The Forsaken Hero

The night deepened, hiding the final traces of twilight. The last few snowflakes drifted on the cool breeze, while the clouds that shed them parted, revealing long stretches of starlit sky. A few explosions rippled through the stillness, yet those, too, became less frequent, until the night fell completely silent.

Luke held me through the passing hours. Neither of us dared to speak, to replace the words that still lingered in the air.

I love you.

Just remembering sends thrills, chasing shivers down my tail. I looked up into his eyes, biting my lip, but his gaze was far away, lingering on the horizon. He absently caressed my thigh with a light touch. I felt like I could sit there forever, basking in his warmth. Did he feel the same way? Or was he just exhausted after a week of constant running and battle?

”Stop worrying,” Luke murmured, looking down at me with a gentle smile. ”I love you. That’s not going to change in a few hours, especially when you’re looking at me like that.”

I blinked, tilting my head. I hadn’t said anything aloud, had I? And what did he mean by that last part?

He cupped my cheek again, drawing me up and kissing me. My eyes fluttered shut, a contented sigh leaving my still parted lips as he drew back. I snuggled against him, half-waiting for another kiss, half hoping we could just sit here for a little longer.

But it was not to be. Either of them. A small distortion formed a little behind us, and my aura condensed. Verity materialized, stepping out of the air onto the ground. Luke was on his feet in an instant, clutching me to him by the waist, his other hand on the hilt of his sword. I had to strain to stand on my tiptoes, else be dragged around entirely.

”Wait, it’s just me,” Verity said, holding up her hands. ”Fate is still far away with my real body, I’m afraid.”

Luke relaxed slowly, easing his grip on his sword before releasing it altogether. I slumped as his grip on me loosened, my hip a bit sore where his fingers had dug into my flesh. At least I could touch the ground again.

”I’m sorry to interrupt, but Xiviyah, I sensed several demons approaching us. High-level ones, but the weight of their souls.”

”You can feel that?” Luke asked, pursing his lips.

”Yes, through Xiviyah’s light. Enusia resonates with it, becoming... well, not Enusia, but her. And where she is, so am I.”

”I have no idea what that means,” Luke said, cracking a smile.

I giggled, lacing my arm through his and hugging it close. ”It doesn’t matter now. But what about these demons?”

Given Luke wasn’t concerned, I didn’t feel a reason to be either. And, before he could answer, several eighth-level demons emerged from the forest. Firemane led them, his flaming mane billowing out in the breeze, followed by a water demon, a blade demon, and a curse demon. Fable didn’t even flick his tail, but the Star Guard broke into a defensive formation, quickly surrounding us.

”Peace,” Luke said, raising a hand to calm them.

Firemane lowered his head, and Luke’s brow furrowed slightly.

”Yes, that is acceptable.” He raised his voice, addressing the other three. ”Present yourself.”

Firemane cantered out of the way, and the water demon stepped forward. It took the form of a light-blue-skinned woman in a flowing dress that sloshed like ocean surf around her ankles and wrists. Her hair and eyes were the same color, a soft, pastel sea green.

”I am Lady Listra,” she said, placing a hand on her admittedly ample bosom. ”I stand as leader of the fallen Lord Aqueas’ horde. I hereby submit to the Lord Apostle Luke, and proclaim myself and my horde willing to receive your mark.”

The blade demon followed. It was one of the strangest demons I’d ever seen, unlike the humanoid kind like Kahlen or the titanic, almost elemental-looking forms evolved demons seemed to prefer. It was diamond-shaped, made up of a series of glittering metal shards that formed intricate geometric patterns. As it moved, they rotated against each other with surprising fluidity, spinning independently but never quite touching. Its voice vibrated from the single red bead at its core, grating like rusted iron.

”I pledge fealty to the Lord Apostle for my horde. Might we draw the blood of Enusia together.”

The last, a curse demon with a shadowy, vaporous form clad in animated plate armor, came last. It knelt on one knee, clanking as loudly as any knight. ”Eversharp gives fealty to the Lord Apostle on behalf of my horde.”

”You have no name?” Luke asked, glancing at the blade demon.

The strange demon shivered, its pieces vibrating in place. ”No, Lord Apostle. I have yet to distinguish myself and earn the favor of a Demon Lord.”

”And yet you come representing a faction of the insurgents?”

”Lord Apostle, all who held my mark were slain by the star-touched or the Death Demon. There is none else to command the hordes.”

Luke snorted. ”I’m sure you didn’t bother looking far before seizing power. But that doesn’t matter. What demon could thrive without ambition? You shall be known on Enusia as Diamondheart.”

”Diamondheart? A name?” The demon quivered excitedly. ”Then you mean to grant us your mark?”

Luke’s voice turned cold. ”I would rather slaughter you where you stand for your betrayal, but I’m afraid I have use for the hordes.” He extended his hand, and several shadowy tendrils extended outward, one to each of the demons. They accepted the power without faltering, and Luke’s jaw tightened ever so slightly.

”There, it’s done,” he said, lowering his hand. ”Go, and gather your forces. Firemane, thank you for your loyalty. I’ll be relying on you to assume command of the hordes should I become otherwise occupied in battle. Ensure those under you, including these three, understand my will and standing commandments. And, above all, you are to secure the safety of my Oracle. Is that understood?”

The demons all bowed, or in the case of Diamondheart, shivered gleefully. Firemane tossed his head, and Luke nodded. Then, they retreated the way they had come, vanishing back into the night.

”What was that about?” Verity asked.

”Rash’alon has perished, as have the demon lords supporting him. Each led their own faction, and now that they’re slain, new demons have risen to take their place. Some refused to bend to a mortal like myself, but Firemane proved adept at removing them. Go far enough down the line, and there will be one who is willing to follow. Most demons just care to consume and assimilate, after all.”

”Brutal,” Verity whispered, shivering.

”So that’s it? No more fighting?” I asked.

”No, there will be plenty of fighting. Two factions remained hostile, but were smart enough to flee. They won’t dare challenge me for control of the hordes, but neither will they fall in line. I’ve sent forces to hunt them down, but I suspect survivors will continue to haunt Enusia for generations to come. But what truly matters is the horde is one again, and none live who would yet question my decisions. It has been broken and pruned, numbering less than half of what it was, but it will be enough. It has to be.”

”Enusia’s defenders aren’t in great shape, either,” Verity said.

”Then this war will not be determined by numbers, but by conviction. That is a war the gods will find untenable.”

”Thank you, Luke,” I said, nuzzling his arm with my cheek.

”Hmm?” He looked down at me, smiling fondly.

”You didn’t have to fight this war. You lost so much strength here. The demon lords, thousands of high-level demons, all because of me.”

”Don’t take that on yourself,” Luke said, scolding me gently. ”I chose this, not you. It’s only natural that I accept the consequences.”

We didn’t stay on the cliffs any longer. It turned out that Luke hadn’t just been resting, or enjoying me as I had him, but waiting for the insurgents to be brought to heel. Now that they had, he lifted me in a carry and descended the cliffs on wings of midnight.

High Valley had quieted since the fighting stopped, though the Fatesworn remained vigilante. We soon fell under the protection of Nightwatch rangers, and were received into the Valley with cheers. Several of the skyships had vanished, returning to Haven as the power I’d granted them ran out. The remainder loomed over the fortifications. Their cannons had since fallen still, but they gleamed with light, ready to resume bombardment at a moment’s notice.

Once we breached the mist wall, I sent some of the Star Guard to make a report to Commander Bethiv, and inform him of the uneasy peace Luke had achieved. I knew he would remain vigilant, but there was no need to force the entirety of the Fatesworn to remain battle-ready when the fighting was over.

”What now?” I asked as the soldier left with the message.

”Now, I think it’s time you rest. When morning comes, our preparations can begin.”

”I’m not tired. I want to stay with you,” I protested.

”Is that so? You’ve been yawning an awful lot for someone wide awake.”

My face warmed as I fought to suppress another yawn then and there. ”Please?”

”Rest, Xiviyah. I’ll be here in the morning. I love you, remember?”

I nodded, gripping my tail to keep it from twitching. That wasn’t fair. How could I resist when he said it like that?

”Then...could you at least see me to Haven?”

His smile was gentle. ”Of course. Would you like me to carry you?”

I nodded bashfully, and he chuckled, picking me up and flying across the lake. I held his neck, nestling my head in the crook of his neck. I fought off another yawn, barely noticing that as we landed, someone was waiting for us.

”Hello, Xiviyah,” said Rylam, folding his arms and staring at us as Luke returned me to my feet. His eyes lingered on Luke, and his tail bristled. ”You seem awfully familiar with her, apostle. I don’t recall her mentioning you were so close.”