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Arcturus was touching lit up with a hum. The others above lit up soon after, each one emitting a dull thrum as they did so. Seven times the room flashed with new light, then the humming began to slow. It was just as well, for Arcturus felt full to the brim with the caustic energy. It felt like he was boiling from the inside out. Just as he thought it was over, the eighth segment flickered into life.
    â€˜A level eight summoner,’ Obadiah said, with a hint of surprise in his voice. ‘That is . . . above average . . . especially for a summoner as young and as new to his demon as you. The usual for an untrained noble who has just arrived at the academy is seven, which is what I assumed you would be. I find this very interesting. I’m sure the king will share that sentiment.’
    â€˜What does it mean?’ Arcturus said, massaging his wrist as Obadiah released him. He felt a flash of dread. Would it have been better if he were a weaker summoner?
    â€˜It means that you are unusual only in that you are a commoner, neither too high nor too low in level. You fall within the normal range of what we can expect from a novice. It also means that you could summon a level one demon, such as a Mite, on top of your level seven Canid. Of course, as you train in the various arts of summoning, your fulfilment level will improve over time, and you will be capable of summoning more powerful demons.’
    Arcturus relaxed. Normal was good. He was unusual enough, without being something the king might see as a threat. As Obadiah began to lead him out of the room, Arcturus couldn’t resist one more question.
    â€˜A Mite?’
    Obadiah gave an exasperated sigh, then turned back to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of leather. As he unravelled it, Arcturus realised it was identical to the leather mat he had found in Charles’s saddlebags, a brown square with a black pentacle embossed on both sides. Obadiah dropped it to the floor and touched the leather with his fingertip.
    The pentacle flared with violet light, just as it had in the stables. This time, instead of an orb expanding above, ethereal strands of white light blossomed from the glowing symbol, merging together like threads on a tapestry. It was not long until an insect-like form materialised and the glowing white faded to reveal the true colours beneath.
    The demon looked like a giant beetle, so large it would barely fit on a man’s hand. Its carapace was a dark red colour, with a sting not unlike a bee’s on its behind and a pair of sharp mandibles that clashed as it stared at Arcturus through two black eyes. With a flutter of insectile wings, it buzzed into the air, before settling on Obadiah’s shoulder.
    â€˜Beautiful isn’t he,’ Obadiah said, stroking the Mite’s shell. ‘Rubeus is one of my weaker demons, but perhaps the most useful. He’s my eyes and ears at Vocans – step one toe out of line and he’ll come straight back to me. Unless I’ve already seen it of course.’
    He reached into his pocket once again and pulled out a shard of crystal. It was flat, like a broken piece of glass, yet Arcturus could see the room reflected on the polished surface. Obadiah tapped it on the Mite’s shell and held it out for Arcturus to see. For a moment Arcturus thought he was looking at a piece of mirror, but as Rubeus buzzed into the air, he realised that the image on the crystal was exactly what the beetle demon was seeing.
    â€˜The scrying stone and summoning leather are the two most important items in a summoner’s tool chest,’ Obadiah lectured, pocketing the crystal and rolling the leather up once again. ‘Your demon usually resides within your body and can be summoned into existence, then infused back into you using the leather. The scrying stone lets you share your demon’s senses, including sound and smell, though you need to look at the stone