Read Online Elven Blood (Imp Book 3) by Debra Dunbar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debra Dunbar
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it.
“I need you to do some research for me,” I asked, changing to a less violent topic. “First, I need to know if sorcerers or anyone can remove a demon energy signature from a corpse. Like a kind of cleansing.”
“Why in the world would someone do that?”
“I have no idea. Can you just see if anyone has ever heard of it before?”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“Do you know any old ones? I need to find out anything on the angel’s Ruling Council that I can. Anything is helpful, but specifically the names, titles, responsibilities, and strengths of the members.”
Dar laughed. “Mal, I know everyone. How dare you doubt my social reach?”
Dar called me “Mal Cogita,” which he claims means “bad fuck” in Spanish. I’d been hoping to ask someone if that was true, because Dar often inflated his knowledge, but I hadn’t had time.
“Of course I can find that out, but even so, any information I get is going to be really old. Like almost three million years old. I’m sure the original angels are dead by now.”
“I don’t think so. They don’t die like we do. The one I deal with was in the war, and I know he’s got brothers just as old who are probably on the council too.”
“Still, they may rotate members. Or maybe they vote on them. I really can’t see how dated information is going to be helpful.”
“It will better than nothing, which is what I’ve got now. Besides, knowing who they were during the wars, what their titles were, will help. Even if they’ve swapped out council members, they’re probably similar in power and skills.”
“Okay. I’ll do what I can,” Dar replied.
“But don’t ask Ahriman,” I added as an afterthought. I’d not responded to his breeding petition. Although I intended to decline, I was hoping to keep him warm on the back burner as a kind of emergency, desperation, get–out–of–jail–free card. Under the protection of Ahriman’s wing, no one would fuck with me. But the price would be high.
Dar snorted. “Ahriman? He wouldn’t give me the time of day!” Dar paused then continued, his tone thoughtful. “Although I do think he is a bit obsessed with you, Mal. There is a rumor he presented a breeding contract to you, and he does seem to keep close tabs on your situation.”
“He has petitioned me.. I wonder if I hint that I may accept, if he’d pressure Haagenti to back off.”
A shout of laughter filled the room. “Mal, you idiot. You’ve been hanging out with humans too long. I’m willing to bet that Ahriman is spurring Haagenti on. Just think for a moment, Haagenti grabs you, tortures you mercilessly, and Ahriman swoops in to save the day. If you didn’t jump at his proposal right away, he knows you’re reluctant. What better way to overcome reluctance than to orchestrate a kidnapping. Desperate and in pain, you’d leap at the chance to take him up on his offer. In fact, he could substantially change the terms in his favor and you’d probably still accept at that point. Ahriman isn’t one to take rejection lightly. Or stalling. He gets what he wants.”
Shit. I’d never even thought about that. Maybe Ahriman was behind this whole thing with Haagenti. It would explain Haagenti’s over–the–top reaction, and his persistence, as well as his deep pockets in trying to haul me back. Now I was even more reluctant to return. Torture from Haagenti I might be able to face, Ahriman I couldn’t. He was too strong, and I wouldn’t put it past him to force me unwilling.
“Crap, that puts a wrinkle in something else,” I told Dar. “I need to meet with an elf lord. Taullian in Cyelle. It’s by the Western Red Forest over where we grew up. The Columbia gate puts me near, but it’s west of Cyelle.”
“Yeah, from that gate you’d either need to go through the Elven kingdom of Li and into Cyelle, or skirt the edge of Li in the demon lands to the Maugan swamp, and the Cyelle border. But the problem is going to be the gate. Haagenti
“I need you to do some research for me,” I asked, changing to a less violent topic. “First, I need to know if sorcerers or anyone can remove a demon energy signature from a corpse. Like a kind of cleansing.”
“Why in the world would someone do that?”
“I have no idea. Can you just see if anyone has ever heard of it before?”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“Do you know any old ones? I need to find out anything on the angel’s Ruling Council that I can. Anything is helpful, but specifically the names, titles, responsibilities, and strengths of the members.”
Dar laughed. “Mal, I know everyone. How dare you doubt my social reach?”
Dar called me “Mal Cogita,” which he claims means “bad fuck” in Spanish. I’d been hoping to ask someone if that was true, because Dar often inflated his knowledge, but I hadn’t had time.
“Of course I can find that out, but even so, any information I get is going to be really old. Like almost three million years old. I’m sure the original angels are dead by now.”
“I don’t think so. They don’t die like we do. The one I deal with was in the war, and I know he’s got brothers just as old who are probably on the council too.”
“Still, they may rotate members. Or maybe they vote on them. I really can’t see how dated information is going to be helpful.”
“It will better than nothing, which is what I’ve got now. Besides, knowing who they were during the wars, what their titles were, will help. Even if they’ve swapped out council members, they’re probably similar in power and skills.”
“Okay. I’ll do what I can,” Dar replied.
“But don’t ask Ahriman,” I added as an afterthought. I’d not responded to his breeding petition. Although I intended to decline, I was hoping to keep him warm on the back burner as a kind of emergency, desperation, get–out–of–jail–free card. Under the protection of Ahriman’s wing, no one would fuck with me. But the price would be high.
Dar snorted. “Ahriman? He wouldn’t give me the time of day!” Dar paused then continued, his tone thoughtful. “Although I do think he is a bit obsessed with you, Mal. There is a rumor he presented a breeding contract to you, and he does seem to keep close tabs on your situation.”
“He has petitioned me.. I wonder if I hint that I may accept, if he’d pressure Haagenti to back off.”
A shout of laughter filled the room. “Mal, you idiot. You’ve been hanging out with humans too long. I’m willing to bet that Ahriman is spurring Haagenti on. Just think for a moment, Haagenti grabs you, tortures you mercilessly, and Ahriman swoops in to save the day. If you didn’t jump at his proposal right away, he knows you’re reluctant. What better way to overcome reluctance than to orchestrate a kidnapping. Desperate and in pain, you’d leap at the chance to take him up on his offer. In fact, he could substantially change the terms in his favor and you’d probably still accept at that point. Ahriman isn’t one to take rejection lightly. Or stalling. He gets what he wants.”
Shit. I’d never even thought about that. Maybe Ahriman was behind this whole thing with Haagenti. It would explain Haagenti’s over–the–top reaction, and his persistence, as well as his deep pockets in trying to haul me back. Now I was even more reluctant to return. Torture from Haagenti I might be able to face, Ahriman I couldn’t. He was too strong, and I wouldn’t put it past him to force me unwilling.
“Crap, that puts a wrinkle in something else,” I told Dar. “I need to meet with an elf lord. Taullian in Cyelle. It’s by the Western Red Forest over where we grew up. The Columbia gate puts me near, but it’s west of Cyelle.”
“Yeah, from that gate you’d either need to go through the Elven kingdom of Li and into Cyelle, or skirt the edge of Li in the demon lands to the Maugan swamp, and the Cyelle border. But the problem is going to be the gate. Haagenti
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