Amirantha was silent for a moment, then said, “So, if I kill you, the demon within is freed, but if I let you live…well, sooner or later you’re going to die if you can’t eat or drink, unless you tell me of your plan.”

“Not yet.”

Amirantha saw Magnus and Sandreena begin to rouse and said, “Speaking of Sidi…”

“Yes,” said Belasco.

“He’s dead.”

“Pity,” said Belasco.

“Why? You hated him.”

“Because I wanted to be the one to kill him. Mother may have been an evil witch, but she was Mother.”

Amirantha glanced at Kaspar, who said, “Now that I’ve met all three of you, I can only imagine what she must have been like.”

“Who’s speaking?” asked Belasco. “I glimpsed him before, but he keeps moving where I can’t see.”

“Kaspar, formerly Duke of Olasko, and now General of the Army in Muboya.”

“I’d bid you welcome, but I suspect you’re not here to do me any good.”

“Exactly. Unless there were exigent circumstances I can’t begin to imagine,” said Kaspar, “we came here to kill you.”

“Ah, always murder in everyone’s heart.” That was followed by an evil chuckle.

“Now what?” asked Kaspar of Amirantha.

But it was Belasco who spoke. “We wait until I decide what’s in my best interest.”

CHAPTER 18

ATTACK

Pug unleashed another spell.

Demons in all forms and sizes were flung back, and Pug shouted, “Something is very wrong here.”

Gulamendis shouted over the bellowing and shrieks, “What?”

“I’m not sure, but I sense something….”

Laromendis was nearly exhausted to the point of being unable to stand. He had conjured every conceivable illusion he had learned in the years of fighting the demons, and had used up every one. The unexpected arrival of a myriad of threats, other demons, Taredhel sentinels, animals and monsters of every stripe, all had distracted or delayed the onslaught of demons enough to give Pug the time to unleash his considerable power.

A voice from behind said, “Could you use some help?”

Pug turned and his face became alive with relief, as he beheld Magnus standing there. “Are you up to it?”

Nodding, he said, “They used a spell-binding net on Sandreena and myself, but the effects have worn off.” Then his eyes narrowed and he said, “And I’m angry.”

He moved to stand between Gulamendis and Pug and with his outstretched hand unlimbered a blast of crimson energy that moved like a thundering breaker on the beach. The demons to the last of them, irrespective of size and shape, were hurled backward. Those at the rear of the pack were cast down into the vast pit from which the green energy rose.