The Warlock's Gambit (9 page)

“See? It sticks, automatically — you just have to press it firmly. Don’t ask me how that works, either.”

“That's nice.”

“If you hadn’t hung up on me so quickly, I would’ve shown you how to change the voice call into a face-to-face call. And you don’t have your ringer turned on, so I had to use something called an override voice message. Not sure what the point is exactly, but you can turn that feature off if you don’t want it, or if you’re some place where that might be a bad idea. Oh, and you can make the device into a watch, too.” She stretched it out, and bent it so that it formed a bracelet, which she wrapped around her wrist. The display immediately adjusted to this new arrangement.

He shrugged, despite the coolness of it all. “Anything else?”

“Mm-hmm. So long as we’re in the Manse, the c|slates never need recharging. If we're outside, they'll last two months on a charge, unless we use a lot of video calling and high-end features, in which case two to four weeks is the max. But I’m not really sure what the high end features are yet.”

“Guess you've got it all figured out then.” Arthur tried to keep sounding like he could care less. But if Morgan did have them all figured out, then maybe she'd let him use one now. They really were awesome. And the longer Morgan went without realizing he was mad at her, the harder it got to stay that way.

“Not even close. I just found a basic user manual on the c|slate — it's in .txt! Weird, huh? That's as basic as it gets. Apparently universal, too.” She suppressed a tiny giggle. “Multiversal maybe …”

“Morgan!” Arthur threw his hands up in frustration. “You know, you were really rude to me earlier.”

“I was?”

“Yes. You basically called me stupid.”

“Sorry — you know I’m not good with people.”

“I know. I forgive you. But it pisses me off when you do stuff like that and …” He sighed. “And I wanted you to know I was mad and to say you were sorry.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I get it, and I don't think you're stupid. Honestly, I get along really super well with you — better than I do with anyone else. Most people, I’d have offended them so much by now that they’d probably throw me out into space.”

He didn’t know what to say to that, because it was probably true. “Look, I found a picture of my grandfather, and the smaller portraits beneath him are the companions who served with him.”

She leaned in and frowned. “And when they died … oh, great, looks like none of them died of old age. That bodes well for me.”

“Well, one of them retired: Hans Jurik. He served with my grandfather. If these pictures’ dates are up-to-date, he’s
actually
still alive.”

Valet gestured toward a picture in the section directly across from them, and Lexi bounded over. She placed her paws on the wall and stood up to take a look. “Hans has a picture under your great-grandfather, too. This Hans must’ve been a survivor.”

“He would have to have an incredible lifespan for that,” Vassalus said.

Arthur peered closely at the picture and grunted. “Well, Hans seems to have fur, tiny horns, and tufted ears. Very subtle. You have to look close to see them. So maybe whatever species he is, that’s normal for them.”

Morgan began to walk along the wall, scanning. “Yep, looks like most Multiversal Paladins and their companions die in action.”

“Well, what did you expect?”

“Have you noticed,” commented Morgan, “that all the male Paladins are named Arthur?”

He nodded. “And looks like you were right about the middle names. Primus, Tertius, Octavius — those all sound number-ish. We’re very creative with names. Oh, here's a female Multiversal Paladin! Boudicca Prima. And another before her: Boudicca Octavia.”

“And a Boudicca Severus,” Morgan added. “That’s cool. I'd forgotten that Lady Ylliara said women can be Multiversal Paladins, too. It turns out the Aetherians aren’t chauvinists. I like them a little better now.”

“You know, I wonder. If one of my dad's siblings was still alive, would they have become the next Multiversal Paladin instead of me?”

“Maybe. I would assume that it goes to whoever’s most worthy the bloodline. But how anybody would decide that, I have no idea.”

Arthur shrugged. “It doesn't matter, though, does it? It’s just me left. Every cousin, aunt, or uncle who could’ve done the job has been wiped out.”

As they moved back in time, each Paladin tended to have more companions. Often more than twelve were listed, but that was because those that died were replaced. Quite a lot of companions were not human, or not normal humans anyway. None of them were strange aliens with tentacles or insect heads or anything like that. At last, they reached the very first Paladin, from nearly 2100 years ago: Arcturus Paladinius, the only one not named Arthur or with a Latin number name.

“I wish we knew something more about him,” Arthur said. “Other than who his twelve companions were. And he’s the only one without a birth order name.”

Morgan sighed. “If the Manse’s memory and computers really are wiped, then all the information about all the Paladins is forever gone, unless the Aetheria know it.”

“Who knows,” Arthur said. “I’m starting to think they’re not as grand as they’d like us to believe. You notice how Lady Ylliara was the only one to come to the rescue? If the Multiverse really is doomed without me, you'd think they could spare someone else to help clean out the Manse, give us a tutorial … something.”

“Obviously, they have that rule about not interfering in our universe directly,” said Morgan, “but these are pretty extreme circumstances. You would think they could bend it a little.”

“I think Lady Ylliara told you the Aetherian home universe was under direct attack, did she not?” Vassalus countered.

“Still,” Morgan said, “if Arthur’s so important, you’d think they could spare a little help.”

“Well, you know what?” Arthur said. “I'm not a hundred percent certain they're even the good guys at all.”

Valet and Arms stepped back in shock.

“Good sir,” Vassalus said, “such talk is unseemly and beneath yourself. I daresay you should take it back, lest you run afoul of the powers that be … and good manners as well.”

“I’ll risk it,” Arthur said.

“I’m not sure it’s wise to say such things, either,” said Lexi, “though I do hate agreeing with doggy breath here.”

“Madam!”

“I don’t care what they think,” Arthur said. “I’m the only Multiversal Paladin left. What are they going to do, strip the title from me?”

At the end of the hallway was a large glass case covering the entire wall. It was labeled ARTIFACTS, but it was dark inside, just like the lockers in the Armory.

Arthur turned to Valet. “Let me guess: We can only retrieve an artifact if we need it?”

Valet nodded.

“But how would we know what we needed?” Arthur asked.

Valet held his hands out and shrugged.

“You probably would’ve been taught everything that was in there,” Morgan told him. “Besides, if the Manse data was all intact, you could probably look up what items are available.”

Arthur touched the case and said, “I need an artifact that will help me against the warlock. I need a weapon — like my father’s sword.”

The case remained dark.

“It was worth a try,” he muttered.

“Good thinking,” Lexi said. “You never know till you try.”

As they reached the doorway leading back out to the Grand Hallway, something occurred to Arthur, something that should’ve occurred to him immediately. “Hey! There’s no picture of my dad on the wall. Shouldn’t there be one, since he’s dead?”

Morgan shrugged. “Maybe … maybe it’s because … you know, I have no idea why the Manse wouldn’t make one.”

“I think,” ventured Lexi, “that Lady Orella didn’t have a chance to create one before her memory got wiped.”

As they walked back out into the Grand Hallway, Arthur said, “I searched the Library shelves for information on the Paladins, but I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t super specific. It was kind of hard to find things.”

Morgan nodded. “The books weren't shelved according to any system I recognized. You should have asked the Librarian. That is what she's there for after all.”

“Librarian? What librarian?” Arthur hadn't noticed any new servitors. But he did vaguely remember Lady Ylliara mentioning a librarian.

“Didn't you see her?” Morgan frowned, and then shrugged. “Maybe she came out after you left.”

“I bet she can get me some basic books on the Multiversal Paladin, Aetheria, and Entropy!”

“I suppose. A book won't do us much good right now, though. It's not like this is an exam you can cram for. Once we’ve dealt with Kjor and all the nasties in the Inner Sanctum — assuming we survive, of course — the Library will be useful.”

Vassalus nodded. “Lady Morgan is correct. For now, our time is better spent continuing our exploration of the Manse.”

“Alright. Let's go check out the other rooms.” Arthur hid a grin. He knew exactly which room he wanted to explore next. And Morgan was
not
going to be happy about it.”

“
L
et’s check out Lyonesse,” Morgan said.

“Nope,” Arthur replied. “It’s time.”

“Time for what?” she asked dubiously.

“Time for
your
room.”

She cringed. “Let’s … let’s save it for last, okay?”

“No.”

Morgan crossed her arms. “I’m not going to do it. Nothing you can say —”

“Lexi? Vassalus?” Lexi gave him a cat smile. Her stubby tail twitched from side to side. Vassalus dipped his head in a small nod. “Now!”

Vassalus bit the hem of Morgan’s skirt on one side, and Lexi chomped down on the other. They dragged her toward her room.

“Let go! Stop touching me!”

“We’re staybeeng an inderbengion,” Lexi mumbled through her closed mouth.

“What?” Morgan said as she was pulled along.

“An intervention,” Arthur replied. “We’re staging an intervention. You need to face your fears.”

She lifted her hands; her gloves lit up. “Don’t make me stop you, Arthur. I mean it.”

Arthur stepped right up next to her with barely an inch between them. She backed away, and he kept following.

“Eew! Personal space! Back off! Now — I mean it. You’re going to make me have a breakdown.”

“You can avoid that by going to your room. That’s all you have to do.”

She stomped her foot. “Fine, I’ll do it. But know this: I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Well, I … I certainly don’t like you anymore.”

“Whatever,” Arthur responded. “Just go in.”

“You owe me for this.”

“Owe you what?”

“Well … you owe me … you owe me …” Morgan sighed and almost smiled. “Arthur, you don’t have anything worth anything.”

“I know.”

“I’ll get you back for this, moron.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“You just don’t understand why I can’t go in there yet.”

“Nope, and I don’t care.”

“You’re mean. I never realized that before.”

“You’re stalling,” Lexi said.

Vassalus didn’t say anything, but he nodded along.

“Tell you what,” Arthur said. “If you don’t like your room, you can sleep over in mine anytime you want. You can use the computer in my office anytime you want — you’re going to do that anyway, I suspect. You can come over and draw with me anytime you want. You can use all my stuff.”

“You’re so lame. That’s all you’ve got to bribe me?”

“That’s all I’ve got.” What else could he possibly offer her? She was so difficult.

“I’m sure I’ll have my own art supplies,” she grumbled.

“Probably. Now, let’s go in and find out.”

“No.”

Arthur groaned. “Do we have to keep doing this?!”

She grabbed the door handle. “Don’t get your man panties in a wad. I’m going in. But I’m going -
alone
. The rest of you are staying out here.”

With a sigh, Arthur replied, “If that’s what you want.”

“Not even me, dear madam?” Vassalus said.

She crouched down in front of him and massaged his scruff. “Not even you.”

Morgan opened the door as narrowly as she could manage while still able to enter, and slipped inside. Arthur craned his neck, but it was too dark inside for him to see anything. He sat cross-legged in the hallway and waited, with Lexi traipsing about and occasionally rubbing back and forth against his back. Vassalus lay on the floor nearby, forelegs crossed with his head on top of them.

“Lexi, I thought you were a lynx,” Arthur said. “Not a house cat.”

“What, lynxes don’t deserve love, too?” She harrumphed. “Fine. I shall go elsewhere.”

“No — not what I meant. Just be a little more gentle, okay? You’re head-butt rubs are powerful.”

Arthur waited … waited … waited … and
finally
Morgan came back out. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, like she’d been crying. She shut the door swiftly.

Arthur stood up and almost reached a hand out to her on instinct. “Everything okay?

She nodded. “I think I’ll have to take you up on the art supplies offer.”

“You didn’t get art space?” he asked.

“I’ve got exactly what I need in there. Nothing more. The Manse read me perfectly.”

“So you like it?”

She shook her head. “No … not really, but it’s exactly what I need. Just not right now.”

“Want to stay in my room then?”

“Yes, for … for a while anyway.”

“Fine with me. You want to talk about —”

“Not now. Maybe not ever. Okay? Just stay out of my room. And stop asking me about it.”

“Can I try something?” he asked, reaching for the handle. “I promise I won’t go in.”

Arthur stepped up to the door and grabbed the handle. He tried to turn it, but the handle wouldn’t budge. “See, not even the Multiversal Paladin can go into a companion’s room without permission. Now, let’s see what’s in Lyonesse.”

T
he last two doors on either side of the hall were labeled LYONESSE and THE WASTES. After these, there would be nothing left but the Inner Sanctum.

“I’d heard the name Lyonesse before,” Morgan said. “So I looked it up on my c|slate earlier. There’s a basic dictionary loaded in there, but unfortunately there’s no database. What we really need is a Multiversal Wikipedia. Anyway, Lyonesse is a mythical land in Arthurian legend that sank into the sea. It’s related to Cornwall and Brittany, somehow.”

“Okay … but what about
this
Lyonesse?”

Morgan shrugged. “We’ll just have to find out.”

No glowing sigil in the doorway meant it was likely shade-free. They still took up combat positions, just in case. Arthur pulled the door open to bright sunlight, a fresh breeze, a cacophony of birds chirping, and the faint sound of waves crashing on a shore.

“What the heck?!”

He stepped through the doorway — and out onto a meadow-covered bluff that overlooked a deep blue ocean streaked with emerald and teal shallows. As his boots squished into the soft, springy grasses and wildflowers, he turned around. From this side, the door from the Grand Hallway, which he could still see into, looked like a stone arch in the middle of a wall of trees so thick he couldn’t have squeezed between them. Around and beyond the arch was nothing but dense forest. Birds chirped and fluttered about in trees whose leaves rustled in the salty sea breeze.

Morgan entered, spun around, and laughed. “I can’t believe it.”

“It’s a room that’s an outside space,” said Arthur, “like the Heart room beyond the Inner Sanctum. So much for physics, eh?”

“I’m sure there’s … you know, I’m just going to roll with it. I don’t have the mental resources available to try to figure out how this works.”

Lexi shot off like a rocket and sprinted through the grass. She tumbled several times, got up, and charged again. She stopped, sniffed something, and then cried out with delight. “Catnip! Oh, catnip! We’ve died and gone to Paradise.” She began to roll around enthusiastically.

Vassalus wagged his tail, snapping it back and forth — he practically quivered. But at the same time, he lamented Lexi’s lack of decorum. “That is not proper behavior.”

“Vassalus, we won’t think any less of you if you choose to run around and get some exercise,” Arthur said.

“I could never …”

“Go!” Morgan said. “Enjoy yourself. It’s important to stay in shape, right?”

“For your sake, madam — for your sake.” And then he ran full tilt from one end of the bluff to the other, behaving like a dog that had been cooped up inside for far too long.

The bluff was probably the length and width of a football field. With a big smile on his face, Arthur walked all the way to the edge and peered down at the glimmering white sand on the narrow beach below.

“Careful,” Morgan cautioned. “Remember what happened the last time you got near the edge of a bluff?”

“Yeah, I knocked you across the universe.”

She rolled her eyes. “Real funny, moron.”

A clawing sound came from behind them — they spun around, Arthur drawing a raygun — and discovered that Lexi was digging excitedly into the earth. Suddenly, she stopped, spun around, and then started rolling on the ground again. Vassalus streaked passed her. She struck out at him and missed, then she cleaned the paw that had missed. Arthur laughed, and Morgan sighed.

“We probably shouldn’t bring her out here before a battle,” Morgan cautioned.

“No kidding.”

Both of the numina looked exceedingly pale in full sunlight, almost like ghosts. Valet and Arms hung back near the doorway to the Grand Hallway.

“Don’t want to join us, Valet?” Arthur called back to the servitor.

Valet shook his head, and Arms gave a thumbs-down. Maybe the sunlight was just too much for them.

Arthur spotted a path leading down to the beach below. He pointed it out to Morgan, and they headed down. The path was wide enough he didn’t feel like he was going to fall, but it wasn’t wide enough that he didn’t need to be careful of his steps. Soon, they were leaving footprints in the sand. As far as he could see in either direction, the beach stretched on. He knelt and dragged his fingers through trailing surf. He tasted his fingers: saltwater.

“It all seems real.”

“I think it is real,” Morgan replied. “At least as real as the food we eat in the Manse, the water we drink, and the beds we sleep in.”

“You’d think this would take a load of energy for Lady Ylliara to maintain,” Arthur replied. “Maybe she could’ve left this out until we were all safe.”

“Maybe she couldn’t,” Morgan said. “Maybe this doesn’t take even as much energy as the Armory. We just don’t know. This may be an essential part of the Manse like the Great Room or the Grand Hallway. She may not have a choice but to maintain it. Well, I guess she doesn’t have any choices to make now. She just powers everything and thinks … nothing.”

Arthur sat down in the sand and tugged his boots and socks off, then he rolled his pants legs halfway up his calves. “It’s just crazy that there’s a beach and an ocean inside the house.”

“You know, it does make sense to have this.”

“It does?”

“Of course. You need sunlight for vitamin D. Fresh air and vegetation are good for you. Being outside is relaxing. Calms your nerves, reduces stress. That’s why I spend so much time outside.”

“I figured you stayed inside with your computers all the time.”

“Hello — batteries. That’s why I’ve got a battery slice for my ThinkPad to extend it over twenty hours. Between it and my iPad and my iPhone, I can stay outside plenty long enough without tech deprivation setting in.”

“But you’re so pale.”

“I only get seven to ten minutes of sun at a time, and then I retire to the shade.”

“Seven to ten?”

“That’s the optimal range for proper vitamin D absorption for my skin tone at Rockville’s latitude, except in winter, when I go for twelve to fifteen minutes.”

Weird. “Well, looks like we can get sunlight whenever we want. Seven minutes or more.”

“Don’t mock me just because I’m smarter than you.”

“What makes you think you’re smarter?”

“Arthur, wherever we go in the Multiverse, as long as the two of us are together, I will always be the smart one.”

Arthur shook his head. “Well then, oh smart one, why don’t you take those Converse boots off and walk through the water with me?”

“Ugh, and get sand between my toes?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll pass.”

He wiggled his toes deep into the white sand. “You’re missing out …” Arthur looked back at her. “You have been to the beach before, haven’t you?”

“Once. And yes, I got my feet wet and my toes in the sand — and I hated it. The meadow … I might take my shoes off and walk through the grass. Maybe.”

“Well, we’re going to have to change that, smart one. I saw a swimsuit in my closet.” He splashed his feet through the surf. “And this water is perfect.”

She shook her head. “Not going to happen. And I didn’t have a swimsuit in
my
closet.”

“Let me guess: You had five copies of that outfit.”

“Six.”

“Seriously?”

She nodded. “I don’t swim.”

“Don’t or can’t?”

“Don’t,” she muttered a little too quickly and softly.

“You can’t swim?! Morgan, that’s no good. You’re a Paladin’s companion … what if we have to swim on some planet while fighting bad guys?”

“Not likely.”

“It could happen.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“Well, I don’t blame you, my dear,” said Lexi as she and Vassalus ran up to join them. “Water is nasty business.”

“You do bathe, right?” Arthur teased.

Morgan shot him his favorite pouty look. “Of course, I bathe, you moron.”

“Did you get in the whirlpool last night?”

“Yes, I got in the big tub. I just don’t like the ocean … or lakes … or swimming pools.”

“Because you can’t swim?”

“I can’t swim because I don’t like the water. End of discussion.”

“I can swim,” Lexi said. “It’s a good skill to have. I just choose not to because it’s awful.”

“You were born with the skill,” Morgan snapped, “it’s not the same thing as — hey, you’ve never been swimming in your three days of life!”

Lexi huffed and padded off along the beach. “Such attitude.”

“How far do you think it goes?” Vassalus said. “Will we run into a wall or out of beach?”

“I don’t know,” Arthur said. “Best that we not go too far until we learn.”

“That is most unfortunate then,” said Vassalus. “I should very much like to take a long sprint.”

“I don’t think it will hurt as long as you stay in sight,” Arthur replied.

“I’d walk outward first,” Morgan added. “In case there’s an invisible barrier.”

Vassalus and Lexi trotted off in opposite directions. Arthur splashed through the edge of the surf, and Morgan took out her c|slate and stood awkwardly on the sand, thumbing across the screen, gazing at it intently. Arthur knew he should give up on trying to figure out Morgan, but two things prevented him. First, she was kind of like a fun puzzle. Sure, she was frustrating, but it was still fun trying to put the pieces together. Something about her was intriguing … maybe because she was so far from being like everyone else. He appreciated that since he was a lot like that himself — apparently even more than he had thought. The other thing was he knew he needed to know all her strange quirks if they were going to be adventuring on quests together, trying to save the universe. He needed to understand her. And he was going to find some way to get her in the water and teach her how to swim. She could wear her uniform in if she wanted; he didn’t care.

As if sensing one another’s intent, Lexi and Vassalus spun around simultaneously and charged back down the beach until they skidded to a halt, kicking sand up on Arthur.

“I daresay the beach may not ever end,” Vassalus said. “I saw nothing but beach as far as I went.”

“The same for me,” Lexi said. “Yet … I feel deep inside that it would — if we went far enough.”

“Well, your instincts should be satisfactory in such matters,” Vassalus said pompously. That was probably as much of a compliment as he could muster.

“What’s beyond the edge of the bluff?” Morgan asked.

“A second, shorter cliff,” Vassalus replied.

“We should probably head back,” Arthur sighed.

Morgan shrugged. “We could have lunch in the meadow. I wouldn’t mind sitting in the grass for a short while.”

Sure enough, a picnic basket sat waiting for them at the edge of the meadow. They basked in the sun until Morgan’s skin started to turn a little pink (at about 25 minutes), eating tuna sandwiches and chips and drinking iced tea. Then Morgan taught Arthur the basics of operating his c|slate. She was far more patient with him than he had expected. She only snapped at him once every few minutes.

At last, they put away their c|slates, Arthur laced his boots back on, and they headed back inside and across the hall to the door labeled THE WASTES. Like Lyonesse, this one didn’t have a glowing sigil in the doorway either.

“You think this is going to be the opposite of Lyonesse?” Arthur said.

“Duh,” Morgan responded.

Arthur felt the same sense of dread and revulsion as before when he approached the door. He reached out toward the handle, took a deep breath, and steeled himself to face whatever was in here. As soon as he pulled open the door, a howling blast of icy air struck them head on. Dust blew into the hallway. Maid wasn’t going to be happy about that. Or maybe she would: she was designed to clean, after all.

The landscape was gray, desolate, dry, and empty. Mists drifted over the land, and he thought maybe he saw the faint outline of mountains in the distance. He stepped in, with Morgan and the others right behind him. His boots crunched through sand that looked as if it had been scorched long ago. A wind parted the mists, and he could see now that on the horizon, rock formations — or perhaps stone ruins — dotted the landscape. He glanced over his shoulder. The entrance on this side was a stone arch, similar to the one in Lyonesse. It was built into a steep cliff that seemed to stretch forever in both directions and so tall that the top was shrouded in mist.

“I don’t get it,” Arthur said. “If Lyonesse is there for the Paladin to relax, what’s the point of this?”

“Maybe there used to be something important here,” Lexi said, “but it was destroyed … perhaps by the warlock.”

“If so, then why didn’t Lady Ylliara fix it when she arrived and restored the Manse?” Arthur asked.

“Maybe she didn’t expend the energy to because it wasn’t something we needed,” Morgan pondered. “But it is called the Wastes, and it does fit the description.”

“Too true. Perhaps this place is intended for training,” Vassalus offered. “Maybe it’s exactly what it’s supposed to be right now …”

Shaking his head, Valet stepped in front of them.

“None of those things then?” Arthur said.

A sudden cry pierced the howling winds, and Arthur thought he saw something move in the distance.

“Is it safe here?” Arthur asked.

Valet and Arms both shook their heads.

“So it’s not safe, and we don’t know the point of it,” Arthur said. “On top of that, there are no shades here for us to eliminate. I say we leave.”

“Agreed,” Morgan replied.

Both servitors nodded their agreement, as well.

Suddenly, a beast that resembled a cross between a lion and a bull, but was as large as a car, launched out from behind a rock formation a hundred yards away and rocketed toward them, snarling.

“Time to go!” Arthur yelled.

The beast was moving impossibly fast, covering ten yards per bound.

“Go, go, go!” he yelled.