“How so?”
“The Fire Tirips cause the water to evaporate quickly. Pretty simple, huh?”
“I’m guessing fire is a good way to get rid of the Wooden Tirips, but the Water Tirips sound really hard to destroy, unless you have some sort of fire weapon.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Water Tirips will become weaker when they start to dry up or stray too far from their water source. When that happens, they will expire. Plus, if you can trap them in a deep ditch, they won’t be able to get out.”
“That’s good to know. How do you defeat the ones created out of air?”
“The Air Tirips are quite deadly, but there are a couple of tricks. You need to lead them away from where they were created or find a way to contain them.”
“How do you conjure them?’
“You saw how I did the Wood Tirip. Air, you need an open space, and water, you need a pond. The bigger the mass of water, the stronger the Tirip will be, and the farther it can travel.
“It’s really important to keep in mind that Tirips, no matter what form they appear in, will take on the caster’s alignment, so if a wicked person summons one, then the Tirip will be evil.”
“Can you summon all types of Tirips?”
“No. My Order can only summon Wood, Air, and Water. The others are evil in nature.”
“But you said they take on the same alignment as the caster.”
“I did, but the ones that are evil by nature are really hard to convert.”
“Who can conjure the other four?”
“Demons and high priests, who deal in the dark arts, can summon all seven,” she said flatly.
“I’ve seen a Stone one before.”
“Stone? Is that what Grappin had, a Stone guardian?”
“How did you know about him?”
“While I was healing you, I found a note addressed to you from him.” She reached into her tunic and handed him back the note. “So who is he?”
He accepted the parchment. “He’s someone I met while I was in Redden.”
“Is he a priest?”
“No. He’s something far worse,” he paused. “He’s a demon, and his true name is Dybbuk.”
“A demon? How did you get involved with a demon?”
“A few weeks ago, I was staying in Redden, waiting for my friend Jacko to arrive. While I was waiting for him one night, I decided to go out for a walk and found an equipment store to occupy my time. While I was there, I met someone named Molech, who told me about his friend Tomal’s store and how he had some of the finest items in the region. With nothing else to do, I went there, and he was right, his items were of remarkable quality. He also had some interesting ones as well. Have you ever heard of a Ring of Warmth?”
“Like the name says, they’re supposed to keep you warm, right?”
“They sure do.” He showed it to her. “Try it on.”
She did and immediately felt the warming effect course up her left hand, arm, and entire body.
“This feels nice,” she said and handed it back to him.
“What else did you buy?”
“I really wanted the scabbard I’m wearing on my arm, but it was overpriced, so I went back to my room and slept.”
“You said it was overpriced, did you steal it?” she interrupted.
“No, but when I woke the next day, it was in my room.”
“How did it get there?”
“Someone planted it there.”
“I’m guessing it was Molech.”
“I’m not sure.”
“What’s so special about the scabbard?”
“It’s magical by nature, and the minute someone wants to harm me, it warns me by glowing green.”
“Really. Maybe I’ll hit you with my mace and see if it glows.” she smirked.
“Now’s the time to try, because once I place a dagger in the scabbard, it becomes enchanted and will fight anyone who wants to harm me directly,” he said, smiling.
“I know you’re kidding.”
“I’ll show you once I get another one.”
“So what happened after you found the scabbard?”
“I went back to the store and found out Tomal was murdered, and some of his items were stolen. I didn’t know what to do, so I panicked and went back to my room. It didn’t take long for guards to show up at the inn and start questioning people.”
“What did they ask you?”
“They never got the chance, because while I was hiding in my room, a masked stranger appeared on my balcony, told me someone wanted to meet me, and offered to help me escape. I knew that it would be really hard to explain the scabbard to the guards, so I followed him, and he led me to Grappin’s mansion.”
“Very convenient, don’t you think? You were told to go to Tomal’s store the night before, the shop owner turns up dead the next day, and you end up with a very expensive item in your room. And on top of that, a masked stranger appears just in time to save you from getting questioned or possibly thrown in jail.”
“Looking back, it sure was, but I was scared and wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“So who was the masked stranger, Molech?”
“He never revealed his identity, plus, he was taller.”
“What happened when you met Grappin?”
“When I met him, I still wasn’t sure why I was brought there until he accused me of stealing the scabbard and killing Tomal. My first mistake was denying I had the item, because he found out real quick that I had it under my tunic.”
“How?”
“Like I said, the minute someone wants to bring harm to me, it glows green, so he had one of his henchmen become aggressive toward me, and it glowed. After that, he was convinced I stole it.”
“Did you try to tell him you didn’t?”
“I did, but it was useless. What would you have done?”
“Instead of hiding in my room, I would’ve looked for clues. Who told you about Tomal and his stuff missing?”
“I ran into Molech near his store.”
“I guess I should have known. Continue.”
“Grappin gave me a couple of choices. I could either fight my way out of the room, which he knew I wouldn’t be able to do, or repay the debt by going to Mirkin and disabling Priest Abiathar’s wards.”
“What reason did he give you?”
“He said he committed some horrific acts against his family and wanted revenge.”
“Did you believe him?”
“Not really.”
“So just like that you were going to come here and disable the wards? Did you even know what they are used for?”
“I didn’t have a clue at the time, and I think he knew that.”
“So why did you agree?”
“Because I was trapped. It was either help him or die.”
“Trapped?” Katara angrily said. “No one is trapped.”
“Not without proof I wasn’t,” he firmly said.
“You should have gone to the authorities in the first place, and maybe you wouldn’t have been in this mess.”
“And how do you think that would have played out? I was one of the last people to see him alive, and I had the scabbard in my possession, which, by the way, wasn’t even for sale,” Torhan fired back at her.
Katara was about to say something more on the matter but held her tongue.
“What if I refused his offer and died that day? Don’t you think Grappin would’ve done the same thing to another person? Let me tell you something. Just because I agreed to disable the wards doesn’t mean I would’ve done it. Even though my life was on the line, I would have talked to Priest Abiathar first and made my own decision.”
Katara could tell he was really upset. “I apologize for jumping to conclusions.”
Torhan nodded in acknowledgement.
“When did you find out Grappin was a demon?”
“On my way here I passed through the Harazon Forest and was captured by a being named Lord Sim and his peopl
e.”
“Never heard of him. How did you get free?”
“He was about to kill me when he saw the scabbard glowing green and wanted to know where I got it, which led to a series of questions with him explaining that Grappin was a demon. I didn’t believe him until he introduced me to a Tree Spirit named Ailith and she—”
“A what?” Katara quickly interrupted.
“A Tree Spirit, but in reality, she’s a demon too.”
“A demon? How did you find that out?”
“Be patient, I’m getting there. When I met Ailith, she confirmed that Grappin was a demon, and I would die even if I helped him deactivate the wards.”
“Now I know why you were conflicted.”
“She did tell me there was a way to expose him to mortal weapons.”
“How?”
“I needed to construct the bow I’m carrying and create special arrows by replacing the feathers with certain leaves found only in their forest.”
“Did it work?”
“It did but not on him.”
“I don’t understand?” Katara looked puzzled.
“I used it on Priest Abiathar, who turned out to be a demon after he tried to attack me in the temple.”
“It doesn’t surprise me after what I saw in the church before I helped you escape from there.”
“What did you see?”
“I’ll tell you after you’re done.”
Torhan told her about the encounter with the Chromos Lords; Molech helping him escape from jail; the epic battle between the demons, and how he contributed to the ending of Raum’s life; what Dybbuk was planning to do with Ailith, and his departure from their world. He also mentioned what Dybbuk said about Brother Sao and how sorry he was.
“I have a question,” she began. “If Priest Abiathar was killed by Dybbuk, and he is going to kill Ailith, then who is going to get rid of Grappin?”
“Maybe he’ll leave.”
“Torhan, demons are manipulative, cunning, selfish, and, more importantly, evil. We, as a race, cannot allow them to exist in our world, because they will enslave us all. You should have killed him when you had the chance.” She didn’t wait for him to reply and continued her rant. “There’s a reason why they entered our world in the first place, and I don’t think it is just to say hi and leave peacefully.”
Torhan knew she was right.
“Do you have any more arrows?”
“No. Dybbuk took them with him.”
“Why did he take them?”
“He was afraid I would use them on him if he ever returned.”
“What part of the forest did you find these magical leaves?”
“They grow from a plant called fernion near where I met Ailith, but like I said, you’ll need to use my bow or construct a new one just like it.”
“I’ll let my Order know about them. Hopefully, they can make something useful out of the leaves.” She grew calm again “On the other hand, maybe we’ll hire you to be our champion demon slayer.” She chuckled. “I’ll need to report everything to my Order, including their names. Grappin was Dybbuk, Abiathar was Raum, and was Ailith her real name?”
“Dybbuk never mentioned any other name than Ailith when he referenced her.”
“So is your debt paid?”
“Dybbuk said so.” Torhan looked disappointed.
“Look, don’t blame yourself. Dybbuk and Ailith manipulated you into doing their bidding. Just learn from your mistakes. Okay?”
He nodded. “Why did you help me escape?”
“Let me explain why I was in Mirkin in the first place. Brother Pien sent me there to practice with his friend Priest Abiathar, then one day he changed, and he decided he couldn’t teach me anymore. After that, Brother Pien instructed me to observe his strange behavior. So when you showed up for healing, I found the notes and read both. Brother Pien wanted me to discover why you were in Mirkin and had an interest in Abiathar, and the one Grappin wrote you spoke of wards. After the guards took you away, I decided to go to the church and find out about the wards and what the good priest had been up to. However, what I found was the most gruesome ritual I’d ever seen.”
She paused, reflecting on what she saw, then she continued, “Some of his acolytes tied a man to an altar, gutted him, and removed his innards. Once they did, a hideous creature hobbled up to the table, ate some of his organs, and transformed into an exact copy of the man. I’m not sure, but I think the creature was some sort of a changeling or demon. The procedure horrified and sickened my stomach to the point that I lost my footing and fell to the ground and hit my head. When I came to, guards and acolytes were everywhere outside of the cemetery, so I left. While I was escaping over the wall, I heard shouting and violence erupting inside of the church. I waited on top of the wall to see what would happen next, and then you opened the back door. I was about to call out your name when the guards spotted you, so I jumped down on the other side, waited until you were close enough, and threw over the rope.”
“I forgot to thank you for saving me.”
“I have a feeling it won’t be the last.” She smirked and stood up. “We should get going,” she said and began folding the blanket. “By the way, how did you get past Grappin’s stone guardian?”
“He gave me a command that allowed me to do so. Do all Tirips have secret commands?”
“It all depends. If you conjure up a very powerful one, like the stone guardian, then you would be wise to tell it a word or phrase so that it would become disabled or allow you to pass.” Katara put the blanket into the backpack.
“Do you want to come with me?” Torhan asked.
“Where are you going?”
“Molech asked me to help his niece, Sybil. She lives in the town of Snowdrift.”
“Help her how?”
“She fell into a deep sleep, and he wants me to find a way to wake her.”
“How do you get involved with these people?”
“He offered me a lot of money. And before you ask, I do not think he knew Grappin.”
“If I come along, what’s in it for me?”
“I’ll cut you in for a third.”
“I need to stop by my Order eventually, but it can wait as long as I send word.” She adjusted her cloak. “You’re offering me a third? How about half?”
Torhan smiled. “Only if you can prove your worth.”
“Then you should give me all of it.” She laughed, and Torhan couldn’t help but laugh along with her.
They traveled northwest through a wooded area and a few miles above the Harazon Forest. Along the way, they told each other about their families, friends, and background in their respective fields of study.
By nightfall, they decided to make camp. A light snow was already falling, and the temperature was growing cold. Torhan gathered wood to build a fire, while Katara hung a thick sheet of water resistant cloth in between two trees to create a makeshift tent. While they were eating, Torhan noticed his companion shivering, so he handed her the Ring of Warmth and told her to wear it.
“What about you, won’t you be cold?” she asked.
“Don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine,” he said, drawing his cloak tightly around his body.
They talked a little while longer before turning in.
Chapter 14: The Trial
Dybbuk passed through the portal that separated his kingdom from the one known as the Other. As he limped down the dirt-covered trail, in his full fiendish form, he watched the female demons fill the charcoal-colored sky, flying around, eagerly searching for food. He grinned inwardly, because he was finally home, and it felt right.
Three years to the day, it’d been, since he’d taken the assignment, a failed one that tested his patience time and time again with the deceitful ones. He thought about Ailith and Raum. It still puzzled him as to why they both turned on him. First, it was Ailith, then Raum. His only conclusion was that they wanted to move up in rank, but that didn’t make much sense either, because Ailith was ran
ked so much lower than he was. Could Raum have persuaded her to help him? If so, what could she gain? He turned his attention back to the road ahead.
The trek took nearly a half day to reach his sanctuary. For the first time since the building was completed, some several hundred years ago, he adored his imposing structure as he neared. The keep rose two hundred feet skyward and was fabricated from colandoorian, the sheerest, blackest stone in the plane.
When his sentries saw their master approaching, they waited until he was close enough and lowered the drawbridge, so that he could cross the churning, boiling, red waters of the moat.
Dybbuk halted just before the black gated entry. “No one is permitted to enter on this night,” he said with a stern voice.
The lesser demons acknowledged his command in unison and elevated the iron gateway.
Dybbuk proceeded through the elaborate entryway and down the hallway until he entered the eating area. To the far right, he saw at least a dozen impish demons preparing food for their master and three more setting the massive table to his left. His imp in charge was about to say something to him, but Dybbuk waved him off and walked through the steel doorway at the far end of the room.
He descended the winding stairs until he entered a large dimly lit room, which mysteriously got brighter the further in he went. The room that once served as a torture chamber was now used to house some of the sweetest nectar throughout his realm. As tempting as it was to grab a bottle from one of the shelves and drink its contents, Dybbuk ignored it, walked to the end of the room, and stood directly at the center of the wall. Before him was the escape door leading to the outside. It was hidden from sight and guarded by a powerful ward that disintegrated anyone who uttered the secret words incorrectly. While checking the strength of his trap, he suddenly sensed his most loyal servant. He turned around and called for him.
“Darkener, come here.”
A few seconds later, a large four-legged beast with reddish-brown skin, sharp claws, long horns, and an elongated snout with charcoal-colored eyes, emerged from the darkness.
Its sudden appearance, even though sensed, surprised its master. Dybbuk bent his eight-foot frame, ever so slightly, and rubbed the animal’s muzzle.
A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set Page 36
