It was now May, two months since Krovanis had stolen the soul key. In that time, Renny had tried to devise other ways to complete his contract, but nothing came close. Every possible route seemed doomed by the same truth: Krovanis could appear at any moment and undo all his work. The thought of it had stalled him more than once. And with the six-month deadline drawing closer, failure no longer meant simply staying behind; it meant falling back, repeating a grade. Something he could not, would not, let happen again.
After a long stretch of contemplation, Renny finally decided it was time to do what he had been dreading. Standing at the edge of his garden, he called up Krovanis and told him he was ready.
Krovanis arrived with Asmeryn Damaruk at his side.
"Took you long enough," Krovanis said with that familiar grin of mock impatience.
Renny folded his arms. "Are both of you going in?"
