“Yeah, I guess that leaves Damien.” Gastropé’ shrugged, unsure if it was a good idea. Edwyrd wasn’t sure either. They didn’t know this Damien, but he was a council member that wasn’t Lenamare, Exador or Jehenna. The only other council members they knew of. The only problem would be if the demons were Damien’s. He might not appreciate having them noticed.
“Well,” Edwyrd began, “he is the closest thing we know to a local authority that we even remotely trust. This does seem like one of those things the people in charge should be aware of.” Gastropé just nodded.
The question it seemed was to be taken out of their hands. They had gone to see the wizard Damien, but no one had answered their knock. “Apparently not in. I guess we’ll have to think of something else,” Gastropé stated. They headed back to their quarters, somewhat relieved to have the need of acting taken out of their hands.
Several minutes later as they were crossing the main foyer of the palace to get to the other side where their quarters were; the question was put back in their hands. Even as they reached the middle of the large courtroom, Damien came striding through the front doors of the palace. The golden haired wizard was looking rather grim. “Well?” Edwyrd looked at Gastropé. Gastropé just gestured for Edwyrd to precede him to the wizard.
“Damien.” Edwyrd called as they approached the wizard. For a moment, the wizard appeared lost in thought, but then he noted the two young men approaching him. He nodded to them grimly as they approached him. “Councilor, may we have a word with you?” Edwyrd asked.
Damien sighed, “I’m a little preoccupied at the moment; could it wait until tomorrow?”
Edwyrd thought for a moment, “I suspect it would be better if you knew sooner than later.”
“Knew? Knew what?” Damien looked wearily and suspiciously at Edwyrd.
“I think we better go someplace private.” Edwyrd told him, “and secure from prying ears.” Damien just raised his eyebrows and motioned the two to follow him back to his quarters.
Damien ushered them into his main room after unlocking the door with a wave of his hand. “Be seated,” he told them as he closed the door behind them. Edwyrd looked around then went to sit on a couch nearby, Gastropé’ took a chair to his left. Damien hung his cloak on a large cloak rack then moved to a small bar. “Can I offer you anything to drink?” He asked as he poured himself some golden liquid. Edwyrd thanked him, but refused, Gastropé likewise.
“So,” Damien said sitting down on the divan opposite Edwyrd, “what do I need to know that can’t wait until morning?”
Edwyrd cleared his throat and looked to Gastropé. Gastropé simply nodded at him to speak. “I’m unfamiliar with Freehold, perhaps it’s just standard practice, but in the event you were unaware, we thought it best to inform you.” Edwyrd paused; Damien just looked at him to continue. “Well, there seems, in my opinion to be a rather high number of demons wandering around the palace. Perhaps you’re aware of this and it is no cause for alarm, but...”
Damien started and shook his head, looking as if he’d been splashed by cold water. “What precisely do you mean by a large number?”
Gastropé answered this time. “Several hundred at the very least, one in every corridor and public room we’ve been in.” Damien rubbed his forehead resting his elbow on his knee and his head in his hand.
“You’re sure?” Damien asked.
“No question, we both have observed them, as has our... demon.” Edwyrd told him.
“Well,” Damien looked up, smiling rather grimly. “You’re the second group of people to inform me of this today.” He sighed and put down his drink. “I went out to negotiate with the Rod, which is now camped outside the gates of the city. Their leaders insisted that they couldn’t trust us to negotiate with them when we’d obviously been overrun by demons. When I asked what they meant, they told me much the same thing.” Damien shook his head in consternation.
“I haven’t noticed them, but then I haven’t thought to look for them.” Damien said. He looked around the room, as if searching for demons.
“There are none in here, I checked as we entered.” Gastropé told him. “At least none that we can detect.” Edwyrd nodded his agreement. Damien nodded.
“Antefalken!” Damien called. Edwyrd nearly jumped when he heard the demon’s name called. He didn’t know what Damien meant by the shout. His question was shortly answered however as the little demon strolled into the room from an open doorway adjacent to the garden windows.
“Gentlemen,” Damien said, “allow me to introduce my bard, Antefalken.” He waved an introductory hand to the little demon. Antefalken bowed slightly in acknowledgement. Edwyrd would have started sweating if he knew how. Surely, the little demon would recognize him?
“Greetings, sirs.” Antefalken said as he hopped up onto the back of a chair to Edwyrd’s right. Damien looked to his demon.
“Can you confirm this?” Damien asked.
