“Oh, really, Inky, you’re always carping over details. You’ll think of something, I’m sure.”
He took a good stiff drink. “Okay, say Deems and I beat back this horde of — what the hell do they look like, anyway? Want to give me a hint?”
“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.
Sixteen
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.”