There he is invisible to eyes from this world of ours. Frown on; I can explain no better. This explains his disappearings. He seeks similar escape from us. But his body holds him. Sword driven through him into shield held him ashore, pinioned in the only way he can be held. Even then he took my form, and yours Samaire, and that of a serpent-and aye, he sought escape by disappearing. Was Cormac saw the key to this, holding captive even Thulsa Doom, and thus we must keep him pinned still.”

“Forever, if need be,” the other Gael muttered.

“He will… attempt again?” This from the young man, a youthful weapon-man with flaxen hair and pale eyes.

“Yesssssss,” Thulsa Doom hissed in rage, and he vanished from Quester.

“He be still here,” Cormac son of Art said grimly.

Awestruck silence cloaked the little ship, despite Cormac’s words of certainty. The vanished wizard could assume the form of any man he had seen-or woman, as Cormac had learned in a night of horror on the island they’d quitted. Too, they had learned in manner dismaying that he could gain control of the very minds of some, so that they dully carried out his will. Yet none of those now aboard Quester had succumbed, though they’d been forced to slay their former companions-which was why only these five survived.

And why had none of them fallen under the illusionist’s mind-control, neither Bas the Druid nor Wulfhere the Dane nor Samaire Ceanncelaigh nor Brian na Killevy whom Cormac called I-love-to-fight?

“Mayhap we were too determined of purpose,” Bas said.

“Too staunch,” Cormac suggested.

“Too loyal to yourself,” Samaire said.

Young Brian nodded, for he adulated the tall and rangy Gael who had been a noble of Connacht in Eirrin, and weapon-man for the King of Leinster though