Archiwum
- Index
- 02 opengl 3.2 szablon aplikacji OpenGL
- Brooks, Terry Word 02 A Knight of the Word
- Jay D. Blakeny The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice 02 The Ring
- Celmer Michelle Królewskie zwišzki 02 Ksišżę i sekretarka (Goršcy Romans 893)
- Margit Sandemo Cykl Saga o czarnoksiężniku (02) Blask twoich oczu
- 115. Sherryl Woods Bogaci kawalerowie 02 Randka z przeznaczeniem
- Diana Palmer Big Spur,Texas 02 Passion Flower
- Johanna Lindsey Viking Family Tree 02 Hearts Aflame
- Carroll_Jonathan_ _Vincent_Ettrich_TOM_02_ _Szklana_zupa
- Nawiedzona Deveraux Jude
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- stemplofil.keep.pl
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this a lot of thought yet, but obviously you re a major talent. Maybe your
talent isn t limited to summoning portals. You also seem to have the knack for
figuring out alternative magical systems, for want of a better way to put it.
Sheila thought about it. Maybe I do.
I think you could figure out Earth s system easy.
If I have enough time, maybe, Sheila said. But we can t take the chance.
What if they get through?
Gene grabbed her arm. Look, there s no way I m going to let you stay behind
and face those things alone.
No, Gene. It has to be. You take Linda back.
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Nothing doing. You re coming with us.
Gene, I can t.
The ear-splitting groan of tortured metal filled the library. The door had
turned white-hot.
Sheila, go with him, Linda said. I ve rigged something up to buy us time.
They turned. The portal now looked like a bank deposit vault. An enormous
steel door with a complex locking mechanism hung open on gimbals.
It s three feet thick, Linda said. It s set to close in fifteen seconds.
Sheila, you ll have about five minutes to learn Earth magic. Run, everybody!
Snowclaw, Linda, Barnaby, and Deena ran. Kwip, Gene, and Sheila stayed.
Gene said, Look, if the demons take over the castle, Earth s done for.
I suppose you re right.
An explosion rocked the place. Shards of molten metal spewed from a small hole
that had appeared in the barrier blocking the library entrance.
Gene and Sheila ran for the portal. Kwip waited for Osmirik, who came charging
out of the open stacks, book in hand.
When they reached the other side, everyone watched the huge steel door swing
shut. It closed with a slam, and the complex locking mechanism hummed and
whirred for a moment. Then it fell silent.
A few seconds later, the vault door disappeared. Through the portal lay a room
somewhere in the castle. It was furnished with antiques and decorated with
tapestries and other curios. A strikingly attractive woman in a dark red gown
stepped into the frame of the aspect. Startled, she halted, regarding the
group of strangers on the other side with some astonishment.
Who in Creation might you people be? she asked.
We might ask the same of you, Gene said.
She stiffened. Such impertinence. What are you doing in my house? Where are
my servants?
Look, lady, we just missed being devil s food cake by a short hair. The
demons were right behind us.
Her eyebrows shot up. Demons? Where did you see them?
We just came from the castle.
So it was you who moved this end of the portal. How did you manage it? She
cut short any answer with a wave of her hand. Never mind. You must leave my
house immediately. I cannot let you re-enter the castle this way.
We are under attack here.
We know. We don t want to go back. We re leaving right now.
You there!
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The voice belonged to a thin young man in dark slacks and white open-collared
shirt who had entered the living
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ancie%20-%20Castle%2002%20-%20Castle%20for%20Rent.htm room by way of a door to
the basement. He approached the group warily.
How did you ? Then he saw the woman. He bowed. Your Royal Highness.
Anselm, show these people out. You know what to do.
Of course, ma am. Anselm showed a trace of a smile.
I sort of figured that, Gene said, drawing his sword. Then his face fell, as
if he suddenly realized something.
Your sword will avail you nothing, Her Royal Highness said. You are in the
grip of forces beyond your understanding. Cooperate, or it will go badly for
you.
If you think I m worried about this little pinhead, Gene said, jabbing
toward Anselm, think again.
Anselm s hand was a blur. It seemed to grow a wicked-looking automatic pistol.
He pointed it at Gene. You re the one who should go back to square one,
friend. He grinned wickedly.
You do have a point, Anselm old bean, Gene said, sheathing his sword.
Very good, Anselm, the woman said. How goes it?
All quiet, ma am.
Splendid. No sign of my brother?
None at all. May I ask how your battle fares?
Certainly. Deems and his men are holding their own in the outer quarters.
Which is to say they are being slaughtered. But my spells sustain them. Even
an armless corpse can be animated enough to block a demon s path. In the
unlikely event my brother should discover the location of this portal, you
will do your best to take him alive. Is that understood?
It will be done, ma am.
Good. I will put up the veil again.
The woman waved her hand and the portal became a dark oblong.
Anselm gestured with the gun. Okay, down those stairs, all of you. But first
get rid of all that steel. Throw them in a pile & there.
Snowy, Gene, and Kwip tossed their swords and daggers on the floor near a red
leather easy chair.
Right. Now, down the steps, single file. And I ll shoot the first one who
thinks about &
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Outside, the night erupted in fireworks.
Gene yelled, Rush em, Snowy!
But Snowy had already begun his leap. Anselm squawked, stepped back, and
fired. Snowy hit him first, then
Gene jumped on top. The three of them rolled around the carpet until Kwip
jumped on the pile. The tangle of arms and legs became a beast that shambled
about the living room, upsetting end tables here and there.
Jesus Christ! Gene yelled finally, springing to his feet. Everyone unpiled,
got up, and stepped back warily.
Anselm rose to his feet. Something strange was happening to him. Parts of his
skin had cracked like an ill-fitting rubber suit. The cracks revealed an
interior yellow-orange glow. The fissures veined out and widened, and the skin
fell away in swatches, revealing the demon body within. The demon swelled to
full volume as it shed its outer camouflage. The last of the skin and clothing
dropped off as the eerily glowing creature topped seven and a half feet.
YOU WILL DIE, HUMAN SCUM! ALL OF YOU!
The house lights went out.
Thirty
Estate
WHAT KIND OF deal did you have in mind? Incarnadine asked the enormous
apparition that had appeared above the house.
I m sure we can work something out, Inky old friend.
I don t share your optimism. What do you have to offer, aside from what
already belongs to me?
Well, we re not exactly offering anything, my dear Inky. In fact
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I am not your dear Inky !
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