In order to see who spoke, Tom had to squat down and peer under the wagon. Laying on the ground was a small boy, with brown hair and eyes, homespun breeches and shirt, about nine years old, who was staring at him intensely.
“No,” Tom said softly trying not to frighten the kid. “She seems to have fainted.”
“Fainted?” the boy said curiously as he scrambled out from under the wagon, to gaze upon Jenn’s face. “That’s not something I’d expect her to do. Jenn’s really not the fainting type. Alvea yes, Jenn no. Hmmm.” Rupert looked down at Jenn’s recumbent form, as puzzled as Tom about what to do. “I don’t know what you’re supposed to do, gently slap her face maybe.”
“I guess, I don’t know either.” At this point Tom realized with a slight start that this boy didn’t seem frightened of him at all. “Excuse me?”
“Yes,” said Rupert looking calmly up at Tom’s eyes.
“Why aren’t you running away in fear of me?”
“Oh, sorry. Was I supposed to?”
“Well that seems to be the general reaction to me. I was simply puzzled why you’re not.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Demon’s just don’t frighten me, especially you. I know you won’t hurt me.”
“Oh?” Tom said, surprised by this statement. True, he wouldn’t, but how could this kid know that when every adult thought otherwise. He arched his eyebrows in a mock serious fashion. “You do, do you.”
This at least got a reaction. The boy suddenly looked troubled and doubtful. He swallowed, stepped back a step, and licked his lips. “W... Well, I don’t think, you’ll hurt me.” He amended.
Tom smiled at this; he liked this kid. At last, a rational Astlanian. Unfortunately his smile exposed his fangs and caused the child even more distress. Quickly, realizing his mistake, he said, “Very well, I suppose you’re right, I won’t.” The boy looked suddenly relieved. “But, how do you know that?” Now the boy looked really uncomfortable, but not frightened.
“Uh, I’d really rather not say at the moment, sir.”
“Hmm,” strange little kid this was. Very well then, let him have his secrets. At least here was a possible friend. “What’s your name kid?”
“Rupert, sir.”
“Very well Rupert, you can call me Tom.”
“Tom?” the boy seemed a bit puzzled by this, but seemed relieved that no further questions about his beliefs appeared to be forthcoming.
“So, Rupert, where is everyone else in this little expedition of yours?”
“Well, sir. Mistress Jehenna teleported away, as did Master Trisfelt with Chass, Gloria and Sydney. Everyone else, except for Jenn here, is dead. I think.”
Disappointing, but apparently the kids got away. From his inflection, Tom judged that the names Rupert mentioned along that Master Trisfelt, to be the children he’d seen. That fact was worth something. It also seemed likely that the woman who called him, was this Mistress Jehenna. She seemed to behave like a whack job of a wizard: save her own ass first, and only then worry about everyone else.
At this point there was a groan from the girl on the ground. Tom stepped back to give Rupert room, and to be out of her eyesight when she opened her eyes. Rupert bent over Jenn’s face, looking down at her intently.
Jenn’s eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was Rupert’s concerned face. “Rupert,” was all she could say, the whole horrible event rushing up on her. “You’re alive. I’m alive!” she struggled as if to rise but Rupert held her down. Fortunately, she didn’t try too hard, so the boy was able to keep her down.
“Be still,” he cautioned, “you just fainted, you don’t want to get a head rush and do it again do you?”
“But how. That demon, he was about to rape and kill me.” Tom grimaced as she said this, although she of course, couldn’t see him. “How come I’m still here? How are you here? Where is everyone else? Where’s the demon?!” At this she sat up, accidentally knocking Rupert aside. She came up, with her back to Tom, and didn’t see him. She looked all over the place, searching for the demon in front of her. Then she noticed Rupert fidgeting beside her.
“Yes, where is it?”
“Uh, Tom’s behind you,” and he pointed.
“Tom?” she turned around. “Ehhh!” she gasped. Tom waved mildly at her. She wobbled where she sat, put her hand to her forehead, her eyes rolled back and collapsed back onto the ground.
“Why does she keep doing that?” Tom asked Rupert.
“I really don’t know, apparently demons radiate a fear spell that affects humans, and women in particular.”
“Oh,” Tom said, and thought about it. It did after all make sense. True he was rather frightening to look at, but just standing around shouldn’t provoke such continual fright in people. However, this made him think, “then why aren’t you affected?”
Rupert again looked a bit uncomfortable, “Uh, well, like I said, women are more susceptible than men, usually. And I, well, I’m just not affected as much, some people aren’t. Look at Lenamare, or any of the great Demonologists.”
“I guess,” Tom said. “So you’re a great Demonologist?”
“Uh, no. I... I’d kind of like to be, sort of.” Rupert hedged.
