"Patrick Welch - Before & Beyond" - читать интересную книгу автора (Welch Patrick)

Ahlbhenzer released one more blast of fire before proudly flying back to see what havoc he had created.
The boulder protected the path from any more incursions. Only magic or an army of men would be able
to remove it. Or a demon. He rested atop the boulder and shrugged his wings. He would put it back
later. Now he was tired from the hot sun тАУ it was the harsh light, not heat, that troubled him -- and his
adventure.



Time to go back.

The magician Cylydar was waiting for him. "I take it you have disposed of the nuisance?"

"Yes, he will not be bothering you again."

"Where is the body?"

"The body?" Ahlbhenzer frowned, although because of his horned and knobby brow it was difficult to
tell. "The man fled. There is no body."

The magician nearly dropped the scrying glass. "You let him live?" The mage's rage was terrible to
behold and Ahlbhenzer shivered. "Since when do you let trespassers live?"

Ahlbhenzer's tail fell in dejection. "I saw no reason. He was no longer a threat."

"Don't question me or my orders, Ahlbhenzer. I told you to dispose of him."

"I did." But he knew his protestations would have no effect on Cylydar.

"I like this not. I see I will have to reeducate you on your proper station. Into the box with you. Now!"

Ahlbhenzer gave out a keen of rage and panic, but even as he tried to flee he could feel the magic tether
tighten around his throat, could feel himself contracting until within seconds he was ten times smaller
...and completely helpless. Cylydar reached down and plucked him off the floor as if he was no better
than a mouse, then opened the lid to a large ebony box on his desk and dropped the demon inside.
"Reflect upon your past indiscretions and how you have failed me," he said as he shut it. "You do not
question your master."

Ahlbhenzer huddled on the mirrored floor of the box and mewed in terror. The walls and lid were
mirrored as well, the light provided by Cylydar's power. Everywhere he turned his visage looked back at
him in endless and devolving repetition, stretching onward to seeming infinity. "Fhennezel, why have you
abandoned me?" he whined as he fought to maintain his sanity, fought to remember what was down, up,
left and right. He would have closed his eyes but, being a demon, was not graced with eyelids. Instead he
could only stare back at the accusing Ahlbhenzers around him while continually vowing he would never
disobey Cylydar again.

When Cylydar finally deigned to release him it was evening. Ahlbhenzer wasn't sure if hours had passed
or days, but the time had not served to soften the magician's anger. "Make yourself presentable, we have
visitors," he said as he reversed the spell. Ahlbhenzer groaned in pain as he slowly reverted to his original
size; between his time in the box and the agony of regrowth, he was in no condition to meet anyone.
Protesting, however, was out of the question.