Unicorn Saga - The Unicorn Peace Part 31

Jarrod was relieved that he hadn't said that it was impossible. "How much?" he asked.

"Well, you won't have to pay the workmen's wages, food and lodging, but we're talking about a very sub- stantial structure and, even without the stone, there are a lot of materials to be bought. You are also asking for some design innovations."

"How much?" Jarrod pressed.

Greygor looked over at his friend. "About five hun- dred thousand crowns, wouldn't you think, Moresby?"

"Sounds about right to me," Yarrow concurred.

165.

"One thing's obvious to me, though. We'll have to be there when he builds it."

"Out of the question," Jarrod said.

"Only way you'l! get it built," Yarrow replied matter- of-factly. "You're no expert on site selection, there are always surprises along the way and you want something that will look up-to-date a century hence. We'll have to experiment."

Greygor nodded his agreement.

"If I could get you out there, and it's a very big if, entailing a trip through the void on a unicom that could easily kill you, you would have to rough it in a wilder- ness without food or shelter. Why would you want to do that?"

"I can't answer for Moresby, but for me, buildings are my children," Chatham explained. "They are what I leave behind to keep my memory alive, the mark that says that I was here and did something worthwhile in my time," He smiled ruefully. "I'm a good maker of plattes, better than most I think, but I hate to compro- mise, to settle for the second-rate and, as a result, there aren't a lot of my children around, most of them are modest and some I took on because I needed to eat.

I'm ashamed of some of those- Now you offer me a chance to do something major, something designed to last for centuries, and you ask why I'd be willing to take risks?"

"And you?" Jarrod asked of Yarrow.

"I'm bored of working for men like this puffed-up little baron with the manners of a swineherd. No, I take that back. I've know some civil swineherds. I like the challenge of this project. Being able to do something no one's ever done in a place that no one's ever done it- And I don't mind going to the grave with no one know- ing that I've done it." He stopped. "One thing, though,"

166 he said, pointing a finger at Jarrod. "I want my name large and clear on that castle."

Jarrod smiled. "Done," he said. "If the two of you are prepared to take the risks and I can't do it without you, I don't see that I have much of an option. The final decision, however, belongs to the unicorn. He may not agree to take you; indeed, he may not want to have anything to do with the project. Unicorns look on buildings as prisons."

"I see," Greygor said doubtfully. "You have to ask the unicorn."

Jarrod caught the sideways glance he gave to Yarrow.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not mad. The unicorn and I can communicate." He smiled briefly. "I'm afraid that I'm the victim of my own self-importance. I a.s.sumed that everybody knew that."

"I had heard something like it," Yarrow admitted, "but I thought it was just an embellishment by the bal- lad makers. Well, I suppose you'd better go and ask him."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. He's not at Stronta and I don't know when exactly he'll be back. I think we'll have to proceed on the a.s.sumption that he'll agree and try to have everything ready by the time he shows up.

I'll be happy to pay you for the work you do," he added quickly, "even if we don't get to build the place this year." He saw the look of disappointment on Greygor's face and of skepticism on Yarrow's. "What's the first step?" he asked.

Yarrow stretched. "You and Chatham will have to work on the plans and I'll scout about for sources of wood and materials. Folks will a.s.sume that I'm making inquiries for Baron Hyde."

. "Good," Jarrod said. He turned to Greygor. "When can we start?"

The man thought a moment. "I'll make some prelim- 167.

inary sketches from what you've told me and you can come back tomorrow afternoon. Or I could come to you."

"I don't think that would be wise. The Outpost is as full of gossip as a bathhouse- I'd as soon come here if that won't cause trouble with your neighbors."

Greygor smiled. "Oh, they already think I'm mad. It might even improve my credit with the local shopkeep- ers."

"1*11 bring some money for you both," Jarrod prom- ised, "but remember, no word of this to anyone."

The next sennight slipped by amid discussion of the merits of a ground floor hall against those of one built over a vaulted undercroft, the placement of the solar, whether it would be possible to design a privy tower so that there would be running water throughout, where the servants should sleep, how many fireplaces and where they should be located, if the kitchen should be built apart. Jarrod had expected Greygor to produce pictures of the main structure, but, instead, there was a steady stream of floor plans.

Yarrow reported back every couple of days to collect updated estimates on the number of beams needed, on what kind of wood was best for the new roof construc- tion that Greygor envisioned and to collect money from Jarrod, Getting hold of that much ready coin was some- thing of a problem, not because there was any lack of it, but because the rents from Jarrod's estates and the monies from the pensions he collected from the various governments were kept in the Outpost's strongboxes.

After his first foray he decided to take Tokamo into his confidence and thereafter things went smoothly. The question of where to store the materials all that good coin was purchasing was not so easily solved.

Jarrod insisted that the building materials be stored beyond the Upper Causeway so that Nastrus, when he

168 reappeared, would be able to transfer them directly to the mountains. To Yarrow's objection that it would take twenty men round the clock to guard them if they were left in the open, Jarrod promised to set a warding spell that would keep people out.

"Oh, and I suppose that after all this secrecy about your partic.i.p.ation, you're just going to ride out there and perform Magic?" Yarrow retorted.

"Nonsense, Moresby," Greygor said. "The Mage will simply make himself invisible and ride out there with us. No one will be any the wiser."

"I can't do that," Jarrod said sadly.

"I thought all Magicians could make themselves in- visible," Greygor said.

"Oh, we can. It's just that we're enjoined not to do it for personal reasons; the possibilities for abuse, are too great. I'm sure lots of my colleagues honor that in the breach from time to time, but I am a Mage and I'm supposed to set an example."

They were sitting comfortably in Greygor's main room with a small coal fire burning in the grate and the rose reflections of the sunset sky tinting the old carpet and restoring its color. The light softened the outlines of the ubiquitous cats and added to the feeling of ca- maraderie.

"Got any bright ideas. Excellence?" Yarrow asked.

"First of all, if we're going to spend time together in the mountains, you're both going to have to stop calling me Excellence and the Mage, My name's Jarrod. And yes, I think I have an idea. It's going to take some prac- tice, but I could shape-change. I'd have to revert to my normal self to set the warding in place, but if I stood right under the Upper Causeway I should be invisible from above."

Both the others looked uneasy. It was one thing to get accustomed to the presence of a Mage, quite an- 169.

other when he started talking about changing into something else.

"Have you, ah, have you selected your, um, alterna- tive form?" Greygor asked.

Jarrod smiled, in part to calm their nervousness.

"Well, I shall have to practice somewhere quiet and private and I shall need a model." He looked from one to the other. "Don't worry," he said. "It won't be either of you." He stretched his legs out and steepled his fin- gers. "Since I will have to take back my own body to perform the spell of protection, I can't simply take over some creature and leave my own body. I shall have to transform myself into that animal. The last time I did it I was a boy and I'm told that I made a very strange- looking sheep." He paused for a laugh that did not come.

"I thought," he resumed hurriedly, "that I might try to become a cat." He gestured around the room. "There are any number of examples here and you, Chatham, can monitor me and tell me how successful I am."

"This isn't dangerous, is it?" Greygor inquired.

"Not for you."

"I wish you Inck, Jarrod," Yarrow said, "and I'd love to stick around and see you try it. but I have to get back and change for Hall. I don't want my boar- hunting baron to think that I'm ungrateful for his con- tinuing financial support." He got up and stretched.

"I should be going too," Jarrod agreed. "I'll be back tomorrow morning and I'll do some preparatory work then," he said to Greygor.

"I'll try to have some sketches of the curtain wall and towers ready," the older man said. He pushed a cat off his lap and stood up for the leavetaking. Yarrow paused with his hand on the doork.n.o.b. "You're a Mage," he said. "You can do anything you want. Why all this hocus-pocus?"