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

was none too pleased.

"You dare summon me again, Cylydar?" He glared at the mage, then at Ahlbhenzer.

"I can tolerate this one's insolence and incompetence no longer. This game has gone on long enough. I
demand you live up to our agreement."

Fhennezel picked at his fangs with one giant claw. "We had this discussion before."

"This incompetent has totally ruined my most delicate experiments, destroyed my most valuable
equipment." Cylydar pointed to the overturned trunk and damaged contents that still remained where
Ahlbhenzer had dropped them. "I demand retribution."

Fhennezel glared at Ahlbhenzer. "What have you to say for yourself?" This time he spoke in human
tongue, not their language.

"I couldn't help it. I lost my balance. I did not intend to drop it."

His lord waved him silent. "I fail to see how an imp could be expected to carry anything that large,
Cylydar."

"He was in his regular size. His current condition is merely for punishment." He made another gesture and
Ahlbhenzer suddenly found himself growing. He managed to jump off the table before it collapsed under
his regained weight.

"It took you long enough," Fhennezel said to Ahlbhenzer in demon speech. Then he looked at the
magician. "Thank you for returning Ahlbhenzer to what he was; I doubt I could have done as much. Now
I am pleased to say our agreement is concluded. We'll be leaving now." With that both Fhennezel and
Ahlbhenzer disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving the magician coughing and swearing.

"What did you mean, took me long enough?" Ahlbhenzer asked. They were back in the granite caverns
of his own world, and while he wanted only to luxuriate in the burning heat and delightful smells of
brimstone and lava, his curiosity had to be satisfied.

"To graduate, fool. To escape from the magician."

Ahlbhenzer stared at his lord. "To graduate?"

"Absolutely. It is necessary you learn how to deal with humans, learn about their true nature, their power
and weaknesses. All my underlings go through such an apprenticeship."

An apprenticeship. Ahlbhenzer quivered with delight that he had pleased his lord. "But what if I hadn't
...passed?"

"You'd stay with Cylydar until the end of time. I have no use for demons who cannot free themselves
from a magician as weak as he."

"Did Cylydar know this?"

"No, and there's no reason for him to. He has his uses, as do most humans. When the time is right I'll