The Heavenly Host (Demons of Astlan Book 2) Read online

  “How?” Peter asked.

  “Talk about a detour!” Zed exclaimed.

  “Well, this is a bit awkward, but… you know that demon that kidnapped Talarius and stole mana from Tiernon?” Gastropé asked.

  “Yes. We haven’t seen this crystal ball thing, but we’ve heard the stories. Actually, I think you told us some of those stories at the Bacchanalia?” Zed reminded him.

  “Oh, yeah.” Gastropé frowned. “Well, we did it with that demon. He took us to a cave of his in the Abyss that was a bit cooler than most of the Abyss, and we used it as sort of a waiting room until he could make contact with someone else to help him open a gateway to Astlan.”

  “You are telling us that you were the house guest of the demon that stole mana from a god?” Penelope asked.

  “Well, to be fair, he had not yet done so at the time,” Gastropé said.

  A cheer broke out as the three demons finished killing their fourth lich-and-dragon pair. A second cheer then broke out over the com circlets as the final pair were vanquished by the other carpets. They all looked over to where the final set of carpets were watching something fall to the ground.

  Gastropé blinked; was that Elrose standing in the air between two of the carpets?

  “Hey, that flying human stole our next entrée!” Tizzy yelled as the three demons flew up to the carpet.

  Gastropé looked over at them. Wow, did they look bad. Tizzy’s two friends had holes in their wings; the craggy one even had a broken horn. They all had dark spots covering their bodies. It was much clearer on Tizzy, who was lighter skinned and not scaly, but the dark spots appeared to be bad frostbite and/or cold burns. How cold was a lich’s teat if they could freeze demons? Gastropé wondered.

  “Sorry,” Peter said to Tizzy as the demon flew nearby.

  Tizzy looked Peter up and down. “You’re a human on a Grove carpet?”

  “Uhm, yeah. Sort of a long story,” Peter said.

  Tizzy twisted his mouth back and forth a couple of times before saying, “Unusual.”

  Zed stared at the demon. “You know about the Grove?”

  Tizzy shrugged and pulled his pipe out of nowhere. “I’ve done some business there; been a long time though.”

  “You have been to the Grove?” Penelope asked, looking horrified.

  Tizzy gave her a wide grin and a completely terrifying leer. “I was indeed, my pretty! Perhaps next time I’m there, I should look you up?”

  Penelope shook her head back and forth, not wanting to have anything to do with the octopodal demon.

  “How can a demon get into the Grove?” Zed asked.

  “Same way as a human!” Tizzy pointed to Peter. “You get invited!” The demon grinned.

  ~

  Antefalken came up to Tom, wading in what he figured must be a molten iron bath. “So, you about ready to head home?”

  Tom smiled. “Yeah. It’s been a good trip, but probably time to leave.”

  Antefalken grinned. “Yeah, I haven’t been here for at least a decade. It’s been great to stretch out and relax.”

  “Where are the rest?” Tom asked.

  “Reggie is teaching Rupert and Talarius to play a card game called blackjack,” Antefalken said. “Last time I looked, the others were over in the main lava flow.”

  Tom nodded. “You grab the card players and I’ll get the others. We’ll meet up on the ridge we came over from the Boom Tunnel.”

  “Sounds good!” Antefalken took off.

  Tom pulled himself out of the molten metal. He had to shake some metal droplets off his legs. He didn’t want any to harden between his scales. He then headed over to the main lava flow.

  When he arrived it took him a moment to spot the guys, but he eventually spotted them out floating on their backs in a deep orange hot region. He took to the air and flew over to them. “You guys ready to go?” Tom asked.

  Boggy opened one eye. “Already? We just got back not that long ago!”

  “Argh!” Estrebrius moaned, keeping both eyes closed. “I ache all over and I’ve still got some bone-deep chills from where that second dragon bit my leg.”

  “Whine, whine, whine!” Tizzy groused. “I don’t think my rear left toes have grown back yet! At least you two didn’t lose any appendages!”

  “What are you three talking about?” Tom asked, puzzled. “You’ve been soaking in lava for hours now.”

  Tizzy grinned. “We got a bloody call from my accursed master!”

  “Bloody good bloody call, if I do say so myself!” Boggy added, keeping both eyes shut.

  Tom shook his head. “Your accursed master? He summoned you while you were here? All three of you?” This didn’t make any sense.

  Tizzy grinned and shook his head, somehow causing small lava ripples. “Well, he called. He was all up in the air over a bunch of liches on dragonback that were kicking his and his friend’s butts, so we all decided to go help out.”

  “Best workout in a century!” Boggy sighed.

  “Wait, I’m confused,” Tom said. “Your accursed master summoned you and had you bring friends? That makes absolutely no sense!”

  “Well, he’s also a friend, so we said what the heck!” Tizzy said.

  Tom shook his head. “Your accursed master is your friend? You are now back tracking on everything you and Boggy have told me about wizards and demons.”

  “Yeah, Tizzy does that sort of thing,” Boggy said. “However, it’s really a case of him leaving out a lot of details, like who this so-called accursed master is.”

  Tom sighed. “Okay, so who is your accursed master? I don’t think you’ve mentioned him before.”

  Tizzy looked up and gave Tom a puzzled stare. “What are you talking about? Pretty sure it was your idea!”

  Tom stared at the floating octopod and blinked. “What are you talking about?”

  “When we entered Freehold, wasn’t it you that suggested that Gastropé be my accursed master?” Tizzy asked.

  “Tom sold you into eternal slavery?” Estrebrius looked up and over at Tizzy. “That’s not very nice!”

  “I don’t think he got paid, so not sure it was a ‘sale’ exactly,” Boggy said. “At least that’s what I heard.”

  “Stop.” Tom raised a hand. “You are confusing me. Are you saying you are still pretending to be Gastropé’s slave?”

  Estrebrius squinted at Tizzy. “I don’t know… That binding doesn’t look that pretend to me!”

  Tom looked back and forth between the two. He then looked at Tizzy with his demon sight. Sure enough, there was some sort of wizard link or binding going up and off plane.

  “Where did that come from?” Tom asked.

  Tizzy shrugged and closed his eyes again, relaxing. “It just showed up at some point.”

  “Links don’t just show—no. I am not going to do this. I already know I cannot win this discussion. I will just take things at face value.” Tom sighed. “So can we go? The others are ready to head home.”

  Boggy sighed. “I suppose. I’m going to want to take a nap though.”

  “Me too,” Estrebrius said, rotating to an upright position. Tom was not sure how it was possible for them to move in molten lava so easily. The iron had been extremely thick and hard to move in; lava had to be worse.

  Tizzy sat up, grunting. “Spoilsports!”

  Chapter 95

  ~

  “They went where?” Lilith asked Rosencrantz for the second time.

  “Hellsprings Eternal,” the cringing demon messenger replied.

  “Why in the Abyss would they go there?” Lilith asked Asmodeus, who was sitting in a large, winged armchair beside her sipping on a glass of blood wine.

  “To celebrate, I would assume,” Asmodeus replied.

  “They have half the Abyss as well as Tierhallon looking for them. This is hardly lying low,” Lilith pointed out. “Did no one notice who they were?”

  “Not so much as I could tell, mistress.” Rosencrantz shrugged. “Most of these people are
vacationers and may not have heard the news yet.”

  “And no one noticed a Knight of Tiernon randomly wandering the Abyss?” Asmodeus asked.

  “Well, it wasn’t like he was swinging his sword and looking to do battle or anything. A few people raised some questions, but once the greater demon told them the knight was with him, they sort of let it go,” the messenger said.

  Lilith shook her head. “I really don’t see the point of this move. I would have assumed he’d have rendezvoused with his allies and minions to advance their scheme.”

  “Who was with him again, Rosencrantz?” Asmodeus asked.

  “Uhm, the bard Antefalken, the miniature fourth-order that looks like the big one, Tizzy and Bogsworth, plus an incubus and some fiend we had no identification for.”

  “An incubus?” Lilith asked.

  “Yes my queen, he was quite busy with the lady patrons of the springs. As one might imagine.”

  “Why would he have an incubus working for him?” Lilith asked Asmodeus, who shrugged, having no idea. “Is he creating an army of these mini versions of himself?” Lilith shook her head.

  “Under any normal circumstances, the fact that he’s got Tisdale with him would make me discount any true threat; however, circumstances have proven to be quite far from normal,” Asmodeus said.

  “Exactly. Who takes a hostage to a spa?” Lilith took a large gulp of blood wine to punctuate her exasperation.

  “So you say they relaxed at the spa for a good part of the day, so to speak, and then simply went back to that hole in the ground they are staying in?” Asmodeus asked.

  “Exactly. About six or seven hours by Court Time, Your Lordship.” Rosencrantz nodded as he replied.

  Asmodeus sighed. “None of this makes much sense to me. Do we really understand what precipitated all this? Yes, I know the city was under siege, overrun by a demon army, but do we know whose? I forget.”

  “Well, it’s not completely clear; however, I do believe Ramses is involved and most likely Exador,” Lilith said.

  “Exador?” Asmodeus asked.

  Lilith shrugged. “An archdemon of shifting alliances. Rather aloof actually. Apparently he’s been masquerading as a human in Astlan for the last few thousand years.”

  “Ugh,” Asmodeus said with distaste. “Why? The amenities there are sadly lacking.”

  “Maybe he likes the cold?” Lilith shrugged, not particularly caring.

  “Are either of them aligned with a prince?”

  “Not currently that I am aware of. Ramses has been on good terms with Belphegor and occasionally Naamaha. I have seen him conversing at parties with Moloch and Azaziel, but nothing particularly suspicious.”

  “Hmm, so perhaps nominally in Sammael’s camp?” Asmodeus asked.

  Lilith made a face indicating uncertainty. “He’s not in mine, and as you know, my default assumption is that if you aren’t in my camp, you’re in his.” She set her glass down to pour some more blood wine. “However, that doesn’t prove anything.”

  “Has Sammael mentioned anything to you about this demon?” Asmodeus asked tentatively.

  “No, but then he wouldn’t.” She gave her head a slight shake. “He knows that any such mention of something this interesting would likely rouse my suspicions that he was somehow involved. So either way, he’ll remain silent.”

  Lilith suddenly noticed that Rosencrantz was still in the room. She glared at him. “Return to your partner and remember nothing from this room,” Lilithshe commanded her servant.

  ~

  DOF +3

  Evening 15-20-440

  “My dear lady, this was a most magnificent feast!” Trisfelt said as he leaned back in his chair, trying to surreptitiously adjust his robe’s belt.

  “Thank you so much, but I fear I can claim no credit, save for hiring Chef Jerod and his team.” Hilda beamed to the hearthean as he entered the room to ensure his crew were clearing the table properly.

  “Chef Jerod, you are a true genius!” Trisfelt complimented the chef. “Never have I had such a delicious preparation of jahiva fish. The citrus marmalade was an incredible touch that perfectly complemented the fish’s spiciness. And the soup, as I said after eating it, was heavenly.”

  “Did you not enjoy the appetizers?” Chef Jerod asked worriedly.

  “My dear man, of course I did. They were marvelous! I simply had to pause to gather air to continue. Before you ask, the salad was the best I’ve had outside of the Grove and it could give anything there a run for its money,” Trisfelt assured him.

  “Excellent!” Chef Jerod said, beaming. “But I fear we only have three more courses to go!” He shook his head worriedly. “Perhaps I should get to work on another course? We are about to serve the entrée; I should have time.”

  Trisfelt’s eyes popped open wider, “My dear sir, are you trying to explode me?”

  Hilda grinned. She had to give silent thanks to Tiernon for her sainthood so that she could actually enjoy such meals without the fear of gaining weight, or even getting too full. Chef Jerod was the best chef in the city, and certainly the most expensive; however, her managers had greatly increased her budget, thanks to her excellent results.

  “Ugh, I fear I shall never eat again,” Trisfelt moaned after finishing the final course of roasted and spiced nuts. They had literally gone from soup to nuts this evening. Hilda smiled; she too had enjoyed the meal, perhaps almost as much as Trisfelt appeared to have enjoyed it.

  “Shall we adjourn to more comfortable seating?” She gestured towards the sofa and stuffed chairs in the main part of the parlor.

  “I’m not sure I can move,” Danyel moaned. He looked quite sick, Hilda thought. The lad, being young and inexperienced, as well as mortal, did not have the gastronomical fortitude of a professional like Trisfelt or a saint like herself. He had left food on his plate at every serving, starting with the entrée. It was as if he had gotten full on the amuse, appetizer, soup, and fish alone. He had left a third of the venison and vegetables on his plate, ate half his slice of cake and only picked at the nuts. He had, however, finished the sorbet that had come after the venison and before the cake.

  The lad had also stopped taking new wine with each course at about the same time. He had not even had a sip of the dessert wine accompanying the cake. The poor lad could not have known what he was missing. And the cognac with the nuts? He had not even touched it. Youth was clearly wasted on the young, Hilda reflected. However, she could not help but smile, knowing that Danyel had most likely never anticipated being able to enjoy such a meal in his life. Rod members typically did not get to eat such meals unless they were to advance to knighthood, and not many ever managed that.

  It really felt good to be able to mentor young people and show them new experiences. Teaching and mentoring had been one of her favorite duties in the Sisterhood. It was not something she was able to do in her current job, or even her previous job. Maybe she could convince the powers that be to reassign her as sort Tierhalloc envoy, or more accurately, a spy, on a permanent basis. She had to chuckle. Would that not be true heaven!

  “Ahh…” Trisfelt sighed as he sat down on the sofa. “I must say, tonight you have been an absolutely heavenly hostess!” He shook his head. “I fear I shall never dine or drink so well again in my life!”

  “You flatter me, Master Trisfelt.” Hilda smiled brightly, not least at the unintended reference.

  “So, My Lady, shall we all watch the balling now?” Trisfelt asked.

  “Excellent idea!” Hilda exclaimed. “However, before we start, shouldn’t we open another bottle of wine?” Danyel made a gulping noise in his chair behind her, apparently not feeling the need for more wine. Youth.

  Trisfelt chuckled. “I swear, my dear Hilda, it is as if someone dropped you from heaven into my camp that night!”

  Hilda laughed. “Oh, my. What a lovely and poetic, if slightly preposterous thought!” Hilda replied, while admitting to herself that technically it was a fairly accurate statement. “Wha
t variety shall we have?” She looked over to the wine chest. The chest had two compartments: one for reds, the other with ice in it to nestle the bottles of white wine. “If we don’t have it, then I can have Bowker, Chef Jerod’s wine steward, retrieve it for us.”

  “No need for that, my dear. I must admit, I am so full and sufficiently tipsy that I think we should stick with something tasty, yet mundane. I am not prepared to savor something like we had with dinner.”

  “Hmm, perhaps a drier white? A hint of citrus, perhaps?” Hilda asked while shuffling through the cold half of the chest.

  “Excellent. I await your choice.”

  Hilda selected a bottle and took it to the glass cart that the wait staff had brought in with dinner. She selected three appropriate glasses and then took screw to bottle. “Danyel, it was you who wanted to see this. Get your hind end over to a proper chair or the sofa!” she called to her servant good-naturedly. “On second thought, take a stuffed chair. Should you decide to relinquish your dinner, I don’t want you doing so on Master Trisfelt!” She poured the three glasses of wine as Danyel slowly made his way to one of the two stuffed chairs flanking the sofa.

  Hilda brought a glass to Trisfelt and set it on the coffee table in front of him where he was setting up the crystal ball on its portable viewing stand. She set Danyel’s down on the end table beside him and went back for her own glass, along with the bottle, which she also sat on a coaster on the coffee table. Trisfelt finished his preparations and sat back to take a sip of the wine.

  “Now, I’m not terribly familiar with using these in portable display mode,” Hilda said. “Should we turn the lights down?”

  “I think that’s best; even when doing a single viewing in the ball, low lights are better. This will be projecting the image above the ball and coffee table,” Trisfelt said.

  “Excellent, then.” Hilda swept her arm around the room; all of the lamps went out except for a small lamp that she left on to keep the room from being completely dark.

  “If you have any questions, feel free to stop me. We can pause, freeze, go back, go slow, whatever is needed,” Trisfelt told the other two.