There had been none.
Pug’s thesis suggested that if the portal from the demon realm was still closed, there would be no life on Shila. If this was the planet upon which the taredhel explorers had first encountered the demons, there would have been some movement between the original gate and wherever the rift to the taredhel hub world was located. There should have been a steady stream of demons flying and running out of Ahsart.
All was quiet.
Magnus used his arts and took them to a hillside overlooking the City of Priests.
The city had been an immense metropolis in its time, a sprawling home to millions. A high wall surrounded the ancient settlement, that had been the heart of Ahsar, but the foulburg spread out five times its distance, indicating that this region had been peaceful lor centuries after the original city had been founded. Broad streets criss-crossed throughout and tall towers rose here and there. Pug indicated a path and they began walking towards it.
‘In ancient times, before recorded history, a gate was created between the demon realm and this world. It had been sealed, which is how this place came to be settled. This was where the Saaur shamans and priests who had closed and protected the gate lived. Others came to study and it became a holy place,’ said Pug. ‘The Saaur were a race of noble warriors, and they numbered millions. They rode across endless plains of grassland and hunted.’ Pug motioned for them to walk towards one particular avenue. ‘Then something changed.’
‘This must have been a remarkable place,’ said Simon. ‘It rivals the City of Kesh in size.’ He glanced at Pug and said, ‘What changed?’
‘A mad priest, so the story goes,’ said Pug, ‘opened the seal admitting the first demon, and was devoured for his trouble. But before the other priests could reseal the breach, they were overwhelmed.’
Randolph said, ‘Sounds like the demons were ready to launch an offensive as soon as it was opened.’
‘Yes, it does, doesn’t it?’ agreed Pug.
As they entered the now deserted ruins, the only sound in their ears was the wind. In the hours they had been on this world, they had detected no hint of life. As far as they could tell, this planet was completely devoid of even the tiniest insect. At one point they had passed through a region just after a rain. Pug had remarked that the scent of wetness lacked something. Simon had replied that it was because life was abundant in soil: moss, lichen, and spores of all sort, and water usually caused their scent to rise: none of that existed here.
The walked down desolate boulevards, immense by human standards. The Saaur were a huge race, and the scale of their city reflected that. Even their horses stood twenty-five hands at the withers. They were also a nomadic people whose concessions to city life were few. No rider of the Saaur would ever be caught far from his mount, so there had to be room to accommodate the massive beasts, too.
Pug paused, trying to get his bearings. Then he pointed. ‘That way lies the main Temple.’ As they walked, he said, ‘As I understand it, the great hordes of the Sha-shahan, or ultimate ruler, rode throughout this world. It has smaller oceans than Midkemia and save for a few big islands, it’s possible to visit every part of the globe on horseback.
‘This city was originally a holy place, and so the hordes left it alone. Some of their shamans came here to study, I was told. But for some reason, the hordes changed their attitude; after centuries of respecting this city, the hordes decided it was time that they be paid tribute. When the hordes arrived here to demand it, the priests and shamans of this city were divided on what to do. Some wished to continue their work in peace and were willing to submit, but others refused, and before a consensus was reached, war erupted.’ Looking at Randolph, he said, ‘You’re the battle magic expert here. Imagine five thousand magic-using priests and shamans confronting a hundred thousand mounted warriors.’
‘Messy,’ said the bull-necked man. if the magic users were really good, they might hold them outside those walls for a week or so. Then the attrition and fatigue would win out for the attackers. The perimeter would breach eventually, and once inside, the slaughter would begin.’
‘Which is precisely what happened,’ answered Pug. He pointed. ‘Over there, somewhere, a gate was battered off its hinges, and the defenders were overrun. Priests and Temple guards were no match for the soldiers of the horde.