The Warlock's Companion by Christopher Stasheff Page B

stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "It's labeling, son. It's a way of confronting our fear…"
    "I have no fear!"
    "Then you're braver than I am. And once we've put a name to that fear, we can't just walk away and pretend it never existed."
    Geoffrey still frowned, but he quieted.
    "And if the Di Medici have failed in their duty, what of it?" Gwen demanded. "It nonetheless falls to us."
    "True," Rod admitted.
    "Then the sooner we deal with it, the better."
    "Oh, I wouldn't go that far. I'd just as soon make my first confrontation by daylight, thank you."
    Gwen turned to confront him . "Delay will not make it cease, milord."
    "No, but it'll make me feel a little better about it."
    Gwen tossed her head impatiently. "Art thou so worn with travel, then, that thou canst not stand to battle?"
    "Now that you mention it—yes. Or rather, I could if I had to—but no general will make his troops fight when they're tired, if he can help it. I've got an even better reason than that though."
    "Which is?"
    "I'm scared."
    " Thou , craven?" Geoffrey bleated. "Thou canst not speak truth!"
    "I do." Rod turned away, picked up a fallen branch, and began to sweep out a campsite. "And I intend to have full sunlight before I walk into that stone pile."
    Geoffrey stared at him, thunderstruck, then whirled to Gwen. "Mama! Assuredly our father hath not become a coward!"
    Gwen squeezed his shoulder and shook her head, but her eyes were on Rod.
    Geoffrey stared, unbelieving, then whirled away to Fess. "It cannot be true! Thou, who hast known him longer than any, who hast watched o'er him from his cradle—tell me! Hath my father ever admitted to fear?"
    "Frequently and regularly, Geoffrey, as he should. Only a fool will deny being afraid. The wise man will admit his fear, at least to himself, then triumph over it."
    That brought the future hero to a frowning halt. "There is an air of sense to thy words…"
    "He who denies his fear, even to himself, lies," Fess assured him, "and fear denied may leap out at the crucial moment, to disable you in battle."
    Magnus listened closely.
    "So never hesitate to admit being afraid, Geoffrey," Fess went on, "but do not let it keep you from action."
    "Yet he doth! Even now, he doth!"
    "True, and that is atypical for him," the robot agreed. "You might wish to ask him why—especially when he does it so blithely."
    Geoffrey stared at him, then whirled to his father. "Thou dost lie!"
    Magnus turned, too, though more slowly.
    "I do not," Rod said evenly. "I am most definitely afraid of that castle."
    Geoffrey lifted his chin. "Yet not so afeard that thou wilt not encamp in the shadow of its walls."
    "You've noticed."
    Geoffrey winced. "Be not so cruel to me, I pray! Tell me wherefore thou dost hesitate."
    Rod just gazed at him. Geoffrey twitched, but held firm.
    Softly, Magnus said, "Hast thou the right to hear it, brother, when thou hast lost faith in him?"
    Geoffrey seemed to loosen a little. "I did not. Not truly, I did not—I but craved a reason to keep belief.''
    Rod still gazed.
    Finally, Geoffrey bowed his head. "Thy pardon, sir, that I did doubt thee."
    "Why, of course," Rod said. "Question me all you wish, son, though you may not like the answer—but don't doubt me, please. I don't deserve it."
    "Nay, thou dost not," Gwen said, musing. "Yet thou couldst have been more open, husband."
    "I could, if I could have put words to it—but it took a few minutes to figure out what was bothering me. And really, it's simply this—I don't like surprises."
    "Aye!" Geoffrey cried, relieved. " 'Tis even as thou hast ever said—to march ahead unknowing is most dire folly!"
    Rod nodded. "Took me a few minutes to figure that out, though, since it isn't an army we're facing. That's why I told you I was scared. Emotions are there for reasons, and when I can't figure out exactly what I'm scared about, it's wisest to stand back—if I can."
    "And in this, thou canst." Gwen nodded. "There is wisdom in this, husband. Nay, let