To Reign in Hell: A Novel by Steven Brust Read Free Book Online

interesting ideas.”
    “Eh? What?”
    “The talk about Satan. Yaweh sounded almost irritated, if that were possible.”
    “I see what you mean,” he admitted to himself. “If there is a falling out between Yaweh and Satan, it is certainly possible that I’ll be able to replace Satan. And, if I can replace him, it’ll be an easy matter to arrange to be somewhere safe while the battle is being fought. And certainly no one could fault me for that.”
    “No one except Mephistopheles, who can fault anyone.”
    “Ah! Mephistopheles! Yes, if I had Satan’s position, I could manage to put
him
where I wanted to.”
    “And Lucifer, too, eh? And make sure Lilith stays safe?”
    “Not likely, I’m afraid. The Firstborn will all do whatever they do, and I’m not going to be able to influence that.”
    “But it’s still worthwhile.”
    “Oh, yes. But, would I do a good job of it?”
    “Piffle! What’s to do? All it takes is the willingness to see that the job gets done, no matter what. And that seems to be the thing that Satan doesn’t have, for all his accomplishments.”
    “Why, you’re right! The one angel who shouldn’t have doubts is the one who does! If Yaweh does open his eyes, and tells Satan to step aside, it would be best for the Plan, too.”
    “Ah, but what if Yaweh doesn’t open his eyes? He and Satan are the oldest friends in Heaven! Yaweh will probably just keep on, and let the whole Plan suffer for it.”
    “Well, is there anything that can be done about that?”
    “I don’t see what. Except stay alert, and see what opportunities present themselves.”
    “Couldn’t I create an opportunity?”
    “Maybe. I’ll have to see what happens.”
    “Then why am I walking about here? I think it’s time to look around a bit, and see what’s going on. Maybe there’s a way to push Lord Satan a bit in the right direction. Maybe there is, indeed.”
     
    “Sith! Hold a moment.”
    “Hello, Kyriel. Goes all well with you?”
    “I’m not sure. Have you heard?”
    “Since that question implies that I ought to know what it is about, and since I don’t, I guess I haven’t.”
    “I know what the big plan is.”
    “Really? What is it, then?”
    “Well, I don’t know exactly, but as I hear it, they want to do something to the walls so that nothing can get in anymore, and we don’t have to worry about more Waves.”
    “Is that possible?”
    “It’s what I’ve heard.”
    “Where did you get this?”
    “Rachsiel told me. She heard it from Cuniali, who heard it from Tetra, who heard it from Sagsagel, who heard it from Loquel, who lives right in Yaweh’s Palace, you know.”
    “Yeah, that makes it pretty definite.”
    “It sure does.”
    “Well, it’s wonderful, if it’s true.”
    “Wonderful? You think so? Well, then, listen to this: to do it, they’re going to have to have
us
do the work, and some of us might be destroyed doing it.”
    “You can’t be serious!”
    “As serious as the flux.”
    “Where will they find angels willing to destroy themselves?”
    “Where does the ‘willing’ come from?”
    “Well, Lord Lucifer? Can you help me?”
    Lucifer shrugged. “I don’t see why not, Abdiel. It will be rather lengthy, but—”
    “Excuse me,” came a voice from behind Abdiel.
    He turned around and said, “Greetings, my Lady Lilith.”
    She ignored him and spoke directly to Lucifer. “I happened to overhear,”
    Abdiel cursed under his breath. Lucifer looked an inquiry at Lilith. She addressed herself to Abdiel directly, then. “Why ask these questions? You’ve never been the curious type before.”
    Abdiel smiled, leaned back against a tree, stretched his legs, and pretended he was comfortable.
    “Nor am I now,” he said.
    “Well then?”
    Abdiel shrugged, but Lilith still looked at him closely, as if expecting an answer, and Lucifer was becoming curious as well.
    “It’s . . . an idea I had.”
    “What kind of idea?” asked Lucifer.
    “For the Plan, Lord