Nerisa giggled. She was sure that, student or not, Safar just had to be the best wizard in all Esmir. Then she realized how relaxed she'd become since he'd asked her to help. She wondered if his request had been a ploy to put her at ease. If so, she loved him even more for it.
Safar sniffed the fumes. It's ready now, he said.
'What do I do? she asked.
Safar handed her a long-handled brush with a narrow blade made of boar's bristles. Dip this into the jar, he told her. Stir it around and get a good load on the bristles.'
She stirred the brush through the thick, bubbling mixture. She wrinkled her nose at the fumes, although later she couldn't have said if the scent was foul or fair, sweet or sour. Safar signaled with a nod and she withdrew it. He picked up the stone turtle, centered it in his flattened right palm, then extended it over the fumes.
'Now paint the turtle's back, he said.
Nerisa gently stroked the brush across the green image of the island. Although the mixture from the jar was tarry black, it left only gray streaks on the green.
'Lay it on thick, Safar said. This isn't a job for a timid hand.'
Nerisa furrowed her brow and daubed with a will until the goo spread all over the stone and spilled into Safar's hand.
'That's exactly right, he said. Now dip up some more and do another coat. Thicker than the last, if you can. But this time we need a chant to help things along. So listen closely to what I say and repeat it exactly.'
Nerisa nodded understanding, loaded the brush again, and as she laid the mixture across the idol's back they chanted together:
'Light dawning through the night, What pearls hide beneath the stone? All that is dark emerge into bright, Give flesh to rock and marrow to bone.'
Nerisa's pulse quickened as she saw a faint light emanating from the stone idol. She swore she saw the turtle's legs move and then she gasped as the idol twitched into life and scuttled across Safar's palm. He whispered for her to be still and laid the turtle on the floor. Instantly the light died and the idol sank down, freezing into its former lifeless pose. Safar swore, then looked up to give Nerisa an abashed grin.
'This is going to be harder than I thought, he said. We could chant all night and still not come up with the right spell.
From his sleeve he withdrew a small silver knife, double-edged and etched with elaborate and mysterious designs. It was the witch's knife Coralean had given him to unravel difficult problems.
'Fortunately, he said, indicating the knife, I have a way to cheat.'
Again he signaled for Nerisa to be silent and he laid the knife against the idol's stone shellpoint touching the red painted mountain with the monster's face. He chanted:
'Conjure the key That fits the lock. Untangle the traces, And cut the knot…
Safar's voice dipped lower and the rest of the chant was lost to Nerisa. But she was so struck by his intensity that she probably wouldn't have heard the words even if they'd been shouted. She'd never seen such concentration. Safar's eyes seemed to be turned inward, smoldering with smoky blue fire. A soft light formed about his whole body, a rosy band shot with pinpricks of color. His long face shone with perspiration, making the hollows seem deeper and the edges sharper. Nerisa smelled the faint musk rising from his body and felt a great calm settle around her like the softest of blankets. Her eyes, as if they had a will of their own, fixed on the monster's painted face and became riveted there.
Safar gave the stone a final sharp rap with his knife and suddenly the monster's face broke free from the stone, floating up and up, and then the painted eyes blinked into life and its mouth moved, forming words:
'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Nerisa heard it say.
A body formed beneath the face, and Nerisa pulled back in surprise as a little creature, perhaps three hands high, hopped off the turtle's back and stood on the floor. It had the visage of a toad, with huge eyes and a mouth stretched wide to reveal four needle-sharp fangs. But the rest of its body was that of an elegant little man, richly clothed in a form-fitting costume covering it from toe to neck. The creature seemed angry, hands perched on narrow hips, ugly toad head turned toward the stone turtle.
'If you don't shut up, it said to the idol, I'll make you! Just wait and see if I don't! Then the creature looked up at Safar, complaining, He gives me a headache! Always talking. Never listening. Sometimes I can't even hear myself think!'
'I'm sorry you're forced to live with such noisy company, Safar said, as natural as could be. But in case you haven't noticed you've just been summoned. And if you'll pardon my rudeness, whatever quarrel you have with your companion is of no interest to us.'
The creature glared at Safar, then at Nerisa. That's the trouble with humans, he said. No concern for others. He cocked his head at the idol as if listening, then nodded. I couldn't agree more, Gundaree, he said to the idol. For a change you speak wisely. Then, to Safar, he said, Gundaree says all humans are selfish. And you've certainly done nothing since we met to disprove it.'
'Who is Gundaree? Safar asked.
The creature snorted, tiny flames shooting from its nostrils. My twin! Who else? He spoke as if Safar were the most ignorant mortal in existence.
'And you are?'
Another fiery snort. Gundara, that's who!'
'Why hasn't your twin also appeared? Safar asked. Tell him to come out so we can see him.'
Gundara shrugged, the gesture as graceful as a dancer's. He never appears to humans, he said. It's not in the rules. I take care of your sort. He does the demons.'
'Then you do understand you've been summoned, Safar said. And that you must do my bidding.'
Gundara hopped up on a three-legged stool, perching there so he was eye-level with Safar. Sure, sure. I understand. Bid away, O Master of Rudeness. But would you mind getting to it? I haven't eaten my dinner yet. He gestured at the idol. That damned greedy twin of mine will get it all if I don't get back soon.'
He turned to Nerisa, perhaps hoping to find more sympathy there. You won't believe how hard it is to come by a decent meal when you live in a stone idol.'
'I can see how it might be, Nerisa said. She rummaged in a pocket and came up with a sweet.
Gundara's eyes lit up. Haven't had a taste of sugar in a thousand years, he said. He held out a tiny hand for the treat.
Nerisa hesitated, looking at Safar. He nodded for her to go ahead and she extended the sweet, which was immediately grabbed by Gundara and popped into his mouth. He chewed, closing his eyes as if he were in paradise. Then he gave a delicate flick of his long red tongue, picking off any stray sugar crumbs from his lips.
When he was done he turned Safar. What do you want, human? And don't make it too difficult. You don't get the world for a sweet, you know.'
'First I want to know something about you, Safar said. Where are you from? And what is your purpose?'
Gundara sighed. Why do I get all the stupid ones? he complained. Three times out in five hundred years and each one dumber than the other.'
Safar proffered the silver knife and the creature shrank back, petulant look turning to one of fear. I've had just about enough of your smart talk, Safar said. I'm the one in command here.'
'There's no reason to get so excited, Gundara replied.
'Answer my questions, Safar demanded.
'I'm from Hadin, where else? Gundara said. My twin and I were made there long ago. How long, I can't really say. A few thousand years, at least. We were a gift to a witch on her coronation as queen.'
'And your purpose? Safar asked.
'We're Favorites, Gundara said, rolling his eyes at such a stupid question. We help wizards and witches with their spells.'
'You said you and your twin's duties were divided between humans and demons, Safar said. Why is this?'
'How do I know? Gundara said with barely disguised disgust. That's how we were made, is all. Those are the rules. I do humans. Gundaree does demons. Simple as that.'
'Is your twin exactly like you? Safar asked.
Gundara laughed, and the sound was like glass breaking. Not in the slightest, he said. I'm beautiful, as you can see. Gundaree, on the other hand, has a human face. The creature shuddered. What could be uglier than that, no
