The wizard Wu Gu Xian made his preparations. Some of them had been had to come by in the lands of Araby, but his host - Yusuf bin Waziri had smoothed the way. The man had many allies, and those who were reluctant were often rendered surprisingly compliant when he showed them his dagger with the hilt moulded into the shape of the flame. bin Waziri has demurred when Wu had asked him if he knew of a place where he could perform his sorcerous rituals, refusing to allow his dwelling to be used for these purposes. However, he was sure that he knew of somewhere appropriate ... .

This was how Wu Gu Xian found himself in a cellar close by the city walls of Acre. The high, vaulted brick ceilings of the cellar trapped the echoes between their pillars, holding every sound until it diminished beyond the range of human hearing. However, it was cool, even in the heat of the noonday sun, and - best of all - none would disturb him there. Yusuf bin Waziri had let it be known that should anyone disturb his guest, then they would regret their decision, if only momentarily. There had been a few who had shown more curiosity than was deemed healthy, and they had been made examples of. Wu Gu Xian's privacy had been assured.

Now, Wu Gu Xian stood before a great iron cauldron, its surface inscribed with ancient symbols. A fire burned beneath the cauldron, and the iron glowed dully in the gloom of the cellar. Inside the body of the cauldron, its contents roiled and steamed aromatically. Wu Gu Xian dipped a copper rod into the liquid, stirring it three times widdershins. Pulling out the rod, he held it up in the light of a lamp, examining its surface. Whatever was in the cauldron had turned the silver black. Satisfied with his preparations, the wizard began to chant.

"Iä! Iä! Iä!"

The blasphemous syllables hung like lead in the air, and the fumes from the cauldron seemed to form around them. Each word uttered by the wizard caused the vapours to thicken and take on definition. As Wu Gu Xian uttered the last phrase of his prayer, he lowered his eyes towards the flames. Once - only once! - he had dared to stare into the cloud at this point in the ceremony. He had regretted it. The sight had stuck him blind and pushed him into a delirium that had taken him many months to recover from.

"Wu Gu Xian!"

The oriental wizard dared to look up. In the cloud was the familiar facd of the demon lord known to him as Lu Xi Fa. "My lord," the wizard intoned, and bowed deeply.

"Wu Xu Gian! What do you have to tell me?"

"I have established myself within the city of Acre, Great One. Your servant, the mortal known as bin Waziri has given me all that I have requested."

"Good." From somewhere outside, the call to prayer sounded from the minarets and towers of the city. The face of Lu Xi Fa seemed to waver in the hot vapours, then solidified again. Wu Gu Xian did not say anything, but maintained a dignified silence and waited for the demon to speak again. "The armies of the Christians are approaching, with Richard of Warwick amongst them. It will soon be time for you to enact the rites that will seal my vengeance."

"I have one question, lord," the wizard asked. "I do not know where the sacrifice will come from. I have studied the ritual. It cannot be a thousand souls slaughtered piecemeal. It must be a thousand souls, all despatched at the same moment. If they cannot be taken in battle then ... then I do not know how I will be able to find them."

The demon chuckled. It was an evil sound. "As you have made your preparations, little scholar, I have made mine. When the Christians attack, the defenders of this city will do what men have always done, since the beginning of time. They shall retreat inside the walls and wait. There will be a state of siege."

"And the thousand?" The demon's eyes burned brightly at this, and Wu Gu Xian lowered his gaze and raised his hands in supplication. "I beg your forgiveness, lord. I wait upon your wisdom."

"The thousand will be among those who fail to enter the city in time. They will be captured by the Christian army, and held hostage. Wu Gu Xian, you will ensure that the gates are closed in sufficient time for a thousand to be captured."

"And then, lord?"

"Then, you shall poison the minds of the commanders of the armies. Sow the seeds of distrust. All you need do is take advantage of the moment." Lu Xi Fa's eyes gleamed at the prospect of the slaughter. "Do you understand, Wu Gu Xian? Tell me you do! Your soul depends on it!"

Wu Gu Xian bowed his head, acknowledging his master. "Yes, lord."