“A what now?”
“Think of it as a little puppet.”
“Yes, a puppet,” echoed Vilanos. “An extension of himself.”
“He is so busy, you know.” Absolis nodded as if this was obvious. “The balls.”
“The masquerades.”
“Thé dansants.”
“Right.” Seymour cleared his throat. “So, if that’s a puppet, where’s the real him at?”
“His true self is with the king.” Absolis chuckled. “Well,mostof him.”
“What do you mean bymost of him?” Seymour asked carefully.
“Don’t you see?” Vilanos beamed. “That is what we need your help with.”
“Obviously.” Absolis laughed. “You’ll understand soon.”
“So very soon.”
“His original vessel was in need of repairs, so a piece was entrusted to a powerful witch who still knew how to weave the ancient magic required for such a task.”
“But the witch got himself murdered.”
“And the piece has been stolen.”
“Wait, what piece?” Seymour asked. “We talkin’ like a pinkie toe or what?”
“His head,” the twins replied in unison.
Seymour stared. “So, he lost his head. Again. But this is his real head? Not a puppet head?”
“Yes.”
“But he’s not dead,” Seymour said slowly. “Even without a head.”
“No.”
“But he has no head.Again.”
Absolis sneered. “He is a demigod of incredible power. He hardly needs it.”
“But the king is insisting that we find it immediately,” Vilanos chimed in. “Apparently he prefers his consort with a head.”
“Who knew?”
“You will go to the witch’s residence and track down the thieves who have stolen his head away.” Vilanos leaned back inhis throne. “Once it has been returned, we will grant Mr. Heiss his wish.”
“But only then,” Absolis confirmed. “No head, no wish.”
“No wish, no freedom for you.”
“Got it.” Seymour paused. “No, fuck. I don’t got it.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “What does findin’ a magical head have to do with me seein’ those Reliquary ghost guys?”
“So you can speak to the witness,” Vilanos said with a scoff, as if it was obvious.
