Morana wiggled the blue ring on her right middle finger. It fit her perfectly. How had Connor known? Probably the same way he knew everything: he was a genius. She’d been practicing with her new toys out in the hot, dry air for the past half a day. About twice each hour a massive spike of corrupt energy came from the cave and she knew Connor had created another pair of soldiers.

She returned her attention to training. Getting the constructs to march was simple enough. She suspected if she ordered them to kill they’d know exactly how to do it.

Time to get back at it. She focused on Big Eyes and mentally commanded it to stand with its back to Broken Fang. Broken Fang picked up on the order and twisted around to make it easier for the first construct to obey her command. That was both useful and a failure. Her goal was to gain precise control over the two constructs. She couldn’t do that if they both reacted to her orders even when she only wanted one to. Her thoughts were too unfocused.

When Fang and Eyes stood back to back Morana tried to really focus her will just on Eyes. She commanded it to walk in a circle around Fang. The construct obliged and Fang didn’t move. Morana grinned at her success before she realized the only way Fang could have helped was by standing still, thus rendering her experiment useless.

Morana was about to try another command when something dark appeared in the distant sky. She couldn’t make out much at this distance, but it looked a great deal like a demon and it was approaching fast. With the corruption from the crystal overwhelming her senses she couldn’t tell how powerful it was, but even a weak demon wasn’t something she wanted to handle on her own.

As she watched a second and third figure appeared in the air beside the first. A minute later she counted ten demons flying toward her. That was enough for Morana. She ordered Fang and Eye to guard the cave entrance and ran inside to find Connor.

She reached the portal chamber just in time to watch a burst of soul force fire into the portal and forks of black lightning come out and strike a pair of constructs that resembled shoulder-high wolves. Connor stood bent at the waist and gasping for air.

Morana doubted he’d be thrilled that she’d seen him in such a weakened state, but there was nothing to be done about it. “Connor.”

He spun to face her, straightening as he moved. “I told you to guard the entrance.”

“About that. There are at least ten demons flying this way in a hurry. While I don’t underestimate my new powers, that’s a little much for me to handle.”

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“Ten?”

She nodded. “At least.”

Connor grimaced. “Let’s go see.”

They flew down to the cave, constructs converging on the opening. A few seconds after they landed a dozen of the creatures had gathered behind them. Connor stepped out onto the gray sand. About a hundred yards from the cave a line of twenty demons stood waiting. Morana didn’t know a great deal about demons, but that struck her as odd behavior.

“Connor?”

“They want to talk.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because they’re not trying to kill us. Let’s not keep them waiting.”

They could have waited until hell froze over for all Morana cared, but she walked along beside Connor like she was confident they weren’t about to be rent to pieces. Even with the constructs and their combined power twenty demons was a lot.

Connor stopped ten feet from the center of their line. One of the demons, a massive creature fully nine feet tall and five feet across the shoulders, stepped in front of the group. It had bat wings, the head of a praying mantis, and shiny black plates covering every inch of its body. Morana could feel its power now and she shivered. It nearly matched Connor all by itself.

Her master showed no sign of concern as he bowed to the monster. “Welcome. I am Connor Blackman, a humble servant of the Horned One. How may I help you?”

“We have felt your conjuring and wished to discover what was happening.” The lead demon’s voice whined like a high-pitched vibration. It hurt Morana’s ears to listen. “Little enough happens out in this wasteland. You roused our curiosity.”

Connor briefly explained his intentions, speaking calmly for all the world like the demon standing before him was just another person. “If you would like to join my army I’d be honored to have you. We have no flying troops so your help would be a great boon.”

“You’re ambitious, mortal, I grant you that. We swore to never again be bound in the service of a master, but when you attack I and any of my companions that wish it will fight your enemies.” The massive demon flexed hands bearing six-inch talons. “It has been far too long since I have torn flesh and feasted on blood.”

“I thank you. I assure you if you fight beside my army there will be plenty of tearing and feasting to enjoy. Will you join us here? There’s plenty of space in the cavern.”

“No. We are flyers and don’t care for closed spaces. Never fear, little warlock, we will be close by.”

The demon leapt up, lashed its wings, and sent sand blowing every which way. Morana instinctively raised her arm to protect her eyes even though her personal shield kept out all the dust. When the sand finally settled there was no sign of the demons.

She glanced at Connor and found him smiling. Morana had expected the monster’s insults to have put him in a bad mood. “Not very friendly, was he?”

“For a demon that was downright cordial,” Connor said. “They don’t understand the crystal’s power which makes them hesitate to simply kill us. My confidence in the face of their superior numbers and power reinforced that hesitation. By offering them an outlet for their desire to destroy I provided the excuse they needed not to simply attack us.”

“How did you think of all that so quickly?” Morana stared at him with open awe.

“I’ve dealt with enough demons to understand how they think. The more intelligent ones can, at times, be reasoned with. Nevertheless I’ll be happy to have several hundred crystal soldiers at my side the next time I encounter our new allies.”

Morana heartily seconded that plan.