“He sent the Rod after you?” Antefalken asked incredulously.
Gastropé smiled rather embarrassed. “It seems he kind of thought we were the first wave in a demonic invasion force.” Damien was rubbing his head with both hands.
“So that explains why the Rod is here?” Damien asked.
“Well, we thought so at first.” Edwyrd spoke up at this point. “However, it’s apparently escalated beyond that. They apparently found out about the archdemon after the book, and that sort of added fuel to their fire. I’m pretty sure finding hundreds of demons and some archdemons in the palace didn’t do much to relieve them.” Damien simply groaned.
“But what about Rupert? You say the priest identified him? Or someone?” Edwyrd asked.
Damien nodded, reorienting himself. “According to Talarius, Verigas identified him as Rupert, one of the Minions of Evil. From your story, that sounds exactly like what happened.”
“So the Rod has him?” Gastropé’ asked Damien. “I know they probably think he’s evil, but they wouldn’t hurt a little kid would they?”
Damien just looked at him for a moment. “Actually, Talarius apparently did try and calm Verigas, and if it had succeeded, they probably wouldn’t have harmed him.”
“Wouldn’t have harmed him? What exactly do you mean?” Edwyrd was literally sick to his stomach at this point.
“Simply this: In an effort to convince Verigas that Rupert was harmless, Talarius pulled out the mirror. Apparently to his surprise it revealed the boy to be a fourth order demon.”
“What! That’s ridiculous!” Gastropé shouted. Antefalken was thinking hard, it appeared. He was twisting his head and chewing his lower lip. “Rupert is as human as any of us!” Antefalken looked up at this, Gastropé paid him no heed.
“Perhaps.” Damien said calmingly. “Except that, apparently, when he realized he was revealed, Rupert started to shape change into a demon.” Gastropé was shaking his head in adamant denial. “Fearing an attack, and knowing how dangerous a fourth order demon would be. Talarius slew the demon or boy.”
“Slew it?” Antefalken asked in disbelief. Edwyrd put his head in hands. Gastropé just stared in shock at Damien, finally silenced.
“Slew it. The Arch-Vicar General and Verigas were both there. Both priests swear by their god in front of the entire Rod that what Talarius slew was a partially shape changed demon. As if further proof were needed, the body and all its blood faded as if it had never been. Leaving only the clothes torn by the demon’s transformation.” Edwyrd breathed a sigh of relief. If Rupert had faded, then maybe he’d been sent to the Abyss like a real demon. It hadn’t happened on the ship, and Rupert had no real connection to the Abyss, but maybe. All he could do was hope.
“Now the priests know that demons can shape change. They don’t know how many or which ones, but they know some can. They know that anyone that comes up to them could be a demon. They are highly nervous, to say the least. They are also convinced that Rupert was sent there to spy on them, and probably to sabotage or corrupt their mission.”
“This is preposterous!” Gastropé shouted again, getting up to pace dramatically. “If it was a demon, and if demons can shape change, then it couldn’t have been Rupert. It must have been some demon posing as Rupert! Jenn and Lenamare have both known the boy for years. There is no way he could have fooled them.” Damien shrugged; Antefalken didn’t look convinced.
“For magic’s sake! You Edwyrd! You’re his cousin!” They all looked at Edwyrd. “You should know...” Gastropé looked puzzled for a moment, remembering something. “More than that! Tizzy told us that you’re the boy’s father!” It was Edwyrd’s turn to do a double take. He looked at Gastropé in shock.
“Tizzy?” Antefalken spoke up. “Is that the demon traveling with you? Why didn’t anyone tell me? He and I are old friends! The mealy little cockroach didn’t even stop by to say hi!” Antefalken shook his head. It was then the import of Gastropé’s words seemed to sink in. “His father?” He looked very intently at Edwyrd. Obviously, he was thinking back to his meeting with Tom. Edwyrd just shook his head in his hands. Damien was staring directly at Edwyrd.
All of the people in the room were staring at him. They wanted answers. The ball was in his court. What was he going to say? Too much had already been revealed. Lies, he hated all the lies he was involved in. Maybe it was time to end some of them. He just didn’t know if he could trust these people.
Unfortunately, enough had been said that if he wasn’t honest now, none of them would trust him. If this Talarius was after them, and he could slay Rupert, a fourth order it appeared, with no problem, then Tom himself might need help. That didn’t even bring into account the archdemons. No, he was going to need allies if he was going to get himself and those he’d promised to protect out of harm’s way. He sighed.
