A Bargain Fulfilled
"It's a relief to see you well again," Morghus said, smiling. "I had no idea."
Gholek gave her younger brothers a tired grin and stretched in the sunlight. "Shaking off the effects of the grimstone itself might take a bit longer, but I feel much better." She touched the soul crystal she'd attached to a cord and hung around her own neck and added, "Rynn told me what she'd been planning to do. I'm almost sorry I wasn't evil. You'd all be on your way to give Navaros what he deserves." Rynn tried to smile, but the ancient green wasn't fooled. "You can still take my dragonstone if you wish, Rynn. Almost anything will be worth knowing he's gone forever."
"No, Gholek, I can't." Rynn shook her head. "Maybe selling a dragon's soul is the wrong idea."
"But it's the only way you know of," Gholek reminded her gently. She held out the soul crystal again. "And you'll be able to save your brother." She gave Rynn a sad smile. "I haven't been in possession of my soul for a long time, anyway. Just promise me that once it's gone for good, you'll come back and end my life."
Rynn took the crystal and swallowed hard. "I promise."
"It will take us about half a day to get to the fallen angel," Arokh told his sister.
"Six hours," Gholek murmured. Rynn saw the momentary fear in her eyes, heard the tremor in her voice. The dragon drew herself up slowly. "Well, I better make the most of it. May fortune favour you all." She jumped into the air with a single powerful downstroke of her wings, and was gone.
* * *
"We have returned with your price."
The fallen angel rose to its feet, wings unfurling. It was very tall and thin, featureless but for the glowing silver eyes, man-shaped body and feathers of fire. It extended one shadowy hand and Rynn, after one slight hesitation, threw the soul crystal up to it.
The angel gripped the dragonstone in its hand and a green light ran up its arm. It surrounded its whole body, and the humans and dragons shivered, imagining they heard Gholek scream as her soul was devoured. The glow faded and the angel let out a satisfied sound. Its fist opened and a fine dust fell from its fingers - all that remained of Gholek's soul crystal.
Without pausing, it flung its dark arms wide and a large ring appeared in the air between it and the small party. "Name who you wish me to find," the being commanded.
"My brother Delon," Rynn said at once. "He fell into the Rift. Where is he now?"
The ring was suddenly filled with blackness, and in that black a falling figure appeared.
"That's him!" Rynn exclaimed. She touched the Rift Crystal in the pommel of Runeblade. "You better be able to find him now," she whispered to it, staring at her brother. The vision continued for a few more seconds, then vanished. The circle was empty again.
"And the other being?" the fallen angel asked softly.
"Navaros the Betrayer," Ebontyne said.
The creature chuckled darkly. "That one I may not detect. I sense the location of beings through their souls, and he no longer has one."
"You must have some idea," Ebontyne demanded angrily. "We paid you to-"
Eyes flashing, the creature folded its arms. "You could have told me who you wanted to find beforehand. It is short-sightedness on your part, not mine." It leaned over them. "Or do you wish to dispute that?"
Ebontyne wouldn't be cowed. "If you can't find Navaros, then will you tell me where something else is?"
The angel straightened again. "Ask."
"You detect people by finding where their souls are." She took a deep breath, sitting rigid on Morghus' back. "Mine is bound to a Jewel of Eternity. I want to know where that jewel is. My name is Ebontyne, Bonded of Morghus."
Even though they couldn't see it, Rynn felt sure the fallen angel was smiling. "That particular soul-jewel has not existed for centuries, human."
What colour was in Ebontyne's face drained away. "What do you mean?"
In a deliberately cruel voice, the angel said, "Didn't your precious Navaros tell you? For what I gave him, he not only traded me his own soul but the soul of every dragon-rider that had used a Jewel of Eternity. You are sustained only by the soul of your dragon, Bonded of Morghus. You will pass on when he does." The creature sat down again and drew its knees to its chest. "Our business is done."
"We can still get Navaros," Arokh told Ebontyne firmly, but she was staring at the angel with a look of defeat. "Morghus, talk to her."
"Ebontyne," Morghus said. "Do you still want to go after Navaros?"
"Yes." She shook herself. "Yes, of course I do. Let's get Rynn's brother first."
"Let's get some height," Rynn said, and the dragons took off. When they were up a bit, Rynn raised Runeblade and concentrated as hard as she could on the scene the fallen angel had shown them. "Take us to my brother!" she shouted, and swung the shining sword down.
A blast of ethereal winds buffeted them as the Rift opened - a swirling vortex of dark colours. Morghus folded his wings and dropped through the dancing energies, then Arokh followed.