Suddenly another voice, loud, raspy and harshly accented commanded, “Kill him and I will make you powerful beyond your dreams, Warlock!”

“That’s the other reason,” said Belasco’s floating voice. “If you kill me, then Dahun here will get free. I’m the only thing keeping him from entering this world.”

Amirantha glanced at Magnus and Sandreena, who were still both stunned, though both were now blinking as if coming slowly out of a trance. Knowing that time was not in their favor above, Amirantha still knew that he needed a little more time here. “If Dahun is in you, what is that contraption on the surface about?”

“Ah, that would be telling,” said Belasco with an evil chuckle.

“What madness have you undertaken now, brother of mine?” said Amirantha, prodding Belasco’s shoulder with the point of his dagger.

“That hurt!” said Belasco with an almost petulant tone.

“Injure me at your peril!” shouted Dahun’s voice. “A clean kill to set me free, I will accept, but torment will earn you repayment a thousandfold.”

Kaspar said, “Not very reassuring, is he?”

“Neither of them is worth saving,” said Amirantha, but his eyes flickered back and forth a moment between Kaspar and the others, and with a twitch of his head, he indicated he needed the General to play along. “Still, there are some things worth knowing that might prove interesting.

“Belasco, I can only assume you’re controlling this monster inside of you for two reasons: your usual pure spite at serving anyone else’s interest but your own, and because you have some idea that somehow you can manage your way out of this impasse?”

“You know me well, brother. But until I can conceive of a way of telling you anything is to my advantage, I think I shall keep my reasoning to myself.”

“Well, you always did have an unwillingness to share.”

“Blame Sidi. He was always beating me and taking my things.”

“True, and both of you treated me the same until I started summoning help.”

“That was an unfortunate day,” said Belasco’s voice.

“Warlock!” came the demon’s voice. “Release me and I shall make you a Prince of men, my first servant on this world.”

Amirantha sighed and shrugged at Kaspar. “Sorry, Dahun, but experience tells me your promises are of little currency.”

Belasco said, “Actually, he might keep that one. He doesn’t plan on eating everything in sight. He plans on settling in and ruling things. That was our original arrangement, and he was as good as his word.”

Amirantha closed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He sighed slowly and then said, “Until you betrayed him,” he said flatly.

“Of course.”