Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez

Author:A. Lee Martinez [Martinez, A. Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2008-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Nessy wasn't surprised to wake to a fresh day of new troubles. She would've been astounded if it had been any other way. She didn't find it as bothersome as she would've imagined, and this lack of personal distress troubled her. She couldn't stomach the notion of adjusting to chaos, finding it acceptable. It was contrary to both her duty and her nature. She spent a thoughtful minute analyzing any possible lessening in her standards, but when the allotted minute passed, she set aside such examination and focused on her new day. Had Nessy been even a shade more self-involved, she would've seen this as undeniable proof that she was as sensible and efficient as ever. She might've also realized that her calmness stemmed from a quiet confidence in her ability to handle these new situations. But this same unassuming confidence kept her from understanding this truth. No one saw themselves as they truly were, and even practical Nessy wasn't an exception to this rule.

Her first stop, before even getting her breakfast, was The Purple Room. She stood silently in the empty prison. Light filtered through the doorway, and she took stock of the hundreds of tiny ashen piles. She was unsure what to make of it.

Sir Thedeus, who'd recovered from his devouring and regurgitation the night before, clung to her shoulder. "Do ye think the creature could've done all this with just a lump of coal?"

"I think there is nothing so predictably unsafe as a demon given what it wants." She frowned, although she didn't really know why. But in the back of her mind, in some obscure, underdeveloped, dishonorable corner of her personality, she felt a twinge of guilt for keeping her bargain.

The nurgax, sensing her internal conflict better than she did, licked her twice with his great, sloppy tongue to comfort her. Nessy smiled and scratched under its muzzle. Its leg stamped rhythmically.

"Maybe the dark creature perished in its escape attempt," said Sir Thedeus.

"It would be wiser to assume she didn't." She rubbed some gray powder between her fingers and sniffed it. It smelled of burnt flesh.

"Perhaps it has left the castle entirely."

Nessy would've liked to believe that, but there was a spell on Margle's castle that prevented casual departure. Powerful enough to hold a demon, she presumed. The demon hadn't escaped its prison yet. Merely found a larger cage.

"A demon lord loose in the castle," said Sir Thedeus. "I can think of nothing more dangerous, lass."

"What about the dark wizardess that carries death in her fingertips?" asked Fortune. "Or a small infantry of unmanned armor roaming the halls? Or a noisy fog that turns things to stone?" He thumped his heavy tail against the floor. "Not to mention the hellhound or the countless other horrors that walk these halls that we've all gotten used to but are nonetheless still quite dangerous."

"Ach, what a mess we've found ourselves in."

When Nessy thought about it, there seemed to be a greater pattern to all of this. But she couldn't see it clearly, only sense it in the vaguest manner.

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