AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How was your journey?”
“It was very interesting,” I said, smile twitching briefly. Somehow I doubted that Mzatal would have approved of the more dangerous parts. “And I don’t feel like I’m about to break into a million pieces anymore.”
Mzatal smiled—the most genuine smile I’d ever seen on him. “I can feel it. You will be able to move forward now, no longer mired.”
I sighed. “Helori explained why it isn’t in my best interests to return to Earth right now, and how I need to be better prepared, better able to protect myself and others, before I can go home.” I still hated it, but I understood it. “He also says that you can be trusted to abide by your word.”
He gave a quick nod. “I do not break my agreements with summoners.”
I spread my hands on the cool wood of the table. “Then why don’t you start with the terms you desire, and then we can go from there.”
“A simple framework,” Mzatal began. “A five year agreement to provide summoning services from this realm and from Earth, as required and specified in the agreement. One full year of training here before assessing the possibility of return to Earth. You will take no action that is against my best interests—which, by the end of a year, you will know how to discern. I will provide full training—all that you are able to absorb.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Five years?” I asked, incredulous. “No way. Nothing more than three years, and we will decide together the possibility of my return to Earth after six months. And in the event of an impasse, Helori will make the final decision.”>Damn. Idris grew a spine while I was gone.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re back,” he continued. “I, um, we were really worried about you.”
“Well, thanks for everything,” I said with a small smile. “I owe you, big-time.”
He flushed and smiled sheepishly. “Nah. It was no biggie. You’re kinda special, y’know?”
Special? Was he crushing on me? Weird. “No, I just managed to attract the attention of some powerful people. A perfect storm of Shit Happens.” Sighing again, I leaned my back against the wall. “The first time I summoned Rhyzkahl was an accident. I was trying to summon Rhyzel, a luhrek, at the same time that Peter Cerise—the Symbol Man killer—was trying to summon Rhyzkahl. The lord simply hijacked my summoning to escape Cerise’s binding.”
Idris began tracing a new ward. “Yeah, whatever. I couldn’t do it.”
I frowned and tilted my head. “Have you ever tried? I mean, summoning a lord?”
His gaze snapped to mine. “You gotta be kidding! No way!”
“Then how do you know you can’t do it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe when you get back to Earth you can try summoning Mzatal.”
He stared at me as if I’d tried to tell him that two plus two equaled three. “You’re serious.”
“Well, yeah,” I said. “I mean, as long as Mzatal’s willing. That’s what matters most. And I could show you the storage diagram I used so that I had enough power. What do you have to lose?”
“My measly life?” he said, then grinned and shook his head. “I dunno. Katashi is using four summoners to summon Lord Mzatal. And Lord Mzatal has always been willing.”
That didn’t make sense to me. “I always thought it was easier to summon Rhyzkahl because he was willing.” I shrugged and made a mental note to find out more later. “Well, if you do give it a try, don’t summon any of the other lords.” I wasn’t smiling anymore. “Especially not Amkir, Kadir, Jesral…or Rhyzkahl.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he assured me. “Even talking about summoning Mzatal is a stretch for me.”
“Yeah, well, don’t even be alone with any of them.” A shiver ran down my spine. “Especially Kadir. He’s twisted.”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah, his portrait freaked me out enough. Don’t need to see the real thing. Since I’ve been here, Lords Vahl, Elofir, and Seretis have been here a few times, but none of the others.”
“Portrait?”
“In Szerain’s gallery,” Idris said. “On the third level of his palace. There’s portraits of demons, humans, all the lords, all sorts of stuff.” He whistled low and shook his head. “And you know how Szerain’s paintings and sculptures are. Well, that portrait of Kadir felt like he was about an inch away, breathing on me. Scared the shit out of me!” He made a face at the memory.
“I didn’t know about any gallery. I saw lots of his stuff in the rest of the palace,” I said, then scowled blackly as a shadow memory flickered. Why the hell couldn’t I have had a fucking Elinor memory about the gallery when I was actually there at Szerain’s palace?
Idris shrugged. “Yeah, but no lords outside the gallery. At least none that I’ve ever seen.”
Helori returned and touched my arm. “Mzatal will meet you in the plexus.”
I nodded, then looked back to Idris. “I’ll see you later. Thank you for everything.” I gave him a quick hug, then turned and walked quickly away before either of us could get too embarrassed or maudlin.
Helori led the way, which was damn good since I didn’t know where anything was. When Mzatal had first brought me here, he’d taken me straight to the summoning chamber, after which we went right back to the grove, and of course, then I escaped.
