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with others. The& animal instinct eventually asserts itself, providing a veritable feast of chaos."
I remembered those skeletons in the room, and the teeth marks on the bones. When I shuddered,
Aratron studied my reaction with the impassive curiosity of a scientist.
"The boon," Trsiel said. "What did he ask in return?"
"Ah, well, it had to do with a lady, as these things often do. A married lady who was proving most
resistant to his advances. Glamis, being an avid student of Arthurian lore, took his solution from there."
"He wanted to be able to assume the form of the lady's husband," I said. "That's where Dantalian came
in. His specialty is transmigration. Not assuming another form, but possessing one."
Aratron smiled. "That's it exactly. Baal went to Dantalian and demanded that he create something to
allow Glamis to inhabit another man's body. This is, of course, a skill every demon possesses." He waved
a hand at his current form probably that of a prison guard. "But for a half-demon it is impossible. Baal
charged Dantalian with the task of making it possible. And he did. He created a piece of jewelry."
"An amulet," I whispered. "One that would allow anyone with demon blood to fully possess the body of
any living person."
"Very good. You've heard of it, then?"
Before I could answer, Trsiel cut in. "But if Dantalian made the amulet, why did Baal imprison him?"
"Because Glamis never got that necklace. As for why, I fear that is a question only Dantalian and Baal
could answer. Some say Dantalian had a follower among the Ogilvies the clan Glamis walled up. Some
say Baal denied him a share of the sacrifice. Whatever the reason, Dantalian changed his mind and
secreted away the amulet, and for that, Baal sentenced him to spend five hundred and fifty-five years
walled up in that room with the Ogilvies."
"That's what the Nix wants," I said, turning to Trsiel. "Dantalian's Amulet."
And I'd been the one who'd told her about it.
Once we'd taken our leave of Aratron, we returned to Amanda Sullivan's cell and I made my confession
to Trsiel.
"That's why she came to Glamis," I said as I finished. "All along I've been trying to figure out what's
motivating her, and it's been staring me in the face the whole time. She wants what I want. To be able to
act within the living world. She's tired of relying on her partners for her food. That's why she went to
Luther Ross. Same reason I've been interested in him, as a way of breaking through that barrier. But
that's nothing compared to what she could do with Dantalian's Amulet. And I led her straight to it."
"We don't know that," he said softly.
I didn't argue, but we both knew it was no coincidence. I remembered the young hunter saying he'd seen
something move in the woods near where we'd landed, and I remembered the creak in the hallway
before Trsiel arrived. She'd been following me, and I'd rewarded her efforts beyond her wildest dreams.
As soon as she'd heard of the amulet, who'd made it, and what it did, she'd headed straight for Glamis,
where she'd know Dantalian had been exiled.
"If she gets the amulet, that'll make our job tougher," Trsiel said. "But I doubt that will happen. Dantalian
isn't about to tell her where it is."
"No? He may not like her very much, but how long do you think it'll take before he decides that telling
her and watching the havoc she'll wreak in human form is more rewarding than turning her down? We
need to find it first."
He nodded. "But the only one who knows where it is "
"Is the only person we can ask."
"We are not bargaining with a demon." He glanced over at me. "And don't tell me I already have. My
deal with Aratron was one-sided. I did something once that, unintentionally, benefited him, and he
promised me a favor in return. It wasn't a bargain."
"We aren't going to bargain with Dantalian."
"Good, because "
"Kristof is. He's a skilled demon negotiator."
Trsiel rolled his eyes, as if this didn't come as a surprise.
"It may not be your way, but we use whatever and whoever proves useful."
"If you've done it before, then you can do it. No need to bring in anyone else."
"I said I've dealt with them. I've never negotiated with them. For that, I hired professionals. If you do it
right, it's an honest transaction. If you do it wrong, well, then you're screwed, because there isn't a demon
alive who won't take advantage of stupidity or naivety. Kris can do it right."
Trsiel leaned against the wall, arms crossed. After a few minutes, he shook his head. "Go and find him,
then."
Chapter 34
I FOUND KRISTOF IN HIS OFFICE AGAIN, THIS TIME alone and hard at work, which seemed
the perfect excuse to slip off and find another demon mediator. But, as always, the moment I arrived, he
knew I was there, and when I tried to retreat, he called me back. His welcome cooled when he realized I
was there on business.
Of course, I had to tell him everything, and this confession was ten times tougher than it had been with
Trsiel. As much as it hurt to admit to Kristof that, after everything he'd said, I'd turned around and gone
back in to ask about the amulet, what hurt worse was the look on his face: raw pain, but not a trace of
surprise.
When I finished, I stood there, mouth still half-open, wanting to say so much, but unable to form the
thoughts into words. Instead, all that came out was "I fucked up, Kris."
For a minute, he just looked at me, eyes searching mine. Then he gave a tiny nod.
"Let's see what we can do to fix it, then," he murmured.
Dantalian was somewhat put out that we'd engaged professional negotiation services. It's so much more
fun dealing with amateurs.
"So you want to know what the Nix was after," he said, his tone bordering on bored.
"We know that," I said. "The amulet you made for Lord Glamis."
A moment's pause, then he continued, sounding a bit more interested now. "Clever whelp. You did your
homework. Then you know who I am?"
"Dantalian, Master of Transmigration, Duke of Baal."
A warm breeze encircled my legs, wound up my body, around my neck, then slithered away. I knew he
was still there, probably hovering right in front of my face.
"Say it again," he murmured.
"Dantalian, Master of Transmigration, Duke of Baal."
"Hmmm, yes, I suppose that will do. Lacking the proper degree of respect, yet not disrespectful. At least
it's better than fawning. That's what she tried when she returned."
"The Nix? She came back?"
"Of course she did. After she amended her attitude."
"Uh-huh."
He laughed, blasting me with heat. "My reaction, precisely, whelp. The only thing worse than fawning is
fake fawning. As if I were some vain fool of a potentate, willing to grant any wish in return for a few
strokes of my ego."
"So you sent her away again? She'll be back, then. All we have to do is wait "
"Oh, I didn't send her away. What would be the fun in that? Far better for me to set her on the trail&
and then set you on it after her."
"Great," I muttered. "How long of a head start does she have?"
"A half-day. Which would be a problem& had I sent her to the right place. A little lesson in humility for
an imp in sore need of it."
"And now you'll tell us where to find her."
"Certainly& but I believe there was mention of a bargain?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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