Watt Evans, Lawrence Ethshar 10 The Spriggan Mirror

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Geas on Tobas, ensuring that he will never give the mirror to anyone else. But the Guild can take it from
him, should you choose. There s nothing to prevent it, whatever the spriggans may think.
Nothing to prevent it? So anyone can take it? And what if the spriggans take it from him?
I don t mean it s unguarded; I mean that Tobas can make it possible for the Guild to take it,
should you want to. As for the spriggans, they have agreed not to retrieve it and even if they do, it s no
longer generating spriggans. It s harmless, regardless of who has it.
Kaligir glanced at Tobas, who gulped beer; then he turned his attention back to Gresh. The
spriggans have agreed to this? And you believe them?
I do, Gresh said quietly. Seriously, have you ever known a spriggan to break a promise?
I have never been in a position to hear one of the little pests make a promise!
Gresh turned up a palm. Well, there you are, then, he said. That s why you couldn t find the
mirror, and I could. Because I thought to ask the spriggans where it was. Because I took the time to talk
to them and made an effort to understand them, instead of simply chasing them away. I negotiated terms
with them, as one speaking creature to another. I treated them, annoying as they are, with a trace of
respect.
Kaligir blinked at him. Is that how you found it? You asked them?
Well, that, and some careful questioning, and a little sorcery.
So you talked to spriggans who led you to the mirror and who promised not to take it
back but what makes you think they spoke for all the half-million of the creatures who are roaming the
World? Why shouldn t some other bunch of spriggans snatch the mirror away?
I have reason to believe the ones I spoke to represent the majority and that many of the others
don t concern themselves with the mirror at all.
Kaligir frowned. Gresh met his gaze calmly.
I promised only to deliver the mirror, Gresh said. Holding on to it is not my problem. I would
have thought that the Wizards Guild could manage that without my assistance.
Kaligir said nothing more for a long moment, but finally demanded, And once you had the
mirror, why did you and Tobas not see to its destruction? You say that it s no longer producing
spriggans, but destroying it would seem a far more certain way to ensure that no more spriggans would
be produced than whatever you did do.
Well, Tobas cannot destroy it I placed a geas on him to that effect.
Why did you do that? Having done it, why did you not destroy it yourself? Tobas could not
destroy it or give it back to you, but surely you, more than anyone else, could just take it. Why didn t
you?
There are three reasons, each of them sufficient, Gresh said. He raised a finger. First: We
conducted a test where we broke the mirror into four pieces and discovered that this resulted in
multiplying that half-million spriggans to two million. Using Javan s Restorative to repair the mirror
reduced that number back to the original. This leads me to suspect that destroying the mirror may have
unanticipated and unfortunate results, and until we know much more about it, it would be unwise to risk
doing anything that might multiply the number of spriggans, rather than reducing it.
Ah, Kaligir said, stroking his beard with one hand, while the other still held his untasted beer.
Is that what that was about? We did notice a very brief increase in the number of spriggans.
Yes. Shattering it is a very bad idea. I doubt other obvious methods would be better.
I see your point. Go on.
Gresh raised another finger. Second: I gave my word to the spriggans who had possession of
the mirror, and who allowed us to take it, that neither I nor Tobas would attempt to destroy the mirror.
We did not say anything to bind the Guild, but I did give my word about my own actions and Tobas s.
My word is good.
Fair enough, if somewhat inconvenient, Kaligir agreed. He looked down, as if just now noticing
he held a mug, and took a sip.
And finally, Gresh said, holding up three fingers. I refuse to participate in the murder of half a
million speaking beings. Aren t we taught that what made humans more than mere animals was that the
gods taught us to speak? Well, spriggans can speak, too. They can make and keep promises. They can
understand far more than you might think. They were bright enough to figure out things about the mirror
that we might never have guessed. If they hadn t told me what they knew, I might not have guessed as
much of the mirror s true nature as I have. I don t say they re human they re stupid and annoying and
troublesome, and I don t want them in my house but they are thinking, speaking creatures, and killing
them indiscriminately is wrong. I won t be a part of it. Destroying the mirror might kill them so I won t
do that. I know better than to think I can stop the Wizards Guild from doing whatever it pleases, but I
will do what I can to keep you from exterminating the spriggans. I m sure you can find ways to kill
individuals who are especially troublesome or dangerous, if you must I could even suggest a few spells
that might help. I ll do nothing to stop that, any more than I ll stop a magistrate from hanging a murderer.
But I won t help you to wipe them all out, guilty and innocent alike.
Kaligir took a long, thoughtful swig of beer before replying, It seems to me that your first and
third reasons contradict each other. Destroying the mirror cannot both multiply and exterminate the little
pests.
There s a contradiction, yes. That s because I don t know which is true. Destroying the mirror
might kill them, or it might multiply them infinitely. I don t know. And neither do you.
Not yet, Kaligir admitted.
Gresh nodded. Well, then I ve explained my position. I delivered the mirror. I ensured it
would not produce more spriggans. I have fulfilled my end of our contract; I expect the Guild to honor its
end. I trust my shop will be permitted to resume normal business operations immediately? And my fee
will be paid promptly? And that my bill for expenses will be honored, when I have prepared it?
The shop can re-open, of course, and your expenses will be paid. We will expect the return of
all remaining powders and potions. When we have verified that the mirror is truly in Tobas s possession,
and that it really is the correct mirror, Enral s Eternal Youth will be cast on you.
Gresh smiled. Returning the powders and potions was not ideal, but otherwise he appeared to
have won on all points. Excellent! he said. Thank you! He lifted a hand in salute, regretting that he
had given Esmera his mug.
Tobas, Esmera, and Kaligir all drank in response. Kaligir wiped foam from his beard and said, I
do have a few questions, though. You said you have ensured the mirror would not produce any more
spriggans. How did you do that?
That s a long story.
And Tobas, you said in your message that you were not bringing your wives it s of no
consequence, but in that case, why is Karanissa here?
Tobas had been caught with his mug to his lips; he spluttered. That s not Karanissa, he said.
It s not? He turned to Esmera.
My name is Esmera, she said, and curtsied.
Kaligir stared at her for a moment. Then he looked at Gresh. Is she part of your long story?
Yes, she is, Gresh said.
Then I think I would like to hear the tale now.
Of course; if you would join me? He gestured at the velvet chairs.
There were not enough seats for all four of them. Esmera said, Shall I go help Twilfa?
If you would, Gresh agreed.
Then he sat down with the two wizards and began explaining everything that had happened over
the past several days. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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