“What can I do?”
Aelric shrugged. “Remove the cause. The magical forces of the world make uneasy allies. If the threat were gone, the coalition would dissolve in an eye blink.”
Wiz thought about that, long and hard. Aelric sipped his wine and said nothing more.
He didn’t know what the chances of heading this thing off were, but he didn’t think they were very good. Given the feelings of the people of the Fringe about magic, and given the power of the tools he had put in their hands, it wasn’t going to be easy to get them to quit wiping out magic wherever they found it. Keeping them from pushing into the Wild Wood in search of land would be harder yet.
And he was going to have to have a hand in finding a solution. Not only because he helped create the problem, but because he was the only one who really understood the new kind of magic that lay at the root of it.
Wiz was even less confident of his ability to solve those problems than he was of his capacity as a politician or a teacher, but dammit! he had to try.
“I’m going back to the Capital,” he announced. “Maybe I can undo some of this mess.”
“A wise decision,” Aelric said. “When do you propose to return?”
“I should go back tonight, but I’m beat and there’s not much I could do there. First thing in the morning, then.”
The elf duke nodded.
Wiz reached for his wine goblet. Then he froze in horror.
“Wait a minute! If Lisella wanted to kill me, she just had the perfect opportunity to poison me or something!” He stared at his goblet as if it had sprouted poison fangs and tried desperately to remember if Lisella’s hands had ever been near it.
Duke Aelric chuckled. “Oh no. Murdering you while you sat together at dinner would be gauche. The fair Lisella is never gauche.”
Wiz considered that and decided the elf duke was probably right. But he didn’t drink any more wine.
“Oh, one other thing. The Little Folk who came with me. Could you, well, could you take care of them for me?”
Aelric looked startled.
“Are they so important?”
“Not important, no. But I kind of feel responsible for them and I can’t take them with me.”
The elf duke’s brow creased and for a second Wiz was afraid he was angry. Then he relaxed and rubbed his chin.
“I doubt they would be happy within my hold,” Aelric said finally. “But I could send them on to Heart’s Ease under my protection. I do not think those who dwell there would mind their presence.”
“Thank you, Lord. I really appreciate it.”
Aelric made a throw-away gesture. “You are most welcome.” Then he smiled wryly. “Sparrow, it is always a pleasure to share your company. One never knows what you will do next.” He sighed. “Or what one is likely to do under your influence.”
Lisella was not in evidence the next morning when Wiz bade Aelric farewell. The elf duke and the brownies accompanied him to a clearing outside one of the elf hill’s many doors. It seemed impolite to walk the Wizard’s Way from inside the hill—something like parking your motorcycle in your host’s living room.
“Good luck, Sparrow,” Aelric said as Wiz faced in his chosen direction.
“Merry part, Lord.”
Aelric looked at him and Wiz flushed, remembering that the elves did not use the human formula.
“Merry meet again,” Aelric said finally.
Wiz raised his staff to begin the spell that would take him home.
“backslash.”
Ten : The City of Night
Whenever you use a jump, be sure of your
destination address.
—programmer’s saying
Something had gone wrong! Wiz felt as if he had been spun around and tackled by a lineman. He was dizzy, pointing in the wrong direction and everything was wrong. His vision blurred, his head hurt and he was on the verge of throwing up.
As his sight cleared, Wiz saw he was in a low stone room. It was cold and lit by torches, not magic globes.
Ebrion stood before him.
“Merry met, my Lord,” Wiz said instinctively. Ebrion looked uncomfortable.