Merlim and his group were led by armed guards to a central place, around which scores of dwellers clustered ever nearer. The crowd consisted of warrior-bandits bearing shields and spears and wearing the war paint and leathers of numerous tribes, their women and children mixed in, swarming for a closer, openly suspicious look. Surprisingly, some of the faces—the females and the offspring particularly—were filled with fear; ... and no woman could compare with the exotic beauty of Cassandra.
On the other hand, few were as puny as Philos. Nearby was the largest of the tents, a central canvas-timber structure, the door flap of which drew back, revealing a figure all too familiar to Merlin ... ... the Nubian giant, Balthazar, with whom the Merlin had
met at the late King Ashur's tribal council.
Balthazar remained the same formidable figure— ropy dreadlock braids on an otherwise bald skull, massive muscles carved from ebony, ritualistic decorative scars on a face dominated by slitted eyes and a broad flat nose, battle beads looped around a treetrunk neck, shoulders so broad you had to look at them one at a time. For a moment the Nubian king froze, as dark anger rose through him like smoke through a burning building. Then the man mountain's upper lip curled in a sneer. "Wizard," he said, his voice deep, resonant. "It seems you succeeded" The giant sat heavily on a timber-and-twine throne. "And now we will take care of the sorceress."
Balthazar hated magic users because of previous tribe members being sacrificed by a group of warlocks, he escaped through sheer luck. So he found deep hatred for Merlin and his kind, to such an end that it clouds his judgment.
Cassandra glanced at Merlin, who replied,"Can't do that, I am told to hand her over to Lady Mohiam. "
Balthazar frowned, he wanted kill the sorceress and end the chances of her ever landing in the hands of Memnon. Balthazar, leaning forward, a hand on one knee, " I have heard you even took out Memnon's right hand."
Merlin did not reply. And Cassandra began to wonder if she would be in danger.
"Call Lady Mohiam and Queen Isis, I wish to talk to them," Merlin said, "and I will do my best to explain."
"Bold words!" The Nubian king shifted in his wooden throne. "Brazen orders from one who trespasses."
Philos spoke up"We do not trespass—your people brought us here."
"Silence!" Balthazar shook a thick finger at the Wizard. "Our survival depends on keeping this location a secret. So you present a problem, Wizard—as long as you're alive, at least."
Saruman frowned he was about to take action, but Merlin gesture him not to do anything.
From a corner of his eye, Merlin noticed someone was pushing through the crowd—no, not someone: a group, perhaps half a dozen knifing through the mob, parting them rudely. "Balthazar!" a strong female voice cried. Queen Isis emerged—that dark regal beauty, un-derclad in leather armor; and around her were what remained of her woman warriors, fierce beauties whose numbers had dwindled since the Ur tribal council. She stood proudly, hands on her hips and by her side was Lady Mohiam, both of them gazing up at the looming Nubian king. "You violate your own laws, if you slaughter these visitors. You know full well this is a place of sanctuary for the enemies of Memnon." Balthazar, trembling with a quiet rage, said nothing; but his gaze remained locked with hers.
"The winds have carried the stories," Isis said, "of the Wizard bravely stand against the men of Memnon.... Now, I know that there are those among us .. . yourself included, Balthazar... who have no great love for my tribe. Some men fear strong women."
"Isis," Balthazar said, "you try my good na ture__ " She went on, as if he had not spoken, her words more for those congregated, than for the king. "I am not fond of the people of the western mountains. ..." And she gestured toward a face-painted group among the crowd. "Yet we accept them, as we accept all of those who come here, for shelter, in this time of Memnon's atrocities ... whatever our personal feelings might be."
Balthazar scowled, while Lady Mohaim teared up seeing Cassandra, who smiled back. Lady Mohaim walked up to Cassandra and hugged, Cassandra was ahopy to see her grandmother figure again.
Balthazar shook his head. "The Wizard is different," he said. "He is magic user, who knows what kind of dark rituals he done to the delay his age.... As such, he is dangerous."
Saruman scowled and said,"Idiot even fools with some sense know, even without magic now delaying aging is possible. Did you forget Melange?"Saruman glared at Balthazar and added,"Also we do not use dark rituals, we follow Eru, not dark ones like R'hllor."
Balthazar was angry at being called a fool.
But Isis was shaking her head, now. "Your judgment on this matter is clouded...."
The Nubian king threw his head back and roared, "It is my judgment that keeps all of you alive!" And now Balthazar strode over to the prisoners; he planted himself before them and said, "Take the woman and the other two away."
The Merlin stepped out in front of Cassandra and slammed his staff on the ground causing small shockwave causing some of warriors, who was about to carry on Balthazar's orders to be thrown back.
Merlin said, an ominous edge in his voice, "Fair warning, king—the first hand to touch her, I will cut that hand." Cassandra looked at Merlin anew: the caring, the passion, in his voice and eyes, were undeniable. Cassandra slowly understood, he really loves her.