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produced a short length of wire hidden in her hair and was trying to use it
to open her manacles. Roder opened his mouth to cry out, but said
nothing. He bit his lip as the heavy chains fell from her wrists. She caught
them with her knees, preventing them from noisily striking the ground.
Even the brigand in front of her didn t realize that she was free.
Sandys took a small step backward while facing ahead, men another.
Roder was fascinated. He shack a piece of wheatstraw in his teeth and
leaned against the door frame, chewing. In one swift movement the outlaw
dropped off the platform, turned and dashed to the castle wall some yards
away. Her timing was excellent. Amazingly, no one had noticed.
Roder watched intently as she tore the sleeves from her shift and used
one to make a scarf for her head. She squatted close to the wall, tore a
doublespan of cloth from the hem of her shift, and used it as a sash for her
waist. She used smut from the wall stones to dirty her face. In moments
the notorious outlaw had taken on the appearance of an unwashed peasant
woman. There were several score like her in the courtyard that very
moment.
Sandys sidled around the edge of the crowd. Her disguise was perfect,
and the men-at-arms paid no attention to her. She worked her way closer
to the gate. Commandant Burnond was observing the trials from a balcony
on the second floor of the keep, and Sandys passed directly below him.
His impassive gaze betrayed no surprise, no alarm, only arrogance.
Roder spat out his straw and shouldered his pitchfork. This was his
chance.
Sandys walked right out the open gate, against the stream of local folk
filing in to see the brigands meet justice. The guards ignored her. A dozen
paces from the castle, she began to walk faster. Down the hill were open
fields of grass, and beyond that, the forest. Once out of sight of the gate,
Sandys struck out across the meadow. Distant shouts from the courtyard
crowd could still be heard. Her escape was still unnoticed, but the
vengeful roar put haste in Sandys s step.
Hold!
Roder, pitchfork in hand, appeared on her right. She gauged the
distance between him and the edge of the woods. Too far; he could easily
catch her if she tried to run. She angled a bit to improve her lead, then
said, Well, stable boy. How did you know where I was?
I watched you, he said. I saw everything you did. You were
wonderfully clever.
How did you get here ahead of me?
Postern gate. I ran.
She inched a few more steps through the knee-high grass. You think
you can stop me?
If I brought you back now, it d show Lord Burnond I m no fool.
She palmed the sweat from her eyes. Is that what you want? The
approval of the Knights? You ll never get it, not even by recapturing me.
You ll never be anything but a stablehand to them.
He slowly lowered the pitchfork. I know.
You do?
I thought about what you and Lord Burnond said the day you were
captured. He s known me all my life, and he thinks I m a worthless
shoveler of manure. You knew me for two days and thought I was a clever
spy. That s why I m going to let you go.
She folded her arms. Roder, you are a fool. How do you know I didn t
say those things just to flatter you?
He shrugged. Doesn t matter.
Frowning, Sandys strode over to him and eyed him up and down.
Without warning, she took his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely.
He gaped. What was that for?
You ll figure it out.
She lifted her skirt and started running for the woods. I ll see you
again, Roder. Count on it!
He leaned on the pitchfork and watched Sandys race through the still
grass. Burnond would be apoplectic over her escape, no doubt. Roder
would enjoy that. He touched his lips, where the taste of the infamous
bandit Lord Sandys lingered. He enjoyed that, too.
See her again? Why not?
Sandys reached the thick green line of trees and plunged in. She never
looked back.
Much Ado About Magic
Kevin James Kage
Hello! shouted the kender.
Laudus started. His hand flew to the side, tipping an inkwell and
soaking a manuscript with rich black ink. Rising from his seat, the old
man thundered across the study and thrust his head out the window.
Fifty feet below him, the little man stood at the gates of the tower,
peering about and shouting Hello! every few moments.
Be quiet! the archmage said.
Hello! the kender said as he spotted the man. He waved his arms in
greeting. I say! Could you open the door, please? It seems to be stuck!
Absolutely not! Leave at once!
I can t leave! I have some very important information to relate!
Absolutely out of the question! Go away!
But it s very important!
Mustering his patience, the archmage said, Well, what is it?
The kender looked taken aback. I couldn t tell you! You might be a
spy!
The old man scowled and threw the now-empty inkwell. It struck the
ground to the right of the kender, bounced a foot more, and landed with a
dusty thud. The kender looked astonished beyond measure.
Thank you! he said cheerfully. But all I really need is the door
opened!
Laudus looked about for something else to throw, but he found nothing
disposable. He opted for the next-best solution.
Cedwick!
Moments later, a lanky young man stumbled into the room. Though
merely an apprentice, he stood a full head taller than Laudus and
possessed a good deal more hair. Almost done, Master, he said. Your
fine robes have been packed as you requested, and I ve taken the liberty of
packing
Enough, enough, Laudus said. I ll finish the packing. There s
something else I want you to do. There s a kender outside.
Akender?Why?
How should I know? Go deal with him!
Maybe he wants to give you information for the Conclave meeting.
Foolish boy! The Conclave doesn t inform outsiders of its meetings.
Least of all, kender. He waved a bony finger at his apprentice. Don t
you fill the kender s head with any ideas. If you so much as mention the
Tower of High Sorcery, we ll never be rid of him!
Of course, sir, Cedwick bowed. What if he has some important
information, though?
No kender in the history of Krynn has ever had important
information. After a moment, Laudus added, Unless, of course, he stole
it.
From beyond the window, the kender began to sing a bawdy drinking
song in an off-key tenor voice.
Go get rid of him!
Yes, Master!
Quite suddenly the kender changed keys, becoming considerably more
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