Quag Keep Read Online Free PDF Page A

Still, a part of him longed for the control of such a Power as had done this to them.
    â€œI am—Susan.” The battlemaid took a step forward. “I know I am Susan—but I am also Yevele. And these two try to live within me at once. How can this thing be?” She flung up her arm as if to ward off some danger and the light glinted on her bracelet.
    â€œYou are not alone,” the wizard told her. There was no warmth of human feeling in his voice. It was brisk in tone as if he would get on to other things at once, now that he had learned what he wished of them.
    Milo slipped off his helm, let his mail coif fall back against his shoulders like a hood so he could rub his aching forehead.
    â€œI was playing—playing a game. . . .” He tried to reassure himself that those moments of clear thought within the circle of the smoke were real, that he would win out of this.
    â€œGames!” spat the wizard. “Yes, it is those games of yours, fools that you are, that have given the enemy his chance. Had it not been that I, I who know the Lesser and the Larger Spells of Ulik and Dom, was searching for an answer to an archaic formula, you would already be
his
things. Then you would play games right enough,
his
games and for his purpose. This is a land where Law and Chaos are ever struggling one against each other. But the laws of Chance will let neither gain full sway. Now this other threat has come to us, and neither Law nor Chaos are boundaries for him—or them—for even yet we know not the manner or kind of what menaces us.”
    â€œWe are in a game?” Milo rubbed his throbbing head again. “Is that what you are trying to tell us?”
    â€œWho are you?” snapped the wizard as if he struck with a war axe and without any warning.
    â€œMartin—Milo Jagon.” Already the Milo part of him was winning command—driving the other memory far back into his mind, locking and barring doors that meant its freedom.
    Hystaspes shrugged. “You see? And that is the badge of your servitude that you set upon yourselves in your own sphere of life, with the lack of wit only fools know.”
    He pointed to the bracelet.
    Naile dug at the band on his wrist, using his great strength. But he could not move it. The elf broke the short silence.
    â€œIt would seem, Master Wizard, that you know far more than we do concerning this matter. And that also you have some hand in it or we would not be gathered here to be shown whatyou deem to be sorcery behind it. If we were brought to this world to serve your unknown menace, then you must have some plan—”
    â€œPlan!” The wizard near shouted. “How can a man plan against that which is not of his world or time? I learned by chance what might happen far enough in advance so that I was able to take precautions against a complete victory for the enemy. Yes, I gathered you in. He-it-them are so confident that there was no part ready and waiting for you to play. The mere fact that you were here perhaps accomplished the first purpose toward which the enemy strives. By so little am I in advance of what is to come.”
    â€œTell us then, follower of sorcerous ways,” the cleric spoke up, “what you know, what you expect, and—”
    The wizard laughed harshly. “I know as much as those who serve those faceless gods of yours, Deav Dyne. If there are any gods, which is problematical, why should they concern themselves with the fates of men, or even of nations? But, yet, I will tell you what I know. Chiefly because you are now tools of mine—
mine
! And you shall be willing tools, for this has been done to you against your will, and you have enough of the instincts of lifekind to resent such usage.
    â€œKarl!” He clapped his hands. From the darker end of the room moved the messenger who had led Milo and his comrades. “Bring stools and drink and food—for the night is long and there is much