Part 47 (2/2)
”And might not. I'm glad I needn't put it to the test, thanks to you. You're extraordinarily generous to stop for me this way. I'm surprised you got Girays to agree to it.”
”He did not agree. He did not see the necessity, but professed great confidence in your ability to overcome all obstacles. Perhaps he was right about that, but I did not wish to take the chance. Therefore v'Alisante and I have parted company, and he has continued on his way.”
”What, you mean he just took the palanquin you'd both paid for and abandoned you here? He had no right to do that.”
”I hope I do not presume too greatly in hoping you will allow me to share your conveyance.”
”I'll very much enjoy your company. And I think Girays v'Alisante ought to be ashamed. He's played you a miserable trick.”
”I do not see it that way. We race, and he is not obligated to pause for anyone. It is something I may choose for myself, but cannot expect of another.”
”Neither can I,” she returned. ”This isn't right, you shouldn't damage your chances of winning on my account.”
”Ah, almost you speak like the grandlandsman.”
”That is not my ambition. Where is your uncle, anyway? I haven't seen him in a long time.”
”He has gone on ahead. Preferring to shorten the tedium of the journey, he has proceeded directly to Lis Folaze, where I shall meet him next.”
”Somehow I suspect you aren't so very eager to overtake him.”
”I am far more eager to overtake v'Alisante,” Karsler parried. ”His lead increases by the minute.”
Quite right.
”Go!” Luzelle commanded sharply, and the Quiet-fellows marched. Luzelle commanded sharply, and the Quiet-fellows marched.
Karsler smiled at her, and she remembered the sun.
”That is better,” he said.
”Much better,” she replied, and smiled back at him.
20.
”MAJESTY, I AM PLEASED to announce an accomplishment. Our Masterfire has attained new levels of dexterity and control,” proclaimed Nevenskoi. to announce an accomplishment. Our Masterfire has attained new levels of dexterity and control,” proclaimed Nevenskoi.
”Has he?” King Miltzin appeared to suppress a yawn.
”Indeed.” Resolved to overcome his monarch's obvious ennui, the adept adopted an air of dignified enthusiasm. ”We have prepared a demonstration, a new marvel to stimulate Your Majesty's sense of wonder.”
”Another of the fire things? How many of those have I seen? Really, Nevenskoi, hasn't it occurred to you that this is all becoming a trifle repet.i.tive? Isn't it about time for you to expand your horizons a bit?”
”But, Sire-” The adept's intestines stirred uneasily. ”The Sentient Fire is a discovery of enormous significance, one whose potential has scarcely begun to be explored-”
”To my mind it's been explored to the limit and beyond, these past few months. Can't you come up with anything new new?”
New? One of the great arcane advances in history at his disposal, and this royal r.e.t.a.r.date was already bored with it? Nevenskoi's innards began to churn. One of the great arcane advances in history at his disposal, and this royal r.e.t.a.r.date was already bored with it? Nevenskoi's innards began to churn.
”Sire-” The adept moistened his lips and spoke with exquisite restraint. ”I beg leave to observe that Masterfire's talent to amuse remains very much intact. Your Majesty need only recall the enthusiasm of the audience at the opera house-”
”Yes, that was was a triumph, wasn't it?” Miltzin's eyes kindled briefly. ”The spectacle was astounding! Even the Zoketsa professed herself amazed. But there is all the trouble, you see. The triumph was a disaster in disguise. Ever since that night I've been pelted with pleas and demands, most of them originating among my own subjects. I should never have whetted the public appet.i.te. It was a splendid show, but I know now that it was a mistake, exposing our green friend to the view of the vulgar-a mistake that I shall not repeat.” a triumph, wasn't it?” Miltzin's eyes kindled briefly. ”The spectacle was astounding! Even the Zoketsa professed herself amazed. But there is all the trouble, you see. The triumph was a disaster in disguise. Ever since that night I've been pelted with pleas and demands, most of them originating among my own subjects. I should never have whetted the public appet.i.te. It was a splendid show, but I know now that it was a mistake, exposing our green friend to the view of the vulgar-a mistake that I shall not repeat.”
”I see.” Another hope dashed. Nevenskoi strove to contain his resentment, but his creation, presently stationed beneath the king's chafing dish, caught the emotional emanation. The fire leapt responsively, and green tongues licked out across the desk.
Down. Small, my beauty, small, Nevenskoi soundlessly enjoined, and Masterfire subsided without argument.
”Hereafter Masterfire must limit his activities to the confines of the Waterwitch,” the king decreed. Frowning, he selected a deep-fried oyster puff from the inevitable platter of appetizers. ”And that being so, it's only too clear that the novelty of the various little demonstrations and displays has quite exhausted itself.”
”Majesty, allow your servant the honor of proving you wrong,” Nevenskoi suggested.
”Ha! Wrong! You are very blunt. Never mind, I take no offense. Well, then, my friend, prove me wrong by all means. I shall be pleasantly surprised if you can do it.”
”Sire, I do not boast when I a.s.sure you that Masterfire has achieved new heights of proficiency.”
”Proficiency in what?”
”In molding and shaping his own substance. He has developed a remarkable degree of control and precision, combined with infinite versatility. In short, Your Majesty, Masterfire is capable of a.s.suming virtually any shape imaginable. I will show you.”
Loveliness. Having caught his creation's attention, Nevenskoi issued silent commands. Having caught his creation's attention, Nevenskoi issued silent commands.
At once Masterfire shot out from under the chafing dish, sprang from the desktop, raced to the center of the room, and reached for the ceiling. A column of green flame roared into being. For a few moments the column whirled wildly, its light almost unendurable to the eye, then gradually the revolutions decelerated, the fierce radiance palpitated like a stricken heart, and the shape of the fiery ma.s.s began to change.
Branches of flame snaked out from the trunk, twigs sprouted from the branches, the twigs divided, and broad green leaves of fire extruded themselves. The small whorls crowning the twigs gave birth to buds that quickly opened to blazing blossoms, distinct down to the smallest detail of pistil and stamen.
”Well. It's a tree,” said the king.
”Perfect in every part.” Nevenskoi's eyes feasted. ”Majesty, observe the astonis.h.i.+ng accuracy-the texture of the bark, the curve of each individual petal, the fiery knots along the bole, the precise fas.h.i.+oning of every part-”
”It's very nice. It looks just like a tree. What does it do?”
”Do?”
”Does it just stand there like a tame forest fire, or does it do do anything?” anything?”
”What, if I may be so bold as to inquire, does Your Majesty expect it to do do?”
”How should I know? Some sort of trick, I suppose, something entertaining. That's your concern, isn't it? Really, Nevenskoi, do you expect me to do your work for you? Use your imagination, man!”
”Sire, you see before you a fire that is sentient and aware, the first of its kind, capable of altering its own shape at will, capable of a.s.suming to perfection an infinite variety of forms, and you complain that it is not sufficiently entertaining? Your Majesty, I should like to point out-” Nevenskoi caught himself up with an effort. There was no good at all in pointing out the king's pathetic paucity of vision; quite the contrary, in fact. Biting back his contempt, he continued quite smoothly, ”I should like to point out that Masterfire's abilities have barely begun to express themselves. Only watch, Sire.”
What shape, what form, was likely to capture Mad Miltzin's capricious fancy? Use your imagination, man! Use your imagination, man! Nevenskoi opened his mind to the universe, and inspiration accordingly found entrance. Nevenskoi opened his mind to the universe, and inspiration accordingly found entrance.
He spoke again in his thoughts, fas.h.i.+oning his instructions with care, and Masterfire instantly responded. The flowering tree whirled out of existence. The column of flame reappeared, spun briefly on its axis, then shrank and dwindled, molded and reshaped itself, sculpting a richly curved naked female form, slender shapely limbs, and the radiant face of a debauched fairy. The green siren that was Masterfire smiled and shook back her blazing cloud of hair.
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