Demiourgos

by Chris Williams

  “There’s more to life than books and magic dear.” Hannan replied and laughed as she yanked her sister down the hallway almost forcibly.

  Avreel looked around as they walked as she tried to stem her anger before reaching the antechamber where her mother was waiting for them. The stone pillars that held up the intricately carved roof didn’t impress her anymore. Every carving, statue and decoration was devoted to Shoon their patron. She was less than impressed with the vile fiend but she had no choice but to follow the lead of her siblings. In secret she worshipped another god. They could never know or she would be executed on the spot. The time was coming for her to study among the priests within the academy and she was petrified; among the faithful there was a better chance they would detect her heresy than anyone else.

  “A lot on your mind sister?” Hannan said to her before they reached the doors.

  “Too much but now is not the time for such talk.” She knew what her sister wanted to hear and she was right when the fourth of the house smiled at her. Avreel thought it looked more like a killer smiling at its prey than anything else. When her sister’s eyes turned away she rolled her own and let out a breath tinged with frustration.

  The doors to her mother’s audience chamber were as intricately carved as the ceilings and pillars. The demonic symbols and runes engraved there along with their house symbol was the envy of every other house in the cavern. Avreel knew that beyond those stone double doors the rest of the family would be gathered to honor her sister and brother for their exploits outside of the bounds of the city.

  Avreel didn’t see what was so important about killing parties of miners and random beasts that roamed the wilds. She wanted to sigh again but Avreel just followed Hannan beyond the magically opened portal and into the center of the hall. The inside would impress her if it weren’t an affront to her senses. The carved reliefs all depicted the bat-winged four legged beast that ruled their destiny. His torso and head a man his body a dragon. Even though the scales that adorned his dragon half were stone and its body was similarly lifeless it made her shiver every time she met the eyes of the vile idol.

  The entire hall was decorated with more statues of the great heroes of her family’s past and the vile servants of their dark master. Though she suffered from the vanity that came with her heritage she couldn’t believe that they were so self-centered that each matron and patron that had ruled the house had a statue of themselves carved and placed into the great hall. In the center of the great hall stood a raised platform with her mother and father both sitting on a pair of thrones. They were short for their race but that did nothing to quell their legendary tempers. Her father had brown hair and blue eyes and her mother had dark red hair and brown eyes. Both of them had the family creamy white skin that almost every child had inherited. They were also decked out in finery of red and gold with enchanted weapons on their hips that dripped with jewels and could fell even the mightiest warrior or purchase a small kingdom. The decadence of her house was also the stuff of legends also.

  Gathered among the rest of them were her brothers and her other sister. Taking her place as the fifth child of the house she stood to the far right and just behind the child next in line in front of her. Their parents liked to make them wait before they spoke; it was a game they had played since Avreel was a child. Every child of the house had made the mistake of speaking out of turn though. The punishment was severe enough that they never made that mistake a second time. After making them wait for a sufficient amount of time her mother and father stood and walked down the stairs toward them.

  “Enarah my beloved jewel, I hear you bring a few wondrous treasures for the house on your return. I would love to hear your report.” Their mother Sorisha said in her best silky-smooth and venomous voice. It was amazing how she could portray both at the same time. Avreel knew that displeasing her mother by bringing back no victories or spoils would result in harsh castigation.

  “My patron and matron I have a much unexpected surprise for the both of you.” Enarah said as she bowed her head down to the two of them. “We captured five kurenai males.”

  Her mother looked disappointed and she arched an eyebrow, coming to face her daughter directly at the foot of the raised thrones. Their father, Il’bariis, spoke next trying to curb his wife’s coming wrath before it could escape. “That hardly sounds like an unexpected surprise my dear.”

  “That is not the best of the details.” Enarah replied through a wolfish grin. “The kurenai dogs had a very odd-placed personage with them. They seemed to be escorting her somewhere. She is a naarabian sorceress.”

  Seeing the surprise on their faces made Avreel flinch, she knew that the two of them would break this poor slave of her will or worse in a short order. Naarabians were a rarity in the world. It would be a shame to see the woman destroyed before she had time to question it.

  “A rare treasure indeed, I am surprised to see either of you standing before me in the face of such an opponent.” She said to her two oldest children much to their chagrin. “You have never faced an enemy as fierce or as powerful as a naarabian witch. I do not question your skill children I am just surprised to see such a creature vanquished.”

  “Make no mistake she was well versed in magic. If it weren’t for our coordinated efforts she would have laid us low.” Enarah countered hotly while facing her mother down without fear. “Our skills combined were no match for her and the enchanted blades you provided our patrol rendered us effective against the rock-brained lummoxes escorting her.”

  “Calm yourself first.” Her mother said with an outstretched hand. “Remember to whom you’re talking.”

  “My apologies mother you must understand it has been a long time out and I grow weary.” She replied quickly before dipping into a low bow. “I wish to retire to my quarters to rest.”

  “You are all dismissed.” She said with a wave of her hand as she turned back to Il’bariis and began speaking to him privately without a second thought to the rest of them.

  Avreel stood when her siblings were leaving drawing a few looks from them but they had been dismissed so they continued on without fail. She waited for her mother to acknowledge with a wave of her hand before speaking. “I wish to study the naarabi female, she could provide valuable insight to my research.”

  “I had figured as much my curious fifth.” Her mother replied with a nod. “I am not sure that is wise.”

  “You know as well as I that no one else in the city is as versed in the ways of magic than myself save maybe you mother.” She corrected quickly before her mother could lash out at her. “I only wish to study her from afar to see if she may be of some use.”

  “Your curiosity aside my daughter you must tell me what draws you to this?” She questioned while inspecting her nails nonchalantly.

  “I wish to prove to you that I am a worthy daughter.” She said after thinking of the best thing to butter her mother up and build her case. “There are many things we don’t know about magic and if this lone naarabi woman could take out our entire patrol with her magical abilities why did one stone knock her cold? How exactly does her magic work? What types of magic can she manipulate? All of these questions I can get the answer to.”

  For a moment her mother deliberated and tapped her chin thoughtfully. After a moment of staring her daughter in the eyes she nodded her head and dismissed Avreel with an imperious wave of her deceptively dainty hand. “Very well then my daughter. You may study her, but under supervision. I want spellstealers down there with you.”

  “Thank you mother.” Avreel bowed deeply before turning around to retreat. Her victory had been small and with compromise but it had been a victory none the less. Once she was out of the audience hall she noticed that Revis was waiting for her in the entranceway with his arms crossed over his chest. “Our mother’s word supersedes your own Revis.”

  “Oh I’m aware of that little sister; just don’t screw this up or she’ll have your head just like she had Keenav’s head
when he incited a rebellion. This naarabian witch should be killed right here right now but your sister insisted that we keep the little wench.” Revis wagged one of his long gloved fingers in her face and got close to her so only she could hear his quiet words. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since birth; I was of the same mind when she first squirted you out.”

  “Glad to know that the bonds of family run strong.” She whispered back to him and ran her index finger down the outer edge of his ear and wearing a smile when it caused him to involuntarily shiver. “I’ll make sure to keep that in mind while attending to my prayers.”

  Avreel was disgusted by him mostly because he had tried to force himself on her when she was younger and a little more naïve. He had subsequently received a stern lashing from their mother and father both. Since then he had only wanted to do one thing, kill her. She had made a mental note not to give him reason to be angry but in this particular case she couldn’t afford to pass up the opportunity to study such a curiosity. Her first thoughts were to head down to the dungeon where the prisoner was being kept and start immediately but her mother’s decree that a spellstealer should be present wasn’t to be ignored. There was only one among them that she could even partially trust.

  Taking a short trip away from her room toward the barracks she entered the main hall and had a look around. The furnishings here were not as good as hers but they were better than most accommodations in the city where guards and foot soldiers were concerned. The cots were a little more comfortable and the tables they had been provided for meals and gambling and whatever else they attended to were of fine craftsmanship. She spied her quarry sitting at a table shaking his hand in the air. The soft clattering that came with that motion told her they were playing some sort of dice game. As she approached she heard some of the guards chiding him about being her pet and more to his credit he grinned at them. “Better to be a noble’s pet than a noble’s pincushion.”

  If she didn’t know better she’d say the large man was beautiful. His features were befitting a nobleman but his temper and skill were renowned. His skin had a slight tint of red and his eyes and hair were a slightly darker shade, lending him an exotic look. The tall elf stood up towering at least a full head above her wearing the usual hardened leather plates for armor with his favorite weapon, a broad-bladed two-handed sword, strapped across his back. “What can I do for you this fine morning my lady?”

  She marveled at his sword again, the deadly instrument was nearly twice her height and way too wide for what she would normally consider to be an elegant weapon. If she hadn’t seen him chop a lesser creature in half with the fine metal instrument she would have her doubts of his prowess with it. Such were the arms of spellstealers for they all favored huge weapons. “I require your services in the dungeon.”

  She smiled inwardly at the whistles and laughs he got from that comment. Normally any other noble would punish them but she had established herself with the common soldiers as a fair but stern-handed woman. She was relatively popular with them and several owed her favors for things she had done and in some cases overlooked. As Yarus stood and fell in step behind her she idly fingered the edge of the flanged mace she kept belted on her hip. “Don’t worry, you’re just going to observe as I question a prisoner.”

  “Oh?” He said indifferently as he turned his head to the side and crossed his muscular arms behind his head trying to look disinterested.

  When they finally descended the steps she turned around and grabbed his tunic by the front, pushing him into the wall forcefully. Laying a kiss on his lips she grinned and turned away before he could do anything else. On the times she had taken him as a lover she had found he was almost overpowering. The only thing saving her from his advances most days was that she was a noble and her word trumped his no matter what. She knew he was agitated when he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. “Oh you know you like it so stop pouting. It doesn’t befit a man.”

  “You toy with me and tease me and take me into your bed when you see fit.” He replied through squinted eyes. “Sometimes it’s more than a man can take.”

  “Oh you’re so scary.” She japed at him with a laugh and winked while giving her hips an extra swing just for his viewing pleasure, or displeasure, depending. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs her eyebrows arched when she found two guards in the cell with the naarabi prisoner. Not only that but all of the kurenai were literally frothing at the mouth to get their hands on the two. They were of course taunting the prisoners to no end. The loyalty of the kurenai was astounding to behold.

  Their intent on the unconscious woman was clear so she cleared her throat and crossed her arms over her chest. She was thankful for reasons she couldn’t name that she had arrived in time to stop the idiot guards from following through with their aims. “Yarus, lock these two in the holding cell for trying to damage our little treasure.”

  One of the guards dropped to his knees and groveled still in the cell. “My lady please forgive…”

  His voice was cut short as Yarus stepped into the cell and grabbed the blubbering fool by the neck. It was obvious to all that he took pleasure in picking the wiggling guard off the ground using only his throat and flinging him out of the cell into the bars across the way. “Do yourself a favor and get in the cell quietly. Or if you like you can do me a favor and resist. I haven’t had my morning workout yet. Not that you’d really be much of a challenge mind.”

  Avreel rolled her eyes at the cocky male and leaned against the bars, watching the other guard attempt to gather himself up from the stunning blow he had suffered against the spell sealed cage behind him. She’d let him have his fun though. Picking on those of a lesser station than you was a favorite of most of the infernis. After a few moments of taunting and teasing the guard she finally rapped the enclosure’s bars with her knuckles. “I have research to do Yarus, throw them in the cage and be done with it.”

  She watched him clear out with the two guards and walked into the cell over to the naarabi. The prisoner was still breathing rhythmically. Avreel knelt down next to her and brushed the girl’s long hair out of her face, she had an exotic attractiveness about her.

  When she touched the girl the kurenai gave her promising glares and locked their hands on the bars; they were again shouting things in their native tongue. She didn’t understand their language unfortunately but she could imagine the things they were saying. Avreel ignored them for now and returned her focus to the naarabian.

  Avreel’s eyes drifted toward the single band wrapped around the prisoner’s finger. Though she wondered idly why it hadn’t been stripped from her she shrugged and continued her observations. Her clothes looked to be elven in make but it was of a style that she did not recognize and in the end she figured it was from surface elves. They knew precious little of the elves that roamed the sands far above their heads but what the infernis masters did preach was that their surface cousins were evil and ultimately responsible for their situation. Avreel didn’t buy it; she had long found herself out of place in this world.

  “I wonder what your name is young one.” She said quietly as she inspected the naarabian’s body. Avreel made sure that the spellchains were tight but not restrictive on their captive. She turned back around and found Yarus standing above her with his arms crossed over his chest again. “Yes?”

  “So gentle you are with this prisoner, is that mercy I’m detecting?” He said as a grin split his features. “Your mother would be so pleased to hear of it.”

  “Your sarcasm is not lost on me now get you out of the cell while I work or I’ll flay you alive and pour salt on your genitals.” She replied as harshly as she could but it only caused him to chuckle as he retreated and leaned against the empty prison cell across the way. “I have a vested interest in all things magical.”

  “Oh aye I’ll take that excuse then.” He replied and rolled his eyes.

  “You’ll watch your tone as well commoner.” Avreel flipped her hair out of her
eyes and turned to look at him with the best cold stare she could muster. When he became quiet she turned back to the prisoner and gritted her teeth. She was fast tiring of these games of political power. After taking the time to inspect the naarabi head to toe she pulled a pad and a stick of coal out of her pouch so she could sketch the sleeping prisoner.

  Throughout the process Yarus had complained, left for a moment to taunt the prisoners and then the guards and in the end sat down outside of the cell impatiently. She had chosen him because he was indebted to her and he was the closest thing she had to an actual trusted associate. Once she was done cataloging what the naarabi looked like she put her utensils away and pulled a small vial out of her pocket. Inside she kept a naerok leech so she could take blood samples from people and animals for study. She placed the small wiggling creature on the prisoner’s arm and allowed it to pull just a little blood from her. When she detached it she put it away but before she could bandage the wound it closed back up. “Fascinating.”

  “What?” Yarus asked curiously though it was more boredom than actual interest that fueled his inquiry.

  “Her wounds heal remarkably fast.” Jotting that down in her book she inspected the wound and made a note of the time it took for recovery. Wondering the extent of those healing powers she took a knife from her belt but the response from the caged humanoids was frighteningly quick as they sprang forth and strained against the bars. Avreel ignored them and cut the girl on the arm only to watch it close with barely a mark to show. The pain had apparently done something to bring the naarabi out of her stupor because her eyes popped open suddenly.

  Rose wrenched herself from the elf’s grasp and retreated to the back of the cell against the wall inspecting her surroundings and the chains simultaneously. She had gone from being a prisoner to the demons to being a prisoner of the elves it seemed. Her head was throbbing mildly as she inspected everything carefully.