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The sky is starting to bruise. Snow is light in the air. Stars appear above the trees, watchful. Can Lukas see the stars through the strange mist that covers the zhilvar? Could Lukas be looking up too, seeing those stars, thinking of him? He had done the same in the Ceruleum Bride House when he was separated from Lukas. He had been worried for him, but he had never doubted he would find him again. He is bound to Lukas, soul to soul. He has to believe that now.

He told himself he would wait until nightfall, and night is falling. He has a plan. Loose and unformed, but he has to try.

Lukas would try. Nothing would stop him.

Elric slips from his room into the corridor outside, strolls down the hall, as if without purpose and knocks on the door of Harok’s bedchamber.

Tobi’s voice calls out in Ambolk for him to enter and he walks in to see Harok sleeping in a chair by the fire, with Umbert, also sleeping at his feet in a nest of furs. When Tobi sees it is him, he rushes to embrace him.

“Elric, I am sorry,” he says into Elric’s shoulder. “Perl and Kerik are working on a way to take that mist down. We will get to him.”

“I can get to him,” Elric says bluntly. “He would let me through. He said so.”

Tobi leans back from the embrace and looks at Elric with soft sad eyes. “You know Damon will never allow that. Lukas is a demon and would likely kill you. I know your heart is pained. Stay here if you wish. Don’t be alone. I would like the company while my Daedon is sleeping. I could tell you more tales of the forest king, if you wish.” He smiles, sad and thin.

Elric thinks of that long ride north, with Lukas growling filthy in his ear. But, despite those words, they had been so tired each night. Lukas had not covered him as much as he wished. And now it's too late.

No, he tells himself very firmly, no, not too late.

He smiles back at Tobi, bright and genuine — they are performers both — and says, “Yes, please. Perhaps the one about the night you fled the castle and Harok rescued you from the Exceli.”

Tobi laughs, “Very well,” and takes Elric over to the bed. They both sit in the mussed sheets, furs over their outstretched legs, Tobi’s arm around Elric’s shoulders as he launches into the tale. He is a wonderful story teller. Elric lets the adventure wash over him.

Tobi has told most of the story, when Umbert wakes and, in turn, wakes Harok. Umbert is hungry and all three of them decide to go down to the Sacred Hall for news and food.

Elric walks back to his own room, having turned down the invitation to join them.

He does not want to be in the Sacred Hall. He does not want to be around people. Especially people who are going to stand in the way of him doing what he plans to do.

Lukas may be a demon, but he is still Lukas.

Elric walks back to the richly appointed corridor, to his own chamber.

As he does so, Kerik comes out of his room. Elric catches a brief glimpse of Perl, naked in the bed beyond, before Kerik leans in the doorway, blocking his view.

“I know what you’re going to do.” Kerik says, “Damon should have put you under guard.”

Elric looks at Kerik with his eyes hard. “Are you planning to stop me?” Kerik could stop him. He is bigger and stronger than Elric. And he has magical powers Elric cannot begin to understand.

“No. I was coming to look for you. I wanted to give you this.” He holds out his hand with something sitting on his palm. It’s a ring.

“What is this?”

“When I was in Vylenor, I found a ring that had a spell inside it. I made this one in its image. It has a different spell inside it.” He takes Elric’s hand and slides the ring onto his middle finger. It feels strangely warm.

Elric looks at it. It is a big gold thing with a dark stone. “What spell?”

“Protection. The ward I cast for Damon, Harok and Umbert. To keep the demon out.”

“The ward?” Elric moves his wrist. The ring’s stone glitters, catching the light from the torches on the wall. “It’s too late to protect Lukas now.”

“I know. It’s for you. It will prevent the demon from touching you. As you are certain to go to him.”

“Thank you,” Elric says blankly. He turns away from Kerik and walks back to his room.

He thinks of Tobi’s tale of how he escaped Urynwud. Going over to the window of his chamber, he looks down. He is no acrobat, like Tobi, but he has no choice.

Lukas would be able to do this, even with the hook, he would not think twice.