'I'll have Maxilla prepare another room for you. You can't sleep in here/
'I'm used to the clutter/ he said.
'It's not the clutter I'm worried about/
He shuffled away, muttering.
'I need to take the book back now/1 said.
'It's here somewhere/ he said, off-hand. 'I'll bring it to you later/
'I'll take it now/
He glared at me.
'Now, please/ I repeated.
He pulled the Malus Codicium from under a pile of notes that fluttered onto the carpet, and held it out. I took hold, but he would not let go.
'Aemos…'
I managed to yank the book away. The clock mischimed again.
'I think you should consider your options, Gregor/ he said.
What do you mean?'
The powers we face are great. Too great, perhaps. We are woefully under-strength. I think we should be stronger/
'How do you propose we do that?'
'Summon the daemonhost/
What?'
He took off his heavy augmetic eyeglasses and polished the lenses with the corner of his robe.
His hands were shaking badly now.
1 didn't approve before, on Durer. But I think I grasp things a little better now. I understand the choices you've made. The rules you've bent. All for the good, and I apologise for ever doubting you. With the daemon-host, we might stand a chance. Summon it here.'
'How?'
He became agitated with me. 'Like you did on Miquol!'
That was sheer desperation,' I reproved.
'We're desperate now!'
'And we have no host to summon it into…'
'You didn't then!'
'And it nearly killed us with its raw power before I could trap it.'
Then use one of Maxilla's astropaths as a host!'
I stared at him level ly. 'I won't kill a man just to provide a host.'
'You did on Miquol,' he hissed softly.
What did you just say?'
'You did on Miquol. Verveuk wasn't dead. You sacrificed him for the good of us all. Why would you flinch from doing it again?'
'Why would I do again something I wish had never happened?'
'Are we not playing for the highest stakes? One life, sir. What is that compared to the millions that may die if Glaw succeeds? Summon the daemonhost. Summon Cherubael to help us.'
I walked slowly to the door. 'Get some rest/ I said with forced lightness. 'You'll feel better for it. You'll have changed your mind.'
'Whatever/ he said, turning away dismissively.
He was entirely unprepared for the will I unleashed at him.
'What did it say to you?' I commanded.
Aemos cried out and his legs gave way. He crashed to the deck and half overturned a table in his efforts to stay upright.
His papers avalanched onto the floor.
'It told you, didn't it? It told you! You damn fool, Uber, what did you do?'
'I couldn't crack the code!' he wailed. 'The language was beyond me! But there was so much more in that book! That beautiful book! I realised I could do more!'