“I mean, we are allies. We are in a really bad situation. If this palace, this city and any of the people in it, including yourselves and your friends, are going to survive, we have to work together. We can’t afford any secrets.”
Edwyrd nodded. Gastropé shrugged, “We agree, what do you think we haven’t told you?”
Damien looked back and forth between the two. Antefalken also seemed puzzled by Damien’s comments. “Simply this: A little bit ago, I went to talk again to the Rod; I came directly to your room from there. Having verified that the Rod was telling the truth about all the demons in the palace, and for lack of any decision by the council or any other plan, I decided to go and try and negotiate some more with the Rod. I wanted to try and convince them we’d known nothing about the demons until last night.”
Edwyrd and Gastropé both nodded, it seemed like something, at least. “Unfortunately, my reception this time was even less enthusiastic than the first time.” He looked significantly at everyone in the room. “Upon my arrival and being presented to Talarius and the Arch-Vicar General, I was ordered to stand put while the two men inspected me through a hand mirror.”
“A hand mirror?” Antefalken asked.
“A hand mirror. Apparently it is capable of detecting demonic influences.” Antefalken made a gesture with his face, impressed apparently. “It seems they are now in a hyper-paranoid state. They now suspect that anyone coming near them could be a demon or a demon’s agent. They weren’t particularly clear on that point. However, what seems clear is that they now know that some demons can shape change.”
Edwyrd started getting a sick feeling in his stomach. “How would they have gotten that idea?” Antefalken asked Damien.
Gastropé interrupted. “Can they?” He was starting to look a bit paranoid himself. Damien ignored him, answering Antefalken instead.
“I’m coming to that. Apparently, they claim to have captured a spy. A demonic one.” Edwyrd was really getting nervous now. “It happened last night. One of their sentries spotted a demon hovering over the camp, spying on their actions. Talarius apparently shot it out of the sky somehow.”
Gastropé was looking completely lost. “When soldiers went to hunt it down, all they found was a naked boy, approximately nine or ten years old.” Edwyrd had to hold himself from groaning out loud. “The young boy apparently told Talarius that he’d been captured by a demon, and only released when the demon was wounded.”
Gastropé started putting a few of the pieces together apparently, for he spoke up. “You mentioned Rupert earlier? Are you saying that Rupert was kidnapped by a demon?” Gastropé looked almost in shock. Edwyrd knew the man’s feelings about demons, he was also sure Gastropé was thinking about the fact that the Rod was after Rupert, along with the rest of them. “Gods above.” He rubbed his temple.
“Not. Exactly.” Damien replied. Edwyrd’s stomach went through the floor; he dreaded what must be coming. “It seems the next morning, Talarius brought a priest to verify the truth of the boy’s story. It seems the boy and the priest recognized each other.”
“Shit.” Gastropé’ said. “The priest from Gizzor Del.” Damien just looked at him meaningfully. Gastropé coughed slightly and said apologetically, “I guess we did kind of gloss over that part.”
“Why don’t you explain it now? Since it seems appropriate at this point.” Damien said.
Gastropé smiled sickly, Edwyrd wanted to find out what had happened to Rupert, but he figured this was going to be the only way. “Well,” Gastropé said hesitantly, “I’m not up on all the details, Jenn or Rupert could probably tell you better.” Damien continued to stare. “It seems that in order to leave the Abyss, the demon needed a link or something. Needed someone to summon him. I’m not sure what he did, but apparently he intercepted another conjuring. An individual summoning another demon. He sort of appropriated the summons I guess. I’m not really sure if that’s possible?”
“Extremely rare, but it can happen.” Antefalken assured him. “One of the risks of demon conjuring.” Antefalken smiled evilly. Gastropé gulped.
“Anyway, it turned out to be this priest Verigas, in Gizzor Del. He sort of went hysterical. Can’t say I blame him. Anyway, the demon forced open a rift and let us all step out. Including the demon traveling with us now.” Damien was shaking his head, obviously imagining the situation. “Needless to say, the big demon alone was enough to send the man off the deep end. The rest of us didn’t seem to help. We were all looking rather disreputable at this point.”
Gastropé shrugged. “To make a long story short, we tied him up. He’d seen us all, but we didn’t plan on ever seeing him again. After all, he’d been doing something taboo for his religion. We just left him. We arranged it so that he’d be able to get free after we’d left the city. Apparently his conscience got the better of him, and he went to his superiors and they unleashed the Rod on us.”
