Foster, Dean - Spellsinger 03 - The Day of the Dissonance

"Could we," suggested the rat, "maybe force our way in

through the roof?"

Hathcar sighed. "You're all looking at the obvious, all

of you. I'm the only one who can see beyond the self-

evident. That cursed four-legs led them straight here, so

he's probably telling the truth when he says he knows it

well. He wouldn't box himself into a situation he wasn't

comfortable with. He says they can slip out anytime and

hide somewhere else twice as strong. Maybe he's lying,

but we can't take that chance. We have to take them here,

while we know what we're up against. That means our

first priority is to get rid of that horned meddler."

"How about moving a couple of archers in close?

Those with good night vision. If they can sneak up against

the wall they might get a clear shot inside."

Hathcar considered. "Not bad, except that if they don't

snuff the unicorn right away that fucking water rat's likely

to get 'em both. I've never seen anybody shoot like that."

He shook his head.

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Alan Dean Foster

"No, it's not good enough, Parsh. I'm sure they've got

a guard up, and I won't send any more of the boys against

that otter's bow. No, we have to bring the unicorn out

somehow, far enough so we can get a clear shot at him. By

himself, if possible."

The rat spat on the ground. "That's likely, isn't it?"

"You know, there may be a way."

Hathcar frowned at the wolf. "I was only half-serious,

Brungunt."

"I'm wholly serious. All we need is the right kind of

bait."

"That blow you took in Ollorory village has addled

your brains," said Parsh. "Nothing's going to bring that

unicorn out where we can get at him."

"Go on, Brungunt," said the thoughtful Hathcar.

The wolf leaned close. "It should be done when most of

them sleep. We must watch and smell for when the stallion

takes his turn as sentry. If they post only the one guard, we

may have a chance. Great care must be taken, for it will be

a near thing, a delicate business. Bait or no bait, if the

meddler senses our presence, I do not think he can be

drawn out. So after we set the bait we must retreat well out

of range. It will work, you'll see. So powerful is the bait,

it will draw our quarry well out where we can cut off his

retreat. Then it won't matter if he bolts into the woods.

The important thing is that we'll be rid of him, and the

ones we really want will be deprived of his advice and

aid."

"No," said Hathcar, his eyes gleaming, "no. I want

that four-legs, too. I want him dead. Or better yet, we'll

just hamstring him." He grinned viciously in the dark.

"Yes, hamstring him. That's better still." He forced him-

self from contemplation of pleasures to come. "This bait?

Where do we get it?"

Brungunt scratched an ear and even the skeptical Parsh

looked interested. "First we must find a village or farm

that numbers humans among its occupants." He was

THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE

237

nodding to himself as he spoke. "This is an old, old magic

we will work tonight, but you don't have to be a sorcerer

to work it. It works itself. It is said by those who may

know that a unicom may not be taken by force, but only

by stealth and guile."

"Get to the point," said Hathcar impatiently.

The wolf hurried his words. "We don't have to sneak up

on him. He'll come to us. He'll follow a maiden fair and

true. It is said."

Hathcar looked doubtful. "What kind of maiden? A

coltish mare?"

"No, no. It must be a human maiden."

Parsh the rat was thoroughly shocked. "You expect to

find a virgin around here? Species notwithstanding."

"There is a town not far from this place."

"Crestleware." Hathcar nodded.

"We can but try," said the wolf, spreading his paws.

"A virgin. Are you certain about this, Brungunt?"

"The bond is supposed to be most powerful. The girl

need only lead him far enough for us to get behind him

before he picks up our scent. Do not ask me to explain this

thing. I only relate what I have heard told."

"Wouldn't cost us a one. You'd better be right about

this, Brungunt, or I'll see your ears decorating my spear."

"That's not fair!" protested the wolf. "I am only

relating a legend."

"Look to your ears, wolf." Hathcar rose. "And tell the

others to look to theirs. Parsh, you come with me." He

glared at Brungunt. "We will return as quickly as possi-

ble. This magic sounds to me like it works better in the

dark, and I don't want to give that four legs another day to

think of a better place." He glanced through the trees

toward the moonlit ruins. "Hamstring him, yes. I'll see

that damned meddler crawling to me on his knees, and

then we'll break those as well."

XIV

Hathcar crouched low as he pointed toward the clearing

in front of the silent fortress. The slim girl who stood

next to him watched closely, her eyes wide. She had

been awakened in the middle of the night by her mother

and sent off in the company of this ugly stranger. She

hadn't wanted to go, but her mother had insisted, assuring

her it would only be until sunrise and that everything was

all right, everything had been arranged. Then she would be

brought home and allowed to sleep all day. And they had

promised her candy.

"There is the place, little one."

"Don't call me little," she snapped. "I'm as grown up

as you are! And my name's Silky."

"Sorry," Hathcar growled softly, restraining himself.

He wasn't very fond of cubs, but he needed this one's

cooperation.

"You're going to pay my daddy two gold pieces for

luring out this unicorn to you. What makes you think he'll

come out and follow me?"

"He'll come," Hathcar assured her. "Just be nice to

him, tell him how strong and beautiful he is."

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THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE

239

She stared warily at the cuscus and his two companions

out of eyes that were not as innocent as her parents insisted

they were. "You're sure this is a unicorn you're sending

me after?"

"Are you sure you're a virgin?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she said tiredly. She'd heard this

stranger discussing the matter with her mother.

Hathcar turned and pointed back through the woods.

"Back this way there's a pool in a little hollow. Bring him

there. We'll be waiting."

"What happens when we get there?" she asked curiously.

"None of your business, lit... Silky. Your daddy's

being paid for your services. You do what I want you to

and you don't ask questions."

"Okay." She hesitated. "You're not going to hurt him,

are you? I've never seen a unicorn, but I've been told

they're real pretty."

"Oh, no, no, we won't hurt him," said Hathcar smoothly.

"We just want to surprise him. We're his friends, and we

want to surprise him, and you won't tell him about us

because that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?"

"I guess so." She smiled brightly. "I like surprises,

too. Can I watch when you surprise him?"'

"Sure you can," Hathcar assured her innocently. "I

think you'll be surprised, too." He turned to leave her,

Brungunt and Parsh following.

"It's dark," she said uncertainly.

"You'll be okay," Brungunt told her. "Didn't you say

you were a big girl?"

"That's right, I am."

"Fine. Just bring the four-legs down to the pool."

"Why didn't we just abduct the little bitch?" Parsh

wanted to know as they made their way through the woods