| Will's stratagem is a desperate one - for the information he has given
has had to be genuine - but things are going badly enough for desperate
measures to be called for. His agents are trying to keep an eye on everyone
who had been at the meeting, but if whoever is responsible for the leaks
should manage to elude them then Aqualaria's goose will be cooked.
There is no way for an agent to follow the Queen into her consultation
with Malin. However, as a mage himself Sigin Vulpine knows that there would
be no-one better than a mage for getting out information without its being
detected. Unlike a radio message, which might be intercepted and arouse
suspicion, with magic a message could be sent that would be effectively
uninterceptable. Therefore Sigin has set "Jim" to keep an eye on Malin,
just in case.
The first part of the consultation is routine. Malin asks Astra some
questions about her physical condition, and finds out that all seems to
be going smoothly and that she has not had any morning sickness. Then things
happen that surprise the ghostly observer. The mage says: "I am your
Master
and you will obey me!" Astra looks about to protest, but the mage says
the words again and a glassy look comes into her eyes. "Now drink your
medicine," Malin says, producing a glass containing a dark blue liquid.
Without saying anything, Astra complies.
"Now tell me, what was decided at the meeting today?" Malin asks. As
Astra begins to tell Malin the plans that have been made, Jim leaves. He
has no way of intervening directly. All he can do is go back to Sigin and
tell him what has occurred. Then Sigin has to tell Will, who has to act.
It is vital that Malin should be apprehended before he has sufficient time
after he has finished with Astra to make his report to whoever his orcen
contact is.
Malin finishes with Astra, then clicks his fingers and she comes out
off her trance, with no conscious memory of the last fifteen minutes or
so. She leaves, thanking Malin, though for some reason she can't explain
she always feels vaguely uneasy after these meetings.
-
 Shortly afterwards,
Will, Sigin Vulpine and a number of soldiers burst into Malin's room. But
are they in time?
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