Playgrounds of the Mind: The Sequel to N-Space by Niven Larry

Author:Niven, Larry [Niven, Larry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Anthologies
ISBN: 9780812516951
Amazon: 0812516958
Goodreads: 116357
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Published: 1991-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

That predawn morning, Adrienne’s House of Pleasures was wrapped in thick black fog. Aran the rug merchant hesitated at the door; then, shivering, squared his shoulders and walked out into it.

He walked with his sword ready for tapping or killing. The fog grew lighter as he went, but no less dense. Several times he thought he saw monstrous vague shapes pacing him. But there was no attack. At dawn he was at the north gate.

The Warlock’s mounts were either lizards enlarged by magic or dragons mutated by no magic. They were freaks, big as twin bungalows. One carried baggage; the other, two saddles in tandem.

“Mount up,” the Warlock urged. “We want to get there before nightfall.” Despite the chill of morning he was bare to the waist. He turned in his saddle as Aran settled behind him. “Have you lost weight?”

“I fasted for six days, and exercised too. And my wives and children are four days on their way to Atlantis by sea. You can guess what pleasures I chose at Adrienne’s.”

“I wouldn’t have believed it. Your belly’s as flat as a board.”

“A wolf can fast for a long time. I ate an unbelievable meal last night. Today I won’t eat at all.”

The fog cleared as they left Rynildissen, and the morning turned clear and bright and hot. When Aran mentioned it, the Warlock said, “That fog was mine. I wanted to blur things for Wavyhill.”

“I thought I saw shapes in the fog. Were those yours too?”

“No.”

“Thanks.”

“Wavyhill meant to frighten you, Aran. He wouldn’t attack you. He knows you won’t be killed before we reach the gate.”

“That explains the pack lizards. I wondered how you could possibly expect to sneak up on him.”

“I don’t. He knows we’re coming. He’s waiting.”

The land was rich in magic near Wavyhill’s castle. You could tell by the vegetation: giant mushrooms, vying for variety of shape and color; lichens growing in the shapes of men or beasts; trees with contorted trunks and branches, trees that moved menacingly as the pack lizards came near.

“I could make them talk,” said the Warlock. “But I couldn’t trust them. They’ll be Wavyhill’s allies.”

In the red light of sunset, Wavyhill’s castle seemed all rose marble, perched at the top of a fairy mountain. The slender tower seemed made for kidnapped damsels. The mountain itself, as Aran saw it now for the first time, was less a breaking wave than a fist raised to the sky in defiance.

“We couldn’t use the Wheel here,” said the Warlock. “The whole mountain would fall on us.”

“I wouldn’t have let you use the Wheel.”

“I didn’t bring one.”

“Which way?”

“Up the path. He knows we’re coming.”

“Is your shadow demon ready?”

“Shadow demon?” The Warlock seemed to think. “Oh. For a moment I didn’t know what you were talking about. That shadow demon was killed in the battle with Glirendree, thirty years ago.”

Words caught in Aran’s throat, then broke loose in a snarl. “Then why don’t you put on a shirt?”

“Habit. Why are you so vehement?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been staring at your back since morning.

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