“Exador,” Gastropé said as if that explained everything. “And I suppose technically it wasn’t a detour since it was faster than marching over land. That’s how he was able to get the army there so fast.
“You see, he used this spell called Abyssal Switch. It relocates a part of Astlan with a different part of the Abyss. The area isn’t that big, but you can switch an area big enough to move a few hundred people or so at a time. He switched an area with soldiers to the Abyss, had us wizards put cool spells on the soldiers and then moved them off the switched land, and then he switched it back. He then did the spell in reverse, switching the part of the Abyss the soldiers were on with a new location in Astlan. It took a while, because we had to move several groups, but we were able to cover a great distance a lot faster.” Gastropé shrugged: it hadn’t been his doing; he’d just followed orders.
Maelen rubbed his chin. “Hmm, rather impressive actually,” the animage murmured.
Jenn appeared at a loss for words. She didn’t seem to know what to say. She just shook her head. Edwyrd was also impressed, it was certainly an impressive trick this Exador had performed. No wonder the man was so good at pissing off Lenamare.
Rupert spoke up, almost craftily this time. No one but Edwyrd seemed to notice his cunning smile, “So, Gastropé, if we could get to the Abyss without needing the greater demon, you’d go along with it?”
Gastropé shrugged, “I suppose, we’d have to go in someplace cool, for the Abyss anyway. In the main regions, the trick with the cool spell wouldn’t be sufficient. However, we don’t have a way to go there other than Tom. I certainly can’t do an Abyssal Switch, not by a long shot. Further, we would also still have the problem of knowing the spot to exit to. In other words, Gizzor Del all over.”
Rupert nodded. “Well — Tizzy?” The demon smiled at Rupert. “Can we trust you to fly to Freehold and be a focal point? Do a summons sort of thing.” Rupert looked into Tizzy’s eyes.
The octopod shrugged, “Of course. I always do well by my friends, like you and Tom.” Tizzy said pointedly.
Jenn was just shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter whether we can trust him,” she pointed at Tizzy. “I will not go with that fourth order demon again, even if we could summon him. I’ll burn at the stake first.”
“It won’t come to that,” Rupert assured her. “At least I don’t think it should.” He turned his attention to Edwyrd. Edwyrd was beginning to get an idea of what the boy wanted. “Lord Edwyrd,” Rupert smiled, “as the Rod calls you,” Edwyrd nodded, “You’re our resident awe-inspiring animage. No offense, Maelen.” The healer just nodded, staring at the boy to see what he was getting at. “Do you think you, Edwyrd, could open up a small gate to the Abyss? One we could all get through. Then if Tizzy was to provide a focal point, could you pull us out again?’
Jenn was just shaking her head, knowing it was impossible. Edwyrd didn’t know however, certainly with Tizzy’s assistance he could do it as Tom. He’d already done it once. The only question was whether he could do it and maintain his Edwyrd form. He thought for a moment.
“Rupert, give it up. Edwyrd can’t do that.” Jenn said. “No one can.”
“Actually,” Maelen spoke up, “that’s not entirely true.” He was gazing most speculatively at Edwyrd as he said this. “A truly skilled Spatiomaster or Astramaster could.” He was clearly trying to discern the limits of Edwyrd’s abilities and talents. “I already can tell that our friend Edwyrd knows some astramastery.”
Edwyrd glanced out of the side of his eye at the healer-seer. He wasn’t sure exactly what the man meant, or what he was up to. He didn’t know anything about astramastery or spatiomastery or whatever it was called. All he knew were his demonic powers, and not even most of them. He finally spoke up.
“Well, if I knew where to go that would be cool enough, something I can presumably get from Rupert,” he was making this up as he went. Bluffing, sort of. While he was sure he could really do it, he had to make it look as if he were doing it as an animage. That made it tricky because he still wasn’t sure how an animage would do this stuff. “Plus if I can arrange some sort of link with Tizzy,” meaning get Tizzy to summon him in Freehold, “I might just be able to do it.” Maelen nodded as if what Edwyrd had just said made sense. Edwyrd was glad it made sense to someone.
Jenn shook again. “No. It’s too dangerous. Can’t do it. Not worth the risk.”
“Jenn,” Rupert said tiredly, “it won’t involve the big demon.” He grimaced at his stretching of the truth. “So, you have nothing to worry about. My cousin is very competent. He brought me back, and he helped you guys destroy the pirates.” Maelen glanced at the boy as if to correct him on the pirates, clearly, Maelen knew what really happened, but the seer just shook his head slightly and let it pass. Jenn was still shaking her head.
