[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt
Mark turned in his saddle. "A real wizard? Whom has he converted now?"
"The news is not good, my Prince. Though there may be some good to come from it in the end "
"Who?"
Karel told him.
"Why didn't you tell me this at once?"
"I did not want the news to get around our own camp. I am sorry if that was wrong."
Mark drew several deep breaths. "No," he said at last. "You were right. Though of course the
troops must be told eventually. When we've had time to prepare them. So, the old bastard's not
dead after all."
"Unfortunately he is not." After giving his sovereign a few more breaths in which to digest the
disturbing information, the wizard added: "And there is more to tell, almost as bad."
"Then tell it."
"We now face a demon also. Let me hasten to add that Kristin seems to be in no immediate danger
from the thing."
Mark, on recovering somewhat from this second shock, felt confident that he could readily drive
the demon away if it confronted him directly at least he had always been able to master such
creatures in this way before, through the power of the Emperor's name, though understanding of
this power eluded him. But the demon perhaps realized this as well as Mark did, and it might be
avoiding him, retreating whenever it sensed the Prince of Tasavalta was approaching.
After a brief discussion of the problem posed by the demon, the two men rode on in silence for a
little distance, each busy with his own thoughts.
At last the Prince asked: "I suppose there's no doubt?"
"There is no doubt, sir, that both the Dark King and the demon are now allied with the Crown
Prince. But neither Vilkata nor the demon is in command. Rather they seem to be as completely
enthralled by the Mindsword as any of the others who now surround Murat."
"Can you overcome them?"
"As for Vilkata, I can, and will, and have, though to beat him thoroughly will take time. His
strength in the art is not what it was in the old days; and even then he excelled mainly in the
control of demons. Only one of that tribe is in his service now, and that one its name is Akbar I
consider even more cowardly than most."
"Cowardly, but powerful, I suppose."
The magician nodded. "Formidable, even for a demon. But Akbar I will leave to you, should the foul
thing ever dare to confront us directly."
Prince and wizard approached Murat's defended camp warily, climbing the far side of a long hill
from which they would be able to overlook the occupied farm. When, extending their view cautiously
over the hilltop, they had the house and barn in view below, Karel by his art was able to let Mark
see just how far they were from the boundary of the Mindsword's magic. Touching his fingers
lightly to his Prince's eyes, the magician rendered that field of force visible to Mark, in the
form of an eerie, transparent blue glow in the atmosphere.
"And now, magician? Is there something else that you can achieve in this situation?"
"I can but try, Prince. I am going to try to put everyone in Murat's encampment sound asleep. If
that succeeds, we may be able to try something more. Let me have a few moments for silent
concentration."
file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%2...Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt (71 of 115) [2/4/03 9:54:52 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt
Standing guard while Karel concentrated, cautiously peering over the very top of the hill, Mark
gazed down at the buildings and smoldering watchfires of Murat's camp, where a few huddled human
figures were discernible in the bright moonlight. The faint bluish haze of Sword-power, visible to
his eyes and presumably to Karel's, was centered on the upper floor of the farmhouse, and extended
to about twenty meters from where Mark and Karel now sat their riding-beasts. At that point the
blue haze faded out abruptly.
Some minutes passed. Then Karel, who had looked as if he were dozing in his saddle, roused himself
to whisper encouraging words to his sovereign. The magician's efforts to put everyone in the camp
asleep by magic were on the verge of almost complete success.
Mark murmured back: "I don't suppose our friend is likely to sheathe his Sword before he dozes
off?"
"I don't suppose so, Prince. But we can hope."
Soon Karel announced that the sleep-pall was even now taking full effect upon all the people in
and around the farmhouse. But unfortunately, as Mark was able to see for himself, the Mindsword's
influence continued unabated.
"He grasps the weapon tightly even in his sleep, my Prince. Therefore you must not dream of trying
to enter the camp to bring Kristin out. We must seek some other way."
Mark was not so easily discouraged. "I have Sightblinder. If I were to try the fringes of this [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • moje-waterloo.xlx.pl

    •