Hunt of the Bandham (The Bowl of Souls: Book Three) (45 page)

“Oh how I loathe him
,” the sultry voice said.

Arcon watched the wizard Ewzad Vriil pace back and forth at the balcony’s edge while his Mistress’ frustration echoed in his head. The mistress wanted Ewzad to set their plans in motion, but he was too busy waiting for his plaything to return. Hamford stood silently next to Arcon. They had been standing there since lunch, waiting for hours until the sun had set. The mistress hated being made to wait.

“Why am I stuck with this fool?”
she snarled. Arcon tried not to have an opinion. The wizard and his mistress were always at odds it seemed and yet they still continued to work together. He did not understand why, but he didn’t ask. Unwanted questions could lead to punishments.

“He should be back by now,” Ewzad grumbled. “Yes-yes, he should. Still, closer, closer. He is coming I feel it. Why does he take so long?”

“I wish I could command you to push him over the edge
,” she added.
“It would be so easy
.”

Arcon did not let his expression change, knowing that the wizard would notice. His mistress was wrong. It would not be easy. Ewzad did not trust him. Ewzad knew where his loyalties lied and watched him like a hawk. Even if he was lucky and somehow successfully pushed the wizard over the edge, Ewzad Vriil would reach out one of his writhing arms and cause Arcon’s neck to grow and grow until it dangled long enough to grab onto and haul himself up. Then . . . Arcon repressed a shudder. Whatever the wizard decided, it would mean a grisly death for him.

“How little faith you have in me
,” his mistress sneered and yanked the pain centers of his mind. Arcon’s knees nearly buckled and sweat popped out on his forehead but still he did not allow his expression to change.

No mistress, please
, he replied trying to keep his tone even despite the searing pain,
I would do whatever you asked of me even if it meant my death
.

“Of course you would, my dear.”
She stroked the pleasure centers now and his knees nearly buckled again. “
But then why do you doubt me? Why doubt my wisdom? I would not send you to your death
.”

I know, mistress.
He almost thought the words, “unless it served your purposes”, but shoved the rebellious phrase down deep into his subconscious and locked it away before she could hear it. Instead, he thought,
You love me. You would not let me die.

“Oh really?” Ewzad spat. He was talking to the mistress again. Arcon could tell.  “You think I don’t know this? The army will wait a moment longer. She is returning to me!”

I am your servant Mistress. Always,
Arcon said. He spoke with his mind and not with his lips as Ewzad Vriil did. Arcon was puzzled by the wizard’s eccentricities. Like Arcon, Ewzad had a moonrat eye embedded in his flesh. She would hear his thoughts, surely the wizard knew this. How could one so intelligent act so foolishly? It didn’t matter who was around, the queen, nobles, soldiers, he always jabbered away, embarrassing himself in front of others.

“It is his pride
,
sweet Arcon
,” she said, her irritation like a knot in the back of his head. “
He cares not what others think. They are insignificant to him. His own vanity and desires are all he cares about. Nothing else
.”

He felt the urge to think, “So unlike you, mistress,” but pushed the sarcastic thoughts back in his mind to lock away with the others. Arcon was getting better at controlling his thoughts. It wasn’t easy. When he had first set out of the Tinny Woods with his mistress’ gift inside him, he had been open with his frustrations. Weeks of constant punishments had trained his mind since then.

Arcon had finally found one small corner of his mind where she could not hear. He had learned to put all his rebellious thoughts there and sometimes, when she seemed preoccupied he would escape to that safe place. There he could brood, laugh, or scream in horror without her knowledge. But times like that were brief. The mistress was always monitoring him. He could not understand how she could listen to his thoughts, argue with Ewzad Vriil, and command an army of monsters all at once.

A sultry laugh echoed in his head.
“I am just that good, dear one.”
This time he could not repress his shudder.

“Ah! Ah!” Ewzad shouted, leaning far over the balcony’s edge, pointing one finger at the night sky. “He comes! I told you, they return! Yes!”

Ewzad backed out of the way and Arcon saw the enormous shadow coming. It blocked out the stars and then the red and black beast soared in through the open balcony to skid across the polished marble of Ewzad’s greatroom. Its claws scrambled, knocking over chairs and a heavy wooden table, but it could not find purchase. As it slammed into the rear wall, its massive body gave off a blast of heat that set half the room to flame.

Arcon backed away, his arms raised to ward off the heat. The enormous beast must have been badly wounded. He could see a boiling trail of blood that followed it to the wall. There was a great hiss and a creature darted out from under of the beast’s wings. It was a nightmare. Badly burnt, half covered with blistered and blackened scales, it screeched gleefully. Arcon saw its disturbingly female body arch in triumph and noted that its claws and teeth glistened with the same boiling blood the great beast had left behind.

“Kenn!” Hamford shouted, but the big man dared get no closer than Arcon had.

“Oohoo!” Ewzad shouted, clapping his hands and jumping up and down with joy.

The female creature’s head whipped around at the sound of the wizard’s voice. Its eyes narrowed. Then, so fast that Arcon could barely register its movement, the creature leapt at Ewzad Vriil.

A buzz filled the room and the creature froze in mid air, mere inches from the wizard. Its mouth was open, exposing razor sharp teeth, and both arms and legs were extended, claws ready to tear flesh. Ewzad did not seem fearful. He grinned eerily and extended a curving arm towards its face. One finger touched it right on its slitted nose.

“Boop!” Ewzad giggled. He leaned in and wrapped both arms around the creature in a snakelike hug. “There-there. Shhh, its okay, my dear Talon. You are home to me. Yes you are!”

Hamford rushed forward and tore a tapestry from the wall. He began beating at the flames. Arcon turned and reached out over the balcony with his magic, condensing the moisture in the air. He pulled the water into a great ball, brought it into the room, and dropped it onto the burning furniture. With a great hiss, most of the flames were extinguished. Hamford rushed to the great beast’s side.

Ewzad Vriil stepped back from his embrace with the creature. The side of his face and his robes had become caked in clotting blood. The wizard frowned as he assessed the damage to his beloved Talon.

Arcon saw now that the creature’s wounds were more garish than he had previously seen. There were deep slashes in several places along her body and a gaping hole in her abdomen. He could see through the hole to the other side. How was this hideous creature still alive?

“Oh my dear-dear Talon. This won’t do. No-no-no,” Ewzad clucked, peering into her wounds. “Very near death, aren’t you? That won’t do. That won’t do at all. Hmmm.” The wizard closed his eyes, pointed his hands at her and concentrated. His arms waved slightly back and forth while his fingers undulated. “I see. The wounds were cauterized.”

Blackened dead flesh popped forth from the wounds as they began to close. Dead skin fell to the floor in sheets as new skin grew to take its place. Ewzad snickered. Her claws, teeth, and tail spike grew ever so slightly longer. “You somehow got rid of the seed I planted inside you, didn’t you sweetheart. Yes-yes, well that is over. You are mine once again.”

The wizard left her there frozen in mid air. The door burst open and several guards entered with swords drawn. From the livery they wore, Arcon knew that these were some of Queen Elise’s house guards, evidently raised by the ruckus. They saw the ashes and carnage and beasts and halted in their tracks. One brave man stepped forward.   

“My Lord Protector . . . is everything alright?” the man said stupidly.

“And what took you so long, you foolish little men?” Ewzad griped, one finger pointed accusingly. This time his arm did not waver. “Were you hoping to arrive after I was dead? Hmm?”

The guard blanched. “No, my Lord Protector. We-we rushed here as soon as we were told of the commotion.”

“Look at these foul beasts!” Ewzad said, gesturing to the frozen Talon and the red and black beast collapsed against the wall. “Were you going to come to my aid with but five men? No-no that would not do at all. Be gone and be glad I don’t flay the skin off your bones!”

“Yes my Lord!” The guards turned to run.

“Wait, you fools!” Ewzad commanded. “Visit the kitchens on your way and have them send up a fattened pig from the stocks. And have it raw, yes, raw mind you!”

The guards bolted and Ewzad walked to the enormous red and black beast, who still lay unmoving. Heat no longer emanated from its skin. Hamford was tugging on its arm, calling out to it in concern. Ewzad nudged the large guard with his foot and Hamford slowly backed away.

“Kenn!” the wizard barked. He raised one hand and slowly made a fist. A wave of heat shot forth from the creature and it slowly stirred. It raised its head and Arcon saw that it was a demon. Two enormous horns grew from its head and its eyes glowed a smoldering yellow.

“M-MASTER,” came a deep booming voice. The temperature rose a few degrees from its breath alone.

Ewzad winced at the heat. “My-my dear Kenn. You dare talk to me like that? In that form? While oh so much bigger than me? No-no that won’t do. Come on now . . . Come along . . .”

To Arcon’s astonishment, the great beast began to shrink. Its great form decreased to the size of a large man. The tail shriveled and disappeared into its body and disappeared. The horns shrunk down until they were but little nubs on its head.

“Master I hurt,” it said and this time its voice was not so loud and horrible, but still gave Arcon a shiver. The wounds were obvious. Its abdomen had been clawed repeatedly until some of its innards had spilled, and its right arm had been torn and bitten to shreds.

“Oh, poor thing!” Ewzad cried and raised a serpentine arm. Its wounds closed and soon the beast stood healthy and invigorated.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Ah dear Kenn, you served me well this time. You brought her! You brought my precious Talon home and I thank you.” The wizard said sweetly. Then his visage darkened. “However, you brought her damaged. Some wounds were unavoidable, but she was nearly dead, yes, VERY nearly. So I ask you oh sweet Kenn. What happened to her?”

“It wasn’t me, master. Well only a small part of it was, but that was after she awoke and started attacking me.” The beast called Kenn looked at Hamford. “It was Hamford’s demon, Master. It was fighting her as I arrived. And it carried a blazing sword.”

Hamford’s eyes widened. “Good lord.”

“Oh!” Ewzad’s hands sprang to his lips. “Oh! Oh! Oh! Kenn, dear Kenn you saw him? You saw him again?”

“Yes, Master.”

“And you did not take him too?” There was an angry twist to his words.

“I could not. There were men nearby and your command had been to bring Talon back.”

“Oh! I must have him. I must! You must go get him for me!”

“Not now
!” the mistress said in Arcon’s mind. “
The fool. We need this pet beast for the battle
.” She must have spoken to the wizard too, because Ewzad wrinkled his nose in irritation.

“No-no, you foul creature. I am sending Kenn and that is final. We have enough beasts for the assault. Yes-yes, we will be fine!”

There was a hesitant knock at the door. The servants had arrived with the pig Ewzad had ordered. They laid it at his feet and backed out the door as quickly as they could. The pig must have weighed at least three hundred pounds, but with one swipe of Ewzad’s hand, it fell in two. He grasped one leg and effortlessly tossed the smaller rear half over to Kenn.

“Eat, dear Kenn. Yes, the healing will have taken much out of you. You need nourishment. Eat-eat, I wish you to leave tonight.”

Kenn caught the heavy half of pork with one hand, hunger in his eyes. He tore one haunch loose and raised it to his mouth.