Rides a Dread Legion

by Raymond E. Feist

  The imp looked positively thrilled at the prospect of food. Pug used his arts to summon a student waiting close by, and the young woman was sent to the kitchen to fetch the food.

  While the food was being fetched, Sandreena appeared, now wearing a clean and new suit of clothing and fine, highly polished armor. She even sported a new tabard with the symbol of her Order on it. Father-Bishop Creegan looked at Pug and said, “Impressive. How did you happen to have the tabard?”

  Sandreena said, “More, how did you happen to have an entire suit of armor that fits me perfectly?”

  Pug smiled. “We have resources.”

  The imp began jumping up and down excitedly, “Sandreena! Nalnar love Sandreena.”

  The female Knight-Adamant of the Order of the Shield of the Weak looked upon the imp with widened eyes. “Nalnar?” Looking at Amirantha with hooded eyes, she said, “Putting on a show, are we?”

  Amirantha chose to say nothing.

  Pug said, “We have discovered that despite Amirantha and Gulamendis’s experience with demons, we are still ignorant of their realm. We thought we might begin by interrogating one of its more tractable inhabitants.”

  Sandreena sat, saying, “Well, my experience with this little monstrosity is it’s a little more intelligent than a dog, less reliable, and prone to very rude and inappropriate behavior at inopportune times.” She looked at Amirantha. “Why not Darthea? I’m certain you and she have had many quiet conversations.”

  Amirantha looked uncomfortable, but said nothing.

  “Darthea?” asked Jommy.

  Sandreena’s expression as she glanced at Amirantha was poisonous, and the Warlock seemed genuinely embarrassed. She said, “Not all the residents of the demon realm are hideous. Some are…beautiful.”

  Jommy closed his eyes in sympathetic pain for the Warlock, while Father-Bishop Creegan looked appalled. “A succubus?”

  “Succubus?” asked Jommy, his eyes wide with fascination.

  Father-Bishop Creegan said, “We scarcely believe the lore, but the succubi are female demons of incredible beauty who seduce the righteous into acts of depravity and worse.”

  Amirantha took a deep breath and said, “Those legends are vastly overstated.” He looked at the faces now regarding him and said, “Each demon survives as he or she must, with whatever gifts they have. The succubi are…gifted with the ability to resemble a female of great beauty of many races. It’s an illusion.”

  Gulamendis smiled and said, “My brother would be fascinated by such illusion. That is his area of expertise.”

  Amirantha said, “Enough. I’m past one hundred years old and have put embarrassment over my personal proclivities behind me; I’ve outlived a dozen lovers, so if I seek comfort with someone who will be here in another hundred years, that is my affair.”

  Sandreena flushed and her anger was visible, though she was silent.

  He turned to her and said, “Again, as I have said on three other occasions, if I have hurt you, I am deeply sorry.” Then his expression turned hard, and his voice firm, as he added, “But I made you no oath that I broke, nor did I promise you anything. If you cannot forgive me, that is your burden, not mine.” Looking at Pug, he said, “May we please return to the matter at hand?”

  Pug had lived too many years to find this sort of discourse anything but banal. He nodded and said, “Please, speak to your minion.” Seeing the refreshments for the imp were at the door, he waved in the student carrying the tray and indicated she should put it before Nalnar.

  Without leave, the imp began devouring the cheese, bread, and fruit. Amirantha sighed and, with a slight inclination of his head, indicated he understood Pug’s impatience with Sandreena’s ire and the sordid aspects of it. He said, “Nalnar, tell me of those with whom you were spawned.”

  “Yes, master?” said the imp.

  “Perhaps if you were more specific?” suggested Gulamendis.

  Nodding, Amirantha said, “Tell me of Choda, Nimno…” he struggled to recall the other names “…and the others with whom you were spawned.”

  “Tell?” asked the imp. He said, “Tell what, master?”

  “Tell us of your life, what you do when you are not summoned here.”

  “We live, we die, we fight…” A light seemed to enter the creature’s eyes, and he said, “We began. We were not, then we were. Hundreds of us swimming in the beginning place. We fought. We ate, we grew. Of the hundreds, fifty endured. Fifty crawled out of the beginning place, and we fought for those bigger and hungry. We were the clever ones, we nine. We banded together and killed those who waited, and devoured them. We became strong, and we were nine together. Those who waited ran from us and sought out those weak ones who didn’t band together.” He shrugged. “We left the beginning place and hid.”

  “Hid?” asked Amirantha. “From whom did you hide?”

  “All who were bigger, stronger, and hungry,” answered the imp as he impaled a piece of cheese on a talon and devoured it. “Nalnar thirsty!” With a narrowing gaze, he looked at Amirantha and asked, “Wine?”

  “No!” said Amirantha. He looked at Pug and added, “You do not want to see him drunk.” To the imp he said, “Water.”

  “Water,” the imp repeated.

  Pug motioned for the student, who stood watching with fascination, and had to wave vigorously to get her attention. The young woman nodded vigorously and hurried off, returning moments later with a goblet of water.

  The imp drank greedily, then dropped the cup. He looked around the gathered onlookers, then howled in glee. Amirantha sighed and, with a wave of his hand, banished the creature.

  “Why?” asked Pug quietly.

  It was Gulamendis who answered. “They grow intoxicated with our food, even water, and become bold. We only feed them as a reward after we’re done with their service. It’s why he banished him.” He nodded approval to Amirantha.

  Amirantha said, “He was of no further use as he would become fractious and wish to lie—he needs to regain his sobriety in his own realm.”

  “I have had similar difficulty with imps,” said the elf.

  “We need more information,” said Tomas quietly.

  Gulamendis inclined his head respectfully and said, “Yes, Ancient One, and I have seen the error of my lack of curiosity.”

  “As have I,” added Amirantha. “But in your case, I wonder,” he said to Gulamendis. “When your people ran afoul of demons, did it not occur to you to seek information?”

  Gulamendis said, “How reliable are your sources among the demons?”

  Amirantha shrugged. “I have not had the need to establish that.”

  “Precisely,” said Gulamendis.

  Pug observed the Star Elf and thought he detected a slight bridling at the implied insult that he should have done more. “I’m certain Gulamendis had his own concerns that were pressing.”

  Showing the elven self-constraint Pug had observed with Aglaranna’s people, Gulamendis merely nodded slightly. “Indeed. My standing with my people has never been high, and once the nature of the Demon Legion was established, let’s say of those few of us who are concerned with the nature of demons, we were not given opportunity to help.

  “Some were executed outright—”

  “Executed?” interrupted Tomas. “How is that possible?”

  Gulamendis seemed thrown off balance by the question. “By order of the Regent Lord. Some of us were imprisoned and questioned, tortured, while others were summarily executed. It was believed by the Regent’s Meet, or at least the majority voting, that we were responsible for this invasion.”

  Tomas’s expression was a mix of disbelief and outrage. “Executed,” he whispered. “Elf killing elf.” He lowered his eyes as if overcome by sadness for a moment. Then he looked at the Taredhel Demon Master. “I think in days to come I may have to speak to your rulers, to this Regent Lord.”

  Gulamendis did not like the direction that remark was heading, so he said, “I did try to ascertain what I coul
d of the Demon Legion from my summoned demons, but time was not my ally. I was imprisoned and confined under guard. The best I could do was summon Choyal, one of my imps, for a brief time at night, and send him to the kitchen to steal food and drink so I wouldn’t perish in my cage.”

  Pug asked, “Why were you spared?”

  “To guarantee my brother’s good behavior.”

  “Explain, please,” asked Pug.

  “As the Demon Legion pressed us, the search for a safe haven became more pressing. Our capital world, Andcardia, would eventually fall; the Regent Lord and the Regent’s Meet knew this long before it was apparent to the rest of the population.

  “Great meetings were held in the squares of our cities, and glorious banners were unfurled and flowers rained down on warriors marching off to fight the demons. Every type of elven magic was unleashed—we have spell-shattering weapons that cause demon magicians to falter so our armored fighters can close in and kill them; we have death towers that unleash massive bolts of foul energy that destroys demon flesh on contact; war machines of terrible aspect were erected and unleashed on them.

  “And still the demons came.”

  Pug said, “Let us go back to that world your people discovered, the one devoid of life. If that wasn’t where you encountered the demons, where?”

  “Our translocation portals work with a certain degree of imprecision. I do not understand the issues, as it is magic that is alien to me.” He inclined his head toward Pug. “You would most certainly know what the portal masters speak of; I do not.

  “I only know that in years past, it was decided a hub would be constructed, one that all worlds would connect to, a centralized hall of magic where anyone wishing to travel between the worlds of the Clans of the Seven Stars could easily find passage.

  “So, from any world one need only step through one gate to the hub world, called Komilis, and from there to the final destination.”

  Pug nodded slightly as he mused, “It would forestall the need for dozens of rifts, for each world would only need one rift-way, and only the magicians on Komilis would need to tend to many gates.”

  “Precisely,” said Gulamendis. “But when our exploration team found the world of the demons…”

  “They overran the gate and gained access to your hub world,” said Sandreena. Her tone left no doubt she thought this was a military blunder of unforgivable proportion.

  Gulamendis said nothing, but his expression said he agreed with her tone. “The struggle over the central city of Komilis lasted years.

  “The demons took control of the hub long enough to find their way to all our worlds.”

  “Didn’t you try to destroy the gates?” asked Pug.

  “Yes,” said Gulamendis, “but it was too late. They had found their way to all our worlds.”

  “And if they overrun the gate from Andcardia to Midkemia before you can close it,” said Pug, “they’ll be here.”

  “Or they are here already,” said Amirantha.

  “I think you’d know if they were here,” said Gulamendis dryly.

  “Not necessarily,” said Amirantha. “That demon I told you of, the one conjured in by my brother, have you ever seen its like?”

  Gulamendis said, “I can’t be sure, but I think not.”

  “A battle demon who is also a magic-user?”

  “No,” said the elf. “I have not seen its like.”

  Amirantha said, “I have a theory. It is only surmise, but it fits what we know so far.”

  “I would welcome it,” said Pug.

  “There is another agency at work,” said the Warlock.

  “Your brother?” suggested Pug.

  Amirantha shook his head. “Perhaps, but unlikely. Belasco is many things, but he is no fanatic. However, he would willingly serve those who are.

  “What Sandreena described as a failed summoning means someone is desperately trying to gate demons into this realm, and is willing to risk mistakes—even catastrophic ones—to achieve this goal.

  “What I should have pointed out when Sandreena told us of the failed summoning is that had the summoner been slightly more gifted, those demons he conjured would have remained in our realm a great deal longer.”

  “And grown more powerful,” added Gulamendis.

  “Which is beside the point, really,” said the Warlock. “The point is some agency knows this world exists and is trying to bring demons here, and is willing to unleash madness to achieve that goal.

  “Moreover, it may be completely unrelated to the danger our elf friend here has come to warn us of.”

  “Why do you say that?” asked Father-Bishop Creegan, his doubts about Amirantha’s presence being set aside for a moment.

  “Because if I have my timeline correct, these occurrences have preceded his arrival by a decade?” He looked at Jommy.

  “Yes,” said the red-headed noble. “It was about ten years ago when we ran into that bunch of Black Caps off the shore of the peninsula.”

  “And your brother arrived here, what, less than a year ago?” said Amirantha to Gulamendis. The elf nodded. Looking around the room, the Warlock said, “The demons were trying to come here before they reached Gulamendis’s home world.”

  “I’m not convinced these are unrelated problems,” said Pug, “but even if they are, they both must be confronted.

  “We can’t have lunatics running around trying to bring demons into our realm in wholesale fashion.” Amirantha’s expression revealed he was unsure if Pug was putting him in that category. “And if the Demon Legion follows the Star Elves to this world…” He left the thought unfinished.

  “Two problems, then,” said Jommy.

  Tomas said, “What do we do?” His question was directed at Pug.

  Pug hesitated a moment. As leader of the Conclave of Shadows he had been expected to give instructions for decades, but he still found it difficult sometimes to simply order men of vast power and experience, rather than let them suggest their best course of action. Finally, he said, “I think Father-Bishop Creegan, Amirantha, Sandreena, and whoever they wish to recruit from here should return to Akrakon and start looking for any signs of who is trying to bring demons here.”

  Jommy said, “I’ll go, too, if you have no objection. I saw that first monster come ashore ten years back and think it might be time to finally get to the bottom of who these Black Caps are.”

  Pug nodded. Looking at Tomas, he said, “I think you and I should travel with Gulamendis to greet the newcomers to our world and assess the risk of the Demon Legion following them here.”

  Gulamendis said, “There could be difficulties.”

  Tomas said, “You’ve made me aware of those possible difficulties. Still, we have no choice. We cannot ignore an incursion of the size your arrival heralds. Moreover, it will not be ignored by the Kingdom of the Isles once Alystan of Natal’s report wends its way to the Prince’s court in Krondor. A detachment of riders will certainly be dispatched to ride from Carse or Tulan Garrison to investigate. Dolgan’s dwarves will also certainly send someone up to keep an eye on your people.”

  “That would be unwise,” said Gulamendis.

  “Why?” asked Pug.

  “Because the Regent Lord has given orders that any who blunder across our valley are to be killed on sight.”

  “What!” said Tomas. “Your valley!”

  Gulamendis said, “We are a people facing extinction! We will dig in and we will fight if we are threatened, by humans, dwarves, or even our distant kin. It would be better if you let me approach the Regent’s Meet first, to let them know I’ve made contact and that you are interested in helping prevent the demons’ arrival here.”

  Tomas glanced at Pug, who nodded slightly.

  “Very well,” said the Warleader of Elvandar. “I can summon a dragon and land you within a short distance of your outposts.”

  “No need,” said the Demon Master. “I can summon a flier.” He saw Pug’s expression and quickly added, “It will be compl
etely under my control and dismissed when I arrive.”

  Tomas said, “Leave as you will, but tell your leaders that I will be along within three days—I will return to my Queen and then I will come to your new home, and I will bring members of my lady’s council, and we shall sit with your Regent and discuss what we shall do should the Demon Legion come.

  “But your leaders would be well advised to reconsider their attitude toward those who may approach the boundaries of your encampment in the mountains, Gulamendis. Despite your leaders’ beliefs in their superiority, you are a people who are few in numbers, hard punished by a war seemingly without end, and you will need help. Those who come to you may do so inadvertently or out of curiosity, so treat them with respect.” He left unsaid that should that message not be received well by the Regent Lord, Tomas would not be pleased, and even a Valheru of such a strange origin was still a being to be respected, if not outright feared.

  The elven Demon Master nodded, and bowed to those in the garden. To Amirantha he said, “We must sit down and soon; we have much to discuss. There is much to learn.”

  “Agreed,” said the Warlock, standing to bow slightly in respect.

  As he made ready to depart, Gulamendis said, “There are so many things I would learn from you and your companions, Pug. But I am not typical of my people.” He glanced at Tomas and said, “Your old friend may speak of words we had, and realize that I am frank when I say we will not welcome your people’s overtures until we know we are safe.”

  He looked up at the sky above and said, “Home. It is a myth, yet here I stand, under the same sky looked upon by my ancestors.”

  Looking again at Tomas, he said, “And I am not the best interlocutor you could have chosen, Lord Tomas, for most of my people blame me and those like me for the demon invasion. No matter what we say, they will not believe there is a demon gate out there somewhere through which these creatures travel.”

  “Demon gate?” asked Pug. “You said nothing of this.”

  “It’s almost a myth as well. A rumor, as much as anything else. It is said that one Demon Master, prior to his execution, pleaded to tell the Regent’s Meet that he knew how the demons came into our realm: through a demon gate. He never said how he knew, though it may be he gleaned the information from one of his summoned creatures. But it also may be that is but a hope we who practice my craft hold on to, to give us hope that some day we shall be forgiven for this horror visited on our people.”