Of course there was no real choice, although both men considered the aspect of the first option. Treasure and return would be useless, for the way back was unknown to them. They had to press on. "I told you so!" the wizard said smugly as the Element Master heard the two young adventurers opt for going ahead. The tall man shrugged, spread his arms, and the -light was gone. The three were in a tunnel that sloped12 gently downward. Behind them a cavern was obscured by alternating colors and conditions.

"Now for the Lord of Balance!" Eneever Zig said, almost gleefully, as he rubbed his long hands together briskly.

Soon enough they came to the place where this personage was ensconced. That was evident from the nature of the cavern. The sign of the balance was only one indication, and a huge metal scale before them another. The cavern was half-lighted, half dark. Flames shot from a pool, but the fire burned in only half of the basin, for the other portion was crystal-clear, placid water. Gord saw that it was so crystalline and still because it was solid ice. Everything else seemed to contradict something as well. Lush gra.s.s sprang from barren rock, while dead plants thrust up from rich, dark soil. Colorless trees were bedecked with a riotous array of blossoms of 34.all hues, only one such tree had tiny ones, another huge-petaled blooms. The ugly and beautiful, delicate and coa.r.s.e, wholesome and poisonous, soft and hard, wet and dry, male and female, tall and short, and every other sort of contrast was everywhere - and nowhere at the same time, it seemed!

"Welcome, strangers. Why come to the place of Yangyin?"

The wizard stepped forth, hands raised, palms outward and before him. "I recognize you, Lord of Balance, Master Yangyin," he intoned. "I demand pa.s.sage through this place."

"And what of me?" a soprano voice cried. "I recognize you. Lady of Balance, Mistress Yin-yang. 1 beg leave to pa.s.s through your realm." "Enter," the male voice commanded. "Stay out!" the female voice countered. Gord peered left and right, but he could detect no one. Chert was likewise looking for speakers with the same result. Eneever Zig seemed untroubled, however, and marched into the strange place without hesitation. Again, the two young adventurers had no choice but to follow. After walking for what seemed like an hour, they came to a place that was the center of the cavern. There suddenly appeared before them two figures, one a male of purest white color, the other a female of pure black. The wizard bowed slightly, and Gord and Chert hastened to follow suit.

"Will you pay our price?" the male figure asked. "We will and will not," the wizard replied. "Good," said the female. "Bad!" the wizard cried in answer. "Who will serve as the contestant?" Master Yangyin demanded.

Eneever Zig was ready. "He on my right, big, he on my left, small. Two will contest for our pa.s.sage."

35."New I see why the combination of Chert and Gord was chosen for this mission," the small thief whispered to his huge friend. "I guess we're what you'd call 'in balance'l"

"One will live!" the man said, looking at Chert as he spoke.

"One will die," the ebony female announced in a sultry tone as she gazed at Gord.

"That is in Fate's hands." the wizard countered. "Balance!"

At that both figures scowled, for the words of the spell-binder were a counter to their p.r.o.nouncements. Then they smiled. The white male figure turned without speaking and beckoned them to follow, while the black female stepped among the three and spoke.

"It is seldom indeed that strangers enter our realm through this portal," the seductive Lady Yln-yang purred.

"It is often," her male counterpart snapped in disagreement.

The lady ignored his rebuff. "May I offer hospitality and a.s.sistance?"

Gord quickly took the initiative. "No. We do not ask for your weal, for then he would counter with woe." the young thief said, pointing to the pale Lord Yangyin.

Chert immediately caught his friend's meaning. "Nor do we want your a.s.sistance. Dark Mistress, for then the White Lord would surety do his equal best to hinder us."

Making a moue of disappointment. Lady Yin gave a shrug and turned away from them at the barbarian's rejection. The snow-white Yang, in contrast, turned and came to them, a look of gratification on his face.

The two young adventurers had the measure of 36.

13 this place now.

"Let's get on with the challenge." Eneever Zig said.

The two rulers of the place looked at each other. "Dead to contest with the living?"

asked Lady Yin.

"No, these men are too strong for such puny opposition."

"Actually," Lady Yin said, visually a.s.sessing Gord and Chert, "they are too weak."

"Allow me a moment to consider," replied Lord Yang.

"I won't consider it at all," Yin said in a definitive tone.

"Do as you wish," the wizard said forcefully, "but we are going." With that the gray-locked fellow strode off, his rusty black robes swishing. Gord and Chert were more than willing to follow him, so all three marched away toward the place where they supposed the exit to the cavern lay.

"We shall Join you, yes?" asked Yang.

"Sure," Chert told the two. "Come along."

"No, we'll manage ourselves," Gord said almost simultaneously.

"A balance," Zig noted without expression.

Lord and lady stared hard at all three of their guests. "We will go along all the same," Yang said.

"Speak for yourself. I will stay," Lady Yin said.

It had taken an hour to walk to the midpoint of the hemi-plane that the cavern represented. But the trek across the remainder took only a minute, of course. It was disturbing because they seemed to be traveling no faster, yet the terrain slid past on either side as if they rode the swiftest of coursers. Very soon they were at a place where a dark arch showed where a tunnel must run. a gently sloping pa.s.sage going through solid stone, leading down and elsewhere.

37."This has been somewhat disappointing," Yang confessed. "But there Is one bright ray of sunlight peeking through this otherwise cloudy encounter." Yang smiled and continued. "There Is still the matter of balances yet to be made. Strangers, who will now go back to balance your going ahead?"

"You will!" Gord shot back at the pale man without thinking.

A male cry of rage and a female laugh of delight faded away In the distance as Lord Yang was magically sent back along the path the adventurers had followed. Lady Yin's mocking laughter could be heard all the way through the cavern.

"There are powers beyond them which even Yang and Yin must obey," the wizard said with a barking laugh, "and a good thing It was you stumbled upon the counter to Yang's plan, too. thief! 1 was fearful that they would have us contest with undead - balance between life and death, of course. That is why I left so quickly. By rushing them we managed to thwart that possibility, but Yang decided to accompany us to see if we'd make some slip along the way." Then he laughed again. "Now I know why, although I must admit, I didn't have it figured out until you had already acted on our behalf, thief. You're turning out to be much more help than I had dared hope."

The wizard was obviously delighted.

"How did Yang's going back balance our going on?" Chert inquired as they moved along the hand-hewn pa.s.sageway.

Eneever Zig stopped his harsh chuckling, but a smile still showed on his gaunt features. "Fool! Do you think one of us alone is enough to counter either of those two powerful creatures?" Eneever asked derisively. "Since Lady Yin chose to stay behind, although she did so to maintain balance, she 38.actually threw it off, just enough to allow us to escape. Apparently the three of us going far are equal to one of them going back but a little. Balance was maintained, all right, but not the way Yang and Yin intended it to be." With that the wizard burst into uproarious laughter.

As they approached yet another cavern. Chert stopped and demanded of Eneever Zig, "Where are the treasures you told us would be ours? So far we have been lucky to escape with our lives, and there isnt a jot of wealth to show for it!"

"Knowledge is an unsurpa.s.sed treasure, barbarian. Consider how much you have learned in the course of this quest."

"Yes, we have learned never to trust spell-binders," Gord murmured to his friend.14 "That piece of knowledge alone will profit us in the end - if we live to escape this place."

Chert hefted his big battle-axe and eyed the wizard. "Stop that doltishness!" Zig commanded. "It will gain us nothing. Besides, if my information is correct, there will be material rewards for us ahead, so let us stop this idle banter and progress."

"Just what does lie ahead, Zig?" Gord asked.

"The cavern ahead is an extension of the Realm of Thought, and the final obstacle between me and my heart's desire. Once through, we will be ready to delve to the depths where it lies. Now follow!"

The cavern was a formless place where colors and shapes kept wavering and changing.

Nothing remained stable, and it was impossible to determine directions once the three had gone beyond the place where they could see the mouth of the pa.s.sage they had entered from. Soon it seemed evident that they were wandering aimlessly.

"This is not what I expected," Eneever said crossly. "I must ponder a moment," he added, and 39.with that he sat down. Both young men were surprised to see that the wizard rested on an ornately carved chair inscribed with mystic sigils.

"The chair," Gord said aloud.

"Quiet! I sit on my special chair, nothing more. How can I think If - my chair!" Zig leaped up and stared, but the seat had vanished even as he arose.

"It was there an instant ago," Chert volunteered.

"Of coursel Thought is the answer. I thought of thinking, and to think, I usually seat myself in the very armchair that appeared, so my strongest mental image was unconsciously that of the seat!" The chair popped back into existence.

"Which means?"

"Guard carefully all thoughts, thief, and you too, barbarian! This area is attuned to images of the mind, and carelessness can be deadly. Resume your usual vacuous att.i.tudes, and we will have no such difficulties. Meantime. I shall intelligently experiment and find the wherewithal to defeat this obstacle in my path."

What the wizard commanded brought the opposite results, naturally, as both Cord's and Chert's minds considered the possibilities. First a huge chest filled with gold and jewelry appeared at Cord's feet. Fist-sized gemstones and glittering platinum pieces cascaded from the heaped coffer to roll and clatter around his boots. Then suddenly, rising from the mound of treasure, came the hideous visage of some demonic guardian, smoking forth and a.s.suming corporeal form. There was a female cry from behind Gord, and when he turned a beautiful half-etven girl was there, hand at her throat, her face a mask of fear. "Save me from that monster, Gord!" she begged.

"Evaleigh!" the young thief exclaimed, spinning around in a full circle so as to face the demon again, 40.now with his sword and dagger In hand.

At the same time there appeared before Chert a trio of armored men, Aerdians Toy their dress and armor, cavaliers by bearing and words. "We guard the Overling's Jewels, and no filthy barbarian from the Flinty Hills can take them from us!" the middle one boomed, drawing a b.a.s.t.a.r.d sword as he spoke. His companions did likewise, but then two other hulking figures, both only slightly smaller than Chert himself, stepped forward to oppose them. It was to be an even contest: three axes against three swords, barbarian hillmen fighting armored knights of Aerdi. Wild-looking, buxom women cheered on Chert and his two fellow hillmen, while sneering n.o.bles in regal finery sat behind their cavaliers and urged them to slay their foes. A pack of s.h.a.ggy hounds snarled and snapped at leather-mailed war-dogs belonging to the civilized foemen. whose pavilions showed banners of many hues and various devices.

Around these tents swirled a battle between a swarm of hillmen with bows, spears, and axes who sought to overcome a well-formed company of uniformed footmen protecting a squadron of mounted cavaliers. Both sides seemed to be calling for reinforcements, and wild shouts, trumpets, and bellowing warhoms sounded in the distance.

"Stop! Are you demented?!"

Somehow the shout managed to draw Cord's attention from his life-and-death battle15 with the horrible demon. He spun to see who was speaking thus. Chert, too. left off his battle with the plated knight in an attempt to determine who would dare to interfere with this contest. Both young adventurers stared at Eneever Zlg, who glanced back at them. The three were alone.

"Look at me. Listen to me," the wizard ordered tonelessly.

41."Wha~"

"No. Do not speak, just listen. Both of you were creating things with your thoughts - thoughts you were not to have! AU of those phantoms are gone now, but they con return, and they can do reed damage if your minds give them form, substance, and power. This place is a deathtrap for the unwary and the untrained; undisciplined minds have no hope of survival. Thank your lucky stars that I am with you. Now,"

Eneever Zig said, looking at each in turn, "can you count?"

"Of course," Gord said with irritation.

"Can you?" Chert shot back, equally offended.

"Excellent! Thief, you count backward from one thousand. Hillman, you count as high as you can, use your fingers for all I care, and start again at the beginning when you can go no farther - and both of you do your counting silently!"

The wizard seated himself in his strange chair again as the two young adventurers complied with his instructions. Zig's face was a study of concentration, brow furrowed, eyes narrowed, hands locked on the arms of his seat. Gord was still counting backward when he noticed a faint rocking motion underfoot. "Seven hundred seventy and nine . . . seven hundred seventy and eight," he murmured under his breath as he carefully looked around to find the cause of the tremors. It took several moments, but then he finally comprehended the situation. They were on the vast, moss-covered back, of the largest turtle ever known. The monster was slowly plodding through the swirling void toward some unguessable destination.

While still counting in his mind, Gord managed to query the wizard. "This great turtle - why ponder it into existence?"

"Cease your jabbering and clear your mind of all 42.save the numbers you count," Eneever Zig said without looking at Gord. "There is a lake we must cross, so this terrapin will take us there, for he senses water."

"Fourteen ... ah ... fifteen - water?" Chert asked aloud. Just after he spoke, Gord noticed a distinct difference in the motion underfoot. "A critter this size will need a big, big pond," the barbarian said with a chortle.

Zig nearly turned purple with rage. "You idiot!" he spat, and then he managed to control himself. The black, lightning-shot cloud that had formed over Chert's head vanished, and the turtle's back solidified again. "Do you think, you b.u.mbling barbarian," Eneever began, obviously having to make an effort to keep his rage under control, "that it would be possible for you to keep your stupid thoughts to yourself?"

"Sure, but can I share a few intelligent ones with you?" Chert spat back sarcastically.

"Just count!" Eneever screeched the command. "Ya know, Gord, I think he'd be a lot better company if only- "

"Don't think!" Both Gord and the wizard yelled at once.

"Okay, okay. You don't need to tell me twice," Chert said in a highly offended tone of voice. He resumed his counting.

A seemingly long time later Gord again sensed a change in motion. This time, the young thief noticed, they had reached the verge of the formless Realm of Thought and were embarked on a vast expanse of true water, the monstrous turtle swimming stoically upon its placid surface. Unfortunately, Chert had noticed the change too.

"Hey! What if this old mossback decides to diver 43.CORD THE ROGUE.

"Oh, no! Stop- "

It was too late. Even as Eneever Zig attempted to right the situation, the big hillman's thoughts took over. A simple, strong thought proved more powerful than the mental images from the complicated mind set of the wizard. The three found themselves immersed, sinking. Then they were Just as suddenly afloat again, each16 riding an air-filled bladder as if mounted on a horse. The wizard was choking and muttering curses. The water around them began to bubble, and a dark shape began to rise toward them from far beneath the surface.

"That doesn't look like our turtle," Chert observed with consternation In his voice.

"Hopping h.e.l.ls!" Gord shouted, tipping in his precarious seat upon the floating bag as he saw a terrible sea monster coming at them with Jaws agape. Bladders vanished instantly, and all three were sitting instead on a huge square of solid iron. Of course it sank.

Eneever Zig quickly set his mind on an image of a wooden platform, and the three were soon floating on it. The raft was big and its deck was awash, but at least the three were not dunked a second time. Both the iron slab and the ravening monster of the deeps had vanished. Gord, feeling confident now, envisioned a solid line of wooden planks surrounding the edges of the raft, a boxlike work to keep the water from lapping across the planks underfoot. The latter he imagined as dry as he thought of the bulwarks. Sure enough, they were now floating in a huge, rectangular tray, garments dripping on a dry deck of solid oak.

"Not bad." Eneever Zig admitted grudgingly, "but both of you go back to counting again. I'll see that we get across."

Giant seahorses, yoked as a team, appeared and 44.began hauling the boxy barge ahead. "Not bad yourself," Gord returned the compliment. But before Eneever had a chance to acknowledge it, mermaids of most beautiful face and form appeared on the backs of the creatures.

"Who did that?" the wizard demanded angrily, for the burdened seahorses could now barely make headway.

Chert looked sheepish. "Sony," he said, "but those things made me remember the stories I'd heard-"

"Just count," Zig said with resignation.

"One . . ." the barbarian said, and the mermaids were gone.

A rocky cliff was now visible, and a wide beach of black sand could be seen before the precipice. The seahorses were hauling them toward this place with strong motion.

In a few minutes the three would be clear of the Realm of Thought and heading toward Eneever Zig's goal - whatever that was. The wizard was elated, and he exclaimed with satisfaction, "Only a handful of a.s.sorted monsters stand between us and the Ebon Well now! Be ready to fight stoutly when we land, for I believe that Bocheiris, the fish-bodied daemon, will be lurking near the tunnel we approach."

"Chert," Gord hissed at his comrade, "when you reach seven, think of the most precious thing you canT "Huh?Ah, four- okay."

Gord knew now how they could get away from this awful place and safely back, and better yet, he had figured out how to accomplish that and manage to garner some reward as well. Chert would be responsible for that last part of the task. As far as the wizard went, Eneever Zig could fight the lurking daemon with his magic. Gord and the barbarian 45.CORD THE ROGUE.

would be long gone!

Fixing his mind and forming his thoughts carefully, Gord listened with half a mind to the hillman slowly say 'seven'. As Chert spoke the number, the young thief set his thoughts firmly. The clumsy barge grounded on the black sand. Eneever Zig had dispelled the seahorse team a moment before, and the momentum of their work did the rest.

"Now you may think freely - if you can," the wizard called to his two a.s.sociates.