‘A brilliant plan.’
‘I just thought it up.’
‘I like it very much. Well done, Kalam.’
‘Like I’ve always told you, Quick, I ain’t just a pretty face.’
The two swung about and, ignoring the shadows pouring out of the burgeoning shattered warren of Kurald Emurlahn, returned to where they had left Korbolo Dom.
‘ Friend? ’
Heboric stared at the four-eyed, squat demon that had leapt onto the path in front of him. ‘If we’d met, demon, I’m sure I would have remembered it.’
‘ Helpful explanation. Brother to L’oric. He lies in clearing twelve paces to your left. Hesitant revision. Fifteen paces. Your legs are nearly as short as mine. ’
‘Take me to him.’
The demon did not move. ‘ Friend ?’
‘More or less. We share certain flaws.’
The creature shrugged. ‘ With reservations. Follow .’
Heboric set off into the petrified forest after the shambling demon, his smile broadening as it prattled on.
‘ A priest with the hands of a tiger. Sometimes. Other times, human hands glowing depthless green. Impressed. Those tattoos, very fine indeed. Musing. I would have trouble tearing out your throat, I think. Even driven by hunger, as I always am. Thoughtful. A fell night, this one. Ghosts, assassins, warrens, silent battles. Does no-one in this world ever sleep? ’
They stumbled into a small clearing.
L’oric’s armour was stained with drying blood, but he looked well enough, seated cross-legged, his eyes closed, his breathing steady. On the dusty ground before him lay a spread of the Deck of Dragons.
Grunting, Heboric settled down opposite the High Mage. ‘Didn’t know you played with those.’
‘I never do,’ L’oric replied in a murmur. ‘Play, that is. A Master has come to the Deck, and that Master has just sanctioned the House of Chains.’
Heboric’s eyes widened. Then narrowed, and he slowly nodded. ‘Let the gods rail, he or she had to do just that.’
‘I know. The Crippled God is now as bound as is every other god.’
‘In the game, aye, after so long outside it. I wonder if he’ll one day come to regret his gambit.’