Paul stared at Billy with a puzzled expression. "This is all very confusing."

"We'll explain everything, Paul," said Merlin, "but first, use your gift on Wyrdrune for a moment."

Paul glanced at him.

"It's all right," Wyrdrune said. "Go ahead."

Paul looked at him for a moment, then his puzzlement grew.

"I'm . . . not getting anything at all!"

"That's because Wyrdrune may have said it was all right, butI didn't," Modred said.

Paul gasped as he suddenly found himself confronting a completely different person, a tall, well-built

blond man with a neatly trimmed beard and tinted aviator glasses. He spoke with an English accent and

even his clothes were different. In place of Wyrdrune's short brown warlock's cassock and jeans, he

wore an elegant, custom-tailored, charcoal-gray neo-Edwardian suit with a white silk shirt, a lace jabot,

and lace at the cuffs. And while Wyrdrune wore a headband, his forehead was bare, displaying the

emerald runestone set into its center. The transformation had occurred in the space of an eyeblink. He

reached into his inside jacket pocket and took out a gold cigarette case.

"Would you object if I smoked, Professor?"

"No, please do," said Paul weakly. "In fact, if you could spare one, I could use something to help steady

my nerves."

Modred opened the case and held it out to Ramirez, then snapped his fingers and a small jet of blue

flame shot out from his thumb. He lit Paul's cigarette with it, then his own, then blew it out.

"I think I could use a drink," said Paul unsteadily.

"Allow me," said Broom. "Where do you keep the booze?"

"Uh . . . there's some whiskey in the kitchen," Paul said. "And the glasses are in the cupboard, to the left

of the sink."

"I'll find everything," said Broom. "You'd better sit down,bubeleh. You don't look so good."

Paul sat down on the couch. He looked stunned.

"Forgive me, Paul," said Merlin. "I had forgotten Modred's characteristic flair for the dramatic."

"Dramatics had nothing to do with it," said Modred irritably. "Before you invite someone to read my

mind, Ambrosius, you might have the consideration to ask me first. Wyrdrune might not object, butI do."

"Modred?" Paul said, still looking dazed.

"Son of King Arthur Pendragon and Morgan Le Fay," said Merlin. "And a powerful adept in his own

right."