Quag Keep
Authors: Andre Norton
Quag Keep
Tor Books by Andre Norton
Quag Keep
Return to Quag Keep
(with Jean Rabe)
The Crystal Gryphon
Dare to Go A-Hunting
Flight in Yiktor
Forerunner
Forerunner: The Second Venture
Here Abide Monsters
Moon Called
Moon Mirror
The Prince Commands
Ralestone Luck
Stand and Deliver
Wheel of Stars
Wizards' Worlds
Wraiths of Time
Beast Master's Planet
(omnibus comprising
The Beast Master
and
Lord of Thunder
)
The Solar Queen
(omnibus comprising
Sargasso of Space
and
Plague Ship
)
The Gates to Witch World
(omnibus comprising
Witch World
,
Web of the Witch World
,
and
Year of the Unicorn
)
Lost Lands of Witch World
(omnibus comprising
Three Against the Witch World
,
Warlock of the Witch World
, and
Sorceress of the Witch World
)
Grandmasters' Choice
(Editor)
The Jelkyll Legacy
(with Robert Bloch)
Gryphon's Eyrie
(with A. C. Crispin)
Songsmith
(with A. C. Crispin)
Caroline
(with Enid Cushing)
Firehand
(with P. M. Griffin)
Redline the Stars
(with P. M. Griffin)
Sneeze on Sunday
(with Grace Allen Hogarth)
The Duke's Ballad
(with Lyn McConchie)
House of Shadows
(with Phyllis Miller)
Empire of the Eagle
(with Susan Shwartz)
Imperial Lady
(with Susan Shwartz)
BEAST MASTER
(with Lyn McConchie)
Beast Master's Ark
Beast Master's Circus
CAROLUS REX
(with Rosemary Edghill)
The Shadow of Albion
Leopard in Exile
THE HALFBLOOD CHRONICLES
(with Mercedes Lackey)
The Elvenbane
Elvenblood
Elvenborn
MAGIC IN ITHKAR
(Editor, with Robert Adams)
Magic in Ithkar 1
Magic in Ithkar 2
Magic in Ithkar 3
Magic in Ithkar 4
THE OAK, YEW, ASH,
AND ROWAN CYCLE
(with Sasha Miller)
To the King a Daughter
Knight or Knave
A Crown Disowned
THE SOLAR QUEEN
(with Sherwood Smith)
Derelict for Trade
A Mind for Trade
THE TIME TRADERS
(with Sherwood Smith)
Echoes in Time
Atlantis Endgame
THE WITCH WORLD
(Editor)
Four from the Witch World
Tales from the Witch World 1
Tales from the Witch World 2
Tales from the Witch World 3
WITCH WORLD: THE TURNING
I
Storms of Victory
(with P. M. Griffin)
II
Flight of Vengeance
(with P. M. Griffin &
Mary H. Schaub)
III
On the Wings of Magic
(with Patricia Mathews
& Sasha Miller)
        Keep
ANDRE NORTON
Â
Â
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
QUAG KEEP
Copyright © 1978 by The Estate of Andre Norton
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
First published in the United States by Atheneum Books
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Norton, Andre.
Quag keep / Andre Norton.
“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”
Summary: Seven strangers, each wearing a
similar bracelet, meet and become pawns in the
continuing struggle between the forces of good and evil.
ISBN-13 978-0-765-31302-7
ISBN-10 0-765-31302-2
1. Good and evilâFiction. 2. Fantasy gamesâFiction. 3. Fantasy.
PZ7.82 Qa 2003
[Fic] 22Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2006040367
First Tor Trade Paperback Edition: May 2006
Printed in the United States of America
0Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1
The author wishes to express appreciation for the invaluable aid of E. Gary Gygax of TSR, expert player and creator of the war game,
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS
, on which the background of
QUAG KEEP
is based. I wish also to acknowledge the kind assistance of Donald Wollheim, an authority and collector of fantasy miniatures, whose special interest was so valuable for my research.
Quag Keep
1
ECKSTERN PRODUCED THE PACKAGE WITH AN EXAGGERATED FLOUR
ish and lifted the lid of the box to pluck out shredded packing with as much care as if he were about to display the crown jewels of some long-forgotten kingdom. His showmanship brought the others all closer. Eckstern liked such chances to focus attention, and tonight, as the referee chosen to set up the war game, his actions were backed with special authority.
He unwrapped a length of cotton and set out on the table, between the waiting game sheets, a two-inch figure, larger than any they habitually played with. It was, indeed, a treasure. A swordsmanâcomplete with shield on which a nearly microscopic heraldic design blazed forth in brilliant enamel paints. The tiny face of the figure was sternly set above the rim of the shield, shadowed by a helmet with a small twist of spike rising from it. There was an indication of mail on the body which had been modeled as if the figure were advancing a step in grim determination. The sword in the hand was a length of glittering
metal, more like well-polished steel than lead which was the usual material for playing figures.
Martin stared at it in fascination. He had seen many expertly painted and well-positioned war-game figures but thisâthis gave him a queer feeling, as if it had not been turned out of a mold, but rather had been designed by a sculptor in the form of a man who once had lived.
“Whereâwhere did you get that?” Harry Conden's slight hesitation of speech was more pronounced than usual.
“A beauty, isn't it?” Eckstern purred. “A new companyâQ K Productionsâand you wouldn't believe the price either. They sent a letter and a listâwant to introduce their pieces to âwell-known' players. After we won those two games at the last convention, I guess they had us near the top of their list . . .”
To Martin, Eckstern's explanation was only a meaningless babble. His hand had gone out without his conscious willing, to touch fingertip on that shield, make sure it did exist. It was true that the makers of playing pieces for the fantasy war games were starting to try to outdo each other in the production of unusual monsters, noble fighters, astute elves, powerful dwarves, and all the other characters a player might call for, identify with while playing, even keep on display like some fabulous antique chessmen between games. Martin had envied those able to equip themselves with the more ornate and detailed figures. But the best he had seen in displays could not compare to this. Within him came a sudden compulsion: he must have this one. It was beyond any doubt meant for him.
Eckstern was still talking as he unwrapped other figures, set them out, his elbow firmly planted meanwhile on the referee
notes for the coming game. But Martin's attention never wavered from the swordsman. This was his! He grasped it lovingly.
THERE WERE GOOD SMELLS AND STALE ONES FIGHTING FOR DOM
inance in a room lit only by baskets of fire wasps, one of which was close enough so that he could see every old stain on the table at which he sat. By his right hand stood a drinking horn mounted on a base of dull metal. His right hand . . .