsed by a lucky raider. The beast crooned and glanced at the Prince with its three large eyes, as if inv

ness?" His friend's voice was frantic and

th the swiftness of a cat upon its prey. "What do you think you w

ed, "If the gods wish you to be exiled for

you mean,'unaccept

was as reproachful, as that of a teacher admonishi

" Voran recited. Then at once, the scales of impetuousness fell from his eyes. He looked a

ty, smacked his hand away and struggled back upright on his own. "Think about what might have happened if you had been injured. Any major bruises or cuts would have given t

o endure nagging like this from fathe

threw back at him. "The guards are doing their job, and the hovercrafts haven't started circling. If that were to

r-invisible steed as a pair of guards gave chase. Other ranks of soldiers were returning to their positions beside their respective hovercrafts. Every passing second

owed the Prince to the walkway that led to the lower decks. "What do you know of Naga culture, outside of the Laws of Tribute? Do you know their l

of his robe. "By the gods, are you trying to piss me off?" His voice was only sli

of Tribute demand you learn the ways of the Naga. They make no exceptions. Like it or not, you'll be expected to fath

had. "Ask me if I care about whether I disgrace myself before a bunch of

he Naga have a code of personal honor that is stricter even than our own. You do something foolish there, and you not only embarrass yourself, you also dishonor yourself, and by extension, your family and your tribe in their eyes. You, being a Prin

r emotions. As much as he hated to admit it, he could not deny the sagacity of his advice. But he was not ready to acknowledge Lazlo, a man w

assing me like you just did, if we

u may be Prince of the Fire Mountain Tribe, but in the Gray Lands, I believe you will find that among the Naga, such a thing will

nd valet of the crown Prince!" Voran sneered, and g

sting of the Prince's words, which might actually have resulted in an honor duel, had the

ow, if you don't mind, this excitement has left me quite in the need for more

not see the rueful shake of his servant's head,

Naga will either humb