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Show the Grendels, of whom any wight of good sense would run from in full terror." Dr'Anya raised her eyebrows. "He, affrighted of red DragonGeese?" she asked, astonished. "Of one," said Rollanda. "Of one special red DragonGoose. The fool says 'tis possessed, that DragonGoose, of some wight's spirt." Dr'Anya blenched. How did the villain know about that murrain, she thought, that has haunted her and the young Janni for these many TwelveMonths? "He said he was concealed in a tree somewhere and saw it happen," Rollanda went on. "He saw the very magic while he be attempting to break into some keep or castle." Rollanda spat again. "Paaaaah! The little fool. Made he great winkings and lookings behind him and pretending to know something more than any other wight in the worlde whilst he told me of it, but sure I am of the bird he spoke of-it has but an evil dispositon, merely, and tendeth toward overindulgence in wild onion." "A fool," Dr'Anya repeated, struck dumb by the story Rollanda told. "And now he be full of schemes to use the bird, now 'tis here." Rollanda waved a hand in dismissal. "But he be ever and always full of schemes, the little fool, e'en though he be sore terrified of whatever he schemes to use the whilst!" She laughed. "Good Saint Ida," breathed Dr'Anya, terrified herself. Inside the computer room in Round Valley, Phrapp was leaning back in his chair. He and Janni had programmed a sketchy government that called for drawings-by-lot two weeks in the future. Before that, notices would go out and instructions to the headfolk at each village and each parish of 343 |
