FIREFANGED: Demon in Exile

by Rory Surtain

  “Certainly,” she remarked on her way out the door.

  “Lynda, I would love to meet your brother when he arrives this afternoon,” I said.

  “Sure, Ara. See you later.”

  “And Raven, would you please sit with me for a while?” I asked. “There is so much that we need to discuss.”

  Chapter 19

  The best part

  Outside my window, a late afternoon sun warmed the courtyard while a blurring staccato rhythm of dark metal striking against dark metal lulled me into a light sleep. Raven had stayed by my side throughout the afternoon. With her exile rescinded and my Sentinel enlistment ceremony at hand, we had talked about each other’s plans for the future.

  I had been sure that Raven would be heading home soon with Andy. She had a place in the House of Ylamil, and her family wanted her there. What I hadn’t recognized fully was the unforgivable pain that the abrupt exile had caused her. The line of Ylamil had been incredibly desperate to sever her from the family, and only time could heal the scars that were left on her spirit.

  In my heart, I knew that I wanted to continue our betrothal. A connection like that held so much value for both of us, as scarred and disjointed as we were. Sure, we had only known each other for mere days, but I had shown Rae my ugliest side, and she had reached out for me just as I had tried to aid her in her darkest time. I vowed that I would always try to protect her and knew that she would do the same.

  I was the last of my line. I intended to start a new House and wanted her to be a big part of it. “The best part” was her response. Her beauty and her surety took my breath away. I told her so. That earned me a kiss, which removed all doubt from my mind about my recent decisions.

  Finally, we touched on a sensitive subject. Raven was very familiar with Yseria Warric and knew that she could be serious trouble. Yser wasn’t family to anyone, a rogue, and that was grounds for conflict in the eyes of dark elves. Yseria was permanently severed from her line by the death of her parents. She was doing her best to survive. I respected her effort and connected with her on a level that many others had ignored. She deserved my protection, and she would have it.

  Raven confirmed the tale of Jordarion’s death and how it had driven a wedge between Andarion, the master, and Yseria, the student. Yseria had been betrothed to Andy’s brother Jordarion. With Jordy’s death from the bite of a spider-demon, she lost not only her love but her chance for a lasting connection to another dark elf line.

  The fact that she had been Andarion’s understudy with the sword might have been some help. There was a respect there between them. But training together reminded both Andy and Yser of their terrible loss. They hadn’t spoken honestly to each other in over a year. The on-going rhythm of strikes and counter-strikes in the courtyard below led me to hope that maybe they had gotten to the point of reconnecting.

  Doctor Loeb arrived to check on me. He let us know that a sizeable formal dinner was planned for the evening two days hence to cap off the Summer promotion celebration with all dignitaries being present. A full day of rest and decent food had done wonders for my physical well-being. I could almost stand up straight again, and my calf had finally stopped leaking blood.

  Lynda arrived shortly before dusk to invite Rae and me to an informal dinner in their keep’s dining room. We would meet her and her brother there as soon as I got dressed and collected Andy and Yseria.

  Meryl Snow was vastly different from his father, and his role as a liaison in the Duke’s court seemed a great fit. He was tall and thin with intense green eyes, reddish-blonde hair, and a warm smile. As opposed to many of us in the dining room, he appeared entirely unarmed, that is, if his charm wasn’t a weapon.

  “My sister has told me much about you, Raven, but she hasn’t mentioned that you had a sister with you, and a striking one at that,” said Meryl.

  He turned his smile towards Yseria.

  Meryl was wedged between the two dark elves, sitting across the table from us. I reached for Raven’s hand under the table and squeezed it gently in a plea for support.

  “While she isn’t actually my sister, Meryl, we are closely connected through family and friends,” Rae spoke with a nod toward Yser, who was still at a complete loss to Meryl’s compliment. “In fact, it was my father, King Ylamil, that recommended her service as bodyguard to my Betrothed.”

  Smooth. I hadn’t forgotten that Raven grew up in the court of her father and would know how to speak their language. She had just answered Meryl’s unspoken question of where Yseria fit in the scheme of things by declaring support for Yser from three different persons of influence. It was as gentle a hands-off as I’ve ever seen. It brought an even stronger grin to Meryl’s face.

  Before this conversation could progress further, I changed the subject, “And where is the Duke this evening?”

  “He’s meeting with my father now. It seems there are some serious threats and rumors of threats rolling around the Vigil these days. The Duke is concerned, to say the least,” answered Meryl. “And there is talk of the King becoming involved.”

  “Will the King be coming here?” I asked.

  “No, but his representative is due to arrive tomorrow with Vigil Thorn. There’s even word of a third Vigil coming to Berykholt for the promotion ceremony. Things are heating up.”

  “Is that why there are so many new guards walking around the courtyard?” Lynda asked. “Wouldn’t Captain Glenn’s House Guards be sufficient for the castle’s security?”

  “Some in the land of Colivar don’t value the Vigil’s work and look to promote their interests. Some might even act in more aggressive ways. But don’t worry, my dear sister, while I can see that Ara has his dedicated bodyguards, I will protect you,” and here he thumped his chest with his thin-fingered fist. I almost winced at the gesture.

  “And there he goes, taunting the most dangerous person in the room,” said Lynda with a roll of her eyes.

  “I am glad that someone is watching over her, and I would count that person a friend,” I said, looking back at Meryl. “Even with all our bodyguards, the care that Lynda has shown Raven and me is very much appreciated.”

  Turning to his sister, I continued, “Lynda, I'm sorry that I haven’t been a very good friend to you. I know that I haven’t been as open and honest as I should be, but you are very much under my protection, and I hope we find more time to spend together before duty drags us away.”

  I reached my arm around Lynda’s shoulders and gave her a gentle hug. I didn’t have the smooth tongue of a diplomat but meant what I said.

  “I take it that same sentiment doesn’t extend to my father as well,” said Meryl, ever perceptive.

  “Let’s just say that we have a working relationship,” I replied. “When it comes to fighting the Horde, your father knows his business and his weapons well.”

  “I see,” he replied.

  I sincerely hoped that he didn’t.

  Andarion took that moment to stand up and clear his throat. Heading our way was the Duke of Stonnberg himself, with a mean-looking pair of bodyguards at his back. The bodyguards wore armor similar to ours, with leather over chainmail, but their use of swords instead of axes told me that they weren’t from the Order. More likely, they came from the Ducal Army. They halted a dozen feet from us, while the Duke approached.

  “Dear Lynda, you grow more lovely every time we meet,” said the Duke. “I’ve just come from a meeting with your father, and he suggested that I meet your acquaintances.”

  And here, Meryl smoothly stepped in to make introductions, completely ignoring the dark elves by his side.

  “Duke Ragir, here we have Raven Ylamil, daughter to the King of Bastian in Everest and her consort, Ara.”

  At the word consort, Lynda gently put her hand on my arm, just in case.

  “Well met, young lady. I have not had the pleasure to meet a member of your family, but my grandfather often spoke highly of the time he met the King of Bastian.”

  “The plea
sure is mine, Duke Ragir. I look forward to speaking with you at the promotion celebration dinner this week,” my Betrothed replied as a lady of the Court.

  At that moment, the doors to the dining room burst open, showing a large group of new faces.

  The Duke quickly nodded to Raven and excused himself, heading over to intercept the new arrivals, pulling Meryl with him. We were well placed to catch all the events of the evening.

  “Consort!?” I said under my breath.

  “You would make a wonderful consort,” whispered Rae into my ear.

  Okay, I did sort of like the sound of that.

  Lynda quickly added, “Ara, whenever dealing with dignitaries such as the Duke, the best strategy is to always remain as inconspicuous as possible.”

  Across the room, a woman had entered, fresh from the road and wearing most of it. The Duke had stepped into her path.

  “Where is he?” she stated loudly into the Duke’s face, trying to get by him into the room.

  The Duke held his ground, pointing back out the door and up the stairs. His bodyguards had begun to advance when three even larger men pushed their way into the room behind the woman. The heads of heavy axes peered over their shoulders.

  “It appears that Vigil Thorn has arrived early,” I said.

  “I guess she wanted to beat the storm that’s rolling in from the West,” said Andarion.

  Where Vigil Snow would bring an air of authority and calm to any room, Thorn brought energy and command. It felt like a spark to a dry match.

  “Do you think that she’s come here to recruit?” asked Raven with a look of concern.

  “It would seem so,” I said. “And Thorn’s group will be staying in our keep along with the Duke.”

  Meryl had somehow placed himself in the middle of the scrum and managed to get Vigil Thorn turned around and headed out the door. For a man that likely couldn’t lift a heavy axe, he wasn’t at all intimidated by the group of hardened Sentinels.

  “If Thorn has arrived, that means that the King’s representative is also here,” said Lynda. “It might be a good time for us to slip out. I wouldn’t mind relaxing in your living room, away from the action, that is unless Raven has other plans for her consort.”

  “Lynda, have I told you that I love you,” said Andarion, his eyes bursting with laughter.

  Who said dark elves don’t have a sense of humor?

  We all returned to our floor and camped out around the living room. My body was still healing, and I needed to take it easy.

  “How was your work out today, Andy?” I asked.

  “Surprisingly refreshing.”

  It didn’t seem to surprise anyone when Captain Glenn arrived an hour later with an escort and a summons for me to attend Vigil Snow. I asked Yseria to go with me. Bodyguards seemed to be accepted throughout the castle tonight, and I didn’t feel like facing a pair of Vigils alone.

  Arriving with Glenn and Yseria at the door to Vigil Snow’s meeting room, we were held up by the gaze of several familiar bodyguards standing outside. Meryl was waiting there as well. From inside the room, we could hear the loud voice of Vigil Thorn railing away about barbarians of all things.

  “The girl will have to wait out here with us,” said one of the Ducal guards.

  “No, she won’t,” I responded, and then nodded to Captain Glenn to proceed.

  He surprised me by unlocking the door. Once Yser and I had entered, he locked it again from the outside. The room became silent, and we were faced with the two Vigils, Duke Ragir of Stonnberg, and a fourth, a man dressed expensively in black.

  I could hear the storm now, arriving with a crash of lightning. Driving rain pounded against the window, masking our words from the many interested ears outside the locked door.

  In a low-key voice, Vigil Snow made introductions.

  “Ara, I would like you to meet Vigil Akila Thorn and Duke Ragir, as well as Lord Roger Small, the Honorable Judge of Maidenhall and first cousin to the King of Colivar. Vigil Thorn and I were just discussing you and your future and thought it prudent that you be here.”

  And here he offered Vigil Thorn a look of remorse.

  If Duke Ragir was at all surprised to see the consort of an Ylamil princess standing before him, he hid it well. Vigil Thorn looked slightly less dusty than when I saw her earlier, and I realized that a good deal of her darker complexion wasn’t actually dust from the road. She was half dark-elf, and I thought that they were supposed to be rare. What came next shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did.

  “Ara, I am so glad to finally meet you,” Vigil Thorn greeted me in a much more calm and quiet voice. “Now, please remove your shirt.”

  I looked to Vigil Snow, and he nodded, “Please, Ara, the door is locked.”

  I looked back at Yseria and her look of confusion. “Just remember what I said about getting to know each other better,” I said to her.

  I stripped off my leather armband, leather shirt, and undershirt. Taken as a whole, I was a mess. My left side still radiated a broad spectrum of hues. My left arm looked like a rabid dog had been gnawing on it like a bone. My back boasted several parallel foot-long scars from upper left to lower right. First and last of all, I wore the angry red branding scars of the Vigil on my right breast and shoulder blade.

  “There’s more that I could show you, but there are ladies present,” I said sardonically.

  “Snow, you are barbaric,” whispered Thorn, seething with disgust. “You gave him the marks but not the name.”

  Snow looked placid. Duke Ragir looked pale. Lord Small looked intrigued, but I wasn’t sure. He was surprisingly difficult to read.

  I couldn’t see Yseria, but I could sense the shock and the pity that she felt, along with her revulsion and fear. It rolled off of her in waves. She was my bodyguard without a scratch on the outside. Her pristine condition had only made things harder for her on the inside.

  “Yser, I very much need you to be here. Just take a deep breath,” I told her quietly.

  “Okay,” she said, moving away from the door.

  Vigil Thorn stepped forward and gently placed her hand on my left arm, covering my puncture scars.

  “What does the amulet signify?” she asked.

  “That I'm the consort of Raven Ylamil. She is a daughter of the King of Bastian.”

  “It smells of shamanic magic.”

  “Yes, it does,” I agreed.

  “May I see your knife?” she asked.

  “Its name is Fei-Krull. It was a Kjaira of some renown in Hell,” I explained as I handed her the weapon.

  “And how do you know this?” she replied. She sniffed the fang.

  “Shamanic magic of Bastian. The dark elves use it to defend their city. They recently tracked down a demonic portal in the mountains close to their city, and I led a team of elves into a demon-infested cave to destroy it. Did you know that man-made altars could act as portals from Hell?” I finally asked.

  “Why do you think I'm so busy in the jungles to the East? The place is swarming with insane heretics and devil worshipers,” she answered as thunder shook our window.

  She handed back my knife and let go of my arm. Turning to Vigil Snow, she said, “Storm, now.”

  Snow acquiesced. “Storm,” he replied. Looking to the Duke and the Judge, he said, “Gentlemen, you are each a witness to the Ascension of Vigil Ara Storm.”

  The Duke and Judge each bowed in my direction.

  “Forgive me, Ara. It was necessary,” said Snow, bowing to me as well.

  Vigil Thorn motioned Yseria forward, scooping up and handing her my clothes. “Please help Vigil Storm get dressed,” she said.

  Outside, the rain continued to pound in a determined manner, yet failing to drown out the beating of my heart.

  Chapter 20

  Changing shifts

  Lightning flashed outside, casting hard shadows at my sudden Ascension. Vigil Snow unlocked and opened the door, inviting Captain Glenn inside, while Duke Ragir and Judge Small hurrie
d away with their guard escorts. Glenn gave me a bow and then clapped me on the back before rushing out. Vigil Thorn’s bodyguards had come into the room. Thorn introduced me to Sentinels Volk, Peeler, and Timms, who all bowed and then shook my hand.

  Introductions continued as I presented the diminutive Yseria all around. The size difference was almost comical when compared to Thorn’s men, but Yseria was now the sole bodyguard of a Vigil. The three massive Sentinels each gave her a respectful nod. I surprised Yser with a hug and thanked her for being there.

  Thorn gave me an emotional bow and a hug. She was a formidable woman and surprisingly hard to read in-depth for one that wore her mood so openly. There was a brazen hardness about her, a wall of protection around her heart that struck a familiar chord. I was immediately glad to have met her.

  Vigil Snow had one warning for us before we left. “There are now three Vigils present in Berykholt, and the Ascension of a Vigil always draws unwanted attention, no matter how secret we have tried to keep it. It is when a Vigil is most vulnerable. We must take precautions to maintain our safety and the safety of those around us.”

  It was still cats and dogs outside, but I wanted to get back to the others and share the news. I said good night and walked out with Yseria. We ran across the courtyard in the pouring rain and up a flight of stairs to our rooms. It was late, and the shared living room was empty. I peeked into Raven’s bedroom and found her asleep. Much to my relief Andy was on duty, sitting by her bed. I waved him out to talk.

  “Is she okay?” I asked.

  “She still has trouble falling asleep on her own. Physically she has recovered, but her ordeal weighs heavily on her, and she is still very much reduced by it.”

  “Well, something has happened, and we’re going to have to increase our security immediately,” I said, just as we heard a knock on the door from the stairwell.

  Not feeling anything amiss, I opened the door to Sentinels Duncan and Jacka on the landing.