Sandreena and the two Demon Masters exchanged knowing looks, and they conceded wordlessly that Belasco was right; the more powerful the demon when driven from the host, the more damage endured by the mortal. And no one in the record of any temple had successfully banished a demon king or prince.

Amirantha said, “Your choice, brother. A quick death and we deal with your demon, or we can try to save you, and then we’ll most likely be forced to kill you.”

“You know me well, brother.” There was a long silence, and Belasco said, “Give me your word that should I emerge from this intact you’ll grant me one day’s grace to find a safe haven.”

“After all you’ve done?” said Sandreena.

“That’s the bargain,” said Belasco.

“I vote for a quick death,” said Sandreena.

“I think we should try the exorcism,” said Gulamendis.

Jim shrugged. “I really don’t know what’s best.”

“That leaves it to you, brother,” said Belasco.

Amirantha said, “Give me a reason to grant you any mercy. You’ve been trying to kill me for a century.”

“Well, that’s a regret, really. I count it a bad habit. I just got so annoyed with you and Sidi…I didn’t really think things through.”

Amirantha closed his eyes a moment, then opened them and said, “You may not be as mad as our brother was, but there’s nothing about you that resembles sanity.

“Let me be clear; I’m leaning heavily toward ending this rapidly and clearly, which involves cutting your throat, unless you provide me with a persuasive reason why we should risk letting you live, and having to deal with a powerful demon anyway.”

There was a long silence, then Belasco said, “I will tell you the truth.”

Amirantha laughed. “That would be unusual.”

“By the blood of the old woman of the moons, the nightmares of the child in the village, and the bones in the wicked man’s hidden grave,” said Belasco.

Amirantha fell silent. He looked at Sandreena and Gulamendis and softly said, “When we were children it was a pact we made; we imitated a curse our mother used…” He shook his head. “It was as close as any of us got to anything sacred. Even Sidi never broke a promise or lied after making that oath.”

“It’s the best I can do, brother.”

Amirantha was silent. After a long moment, he said, “Very well. Begin.”

Pug saw the demons before the doorway turn from attacking Pug’s group and answer the attack from Jommy’s marines. Kaspar arrived and said, “What’s the situation?”

“Chaos!” shouted Magnus. “Our forces arrived, then a horde of demons appeared out of that pit!”

“It’s a summoning pit, massive beyond anything I’ve heard of; even Amirantha and Gulamendis didn’t recognize it for what it was: a Demon Gate.”

“We have to shut it down!” said Kaspar.