Having discovered the library’s organization, Torio turned to Maldek’s notebooks, wondering why the Master Sorcerer had left them in plain sight. That had to be where the trap lay, if there was one.
Maldek could not know which of his guests would wake first this morning-nor would he probably have guessed that Torio would not enter the library, although no skilled Reader would have had to. Even Master Readers read with their eyes most of the time.
Torio carefully assessed the books on the desk. He found no physical traps. Moving them would not trigger a trapdoor or a falling weight. There was no poison on the covers or sprinkled within the pages…
Or was there?
The last entry in the top notebook was dated yesterday:
My visitors approach. They will be worthy opponents, for they have all survived. Even the hound has been turned to their advantage- although I saw in the blind one’s mind that he knows nothing of animals.
Had he shown fear or hate, the beast would have torn him apart.
What powers have these five, that all have eluded my traps? They are weak, their powers nothing to mine. I must know their secret. I must have this power they share.
Now that was interesting, that Maldek should think they shared some secret power!
In an earlier entry, Torio found that someone had Read Dirdra aboard the ship with them and relayed the message to Maldek, who offered a reward for such information. “I knew she would return,” he wrote. “I may be forced to restore her brother-but if I do, he will not be the same person. Still, Dirdra need not know that limit to my powers.”
So if Dirdra had not arrived in the company of Readers who could warn of his treachery, Maldek would have led her on until he obtained what he wanted. Torio found the idea repellent. What kind of person would want the physical favors of someone who did not desire him?
It was not merely that Maldek was a Reader, and would know that Dirdra came to him unwillingly. None of Torio’s nonReader friends would coerce someone to act against her will. He shied away from the mind of someone who could think like that.
Yet… if he did not come to uaderstand the man, how could he help his companions escape Maldek’s clutches?
So he continued to read.
And did not know he had fallen into the trap in the library until Gray became bored with sleeping on the fur rug beside the bed and jumped up to nudge Torio.
Pulling his mind out of Maldek’s notes, he found that it was already midmorning. His companions were all gone from their rooms.
Torio swung his legs off the bed, Reading for the others. They were in the room where they had first met Maldek last night. The Master Sorcerer was once more on his throne.
A woman was being brought in through the courtyard, guarded-a Reader! In fact, a strong Reader who would have been a Magister, perhaps even a Master, in the Academy system.
“Who-?” the woman’s mind questioned as Tor-io’s thoughts touched hers. “You are Aventine!”
“Magister Torio, late of the Adigia Academy,” he told her in terms she would understand-for the flood of images her mind produced told him that she had come here from his homeland.
“Cassandra,” she identified herself, “once of Portia’s Academy in Tiberium.”
Although Torio did not verbalize it, the woman Read his surprise that such a strong Reader was not ranked.
Ill was once a Master Reader,” she told him, bitter shame shrouding her thoughts. Ill broke my vows-and my life has been misery ever since.”
As Cassandra and Torio exchanged thoughts, she was being led by the guards toward Maldek’s throne room, while Torio hurried down the stairs, Gray at his heels. He could Read Cassandra’s reaction to being brought before Maldek: resignation, and the expectation of some new trouble piled upon a lifetime of the same. But she had no idea why she was here.
“Don’t antagonize Maldek,” Torio warned as he Read that she cared little what happened to her now.
“You think he doesn’t know anything he chooses?” the woman replied. “He Reads already who I am, and how much life has punished me, first for breaking my vows, then for fleeing to this land of evil.”
And Torio could, indeed, Read that the Master Sorcerer was following their mental conversation with avid interest.
Torio Read Astra stiffen, and turn to look as well as Read, but she was carefully guarding her thoughts so that only a strange turmoil of emotion could be Read from her.
Cassandra gave a despairing mental laugh as she was taken into the throne room. Ill made one mistake in my life-and it destroyed the man I loved. Why should I be surprised if Maldek decides to add to my punishment?”
The Master Sorcerer rose as Cassandra was escorted in and stretched out a hand to beckon her forward. “Welcome, Cassandra,” he said with the same guileless charm he had turned on Melissa the night before, “Have no fear-I have a wonderful surprise for you. Behold!”
As Torio took his place beside Melissa, Maldek dismissed the guards and motioned Astra forward. “As I promised-here you will find what you sought.”
Astra moved stiffly, her mind refusing to believe- until she stood face to face with Cassandra. Torio heard Zanos gasp as the two women stood in profile: the same lines, as alike as the two faces formed by the drawing of a wine goblet.
Cassandra stared blankly at Astra-but the younger woman whispered, “You… you are my mother!”
Cassandra blinked, then stepped back and glared at Maldek. “This is some trick for your evil satisfaction!”
“Indeed not,” replied the sorcerer. “It is for your satisfaction, Cassandra-but especially for your daughter’s.”
“I have no daughter,” the woman insisted. “My first child died soon after birth… and later I bore my husband two stillborn sons. The gods punished us for our transgressions.”
“Cassandra,” said Astra, “I am your daughter, Astra. Portia lied to you. When you were weak after childbirth, your Reading powers diminished, she used the techniques designed to heal sick minds… but to evil purpose. She made you think that you Read your own child dead.”
“But… why?” Cassandra asked. “Portia had no reason to lie to me.”
“She wanted to keep your child in her power. I am the daughter of two Master Readers. Portia led me to believe that you had deserted me, so that I would turn to her as a mother. But when I grew up, my Reading powers increased-and I discovered how she had lied to me. And to you… Mother.”
Cassandra stared. “I Read that you are telling the truth… at least as you know it.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “Oh, child, whether you are truly my daughter or no, I have brought the curse of the gods upon you if your search for me brought you to this place of evil!”
Astra blushed. “I… did not come seeking you,” she admitted. “I had no way to trace where you might have gone. I came here with my husband, who-”
“Husband!” exclaimed Cassandra, looking past Astra to Zanos, Reading his clumsy effort to follow their thoughts as well as their words. “Yes… he is a Dark Moon Reader, but surely you inherited enough powers-?” Her eyes widened as she Read Astra’s tumbled thoughts. “You… you ran away from Portia to marry this man? You broke your vows, too? Oh, child-why did you have to inherit my weakness?”
“You don’t understand!” said Astra. “Mother- please come with Zanos and me. Let us tell you our story.” She turned to the Master Sorcerer, who was watching the reunion with keen interest. “Maldek, I think I have had in the back of my mind this whole journey that somewhere I might find news of my parents… even find them alive. And so I thank you.”
The sorcerer smiled with apparent sincerity. “It is my pleasure, Astra. By all means, go have a private talk with your mother. Melissa, if you will come with me, I will continue to teach you what you seek.