03 The Chalice by Chester Deborah

Author:Chester, Deborah [Deborah, Chester,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T10:50:40.825000+00:00

The king waits in yon room? Gavril asked.

Mradvior bowed and nodded. He seemed nervous.

Gavril turned around and began to pace back and forth. I will not be kept waiting like this. Let whomever his majesty is receiving be sent out, that I may enter.

As though someone had overheard him, the guards stepped aside and the door swung open. Young pagespallid, scrawny boys with frightened eyeshurried out, crying, Make way! Make way!

Mradvior drew a sharp breath and jumped aside. As he did so he gripped Gavrils sleeve to pull him out of the way. Unhand me! Gavril said. How dare you! The count shot him a look of warning. Be quiet, be quiet, he whispered, glancing past Gavril and bowing low. Call no attention to yourself.

Puzzled, Gavril swung back just as a litter of carved and gilded wood was carried out by eight sweating bearers. Cushioned with scarlet, purple, and gold silk and adorned with long tassels that swung and bobbed, the litter contained a creature such as Gavril could not even have imagined. It might have been a man . . . once. But its skin was charred to a black, leathery texture from the top of its knobby, hairless skull all the way to the elongated, bare feet protruding from the hem of its silk robes. Its hands were strangely shaped, very narrow with fingers of unusual length. Each digit ended in a long, black talon that looked needle-sharp. A stink of sulfur and brimstone hung about this apparition. Draped on its neck was a collar studded with enormous rubies that glowed blood red.

Gavrils jaw dropped and, ignoring Mradviors surreptitious tug at the hem of his doublet, he stared openly. The creature lifted its gaze to his and stared back. It had a mans eyes, distinctly human no matter what the rest of him looked like.

No word was spoken between them. Gavril barely drew breath. He could make no sound. Inside, his heart was hammering as though hed run a long distance.

Certain he was gazing on the god of darkness itself, Gavril fumbled inside his doublet for his gold Circle and clutched it hard.

The creature went on its way, and Gavril saw three other vile things emerge from the chamber in its wake. Huge and moon-faced, they stank of carrion. As they shambled past him, Gavril felt a nameless unease coil about his entrails.

As soon as they were gone, he struggled to draw a deep breath. He felt light-headed and strange. He wished hed never come to this Thodforsaken place. Whatwhat He could not seem to force the words past his lips.

Those weremagemons, Mradvior said. Taken away, it looks to be. The king will be angry. What aremagemons?

Gantese magicians. Very powerful. Yes, yes, makers of very powerful magic. Very dangerous.Sorcerel work alone, butmagemons cast their spells in teams. Very strong. Mradvior frowned. Is against Writ to have them here. The king dares much.

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Mradvior scuttled away, beckoning to the official, who had now reappeared.

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