Things are hotting up in Demon. Who knew our boys would be facing a real demon army? Or will they?
This week I chose the prompt "I'm pretty sure the South isn't going to rise again" because as soon as I saw it I knew I had to :) I'm getting quite good at writing the chapter around the prompt rather than trying to fit the prompt in.
My heart
pounds as I allow myself to be escorted through the castle by the guards who
wait outside Castien’s chamber door. Part of my discomfiture comes from my
loved one’s anger. I hope that anger will never be directed at me, but I have
no illusions.
We pass
through more populated parts of the castle and meet with the ordinary folk who
work here. They shrink back, making the sign against evil. I cannot pretend it
doesn’t hurt, but I must not let fear get in the way of the mission I have been
given.
They await me.
They are as before. Some stiff and unforgiving, others more encouraging, but
all waiting in keen anticipation.
It’s hard to
gather my thoughts and I wonder whether my father goes through this when asked
to speak on such important matters. If he does, he hides it well, and that is
what I must strive for.
“Thank you for
attending so quickly,” the king says with a warmer smile than I have yet seen
on any face save Castien’s. “I would like you to explain to the members of the
council the business that has brought you here; that I discussed with your
father at our recent meeting.
A few rumbles
make it clear the council neither knew or approved of such a meeting. I ignore
them.
“Many years
ago,” I begin, gathering my thoughts, “after the war between our people.”
“After we
drove you into the swamp, you mean,” one of the Councillors says. He’s a severe
man with a long nose and greasy black hair.
There is
little point entering into an argument so I nod to him in what I hope is a
noncommittal but gracious gesture. I am not my father so I am unsure whether I
succeeded. At least I didn’t seem to have offended anyone.
“After my
people moved westward there was a time of unrest. We returned to our ancestral
home in the forests beyond the swamp––”
“What ancestral
home?” the same Councillor snaps. “Even before you were driven out like dogs
your territory never extended as far as the swamp, let alone beyond it.”
“I seems you
know little of our history,” I say, trying hard to maintain a respectful tone
with a man who is rapidly raising my stress level. “May I continue?” I ask the
king who nods and cuts off further comment from the man.
“Generations
were born and raised and a disturbing trend arose. Some of our most learned men
and women turned to the study of dark arts. A vein of magillium runs through––”
“Magillium? A
myth. You waste our time with swamp stories?”
“Silence,” the
king roars and the uproar that had threatened, subsides.
“I can assure
you magillium is no myth. The vein is small but access to is was strictly
forbidden. Events around the discovery of the material is what forced us out of
our home in the first place. The stories tell of an event similar to that which
occurred in the recent past. Although the cave where the entrance to the
magillium temple could be found was well guarded, a small, dedicated group
penetrated our defences and began to work with the magillium.
“When their
crime was uncovered, the magi, unrepentant, refused to give up the secrets of
their dark rituals, and were imprisoned.
“Some six
months ago, in the dead of night, a strange light appeared in the sky over the
Cave of the Temple. Almost all were drawn out of our homes to gaze in wonder at
the marvellous sight. As we watched, the light drew together and began to form
the shape of a man, his body translucent and filled with stars.
“By this time
my father had some idea what was happening and send his guards throughout the
city to draw our people together in places of safety. But before all were
gathered the star figure began to rain devastation upon us. Buildings were
reduced to rubble, rivers boiled, the lake at the center of our city froze to
its bed.
“The star man dissolved into the dawn, and has
not been seen again, but during that one night of devastation over a hundred
people lost their lives and hundreds more lost their homes. Almost no family
was untouched.
“When the
clean–up
began it was discovered that the imprisoned magi had vanished, and the entrance
to the cave had been sealed by a massive cave–in that is unlikely ever to be
cleared.”
“We are
sorry for your loss,” one of the kinder men says sincerely. “Of course we will
send aid.”
“Aid is not
what I am seeking,” I say quickly, seeing an argument brewing. “In fact,
perhaps your king might take up the story from here.”
The king
nods sombrely.”
“Four
months ago I received news of renewed activity in the South. I believe the magi
Tian speaks of have crossed the border and we are about to face renewed
hostilities from the southern territories.”
“Nonsense.
The territory is thoroughly subdued. It was decimated in the war.”
“He’s
right,” a rather portly gentleman breaks in for the first time. “It is very
sparsely populated and they have no resources for war, even of a guerrilla
nature. I’m pretty sure the South isn’t going to rise again.”
“They might
if they had a demon army at their back.”
A general
outcry ensues. “You dare come here to threaten us?” the unfriendly man roars.
“Whatever
ransom you seek we will not give,” another severe–looking man spits.
I am
thoroughly confused until I realize they are talking about me and my people. To
them, we are the demons.
“No, wait.
You don’t understand. I’m not talking about us. I’m talking about real demons.
Creatures that were once human, raised from the dead by the power of magillium
wielded by the rogue magi. I don’t come to threaten but to propose an
alliance.”
Now go check out the rest of the amazing flashers.
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