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He made a hasty escape down the corridor before his very astute wife could pin him to the wall with
questions. His brain felt fuzzy from guarding secrets. He didn t want her to discover the pleasant surprises
of the coming evening. And he certainly didn t want to spoil the surprises with worry over the Followers
in the mysterious village of Paladise. Paladise! What a name.
Mikkai guided him through the castle without a problem. Apparently, the map dragon had seen
somewhere the blueprints for many of the greater homes in Amara. The difficulty was finding Namee.
They visited all the likely places for the host to be and found plenty of guests but not the wizard. Finally, a
servant suggested they look in the kitchens.
Bardon s boots clattered on the stone steps as he followed Mikkai. As they got closer, he didn t need his
guide. His nose could have led him to the cavernous rooms where chefs congregated with their minions
around floured tables, bubbling pots, and red-hot ovens. Happy chatter flowed among the staff. Wizard
Namee sat at a pastry table, eating bits and pieces of stolen dough in between slurps of hearty
chukkajoop broth from a bowl.
The wizard raised his chalice to Bardon.  Come join me. Are you hungry? Better grab a bite now. Ten
o clock is an absurd hour to begin dinner, but it s tradition, you know. Tradition. How can we dance the
whole night through if we start at a more seemly hour? It s tradition to dance till dawn. If we start at six,
no one can last until the morning star appears. So we have to start at ten.
 My wife says it is because in the old days, before wizards cooled the air in the castle, dancers dropped
dead from the heat. Now that would ruin the festivities, wouldn t it? But I say times have changed. I can
cool the air. And she says it s romantic to start at ten and cool the air anyway. So I come to the kitchen
to do a taste test. Wouldn t want to serve my guests something foul.
He raised a braised leg of a large heatherhen, laughed, then sank his teeth into the meat.  Besides, I get
too busy mixing with the guests to sit down and have a proper meal. And it would seem that my stomach
does not like a ten o clock supper. I m usually not hungry that time of night. He took a bite of a roll that
the baker had just placed on his plate.  Hot! Ouch! Hot! He drank and gestured for Bardon to sit with
him.
Bardon chose a chair next to his host but waved away a servant s offer of a plate and bowl. He took the
tankard.
Namee arched an eyebrow.  I deduce that you are not hungry.
 No sir, I m not.
 Then it is me you seek out. The culinary arts of my fine staff did not lure you away from our fascinating
guests above.
 Yes, that s right, sir.
He sighed, put down his chalice, and pushed his plate aside.  What is it?
Bardon leaned closer.  Have you heard of a group of people calling themselves Followers?
Wizard Namee pursed his lips, swirled the liquid in his chalice, then took a drink.  I have.
The simple answer perplexed Bardon. Wizard Namee sounded cautious, and caution was not one of the
wizard s hallmarks.  What do you think of them?
 I find them curious.
 I came across a group of Followers in a village in my district. What can you tell me about those you ve
encountered?
 They seem harmless. A bit more intense than most folks, but I surmise that it is a pendulum swing. The
citizens of Amara acknowledge their mistake in being too apathetic during our former troubles. Now this
group has shifted to the other extreme. Time will balance it out.
 Nonetheless, I feel the need to report my finding to Paladin.
 He won t be here tonight.
 May I use your gateway?
 Indeed. He signaled for a servant to come to his side.  Don t worry overmuch on this, Sir Bardon. This
won t be a popular movement. Their ranks will be slim.
 Why do you say that, sir? Is there something you know that I can add to my report?
 Only that these Followers aren t inclined to enjoy themselves. Odd clothing, dull food, and no
entertainment. I also understand that one has to be enlightened in order to be given the privilege of
producing offspring. Sounds anomalous to me.
Bardon rose.  Yes, strange and inconsistent with previous teachings from our scholars.
A tumanhofer bowed to Wizard Namee.
 This is Namutdonlowmack. He ll escort you to the gateway chamber. Be back in time for dinner, young
man. It will be a feast worth tasting.
Once in the hallway, Bardon spoke to the servant.  It isn t necessary to escort me. Mikkai can direct
me.
 Certainly, Sir Bardon, but I wish to speak with you. The tumanhofer glanced around at the many
people wandering and socializing in the halls.  This way, sir.
Namutdonlowmack darted down a corridor and scuttled up a winding set of stairs leading to the top of
one of Namee s towers.
 Would you mind sending your dragon to make sure no one lurks in the shadows? I do not want what I
have to say to be heard.
Curious, Bardon nodded to the dragon who had perched in a window. With the signal, Mikkai winged
off on his mission. As soon as he left, Bardon sized up the tumanhofer and determined from his frown that
Namutdonlowmack was not going to spend the time in idle conversation. Bardon sighed, leaned against
the window frame, and watched the skies. While they waited, two more large dragons landed in the field.
Mikkai returned. Bardon nodded in response to the minor dragon s chitter.  He says there is no one in
the tower other than ourselves.
The tumanhofer hesitated.
 I have an urgent message to deliver, and I have little time.
 I m aware of the nature of your message, Sir Bardon.
 You are?
 Of course. Namutdonlowmack shuffled his feet.  I wasn t near enough to listen to your conversation
with Wizard Namee until I moved a bit closer. It is important to know what is going on in the castle. I am
one of his most trusted servants. If he had not wanted me to hear, he would have said so.
Bardon nodded.  The kitchen is not the best place for private conversation. But please, I must go.
 And Wizard Namee s control of sound included his knowing where sound is traveling, when it bounces
off barriers, and in the case of conversation, who can hear.
 Yes, a very useful talent. The point, Namutdonlowmack.
 Wizard Namee wishes me to relay information that he did not feel he could speak of in the kitchen.
About the people who interest you. Two things. First, there are representatives of the Followers here for
the ball.
 I thought they spurned such activities.
 These men do not profess outwardly to be of this society. They are here seeking information and to look
for potential converts.
 Converts? What a strange choice of words. How does one convert a person from one doctrine to the
same doctrine?
 You have already begun to suspect that their doctrine is not the same. That is why I chose to speak with
you.
 Go on.
 So they look for recruits, if the term  converts does not please you.
 None of this pleases me. But I feel you have a personal quarrel with the Followers.
Bardon caught the slight jerk of Namutdonlowmack s head, and the fierce gleam in the tumanhofer s eye
backed up the intensity of that affirmation.
 My brother s son, my nephew, thought the words these men spoke appealing. He followed. And got
lost. We did not hear from him for six months. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]