Impossible Castle (Guardian of the Realm Book 1)

by M. Gregg Roe

  He couldn’t stop thinking about it as he watched Vurk wrap up the hourglass and then record the result of today’s experiment in a small notebook. He felt a disproportionate sense of urgency. None of the villagers seemed to be in imminent danger, but he wanted to do something now. And thanks to Audrey, he had the means to perhaps aid them.

  During the walk back to the keep, he described what had occurred.

  “It seems like it should work,” Vurk mused. “You’d mix blood from one of them with… Hmm, I wonder what kind would be best.”

  That was one issue that Ferikellan had been pondering. “We will begin by trying my blood.” As both an elf and a spell-caster, his blood should certainly serve.

  That evening, as he watched the sunset from the keep’s large roof, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. Audrey had put an end to an avenue of research that he now doubted would ever have succeeded. The Gray Potion represented a fresh approach, and one that demonstrably worked. It would serve as a new foundation.

  Ferikellan went downstairs to the laboratory and began to make notes. He had a potion to formulate and a village of brethren to aid.

  [ 10 ]

  The Summoning

  Shielded by invisibility magic, Aliva watched as the five people danced, each holding in their left hand a black candle topped with sputtering blue flame. They carefully avoided the elaborate designs painted onto the stone floor with bright white paint. Their nude bodies bore decorations in red paint, probably intended to mimic blood. The designs were all curves—arcs, spirals, and circles. Three men and two women were attempting a summoning, following the instructions in a book that was sitting open atop a podium in the corner opposite Aliva. Fat black candles with reddish flames burned atop small tables shoved into the other two corners. Despite the elaborate rituals, Aliva was unconcerned. A real summoning of something like a demon or devil required none of what the five were doing. That required both strong magic and real blood, maybe even some kind of sacrifice. These people were simply playing around. She wouldn’t be at all surprised if their activities transitioned into an orgy of some sort.

  “Was this place a temple?” Aliva asked, sotto voce. It was in ruins now, but what remained of the old stone building still had a certain majesty.

  It used to be my temple, the goddess replied with a note of amusement.

  Something bad had obviously happened to it, but Aliva decided not to ask. “Are you going to tell me why I’m here? I could pretend that they summoned me.” That would be fun. She could even appear nude and in her original form.

  That will not be necessary. Do not interfere. The thoughts had the force of a command.

  “Then why am I here?” Aliva whispered as the dancers began to gyrate, flinging their arms wide and causing the candle flames to brighten.

  To prevent additional deaths, came Lasrina’s flat reply.

  The words chilled Aliva’s heart, but not as much as what she could now sense. Something was forming in the center of the room, a writhing knot of magical distortion that was attracting the smoke from the candles. And there was a rhythmic sound, the kind felt more than heard. It shouldn’t have been possible, but there was no doubt. The five had summoned a demon, one far too powerful for Aliva to handle. At the moment she couldn’t even move, paralyzed not by fear, but by the sheer magnitude of the black magic now flooding the room.

  “How?” Aliva gasped, no longer worried about being overheard. The dancers were frantic now, shedding sprays of sweat and seemingly no longer in control of their bodies. Dropped as if forgotten, the candles remained both unbroken and burning.

  The candles contain the blood of a newborn, as does their body paint, the goddess explained. And one of them has actual knowledge of the proper rituals. They have all pledged their servitude in exchange for a boon.

  Aliva doubted they understand the true implications of their pledge. The service would follow their now-imminent deaths. And it would not be in this world, but in the demon realm. That was where Aliva had been born and raised, and she had no desire to ever return. Half-demons were not popular there.

  The arrival struck Aliva like a physical blow, causing her to take a step back and shredding her invisibility spell like wet paper. In the center of the square room reared a marilith, a demon possessing considerable magical abilities but who was also well-versed in physical combat. The demon’s upper body was that of a nude woman, with yellowish skin, pendulous breasts, and three arms on each side of the torso. Below that was reptilian, the rear half of a huge green snake, scaled and over five yards long. The tail twitched back and forth in a mesmerizing fashion. Her face had a cruel look, with thin lips and eyes as dark as her long, stringy hair.

  The five humans remained motionless, staring raptly at their doom. Of the candles, there was no sign. The hilts of curved swords with ragged edges were suddenly in all six of the demon’s hands. Aliva closed her eyes and looked away as the slaughter began. But she could still hear the blood-curdling screams and meaty sounds as enchanted swords hacked through flesh and bone. The only mercy was that it was quick.

  After opening her eyes, Aliva found herself wishing that she couldn’t see so well in dim illumination. All five of the people were now in multiple pieces, and the floor was awash with blood and viscera. Wincing at both the sight and smell of the slaughter, she saw that the demon’s swords had vanished.

  “Kindred, what is your purpose here?” The deep voice was in the demon tongue. Its liquid notes filled the room, echoing off the walls and making Aliva’s skull vibrate unpleasantly.

  “I was told to be here,” Aliva replied in the same language, knowing that she spoke it poorly.

  The blood-spattered creature slithered in her direction. “For what purpose?” the demon demanded.

  “To be your guide,” Aliva was surprised to hear herself answer. Lasrina rarely took control like that.

  “That was not you,” the demon stated, coming to a stop three yards away and staring with dead eyes. “I recognize you, Weaver.”

  Aliva hesitated before answering herself. Lasrina was sometimes referred to as the Weaver of Fates, which was definitely an apt description. “That was her, but it’s me now. I serve her. My name is Aliva.”

  “I am known as Zyrahi.” The demon’s form suddenly shimmered into that of a nude human woman with the normal number of arms and without the blood spatter. “This form appears adequate,” she commented in a normal voice and in the local language. She put her right hand to her face and moved it around, exploring her features.

  Despite the change, Aliva could still sense the demon’s power. “Yes, that’s fine. What did those five ask of you?”

  Zyrahi dropped her hand and broke into a slightly crooked, amused smile. “They wished to become demons, and they shall. But not powerful ones.”

  They would become dretch, the lowest of the low. It was possible that some of them might eventually transform into more powerful demons, but it wasn’t likely. Dretch generally had short lifespans.

  Pointing just left of the room’s only door, Aliva said, “They left their clothes over there.”

  Zyrahi glanced down at her nude body. “I will require your assistance.”

  “Of course.” Aliva led the way.

  The clothes had been tossed haphazardly onto the floor. The leather shoes, white cotton underwear, and scarlet dress that Aliva found fit Zyrahi’s new body perfectly. Only then did she realize that the demon had taken the form of one of those that she had slain, a woman in her thirties with shoulder-length dark hair, swarthy skin, ice-blue eyes, and a slim but shapely build.

  “This feels odd,” Zyrahi said, fingering the dress’s high neckline. “But I will no doubt adjust in time.”

  Aliva was busy looking through the rest of the clothing for coins or other valuables. She would use some to pay for her trip home and donate the rest to the local temples. “How long are you planning to stay?” she asked. She might need to buy Zyrahi more clothing.

  Zyrahi’s frown
looked odd. “I intend to spend some time here. Are there any wars in progress nearby?”

  The question didn’t surprise Aliva at all. Demon armies were invariably commanded by mariliths. That was their primary purpose.

  “Not that I know of,” Aliva replied. “It’s peaceful at the moment. I do know someone who used to command armies, but…”

  “Yes?” Now Zyrahi was tugging at the dress’s left sleeve. She obviously wasn’t used to wearing clothing.

  Aliva stood up and placed the coins and jewelry she had found in her belt pouch. “He has a sword that’s enchanted to kill demons and similar creatures. Permanently kill them.”

  Zyrahi waved a hand dismissively. “That proves that he is worthy of consultation. I merely wish to discuss strategies and battle tactics, not engage the man in combat.”

  Mariliths really were different from most demons, many of whom killed for pleasure. “He lives in a different city,” Aliva told her. “It’s a long trip upriver by ship.”

  Powerful demons teleported when they needed to travel significant distances, but that wouldn’t work inside Andoran’s Realm. Aliva thought about offering to fly Zyrahi, but decided that she would rather have time to figure out what to do. There were important people who would be concerned when they learned there was a powerful demon loose in Andoran’s Realm. And that included Audrey.

  Zyrahi put a hand to either side of her narrow waist. “I am in no hurry. And I have never traveled by ship before. I look forward to the experience.”

  “Just a minute.”

  Aliva walked over and examined the book that the summoners had brought. The cover appeared to be made from skin, possibly from a human or something similar. And it was definitely old. Not wanting to leave behind something so dangerous, she bundled the book up in a dark blue shirt that had belonged to one of the slain men. She would either pass it on to someone she trusted or destroy it.

  After they both exited the room, Aliva pointed her right arm through the doorway and cast the most powerful Fireball spell she was capable of. And then twice more until the bodies were thoroughly incinerated. It was all she could do for them now. Their fates had been sealed.

  Only when the two of them were alone in their cabin could Aliva finally relax. Zyrahi had insisted that they walk to the docks, and that had been an ordeal. The disguised demon wanted to see everything, to go into shops, to try a variety of food and drink. It had not only taken until nearly midnight, but attracted unwanted attention from the seedier elements. Aliva had dealt with those, raising her glamour until they willingly did whatever she suggested, which was usually to get lost. Zyrahi found it amusing, laughing in a manner that really didn’t sound human.

  Even though Zyrahi’s natural form resembled a human from the waist up, she confessed that she had never taken on the form of one before. Fortunately, she learned quickly, deferring to Aliva’s expertise without question. Surprised, Aliva finally asked Zyrahi about it.

  “I do regard most half-demons as abominations,” Zyrahi admitted, her eyes on the small porthole. “But you are a special case. Your mother not only took up with a human, but brought him to live in the demon realm. We all heard of it, and I was always curious as to the fate of their offspring.”

  “I ended up here,” Aliva told her. “And I married a human.”

  “But you live apart?” Zyrahi asked, finally looking over.

  “No, we live in a city. The ship will be stopping there on the way.”

  “May I see it?” Zyrahi begged, her eyes bright with hope.

  “Only if you let me get some sleep on the way,” Aliva retorted, then sat down on the lower bunk.

  “Your pardon,” Zyrahi said, bowing awkwardly. “My kind require little sleep. May I go up on top while you rest?”

  “You may go up on deck,” Aliva corrected. “Just try not to talk to anyone. People that talk that fancy tend to be standoffish, so don’t worry about offending anyone.”

  “I speak in the same manner this woman did while alive,” Zyrahi explained. “It is not a choice.”

  “Do you have her memories?” Aliva asked, curious despite her fatigue.

  “I do not.” Zyrahi gestured with her right hand. “I have only her appearance, speech patterns, and mannerisms.”

  Aliva hesitated as she felt the ship lurch. “If anyone asks, just say you’re from Zardis and refuse to provide details.”

  “I shall,” Zyrahi said, moving to the cabin door. “Thank you for your assistance.”

  Less than a minute later, Aliva was stretched out under the light blanket. “You won’t thank me when Mardan cuts you in half with his demon-slaying sword,” she mumbled, then fell into a deep slumber.

  High Witch Ermizad’s pale cheeks colored as her expression went hard. “You brought a demon into my city?” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Where is it?”

  Aliva desperately forced a neutral expression as her stomach churned. “I left her at Mardan’s house. He invited her to stay with him.” That had been unexpected, to say the least.

  “I… Truly? With Mardan?”

  The woman’s stunned expression made Aliva want to laugh, but she didn’t dare.

  “She’s a commander-type demon,” Aliva explained. “They hit it off.” The two of them had been sketching out troop formations on a large piece of parchment when Aliva departed.

  “Of course they did.” Ermizad relaxed and sat back in her chair with her hands in her lap. “Are you going to explain how such a demon came to be in Andoran’s Realm and why you brought it here?”

  Sitting opposite in the woman’s private sitting room within the Witch’s Castle, Aliva paused briefly to collect her thoughts. Ermizad was the hereditary ruler of the Witch’s City, a position passed from mother to daughter for centuries. All witches possessed the power of telekinesis, and most possessed at least one other power. As far as Aliva knew, male offspring of witches exhibited no unusual abilities. Ermizad’s additional power rendered her immune to magical attacks, making her truly one of the most powerful people in the city she ruled.

  Ermizad was nearly forty but looked younger. And she was beautiful, with fierce red hair, bold features, emerald eyes, and a figure that was still shapely despite having birthed two children. The woman had a real presence, an aura of both authority and arrogance.

  Aliva omitted all mention of Lasrina in her explanation, instead implying that she had sensed the coming summoning and gone to investigate. Zyrahi she described fully, including what she could remember of a marilith’s powers.

  “It makes sense that you could detect something like that,” Ermizad commented. “Would that you had arrived in time to stop it.”

  Aliva settled for simply nodding her agreement. She could easily have stopped the summoning if Lasrina had permitted her.

  “The Council will need to be informed,” Ermizad went on. “I look forward to Medea’s reaction to hearing what her ex-husband has taken up with.”

  “I stopped by and told Captain Eomera,” Aliva volunteered. “She thought it was hysterical.”

  Ermizad chuckled. “We seem to be deriving a great deal of humor from what should be a serious situation.”

  “I really don’t think Zyrahi is a threat,” Aliva told her truthfully. “She’s genuinely interested in this world. And she doesn’t need to kill.”

  “Unlike you,” Ermizad countered, no longer amused.

  “Yes,” Aliva sadly agreed. “I can survive without killing, but it’s… stressful.”

  “I would prefer that you not be stressed.” Ermizad’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “And so, I am certain, would your husband.”

  “I still worry about accidentally killing him,” Aliva confessed. Stanley was often weak afterward, not that he ever complained.

  “Have you informed the Guardian?” Ermizad asked.

  Aliva felt like groaning. “No, but she needs to know. Can you get word to her? I need to get back home.” The weather was perfect for flying, and it was only mid-afternoon.<
br />
  “Then I won’t keep you further.” Ermizad rose to her feet, and Aliva did likewise. “Have you ever taken on my form when intimate with your husband?” the woman asked slyly.

  “Yes,” Aliva squeaked, not daring to lie. Ermizad was remarkably intuitive. “But I take on a variety of forms.”

  “I was simply curious,” Ermizad stated, showing no sign of annoyance. “Fare well, Aliva.”

  “You too,” Aliva said, still flustered.

  After departing, she quickly made her way to one of the castle’s courtyards, one that now served as a garden. Feeling very relieved, she cast the necessary spell and then launched herself into the air. She couldn’t wait to see how Romee was faring.

  [ 11 ]

  Odd Couples

  Gabriel first heard the unbelievable news just after arriving for work. Leaning on his desk and smirking, Captain Eomera casually told him that his father was now cohabitating with a powerful demon. (The woman did like to joke at times, but he could tell that she was serious.) The additional information that High Witch Ermizad had been informed but raised no objection left him speechless. None of it made sense to him, and he found it difficult to concentrate as he reviewed duty rosters and incident reports.

  The rest of the morning passed in a blur. After completing his paperwork, Gabriel met with Peri and two others of his sergeants and then spoke with Ilia about issues with one of the newer recruits. He had considered going over to his father’s house at noon, but decided it would be better to wait until evening. That would also give him time to think about how to approach such an unexpected situation.

  Shortly before noon, someone knocked on his door but then entered before he could respond. “I assume that you’ve heard,” Audrey said, walking in with her skirt swishing and head held high. She closed the door, but remained standing. “I went by Mardan’s house on the way here. There is definitely a powerful outsider inside.”