Summoner: Origins The Prequel by Taran Matharu

fibres that constricted her. A few moments later, a last thread encircled her muzzle and tightened, reducing her noise to a strangled growl.
    â€˜Beautifully done, Anansi,’ Charles called. ‘You can come out now!’
    Charles’s Arach crept out of the shadows, the strange glowing fluid dripping from the back of its abdomen, beneath a deadly stinger. It was an enormous black spider, with a body as large as a human head and long spindly legs that scuttled along the floorboards. It had a cluster of beady eyes set in the centre of its forehead and a swollen body peppered with stiff brown hairs. The mandibles that served as its mouth clicked menacingly as it circled around Arcturus to return to its master.
    â€˜You know, I think you did me a favour, stableboy, by taking that pathetic Canid from me,’ Charles sneered, hunkering down to bring his face close to Arcturus’s. ‘The Arach is a glorious specimen, able to trap its prey with a mana web, inject them with its stinger and then consume them at their leisure. Anansi can even scratch away at his hairs, which float into the air to blind and irritate his victims – as his owner, I’m immune, of course. He is versatile, agile and deadly. I couldn’t ask for a better demon.’
    â€˜Thanks for the demonology lesson,’ Arcturus said sarcastically, though the tremor in his voice revealed his fear. ‘Why don’t you tell me what all this is about. You’re taking a great risk, trapping me like this. When the king finds out—’
    â€˜The king won’t find out,’ Charles interrupted gleefully, slapping Arcturus lightly on the face, just because he could. ‘You won’t be in a position to tell him, or anyone else for that matter, what with you being dead and all.’
    Arcturus’s heart lurched as Charles’s eyes bore into his, their murderous intent as plain as the words he had just spoken. Twisting his hand beneath the webbing, Arcturus began to gently scrape at the gossamer with the dirk’s blade. It was hard to tell if it was having any effect, but it would not do to reveal his weapon to Charles. His only chance now was the element of surprise. He had to keep the young noble talking until he was free.
    â€˜How’s it looking, Rook?’ Charles called, for the pentacle was spitting and sizzling behind them. Arcturus twisted his neck to see Rook’s kneeling figure, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.
    â€˜Five more minutes. I’ve found the Minotaur’s corpse. The Wendigo only took the heart, liver and kidneys. The flesh must have been too tough, it will still be hungry. There’s a trail of blood.’
    Arcturus saw a shard of scrying crystal on the ground between Rook’s hands, flashes of green reflected in it as his demon hunted in the ether. Why on earth were they hunting for the Wendigo, and now of all times? Even Scipio had been afraid of it.
    Arcturus turned back to Charles, who was gently stroking the Arach’s abdomen.
    â€˜Why am I here if I did you a favour by taking Sacha. I’ve caused you no other offence.’ Arcturus felt the first strand of gossamer part, leaving him more room to manoeuvre the blade.
    â€˜It’s not what you’ve done, but what you are. In more ways than one.’ Charles plucked a patch of hair from Anansi and stroked it along Arcturus’s bare arm. It raised a welt of red as it stung the skin, as if he were being stroked by a nettle. ‘Commoners should not be summoners. It upsets the natural order of things. Any commoner planning a revolt against the ruling classes knows they are doomed to failure. But throw common summoners into the mix and suddenly our spellcraft and demons aren’t so scary anymore. That alone should be enough reason to kill you. But it’s not the only one.’
    â€˜Enlighten me then,’ Arcturus said, gritting his teeth as the pain in his arm began to throb. He