Even Hell Has Knights (Hellsong) by Shaun O. McCoy Read Free Book Online Page B

quietly on his devilwheat seeds, and leaned forward.
    “If I had just arrived here,” Galen went on, “I’d have sworn this place had just been cleaned out by Infidel Friend.”
    “But aren’t they evil?” Arturus asked around the seeds in his mouth.
    “You cannot judge what you do not know,” Galen told him.
    “No Minotaur, then?” Rick asked.
    “None that I could find.”
    “Then the devils’ absence must be like a tide going out,” Rick said. “You know it happens from time to time. The demons ebb and flow. We could be in for a time of great prosperity.”
    “Possibly,” Galen said, nodding his head, “or perhaps there is a Bullman out there and it’s just drawn the devils someplace where I don’t know to look. Either way, we should enjoy the good times while we have them. In the labyrinth they don’t come often, and don’t last long.
    There was a pause in the conversation while they ate.
    “I was thinking I could gather the hungerleaves tomorrow,” Arturus said, looking up from his plate to measure the reactions of both his parents.
    “It’ll be a heavy harvest,” Galen said, “and that’s pretty far out. You sure you want to volunteer?”
    Arturus shrugged. “I made some mistakes when I was traveling to Harpsborough, because I was nervous. I wanted to work on them some. Traveling to the grove seems like the right way to do it.”
    Galen grunted his approval, and Rick was nodding.
    Got it!
    Arturus took another bite of a hungerleaf wrap to celebrate.
    Galen pushed his plate, still half filled with food, towards the center of the table. “Which reminds me, Turi. Rick and I have been discussing you.”
    Arturus stopped mid-chew and looked back and forth between his fathers.
    “Rick told me that he felt safe sending you to Harpsborough. I’m going to be very busy, as hunting for dyitzu is likely to take more time than usual, and the Devil knows I won’t find a hellhound easily. I trust you won’t mind going out with me on occasion?”
    Arturus swallowed and nodded.
    “And since you seem to be able to travel back and forth to Harpsborough,” Galen continued, “I thought it might be nice to get you a job.”
    “A job?” Arturus asked, a little wary.
    “Before I left, the First Citizen let me know that they were getting bored up there in the Fore. They wanted to commission some chess sets. As I will be too busy hunting, I thought I might have you make one.”
    Arturus frowned. “But I don’t have the slightest idea how to make a chess set. I don’t even know how to play the game.”
    Galen smiled, leaned forward in his chair, and scooped up a few spider eggs out of their stone bowl. He chewed them thoroughly before continuing.
    “I’ll show you how,” Galen said. “I know you will be good at it. My only fear is the Harpsborough part.”
    “What do you mean?” Arturus asked.
    “Well, the First Citizen is very particular about projects he commissions. After you finish each piece, you’ll have to take it to Harpsborough to make sure he approves it. You’d end up going back and forth to Harpsborough nearly every day.”
    Arturus’ heart leapt. “Every day?”
    “Every day.”
    I’ll get to see Alice. She might finally get to know who I am.
    “Can you handle that, Arturus?” Rick asked him. “This is a big responsibility. We’re asking a lot, more than just that you complete this simple job. We’re asking you to take a serious step towards being an adult. After a few more jobs like this, after you are free to hunt on your own, you won’t be our child anymore.”
    Suddenly Arturus was worried. “Would I have to leave?”
    Galen laughed so loudly that Arturus looked towards the exit, afraid that there might be devils nearby their home which could hear.
    “No,” Rick said, glancing at Galen. “We’d be asking you to be our peer.”
    The young man nodded solemnly.
    I’ll go to Harpsborough every day.
    “I’ll do it!” he said.
    “Now run to bed, Turi,” Galen