“I ask twice,” Mychael demanded. “What do you want?”

“Why, to be of service, noble paladin. Although your boorish behavior makes me reconsider my generosity.”

I put a finger to my lips. “Let’s see… The containment spells are down, the Saghred is vulnerable, and Rudra Muralin’s made a deal with Hell so he could get his hands on your little prison. I’d think you’d be asking for our generosity-and protection.”

“But I am not the one needing protection.” Nukpana savored the words, and I could almost see the smug glee on his face. “There are many on this island who are in mortal danger of their lives-and their souls. And unless you act quickly, it’ll be too late to save either one. Rudra Muralin has made a deal with the demons-they get the Saghred for him, and in return, all of the students and mages on Mid are theirs to do with as they will.”

“Muralin wants me to get the Saghred for him,” I said.

The goblin laughed softly. “He is merely lining up an alternative plan should his other fail. A most enterprising young man, Rudra Muralin. Either way the demons will get all of those precious, magically gifted children.”

“We are listening, Primaru Nukpana,” Tam said, his tone the very model of calm propriety, but his eyes were blazing.

The goblin’s satisfied sigh floated through our minds. “There, that’s much better,” he murmured. “Was that so difficult? You should take note, little seeker. Polite respect for your betters can soothe almost any insult. Tamnais has not forgotten his courtly manners.” He paused meaningfully. “Nor has the goblin court and royal family forgotten him.”

“I’m certain they haven’t-nor I them,” Tam shot back smoothly. “What do you require?”

“I require many things, but it would be rude to put my desires first. A better question might be what do the demons require-besides your students?”

“Spit it out, goblin,” I said. “What do the demons want?”

“To be more precise, little seeker, I know what their queen desires above all else. With little else to do inside the Saghred, I’ve had the leisure to acquire knowledge from my fellow inmates. The queen wants her husband and king restored to her. Why else would the queen of demons lower herself to the indignity of dealing with one as vulgar as Rudra Muralin?”

“And how would consorting with Muralin get His Demonic Majesty back to home and brimstone hearth?”

“Rudra Muralin wants the Saghred. The demon queen wants what is inside the Saghred. Her lord and king was the Saghred’s first victim. His queen desires his soul’s release.” Nukpana paused. “I desire my release.”

“There is no escape from the Saghred,” Mychael said. “The stone cannot be opened, cracked, or destroyed. Many have tried; none have succeeded.”

“None of them had what the demon queen has her vassals scurrying all over your island searching for. So far they have been unsuccessful.” He paused suggestively. “I believe Mistress Benares can find what the demons cannot. That is the way you make a living, is it not? And with the enhancement the Saghred has given your previously mediocre abilities, I must admit that you have become quite proficient.”

“You need to work on your flattery,” I told him. “And why would I want to find something to let you and a demon king out of the Saghred?”

I heard the smile in his voice. “Don’t forget about your father.”

“I haven’t,” I said once I’d unclenched my jaw. “Again, why would I want to do this?”

“Such a harsh daughter you are. I shall have to tell Eamaliel that his only child cares not what happens to him.”

“Are you going to tell me, or do we play guessing games all night?”

“Forthrightness isn’t a quality goblins embrace willingly. You should have learned this long ago from Tamnais. Where would be the anticipation, the sweet torment?”

“What if I tell you to go to hell? I’m sure Muralin’s demons could help you make travel arrangements.”

“You can tell me to go anywhere you like, little seeker, but we both know that I am not going anywhere-unless you find the object with which to free me before the demons find it. They will free their king, and I will be left behind. I would not like that at all.”

“And you expect me to take on demons and free you from the Saghred out of the kindness of my heart? My family isn’t known for kindness or having hearts.”

“Oh, but you do have a heart, Raine. You will risk everything to protect those whom you love. Is my nightingale enjoying his foray into higher learning?”

“For the last time, Piaras is not your nightingale.”

“Are you so sure about that, little seeker? You don’t want to admit it to yourself, but you’ve contaminated young Piaras with the Saghred. You’re too close to him, and now it’s too late.” He paused. “Closeness breeds familiarity, as you, Tamnais, and Mychael are discovering. Familiarity can take many forms.”

Suddenly there wasn’t nearly enough air in the room.

“Yes, you’re beginning to see now. You have asked yourself how Piaras was able to see that Volghul this morning when no one else could. And how he knew precisely what to do to hold the beast. He is certainly talented enough to do what he did-and as he said, Ronan Cayle is teaching him well.” I could hear the slow smirk in Sarad Nukpana’s voice. “But young Piaras lacks experience-experience that coincidently I have. You may want to ask him if he has had any dreams lately. Or an inexplicable urge to do something that he really shouldn’t.”

“What are your terms?” Mychael snapped.

“The seeker finds what the demons desire and frees me, or I will infect Piaras’s mind to the point of madness, or compel him to do something so naughty that Inquisitor Taltek Balmorlan will have his legal excuse to take him back into custody. Either she helps me, or the inquisitor gets his excuse-and he takes her nightingale.”

Tam hissed.

“And Tamnais, I seriously doubt your half-breed spawn learned to do what he did this morning in a cabaret. The young are so easily influenced.”

“If you touch my son, I-”

“You are welcome to come and get me. Raine can tell you precisely where I am. Free me, and I shall release the song-birds.” Nukpana sounded confident enough to start packing his bags now. “But of course, the final choice is yours.”

What choice did I have? What choice did any of us have? Son of a bitch.

“I have been called much worse, little seeker.”

Mychael’s jaw tightened. “What is the object?”

“The Scythe of Nen.”

“Which is?”

“A key to unlock the Saghred.”

So much for what that purple demon who killed Professor Berel was trying to find.

“What does it look like?” I asked.

“I know not. But I strongly advise that you find out, and quickly.”

Sarad Nukpana’s voice trailed off and evaporated. There was none of the usual taunting laughter. He knew he had us. Laughter would have been redundant.