Free Phoebe Wren and the Vortex of Light by Julie K. Timlin Page B

pummelling for sure.
    “I have done it, Sir,” Graygor’s glee was undeniable, and served only to rattle Schnither’s cage further. Still, even such an idiotic pathetic being would not be so animated without reason, and Schnither slyly took him aside so that Garshwell would not hear. If there was even a mere suggestion of a chance that Graygor actually did bring decent news, Schnither would not risk letting Garshwell take the credit that planned to steal for himself.
    “ What exactly is it that you have done, Graygor?” Schnither did not even attempt to disguise the contempt in his voice as he towered over the diminutive demon who, in his excitement, did not even seem to notice.
    “I have changed the Wrens’ flight details, Sir! They won’t fly home tomorrow as planned, but will wait until the following day – the following day , Sir! And Cosain and his pathetic clan have no idea! They will believe the Wrens to be safe when they don’t catch that flight tomorrow. But Captain Schnither, Sir, the plane on which they will travel on Friday will be unaccompanied, unprotected. It will be ours !” The words hissed out between Graygor’s pointed teeth, and his orange eyes glinted with a warped joy. Schnither could see that the little demon was delighted by his own cleverness, but he refused to acknowledge that Graygor had, in fact, done an exceedingly clever thing. He would never give him the satisfaction of hearing ‘well done’ .
    “I see,” said Schnither coolly, his voice belying the excitement that was bubbling up in his belly. “Well, it is not what I had planned for the Wrens’ demise… but I suppose it will do .”
    Graygor snarly little face fell with disappointment, and his wings drooped just a touch like the slouched shoulders of a child who had just received a telling off.
    “Sir, it took much effort on my part to get the flight manifest changed. And none of those other oafs helped me. In fact…”
    “ SILENCE! ” Schnither boomed, and the diminutive demon started and stumbled backwards, visibly shaken. “Get out of my sight you snivelling little urchin! Do you really presume yourself to be that much smarter than me ? Do you not think that I had plans for the Wrens’ destruction laid out to the last letter ? I had every detail worked out! Now, be gone before I send you to the Abyss!”
    Seething inwardly, but not daring to let his fury show, Graygor turned on his heel and fled along the maze of dimly lit corridors, unspoken obscenities whirring through his head, until he shot out of the mountain’s concealed entrance like a black bolt of lightning. Once he was sure he was out of earshot, his curses and profanities tumbled audibly from his foaming mouth, spewing forth like a dark blot across the bright African sky. His pride had been severely dented and his fury at being overlooked knew no bounds.
    Back inside the unholy headquarters, Schnither could scarcely contain his own delight at this unexpected turn of events. Of course Graygor had done an excellent job, in fact the snivelling little ghoul had probably saved Schnither’s skin, but that was not something he was ever going to admit to! Schnither would claim this twisted act of mischief as his own, and Abaddon might even congratulate him on his ingenuity! He would not have long to wait to find out, as one of the two guards on duty at the doors of Abaddon’s chambers called Schnither and Garshwell to enter. Still smarting from his last visit, Schnither entered the gargantuan room with caution, his eyes desperately trying to adapt to the smoky gloom before Abaddon could pounce on him like before. Schnither had not taken kindly to the humiliation he had felt when he landed in a heap at the Dark Master’s feet, and he did not want to forfeit his dignity like that again.
    “Captain Schnither, Lieutenant Garshwell,” Abaddon’s voice was as smooth as silk, and it cut through the gloom like duplicitous golden sunshine through fog. “I do hope