The Warlock's Gambit Read Online Free PDF Page B

blame me just because you don’t understand how this all works!”
    “I’m not blaming you, moron. I just figured out the guest suites. Not the wonky physics, mind you. I still have no idea about that. Lady Ylliara said the Manse was tailored to your needs. And equipment is attuned to each individual and — oh! — the equipment lockers!”
    “What about them?”
    “We only have access to our equipment, and not even you can see inside the lockers or open them. But Arms showed you your mother’s equipment in a locker.”
    He nodded. “Because I was looking for it.”
    “No, because you needed to see it, Arthur. That’s the thing. The Manse only gives you or me what we need — nothing more.”
    “So you think the other lockers are just empty?”
    She nodded.
    “Then how come the Manse didn’t recreate my father’s sword for me?”
    “Well, it must be unique and not something that the Manse generates.”
    “So, if a guest arrived …”
    “The Manse … or maybe Lady Ylliara, if there’s a difference … would create a room for them. Just for them. A guest with a wheelchair would have a wheelchair accessible room, while a guest who loved flowers might have floral pictures on the wall and vases with flowers on the stands. It makes sense, because the Multiversal Paladin might have to host alien guests who have strange needs.”
    Arthur gestured at the stairs. “I don’t think it’s wheelchair accessible.”
    Morgan shrugged. “The Manse would probably convert one of the staircases to a wheelchair lift. There’s a basic structure here with the hallways and the Kitchen, all the common areas and things everyone would need. Beyond that, rooms only exist when needed.”
    “So you and I have must both have bedrooms here …”
    “Duh.”
    “I mean, of course the Multiversal Paladin has a bedroom. But I thought maybe the companions all slept in a barracks or something.”
    Morgan shivered. “Gross!”
    He shrugged. “Sorry, I’m a moron.”
    “Well, you should be sorry. Did you seriously not notice my room yesterday? The doors off the Grand Hallway all have labels.”
    “We were kind of busy fighting evil up and down the hallway.”
    “Yes, but I noticed.”
    “Yes, Morgan, but you’re …”
    She cocked an eyebrow. “Yes?”
    He shrugged. “Well, you’re special.”
    “Thank you, Arthur.”
    Leave it to Morgan not to take that as an insult; which, of course, was fortunate for him.
    She stood. “Come on, doofus, I’ll show you.”

Chapter Four
    Multiversal OS
    H e followed Morgan back down the stairs to the Great Room and out into the Grand Hallway. She marched past the rooms they had already explored: the Armory and Training Room on one side and the Dining Hall and Smoking Lounge on the other. The next doors on each side of the hallway were both simply labeled COMPANION SUITE. Morgan was about to keep going, but Arthur stopped. He drew a raygun and reached for the handle to the suite door on the right.
    Morgan turned around. “It’s going to be just like the rooms in the loft. The Manse only creates what’s needed.”
    “Probably,” he said, “but not necessarily. You’re the one who said this place doesn’t make sense.”
    “Yes, but —”
    “Your pocket universe theory didn’t pan out, remember?”
    “Fine,” she huffed. “Have it your way.” She activated her shield. “But that means we have to check every door.”
    “It does not hurt to be cautious,” Vassalus said.
    Lexi bobbed her head. “And checking them all won’t take long.”
    The numina readied themselves as Arthur opened the door, and again faced a blank wall. It was just like with the guest suites: the wall continued on behind the door.
    “See?” she said, triumphantly.
    They opened all eleven Companion Suite doors, and found eleven blank sections of wall behind them. When they reached the last one, it was labeled MORGAN APPLE. How she had noticed the names on the doors while the hallway was dark and monsters