“You’re not dead.” The spirit in the mirror appeared the moment Connor entered the vault carrying Aowin’s severed head. “I’m modestly impressed. I was certain the paladin would kill you.”

“Thanks.” He tossed the head in the corner. “When can I speak to King Alexious?”

“I’ll need a few minutes. It’s not like he’s sitting around waiting to speak with every dimwitted warlock that wanders into his palace.”

Connor ignored the insult and flicked his hand at the spirit. “Well run along and let him know I’ve completed the tasks you set.”

The spirit stuck a shadowy tongue out at him and vanished. Connor shook his head and went over to the crystal’s niche. It took a moment to locate the empty circle in the runes. When he found it again Connor placed the key in it. Seconds passed and nothing happened.

Had he done something wrong? Power gathered and the runes writhed, finally. A blast of power sent Connor flying across the room. He slammed into the far wall and slid to the floor. Again.

Connor clambered to his feet shaking his head, trying to figure out what happened. In the mirror the spirit had returned. It wore a grin that almost split its head in half. “You tried to open the niche before learning the proper technique.”

Connor snarled. “You might have warned me.”

“Why should I warn someone too stupid or impatient to wait for the proper instruction?”

Before Connor could respond the spirit shuddered and faded away. An armored figure took its place. This apparition appeared far more solid than the vaporous spirit. Connor took a knee. This had to be King Alexious.

“On your feet, boy.” The king spoke in a deep sepulchral voice that seemed to echo as though coming from a great depth.

Connor rushed to obey, not even thinking to be insulted by the boy comment. To a being of King Alexious’s age and power Connor was little more than a child. “Great King, it is an honor to meet you.”

“My spirit guard seems to think little of you, but you have manners at least. That’s surprisingly rare among those who walk our path. I never understood it myself. You’d think by the behavior of some warlocks that snarling savagery and spitting curses somehow made you stronger.”

While the king spoke of manners Connor took the opportunity to study the man, or perhaps former man, that had been his chief inspiration ever since Connor learned of him. The once king had a heavy build and crimson eyes shone out from slits in the horned helm. He looked closer. It wasn’t armor the king wore, not exactly. It appeared the plate, helm and gauntlets were fused to his body like a second skin or a demon’s scales.

“What do you wish to know of me, boy?” King Alexious asked.

“I want to finish your work and sacrifice the rest of the continent to the Horned One. I sought the soul burn crystal to complete your harvest.”

The king chuckled. “Ambitious, I like that. The hell gate project wasn’t a backup plan. It was my first plan which I abandoned as unworkable and inefficient compared to my final project. What makes you think you can succeed where I failed?”

The king’s voice held an edge when he asked the final question. Connor swallowed. He’d have to be diplomatic in how he answered. “I believe it’s my best chance to succeed. I have no army and no kingdom. If I attempted to duplicate your work with the pyramids my enemies would detect it at once and destroy me and my work. Creating the hell gate allows me to do most of the work in secret and once I’m ready I’ll have the army I need to crush my enemies. Once I subjugate the kingdom I can move on to building pyramids and offering the great sacrifice.”

King Alexious nodded. “A thoughtful plan. Where will you find the energy sources you need to bring your army through the gate?”

“Much has changed in the years since you ascended. What was once wilderness with savage natives is now a prosperous kingdom. I will have no trouble getting the soul force I need to summon an army.”

“I honor your ambition and the Horned One’s decision to gift you a portion of his soul force. Succeed and I will welcome you to The Master’s court as a brother. To claim the crystal, place the key in the empty circle, charge it with hellfire, and spin it one full rotation right and two full rotations left. When you leave be certain to reset the guardian.”

The king vanished from the mirror and the first spirit returned. “You two seemed to hit it off.”

Connor ignored the spirit and walked back to the crystal’s niche. He performed the steps as King Alexious said then watched as the guardian runes faded away and the glass became insubstantial. He reached in and pulled the crystal out. It weighed more than he’d expected; more like lead than crystal. Connor sighed in satisfaction. Now his plans could proceed.

He pocketed the key, surrounded the crystal with a soul force bubble, and let it drift beside him.

“Wait,” the spirit said. “Take me with you and I’ll lead you to the cavern King Alexious planned to use to house the crystal.”

“I already have a place picked out. Do you know how to reset the guardian?”

The spirit gave a despairing shake of its head. “There’s a circle on the floor outside. Put the token in the center and pour hellfire into it. When it can’t hold any more it’ll reactivate. Are you really going to pass up the chance to set up in the location the master chose himself?”

Connor walked out of the treasure room without a backward glance. He needed to return to his library and check on Mikhail. He didn’t trust the unstable young man to act on his own for very long.