Red Magic - Jean Rabe [118]
Rushing inside, Galvin found the slaves going through the apprentices' belongings, taking objects that might be valuable. He disregarded their looting and strode to the nearest man.
"Take care of these animals. Get them food, water," Galvin ordered. "Keep them under close watch for a while. They're not healthy enough to be turned loose." Gently he handed the mole and hedgehog to the man. Brenna gave the hare to the slave girl from Aglarond.
"Somehow we have to get below the tower," Galvin said. "Maligor's got creatures there like the one that attacked us at our camp."
"What are you talking about?" Brenna was perplexed and a little worried about the druid's agitated state.
"I don't have time to explain now. We've got to hurry."
"But we've been all over the ground floor," she sputtered. "There was nothing below that tower."
"He's got some kind of a secret door," Galvin said quickly. Then he pounded down the stairs, pulling Brenna along with him, until he stopped on the third floor. He released her hand and strode to the chamber where they had left the pleasure slaves. The chest was still secure against the doors, but Wynter was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn!" he exclaimed. "I should never have asked him to stay here. He's like a child." The druid pushed the chest aside and threw open the doors. The scantily clad pleasure slaves stared at him nervously.
"Get out of here!" Galvin shouted. "Maligor won't be back. Run! Get as far away from this evil place as you can. You're free." He spun back toward the hall, not waiting to watch their response. He charged off to find the centaur.
"Why are you so certain the Red Wizard won't be back?" Brenna asked as she hurried to keep up with him.
"Because I'm going to find him, Brenna, and when I do, I'm going to kill him."
They ran down one corridor after another, throwing open doors to rooms and calling for Wynter.
The color drained from Galvin's face as he searched, fearing for the safety of his confused friend. Galvin cursed himself for not keeping Wynter with him, but the druid had feared the centaur would slow them down. His equine legs weren't meant for the spiral staircases.
With Brenna close behind him, the druid bolted into the kitchen to find Wynter staring at his reflection in the glass of the china cabinet. The centaur slowly turned, a puzzled expression etched on his tanned face.
"We're in Thay, aren't we?" Wynter stated simply. "I remember now." He scratched at a circular scab on his temple. "I remember that I used to live in Thay, but I can't remember why I'm here now."
Brenna rushed to him and threw her arms about his waist. "We'll help you remember, Wynter," she said quick ly.
"My head hurts, Brenna," the centaur said, scratching at the scab again.
"Come on, both of you," Galvin coaxed. The druid was relieved to find his friend, and he was encouraged that the centaur seemed to have recovered at least a little. But the druid was in a hurry to get below the castle. He was too close to discovering Maligor's secret to slow down now.
In the hallway beyond the kitchen, Galvin began to pull tapestries and paintings from the wall, searching for some sign of a door that would lead to the chamber he had seen while he was linked to the hedgehog.
"He's probably using magic to hide the door you're looking for, altering its appearance to blend in with the walls. There are certain spells designed to mask such things." Brenna's voice was tinged with concern. "We don't have much more time, Galvin. We've been here several hours already. The undead outside…"
"Are no doubt getting anxious-at least the ones that can think. I know, we've got to hurry and find some answers or they'll turn on us or force us to march after the gnolls right away. I'm not even sure we should be going after the gnoll army-not if we want to catch Maligor." He stroked his chin, then began to examine the walls carefully. "I think I know how to get us underground, although not without a lot of effort. I should have done this to