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center of Husaquahr's evil and the site of an epic battle between Ruddygore and its previous owner, the Dark Baron, Esmilio Boquillas. The castle itself had been expropriated by the couple regarded by many as gods and had been redone and staffed with Ruddygore's Page 20 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods loyal servants, or "employees" as he always called them— mostly elves and other fairy folk whom he trusted over humans.
     
    It was a bright, warm, sunny day when Ruddygore arrived, and Joe and Tiana went down to meet him personally at the only anchorage on the island, a mile or so from the castle itself. No matter how many times they saw him, the old sorcerer made an impressive sight.
     
    Ruddygore was not merely tall—almost as tall as they were—but he was big, and with his long white hair and flowing white beard he looked very much like what the real Santa Claus should look like, complete with a rough, reddish complexion. Although he'd been known, in private moments, to dress quite informally, he was now dressed in his normal public attire—striped pants, morning coat, formal shirt with vest, bow tie, and top hat. He seemed not to notice the heat and humidity.
     
    Ruddygore, of course, was not his real name. He had, it seemed, thousands of them, and probably more that were still not traceable to him. He was quite old—thousands of years old at the very least—and his past made up a considerable body of both Husaquahrian history and legend. To know a great sorcerer's true name was to have some magical power over him, and it had been so long 28 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS JACK L. CHALKER 29 since his own name was uttered by anyone or anything that it was said that even he had forgotten it.
     
    His comical name and appearance belied his tremendous power, which was the strongest known in this world where magic ruled—at least the strongest known human.
     
    In addition, he had one other skill, one piece of information no other wizard knew, and one which gave him a decided edge in a world where magic worked and technology was virtually unknown. He alone knew how to cross the Sea of Dreams between his own world and Earth, and he alone was privy to the secrets of technology that Earth had.
     
    He came down the gangplank like some great king, clutching his cane with the golden dragon on its hilt, but he warmly shook Joe's hand and hugged and kissed Tiana with evident real affection. "How good you both look!.
     
    he said enthusiastically in his great booming voice. "It's good to be back home and among friends once more.
     
    Come—let us go up to the castle. Poquah will see to our things..
     
    Poquah was the thin adept ofRuddygore's, an Imir, or warrior elf, by birth and training. His race had but one innate power, but it served them well. No one, not even their closest friends, even noticed their existence unless they wanted to be noticed. It was often spooky or even irritating to have him seemingly pop up from nowhere and Page 21 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods vanish just as quickly, but it was very handy for a warrior.
     
    Like humans, though, any powers of wizardry had to be learned by hard study and apprenticeship, and he was the first known of his race to have both the talent and the desire.
     
    Ruddygore's great bulk looked unmanageable, but the old man was really quite spry. He mounted the horse they'd brought for him with a single easy motion and managed to look both comfortable and, considering his garb, ridiculous at one and the same time. The couple mounted their own horses, and they started off up the winding, switchbacked trail to the top and then to the castle.
     
    "I can tell that something is amiss with you," Ruddygore noted as they rode. "Excuse my prying, but are you two having—difficulties?.
     
    "Not in that way," Joe responded. "Frankly, we're just bored to death and sick and tired of all this..
     
    "With your support, we are the richest and most powerful in