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A soft chuckle from Kristof.
Trsiel shook his head. "It's not that easy "
"Yeah, I know, this guy's a killer, and he's in a hell dimension, but I didn't lead a sheltered life. If this guy
knows how to catch the Nix, I'll get it out of him. I know how to reason with guys like that. If I can't, I'll
kick his ass from hell to Honolulu."
Kris grinned. "And I'll be there to help& in the persuasion phase." He shot the grin my way. "If it comes
down to ass-kicking, I'll just watch."
The Fate let out a heartfelt sigh and shook her head.
"Great plan," Trsiel said. "One small problem."
"What?" I said.
"He lies."
"Huh?"
"Dachev can't be trusted. Shocking, really, but "
"Stuff the sarcasm, Trsiel," I said. "We're here to solve a problem, and I don't hear you offering to
help "
"Which, track record considered, may be a blessing," Kristof murmured.
Trsiel shot him a glare, but before he could come up with a retort, I carried on.
"If you don't have a solution of your own, at least don't mock ours," I said. "Obviously this guy can't be
trusted to tell the truth about how he stopped the Nix, but if I can apply enough pressure "
"You can't," the Fate said. "There is only one way to compel him to tell the truth. The Sword of
Judgment. If he could be made to tell what he did, while laying his hands on it, he'd be forced to tell the
truth."
Trsiel looked at Kristof. "And before you ask why I haven't done so myself, I cannot enter that place.
Can not, not will not or may not. No full-blooded angel can enter a true hell. The ascendeds can& and
we've already sent Katsuo, the only one who'd volunteer."
"So the only way I can force him to speak the truth is to become an angel." I looked from Trsiel to the
Fates. "Convenient."
Kristof wheeled on Trsiel. "You scheming son-of-a-bitch."
I laid my hand on his arm. "If anyone's scheming here, I doubt it's Trsiel. So far, he's been the only one
who's been or tried to be honest with me about this whole angel thing." I fixed my gaze on the Fates.
"Anything you ladies want to tell me about this quest?"
The middle-aged Fate nodded. "Yes, Eve, we have selected you as a candidate for ascension. Trsiel has
told us that you figured that out& " A reproachful look his way. "With a little help from him. While it's not
the way we wanted you to learn of our plans, we will not deny it. However, it will always be your
decision to make. We would never force you to ascend."
"But the point is moot anyway, considering I can't get that sword until I've completed this quest& and if
I've completed the quest, I don't need Dachev."
"The inaugural quest is not an entrance exam. It is an assessment of your training requirements. We have
chosen you, and although we're supposed to wait until after the quest to let you ascend, in this case the
Creator would grant an exception. There is, however, another, less reliable way. If you do not wish to
become an angel "
"I don't."
She glanced from Kristof to me. "Your& attachment to this world has changed, then?"
"It has."
She nodded. "Then perhaps that will be what you needed. As I said, the choice was yours, and we will
not press the matter further, although we may find other tasks for you from time to time."
"That's fine. Thank you. Now what's this other way?"
"You know there are magics for testing the sincerity of a demon. Something I believe you've tested fairly
recently." Her gaze shunted to Kristof. "There are also magics to do the same with a spirit. This spell
would test Dachev's words, but couldn't force him to speak those words."
"In other words, I need to trick him into telling me."
She shook her head. "This spell requires his active participation. He must recite part of the incantation,
and you cannot 'trick' him into doing that."
"Okay, so I have to persuade a psychopath trapped in hell to voluntarily tell me how to catch his former
partner "
"There's more."
"Of course there is."
Kristof walked behind me and put his arms around my waist, letting me lean against him. I felt his warmth
against my back and relaxed.
"He can hurt you," the Fate said.
"Who? Dachev? But I'm a "
"A ghost, yes. But in that world it's part of the magic there. Physical pain is possible, and there's nothing
we can do to shield you from it. He can't kill you, of course, but he can hurt you& and we may not be
able to erase all the damage."
"Uh-huh. Well, I didn't really need both my arms anyway."
Kristof chuckled against my ear.
The Fate frowned at me. "I don't think you're taking this seriously, Eve." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]