Demon Summoner III: Master (33) by Greg Walters

Author:Greg Walters [Walters, Greg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Greg-Walters.com
Published: 2022-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

The faithful animal carried Gustav deeper and deeper into the forest. He had not yet thought of a way to pass the Proba. So he let Jolande run on and on. The tiny demon-blood light dispelled the darkness of the forest.

Jolande galloped into a narrow clearing. Moonlight through the trees cast long shadows on the grassy knoll.

This place is as good as any other. “Whoa!”

The mule stopped.

Gustav jumped off her back. He had to act. It was clear to him that he would not pass this test without help. Nevertheless, it’s dangerous to call Mela. Zangerberg might have followed me. He decided to make it seem like he was summoning Mela as he would any other demon. He drew a five-step wide pentagram, just as Martin had taught him. The melody that his old master had always hummed while working made the night a little less dark.

Bent double, he inspected the pentagram with the help of his demon light and checked carefully to make sure it was closed. After touching it up in a few places, he patted his hands and tackled the actual rite. Gently, he cut open his left index finger with the silver knife. He pressed on the wound, let blood run into a bowl, and then added ash. Remembering his old master’s trick, he shoved the mash, which tasted of burnt copper, into his mouth and theatrically jerked his arms in the air. He couldn’t think of a better way to act out that he was summoning a demon. The real spell took place without all this mummery. He only needed one word. “Mela,” he whispered into the night.

“What’s all this nonsense about?” the demoness complained, having taken shape in the midst of the pentacle. “If you think this light dusting of charcoal is going to stop me, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Silence, demon!” thundered Gustav. “I’m giving the orders here.”

Mela placed her hands on her expansive hips. “Have you gone crazy?”

“Tonight is the night of all nights, the night of my master’s exam. Do not dare to disobey me—my master watches over me tirelessly.” He then whispered, “Is he here?”

The Demoness understood. She sniffed loudly with her pig snout. “The only things near us are five squirrels, two mating weasels, a doe with her fawn, and a half-dozen moles fighting over an earthworm. The nearest humans are two miles away, oh Great Master.”

“Phew.” Gustav lowered his arms. “I wasn’t so sure, and I didn’t want to hand my master our little secret on a silver platter.”

“My powers are wasted on you.” She stepped out of the spell circle. “Can’t you smell people for miles upwind? You human beings have such a strange smell. Kind of like wet dog."

“There’s no time for that. Tonight I have my trials to become a master. My task is to summon a demon—”

“Voilà!” Mela managed a nimble turn with her plump body. “It is done, and you have also managed to bring forth the most magnificent specimen imaginable. I would say you’ve passed.

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