[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"It does not seem possible to conceal very much from that one, sire, when his full attention is
upon us, as it is now, and we are the focus of all his skills."
Murat considered whether to try to make the sudden quenching of the Mindsword's magic, from the
view of watching Tasavaltan wizards, less suspicious by deploying his handful of cavalry in a
deceptive sortie at the same time. Give the enemy something else to watch and wonder about.
He wondered whether the best deployment, in such a scheme, would be in a number of small groups,
sallying out quickly in several directions from a center.
"The enemy," Murat explained to his son and Captain Marsaci an hour later, when starting to reveal
the plan of his attack to them, "will think I am still with you, marching with my Sword sheathed,
hoping to keep the identity of my particular group a secret."
"And where will you really be, sire?" asked the captain.
"I'll explain about that a little later. At the last minute." "It's true," agreed Marsaci, "that
if our little band is split up into small groups, the enemy can be expected to waste time trying
to avoid the Sword. They won't know which groups are safe to attack. They may well retreat in all
directions."
"What would your orders be, Captain, were you commanding the other side?"
"Against the tactic we just discussed, sir?" It seemed that the captain had already given the
problem some consideration. "I'd most likely retreat from all these small forces, and let them do
what ravaging of the countryside they might. I'd have massed archers and slingers ready, at a
distance. That's what I'd say ought to worry us, sir. Bows and slings don't need accuracy as
individuals if they come in thousands. I imagine General Rostov must have some such plan in
place."
"Very likely, Captain, you are right."
Murat waited until he was alone with his son, before he confirmed his decision about the attack.
"You are actually planning to ride the demon, Father?" Carlo had trouble believing it.
"I see no reason why I shouldn't. The Sword will keep the foul one loyal to me. Only, when I am in
Sarykam, surrounded by enemies, I'll need one person with me whom I can trust, even without the
Sword. Now there is only you."
Carlo was stunned, and turned pale at the mere thought of being carried on Akbar's back, but he
could not refuse. Only for his worshiped father would he agree to be transported by a demon.
Despite his loyalty, he feared that the experience when it actually came might be too much for
him.
Murat and the demon had agreed between them that Kristin's exact location should be easier to
establish than Mark's. She had left several tokens of herself, including a hunting knife and even
strands of hair, in the farmhouse. With such aids to magic Akbar felt confident of being able to
locate her quite handily.
file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%2...Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt (96 of 115) [2/4/03 9:54:52 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%206%20-%20Mindswords%20Story.txt
At the end of his conference with Akbar, Murat dis- patched the demon on a reconnaissance mission
to make the attempt, if it should be possible without alarming the people in the city.
The demon, in the course of carrying out this mission, happened to observe Vilkata, riding well
mounted and equipped, and by now halfway to the city.
His interest awakened, Akbar drifted closer, curious as to how his former partner had managed to
outfit himself so quickly and so well, and what his current goal might be. Obviously banishment by
the master had not brought about collapse.
The demon thoughtfully observed the wizard's steady progress. At first he was content to watch the
man from afar, but soon decided to draw nearer, feeling almost careless as to whether his presence
should be detected or not.
On the first part of his journey toward the capital, Vilkata had been busy formulating new plans
to help Murat. But gradually those efforts had ceased. A day had now passed since he had been
dispatched on his secret mission by Murat, and two days since he had last been exposed to the
power of the Mindsword. For the past several hours the old wizard had been experiencing strange
and frightening moments, mental flashes and foretastes of thinly disguised malignant hatred and
contempt for his great lord.
These fits, moments when the Dark King hovered on the brink of forbidden guilty anger, so far had
departed as quickly as they came, leaving him feeling shaken, trembling in horror. Each time he
forced the incident out of his mind, until the next occasion came. So wrapped up in his
calculations was the Dark King that the true explanation of these terrifying episodes had not yet
dawned on him. But whatever his feelings now toward Murat, Vilkata's suppressed hatred of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]