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.But have you not the depth of thought to see that it cannot be? TheMaxim of Persistence still guides, Beliac.As you have apparently forgotten,simply stated, it says 'perfection is eternal.' Perfection, Beliac,perfection.Not some convenient approximation.If we do not use the propersteps and follow them exactly, we will become nothing more than expensivealchemists with gold rings h t turn to tin if you rub them but once.Theeverlasting quality of our work will be but myth for the sagas." " am as'Iwell versed in the fundamental laws as you, Lectonil," Beliac replied."Infact, judging from the relative number of monographs the two of us havecirculated in tkfi I*vear' * would saY I am more in tune with the true meaning of our law than you.At your zenith you may have discovered some interesting rituals, but I fearyou are now far past your prime in productivity and in judgment.""If I may interject a few words, most august masters," one of the othermagicians interrupted."Master Lectonil, I fear you disparage young Beliac here greatly.He does notcompose the ritual elements into magic squares, it is true, but hisconstructions in three dimensions are made with equal rigor and have producednew objects and lines of research undreamed of just ten years ago.""Undreamed of and unwanted," Lectonil snapped."Of what use are twelveelements that seem to fit together into a dodecahedron whole if the result isonly a ring that ties one's bootstraps?""Now you are most unfair." Beliac shouted for the first time."That ritual wasmerely the first example.I dare say that the first square produced results nomore inspiring.The field is young but in time we will have objects that aretotally outside the reach of such well traveled avenues as squareconstruction, be they trimagic, panmagic or symmetric.""Masters, if you please," another rumbled."Our ears tire of such discourse.We are here at masterLectonil's calling to decide on the petition to elevate acolyte Dun-can to thestatus of master magician, and we need not hide behind philosophical rhetoric.We can all count.If the majority backs master Beliac's petition, then futurecouncils no longer will be evenly divided.If we vote the proposition down, itPage 99ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlindicates clearly that master Beliac no longer can muster sufficientfile:///F|/rah/Lyndon%20Hardy/Hardy,%20Lyndon%20-%20Master%20of%20Five%20Magics,%20The.txt (95 of 207) [6/4/03 9:25:36 PM]file:///F|/rah/Lyndon%20Hardy/Hardy,%20Lyndon%20-%20Master%20of%20Five%20Magics,%20The.txt strength to cause deadlock.In either case, the work of the Guildwill proceed.""The first issue before us, master Zinted," Lectonil said, "is the presence ofthe neophyte.He must be removed and then Beliac must be censured forjeopardizing the secrets of the Guild.""By the traces, Lectonil," Beliac said, "we have said nothing to compromiseour heritage and methods.Look I prove it to you."Beliac turned to Alodar and continued his explanation, "As you may havegathered from our discourse, the making of a magical object is a matter ofperforming a ritual, a ritual that is perfect in some well defined sense.Possible ritual elements, the ringing of a bell, drawing of a bow and so onall have different Ritualistic attributes and numerical values.In ourresearch, we strive to arrange and order these elements in such a way that aperfect sequence is obtained.Such sequences produce objects indeed mostmagical."One such mechanism of arrangement and a successful one, I freely admit, is toorder the elements in a square in such a way that certain of the numericalvalues of their attributes sum in the same way whether consideredhorizontally, vertically or diagonally.Once these conditions are satisfied,one performs the ritual, taking the elements in sequence row by row."Now I have told you much more than you could deduce from what we have saidand I will add one thing more.Pluck a hair from master Fulmbar's crown.There, you have performed the first step hi a ritual of no mean potency.Howdo you proceed now?""Why I have no idea," Alodar responded as he drew his hand into the folds ofhis robe and planted the hair into a second wax doll he had strapped to hiswaist."You have told me some principles but with no instruction on the valuesof the elements or how to assemble them, I cannot proceed.""As is obvious to any with clear wit in.this room; he knows less than whatone could pick up through idle gossip in the neophyte's tower.I furthersubmit that our decision on Duncan will be common knowledge in the esplanadewithin the hour in any case.No secret has been revealed by what transpireshere, so let us proceed.Besides, master Lectonil, do you wish me time tochange further the minds of our assemblage here or do you prefer to have ourcollective decision recorded so the Guild may proceed?""You are ready for the vote on Duncan now, and did not bring this neophytebecause of my stand on the ritual of presence?" Lectonil asked."As I said, the neophyte is here merely to illustrate my position," Beliacreplied."It is to beDuncan first, and if there is no deadlock, then the rest will naturallyfollow."Lectonil twisted his face further but at last waved his arm to begin and saidno more.The magician on his left stood and formally stated the resolutionbefore them.At its conclusion, he cast his negative vote and sat down.Thecounting began to move around the table.Alodar quickly muttered theincantation while the eyes and ears of the assemblage were on each speaker.Hebroke the small vial of caustic soda from his underbelt into the oil ofvitriol and felt the heat begin to rise in his hand.He looked about, butcramped and shielded by Beliac's chair, no one paid him any heed.Beliac rose and voted, and Alodar began to manipulate the little waxen image.Fulmbar seemed unsteady and awkward as he stood, but the strangeness was lostin the murmur of disbelief that followed his vote."What manner of substitution is this?" Lectonil shouted out above the rest."You have wavered from time to time surely, Fulmbar, but you assured me not anPage 100ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlhour ago that your vote was switched to be mine.It is for that reason alonethat I called for the extraordinary session."file:///F|/rah/Lyndon%20Hardy/Hardy,%20Lyndon%20-%20Master%20of%20Five%20Magics,%20The.txt (96 of 207) [6/4/03 9:25:36 PM]file:///F|/rah/Lyndon%20Hardy/Hardy,%20Lyndon%20-%20Master%20of%20Five%20Magics,%20The
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