Connor sat on his black chair, Mikhail at his shoulder, and stared at David and whoever the girl was that he’d brought with him. He must have misheard. Connor fingered the amulet around his neck. Over the years it had become a sort of worry stone for him. Whenever he needed to calm down he touched it. “Let me see if I understand. You lost the urns after failing to claim the dragon’s soul force then fled rather than fight a whelp of a boy to reclaim them. Did I miss anything?”

“No.” David’s voice trembled. “Connor, please give us another chance to recover the urns. We were both badly depleted after the fight with the Leviathan and that boy has one of the strongest soul forces I’ve ever sensed.”

Connor leaned forward, prompting the two sorcerers to step back. “Stronger than me?”

David hesitated, probably debating whether to lie to him or not. “Stronger than you were before you became a warlock, yes.”

Connor tapped his chin. If the boy was as strong as David claimed getting the urns back wouldn’t be a simple task. Nevertheless it needed to be done. “Do you know where the urns are now?”

“I assume they’ve arrived in Valcane by now. Beyond that I have no idea.”

“Sir, my sister. She’s with the boy.”

Connor waved a hand and a gag of black flame appeared over her mouth. “The archmage can’t keep them in the city for long. There’s no safe place there to store demonic artifacts. She’ll have to transport them either to the capital or The Tower. My gold is on The Tower, but we can’t risk missing them. Mikhail, you will watch the road to The Tower. David, you and your girlfriend can watch the road to the capital. Whichever of you finds the artifacts contact the others and attack together. I want those urns back.”

“Yes, Connor. I won’t fail again.” David grabbed the girl and hustled her out of the library.

Connor shook his head. Competent help was so hard to find.

“Let me attack the city, Master. I’ll kill anyone that stands in my way and bring the artifacts back.”

Connor sighed and patted his servant on his armored wrist. “I appreciate the offer, Mikhail, but I have allies in Valcane and we’ve done quite enough damage to their city for the time being. Not to mention even you couldn’t handle a dozen sorcerers at once.”

“As you say, Master. I’ll need a new mount.”

“Have David transport you to a farm and take what you need. Just make certain you’re not seen.”

“Of course, Master.”

“And Mikhail, don’t fail me again.”