Much Fall of Blood-ARC by Mercedes Lackey & Eric Flint & Dave Freer

Author:Mercedes Lackey & Eric Flint & Dave Freer [Lackey, Mercedes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2010-05-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 41

Elizabeth finished the last of the rites that would allow the dark messenger out of his entrapment in the pentacle, in safety. Safety for her, anyway. Crocell waited for her, at least with the appearance of patience. "You seek my master's assistance in the capture of Vlad, the Prince of Valahia," he said with a lift of the dark eyebrows, once he was free.

She nodded. "I have tried earthly means—Emeric's troops—first. When it became obvious that they were being misled by magical means I turned to my allies and the demons at my beck and call. We held the rite in my residence outside Caedonia. I tried a summonsing. It failed. He is peculiarly resistant to my magics."

"He would be largely immune to magics intended for humans. His blood is not entirely human . . ."

"I have for some years entrapped lesser creatures of air, fire and water to my bidding. Those summons did not work either."

"Because he is not that, fully, either."

"I have created mixtures before. I have forced the lusts of fire on wind. I commanded and constrained the results of that. I still have captive some of the results of those and other experiments."

"This is not the same. His is a willing sharing, an abandonment of some of the rights and powers of both to join in a union. It is a powerful magical bond, the greatest perhaps, the innocent giving themselves to the other in a willing self-sacrifice. The power generated by that willing union will transcend the givers. It may kill them or make them something more powerful. Powerful enough to resist the lesser demons you sent after him."

"Then I will need more power. I need power over him."

Crocell smiled. The was no humor or joy in that smile. "You already have. He is human enough to be seduced. And get him into a place of power, and by using the rite of Cthasares, you can strip some of his power from him. He is mortal. He can be killed as easily as the next mortal. Well. Fire and poisons are less than effective. But a bullet or sword thrust could kill him. Do not, however, try direct magics against him. Or even in close proximity to him. They may recoil and act instead on you."

Not to use her magical skills? That would be hard. She said as much.

"Passive constraints, spells on those who surround him may work. He is a danger. Why do you pursue him?"

"I want to capture a wyvern. I wanted him as bait. I have been informed by Count Mindaug . . ."

"He dabbles in dangerous and demonic traps, Elizabeth. He may be engulfed by one."

"So do I. And like him, I intend to outwit it," said Elizabeth, her voice chill. "Is the wyvern directly dangerous to me? You are constrained to speak the truth."

"Not directly, no. It is a vessel."

"I can break vessels if need be."

"True," said Crocell. "And these ones are quite young and fragile."

* * *

Elizabeth stared coolly at King Emeric.

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