“So the first demon steps out from its hiding place to talk to the second. I have good ears, so I could hear them. ‘What are you doing here?’ the first one asks. ‘I’ve come to kill him,’ says the second. ‘You can’t kill him, he’s mine, he belongs to me, and I want him alive,’ says the first. ‘It doesn’t matter what you want. He’s too dangerous to be allowed to live, and besides, I want to taste his magic. I want to make it my own,’ says the second.

“Then they begin shrieking at each other, making threatening gestures, calling each other names.” Boot shook his leafy head. “Well, you can imagine. I’m watching all this and wondering what in the world is going on. Two demons fighting over a human! I’d never heard of such a thing! Why would they do that when there’s a whole world full of them, and more than a few ready, willing, and eager to be made victims?”

The sylvan came forward to the very edge of the bench, head inclined conspiratorially. “So then the first demon says, ‘You have no right to interfere in this. The Knight belongs to me. His magic and his life are mine.’ Well, now I know what they’re talking about. They’re quarreling over a Knight of the Word. For some reason, they seem to think there’s one out there waiting to be claimed! I’ve heard of this happening. Rarely, but now and then. But I don’t know about this Knight. I don’t know much of anything that happens outside the park, so I’m a little surprised to hear about this. I pay close attention.”

Boot glanced around at the darkness as if someone else might be listening. “So this is what happens next. The second demon pushes the first and says, ‘I was sent to make certain of him I tracked him before you, in other cities and other towns. You stole him from me. I want him back.’ The first demon backs away. ‘Don’t be stupid! You don’t have a chance with him! I’m the one who can turn him, I can make him one of us! I have already started to do so!’

“But the second demon isn’t listening. Its hair is bristling and its eyes are narrowed and hard. I can feel Audrey trembling next to me, her talons digging into the limb from which we watch. ‘He has made you weak and foolish. You think like the humans you pretend to be,’ says the second demon, advancing again on the first. ‘You are not strong enough to do what is needed. I must do it for you. I must kill him myself.’

“Then the second demon pushes the first demon hard and sends it sprawling into the brush.”

Nest felt the skin on the back of her neck crawl with the idea of two demons fighting over possession of John Ross. She should have taken the time to find him and bring him with her. He should be listening to this. If he were, he would be hard-pressed to argue that he wasn’t in any real danger.