Turning to flee, Jorge tripped over Evelina, who was huddled on her hands and knees, trying frantically to figure some way out of this disaster. Jorge pitched headlong over her and landed on the floor. Rolling onto his back, he began to crawl, crabwise, toward the door.

Marcus advanced on him. “Fight, Ven! Stand and fight him! The magic! Use the magic!”

Evelina’s head jerked up. She stared intently at Marcus.

“I’ll not fight you, Your Highness,” Jorge babbled. He was sweating and shivering and crawling for all he was worth.

“Ven . . .” Evelina murmured. “What is he talking about? Ven’s not here . . . Unless . . .”

She scrambled to her feet. Running over to Jorge, she pulled him up and shoved him bodily toward the door.

“Get out!” she cried. “Get out! Hurry up!”

Jorge didn’t need telling. He flung open the door and bolted out, holding his unlaced britches up with one hand as he dashed into the night. Evelina slammed shut the door and put her back to it and faced Marcus, who was staring straight at her and, apparently, not seeing her.

Evelina waved her hand in front of his face. His eyes darted back and forth, and his breath came short and fast, as though watching some harrowing contest.

“Fight!” he cried again, then he suddenly clutched at his head and reeled backward, staggering halfway across the room.

“I was right. He’s possessed. He’s fighting a demon!” Evelina breathed.

Evelina knew something about demons. She’d been in a tavern once when one of her father’s companions had been seized by a demon. The man had fallen to the floor, writhing and twitching and foaming at the mouth. Someone had wanted to call a priest, but his woman said that wasn’t necessary. Her man fought with demons on a regular basis and he always came out the winner. She told all his friends to pin him down, and she gave him a stick to bite on so that he wouldn’t choke to death. He wrestled with the demon for a short time, then, victorious, he fell asleep. When he came back to consciousness—and this Evelina remembered quite clearly—he had no recollection of anything that had happened.