Upland Outlaws Read Online Free PDF Page B

weren’t privy to that conversation, is all. He hasn’t used sorcery on me yet, although he could. And you’ll have to take our word on that. You can’t trust anyone now, your Majesty. Once Zinixo’s votaries pin a man down, he’s theirs. As Raspnex says, Legate Ugoatho would be a logical first choice. He’ll serve Zinixo from now on, to the death. They all will.”
    “To what purpose?” Shandie demanded grimly.
    Rap shrugged. “He’s mad, he sees danger everywhere. The imperor is powerful, so he must be loyal to Zinixo-everyone must, who has any sort of power at all. He’d make everyone in the world love him, if he could. “
    “Where are the Four?”
    Rap looked to Raspnex. “Good question!”
    “Gone,” the dwarf said. “Most of their votaries have been stolen from them. Lith’rian panicked first and fled to IIrane. Olybino was next. He’s just vanished. Can you imagine what Zinixo will do to those two when he gets his hands on them? No, you can’t possibly imagine. Even I can’t. But it will be long and nasty-that I do know. ” He pulled a face. “And I’m not on his friendship list either. “
    “And Grunth?”
    The dwarf shrugged, rolling his eyes.
    “So Zinixo will imprint me with a loyalty spell?” Shandie demanded, glaring.
    “Slow, isn’t he?” the warlock said, in an aside to Rap. “Of course. It will be easier than proclaiming himself imperor. The Impire is just too big for him to ensorcel everyone, and a dwarf imperor would not be acceptable-he would always be frightened of revolution, see? But you will reign for his benefit. You will serve him loyally to the end of your days.” He jabbed a finger like a crowbar toward the child asleep in Eshiala’s lap. “And so will she, and her children after her! You know how long sorcerers live.”
    “No!” Shandie bellowed. “I won’t have it!”
    The dwarf curled his big mouth into a sardonic smile. “And your so-beautiful wife? My nephew is oddly partial to female imps … Now don’t you wish you’d taken my advice?”
    Shandie put an arm around Eshiala. “What is your advice now?”
    Again the dwarf shrugged his barrel shoulders. “I may be able to get us out of here. May, I said. He’s so suspicious that he tends to be too cautious. He may not commit his real strength quickly enough to block me. “
    That sounded like a very leaky lifeboat to Rap. As soon as the fugitives emerged from the shielding, they would be visible in the ambience. There was no hiding place in that featureless void, no way to outrun a superior force. Only power mattered.
    “If I can escape …” Shandie said. “If we can … If you can get us out of here, what then?”
    “Retire. Hide. You can’t hope to win your impire back, you know. Just go into hiding and maybe, in a couple of centuries, your descendants can come forward and claim their inheritance.” The mundanes stared at one another in dismay, while Raspnex curled his lip contemptuously at them; but in the ambience he was scowling up at Rap with a worried expression. “The kid’s taking a long time, isn’t he?”
    “Let’s hope he’s still yours when he comes back, ” Rap said pointedly. “Zinixo’s here, in Hub?” he added aloud. “Maybe. More likely not, not yet. But he’s sent his minions. I could smell ‘em.”
    “So could I. And I’m not exactly his best friend, either, am I?”
    Raspnex chortled, a noise of ice floes in a polar storm. “Not much, you’re not! You and your kingdom. Your wife and children. I bet the little turd has dreamed of you every night for twenty years, your Majesty!”
    “Why did none of you warn me?” Rap said angrily.
    “Because we thought you knew! Because we thought you were laying low-and because we thought you could handle the matter when you got around to it!”
    “You mean you were all relying on me? Waiting on me to do something? Fools! ” Rap had always assumed that the Four knew how he had lost his paramount power years ago.