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Perl cannot do magic, he claims. He wears an iron cuff on his wrist although Elric is not sure what powers Perl would have without it. He has only hazy memories of Perl dragging him through the Underground of the Exiled Emperor with a blade at his throat, but he isn’t even sure if that is his true memory or just what he knows from the things Lukas has told him about that night. But Perl had certainly seemed frustrated that he could not use magic to escape Attar for Ceruleum. Instead they took three horses from Sanglora’s stables. Two grey mares for Elric and Perl and a dark bay stallion, large enough for Damon to ride with Lyr seated before him.

Marko was left behind with Tavi, the Seneschal of Sanglora. Elric thinking that if somehow, Lukas did escape and return to Sanglora he will be glad to see her.

But he wishes now that he had Marko with him. He sidles around the edge of the room towards the woman and the lycat. When he reaches the beast, he puts a hand on her coat. Stroking the bright orange fur, soft as silk.

Perl insists the most important task is to rescue Kerik Darekul from a witch named Jareleezi. Although Elric has noticed that Perl takes pains to avoid saying that name.

Rescue Kerik. That is everyone’s focus. Not the rescue of Lukas. Why is Kerik more important?

Elric remembers Kerik. He was quite notorious in the Rose Palace, a handsome hedonist. The fact that Kerik preferred men in his bed had been a popular subject of court gossip, Elric had even heard rumours that it was the reason Kerik was denied the Duchy of Fanost. Kerik’s brazen ways had made him something of a hero to Elric. Elric is quite surprised that Perl keeps referring to him as the Magician. Elric cannot remember ever seeing anything magical about him.

And to find Kerik, they have abandoned Lukas to come here. To Doroth Zain, who Perl claims, will be able to help them discover where Kerik has been taken.

There are introductions going on in the room. Elric stays beside Baby, giving the smallest nod when his name is mentioned, offering the minimum to not cause offence. He notes that the large glowering man is Irgo Harok, king of the Amber Forest. Elric updates the list he is keeping in his mind about the strange collection of people in this chamber, and the woman is Tobi’s mother, Mareena of Archa, and she has a shard of Ur-Durik trapped inside her somehow.

“Harok wants to take it into himself,” Tobi says to Damon, voice heavy with emotion. “He thinks he can hold it. Diazuul possessed him for twenty years.”

Diazuul, Elric thinks, yes in Ambolk that would be Ur-Durik. Both mean ancient demon. In Magaar and Ambolk. He turns the words around in his head. Zuul, durik, Darek, demon. The same words in Ambolk, Magaar, Old Magaar and Artemian. How had he not seen it before?

Tobi looks to Harok and says in Ambolk, “This brother, Damon. He fight Diazuul.” His Ambolk is quite stilted and he seems to have to struggle to find the words. Perhaps Elric could have a purpose here after all.

He steps forward and bows with a small flourish, “Irgo Harok, my name is Elric Underlia. I speak your tongue. Would you allow me to translate for your Kushel?” His Ambolk is rusty. But the words come back to him. It is better than Tobi’s.

Harok looks at Elric, a little surprised. Then he says, “Kushir.”

Elric frowns. Remembering that there are two Ambolk words for the consort of a king. Kushel and kushir. Elric is not sure of the difference. He smiles sweetly at Harok and says, “Apologies. For your kushir. I understand you wish to hold the shard of Diazuul inside yourself. I understand also that your kushir wants to be sure you will be safe.”

When Elric glances around the room, he sees everyone looking at him with expressions of surprise. Like they are shocked he can do something useful. “I was a spy,” he says in Artemian.

Harok says, “Elric Underlia,” which sounds quite strange in his heavy accent, “tell my kushir Suskara that I love and cherish him before all men. That he suffered much at my hands as my prisoner. I owe him this. And I am a strong Irgo. I know I can bear that demon in my body. He is my kushir and I am his Irgorye. He will allow this as tribute to my love for him.”

Elric nods to show he understands. He repeats all Harok has said in Artemian. As he reaches the end Tobi, rushes into Harok’s arms, in tears.

Elric finds he is crying too.

So, he did have some tears left.

A ritual is required to transfer the shard of Ur-Durik. Princess Karo seems to know what to do. In the Rose Palace there were many rumours that Karo was a witch. Elric had always thought them nothing more than idle gossip, but when they gather in the temple to Zai and she begins consulting with Perl about salt circles, herbs and crystals, he wonders if it is in fact the truth.

Damon watches them, arms tight around Lyr as if he is protecting him from something. Doroth Zain is speaking with them.

Damon is a true leader. He should be emperor. They are lucky to have him even if he chose to come here instead of rescuing Lukas. But seeing Damon’s careful protective way with Lyr makes Elric ache for his own Bastard Prince. Lukas had always protected Elric. The only man who ever had. And now…?

Elric has to force down tears, wondering if he will ever see Lukas again.

Perl finishes whatever he is doing in the centre of the room and comes over to Elric. Elric watches him warily. He is still unsure about Perl.

But Perl comes close enough to place a cool hand on Elric’s arm and says in Magaar, “Listen to me Elric Underlia, I know you and I know your lover. He will survive. He will survive for you.”

Elric looks at Perl’s pale face. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Isn’t it?” Perl smiles thinly.

Elric peers closer. Perl is… “You seem different.”

“Perhaps. Someone has changed me, I suppose.”

Elric knows what Perl has been doing these last moons since he met him in Lunatum. “Kerik?” he says.