Debra Doyle & James D. MacDonald - Circle of Magic 04 by Danger in the Palace

Author:Danger in the Palace [Palace, Danger in the]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

I

His

ll have to trust Hernando to open the far door while I hold off the guards

,

he thought,

and I don’t know

what

to do about poor Vincente….

But before he could act, Duke Bartolomeo broke the silence. “Ah, Carvelli;” he said to Hernando. “I see you’ve fetched Master Edmond already. good let’s start things moving”

The Duke turned to Randal. “How about it, wizard?

Can you make me look like that man in the cell?”

Randal let the shockspell fade away unused.

“Easily, Your Grace;” he said to Bartolomeo.

His words were true. The Duke and Vincente were already close to the same height and weight, and while Bartolomeo was a few years older than Prince Vespian’s leading actor, the gap wasn’t wide ,enough to give the young wizard any problems.

“I hope for all our sakes that you’re right said Bartolomeo. “This disguise must pass the inspection of my brother’s wizard, Master. Petrucio-and I’m told he has a great reputation in such matters:”

“So he does;” said Randal. “But what he doesn’t suspect he won’t look for”

Although if Petrucio doesn’t suspect the worst already, Randal added to himself,

he certainly will after I’ve had a word or two alone with him.

He kept his thoughts to himself. Raising his arms high in a theatrical gesture borrowed from the appearance of the ghost in tonight’s performance, Randal began the conjuration to make the Duke look exactly like the imprisoned actor. He drew out the spell-working for as long as he could, making the magic a performance in its own right, as he shaped and colored the Duke’s face and figure.

“Fiat!”

he concluded. It was done. No one looking at the two men could have told the difference, except for the dirt and bruises on the face of the real Vincente.

Randal lowered his arms, hoping as he did so that nobody had noticed the unlocking-spell he’d worked on the cell door while he was creating the disguise. There wasn’t much he could do for the actor without betraying himself, but he didn’t like the idea of simply leaving him in Bartolomeo’s power.

The Duke looked over at Hernando. “Well, Carvelli-do you still say we shouldn’t have brought Master Edmond into our plans?”

Hernando shook his head. “No, my lord. The illusion is an excellent one. But how long will it hold?” Randal suppressed a smile: The disguised spy was clearly worried about the durability of his own current appearance, as well as the Duke’s.

“It’s good

until I let it go;” the young wizard said.

“Like all such spells.”

“Well, then;” Bartolomeo said, “to the coaches, and away with us. We have great things to accomplish tonight:”

The Duke turned, his long cloak flaring, and strode from the cell block. Randal and the others followed, leaving Vincente alone in the dark.

If he tries the door even once,

Randal thought as he made his way back through the villa with the rest of the Duke’s henchmen, he’ll notice that the lock’s been opened. Anything else will have to be up to him.

In the courtyard, a pair of carriages waited.

A footman opened the door of one for Bartolomeo, and the Duke climbed inside, motioning to Randal to come with him.

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