Into The Abyss (Demons of Astlan)

by Langland, J.

  Tom stood around for a while; when it began to look like he might have to dwell on his predicament some more, he quickly decided that what his cave needed most was furniture. How to get furniture? That was the problem. He had walked out of his cave and looked around a bit and finally came up with an idea. He would carve it out of stone himself. His claws/nails could easily dig through stone, so why couldn't he carve with them?

  Tom flew around until he found the best sized boulder that suited his purposes and that he could carry while flying. He then took it up to his ledge and into his cave. After a little bit of design work in his head, he began to carve. It took him several hours, but since he didn't get tired, he was able to keep it up for a long time. Eventually it was finished, and he stood back to admire it.

  It really wasn't much, but it would have to do. The seat was about four and a half feet above the ground, it had armrests that raised another foot, and a back of about the same height. He couldn't make the back too high or his wings would get in the way. After trial and error, he managed to get it at a comfortable height. He also had to punch a hole in the back of the seat, and a small groove, so his tail could fit through with plenty of room to spare. It was going to be tricky for a while to get sat down correctly, but he figured it would get easier with time. He also had to carve the seat in a few other places for his legs and hooves, but these were relatively minor, and mainly just for maximum comfort. Actually, the chair was not incredibly comfortable, but it seemed better than standing all the time. It would have been nice to have a cushion, but he had no way of obtaining one.

  Tom also carved shelves into the walls of the cave, he didn't really have anything to put there, except for the dragon teeth, which were a bit large for a shelf anyway. He hoped that someday it might be possible to acquire a few things, but for now it was something to do. He also considered a table, but for now it would be difficult to gouge one smooth enough, and he really didn't need one.

  Tom also didn't like the idea of sleeping on the cave floor all the time, but again, he had no way of getting a mattress, or even any straw. As far as he'd been able to tell, there was no plant life here in the Abyss, as Tizzy called it. He also had no idea how he could get any from Astlan. If, as Boggy had indicated, only spirits could travel between planes, how could he bring anything material here?

  While he was pondering this, he once again heard voices calling his name. Actually, this time, Tom really didn't mind. He had been beginning to run out of things to do, and that meant he would have had to start thinking about his parents and friends again, which he really preferred not to do.

  The world changed slowly this time, like the last time. This time, however, he was prepared and so could calmly watch the whole thing. The image of the familiar tower room slowly superimposed itself over his cave. He saw the pentagrams glowing at his feet, a shadowy Lenamare appeared to take form in his cave. The light level increased with the new image; eventually it seemed that his cave was the hollow image and the tower room the only real place. Shortly, his cave was gone, and he was completely in the tower room with Lenamare and Jehenna. The whole process had lasted about thirty seconds.

  Tom stared at Lenamare, who naturally stared back unflinchingly. Tom said nothing; he would let Lenamare do the talking. He would not trifle with any of the, `How may I serve thee master...' bit, which Boggy had described most masters as preferring. Lenamare might be able to control his pain, and his coming and going, and therefore force him to obey some commands, but he wasn't going to get any more from Tom than was absolutely necessary.

  "Demon, I Lenamare have graciously decided to allow you to perform a task for me." As if he should be grateful, Tom thought. Lenamare paused, as if expecting a response. Tom simply continued to stare. "Know that I have a message for a fellow wizard, and at this time I can only spare one so lowly as yourself to deliver it." If what Boggy had said about the relationships between demons and master was true, this guy was either immensely powerful, or incredibly stupid.

  According to Boggy, most wizards were fairly wary of all demons, especially the more powerful ones, consequently they were usually only used for the most difficult tasks, or when for some reason it was impractical for a human to do the same thing. Delivering a message, sounded like a task better left to a human. Unless, of course, it had to be done with all speed, in which case, Tom guessed a demon would be better.

  Lenamare held up a sealed tube. "This is the message you shall take. It goes to the wizard Zilquar in Beltan. Do you understand the concept of a map, demon?"

  Tom couldn't decide if he should give Lenamare the satisfaction of answering. As he thought about it for a moment, though, Tom decided that it would probably save himself some work if he admitted that he could read a map. He decided however, that if he had to play a demon, then he would give these two assholes the full treatment, at least until he could do something more constructive.

  Inhaling, instead of exhaling, and lowering his voice as low as possible, Tom attempted his best imitation of what he imagined a powerful creature of evil sounded like. "Of course...foolish mortal." Actually, Tom was quite pleased with the effect. He had misjudged the power of his lungs slightly, and the echo that would be produced in the small room; his voice came out deep and booming, with a hint of crackling in it. Darth Vader would have been proud, Tom thought.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he was pleased to note that Jehenna stepped back slightly, surprised by his voice. Lenamare, of course, didn't so much as bat an eye. Speaking carefully now, Lenamare pulled open a scroll with a map on it. He pointed to a small star on it. "This star, demon, represents my keep, the red line represents a human road that goes towards Beltan. You must go south. Do you know which direction is south?" Tom tried to simply smirk. "I will point in the proper direction, before you leave." Lenamare said sounding slightly frustrated at not receiving an answer. "This X on the map represents Zilquar's tower." He pointed to a spot near a bunch of squiggly lines, which Tom assumed were mountains. "It is in the mountains."

  "You will go directly to the tower and demand to speak to Zilquar. You will harm no one nor anything at this point. When Zilquar identifies himself, you must give this canister to him, sealed, unopened, and undisturbed in any manner, and state that you were sent by me, Lenamare. You will then depart his tower, leaving Zilquar and all that is his or his subjects' intact and unharmed. This includes all people who work for or are slaves to Zilquar. You will immediately return to me for further instructions. You will not deviate from your course to or from the tower in any way. You will do nothing that I have not commanded you. You are to say nothing to Zilquar that might harm me or mine in any possible manner, indirectly or directly; however you are free to speak as otherwise necessary to carry out this mission."

  Tom stared down pointedly at the pentagram on the floor. "I shall now release the pentagram, you will harm neither I nor any of my people, nor anything that is mine." Lenamare and Jehenna put out two adjacent braziers, and made arcane gestures with their hands while chanting, "Disolum, tripedus, prodentes ved sultos. Akien et veltos, summa lux." They both stepped back as Lenamare motioned for Tom to leave the circle.

  He stepped forward over the line. He could feel a slight resistance, but he had no real difficulty. As he stepped out, he looked around the room seeking an exit. The curtains were all shut tightly; he couldn't tell where any exits might be. Lenamare handed him the tube and the map, saying, "You should be back in no later than three days, if you fly all the time. If you do not return then, you shall experience the compulsion spell I’ve placed on you and I guarantee you won't enjoy it."

  Tom just glowered at Lenamare. He wasn't particularly mad, he just figured it would make a good effect. These people were almost comic in their seriousness. Tom supposed however, thinking of the fantasy novels he had read involving demons, and more than a few first person shooters, that if he was in their place, he might act similarly.

  "So, mortal," Tom said in his booming indrawn voice, "do
you mind if I just smash through your pitiful walls. Or do you plan to provide me with an exit?"

  Lenamare looked slightly peeved at the moment, and Jehenna looked slightly taken aback. There could be a few enjoyable moments in this job, Tom thought, hiding a smile. This demon business wasn't always boring; however, he imagined that it would probably get pretty old, quickly.

  "Here, use this window." Lenamare drew back a curtain revealing a shuttered window. Tom looked at the window, it was big enough for Lenamare or Boggy to get through, barely, but he doubted that he would fit. The shutters swung open, it would definitely be too tight.

  "If you insist…mortal. However, know that I'll have to take some of the window with me." Tom warned Lenamare, actually he'd have preferred to just crash through it, without warning Lenamare; however, he felt he might just be taking too much of a risk of pain. At this, Lenamare looked definitely annoyed; apparently, he had not counted on Tom's size.

  "Hmm, very well. Follow me." Lenamare went to another portion of the curtain and pulled it aside, revealing an iron bound wooden door. Lenamare opened the door and went through. Tom, as instructed, followed, he had to bend down, but he did make it through. Jehenna brought up the rear, looking extremely nervous about marching a demon through the building.

  They went down a short corridor to a spiral staircase. "Remember, demon, if you so much as harm, however so slightly, or cause to be harmed, any person or thing that is mine, you will be severely punished," Lenamare warned as he turned at the top of the stairs.

  These folks are paranoid, Tom thought. Lenamare began the descent down the spiral, Tom following behind, being careful not to bump his wings on the stairwell. After about two revolutions, Tom heard an indrawn breath and quick scurrying. As they passed a small landing with a door, Tom observed a girl in a brown robe, drawn up inside the doorway. Not bad, Tom observed, too bad she was a wizard, he recognized her as one of the members of the circle. He turned his head back toward Lenamare, ignoring the frightened expression on the girl's face.

  Eventually they reached an open floor, where Lenamare left the spiral, even though it continued further down. Tom also got off the spiral and moved next to Lenamare, who was waiting for him. As he stepped off, Tom heard a couple glasses break, and what sounded like four or five people diving for cover. He looked up to see several women scurrying behind pillars and makeshift cots. He was in a large hall area, which was filled with cots and straw sleeping pallets. The only people in the room were the few women, who had apparently been doing odd jobs, and gossiping, but who were now hiding in terror.

  Their fear, and the wizard girl's, served to bring home just how different Tom was now. His mild enjoyment of the demon role was rapidly wearing off. This really wasn't going to be fun, having everyone run from him. It brought a lump to Tom's throat; he wished desperately that he could be back home in Harding. He was definitely feeling homesick, and he guessed, body sick. He just wanted to be like he had been.

  As he stood, sadly eyeing the frightened women, Lenamare said, "Come along demon, we are almost out.” Lenamare turned and marched across the room, ignoring the women, to a large door set in the far wall. Tom followed silently. Lenamare opened the door, letting sunlight in.

  For some reason, seeing that light made Tom feel slightly better. Perhaps it gave him a little hope, a little piece of home. Tom stepped through the door into the sunlight. Outside, men were building things and running errands; guards were practicing. As Tom stepped out, all motion slowly came to a halt as eyes turned towards him. A few children and men ran, but most just stood and stared. Tom looked at them, fear shone plainly in all their faces and eyes. He could almost read their thoughts, he imagined most feared to run because they didn't want to look cowardly, or they were afraid of attracting his attention. As his eyes scanned them, they flinched from his gaze, as if he could kill them with a glance.

  So much for the ray of sunshine, Tom thought, Enough. He pulled his eyes back to Lenamare; if they wanted to fear him, there was nothing he could do. Lenamare pointed over one wall of the keep and said simply, "south."

  Without saying a word, Tom climbed into the air and flew over the castle walls to the south. This was really going to be hard to get used to, thought Tom as he flew from the keep.

  ~

  Back in the courtyard, the tension eased from the men as the demon flew out of sight behind the wall. Slowly men began to speak again, but not too loudly, since Lenamare and Jehenna were still there. As the work began again, Jehenna turned to Lenamare.

  "Are you truly sure it was wise to send that demon to Zilquar? Wouldn't a smaller one have worked, or a man, or a Telemirror?"

  "No, we must bargain for aid from a position of strength. Having a fourth order demon deliver my request will reassure Zilquar that we have a chance of winning. If I had sent anything less, he might have felt that we were a lost cause, and not bothered to help, no matter how good a deal I might make. This will show him my strength."

  "Was it wise to parade it through all these people, what if Exador hears?"

  "Did I have much choice? What sort of reaction would we have gotten if the demon burst through the tower wall? That would have been great for morale; it would have appeared that we couldn't even handle our own demons. That surely would have gotten to Exador. No, this way they see the demon, and know fear, as well as hope. If we are lucky, everyone will be too scared to talk for a while. We don't need much time. Exador may even be here before our messenger returns."

  "Impossible, armies only move so fast," Jehenna assured him.

  Chapter 16

  Jenn stood, silently shaking in the doorway. Goddess, that had scared her. Who would expect to find a demon, let alone that demon, following Lenamare around the school? When she had been coming up the stairs and saw Lenamare coming down, she had started to respectfully bow, but then she had seen it. Her heart had nearly jumped up her throat. This was the first time she'd seen a demon that wasn't in a pentagram. She'd dashed to first doorway she could find.

  As it passed, it had looked straight at her. Jenn had feared then that she might break down crying in fear, but luckily, she'd managed to hold her own. The thing had been so huge, so horrible, and it had passed within one of its own claw lengths from her. If it had wanted to, it could have reached out and ripped her heart right out of her chest. She hadn't realized when they'd conjured it, that it was so big. Then it had only been there for a short while, and on its knees. She'd known it was powerful by the way it had fought them, but that had been in a remote, abstract sort of way. This, this was real, and present in the stairway. Those huge claws, the horns and fangs, the creature were surely out of her worst nightmare.

  The whole thing was incredibly huge and powerful, she just couldn't get it out of her mind. She desperately prayed that those stories about women raped by demons and being forced to bear demonic children were false, and even more so, she hoped she'd never have a chance to find out. How Lenamare could let it roam the keep, even with himself and Jehenna, Jenn just simply couldn't understand. If it escaped their control…Jenn would rather face Exador and his entire army.

  She tried consciously to slow her breathing. Looking down at her feet, trying to get her terror under control, she noticed her hands clenched on her breast. Forcefully she put her hands to her sides and unclenched them. She ordered her body to relax. She was after all, a student of the magical arts. Someday soon, she would be a full wizard in her own right, how could she ever expect to conjure and control demons, if she feared them so. That was easy, another part of her mind answered, she didn't. Jenn wanted nothing to do with the magic of conjuring demons. They were better left alone, anyone foolish enough to mess with them deserved whatever they got. There were plenty of other types of magic around; she could work with natural magics, healing and plants, the elements, things like that.

  Jenn gathered her wits together, soon it would be the talk of the school and she would have to able to describe it to others. She mustn't let anyone els
e know of her fear. Sudden dread grabbed at her. What if Jehenna had seen her fear…if she knew of Jenn's fear, she would exploit it. Use it to goad her, use it as a weapon to demand even more from her. She would use it until either Jenn broke or her fear did. At the moment, Jenn wasn't at all sure which would go first.

  ~

  The news of the demon spread rapidly throughout the school. Finally, everyone knew of Lenamare's secret weapon. Most had realized that demons would be used, but few had ever actually seen one. None who had seen one previously had seen one this powerful. Excitement rang through those who hadn't seen it, tinged with only a little anxiety in most. Here was hope, a chance against Exador, surely he could not summon anything so powerful in the middle of battle.

  Those who had seen it felt slightly differently. Of course, they recognized the hope it represented; but they had seen it, seen it in full form, and seen how big it was. Everyone knew demons were dangerous, especially the powerful ones. Normally people only saw the little imps and sprites, the first order demons, if they ever saw one. These, although they made people nervous, did not cause the fear of the second and third order demons. Those demons looked like more normal sized, if hideous and grotesque, people. This one was much more than that.

  Although none of the wizards who knew would say, including Jenn. Old men who had seen demons whispered that this was higher than a third order demon. Naturally not knowing the power of the demon only made things worse in the minds of the people. The people who saw this one feared it escaping. They had seen the grim frown of its hideous face as it left the keep, they were sure it was more than willing to destroy them all and take their souls.

  Thus it was that the possible salvation of the school was also the greatest fear for several in the school. For truly, as the people near a wizard school knew, demonology was the two edged sword of magic. Therefore, everyone in the keep waited anxiously for Exador; they dreaded his arrival, yet feared their salvation almost as much. Except, of course, for Lenamare, and one other.