“By what right? Do you have a binding on me? Did you summon me? Do you even know my name? You don’t even have the right components for a ward.” He pointed to the materials Gastropé had put together trying to construct some form of protection from the demon.
Gastropé, as was recently his habit with demons, was blanching severely and trying to stutter out some new form of protection spell. Jenn was just frowning. She’d faced down a bigger and nastier demon recently, and while it was probably a very stupid attitude on her part, she didn’t intend to be cowed by this one. She’d just ignore the fact that it could easily rip her to shreds.
“Don’t push us, demon. We’ve had about enough lately. Tom has left; he’s not here so it does no good for you to stay. You might as well just leave.” Jenn told Tizzy. At this point Maelen, Rupert and Edwyrd walked up. Edwyrd was helping Rupert to walk. That boy should not be out of bed yet.
“Hey Tizzy!” Rupert waved his hand at the demon.
“Hey Rupert!” The demon replied, baring its teeth in a fearful grimace.
“Rupert! Get back in bed! What the Abyss loving mother of dragons are you doing out of bed? You nearly died yesterday, and if you’re not careful this fiend from the pits will finish you off. Get back inside.”
“My, you really do have a type-A personality, don’t you girl?” The demon asked. Jenn shook her head in annoyance, not understanding this crazy creature at all.
“Edwyrd, you will take Rupert back to his bed, this instant.” Jenn commanded.
“Um, well, Jenn, Rupert says he knows this demon. If so, maybe he could be of some help in placating it. Maybe keep it from eating everyone on the ship?” Gastropé appeared to drip another gallon of sweat on the deck.
“Edwyrd, if you knew anything at all about demons, you would know that you can’t placate them. The only way you can deal with them at all is from a position of power. Not by being buddy-buddy. Now get Rupert back to bed.”
“Is she always this bossy?” Tizzy asked Rupert.
“Well,” Rupert tried to be conciliatory. “She’s under a lot of pressure right now; she just thinks she’s looking out for me.”
“Rupert!” Jenn was going to go beserk about any second now.
“Demon! Would you just leave? You’ll find no friends here. Your demon lord has returned, leaving you. So go get left!” Jenn was nearly shouting at the end.
“You really shouldn’t get so worked up.” Tizzy commented casually. “My thirteenth mistress was the same way. Eventually she burst a blood vessel in her brain. I didn’t even have to help her!” Tizzy shook his head sadly.
Jenn swayed on her feet. She felt like she was going to collapse any second. She really wasn’t cut out for dealing with demons. Nor with senseless human males like Rupert and Edwyrd. “Maelen, would you please make Edwyrd and Rupert go?”
Maelen coughed, clearing his throat. “Esteemed colleagues. While it is true that I sense no immediate danger from this demon, prudence would dictate that you return to your quarters.”
“Enough!” Edwyrd said. “I can handle the demon, if it becomes a problem. You know that.” He glanced at Maelen who looked rather uncomfortable all of the sudden. “Demon,” Edwyrd addressed Tizzy directly for the first time. “What is it that you want? You’ve been told that the being you seek is no longer here.”
“Ahh, mister?” Tizzy inquired politely of Edwyrd.
“Edwyrd.” Edwyrd supplied.
“Mr. Wyrd, thank you for your politeness, some people could learn from your civil manner.” The demon glanced at Jenn from the corner of its eye. Jenn simply glared at the demon. The demon continued in an almost too suave, too civilized, theatrical tone. “It seems that my ride has temporarily vacated this plane. Since I can’t return without him, and since I am sure he will return to visit you, his... friends.” He smiled leeringly at Jenn, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Jenn’s face went red with fury. “I would like to wait with you, in the chance of encountering him again.”
Jenn had been watching the smiling demon. Now she was ticked. It acted like it was playing some sort of game with them. “Impossible!” Jenn snapped. “You may not stay here.”
