It was a familiar rasping voice。 Dinivan whirled to see a glint of red at the far end of the hallway。
〃Devil！ What have you done！？〃
〃They are sleeping；〃 Pryrates laughed。 〃In the morning； they will remember nothing。 How the villains got past them to kill the lector will be a mystery。 Perhaps it will be viewed by some…the Fire Dancers； for instance…as a kind of。。。 black miracle。 〃
Poisonous fear crawled up from Dinivan's stomach； mixing with his anger。 〃You will not harm the lector。〃
〃And who will stop me？ You？〃 Pryrates' laugh turned scornful。 〃You can try anything you wish； little man。 Scream； if you like…no one will hear anything that happens in this hallway until I leave。〃
〃Then I will prevent you myself！〃 Dinivan reached into his robe and pulled forth the Tree that hung around his neck。
〃Oh； Dinivan； you have missed your calling。。。〃 The alchemist stepped forward； the torch light burnishing the arc of his hairless head。 〃Instead of lector's secretary； you should have sought a position as God's own fool。 You cannot stop me。 You have no idea of the wisdom I have discovered； the powers I mand。 〃
Dinivan stood his ground as Pryrates advanced； bootheels echoing through the corridor。 〃If selling your immortal soul on the cheap is wisdom； 1 am happy to have none of it。〃 His fear mounting； he fought to keep his voice steady。
Pryrates' reptilian smile widened。 〃That is your mistake…you and all those timid fools who call themselves Scrollbearers。 The League of the Scroll！ A gossip society for whimpering； quibbling； would…be scholars。 And you； Dinivan； are the worst of all。 You have sold your own soul for superstitions and reassurances。 Instead of opening your eyes to the mysteries of the infinite； you have hidden yourself among the callus…kneed ring…kissers of the church。〃
Rage flooded through Dinivan's frame； momentarily reversing the tide of terror。 〃Stand hack'〃 he shouted； lifting his Tree before him。 It seemed to glow； as though the wood itself smoldered。 〃You will go no farther； servant of evil masters； unless you kill me first。〃
Pryrates eyes widened in mock…astonishment。 〃Ah So the little priest has teeth！ Well； then； we shall play the game your way。。。 and I will show you some teeth of my own。〃 He lifted his hands over his head。 The alchemist's scarlet robes billowed as though a wild wind gusted through the hallway。 The torches rippled in their sockets； then blew out。
〃And remember this 。。。〃 Pryrates hissed in darkness。 〃I mand the Words of Changing now！ I am no one's servant！〃
The Tree m Dinivan's hand flared more brightly； but Pryrates remained sunken in shadow。 The alchemist's voice rose； chanting in a language whose very sound made Dinivan's ears ache and wrapped a band of agony about his throat。
〃In the name of God the Highest。。。〃 Dinivan shouted； but as Pryrates' chant mounted toward a triumphant climax it seemed to tear the words of prayer from his mouth almost before they were spoken。 Dinivan choked。 〃In the name of。 。 。〃 His voice fell silent。 In the shadows before him； Pryrates' spell had bee a grunting； gasping parody of speech as the alchemist suffered through some agonizing transformation
Where Pryrates had stood a roiling； unrecognizable shadow now flailed； writhing in knotted loops that grew larger and larger until even the starlight was blotted out and the hallway sank into unbreachable blackness。 Ponderous lungs wheezed like a blacksmith's bellows。 A deadening； ancient cold filled the corridor with unseen frost。
Dinivan flung himself forward with a shout of terrified rage； trying to strike the invisible thing with his Holy Tree； but instead found himself caught up like a doll by some massive yet horribly insubstantial appendage。 They struggled； lost in the freezing darkness。 Dinivan gasped as he felt something pushing its way into his terrified thoughts； scraping inside his head with burning fingers； trying to pry open his very mind like a jam jar。 He fought back with all his strength； struggling to hold the image of Holy Aedon in his flickering thoughts； he thought he heard the thing that held him gasp in pain。
But the shadow only seemed to grow more substantial。 Its grip tightened around him； a horrible bone…cracking fist of jelly and lead。 Sour； cold breath fluttered against his cheek like the kiss of nightmare。
〃In the name of God 。 。 。 and the League 。 。 〃 Dinivan groaned。 The animal noises and terrible labored breathing began to fade away。 Angels of painful； burning light filled his head； dancing to wele the darkness； deafening him with their silent song。
Cadrach dragged Miriamele's limp form out into the hallway； swearing panicky oaths to various saints； gods； and demons。 The only light was the thin blue of starlight bleeding in through the windows high overhead； but it was difficult not to see the huddled figure of the priest laying like a discarded puppet in the center of the corridor a few steps away。 It was equally impossible to ignore the ghastly cries and shrieks ing from the lector's chamber at the end of the hall； where the thick wooden door lay splintered across the floor。
The noises ceased abruptly； ending on a drawn…out wail of despair that dwindled at last to a gurgling hiss。 Cadrach's face filled with horror。 He bent and swept up the princess； heaving her over his shoulder； then crouched awkwardly to pick up their bag of possessions。 He straightened and staggered away from the destruction at the far end of the hall； fighting to stay on his feet。
Around the corner the passageway widened； but there also the torches had been extinguished。 He thought he could see the shadowy forms of armored men standing sentry； but they were motionless as relics。 The unhurried echo of booted feet sounded in the arched hall behind him。 Cadrach hurried forward； cursing the slippery tiles。
The passage turned once more； opening into the great entrance chamber； but as he scurried through the arch he struck something solid as a wall of adamant； although he had seen nothing in the doorway but air。 Stunned； he tripped and tumbled backward。 Miriamele slid from his shoulder to the hard floor。
The sound of approaching bootheels grew louder。 Cadrach reached forward in a fit of panic； encountering an unnatural wall； an invisible but unyielding something。 More transparent than crystal； it showed clearly every detail of the torchlit chamber beyond。
〃Ah； please； don't let him have her；〃 the monk murmured； clawing with desperate fingers； searching for some flaw in the invisible barrier。 〃Please！〃
His questing was in vain。 The wall was seamless。
Cadrach kneeled before the doorway； head slowly sinking to his chest as the approaching footfalls grew louder。 The unmovmg monk might have been a prisoner waiting at the executioner's block。 Suddenly； he looked up。
〃Wait'〃 he hissed。 〃Think； idiot man； think！〃 He shook his head and took a deep breath； then released it and took one more。 He held his palm before the archway and spoke a single quiet word。 A wash of cold air blew past him； ruffling the tapestries in the entrance chamber。 The barrier was gone。
He dragged Miriamele through； pulling her across the floor and into one of the archways opening off the grand chamber。 They disappeared from sight just as Pryrates' red…robed figure appeared in the doorway where the unseen impediment had been。 Dim sounds of alarm were beginning to filter through the halls。
The red pnest paused as though surprised to find his barrier gone。 Nevertheless； he turned and sketched a gesture in the direction from which he had e； as though to sweep away whatever traces of his handiwork might remain。
His voice boomed； reverberating down the corridors in all directions。 〃Murder！〃 he cried。 〃Murderers are in God's house！〃 As the echoes died away he smiled briefly and set off toward the chambers where he stayed as the lector's guest。
Struck by a thought； Pryrates stopped suddenly in the archway and turned to survey the chamber。 He lifted his hand once more； fingers flexing。 One of the torches gouted sparks； then spat out a tongue of flame which leaped across to a row of tapestries lining the wall The ancient weavi