Compleat Traveller in Black by John Brunner Read Free Book Online Page B

was Tyllwin or not, I’m unsure, for he gave no name. But I can describe him: a very charming elderly gentleman, with a wisp of grey beard clinging at his chin.”
    “Manuus!” exclaimed several of the lords together, and the margrave whirled to face his colleagues.
    “How many of you had seen Tyllwin before yesterday?” he demanded.
    “Why –” began three or four, and as one fell silent with expressions of amazement.
    “You have it!” snapped the margrave. “He was there, and by some enchantment persuaded us he was seated by right and custom. But I for one now realize that I have no other knowledge of Tyllwin. Well, then! So Manuus is behind the matter! We must go to him and tell him we will not tolerate his meddling in Ryovora’s affairs. If he chose to live among us as a responsible citizen, that would be a different cauldron of spells. But as things are, we can only respect his privacy so long as he respects ours.”
    There was much shuffling of feet. With juvenile dignity Eadwil spoke up. “Margrave, I regret that I dare not face Manuus in this connection. My powers are inadequate as yet. I hate to shelter behind my youth – but! ”
    And he took his leave.
    One by one, shamefaced, the others of the council copied his example, until the margrave was left by himself, whereupon the townsfolk, having garnered from these events only that the nobles had failed to disprove Bernard’s divinity, made haste to resume their self-imposed tasks.
    “A fine lot we breed in Ryovora!” exclaimed the margrave scornfully. The scorn, though, was a mask for his own forebodings; he was less of an adept than many who served under him, having attained his eminence by administrative skills. Nonetheless he was a resolute man, and accordingly he summoned his train and set forth to beard Manuus in his castle.
     
    The mists parted in such fashion as to imply that this call was not unexpected, and having left his attendants huddled together in the great yard he ascended to Manuus’s sanctum with determined steps. There the enchanter greeted him with warm professions of respect.
    But the margrave was ill at ease in this place of discomfortable forces, and came to the point as swiftly as manners would permit. He said firmly, when he had the chance, “Sir, since you are Tyllwin’s master you know the purpose of my errand.”
    “Correction,” the enchanter parried blandly“I am Tyllwin. I have certain other natures besides my own – a trait I share with all persons save one alone.”
    The margrave made an appropriate sign at the mention of him who has many names but one nature, and pressed on with what he had to say.
    “We will not tolerate interference, sir,” he declared. “Since time immemorial we in Ryovora have striven to create a tradition of calm rationality, and to rely upon hard sense. This petty trick of intruding a so-called god like a gaming piece into our affairs is hardly worthy of a personage of your distinction.”
    “I agree,” said Manuus. “You may therefrom deduce that the act is not of my choosing.”
    “What?” the margrave blurted.
    “In this matter,” the enchanter continued, ignoring the exclamation, “you and I are on the same side: so to say, the outside. It will perhaps interest you to learn that he of whom we were speaking a moment ago – whose nature is single – was sitting in that same chair only two days ago.”
    Wondering what he had stumbled into, the margrave shivered. He said respectfully, “Manuus, your powers are beyond imagining!”
    “Oh, he did not come at my bidding!” – with a thin chuckle. “Rather the reverse!”
    “However that may be, I shall take leave of you,” said the margrave, rising and bowing. “For if this matter is his concern, I dare do nothing to intervene.”
    Eyes twinkling, Manuus shook his head. “I’m afraid you have no choice. Like it or not, both you and I have been concatenated in this web.”
    At which the margrave departed, his heart so