Free Spell of the Crystal Chair by Gilbert L. Morris Page A

around the council.
    This, Balog well knew, was exactly what most of them desired. He slammed the floor with his fist again. “If we could defeat those blasted Lowami, then no one would stand in our way!”
    “That should not be too much trouble, Chief. If you will agree to my proposals and join your forces to those of the Dark Lord, you will see that the Lowami will offer little resistance.”
    Zarkof talked on for some time, but then he shrugged. “But you will need to discuss this. I will leave your council. You may call me back to give me your decision.”
    Every eye watched as Zarkof left. At once an argument broke out. Everyone tried to talk at once. Finally Balog shouted, “Quiet! You sound like a flock of gabbling geese!”
    One of the younger members of the council said, “Sire, it is good that we join ourselves with this man. He promises us power to defeat our enemies.”
    But Magon spoke up. “My son, Zarkof’s words are fair, but fair words are one thing, and fair deeds are another.”
    “Do you find fault with him, then? Speak it out, Father,” Balog said.
    “In truth, there is much secrecy concerning this man. He surrounds himself with those I would not trust. It is whispered that he has many people enslaved in his fortress carved into the mountain of ice.”
    “Rumors,” Balog said. “Just rumors. There is no proof of that.”
    For some time the argument raged.
    “The Dark Lord, my son, is not for our people,” Magon said. “He promises freedom, but I have not heard that those he rules over have it.”
    Balog hesitated. Rarely did he overrule his father, but finally he shook his head. “In this case, I believe we will at least listen to the man’s proposal.” He nodded to a servant standing beside the door. “Ask the wizard to come in.”
    As soon as Zarkof stepped inside, he looked around the room, his gaze searching. He must have seen the resistance on the face of Magon and the other older men of the council, but he smiled when Balog said, “We will hear more of what you would do for us, wizard.”
    “Gladly. You have struggled with your war against the Lowami for years now. It sways back and forth. Sometimes you win; sometimes they are the victors. What you need is something to tip the scale so that, once and for all, you can overcome them.”
    “Exactly! And what do you offer?”
    “A weapon that will never fail.” The cold eyes of Zarkof glittered. “You will rule the Lowami soon, for the weapon that I offer you neither they nor anyone else can stand against.”
    Again, excited murmurs went around the table.
    Olah, who had been serving, came to kneel beside her husband. She put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Husband, this man is evil. He will bring grief to all our house.”
    But Balog shook her off. “Woman, this is men’s work! Tend to the food!”
    Then the chief rose to his feet. “Very well. As a token of good faith, you will give us a weapon. If it is successful, we will heed your words concerning the Dark Lord.”
    Zarkof laughed, and something—perhaps triumph?—flickered in his cold eyes. “You and your son will come with me. I will show you the power that I have.”
    Beorn, the son of Balog, was tall like his mother. He was so young that he was not actually on the council. So far he had said nothing. He had watched and listened carefully as the council rolled on. Now he whispered to Magon, “I wish you would go along, Grandfather. I am not sure about all this.”
    “Keep your eyes open as you go with this man. He is dangerous, and I’m afraid your father is easily swayed.”
    The following day, Zarkof, Balog, and Beorn flew over the surface of the snow in a sleigh pulled by oversized reindeer. They wound their way deep into the mountains of ice that ringed the flatlands. And then Zarkof waved a hand toward cliffs that rose high.
    “Thus you see the palace of the pale wizard.”
    The cliffs were marked with barred windows. At the top glittered a