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fer and Matt on either side。 The Dwarf seemed to be concentrating very hard； his legs were wide apart； braced。 Then Loren began to speak words in a tongue Dave didn't know； his voice growing in power and resonance。
And was interrupted by Paul Schafer。
〃Loren…is the person under that mountain dead？〃
The mage gazed at the slim figure who'd asked the question he feared。 〃You； too？〃 he whispered。 Then； 〃No；〃 he answered； telling the truth。 〃No； he isn't。〃
And resumed speaking in his strange language。
Dave wrestled with the refusal to seem afraid that had； in large part； brought him here； and with the genuine panic that was building within him。 Paul had nodded once at Loren's answer； but that was all。 The mage's words had bee a plex rising chant。 The aura of power began to shimmer visibly in the room。 A low…pitched humming sound began。
〃Hey！〃 Dave burst out。 〃I need a promise I'll be back！〃 There was no reply。 Matt S？ren's eyes were closed now。 His grip on Dave's wrist was firm。
The shimmer in the air increased； and then the humming began to rise in volume。
〃No！〃 Dave shouted again。 〃No！ I need a promise！〃 And on the words he violently pulled his hands free from those of Jennifer and the Dwarf。
Kimberly Ford screamed。
And in mat moment the room began to dissolve on them。 Kevin； frozen； disbelieving； saw Kim reach out then； wildly； to clutch Dave's arm and take Jen's free hand even as he heard the cry torn from her throat。
Then the cold of the crossing and the darkness of the space between worlds came down and Kevin saw nothing more。 In his mind； though； whether for an instant or an age； he thought he heard the sound of mocking laughter。 There was a taste in his mouth； like ashes of grief。 Dave； he thought； oh； Martyniuk； what have you done？
PART II…Rachel's Song
Chapter 4
It was night when they came through； in a small； dimly lit room somewhere high up。 There were two chairs； benches and an unlit fire。 An intricately patterned carpet on the stone floor。 Along one wall stretched a tapestry； but the room was too darkly shadowed； despite flickering wall torches； for them to make it out。 The windows were open。
〃So； Silvercloak； you've e back；〃 a reedy voice from the doorway said； without warmth。 Kevin looked over quickly to see a bearded man leaning casually on a spear。
Loren ignored him。 〃Matt？〃 he said sharply。 〃Are you all right？〃 The Dwarf； visibly shaken by the crossing； managed a terse nod。 He had slumped into one of the heavy chairs and there were beads of perspiration on his forehead。 Kevin turned to check the others。 All seemed to be fine； a little dazed； but fine； except…
Except that Dave Martyniuk wasn 't there。
〃Oh； God！〃 he began； 〃Loren…〃
And was stopped in mid…sentence by a beseeching look from the mage。 Paul Schafer； standing beside Kevin； caught it as well； and Kevin saw him walk quietly over to the two women。 Schafer spoke softly to them； and then nodded once； to Loren。
At which point the mage finally turned to the guard； who was still leaning indolently on his weapon。 〃Is it the evening before？〃 Loren asked。
〃Why； yes；〃 the man replied。 〃But shouldn't a great mage know that without the asking？〃
Kevin saw Loren's eyes flicker in the torchlight。 〃Go；〃 he said。 〃Go tell the King I have returned。〃 〃It's late。 He'll be sleeping。〃 〃He will want to know this。 Go now。〃 The guard moved with deliberate； insolent slowness。 As he turned； though； there was a sudden thunk； and a thrown knife quivered in the panelling of the doorway； inches from his head。
〃I know you； Vart；〃 a deep voice said； as the man whipped around； pale even by torchlight。 〃I have marked you。 You will do what you have been told； and quickly； and you will speak to rank with deference…or my next dagger will not rest in wood。〃 Matt S？ren was on his feet again； and danger bristled through him like a presence。
There was a tense silence。 Then： 〃I am sorry； my lord mage。 The lateness of the hour 。 。 。 my fatigue。 Wele home； my lord； I go to do your will。〃 The guard raised his spear in a formal salute； then spun again； sharply this time； and left the room。 Matt walked forward to retrieve his dagger。 He remained in the doorway； watching。 〃Now；〃 said Kevin Laine。 〃Where is he？〃 Loren had dropped into the chair the Dwarf had vacated。 〃I am not sure；〃 he said。 〃Forgive me； but I truly don't know。〃
〃But you have to know！〃 Jennifer exclaimed。 〃He pulled away just as I was closing the circle。 I was too far under the power…I couldn't e out to see his path。 I do not even know if he came with us。〃
〃I do；〃 said Kim Ford simply。 〃He came。 I had him all the way。 I was holding him。〃
Loren rose abruptly。 〃You did？ Brightly woven！ This means he has crossed…he is in Fionavar； somewhere。 And if that is so； he will be found。 Our friends will begin to search immediately。〃
〃Your friends？〃 Kevin asked。 〃Not that creep in the doorway； I hope？〃
Loren shook his head。 〃Not him； no。 He is Gorlaes's tool…and here I must ask of you another thing。〃 He hesitated。 〃There are factions in this court； and a struggle taking place； for Ailell is old now。 Gorlaes would like me gone； for many reasons； and failing that； would take joy in discrediting me before the King。〃
〃So if Dave is missing 。 。 。 ？〃 Kevin murmured。
〃Exactly。 I think only Metran knows I went for five…and I never promised him so many； in any case。 Dave will be found； I promise you that。 Can I ask you to keep his presence a secret for this time？〃
Jennifer Lowell had moved to the open window while the others talked。 A hot night； and very dry。 Below and to her left； she could make out the lights of a town； lying almost directly adjacent to the walled enclosure of what she assumed to be Paras Derval。 There were fields in front of her； and beyond them rose the thick； close trees of a forest。 There was no breeze。 She looked upward； apprehensive； and was desperately relieved to find she knew the stars。 For though the slender hand on the window ledge was steady； and the cool green eyes gave little away； she had been badly thrown by Dave's disappearance and the sudden dagger。
In a life shaped of careful decisions； the only impulsive act of significance had been the beginning of her relationship with Kevin Laine one night two years ago。 Now； improbably； she found herself in a place where only the fact that she could see the Summer Triangle overhead gave her any kind of security。 She shook her head and； not lacking in a sense of irony； smiled very slightly to herself。
Paul Schafer was speaking； answering the mage。 〃It seems；〃 he said softly…they were all speaking quietly…〃that if you brought us here； then we're already a part of your group； or we'll be seen that way anyhow。 I'll keep my mouth shut。〃
Kevin was nodding； and then Kim。 Jennifer turned from the window。 〃I won't say anything；〃 she said。 〃But please find Dave soon； because I really am going to be very frightened if you don't。〃
〃pany！〃 Matt growled from the doorway。
〃Ailell？ Already？ It can't be；〃 said Loren。
Matt listened for a moment longer。 〃No 。 。 。 not the King。 I think 。 。 。〃 a