FIREFANGED: Demon in Exile

by Rory Surtain

  “Just letting you know that Captain Glenn has reassigned the Scouts to guard this keep while there are dignitaries present. We’ll be covering the keep entrance and this landing throughout the night,” Jacka explained.

  I quickly introduced Yseria and asked that the Scouts coordinate with her and Andy. The dark elves would be splitting shifts in our living room tonight.

  “Very good, sleep well, Vigil.” Duncan offered a huge grin.

  “Mott, I think our boy is going up in the world,” replied Andarion without missing a beat. “I’ll take first shift here. If there is any mayhem bound our way, I’d expect it sooner than later. The heavy weather would make great cover.”

  “Mott, if you would, Vigil Snow has asked that I take all precautions, and I could use a couple more hands to hold down the fort here until things settle down,” I said, handing him a piece of paper. “Please ask Captain Glenn to round those two up and send them my way first thing in the morning.”

  I checked all the rooms and windows on our floor before sitting down with Andy. Yseria had already turned in, and I badly needed to rest. I wasn’t anxious about anyone getting by Master Andarion or the elite Scouts. I just needed to talk.

  “Yseria saw my scars tonight in front of the Vigils, the Duke, and the King’s cousin,” I started in a quiet voice.

  “How did she react?” he asked.

  “I felt her shock, but it quickly changed to a confused mixture of sympathy, disgust, and fear. I don’t want to drive her away.”

  “It’s understandable. I think that Yser’s isolation in Bastian, as well as her great skill with a black blade, has left her vulnerable to the deeper scars of life,” said Andy.

  “I believe that she’s always going to question whether she could do more than just survive,” I replied. “She pushes herself too far sometimes. I bet that is what the King saw, too, when he assigned her to me.”

  “You might be right. I had to stop training Yseria. Not because I was reminded of Jordy, but because I thought that one day, she would undoubtedly have the skill to kill me. Then where would she be?”

  “Not here, that’s for sure, and I think she’ll do well here, given the time to heal,” I suggested quietly.

  “And where is here?” he asked. “Now that you have officially ascended, I don’t see you remaining long in Berykholt with Vigil Snow.”

  “Wherever the Infernal Horde raises its ugly head.”

  “Well, she’ll be safer there with you than in Bastian,” he concluded.

  “Wake me when you change shifts with Yser,” I said, staggering off to bed.

  A gentle knock at the door brought me awake. Dawn’s quiet light seeped through my window. I rose to feel much better rested, yet cursing Andy for letting me sleep the full night. My calf itched with the rapid healing of the gash given by a spider demon’s hook. My brain itched, wondering who would be knocking on my door at this hour. Our bodyguards would typically walk right in.

  I opened the door to see Yseria fronting a room full of rather large bodies.

  “Ara, Vigil Thorn is here, and I thought you might not want to keep her waiting,” she said with a small bow.

  “Friends, especially one that is also my bodyguard, never bow to me,” I told her quietly. “But thank you for waking me,” I said, stepping into the room and still wearing my clothes from the prior evening.

  “Vigil Storm had enough beauty sleep?” called Vigil Thorn. “I’ve just stopped by with a little offer for you. Seeing that you are a bit short on Sentinel bodyguards now, and I’m a bit short on fresh recruits, I’ve decided to lend you Sergeant Volk. Of course, you will have to earn his services first, by meeting me this afternoon for a bit of recruiting. I hear that you are one of the precious few to have built a rapport with Sergeant Masterson. How about it?”

  Volk was imposing. He stood about six-three and was a good sixty pounds heavier than me. Armed and armored, I’d put him in the Hell-knight class. As a veteran Sentinel-Sergeant, he would be invaluable for a newly minted Vigil.

  “I’m in the mood to do some recruiting myself. Courtyard, mid-afternoon?” I said, getting a nod from both the Sergeant and Vigil.

  “Time for breakfast,” crowed Thorn as she herded her men out of the room.

  “What’s all the noise?” Raven peered out the door of her room.

  “I was just lining up a new tutor for Yseria. Someone more her size,” I chuckled.

  I sensed her anxiety at the mention of Yseria.

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  Heading into Raven’s room and closing the door, I answered, “Yseria got a promotion last night. She’s now the bodyguard for Vigil Ara Storm.”

  Raven stepped back and gave me a bow. “You have your House,” she said with a mist in her eyes. “But don’t think for a minute that you’re no longer my Consort and Betrothed.”

  “Not even for a second,” I responded, grabbing her in a reassuring hug that quickly escalated into something more intimate. Her lips covered my mouth, and her breath filled me with a warmth that I’d never experienced. The stinging pain of our shared emptiness slowly eased, and her anxiety disappeared.

  “Don’t overexert yourself, Ara. Our breakfast will be getting cold,” Andy knocked.

  “Let’s get ready and head to breakfast,” I sighed. “It’s going to be an interesting day.”

  Soon enough, we were heading down to the dining room in Snow’s keep, trailing Andarion. I had sent Yseria ahead to rouse Lynda. Sentinel-Scout Pika Havens was just inside the entry door to our keep and looking ready to complete his shift. Drawing Fei-Krull, I tapped the blade of Pika’s hunting knife.

  “Good hunting, Pika.”

  “Good hunting, Storm,” he replied.

  “Pika, do you remember Raven?” I asked. “Raven, Sentinel-Scout Havens was present the night we found you. He even killed one of the demons trailing you.”

  “May I call you Pika?” Rae responded, getting an eager nod from the Scout. “I am indebted to you, Pika. I have a new life because of your courage and dedication.”

  “Any time, ma’am,” said Pika, looking rejuvenated.

  Entering the dining hall, we found Yser and Lynda waiting for us. Lynda hopped up from her seat to give me a smile and a big hug.

  “Vigil Ara Storm,” she said, looking me over. “My father gave me the news. But why are you dressed for war? Aren’t we going into town after breakfast for some new clothes?”

  “Well, I have been informed that my new position doesn’t preclude my prior roles, such as consort to a princess. Another of my roles is acting as a bodyguard to the graceful and elegant daughter of Vigil Snow, so I figured I ought to dress the part,” I replied.

  Lynda blushed, then said, “Who are you fooling? You just like to wear the kit because it makes you look tough.”

  “You think I look tough?” I asked with an eager grin.

  Ouch! Yser poked me in my tender side, making me jump.

  “Looking tough and being tough are two very different things,” said Yser, putting me in my place. “So come on, let’s eat.”

  As we finished breakfast, a pair of Sentinels lugging packs approached our table.

  “Lynda, what a coincidence meeting you here!” said the shorter, more vocal of the pair.

  “I live here, Keil. What brings the Martell brothers to our keep?” she replied, not altogether thrilled.

  “We’ve been assigned to the new Vigil, Vigil Storm,” said Keil. “Have you seen him around?”

  “Certainly. Ara is my bodyguard, after all,” she answered with a smirk, leaving Keil at a complete loss.

  At this point, I stood and held out my hand. “Vigil Ara Storm,” I said, receiving one completely dumbfounded handshake and one more confident one.

  “There are plenty of introductions to go around,” I said to the group. “This is Keil Martell and his younger brother Sevin, Sentinel-Adepts from the recent Spring class. They come highly recommended. As Lynda already stated, I do consider mysel
f her personal bodyguard, but that pretty much goes for everyone here in my Company. This is Raven Ylamil, youngest daughter to the King of Bastian. She is my Betrothed.”

  I paused to let that sink in for Keil, before continuing. He nodded his approval.

  “The white-haired beauty standing next to you is Yseria, my personal bodyguard, and next to her is Andarion, Raven’s cousin and bodyguard. All three of them carry elven black blades and have used them to kill demons. Please respect their skills and loyalty.”

  Thankfully, both brothers nodded in agreement at that request. It was the foundation for my new House.

  “As you can see, we are a small company, and I'm happy to have you with us. Any questions?” I finished.

  Sevin asked, “What are our duties.” He carried a heavy axe across his back, while Keil preferred the quicker, lighter version.

  “We will have additional Sentinels joining us later today, but in the meantime, personal security is the priority, so let’s get you sorted out in our rooms and kitted up. The ladies want to go into town.”

  The morning passed in relative ease. After assigning rooms to Keil and Sevin, and sitting through another examination by Doctor Loeb, we walked into town. Visiting two different tailors and a leatherworks shop, we sorted new clothes and leathers for Yser and Andy as well as something a bit finer for me to wear during tomorrow night’s dinner event. Exile rated a brand new scabbard that ran across my back, putting the weapon’s handle just above my right shoulder for easy access. Fei-Krull, my fang-dagger, still fit snugly across my lower back.

  Raven suggested that I have an insignia made for my new House. She borrowed my half-moon pin to use as an example and disappeared into a metalworks shop with Lynda. Keil went inside while Andy, Yser, Sevin, and I waited out front, enjoying the fresh morning air and getting to know the newest member of Company Storm.

  Where Keil was talkative and brash, Sevin talked with his eyes and the direction they chose. He was a bit taller than me, with a strong resemblance to his older brother, but considerably more perceptive and shy. I could feel his discomfort, his lack of experience with the fairer sex matching mine. He had a hard time looking at Yseria until she playfully asked him to show her his weapon. He complied, carefully handing her his heavy axe, and accepting her black blade in return. He was impressed.

  The rainstorm had passed overnight, and we watched a steady flow of visitors emerge in Berykholt. Several recruits were out walking with family or girlfriends, and the inn across the way was running a hectic business.

  At least one person of significance was leaving town. A dozen blue-clad horse troopers trotted down the busy street, heading away from the Castle. Their perfectly groomed horses, shining breastplates, and heavy swords separated them from the usual Sentinel horsemen. In their midst rode the finely-dressed Lord Roger Small, Judge of Maidenhall, with his small retinue. The King’s cousin signaled a halt as the group was about to pass us and turned his horse my way. Contrary to his name, he wasn’t a small man, in physical stature or presence. He was about my height, and his black hair and dark brown eyes added to his solemn demeanor.

  “Vigil Storm, I would like to congratulate you on your official Ascension,” he spoke from his horse.

  “Thank you, your Lordship,” I said, fighting the urge to bow. “Heading home so soon?” I asked.

  “Duty calls. I believe we are in a similar line of work, you and I. Maidenhall is mine to protect,” he said with a familiar certainty.

  “I have not had the honor of seeing its walls.”

  Small leaned forward. “If you don’t mind, would you please show me your knife?” he asked.

  I pulled out Fei-Krull and handed it up without hesitation. “What do you think? Ever seen the like?”

  And here, he surprised me. He sniffed it. His eyes narrowed, and I felt a small tremor of fear and sadness run through him. He returned it to me, stone-faced.

  “It would be an honor if you would find your way south to Maidenhall in the coming months. I can be found at Sturgess Courthouse, and I believe we could be of great service to each other.”

  With that, he turned and resumed his long ride home.

  The afternoon found me escorting Vigil Thorn into the Sentinel-Recruit barracks for a meeting with Sergeant Caleb Masterson. The Summer class promotion was upon us, and he had nowhere to hide.

  “Sergeant, I’d like to introduce you to Vigil Akila Thorn. We’re both interested in hearing your recommendations for recruiting from the Summer class.”

  “Well, we do have a few alpha ducks about to be hatched,” he replied. “As far as I know, a couple of them are already spoken for by a certain young Vigil, but this is a strong class with plenty of good eggs to choose.”

  And here he sent out Sentinel-Sergeant Tomkins with a list of a dozen recruits to round up. As expected, I officially snagged Gunner Trew and Brandon Hicks before Akila signed up another ten, including the long-armed Jayl Griffen. Vigil Thorn was actively defending the heavily wooded East region of Colivar from recurring demonic hordes and was in dire need of worthy replacements. She relied on Vigil Snow and Vigil Stone in the West to organize and train more Sentinel recruits. Stone was known to produce exceptional riders and cavalry troopers that were better suited to the terrain of the West, Center, and South of Colivar.

  As promised, Sergeant Gregor Volk also returned to my keep as the newest member of House Storm. He took charge of my four young Sentinels, and each would have a private room in our keep. For the time being, all five Sentinels would be working as part of my security detail, though their training would still be focused on the Order’s techniques and tactics for fighting demons. I planned to include my dark elf bodyguards and Raven in my advanced Sentinel training and augment that further with my own experience and expertise. I was sure that their skill and the hardness of their dark blades would complement the shields and axes of my Sentinels well.

  For the first time in my life, I enjoyed the beauty of the moment, the camaraderie of my peers. I was seated in the place of honor, between Duke Ragir and Vigil Snow, with Raven and Lynda directly across the table. As the formal dinner ended, Vigil Snow officially announced my Ascension as Vigil Ara Storm and presented me with a token of office. The gold coin had the symbol of the Order of the Vigil on one side and a lightning bolt crossing a half-moon on the other. It would allow me, if ever challenged, to show my Vigil bona fides without having to remove my shirt.

  On our way back from the recruits’ barracks, Vigil Thorn had told me that the Vigil marks were much more than just scars and that I had been a Vigil in everything but name from the moment the branding took place in Lockrun. Vigil Snow had had his reasons for hiding the fact from all, but a trusted few, and his explanation, ‘It was necessary,’ still echoed in my mind. That simple statement taught me more about being a Vigil than anything else I’d learned over the past couple of months.

  Raven and Lynda wished me a happy eighteenth birthday and gave me a small wooden box. It contained a few dozen silver badges, lightning over a black half-moon, to identify members of my new House. I pinned a badge onto each of their dresses in honor of the place they held in my life.

  As the evening wound down, my thoughts ran back to my friend Cat back in Lockrun. We would always celebrate our birthdays together. She would be turning twelve this week, and I hadn’t had a chance to get her a real birthday gift. Suddenly, my vision went dark, and I had a heavy feeling of dread, of immense terror. The sudden feeling shocked me so much that I had to sit down and concentrate on keeping my dinner in place. I gasped as the scars on my chest and shoulder flared to life in a searing pain.

  “Ara, are you alright?” asked Raven.

  I shook my head, unable to speak, unable to see anything but the face of Cat, her eyes closed. Reaching out, I grabbed Rae’s hand and began to count in my head. Finally, my vision cleared, and I regained a hold on myself.

  Looking to Vigil Snow, I coughed, “It’s Lockrun. Something’s terribly wrong.”


  Chapter 21

  A Return trip to hell

  Emotions ran wild in the meeting room, mostly mine. Glenn and Loeb were here, along with Duke Ragir, and the other two Vigils. Raven clung to my side as I struggled to control my temper. Thorn fought the urge to take charge. Snow, for once, was at a loss, and I could sense the deep-seated fear he tried to hide.

  “What are the chances of another outbreak so soon after the last?” I pressed.

  “We don’t even know if there is an outbreak. We’ll have to send Scouts to investigate further before mobilizing,” said Snow. “How certain are you of this?”

  “Certain enough to go myself. I’ll ride with your Scouts,” I said.

  “Perhaps it isn’t a large outbreak. You would have both noticed that,” said Loeb. “And it wouldn’t take that many demons to threaten Lockrun and its small militia.”

  “The area was fully cleansed when we left a month ago,” added Glenn. “Could it be stragglers emerging from caves?”

  “Lockrun has walls made of timber. There aren’t than many mines in the area,” I said. “Maybe it’s much worse. It could be Bastian all over again.”

  “That would be a worst-case scenario with too many perils to name,” said Snow. “Ara, please take your whole team and a couple of Corbin’s scouts. They’ll be able to get you there in less than a week with everyone riding hard.”

  We left Berykholt at dawn, leaving nothing of ours behind, well, except for one thing. I had handed Lynda a small wrapped bundle containing a pair of golden amulets and asked her to keep them safely hidden in her keep. They were too valuable to risk falling into the wrong hands. Each member of my small team of five Sentinels and three dark elves carried the small Storm badge on their left breast. I carried a different storm locked inside, fighting to save it for the demonic plague that I was sure had invaded Lockrun.

  Corbin had offered us Mott Duncan to act as lead Scout and guide us on our trip to Lockrun. Mott also brought Sentinel-Scout Ernest Tappen, one of his day patrol troopers. I had ridden with Tappen before and was glad to have the familiar face. Our path would be fastest following the road south toward Stonnberg, then cutting east onto the road to Lockrun. The rough terrain of the Southern Everest range left us little in the way of shortcuts.