‘So I could be captured too? Pah! You are either innocent or idiotic, and neither personality trait is acceptable, particularly in a Keeper. Fortunately for you I am no fool, which is why I used my time wisely.’
‘Yeah, doing what?’
Again Darkmount ticked off points. ‘One, moving my research and books to a safe place. Two, keeping an eye on the guard movements and, three, planning a safe method of extraction.’
‘Extraction?’
‘Escape! I’m helping you escape, you foolish child! Enough of this idle chit-chat. Now that you are in a position to make a bid for freedom it is time for us to discuss the requirements for our deal.’
‘Deal?’ said Charlie. ‘What deal?’
‘I believe you wanted your pendant examined, did you not?’ rumbled Darkmount. ‘You and your Lady Dridif from the Jade Circle believe that it holds answers, answers that only I can provide, and in return for this information you and I must discuss the matter of price. A deal must be made.’
‘Right,’ muttered Charlie, who had come to expect such things from strangers in Bellania. ‘What kind of deal would that be?’
‘Do not be sarcastic, little girl. Remember, we all have different paths to walk.’
‘Oh, sure, paths that require you to force me to make a deal while me and my friends are still imprisoned. That really seems fair, doesn’t it?’
‘Who ever told you that life was meant to be fair?’ asked Darkmount. ‘I am offering you something, I require something in return and I believe that is the basis of a “fair” deal.’
Charlie stared hard at Edge Darkmount. It was true that he should get something in exchange for his knowledge and since she was half rescued thanks to him she should, she supposed, be grateful. But there was something very unlikeable about him; he was too cold, too distant. But as with so many things that had happened to her in Bellania, she knew when she had little or no choice.
‘So what do you want from me?’
‘I need you to fetch me a vessel. A holy vessel. It is a sign, an embodiment of my religion and with it in my hands I can begin to repair the damage that Bane has done to the true faith of Bellania.’
‘True faith? Bane? What has Bane done to you?’
‘What has he done?’ growled Darkmount, and for the first time he revealed some genuine emotion. ‘What has that dog not done?’ A flickering anger swept across his face, causing veins to pulse across his forehead. ‘He has made a mockery! A mockery of the Stoman religion. His new so-called god has usurped the true faith and led the righteous astray. Bane must be forced to see the error of his ways.’
‘So I take it you’re not pals, right?’
Darkmount let out a sigh of frustration. ‘Your constant, infantile witticisms are wearying to my ears, but in this you are indeed correct. Bane and I share a hatred so sincere, so pure, that the darkness of night pales in comparison.’
‘So is this an “enemy of my enemy” kind of deal?’
‘If you wish to see it like that,’ replied Darkmount, once again in control of his emotions.
‘So what’s in this vessel then?’
‘My god.’
‘Say what?’ Charlie rubbed at her ear, thinking that she had misheard.
‘I said it contains my god,’ growled Darkmount. Lightning seemed to flicker across his eyes. ‘The vessel is merely the physical casing that contains my god.’
Charlie frowned as she tried to get her head around that idea. ‘What, like a genie in a bottle?’
‘That is a crude and irreverent way of putting it, but … yes.’
‘Oh, right,’ muttered Charlie, ‘cos that really makes sense … a god in a bottle.’
‘What was that?’ snapped Darkmount.
‘Uh, nothing,’ said Charlie, carefully eyeing the bishop. ‘So, um, tell me more about this deal. Why can’t you go and get this “vessel” yourself?’
‘Because Bane has hidden it beyond my reach. However, your abilities as a Keeper allow you to open doors that others cannot. So … for this deal to go ahead you must accompany me to the Stubborn Citadel. Buried deep inside the citadel is a door, a Gateway if you will. This Gateway leads to one of Bellania’s lower dominions and in it lies my vessel. I need you to use your Will to break into the dominion, find my god and return it to me. Do this for me and I will tell you everything that you want to know about your pendant.’