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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
presence. He had chosen a life of stark asceticism, in the hope that it might
make him appear more austere, more formidable, to his foes and his fellow
mages. Nonetheless, he had to admit to himself that this skinny, gangling
youth, dressed in a revealing, ludicrous shift, was not just impressive: he
looked almost frightening in his intensity.
He, Xylox, Mage Questor of the Seventh Rank, called the Mighty', knew he
could never hope to match such lambent power and presence:'Power and presence
complete the mage ' how many times had that been drummed into him as a callow
Student?
Power and presencedocomplete the mage, Xylox realised, almost as if
understanding the old cliché's import for the first time.
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This youth had both, in abundance! How could he, Xylox the Mighty have been
so wrong, so hidebound in his prejudices? He had been prepared to throw this
powerful youth, this valuable Guild resource, on the scrapheap in order to
validate his own sense of self-worth.
Xylox was unaccustomed to self-analysis; he had held his Mage Staff and his
Guild Ring for more than half of his life, and he knew, or thought he knew,
how to act as a leader.
Nonetheless, at this moment, he mentally surrendered his notional command of
the Quest. His own staff might bear seven rings, and Questor Grimm's only
five, but he remembered his Oath and his duty; the slender youth might hold
the only key to the success of the Quest.
Aware that all eyes were upon him, he considered his words with care. He was
still the Senior Questor but, at this moment, the other members of the team
seemed bonded to Grimm Afelnor and his desperate, if heroic, plan. If he were
to be of any use at all, Xylox would have to support his junior as best he
could.
"Questor Grimm, he said, in a low, hesitant voice. Since this reckless
assault is your plan, I feel it only fair that you should carry it through.
For good or for ill, until the conclusion of this attempt, I cede control of
our activities to you."
A long pause followed, and Xylox gathered his courage into a tight ball
within him. Questor Grimm; until this battle is at an end, I surrender myself
to your authority. May the Names guide us and help us!"
Chapter 31
Fulfilment
Quelgrum felt the cold, slimy worm of worry gnawing at his heart. Armitage's
behaviour when questioned had been bizarre in the extreme. The General knew
the Professor had never been subjected to the mental conditioning known as
Pacification, but he had acted as if he had been. The only sensible explana-
tion seemed to be that Colonel Perfuco, the Mage Mentalist, had brought about
Armitage's change in personality.
The soldier knew there was little love lost between his Chief Scientist and
his new Head of Security, but this had, so far, been limited to a simmering
resentment that filled the air when the two were in close proximity. Quelgrum
had found this rivalry amusing, but never before had he thought that it would
ever go as far as direct confrontation.
Where the Hell was that damned mage? Many soldiers reported that they had
been questioned by the Colonel, but Quelgrum could see little pattern in the
Mentalist's meanderings; he seemed to be scurrying through the rabbit-warren
of the complex's corridors almost at random.
Had the conflict between Perfuco's Guild Oath and his chemically-reinforced
change of loyalties driven the thaumaturge over the edge? Quelgrum knew
nothing of magic or Technology, except how to use both to his own ends, and he
began to worry that he might have sown the seeds of his own downfall by trying
to shackle two such powerful, antagonistic, capricious disciplines together.
Quelgrum looked down at his crisp, ornate uniform. He might well have melded
a disparate group of loners and misfits into a mighty, disciplined army, but
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the shade of the frightened, insecure farm slave lurked behind the polished
façade of the confident, commanding military man at all times. Pride born of
astonishing success had pushed the hapless, helpless serf into the background
of the General's complex psyche for many years; he had begun almost to believe
in his own invulnerability and infallibility. Now, however, Quelgrum found
himself assaulted by uncertainty and anxiety. He had never managed fully to
shake off the twin demons of peasant superstition and self-doubt, and they now
seemed to return to castigate him without mercy. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
