The Pixilated Peeress (15 page)

             
She stood up and stepped back, glancing at the va
cated lap. "Art ready?"

             
"Aye," he said thickly, wondering how he could stand up w
hile still clad.

             
"Then you shall have your desire once a small matter hath been attended to." Her tone became as briskly businesslike as that of a Rhaetian banker.

             
"Eh? What's this?"

             
From her reticule Yvette brought out a sheet of pa
per, folded and
refolded into a small packet. She spread the paper on the writing desk, saying: "You have but to sign this trivial engagement, and my body shall be yours. Here's pen and ink
—
and one thing more!"

             
She picked up the golden dress and detached the ruby brooch
. "When you sign, I shall prick your thumb and press it to the contract."

             
"Damn!" muttered Thorolf. "Every time we
...
" His irritation turned to ire. "Why on earth should I drip blood on this paper?"

             
"The Master insists. It validates the contract."

             
F
or a heartbeat, Thorolf's passion pulled him forward while his prudence held him back. Then he growled: "I'll sign nought without reading it first."

             
He settled himself on the writing chair and moved the candle closer to the paper. He read that the signer
bound himself to apply for membership in Sophonomy, to enroll in the prescribed courses, diligently to pursue these studies for the glory of Sophonomy and the ben
efit of mankind, and to pay the required fees.

             
Thorolf looked narrowly at Yvette. She was
still a gorgeous creature, but this crass and ominous bargain chilled his lust. That drop of blood would likely give Orlandus some magical hold upon him; if he displeased the Master, he, too, might be turned into an octopus.

             
"What is the purpose of this
document?'" he asked, ke
eping his voice emotionless.

             
"To do the Master's will. I know no details; I do but know: no contract, no venery. Come, Sergeant, wouldst
not show yourself as proficient at. this kind of riding as that upon your mighty steed?" She
leaned over and began plucking at his ties, laces, and buttons, rubbing a small but firm breast against his cheek.

             
It revolted Thorolf that Orlandus' magic had reduced this queenly woman to a kind of fancy whoredom. Be crafty! he commanded himself as he
turned away from the desk, saying:

             
"Yvette, my dear, this contract is a serious matter. I must think ere deciding." He stepped to the door. "I shall go for a walk in the night air. Wait not upon my return, but go to bed when you list."

             
"But
—
"

             
"
If upon my return I have decided to sign, I shall rouse you. Good night!"

-

             
In the fading twilight, Tho
rolf strode briskly to Bardi's house. When the soldier had told his tale, Bardi fingered his straggling beard and mused: "My c
ongratulations. Thorolf, on your self-restraint. Few stout fellows of your age would have shown the like."

             
"Hardest damned 'nay' I ever said in my life," grunted Thorolf.

             
"As for your lady, it sounds to me as if she were possessed by a delta. She is wh
at the country folk call
'
pixilated
'
. Were I seeking a woman, an unlikely thing at my age
—
" Bardi gave a dry chuckle. "
—
I should choose one less prone to magical misfortunes."

             
"Some of which you yourself brought about," grumped Thorolf. "And just what, p
ray, is a delta?"

             
"A delta is one of the inhabitants of the spirit world. Members of this species are invisible on this plane, save that in the dark you can see one as a point of twinkling
light. Also, a skilled sorcerer can capture it, force it into thi
s world, and compel it to occupy the body of a human being."

             
"Wouldst call that diabolic possession?"

             
"Not exactly, nay. Deltas are not evil spirits: they have no special bent toward inflicting weal or woe upon us mortals. They are not highly intellige
nt and, when controlled by a wizard, obey the commands of him who captures them, like well-trained dogs. Thus they com
pel the bodies they possess to do as the magus orders. But I must see your lady with mine own eyes."'

             
"Come, then." As they walked towa
rd the Green Dragon, Thorolf asked: "How complete is the sorcer
er's domination? Will a delta-possessed victim slay him or herself at the mage's command?"

             
"I know not for certain," said Bardi. "Methinks it doth depend upon two f
actors: the servility of the delta toward the mage and the strength of mind of the victim. These factors vary. I have heard that, when the sorcerer gives the delta a command that violates the most fervent conviction of the possessed one, the subject's bod
y
is frozen to immobility. Pray slow down, Thorolf," he puffed. "Mine aged limbs are not up to your soldiery stride!"

-

             
At the Green Dragon, Thorolf found the chamber fee
bly lit by a single candle and Yvette asleep in the bed. Upon the arrival of Thorol
f and Bardi, she awoke and sat up, the blanket and sheet falling away from her slen
der torso.

             
"Sergeant," she asked in her leaden monotone, "who is this man?"

             
"You've met Doctor Bardi, Yvette," said Thorolf. "Remember that we sought out Doctor Bardi w
hen you wished to change your appearance to foil pursuers?"

             
She shook her head. "It is all confused. But what brings him hither? Would he bed me, also? I am not empowered to grant
—
"

             
"Thankee for the compliment," murmured Bardi. "But
—
"

             
"Nay, nay!" Tho
rolf interposed hastily. "He would merely verify your health."

             
"My health is excellent," she said. "If he fear injury from your great
—
"

             
"Nought like that, my dear," Thorolf interrupted. "Do but sit you quiet for a moment!"

             
Bardi changed his eyeglasse
s, lit another candle, and held it close to Yvette while studying her eyes and look
ing down her throat. Then he set down the candle.

             
"Wilt see me safely home, Thorolf?" he asked. "I am too old and frail to wander the nighted streets alone, with ruffians
aprowl. But pray, run not mine old legs off!"

             
"Certes," said Thorolf. "I shall soon return, Yvette. Go back to sleep, my dear."

-

             
As he and the ancient mage traversed the darkened streets, Thorolf said: "Well, Doctor, what thinkst?"

             
"Meseems a plain case of delta possession."

             
"Can this spirit be exorcised?"

             
"Not by me, and mayhap not even by Orlandus, who placed it there. Betimes the deltas come to enjoy resid
ing in a mortal frame and refuse to vacate, like mun
dane tenants who f
all behind with their rent. Perchance Magus Myrdhin in Kymri or Archmage Valentius in Aemilia could force the interloper out."

             
"Is it not illegal so to possess another?"

             
"Aye, aye; it's one of the worst forms of magical malpractice. But ye know as well
as I that dark deeds are done even in our law-abiding land. It were hard to assemble evidence that would stand the test in court, even could we discover jurymen not so terrified of sor
cerers as to refuse to convict.

             
"Moreover, our public prosecutors di
slike cases in
volving magic. To forestall employment of spells to subvert justice, the prosecutor must either hire a rival wizard, at public expense, to guard the court by counterspells; or bind and gag the magician, leaving but one of's hands unbound to
write his answers."

             
"Would Orlandus banish the delta when we have paid all of his bill?" asked Thorolf hopefully.

             
"Count not upon it. His diaphanes are the primary tools wherewith he hopes to further his ambitions; so why should he yield up one?"

             
"We
ought to have been more careful in making an agreement with him."

             
"No doubt; but we were under emergent pressure and could not afford lengthy negotiations. Besides, pa
per promises are still paper promises, which the promiser may break unless the promis
ee have some exigent hold upon him."

             
"Such, say, as a hostage?"

             
"Aye." Bardi fingered his straggly beard. "As things do stand, the only sure release of these deltas back to their native plane is the death of him who installed them. Then, soon or late, they quit the bodies thus possessed and retreat to their proper sph
e
re. I ween they wax homesick."

             
Thorolf frowned. "To slay the Psychomage were a large order, to say nought of the law I've sworn to up
hold."

             
"Oh, my dear Sergeant, think not of such a foray! Orlandus will anticipate your assault and, though he be not a
wizard to the highest class, will ready a lethal defense."

             
"Then how to rescue the lady? Could I not seek mag
ical aid of mine own?"

             
Bardi spread his hands helplessly. "I were as useless against him as a fly whisk against a dragon."

             
"Who, then?"

             
"
Dear me! I know not who might better serve your turn. Sordamor would charge an emperor's ransom; Gant hath been effective but is now enslaved by his drug; Avain is a treacherous rascal."

             
"That smiling little man?"

             
"Yea verily. As the playwright Helmana
x wrote, a man can smile and smile and still be a scoundrel."

             
Thorolf pondered, his worried thoughts flitting back to the Green Dragon. As they reached the wizard's house, he asked: "Doctor, may I catch a night's sleep here, instead of returning to the i
nn?"