"I am sorry, Frank.""For what? For the fact that I saw my wife pierced by a Dirack's claw? For the fact that I cannot stop being what I am? For what, Telantes?""Yes, both of those, and I am sorry you have been suffering at night. Why did you not tell me you were having nightmares? I could have kept them away as I did before." Telantes tilted his head and studied Frank with concern. "I am here to help you, Sainika, but you have to let me do so."The rest of the company had joined Frank by that time, and the Anmah picked up Kumar's reins and swung up into his saddle. Without another word to anyone, he turned his horse west and kicked him into a trot. He felt his company's surprise, but he ignored it as he had ignored their awe. He wanted to get back to Torkeln as quickly as possible, and if that meant he left his men behind while he traveled without rest, he would do that."You cannot, Ga'briyel. Yisu has another message for you." Telantes was floating next to Kumar, easily keeping pa

Telantes had spoken with Yisu moons before, and the Creator had told him how to create venom. Eighteen excruciating days passed while Ga'briyel's flesh and bones melted, but now, thanks to Yaksaya and his single drop, he was now immune to that as well."You cannot kill me, son of Sayatan. You cannot hurt me by piercing my body with fangs or claws, and that drop of venom you so graciously bestowed on me was my twentieth time being burned by it. Even that can no longer harm me. Telantes knew what he was doing as he caused me pain, and now there is nothing that you can do to me. My soul is safe from you, and there is no chance that I will let you harm my family." Frank put his hands on the rock behind him and pushed himself forward. Yaksaya's claws continued through the Anmah's body until its palm was flat on his chest. At that point, Frank reached down, plucked his sword from the snow, and laid it against Yaksaya's throat. "If I slit your throat, daemon, will it kill you and drive you f

“Who is that?” Frank growled softly.“Rabarta Arthara, the Chief Minister of Basanta. Why, Sainika?”The Anmah said nothing but took one step toward the six men. The Chief Minister was looking at some fabric, but when Frank moved, his head snapped up, and his eyes fixed on the Sainika. He grinned, and his white teeth flashed.“Jana, clear the market, now!” Frank snapped.“Why, Sainika?”“Because there is going to be a fight.” Frank took another step toward the Azazil and drew his sword. Jana gasped when he saw the glowing white of the blade, and the Chief Minister’s grin disappeared abruptly. The five other men moved in front of him and unsheathed their own swords. The people in the market saw this, several screamed, and they all scattered into the streets. Jana had not moved, but Ga’briyel’s goal had been accomplished. There were no innocents around to worry about.“Yisu, kanba vol si e en sakorota. Veya Azazil lo tainon nun lenfi,” the Anmah said in a loud voice, and the Chief Minis

“A fine horse, Frank.”The Anmah smiled as he turned to face Telantes. “Yes, he is.”“His name?”“I do not know it yet. I am testing him to see if I want to buy him. The test is over, however. This is the one I want.”“Will you return to the cave for your tack? You know you are supposed to be headed south, not north.”“No, it will stay there for now. Perhaps I can stop at Torkeln and send someone back for it.” Frank sighed, and his smile faded. “I would like to see my family again.”“Have you not seen your son in your dreams?”“I have, but it is not the same. I want to hold him and kiss my wife and sleep by her side at least one night. One night, Telantes. Is that too much to ask?”“No, Ga’briyel, it is not.” The spirit tilted his head as he listened to Yisu. “Yisu says you may spend three days and two nights at home once you get there, but that is all. You must be on your way south after that.”“I know,” Frank said softly as he moved to the stallion. He rested his hand on the horse’s

Frank walked to the ladder, expecting to have to wrestle it next to the instruction books, but to his surprise, it glided smoothly across the floor on small wheels, somehow attached to the shelving high above him. He stopped it near the books, climbed to the top, and gathered the three books to himself and carefully climbed back down the ladder. He grabbed the spellbook he had been looking at as well and left the building. The door slowly shut behind him, and when he looked at the stone, he could not see any sign that there was a door there at all. He supposed that was a good thing in case someone blundered through the illusion spell and ran into the stone. He moved to Klyar, put the books in the saddlebags, swung into the saddle, and turned the stallion back toward the road to Torkeln.Riding through the night and into the next day, Frank finally came to Sarat. The road to Torkeln ran straight through the center of the village, and there were homes lined on either side of it. Klyar w