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when an amplified yell came from the corner of the room; the distorted but
recognisable voice of Armitage.
"Stop what you are doing at once!"the voice screamed, and the thaumaturges
stepped back from each other."I am your despised enemy. You remember all that
I have done to you, and you hate me for it. This order cannot be
countermanded, and you will under no circumstances obey any other order of
mine!"
The sheer volume of the metallic shout made the perforated walls reverberate
with its power, and it seemed to stun the two magic-users for a moment.
"Are you ... all right, Questor Xylox? Grimm gasped.
"I have never felt better, Questor Grimm, the older man wheezed. Do you
need any strength from Nemesis? Some still remains."
"I could use some, Grimm replied, smiling as Xylox laid a restorative hand
on his colleague's shoulder. Do you need any Healing? I have some small
talent in that area."
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"Perhaps just a little, Xylox said.
For a few minutes, Grimm worked with salves and magic words on his fellow
mage.
"That is much better, the senior Questor acknowledged. What do you want to
do now, Questor Grimm?"
"In my humble opinion, Grimm replied, We should tear this stinking slave
pen to pieces, rescue our companions and get back to our Quest."
"Agreed, Xylox said. But we destroy Armitage first of all. Are you ready
now?"
"I'm ready Xylox; let's do it. He won't know what he's unleashed. I almost
feel sorry for him: almost, but not quite."
Chapter 7
Opposition and Entrapment
Grimm assessed the severity of the injuries done to him during his battle
with Xylox. None appeared to be of a disfiguring or crippling nature, and he
felt proud that he had stood up to the full extent of a Seventh Rank Questor's
wrath and prevailed. Any mortal facing such an onslaught would have been
destroyed in a heartbeat, as Armitage would soon discover.
"Grimm, I am over here! a familiar voice squeaked, as the two mages,
stepping with some care over jagged shards of glass, concrete and metal, made
their way towards the battered metal door. A small, grey figure hopped from
behind a screen of half-melted cables and bounded towards the Questors,
heedless of the sharp detritus littering the floor.
"Thribble! Grimm cried. I might have guessedyou were behind our
deliverance. However you managed it, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
The humourless Xylox was less fulsome in his praise. A street ragamuffin and
a pestilential netherworld imp. Are you trying to assemble some bizarre
menagerie, Questor Grimm?"
The demon squeaked, expressing extreme indignation. He opened his mouth to
speak, but Grimm stayed him with a gesture of his hand and turned a stern gaze
upon his senior.
"You can tell me all about your ingenuity when we have time, Thribble, he
said.
"Xylox; this pestilential netherworld imp has a name:Thribble . I would
remind you that Thribble has saved both our lives, Brother Mage, and he proved
instrumental in the liberation of the city of Crar from the odious Starmor. I
do think you might be a little more appreciative of his efforts on our
behalf. The mage dropped to one knee, and the demon hopped into Grimm's robe
pocket with an athletic leap.
"All I know is that your good demon friend used some form of Technology to
liberate us. That gives me mixed feelings about the affair, the older Questor
replied, as implacable and unbending as ever. My mind is on more important
matters, such as the defeat of Armitage, the ransoming of our companions and
the resumption of our sworn Quest: the responsibility for which is mine alone.
If you have quite finished your happy reunion, we have a task to do."
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Grimm sighed. Xylox was as unyielding as granite, and as warm. I haven't
forgotten, Questor Xylox. Let's do it."
"We will do the deed in full solemnity and gravity, as Guild Mages should,
Questor Grimm. I remind you that I want to hear only formal Mage Speech from
now on. This is a serious task, and it must be approached in a serious
manner."
Grimm thought the omission of a few trifling vernacular expressions and
contractions from his speech would make little difference to the hapless
victims of his magic. Nonetheless, he agreed that the two Questors needed to
present a united front. It seemed it might be easier to destroy the Shest
Mountains with a toothpick than to change the ingrained ways of the proud,
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