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'Welcome,' said the Grand Knight at last, rising to his feet. He too wore the full regalia of the knights, his helmet and his sword set to one side of the table. He waved the advisors away impatiently. Zaitabor closed the large door behind them and stood at Himesor's side.

Defrabax nodded curtly, not wanting his words to betray anything.

'Please, come sit at this end of the table.' Himesor indicated some high-backed chairs with the flick of a once-powerful hand. Now, let us talk for a little while. I have been told that you are not a man that cares much for social pleasantries,' observed the Grand Knight. 'I can respect that.

Let me then come straight to the point: we have a need for your homunculus.'

Defrabax fought to control his surprise. He forced a quizzical look across his features. 'Homunculus, my lord?'

'Indeed. Do not think that the idle chatterings of the directionless scum that live down there in the city do not reach us here.' Himesor wiped his mouth as if the mere mention of the filthy city brought forth an acrid stench. 'Tell us about the homunculus you have created.'

'My lord, I . . . I don't know what you mean.'

'You deny that you have, by your various and diverse magics, called forth such a creature?' Himesor's voice was gentle, the words alone carrying enough threat.

'My lord, I have tried, but the nature of such a process ... '

Defrabax sighed. 'It is beyond even my powers.'

Himesor shuffled a few papers in front of him, averting his eyes for a moment. 'And yet you brag of your creature: when you lower your guard, drink a little too much in a tavern, think that no one of any importance is listening . . .

Remember always that our ears are everywhere, beholding the evil and the good.'

'My lord,' said Defrabax, 'I beseech you not to pay too much attention to an old man's foolishness. Please believe me. There is no creature.'

Himesor rubbed his chin in thought for a few moments. 'I have no way — yet — of proving that you lie. But, please, entertain me for just a little longer. If you had a genuine need for such a creature, how would you go about creating it?'

Defrabax smiled confidently. 'I would consult the standard works on the subject. Despite some contradictions, the authorities seem to be united in their belief that the most important factor —'

Himesor coughed impatiently. 'The precise details of your arcane arts are of no interest to me.'

Zaitabor took up the questioning, his voice and unblinking eyes having none of Himesor's mock friendliness. 'You admit, then, a familiarity with these works?'

'Why of course,' said Defrabax. 'Any mage worth their pennies could tell you —'

'But you have made it your special interest.'

No, no, no,' said Defrabax. 'I dabbled in my youth, under the little known mystic Qaxaop, but our greatest moment was the brief reanimation of a brown bug.'

'Then what are you currently working on?' asked Zaitabor.

'The use of pyramidal structures to accelerate the harvest, potions that can mould the memory . . . I do the work that I am asked to and paid for.'

'If we asked you,' said Himesor, 'do you think that you could construct a homunculus?'

Defrabax rubbed his chin. 'I am less than sure. I have never succeeded in the past. I would have to consult the texts and . . . But we're going round in circles.'

'If you were approached to create such a man-creature, or had your own reasons for wanting such a thing to do your bidding,' asked Zaitabor with a smug smile on his face, 'do you feel that science would have something to offer you?'

The way Zaitabor spat out the word 'science' hinted at terrible heresies.

'Of course not,' said Defrabax instantly. 'I am quite aware of the evil of science, of the penalties that face the unlicensed scientist, of the majesty of the knight's teachings and —'

'But we feel that the temptation might be there,'

said Himesor gravely. 'If we find any evidence that you have been dabbling where you should not .