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Stasheff, Christopher - Warlock 04 - The Warlock Unlocked (v1.0) (html).html
his tongue, probably.
The Duke noticed, and frowned.
"Then thou must presently free the unhappy remainder," Gwen said quickly.
"Ah, but 'tis not easily done, fair lady." The Duke waved a forefinger sadly.
"Knowest thou that vasty range of mountains, in the northeast?"
"Nay; we came by magic." Gwen smiled sweetly. "We know only the meadow
where thou didst find us, and the stretch of riverbank that curls on northward to
the spot where we appeared."
Northward? Rod could've swom they'd hiked northward which meant their
entry-point lay southward!
"So newly-come as that!" The Duke was too surprised. Who was pumping
whom, here? "Yet let me assure thee, the mountains lie there, in the northeast,
blocking off a poor eighth-part of this land; and 'tis there Lord Kern hath fled, to
try to build a robber-force to steal the King away. I cannot go against him
through those mountains, for he's blocked the only pass that's large enough for
armies, with foul sorcery."
"Yet he is thereby blocked himself!" Gwen crowed, delighted.
The Duke looked surprised, but he hid it quickly. "Ye-e-e-s, there is that, sweet
lady for if he lifts his sorcery, my armies would be upon him in a moment!"
The courtier across the table was having trouble swallowing again.
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"Yet there is coastline near him," the Duke went on, "and he hath attempted to
land a force within our safe domain."
"Thou hast repulsed him, then?"
"I have." The Duke preened a little. "My ships are of the best, most especially
when I command 'em."
The courtier grabbed for his wine-cup.
"Thus have matters stood for three long years." The Duke spread his hands. "He
cannot come out, nor can I go in, to free those miserable wretches who live
beneath his yoke. Yet time will ripen my good designs, and rot his fell ones; my
armies daily increase, as do my ships; and, when the time hath come, I'll strike at
him by sea and grind him to the dust! Then will this land be whole again, to
deliver up to Elidor when he doth come of age."
The boy-King looked frightened at that last remark. Gwen caught his eyes
briefly, then looked back at the Duke. "Simply planned, but nobly, Milord. And
thou art wise to bide thy time; disaster visits he who strikes before the iron's hot!"
"Well said, well said." The Duke sat back, nodding, pleased. "Thou art most rare
of ladies. I am not accustomed to such intelligence in one so beautiful."
Rod felt his hackles rising; but Gwen's foot touched his under the table, and he
forced a smile. "And we are fortunate to have so wise and prudent a host and
one who sets so goodly a table, as well!"
The Duke waved carelessly. "My table's yours, whenever thou dost wish it. Yet
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dost thou wish to dine at my most noble banquet?"
Rod stared, caught short.
"Come, sir." Gwen smiled roguishly. "Wouldst thou have us think thou hast not
laid forth thy finest for the rescuers of thy King?"
"Assuredly, I have," the Duke said heartily. "Yet I spoke not of game and
pasties, but of battle."
"Oh." Rod nodded slowly. "You speak of this gallant expedition to free the
northeast corner of Tir Chlis."
"Aye, indeed." The Duke's eyelids drooped, and tension seemed to emanate from
him, as from a lion who sees the antelope step near. "As I have told thee, in that
broil I'll face magics as well as spears. 'Twould soothe me, then, to have stout
warlocks by my side. How say you, Lord Gallowglass? Wilt thou dine at my
table, and aid King Elidor?"
' "That's& a most attractive offer." Rod found Gwen's eyes. "To tell you the
truth, nothing of the sort had occurred to me. We had been planning to get back
home as fast as we could."
" Tis a long and weary journey, I doubt not," Gwen pointed out. "And, to tell the
truth, we know not even where our homeland lies, nor how far it is."
"We could use a rest," Rod agreed, "and some time to find out where we are."
He glanced back at the Duke, and saw Elidor staring at him, suddenly tense.
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But Magnus was sitting next to Rod, looking absolutely chirpy. Elidor noticed
him, and relaxed a little.
"It is a very attractive offer," Rod said to the Duke. "But you'll understand,
Milord, that w& / must consider it fully. I'll give you my answer over breakfast."
"I shall await it eagerly," the Duke said, smiling. "Yet we have lingered long at
table, and the hour doth grow late. No doubt thou'rt wearied."
"Kind of," Rod admitted. "A soft bed would feel good."
' "Then let us have no more of talk." The Duke clapped his hands, and a
functionary in a glittering tunic stepped forward. "Show these good people to
their chambers!" The Duke stood. "Myself am minded also of my rest; the day
has been demanding. Elidor Majesty! Wilt thou come with me?"
Elidor rose slowly, still wary and almost, Rod would have said, hopefully.
His uncle seized his shoulder; Elidor winced, and bit back a cry. "To bed, to
bed!" the Duke sang jovially. "Good night to all!"
CHAPTER TEN
"Amphibians?" Father Al stared at the screen of the electron-telescope,
unbelieving.
"I've noticed a couple of true lizards, but they're small." Brother Chard shook his
head. "I'm sorry, Father. We've been around this planet four times in four
separate orbits, and that's the highest form of life on any of the continents."
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"So there's only that one large island with humans; the rest of the planet is
carboniferous." Father Al shook his head. "Well, if we needed anything to assure
us that we're dealing with a colony instead of native sentients, we've found it. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]