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was to keep the girl safe that Gabrielle forbade her to join us in the
castle.
They turned their conversation away from these things to talk of Chaffinch
and of the strangers and their machine. Dusk came on and Erub began to glow
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before they saw Van Duyn emerge from the rear hatch of the APC. The two went
down from the bartizan to meet him, and Springbuck considered, as he walked
on, the peculiarity of the fact that he felt so much more familiar and at ease
with Andre deCourteney, whose abilities and skills were intimidating, than he
was with Van Duyn, who was by comparison not that many years older than the
Prince, and a common mortal.
They will help us, Van Duyn said when they d joined him. They are still a
bit dubious but they understand that we are in trouble and need their help,
and that they can t get home without us, and that s enough for them. That
sergeant is an unusual chap. Oh, and I told them we d send out some food and
something to drink. I guess they re pretty tired of canned rations. Where s
Gabrielle?
But they couldn t find her, not in her small room nor anywhere inside the
castle walls. Andre and Van Duyn looked one at the other.
Erub. She s gone to fetch back Foraingay, said the magician.
Foraingay? Springbuck asked.
Her daughter. She must have decided to try to bring her to the castle. If my
sister chooses to slip away, there are few who could detect her going and none
who could stop her if they did.
But, is she in danger? the Prince persisted anxiously, and Van Duyn s mouth
grew rigid at the tone that was in his voice. I mean, she is the most
competent of sorceresses, is she not?
Yes, she is expert, Andre answered. But a spell is not something that you
can carry ready in your hand like a bow or spear. In time that is consumed in
calling down a helpful spell, some rustic can stick a pitchfork or a hatchet
into you. That is part of the reason I carry this. He slapped the big sword
at his side.
His agitation growing, Van Duyn interrupted. We ve got to go and get her.
There s no way of knowing what may have happened to her already. I ll get our
horses. We d better make it a small band, Andre. You and I. He looked at the
Prince and said as if against his better judgment, And Springbuck.
Surprisingly, deCourteney said, No, Edward. I don t think that you have
reasoned out the best way of doing this thing. If we must go into the middle
of an enemy force, why not do it in our guests machine and improve our
chances of coming back?
Van Duyn looked atLobo , just as Gil was changing places behind the .50 with
Woods. Very well then, the scholar decided. I ll try to get them to agree
to it. I ll explain that we can t send them back unless we can return with
Gabrielle.
Speak with them, answered Andre, but do not tell them that. We don t know
what they might do if they knew their true peril. And I cannot go with you; if
I leave, Ibn-al-Yed is sure to use the occasion to devastate the castle with
some spell or other. Springbuck, you and Edward must get my sister back
without my help.
The Prince could see that Andre s impulses were bringing terrific pressure to
bear on the man, conflicting leverages to safeguard those who depended on him
and rescue his sister. Springbuck hesitated only an instant before answering
with a heartiness he did not feel. Don t worry, Andre; we ll clank down there
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and be back with her in minutes.
The wizard gave him an unconvincing smile and, not knowing what else to say,
Springbuck dashed off toLobo .
Chapter Ten
War is delightful to those who have no experience in it.
Desiderius Erasmus
When Springbuck reached the APC a very angry Sergeant MacDonald was
confronting a red-faced Van Duyn.
Okay, okay, said the soldier. We ll go look for her but we aren t taking
you with us. Thing is, I runLobo and I don t like people who try to tell me
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