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"I was cross that we had so little opportunity to examine. The fellow hath a
deliberate knack for turning any question to the answer he doth wish to give."
"Nicely put," Rod said judiciously. It was also unusually perceptive, for Tuan.
"But I think I did figure out a few items he didn't mean to tell us. What did you
hear between his bursts?"
Tuan shrugged. "I did learn that the Eagle is a wizard."
"Yeah, that was pretty obvious only I'd say he was my kind of wizard. He does
his magic by science, not by, uh, talent."
Tuan frowned, concerned. "How much of this 'science' hath he taught to Yorick?"
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"None. He couldn't have; it depends on mathematics. The basic concepts, maybe
but that's not enough to really do anything with. He has taught Yorick some
history, though, or the big lug wouldn't've known what the Vikings were. Which
makes me nervous what else did the Eagle teach Yorick, and the rest of his
people, for that matter?"
Tuan waved away the issue. "I shall not concern myself with such matters, Lord
Warlock. These beastmen, after all, cannot have sufficient intelligence to trouble
us not these five alone when they cannot truly learn our language."
"I& wouldn't& quite& say& that& " Rod took a deep breath. "I will admit that
not being able to encode and analyze does limit their ability to solve problems.
But they've got as much gray matter between their ears as you and I do."
Tuan turned to him, frowning. "Canst thou truly believe that they may be as
intelligent as thyself or myself?"
"I truly can though I have to admit, it's probably a very strange sort of
intelligence." He glanced back over his shoulder at the group of Neanderthals.
The spearmen surrounding them happened to lean toward the outside at that
moment, affording Rod a glimpse of Yorick's face. He turned back to the front. "
Very strange."
Gwen snuggled up to him afterward and murmured, "Thou hast not been away
so long as that, my lord."
"So now I need a reason?" Rod gave her an arch look.
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"No more than thou ever hast," she purred, burrowing her head into the hollow
between his shoulder and his jaw.
Suddenly Rod stiffened. "Whazzat?"
"Hra?" Gwen lifted her head, listening for a moment. Then she smiled up at him.
" 'Twas naught but a tree branch creaking without, my lord."
"Oh." Rod relaxed. "Thought it was the baby& You sure he's snug in his crib?"
"Who may say, with an infant warlock?" Gwen sighed. "He may in truth be here
yet he might as easily be a thousand miles distant." She was still for a
moment, as though she were listening again; then she relaxed with a smile. "Nay,
I hear his dream. He is in his crib indeed, my lord."
"And he won't float out, with that lid on it." Rod smiled. "Who would ever have
thought I'd have a lighter-than-air son?"
"Dost thou disclaim thine own relative?"
Rod rolled over. "That comment, my dear, deserves& " He jerked bolt-upright.
"Feel that?"
"Nay," she said petulantly, "though I wish to."
"No.no! Not thatl I meant that puff of wind."
"Of wind?" Gwen frowned. "Aye, there was& " Then her eyes widened. "Oh."
"Yeah." Rod swung his legs over the side of the bed and pulled on his robe.
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"There's a warlock within." He raised his voice, calling, "Name yourself!"
For answer, there was a knock on the front of the cave.
"Of all the asinine hours of the night to have company calling," Rod grumbled as
he stamped down the narrow flight of stairs to the big main room.
A figure stood silhouetted against the night sky in the cave mouth, knocking.
"Wait a minute." Rod frowned. "We don't have a door. What're you knocking
on?"
"I know not," the shadow answered, "yet 'tis wood, and 'tis near."
"It's a trunk," Rod growled. "Toby?"
"Aye, Lord Warlock. How didst thou know of mine arrival?"
"When you teleported in you displaced a lot of air. I felt the breeze." Rod came
up to the young warlock with a scowl. "What's so important that I have to be
called out at this time of night? I just got back! Have our, ah, 'guests' escaped?"
"Nay, Lord Warlock. They are snug in their dunge& ah, guest room. Still, His
Majesty summons thee."
"What's the matter? Did the cook leave the garlic out of the soup again? I keep
telling him this isn't vampire country!"
"Nay," Toby said, his face solemn. " Tis the Queen. She is distraught."
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The guard saw Rod coming, and stepped through the door ahead of him. Rod
stamped to a halt, chafing at the bit. He could hear the sentry murmuring; then
the door swung open. Rod stepped through and almost slammed into Tuan.
The young King held him off with a palm, then lifted a finger to his lips. He
nodded his head toward the interior of the room. Rod looked and saw Catharine
seated in a chair by the hearth, firelight flickering on her face. Her eyes reflected
the flames, but they were cold, in a face of granite. As he watched she bent
forward, took a stick from the hearth, and broke it. "Swine, dog, and offal!" She
spat. "All the land knows the Queen for a half-witch, and this motley half-monk
hath bile to say& " She hurled the broken stick into the fife, and the flames filled
her eyes as she swore, "May he choke on the cup of his own gall and die!"
Rod murmured to Tuan, "What's got her so upset?"
"She rode out about the countryside, with heralds before her and guardsmen
after, to summon all who might have any smallest touch of witch-power within
them to come to the Royal Coven at Runnymede."
Rod shrugged. "So she was recruiting. Why does that have her ready to eat sand
and blow glass?"
Catharine looked up. "Who speaks?"
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