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  And I see a pattern.

  Pattern?

  We have much to talk about, but first you must find us a demon.

  I dont understand.

  Taking Gulamendiss arm in his hand, the Lorekeeper gently turned him toward a distant gate. We both know that your obligation to report to the Grand Master for assignment is a formality. You are a free agent, under direct order from the Regent Lord. You have two tasks He squinted a little as he studied the Demon Masters face. No, you have three tasks, he said softly. One of your own, I see.

  Gulamendis stiffened slightly, but didnt break stride. I am to seek out demon signs, he said. If I find none, I rejoice.

  Oh, I suspect you will find some. He again studied the Demon Master while they walked toward the distant gate. Perhaps you already have. Gulamendis stopped, and Tanderae smiled. My other great gift is reading expressions and manner. He waited for the Demon Master to speak, then, when he did not, the Lorekeeper said, Too long we have glorified power, Gulamendis. It is worthy of note, and when it serves, it is a grand thing, but to seek out power for its own sake makes us little different from those we call the Forgotten.

  Gulamendis wondered for a brief instant if the Lorekeeper could read his thoughts, for this echoed what he had been thinking only moments before he had encountered Tanderae. Weighing his words carefully, he asked, What do you advise?

  Again a quick look around to see they were not being overheard, and Tanderae started moving toward the distant gate. I will speak to Grand Master Colsarius, which will discharge your obligation to report. He will consider it a burden I saved him from: a meeting with a demon lover. There was a wry smile and Gulamendis understood he meant the insult as humor. He might take it upon himself to augment or extend the Regent Lords instructions to you, and Id rather you werent distracted from your tasks.

  Gulamendis saw they were approaching the gate opposite the one through which he had entered the burgeoning city and said, What do you know of my tasks, Tanderae?

  I know the Regent Lord wants you to ensure we are not troubled by demons. And Im also guessing he wishes someone with a great deal of experience skulking through dark places to investigate a few other things, such as how our distant kin on this world fare.

  Gulamendis was impressed. His meeting with the Regent Lord had been in private, over the first good meal the Demon Master had been given in months. The Regent Lord was adamant: Laromendis would be kept hostage against his brothers good behavior while the Demon Master did the Regent Lords bidding. And he had set two tasks, to see if they were free of demon taint in Midkemia and to travel the land to the north, discovering what he could about the elves, especially the so-called Elf Queen. Gulamendis wasnt certain, but he was clearly of the mind that the Regent Lord was in no hurry to surrender authority over the Taredhel to another, no matter what her lineage. She might claim descent from the true kings of Edhel, but it would take more than a garland for a crown and some leather-clad rustics bowing before her to convince him to bend his knee.

  Tanderae said, And theres another thing, but I dont know what it is

  Gulamendis preferred it that way. This young Lorekeeper was too adept at discerning whole pictures from fragments and glimpses. He might prove a powerful ally, but he would be a deeply dangerous enemy. Still, Gulamendis wasnt without his own talents in seeing a larger picture when enough information was there. He studied Tanderae and said, You have ambition, my friend. Is Master of Lore not enough?

  The young elf smiled, but it was a pained expression. I am loyal, my friend. But the needs of my people come before any single elfs needs.

  Gulamendis nodded and turned to walk out the gate. He understood completely. The young Lorekeeper, gifted only with a keen mind and facile wit, meant to be the next Regent Lord. Now he knew why he had sought out the Demon Master, and why this conversation. He wished the Elf Queen to know there were those within the ranks of the Taredhel who were ready to acknowledge her as rightful ruler of all the Edhel. In exchange for certain considerations, such as being named her Regent Lord in Elenbar, being first among them.

  Gulamendis turned just as Tanderae was about to return to his other tasks and said, Why are we having this conversation? You already knew my mission from the Regent Lord. But you expose yourself, even if only slightly, by talking as you have to me. Why?

  The Lorekeeper paused, turned back toward Gulamendis, and said, Do you know the Tome of Akar-Ree?

  I grew up in a tiny village on the frontier. As you can imagine, my education was not formal. I am self-taught.

  Impressive, said the Lorekeeper. There are ancient volumes that have crumbled with time. Lacunaeholes in pagesoften make already metaphorical and poetic lore even harder to understand.

  Your studies are among those forbidden for centuries, Gulamendisif we can call them studiesand what little we know of demons is either ancient lore or bitter recent experience.

  The Tome of Akar-Ree is a recounting of a great battle during the Chaos Wars, when gods and mortals struggled to seize the very heavens, and much of it is obscure reference to things the reader is supposed to already know, and some of it is imagery open to a myriad of interpretations.

  But there is one passage, clear as a clarion ringing in the cold air of dawn, without a hint of obscurity, and it is this: demons were summoned to fight in the battle, beings of the deeper realms, and other beings, of light, from the higher realms, answered. They came unbidden, for it was the nature of things that when a creature from the lower depths appeared here, his counterpart appeared somewhere else, and sought him out, and when they struggled, both were destroyed, or returned to their home realmwe dont know which.

  I didnt know that, whispered Gulamendis. He knew he was on the verge of hearing something very important.

  These higher beings, those in opposition to demons, have many names, most commonly they are called angels. Their glory is blinding and their power is equal to those of the demons summoned.

  Gulamendiss mind raced, for he had summoned demons for years, yet this was the first he had heard of these other beings, these angels.

  Tanderae smiled. You see the question, dont you?

  Gulamendis nodded. Where are the angels?

  Tanderae shrugged. Unless this ancient tome is a work of the storytellers art and has no valid history within, then the balance of our universe has been skewed since the time of the Chaos Wars. The host of demons who destroyed our worlds should have been met by an equal number of angels, and the Taredhel should have continued in peace and health across the worlds we inhabited.

  Why do you tell me this?

  Tanderae shrugged. There may be no answer, or it may be that work is apocryphal at best. But what if it is true? He placed his hand on Gulamendiss shoulder and gently turned him back toward the gate, indicating the conversation was at an end. It is just that you are about to travel widely, while the rest of us labor to build this new city of glory and plan our conquest of this world, claiming it as ours alone. In those travels you may meet all manner of being, some who may be wise, or powerful, or have access to ancient knowledge, and it would be a shame if you didnt know the right question to ask. Journey safely. Without another word, he walked quickly away from the stunned Demon Master.

  Gulamendis walked away from the nascent city, unsettled by what he had just heard, and more, by what he knew was coming. Gulamendis sighed to himself as he trudged up the hill. He didnt know if his tasks just got easier or more difficult.

  CHAPTER 9

  WARNING

  Brandos paced.

  Amirantha sat patiently in the anteroom, waiting for a summons that never seemed to come. This was his fourth day waiting for an audience with General Kaspar, Chancellor to the Maharaja of Muboya. The new palace in Maharta was an exercise in ostentation, something Amirantha had come to expect from royalty, but he was forced to admit that along with the ostentation came a fair dose of beauty. Some of the dcor was actually tasteful, a rarity among those to whom fashion was a function of
how much gold it cost to build something.

  The two of them had arrived at the capital of the young and vibrant Kingdom of Muboya. The Maharaja had ended over twenty years of campaign and annexation when he reached the sea, uniting all the city states along the River Veedra, from the grasslands to the west to the City of the Serpent River to the east. It was the largest political entity on the continent of Novindus in history, and, like all young and sprawling nations comprised of diverse cultures, nearly impossible to govern.

  While waiting, Amirantha had gained some sense of the tasks set before this Lord Kaspar. Nobles from many parts of the nation, envoys from other states in the Westlands and even from across the sea, paraded through this antechamber into his reception hall or private chambers or whatever it was Amirantha imagined behind massive wooden doors.

  He and Brandos had presented themselves four days earlier, both wearing their finest clothing, so there was nothing of the vagabond or poor petitioner in their appearance. They simply told the secretary, a fussy and self-important little man, they wished to speak to Lord Kaspar on a matter of some urgency and importance to the Kingdom.

  And for three days they had been soundly ignored.

  Brandos sat down next to his friend, about the fifth or sixth timeAmirantha had lost countand said, Do we need to bribe the secretary?

  Tried yesterday, and almost got us arrested. He turned to look at his companion and in low tones said, Seems what weve heard about this Kaspar of Olasko is true; hes running a very principled state. He leaned back against the wall, carefullyhe was conscious of his white robes with black and gold trim and the need to keep them free of dirty surfacesand said, Given the rogues and mountebanks who pass as government agents in most places, its a surprise, but Im not sure if its pleasant or unsettling.

  Well, if you cant bribe to get in to see this General, and we seem to be growing moss waiting, do you have any other ideas? Not that I dont enjoy sitting and doing nothing for days on end

  Amirantha said, Very well. I guess I could send him a more compelling message.

  The Warlock sat up, closed his eyes, and barely raised his right hand, but Brandos instantly recognized a summoning. This was hardly the time or place, in the old fighters judgment, to call forth a demon, but he trusted Amiranthas instincts, even if they had come close to getting him killed on a number of occasions. More times though, they had saved his life.

  A faint pop sound heralded the appearance of a tiny figure, about knee-high to the fighter. It was the imp Nalnar, oldest of the Warlocks summoned creatures. In their flimflamming of the gullible, Brandos and Amirantha had relied on a half-dozen summoned beings, all having different abilities to amaze and terrorize the onlookers out of their gold, but few posed any real danger.

  The dark-skinned imp, his hue shifting from deep blue to purple, depending on the light, was the most intelligent. His bright yellow eyes with black irises regarded Amirantha from under flame-red brows. He grinned, revealing an array of razor-sharp teeth, and pointed one talon-tipped finger at the Warlock. You have summoned me, Master. I await your bidding, Master.

  The secretary looked up from his desk at the unusual sound of the imps voice, and suddenly his eyes widened. Amirantha pointed to the entrance to Kaspars office and said, Beyond those doors is another room, in which resides a man of importance. He is General Kaspar, Chancellor to the Maharaja of Muboya. Bear to him a message that I, Amirantha of the Satumbria, seek audience, for I have a dire warning and need to speak with him now. Lowering his voice, he said, Can you remember that, Nalnar?

  I remember, Master, said the imp, as it leaped away, reaching a window in two bounds.

  The secretary at the desk stood and shouted, Guards!

  Instantly, guards from the corners of the large antechamber and by the doors raced to see what the problem was, as Amirantha calmly sat back down on the bench. Brandos looked on with some amusement as the secretary tried explaining that the two men quietly sitting on the bench had just conspired to make a tiny blue man appear, who had leaped out the window.

  Unsure of what to do, the secretary ordered the guards to subdue the two on the bench, which brought a confused reaction from the guard sergeant, as the two men hardly appeared in need of subduing. Then the secretary realized that outside the window there was access to another window into the Generals offices, and said, Quick! Inside! Protect His Excellency.

  The guards hurried through the door, with the frantic secretary a step behind. Brandos and Amirantha exchanged glances, stood slowly, and followed the excited man into the Generals meeting room.

  Kaspar of Olasko, General of the Armies of Muboya and the Maharajas Chancellor, sat behind his desk, while the imp Nalnar sat quietly eating baked corn wafers and cheese off a plate. The General had pushed his chair back, obviously startled at first, but now calmly observing the imp at his meal.

  The guards stood around, uncertain of what to do next, while the secretary shouted, Excellency, are you safe?

  Safe enough, it appears, said Kaspar. He was a round-faced man but otherwise slender and fit, his hair having turned steel-grey over the years. He once again affected the chin whiskers he had sported in his youth, but kept his upper lip and sideburns shaven. His mouth was set in a tight but slightly amused expression, as though he was annoyed at the interruption of his workday but found the novelty of it intriguing.

  And it was clear he saw nothing remotely threatening in the situation. It came in the window a moment ago and leaped upon my desk. Then it started eating my lunch.

  Amirantha and Brandos exchanged knowing glances. Nalnar had a particular fondness for cheese.

  As the imp ate with single-mindedness, Kaspar waved away the guards. I think Im safe, he observed.

  The secretary, still looking frantic, shouted, Arrest those men! and pointed at Amirantha and Brandos.

  With a single wave of his hand, Kaspar aborted the attempt. Is this yours? he said to Amirantha, pointing at Nalnar.

  In a manner of speaking, replied the Warlock.

  Again with a wave of his hand, Kaspar dismissed the guards and secretary. After the guards had left, Amirantha and Brandos noticed a man cowering in the corner, huddled down in abject terror. Kaspar half-rose out of his seat to address the man. Lord Mora, perhaps it would be best if we continued our discussion on another day.

  The man slowly rose, nodding vigorously but still unable or unwilling to speak. He quickly exited the room, leaving Kaspar alone with the imp and two strangers. Now, said Kaspar, what am I to make of all this?

  Amiranthas eyes half-closed and rolled upward in an expression of exasperation. Nalnar!

  The imp jumped at his name. Master? he hissed.

  The message?

  Looking abashed, the imp lowered his head and said, Amirantha of the Satumbria seeks audience, for he has a dire warning and needs to speak with you now.

  You forgot?

  He had cheese, pleaded the imp.

  Brandos shrugged. It could have been worse. It could have been a plate of muffins.

  Muffins, agreed Amirantha.

  Muffins! shrieked the imp as he started to look around the room.

  Amirantha held out one hand and said, Thou art dismissed, minion!

  The imp faded out of view and the Warlock said, My lord Kaspar, I apologize, but Ive been waiting without those doors for three days

  Four, corrected Brandos, if you count this day.

  Shooting his companion a dark look and a silent warning to not interrupt again, Amirantha said, days and judged it likely to be days more unless I resorted to something more dramatic.

  Kaspar nodded, sat back down, and finally said, Im listening.

  In efficient style, Amirantha told Kaspar of his encounter with the summoned demon, omitting the reason why they were summoning a demon in a cave in the first place. Still, he left out nothing critical, stressing how dangerous the creature was and that its appearance was a warning of far deeper dangers.

  After he finished, Kaspar wa
s silent for a while, then said, Let me see if I have the right of this.

  You are the two mountebanks who have been fleecing the locals to the east and north of here by banishing demons you summon. When they didnt deny it, he continued. But you thought enough of this danger to come see me, even though you knew I might decide to employ harsh judgment against you for your confidence tricks?

  Amirantha glanced at Brandos, who stood motionless, showing no emotion. Yes, he said finally. This is a dangerous enough issue that I felt the need to carry word.

  As I said, magic has a signature, each unique to whoever the caster is, and while only the most accomplished among us can discern that difference, it is there. And the man who distorted my magic to summon that demon is well known to me.

  Who is that? asked Kaspar.

  My brother, Belasco.

  So, this is a family problem? said Kaspar, his eyes narrowing, as if this was not the sort of answer he had expected.

  Brandos shifted uneasily and said, Itsan odd family, really.

  Apparently, said Kaspar, heaving himself out of his chair with a sigh. He moved to the window. In my day Ive traveled a lot, places even you would be surprised to hear ofWarlock?

  Its a title of my people, said Amirantha, the Satumbria.

  Ive never heard of them, said Kaspar.

  They no longer exist, said Amirantha, and even Brandos looked surprised to hear that. They were obliterated years ago by the armies of the Emerald Queen.

  Kaspar nodded. Ive heard tales of that time, was all he said. He didnt think it necessary to explain he had served with men who had fought against those armies. He paused, then said, Very well, Warlock. Let us say for a minute I believe what you say and that you are, indeed, very concerned.

  I am still not clear on why the concern.

  I thought I explained, said Amirantha, and a note of impatience seeped into his voice.