Armoniki shifted position on Stathis’ back, far heavier than they should be, one arm pointed forward, their body bony and lean.

‘Do I really have to carry you?’

They wriggled around. Yes! So that I may concentrate. This requires considerable focus.

Stathis thought that was probably just lazy, but at least they were paying attention – Janaxia and Skotadi were both looking at a store window, distracted by an ornate dress. Or perhaps it was lingerie? It fell to ankle-length, but was made of some thin lace.

Semari dropped down from above. ‘Looks clear up ahead. Not got long left until, like, the sun goes down though. We wanna be fighting then?’

‘Worst case scenario, stick close to me.’

‘Oooo, you going to get your glow on? Yeah, that’ll probably help. Want me to go get them?’ She pointed at Janaxia and Skotadi, who were now heading towards the door to the shop, a heavily-armed guard watching them.

‘Yes! This isn’t a shopping trip!’

Semari bounded forward, closing the gap and grabbing both of them from behind, dragging them backwards, away from the store, ignoring their protests.

They were in a wealthy district, with enough money to afford private guards, the lights already lit against the encroaching darkness. They were getting some odd looks, but between Stathis’ full armour and Janaxia’s finery, no-one had yet voiced any objections, although everyone kept a wide berth.

‘Do you not have a guardian or anything? None of your urchins that you’ve given power to or anything?’

Power, once given, is not easily retracted. And few find they have the will to resist conjuring up my lesser kin whenever they desire a task done. But many of them are suited only to violence and rage, and so make unsuitable tools. But I can use that power to summon and bind myself to a form here. For such as myself, it was trivial, although it took my sibling many more years to learn such a simple trick. They sounded smug.

‘How did you get on with the Blade? You three used to work together – you seem to quarrel a lot with Skotadi.’

There was a quiet seething noise. She desires such foolish things! Distracted by gilt and gold, shiny and specious.

Both Janaxia and Skotadi were making virtually identical whining noises as they were pulled forward, heels dragging on the ground. Well, it would have been very inappropriate on Skotadi! But would have looked pretty good on Janaxia.

‘She probably doesn’t think what you’re interested in is very interesting in either. So which way am I going?’

That’s because she is a fool! And lay, weakened and pathetic, for centuries, lost even to herself, alone and empty. It was only upon finding a kindred spirit that she was able to awaken.

‘That’s Janaxia? That… explains a lot actually. So you don’t have a kindred spirit? Don’t you have any powers to offer other than summoning up demons? It would be useful if there was more you could do. Like how Janaxia can summon up clothing. It looks like you can do something similar with your robes? Any other neat tricks?’

Despite her attempt to sound encouraging, Armoniki just sounded grumpy, although that seemed to be their usual state of being. They are not tricks! They represent my will imposed upon the very world itself! And they are likely beyond the power of any mortal wizard, even those of the elder races! Hmph.

‘Right. Sorry. So how many demons are there? Or can’t you tell?’

I can see into the misting between, where all is visible! I would estimate maybe… six of significance?

They didn’t sound very certain, Stathis resisting the urge to roll her eyes. ‘And what do you mean by “significant?” If there’s six like Zarazonnia in there, that’s pretty bad!’

There are few of her power. Although it is pleasing that she has survived – she will make a potent ally. And is better to talk to then most others.

‘You’re not going to try and control her or anything, are you?’ She shook herself, Armoniki shaking on her back.

Stop that! Their protests sounded very similar to Skotadi’s, although without the attempt at sounding refined and elegant. Without rituals and external power, my influence is limited. Not, of course, that I am without influence, but it is harder to enforce my will.

‘That’s good to know. Things would have been a lot easier if you’d come and talked to me, or someone else for help earlier!

Ahead of them, Janaxia and Skotaddi had been released by Semari, and were now walking along, Janaxia with one hand protectively around the girl’s shoulders, their heights now close enough together to make that possible. From behind, with similar black hair and skin-tones, they could have been related, although Stathis wasn’t foolish enough to speculate if they were “sisters” or “aunt and niece”. Pointing either out to Janaxia seemed likely to earn a bolt of arcane energy to the face, so Stathis stayed silent on the matter.

‘So what have you been doing all this time? Skotadi was hidden away somewhere, the Blade was locked away, what about you?’

They seethed some more before answering. I was sealed here. I would have lost myself and faded had not my sibling come to lend some of their essence to me. Their wielder was similar to that one… They trailed off, looking at Janaxia.

‘Well, you can repay the favour then, can’t you? Just don’t do anything too destructive. I’d rather the world not get blown up, or plunged into darkness, so if you could not do that!’

Hmph. The light is accursed upon you!

‘Yeah, about that… I’ve spoken to her a few times, and she doesn’t like you. And the war between the demons and her people did sort of destroy that other world, which I’d rather not have happen here. So what happened?’

The battle raged. And so we three were bought into being, the creation of the greatest sages, who sacrificed themselves to make us. Myself to call, to ensure that, no matter what, we couldn’t be destroyed. One sibling to remember, their knowledge etched into eternity. And one to fight, a weapon of utmost power. But they feared our power, and didn’t wish us to become eternal rulers. And so they made us… flawed. We must be wielded to attain our true power, with a user that commands us.

‘Well, that’s not so bad. At least that way there’s someone else with you. Although I suppose the Black Triad mostly just wanted to destroy the elven empire? How did they find you?’

We slumbered. Through ages untold, we passed from hand to hand, barely remembered, thought of merely as items, albeit potent. In our waking times, we took on a mortal host, to travel and explore. The Blade passed between mighty warriors, carving out petty empires until growing bored. The Book passed between scholars, growing increasingly distant from mortal concerns, their studies of no concern to her.

Stathis looked over at Skotadi, now peering with keen interest at another fashion display. ‘Probably a good thing she didn’t end up getting into politics?’

Hmph. And I travelled, seeking out ancient arcana, seeking to find the magical secrets of this new world. The elven empire grew great and arrogant in its power, seeking forth crusaders to hunt us down, wishing us tamed or destroyed, forcing me to flee to the edges of the world, away from their dominions. But then he found me – an elven refugee, fleeing some dispute in his homeland. He wished to know true power, so that he and his siblings could seek redress for the wrong done to them. It seemed almost fated – three for three, exiles to exiles. And so we were reunited, for the first time since our original exile.

The Blade feasted, glutting himself on the souls of elvenkind, growing great and powerful, enough to sate even his hunger. The Book was glad of the distraction, it seemed, lending her aid, calling up our followers from our home world. Although they were bound behind a veil of time, with effort, we could call them forth. And when defeated, they were simply returned there, to heal, albeit that would take centuries or millennia of your time – while the veil has weakened, increasing the flow of time, it is still a lengthy process.

And so we went to war. Our numbers were swollen by exiles and renegades – this was before the curse of light was put upon them, and they were forced into their current status. Many amongst them still owe me boons, for my aid in helping them in those ancient days. They turned to look at Semari for a moment. A useful source of allies, sometimes. But we marched – and it was dark and glorious. Wings darkened the sky, a horde enough to drag even dragons from the sky, forcing them into their hidden retreats, far from the concerns of the mortal races. The elven empire was shattered, broken in war.

But they had powers I didn’t know of, secret weapons they had crafted, secrets hidden beyond even my knowledge. Using those, they called upon our ancient enemy, her light breaking our armies, and signalling our defeat, even as the empire cracked and fell. Without the numbers or strength to sustain itself, it broke, becoming a dozen, a hundred, petty fiefdoms, each pretending to ancient glories.

In the aftermath, the Blade was taken, passing between petty warlords once again. I was captured and sealed away, hidden in the mountain you call sacred, bound behind wards and seals, left to starve. And the Book – I know not, she has not spoken of it.

‘So you were just left somewhere? That must have been crap.’

I was weak, and grew even weaker. While I am unsure if I can die, it is possible to pass from conscious thought. If it had not been for the intervention of the Blade, then such a thing would likely have come to pass. In my time of greatest weakness, they came to me, wielded by a savant-warrior, skilled at both blade and spell, and gave unto me a measure of their power, that I may sustain myself, and engineer an escape. An act of sympathy I did not expect from a tool so perfectly crafted for murder!

‘And Skotadi didn’t try and help at all?’

They glared at Skotadi’s back, their voice suddenly very old and very heavy. She is not the sort to lend of herself. And perhaps she was imprisoned somewhere herself? Or bound within some scheme.

‘Sounds like you’ve got a bit of a grudge. Maybe you should talk it out sometime?’

They continued to speak as though Stathis hadn’t said anything. After granting me some measure of their power, the Blade was itself bound – sealed away into a tomb, for what I would assume were long and dark centuries. Without the power to free itself, far from mortal touch.

Their voice had heavy intonations of lonely, bleak darkness, making Stathis shiver. ‘And then they were released, and used by the Uth Tremari’s as a power source, to make all those black shards, and the shapeshifters?’

So it seems. None before were foolish enough to try and infuse our substance into mortal bodies – the effects are certainly unexpected to me!

‘Do you think the Blade is aware of this? Can they stop it?’

They are likely hungry beyond any mortal comprehension. Any thought they may have is likely lost in yearning for sustenance, for spiritual energy and succour. If that were granted, then perhaps they would take a more active role in matters, but they were always somewhat fickle and prone to flights of fancy.

‘Well, if I can manage Janaxia and Skotadi, they can’t be that bad, I’d hope. And what do you want? I wasn’t expecting to find you holed up in passageways underneath the holy city!’

The sustenance was useful, and few would think to look in such a place. So it seemed the perfect hiding place! And I find myself somewhat in sympathy with those exiled and rejected, forced to scavenge amongst the corners and cracks. It pleases me to aid them, and to have their offerings, petty though they may seem.

‘Yeah, I wasn’t expecting you to be helping out street kids. Did you sense when we came here last time?’

I sensed my sibling’s presence on the world, and took care to hide myself. Self-centred though she may be, it would have been inconvenient to be discovered. I was not expecting them to be in collusion with one such as yourself though. They wriggled on her back, shifting their balance, the sense of their presence suddenly closer.

Perhaps you should bind yourself to me? I have never had one touched by the light as my pact-partner. The powers combined would be power undreamed of, enough to conquer…

They were cut off by Skotadi turning around and hissing, baring her fangs, her clothing rippling and bristling. They stared at Armoniki, eyes dark enough that they looked like holes bored into her skull. The temperature felt like it was dropping, Stathis’ exposed skin cooling off, before she shook Armoniki, jostling them around on their back.

‘Knock it off, both of you!’

Skotadi hissed at her, eyes narrowed. You should not be pledged elsewhere, when…

‘I’m not pledging to anyone! It’s enough of a nuisance having one set of powers, never mind getting a whole other one. Especially when I’ve seen the troubles that Janaxia has had with them. And Skotadi – I know you can speak, so be polite and use your actual voice. Janaxia, could you help with this?’

Janaxia swept in, shoulders back, hair fluttering in a non-existent breeze.

‘Indeed. When speaking with others that lack our grace, it is sometimes best to use methods they can comprehend. Otherwise it may just inspire jealousy. And keeping secrets is rather discourteous.’ If Skotadi’s look had been cold, Janaxia’s was positively glacial, green eyes as hard as emeralds. ‘I rather think we should be beyond such secret and furtive whisperings, do you not?’

Stathis sighed. ‘Yes, OK, fine. I’m sorry, again, for not being fully upfront with you. Can we move past that and deal with the world-threatening apocalypse first, and then I can apologise again.’

‘Hmph.’ It was impossible to tell which of the three that was, or if it was all of them, their tones identical.

‘How much further have we got to go? I don’t want to be lugging you around all night.’

We are close. Armoniki shifted around, one arm tightening around Stathis’ neck as they pointed with the other. In there.

They were pointing at a large apartment block, the windows blazing with light, a footman on attendance outside.

‘OK. Well, we can try and talk our way past him. Parth, Semari, you two want to go high?’

Semari jumped away, already carrying Parth, jumping off the walls and moving steadily upwards.

‘Let me deal with him.’ I shall overcome the obstacle. Skotadi and Armoniki spoke simultaneously, before hissing and glaring at each other again.

‘It’s not a competition! Flick a coin, or both of you do it.’

There was a double rushed mumble of arcane un-words, and then two lances of darkness shot forth, impaling the man.

‘Don’t kill him!’

He is a pawn of the foe.

The footman’s body started to melt, black shards visible amongst the ruined flesh, dust trailing through the air towards Skotadi and Armoniki.

‘Well, you should have let me know! And I’m not carrying you any further, I’ll need to fight properly.’

They grumbled but let go, dropping lightly to the floor.

‘OK, let’s try and do this quickly and quietly – in, get the job done, get out.’

One of the upper windows exploded, some trailing outwards, a figure dropping downwards and screaming, before impacting with a meaty slapping sound, their bones shattering. Stathis saw Semari jump out of the window and flip around, kicking back at someone in the smoke before yelling downwards.

‘Come on! It’s kicking off!’

Stathis drew her sword and charged, running into the now-unguarded doorway.