Castle Perilous

Lower Levels

Gene shook his head after hearing Osmirik’s story. “So she means to loose the dragon and rule the world.”

“That is her mad plan, yes. But it is doomed to failure, and she well knows it.”

“Then what’s her motive, besides madness?”

“Love.”

“Love?”

“And hate, its demon twin. Long ago she and Incarnadine were betrothed. He spurned her, returned her dowry, and paid breach-of-promise gold to her father. She has never forgotten the shame, nor has she forgiven Incarnadine.”

“And for that she’d destroy the world?”

“Years ago she would not have. She was a beautiful young woman, in love with life. But after her humiliation, she took to studying the Recondite Arts. Today she is still beautiful —”

“But skinny, and her bust is nothing to write home about,” Linda said.

“I don’t think they use brassieres in this culture,” Gene said.

“— but her heart is a fist of stone, and she is possessed by madness. Therein lies the danger. She is, mayhap, the most powerful magician in the world.”

“Better than Incarnadine?” Gene asked.

“That may be.”

Gene shifted his weight on the plain stone bench they had found. The alcove it stood in was quiet, an island in the eye of the storm. Outside, strange forms moved in the air. “Things are getting increasingly crazy out there.”

Osmirik said, “Yes, and at some point every step will be taken at peril of one’s life. We had best act before that point is reached.”

“We need a plan,” Gene said.

“First we have to find the Hall of the Brain,” Linda said. “We’ve tried everything, even cutting through walls, but nothing seems to get us there.”

“Let’s teleport there,” Gene said. “We can all hang on to Snowy —”

“Will that work?” Linda said.

“Only one way to find out,” Snowclaw said.

“Okay. When we get there, then what?”

Gene shrugged. “We take ’em. I mean, there’s only one soldier left, and a couple of servants.”

“And the most powerful magician in the world,” Linda said. “This world, anyway.”

“Yeah. We’ve got no choice.”

Linda nodded grimly. “I know.”

They discussed strategy awhile, then fell silent. Each made his preparations.

“Methinks …” Osmirik began.

“What is it, Osmirik?” Gene said.

“Melydia has always resented her womanhood. Hers is a spirit that cannot be contained within the cramped boundaries of a woman’s station. That men and men alone rule the world is to her an intolerable injustice. In order to right this wrong, she has devoted her life to the accumulation of brute power. In that, I think, lies her gravest error.”

Gene looked at Linda. “Who says this world is so different from ours?”