Warren was more than happy to stay out of the way.
Knaarl cracked his whip. The Darkspawn turned around, instantly attentive.
“You weren’t invited to this place,” Knaarl said.
“I was,” Merihim countered.
“Not by any of the Dark Wills who claimed this place as prey.”
A Dark Will was a demon that had consumed countless billions. Warren knew that from his reading. But now he knew that more had to have been involved in rising through the demon hierarchy.
“I didn’t need their invitation,” Merihim growled.
“You’re not a Dark Will, Merihim,” Knaarl declared. “You only wish to beone.”
“I will be one,” Merihim roared. “After all my years, I deserve to beone.”
Warren heard the anger in the demon’s words.
“The Dark Wills won’t accept you because they don’t trust you,” Knaarl said.“They will never give you that kind of power.”
“I don’t have to have it given,” Merihim snapped. “I’m strong enough to takeit.”
“Fulaghar sees only that you are greedy enough to get yourself killed in thisworld. You would have better served yourself if you had maintained your alliance with him.”
“That was no alliance. He granted me a life of subservience. The same lifethat he gave you, Hargastor, and Toklorq. Are you happy being a slave?”
Knaarl waved at the Darkspawn clustered around him. “We’re all slaves toGreater Evil, Merihim. Only youand perhaps a few othersaren’t happy with that.And most of those have died the Final Death.”
“I don’t choose to be a slave. At least the Darkspawn, Gremlins, and Impsaren’t intelligent enough to see how badly they’re used.”
“So it would be better to be reduced to something barely above animalawareness?” Knaarl licked his lipless mouth.
Merihim didn’t say anything.
“You managed your appearance here with another of your little baubles, didn’tyou?” Knaarl asked. “One of your little treasures you sow among the humans to getthem to call upon you.”
“We’re all allowed access to unclaimed worlds,” Merihim said.
“That changes after a world has been targeted for a Hellgate and a Burn.”Knaarl slithered closer and shook out his whip. “Only then, under the auspicesof the Eldest, may we take part in a Burn that purges a world of Light. You were not named to take place in this. Fulaghar was.”
Merihim scowled. “Fulaghar doesn’t deserve a world this full of prey.”
“Have a care with your viperous tongue,” Knaarl warned. “You speak of mymaster.”
“All those years ago you chose masters wrongly.”
Knaarl’s grin was obscene. “Because I didn’t choose you, my lord?” The sarcasmcarried through the shrill tone.
“Yes.”
Knaarl cocked his head to one side. “Your vassals seem to come to quick,untimely ends.” The three black eyes regarded Warren. “And you oftentimes choosethem unwisely.”
Warren got them impression that he’d been judged, threatened, and dismissedall at the same time. If he hadn’t been so frightened, he might have feltdemeaned and outraged. But part of him knew he might die in the next few minutes.
“None of those that chose you back in those days are still alive,” Knaarlsaid.
“Through no fault of my own.”
“Forgive my impudence, Begetter of Pestilence, but you either chose unwiselyor you broke your toys by risking too much.”
Merihim grinned crookedly, and the demon’s delight was a horrible thing tobehold. “Have you talked to Hargastor lately?”
Knaarl cocked his head. His arm twitched and his lash slithered along the stone floor like a live thing. Several of the Darkspawn backed away from it fearfully.
“Hargastor was slain in a battle against Templar,” Knaarl said.
“No, he was slain by another.”
“The Darkspawn who were with Hargastor and escaped with their lives said they’d fought Templar. They were put to death forabandoning Hargastor, of course.” Knaarl licked his lips. “Thus far, you’re theonly act of insubordination to Fulaghar that has lived. If you choose to stay in this place for long”
“I am staying here,” Merihim said.
“then that oversight will soon be rectified.” Knaarl cracked his whip. “Ilook forward to telling my master of your demise. Especially if you had a hand in Hargastor’s death.”
Merihim stood his ground fearlessly. “Out of respect to our past friendship,I offer you this chance to live.”
Knaarl laughed and the explosive squeaks nearly deafened Warren.
“You can’t touch me here, Merihim,” the demon replied. “If you act directlyagainst me or Fulaghar, you will draw the dire wrath of the First.”
“The Great Eye allows power struggles among the Dark Wills and the Eldest,”Merihim replied. “Only the strongest are fit to stand at his feet.”
Warren had read about the First, also called the Great Eye. The demon had been created out of the Shadow in direct opposition to the Light. The First was eternal and unforgiving. It was he who kept the Eldest and the Dark Wills in line.
“Not in this place and time,” Knaarl said. “The Burn must run its course onthis world first. If you wish to challenge my master after that, then you may ask for your doom.” He smiled. “If Fulaghar is generous, maybe he won’t tortureyou before destroying you forever.”
“Perhaps I can’t raise my hand against him,” Merihim said, “but others may inmy stead.”
Knaarl gazed at Merihim. “You have a Chosen?”
“I do.” Merihim swept a hand toward Warren. “And he has come here to kill you and deprive Fulaghar of another of his vassals.”
With a quick, serpentine twist, Knaarl looked past Merihim at Warren.
“A human?” Knaarl crowed in delight. “From all that you had to choose from,and you chose one of the pathetic creatures we kill effortlessly every day.” Hecracked his whip. “You would have been better off to strike a bargain with theTemplar.”
“The Templar will never deal with a demon. And I’ve chosen more wisely thanyou think.”
“We’ll see.” Knaarl flicked his whip without warning. The braided length spedtoward Warren’s face like a lightning strike.
FORTY-ONE
Time slowed as Warren’s senses churned into overdrive. As the whip camecloser, he saw that it had been braided of long, thin snakelike demons. All of them had their mouths open, fangs glistening.
Merihim made no move.
Knowing he could never hope to avoid the whip, Warren reached up with his demon hand and stepped forward to intercept the blow. He caught the whip a
