Part 31 (1/2)

And, ”Thou wilt, at least, not deny that thou art Tuan's spy.”

”King Tuan, to you! But I agree, that much is pretty obvious.”

”Most excellent! Thou canst now tell to Tuan every small- est detail of my dungeon-if ever thou dost set eyes upon him again.”

For all his bravado, a s.h.i.+ver of apprehension shook Rod.

He ignored it. ”Tuan already knows all he needs.”

”Indeed?” Alfar's eyes glittered. ”And what is that?”

”That you've taken over the duchy, by casting a spell over all the people-and that you'll attack him, if he doesn't obliterate you first.”

215.

”Will he, now! Fascinating! And how much else doth he know?”

Rod shrugged. ”None of your concern-but do let it worry you.”

Alfar stood rigid, the color draining from his face.

Then he whirled, knife whipping out to p.r.i.c.k Simon's throat. ”Again I will demand of thee-what information hath Tuan?”

His gaze locked with Rod's. Simon paled, but his eyes held only calm and understanding, without the slightest trace of fear.

Rod sighed, and capitulated. ”He knows your whole ca- reer, from the first peasant you intimidated, up to your battle with Duke Bourbon.”

”Ah,” Alfar breathed. ”But he knoweth not the outcome.

Doth he?”

”No,” Rod admitted, ”but it was a pretty clear guess.”

”'Twas the d.u.c.h.ess, was it not? She did escape my hunters. Indeed, my spies in Tudor's county, and in Runny - mede, attacked her, but were repulsed by puissant magics.”

His gaze hardened. ”Magics wielded by a woman and four children.”

Inwardly, Rod went limp with relief, hearing his family's safety confirmed. But outwardly, he only permitted himself a small smile.

”Yet thou wouldst know of that, wouldst thou not?” Alfar breathed. ”Thou didst dispatch them on that errand, didst thou not?”

Rod looked at the drop of blood rising from the point of the dagger, considered his options, and decided honesty wouldn't hurt. ”It was my idea, yes.”

Alfar's breath hissed out in triumph. ”Then 'twas thy wife and bairns who did accompany the d.u.c.h.ess and her brats, whilst yet they did live!”

Alarm shrilled through Rod. Did the b.a.s.t.a.r.d mean his family was dead? And the anger heaved up, rising.

Oblivious, Alfar was still speaking. ”And thou art he who's called Rod Gallowgla.s.s, art thou not?”

”Yes. I'm the High Warlock.” Rod's eyes narrowed, red- dening.

Simon stared, poleaxed.

276 Alfar's lips were parted, his eyes glittering. ”How didst thou do it? Tell me the manner of it! How didst thou cease to be, to the mind, the whiles thou wert apparent to the eye?”

”You should know,” Rod grated. ”Weren't you eaves- dropping?”

”Every minute, I a.s.sure thee. I held thy trace the whiles thou didst buy a can and didst drive out to the road. Then, of a sudden, there were no thoughts but a peasant's.”

”Quite a range you've got there.”

”More than thirty leagues. How didst thou cloak thy thoughts?”

”I didn't-not then.” Rod throttled the rage down to a slow b.u.m, keeping his mind in control, floating on top of the emotion. ”I just started thinking like a peasant.”

Alfar stared.

Then he frowned. ”Then thou dost counterfeit most ex- cellently.”

”I had some acting lessons.” And they were coming in handy, helping him keep the rage under control. ”I didn't pull the real disappearing act until I was across the border.”

Privately, he found it interesting that Alfar could have been so thoroughly deceived. Either he wasn't very good at read- ing thoughts in depth, or Rod was even better at believing himself to be somebody fict.i.tious than he had thought.

”Ah, 'twas then? Tell me the manner of it.” But his knife hand was trembling.

Nonetheless, Simon was staring at Rod, not Alfar, and with awe, not fear.

And he'd been friendly to Rod, and he was an innocent bystander...

Rod shrugged. ”I withdrew, that's all. Pulled back into my sh.e.l.l. Decided n.o.body was worth my trouble.”

Alfar stared at him.

Then he frowned. ”Canst say no more than that?”

Rod shrugged. ”Details. Techniques. Remembering times in my past when I wanted to get away from people, and letting the feeling grow. None of it could teach you how to do it. The first time, it just happens.”

Alfar watched him, eyes narrowed.

Then he straightened, sliding the knife back into its sheath, .

217.

and Simon almost collapsed with a sigh of relief.

Rod felt a little relief, too, but the anger countered it.

”Tis even as I've thought,” Alfar said, with grim sat- isfaction. ”From aught I've heard of thee, thy chivalry ex- ceeds thy sense.”

”Would you care to explain that?” Rod's voice was vel- vet.