Robert Hughes - The Wizard in Waiting

Jagd could now see Flayh’s sneering face on the inner left-hand facet of his pyramid. On the right-hand facet he saw the sluggish, dull features of Flayh’s obese nephew, Pezi. “I called a meeting of the Council, Jagd, in part to deal with your problem. I fear your absence will mean that problem gets very little attention.”

“I do appreciate your consideration,” Jagd replied snidery, “but perhaps that’s the best I could hope for. Had I attended, I’m sure the problem would already have been resolved much to your satisfaction.”

“Whatever do you mean by that, Jagd?” Flayh asked with pretended civility.

“It would have been finished in Dragonsgate, with me OB the sharp end of a slaver’s sword. Thank you, Flayh, but I’ll find my own solution.”

You hurt me deeply,” Flayh mocked. “Such accusations…”

Can we drop the pretense and get on to business? I notice your fat puppet is there beside you still ” - “What do you mean puppet!” Pezi barked. “I’m no ”

“Shut up, Pezi,” Flayh growled, and Pezi obeyed without question. “Of course Pezi is here. He is the owner of the Jtfaird pyramid.”

“The pyramids belong to the leaders of the Council, as 3U well know!”

Jagd exploded. “When we first put them to use it was resolved that each should be held in trust by the most influential merchant in a land! You’ve broken the framework of their usage twice now, first by stealing the Lamathian pyramid and carrying it into Ngandib-Mar, and now by entrusting the pyramid of Tohn mod Neelis into the pudgy hands of this pasty-faced glutton! Do you dare contend that this overweight marionette is the most influential merchant among the Maris?”

“I’m no marion !”

“I said shut up, Pezi!” Flayh said again, and Pezt bit his lip and sulked into the pyramid. “Are you quite finished?” Flayh asked Jagd.

“For if you are, let me inform you that the pyramid has merely been entrusted to Pezi for safekeeping until the conclave begins tomorrow morning. The issue was to be high on the agenda.”

“Was to be?” Jagd snorted.

“Of course, with your absence, you certainly wouldn’t care to have it brought up in Council. Certainly your forces would find themselves outvoted ”

Jagd’s sharp, derisive laughter cut Flayh off. “You larcenous liar!”

he shouted. “You would never bring these devices up on the floor, for fear of losing your own! But I can guarantee, Flayh, the pyramid issue will be brought up!”

Flayh’s gaze grew cold. “Then I can only assume you have broken the terms of your possession as well, by revealing it to someone outside the circle!”

“Yes, I have,” Jagd cackled, “and we shall see how the Council as a whole reacts to your usurping of extraordinary powers!”

“I’ll show you extraordinary powers!” Flayh shrilled, and his eyes bored into Jagd’s. The merchant of Uda felt as if hot stakes were being driven into his skull. He tossed up his hands to block that penetrating gaze and suddenly realized he was screaming. He was marginally aware of Pezi shouting, “Uncle! Uncle, stop!” as well as of that mysterious clanging of bells that periodically disturbed the quiet of the Imperial House.

Jagd screeched; “I’ll force the issue to the floor despite you!” Then he rolled backwards on his bed and away from the pyramid, effectively breaking the link and freeing his mind from the blood-chilling cruelty of Flayh’s eyes.

The “Wizard fa Waiting

The object dimmed to its original soft shimmer. No longer were the faces of the other two merchants visible in its facets. Jagd knew from experience that he, too, would be glowing with that quiet blue radiance for a while, and that to rush out into the hall was to court unwanted stares and difficult questions. Someone pounded on his door and called, “Are you all right in there? Did you ring for service?”

“Go away!” he managed to shout, and the pounding stopped. He could hear the ringing continue throughout the castle and shook his head at the imponderable mystery of it But the noise was only one of a host of mysteries that plagued Jagd and was of minimal importance compared to the shock and terror he felt now. His worst fears had been confirmed.

“Tahli-Damen,” he muttered, “your budding talent is about to meet its stiffest test. I hope you’re equal to it, lad. For somehow, old Flayh has made himself a power shaper

What pain! What utter, agonizing pain! groaned the Imperial House, and it swore mightily through its bells. It gasped, and its foundation stones ground together. Candles guttered, torches flared, and wind whistled in the corridors.

A bit ostentatious, perhaps, for an attack of gastritus. But pain is pain, and this castle had never subscribed to a stoic philosophy. It reacted violently to the events taking place in the room of the little red-clad merchant

Pest! the Imperial House shouted at Jagd. Vermin! it shouted again.

But, like all its other stupid occupants, this one didn’t understand.

He just lay on his bed and sparkled like a luminous fish! And every shimmer radiated more of that searing energy, the substance from which magic was drawn the substance that burned the castle’s insides!

And there’s no mouth to belch! screamed the House. It was no stranger to magic. Indeed, the House held more remembered spells locked in the patterns of its stonework than any being existent, it felt sure. But so much magic concentrated in one room, with no path of escape!

Excruciating!

At least open the door! the House pleaded. Just to dissipate it a bit will help! But like a gasping sturgeon, the merchant lay on his back and glistened.

Not even eyes to weep! moaned the anguished castle, and it turned its attention away from this insensitive knave to the one it had been watching for days. Though arrayed as a fool, this man showed a wisdom and sensitivity the House hadn’t seen in a millennium. Perhaps this one could dissipate the magic, and bring some relief!

// he survives his fall, that is.

Pelmen’s survival was very much in question. It hadn’t occurred to him to wonder if there might be something in the subterranean cistern until he was plunging through the darkness into it. He had only time for the thought Then his heel struck the water, and he was under. Immediately he churned for the surface, totally blind in the pitch black cavern. He gasped for breath as his head popped out, his heart pounding loudly. He thanked the Power he was still alive.

It struck him a moment later that his thanksgiving was a bit premature.

He felt something grip his leg, and he was under water once again. He kicked at the thing with his free foot, but with little result. The water dragged on his leg as he swung it, robbing his kick of any force.

He squeezed his lips and eyes tight, holding onto his air as he sought once again to kick the terrifying thing that had gripped him. Success!

He fought to the surface, a maelstrom of Bailing legs and arms. He jerked the air into his lungs but again the force grabbed him and dove for the bottom! What was it? And what was it doing in the cistern?

Actually, it was nothing more than a dumb fish. But it was a big dumb fish. The grating was far too small to permit the access of a monster like this. But when it had entered the cavern beneath the castle, it hadn’t been a monster just a man-wise denizen of the river, who found the cavern’s cool, quiet pool preferable to the currents of the busy waterway. Other fish had found the grate as well, and these it had eaten, along with the ever-present garbage that floated on the surface.

And after a time, it had grown too big to pass out the grate and into the main stream. Much too big. It was now much, much bigger.

Pelmen kicked again a fruitless move, since he’d tried it twice already, and the fish now expected it. The scaly beast gulped as Pelmen kicked at it, and Pelmen’s other foot wound up inside its mouth.