Nether Feast - Chapter 14

A few weeks passed and I got to listen to my sister’s stories to my heart’s content. If they all were written down, her adventures could fill their home library to the brink. Not all of them were tales of triumph. There were more than a few tragedies. I desired to remain there, never to do anything else but spend time with my sister, Bren, and their family, but I knew there were things that had to be done.

When it was finally time for me to leave, I took out the scroll Queen Yuris had given me and used it. The entire family had shown up to bid me farewell. I promised, “I’ll see you soon,” before waving and stepping through the portal.

I arrived on Greyson Tower’s top floor at the base of the stairs leading up to the oversized, dark stone throne. Perched on its edge was King Wildest. He looked much like his father had with his chiseled jaw, sharp cheekbones, and human-looking eyes. The small horns on the sides of his head tilted forward were all that made him look more than a teenage boy.

Wildest almost fell off his seat. He was gaping at me as I appeared.

“Demon Lord Reaver,” he announced overly quick. It was only then that he realized he was still seated.

Jumping off his seat, he came to a knee and lowered his head.

This kind of submissive attitude was something I’d only seen amongst the highest realm demons to their superiors. It was quite impressive that they acted so reasonably in the face of overwhelming might. While still on the Netherplanes, even mid-realm demons rarely did more than attack or flee. In was clear now that those savage lands were not what was typical for all demonkin.

The throne room was already filling with demons. It was like a military procession except everyone was there including the young and the old.

I was fully dressed this time in a simple button up tunic and trousers. This different outfit would hopefully encourage them to think I hadn’t come to fight. It wasn’t gaudy either so I hoped it would communicate that I wasn’t there to lord over them either.

Ceremony was not something I was interested in, but this was a side to demon-kind that I’d only caught glimpses of in the past.

“My lord,” King Wildest called. “Would you honor me by sitting in our highest place of honor?” The young king was offering his throne.

I said with a sigh, “I have no intention of dishonoring your traditions or goodwill, but you are king here, and that has not changed with my arrival.”

“As you will,” a feminine voice came from off to the side. With a loud clap, I turned to find that Demon Queen Yuris had joined us.

Not long after, I found myself sitting in a lounge. It was softened by fabrics and pillows of rich purples and blues, but the young woman standing tensely before the queen and me held my attention. She looked to be in her teens but was over forty years old. She’d likely keep her youthful appearance for a century or longer. The horns that had been on the side of her head were already gone. Her mother had done the ritual to have her take on a purely human appearance. This woman demon was Princess Elusa.

“You will obey the Demon Lord’s will and remain at his side during your time away,” Queen Yuris commanded.

“Yes, mother.”

“You will be a help to him as well as learn as much as you can from this experience.”

“Yes, mother.”

The queen turned to me. “Do you have any concerns you’d like me to address?”

I studied the face of the young demon girl, remembering how she’d tried to defend her father. “I’d like to hear from her. Are you able to control yourself around humans weaker than yourself?”

Elusa’s face darkened. “You think we kill for the fun of it?”

“Daughter,” Yuris rebuked, moving to stand up.

I held up my hand for her to stop. “It’s okay. I’d like to hear what she has to say.”

The queen sat back down.

“I don’t think demon-kind kills for fun, but for growth and power. If I was to bring you to stay with my human family, would I have to worry about your presence? There would be many children. Some quite powerful for their age but easy prey. The adults would be close to your level, and even more tempting because of how their death could benefit you.”

Her first reaction was anger, then disgust. It was all I really needed to see.

She shook her head, holding back her tongue. “Is that really what you think of us?”

“Do I think demons would act like demons? Yes. In my experience, many of your kind wouldn’t be able to hold themselves back. However, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have my doubts.”

Elusa looked at her mother at a loss for words.

“Demon Lord Reever speaks truthfully. There are many demons, the most bestial of our kind, that would do exactly as he’s said.” Turning to me, the queen addressed the issue directly. “Elusa knows little more of the Netherplanes than the average human adventurer. She finds the concepts of killing the weak, especially children, as foreign as humans do. You will find her sentiments familiar, however, she has been raised in a wartime environment.

“My Lord, I wouldn’t send my only daughter with you if I believed she would endanger herself by putting the people around you in danger. The greatest danger would come if she misinterprets something as a threat to you or to herself. You are both our ally and patron. It is her duty to defend you.”

The princess gave a sharp nod at her mother’s words. It was another display of demon honor. At least the humanoid kind.

“Defending me is unnecessary, but if what you say is true, then I look forward to traveling with you.”

“Might I ask what your plans are, my lord?” the queen asked.

“My sister has convinced me to attend the magic academy to better understand how my people use magic. We’ll return to wish my sister’s family farewell before porting to the academy to begin classes. A new semester is beginning in a few days.”

Yuris’s eyes widened. “She’ll have access to human magic instruction? Is it not forbidden for demons to learn?”

I shrugged. “I’ll ask my sister’s thoughts on the matter. She was the headmaster’s direct disciple. I’m not even sure of the difference between human and demon magic. Just that human magic is far more complex. It would be interesting to know if it’s possible for her to learn.”

“It is,” the queen insisted. “Demon-kind usually relies on the power of their bodies and innate abilities. Enhancing magic through advanced casting is rare, but not unheard of. This is one sphere in which humans are superior.”

“Interesting…”

Our conversation turned to small talk after that and remained polite. It was Queen Yuris who suggested we move on. When I agreed, she sent Elusa to get her brother, the king.

It was then that I asked a more personal question. “How has the princess been taking the loss of her father?”

“It has weighed heavy on her, but she is well acquainted with loss. She understands that his death held a higher purpose than simple justice or revenge. With his life, her father bought his people a better future.”

“You have my word, as long as Clan Eorith upholds the alliance, then I will personally see to it that you prosper.” I watched her bow her head and didn’t miss the slight grin tugging at the corners of her eyes. “How are you?”

She put on a formal smile but didn’t look up. “King Jerras was a decent husband, but it was the way he gave his life for our future that made him exceptional.”

“I would not change what I did, but I’m sorry for your loss.”

At that, she looked up. “Thank you. I find myself wanting to take advantage of your kindness to earn more favor for my people, but instead I will say this. If you seek a lover, I am at your service. If you need advice from a different perspective, do not hesitate to find me. But please, be gentle with my Elusa. She is proud and more spoiled than she ought to be, but also has a fascination for life, and is fiercely loyal. If she falls for you, please, return her to me. If you grow to desire her, please restrain yourself. I want her eyes to be opened to a wider world, but not to lust for what her people cannot give her. Unless you take her as wife, despite how good you might be to her for a time, when you return her to us she will have nothing but heartache. It will make her future marriage to one of her kind much more difficult for her.”

I just looked at her, unsure how to respond. “I—I won’t touch her.”

“And if she comes on to you first? Don’t misinterpret. She still has her virtue intact. She’s also young and naïve when it comes to love.”

“I killed her father.”

“You also spared her and her brother when they attacked you and are prepared to save her people from the wrath of the Nether World. Furthermore, you’ve taken steps to bridge a peace between us and the enemy she was raised to fear the most. Humans.” At the sound of the door, she said, “They’re here.”

Rising to her feet, the queen waved them closer and off to the side. “It’s time we summon the minister.”

“Here, mother?” King Wildest objected.

“He will be far more comfortable here than in the throne room surrounded by soldiers. A show of might is not necessary with our Demon Lord present.”

“I understand.”

Seeing that the interactions between them were so similar to that of a human mother and son gave me even more to consider. As they requested, I used a scroll and opened the portal to the minister’s office where he had many defensive failsafes in place.

He was standing behind his desk when the portal opened. He had on fancy robes and a laced-up leather vest that doubled as fashionable and protection. He looked every bit the mage and had his aura restricting items put away in his inventory. His first realm rank was respectable even if he wasn’t the highest person in the room.

I stood to reassure him, but it was Queen Yuris that invited him. “Welcome, Minister Leighton. Please,” she said, motioning him to stand by me.

The man stepped through the portal, stopping to give the two youngsters a nod.

“This is King Wildest, and his sister, Princess Elusa,” I said in turn. “They are the son and daughter to the late King Jerras.”

The two of them bowed their heads. “Minster.”

I didn’t miss the added squint to his eye, so I continued. “And this is their Queen Mother, Yuris.”

“Please, call me Yuris.”

The minister stopped mid-step.

She continued. “There has been much hostility between our peoples. Much of it personal. I too have lost children in the conflict. But after all my centuries of being banished to this tower, I can’t express how hopeful I am to have this opportunity.”

My perceptions were honed in on the father of my dead friends. I watched as he struggled. Ultimately, he chose to control himself.

“Please call me, Leighton,” he replied, returning her respectful bow of the head.

The queen offered him a seat and we all sat.

Negotiations went far better than I suspected they might with no small thanks to Yuris being very accommodating. At the mention that Elusa would be traveling with me, the minister’s every hesitancy seemed to melt. He was just as surprised by how human they were even if he’d been the one to tell me it were possible.

It went so well that I decided to leave before they had concluded. Elusa was obviously taken back, but she didn’t voice her objection.

We both said our goodbyes. There wasn’t any physical affection shown as she bid farewell to her mother and brother, but there was affection, nonetheless.

Stepping through a portal, Princess Elusa followed at my side.