Demons Of The Dancing Gods by Jack L. Chalker

Author:Jack L. Chalker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy - General, Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fiction - Fantasy, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction - General, General
ISBN: 9780345308931
Publisher: Ballantine
Published: 1984-05-12T04:00:00+00:00

“He had no reason to suspect treachery. Kaladon was quite clever he fought the match in such a way that it looked very natural and very accidental that it escalated to that point. He must have spent years planning those exact moves. What happened was that he pushed things just over the edge, so that there was so much psychic energy in that hall that it could not be easily canceled out. Likewise, Kaladon had spent some

effort making you look very untalented in the arts in your father’s eyes. So there he was, faced with the choice of killing Kaladon, letting Kaladon kill him, or hoping the referees would realize the problem and step in. All the evidence suggested that the referees did move to cancel; but for some reason, the attempt was not effective. Either the spells were too personalized, or not all the referees were in agreement; but the hesitant ones weren’t willing to admit their error later. Regardless, your father weighed all the factors and decided to will his seat to Kaladon.”

She shook her head unbelievingly. “I know how he regarded Kaladon, but I can not believe he could do this. He would not do this to me.”

“If it’s any help, Kaladon did cheat. I know how he did it, but I could never prove it.”

“What?”

“It would have taken all three referees in tandem to stop the match. All three claimed to have tried and failed. One of them, however, was Esmerada, who is now a close ally of Kaladon and the Baron. The fix was in, and that sort of energy couldn’t have been held for long. Your father was backed into a comer and forced into a split-second decision. In a sense, Kaladon’s victory was legitimate in that, as I mentioned, his opponent allowed an extraneous factor to divert him. It is entirely possible that your father was simply unable to solve his moral dilemma and thus broke his concentration. The most talented sorcerer in the world can be beaten by a middling-fair magician if his concentration is broken, even for an instant.”

She considered it. “You are probably right. But even with all his deceit and Esmerada’s complicity, that means he was the legitimate and legal winner under the Rules! That is terrible!”

“Is it? He still schemed and took advantage of your father and you to get the seat, and he’s an even blacker magician than ever now. He must be removed, eliminated and Esmerada, too. We must stop his cancer of the Barony for all time.”

“Can’t you just take him on?” Joe asked. “You said he was weak.”

“Oh, I could finish him, yes, but he would sense the attack and call upon Esmerada and the Baron for support; and the Baron almost had me last time. As for a challenge in a formal context, the Rules specifically prohibit one Council member from challenging or fighting another within the rules of the Society. Nor can I enter the castle of a fellow Society member without his or her permission, just as none of them can enter

Terindell.

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