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moat and back again. A flashlight, Abernathy thought. He had read about those, too. A flashlight meant
that someone was out there on foot, searching the grounds. He practically ran now, counting three, four...
five!
He skidded to a stop, almost passing by number five without seeing it because it was partially concealed
in a clump of bushes. He looked at it. It was smaller than the previous four smaller, too, than the ones
that followed. Was this the right window? Or was he not supposed to count this one? There was light
inside, but there was light in the next one as well. He began to panic. He bent close and listened. Did he
hear voices in there? He glanced back frantically. The flashlight was coming closer in the dark, the sound
of voices back there as well.
He looked forlornly at the window. There was nothing to do but chance it, he decided. If he stayed
where he was, he was certain to be found. He reached down to the window and pushed carefully
inward. The window gave easily at his touch. He caught a glimpse of linens in a basket. Relief flooded
through him. He knelt down quickly and started to crawl in.
Several pairs of hands reached up to help him.
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We found him sneaking in through the laundry room window, said a guard, one of three from the
watch that had captured Abernathy. They held him firmly by the arms. It was lucky we went back or we
would have missed him. We d searched there first and hadn t found a thing. But Jeff here says he thinks
maybe one of the windows was left unlatched, that we ought to check it. We did, and that s when we
found him, crawling in.
They stood in a study, a room filled with books and files, desks and cabinets Abernathy and his
captors and Michel Ard Rhi.
The guard speaking paused and glanced uncertainly at Abernathy. Exactly what sort of creature is he,
Mr. Ard Rhi?
Michel Ard Rhi ignored him, the whole of his attention centered on Abernathy. He was a tall, rawboned
man with a shock of black hair and a narrow, pinched face that suggested he had just eaten something
sour. He looked older than he was, his brow lined, his skin sallow. He had dark, unfriendly eyes that
registered immediate disapproval with everything in view. He stood ramrod straight, affecting an air of
complete superiority.
Abernathy, he whispered almost soundlessly, as if in answer to the guard s question.
He took a moment longer to study his captive, then said to the guards without bothering to look at them,
Wait outside.
The guards left, closing the study door softly behind them. Michel Ard Rhi left Abernathy standing where
he was and moved over to sit behind a huge, polished oak desk littered with paperwork. Abernathy,
he said again, as if not yet convinced of it. What are you doing here?
Abernathy was no longer shaking. When the guards had captured him he had been so terrified that he
could barely stand. Now he accepted his situation with the weary resignation of the condemned, and his
acceptance gave him a small dose of renewed strength. He tried to keep his voice calm. Questor Thews
sent me here by mistake. He was trying something with the magic.
Oh? Michel seemed interested. What was the old fool trying this time?
Abernathy showed nothing. He was trying to change me back into a man.
Michel Ard Rhi looked at him appraisingly and then laughed. Remember how he changed you into a
dog in the first place, Abernathy? Remember how he botched it? I m surprised you let him come near
you. He shook his head hopelessly. Questor Thews never could manage to do anything right, could
he?
He made it a statement of fact, not a question. Abernathy said nothing. He was thinking of the High
Lord s medallion, still concealed beneath his tunic. He was thinking that whatever else happened, Michel
Ard Rhi must not be allowed to discover he wore it.
Michel seemed to know what he was thinking. Well, he mused, drawing the word out. Here you are,
you say, delivered to me by your inept protector. Such irony. But you know what, Abernathy?
Something isn t right about all this. No one human or dog crosses through the fairy mists without the
medallion. Do they, Abernathy?
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He waited. Abernathy shook his head carefully. The magic...
The magic? Michel interrupted at once. The magic of Questor Thews? You want me to believe that
the magic was the cause of your passage out of Landover into this world? How... incredible! He thought
a moment and smiled unpleasantly. I don t believe it. Why don t you prove it to me? Why don t you
satisfy my curiosity? Open your tunic.
Abernathy went cold. I have told you...
Your tunic. Open your tunic.
Abernathy gave it up. Slowly he unclasped the tunic front. Michel leaned forward as the silver medallion
came into view. So, he said, his voice a slow hiss. It was the medallion.
He got up and walked out from behind the desk, coming to a stop directly in front of Abernathy. He was
still smiling, a smile without warmth. Where is my bottle? he asked softly.
Abernathy held his ground, fighting down the urge to step back. What bottle are you talking about,
Michel?
The bottle in the case, Abernathy where is it? You know where it is and you re going to tell me. I
don t believe for a moment that you just happened to appear in my castle. I don t believe that this is all
just the result of errant magic. What sort of fool do you think I am? The medallion brought you here from
Landover. You came to Graum Wythe to steal the bottle, and that s what you ve done. It only remains
for me to discover where you have hidden it. He paused thoughtfully. Maybe it s in Elizabeth s room.
Is that where it is, Abernathy? Is Elizabeth your accomplice in all this?
Abernathy tried to keep any trace of fear for Elizabeth from his voice. The little girl? She just happened
to stumble on me, and I had to pretend with her for a bit. If you want, search her room, Michel. He tried
to sound disinterested.
Michel watched him like a hawk. He leaned forward a bit. Do you know what I am going to do with
you?
Abernathy stiffened slightly. I am sure you will tell me, he replied.
I am going to put you in a cage, Abernathy. I am going to put you in a cage just as I would with any
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