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Having ended the search for a way back for Amath did not necessarily mean that they were done searching for magical items and scrolls altogether. After all, it was Yuval’s favorite pastime. He retrieved them, and then depending on what it was, he would sell it or use it in his favor. Certainly, Yuval was not lacking money now, and was not lacking clients either. The nearby villagers deemed him a simple town-witch, but his expertise was much greater than that of a simple witch. Indeed, Yuval had far since surpassed the strongest of the masters at the Wizardry academy. Such a pity that he could not officially exercise his profession after being expelled.
But it had been worth it. For having Amath at his side, everything had been worth it. Even though he still had his ambitions...
Yuval pulled at the embroidered jacket, buttoning it up for Amath, who seemed unable (or unwilling) to do it himself.
“It’s stiff,” he complained about the garment for the hundredth time. He didn’t like having his movements constricted, and a fancy dress jacket would do that to you. “I can’t move in it.”
Yuval smiled and pecked his lips, patting his chest when he was done. “It’s just for a night, Amath.”
“I don’t like it.”
“As you’ve well said.”
“Why do we have to go to this thing,” it was not so much a question as much as just another complaint. His demon had no qualms about complaining when things didn’t go his way. “I thought you said we had enough money to be set for life.”
“Money, yes.” Yuval said patiently. “But the Duke is the only one who knows I’m more than a simple town-witch, and the only one who might request challenges worthy of my skills.” And the only one willing to hire him, he thought, despite it all.
Amath pursed his lips.
Yuval smiled in amusement. “You’re like a child,” he teased “Always complaining. You distrust half the sites we go to and complain about half my plans... ”
“Rightly so.” Amath grumbled. “Remember the dragon? And the maze? And what about the manticore?”
Yuval chuckled. “Isn’t that why I have you with me?” he teased, kissing him again. This time, Amath answered the kiss, arms wrapping around him. When they pulled back, he gently led Amath to the door. A carriage waited to take them to the Duke’s manor, where the party was being held; they arrived already well into the party, and were announced as ‘Lord Yuval of Svinard Lasang, and company’.
Amath looked like a fish out of water among all the dressed up lords and ladies, unused to the fanfare of these kind of parties. Yuval, however, seemed just in his element. He kissed ladies’ hands, shook men’s, and chatted with everyone. Amath stuck to him like a shadow and grunted greetings when addressed. He wasn’t often addressed. Even though the illusions held well, it seemed he maintained his scary aura...
“Ah, Duke,” Yuval led the way to a handsome man with short dark hair.
The duke was young, probably in his late twenties, at most very early thirties. Tall, of strong build; the heavily embroidered jacket with the family blazon hid the muscles but not the wide build of his shoulders. Amath decided on the spot he didn’t like him.
Yuval, on the other hand, smiled amiably and shook the strong hand. “Duke of Svinard, thank you for inviting us. This is my companion, Amath. Amath, our host here is my old friend, Duke Vikar Eriksen.”
The duke’s gaze turned to the taller demon and he smiled. He held out his hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
Amath reluctantly shook it like Yuval had taught him.
“I’m glad you were able to come. We have plenty to discuss, you and I. It’s probably best we get to it before the food is served. Come to my study,” he invited, hand motioning the way.
Yuval nodded and turned back. “Wait here,” he said softly, stroking his arm lightly. “Enjoy the snacks and the music.”
The demon grumbled a complaint but let his lover go.
Yuval entered the study, the music muffled by the heavy wooden doors and the many books that decorated the shelves – shelves that went wall to wall and floor to ceiling, much like his own private library, only with better furniture. It made him feel a bit like home.
“Sit,” the duke invited, moving to a tray of drinks and pouring two. Yuval took place in one of the large, comfortable leather armchairs.
“So tell me, Vikar,” Yuval called the man’s name rather than use his title. “Tell me why you called me here today.”
“I’ve been hearing things, you see.” The duke handed one of the glasses to him, and then took place on the armchair behind his desk. “Things like news of some old wizard’s death. Things like maybe you having something to do with it.” The duke explained. “We’re being prompted to search for you, so you can... defend yourself, one could say.”
Yuval’s hand tightened around his glass. He tried to take a deep, calming breath, and sipped at his drink. “And what will you do about this?”
Vikar smiled. “Of course, you know my fondness for your skills,” he said. “It would be a pity for me to lose them. Then I’d have to find a proper wizard with proper papers, and those are simply too annoying to deal with. But things are difficult, you see. And those wizards quite annoying... ”
“Shall we stop beating around the bush, my friend? What is it you wish me to do in exchange for keeping these people at bay? And have you guarantees that you can do that?”
“Have we ever offered each other something beyond our means? No. Of course I can keep their noses out of it. In fact, I can probably make this whole issue go away, you know my connections.”
Yuval nodded, then sighed, setting the glass aside. “I was hoping you were here to request a job of me, not the other way around.”
“One does not negate the other,” Vikar chuckled. “With your ‘little’ problem gone, I will be free to hire you in a steadier way. I could even grant you a house here in the city. Of course, you’d officially would remain a non-practicing wizard; unofficially, however... ”
“I see. I ask again, then. What is this favor going to cost me?”
“That man out there, your companion... he’s that summon of yours, isn’t it?”
Yuval glared. “You can’t have him.”
The duke raised a hand and laughed “Oh no, no. I wouldn’t dream of taking him from you. No. Are we not better friends than this? What I want, is my own summon. One like him.”
Pursing his lips, Yuval thought this over. “I don’t think that’ll work.”
“And why not?” Vikar asked curiously, swirling his drink.
“For one, summons are bound to the summoner, so it would require much heavier magic to pass that bond to you. Also, summons are random – even if I agreed to try, there would be no guarantee I could summon someone like Amath. You could well end up with a pet homunculus.”
Vikar laughed. “Well, how about we agree to this: You will try your very best, and I will consider your debt paid, even if I do end up with a homunculus.”
Yuval watched him carefully. He was fairly sure Amath was not going to like this idea... but he didn’t have a choice. He didn’t feel like dealing with the wizards from the academy, that could go nasty in all kinds of ways. He bit his lip, hesitated, watched as Vikar patiently drank his share of the alcohol.
“You assure me you will get this problem off my back for good if I do this?”
“Only if you assure me you will do your best to try to call one like your companion.
His fingers tapped on the arm rest. Tap, tap, tap. He lifted his hand and held it out. “You have a deal.”
The duke smiled widely and reached out to shake his hand.
***
As the meeting advanced indoors, Amath waited outside. He walked around a bit, grabbed a snack from a tray on passing, tasted it, decided it tasted awful and discreetly tossed it out on the nearest plant. The place was unnerving. The jacket impeded his movements and made him feel utterly annoyed and exposed to threats. The people were noisy. The music was too loud for his sensitive ears. Already he was getting a headache.
When he spotted the open doors to the balcony, it felt like a godsend. He made a bee line towards them, but as he was only steps from it, a busty woman in an unnecessary bright white and yellow dress stood on his way. Her brown curls fell down to her bosom, an emerald necklace rested on her neck. Her green eyes were staring at him with interest.
Amath did not like the look he was getting.
“Excuse me,” he called through gritted teeth, and sidestepped her. She side stepped with him. Taking a deep breath, he side stepped again. She once more blocked his path. She gave him a strange sort of smile, head tilting.
“You have a most interest set of eyes.”
“You’re in my way,” Amath growled.
“And this... ” she reached up her gloved hand to touch an ear.
Amath reacted on instinct, his hand darting to grasp at her wrist, tightening painfully.
The woman made a sound, but she smirked. “Touchy, are you my little demon? Break my wrist and I’ll scream. Who do you think will get the worse part in that scenario?”
His teeth grated, but he released her. She had a point, he couldn’t make a scene here... for Yuval’s sake.
“Where’s your master, lovely?”
“I have no master.”
“Oh but you do, love.” She smiled charmingly, “Aren’t you the reason why he came to steal my precious books?”
“You’re in my way.” Amath stated.
He stepped to the side again, this time she let him walk past her into the balcony... but followed after him. “I’ve never seen one quite like you. Where did he summon you from?”
“None of your business,” he said. Spotting the stairs to the side, he headed to them, meaning to go down into the garden.
“What is your name?” She followed.
He ignored her and hurried his step.
“Let me guess-” He felt the spell as it hit him, felt a wave of dizziness as his brain was picked apart. He stumbled and grasped to the back of a nearby bench.
“Ammm... Amath. Yes, that’s it.” Her presence withdrew from his mind, but the haziness remained. Reacting on instinct, he turned to grab her from the neck, and pushed her down against the bench, squeezing, nails digging into the skin of her neck.
“I’ll scream,” she threatened again.
“Can’t scream without a throat,” he hissed, digging deeper.
She gasped and smirked. Her hand hit palm open against his chest and all of a sudden he found he could not move. She raised her hands to carefully dislodge the nails from her throat, then ran them over the wounds to heal them.
“Nice sharp nails,” she purred reaching up to tap his nose. “But I specialize in summons, love.” She leaned in to whisper to his ear. “I know all. Your. Weaknesses.”
Amath could only growl and tremble, the spell binding him in place.
She ran a finger on his back, drawing a few symbols there. “How about we play a little game for a while, hm?”
***
Yuval left the study with an uneasy feeling. Amath was going to kill him when he would tell him what they needed to do. And where was Amath? He wondered as he went through the room, scanning it. He wasn’t outside the study, not by the snack table, not with the drinks. He tuned into the link they shared, but the feeling was weak. Had he left? He wouldn’t leave without him, surely.
He followed the link towards the gardens, starting to get a little worried. Perhaps he’d just needed fresh air...
Down the flight of stairs and following the path, he stopped short when he found not Amath, but none other than “Sabel... ”
“Well,” she said with a wide smile. She was removing her gloves, faint traces of blood on them from when she’d healed her neck. “If it isn’t Adhren Leblon,” her tone mocked him. “Oh, my apologies. I meant Yuval. Yes, your name was all over your summon’s being. I had to neutralize it, of course.”
Yuval glared at her. “Where is Amath?”
“He’s indisposed at the moment.” She smiled “Sent him home... oh, to my home, that is. See? Now you have something of mine, and I have something of yours.”
Yuval’s hands closed into fists, his magic roaring, but he could not start a fight there... “If you’ve hurt him-”
“I’m renting a home here, just outside the city.” She said, ignoring his threat. “Bring me my books, mister ‘Leblon’, and I might just let your little toy free.”
She waved a hand to reactivate the portal she’d opened earlier for Amath to go through. “Do try to do it before tomorrow night, or I will be forced to keep your toy indefinitely as collateral.”
She stepped through the portal, closing it just as Yuval lunged for her. He stumbled into the garden, missing the portal by a split second.
“Damn it!”
