by Langland, J.
There were several large fires going. They seemed to be wagons that had been torched severely, with burnt horses in front of them. Tom had to swallow when he noticed a pile of charred soldiers and horses. Then his eyes swept across an unharmed wagon with a fat man and some little children. The children were looking petrified. Whether of him or the carnage, Tom couldn't tell. Then he noticed some of the back wagons, where it appeared to his heightened vision that entire families had been roasted alive in their wagons.
Tom was getting quickly sickened at the thought of anyone who would so ambush women and children like this. It was then that he noticed several bowmen on horses charging down the slope. While his eyes were distracted, he noticed a flash of blue light from the children's wagon. As he glanced back, they were gone. Probably destroyed by the same bastards that did the rest of the damage.
Enough is enough, thought Tom. I may not like the Astlanians, but I can't stand by and let helpless kids get murdered when I can stop it. He turned to face a large group of soldiers, they ignored him, seeming intent on attacking some defending soldiers. Moving quickly, so he wouldn't have to think about what he was doing, he ran up to the first of the ambushers and pulled him off his saddle. As the man, suddenly frantic, tried to stab Tom in the eye, the red anger, with which he'd been having so much trouble lately, took over. He moved almost within a trance, ripping the ambushers apart. He didn't even really pay attention; he couldn't, otherwise he would have puked. His body was on autopilot. As soon as he finished off this group of ambushers, he roared at their horses, and charged the terrified beasts.
Using only animal instincts, they fled. Screaming in terror the horses galloped off up a mountain trail, out of the valley. At this point, Tom noticed other soldiers on the other side of the valley. Quickly, he flew over and proceeded to execute them.
As he finished off the last one, an arcing pain shot between his wings. Something had struck him full in the back, and unlike a soldier's dagger, this hurt like hell. Spinning in anger, Tom saw a mustached man in his forties, dressed in green silk robes, calmly casting a spell at him. With a single fluid leap, Tom hurtled a broken corpse to land in front of the wizard, who was backed up against a boulder. Calmly Tom stuck his right claws into the man's chest and grabbed his back bone. His left arm came up and squeezed the man's neck until his head popped off. Tom's eyes widened in horror and surprise. All of this had been sheerest reflex, he hadn't controlled any of it. The shock sent a cold wave down his body.
As the wave passed Tom relaxed, leaving his trance-like state. He was quickly being overcome by the horror of what he'd done. It was then that he heard, "Demon, attend! I am the Wizard Gastropé, and I shall be thy master. Cease this destruction at once, I command thee." This is ridiculous, thought Tom, even as he felt a mild itching in his head. Annoyed, Tom tossed the head of his last victim over the boulder towards the voice. He heard it thunk and roll and then his sharp hearing heard the voice say, "damn." The voice was a little more subdued as it soon said, "bitch." At least these guys do have the appropriate human reactions.
"Come now demon, I command thee!"
What remarkably obnoxious people these wizards were, even when confronted by absolute horror. "Oh do you?" Tom thundered in his best demonic voice.
"Yes, shithead I do!" said the voice with what Tom could tell was false bravado, this guy really didn't sound that old or confident. Tom stepped around the giant boulder to see who this pipsqueak was.
What Tom saw was a rather dirty looking youth with spikey blonde hair stuffed under a turban wearing dirty yellow silk pantaloons and a vest. As the youth took in Tom's towering form, his eyes widened and his mouth formed a round "o" as he said simply, "Oooh shit."
Tom thought maybe the kid had finally shut up for good, when he managed to croak, "Did I say shithead?" Tom almost laughed at this, the expression on the young man's face was decidedly comic, and almost desperate. The guy licked his lips, apparently trying to think.
Deciding to play this for what it was worth, since he found that he enjoyed letting the wind out of these damned wizards, he said softly, in almost a 'Dirty Harry' style voice, "Gastropé is it?"
"Uh, yeah," at this point the kid was literally quaking in his boots, Tom noted with amusement that the front of his pants were wet. The wizard couldn't seem to think of anything to say. Finally he managed, "Uh, you know, I'm really sorry. I really didn't mean to be so rude...you know...the exuberance of youth and all...heh, heh," Tom was enjoying this but he could see that the thrill would be over soon and it would quickly just get pathetic. He started slowly towards the wizard.
"By the way," he gave Tom a sickly smile, "I am warded, you can't get through." Tom simply kept going forward "I don't think," he added, as Tom continued to advance.
"Hey, let's call it even. My...associates torched your...master's party, you shredded my associates! Fair is fair, right?" The young wizard was really looking green now, apparently on the verge of a nervous breakdown, or severe nausea or both.
"You know," the young man almost cried, "these wards would be a real pain to try to break. I won't bother you if you don't obliterate me." Tom didn't say anything, he simply stopped within arm's reach of the kid. Tom didn't, of course want to hurt him, simply make him leave. He reached out and picked the young man up so that they were at eye level. Tom opened his mouth to say something, but had to think, so he just ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to decide what would work best. At this point, the guy broke down and cried, tears started rolling out of his eyes and down his dirty cheeks. Tom's nose also detected a certain odor that he recognized immediately. He'd heard of people shitting their pants, but never actually seen it.
Suddenly he was tired of the whole thing. It had been cruel of him to frighten this guy so, even if he was an ambusher. Wanting to end it, he just brought the fellow close to his face, and dropping his demonic voice and letting his weariness show, he simply said "Get the fuck outta here." He then tossed the little wizard a ways off, but gently, so as not to break any bones.
Tom turned back towards the wagons, to see if anyone was left alive. He noted that Lenamare's friend had vanished, in fact the only person he saw moving was the girl who had been by the older woman. He walked down to the front wagon to see if she was O.K. As he got close, she turned and saw him, and started looking around wildly. Tom sighed, hoping he wouldn't have to put up with an hysterical woman. She reached down and grabbed something, and just as he got within about a foot of the wagon, she spun around. She stuck her fist practically in his face.
"Halt...Halt, d.d.demon," she stuttered; she seemed to be shaking. "I...I have thy ring and I command thee to obey me!" Tom was weary from fighting and really didn't really feel like dealing with this. "Thou art mine... Tomasedwardperkinje! Thou must obey my will. The power of the Covenant of the Ring binds thee to my will demon!"
Enough again, thought Tom. Apparently, she too thinks this ring has some compulsion on me. Time to disillusion her. He reached out and grabbed her hand. Trying not to hurt her with his strength and sharp claws, he gently pried her fist open and removed the ring from her finger. It was a little tricky, he really wasn't used to using his new fingers for such delicate work, but he got it off without too much pain. In order that she get the point, he held it before her face, on which there was an expression of shock. He then brought his finger and thumb together, and flattened the ring like it was made out of Styrofoam.
What he had not expected was for her to faint. Girls just didn't do that sort of thing anymore, not where he came from. Of course, he reminded himself, demons didn't pry rings off their fingers, either. Not knowing what else to do, he carefully lifted her off the wagon and laid her down on the ground. He then stepped back and looked down at her, trying to decide what to do next.
"You didn't kill her, did you?" asked a soft voice that seemed to becoming from under the wagon.
In order to see who spoke, Tom had to squat down and peer under the wagon. Laying on the ground was a sm
all boy, with brown hair and eyes, homespun breeches and shirt, about nine years old, who was staring at him intensely.
"No," Tom said softly trying not to frighten the kid. "She seems to have fainted."
"Fainted?" the boy said curiously as he scrambled out from under the wagon, to gaze upon Jenn's face. "That's not something I'd expect her to do. Jenn's really not the fainting type. Alvea yes, Jenn no. Hmmm." Rupert looked down at Jenn's recumbent form, as puzzled as Tom about what to do. "I don't know what you're supposed to do, gently slap her face maybe."
"I guess, I don't know either." At this point Tom realized with a slight start that this boy didn't seem frightened of him at all. "Excuse me?"
"Yes," said Rupert looking calmly up at Tom's eyes.
"Why aren't you running away in fear of me?"
"Oh, sorry. Was I supposed to?"
"Well that seems to be the general reaction to me. I was simply puzzled why you're not."
"Oh, I don't know. Demon's just don't frighten me, especially you. I know you won't hurt me."
"Oh?" Tom said, surprised by this statement. True, he wouldn't, but how could this kid know that when every adult thought otherwise. He arched his eyebrows in a mock serious fashion. "You do, do you."
This at least got a reaction. The boy suddenly looked troubled and doubtful. He swallowed, stepped back a step, and licked his lips. "W...Well, I don't think, you'll hurt me." He amended.
Tom smiled at this; he liked this kid. At last, a rational Astlanian. Unfortunately his smile exposed his fangs and caused the child even more distress. Quickly, realizing his mistake, he said, "Very well, I suppose you're right, I won't." The boy looked suddenly relieved. "But, how do you know that?" Now the boy looked really uncomfortable, but not frightened.
"Uh, I'd really rather not say at the moment, sir."
"Hmm," strange little kid this was. Very well then, let him have his secrets. At least here was a possible friend. "What's your name kid?"
"Rupert, sir."
"Very well Rupert, you can call me Tom."
"Tom?" the boy seemed a bit puzzled by this, but seemed relieved that no further questions about his beliefs appeared to be forthcoming.
"So, Rupert, where is everyone else in this little expedition of yours?"
"Well, sir. Mistress Jehenna teleported away, as did Master Trisfelt with Chass, Gloria and Sydney. Everyone else, except for Jenn here, is dead. I think."
Disappointing, but apparently the kids got away. From his inflection, Tom judged that the names Rupert mentioned along that Master Trisfelt, to be the children he'd seen. That fact was worth something. It also seemed likely that the woman who called him, was this Mistress Jehenna. She seemed to behave like a whack job of a wizard: save her own ass first, and only then worry about everyone else.
At this point there was a groan from the girl on the ground. Tom stepped back to give Rupert room, and to be out of her eyesight when she opened her eyes. Rupert bent over Jenn's face, looking down at her intently.
~
Jenn's eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was Rupert's concerned face. "Rupert," was all she could say, the whole horrible event rushing up on her. "You're alive. I'm alive!" she struggled as if to rise but Rupert held her down. Fortunately, she didn't try too hard, so the boy was able to keep her down.
"Be still," he cautioned, "you just fainted, you don't want to get a head rush and do it again do you?"
"But how. That demon, he was about to rape and kill me." Tom grimaced as she said this, although she of course, couldn't see him. "How come I'm still here? How are you here? Where is everyone else? Where's the demon?!" At this she sat up, accidentally knocking Rupert aside. She came up, with her back to Tom, and didn't see him. She looked all over the place, searching for the demon in front of her. Then she noticed Rupert fidgeting beside her.
"Yes, where is it?"
"Uh, Tom's behind you," and he pointed.
"Tom?" she turned around. "Ehhh!" she gasped. Tom waved mildly at her. She wobbled where she sat, put her hand to her forehead, her eyes rolled back and collapsed back onto the ground.
"Why does she keep doing that?" Tom asked Rupert.
"I really don't know, apparently demons radiate a fear spell that affects humans, and women in particular."
"Oh," Tom said, and thought about it. It did after all make sense. True he was rather frightening to look at, but just standing around shouldn't provoke such continual fright in people. However, this made him think, "then why aren't you affected?"
Rupert again looked a bit uncomfortable, "Uh, well, like I said, women are more susceptible than men, usually. And I, well, I'm just not affected as much, some people aren't. Look at Lenamare, or any of the great Demonologists."
"I guess," Tom said. "So you're a great Demonologist?"
"Uh, no. I...I'd kind of like to be, sort of." Rupert hedged.
"Anyway, we have to decide what to do with her. Will she be all right?"
Rupert looked at Jenn, "I don't know. Jenn?" He shook her awake.
Jenn opened her eyes again. Rupert was once again looking down at her. The demon was still standing nearby. What was she going to do? The ring was destroyed, the demon was standing there, probably about to torture them. Why it hadn't already was a mystery. In fact, why she was still alive was a mystery. Apparently the demon had some sort of devious scheme in mind, and was simply holding off torturing them until it go what it wanted.
She had to get a hold of herself. This really was getting ridiculous. She didn't know why she'd fainted in the first place, and she really couldn't keep this up. Despite how much she dreaded doing so, she would have to get up, face the demon, and try to figure some way to get Rupert and herself away from it.
She sat up and tried to compose herself slightly. "All right demon. Just exactly what do you want?" There was no sense in beating around the bush, she couldn't hope to beat the demon in any scheme that it had. Demons were notoriously tricky and she simply did not have the experience to outwit a fourth order demon.
"Nothing," Tom answered, "your friend, who seems to have deserted you, simply asked for my assistance and I gave it."
"Uh huh, well thank you very much, we appreciate it, now what do you intend to do with us." The good thing was that the demon was no longer thundering at them, but its gravelly bass voice still sent shivers up her spine.
"Nothing, why?"
"Don't give me that, demon. I know you're up to something. What I want to know is why you're still here. It is my guess that if you could harm us, you would have." Jenn hoped she was right, otherwise... "but you haven't. So I want to know exactly why you're still here. Did Lenamare or Jehenna tell you to stay with us?"
"No, and what makes you think I couldn't harm you. I figured that demonstration with the ring would convince you that I'm not currently constrained by any summons."
Jenn got noticeably paler. The idea that he wasn't constrained and could still harm them was exactly what she was afraid of. "OK," she conceded, "I admit, that was rather convincing; however, if you are free to do as you please, then why haven't you killed us." She knew she was taking a risk, she really didn't want to encourage it, but she felt she had to know.
"Look. I'm not here to kill you. If I wanted to, you wouldn't be talking to me. The fact is, I just saved your ass from those people, and I'd just come down the hill to see if you were all right. OK? I'm sorry if my concern for your well-being has upset you." Tom was beginning to get annoyed at this girl.
"Don't give me that. No demon cares about any human's well-being. You want something from us, otherwise you'd have left." Jenn stated emphatically.
Tom was getting extremely annoyed, and so he spoke just a little bit louder now, "ALL I MIGHT LIKE--IS POSSIBLY--A LITTLE GRATITUDE. I JUST SAVED YOUR DAMN LIFE. DON'T YOU THINK YOU COULD AT LEAST BE POLITE TO ME. IF YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE, I WILL." Tom stepped back in preparation for fading out, when suddenly Rupert ran up and grabbed his knee.
"Rupert!" cried
Jenn in shock.
"Please, please don't leave, Tom," Rupert asked hurriedly, holding on to Tom's upper knee. "Exador's people have just killed all of the people we were with. More soldiers may be around. If they find us, we'll be dead for sure. Can't you just ignore her and stay with us for a while...until we reach somewhere safe."
"Rupert! What the hell are you doing? You're asking a loose demon to save us from humans! Boy, have you lost all sense of reality?" shouted Jenn.
"I know what I'm saying, Jenn," Rupert looked over his shoulder at Jenn. "You know you couldn't protect us from a large group of soldiers. Tom could though. Who's going to attack a fourth order demon? No one! He'd be the perfect person to escort us to Freehold. Jehenna's abandoned us, we certainly won't make it alone."
Tom looked at the little boy, and then at Jenn. For once he had to agree with the girl. This Rupert must be a little weird. From all he knew of demons and their relationship with Astlanians, if he were an Astlanian, he wouldn't ask for a demon's help.
However, the kid did have a point. Nobody would bother them with him around. The more important question, though, was why should he bother? After all, what had these people ever done for him. Aside from killing him, enslaving him, and forcing him to kill others? Actually the more he thought of it, the more reasons there were that he should just leave them.
The only problem with that, however, was that looking down at Rupert, who seemed to be almost desperate to have Tom stay, he really felt guilty as hell at the thought of leaving them. The boy was right, there probably were more soldiers running around, somewhere, they probably wouldn't get very far. Actually, maybe Tom did owe the kid something, the kid was the only person he'd met so far, except for Tizzy and Boggy, who treated him as a human being. Not to mention the fact, that he had to admire the nerve of the kid.
"...Please Tom, just for a few days?" Rupert was pleading. While Tom had been thinking, Jenn and Rupert had continued their arguing. Rupert had just turned back to plead with Tom again. The other thing was, Tom thought, if I do leave, then I just sit in my cave until Lenamare calls. That was a deciding factor to be sure. He looked down at Rupert and over at Jenn, who was now standing. She really seemed to be going off the hinges yelling at Rupert, to get away, and to stop this nonsense. She looked as if she wanted to come up and drag the boy away, but was too shy of Tom to do so.
