Tribute to Hell by Ian Irvine Read Free Book Online Page A

belonged, not even inmy own body. And all my life I’ve believed that I carried corruption inside me — that I was responsible for the despair and wickedness in Hightspall.’ She met their eyes, trying not to flinch. ‘But it came from you, Father — you and him.’
    â€˜So?’ said Behemoth.
    Astatine stalled, unable to see the way ahead. She had thought to shame K’nacka and Behemoth by telling the gods and demons about the Covenant, but without proof they would ignore her. Besides, that would break her oath to Hildy. She sought for another way.
    â€˜Lord K’nacka,’ she said, ‘you have debauched Elyssian and shamed the gods. Either you abdicate, or I’ll reveal the Covenant.’ She prayed that he would not call her double bluff.
    Abdicate! K’nacka’s cry started an avalanche down the slope. Where to?
    â€˜Perdition.’
    Show me the Covenant.
    Her bluff had been called, and she had lost. Her father was smiling grimly; no help there. The skin of her belly prickled, the dark specks that were always itchy, and Hildy’s dying words, ‘The stigmata —’ resurfaced.
    They struck her like one of the Great God’s thunderbolts — so that’s why she’d always felt that she was corrupting the world. Astatine took a deep breath, praying that her hunch was right, and held out her hand. ‘Father, your enchanted blade.’
    He gave it to her. She opened her habit and made a careful scratch across her lower belly with the tip of the knife, then up, across below her breasts and down again.
    â€˜It wasn’t my body I did not belong in, was it, Father?’ she said, feathering up her creamy skin to reveal a dark inner skin beneath. She peeled the pale rectangle off and held it out, displaying the damning words and signatures on the inside.
    â€˜ It was my skin! When I was a little girl you covered my dark skin with a second, pale skin onto which you’d copied the Covenant on the inside.’ She took a step towards Behemoth. ‘How could you do this to me? All the ills of the world come from this dreadful Covenant.’
    â€˜Not all the ills,’ said Behemoth, somewhat abashed. ‘I don’t turngood to evil, Daughter. I merely improve on the evil which already flourishes in humanity.’
    K’nacka eyed the Covenant, slowly extending his fingers.
    â€˜It’s under my protection,’ hissed Behemoth.
    K’nacka drew back, rubbing his chin. To give up Elyssian , he said shrewdly, I need more. What else are you proposing, demon’s daughter?
    â€˜Father will give you back your —’ Astatine flushed; no virtuous novice would name those body parts. ‘What you’ve lost.’
    I lose Elyssian, and all he gives up are the balls he robbed me of with loaded dice , snapped K’nacka. It’s not enough.
    â€˜Father will also abdicate,’ said Astatine, avoiding Behemoth’s furious eye. ‘Perdition must find a new lord.’
    Me? breathed K’nacka.
    â€˜Isn’t it better to reign in Perdition than endure eternal mockery in Elyssian?’
    â€˜Damned if I’ll abdicate!’ said Behemoth.
    â€˜Exactly,’ said Astatine, ‘and you will return all the unjustly reaped souls to Elyssian.’
    â€˜Or?’ said her father.
    She had not realised how sharp his teeth were, how black his eyes. Astatine swallowed, wavered, but knew she had to go on. ‘Or I’ll tell your fellow demons that you’ve been making deals with the gods.’
    â€˜I could destroy the Covenant.’
    It’s under my protection , said K’nacka, raising his fist.
    Behemoth turned his way, putting on a patently false smile. ‘K’nacka, my old sparring partner, we don’t have to put up with this. She’s just a slip of a girl. We can take the Covenant off her in a second, and destroy it together.’
    Astatine hadn’t thought of that,