Demons of the Dancing Gods (25 page)

victory was legitimate in that, as I mentioned, his opponent

allowed an extraneous factor to divert him. It is entirely possible

that your father was simply unable to solve his moral dilemma

and thus broke his concentration. The most talented sorcerer

in the world can be beaten by a middling-fair magician if his

concentration is broken, even for an instant."

She considered it. "You are probably right. But—even with

all his deceit and Esmerada's complicity, that means he was

the legitimate and legal winner under the Rules! That is terrible!"

"Is it? He still schemed and took advantage of your father

and you to get the seat, and he's an even blacker magician

than ever now. He must be removed, eliminated—and Esmerada,

too. We must stop his cancer of the Barony for all

time."

"Can't you just take him on?" Joe asked. "You said he was

weak."

"Oh, I could finish him, yes, but he would sense the attack

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and call upon Esmerada and the Baron for support; and the

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Baron almost had me last time. As for a challenge in a formal

context, the Rules specifically prohibit one Council member

from challenging or fighting another within the rules of the

Society. Nor can I enter the castle of a fellow Society member

without his or her permission, just as none of them can enter

Terindell."

"And I guess they aren't too likely to invite you in for tea

and cookies," Marge put in.

Ruddygore nodded. "But I've been studying the proper volume

of the Rules pretty closely, and there are other ways. It

seems that if someone is in my service and is invited in, he

may then invite me. That I find most interesting."

"Uh-oh. I just got a funny case of indigestion," Joe grumbled.

"It's not a very easy or pleasant task, but I think you see

where I'm leading with this," the sorcerer continued. "We must

strike at the heart of the Barony. We must eliminate Esmerada,

Kaladon, and the Baron. If I can reach the first two, I can take

them. That will leave our Baron, if he is indeed not one of

those two, alone and out front. I can tell you right now that I

cannot take the Baron; but if I can find out who he is^ perhaps

he can be goaded into trotting out his demon master. If I can

get him to do that, with the Council looking on, they will

destroy him as a matter of survival."

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 [

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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 importantly,

she's a native ofZhimbombe, and I've had her traveling

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, particularly

the people and the very atmosphere of the place. It used

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 Ruddygore.

"Right?"

"Well, uh, that's true."

"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. "However,

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 briefcase.

Ruddygore made several passes over it with his hands

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137

and then went into an almost trancelike state staring at it. In

less than a minute, though, he relaxed, then opened the case.

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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 puzzlement.

"Where's the clasp?"

"I had it made without one," he told her. "Don't worry.

Allow Poquah to put it on for you."

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 explained.

"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.

"Think you can stand wearing them more or less permanently?"

the sorcerer asked her.

She nodded. "They are beautiful. Also Cartier?"

"Oh, yes. Well, if you're satisfied—Poquah?"

The Imir went behind her, but this time he took one earring

in each hand; pulling back her hair, he tugged on the lobes

with his fingers. There was a slight hiss and a wisp of smoke,

and Tiana exclaimed, "Ouch!" That, too, was quickly over—

and the earrings were through the lobes as if she had been bom

with them. She reached up with her right hand and felt one of

the dangling charms, "It feels strange."

"You'll get used to them quickly." Again Ruddygore repeated

the process, pushing another open box toward Joe. The

ex-trucker frowned and grumbled, "Oh, no. I'm strictly straight!"

Inside was a single small earring with a golden gryphon attached,

identical to Tiana's.

Ruddygore laughed. "Joe, it doesn't necessarily mean that

back on Earth and it definitely doesn't mean that here. Almost

all the barbarian tribesmen wear 'em."

"Well, I don't!"

Tiana looked over at him with an amused expression. "Joe,

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among the Cagrim tribespeople with whom I lived for some

time, when a woman and a man mated, they wore matching

earrings. Two each."

"I don't care! What's so important about these fancy pieces

of jewelry, anyway?"

Ruddygore grinned. "Inside the jewel Marge is wearing,

and inside the left gryphon in Tiana's set—and in your lone

one—is the latest miracle of Japanese electronics."

"Electronics! Here?"

"Exactly. Oh, I know, I know. I'm the one who has kept

guns and other modem ideas out, and I admit it. However, you

must understand that, more than anything, that is my advantage,

Joe. It's why this plan will work! This sort of technology is as

alien and magical to this world as my magic is to yours. The

tiny little power cells in those jewels will last a year and,

because they broadcast a simple signal, they carry quite far.

You will never be out of range of my messengers, Joe. Although

the cells will broadcast only a couple of miles at best,

that's more than sufficient for signals to be received outside

any of the castles—far outside. That's Macore's part of the

job."

The little thief nodded, "I don't understand it, but I never

did understand spells, anyway. All I know is that I'm going

to be able to track you with those things and that you can call

Ruddygore with them if you need him. The rest of how it's

done I think best to keep from you, and he agrees. What you

don't know you can't divulge, and that will keep me safe. I'm

also your backup, though—if real problems develop, I'll help

where I can."

"Those measures are needed because the things were de-

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signed to work in connection with directional receivers that

would be large and impractical here," Ruddygore explained.

"However, their tiny, very inaudible signals will reach Macore

and his, uh, messengers, and that's enough."

"And if we want to call you?" Joe asked. "Then what?"

"This may sound odd, but just take the object—jewel or

gryphon—in your hand and say my name. It is triggered to

change its signal at that, and that will alert us."

"How soon could you reach us after we needed you?" Joe

pressed him.

"I will be publicly and visibly here and in Terindell. There

must be no suspicion whatsoever. I feel bound to tell you that

it might be many hours before the message gets to me. After

that, I will use my unique transportation abilities to reach you

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very quickly. Now, this is important! While my name alone,

uttered in that way, will bring me, you must say, 'Ruddygore,

please enter castle such-and-so,' wherever you are. I can be

summoned through the device, but I will require the invitation

to circumvent the Rules."

"Uh-huh. And what are we supposed to do for the hours it

takes you to come to the rescue?" Joe asked him.

"The best you can, of course. After the message is off,

Macore will be available as an outside party to help, and he

will have other resources to draw upon."

"You won't see me after tonight," the little thief warned,

"but I'll never be far away. Count on it."

"Do we have a—ouch!" Joe was startled by a burning sensation

on his left ear. His hand went up, and he felt the ring

already in place there. He whirled, rising at the same time,

and faced an impassive Poquah. "Damn you!" the big man

cursed.

"Don't blame him, Joe. I expected some, ah, resistance,"

the sorcerer told him. "Don't worry. I can hardly see it under

all that hair, anyway."

Tiana reached over and pushed Joe's dark hair back. "I

think it looks very swashbuckling."

Joe sat and fumed. He said nothing, but it was clear what

he was thinking.

"Now we'll work out briefings and strategy sessions," Ruddygore

told them. "You should be as prepared as possible. And

henceforth, by the way, we will not mention the radios. That

will remain our little secret—and our little advantage."