Red Magic - Jean Rabe [114]
The man in the center was the tallest and had large hands and long, slender fingers. The nails glowed orange as he extended his hands out toward the druid.
Galvin went for his sword, but the wizard was faster. Beams of orange light shot from his fingers into Galvin's breast, slamming him against the wall. He grabbed for his chest, trying to make the pain stop. His sword clanked against the marble floor.
The hands of the other two wizards began to glow as they stared at Galvin, but Brenna was quicker. The sorceress mumbled five arcane words, and instantly the hallway was filled with thick, black webs. They clung to the walls, the floor, and the men in the red robes.
Recovering from the orange bolts, Galvin gasped for air and peered into the webs, searching for the wizards.
"If they're lucky they might be able to break free, but by then, we'll be a long way from here," Brenna said calmly.
Galvin looked about the dark hallway until he spotted several torches along the wall. He lit them with a torch from the landing and coaxed the slave girl to climb the stairs. She was reluctant, but she had few other options.
Taking her hand, Galvin joined Brenna. Holding the torch up and peering carefully into the magical web, they spotted the three wizards, struggling futilely to break free of its grasp.
"These wizards probably aren't very powerful," she observed. "Otherwise Maligor would have taken them with him. They're probably apprentices, left behind to defend the castle."
Galvin glowered at the men in the webbing, then held the torch even closer to its fringe. "Cooperate with us," he warned, "and we'll let you live. If you don't, you'll fry in there." He had no intention of setting the webs on fire, but he hoped they believed his threat.
"We'll cooperate," a muffled voice replied.
Brenna released her web spell, then chanted the phrase Galvin remembered hearing in the orchard when she mesmerized the leader of the ore patrol. It had a similar effect on the wizards, who meekly allowed themselves to be tied up with cords from the hallway tapestries.
A group of long-haired slaves appeared in the hallway as the last of the wizards was being trussed up. "Stay back!" Brenna yelled. The slaves did as they were told. The girl at the sorceress's side rushed past the wizards and threw herself at a lanky young man in the middle of the group; Brenna guessed that he was her brother from his close resemblance to her. He held her tightly.
Galvin pulled one of the apprentice wizards to his feet. He looked at the group of slaves and the young girl. "Did Maligor have any drawings or maps? Did he keep them on this floor?"
She shook her head no.
"What's on this level?" the druid snapped at his hostage.
"The chambers for Maligor's apprentice wizards," he said reluctantly.
The druid dragged the wizard down the hallway and pushed him hard against the first door they came to, using the wizard's weight to force the door open. Inside, he saw that the wizard had apparently told the truth. It was a large, ornate room with expensive beds, plush furniture, and mahogany wardrobes. Galvin stuck his head back out into the hall.
"Bring the slaves in here!"
Brenna herded the slaves past the apprentices and down the hallway to the large room. She went back to check the room the slaves had come from to make sure it was empty, then returned and looked for the druid. He was directing the slaves into a corner of the large room. Apparently believing Maligor had been overthrown, the slaves asked Galvin which Red Wizard was in charge of the tower.
"No one at the moment," the druid replied. "We're not Thayvians. I'm a Harper. And you'll have to stay here. It isn't safe outside." He paused, glancing at their worried faces. "You'll be safe together. Just be sure to keep several candles and lanterns lit in this room and keep them going all night. We'll be back after we deal with Maligor."
"He's not here," one of the older slaves said stepping forward. The man had a yellow tinge to