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Brother Mage?After all, why would we have dared to approach this complex with
such confidence, unless we felt sure of backup?"
Xylox snorted.  Quelgrum will not believe us. To send such a message from
within that metal rabbit-warren would have been impossible. No telepathic
signal could have passed in or out of there."
"Weknow that, Grimm said, his tone deepening as confidence in his idea began
to grow,  but I doubt the General does. He was brought up as a farm hand, and
I cannot believe his understanding of Technology ismuch better than ours, if
at all. Heuses it with aplomb, but I cannot imagine he is a master of the
art."
"Armitagewill know, the older Questor said.  Perfuco may understand it
almost as well; he was conditioned at Haven for some time, and he may have
attempted to send a Telepathic plea for help when he was first immured there."
Grimm smiled.  Armitage may well understand Technology inall its aspects, he
said, his voice like oil flowing over wet ice,  but what does he know ofmagic
? Next to nothing, I feel sure. How would he know that our skills were blunted
by those metal walls?
"As for Perfuco, he knows how we Questors make our own magic; as a Seventh
Rank Mentalist, he will be familiar with his own rigid, standard, runic magic,
but I will wager anything you like that he knows next to nothing of what a
Questor can do in that regard.
"I have noticed how Perfuco looks at us. He is scared of us, Questor Xylox;
scared witless, as he should be!"
Xylox put his hands on his hips, lowered his brows and opened his mouth, as
if he was about to utter a stinging rebuke at what he regarded as a facile
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argument, but it seemed as if his caustic words become entangled on his
tongue.
"It is our only realistic chance, Grimm said, remorseless, forgetting his
ridiculous, revealing garb as he moved to stand directly in front of the
pompous, bigoted, but powerful thaumaturge. Since he stood a full six inches
shorter than his junior, Xylox was forced to look up to meet Grimm's piercing
gaze.
Long moments passed, and neither magic-user looked away; this was a true
meeting of the minds. At last, Xylox spoke, as the girl and the two warriors
looked on in fascination.
"Do you think it will be as simple as that? His tone was incredulous, but no
longer scathing.
Grimm stepped back and sat on the end of one of the beds, surrendering his
psychological advantage of superior height.
"No, Brother Mage, he said,  I do not expect it to be simple at all. Unless
we are remarkably fortunate, we will have to fight our way to the General and
cause the sort of devastation that only Questors can. We will have to gamble
every resource at our command on the success of the plan, and then brazen it
out with a ruthless, skilled commander of armed men.
"We may all end up dead, or as Quelgrum's helpless playthings. The assault on
High Lodge may yet go ahead. In the space of a few days, all we have sworn to
defend may lie in ruins. Civilisation as we know it may come to an end: but we
can't just ignore the danger, hoping it will go away."
Grimm let the words hang. He felt by no means confident in the success of his
plan, but he had come a long way from his past incarnation as a frightened,
insecure Student.
I am a Mage Questor,Grimm told himself, building his confidence.I am a true
Weapon of the Guild; may woe betide those who dare to stand in my way!
He was prepared to fight, or to die in the attempt, rather than submit to the
subjugation of his precious will.
Grimm decided that he had raised the tension in the room to sufficient
intensity. He stood and looked each of his companions in the eye in turn as he
spoke.
"I, for one, do not intend to lie down like a lamb awaiting slaughter. Will
you join with me?"
Tordun was the first to speak. He took down a bottle from the metal structure
by one of the beds and wrenched the various cross-members free from the main
upright of the stand. The result of this destruction was a rough, but
workable, spear.
"Death before dishonour, eh, sorcerer? That's a song I know well. I'm with
you."
Crest picked up the scattered pieces of metal from the floor and hefted them.
 I suppose I could use these as throwing knives, or something. The balance is
a little off, and the points are non-existent, but I'm game; anything's better
than waiting to be killed or turned into a vapid moron. Some of these glass
shards could be useful, too. Count me in."
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Drex shrugged, and Grimm tried to ignore her shapely, exposed legs.  I'll
join you, she said, enthusiastically beaming.  I owe you a life, after all,
Questor Grimm, so I'm more than happy to watch your back. She moved to his
side, so close that he felt the heat emanating from her small body.
Grimm felt his face growing hot, remembering the revealing robe he wore.
However, the burgeoning feelings gave him strength, gave him vitality, and he
drew his shoulders back. A battle was coming, and he would not be found
wanting!
Energy bloomed within him, threatening to explode from the fleshy confines of
his body, but he held it in check with control born of years of denial and
self-discipline. He was acutely aware of the girl at his side, but he found
her now a fount of strength rather than a source of awkwardness.
"Will you join us, Questor Xylox? he intoned in a dispassionate voice.  If
not, we will do this without you; however, I would far rather have a mage of
your power and ability on our side."
As the young thaumaturge spoke, he no longer cared if the task was feasible
or not; he was strength; he waspower!
He almost laughed, half-drunk with the heady knowledge of his deadly potency.
Fifteen hundred Seculars, and five superannuated Specialists at that moment,
they seemed as nothing to him. His long-denied emotions gave him wings, and
his spirit soared.
* * * *
Xylox's eyes slid back and forth between the people in the small room. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]