cutting through the vast mass of darkness.
Within the casde, silence reigned as well. All slept—
Or almost all. Cloistered in Count Volmar’s solar, two people sat in secret conference, sharing a midnight flagon of mulled wine.
Hands cupped about his warm goblet, Volmar chuckled suddenly. “Now you have to admit,” he said, glancing over at Carlotta, “that things are going nicely. Very nicely, indeed.”
The sorceress, in her rightful form once more, red hair pouring over her shoulders and green gown like a stream of flame, stared broodingly down into her own goblet. “So far.”
“Oh my dear princess, don’t be so wary! Kevin may bear the seeds of Bardic Magic as you say, but he is still only a boy. So far it’s been ridiculously easy for me to quite overwhelm him with riches and the trappings of power, you must admit.”
Carlotta glanced up at that, her smile wry, “Granted. Between the two of us, he hasn’t even had a chance to think.”
“Exactly. And I intend to go right on overwhelming him.”
The sorceress stretched wearily, graceful as a predator. “Ay me, and I will endure being simpering little Charina a bit longer, and continue casting my beguilements and love-spells on the boy.”
Volmar pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Now that’s something I don’t understand. Carlotta, you know there’s such a thing as too much caution. Why don’t you just enthrall the boy in one quick burst of sorcery and be done with it?”
Her eyes flashed in sudden angry warning. “Don’t be ridiculous. The only spells I dare use are subtle ones.”
“But why? Surely you can—”
“Surely I can tell you not to meddle! Have you forgotten about that Dark Elf?”
The one you thought dead? Volmar thought but didn’t dare say aloud—”No, of course not But—”
Carlotta’s hands tightened about her goblet “Magic leaves a distinctive feel, if one has sufficient training to identify it. One magician can almost always recognize another in action, no matter which sorcerous disciplines are involved, no matter how many cloaking spells are used. I had a nervous enough moment when that elf first saw me; I swear he nearly sensed who and what I am on the spot. I only just managed to project enough girlish innocence to distract him.”
The sorceress paused. staring at Volmar.” I don’t have to remind you that I don’t want my true identity discovered yet, not by anyone. The elf is a skillful necromancer, no doubt about it And that makes him Talented enough to detect the working of any strong magics by anyone. And so I must limit myself to subtle spells.”
“I see.”
“Oh, don’t misjudge me!” Carlotta smiled without humor. “The spells may be subtle, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t powerful. And their effect, I might add, is nicely accumulative.”
“Ah, clever. Between the two of us, we should have the boy beautifully cooperative before the week is out.’’
The woman’s smile thinned ever so slightly. “I should think so. Assuming, of course, that you don’t make some mistake.”
“I won’t,” Volmar said as casually as he could. “And once he’s under our control, of course he’ll go fetch us his manuscript”
“Ah, yes. That’s going to be the true test of his enthrallment Rather than doing the copying himself the boy must be persuaded to surrender the manuscript to one of your scribes, then let our messenger carry that copy off to his cursed Master”
The count frowned. “That’s not going to be easy. He’s such a disgustingly honorable boy.” He raised a hopeful brow. “That isn’t something that’s going to change once he’s enthralled, is it?”
“No. Such spells delude and lull the will, but they can’t change a person’s inner self.” Carlotta paused. “But the boy is, as you say, still very young. If we’re careful, we should be able to so beguile him that he forgets duty. Then hell be quite willing to let the messenger have the copy of the manuscript—so that he, himself, can continue enjoying this so very flattering noble hospitality.”
Volmar sat bolt upright “Ha, I have it! If he seems reluctant, all we need to do is propose that he marry
