Trying to look braver than he felt, Kelewulf lifted his chin and dared to look back at the lich.

‘I have summoned you,’ he said, doing his best to mask the fear in his voice.

The sound that filled his head was like a long and drawn-out groan. ‘Why?’

‘I desire knowledge. Knowledge of the sort you possessed during your time on this earth.’

‘Such knowledge is power.’

‘I know.’

‘But …’ The lich seemed to grow, the smoke that gave it its form darkening further until a huge figure loomed over the youngster. ‘Knowledge alone, when it comes to majik, is not enough. To use it I must have a physical form here, and as you can see, that I do not have.’ The lich gave him a knowing look. ‘How are we to resolve that?’

It was the question Kelewulf had been expecting. He knew what the lich desired above all other things. The words he chose to use now were critical; the slightest slip would result in his undoing. Swallowing hard, he summoned up his courage.

‘I … I will give you physical form again in this world.’ He gestured down at himself. ‘You will inhabit this body. It is strong and young, and would be a fine vessel for your powers, but –’ he held his finger up, stressing the rest of the sentence – ‘you cannot inhabit it as a controlling force. You will be a partner, not a possessor. You will protect this corporeal form in every way you can. This must be our covenant. You might have cheated death once, Yirgan, but I doubt that the same opportunity will be afforded to me if you misuse this human body.’

The lich stared down at him through long-dead eyes, and Kelewulf fancied he caught the hint of a smile form on the creature’s lips, or at least what was left of them. ‘What would you do with such knowledge?’

‘Make this world tremble.’

The lich tilted its head. ‘How?’

‘By completing your work. I wish to return the god Lorgukk to this world and show its pathetic inhabitants what real power is.’

The wraith shook its head. ‘If I could do such a thing, do you not think I would have done so at the height of my powers? When I had this world trembling at my feet?’

‘The tales say that you tried, that you were close to achieving your goal, before you were killed by the gods for doing so …’

‘I was close, yes.’

‘Then now is the chance for you – for us – to try again. New religions are springing up, and with them the belief in the old gods is on the wane. So are their powers. This time we will succeed.’

‘You are bold, young mage.’ The spirit seemed to be thinking. ‘My return to this world will not go unnoticed. There will be those who will try to stop us.’