There was a pause before Deems asked, “Then why this communication?”
“I wondered if you had any ideas. If you’d heard anything.”
“From who?”
“Ferne, for one. Have you seen her recently?”
“I haven’t seen Ferne in a god’s age.”
Incarnadine nodded. “And Trent has never communicated with you in all this time?”
“I would have told you, just out of courtesy,” Deems said.
“Just making sure, Deems. Trent says he wants to be left alone, and I have no reason yet not to take him at his word. But all the same, I have to be sure.”
“I can assure you that I am not in league with our little brother Trent.”
“I didn’t say you were, Deems. In fact, I said I wanted your help.”
“I’ll do anything I can.”
“Thank you. Ferne always liked Albion. Would you cast about and see if you can locate her there?”
“I’d be happy to, though I doubt she’s here.”
“Nevertheless, if you find her, please tell her I wish to see her.”
“I will,” Deems said. “Anything else?”
“Do you have enough Art to attempt calling Trent from your world?”
“No, I doubt it.”
“Then, are you up for a short trip home?”
“Not exactly, but I will come if you insist.”
“Then do, and be my guest. When you are here, use the Universal Projector to call him and sound him out. Tell me what you think. I need a second opinion, a second reading, if you will.”
“Very well. I hope I can remember the spell that works that old contraption of Dad’s. I haven’t used it in years.”
“Go to the library and look it up. Osmirik, the new librarian, will help you.”
“It will be good to be back at Perilous again. I could use a change of scene.” Deems scratched his black beard. “But won’t Trent instantly suspect you put me up to it? I mean, calling him out of the blue, after so many years?”
“He may. I think he most probably will think I put you up to it. In fact, you can tell him I did. I want everything to be aboveboard, for now.”
“As you wish. Do you suspect everyone? Dorcas as well?”
“Hardly Dorcas.”
“Well, that more or less leaves Ferne, Trent, and me — and you say I’m out of the running.”
“Ferne and Trent. Yes. They might be in it together. I find that not improbable. They always got along well together. In fact, Trent was the only one of us who was at all close to Ferne.”
“It would seem a simple case, then, with only three possible solutions. It’s either Ferne alone, or Trent alone, or both together.”
“Or someone else entirely.”
Deems scowled. “Who?”
“An outside force or agent of some sort.”
Deems pursed his lips and looked pensive. “Hm. I suppose it’s possible. Castle Perilous has never lacked for enemies.”
“True.”
“But see here. What’s the game? What does this unknown conspirator mean to accomplish by opening up dangerous aspects and letting the boogeymen out?”
“The unknown may have struck some bargain with these boogeymen. They invade me castle in return for spoils he has promised.”
“Which he can’t deliver, unless he knows something I don’t,” Deems said sourly. “Out of 144,000 worlds, there isn’t a single damn one that has any easy money in it. And I include the one you’re in at the moment.”
Incarnadine gave a chuckle. “Don’t you remember all the time we spent panning for gold in Hyperborea, back when we were kids?”
“With not a penny to show for it.”
“Now, I remember making enough to buy a very small sailboat,” Incarnadine said. “A ten-foot sloop, as I recall. I think me thing may still be lying in a dusty corner of the castle somewhere. I used to take it out on Lake Asmodeus, in the Helvian aspect. I also have a memory of you buying yourself a silver-handled Almedian scimitar with the paydirt you gleaned.”
Deems grunted. “I don’t remember. It was a long time ago.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Tell me this, Inky. What could Trent have been doing, isolated in a blind universe all those years?” Deems’ brow furrowed. “The thought occurs to me that
“I’m going to do my damnedest to summon the gateway from this side and set up a more or less permanent link to Perilous. From a Manhattan apartment.”
“Wasn’t that where it was originally?”
“Yes. The site was not this specific apartment, but you remember the general location correctly. As to your first question about Trent — he says he hasn’t, but I suspect he has been developing new magic on this side. He may have a way of summoning the gateway, using it, then letting it wander free again until he needs it. He may have had access to Castle Perilous all these years.”
“Why has he waited all this time to make his move?”
“He may have been aiding Melydia. I rather doubt that, as Melydia was a major-league sorcerer herself, but she may have needed help at the interuniverse level.”
“That is an interesting surmise.”
“A wild guess. Perhaps Trent is patient. Or perhaps he’s just recently perfected his techniques.”
Deems folded his arms and looked dubious. “You really don’t have much to go on, do you?”
“Frankly, no. That’s why I was hoping you would help. When you return from Perilous, I want you to give me a rundown on what’s happening there in my absence. Ask Tyrone, the captain of the Guard, to give you a report. Tell him I sent you.”
“If he believes me.” Deems squinted one eye.
“He will. Before I left I told him to expect you.”
“I was going to ask why you can’t call Tyrone yourself, but now I see you simply want to verify my trip to Perilous.” Deems’ eyes twinkled. “You’ve been planning moves in advance.”
“As necessary in life as in chess.”
“Inky, I’ll always defer to your chessmanship. How you outmaneuvered Melydia — that horror of a woman! — I’ll never know.”
“Luck played its part — along with clean living, proper outlook, eating three squares a day, and so forth.”
Chuckling, Deems said, “And regular exercise — no doubt.”
“When can you leave for Perilous?”
Deems shrugged. “Today, if you wish. I have nothing pressing.”
“Good. Call me again in, say, two days.”
“Very well. Anything else?”
“Not at the moment. Good seeing you again, brother.”
“Same here, old boy. But if you don’t mind —” Deems stood and reached out both arms toward the screen. The image jerked and the angle of view shifted until Deems’ face was in close-up. “I’m going to forgo the refined pleasures of having a mirror by the bed. I don’t really care to be surprised in quite that way again. There are plenty of other looking-glasses about the palace.”
“My apologies.”
“So, if it’s all the same to you —”
Deems carried the mirror through high mullioned doors and into open air. “Goodbye, Incarnadine.” Deems
