Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [23]
Caelan’s frown deepened. There had to be a way to get past these creatures. He was convinced now that before him lay their exit. He had to use whatever means of persuasion were available.
“What is your name?” he asked the demons. “What are you called, that I may know you again?”
Their eyes glowed even brighter. “He commands us,” murmured one. Others hissed eagerly. “We serve! We serve!”
“Tell me!” Caelan said sharply, letting his voice crack across theirs with authority.
The spokesman crouched low before him and placed its snout reverently on Caelan’s foot. “We are called Legion, lord. We are thine.”
“And if I release you from your captivity, you will serve me?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“You will do whatever I ask, without question?”
“Yes!”
“You will serve only me. No other?”
The demons hesitated, glancing at each other. “We serve Beloth, and no other. Thou art the servant of Beloth. If we serve thee, do we not serve our dire lord and master?”
Caelan frowned and dodged this clarification. “I swear I will not call you to attack your master. I will ask only for your attack against men.”
They laughed and grunted in glee. “Kill! Kill! Kill!” they chanted.
“But only men I specify,” he said sharply, cutting them off. “This you will swear and promise, or no freedom. Only will you attack men when I call you, and only those men I point out.”
Again they hesitated. Finally the spokesman said, “But why not let us attack all man-spawn? We can do many. We are many. We are swift.”
“No,” Caelan said, trying to keep his voice sharp and strong. Inside he was beginning to doubt the wisdom of trying to strike any kind of bargain with these creatures. They knew no mercy, understood no honor. But he had no intention of keeping his word. All he wanted was access to that passageway.
He glared at them, showing anger to impress them. “No,” he said again. “Not all men. Only those I specify. If you cannot, will not, do this, then I will not free you.”
“We hunger to kill,” the spokesman said. “Unleash us, master.”
“Let me and this woman pass, and I will agree.”
“Caelan, stop!” Elandra’s voice called out to him suddenly.
Startled, he whirled in her direction, scattering several demons who jumped back from him with hisses of alarm. He saw her leaning forward in the saddle, staring at him. Her eyes were wide and fearful. She shook her head and lifted one hand to her face.
Alarmed and dismayed at what she was doing, Caelan started to go to her, but the demons were clinging to his legs and cloak. More were coming. He was surrounded by the creatures, and he did not want them close to Elandra.
“Don’t!” he called urgently to her. “You must stay within the spell. Don’t break it.”
“I.. . must.” Her face turned pink with effort. He saw the cords in her neck strain, then she slumped and her head tipped forward so that the long sweep of her hair concealed her face.
“You are safe within the spell,” he reminded her. “Don’t leave it.”
She lifted her face, and the slackness in her features was gone. Her intelligent eyes stared at him, aware and cognizant again.
Caelan’s spirits sank. He could only stare at her, worried more than he could articulate. She was no longer safe, no longer protected. What in Gault’s name had possessed her to break free now, when they were surrounded by demons? Was she mad, or simply a fool?
Suddenly he was furious with her for risking herself this way, and for making his responsibilities that much harder.
Tightening his lips against harsh words he did not dare utter, he turned away and looked once again at the spokesman of the demons.
“Legion,” he said, “I will—”
“Stop!” Elandra cried. She kicked the horse and rode closer until the trembling animal balked. Imperiously, her eyes flashing “with anger, she glared at Caelan. “You