“So it’s a fairly straightforward matter for him to have five associates in the Kerak Embassy sit in on the duel, so to speak. Possibly they are natural telepaths also, but they needn’t be.”
“They just, uh, pool their minds with his, hm-m-m? Six men show up in the duel ... pretty nasty.” Hector dropped into the desk chair.
“So what do we do now?”
“Now?” Leoh blinked at his young friend. “Why ... I suppose the first thing we should do is call the hospital and see how Dulaq came through.”
Leoh put the call through. Geri Dulaq’s face appeared on the screen.
“How’s your father?” Hector blurted.
“The duel was too much for him,” she said blankly. “He is dead.”
“No,” Leoh groaned.
“I ... I’m sorry,” Hector said. “I’ll be right down there. Stay where you are.”
The young Star Watchman dashed out of the office as Geri broke the phone connection. Leoh stared at the blank screen for a few moments, then leaned far back in the couch and closed his eyes. He was suddenly exhausted, physically and emotionally. He fell asleep, and dreamed of men dead and dying.