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longer; then his gaze fixed on Allic and a smile lit his twisted features.
    "I had thought that Sarnak had sent through another tidbit for torment," he growled, "but I can see that you are now master here, Allic."
    "Sarnak has been banished and this portal will be smashed forever," Allic snarled.
    The demon barked out a howl of laughter that shook the room.
    "My master will be pleased to hear that one of his old rivals still lives. Sarnak created this entrance into our realm for his secret torments, and for occasional help. But not even he really knew where it led."
    The creature paused and the flames seemed to grow much stronger. "Ah, but do you not remember where we have met before? I am Kultha."
    Even through his fear, Mark could see Allic start, and visibly pale.
    "Yes, now you remember me," the demon screamed, "and the fields of Barquna. We have not forgotten."
    "Gorgon," Allic whispered. "You were one of Gorgon's chieftains at the battle."
    "Yes, I serve the lord Gorgon, you pale-skinned bastard," the demon roared, "He still lives and has not forgotten you or your father. Jartan would never have won without trickery, and he is a craven beast; Gorgon looks forward to the next encounter with him. And know this, Allic, son of Jartan the pig: I have reserved a place on my trophy rack for your head."
    "Sarnak's treachery was only a shadow of what you shall face, though we helped to twist his thoughts, to feed his dreams."
    "Why do you tell me this?" Allic whispered.
    "Why not? You are powerless against those of us who dwell in hell, and we shall destroy you."
    The demon roared out his laughter and raised his left hand, upon which Musta still writhed. From his right palm a bolt of flame shot out, but Allic and his companions were ready and it smashed ineffectively against their shields. Ikawa stood protectively over Mark, covering him with his own shielding as flame washed the room, igniting the books and desks into a raging inferno. Allic murmured the spell that would close the portal and the glowing lines began to shrink inward, growing smaller and smaller.
    Kultha, still laughing, started to fall away, and as he did his gaze fixed on Mark. "Know this, tidbit: You are my prey, unjustly snatched from me. Soon you will be mine again, and I will bring you into eternal anguish by my own hands," the demon whispered.
    The portal continued to close downward until all they could see was Musta , still twitching and shrieking on Kultha's talons; then sorcerer and demon were gone.
    Allic rushed over to Mark, sweeping him into his arms and striding for the door.
    "You've got to fight the terror," he said grimly, "or it will overwhelm you."
    Mark tried to smile, but he wondered if ever again he could sleep, or wake in the night without the memory of that fear tormenting his soul.
    Allic paused at the doorway and looked back into the burning room.
    "The gods help us all," he said, his voice edged with fear, "if the demon lords are stirring again."

Chapter 2
    Kochanski stood alone on the balcony of Jartan's private suite listening to the surf pounding, hundreds of feet below. The smells of the sea and the cries of the seabirds beneath him should have been relaxing, and several times he made a conscious effort to unwind, but he was still too tense.
    He glanced over his shoulder at the ornate thronelike chair behind him. Try the Godchair one more time and then call it a day, a part of him urged. But he just didn't have the energy to make the attempt, so he returned to contemplating the coming sunset.
    He had been out how many times today? Three? No, four. Each time he had sat in the Godchair and the chair's magic had taken his soul on a journey through this universe that they were marooned in, while his body stayed safely in the palace. And each time he had travelled to some Earthlike world among the stars. Some were so similar to the real thing that it had wrenched his heart to look upon them. As his mind's eye explored the surface of each