"Anthony, Piers - Adept - 06 - Unicorn Point" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

represented a possible shift in the balance of power, turning

it back to Stile's side.

Stile had been holding off action as long as possible, so as
to enable the children of both frames to mature. But there
was too much at risk; the action had to be now. This was the
real reason for his chess trip: it provided him the opportunity
to do what he had to do, without giving his motive away-.-

UNICORN POINT |l3

Because he had to escape the surveillance of the Adepts while
he told Neysa what to do. A few seconds would suffice; then
it would be out of his hands. He hoped he was doing the right
thing.

Neysa picked up her pace, so as to arrive at the White
Mountain Range at dusk. That would make direct visual ob-
servation trickier. She knew the importance of timing; every-
thing had to be right. If they did not achieve their dialogue
without suspicion, all might be lost.

As the light waned, they approached the base of the range.
The snow demons spied them, of course; they were expected.
They entered the track that led to the pass that opened on the
demon chiefs cold caves. Stile waved, then singsonged a
spell, while Neysa played a theme to help intensify the magic.

Make us warm despite the cold;

Make us private till it is told.

Immediately the chill of the mountain dissipated; the snow
remained, yet they felt warm. But it was the second part of
the spell that counted more: the privacy. This was masked by
the larger spell the demon chief had arranged to prevent any
information being exchanged magically while the chess match
was in progress; he wanted to be sure that nothing but the
two great minds was operating. There was a certain vague-
ness at the fringe of the region, because the boundary of the
demon's spell could not be precise. Stile had researched this
well. Thus his own spell of privacy should not be detected,
and the spying Adepts should not realize that they were being
excluded. They would assume that Stile and Neysa were pass-
ing through a region of interference, that would clarify as
they reached the center and the demon's spell took full hold.
He could have made his privacy spell back at the Blue De-
mesnes, but that would have attracted the notice of the spying
Adepts, and they would have doubled their watch, making