Free Among the Powers by Lawrence Watt-Evans Page B

know, sir.”
    “Where did they go? Did they say?”
    “Yes, sir. Lady Sheila, Lady Sunlight, and
Rawl the Adjuster have gone to the High Castle. I believe they felt
called upon to settle a disagreement between Brenner of the
Mountains and Thaddeus the Black.”
    Bredon had observed this exchange without
comment. He had determined to his own satisfaction that the voice
was not coming from any of the walls, nor the floor, nor the
ceiling. It was coming from empty air, in the center of the room,
which was impossible. He also did not really know what a castle
was, though he had heard the word in childhood stories. More
specifically, he did not know what the High Castle was, or why so
many of the Powers should be gathering there. The mention of Rawl
the Adjuster, the legendary incarnation of justice and mercy,
impressed him, even here in the home of the Lady of the Seasons,
with the notorious Trickster at his side. He told himself that he
should be becoming accustomed to these casual references to the
figures of legend, particularly since he had yet to actually meet
any but the Trickster, but the name still carried an impact, and it
added further to his mounting burden of curiosity, so that he could
hold back no longer. “Who are you talking to?” he demanded. “What’s
going on?”
    “I’m talking to Sheila’s housekeeper,” Geste
replied, a trifle impatiently.
    “Why can’t I see him?”
    “Because it’s invisible.”
    Bredon started to protest that that was
impossible, but thought better of it. Among the Powers he had no
way of knowing what, if anything, might be impossible. Instead, he
asked, “What’s the High Castle?”
    “That’s the stronghold of Brenner of the
Mountains, about a hundred kilometers southwest of here. And I
think that’s where we’re headed.” He spun on his heel and marched
back out onto the terrace.
    Bredon hurriedly followed; behind them the
housekeeper’s voice called, “Safe journey, sir; I’ll tell Lady
Sheila you were here.”
    Bredon heard no command, saw no gesture, but
the platform glided smoothly over to meet them.
     
     

Chapter Seven
    ‘“ ...a strong head indeed, for a mortal,’ said
Brenner, as he calmly stood up.
    “ Mighty Konnel looked up at him in shock, still
just barely sober enough to realize that although the whole world
seemed to be spinning, Brenner was standing straight and steady.
Yet he had seen the Power down two drinks to each of his own, and
all poured from the same bottles!
    ‘“ I don’t understand it,’ he said, the liquor
loosening his tongue, ‘I just don’t understand it. I’ve drunk men
twice your size under the table, and now I can’t move, while you
aren’t even staggered!’
    ‘“ Ah,’ Brenner said, ‘but you can never drink one
of us under the table, for we are never drunker than we choose to
be. Listen, man, they call you the mighty Konnel, and you’re as
mighty a mortal as I’ve ever met, but when you match yourself
against an immortal you have no chance. When we matched arms, I
drew on the strength of steel as well as bone; when we tested our
eyes I saw the target with more than mortal sight, and threw with
the aid of demons; when we drank, a spirit in my body took the
alcohol when I had had enough. Here, take my hand, and the spirit
will draw the drunkenness from you, as well.’
    “ Konnel managed to bring a hand up where Brenner
could grasp it, and suddenly the fog vanished from his head and the
strength returned to his limbs, so that he felt better than he ever
had before, as if the strength of the mountains themselves was
pouring into him. He stood and laughed in amazement and
joy.
    ‘“ There!’ Brenner said. ‘Now, go back to your
village and tell them that you did as you swore to do, and that I
had to cheat to best you, and you caught me at it—that’s close
enough to the truth, and I’ve no need to shame you. You’re a good
man, mighty Konnel, and I’d be glad of your company should you ever
care to