Dreadful

by Caitlin Rozakis

A knowledge demon. Estogath. He’d been calling upon a knowledge demon. But why? What could have been important enough to try to contact that dangerous an entity?

Father couldn’t bear the idea of one of Baribano the Golden’s children being less than perfect, so he had the White Wizard Artharno make me the ring.

“See that you always wear it.”

Rude

“I never renegotiate a bargain.”

So he had them erased on purpose?

I have had your memories. Including your knowledge that blood crossing the circle would break the barrier.”

Oh nooooo

There wasn’t anywhere he could run, not really. The castle wasn’t all that big. That was what happened when you cheaped out on castles, you got murdered by a demon you’d summoned yourself that didn’t even have the courtesy to wink at you.

An exercise program. If he survived this, he would start running every morning, if only he survived this.

But he no longer looked like he ate babies for breakfast. (He wondered whether Orla would be horrified or delighted if he asked her to cook a baby, and decided he’d rather not know.)

How much knowledge had he destroyed with his bumbling? It was enough to make him want to give up and go be a farmer, except he looked out on fields full of farmers each morning and, realistically, he did not want that at all.

“Who names their son Gavrax?” “Someone who hates their child. Maybe that’s why you turned evil,” muttered the princess.

“Lesson one of wizardry. The props that make people take you seriously are rarely comfortable.”