If she wanted to find her parents’ murderer, she needed a demon.
She needed Caspian.
Seeking out Asmodeus that night, she pleaded with him. “He’s not back yet. Something must have happened.”
Asmodeus pursed his lips into a thin line. She was prepared for a smart retort that would make her want to smile or roll her eyes, but when his expression grew solemn, she became frightened.
“I’ve been worried too.”
Her heart sank. For Asmodeus to worry, something terrible must’ve happened.
“So how do we help him?” she persisted. She kept her tone light, but inside, she wanted to shriek at him to go after Caspian. To find him and bring him back to her.
“I don’t think there is anything wecando. It’s in his hands now. He will either come back … or he won’t.”
“There must besomething.”
“There is nothing,” Asmodeus said with a sad smile.
Elizabeth lost her patience. “There must be something. Think!”
Asmodeus looked surprised at her tone but considered for a moment. “Well … there is one thing, but it would be a long shot…” he trailed off as he saw the rapt attention she was giving his every word.
***
Draugr thundered into Veridas. Elizabeth rode astride, her cloak billowing behind her. She ignored the stares from the guards and the disapproving looks she received from women on the street.
She didn’t have much time.
She dismounted, snow crunching underfoot, and stared at Draugr.Behave.
Draugr blinked, swishing his tail, and allowed himself to be passed to a waiting stable hand.
She hurried into the city, looking for the witch.
Seeing the lights still on in the witches’ shop, the roof capped with snow. She breathed a sigh of relief. She knocked sharply on the door, and Risna’s face appeared.
“Hello, Elizabeth. I wasn’t expecting you today,” Risna said, peering at her curiously.
“I need … I need your help.”
Risna took a moment to take in her serious expression and gave a crooked smile, opening the door wide.
After she explained what she needed, Risna presented her with two stones—one striped black and brown, the other a shiny curl of darkness. Both hung on a leather cord.
“How much?”
Risna gave her a quote for the tiger’s eye, which she thought was expensive but not outlandishly so, but when she told her how much it would be for the obsidian, she gasped. “Surely, not that much!”
Risna smirked. “Obsidian being extremely rare, plus the powerful ward I’m going to give you for a magical shield…” Risna gave her a look. “Aren’t you playing host to the princes of the Seven Hells tomorrow? Better to be beggared than dead, I say, but the choice is yours.”
“Do I really need both?”
“Are you worried about a demon of immense power attacking you?”
She cringed and eyed the two stones warily.
“Then you will need a physical shield, as demons are stronger and faster than you, and a magical one on top of that so that if they attack you with magic, you might last long enough to get away.”
