My Sparkling Misfortune (The Lakeland Knight) Read Online Free

captured by a human is considered such a bad thing, who knows, maybe the other gormack will forget whatever disagreement they had and choose to help out. On the other hand, gormacks are evil spirits. "Evil" and "help out" don't go together.
    I figured I'd have to risk it.
    Three and a half minutes...
Three forty five
...
Three fifty
. Now!
    I leapt out of the bushes, ran in the water, and grabbed the orange one from the back. I wanted him, of course, since he'd proved to be stronger. After the half-second of the initial surprise, the gormack began to struggle; I held him with all my might. The blue one let out a triumphant laugh.
    "That's what you get for messing with me!"
    Whew. I was right. He wasn't helping.
    The blue gormack hurried to get out of the lake.
    "What are you doing, silly mortal?!" the orange one demanded. "Let me go!"
    "I don't think so," I answered, fighting hard to keep hold of him. He was still very strong, just as the scribe had warned. I strained my every muscle to its limit, hardly able to breathe. I was sure glad I didn't go for the big purple guy!
    "What do you want?!"
    Oh, so he wouldn't threaten me? And wouldn't offer anything? He's already asking what I want? The fellow was getting desperate... which meant I could ask for a little more.
    "Six years of your service."
    The blue one laughed from the shore. "Happy captivity!" he shouted. "I hope you will think of me every miserable day!"
    Crack! He was gone.
    My gormack was supposed to be growing weaker each second, but I couldn't feel it. He swung me like a rag, trying to break free, and my arms were getting numb, but, somehow, I still held on.
    "Six years of service!" I repeated. "I will not release you until you pledge it!"
    Did he really stagger, just a little, or was I imagining it?...
    I wasn't.
    "Very well. Be it as you wish."
    He agreed!! My overstrained muscles begged for a break, but I couldn't let go of him yet; that would be a fatal mistake. I had to seal the deal.
    "So do you promise to serve me faithfully for six years?"
    "Within the laws of both worlds, that of spirits and of men, yes."
    Within the laws, well, that was fine. The scribe had told me about that. No spirit could break those laws.
    "To act in my best interests?"
    "Yes."
    "Not to lie to me?"
    "Yes."
    "And never seek retaliation for being captured?"
    "Yes."
    "Abyss take you if you break your word?"
    "Naturally."
    Naturally? Was he leaving some kind of a loophole?
    "No tricks! Say, 'Yes, I promise, the abyss takes me if I break my word!'"
    He said it.
    At last, I could loosen the grip. Oh, my arms, shoulders, back... They'd be aching for days.
    The spirit waded to the shore. I cautiously followed, still unable to fully believe it. I did it, didn't I? I had a gormack now. My own, for six full years.
    He sat down on the sand. I figured I'd give him time to accept the unfortunate change in circumstances. I could use some rest as well, so I lowered myself on a large rock a couple of steps away and looked at my prize. As I have said earlier, he could easily pass for a man, especially now that he'd stopped glowing--a lean young fellow with well-defined features, dressed in a short tunic, breeches, and tall boots. His hair was still flaming orange, but his skin turned the color of regular human tan. I waited for the glow to return, but minutes passed, and it was not happening. Was something wrong?
    "Your glow is gone," I said. "I hope you have not lost all your strength."
    He looked up at me and, quite unexpectedly, grinned.
    "That would be a disappointment, wouldn't it? Don't worry, it's just because I am settling in the physical world."
    Well, at least he was not too upset about it.
    "Has this happened to you for the first time?"
    "I would think those to whom it had happened once will not come to the lake again."
    "You have a point." I looked him over again and noticed that he had no weapon. "Where is your sword?"
    "Always with me." With that, the shining orange blade showed up in his