manner.”
Tahzel swallowed nervously at the reprimand, a further sign of ShaiTyan’s poor mood.
“A female of power such as we have not yet seen in those across the Gate, has recently come to our side,” he said.
“You may explain further,” ShaiTyan said after a long moment.
“She has long dabbled in dark magics, as her mother did before her, but she resisted all efforts to recruit her until a short time ago. She swore the oath of aid in return for enhancement of her power, but did not become cin-sahib . We called on her to steal the first orb when it was found, and granted to her an air demon and a warrior cin-sahib for the purpose. The cin-sahib was lost in battle, as was the female, but she was able to possess the air demon.”
“Wait,” ShaiTyan interrupted. “Did you say the female possessed the air demon?”
“Yes, Master, that is what she did,” Tahzel replied, trying not to sound as shocked as he still felt over the matter.
“She was not cin-sahib ?” ShaiTyan asked.
“No, Master, she was not cin-sahib ,” Tahzel said. “She chose the path of Myrkur , instead.”
“It is too bad she now possesses the body of an air demon,” ShaiTyan said. “One such as that may have been of some use.”
“She no longer possesses the air demon, Master,” Tahzel said. “The air demon was destroyed almost the moment she took possession of it, before she had a chance to control it.”
“I assume there is more to this story, Tahzel.”
“Of course, Master,” Tahzel replied, hearing the warning. “When the air demon was destroyed she managed to possess the body of her fudaso , a male of high rank in the army of those who defy us.”
ShaiTyan chuckled, a harsh, grating sound of rocks grinding against each other. “Yes, she is one of power to manage such a feat as that. The question is, will she put that power to use for us?”
“She has her own desires, of course,” Tahzel replied. “She begs to do your bidding in exchange.”
“What is it that she asks...or should I say, demands ?” ShaiTyan asked.
“She wants the body of a demon to possess,” Tahzel replied. “One that is large and strong. She cannot fully possess the human male she is currently riding.”
“Of course not,” ShaiTyan said, and Tahzel heard the humor in his voice. “Not only is he not cin-sahib , he is her fudaso , the one she used to make her offering, and bind her to the light. She is wily enough to recognize her limitations. Perhaps some use can be made of this female.”
ShaiTyan fell silent for a long time. Tahzel remained motionless, knowing better than to interrupt his Master with questions or movements while he was thinking. He had no idea how long he waited, nor did it matter to him. Time in this dark, crowded realm meant nothing.
“Tell this female...what is her name?” ShaiTyan asked.
“Ma-Rene,” Tahzel replied.
“Tell this Ma-Rene that she will have the body of one of the most fearsome of all demons, but only upon completion of the task I set for her,” ShaiTyan said. “Be certain that the word demon is used, Tahzel. Not Djinn .”
“Of course, Master,” Tahzel replied. It was a critically important distinction. There was no possibility that he would forget it.
“When she accepts, tell her this,” ShaiTyan said.
Tahzel closed his eyes, knowing what was coming, accepting the pain of it before it began. When he opened his eyes sometime later he was lying sprawled upon the floor with ShaiTyan’s plan burned into his mind. He struggled to his feet and bowed before turning to leave, knowing he’d been dismissed the moment his eyes had opened. As he stepped through the narrow opening between the rokkeli , ShaiTyan began to laugh, but this time the sound grew and grew until all of Nariq-Qu began to shake around them.
***
Worrow, Zamon of the Sirelina, watched with a peculiar mix of fear and excitement as the tiny boat carrying
Translated from the Bulgarian by Angela Rodel Georgi Gospodinov