Antefalken just shook his head. “The question is why? Why would he go to so much trouble?”
Tom shrugged, “I don’t know. I still haven’t figured out why wizards can’t tell the difference between people from outer planes and demons. Given that I’m in that boat, how would I even begin to understand how wizards view each other.”
“OK, you have a point there.” He looked at Rupert again. “You know, you two look mighty similar.” Tom smiled, Rupert spoke up.
“He’s my father.” Tom tried not to grimace. He’d been going along with the boy’s fantasy but didn’t want to get too many people wrapped up in it. The more people that started to believe this, the more work he’d have to straighten things out later.
Antefalken raised his eyebrows. “Father. But I thought Boggy told me that...” he was looking at Tom. Tom shook his head.
“Boggy sometimes is confused on some things but not others. Things aren’t always as they may appear.” Tom hoped that the demon would get the hint that he didn’t want to discuss it at the moment, and hopefully the demon would understand that it was because Rupert was around. He felt Rupert looking at him, clearly not understanding.
“Hmm,” Antefalken said. “Well, anyway. I shouldn’t keep you. Father and son at play,” he smiled. “I’ve got to get back to the courts. If you happen to get in town, look me up.”
Tom nodded, “Will do. Nice to meet you.” Tom had no idea where these courts were. Tizzy kept mentioning them too, as did Rupert. Sounded like somewhere out of a Zelazny novel. Antefalken nodded and waved as he flew off.
Rupert and Tom watched him fly off. When he was out of sight, Rupert asked him, “What did you mean by things aren’t always as they seem?” Tom wasn’t sure how to answer this one, without a full confession at this time. They had such a good time together so far, he hated to ruin it now.
“Well, first off. Boggy is Tizzy’s partner. Thus I think you understand what I mean by telling him not to trust Boggy on everything he hears. But most importantly, until you know someone, especially a demon, it really isn’t a good idea to reveal too much information to them. If they’re really working for someone else, even if under duress by some wizard, they might be able to use that information against you. Thus the more I can keep him off balance the better. I think, Antefalken is on the up and up, but if he isn’t, I’d hate to see him try to use you or harm you to get at me.” While technically all true, that really wasn’t the whole story, but he just seemed to keep digging himself into a deeper and deeper hole.
Rupert looked down at his hooves. “Oh. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” He sounded pretty down about it.
Tom shook his head, he hadn’t meant to shift the defensive to Rupert. “Don’t be. I’m not sorry you said anything.” He grabbed the kid for another hug, this one in midair. “Those are just good rules to live by in general. They don’t always apply, and I’m sure you didn’t hurt anything. I suspect this Antefalken’s legit. He did know Boggy, and Boggy trusted him enough to tell him about me. So don’t you worry.”
Rupert looked up at him. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
The hole in reality had opened onto a grassy plain. This was not, Gastropé thought, what he would have pictured Freehold to look like. It did not, however, take him long to realize that the demon had not deceived them. To the not too distant north was a large number of lights. These lights appeared to be coming from a very large city. It was hard to make out, but the city appeared to have a wall around it, and the lights were from a few large structures that were higher than the walls. It must be most impressive in the daylight Gastropé decided.
He turned around as Jenn eventually came through the hole. The hole itself was a ring of fire in midair which gave off a not inconsiderable amount of light. In this light, Jenn appeared extremely hesitant about being there. “What’s the matter Jenn?” Gastropé asked.
“Rupert. He wasn’t in the cave. He’d wandered off and we couldn’t find him to bring him through.” Gastropé cursed softly to himself. That was all they needed.
“What are we going to do?” he asked the group.
“Edwyrd said he’d stay and search for him. I wanted too, but he insisted I wouldn’t be able to go outside, but that he could. I hope I did the right thing by agreeing.” Jenn said, almost to tears.
“You did, child,” Maelen came and put an arm around her. “The heat of the Abyss would be too much for any cantrip. However, what Edwyrd and Rupert were using would be strong enough.”
“You’re sure?” she asked looking up into his eyes.
“Very sure. Edwyrd is a first class animage and young Rupert is not completely unskilled.” Maelen assured her. “They’re using the same discipline I did. Works like a charm.” He smiled reassuringly at Jenn.
