The Lost Book of the White (The Eldest Curses #2) - Cassandra Clare Page 0,66

ever want to get out again.”

Magnus hesitated. “I am a man of many talents, but swordplay is definitely not one of them.”

“And I tell you, when it comes time, you won’t need to kill with them,” said Gan Jiang. He examined the group with narrowed eyes. “These are swords of mercy and judgment. You, warlock, must take mercy, the white blade—” Mo Ye picked up White Impermanence and went behind Magnus, where she began fussily fastening it to his back with a strap and sheath. Alec smiled at Magnus, who had immediately adopted the neutral expression he wore when a tailor was pinning his clothes for alteration.

“And you, Nephilim, will carry the black.” Gan Jiang offered Black Impermanence’s hilt to Alec.

Alec was about to say, Why do I have to be “judgment”? but the moment his hand gripped the sword, the room and the smiths and his friends vanished, and he was in a different place.

A featureless cracked plain, black and pitted, extended forever to an empty horizon. Above it stretched a red sky, hung with a sun too large and dark as blood.

On the plain was Magnus. Or whatever Magnus had become.

He had not become a monster, not really. He didn’t look more like an animal, or a demon. But he had grown to a terrifying height, and when he looked down at Alec, it was with whited-out eyes and no recognition.

This huge Magnus brought his bare arms up, and Alec could see iron chains, affixed to a spiked ball punched through each of his palms. The chains receded behind Magnus into a storm of smoke and flame that trailed behind him.

Magnus still had the freedom of movement to bring his hands together. Jagged, gleaming shards of pinkish-red magic began to coalesce between his hands, and Alec could feel the ground rumble and the power begin to gather.

He held the Black Impermanence before him, and he understood beyond any doubt that only he could wield it. Only he could make the judgment, if it came to it. If Magnus was overcome by the thorn, by Sammael.

Also, the thought of this version of Magnus, all emotion absent, burning with power, wielding a sword of judgment, was a little terrifying.

He held the sword before him, pointing it toward the dark god that had been Magnus, and he said, “Magnus, if you know me, speak to me.”

Then he was back in the stone room. Gan Jiang was watching him keenly.

“Obviously I know you,” Magnus said worriedly. “Are you all right?”

Alec looked at Gan Jiang, and he nodded. “He’s fine,” he said. “Bit of a moment with the sword, I think.”

“I think your husband’s been tested,” Mo Ye said brightly to Magnus. “Good news! He passed.”

Magnus looked at Alec with concern.

Alec felt himself blush. “We’re not married,” he said apologetically as he strapped the sword to his back.

“You’re not married yet,” Isabelle piped up.

Gan Jiang laughed. “Do you see rings on our hands? And yet Mo Ye and I have been married since before the sea was salt.” He leaned into Alec. “Stay with him,” he said in a confidential tone.

“I plan to,” said Alec.

“Excellent!” Gan Jiang barked. “Now, you must go. We are closing for supper.”

This was so abrupt that they all stood around dumbly for a moment.

“You don’t have ears?” Mo Ye said. “Get out! We’re closed! You’re needed in the Market!”

They hustled Magnus and the Shadowhunters out of the room and back onto the street. Somehow, in the short time that they had been inside the faerie smithy, the sun had dropped below the buildings, and it was full dusk. An orange glow passed over the buildings and the trees, and a warm breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of flowers and of the food stalls at the Market nearby.

The door slammed shut, and Alec heard the sound of several latches and bolts being thrown.

“That was surprisingly similar to visiting my grandparents,” Simon said after a moment. “Except they would have fed us.”

“What happened in there, Alec?” Jace said.

“I had a vision,” Alec said slowly.

“A vision of what?” said Isabelle.

“Of what would happen if we fail to stop Sammael, I think.”

Jace said, “Did it give you any insight? Into what we should do?”

Alec was looking at Magnus. “Not fail.”

“All right,” said Jace. “We’ve got research, we’ve got swords. What’s our next step?”

“Signs are pointing toward us needing to know more about Diyu,” said Isabelle. “We could start checking the possible locations for the old Portal. What do you think, Tian?…