Gally laughed at Quen, and the man flushed, angry. “No, dark buck. I wouldn’t give it to him even if I had a discourse with Trenton Lee Kalamack and he asked for it. It’s needful. If I’m to ensure that her name be attached to her research, I have to know what it is.”
“But I’m not asking you to ensure my name is attached to my research,” Trisk said. “I’m asking you to modify Daniel’s memories. I can do the rest myself.”
This is so unfair, Daniel thought, not liking that his world was spinning out of his control and that he was going to forget everything if Trisk got her way—or fight for his life if she didn’t.
“I still say you should simply follow my advice.” Gally leaned forward, jerking back in annoyance when his beard began to smolder. “Nevertheless, give me the price I ask, or I walk away and not only do you lose credit for your work when Kalamack nixes the patent transfer, but he will know you tried to play him and failed when your human talks.”
“I won’t say anything,” Daniel said, ignored.
“I don’t have it with me,” Trisk whispered.
The demon’s lips cracked into a wide, satisfied smile. “Not an issue,” he said almost purred. “You can wear my mark until you satisfy our bargain, Felecia Eloytrisk Cambri. I have made it my goal in life to see that your name gets placed upon your great work. If it does not, you will owe me nothing.”
“Trisk, don’t,” Quen demanded. “You’ll have to summon him again to fulfill your promise. Even the professors at school knew better than to bargain with a demon.”
Her lips pressed together in annoyance, and she looked across the barn at him. “They would if they had a summoning name,” she said. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Said every demon summoner ever,” Gally mocked, his hands laced expectantly.
Daniel glanced at the barn’s door, then at Quen behind him. He wouldn’t forget. He would remember. And then, when Trisk calmed down and Quen was gone, he’d tell her, and they could live their lives with him knowing the truth.
“No, you won’t, Dr. Daniel Plank,” Gally said as if reading his mind, shocking Daniel to a heart-thudding silence. “So yes or no?” Gally asked Trisk. “Don’t be tiresome. You called me.”
“I’ll wear your mark,” Trisk whispered, and Daniel blanched at the quiver of excitement that rippled the demon’s image. “You will curse Daniel into forgetting, and you will take your mark off immediately when I give you a sample of my work. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Knuckles cracking in anticipation, Gally looked at Daniel. “Ut sementem feceris,” he intoned, his hand moving in what looked like sign language.
Quen jumped, backing up from Daniel with an almost comical haste. Daniel would have laughed, but the two elves and the demon were all watching him with expectant expressions. I still remember.
But then Trisk gasped, her face suddenly white. “Oh God,” she moaned, dropping to a knee.
Daniel lurched forward, kneeling beside her and gripping her shoulder as Quen spun to the demon. “What did you do to her?” Quen demanded.
Trisk was cold under his hand, her breath shallow as she fought something Daniel couldn’t see. “Trisk?” he whispered, and she shook her head, hiding her eyes.
“It’s the smut,” Gally said, explaining nothing. “I wanted to be sure she could handle it before I actually did the curse.” Gally idly tugged at his vest to make the bells on it ring. “Very good, Trisk. You’ll make a fine familiar when the time comes.”
“It’s okay,” Trisk rasped, her eyes wide in pain when she looked up. “I can do this,” she added, her attention going to Daniel’s hand on her shoulder. “It’s the payment for putting reality out of balance,” she added, confusing Daniel more. “It’s more than I expected.” Her eyes rose to Gally. “I didn’t know you could do that. Shift the smut from one to another.”
“Of course we can, silly elf,” Gally said imperiously. “That’s what a familiar is for.” Then he smiled, seeing the glint of awareness behind her horror. “You saw how I did it, didn’t you,” he accused, and she flushed. “Learning at my knee already? What a splendid familiar you will be.”
“I’ll take the smut for Plank’s curse,” Quen said suddenly, and Daniel stood.
“It’s my curse. I’ll take it,” Daniel said, and Gally burst out laughing. Quen looked at Daniel as if he was a fool, and he flushed. It’s my curse, I’ll take it echoed in his thoughts, making him feel like an idiot.
“The bitch has it, and will keep it,” Gally said, wiping tears from under his blue-smoked glasses. “Chivalry is not dead, but as usual, you have misplaced it.” Still chuckling, he wiped his glasses clean and set them again on his nose. “Ahhh, men are morons.”
“Where is it?” Trisk asked, looking at her hands, then shoving her sleeves up to see what she could of her arms. “Where did you put your mark?”