in turn, had a piece of information vital to the security of Amber.»
«Right» he agreed, «and you didn't hear the rest of my story either. They go together.»
I hunkered across from him. «You told me that your mother had fled to the Keep, apparently gotten into trouble there and called to you for help.»
«Yes,» he acknowledged. «So I dropped the business with Ghostwheel and tried to help her. I got in touch with Dalt, and he agreed to come and attack the Keep.»
«It's always good to know a band of mercenaries you can get hold of in a hurry,» I said.
He gave me a quick, strange look but I was able to maintain an innocent expression.
«So we led them through Shadow and we attacked the place,» he said then. «It had to be us that you saw when you were there.»
I nodded slowly. «It looked as if you made it over the wall. What went wrong?»
«I still don't know,» he said. «We were doing all right. Their defense was crumbling and we were pushing right along, when suddenly Dalt turned on me. We'd been separated for a time; then he appeared again and attacked me. At first I thought he'd made a mistake - we were all grimy and bloody - and I shouted to him that it was me. But he just kept coming. That's how he was able to do a job like this on me. For a while I didn't want to strike back because I thought it was a misunderstanding and he'd realize his mistake in a few seconds.»
«Do you think he sold you out? Or that it was something he'd been planning for a long time? Some grudge?»
«I don't like to think that.»
«Magic, then?»
«Maybe. I don't know.»
A peculiar thought occurred to me. «Did he know you'd killed Caine?» I asked.
«No, I make it a point never to tell anybody everything I'm about.»
«You wouldn't kid me, would you?»
He laughed, moved as if to clap me on the shoulder, winced and thought better of it.
«Why do you ask?» he said then.
«I don't know. Just curious.»
«Sure,» he said. Then, «What say you give me a hand up and inside, so I can see what kind of supplies you've left me?»
«Why?» I got to my feet and helped him to his. We moved around to the right to the slope of easiest ascent, and I guided him slowly to the top.
Once we'd achieved the summit he leaned on his staff and stared down into the opening.
«No really easy way down in,» he said, «for me. At first I was thinking you could roll up a barrel from the larder, and I could get down to it and then down to the floor. But now I look at it, it's an even bigger drop than I remembered. I'd tear something open, sure.»
«Mm-hm,» I said. «Hang on. I've got an idea.»
I fumed away from him and climbed back down. Then I made my way along the base of the blue rise to my right until I had rounded two shiny shoulders and was completely out of Luke's line of sight.
I did not care to use the Logrus in his presence if I did not have to. I did not wish for him to see how I went about things, and I did not want to give him any idea as to what I could or could not do. I'm not that comfortable letting people know too much about me, either.
The Logrus appeared at my summons, and I reached into it, extended through it. My desire was framed, became the aim. My sending extending sought the thought. Far, far…
I kept extending for the damnedest long time. We really had to be out in the Shadow boonies…
Contact.
I did not jerk, but rather exerted a slow and steady pressure. I felt it move toward me across the shadows.
«Hey, Merle! Everything okay?» I heard Luke call.
«Yeah,» I answered, and I did not elaborate.
Closer, closer…
There!
I staggered when it arrived, because it came to me too near to one end.
The far end bounced on the ground. So I moved to the middle and took a new grip. I hefted it and carried it back.
I set it against a steep area of the rise a bit in advance of Luke's position and I mounted quickly. I began drawing it up behind me then.
«Okay, where'd you get the ladder?» he asked.
«Found it,» I said.
«Looks like wet paint on the side there.»
«Maybe someone lost it just recently.»
I began lowering it into the opening. Several feet protruded after it reached the bottom. I adjusted it for stability,
«I'll start down first,» I said, «and stay right under you.»
«Take my stick and my blade down first, will you?»
«Sure. '.
I did that thing. By the time I climbed back he had caught hold and gotten onto it, had begun his descent.
«You'll have to teach me that trick one of these days,» he said, breathing heavily.
«Don't know what you're talking about,» I answered.
He descended slowly, pausing to rest at each rung, and he was flushed and panting when he reached the bottom. He slumped to the floor immediately, pressing his right palm against his lower rib cage. After a time, he inched backward a bit and rested against the wall.
«You okay?» I asked.
He nodded. «Will be,» he said, «in a few minutes. Being stabbed takes a lot out of you.»
«Want a blanket?»
«No, thanks.»
«Well, you rest here and I'll go check the larder and see whether anything's gotten at the supplies. Want me to bring you anything?»
«Some water,» he said.
The supplies proved to be in good order, and the sleeping bag was still where I'd left it. I returned with a drink for Luke and a few ironic memories of the occasion when he'd done the same for me.
«Looks as if you're in business,» I told him. «There's still plenty of stuff.»
«You didn't drink all the wine, did you?» he asked between sips.
«No.»
«Good.»
«Now, you said you have a piece of information vital to the interests of Amber,» I said. «Care to tell me about it?»
He smiled. «Not yet,» he said.
«I thought that was our deal.»
«You didn't hear the whole thing. We were interrupted.»
I shook my head. But, «All right, we were interrupted,» I acknowledged. «Tell me the rest.»
«I've got to get back on my feet, so I can take the Keep and free my mother…»
I nodded.
«The information is yours after we rescue her.»
«Hey! Wait a minute! You're asking a hell of a lot!»
«Not for what I'm paying.»
«Sounds like I'm buying a pig in a poke.»
«Yes, I guess you are. But believe me, it'll be worth knowing.»
«What if it becomes worth knowing while I'm waiting?»
