It was Gabriel.
13
THE ROOM BROKE OUT IN FURIOUS MUTTERS. MOST OF the faeries seemed shocked that Focalor had not only entered Amarantha’s court under his own banner and not Lucifer’s, but that he’d done Amarantha the insult of bringing lesser demons with him. I knew all of this was important. I knew that it probably meant that Focalor was moving openly against Lucifer. But I only had eyes for one person.
“Gabriel,” I whispered, and I started toward him.
“Don’t,” J.B. said, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me back.
“Why not?” I said angrily under my breath. “I’m within my rights to take him back. Gabriel is my bodyguard.”
“But he came here with Focalor’s party. You would be insulting Amarantha if you tried to take him from the demons in front of the entire court.”
“Do you think I care about insulting the queen?” I hissed. “Do you see him? Do you see what they’ve done to him?”
J.B. squeezed my hand. “I see. I know. Don’t worry. We’ll get him back. But let’s find out what they want before we go in all guns blazing.”
Focalor had approached the throne. Antares stood a few feet back with Gabriel. I could see the metal collar they had put around his neck. It was lined with spikes that protruded from it every few inches and Antares was obviously taking pleasure in yanking on the leash so that Gabriel’s flesh would bleed anew.
The little knot of demons stood farther back in the center of the room, and all the faeries were taking care not to brush up against them accidentally. The courtiers had pressed back against the walls and cleared an area of several feet around the demons.
Amarantha appeared to be disgusted by the whole proceeding. Violet, standing at the queen’s right hand as always, looked like she was either going to puke or faint. I couldn’t blame her. The stench of the demons, that sulfuric cloud that always seemed to follow them, was slowly filling the throne room. The servants were attempting to discreetly open the gigantic windows that lined one side of the room, but the courtiers pressed back so far that it was difficult for the servants to do their jobs.
I, on the other hand, pushed forward so that I was in front of the crowd, close to the throne and with a clear view. Antares caught my eye and winked menacingly. I felt magic crackle over my fingers and suppressed the urge to blast him into kingdom come. I was sure that would violate some desperately important accord of the faerie court, and the only thing I wanted right now was to get Gabriel back. If I had to control my temper for a few minutes, then so be it. But Antares was going to pay for this, sooner or later.
Focalor bowed low to Amarantha. It was the kind of bow that seemed correct but there was something disrespectful about it all the same. Which he probably was.
“Queen Amarantha, most beautiful light of the faerie court,” Focalor began, and his voice oozed with the false compliments.
“Lord Focalor,” Amarantha replied, and her voice was polite although her teeth were gritted. “How dare you come to my court under your own banner, and sully this place with these low creatures?”
She gestured to the demons, who were flicking their tongues and growling and oozing all over the place.
Focalor bowed his head. “Forgive me, my lady. I was under the impression that it was customary for a lord to be escorted by his retinue. Do not your own accords state that hospitality shall be given even unto the escorts of a guest in your court?”
He smiled, and I wondered how Amarantha would get out of this one.
“You have not been invited, nor have you been accepted; therefore you are not yet a guest of my court,” she replied. “If you have come to bargain with me, then your retinue must remove to the courtyard.”
Focalor narrowed his eyes. I saw Amarantha make a small movement of her index finger. The servants who had been hovering unobtrusively in the background moved swiftly to the front of the crowd and stood at parade rest. Ah. So the servants were also warriors, and Amarantha wanted them on hand in case things got ugly fast.
For a moment it seemed her paranoia was justified. Focalor looked like he was ready to loose his demons on the courtiers rather than submit to Amarantha’s will. I readied my magic. Next to me I saw J.B. draw a long wooden rod from his pocket. I had seen him use this once before. Apparently it gave him some extra powers.
Then Focalor smiled his hideous smile, and said, “As you wish.”
The demons went snarling out of the room, followed by a couple of warriors to make sure that they went the right way. Antares and Gabriel stayed. I tried to catch Gabriel’s eye, but he stared stoically ahead, seeing nothing.
“My lady, I have come to you to establish relations between our courts,” Focalor said.
“We already have in this court a representative of Lord Lucifer,” Amarantha replied. “Lady Madeline Black ap Azazel. It is not necessary for your lord to send more than one ambassador at a time.”
Focalor showed his pointed teeth. I remembered Beezle telling me after my vision of the Forbidden Lands that Focalor was one of the fallen, not a demon, and I wondered why he didn’t look angelic like the other fallen. What had he done that had twisted his appearance so thoroughly?
“I have not come as a representative of Lucifer. I have come to establish relations with my own court and under my own banner as an independent entity.”
There was an intake of breath in the room, and several heads craned around to stare at me. So this was it. Focalor was moving against Lucifer publicly. What power was he holding that made him think he could succeed?
I knew that I couldn’t let Focalor’s statement pass without comment. I was there as Lucifer’s representative.
I stepped forward, heard J.B. whisper, “Carefully.”
Beezle still snored away in my front patch pocket. His arms hung over the side and his head drooped. Unbelievable. I’m sure that I looked really authoritative with a snoozing gargoyle as an accessory. But I marched up to the throne and stood within a foot of Focalor, even though the stench of him turned my stomach. I didn’t try to look at Gabriel this time. I didn’t want everyone in the room to see the desperate need that would surely be on my face. I was learning that I didn’t hide my emotions well.
“Lady Amarantha, if I may speak?” I asked, and she nodded. I directed my comments to Focalor. I tried to make an effort to sound all formal and ambassador-y. “I believe Lord Lucifer would be somewhat surprised to discover that you are, as you say, an ‘independent entity.’ The laws which have bound you these thousands of years have not recently been altered, have they?”
“The laws which have bound me have begun to chafe,” Focalor replied.
“So put some cream on it and deal,” I replied, dropping the formality. I just didn’t have great people skills. I wondered again why Lucifer had chosen me. “You know, I know and everybody in this room knows that what you’re doing right now is sedition.”
Focalor bowed in acknowledgment. “If that is what my lady chooses to call it.”
“I call you a traitor to Lucifer’s court,” I said.
Focalor stepped closer to me, and I glared up at him. I reallllllly hated that I was so short. I could never look eye to eye with anyone. The heat and stink coming off his body was intense and I tried to breathe through my mouth.
“That is a strong word, Lady Madeline. Be careful. Words can get you into trouble.”
“Trouble is a word you’d better get used to, because Lucifer is going to bring the freaking thunder down on your ass,” I snapped. “I’m not going to stand here and exchange smart comments for the rest of the day. If you have even an iota of intelligence, you’ll take your little demon toys and my worthless half brother and go home. But you can leave Gabriel. He is my father’s thrall and you have done Azazel an insult by taking him. If you leave now, I will speak to Lucifer on your behalf. Perhaps he’ll be lenient since no harm has yet been done.”
