Free The Secular Wizard - Wis in Rhyme - 4 by Christopher Stasheff Page A

hesitate in midstep, to see that block of granite smash the paving in front of me! And the gargoyle who came alive, the cat with teeth like scimitars, the sword that leaped from the scabbard even as I buckled it on-these all required a lifetime's knowledge of magic, or a pact with the Devil such as only a man of great importance could achieve!" His gaze strayed; his voice sank. "A man such as my grandfather, King Maledicto, reaching out from be-yond the grave. . . "
    "Come, Majesty!" the chancellor scoffed. "If the Devil was so displeased with your grandfather as to withdraw protection, why would he now give him power to reach out from Hell?"
    // Why, because his disappointment with the grandson has become even greater than the lapses of the grandsire!" Boncorro snapped at him, then looked away again. "But I shall not yield! I shall not be-come what that wicked old man was-a murderer, a child slayer-" "What a notion!" Rebozo cried. "You who have no children, to

worry about slaying them! Come, Majesty, bolster your spirits!
    We shall find and defeat this sorcerer yet!"
    King Boncorro lifted a brooding gaze to him. "See that you do, Lord Chancellor, see that you do! Begin with the servants, all of them-but not with torture, mind you! Take each into a separate chamber and question him or her closely, then compare their answers and see if there is any agreement! If there is, bring word of it to me before you take any action-simple consensus is no proof of truth! it could just as easily be a sign that one person is disliked by all, and since so many of them are left from my grandfather's court, dislike of one could mean that only he can be relied upon!"
    "Majesty, it shall be done as you say." The chancellor bowed.
    "May I congratulate you on your courage in having the determination to persevere in your reforms in the face of such concerted effort by the power of Evil to destroy you." Boncorro waved the compliment away. "There is little danger in it, Chancellor. The powers of Evil have little cause to be displeased with me, for whatever my purpose, it is certainly not the doing of good for its own sake. I attempt to gain power and riches, that is all."
    "Aye-by making the whole country more rich."
    "My wealth comes from the people, one way or another, Lord Chancellor. I saw that as I watched serfs plow and reap. if I would have greater riches, I must first inspire the people to produce greater wealth from which I may draw."
    "Yes, you have explained that many times." Rebozo sighed.
    "That, however, does not explain your determination to see justice done, and to protect the innocent from punishment or abuse."
    "Does it not? People will work harder when they feel they are safe, Chancellor, and can bend their minds to their tasks without the constant worry that the sword will fall on their necks, or their goods be plundered at a lord's whim, When they know they will keep a fair share of that which they grow, the farmers will work harder to grow more-and when serfs can be sure which efforts will not bring punishment, they will put more sweat into those that will be rewarded."
    "Yes, you have explained that time and again," Rebozo said, "and that greater assurance of safety and greater wealth should lead people to use their newfound gains to buy pleasure."
    "Why, so they do." Boncorro waved at his court. "Even here you can see it-they are better dressed than ever before, and come flocking to my castle to seek pleasure, the young most of all!
    For each of those you see here, Rebozo, there are a thousand serfs who are drinking more ale and buying the favors of wantons. Vice flourishes, so the Devil should be not only appeased, but even pleased."
    "Then why should the same Devil give a sorcerer power against you?"
    Boncorro shrugged. "The greater the worry and fear, the happier the Devil. Look for an extremist in sorcery, Rebozo-one who believes that any human happiness is wrong if it is not wrung from the pain and suffering of others.