Swords 

The tower was huge; partially carved from the mountain, the rest being
set stone.  Adaz and Sutekh had followed the road to the massive,
stone doors.  Set in the stone was a pair of two-handed swords, 
crossed over the seam between the doors.  
	"Well?" Adaz inquired.  
	Sutekh simply smiled, turned his horse, and galloped back down
the road.  Puzzled, Adaz followed.  About a mile from the tower,
Sutekh left the road and moved into a copse of woods.
	"Now we become invisible and walk back along the horses' 
tracks," he explained.
	Again they approached the doors, but this time, as they 
neared, the crossed swords sprang to life.  They slowly advanced in 
the on-guard position, occasionally slashing back and forth with 
blinding speed.
	Adaz drew her sword, unsure of what to attack, and hoped that
the magic Sutekh was speaking would have some effect.
	When Sutekh finished his spell the swords dropped into the 
snow, inanimate once again.  He immediately began another spell.  This 
one ended with the stone doors swinging open.
	"According to Ivan the tower is devoid of life," Sutekh said.  
"Thus the bold assault."
	"And why the invisibility?" Adaz asked, eyeing where the 
swords had disappeared into the snow.  
	"Why not?" was the reply.  
	They entered the tower and crept down the corridor, stopping 
at a raised portcullis.  
	"You can raise it if need be, can't you?" Adaz asked quietly, 
wondering if portcullises were as easy to animate as swords.  
	"I doubt it.  The wording of the spell doesn't allow for it 
and I'm not going to try any rephrasing out here."  After a moment's 
hesitation, Sutekh continued down the corridor and Adaz followed along 
behind.  
	The stench of death reached them as they approached a large 
hall.  The room was lit by brightly shining disks high on the walls.  
Scattered about the hall were several decaying bodies and many 
weapons.  As Sutekh stepped into the hall, a sword, a spear, and a 
hammer that had been lying close together floated into the air and 
drifted toward him.  Sutekh drew his weapons and stood his ground, but 
the animated weapons did not attack.  
	"Leave," a cold, disembodied voice rasped.  
	"Why?" Sutekh inquired tentatively.  
	"Sutekh," Adaz called in a distant voice.  
	"If you stay we will kill you," the cold voice said.  
	"And who are you?" Sutekh continued.  
	"Su-tekh," Adaz repeated, tugging on his cloak.  "Look 
carefully at the bodies."  
	"We are the guardians of this place."  The weapons went 
through various attacking motions to emphasize the point.  
	"Who are you guarding it against?" Sutekh said as he again 
scanned the bodies.  This time he noticed that each body had exactly 
three weapons next to it.  
	"All intruders.  Leave.  Now."  
	"Who put you here?" Sutekh pushed.  
	The weapons advanced in silence and Adaz and Sutekh retreated.  
The weapons did not leave the hall, but the pair continued their 
retreat.  When they passed through the gates the two-handed swords 
floated up from the snow and menaced them.  
	"Shall we run?" Sutekh asked.  
	"Yes," Adaz replied, "We shall."  
	They dodged past the swords and ran a hundred yards or so 
before stopping to look back.  The doors were closed, crossed swords 
in place.  
	"Well," Adaz gasped, "I'm sure your friend Ivan will be happy 
to hear your lengthy report."  
	"He will," Sutekh replied.  "Getting in the front door is 
notoriously difficult for Ivan and his companions.  I can at least 
explain to him how to do that.  Besides, we found out more than you 
might think.  Now, let's go home."  


					Jeff Stehman