Free Phoenix Rising by Ryk E Spoor Page A

black thing in the central mirror flared slightly. “Evasions gain you nothing either. How much?”
    “I . . .” Voorith shuddered, recognizing it had no recourse but the truth. “All was lost, Majesty.”
    “ All? ” the human-seeming figure in the third panel repeated, its voice startled and amused. The man at the table kept himself under control, but it was a shocking revelation. I’d realized Voorith must have suffered quite a humiliation, the summoning falling through and its consequences, but to have lost all of the gathered resources and thus not even prepared . . .
    “Yes, all .” Voorith gave vent to a curse. “It was intervention, I feel sure.”
    As Voorith recounted exactly how everything had fallen apart, the being in the third mirror did not bother to restrain a laugh. The man did not quite dare join in, but inwardly he was laughing indeed. Oh, my, yes, this is most amusing.
    The black-on-black thing with the blazing eyes did not apparently see the humor. “Restrain your amusement or leave this council. I concur with Voorith’s assessment. The Golden-Eyed God arranged this.”
    Stifling another chuckle, the man’s humanoid patron nodded. “It would seem likely. Though it could simply be poor luck. Still, if the old Toad-God wasn’t involved before, we can rest assured he’s noticed this undersized menace by now, and he’ll be in the game.” It narrowed its eyes, with an expression just short of reproach. “And if I understand correctly, the Toad-God is not subject to the little arrangement you managed to convince most of the other Powers to agree to on pain of cataclysm.”
    The black thing seemed to tower up in fury; the figure raised a single finger in admonishment. “This plan is of my devising, O Kerlamion. It is of course in service to you , as are all things here. But I will not be treated as though I were no more than one of your millions of guards. I shall speak when I wish, and how I wish. And we would be wise to keep to the subject. Better these scrying scrolls are than meeting in person, yet still those with enough power, perception, or fortune might recognize that a hidden council is being held.”
    And the fact that it can speak thus to Kerlamion, King of All Hells, is what convinces me I have chosen my patron very wisely. The seated man decided now was an opportune time to join in. “Then by all means, let us speak of the subject. How long of a delay does this incident create?”
    Kerlamion’s blazing-fire eyes had not yielded to the calm azure gaze of the third mirror-figure, but he spoke. “Voorith? You have knowledge of what was arranged, what will be needed, and so on. Your honest estimate of time?” Kerlamion’s glare finally shifted, and the seated man once more had to restrain a smile. The emphasis of the word “honest” meant that Voorith would be held responsible for keeping the timeline offered. Of course, if he offered too long a timeline, there was always the possibility that the King of all Demons might simply choose another to do his job . . . and Voorith would have more immediate concerns of survival.
    After a hesitation, Voorith sank to the floor of its own chamber in a submissive bow. “It . . . will take at least four years, O Consuming Star of the Uttermost Destruction.”
    “Four years . . .” To their surprise, Kerlamion gave vent to a laugh of his own, an eerie and frightening sound indeed, as of the air itself being rent and destroyed. “Satisfactory, yes. Four years it shall be. Voorith, if you succeed in this, by four years from this day, then shall I reward rather than punish you.”
    Voorith’s voice was shaken and puzzled, but there was relieved gratitude in every tone. “Of course, Lord.”
    Kerlamion leaned back, its throne barely visible. “The lands have their unwitting reprieve. All other plans shall be adjusted. You will attend to that personally.” He glanced at the figure in the third mirror.
    “Indeed I shall, great