The human wore crisp, immaculate white overalls, in sharp contrast to the shapeless green garb of the other menials.
He may be some kind of senior body-servant or the like, Thribble thought. At the very least, he must surely be some functionary on the General's personal staff.
His hopes were confirmed by the man's words to the guard.
"Coming through-coffee and liqueurs for the General's party," he said in a sing-song voice.
"He's already taken on enough bloody liquor to sink a galleon," the guard said, his grumbling tone tinged with undeniable admiration, which the demon presumed was for Quelgrum's capacity for alcohol.
The sentry probed the white-clad man with intimate but dispassionate hands, patting all over the functionary's body, while the servant waited with his arms outstretched and his legs slightly apart. The guard moved to the trolley, first lifting the drapes covering it to inspect the underside, and then taking a sample from each container.
"Okay, you're clean," the sentry said, nodding. "Off you go."
As the cart rattled past Thribble, the demon took the opportunity to scramble under the decorative flounce and onto the bottom shelf of the trolley. Now he could ride in comfort and ease, straight to his goal!
You are a clever one, Thribble, letting these lumpen mortals do all the work for you! the stubble-headed imp thought. He settled down on the rattling shelf, helping himself to just a little of the liquor from one of the containers.
****
Xylox did a creditable job of keeping emotion from his face and his voice.
"General; High Lodge is all but impregnable. I doubt that even a force of fifteen hundred armed men could take it, impressive as your army is."
"I'm sure you're right, Questor Xylox," the officer said, in a smooth, calm voice. "It would be madness for such a group to attempt to storm such a mighty fortress, wouldn't it? However, an advance guard of five mages, skilled in the arts of beguilement and mental domination, each allowed free access to the citadel by virtue of his ring and staff, could surely open the gates for us after a few hours working their insidious mischief.
"Once inside, we would sweep through the castle almost unopposed, and, I hope, without bloodshed. We will show mercy to all who surrender, but every one of us is prepared to die, if necessary, to achieve our aim. I imagine your fancy Lord Dominie and his cohorts have not had to work a spell in anger for many years, if ever."
Grimm realised that what Quelgrum had said was quite plausible: High Lodge might possess a vast retinue of mages of all disciplines, but they were soft and pampered compared to working magic-users from the various Guild Houses. An avant-garde of Illusionists and Mentalists, unsuspected and unheralded, could wreak havoc.
However, as long as he and Xylox could maintain the pretence of being under the General's control, they might be able to quell the magical assault and alert the authorities to the attack before it happened. All depended upon the Questors buying enough time so that each could build up his power to its devastating peak Grimm was certain that the senior mage appreciated this as much as he.
Xylox's next words confirmed this: "Sir, your plan has merit. We are, of course, delighted to aid you in such a noble enterprise; with a pair of powerful Questors at your command, your ascendancy is all but confirmed. After a few days, to allow us to build up our strength, we will be ready to give our all for your noble endeavour."
The General clenched his hands under his chin. "I am glad to hear it, Questor Xylox; I had feared that you'd be out of action for a week or more."
Despite the amicable tone, Grimm detected a note of misgiving or suspicion in the man's voice.
A polite but audible rap sounded at the door.
"Ah; this must be the coffee and liqueurs," Quelgrum said "Enter!"
At the officer's command, a white-coated flunky entered the room, pushing a decorated cart. However, as the servant entered the room, a soldier barged past him, nearly upsetting the trolley.
"General, these men are not telling the truth!" the red-faced man screamed. "All except Foster are un-Pacified; I saw it as soon as the door was opened; I could not help it. They seek to defeat you, despite their honeyed words!"
The man's arms were outstretched in warning, and Grimm saw the unmistakable blue-and-gold glint of a Guild ring; the image shot through him like a galvanic impulse. They were discovered in their deceit, beyond any denial or bluster.
"Thank you so much, Perfuco," the General said, his voice acidic and annoyed. "Why not tell me something I don't know?" He seemed peeved, as if an enjoyable game had been denied him.
The officer sighed. "I presume you've still got your men on standby?"
The mage nodded. "As you commanded, Sir."
"Excellent," Quelgrum replied in a sarcastic voice. "Very well; bring them in here and keep your eyes on these people. If they show the least sign of impending violence or spellcasting, have them all shot. I get the impression that the younger Questor cares for the girl; she dies first."
Perfuco snapped his fingers, and a dozen armed men crowded into the chamber. They were fierce-faced and their weapons were at the ready.
The General turned to his captive audience. "I'm sorry it had to end like this; you've been good company, and I'd hoped I could persuade you to shake off your chains and join me. If Perfuco, here, hadn't upped the ante by barging into the room like that, I like to think that I might have persuaded you to aid me to carry out my mission, of your own free will. However, thanks to the loyal but over-cautious colonel, I can see that I'll have to change tactics. I'd guess you've taken Haven out of commission somehow, so I regret that I won't be able to let you leave with your minds intact.
"I'm sorry," he continued. "I'd really rather not kill you; but I will, if I have to."
Grimm believed each of the old soldier's statements
With a sigh, Quelgrum thumbed an illuminated stud. "Send in the Professor, please."
A few moments passed, as silence reigned in the small chamber until the door opened. The General smiled. "I'd like to introduce you to a good friend of mine."
A white-coated man of middle years entered the room. Grimm's jaw dropped as he registered a familiar countenance. It was a face he had never expected to see again: the face of Armitage.
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Chapter 26: Attack!
Grimm gaped for a moment at the white-coated apparition before him. The last time he had seen Armitage, a mere three days before, the man had been lying in a spreading pool of his own blood, thanks to one of Crest's throwing knives. This could not possibly be the same man. Looking closer, Grimm saw that this man sported a pale, long-healed scar on his right cheek, where Armitage had had none. His hair was longer than could be accounted for by three days' growth. The man had more and deeper lines on his forehead, and he had a pronounced stoop that gave him an almost hunchbacked appearance. Grimm's rejected his first thought; that Armitage must have an identical twin. This man, although bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Administrator, was too old to be the Haven chief's twin brother.
On the other hand, he seemed also too similar to that man to be even his father.
The Haven pilot, Foster, broke the silence.
"Administrator!" he cried, bounding to his feet. "What brings you…?"
Foster's voice tailed off; the same confusion Grimm had felt must have seized him.
The white-coated figure turned to General Quelgrum, who wore an expression of cool amusement at the baffled looks on the faces of the young Questor and his companions.