The Revolutions of Time | Page 7

quite different at that time, though, for the Zards were actively
looking for us, whereas I was merely glancing occasionally at the wall.
Now that they were closer, I could easily understand their conversation:
"Blast it, they aren't here," said one,
"Probably deserted the place after Garlop saw them, he should have kept watch."
"Why? He couldn't have stopped a group of them, and they're too keen to be followed."
"Aye, he did right to hurry off, but it would be a shame if they escaped," another joined.
"The King is here though, and there's no fooling him.
"Hear ye, hear ye," the others assented, that being a common phrase among them which
was the equivalent of an 'I agree' or 'Amen'.
A larger, more commanding Zard, whom the others looked in deference to, then came
down the stairs, saying as he entered the room, "Let us not celebrate prematurely,
gentlemen. There is nothing of interest above, so we will have to search carefully down
here."
"Sir, is it true it was a hairless one he saw?" one asked him.
"We are all hairless here," he said, laughing with the others, "But yes, it is reported that
Garlop saw one of the ancients, and with his sharp eyes and knowledge of history, it is
assumed to be true. I need not remind you, then, the need to find them before they are too
far away, it is imperative to the cause that the ancient is not brought to the hidden fortress
of our adversaries."
The Zards then set to work with great assiduity searching for any clues of the Canitaur's
whereabouts, examining everything meticulously, yet quickly. They tore the furniture
apart to look for hidden compartments, followed the smoke pipes through the ground to

their outlets, tore off the floor boards to look for secret passages, and did the same to the
ceiling.
Before I continue with my story, let me pause for a moment to describe to you the
appearance of the Zards, for you are probably curious as to what they look like.
Quite different from the Canitaurs, they were, in fact, completely hairless, being almost
lizard-like. They stood erect, about the same height as a man, that is, about six feet or a
little over that, and their bodies resembled those of alligators, with short, thickset legs,
stout arms, and a long body with a tail draping down to the ground, looking like a giant
tongue, though covered, of course, in scales. Their heads were small, having a little skull
on which were the eyes and ears and with a long snout that, like the Canitaurs', held their
noses, mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave them an odd,
fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick with long fingers, and though their
overall appearance had an air of awkwardness about it, they set to their tasks with great
dexterity, though if it was natural or the result of their excited state, I could not tell.
Indeed, I began to grow worried when the Zard who was removing the walls, to check for
holes or tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off the panels with a metal bar
and looked for anything suspicious.
He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to our covering and pull when
another Zard, on the other end of the room, held aloft a piece of paper, calling the
attentions of the others to it. Our almost discoverer went himself to the other Zard, and
we were, for a moment at least, saved from being exposed. Having read the paper, the
taller Zard, the King, said to the others, "Well done, lads. We have here a map to the
Canitaur's hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather some troops, and surprise them.
Today may prove victorious, so let us hurry."
The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and out the door, hurrying forth,
it seemed, to do their dastardly deeds, and in their ardor not leaving behind even a single
one to guard the hideout. Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were damp, for my sorrow
of the Canitaur's ill fate was as a wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been the sole
reason for their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I thought, for my coming
may have ended the wars, or put its completion in motion, yet not in the favor of my
hosts.
To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were buxom, seeming to find
great humor in what had happened. Turning to them in a zealous perplexity, I said
spiritedly, "How can you laugh? You may have escaped, but your brethren are doomed,
and you yourselves will not last