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left."
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Jon-Tom struggled to restrain himself. He didn't for a second
doubt the lethality of those multiple darts or Jalwar's willingness to employ
them.
Where is she? What have you done with her?"
In good time I will tell you, my impetuous blind friend." The
ferret cocked an eye toward Snooth. "So that is the precious medicine our
friend Clothahump requires so desperately. How interesting. I suddenly feel
the need for some medication myself. You, proprietress! I'll take that
container, if you don't mind."
Take a 'elluva lot more than that to cure wot ails you, mate,"
said Mudge insultingly.
You think so, do you? Yet I am not so sick that I have failed to
outwit you all. I did not think you would make it here without the map, and in
my confidence I slowed my approach. I thought in any event that with the aid
of my help I would always know your location. Indeed, without that help I
would not have been able to rush in close on your heels and track your
progress within this place from two aisles over."
What help?" Jon-Tom asked warily.
Now, be that the right tone with which to greet an old comrade,
man?" said a voice Jon-Tom had hoped never to hear again. He turned to his
right.
Corroboc."
The parrot executed a half bow. ' 'It be right good of you to
remember me name. That singing magic you worked on me ship, that be my fault
for not guessing you had more than entertainment for old Corroboc in mind. But
I'm not the one to dwell on old regrets. No, not I, even though me worthless
crew chose a new captain and set me adrift barely within flying range o' the
mainland.
There I found your strange boat and picked up your
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trail. I knew o' your aims and thought somehow to follow until
found a way o' repayin' you all for your kindnesses to me. In the forest I saw
two of you leave from the rest." He nodded toward Jalwar.
When I saw the respect with which he were treatin' me old friend
Folly, I thought to meself, now here be one after me own heart. So I settled
down for a chat, and after an exchange of pleasantries me and the good ferret
here, we came to an understandin', har."
That bird will cut out our hearts and dance on them," Roseroar
whispered to Jon-Tom. "We might as well rush them now."
Steady on, you oversized bit o' fluff," Mudge warned her. "All
the cards 'aven't been dealt yet, wot?"
Whisper all you want," snapped Jalwar. "It will avail you
naught."
Corroboc pulled a short, thin sword from the flying scabbard slung
at his waist. Holes in the blade made it light and strong. He caressed the
flat side of the blade lovingly.
Many days have I had to anticipate the pleasures of our reunion.
I beg you not to provoke me new friend lest he put an end to you all too
quick. I want our meeting to be a memorable experience for all. Aye,
memorable! You see, I've no ship, no crew anymore. All I have left to me be
this moment, which I don't want to hurry."
Realization rushed in on Jon-Tom as he turned on Jalwar. "You work
for Zancresta, don't you? You've been working for Zancresta from the first!
Running into you on the northern shore of the Glittergeist was no coincidence.
Those brigands weren't attacking you. It was all a ploy to let you worm
yourself into our company."
An apt metaphor, Jon-Tom," said Roseroar.
Tell me something," Jon-Tom went on quietly. "How much is
Zancresta paying you to keep this medicine from Clothahump?"
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The ferret burst out laughing, though the business end of
the strange weapon he held did not waver. "Paying me? You idiots!
Spellsinger? Pah! / am Zancresta! Wizard of Malderpot, supreme master of the
arcane arts, diviner of the unknown and parter of the shrouds! Fools, beggars
of a humble knowledge, you are blinder than the troglodytes of Tatrath and
dumber than the molds that grub out an existence in the cracks between the
stones."
The ferret seemed to swell in their eyes as they stared, though
neither his size nor shape actually changed. But the curved spine stiffened,
the voice was no longer shaky, and an inner unholy light emanated from
suddenly bottomless eyes while a barely perceptible dark aura sprang to
malevolent life around him.
I didn't think you'd get this far, none of you! But where a
spellsinger, however inept, is involved, there are never any assurances. So
when you escaped from Malderpot and my servants lost you in the woods, I
determined to find you myself. Your bold and unforeseen move into the
Muddletup Moors confused me, I must admit. But only for a time, and I was just
able to intercept you on the shores of the Glittergeist and execute my little
charade.
I did not think I would be with you long, but luck and false
fortune seemed to follow you wherever you went. Across the ocean, on this
kindred spirit's vessel, even into the land of the bellicose enchanted folk.
When you not only managed your release from their hands but induced them to
assist you with a map, I determined to press on ahead on my own to seek out
this Shop of the Aether and Neither and buy up all the necessary medicine
before you could arrive.
And again you surprised me, not out of cleverness or insight, but
through blind luck. So Corroboc and I paralleled your progress through this
bloated emporium of useless goods, he flying above to check periodically on
your position, until you kindly located the object of the quest for me. Which
I will now take possession of." He glanced up at Snooth.
I do not think she has in hand a device or medicine that can save
her from the fast-acting effects of hruth venom. Once that container has been
handed over I will relieve you of your weapons and leave you to the tender
attentions of my patient friend. Perhaps he will grow bored before all of you
are dead." Corroboc made neat, thin slices in one of his own feathers with the
razor-sharp sword while Zancresta looked suddenly wistful.
Ah, the day that I stand at that fat fraud's bedside, holding the
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precious medicine he so desperately requires just beyond his feeble reach,
making him plead and beg for it, that will be a day of triumph indeed."
What have you done with Folly!"
Zancresta came back from his private reverie. "Ah, my pack animal
and my insurance. I have never feared you, spellsinger, but your talents act
in ways wayward and unpredictable. Sometimes it is awkward to deal with such
implausibilities, and I do worry some on the impetuous nature of your
companions.
Knowing of your insipidly tender nature, I took care to keep the
girl tightly under my control, lest she foolishly try to run to you for
misguided salvation."
You hypnotized her?"
I am unfamiliar with the term, but if you mean did I blur her
simple mind in order to make her compliant, yes. I no longer have need of her
as crude labor or as insurance against your actions, however." He pointed down
the aisle.
These shelves reach far back into the mountain, which you may
have noticed is of volcanic origin. I would presume that each aisle ends in a
fairly hot place. Perhaps the proprietress stores goods back there that
require constant heat. Being of a warm nature myself, I dismissed the girl and
bid her wander down to the end of the aisle. She acquired on Corroboc's ship a
dark coloration which I venture to say will change rapidly to red as she
stumbles into the hot center of this mountain."
Jon-Tom took a step backward and Zancresta raised his peculiar
multiple dart-thrower. "Let her go. She is nothing."
There was a flash of gold from behind Roseroar. Again Zancresta
raised the weapon, but a feathery hand came down on his arm.
Nay, let the horned one go," snarled Corroboc. "I've no real
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