Viper's Kiss - Lisa Smedman [114]
Arvin manifested his power. Sparkles of silver erupted from his third eye and drifted down onto Glisena. The thoughts of those in the room crowded in on him: Glisena's relief that Arvin had located her child, Marasa's fierce love for Glisena and grim determination to bear her pain, Davinu steeling himself for the surgery he was about to perform, and the other clerics' fervent prayers, all overlaid with a tight clench of fear. Davinu had given them careful instructions about what was to happen; the moment the blood cord was severed, he would banish the demon. Arvin expected to hear Foesmasher's thoughts as well-his anguish at seeing his "little dove" in such pain was clear for all to see-but something was shielding his thoughts. Was it a magical item, like Karrell's ring? Briefly, Arvin wondered where Karrell was-he hoped far from this part of the palace-then turned his mind back to the task at hand. Blotting out the overlapping babble of mental voices, he sent his consciousness deeper, and found the voice he'd dreaded hearing.
So tight, so confined… but I will be free soon. If only I had my swords, I would slash my way out.
Arvin shuddered. "It's wishing it had its sword," he reported. "No, swords," he corrected. "Plural."
Distantly, he heard the clerics murmuring to each other.
"A balor, then?" one asked.
"Too large," another answered. "And the horns-they would have torn-"
Ah. That's better. I can turn.
"It's turning," Arvin said.
Glisena screamed as her stomach bulged. Something flickered between her legs then drew inside her again; it looked like the tip of a tail.
Foesmasher whirled, one hand on his sword hilt, his face twisted with anguish. Marasa clapped a hand on Glisena's stomach, drawing the pain into herself. "Do it," she gritted up at Davinu. "Now. Before it-" Her face paled as another spasm of pain rushed into her.
Davinu touched Glisena's forehead with a fingertip. "Hold," he commanded.
Glisena's body stiffened. Her chest, however, still rose and fell. And her stomach heaved.
Davinu lowered the point of the knife to her belly then took a deep breath. He began to cut.
Foesmasher stood rigid, eyes locked on Glisena, barely breathing. One fist was white-knuckled on his sword hilt; the other was pressed against his mouth.
The other clerics crowded around the bed, hands extended toward Glisena, chanting. "Guardian of the innocent, lord of the unsleeping eye, watch and protect this girl in her time of need…"
Blood sprayed onto Davinu's breastplate as he cut. The knife parted muscle, and something that glistened, and a layer of darker flesh that smelled of seared meat. Then came a rush of sulfurous-smelling liquid, and something could be seen writhing within. Arvin caught a glimpse of flailing arms and a long, serpentine tail.
Marasa groaned and swayed, nearly falling from her stool. One of the clerics steadied her.
I am wounded! It burns!
"You've cut the demon," Arvin said. "You've injured it."
Him again! Where is he? He will pay for this!
Arvin felt a chill run through him. He swallowed nervously. "It thinks… that I'm the one who hurtDavinu passed the knife to one of the clerics and grabbed the edges of the gaping hole he'd just cut in Glisena's bloody flesh. "Now," he shouted. "Pull it free."
One of the clerics plunged his hand into the wound and seized hold of the demon. He pulled, his free hand braced against Glisena's pelvis, and the demon suddenly came free. It was tiny, the size of a newborn child-but instead of legs, it had a thrashing tail fully twice the length of its body. It had six arms, a full head of sulfur- yellow hair and an upper body like that of a mature woman, with full, round breasts.
“Marilith?" the cleric holding it gasped. He had grabbed it by one of its arms and fought to maintain his grip