Part 27 (1/2)
But not before Radeachar had become his lifelong slave, virtually an extension of his own personality.
He slept, unmoving, on the cool stone floor for two days. And, though the blackness had freed the castle, and spring silence reigned, no one dared waken him.
The distraction of Varthlokkur's undertaking allowed Nepanthe, and those who followed her, to slip through the Gap during the time the wizard slept.
Varthlokkur never sensed the nearness of the woman who meant more to him than life itself.She was married to his son now, but he and she had an agreement. When Mocker died -unless Varthlokkur himself were responsible- she would become his wife. The bargain.
woven on the looms of Fate, had made it possible to destroy Nu Li Hsi and Yo Hsi.
He awakened almost too weak to move. From amongst his paraphernalia he secured a small bottle, drank it dry. A warm, temporary strength flooded him. He lay down again, let it work. A half hour later he went downstairs.
”You can turn them loose now,” he told Gjerdrum. ”What needed doing is done. And Ragnarson has finished in Vorgreberg.”
”I haven't had word from him yet.”
”You will.”
Gjerdrum considered. Varthlokkur was probably right. ”Okay. I won't tell them they can leave. But if they get away while my back is turned, that's all right.”
”They won't go far. They won't be welcome in Baxendala. They'll stay around till you're ready to leave for Vorgreberg.”
Varthlokkur insisted on showing Gjerdrum his masterwork.
Eanredson took one look and retched.
Varthlokkur was hurt. ”I'm sorry.” He had been proud, forgetting that it took a peculiar breed to appreciate his artistry.
”Come, then,” he said. ”We'll be needed in Vorgreberg.”
”You're going to take that.... That.... With us?”
Puzzled, Varthlokkur nodded.
”Better do it on the quiet. The very d.a.m.ned quiet, else you'll start a revolution.
The black arts aren't popular with the man in the street.”
Varthlokkur's feelings were bruised again. His greatest work had to remain hidden?
”All right. I'll leave it here.”
”Good.” Gjerdrum glanced at the Unborn. This time he forced his gorge down.
”You'll get used to it.”
”I don't want to. It should've been killed when Wachtel saw what it was.”
”You're being very narrow....”
Gjerdrum refused to argue. ”If we're going, let's go. I've been away too long.
That foreigner, Prataxis, has probably screwed everything up.”
They left that afternoon. Gjerdrum kept going through the night. They reached Vorgreberg the next evening, exhausted. Gjerdrum had to invoke the wizard's reputation to keep the servants from scattering with their horror stories.
Gjerdrum and Varthlokkur got no rest. Prataxis dragged them to the Marshall's office immediately.
”About time,” Ragnarson said. ”You got Derel's letter?”
”No,” Gjerdrum replied.
”Must've crossed paths. Just a note telling you to get your b.u.t.t home.””I was waiting on him.”
”Everything taken care of?”
”I still have to make the servants forget,” the wizard replied.
”Won't be necessary. The news is out. The Thing elected me Regent. They're already forming a committee to consider royal candidates.”
”There're some things he should make them forget,” Gjerdrum growled.
Ragnarson glanced at Varthlokkur.
”I performed a few sorceries. They upset him. Before we left, I performed a divination. Very unclear, but two names came through. Badalamen. The Spear of Odessa Khomer.”
”Meaning what?”
”I don't know. Badalamen may be a person. The Spear sounds like a mystical weapon. It isn't one I've heard of. And that's unusual. Those things are pretty well known.”
”Neither means anything to me,” Ragnarson said. He related recent events in Vorgreberg, concluding, ”I've prepared for mobilization.”
”Before the mercenaries leave?” Gjerdrum asked. ”They'll come at you twice as hard....”
”No problem. Oryon wants to go. To poke around High Crag for the connection with s.h.i.+nsan. Meanwhile, we're going to turn Kavelin upside down. These a.s.sa.s.sinations and kidnappings have got to stop.”
Varthlokkur glowed. ”I have the perfect device. The perfect servant, the perfect hunter....”
”Gjerdrum? What's the matter?”
”I saw his perfect hunter.”
Ragnarson looked from one to the other.
”The baby,” Gjerdrum said. ”The demon thing. He kept it alive.”
Ragnarson leaned back, closed his eyes, said nothing for a long time. Then, softly, suppressing his revulsion, ”Tell me about it.”