Jim looked at Kaspar, who said, ‘You stay here. Amirantha might hesitate, but I have no doubt you’ll cut Belasco’s throat if needed.’ Jim nodded.
Amirantha was forced to smile. During the months since he had met Kaspar, he had developed a genuine affection for him. Given the former Duke’s reputation, he found it surprising that a former enemy of the Conclave and friend to his mad, dead brother Sidi would prove such affable company; but then he knew what Sidi had been capable of, and judged much of Kaspar’s villainy had been Sidi’s doing. Jim was also someone the Warlock found likeable, despite having a hard, cold side to him.
Gulamendis said, ‘It is done.’ To Dahun he said, ‘To truth are you bound. What reason have you for this possession?’
It was a question shared by all three of the demon experts in the room; possession was rarely used by more powerful demons. It was against their nature; why trade a more powerful body for a weaker, more vulnerable one? Disguise was the only possible reason, but disguise was hardly necessary given the huge conflict above.
Silence was their answer.
After a long minute, Belasco chuckled. ‘Your spell must have worked, elf.’
‘Why do you say that?’ asked Jim.
‘Gulamendis compelled the demon to tell the truth, but did not compel him to answer. His silence tells you he cannot lie to you, so he elects to say nothing.’
Gulamendis looked from Amirantha to Jim to Sandreena, with a beseeching expression on his face. They both shook their heads.
‘What do we do now?’ asked Sandreena.
‘Come up with a bargain for my brother,’ said Amirantha.
‘What do you propose?’ asked Belasco.
‘Jim could cut your throat and we could deal with the demon when he gets here,’ said Sandreena, her tone leaving little doubt she considered it the most viable option.
Amirantha held up his hand and said, ‘A last resort.’ To his brother he said, ‘We could banish the demon back to the Fifth Circle, now?’
‘An exorcism?’ said Belasco incredulously. ‘You must be joking.’
‘Sandreena is the Mother-Bishop of the Order of the Shield of the Weak,’ said the Warlock.
‘I think I liked her better when she just wished to bash my head in with her mace,’ said Belasco. ‘That would be quick and easy; death by exorcism is far too slow and painful.’
Sandreena and the two demon masters exchanged knowing looks, and they conceded wordlessly that Belasco was right, the more powerful the demon driven from the host, the more damage endured by the mortal. And no one in the history of any temple had successfully banished a demon king or prince.
Amirantha said, ‘Your choice, brother. A quick death and we deal with your demon, or we can try to save you, and then most likely be forced to kill you.’
‘You know me well, brother.’ There was a long silence, and Belasco said, ‘Give me your word that should I emerge from this intact you’ll grant me one day’s grace to find a safe haven.’
‘After all you’ve done?’ said Sandreena.
‘That’s the bargain,’ said Belasco.
‘I vote for a quick death,’ said Sandreena.
‘I think we should try the exorcism,’ said Gulamendis.
Jim shrugged. ‘I really don’t know what’s best.’
‘That leaves it to you, brother,’ said Belasco.
Amirantha said, ‘Give me one reason to grant you any mercy. You’ve been trying to kill me for a century.’
‘Well, that’s a regret, really. I count it a bad habit, really. I just got so annoyed with you and Sidi…I didn’t really think things through.’
Amirantha closed his eyes a moment, then opened them and said, ‘You may not be as mad as our brother was, but there’s nothing sane about you.
‘Let me be clear, I’m leaning heavily towards ending this rapidly, which involves cutting your throat, unless you provide me with a good enough reason why we should risk letting you live, and still have to deal with a powerful demon anyway.’
There was a long silence, then Belasco said, ‘I will tell you the truth.’
Amirantha laughed. ‘That would be unusual.’
‘By the blood of the old woman of the moons, the nightmares of the child in the village, and the bones in the wicked man’s hidden grave,’ said Belasco.
Amirantha fell silent. He looked at Sandreena and Gulamendis and softly said, ‘When we were children we made a pact; we imitated a curse our mother used…’ He shook his head. ‘It was as close as any of us came to anything sacred. Even Sidi never broke a promise or lied after making that oath.’
‘It’s the best I can do, brother.’
Amirantha was silent again. After a long moment, he said, Very well. Begin.’
Pug saw the demons before the doorway turn from his group to answer the attack from Jommy’s marines. Kaspar arrived and said, ‘What’s the situation?’
‘Chaos,’ shouted Magnus. ‘Our forces arrived, then a horde of demons appeared out of that pit!’
‘It’s a massive summoning pit; even Amirantha and Gulamendis didn’t recognize it for what it was: a demon gate.’