“What if I was to command him?”
“The Shadojak has no power over a free demon, especially one so strong.”
Diagus lowered his elbows to the table, tapping his fingers. “Unless I had the demon’s name. With that I would hold power over him, is that not so?”
“Owning his name would give you a will over him, yes. If you have his name. Do you?”
The Shadojak remained silent.
“I thought so. If it’s any consolation, neither do I. There must be another way into Thea.”
Nat cleared his voice. “Not without a charmed key and none would be charmed on Earth, not with Thea’s magic.”
“But what about the stone we used to get here. Does that hold any powers?” Elora asked, an idea coming to her.
Her uncle shook his head. “Even if it still held enough energy, it’s spent the last twelve years at the bottom of Lake Bled and it would take weeks to get there on foot or horseback. And we would need to make it cross the channel. Time is a luxury we can ill afford.”
“I knew a necromancer once,” said Ragna, eyebrows knitting together. “Claimed he had a way of dissecting a bull, cutting it up so that it would open doors into another world.”
“Is he at hand?” Diagus asked.
“Nope.”
“Then it doesn’t matter. Otholo, I want to speak with your demon, this ship of his is the only way we’re getting to Thea.”
“He cannot be summoned. He’ll show himself when he wants to and only if I’ve not been drinking,” Otholo grinned wickedly as he raised his glass to his lips.
“Stay your hand, bard. I will speak with this demon.”
“You’ve seen what he is capable of, do you think you can control him?” Otholo lowered the glass. “He will tear your friends apart before you stick him - stick me with that blade of yours.”
“We will see. Ragna, how strong are the chains and bars in the dungeons? Have you been down there lately?”
Otholo laughed again, but the sounds faded as he realised that the Shadojak was being serious.
“They’ve been touched by a spot of rust I suppose, but the iron’s still thick beneath. It’ll hold out against a rock troll, or two.”
“You cannot be serious. You’re going to put me, Otholo the Bard, songbird...” He gave up the argument as the Shadojak grinned. “How degrading. A dungeon.”
“I’m sure Ejan will sort you out with cushions and blankets, it’s only for one night. Unless the demon doesn’t show at all. Might be we’ll need to tickle you some, come the morning.”
Elora wondered what sort of tickling would coax out a demon, then realised that it would probably be the violent kind.
Ragna rose from the table, chuckling to himself. “Come now Otholo, let’s get you tucked into your new bed, I’ll not clamp the manacles too tight.”
“Manacles?” he whispered, following Ragna to the door. “I could have been a prince, you know. A prince.”
The door slammed behind them, leaving the sound of the lamps gently burning as they flickered in an unseen draught. It was fully dark outside now; it would be darker still in a dungeon. Elora felt sorry for Otholo and guilt, for the blame lay with her. It was her mission, her quest to bring down Solarius, yet it seemed that it was other people that shouldered the pain.
Norgie rose from the table and began to tidy away the dishes, as did Ejan and Jaygen. Elora began to help, rising from her seat but Ejan told her to sit, telling her that she was a guest and that she should think about sleep after the long day she’d had.
Sleep was something she was looking forward to, a comfortable bed and clean sheets. Rising from the table, she gave her uncle and Gurple a goodnight kiss, her gaze wandering over to the Shaigun. Bray was in conversation with Diagus and either didn’t realise she was turning in for the night or didn’t care. Maybe it was an act for the Shadojak, unless the act had been with her earlier. She would see him in the morning and wring the truth from him.
Elora awoke to the sound of goat’s bleating. She sat up and massaged life back into her neck that was stiff from sleeping in an awkward position. The bed had been comfortable, and she had fallen asleep as soon as the covers were pulled up, but she must have slept too deeply.
She peered out of her window, the goats were chasing chickens from the gooseberry bushes while a large red cockerel chased the goats, pecking at their legs. Elora could see her mare, grazing in the field with the other horses, scowling at the goats as if they disturbed her breakfast. She was sure that horse was constantly in a bad mood.
A wash basin and cloth had been laid upon the chest, next to her old blue jeans and shirt. Elora guessed it was Ejan who had washed them and left them out.
Washed and dressed she left the room and found Ejan and Norgie in the kitchen, apparently, she was the last out of bed. Bray, Diagus and Ragna had already left for the keep, to check on Otholo and his demon. She had wanted to go with them but doubted they would have permitted it.
Breakfast was cheese and bread, Ejan gave her a basket so she could carry it out to her uncle who hadn’t eaten yet. Nat had wanted to walk around the lake and so she set off to find him there.
The lake lay beyond the cornfield, hidden from the inn and surrounded by trees. A narrow path led to the water’s edge, two large willows trailing branches in the shallows where ducks were feeding and playfully splashing themselves. Her uncle was staring out into the body of water, hands clasped behind his back and humming a familiar tune.
Further out into the lake she saw the white crests of waves rising and falling in a peculiar pattern. Coalescing in circles at the centre, then fanning out in spirals, the ducks bobbing up and down as the ripples passed them by.
“Beautiful,” Elora whispered, hoping she didn’t startle Nat and spoil the effect.
His humming quieted then he stopped, the swirling water pattern washing away to nothing as he turned her way. “Morning, did you sleep well?”
“Slept like a rock. Here, I’ve brought breakfast.” She sat on the long grass and patted the spot next to her and Nat lowered himself down.
“You were manipulating the elements,” Elora stated, staring out into the lake.
“Yes. You’ve got to keep practicing or else your ability weakens,” he said, taking the cheese and bread Elora had cut for him.
“Use it or lose it, right. Can you teach me?” she asked.
