no fool. I am sure he still regards me as his most
dangerous rival. In that he is right," Opiode muttered
grimly. "I sense and see what kind of individual he is
and so am unalterably opposed to having him in a
position of power in the city 1 love so dearly. I believe
he must know my feelings toward him, and in any
case, such as he will leave nothing to chance. So he
will have this place watched. At least you can slip out
without being seen. I do not believe anyone eke
knows of my private entryway."
"When do I leave. Master?"
"Now." The wizard hesitated. "Have you eaten?"
"It does not matter. Master. I can eat anytime.**
"No," Opiode said firmly." "You may need all your
strength. First we eat."
They did so, the meal passing largely in contempla-
tive silence. Then Flute secured his waterproof cloak
snugly around him and moved to the arched alcove
on the far side of the room. The arch was an
inverted bell fashioned of tightly chinked tile. A
pressure spell invoked by Opiode kept the lake water
out.
Flute climbed the stone steps until he could look
out onto the black water that lapped against the wall
of the bell. He readied his gills, fluffing them out
with his hands, and dove into the water.
A couple of fast kicks carried him well out into the
open lake. He did not surface but swam hard and
unerringly for the four high islands of the east. Like
the other isles that combined to form the sprawling
city of Quasequa, they were connected to one an-
THE MOMENT or TBB MAOICUJT
19
other by causeways, but this was not the time to walk
openly on city streets.
It was time for stealth and for clinging to the dark
bottom of the lake.
II
Opiode sat in his robes of office, a thin, narrow
upswept cap balanced on the middle of his slick
head, and regarded his visitor. Flute stood quietly by
the front door.
The raven wore the kilt of his clan, colorful material
striped with green, purple, and red. His vest was light-
ly spun lavender. A single gold chain hung round
his neck to rest against his chest feathers. He rubbed
the underside of his beak with a flexible wingtip.
"Let me get this straight, now, sorcerer." He was
studying the papers Opiode had handed him. "You
want me to fly north along this route, turning slighdy
west here, to deliver this message." He shuffled the
papers, held up one filled with writing instead of
diagrams. "It goes to an old turtle named Clothahump
who lives in"—he checked the map briefly—"this ma-
jor tree here. For one hundred coins." Opiode nodded.
"That's a helluva long flight," Pandro said.
"I had heard that you were not afraid of long flights."
"I ain't. 1 ain't afraid of anything, least of all a little
long-distance traveling. But considering how quiet
you're being about this, and the amount you're paying
me, well, no disrespect. Master Opiode, but—what's
the catch?"
20
TBK MQMKNT OF THE KAOICIAN 21
Opiode glanced at Flute, then sighed and smiled,
down at Pandro. "It would not be right for me to
keep it from you. You must know what you are
about, as well as its importance.
"You must have heard that another has assumed
my position as chief advisor to the Quorum."
"Sure. It's all over town. This Markus fella... what's
it to me?"
"Good Pandro, I have reason to believe that this
newcomer intends ill toward our great city. But 1
cannot convince the members of the Quorum of
that. They would think I was making accusations out
of bitterness at my loss- And I cannot move against
this Markus by myself. I need help. This Clothahump
that you will seek out is the only one who can help us.
"The 'catch' is that this Markus the Ineluctable is
crafty as well as skilled in the arcane arts. You are
sure none saw you arrive here?"
"As sure as we can be, Master," said Flute. "I took
every precaution."
"Then, good Pandro, there may be no catch. But
be ever alert as you wing northward, for this Markus
is not stupid. If he believes you are aiding me, it
could be dangerous for you. If he did see you arrive
here, or sees you depart, he may try to stop you
from completing your journey."
"Is that all?" The raven rested his wingtips on his
hips for a moment, then rolled up the message and
the map and slipped them into his backpack. "Then
Acre's nothing to concern yourself with. Master
Optode. There isn't another flier in Quasequa who
Can stay in the air for as long as I can on as little food
as I can. Anybody he sends after me, if he sends
anyone. I can outfly." He flicked his beak with a
;Kringtip.
^ "See here? Been broken twice in fights. I can take
,^care of myself and I'm not worried about anything
Alan Dean Foster
22
this Markus fella might send up after me. If it flies, I
can outrun or outfight it."
"It is good to be confident. Overconfidence is
dangerous."
"Don't worry. I'll use my good judgment, sir. I've a
mate and three fledglings to take care of, and you
can bet I'm coming back to them. That's stronger
motivation than your hundred coins. Relax. I'll get
your message through."
"Can you fly at night?" Opiode asked him.
"Night, day, the air's all the same to me whether
it's light or dark out. But if you'd feel better about it,
I'll leave tonight."
Opiode smiled. "Feel better, I would. The night
must be a friend to us all, now." Flute nodded
solemnly.
"As you wish, sir."
"Caution above all," Opiode counseled him. "This
Markus has spies everywhere. Even among the fliers."
"I'll keep it in mind, sir. Once I'm clear of the lake
district I should have free flying all the way north.
Besides, I know all the'good fliers and fighters in the
high islands. I don't think any are in this fella's
pay."
"I was not worried about your cousins," Opiode
said darkly, "so much as I was concerned about what
this Markus might call forth from another, more
sinister sky to challenge you."
"Can't spend all our time worrying about the
unforeseeable, can we, sir? At least I can't. I sup-
pose that's your job." He tapped his head. "Anyway,
anything I can't outfly or outfight I can sure as hell
outsmart."
"Then be off with you, owner of an unseen cloud,
and hasten back to us safely."
Pandro started for the doorway. "You can bet on
that, sir."
THE MOMENT OF THE MAGICIAN
23
"A raven, you say?" Markus the Ineluctable was
listening with only half his mind to what the mouse
was telling him. He was too busy enjoying the splen-
dor of his new tower quarters, the finest that the
Quorumate Complex could offer.
"Yes, wise one," said the mouse. It had a tendency
to stutter, a condition made worse by its proximity to
the powerful and much-feared new chief advisor to
the Quorum. "It flew s-s-straight away from the
H-Ianding where Mossamay Street and the wizard's
c-c-close join."
"Which direction did it take?"
"It f-f-flew north, wise one. Few city fliers live to
the n-n-north."
Markus turned from contemplation of an exqui-
site wood carving to stare at his bodyguard. The
mouse barely came up to his hip. "Prugg, what's
your opinion of this?"
Prugg was very big, very strong, and not very
bright. Despite his size and strength, people had a
tendency to laugh at him. At least, they used to.