From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [R] Ornigan[Rameshan]: Greeks Bearing Gifts
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 20:27:44 GMT

There was a knock on the door of the male slave quarters of Juhlavi bes-Pelmaj.
Ornigan opened it, to find one of the guards, in fact the same one Mistletoe
had bespelled a few days earlier, standing there with a package.  "This came
this morning."  Ornigan took it and read the name in Rameshander script on the
scroll tied to the top.

It was from Amaan.  At last.  "Thank you."  The guard put his hand on the hilt
of his scimitar and left.

He opened the package, which was wrapped in a thin layer of blackened papyrus.
Inside it was an amulet and a few coins of Generica gold.  Ornigan absently put
the gold inside his sash and picked up the amulet.  "Beautiful," he breathed.
The amulet was made of amber, encased in obsidian.  Inside the amber was a tiny
insect with an eye-like pattern on its wings.

There was also a note in Rameshander, also signed by Amaan.  It read, "I have
obtained permission for you and two others from Juhlavi's household to
accompany me on my trip to Generica.  It is up to you to provide the other two.
Juhlavi will doubtless notice if you try to steal away the one he bought so
dearly, but I leave that problem to you.  I beg of you only not to bring the
wrath of Rameshan down on my head."  Any more than it will be already, Ornigan
added wryly.  Amaan would not dare to write that, though.

"The item I send you is merely a protective device, though one of the prettiest
and most intriguing I have in my collection.  It has bad personal associations
for me, though, and I wish you to have it.  Please do not talk to me about it,
for it brings forth painful memories I would rather not share."  Ornigan smiled
bitterly.  Of course, it was only a castoff, but better than nothing.

That night, when Mistletoe tapped at his door, he opened it with a smile on his
face.  When they were secure, he said, "It's all arranged.  We accompany Amaan
to Generica on a diplomatic mission, as soon as the Generican Ambassador
arrives.  Then, we do not return from Generica.  Once there, we can seek
further word of Maleiu."  The shine in Mistletoe's eyes was rewarding enough.

Her eyes fell to his amulet.  "What's that?"

Ornigan shrugged.  "A protective amulet Amaan gave to me.  He as much as said
he didn't want to see it anymore--souvenir of a failed romance, no doubt.  It
is pretty, isn't it?  I didn't know that amber or obsidian could hold that kind
of magic, but perhaps the combination of the two and the insect is what makes
it possible.  Or--"

Mistletoe sighed, cutting him off.  "You'll be happier than a pig in mud when
we get to that College of Magic, I swear."

Ornigan smiled, and then grew serious.  "How about Bronwen?"

Mistletoe sighed again.  "No progress with her.  She's so depressed over what
happened to Liam, that she doesn't care what happens to her anymore.  She'd
just as happily stay here with Julhavi as anything else.  No, I don't think we
can get her active participation--but we can't leave her behind here, either.
Despite what she says, she'd be lonely if she knew we'd abandoned her."

Ornigan saw a particular look in Mistletoe's eyes.  "You have a plan, though,
I take it?"

Mistletoe nodded.  "First we drug Bronwen.  That shouldn't be a problem.  I can
make her basically a zombie for a few hours, long enough to get us onto the
boat and away."

"But what about Juhlavi?  He'll raise Hell to get her back."

"That's simple, too.  All we need is to get the Kelsie back."

Ornigan sighed.  "I was afraid you were going to say that..."

--
---Alfvaen(a.k.a. Aaron V. Humphrey)
"So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
 what's so amazing about really deep thoughts"  -- Tori Amos
Current Album--The Iron Man Soundtrack
Current Read--Henry David Thoreau:Walden and Other Writings
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