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

“And good to see you as well,” Hilda replied. She gestured to Danyel. “This is my man-at-arms, Danyel.” Trisfelt nodded at Danyel, smiling in greeting. “Apparently, it’s not seemly for a lady to go unaccompanied to a wedding.” She shook her head in pretend exasperation.

  Hilda waved her hand, brushing away the annoyance. “In any event, I noted people coming and going from the city gate again.”

  “Yes,” Trisfelt agreed, slipping his mirror into a large pocket in his robe. “They just opened it this morning. The city guard is inspecting everyone going in, and the Rod and the Oorstemothians are inspecting everyone coming out.”

  Hilda shook her head. “My, they are paranoid.” Trisfelt chuckled and made a face that implied she was making an understatement.

  “I don’t suppose you are going into the city?” Hilda enquired.

  “Well, actually I am. My friend Master Elrose has some issues he wants to discuss with me in person, so I am temporarily leaving my post. I also need to restock a few supplies.” He winked at her.

  Hilda laughed. “I am so sorry to have depleted your supplies!”

  Trisfelt laughed. “Not at all! Supply depletion is always better with good company!”

  “Well, I do have a very nice bottle of House Tregorian 912 that we might enjoy.” Hilda frowned slightly. “Although, if they are being picky about whom they let back in, it might be best to not be intoxicated. Perhaps we can try it after you meet with your friend?”

  “Excellent!” Trisfelt beamed. “I am packed. I simply need to hook up my horse and wagon.”

  Hilda handed Danyel her reins. “Will you hobble the animals, dear? I’ll help Master Trisfelt with his horse and wagon.”

  ~

  “So, we’re being carted off to a distant continent now?” Jenn asked rhetorically of Gastropé. The two were walking back towards their apartments from a meeting with Lenamare, Jehenna, Elrose and Damien.

  “Would you prefer they hand us over to the Oorstemothians?” Gastropé asked. “Or the Rod?”

  Jenn sent a small glare in his direction. “You know what I mean. We don’t get a lot of say in this.”

  “And Jehenna normally gives you a lot of say?” the conjuror asked.

  Jenn gave a disgusted sigh. “Gastropé? I’m guessing you don’t have any sisters?”

  “No.” Gastropé gave her a puzzled look.

  “Because if you did, then you would know that you are supposed to be agreeing with me right now. I am not in the mood to be reasonable!” Jenn shook her head in exasperation.

  Gastropé chuckled. “Think of it as a field trip!” He smiled at her. “We are going to the Grove. The Grove! Do you know how many humans get to see the inside of the Grove?”

  Jenn shrugged, not knowing.

  “Other than some druids, none! That’s how many. It’s a place filled with Sidhe, satyrs, centaurs and all sorts of exotic races that most of us only hear about in stories! It is said that alvaren princes dine there! The noblest of the fey!”

  “Are you sure you aren’t just looking to meet a cute nymph?” Jenn asked.

  “You really are a curmudgeon!” Gastropé shook his head.

  “Jenn!” came a booming voice from down the corridor ahead of them. Jenn’s mood lightened immediately and she took off down the hall to embrace Master Trisfelt. Gastropé caught up with them. Jenn’s wizard friend was being followed by a good-sized woman with a very bright smile, and a young man about Gastropé’s age, dressed as a guard of some sort.

  “Oh, it’s so good to see you! It seems like forever!” Jenn gushed.

  “It’s been completely crazy, my dear!” Trisfelt laughed and pulled back to look at her. “You seem to be doing well, though!”

  Jenn shrugged. “To be honest, I’ve been through hell, literally, a couple times now… but I’m getting used to it.”

  Trisfelt shook his head in amazement. “I did hear something about you traveling through the Abyss, but not much more than that.” He looked to Gastropé. “Is this one of your new friends? Rupert’s cousin, maybe?”

  Jenn shook her head and gave an exasperated look. “No, Rupert’s cousin is Edwyrd and he and Rupert apparently departed shortly after the demons to make sure they all went back to the Abyss.”

  Trisfelt glanced at Gastropé as the wizard made a rather weird face. “Isn’t that a bit dangerous for little Rupert? I mean he is only ten. Are we that hard up for wizards?”

  “Tell me!” Jenn almost shouted, raising her hands. “However, he’s infatuated with his cousin, who apparently is fairly powerful!” She was shaking her head. Gastropé coughed. Jenn’s eyes went wide for a second. “Oh, yeah—this is Gastropé. We, uhm, met him shortly after our caravan ambush.”

  “Really?” Trisfelt looked curiously at Gastropé. He stuck out his hand and the two shook.

  Neither Jenn nor Gastropé had a great desire to explain how they met, so Jenn quickly tried to change the conversation. “So, who are your new friends?”

  Trisfelt blinked for a moment and then suddenly seemed to remember his company. “My apologies! This is my friend, Hilda, and her man-at-arms, Danyel!” Trisfelt stepped back to allow the four to have a clear view of each other.

  “My dear girl!” Hilda moved forward and gave Jenn a great big hug. “I’ve heard so much about you from Trisfelt, I feel like we’ve been friends for ever!” She pulled back and gave Jenn the biggest, brightest smile Jenn could ever recall seeing. The large woman seemed to have a very calming and welcoming manner.

  “And Gastropé, a pleasure to meet you as well!” Hilda gave the wizard a very hearty handshake and another brilliant smile. Gastropé blinked, slightly taken back by her overwhelming presence.

  “So, Hilda…” Jenn struggled to recover from the woman’s strong presence. “How did you and Trisfelt meet? Are you a thaumaturge?”

  Hilda beamed; Trisfelt got a puzzled look on his face, as if trying to remember what Hilda did for a living. “Oh no, dear,” she replied, “I’m no good at memorizing all those spells and such. I’m a healer, an animage!” Hilda smiled at her and then at Gastropé.

  Jenn shook her head and glanced at Gastropé, looking for agreement as she exclaimed, “An animage? I had never met an animage in my life—I was not even sure they existed until all this craziness started—and now you are the third in the last few weeks! All completely independent of each other!” Gastropé shrugged, equally puzzled.

  Hilda chuckled. “Well, I find that when ‘craziness starts,’ people in my profession do start to pop up, so to speak. Most of the time we like to keep a very low profile. Who are the other animages you’ve met?”

  “Uhm, Maelen the seer, whom you may meet shortly, depending on schedules, and then Edwyrd, Rupert’s cousin.”

  “A seer?” Hilda asked curiously and, it seemed, somewhat cautiously.

  “Yes, an actual member of the Society of Learned Fellows. No one even knew the Society still existed!” Gastropé chimed in.

  Hilda smiled, a bit more formally, perhaps. “Oh, they certainly still exist. They have a definite presence on Eton; not so much on Norelon.” She shook her head. “And this Edwyrd? He is chasing demons with a ten-year-old?” Hilda seemed rightfully puzzled by this.

  Jenn somehow managed to nod her head in agreement and shake her head in disbelief in a single motion. “Yes, we met him in Gizzor Del. He is apparently, according to Maelen at least, a very powerful animage. A pyromaster and a couple other terms I’m not familiar with.” Gastropé was nodding in agreement.

  “Well. Interesting, very interesting.” Hilda nodded. She looked at Gastropé. “You are, if I am not mistaken, a pyromancer? And also a conjuror, perhaps?”

  Gastropé blushed slightly under Hilda’s observation. “I try my best.”

  “Excellent.” Hilda gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. “That’s what is important. Always strive to do your best—that is how you grow in strength and talent. I can tell you are young, but I can See you’ve got great promise!”

  Hilda be
amed in admiration at Jenn and Gastropé. “Clearly you’ve been through so much, far more than wizards three times your age ever have to deal with. I’m dying to hear of your adventures, if you have time at some point?” She turned to Trisfelt suddenly. “You know, I do happen to have a couple of bottles of note with me, and a few alvaren delicacies? Perhaps we could all have dinner this evening?” She gestured to Gastropé and Jenn.

  Trisfelt started nodding and Jenn was grinning but then suddenly frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry. Dang it! I completely forgot!” She grimaced in frustration, and Gastropé also groaned.

  “What is it, my dear?” Hilda asked.

  “We are leaving this evening for the Grove, on an expedition.”

  “An expedition?” Trisfelt asked, puzzled.

  “To the Grove?” Hilda’s eyes widened. “That is quite an undertaking. Surely, my dear, you’ve had enough adventures for a while?” Hilda asked, giving Jenn a reassuring pat on her forearm.

  “Yes, well, the two armies outside are looking for Gastropé, Maelen and me, as well as Edwyrd and Rupert, and the Council wants us out of Freehold as of about a week ago,” Jenn explained.

  “So the three of us are going with Elrose and Councilor D’Vils to the Grove and then on to Natoor,” Gastropé informed them.

  Hilda blinked. “You are going with Trevin D’Vils to the Grove and then on to Natoor?” She blinked a few more times. “Surely there are… less remote places you could go to get away from the Rod? They have a bigger presence on Natoor than on Norelon. In fact, given the route to get there, you are passing through the heart of the Rod’s operations. Unless you’ve got a gateway?”

  Jenn shook her head. “No, we are going conventionally, whatever that means. Given that Trevin D’Vils appears to be about 300 years old, I can’t imagine she actually intends to go on horseback and sailing ship, but you never know.”

  Hilda looked slightly puzzled. She mused out loud, “Trevin D’Vils? I’m surprised she’s not dust at this point.” Jenn did not think they were supposed to hear that, but they all did. Hilda seemed to suddenly realize she was thinking aloud and blushed.

  Jenn grinned at Hilda and whispered, “She’s ancient, and wears the most inappropriate clothing!”

  Hilda laughed, glad not to have offended anyone. Gastropé laughed as well.

  Trisfelt just shook his head in amusement. “But why Natoor?” he asked.

  Jenn looked around. “My room is just around the corner; let’s go there and discuss this in a bit more privacy.”

  [Animus and Mana Wielders]

  ~

  Hilda put down her glass of wine and reached for a piece of H’skallen cheese. They had gone back to Jenn’s room and decided that since they could not have dinner together, they should at least have a late lunch; that way Jenn and Gastropé could try some of the alvaren delicacies she’d gotten from the quartermaster’s pantry. She had to be able to back up her wedding cover story, and clearly anyone who knew Hilda would naturally have assumed she would have raided a few of the buffet tables at an alvaren wedding.

  However, as enticing as the wine was, with this rather insane story of Jenn’s, she had to keep a grip. As it was, she was fighting a splitting headache from the stupid wards blanketing the city. When she and Trisfelt had entered the city, she had nearly fallen off her horse. She had to pretend to have nausea from some stale travel cake at breakfast. Not very convincing, but better than the truth. She had had to quickly work out a ritual to damp down the expulsion symptoms, so she could enter. Technically, the ward was supposed to have been for demons, but clearly, it was aimed at general extra-planar beings. Fortunately, being a saint, she had a mortal background and was not a pure spirit. An archon would have had a lot more trouble with the wards. They would need to keep that in mind if the Host needed to enter the city.

  Once she was settled, she could come up with something better. The best thing would probably be to anoint an amulet with its own mana pool so she would not have to maintain the ritual herself. If she got seriously distracted, say fending off a wizard who had caught on to her, she wanted the expulsion repulsion, or whatever she was going to call it, to stay on. Otherwise, the wards would send her packing.

  “So, let me see if I have this right,” Hilda tried to clarify. “Trevin thinks that one of the archdemons might actually be an old goddess named Bastet, from Natoor?”

  “Exactly,” Gastropé confirmed rather tipsily. Hilda had to smile; these youngsters were so much easier to loosen up than Trisfelt. That man was a professional imbiber. She had needed a few divine tricks to keep her head about her last night and get him inebriated. It really would have been nice if she had been able to let go and truly enjoy the wine’s effects. However, she had had a job to do. Moreover, today, with her headache, she was more than happy to just do her job.

  A clock in the courtyard gonged that the afternoon was halfway done. “Oh, dear lord!” Trisfelt exclaimed in dismay. “I need to meet with Elrose! He needed to meet with me privately and in person!”

  Gastropé nodded. “Yeah, he’s going to tell you about the expedition.”

  “And,” Jenn hiccupped, “that since both he and I are going, Lenamare and Jehenna need you inside the city for their project.”

  “Project?” Hilda asked. “Surely the wards are stable and the city secure?”

  “No,” Jenn shook her head, “the other project, the one that got Exador to attack the castle.”

  Hilda thought back for a moment. “I don’t recall what you said that was—some dispute about an artifact of some sort?”

  “A stupid magic spell book they can’t figure out how to open,” Jenn said. Gastropé was nodding up and down in rather excessive agreement.

  “Okay, yes, I remember now. I’d sort of forgotten that in all the other crazy adventures you’ve been through.” Hilda shook her head in sympathy at Jenn.

  “I fear I must take my leave to go and see Master Elrose then, before he leaves.” Trisfelt stood.

  Hilda nodded. “Danyel and I should be getting home. I am pretty clear on our route in, so we should be able to get ourselves back to the stables.” She glanced a bit skeptically over at Danyel, who was also inexperienced when it came to libations. She shook her head and gave Trisfelt a glance, as she noted that he had noticed her look to Danyel.

  “Youth,” he said and chuckled softly, shaking his head in agreement as well. He seemed quite fine. Hilda was not surprised; the man had true fortitude when it came to libations. She briefly wondered if he had a similar fortitude in the romance department. Hilda blushed; clearly, the wine and headache were getting to her, for that thought to pop up!

  [Mana Pools and Anima Jars]

  Chapter 86

  Estrebrius handed the waiter demon another coin for his second mug of Denubian Choco-CoffeeTM. This was really a crapper of a day —actually, the last two days. He had been hanging out in his penta-cage at his accursed master’s laboratory when that damned crazy expulsion spell had hit him. He had nearly puked out his non-existent guts and released his non-existent bowels. He had headed out of the city as fast as possible and seen the last half of the fateful battle before being dispatched by those bastards in the flying boat after the battle.

  Then, still recovering, his accursed master had summoned him! That had been very painful, although the magic of the summoning did help accelerate his healing. However, his accursed master had apparently become completely unhinged. This stunk! Master Vaselle was the best accursed master he had ever had. He never wantonly tortured and only did modest and appropriate punishments when warranted. Plus he let Estrebrius hang out in Freehold with him, which was a much more interesting place than the outlands of the Abyss, and safer than the Courts.

  He was not a huge fan of the Courts, but when you needed a drink there weren’t a lot of other options. Estrebrius sighed; he wished he could cry. He felt so despondent! How would he ever find this new demon lord? Everyone in the Abyss was trying to figure out who he was and what he was up
to, and no one knew anything! In addition, there were plenty of others trying to find the demon lord. What chance did he have?

  Even if he did find the demon lord, what then? Assuming the demon lord did not eat him for lunch, he would never agree to see Vaselle. He was going to fail in his task and likely die in it. The only thing worse would probably be to succeed. Well, maybe that would not be worse than dying, unless he died in that option too. The point was, if the demon lord did agree to meet with Vaselle, he would surely kill the wizard and then he would be out a particularly good master. Not that it was such a bad thing, but he had never had much luck staying free, so it was better to be bound to a decent master.

  “Hoy, Estrebrius! Why so glum, dear chap?” Estrebrius looked up to see Boggy joining him at the table. He was happy to see that Boggy had recovered from his post-master-slaying drinking binge. Estrebrius had checked out early from that party. He had not wanted a hangover when Vaselle summoned him to work the next day.

  “I am up the Styx without a paddle,” Estrebrius whined despondently.

  “Why, what happened?” Boggy asked.

  “You know that big demon that kidnapped the knight of Tiernon?”

  Boggy beamed extremely brightly. “I certainly do!”

  Estrebrius shook his head, not understanding why Boggy was so enthusiastic about it; but of course, if he had been in the Courts he could not not know about the demon. “Anyway, my master, Vaselle—”

  “The one you keep telling me is a decent fellow? The one I insist can’t be?” Boggy interrupted.

  “Yes, him. He has gone over the edge. Bonkers! And he’s set me to an impossible task!” Estrebrius ground his eyes into the palms of his hands.

  “Ahh, finally tortured you. I told you, they all do it eventually!” Boggy patted his arm.

  “No… If only!” Estrebrius looked up, dropping his arms to the table. “It’s worse than that. He is completely insane! And he’s given me an insane task that I can’t possibly complete!”

  Boggy nodded. “Cor blimey, I hate it when they do that. We aren’t djinns, for the Concordenax’s sake!” Boggy sighed. “So what does he want you to do?”