Castle Spellbound by John DeChancie

Author:John DeChancie
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1991-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Stairwell

“What's the matter?” Dalton called back over his shoulder. “Getting winded, old boy?"

Below, Thaxton was slow to mount the next few steps. “Nothing of the kind. Just feathering back a bit to conserve strength."

“Only five more stories to the top."

“Right."

Thaxton took two steps at a time to catch up, winding his way up the spiral stairwell. But when he reached the spot where Dalton stood waiting, he wilted.

He sat and heaved a weary sigh. “Gadzooks."

“You should get more exercise, old fellow. Play a little golf now and then."

Thaxton sent a withering look upward.

“Or whatever's your pleasure,” Dalton amended.

Thaxton said sarcastically, “Golf is not my pleasure, as I'm sure you know."

“Sorry. Ever been up to the roof, by the way? Or the high battlements, I should say."

“No,” Thaxton said. “Have you?"

“Once. Magnificent view. Plains, snow-capped mountains. Beautiful."

“I'm sure."

“Truly. But strange, disorienting in a way."

“How so?"

“Well,” Dalton said, “we know there are about eighty stories to the keep. But from outside, it doesn't look it. I mean, the castle is huge, massive. But the keep looks to be only about thirty to forty stories at its highest point. Which makes it towering compared to earthly castles, but not exactly the World Trade Center either."

“Really. Can't say I'm surprised, though."

“No, the castle does tricks with interior space."

“Indeed."

“Ready?"

“A bit longer,” Thaxton begged.

“No problem."

“How old are you, Dalton, old boy?"

“I'll be sixty-six come October eleven."

“Really. I must say you're in jolly good shape for an old blighter."

“Why, thank you. Strikes me that I never asked you the same question."

“Fifty-one, old boy. Fifty-one bloody years, and I feel every one of them in every bone in my body.” Thaxton looked up. “Please don't bring up exercise again."

“Never!"

Thaxton looked glum. “Some people don't age well."

“Guess not."

Hauling himself upward with great effort, Thaxton said, “Remind me again what we're doing this for."

“To see if the source of the invasion is outside the castle."

“Don't they have lookouts?"

“The lookouts were pulled from their posts when the ruckus started. Tyrene needed every reinforcement. Tyrene delegated me to go up and see if anything's out there."

“Oh. I see."

“Don't expect to see much. Looks like an interior problem. Damned castle magic gone awry, like so many times before."

“Oh, yes,” Thaxton said. “So many times."

They resumed climbing the helix of the stone stairwell. Every third turn brought round an embrasured window, but the narrow aperture offered a limited view. The windows let in some daylight, however.

They had encountered anomalies on the lower levels: comedians spouting routines to anyone who'd listen, Oriental jugglers, and so forth; but the apparitions had petered out at about the sixtieth floor.

At last they came to the highest landing and a stout oak door set into the curving wall. Dalton opened it and went through, Thaxton following. They came out into brisk open air and a maze of high, windswept parapets.

“Good Lord."

There was a lot to see. First, the castle itself. They found themselves on a walkway running along the keep's battlements. The castle keep was eye-defying in its complexity, bristling with hundreds of towers.

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