Part 37 (2/2)
What was that all about? Being banished back to the Territory like that is not as much fun as you'd think, you know.
The other dolls chimed in, one on top of the other.
You'll end up dead that way, if you keep leaving us behind.
Are Kai and Denner still out there?
I'm going to punch you in the face!
You should stand still when we're talking to you.
Simon ignored them, glancing around the shelves for a blond doll in a powder-blue dress and bonnet. He finally spotted Caela at the end of one of the shelves*two feet away from where he had last placed her*and s.n.a.t.c.hed her up before das.h.i.+ng out of the room.
I see you've made the intelligent choice, selecting me, she said.
I'm putting on the mask, he responded. You were with me when I used it last time.
In that case, I take back any compliment regarding your intelligence.
Simon stopped by the bathroom to scoop up some water, realized he didn't have anything to carry it in, doubled back for a waterskin, realized he didn't know where to get a waterskin, and ended up having Caela guide him through the armory for an empty skin.
Finally, he ended up in the forge, trying to pull open the iron door leading into the workshop.
It was locked.
Simon slammed the heel of his fist into the door, wondering if he could just call steel and tear the door down.
Fortunately, Olissa showed up before he could do something desperate. She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand, and her hair looked as though squirrels had used it as a nest.
”Simon, what'sa” she trailed off into a jaw-cracking yawn.
He had forgotten about the time difference in Valinhall, but at this point, he couldn't care any less.
”I need the mask,” Simon said.
Olissa eyed him suspiciously, as though suspecting him of pulling a prank on her. ”You can't use it, though. It needs to be attuned, whatever that means. You heard the Eldest.”
”Then I will have it attuned. Please, let me in the room.”
”Who are you going to get to do that? The Eldest Nye has already said he won't do it.”
He didn't have time for this. ”Mistress Agnos, if I know anything about the Eldest*and unfortunately I do*then he is just inside the workshop, waiting to appear dramatically as soon as we need him. I beg of you, open this door. Kai is dying.”
His urgency must have gotten through to her, because she pushed the door open. She didn't take out a key or even turn the handle, she just pushed, and the door swung inward.
The Eldest stood there, in the doorway, his hands folded into opposite sleeves.
”The only joy left in my life is the joy of a good entrance,” the Eldest rasped. ”Why do you take this from me?”
Simon pushed past him, looking around for the workbench where they had left the mask. As soon as he stepped inside the room, torches on the walls suddenly ignited, providing him with light as soon as he needed it.
”Eldest Nye,” Simon said, ”I know that I am still in your debt. But even so, I need your help. If I don't have the mask, I can't defeat the Incarnation.”
He didn't stop looking as he spoke, lifting up furniture and opening drawers. But he still couldn't find it.
”Mistress Olissa, where is the mask?”
From within the depths of his cloak, the Eldest produced the steel-and-iron mask. He held it in front of him as though offering it, but when Simon reached for it, the Nye pulled back.
”Kai is dying,” Simon pleaded.
”That means nothing to me.”
”Without the mask, I can't defeat the Incarnation.”
”That's true.”
In sheer frustration, Simon shoved over a nearby table. The tools arranged on the top crashed to the ground. Something shattered. ”What do you want from me?” Simon demanded.
”Continue demonstrating your immaturity,” the Eldest said. ”Surely, I will be persuaded then.”
Simon cast his mind about, trying to think of something*anything*that might persuade him.
”If I do this for you,” the Nye said slowly, ”then I will expect you to take responsibility for your actions. Kai has been irresponsible; you must live up to your burdens. Do you understand?”
Hope lifted in Simon's chest. ”Absolutely.”
The Eldest shook his hood. ”I do not think that you do. But you must abide by that responsibility regardless.”
”Of course!”
”You must also bring me something in return,” the Eldest continued. ”One of the lost Dragon's Fangs, or an artifact of some other Territory.”
”How about a sword from Ragnarus?” Simon asked. ”One cut is always lethal.”
”A fragment of the Crimson Vault?” the Eldest asked, sounding surprised. ”Perfection. But for it to truly belong to Valinhall, you must take it in battle.”
”That would be my pleasure.”
The Eldest placed a sleeve on the face of the mask, which began to s.h.i.+ne as though it had been placed under a full moon. ”Then, under those conditions, I grant you this new power. However, you must remember one thing: this will not last long. The Incarnation is a part of Valinhall in ways you couldn't dream. He will sense this mask, and before long, he will be able to summon it from you. You will die, then.”
Simon watched the mask glow. The eye-slits flashed blue-white once, and then died. ”Defeat him before he can take the mask from me. Got it. How do I kill him?”
”It is difficult to kill an Incarnation,” the Eldest responded. ”And it leaves a dangerous gap, making it more likely for another to take its place.”
With the mask grasped in one sleeve, he held it out to Simon.
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