“Hello, hello! How may I—ah, my darling Kanae!” A male voice broke the quiet of the store, and a man stepped out of the back, speaking with a more refined lilt than Deka had possessed. “How may I help you, my dear? I haven’t seen you in an age!”
“I was here just a few days ago, Manog,” Kanae replied, the smile that had been flickering across her face now sticking around. “Might I introduce my current patient and guest, Isalla?”
“Of course! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isalla,” Manog replied, and it was all Isalla could do not to stare at him. In fact, she failed despite every attempt to the contrary.
Manog was a bone demon, and she’d only heard of them before. His face was like that of a doll, a sculpted mass of pale bone with enormous, faceted black eyes twice the size of a human’s. He had a pair of horns that rose up and backward, while more bone ridges ran back along his head much like hair, and separated from his skull to dangle. Each of the spine-like ‘hair’ strands was split into inch-long segments that were held together by some form of red fiber within them. Beneath his clothing, it looked like the demon’s arms and legs were almost identical, and it was eerie how his bone-like lips moved so easily. Bone demons were widely regarded as deadly combatants or assassins among angels, so seeing one running a store was stunning.
“Oh, my apologies, Mister Manog,” Isalla said after a moment, as she realized she’d hesitated a bit too long. “I didn’t mean to stare, it’s just… I’ve never seen one of your particular species before. I’ve only heard rumors and was surprised. The pleasure is mine.”
“Not a worry, Isalla! My people don’t breed as quickly as most others, and our homeland is farther to the north, near the Pale Mountains, so I’m not surprised you haven’t seen one of us before,” Manog replied smoothly, his tone easygoing. “I’d also heard that you’re from above, so it’s even less surprising. Is there anything I might do for you lovely ladies?”
“Flatterer,” Kanae said, smiling at Manog as she shook her head. “Why am I not surprised that you’d already heard that much? Enkax must have been talking a lot since I talked to him.”
“Well, any word regarding new people in town helps liven up the town. Perhaps it wouldn’t have spread so quickly if we had travelers in town, but alas, it was not to be,” Manog said, and Isalla found herself oddly fascinated by how expressive his face was. She hadn’t realized that their bone could flex like it did.
“True, that would be more convenient. I can’t control when I have patients, though, so I’ll live with what I have,” Kanae replied indulgently. “Now, I have a few things I’d like to purchase for Isalla, since she’s lost everything and I’m getting tired of her using my things.”
“Certainly! What do you need, my darling healer?” Manog asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
“To start, we need a comb, then some soap. Preferably something with a good scent…” Kanae began, and Isalla allowed her attention to wander as she walked between the shelves.
It was fascinating seeing what life was like in a normal town in the hells. It was nothing like she had imagined, which made Isalla wonder what else she might not have known about.
“There we are,” Kanae said, sitting down and smiling at Isalla as the angel dropped into her own chair, surprised at how tired she was. Her endurance hadn’t been impacted much, but her muscles wore out easily. After a bit of rest, she’d be good to go, but Isalla wasn’t happy with how painful the experience could be.
The smith had been human, to Isalla’s shock, and all the weapons had been so heavy that Kanae had been forced to check the balance of the weapons for the angel. Isalla had at least been able to find a decent practice sword, and Kanae had used that as the basis for purchasing a plain, serviceable steel blade. Kanae was carrying both weapons seemingly effortlessly, along with the other items they’d purchased.
They were in the inn now, and Isalla looked around curiously as she murmured, “Thank you. I don’t think I could’ve gotten back to the house without resting.”
“I thought as much, which is why lunch here seemed like a good idea,” Kanae said, setting the purchases down, then leaning forward to rest her arms on the worn table.
The tavern area of the inn was large, and the variety of seats was startling to Isalla, as were the number of chairs. Some were obviously sized for smaller giants or larger demons, while others probably were for the more diminutive species. A few low-slung stools were probably for creatures like the spider demons, Isalla guessed, but she was relieved that few others were there, and no spider demons. In fact, the only person in the room was a lamia with bright pink scales and matching hair that was working behind the bar.
All the furnishings were pitted and worn with use, and glowing lanterns hung from the ceiling, while weapons and trophies from monstrous creatures hung from the walls. It was fascinating, and just as alien in some ways as the general store had been familiar.
“It’s interesting to me how much like the surface this is,” Isalla said suddenly, feeling the need to talk about it. “So many things are just like they are back home, but other things… the trophies, the chairs and that, are so different.”
“Mm… I’m not surprised. Everyone has needs, whether demon or mortal, and they need to sate them,” Kanae replied calmly, nodding to the lamia. “With those needs, it’s always likely that some people will come up with similar solutions. Further than that… demons and mortals have been visiting the realms of one another for generations. Doubtlessly each side has been shamelessly stealing ideas from each other for the entire time.”
“That does sound like something that would happen,” Isalla said, and opened her mouth to continue, but bit it back before she could say something foolish. Fortunately, the lamia approached about that time, her snake-like lower body slithering its way across the room and with a bright smile on her face.
“Hello, ladies! How can I help you today?” the lamia asked, smiling broadly as she glanced at Kanae. “Your usual, dearie?”
“I have a name, Cyr,” Kanae replied with a roll of her eyes. “But yes, I’ll have my usual. If Isalla wants to figure something out for herself she can, but I’d recommend the same.”
“What’ll it be, Isalla?” Cyr asked, ignoring Kanae’s protest. As Isalla watched, Kanae gently swatted the tip of the lamia’s tail aside as it tried to run down her arm.
“I’ll just go with her recommendation. I am still her patient and have no idea what you serve,” Isalla said, not wanting to betray her ignorance too much, and also not wanting to hear if there were things that would turn her stomach on the menu. Heavens knew that was almost a certainty.
“Right away! Two portions of roast cave lizard and mashed potatoes with gravy, coming right up.” Cyr replied easily, turning to slither away quickly.
“Cave lizard?” Isalla asked dubiously.
“It’s not that different from beef and is better than most of the other meats down here,” Kanae replied calmly. “I prefer it, and you need more meat to help your body heal.”
“Alright, fair,” Isalla conceded, letting out a soft sigh. “In that case… what’s after this?”
“We eat, I take you back to the house, and since you’re in decent shape and have something to do, I go do my rounds,” Kanae explained. “I still need to check on Qirress again to make certain she doesn’t overdo it.”
“Oh, well… true, you do have a job to do,” Isalla agreed, a little surprised with her own reluctance to let Kanae leave. “I suppose I’ll just have to enjoy our time together.”
Kanae’s eyebrows rose, and as she realized what she’d said, Isalla blushed furiously. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again.
A few moments later, Kanae’s comment was soft and faintly amused. “Indeed, that we shall.”
Chapter 12
Roselynn paused on opening the door to her room, looking down at the letter that had been slipped under it. The letter was something of a surprise, since most of the time
when Roselynn got letters, they were simply delivered to her office. Beyond that, she only ever returned to her room when she needed to rest, so anyone wanting to contact her would know that this was possibly the least efficient way to go about it. Of course, Roselynn knew that could be intentional.
Stepping over the letter, the angel studied it carefully, a slight frown on her face. If it weren’t for her letter from Isalla, she might have simply picked it up, but of late Roselynn had been feeling a touch more cautious. Pulling out a ring set with a moonstone, Roselynn put it on and leaned down to press the stone against the parchment, murmuring the word to activate the ring’s magic. A moment passed, and Roselynn relaxed slightly as there wasn’t a reaction. If the letter had been poisoned, she would have seen a black mist envelop the paper.
Picking up the sheet, Roselynn frowned again as she saw it’d been sealed with wax, though without a seal to identify it, and she murmured. “Curious… this is being a touch more mysterious than I like. I hope this isn’t another love letter.”
Her room was smaller than the one her predecessor had favored, though still finely appointed. She didn’t pay it much attention most of the time, and today wasn’t much different as she approached her desk. Pulling out a letter opener, she broke the seal and opened the letter to reveal a relatively hasty scrawl written in angelic.
First Sword,
It’s only by fortune that I learned of your inquiry into the fate of Isalla and myself, and I deeply hope you’ll keep this letter to yourself. You won’t be receiving a reply from your superiors regarding us, and doubtlessly someone is preparing to keep watch over you. I’ve attempted to outrun them here, and if we’re to have any chance of speaking, we must do so quickly.
I dare not reveal myself openly or enclose much information, but I am willing to tell you what I know. If you wish to speak, come to the pier by Fisherman’s Rock tomorrow night at midnight. If you aren’t alone, I won’t reveal myself. My apologies, I don’t know who to trust.
I strongly suggest that you burn this letter, so no one else knows.
Sincerely,
H
“Well, isn’t that foreboding?” Roselynn said, unease welling up within her.
Even the implication that her letter wouldn’t receive a reply was… unsettling. Yet the truth was that Roselynn had expected at least a preliminary response already, and she hadn’t even gotten an acknowledgement that her inquiry had arrived. That lent a degree of legitimacy to the letter on its own, and based on what she knew, the writer likely was Haral.
Fisherman’s Rock was a common name, but the location the other angel must be thinking of was located less than a mile from the fortress. The sightlines weren’t perfect, with the rock between the pier and the fortress, but sending up a signal flare in the case of an ambush wouldn’t be difficult. Roselynn tapped her lip as she considered what to do. She was tempted to tell one of her lieutenants, regardless of what the letter had said, but it was more of a risk than she was willing to take.
“As long as I’m careful…” Roselynn murmured, glancing down at her sword and armor. She wasn’t going to go unarmed, regardless of what Haral might wish, so it wasn’t like she could be overwhelmed easily, and she could always scout the area during the day. That would ensure that she had plenty of time for reinforcements to arrive if it turned out to be an ambush.
Satisfied with the thought, Roselynn nodded to herself and lit a candle. Once it was going properly, she lit the sheet of paper on fire and watched the flames slowly consume it, dropping the last corner as it was about to reach her fingers. Once the last embers went out, she pulled out a wastebasket and swept the ashes into it to be sure the document was gone, then blew out the candle.
“Alright, time for bed,” Roselynn murmured, standing up again. Regardless of whether the letter was true or false, she needed her rest.
The day had gone as well as most did, considering how quiet Roselynn’s post was. None of her troops had noticed anything out of the ordinary, which was reassuring as well, and there’d only been mild concern when Roselynn had decided to perform an impromptu inspection of the island perimeter.
It had been easy to swing by the pier at Fisherman’s Rock, and it was much as Roselynn had remembered it. The area in question was sandy, and despite the footprints of locals who went there to fish, it would be difficult for someone to lay a trap without being seen. Roselynn approved of the spot, as it was just far enough from any buildings to be an obscure meeting point, but it was still close enough to be relatively safe. She still wasn’t happy to be meeting in private but was willing to play along for the moment.
Waiting until nightfall to leave had been a touch frustrating due to her impatience, but Roselynn controlled herself. Her explanation of wanting a quiet flight to help relax had calmed the nerves of the guards, and she’d done exactly as she’d said, flying along and relaxing before finally going to the rock to wait.
The sound of the waves softly crashing on the shore was soothing, and aside from the sounds of a few night birds and buzzing of insects, the evening was quiet as Roselynn waited. Of all the posts she could have been assigned, she supposed there could have been worse, as one of the frozen northern isles would have been unpleasant. Those would have also been a waste of her talents, though, which was likely why they’d chosen the site they had. There was no glory to be had at Firewatch, no matter how vital it might be.
It was all because she’d inherited Ember, Roselynn knew, glancing down at the sword. The magical weapon had been passed down through her family for generations, and no one else could wield it but those of her bloodline. It was unsurprising that the Council would be loathe to lose the threat of such a weapon, really. It was Isalla who had borne the brunt of their punishment, in all truth.
Roselynn had been a bit… naïve, she admitted. She’d thought that the punishment would be focused on herself, since she was Isalla’s superior, and she hadn’t argued with the accusations to help focus them on herself. She hadn’t expected the Council to come down so hard on a promising young soldier. But they had, and she felt guilty about it, and even guiltier that she’d never responded to Isalla’s letters. Never mind that it had been partially to prevent further retaliation against Isalla, Roselynn still regretted it.
That was a large part of why she was out here. Despite everything, Roselynn wasn’t going to see Isalla abandoned again. It just wasn’t right.
A flicker of movement caught Roselynn’s eye, and she turned to see an angel slipping out from among a group of the nearby trees, wearing brown robes that would help her blend in better, and which partially obscured the blonde woman’s white wings. She looked around before approaching, and as she did so, Roselynn was able to see the crystal blue of her eyes more easily, as well as the nervousness on her face. The woman was attractive, she realized, and looked slightly like Isalla, though her old lover had worn her hair shorter than this woman’s.
“First Sword?” the woman asked, stopping a good thirty feet away.
“Yes. I assume that you’re Haral?” Roselynn asked, watching the woman closely. Seeing the way her tension seemed to ease, it helped Roselynn’s nerves settle a bit more.
“I am. I’m glad to see you didn’t… well, let’s just say that the past couple of weeks have been stressful.” Haral said, letting out a breath and approaching until she was only a few feet away. “I’m fortunate to even be here, if I’m being honest.”
“Yes, well, that’s why we’re both here, isn’t it? The last I’d heard from Isalla, she said she was meeting with you, and then she never followed up. You claim that my inquiry won’t be answered, so why don’t you provide some answers?” Roselynn asked, folding her arms and pinning the woman in place with a glare. “I’ve chosen to listen to your suggestions despite not having any evidence that you’re speaking the truth, but there’s only so far I’m willing to go.”
“Of course, I don’t blame you. The situation is… complex, I’ll admit,” Haral said, playing with a c
url of her hair nervously as she glanced around again. “I’d known Isalla ever since she arrived in the Evergardens, and we were good friends. When she confided in me about her suspicions about some of the activities in the area… well, I knew I could trust her, so I gathered some of my own information.”
“Were? You seem to be implying that something happened to her,” Roselynn interrupted, her eyes narrowing suddenly. She felt a flicker of anger surge to life at the thought, but she kept it from showing on her face.
“Something did. I don’t know if she’s alive or dead,” Haral explained quickly.
“I need details,” Roselynn insisted, that flicker of anger growing stronger.
“We met so I could give her the information I had on the… the cult that had been forming in the area. It was dangerous, and I knew that, but I didn’t think anyone knew. Unfortunately, I was wrong.” Haral’s words were almost stumbling over one another at this point. “We were attacked just as we were leaving, though. There were dozens of cultists, and she began fighting them and told me to run! I did, and even so, I barely escaped, but when I went to try to find help, they tried to capture—”
A flash of light near the tree line caught Roselynn’s eye, and suddenly the world around them rippled, as a huge sphere of distorted air suddenly snapped into existence for over thirty yards in every direction.
“Or maybe they just let you escape so they could track you to anyone you went to for help!” Roselynn interrupted, growling as she drew Ember and the ruby-bladed sword blazed to life, its runes glowing a bright scarlet. “Are you armed? Because someone just put up a powerful illusion to keep anyone from coming to our aid.”
“I… I have a dagger,” Haral said, snatching the dagger out of her robes. It was a stiletto, Roselynn noticed, so it wouldn’t be much good against plate, but it might work well enough. “How did they—heavens help us! What are demons doing here?”
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