Castle for Rent (12 page)

“Disgusting, squat blue creatures with nasty teeth and big, flat webbed feet.” She turned up her nose as she brought the ghost wineglass to her lips. “Horrible things, really."

Frowning, he massaged his forehead. “Gods. That rings a bell somewhere."

“Again, what does it matter? Their magic is primitive, and their technology won't work in the castle—"

“But they will undoubtedly establish bases through some of the portals. Once they fan out, they'll be unbeatable. Like termites in an old barn. Ferne, you don't know what you've done."

“I don't believe you."

“Of course you don't. Anyway, as I was saying, let's assume Deems and I do prevail and win back the castle. What's to prevent me from kicking Deems and his rabble out, and you along with them?"

“I'll simply ‘bust' another containment spell and let more termites into the barn."

“Not if I see that you never set foot in Perilous again."

She smiled serenely. “You can't keep me out, Inky."

He sat back and emitted a grudging snort. “You're probably right.” He drained his glass and set it aside. “So—after this great victory, you, Deems, and I will make a cozy triumvirate. Eh?"

“I think it sounds very friendly. Various contingents of Deems' forces will stay on to complement select units of your Guardsmen. The two forces will share duties equally."

Incarnadine rose and approached the figure of his sister.

“No, Ferne. It won't work. No deal."

“Think again, Inky. You can't get back. You can't summon the gateway now. The end on your side is nailed down in a remote spot. Even if it weren't, I very much doubt you could re-establish the portal. You said you had run into some difficulties."

“I admit it,” he said. “It's a tough problem. I've been studying as much high-energy physics as magic."

“Exactly. It was only after years of study that I finally found a solution."

“You've been spending quite a good deal of time here, haven't you?"

“Oh, yes. Once I found I could summon the gateway from this side, I began dividing my time between there and Albion. I prefer the latter, by the way, but Earth is a dandy place to build up your magical muscles. Earth magic is the most powerful of all, precisely because it's the most difficult to work with, and to master."

“You can say that again. Still, it's no deal, sis. The only thing that doesn't make sense was that attempt on my life."

She fixed him in a questioning stare. “I can't imagine what you're talking about."

“Really? Well, somebody tried to take me out. I'll admit, you make a dubious suspect. From what you say, you'd stand to lose by my death—at least for now. Once the castle's back in our hands, it'll be another matter. Then I'll simply be a liability."

“I repeat, I don't know what you're talking about. You have a limited amount of time, my brother. You said it yourself—once the invaders establish a beachhead, they'll be hard to dislodge. Perilous will be a lost cause."

“And it will be on your head."

She shrugged. “The decision is yours. Share Perilous, and it will stand. Insist on being stubborn, and the Haplodites will have to find a new home."

He shook his head sadly. “Sister, I'm disappointed in you. I never thought you would stoop so low."

“Oh, stuff it. Look, Inky. Just say the word and I'll let you through, and we can get on with business."

“What does Deems get out of this?"

“Gold for his royal treasury. What else?"

“Oh, no,” he groaned. “Ferne, I'm surprised at you. You know very well that Albion is the wrong kind of universe for alchemical changes. The stuff you'll whip up for him will turn phony in a matter of months."

“Who will care but Deems' creditors? And who will believe them?"

“Ferne, you shouldn't go around screwing up the economy of a world like that! You're talking about a lot of gold, aren't you? If I know Deems, you are."

She waved the matter aside. “It is of no moment whatsoever."

He sighed and sat down. “No deal, Ferne."

Her eyes flashed. “Then you'll rot there, little brother!"

He flipped a palm over. “New York is not exactly Siberia."

“Have fun, Inky. Take in a Broadway show or two. There are still some fine restaurants in New York. You might try Windows on the Park. It's at the top of the Gulf & Western building. The food is good and the view is breathtaking."

“I'll be sure to check it out."

“You'll be sorry, Incarnadine. I'll give you twenty-four hours to deal. After that, Perilous is a lost cause."

“I think I know what you're up to, Ferne."

“You couldn't possibly,” she said. “Good-bye, Inky."

“Good-bye, Ferne."

Her figure collapsed to a ball of light, then was gone. The useless chair stood in the middle of the floor, as empty now of form as content.

He sat for a long while, silently contemplating areas of the walls and ceiling.

 

 

 

Keep—Near the South Tower

 

“This looks promising,” Gene said as he peered across the threshold of an attractive aspect. There was sunshine out there, and green grass, some trees, and a small pond. It looked like the grazing meadow of a small farm,
sans
cattle. He sniffed the air and could have sworn he smelted fresh-cut hay. But there were no buildings visible, and something told him this was not an inhabited aspect.

“Trouble is,” he added, “it'll look just as inviting to the Bluefaces."

Linda said, “Maybe we'll be safe if we get far enough away from the portal."

“But we don't want to get too far away from the castle. We might not be able to make it back."

“True. But we haven't found a better aspect so far. Aren't those apple trees over there?"

“Maybe,” Gene said. “Looks like the wrong season for apples, though. I vote no. Anyone disagree?"

No one did. Gene and Linda walked away from the portal, Snowclaw and Sheila following.

“At least we haven't seen Bluefaces for a good while,” Sheila commented.

“Damn, I wish I knew what I was looking for,” Gene said, preoccupied with his thoughts.

“What would you be looking for,” Linda asked, “if you knew what you were looking for?"

“An aspect that could turn up some kind of fancy, high-tech weapon that would be effective against the Bluefaces."

“The way I understand it,” Sheila said, “technology doesn't work in the castle."

“Depends on what you mean by technology,” Gene said. “I've heard tell of aspects where it's pretty hard to tell magic from technology. Maybe something from one of those worlds would do the trick."

“Everybody keeps saying that there are some pretty weird aspects,” Linda said. “Maybe we'll get lucky."

“Fat chance,” Gene said glumly. “I think we're sunk. We've lost the castle."

“It wasn't ours to begin with,” Linda said.

“No, but it was the only home we had."

Sheila said, “My usual luck. I just start getting used to the place, and we get chased out. Thing is, I can't decide whether it's any great loss."

“The castle's a mixed blessing, Sheila,” Gene said. “But it's given me one thing I lacked back in the real world. Adventure. Real, heart-pounding, thrill-a-minute, no-holds-barred adventure. They don't make that in the mundane world. They just make boredom, periodically relieved by stark terror."

Another aperture appeared suddenly in the wall ahead, this one revealing a scene of dense jungle. Gene halted in his tracks and put out an arm to hold his companions back.

“Wait a minute. This looks like trouble."

They stood and watched. Birdcalls echoed in the treetops, the undergrowth rustled here and fidgeted there, and tropical sun streamed green and gold through the high jungle canopy. But not much else happened.

“What were you saying about heart-pounding adventure?” Linda asked.

“Yeah ... well.” Gene pushed his broadsword back into its scabbard. “We're really getting the proverbial horns of the dilemma right in the butt. If we hide out in one of these wild aspects, we'll be safe from the Bluefaces, all right. But you can bet the damn thing'll close up and leave us stranded."

“Great choice,” Linda said. “Die in some weird place, or stay here and get taken prisoner.” She gave a tiny shudder. “If they take prisoners. I wonder if they think humans are good to eat."

Snowclaw said, “I've often wondered myself."

The great white beast's hairless companions regarded him gravely.

Abstractedly Snowclaw stroked the blade of the huge longsword that Linda had conjured for him. Then he flashed his teeth, chuckling impishly. “Just kidding, friends."

“Maybe we'll just have to take the chance and hole up in one of these,” Sheila said, pointing toward the jungle.

“It's a thought,” Gene said. “But not this one. We need one with some signs of civilization."

“That, I think, is going to be hard,” Linda said. “Did you ever notice that most aspects are either uninhabited, deserted, or, if they do have civilization, it's primitive?"

Gene thought about it. “Yeah, now that you mention it. I've seen some strange things, briefly glimpsed through aspects here and there. But for the most part, you're right. If the aspect is easily accessible, there's usually nothing there except picture-postcard stuff. Pretty, but of no use. There must be a reason for it."

“Just think if the portal to Earth were, say, in the middle of New York City."

“Right, this castle would be co-op apartments by now. Maybe that's the reason that portals to worlds with advanced civilizations are so rare. Maybe the castle was designed that way in order to protect it from invasion from within, so to speak."

“Makes sense,” Linda said.

“Come on, let's get going."

They moved away from the jungle aspect. Farther down the corridor they passed two large empty halls, one at either hand.

Gene thought awhile, then said, “Yeah, it makes sense. But what happened with the Bluefaces? Did the castle's defenses—whatever they are—break down? Or does this kind of thing happen periodically?"

“If this place is as old as they say it is,” Linda said, “it would have been invaded long ago."

Gene shrugged. “Maybe it was. Maybe Lord Incarnadine is an invader himself."

“Haven't you ever talked to any of the servants? They all say—"

“Yeah, I know. They all say Incarnadine's been lord of Perilous for hundreds of years. And before that his dad was lord for a thousand years. I know—I'm just throwing hypotheses against the wall and seeing if any of ‘em leave a stain.” He ruminated for a few more paces. “Thing is, I
have
seen cities and high-tech-looking stuff through a few of the floating aspects, most of which look mighty hard to cross.” He shook his head slowly. “I can't figure it out."

“Halt!"

They had just begun to cross through an intersecting tunnel. Swords already drawn, four Bluefaces were double-timing down the left branch, breaking into a charge when Gene and his companions came into view.

“Run!” Gene yelled, turning Sheila around and shoving her back down the corridor. Linda and Snowclaw needed no prompting. They ran, passing the two empty halls and the jungle aspect, but before they reached the crossing passageway ahead, three more Bluefaces turned the corner, snarling and waving swords.

Linda skidded to a stop. She had less than five seconds to arrive at a magical solution to the problem. She fought an urge to panic and closed her eyes, hoping the decision she made would be the right one.

Snowclaw turned to fight the first group of Bluefaces and Gene raced to meet the threesome. Snowy's first victory was swift. His left hand struck like the head of a snake, tearing out the throat of the leader. He neatly sidestepped the falling body to bring his longsword to bear on the second creature.

Sheila backed against the wall and squatted, hands covering her head, mind gone numb with fear. Peeking between fingers, she saw Gene clash swords with two Bluefaces as a third maneuvered for position in the narrow hallway. Gene held his own for a spell, but three-on-one proved too much even for Gene's expert swordcraft. He backstepped, fending off all three now, parrying and riposting, his blade a silver blur. Snowy was similarly boxed in, his three opponents giving him a hard time.

Then something strange happened. Sheila blinked her eyes and looked again. Either she was seeing triple, or there were three Genes. And Snowclaw seemed to have suddenly acquired two comrades-in-arms who looked exactly like him.

With a helpless groan, Sheila covered her eyes again as the
whang
and
clank
of swordplay filled the corridor. When she looked again, the situation was even more confused. Now there were more Bluefaces, and still more duplicates of Gene and Snowclaw.

“A duel between us, sorceress!” one Blueface called out. He was standing back from the melee, and appeared to be speaking to Linda, who stood calmly in the middle of things.

“You got it, Blueface!” Linda answered. She stuck her tongue out.

From that point on, things got very bizarre indeed. The number of combatants seemed to increase every few seconds. In a short time the passageway became the scene of an armed engagement of major proportions, spilling over into the great rooms on either side. New sorts of combatants appeared: knights in armor, Roman legionnaires, and Greek hoplites crossed swords with an outrageous assortment of monsters. Tentacles snaked, talons raked, and claws tore, all to the tune of singing steel. The noise was deafening. Sheila dove to the floor and flattened herself against the wall. When someone or something stepped on her ankle, she gave a yelp and crawled off.

Someone grabbed her arm and yanked her halfway up. It was Gene.

“Get to the aspect and jump through!” he yelled. “And keep down!” He let her go.

Sheila crawled, keeping her head down but watching out for stamping feet and other, stranger extremities. She was kicked once in the leg, then took the heel of a boot in her ribs. She doubled up with pain; and then got her foot mashed. Whimpering, she rose to a crouch and hobbled away. She stumbled, fell, and got up again.