1216 lines
69 KiB
Plaintext
1216 lines
69 KiB
Plaintext
From WHITE@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU Tue May 12 10:35:11 1992
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(5.65c/IDA-1.4.4/pen-ident for <RITA@EFF.ORG>); Tue, 12 May 1992 10:35:05 -0400
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Message-Id: <199205121435.AA26837@eff.org>
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Received: from DUVM by DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with BSMTP id 3307; Tue, 12 May 92 10:31:15 EDT
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Date: Tue, 12 May 92 10:31:05 EDT
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From: "Avid Reader - Fledgling Writer" <WHITE@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU>
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To: RITA@EFF.ORG
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Status: OR
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1 /
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DDDDD ZZZZZZ //
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D D AAAA RRR GGGG OOOO NN N Z I NN N EEEE ||
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D D A A R R G O O N N N Z I N N N E || Volume 3
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-=========================================================+<OOOOOOOOO>|)
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D D AAAA RRR G GG O O N N N Z I N N N E || Issue 4
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DDDDD A A R R GGGG OOOO N NN ZZZZZZ I N NN EEEE ||
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\\
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\
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- DargonZine Volume 3, Issue 4 03/09/90 Cir 966 --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- Contents --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Materia Medica II Max Khaytsus Yuli 19-21, 1013
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Some Snatch of Honor M. Wendy Hennequin 13 Janis, 1014
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1 Materia Medica
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Part 2
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by Max Khaytsus
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<b.c.k.a. khaytsus%tramp@boulder.colorado.edu>
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Kera rolled out of bed with a long yawn and looked around the
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room. Rien sat at the small table by the window, reading `The
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Realities of Myths'.
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"It's about time," he looked over. "It's almost noon."
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"Being jailed isn't as harsh a reality when I'm sleeping," Kera
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said. She walked over to the table and sat down on the second chair.
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"How many times have you read that book now?"
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"Thrice," Rien said. "And I learned something new every time."
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"Doesn't look like any of it is of much use to us."
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"It's not," Rien said. "Most of it is disputed facts disputed
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once again."
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"We've been locked up in this inn for two days now. Let's do
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something."
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"It's dangerous out there."
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"I know," Kera said, "but I can't take much more of this. I need
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to see different walls."
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"All right," Rien said after a moment of thought. He wasn't used
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to this much indoor living either. "I'll make you a deal. Instead of
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eating here we'll go outside of Dargon, hunt and eat there."
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Kera's eyes brightened. "Let's go!"
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"Get dressed," Rien stopped her. "I don't think we need the
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attention."
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"I was going to anyway!" she stuck her tongue out at him.
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"There's a rabbit," Kera pointed to a patch of dark grass off the
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path.
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Rien turned his horse to look. "Yes, it is," he said, spotting
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the rabbit.
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"Aren't you going to shoot it?" Kera asked.
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"No. I got you a bow so you could do it."
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"Rien!"
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"It was your idea to become my apprentice. How do you expect me
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to teach you if you don't do anything?"
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Kera pulled out her bow, strung it and took aim at the rabbit.
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"Loosen up your arm," Rien instructed, "and don't pull back so
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far. It's only a rabbit. It won't take much to kill it."
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Kera loosened up and reaimed. "It's moving around," she
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complained.
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"Should I ask it to hold still?"
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"Please," Kera said.
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"Just shoot it!"
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The arrow passed well to the left of the rabbit and stuck in the
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ground. The startled animal darted off into the bushes.
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"It was too far anyway," Kera said. "Now what?"
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"You retrieve the arrow and either track your prey or go find
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another."
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"There's a guy at the market who sells rabbits," Kera said.
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"You find it in the forest and you kill it."
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"Can I do it my way?" Kera asked.
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"Go ahead," Rien answered, "but you'll have to learn the bow
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anyway."
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Kera jumped off her horse and started examining the bushes. Ten
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minutes later she found what she was looking for and returned to Rien.
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"If there's anything there, I'll have it in a minute."
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Rien nodded in anticipation and loaded his crossbow. "Just in
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1case," he smiled.
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Kera got the flint and steel off her horse, scooped up some dry
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moss and returned to the bush. She cut off some branches for easier
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access, spread the moss at the entrance to the burrow and lit it. A
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moment later thick smoke descended into the hole.
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"What if there's more than one exit?" Rien asked.
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"Then it will get away. It happens sometimes."
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"Do you know why?"
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Kera shrugged. "Just the way it is, I guess. Some rabbits are
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smarter than others."
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"Rabbits don't dig their own burrows," Rien said. "If they find
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an abandoned one, they tend to move in and depending on what creature
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built it, there may be multiple exits."
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Kera brushed the smoldering moss aside and prepared for her
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catch. "All I know is that when they live in burrows they leave
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scratch marks in the ground, looking for roots."
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"Good method," Rien said.
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Kera proceeded to kneel by the hole a while longer and finally
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swung her dagger, then triumphantly produced a rabbit.
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"Very nice," Rien approved.
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Kera was about to pick up her dagger as a second grey shape
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appeared at the opening and darted for freedom. She lunged after it,
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falling across the first rabbit, but managed to grab a leg of the
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escaping animal. A high pitched squeak indicated the catch.
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"Two," Kera stood up, holding a rabbit by its ears in each hand.
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"You can cook them."
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"I am sure I can, but I prefer mine raw and yours might get
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burned in the fire."
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"That's not fair."
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"Is it fair to ask my apprentice to prepare the catch?" Rien
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asked.
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"I don't think I want to answer that question," Kera said. "I
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suppose I'll do it. Are you sure you want yours raw?"
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"I'll take it cooked this time," Rien said.
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Kera placed her catch on the ground and started laying a fire pit
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when Rien suddenly jerked his horse to the side and fired his crossbow
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into a tree.
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A small black creature fell to the ground.
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Drawing his long knife and dismounting, Rien approached with Kera
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behind him. On the ground lay what appeared to be a cross between a
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bat and a man, no more than four inches tall. A large round hole gaped
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in its wing and part of its side was torn open.
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"I thought I saw something like this yesterday at the inn," he
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said, scooping up the creature.
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"Is it dead?" Kera asked.
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"I imagine so," Rien said. "See why so much force shouldn't be
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used?"
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Kera nodded. "What is it?"
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"I don't know. An enchanted creature, I'd imagine." He pulled
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open a small pouch he got off the horse and placed the body inside,
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securely drawing the strings closed. "Go make lunch," he reminded
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Kera.
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She looked back at the two rabbits by the fire. "I'm not sure I'm
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all that hungry any more..."
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"What happened?" Tsazia demanded of Mija.
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"The imp was killed," he said in a low voice.
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"How?"
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"The elf," he feared to raise his eyes. "The elf shot it."
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The old witch calmly turned to leave. "Get the book back tonight.
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1I will personally see to the elf tomorrow."
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* * *
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Rien knocked on the door frame to Corambis' shop and a young
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dark-haired girl hurried to meet him. "Master Corambis will not be
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doing readings today," she said.
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"I was told I might find Dyann Taishent here today," Rien
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explained.
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"I'm sorry, sir, but I was told to permit absolutely no
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disturbances." She stepped directly in front of Rien to block his
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path.
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"I got the horses secured!" Kera's voice sounded outside and a
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moment later she appeared behind Rien, wrapped in a cloak.
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"Kera?" the brown haired girl asked, trying to look around Rien.
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"Hi Thuna!" Kera answered and Rien used the distraction to step
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aside. The two girls embraced as long lost friends and Rien used the
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opportunity to sneak in through the second door.
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"What happened to you?" Thuna asked Kera. "The whole town's
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looking for you! Liriss' guards stopped by to ask about you three
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times already! If Corambis knew, he'd throw me out on my rump!" She
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turned to look around the room. "Where'd that man go?"
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"He's inside," Kera said. "He needs to talk to Taishent badly."
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"Who is he?" Thuna asked.
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"My lord and master," Kera said sarcastically, because he did not
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seem to be that at all times. "I got caught stealing from him and he
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made me his apprentice instead of turning me in." That was pretty much
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the whole story.
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"Are you saying you got lucky or it would have been better in
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jail?"
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Kera smiled. "He's not all bad. A little demanding at times, but
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has a better heart than Liriss."
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"Did you know Liriss hired some guy to kill you?" Thuna asked.
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"I heard," Kera admitted. "Hopefully we'll be leaving town soon."
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"What are they doing in there anyway?" Thuna asked. "Corambis and
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Taishent have been working on something for three days solid now."
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"Rien, the guy I'm apprenticed to, hired them to translate an old
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book," Kera said. "I'm not too clear on it. It's some magical work.
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What about you? How did you come around to work for this old geezer?"
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"He saved my life last year," Thuna said. "I was working the
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corner of Thockmarr Street and Red Avenue, near the marketplace, when
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this really disgusting geeb comes up to me wanting to roll. I said
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fine, but then he wanted me to do some completely sickening things to
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him, so I told him to scrazz off, but he got mad and pulled a blade.
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He would've cut me bad if Corambis hadn't come by and torched him off.
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After the man scrazzed, Corambis didn't want to just leave me on the
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streets, so he offered to hire me as his assistant -- and here I am.
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He also got me a job at Belisandra's in exchange for room and board.
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It's really not all bad working here; the pay is good, even if there
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is less excitement."
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"Thuna!" Corambis looked up as Rien shut the door behind himself.
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"Can I help you, sir?"
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Taishent looked up as well. "Why do you make my life miserable?"
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he complained.
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"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Rien answered, ignoring Taishent's
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remark. "I apologize for the intrusion, but I need a consultation with
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you. I am under the impression that this creature has been following
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me around..." and with those words, he dumped the contents of the
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leather pouch onto the Wheel of Life.
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The two old men stood up to look at the dead form on the table.
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"Defenately a conjured thing," Taishent said.
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1 "Probably someone's familiar," Corambis added.
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They broke into an exchange of magical jargon which Rien did not
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fully comprehend, then turned to face him. "It probably belongs to one
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of the witches in Maari's coven," Taishent said.
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"Could it be Maari's?" Rien asked.
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"No, no," Corambis said. "Familiars are released upon the
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conjurer's death. If it was actively watching you, it still belongs to
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someone."
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"That means the witches want the book," Rien said. It was half
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statement and half question.
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"Probably," the two men answered in tandem.
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"Then I feel I should offer my services for your protection,"
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Rien said.
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"Most defenately not!" Taishent exclaimed. "You're far too
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dangerous to have around!"
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It was an insult, but it was also true. Trouble found Rien at
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least as often as he found it. He thought for a moment, then placed
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two gold coins on the table. "I want you to hire guards for
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protection. Your success is very important to me. Good day."
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The last was said very dryly and he left the room before the men
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could respond.
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"Kera," he called out. "Let's go."
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Kera sat up on the bed with a loud scream. Next to her Rien
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stirred at the noise.
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"What?"
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Kera sat with her hands covering her face, shaking and when Rien
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touched her, he realized she was in cold sweat.
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"What is it?" he asked again.
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"I can see," Kera whispered. "Everything is red or black, but I
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can see." She broke into quiet sobbing.
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"It's all right," Rien said, pulling her close. "We'll go see
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Taishent in the morning."
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"No...let's go now...please."
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Rien did not move. The development of night vision in Kera was an
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indication that the disease was steadily progressing and there
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wouldn't be much time. There were maybe a few more weeks until
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physical transformations would become obvious to observers...maybe
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even days. He thought that he himself had little time and a feeling of
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helplessness began to set in.
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"Rien?" Kera tried to break his embrace. "Can you see me as
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clearly as I see you?"
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He nodded. "I imagine so."
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"And all the furniture in the room?"
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He nodded again.
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"I'm scared," Kera whispered and embraced him.
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"My night vision is natural," Rien said, knowing all too well it
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would make things worse. "I see things in darker shades of their
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natural color." He released Kera and got up to light a candle.
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Kera tried to follow him, but when the candle was lit, she gasped
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and covered her eyes.
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"I am sorry," Rien was startled. "I didn't realize light would
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hurt you." He returned with her to the bed and sat down.
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After a few seconds Kera removed her hands from her face and
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looked around the room.
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"How does it look?" Rien asked.
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"It's normal," Kera sighed and turned to face him.
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"Your eyes are grey," Rien said, looking her in the face.
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Kera's eyes watered and she placed her head on his shoulder. "I'm
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sorry," Rien stroked her hair, trying to stop her sobbing. After a
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1while Kera relaxed.
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"Can we see Taishent tonight?" she asked.
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"Come on," Rien answered, getting up. "Get dressed."
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Taishent grumbled loudly, going to unlock the door. He pulled his
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robe tightly around himself before pulling open the bolt. What sane
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man would disturb him at this hour of the night? To his surprise, he
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was faced with a young couple as he opened the door. His angry
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expression dissolved in confusion.
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"We heard you have a shadow book in your possession," the young
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man stated, not waiting for a greeting. "We are ready to offer you a
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high price fo it."
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"Do you realize what time of the night it is?" Taishent asked
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gruffly.
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"Yes, we do, but our business is urgent," Alicia responded.
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A stiletto flashed in her companion's hand. "It's urgent enough
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that we shall bypass payment," he finished for her.
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"Let's have the book, old man," Alicia said producing a dagger of
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her own. She didn't intend to use it, but it would be good for
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appearances' sake.
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As Mija stepped forward, an arrow hit him in his forearm, pinning
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it to the door frame. Taishent used the distraction to disappear
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inside. Mija, ignoring the pain of the puncture, with his free hand,
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pulled out the pearl he intended to use the night before and flung it
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into the darkness of the street. He had no way of knowing the location
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the arrow came from, but in this darkness the archer could not be too
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far away. Mija hoped that between his estimate and the radius of the
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spell's effect the problem would be solved.
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A bright blue globe quickly filled the middle of the street and
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exploded, filling the air with crackling noise and an overabundance of
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light. In the flash both Alicia and Mija saw Rien, with a bow,
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standing by the wall of Taishent's house. The power of the explosion
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threw him against the wall, the half readied arrow flying off,
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harmlessly falling on the ground.
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Alicia, forgetting that she did not intend to kill anyone ran
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down to where she saw Rien stumble, to challenge him and perhaps, if
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luck would have it, dispatch him before he had a chance to get up.
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Mija attempted to remove his arm and arrow from the door frame,
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but at that time Taishent stepped back out, drawing a heavy old sword
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from its sheath, one that he probably used as a young man. Expertly
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holding the heavy weapon, he warned the young warlock not to stir.
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Alicia, in the meantime, stumbled down the street, realizing that
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she had no way of identifying her target in this darkness and more
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importantly, probably would not be able to kill him if she could find
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him, stopped in mid-stride. A noise behind her warned her to turn, but
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before she could, a sword dug into her side. Alicia grabbed for the
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wall, to prevent herself from falling, crying out "Wait!" as she had
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no intention to fight, but the sword struck her a second time, making
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her drop her dagger and crumble to the ground.
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Hearing the scream, Mija again struggled against the arrow
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holding him, but was hit with the flat of Taishent's blade. It took
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the old wizard some effort, but he again readied his weapon and Mija
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relaxed. Footsteps could be heard in the alley and a moment later Rien
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and Kera appeared in the light cast from Taishent's half open door.
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Rien had his bow in hand and Kera was wiping blood off her sword with
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a rag.
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"Murderer!" Mija lashed out, startling Taishent and tearing his
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arm off the arrow's shaft, as he charged at Kera.
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Rien took the initiative of Mija's charge and stepping forward,
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reduced the young man to an unconscious heap with two deft swings.
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1 "Do you want to kill him?" Kera asked, pausing in the act of
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putting the rag away.
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"No," Rien said, stepping over the body. Kera remained watching
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Mija while Rien went up to Taishent.
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"For once I can't say I am disappointed to see you," the mage
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uttered.
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"What where they after?" Rien asked and then assuming the
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obvious, quickly added, "the book?"
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Taishent nodded.
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"I asked you to hire protection," Rien said.
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"Yes, yes," Taishent answered, "but what good is a mere guard
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against magic? You were lucky not to get caught in that explosion."
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"A mere guard is better than nothing," Rien pointed out.
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"It's all beside the point now," Taishent said. "Why are you here
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this late?"
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"The disease is progressing. Kera can now see in the dark..."
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"And you?"
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"I haven't noticed any changes..." Rien said and paused. Perhaps
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after all this time the old mage had a right to know the truth. "I am
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half elven," Rien finally decided to go on. "No one knows how it will
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effect me."
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"Elven?" Taishent echoed. "Ljosalfar?"
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Rien nodded. Very few people knew there were two races in the
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species and even fewer cared, even though their individual members
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were very different.
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"Well, your case is certainly a special one," Taishent said, "but
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you are still a carrier. Come back tomorrow at sunset. I may have news
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for you then."
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Rien nodded a silent thanks and turned to leave.
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"And please take that young man to the guard house," Taishent
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added. "I shall stop by there tomorrow morning and give my report."
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"What could he tell us tomorrow that he has not come up with in
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the last two months?" Kera asked.
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"I don't know," Rien shrugged. "Apparently he believes he will be
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able to help..."
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|
The pair were walking down one of the streets of Dargon, not
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bothering to cover themselves with their cloaks. The darkness and
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absence of people permitted them a certain freedom they hadn't had for
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almost a week and even with the hunting trip the day before, this was
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a luxury that forced them to slow their pace a number of times.
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"Let's go this way," Kera pointed to a street leading in the
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direction away from the inn.
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Rien stopped, looking down both streets, then nodded and took the
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street Kera suggested. Although they were on their way from the guard
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station to the inn, some freedom and fresh air could do no more than
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good. At the guard house the guards hassled Rien somewhat over the
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unconscious body he brought in and asked to be held until Taishent
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would stop by in the morning, but just then one of the night patrols,
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headed by Lieutenant Darklen, stopped by and after a discussion of the
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events of the night, Darklen took down Rien's name and where he was
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staying and said that he would visit Taishent personally in the
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morning.
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|
During all this time Kera nervously paced up and down the street
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a block over, jumping at the slightest noise, fearing to encounter one
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of Liriss' men or a city guard and for that matter, anyone else who
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might, by chance take this particular street at this hour of the
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night.
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|
After what seemed like a half night of pacing, Kera finally
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decided to sit down by the wall and wait. She knew that Rien would be
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1questioned as to what he was doing with an unconscious, injured person
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in the middle of the night and why exactly he would want his captive
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held by the guards, but the amount of time it was taking was beginning
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to worry her more and more.
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She spent her time sitting there thinking about the girl she
|
|
killed. It struck Kera as the only thing to do at the time it was
|
|
happening, but on the way to the guard house Rien asked her why she
|
|
didn't stop when the girl she was attacking called out a yield. Kera
|
|
explained that she continued attacking because her opponent did not
|
|
drop her weapon and backing off could force her to lose the advantage.
|
|
Yet, in spite of this seemingly sound explanation, Kera now wondered
|
|
if there was something else. At the time of the attack, Kera thought
|
|
she felt something different. It was a feeling of great anger and
|
|
wanting to see her opponent crippled on the ground. She now wondered
|
|
if this has some relation to the disease and the change in her vision.
|
|
The whole thought of turning into a four legged beast forced her to
|
|
break into sobbing again. The development of night vision was the
|
|
factor that had finally made her realize just how real this was.
|
|
Just then something unexpectedly took hold of her shoulder and
|
|
Kera let out a yelp loud enough to have Rien jump back. Kera looked up
|
|
and recognizing her companion smiled through her tears. "Sorry. You
|
|
startled me."
|
|
"Are you all right?" Rien bent down in front of Kera. She tried
|
|
to pull herself together. "Don't say `yes'," Rien added. "I won't
|
|
believe you."
|
|
"I'm scared," Kera said. "It's stupid. I know I won't die, but
|
|
I'm scared. I don't want to go to the inn. I'm afraid that if I go to
|
|
sleep, I'll change..."
|
|
"You won't," Rien put his arm around her. "Nothing more will
|
|
happen. We'll go see Taishent tomorrow and I'm sure he'll give us a
|
|
good lead."
|
|
"You don't believe that any more than I do!" Kera insisted. "He's
|
|
a foolish old man. I bet you he hasn't cast anything in years. He even
|
|
had to get that old sword to fight with today."
|
|
"Perhaps," Rien said, "but if we don't have hope, what use is it
|
|
for us to fight?"
|
|
"Didn't you tell me a while back to always expect the worst and
|
|
leave the good things to be pleasant surprises?" Kera asked.
|
|
"Sort of makes me a hypocrite, doesn't it?" Rien asked with a
|
|
smile and Kera laughed. "And I'll do it more often if it provokes
|
|
reactions like this one."
|
|
He helped her up and they left in the direction of the inn, both
|
|
enjoying the night air.
|
|
"How could Taishent help us?" Kera asked again.
|
|
"I don't know," Rien said. "Your guess is probably as good as
|
|
mine. I've come to learn early on that those who understand magic are
|
|
usually more able than they appear and if a real need arises, they
|
|
will be able to do what needs to be done."
|
|
"You think he was holding out on us?" Kera asked.
|
|
"Could be," Rien answered. "Maybe he was. He should certainly
|
|
have a reason to be grateful now."
|
|
They turned off the street they had taken at the docks and walked
|
|
up onto an empty pier. Off to the east a red line was cracking along
|
|
the horizon and the couple stood watching it for a few minutes.
|
|
"Come," Rien finally said. "It will be light soon."
|
|
Kera stood frozen for a moment longer, then reluctantly followed
|
|
Rien. "Do we have a few more minutes?" she asked, catching up.
|
|
"Why?" Rien asked.
|
|
"I have something to show you."
|
|
"All right, but let's hurry."
|
|
1 Kera led Rien a few blocks down along the docks, then stopped at
|
|
an empty pier. "We need to go down," she said.
|
|
Together they made their way down a narrow, creaking set of
|
|
stairs that were in desperate need of repair. It was going to low tide
|
|
and the sand of the beach was still wet and swamp-like, making Rien
|
|
glad they had not worn their armor.
|
|
Kera guided him beneath the pier to a spot where large rocks
|
|
could be seen emerging from the water. Something was lying on one of
|
|
the further ones, just barely sticking out above the lowering water
|
|
level.
|
|
Rien and Kera waded into the cold water until it reached almost
|
|
to their waists. The shape on the rock was a human body, securely
|
|
chained down and gagged. The man was dead.
|
|
"What a way to die..." Rien sighed. "How did you know he would be
|
|
here? Who is he?"
|
|
"I never saw him before," Kera said. "I didn't even know he would
|
|
be here. This pier belongs to Liriss. These are the blocks. When
|
|
Liriss wants to dispose of someone slowly, he has them tied down here
|
|
at low tide and a few hours later they're dead. I just thought you'd
|
|
want to see it. Thuna told me something was happening and Liriss was
|
|
purging his staff. He must be very upset."
|
|
"Thanks for the warning," Rien nodded. "It's certainly something
|
|
to be aware of. Come, now. We need to get back to the inn."
|
|
|
|
Taishent opened the door almost immediately after the first knock
|
|
and stepped outside.
|
|
"I found someone who may be able to help you and is willing to
|
|
try," Taishent said to Rien and Kera. "Corambis used to be King
|
|
Haralan's personal astrologer and has worked with Marcellon Equiville,
|
|
the High Mage of Baranur..."
|
|
Rien begun to say something, but decided to keep his mouth shut.
|
|
"...we went to see him today," Taishent continued. "Marcellon's
|
|
daughter, Lauren, married the Duke two weeks ago, you see, so he is
|
|
currently in Dargon. Anyhow, he said he is willing to see what he can
|
|
do."
|
|
Rien remained speechless for a bit longer. "Where? When?" he
|
|
asked with great anticipation.
|
|
Taishent could not help but smile at the reaction. "He is
|
|
expecting you tomorrow morning at the Connall Keep east of here. Take
|
|
the River Road some five leagues along the Coldwell, then turn east
|
|
for a league or so more. The road will lead you directly there."
|
|
Rien and Kera remained silent and Taishent chuckled again.
|
|
"Marcellon is not only a wizard. He is also a physician and a good one
|
|
at that. If anyone can help you, I am sure he can."
|
|
"I'd like to thank you whether this works out or not," Rien said
|
|
finally.
|
|
Taishent nodded. "I expect to be done with the book by the end of
|
|
the week. You may pick up the translation then."
|
|
"Hopefully by then I shall not need it..."
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 Some Snatch of Honor
|
|
by M. Wendy Hennequin
|
|
<b.c.k.a. Hennequi_wem@CTStateU.BitNet>
|
|
|
|
For a moment, Luthias stared into the cup, wondering if his death
|
|
or his life lurked within. He glanced up at the High Mage's blank
|
|
face, and without further hesitation, Luthias quaffed the purplish
|
|
wine. Then, he and the High Mage waited.
|
|
Luthias had changed in the two weeks since he had returned to
|
|
Baranur. He had arrived in Pyridain haggard and ill; Marcellon cured
|
|
his winter sickness, and the good food that the Duke sent to him had
|
|
brought Luthias near to his normal weight. Practicing with heavy
|
|
wooden weapons, Luthias had regained much of his strength. Two signs
|
|
only remained to mark the Count's stay in the Beinison Empire: the
|
|
addiction to ardon, for which Marcellon hopefully had just given him a
|
|
curative, and the beard.
|
|
Luthias had not wanted to retain the straggly beard, grown in the
|
|
hectic, half-remembered days when he had been running. Soon after
|
|
Marcellon cured his winter sickness, Luthias began to shave it off,
|
|
but he found a long knife scar, running along the jawline, from
|
|
beneath his left ear to his chin. The Count, resigned, settled for
|
|
trimming the beard neatly, and later he was glad; it made him look
|
|
older.
|
|
After a minute or so, the Count of Connall wondered, "How soon
|
|
will I be affected, Marcellon?"
|
|
Luthias was discomforted by the stare that Marcellon gave him.
|
|
"It should work immediately."
|
|
"Then I'm cured of the ardon addiction?" Hope began to seep into
|
|
Luthias' heart after a hard fortnight. The young Count had found it
|
|
hard to hope when his body was irrevocably addicted to a magicked
|
|
drug. He would have stopped taking it alone, he would have even
|
|
allowed himself to be restrained, but the lack of ardon would kill
|
|
him. Now, at last, he would be free. Marcellon had promised him a cure
|
|
or death.
|
|
The High Mage found it necessary to swallow twice before
|
|
answering. "You should be dead by now," he muttered, shocked. "The
|
|
poison was immediate. I've never known a case where a man has drunk
|
|
ardonatus and lived!"
|
|
Ardonatus? Now Luthias stared. He had taken ardonatus, a lethal,
|
|
magical concoction derived from the same spice that he was addicted
|
|
to, and he lived? "Ardonatus?" the Count questioned indredulously.
|
|
"You're sure?"
|
|
"I'm certain," the High Mage answered, fascinated. "I made it.
|
|
There is can be no doubt. You are immune to ardonatus."
|
|
Fury flooded the world of the Count Connall, and he, enraged,
|
|
hurled the golden goblet against the stone wall of Pyridain Castle.
|
|
"Those bastards!" the young Count screamed. "They've robbed me of my
|
|
life, and now of my death as well!"
|
|
"You're immune to ardonatus," Marcellon repeated incredulously.
|
|
"You cannot be immune to ardonatus."
|
|
"I'm alive, aren't I?" Luthias yelled irrationally.
|
|
"Perhaps there is a cure to this," the High Mage was murmering.
|
|
"This should not be happening. No one is immune to ardonatus. Let me
|
|
have some time..."
|
|
"Time?" Luthias echoed furiously. "Marcellon, I thought you said
|
|
you didn't like your patients to live in Hell!"
|
|
The High Mage's eyes focused abruptly. "I don't," he snapped.
|
|
"But this is extrodinary, Luthias. If you are immune--if there are no
|
|
effects--how do you feel?" the physician finished unexpectedly.
|
|
The Count blinked. "I don't feel any different, if that's what
|
|
1you're asking."
|
|
"Never," Marcellon repeated, "has any man taken ardonatus and
|
|
lived to speak of it!"
|
|
"Well," Luthias quipped, "there's always a first."
|
|
"This is important!" the mage emphasized. "Immunity to
|
|
ardonatus...incredible!"
|
|
Luthias replied, "This is insane. It's never going to end, is it?
|
|
I'm living in Hell and I can't even die!"
|
|
"That's the definition of Hell," Marcellon told him, chuckling.
|
|
"This isn't funny," the Count snapped. "I can't die--"
|
|
"You can die any time you wish," the High Mage's voice dropped to
|
|
a deadly, quiet level as he corrected the young nobleman. "Take a
|
|
sword and put it through your heart. But I won't keep your death a
|
|
secret, not if it comes about in that way."
|
|
"You were willing to poison me," Luthias argued.
|
|
"That was before I thought you had a chance," Marcellon retorted.
|
|
"You have one now, perhaps."
|
|
"There's no cure," the Count reminded the mage hotly. "You told
|
|
me so yourself."
|
|
"I told you I did not know of one," the Royal Physician
|
|
corrected. "I didn't. I still know no cure. But you are immune to
|
|
ardonatus, Luthias. That means something." The High Mage's voice
|
|
became coldly calm. "Now, you may take the cowards' way and kill
|
|
yourself if you wish, but I am going back to my laboratories and find
|
|
out what is happening to you." Luthias' mouth twitched angrily. "Do
|
|
you really want death, Luthias, son?"
|
|
"I want this to stop," the Count spat thickly. "I want to be
|
|
freed. I won't be a slave, Marcellon! I won't!"
|
|
"Easy," the High Mage counseled. "Let me try."
|
|
"Do I have a choice?" Luthias rued rhetorically.
|
|
"I won't give you more poison, if that's what you're asking,"
|
|
Marcellon decided. "Take a knife to your heart."
|
|
The young Count smiled ruefully. "Sir Edward has suspected I
|
|
might harm myself. He hasn't let me near any edged weapons since I
|
|
arrived." Luthias came close to laughing. "He won't allow me near high
|
|
towers alone, either."
|
|
Marcellon smiled at the wisdom of his colleague. Edward was a
|
|
shrewd man. "Come with me, my boy. Let me see what I can do for this."
|
|
The older man held out his hand to the despairing younger one, who
|
|
would have taken it, had his attention not been stolen by the slamming
|
|
door.
|
|
The youngest of Sir Edward's squires rushed into the cold room
|
|
and slid to a stop. "Thanks be to God I have found you!" the boy
|
|
exclaimed with breathless drama. "Please, your Excellencies, come
|
|
quickly."
|
|
"What's wrong?" Luthias asked sternly, immediately on the alert.
|
|
"Oh, your Excellency, the Beinisonians are in Pyridain!"
|
|
Marcellon's eyebrows rose with appreciative curiosity. Luthias
|
|
expelled a word that the squire was too young to hear. Blushing, he
|
|
escaped the room with urgency which equaled his entrance.
|
|
"It seems we must attend the Knight Commander," Marcellon
|
|
observed mildly.
|
|
Luthias had already left the room. "Come on!" he urged as he sped
|
|
toward the Duke of Pyridain's office, which had been made into a war
|
|
room.
|
|
"What's happening?" Connall demanded as he opened the door.
|
|
Marcellon, serene but concerned, stood behind him. "They're here?"
|
|
"Twenty Beinisonians," the tall Knight Commander supplied.
|
|
"Perhaps more. The scout just returned."
|
|
"Through this storm?" asked the mage.
|
|
1 "How close?" the warrior inquired.
|
|
Sir Edward solemnly shook his head. "Very close." The Knight
|
|
Commander frowned. "I was not prepared for this," he admitted,
|
|
sitting. "Marcellon, you warned me to expect the unexpected."
|
|
"You should have expected it," Luthias said without blame or
|
|
rebuke. "The Beinison Empire is trained to attack at any time of the
|
|
year; they've staged winter invasions before."
|
|
"Have they?" Edward smiled. "My history is not the finest."
|
|
"When are we repelling them?"
|
|
"As soon as I can assemble the army," Edward answered the younger
|
|
warrior. "As soon as possible."
|
|
"That will take a day and a half," Luthias surmised.
|
|
The Knight Commander considered the problem. Finally, he nodded.
|
|
"At least that," he confirmed Luthias' guess. "A day and a half--after
|
|
the snow storm stops and if the snow is shallow enough to mobilize
|
|
without blazing trails."
|
|
"Where are they?" young Connall demanded, pulling the map toward
|
|
him. "Show me, Sir Edward." Silently, the Knight Commander indicated a
|
|
nearby area. "That's damn close," the Count concluded. The young man
|
|
gave the Knight Commander of the Royal Armies a serious look. "You
|
|
don't have a day and a half. After the storm, they'll be here at the
|
|
castle within a half a day."
|
|
"As usual," Sir Edward admitted after a moment's thought, "you're
|
|
right, Luthias."
|
|
"Can you delay them somehow?" Marcellon suggested. "If nothing
|
|
else, I can--"
|
|
"Not unless it's absolutely necessary," Sir Edward cut him off.
|
|
"Using magic is unchivalrous, and I won't allow you to do so unless
|
|
there is no other solution."
|
|
"In this case, there is another way," Luthias assured the High
|
|
Mage. "Send a distraction. Send a single fighter there."
|
|
"It won't delay them much, not one fighter," the Knight
|
|
protested.
|
|
"It will be enough," Luthias argued, "if the fighter is any
|
|
good."
|
|
"A squad perhaps--"
|
|
"Perhaps nothing," the Count of Connall interjected. "One man
|
|
will be enough. You can't risk an entire squad, Sir Edward. You're
|
|
here in Pyridain. You won't receive any reinforcements until spring.
|
|
One man is all you can risk."
|
|
Omninously, the Knight Commander rose to face the younger man. "I
|
|
will not order a lone man to his death, Luthias. And I will not--nay,
|
|
cannot--ask any fighter to--"
|
|
"You needn't ask anyone," Luthias told him, his stance and his
|
|
voice becoming serious and firm. "I'll go."
|
|
"I won't allow it!" Sir Edward declared violently. "No, Luthias.
|
|
I need you too much."
|
|
"You don't need me," the Count opposed him. "I'm an addict, Sir
|
|
Edward. I'm of no use to you. Let me go."
|
|
Edward took Connall by the shoulders. "You'll die," Edward
|
|
predicted, fear in his voice. "I won't be made to tell Lady Sable that
|
|
I allowed you--"
|
|
"Don't tell her anything," Luthias commanded. "Let Sable think I
|
|
died quickly in Beinison. I will die; that's fine, Sir Edward, but
|
|
this way, at least, I'll die with some snatch of honor, like a man,
|
|
not a beast. Let me go."
|
|
"Let him go," Marcellon pleaded softly. "You cannot win, Edward."
|
|
"The ardon will have you in fits by the time you fight," Sothos
|
|
made one more effort to deter him.
|
|
"All the better," Luthias, with bitter joy, assured him. "I'll be
|
|
1fiercer. Let me go, Edward."
|
|
With regrets, the Knight Commander agreed, "As soon as the storm
|
|
ends."
|
|
|
|
Tired by the short ride (how his father the great horseman would
|
|
be ashamed of him!), Luthias neared the end of the woods. Soon, he
|
|
would reach his destination and fight, he hoped. Fight? Luthias
|
|
smiled; it was almost a joke. How could he fight, wearing old armor,
|
|
and bearing a battered shield and bent sword? Knowing that he would
|
|
soon die and that the Beinisonians would loot his body, Luthias would
|
|
accept nothing else. Yet he would fight, and fight his best, before he
|
|
died, old armor or no.
|
|
Through the trunks of the bare trees, he could see a farmstead
|
|
with a weathered barn and an old house. Near the barn were at least a
|
|
score of horses. Unless there was some sort of meeting, this was the
|
|
place. These were the men that he would have to delay.
|
|
Luthias was suprised by how easily he could remember what Sir
|
|
Edward had told him about the force. Usually the ardon had him in fits
|
|
by now. Well, maybe Marcellon had slipped some in his food, to keep
|
|
him going during the past few days.
|
|
"There will be about twenty or twenty-five men," the Knight
|
|
Commander had told him. "They are led by a personage of some
|
|
importance; he has an elaborate device on his shield."
|
|
Luthias didn't see the man or his shield. He didn't see anyone,
|
|
anything, except the horses. How odd, the Count of Connall thought.
|
|
They must be hiding. Carefully, Luthias edged his horse forward.
|
|
Like a strike of lightning, a girl's scream split the dawn.
|
|
Luthias reined the horse, listened frantically as another scream
|
|
issued, then spurred his horse toward the barn.
|
|
With old grace, Luthias leapt from the horse, and with old
|
|
strength, he threw open the door to the barn. Oh, yes, indeed, this
|
|
was the place! Inside, twenty men were abusing a girl of perhaps ten
|
|
years (an old voice called within him, Sable!), and one was
|
|
threatening an older boy with a pitchfork.
|
|
Luthias evaluated instantly and acted. He plucked the pitchfork
|
|
from the brute threatening the boy, swung it, and contacted. The man
|
|
fell. Luthias set the pitchfork on the floor, leaned it toward the
|
|
boy, and let it fall. The boy caught it, and Luthias instinctively
|
|
turned his attention toward the screaming girl.
|
|
There was a crash behind him. Although Luthias looked, he had his
|
|
sword out and flashing by instinct. He kicked a man in leather armor,
|
|
wounded another, and saw a man in a blue tabbard enter the barn.
|
|
Luthias paid him no attention, and continued his defense of the girl.
|
|
"Get back, you animals!" the man shouted in strong Beinisonian.
|
|
"What sort of men are you, attacking children? Have you no honor? Get
|
|
back!"
|
|
Amazingly, the men went back.
|
|
The armored man turned to him. Luthias could see him clearly now:
|
|
he was a dark-haired man, with blue eyes and a moustache, about thirty
|
|
years of age. Over his mail, he wore a sky-blue tabbard of silk belted
|
|
with leather. On the belt hung a jeweled sword of fine quality and a
|
|
silver drinking horn. Draped over his shoulders, the man wore a silver
|
|
chain, the universal symbol of Knighthood, from which hung a silver
|
|
star--the symbol of the Beinisonian order of Knights. "Well done," the
|
|
man began in Beinisonian. "I see you have taken my lessons--" He
|
|
paused, reached out and raised Luthias' face shield. "You are not my
|
|
squire," the Knight concluded. He peered at Luthias' face. "Who are
|
|
you?" he demanded sternly. "Why are you here?"
|
|
"I am not important, sir," Luthias answered carefully but
|
|
respectfully. "The girl--" Luthias stopped, kicked the brute he had
|
|
1killed off her, and bent to examine her.
|
|
No! The head was bent in an impossible direction. Her legs were
|
|
covered with blood. Luthias pounded the floor in frustration.
|
|
"We were too late," concluded the Knight behind him.
|
|
The boy rushed over, sobbing, toward the girl. Luthias reached
|
|
out and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, kid," Luthias breathed. "I
|
|
tried."
|
|
The Knight was boxing a man's ears as Luthias stood. "You
|
|
bastards! Can't you barbarians leave even children alone?"
|
|
"We were sent here to get information. The general didn't say--"
|
|
"I command!" the Knight reminded him harshly, delivering another
|
|
blow. "You are under my orders, and while you remain under my command,
|
|
you will comport yourselves with some honor. Do you understand?"
|
|
The man looked away sullenly. "Yes, your lordship."
|
|
"Go back to your business," the Knight ordered, then he turned
|
|
back to Luthias. "Now, you, sir, answer my questions. Who are you, and
|
|
why are you here?"
|
|
At a loss for a moment, Luthias found himself staring at the
|
|
man's silver chain. Suddenly, he smiled. "I challenge you, Sir Knight.
|
|
I am here to stop you. You are invading my homeland. I challenge you
|
|
to a duel."
|
|
The men around the Knight laughed wickedly as the boy sobbed
|
|
behind Luthias. Poor boy. Luthias knew what it was to loose a sibling.
|
|
The laughter continued. Luthias stood straight and proud.
|
|
"Let us kill him, Lordship," the leader of the rabble chuckled.
|
|
"He's only a boy, little older than your squire. By the Masked God,
|
|
we'll teach him to interefere with his Imperial Majesty's troops!"
|
|
"Silence!" the Knight commanded angrily. "He has challenged me as
|
|
a Knight; as a Knight, I alone will answer. Do not interefere with
|
|
me!" Calmly, the man turned back to Luthias. "To the death?"
|
|
Luthias nodded. "As you wish, sir. I only ask that your men leave
|
|
my country, should I win."
|
|
"That is fair," the Knight agreed. "I accept. Call Rience," he
|
|
commanded. One of the men ducked out of the barn. "Rience is my
|
|
squire. He will ensure that my word is kept." The Knight stepped
|
|
forward and offered Luthias his hand. "It is unchivalrous to fight one
|
|
who is unknown. I am Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn."
|
|
Luthias took his hand and bowed slightly. "I am Luthias Connall."
|
|
"I noticed that you do not wear the badge of Knighthood."
|
|
"I am not yet Knighted," Luthias informed him, "but I give you my
|
|
word to behave as one."
|
|
"I will accept that," Sir Lawrence said. "Now, sir, break your
|
|
fast with me. I do not fight well on an empty stomach."
|
|
"Thank you, Sir Lawrence," Luthias replied graciously, "but no.
|
|
You know as well as I that eating right before combat enhances the
|
|
injuries and makes them harder to cure."
|
|
"You are right, Luthias Connall," Lawrence admitted. "Come out to
|
|
the yard. If you are agreeable, we shall begin immediately."
|
|
"Very well, sir." Luthias moved to sheath his sword. Lawrence's
|
|
hand suddenly stopped him.
|
|
"You will fight me with that?" he asked disdainfully.
|
|
Luthias again looked at the pitiful sword. It was bent, rusted,
|
|
almost dull. "It is what I have, sir."
|
|
"Rience!" Sir Lawrence bellowed. A young man with dark, curly
|
|
hair entered the barn. He looked enough like Sir Lawrence to be a
|
|
brother. "Fetch my silver sword." Lawrence smiled at Connall. "If we
|
|
are to fight as equals, you will, at least, have a decent weapon. Come
|
|
now, Lord Connall."
|
|
Luthias followed Sir Lawrence silently to the field before the
|
|
house. Rience, whom Luthias supposed was one of Sir Lawrence's
|
|
1brothers, rushed forward with a well-made sword. With a brief, polite
|
|
bow, the boy offered the weapon to Luthias. Luthias granted the boy a
|
|
brief smile and inspected the weapon.
|
|
Warily, the Count of Connall swung the sword and tested its
|
|
balance. It cut the air smoothly, and it balanced perfectly. The
|
|
sharp, steel blade, beautiful in the cloudly winter light, gleamed
|
|
with care. The workmanship, Luthias judged, was excellent, and the
|
|
taste of the artisan was superb, for the only ornamentation on the
|
|
weapon was delicate etching in the silver hilt.
|
|
"It is a fine weapon," Luthias declared his admiration.
|
|
"I thank you." The Beinisonian Knight paused. "Are you ready
|
|
then?"
|
|
Luthias nodded and pulled down his face shield. "I am, sir.
|
|
Begin."
|
|
With graceful ferocity, Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn leapt
|
|
toward Luthias, his long, jeweled sword flashing with death. For a
|
|
wild moment, Luthias' mind panicked; it had been so long since he had
|
|
fought against an actual person of his own calibur...since Sy, since
|
|
he fought Michiya. This time, Luthias thought, he would not be allowed
|
|
to win. But despite his doubts, Sir Lucan's training was still in his
|
|
arm and in his heart, and Luthias, without thought, blocked Sir
|
|
Lawrence's blow and struck his own. The Knight of the Star jerked
|
|
backwards as Luthias' attack struck.
|
|
For a moment, Sir Lawrence paused, staring at the drop of blood
|
|
on the muddy, slushy snow. "First blood to you, Lord Connall," the
|
|
Knight of the Star said with surprise. "I had not expected a man not
|
|
yet a Knighted to strike so well."
|
|
"Have at you," Luthias replied, and struck again.
|
|
But Sir Lawrence knew this time whom he was fighting, and the
|
|
jeweled long sword raced to meet Luthias' wrapped blow. The Knight of
|
|
the Star twisted and struck over the old, battered shield.
|
|
Luthias retreated as his shield dropped with the force of the
|
|
blow. His shoulder, just at the joint of the arm, stung. Luthias
|
|
spared it a glance. The plate protecting the shoulder was shattered,
|
|
and his flesh was cut, not deeply.
|
|
"Recover your armor," Sir Lawrence allowed politely, but he stood
|
|
ready to fight.
|
|
"I have nothing to repair it with," Luthias confessed. Within his
|
|
helm, the Count of Connall smiled. "I simply shall have to prevent you
|
|
from hitting me again, Sir Lawrence. Lay on."
|
|
Lawrence raised his sword to strike. Luthias readied himself to
|
|
block with sword and shield. They moved toward each other--
|
|
A crashing sound, like wooden thunder, shattered Luthias'
|
|
concentration. Instinctively, he stepped back, as did Lawrence. The
|
|
dull boom sounded again, and Luthias' head jerked toward the sound.
|
|
The boy from the barn was beating the structure with a pitchfork.
|
|
Luthias stared a moment, then saw a man in the loft above the
|
|
sorrowful boy.
|
|
"What in the name of Gow--" Sir Lawrence started.
|
|
And then Luthias understood. The man-at-arms in the
|
|
loft--crossbow--And even as Luthias' shield was instinctively rising,
|
|
he thought, my God, Roi, we'll even die the same way.
|
|
And the bolt impaled itself in the shield and halted. Unable to
|
|
think, Luthias stared at it.
|
|
"That dishonorable whoreson!" Sir Lawrence was cursing.
|
|
"Followers of Amante in my own--" He whirled. "Rience! Bring him here!
|
|
By Gow, I'll teach him to interfere with a Knight's combat!"
|
|
"He shot me," Luthias, stunned and staring, stated. "He shot me."
|
|
"Aye, that son of Erida," Sir Lawrence muttered. "Dishonorable
|
|
whoreson. Interefering--I apologize, Luthias Connall. I did not order
|
|
1or condone this."
|
|
"He shot me," Luthias said again. They shot Roisart, too. Roisart
|
|
died. How did he escape?
|
|
"You are white as the Moon-Jewel," Sir Lawrence noted. "Are you
|
|
all right?"
|
|
"Fine," Luthias assured his opponent quickly. The Count of
|
|
Connall shook his head to clear it of the memories. He took a deep
|
|
breath and explained, "My twin brother was murdered by crossbowmen--"
|
|
Anger crept into his voice. "Assasins hired by your Emperor's spies!"
|
|
"I am vowed to say nothing against the Emperor," Sir Lawrence
|
|
replied, but he was scowling. "Let me say that the Knights of the Star
|
|
have no truck with activities of that sort."
|
|
Luthias calmed. "I know." And he did; Luthias was well acquainted
|
|
with the honorable reputation of the Knights of the Star.
|
|
Rience, the young squire, the boy from the barn, and several of
|
|
the men at arms then came forward, dragging the struggling crossbow
|
|
man. They threw him into the slushy snow in front of his lord. The
|
|
archer looked at the knight defiantly.
|
|
Sir Lawrence was not a man to be defied, however. "How dare you,"
|
|
the Beinisonian Knight began ominously. "How dare you interfere with
|
|
my combat? This is my fight, mine alone!"
|
|
"The Masked God teaches us to win by any means," the crossbow man
|
|
reminded his lord.
|
|
"Fortunately," Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn answered loftily,
|
|
"I am a follower of Gow." Without warning, the Knight swung his sword
|
|
hand and hit his man-at-arms with the hilt of his weapon. The man's
|
|
temple began to erupt blood. "Take him away," Sir Lawrence ordered
|
|
angrily. "I'll deal with him later, and be warned: the next of you to
|
|
try something of this nature shall pay with his life!"
|
|
The Knight of the Star turned back to his enemy. "Remind me never
|
|
to cross you," Luthias breathed, but he smiled.
|
|
Sir Lawrence returned the gesture and hefted his swords. "May
|
|
Sanar help you if you do," laughed the Knight. "Lay on."
|
|
Luthias delivered a quick blow to the head. Sir Lawrence blocked
|
|
with speed bordering on panic. Without pause, Luthias swung his sword
|
|
again, this time at the Knight's arm. Sir Lawrence dodged and moved to
|
|
strike, but found himself blocking Luthias' next attack instead, a
|
|
blow aimed at the left leg.
|
|
Connall couldn't stop, wouldn't stop. He was in the rhythm again,
|
|
the heartbeat of fighting that Sir Lucan and his uncle Clifton had
|
|
instilled in him since he could walk. Luthias was blind to everything,
|
|
except the focus of the battle, except the rhythm of the combat. It
|
|
had been so long since he had fought, since he had so naturally
|
|
delivered blow after blow after blow, as if it were a graceful,
|
|
well-remembered dance.
|
|
For the first time in months, Luthias felt good. With energy and
|
|
skill, he contined the blows.
|
|
Sir Lawrence was slowing, and it was no wonder; the Knight of the
|
|
Star had had a longer ride than Luthias and he hadn't yet eaten.
|
|
Lawrence stepped back and paused a moment, resting. Luthias waited,
|
|
refusing to fight a tired opponent. When Lawrence nodded, the Count of
|
|
Connall attacked again. Lawrence blocked the blow, but it was too
|
|
strong. The Knight fell in the snow, his sword flying away. Luthias
|
|
nodded to the squire Rience, who ran and fetched the blade and brought
|
|
it to his master.
|
|
"Are you ready?" Luthias asked courteously.
|
|
"Begin," Sir Lawrence answered.
|
|
Luthias struck again, furiously, like the god of war. Lawrence
|
|
parried brilliantly, but again, the blow was too strong. Luthias
|
|
quickly followed with a wrap to the head, which rang on Sir Lawrence's
|
|
1strong helm, but did not cut it. Lawrence wavered, then collapsed to
|
|
his knees.
|
|
Luthias quickly held the sword in front of Sir Lawrence's eyes.
|
|
He could rise any moment. Sir Lawrence did not move. Luthias relaxed
|
|
slightly. "Do you yield, Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn?"
|
|
Mutely, Lawrence held out his sword in defeat. Luthias looked at
|
|
the heirloom incredulously. "I will not take your sword, sir. Stand."
|
|
Confused, Sir Lawrence rose. "My life is forfeit to you, Lord
|
|
Connall. That was the term of our combat."
|
|
"I don't want your life," Luthias told him. "I want your men out
|
|
of my country. You promised me that, should I conquer. I have. You are
|
|
an honorable man, and you will keep your word. I have what I want."
|
|
Luthias smiled and raised his face shield. "I won't kill an honorable
|
|
enemy without need, sir. Return to your home."
|
|
Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn doffed his helm and stared at the
|
|
Count of Connall. "Whoever your teacher was, he trained you well in
|
|
the ways of fighting--and in the Knightly Code." Sir Lawrence offered
|
|
Luthias his hand. "Would to Gow we weren't enemies, Luthias Connall;
|
|
this day, you would have your Knighthood from me."
|
|
Luthias smile grew, and content calm flooded his eyes. "I have
|
|
never been so honored, Sir Lawrence," he said, and he shook the
|
|
Knight's hand.
|
|
"I believe, Sir Lawrence, that I can fufill that office." Luthias
|
|
whirled to see Sir Edward and the High Mage, surrounded by troops, on
|
|
the edge of the woods. When had they arrived? Luthias wondered. Still
|
|
suprised, Luthias watched as the Knight Commander, who had spoken,
|
|
dismounted and approached the Knight and Luthias. Marcellon followed
|
|
him. "Honor given by an enemy is a high complement, one that Luthias
|
|
has well earned. Count Connall, kneel."
|
|
Confused, Luthias knelt in the snow. Edward unsheathed his sword.
|
|
"I, Edward Sothos--"
|
|
Panic struck Luthias hard when he realized what Sir Edward was
|
|
intending, and he instantly reached out and snatched Edward's wrist.
|
|
"Sir Edward," he protested desperately, "you can't! You know what I
|
|
need!" How could the Knight Commander make a drug addict a Knight? He
|
|
would be weak, unpredicatable...
|
|
"You no longer need it," the High Mage announced, smiling. At
|
|
Luthias' confused stare, he explained, "The drink I gave you...I cured
|
|
you. By accident, I cured you."
|
|
"I don't believe it." Luthias scorned the very idea. Ardonatus,
|
|
curing addiction? The Mage was mad.
|
|
"How long since the last time, then?" Marcellon inquired.
|
|
Luthias thought about it. Too long. He released Edward's hand. He
|
|
was cured. Good God. Oh, Sable, I'm going to be a Knight. I'm coming
|
|
home.
|
|
"I, Edward Sothos," continued the Knight Commander, "Knight of
|
|
Baranur, have been called upon to convey upon Luthias of Connall the
|
|
office of Knighthood. Who asks this charge for him?" Edward inquired
|
|
in the ritual, then stopped uncertainly. It was tradition for the
|
|
master of the candidate to answer, or the father, or the noble.
|
|
Luthias saw Marcellon open his mouth, but behind him, Sir
|
|
Lawrence answered, "I so ask."
|
|
"You know him worthy?" Edward continued.
|
|
"I so know."
|
|
"So be it. I, Edward Sothos, Knight of Baranur, charge you,
|
|
Luthias of Connall, to take up the office of Knighthood. Do you accept
|
|
the charge, with all its honors and obligations?"
|
|
"I so accept," Luthias replied, his voice strong and confident.
|
|
He had known the ceremony by heart for years.
|
|
"Do you vow to protect and serve your homeland, your lady, and
|
|
1your King?"
|
|
"I so vow," Luthias replied steadily, but his body began to
|
|
shake. He was tired, and his knees were cold from kneeling in the
|
|
snow.
|
|
"Do you vow to be in and above all things, a Knight, a follower
|
|
of Chivalry and Honor?"
|
|
"I so vow."
|
|
"How do you so vow?"
|
|
"Upon my honor, my sword, and my life."
|
|
"Then I, Edward Sothos, Knight of Baranur, with this silver chain
|
|
do convey upon you, Luthias of Connall, that office." Again, the
|
|
Knight Commander paused, for he did not have the symbol of Knighthood
|
|
to give to Luthias. Marcellon smiled, held out his hands, and murmered
|
|
something. A fine silver chain appeared on his wrists. The Knight
|
|
Commander smiled, took it, and placed it on the Count's broad
|
|
shoulders. Then Sir Edward lightly struck Luthias' cheek with the flat
|
|
of his blade. "Let that be your last unrequited blow." Edward sheathed
|
|
his sword. "Rise, Sir Luthias, Count Connall."
|
|
Sir Luthias did so, laughing. "I am proud of you," the Knight
|
|
Commander said, and that was all.
|
|
The Count of Connall turned to his opponent and held out his
|
|
hand. "Return now, Sir Lawrence. You will have safe passage out of the
|
|
country. You have my word, as a Knight."
|
|
Sir Lawrence of the Silver Horn grinned. "Thank you, Sir Luthias.
|
|
May you and I live to laugh about this someday."
|
|
"I'll treat you to a drink," Luthias promised.
|
|
"I drink to you now," Lawrence announced, taking his silver
|
|
drinking horn from his belt. He put it to his lips, drained it, then
|
|
offered it to Luthias. The Count Connall took it uncertainly and
|
|
drank. He found the horn full of sweet, hot liquid that made him feel
|
|
better immediately.
|
|
"Thank you," Luthias said, returning the silver horn. He suddenly
|
|
remembered the fine, etched sword he had been allowed to use. He
|
|
offered it. "Again, thank you."
|
|
Sir Lawrence took it from him, but did not sheathe it or hand it
|
|
to his squire. "This sword was given to me by my master when I was
|
|
made a Knight," he told Luthias. "Today I took the place of your
|
|
master; today you became a Knight." He held out the sword to Luthias.
|
|
"I have had no student more worthy than you."
|
|
"I am deeply honored," Luthias accepted.
|
|
Sir Lawrence bowed. "Let us ride!" he ordered his men. They
|
|
grumbled, but mounted. Rience brought his master his steed. Sir
|
|
Lawrence mounted and rode around his men to organize them. He paused
|
|
when he faced the south, then turned and drew his jeweled sword.
|
|
Quickly, he saluted Sir Edward and Sir Luthias. Both returned the
|
|
salute, and the invaders charged back into Beinison.
|
|
|
|
Epilogue
|
|
|
|
Luthias watched the Beinisonians leave with satisfaction. "Well,"
|
|
he said, "that's settled."
|
|
"Indeed," Sir Edward answered, smiling. "Welcome back to life,
|
|
Luthias. Well done."
|
|
"Thank you."
|
|
"No more talk about abandoning your wife," ordered the Knight
|
|
Commander. "No more talk about abandoning the country and the King. We
|
|
all need you, as you have so aptly proven."
|
|
"Yes, Sir Edward," Luthias agreed, chuckling at Edward's
|
|
mock-scolding. "I'm back to--" Luthias felt a tap on his upper arm
|
|
where his armor had shattered. He turned to see the boy from the barn,
|
|
1the boy who had warned him about the crossbowman.
|
|
With an earnest look that Luthias didn't understand, the lad put
|
|
his hand over his heart, touched his lips, then extended the hand.
|
|
Confused, Luthias frowned. The boy made an abrupt, frustrated face,
|
|
then pointed toward the barn and began to swing his arms and point to
|
|
his legs.
|
|
Luthias didn't understand the pantomime, but the boy was
|
|
obviously not playing a game. Unwilling to hurt the lad's feelings,
|
|
Luthias nodded.
|
|
The boy's expression became anguished. Once again, he placed his
|
|
hands over his heart and then offered them to the Count Connall.
|
|
His voice wry, the High Mage interrupted gently, "He is trying to
|
|
thank you, Luthias."
|
|
Luthias sent the mage an angry look; it always annoyed Luthias
|
|
that Marcellon pointed out mysteries as if they should be obvious.
|
|
Then the Knight turned to the boy and remembered the ugly scene in the
|
|
barn. The boy had a familiar grief in his eyes.
|
|
"You are welcome," Luthias replied to the gestures as if the lad
|
|
had spoken. "I am truly sorry about your sister...she was your
|
|
sister?" The boy nodded. "Had I arrived a few moments sooner, I might
|
|
have been able to save her..." Luthias looked down, ashamed for a
|
|
moment, and caught sight of the ugly crossbow bolt protruding nastily
|
|
from his battered shield. His heart wrenched. "But I couldn't save
|
|
Roisart, either."
|
|
The boy withdrew, as if sensing the Count's sorrow, but after a
|
|
moment, he approached the Knight again. Luthias watched him curiously.
|
|
Abruptly, the boy touched the Count's chain of Knighthood, then laid
|
|
his hand on his own chest where a similar chain might fall.
|
|
For once, Luthias needed no interpretation, and he smiled.
|
|
Turning to Sir Edward, the Count of Connall wondered, "Since I am now
|
|
a Knight, I will have need of a squire, won't I, Sir Edward?"
|
|
"At least one," the Knight Commander confirmed.
|
|
Sir Luthias returned his attention to the eager lad. "Will you
|
|
become my squire?" the Count wondered, his eyes certain of the answer.
|
|
In reply, the boy nodded violently enough to decapitate himself.
|
|
Marcellon had never seen Edward so suprised. "You can't make this
|
|
boy your squire! He isn't of noble descent; he isn't even close! He's
|
|
a farmer's son, Luthias!"
|
|
The Count of Connall gave the Knight Commander an astonished
|
|
look. "What difference does that make?" Sir Luthias argued. "I know
|
|
'noble" sons who are dishonorable cowards. This 'farmer's son' was
|
|
brave enough to try to rescue his sister from twenty armed men--alone!
|
|
That in itself shows this boy's worthiness. Social class has nothing
|
|
to do with it!"
|
|
The Knight Commander frowned mightily. "I understand your point,
|
|
Sir Luthias, but it is still unheard of to make a peasant a Knight. He
|
|
will have to be Knighted someday if you allow him to become your
|
|
squire."
|
|
"That is the general idea," Marcellon agreed with a dry smile.
|
|
"Look, Sir Edward, he's already displayed knightly qualities,"
|
|
Luthias reminded the Knight Commander. "He tried to rescue and defend
|
|
a lady. He faced the danger with bravery." Edward still maintained the
|
|
awful frown. "Look, Sir Edward, I'd rather Knight a peasant with a
|
|
noble heart than a coward with a noble name."
|
|
"Again," Sir Edward admitted with resignation, "you have a point.
|
|
I'm not certain I approve, but I can't stop you. To a degree, I even
|
|
agree with you."
|
|
"So," Luthias began, returning his attention to the boy, "would
|
|
you like to squire to me?" The boy grinned joyously and nodded
|
|
enthusiastically. "Good. We'll have the ceremony later this week."
|
|
1Count Connall grimaced. "But I can't keep calling you 'boy,' though."
|
|
Not even in my head. "What is your name?"
|
|
With a sudden feeling of stupidity, Luthias winced at his own
|
|
question. The boy couldn't talk, or else he would have warned of the
|
|
crossbowman verbally. And he probably couldn't write, either; he was,
|
|
after all, a peasant.
|
|
Well, he would be a gentleman, a Knight, someday, and he would
|
|
have to be literate. And he would have to have a name.
|
|
The announcement, "His name is Derrio," saved Luthias from
|
|
further embarassment. Behind the dumb lad stood the farmer, whom
|
|
Luthias presumed was the boy's father. "Is it true?" the man asked the
|
|
Count and the Knight Commander. "Is there a war coming?"
|
|
"It is already here," Sir Edward answered with a grim nod. "The
|
|
Beinison men that were here were an advance scouting force sent to
|
|
find the locations of our forces. As it appears, they will invade
|
|
through this area. Your farm is no longer safe."
|
|
"Let us leave this place," a pale woman at his side suggested.
|
|
Tears flooded her eyes. "I no longer have a desire to stay."
|
|
The farmer paused. "Could your armies use another archer, my lord
|
|
Knight? I may not be as good as your regulars, but I have won the
|
|
region's archery contests for the last two years. My wife could cook
|
|
or care for the wounded."
|
|
Kindly, the Knight Commander smiled. "We can always use archers."
|
|
Sir Edward glanced at the woman who lowered her eyes.
|
|
Luthias laughed. "And a cook, a real cook, would probably boost
|
|
moral more than anything else!"
|
|
With unusual nervousness, Marcellon glanced over his shoulder at
|
|
rising, dark clouds. "Come. We should be getting back to Pyridain.
|
|
Another storm is coming." The High Mage approached Derrio slowly and
|
|
looked at him oddly. "And I find myself curious as to why this boy is
|
|
unable to talk."
|
|
"Let's go," Sir Luthias began, but his new squire dashed away.
|
|
"What--"
|
|
"Be patient," Marcellon advised, mounting his steed. "He will
|
|
return."
|
|
Luthias shrugged his large shoulders, a feat and a half in rusted
|
|
armor. "My horse," he suddenly muttered, and quickly, he recovered the
|
|
beast from behind the barn.
|
|
By the time he returned, Sir Edward and Marcellon had remounted,
|
|
and the boy, holding a miniature harp, had reappeared. The boy looked
|
|
around. "Your parents will join us later," the High Mage assured him,
|
|
and Derrio nodded. Marcellon reached out and gently touched the harp's
|
|
tiny strings. "A goodly instrument," Marcellon muttered. "Your sister
|
|
would approve."
|
|
Derrio smiled, then proferred the intrument for Luthias'
|
|
approval. Lacking Marcellon's insight, the Knight could only nod and
|
|
smile. "Is there anything else you want to bring?" Derrio considered
|
|
briefly, then shook his head. "Let's go then, squire. We have work to
|
|
do."
|
|
The boy smiled; Luthias swung him onto the horse; and with the
|
|
Baranurian army, they rode back to Pyridain.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 ** ************
|
|
*** *********** **** **** ********* *** **** ***********
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**** ** *** ** *** *** *** ** *** *** **** **
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*** *** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** ****
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*** *** **** **
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*** *** ------------------- **** ***
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****** ***** The Online Magazine ***********
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****** ***** of Amateur Creative Writing ************
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---------------------------
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Athene is a free network "magazine" devoted to amateur fiction
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written by the members of the online community. Athene is not limited
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The magazine is published monthly, and comes in two formats --
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ASCII and PostScript. The content is identical across both formats, but
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the PostScript version is designed for printing on laser printers while
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the ASCII edition can be read online as well as printed.
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To subscribe, send mail (no interactive messages, please) to:
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Jim McCabe
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MCCABE@MTUS5.BITNET
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Please indicate which format (ASCII or PostScript) you prefer to to
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receive. Back issues, an index, and submission information are also
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available upon request.
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1 QQQQQ tt
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A Journal of Fact, Fiction and Opinion
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______________________________________
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|
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Quanta is an electronically distributed magazine of science fiction.
|
|
Published monthly, each issue contains short fiction, articles and
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editorials by authors around the world and across the net. Quanta
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publishes in two formats: straight ascii and PostScript* for
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PostScript compatible printers. To subscribe to Quanta, or just to
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get more info, send mail to:
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da1n@andrew.bitnet
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Electronic publishing is the way of the future. Become part of that
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1------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(C) Copyright March, 1989, DargonZine, Editor Dafydd
|
|
<White@DUVM.BitNet>. All rights revert to the authors. These stories may
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|
not be reproduced or redistributed save in the case of reproducing the
|
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whole 'zine for further distribution without the express permission of
|
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the author involved.
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