-
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Joe whistled. "You sure aren't asking much, are you? We're to get into these
castles and call you in, somehow, all without getting killed or turned into
toads or something; and if we happen to unmask the Baron in the process, we're
to get him to trot out a demon prince for us."
Ruddygore shrugged. "I didn't say it was going to be easy.
In fact, tricking the first sorcerer should work out because of the element of
surprise in the plan. The trouble is, in the inevitable post-mortem, the
loophole will be exposed, so the second one will be ready for you. As for
bringing out the
Baron's demon, I hardly think that will be difficult if you meet him.
Remember, his demon couldn't do a thing to either of you, and he's probably
just panting and drooling to do a whole set of things to see why and how he
can get around it."
"What army are we leading?" Joe wanted to know.
"No army. It would do no good. I'll supply the army if and when it's
necessary. You and Marge are involved, not only [
JACK L. CHALKER 135
for your skills and complementary abilities but also because, pardon me, you
are perfect demon bait. All that I have been able to teach you, and all that
you have become, have been oriented to this purpose. Tiana will join you for
several other reasons, although she, too, is well trained and dedicated, with
a bit of both your skills to boot as a backup. But, most im-
portantly, she's a native ofZhimbombe, and I've had her trav-
eling in and out of the area for the past month before coming here."
Tiana nodded. "I wondered why you asked, and only hoped it was for an assault
on Kaladon. Much has changed, partic-
ularly the people and the very atmosphere of the place. It used
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%...ds%202%20-%20Demons%20of%20the%
20Dancing.txt (116 of 222) [1/19/03 4:26:45 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%20Jack%20L%20-%20The%20Dancing%20G
ods%202%20-%20Demons%20of%20the%20Dancing.txt to be a happy place. But the
roads still go where they once did, and the towns and cities are the ones I
knew in my youth.
It was strange how it all came back to me, although I have traveled those
roads ten thousand times in my mind."
Joe was used to Ruddygore by now, and he was thinking ahead of the plan.
"Uh in what order do we tackle these fearsome giants?"
"Geographically. Esmerada's Witchwood is on the way to
Morikay, so she is certainly first. She is the stronger magically, which is
why she is the best start the best to take by surprise.
And she is the most hidebound and rigid. My, how she loves the old cliches!"
"Uh-huh. And then Kaladon, all forewarned."
The sorcerer nodded. "But in known territory, with a native guide even to the
castle passages and entryways."
"He's likely just to have us killed on sight," Marge pointed out.
"No, not all of us," Joe responded, turning back to Rud-
dygore. "Right?"
"Well, uh, that's true."
Page 95
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I would have no problem getting invited into that castle,"
Tiana said, stating what the others were thinking. "That is it, is it not?"
"Well, yes, as a last resort," the sorcerer admitted. "How-
ever, I hope we won't have to use that method. I'll be with you all the way,
in a manner of speaking, anyway."
Poquah got up from the table, went into Ruddygore's room, and returned with a
very pedestrian-looking. Earth-style brief-
case. Ruddygore made several passes over it with his hands
136
DEMONS OF THE DANCING GODS
JACK L CHALKER
137
and then went into an almost trancelike state staring at it. In less than a
minute, though, he relaxed, then opened the case.
They all realized that the case had been guarded by spells so great they might
have destroyed anyone trying them other than himself.
He reached inside and pulled out a small jewelry case, set it before him and
opened it, then pushed it across the table to
Marge. Inside was a necklace of what looked like solid gold chain; from it, a
small but distinctive ruby pendant hung. She looked at the chain, then picked
it up and stared at it in puz-
zlement. "Where's the clasp?"
"I had it made without one," he told her. "Don't worry.
Allow Poquah to put it on for you."
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%...ds%202%20-%20Demons%20of%20the%
20Dancing.txt (117 of 222) [1/19/03 4:26:45 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%20Jack%20L%20-%20The%20Dancing%20G
ods%202%20-%20Demons%20of%20the%20Dancing.txt
The Imir reached over, picked it up, and she felt his long fingers on both
sides of her throat and the cold of the chain.
There was a hissing sound; for a brief moment, the necklace felt very hot, but
it cooled quickly.
"The thing is made of fairy gold and a combination of alloys that make it
almost impossible to slip off," Ruddygore ex-
plained. "As it has no clasp, it's on for good, I hope. While the blend is
strictly Husaquahrian, it was created at Cartier's in Paris to my
specifications."
She chuckled. "Cartier's at last."
Again he delved into the case, brought out a jewelry box, and opened it, this
time pushing it in front ofTiana. She looked, then reached in and picked up
one of the two objects inside.
They were attractive, if slightly large, earrings of the same fairy blend, and
suspended from each was a finely crafted charm in the shape of a gryphon.
Except for being oddly thick, the charms looked to be made of the same stuff
as the earrings.
Again, there was no break or clasp in the earrings themselves. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- matkadziecka.xlx.pl