He and a dozen other people were rattling down the road in a large carriage. None of them had their arms and legs bound, but the soldiers positioned at either end of the carriage had their swords drawn. That made Garth nervous.
“You are being forcibly evacuated from this region and taken to the imperial core. Now stop asking me questions,” the soldier in the fanciest armor answered.
“Right, sure thing, Captain.”
“What in bloody hell is a captain?” The soldier asked.
Garth smiled.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Garth looked from side to side, trying his best to size up his company. To his left was a man in an oversized cloak who was sweating and shivering profusely. Garth didn’t like that one bit and scooched over to his right a bit. This prompted the little boy to his left to glare at him.
“Hey, watch it, Mister!” The boy said.
Garth glanced over at the little ragamuffin and raised an eyebrow. The boy sure had a feminine face. The poor kid had the look of an adult woman - he probably got beat up.
“I’m sorry little boy. Just stretching my legs,” Garth said.
“Wait, what did you call me?” The boy answered.
“Little boy? That’s what you are, isn’t it?”
The boy narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms over his chest, and let out a loud “hmmf”.
“You must be blind,” the boy then said. “Or an idiot!”
“Hey, what’s your game, kid?”
“I’m not a kid! And I’m not a boy! Look closer, you clown!”
Garth looked closer. The not-kid, not-boy person had sunny blonde hair cut short and mostly hidden by a poofy green cap. The cap had a bell on the end of it and whenever the person moved even slightly, the bell tinkled. The person was short - probably only about four feet, and slightly pudgy. Their face was definitely feminine with big blue eyes that had long, dark lashes.
“Alright, help me out, kid.”
“I’m not a kid!”
At that moment, the lead soldier barked at them to quiet down. The little person jumped and turned bright red, their angry demeanor shattered.
“I am Honey Landfree, the trilly bard from Ingleton! I am going to be a star in the empire!”
Garth stared at the person blankly.
“That didn’t answer anything.”
Honey sighed deeply.
“What didn’t you get?”
“So you’re a girl, right?”
“Yes!” Honey hissed.
“And you’re a bard.”
“Yes, that’s what I said!”
“Alright, one more question. What the hell is a trilly?”
Honey’s jaw dropped. She stared at Garth like he had just announced that the sky was made of banana cream pudding.
“What’s a trilly? Why, we’re the delicate, kind folks of small stature and minute talents! We’re the sweet, happy folk of the short height and big heart!”
Garth’s face lit up.
“Oh! You’re a hobbit!”
Honey looked disgusted.
“I don’t know what that is, but it sounds disgusting. I should slap you!” Honey snapped.
“Sorry, sorry. I just got my worlds mixed up. So you’re a trilly bard. Can you sing?”
Honey scoffed.
“Can I sing? Of course I can sing! Here, I’ll sing everyone a song of encouragement in this trying time. Gather round folks and keep your ears and hearts open!”
The trilly girl pulled out a ratty little lute from her rucksack and began to tune it. The thing looked shabby and sounded worse, but she seemed to know how to play it at the very least. When the lute was tuned, she strummed a chord and began to sing.
“When a humble bard, graced a ride along--”
Before the young bard could continue, one of the soldiers walked over, seized the instrument out of her hands, and smashed it to pieces against the side of the carriage.
“No!” Honey squealed. “Why did you do that?”
Her big baby blues were already filling with tears.
“You’re too loud, trilly bitch. It’s getting annoying. Besides, we don’t know if any infernal forces are gathered in the area. We don’t need you bringing them down on our heads with your yammering.”
“But I was just trying to bring everyone some joy!” The trilly whimpered.
“I don’t care.”
As the soldier turned, Garth noticed the leather bag at his hip was slightly open. From what he could see, there was a quill, a small pocket knife, and a portion of smooth fabric that looked like silk. Moving quickly, Garth nabbed the knife and the square of silk without being noticed. He quickly slipped the items into his pocket.
Next to him, the trilly girl was sobbing quietly. Big fat tears rolled down her pretty little face. Clearly, the lute was her most prized possession. From what he could see, the only other things in her sack were a couple potatoes and a loaf that was more mold than bread by this point. The poor little thing didn’t even have the pieces of her lute anymore.
“What a mess,” Garth grumbled.
***
They were brought to a makeshift camp in a clearing in the woods. There looked to be about a hundred people in the place, not including the soldiers. Looming in the distance were a series of large, snow peaked mountains. The sun was just beginning to slip beneath these mountains. It would be dark in another few hours.
As they got off the carriage, several volunteers in civilian clothes handed them supplies. They were each given a rolled up tent, a small cooking pot, and a sack of hard, stale bread.
A young, dark-haired woman in a vibrant purple dress welcomed the new arrivals as they picked up supplies. She seemed far too chipper for a woman in a refugee camp.
“Welcome everyone! I am Lady Valeria Contessa of House Contessa! We welcome you into the safety of our borders!”
“Thanks, I guess,” Garth murmured as he passed the woman.
She smiled back at him with surprising warmth. Apparently she wasn’t cynical, just an idiot.
Garth found a quiet, isolated corner of the camp and unfurled his tent. He had just about gotten it figured out when he heard the sound of a woman struggling and crying and shouting, not exactly in that order. He looked over and saw his short little friend from earlier trying desperately to figure out her tent. It was clear she wasn’t going to get it before sundown.
Garth felt real pity for the poor little thing. She was all alone, her only source of comfort smashed to pieces somewhere along the path.
“Fine, I’ll be nice,” he muttered to himself.
He dropped his supplies next to the trilly and gave her a pat on the shoulder.
“Listen, shortstack. Let me help you.”
“I do not need any help!” Honey answered, yanking at the canvas with her stubby little hands.
All of a sudden, the stitching on part of the tent gave out, causing Honey to tumble backwards onto her butt. There was now a nasty gash in her tent.
“Okay, maybe I need a little help,” She said.
“Here, I’ll set up our tents and get dinner ready. I’m gonna need a favor, though.”
“There’s always a price with you humans. I’m not doing anything weird, got it?”
“Relax, shorty. I just need you to grab me a few things, okay?”
Honey sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Fine,” she said. “What are they?”
“I need you to go into the woods, but not too far, and get a log. It doesn’t haven’t to be too big, but don’t bring me any sticks. Got it? Then I want you to find me some charcoal and a four leaf clover. Can you do that?”
Honey shook her head and disbelief, but agreed to the list of demands.
“You’re a strange fellow,” Honey said. “But it is nice of you to set up my tent. Thank you.”
With that, the trilly darted off in search of the materials. Garth watched her go, noticing that the trilly moved at a remarkable pace for someone so small.
Garth had the tents up in about half an hour. He mended Honey’s tent with the sewing kit in his back pocket and then turned his attention to dinner. The bread he was given by the civilian volunteers was as hard as a rock, but it might cook up fine enough.
Garth turned his attention to the woods. The camp was situated by a large stream and the woods around the place seemed plentiful. He walked over to the streambank and peered into the crystal clear water. He could see dark, oblong shapes swimming under the surface - they looked like trout, or at least this place’s equivalent.
Sitting down by the bank, Garth pulled out a short, ornate blade from his back pocket and looked around for a good, sturdy branch within reach. Finding one about the length of his arm, he set to work.
The man’s movements were slow and deliberate, and yet the stick began to sharpen and reform at a startling pace. Before long, the former branch was a spear as sharp as a needle at the tip.
Garth stood up, looked over the stream, and locked his sights on one particularly fat black mass in the water. He crept forward slowly, keeping the spear in his left hand as still as he could manage. Then, with lightning speed, he jabbed the weapon into the water and yanked up a big, juicy fish.
The green and black creature was ugly as hell, but it would fry up nicely. Garth repeated the process twice more, carrying his catch back to basecamp and hiding it in his tent. The last thing he needed was for some poor, hungry bastard to steal his prize.
As he exited the tent, Garth saw Honey hobbling back with a mid-sized log in her short, pudgy arms. The trilly’s face was so red it practically glowed. She was huffing and puffing and by the time she reached the tent, she looked like she was about to pass out from the exertion.
Garth took the log from Honey, holding it with one hand and eyeing it carefully. It would do.
“You’re even weaker than you look!” He said.
Honey stomped her feet and crossed her arms over her chest. She seemed to do this often.
“Us trillies are known for our delicate touch and skill with the arts, not for heavy lifting.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Try not to wind yourself again getting the clover. I’m hoping that won’t be too heavy.”
Honey stepped forward and jabbed a tiny, fat finger into Garth’s chest.
“You make too many jokes! Mean jokes at that! If you keep making fun of me, I’m not going to get you your clover!”
Garth walked over to Honey’s tent and laid a hand on its central pole.
“Oh, well I guess you won’t be needing this, then?”
The trilly’s eyes fell and she knew she was defeated.
“Fine, I’ll get you your clover,” she said.
“And the charcoal.”
“Sure, fine. Just, can you try to be nicer?”
Garth smiled.
“Sure thing, Shortstack.”
“Ugh, you’re a big jerk!” Honey said before stomping off in search of the clover.
Garth turned his attention to the woods once more. After a bit of foraging, he managed to find some edible greens, a clump of something that smelled very close to garlic, and a few mushrooms. The mushrooms Garth sliced open with a tiny knife from his back pocket. As the blade cut through the fungal flesh, it turned green for a few seconds. Edible.
“Well, at least these bastards had the kindness to take us to a forest filled with food,” he said to himself as he walked back to camp.
By the time Honey returned with the ash and clover, the sky was turning black. Garth had a small fire going between their tents and a fish stew cooking in his small pot. When the trilly saw the boiling food, her eyes got very big and she looked like she was about to cry again.
“It smells so good!” She exclaimed, bounding forward. Garth still wasn’t used to how fast the trilly could move. It must be something inherent to their race. He filed the knowledge away for later convenience.
“Easy, shorty. Give over the goods first, then you can eat.”
“Oh fine. Here you go, mister.”
Honey dropped six four leaf clovers into one of Garth’s open palms and a pile of charcoal into the other.
“You didn’t need to get this many,” Garth said.
The trilly shrugged.
“It was easy and fun to do. Us trillies are good at finding things.”
“Carrying things, not so much.”
“You’re very funny, mister! So funny!”
Honey reached into her bag and pulled at a small wooden bowl and a spoon and then skittered over to the fire. Hunger was written all across her pretty face.
“Is it ready?”
Garth nodded. Honey didn’t need to hear anymore. She immediately started ladling the stew into her bowl, filling it to the brim. Then she began to crum spoonfuls of the stuff into her mouth at a startling pace.
“Careful. Don’t choke.”
“I’m not a child!” Honey said, her mouth stuffed with fish stew.
“Just how old are you?” Garth asked, looking over the clovers Honey gathered.
“I’m nineteen years old!” She said. “All you humans act like us trillies are little kids because we’re smaller than you.”
Garth wondered what a year meant in this world. It was never consistent between locations.
“From the right angle, you do look like a kid,” Garth said. “I don’t think anyone means any offense.”
“You don’t have to mean any offense to offend someone!” Honey said, shoving another big spoonful of stew into her mouth.
“Well on behalf of myself and all of humanity, I’m sorry, Honey.”
The trilly gave him a funny look.
“That’s the first time you’ve used my name. I still don’t know your name, by the way.”
“It’s Garth.”
Honey rolled the name over in her brain, seeming to taste it before giggling.
“That’s a stupid name.”
Garth shrugged.
“I didn’t choose it, but it’s better than nothing.”
At that moment, a shadow appeared just outside the ring of illumination made by the fire. Garth didn’t like that one bit. He remembered hearing the soldier talk about demons earlier and that worried him. Such creatures rarely wanted anything other than blood. When they wanted something else, it was a million times worse.
“Show yourself, stranger,” Garth said.
The figure came out of the shadows, revealing himself to be the cloaked, shivering man from earlier. He didn’t look any better now.
The man was younger than Garth expected. Save for his shiver and the sheen of sweat across his brow, he looked handsome. His eyes were a penetrating blue that seemed to illuminate the darkness around his face as if they were glowing.
“Oh, hello,” the man said softly.
Garth tensed himself, readying for a fight, but Honey acted first. The trilly girl stood up and walked over, motioning to the pot of boiling stew with her spoon.
“Hey mister, do you want any stew? There’s plenty left.”
“That’s my dinner,” Garth muttered.
Honey ignored him. She gave the man a big smile and invited him over.
“I bet you’re starving! The food they gave us isn’t very good. Come and eat!”
The man stared dumbfounded at Honey for a few moments before his face broke into a big, sunny smile. Garth was overwhelmed by the warmth conveyed by that smile. Looking upon the man was like standing in a beautiful meadow at the height of Spring.
“You are very kind, Honey Landfree. Your spirit is an exceptionally good and pure one. I do not eat food, but your offer is much appreciated.”
The man gave the two of them a nod and disappeared back into the darkness.
Honey stumbled back over to Garth, looking alarmed. The trilly’s mind seemed to be racing a mile a minute. Eventually, her nerves got the better of her and she hastily filled up another bowl of stew to eat.
“Do you always eat when you’re nervous,” Garth asked.
“Trillies like good food,” Honey said, looking defensive. “How did he know my name?”
“You did announce quite loudly on the carriage. He was sitting next to me. I thought he was asleep, but I guess not.”
“But how did he know about my soul, Mister Garth?”
Garth shrugged as he pulled out his trusty knife and flicked it hard with his index finger. The shape of the blade rounded suddenly, forming into a spoon. With that, he joined the trilly by the pot.
“You were nice to him. He’s probably one of those hopeless romantics. Has to make everything poetic.”
“But his eyes! They looked like they were glowing!”
Garth shrugged again.
“Probably a trick of the light.”
“But his comment about the food? Everyone eats food!”
“He probably wasn’t hungry. Maybe the imperial tongue isn’t his first language and he was struggling to find the right words.”
Honey stomped her foot, causing a cloud of dust to spray into the fire. The trilly immediately recoiled, looking a little ashamed of herself.
“You know,” she said. “Real magic exists. You can’t explain away everything. Us trillies are capable of many small feats of magic ourselves.”
Garth raised an eyebrow.
“Really? Like what?”
“We can use magic with our songs to create emotions in people. We can create exquisite food from mundane ingredients. We can also make any shelter comfy with even the smallest flame.”
“None of that sounds useful in a fight,” Garth said.
He expected Honey to stamp her feet and glare at him again, but instead her eyes got big and she looked genuinely offended.
“We would never! We are peaceful people. No trilly has ever fought in anything more than a wrestling match between siblings! To use magic to harm is a horrible thought! Not that we’re even capable of it.”
“That all sounds nice until someone is gunning for your throat. I’ll trust a good, sharp blade any day over hocus pocus.”
Honey let out a loud “hmmf” and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I guess you’re just a simpleton then. Magic is way better than any sword!”
“Well I guess I wouldn’t know,” Garth said with a smile. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I want a little privacy. Why don’t you run along and find yourself something to do in camp.”
“You’re kicking me out?” She asked, her eyes bulging.
“Yup, that’s right.”
“Well I won’t go. I’m staying right here,” Honey said.
Garth stood up and laid a hand on the trilly girl’s tent once more, causing her to panic. He had to admit, it was strange befriending someone he was a whole person taller than, but the height difference had its advantages.
“I’ll leave! I’ll leave! You don’t have to be a big meanie.”
“Good. See ya later!” Garth said. “Oh, Honey, one more thing.”
Honey spun around, again moving at that rapid, unnatural pace.
“What?”
Garth walked up to her and plucked out one of her blonde hairs, causing her to squeak.
“I’ll be needing this,” he said.
Honey’s face burned like a hot ember. She stomped her foot, huffed, and ran off, rapidly disappearing into the darkness.
When Garth knew the trilly was gone, he chuckled to himself.
“You’re right about one thing, shortstack. Magic certainly is better than any sword.”
Garth entered his tent, closing the flap behind him, and got started. He carved a circle into the dusty ground below with his bare hands and prepared for the summoning. He just hoped the person on the other end was still available.
***
“Are you lost, my dear trilly?” Asked Lady Contessa.
Honey looked up at the tall, slender woman and shook her head.
“No, I’m just wandering. My roommate kicked me out of our campsite.”
“Oh? Do you need me to step in?” The noble woman looked gravely concerned.
“No, no. I think it’s fine. He’s a bit of a weirdo, but he’s a good cook and the closest thing to a friend I have out here.”
Lady Contessa nodded.
“Very well. Come to me if you need anything else at all. I’m here to help.”
The noble woman began to walk away, but Honey stopped her. It was dark and foreboding in the camp. Some company would be nice.
“Can I walk with you for a little bit? I don’t really know anyone else in the camp. I’m Honey, by the way.”
Honey extended her hand to Lady Contessa, who shook it gently.
“I am Lady Valeria Contessa,” the noble woman said with a regal flourish. “But you can call me Val if you like.”
In an instant, the noble pretense fell away and Honey saw a very young woman looking just as lonely as her. Heck, Val seemed even younger than Honey.
“Nice to meet you, Val!”
They walked and talked, doing their best to stay within the light of the torches posted here and there. The night was warm, with a soft breeze that made everything feel magical. Honey felt herself relaxing as she bonded with the young noble.
“So Val, can I ask you a question? You have to promise not to get offended.”
“Okay,” Val answered cautiously. “Ask away.”
“What is an imperial noble doing in a dump like this?”
Honey braced herself. The last thing she needed was to piss off royal blood. Damn her curiosity.
Val smiled and let out a hearty laugh.
“My family wonders the same thing. They are all locked away in their castle, waiting for the infernal crisis to blow over. And here I am, dressed in all my regal apparel, in a refugee camp. It doesn’t make sense, does it?”
Honey shook her head nervously. This lady had a castle? Perhaps she bit off more than she could chew in befriending her.
“I guess I just wanted to help. All of the royal pomp seems pretty meaningless if we let our people die while we remain safe. I had to do something.”
“That’s very brave of you,” Honey said. “I don’t think I could do something like that. Us trillies love our comfort and safety.”
Val nodded.
“You’re a pleasant little people like that. No scheming or war, just hot food and good song.”
Honey’s eyes lit up.
“Exactly! Who needs war and fighting when you can play a merry tune and dance!”
Val looked off into the distance and suddenly looked very sad. She looked so young - certainly not more than twenty years old, but there was a sadness marked on her face that Honey found hard to look at.
“Unfortunately, it seems the empire still needs war. That’s what Commander Cais says, at least. I trust his judgment. The infernal crisis is like nothing we’ve ever faced before. So far, the imperial core is safe, but it’s only a matter of time before the legions move inward.”
This terrified poor Honey. She had heard bits and pieces about demons. They seemed like such horrific and brutish creatures. While a human force might let some of its enemies live, demonic legions focused on extermination. What would her people do if faced by such a threat? They barely survived in the face of human kingdoms.
“Can they be stopped?”
“Commander Cais thinks so, and I trust his judgment. It’ll be a long fight, full of sorrow and loss, but we should be able to repel the demonic forces.”
“That’s good,” Honey said. “Say, who is this Cais guy you’re talking about?”
Val’s eyes lit up at the question. The sorrow marked on her face turned to pride and admiration.
“Commander Cais is the leader of this rescue mission and rescue missions all across the realm. He took me under his wing when I chose to aid in the rescue efforts. There isn’t anyone I trust more in this world.”
“So he’s the head honcho of all these soldiers?”
Val nodded.
Honey remembered her broken lute with bitterness. Her prized possession lay in pieces miles away. If she could get this commander’s ear, maybe he could fix this problem.
“I know I’m just a little trilly, but would it be possible to speak with this commander? Very briefly, mind you.”
Val looked hesitant. For a moment, she played with her dark curls, making her look like a child afraid of upsetting her parents.
“The Commander is very busy right now, but I could speak on your behalf. What is the issue?”
Honey fidgeted with her pudgy little fingers, afraid that the noble woman would dismiss her problem. After all, this was a refugee camp. There had to be bigger problems than just a lute. All of a sudden, the trilly felt very nervous, but there was no going back now.
“On the carriage ride, one of the soldiers smashed my lute. You see, I’m a bard and I need my lute to perform.”
Val’s expression turned cold and imperious. Honey braced herself for a boot in the arse, but when the noble woman spoke, it was on her behalf.
“Who? Which soldier? He shall be punished.”
It was frightening seeing the razor blades hidden under such a kind exterior, and Honey was glad Val was on her side. Still, she did not want any trouble.
“I don’t know who it was and I don’t want anyone to be punished. I was just wondering if I could get a replacement.”
“I don’t think you’ll find one lying around here,” Val said. “But let us talk to the commander. You should at least get some recompense. Perhaps some bronze or silver to buy a new one when we get to Fortuna?”
“That would be wonderful!” Honey said, blushing. The camp was a lonely place, but Val brightened it considerably. “You are an incredible noble! You’re so selfless!”
Val shook her head.
“No, I’m not anything special. I just want to help, now come on. Let’s find the Commander.”
They walked to the center of camp, where several large tents had been set up for the soldiers. Commander Cais’s tent was the largest of these and was nearly as big as a trilly cottage. Outside the tent, two soldiers kept guard.
Val walked up to one of the guards and asked for admittance. The guard shook his head.
“The Commander is resting, my lady. Come back in the morning.”
Val batted her eyelashes and did her best to look crushed.
“Come on, Venture. It’s me, Lady Valeria. When has the commander ever told me no?”
The soldier rolled his eyes and motioned her into the tent. Honey tried to follow, but was stopped.
“What is this trilly doing with you, Valeria? It has no business with the Commander.”
Yeah? Screw you, buddy, Honey thought. She felt like stomping her feet, but knew she would just embarrass herself.
“<i>She</i> is coming with me into this tent, Venture. Or should I tell Commander Cais that you have been insulting the refugees?”
The soldier’s eye twitched slightly, but he relented.
The tent was dark inside. From what Honey could make out, there were several tables clustered on the right side and a simple cot on the left. She could barely make out a lump lying on the cot. She supposed the lump was the commander.
“Commander Cais, I apologize for waking you,” Val said. “But I wanted to bring something to your attention.”
A soft moan came from the direction of the cot. Honey watched as the lump on the bed shifted slightly. For an imperial commander, he did not seem all that impressive.
“Commander Cais?” Val asked, her voice growing concerned.
The young noble woman stepped forward, her hands clasped to her heart. Her breathing was shallow and ragged. Honey followed close behind, allowing the noble woman’s much taller form to obscure her. She did not like the feeling of this situation one bit.
“Commander? Commander, please answer me,” Val said.
Val dashed forward and shook the form on the bed before letting out a frightened gasp. Honey stepped forward and strained her eyes. From what she could see, the figure under the covers looked ancient and withered. Its skin was tight and dry and clung to the bones, making it look skeletal.
“Commander Cais, it’s me, Valeria. Answer me, please!”
The poor noblewoman was becoming hysteric as she tried to rouse the figure on the bed, but Honey could plainly see it was a lost cause. The withered body of Commander Cais had only the faintest strength left and did not seem capable of words.
It was an awful sight, seeing this poor woman mourn someone she loved in anguish. Tears never too far from the surface of a trilly’s eyes and Honey could feel herself ready to sob. Her little trilly heart could not take this kind of sorrow, even second-hand.
However, Honey’s own sorrow was short-lived. As Val sobbed over the Commander’s withering body, the trilly heard a sound behind her. It was like the rustling of wind, but higher pitch.
Turning to look, Honey just barely caught a shadowy figure zipping out of the tent. There was the sound of a struggle followed by two loud thumps.
“Uh Val, I think we need to go,” Honey said.
Val turned and looked at Honey like she had just committed some great and unforgivable sin.
“I will not leave him! Your lute can wait!”
Honey backed off, raising her pudgy little hands in submission.
“I’m not worried about my lute, but I think something bad is happening outside!”
The look on Val’s face showed she was not going anywhere. Honey left the noble woman to mourn and instead crept towards the entrance of the tent, taking care to remain quiet.
As Honey got closer, she began to hear a wet, rhythmic sound along with moans from both a woman and a man. As she listened, the moans grew louder and more frenzied, as did the wet sounds.
Are they mud wrestling? Honey could not picture what was happening outside, but she did not dare look either.
Suddenly, the sounds came to a climax with the man and woman both crying out. A flash of violet light illuminated the outside of the tent before fading away. Then Honey heard footsteps and more wet sounds.
These sounds were different, however. She could hear tearing and crunching as if someone were eating a chicken leg in the sloppiest way imaginable.
“Val!” She whispered.
But the noble woman was inconsolate. She was hunched over the body of her mentor, tears rolling down her pale cheeks. She seemed to be praying, shutting out the rest of the world to give the Commander his final respects.
“Oh gods, this is bad,” Honey whispered to herself.
There were more footsteps outside the tent. Honey could see a shadow under the flaps at the tent’s entrance. Someone was about to come in.
The trilly’s heart caught in her throat as she noticed this. She hurled herself backwards, accidentally stumbling and falling on her bum several feet away.
The leather flaps at the entrance of the tent parted and a naked woman entered the tent. It was hard to make out all the details, but from what Honey could see, this was no human woman.
Her figure was voluptuous and sensual. Large, full breasts seemed to take up her entire chest. Her hair was long and black, with a violet sheen and it seemed to flow and wiggle as if it were alive. In contrast to her hair, the woman’s skin was as pale as snow and marked with glowing purple sigils.
Perhaps the strangest features of this woman, however, were the pair of horns that protruded from her head and the long, pointed tale that writhed behind her. Even someone as naive and sheltered as Honey knew what those features meant.
“Oh no,” Honey whimpered.
“What’s the matter, little trilly? Haven’t you seen a demon before?”
Honey stared at the creature, her jaw hanging open. So this was a demon? She expected something ugly and savage, but the creature standing before her was positively gorgeous.
Now trillies were modest people with modest thoughts and modest bodies. They often spent their lives avoiding anything having to do with the bedroom except in the most private of situations. They certainly never talked about sex and rarely did they even think of sex. Such activities were to be conducted after years of courtship and in strict privacy.
The lithe and sensual demon woman was the very embodiment of everything that made Honey’s people uncomfortable. Her face burned with a mixture of shame and terror as her eyes grazed along the demon’s curves.
The demon took a step forward and chuckled.
“Val, look out!” Honey cried.
The noble woman was already on her feet and staring wide-eyed at the demon. From the looks of it, she was caught in a maelstrom of emotions ranging from sorrow and hopelessness to pure rage.
“This night could not get any better. First I have a good meal, and now I have two pretty girls to play with,” The demon chuckled.
Honey’s heart sank as she realized how doomed she and her new friend were.
***
The muse sat on the dusty floor of the tent, her hands carving the log at an inhuman pace. From the looks of it, Garth guessed that the instrument would be finished in another few minutes.
“So help me to understand, magician,” the muse said as she worked.
“What’s there to understand?”
The muse looked up at him, her emerald eyes glowing softly in the darkness. She was a pretty little thing with short, red hair and a button nose.
“You went through all of this trouble to summon me and have me craft an instrument. You now owe me a favor down the road. You did all of this to give a girl a lute?”
Garth shrugged.
“Men do crazy things for women all the time.”
“Sure,” the muse answered. “But a trilly girl you just met? Most humans do not swing that way.”
“It’s nothing romantic. Just hated seeing the poor thing so sad,” Garth answered.
“I don’t believe you.”
Garth searched his feelings. The muse’s question was a good one. Why was he going through all this trouble? There wasn’t a shred of romantic interest there. The trilly girl wasn’t unattractive, but she certainly wasn’t his type. Besides, she was practically three feet shorter than him.
Still, he felt another form of attraction. It was a feeling he had grown more familiar with as the years went by. He supposed it might be called fate.
“Believe me or don’t, I just need the lute.”
“Well it’s almost done. This one won’t shatter.”
“Very good. I don’t want to have to do this every time she manages to piss off a guard or soldier with her racket.”
“So you’re planning on accompanying her long term. Fascinating.”
Outside the tent, Garth began to hear men shouting and the sound of a dreadful clatter, putting him on edge. Something suddenly didn’t feel right.
“Look, is there any way we can hurry this up at all?”
The muse narrowed her eyes and deliberately slowed her movements.
“Watch it, lover boy. The next time you get impatient, you might be handing your trilly girlfriend a useless chunk of wood.”
There was more commotion outside. Far off, Garth could hear a woman’s scream. Something was very wrong. He remembered the one soldier mentioning demons nearby. He hoped to god that wasn’t what was going on.
“Look, I’m sorry. Forgive my impatience.”
The muse shook her head and smiled before tossing the finished lute to Garth. The lute was as light as a feather and intricately patterned on the front surface. The wood had been polished to the point where it reflected light like a mirror even in the darkness of the tent.
Garth gripped the instrument as if he were going to play and watched as the tuning knobs turned on their own. Strumming a random chord produced a powerful, but distorted sound.
“It tunes itself in according to the essence of the player’s soul,” the muse said. “Apparently, your soul is a mess.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” Garth muttered.
Suddenly, a loud and inhuman roar echoed from somewhere in the camp. The sound was tremendous, shaking the ground beneath Garth’s feet.
The muse’s eyes widened in terror and surprise.
“What was that?” She asked. “Where did you summon me to?”
Garth scratched his head and stared down at the ground. There was nothing he could say that would prevent her from being pissed.
“It might be a demon,” he answered.
“A demon!” The muse hissed.
“Yeah. They’re apparently invading this world.”
The muse turned pale and looked like she was going to be sick. She stumbled backwards and began to look around desperately for some way out of her circle.
“Let me go! You have your lute. Release the damn spell!”
“Wait, one second,” Garth said. “Why are you so freaked out?”
“Do you have any idea what the forces of the infernal would do to a creature like me? To my sisters? How dare you bring me into a place with an active demonic presence? Let me out!”
“Oh shit,” Garth muttered. “Fine.”
Garth spoke the incantation, releasing the spell. For a moment, the muse lingered, glaring at him.
“You owe me two favors now, got it?”
“That wasn’t part of the deal.”
Garth felt the lute in his hands begin to shake as cracks formed on the surface.
“Two favors!” The muse shrieked.
“Fine! Two favors. Sure thing.”
Immediately, the lute stopped vibrating and the cracks disappeared.
“Make sure you remove all traces of the summoning circle. I don’t want to be traced,” The muse said.
With that, she disappeared in a puff of sparkling dust.
Meanwhile, the tumult outside had grown to a fever pitch. From the sound of it, the camp seemed to be under a full-on assault.
Garth rushed out of the tent and what he saw made him dizzy. The sky was full of hideous winged creatures. Several tents were on fire and here and there, soldiers clashed with shadowy figures. It was an all-out war.
The magician turned to blot out the summoning circle when something caught him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him backwards.
“Oh shit.”
***
“You killed him. Why would you do such a thing?” Val shrieked at the demon.
Honey watched the demon slowly approach them like a panther closing in on prey. The creature’s eyes were full of unholy light and life.
“Take a good look at me, child. Does that seem like a useful question to ask?”
“Val, be careful!” Honey cried.
Something awful was about to happen. The trilly could feel it in the pit of her stomach. This whole turn of events made her want to curl into a ball and cry. Then again, most negative events did that to trillies. They were sensitive creatures.
However, Honey could not cry. The terror of the moment was too great. Instead, she stared dumbfounded at the impossible creature slinking towards Val.
“The midget is right,” the demon said. “You better think of something quick, girl.”
A hard look of resolve formed on Val’s face. The young noblewoman reached behind her and drew a long, ornate dagger from a sheath along her back.
“I’ll gladly give up my life to avenge Commander Cais and protect this camp!”
The demon threw her head back and laughed heartily.
“You think killing me will protect this camp, little girl? Take a closer listen.”
Honey strained her ears and could tell that Val was doing the same. The trilly could hear the sounds of clashing metal and men’s shouts. The smell of smoke, which had already been present in the camp, had grown more intense and she could see a faint yellow glow coming through the tent flaps.
“Your precious camp is already under attack. There is nothing you can do to save the lives out there. Hell, you can’t even save your own life at this point!”
Honey looked around desperately for a way out. There seemed to be a little space between the canvas of the tent and the ground. Honey knew she could fit, but she was not sure if Val could. Still, it was worth a shot. Otherwise, they were dead meat.
“Val, don’t fight her” Honey cried. “We need to escape!”
Val ignored her, instead stepping forward and assuming a fighting stance. For a noblewoman in a frilly gown, she seemed to know what she was doing. Still, at what point did bravery become stupidity, Honey wondered. For a trilly, all bravery was stupidity, but Honey knew humans were different.
“You go, Honey. It was a joy to meet you,” Val said, her voice grave.
“No!” Honey cried. “Stop being a fool, Val! You aren’t doing anyone any good by dying!”
The demon giggled.
“How quaint. This is like the climax of a play. If I had known you two would be so entertaining, I would have brought a heart to munch on.”
“I’ve had enough of you,” Val said.
“Val no!” Honey whimpered.
But it was too late. The noblewoman dashed forward, her knife out and ready. She slashed wildly at the demon, but it was no use. The creature easily dodged the blow and delivered a hard kick to Val’s back as she brushed on by.
The young noblewoman tumbled into the dust as the demon let out another mocking laugh.
Val slowly picked herself up, a nasty scrape now marking her right knee. She looked toward Honey and shook her head.
“Go Honey. You need to live!”
Honey looked between the crack in the tent and her new friend. Her choice seemed obvious: run. However, the poor trilly could not bring herself to do so. This noblewoman had shown her, a pathetic little trilly, so much kindness without hesitation. She could not just leave the poor girl now.
“No. I can’t.” Honey said, tears in her eyes.
“Go!” Val cried, getting back into her fighting stance.
The demon chuckled and snapped her fingers.
“How about I make this easier for the both of you?” She said.
With a flick of the demon’s wrist, Honey was thrown to the ground and ensnared in cords of living shadow. She struggled against the bonds, but they were much too strong for her.
“There, Val. You have something to fight for: your friend’s life. Hit me with your best shot!”
Val snarled and ran full speed at the demon. This time, her attacks were shorter and cleaner. The noblewoman slashed and hacked repeatedly at the demon, adjusting her footwork with each attack. Honey was amazed by the skill the girl possessed.
Unfortunately, the demon was much too fast. She dodged the blows with ease.
“You’re very hot blooded for an imperial noble,” the demon said. “I like that a lot.”
Before Val could respond, the demon delivered an open hand slap that sent the girl flying backwards.
Honey felt her heart sink. It was no use. Val could be the greatest warrior in the empire and this monster would still have the upperhand.
Val struggled to her feet, but the blow to her head clearly had her dazed. Honey knew the noblewoman’s next attacks would be even more useless than the ones prior.
“You can’t even land a single blow. I admire your bravery, girl. Your skill, not so much. But we’ll work on that.”
Honey watched the noblewoman stumble slowly towards the demon, clutching her head with her free hand as she went. A trickle of blood ran down her forehead from the open palm slap and her left eye appeared swollen.
The demon smiled and closed in on her prey, a look of wicked triumph on her face.
“You can’t even walk straight! Give it up, girl. You couldn’t land a blow while you were in your right mind. Now your brain is rattled and your consciousness is fading. You have nothing. Nothing! You won’t even be able to nick my skin!”
Val stumbled forward, caught herself, tilted towards her right side, and then corrected again. The blow must have been worse than Honey thought. From the looks of it, Val had another few seconds to be awake and then it was curtains.
By now, the trilly was beginning to sob. This situation was much too awful for her little heart to handle. Her people weren’t built for suffering - she was maxed out.
Val shivered and slowly began to fall forward as the demon got within reaching distance.
“That’s it,” the demon said. “Let the darkness consume you.”
All of a sudden, Val sprang to life, moving as quick as a viper. The blade in her hands flashed for a moment before sinking into the violet flesh of her attacker. Val yanked the blade across, gutting her foe.
Honey watched in shock. On one hand, the sudden violence horrified her. On the other, she was overjoyed. Val had been faking. She was okay! There was hope.
The demon snarled and stumbled backwards, gripping the nasty wound in her stomach.
“Die, you miserable demon. That’s for taking Commander Cais’s life!” Val said, triumphantly.
The demon groaned loudly and looked up at the noblewoman, her eyes blazing.
“I’ve got to give you credit for that,” she said. “That was a good move.”
The demon stood up straight, revealing her wound to Honey and Val. To their horror, the gash was already sealing up.
“Unfortunately for you, that blade isn’t silver,” the demon said. “Nor is it blessed. Also, you didn’t hit the right spot.”
Within seconds, the demon’s wound was healed entirely. Val stared at the beast, her eyes wide and full of fear. The fight was gone from her.
“What’s the matter, little girl? Did you think you could just stab a duchess of hell with your rinky dink pocket knife?”
The demon rocketed forward and seized Val by the neck, slamming her to the ground. The blow knocked the wind out of the poor noblewoman. Before she had a chance to recover, the demon delivered a hard kick to her ribs.
Val screamed as she writhed in pain on the ground. Honey watched helplessly, her body still surrounded by tendrils of shadow.
“I have to say, your knife tickled a little. You don’t know it, Valeria, but you have a little magic in your veins. Your purity gave your blade a little sizzle. You should feel proud. I’ve had soldiers hack my arms off with broadswords and axes and felt less.”
The demon grabbed the noblewoman by the arm and began to drag her towards the cot in the back of the tent. Val struggled, but it was hopeless. Her injuries combined with the demon’s incredible strength made any fight pointless.
When the demon reached the cot, she hefted the withered corpse of Commander Cais with her free hand and tossed it behind her like it was a twig. Then she threw Val on the bed.
What was she doing now? Honey couldn’t understand it. Val was defeated. Why did the demon not simply kill her?
The demon climbed on top of Val and grinned, flashing her sharp canines. She ran her hands over the half conscious noblewoman’s body, inspecting her modest curves.
“Not bad,” the demon said. “You’re going to be fun to play with.”
“Just kill me,” the girl moaned.
“Oh, I have no interest in doing that.”
“Do what you will. No matter what, I will fight to defeat you as long as I live.”
The demon smiled deviously and patted the girl on the head.
“We’ll see about that.”
The demon’s long tail flicked in the air before reaching beneath her, between her legs. Honey watched in horror as the tail disappeared under Val’s skirt.
In the next moment, Val yelped as the sharpened tip of the tail dug into the soft flesh of her inner thigh.
“Do you know what that is, Valeria?” The demon asked.
“It-ugh-it burns.”
“It’s my venom. Right now, you just have a little flowing in your veins. The more you get, the harder it’ll be to fight up here.”
The demon tapped Val’s forehead with her clawed index finger.
Val turned away from the demon, her face hard and unyielding.
“It does not matter. I’ll fight you to my last breath, no matter what!”
“You say that now,” the demon said. “But just you wait. Now, let’s answer a question that has been burning in my brain since I laid eyes on you.”
The demon’s tail wiggled upwards, moving to just between the noblewoman’s legs. The tip curled around Val’s underwear and ripped them off in one sweep.
Val gasped and shut her eyes. A single tear streamed down her cheek. Honey couldn’t even bring herself to look at her new friend. This was all so wrong and horrible.
“Is this daughter of a count a virgin?” The demon asked. “Let’s see.”
The tip of the creature’s tail flicked along Val’s slit, moving back and forth. This seemed to give the demon great pleasure. Meanwhile, Val began to mutter a prayer at a feverish pace.
“In the name of the demon king, you are a virgin! Brilliant!” The demon exclaimed. “And I get to be the one to make you a woman!”
Val ignored the demon’s snide remarks and continued her prayer. Honey felt deep respect for the noblewoman in that moment. Faced with a similar situation, Honey was sure she would have pissed herself.
“Do whatever you please,” Val said. “I will never stop fighting you. You’ll have to kill me.”
“Oh really? Let’s put that resolve to the test, shall we?”
The demon’s tail moved at lightning speed, the stinger at the tip puncturing Val’s pleasure bud and pumping a hearty dose of venom into the flesh. The noblewoman shrieked in pain and gripped the cot with white knuckles.
“Everyone can talk big. Let’s see if you can resist me like you say you can, Valeria.”
Val’s face quickly turned the color of a ripe raspberry as she began to writhe and struggle on the cot. She tried to resume her prayer, but her breath was rapid and shallow. Clearly, the venom was getting to her.
“Oh divine gods, give me strength. Let your grace be a balm to my-ugh-heart. Hot heart. Burning up, so bad,” Val muttered.
“Mmm, you’re getting wet,” the demon said, teasing her tail along Val’s slit.
In response, Val whimpered and jerked her hips upwards. She was still praying, but Honey could tell the noblewoman was beginning to lose control. It was only a matter of time before she gave in to the demon’s touch. Then what? This was such hideous undiscovered territory for the trilly.
Honey shut her eyes and hid her face in her shoulder. She could not bear to watch this kind, gentle woman be defiled by something so monstrous. It was horrible. By now, she was sobbing constantly, her cheeks slimy with tears.
Why wasn’t anyone coming to help? Shouldn’t someone notice? Outside the tent, men screamed in agony and blades clashed. Honey supposed everyone was too busy with the horrors out in the camp, but it still seemed wrong. Poor Val did not deserve this.
“You can look away all you want, little trilly, but it won’t do you any good. It won’t save your friend and it certainly won’t save you!” The demon mocked.
Honey tried her best to shut out the outside world, but it was impossible. There were the sounds of carnage outside the tent and the sound of Val’s soft, desperate pleas to the divines within. This horrible moment was happening no matter what.
The demon turned her attention back to Val, a wicked smile crossing her face. She swooped down and kissed along the noblewoman’s cheek, gently flicking her tongue across the girl’s alabaster skin as if to get a taste.
“A sweet virgin in the palm of my hand. I couldn’t ask for a better prize!” The demon said. “Now, let’s consummate this relationship.”
Val’s prayers died in her throat as her face twisted into a grimace of dismay.
“No, please not that,” she said softly.
The demon cupped the noblewoman’s cheek with her clawed hand and smiled.
“It’s okay sweetie. I don’t want to hurt you,” the demon cooed.
Val was paralyzed in the grasp of the demon, her eyes big and vacant like those of a field mouse caught in the sights of a hawk. Had Honey been watching in that moment, she would have seen all the youthful naivete and innocence that formed the other side of the coin for the noblewoman. Valeria Contessa was a brave young woman, but she was still fresh-faced and utterly unprepared for a moment like this.
Then, without warning, the demon thrust the tip of her tail between Val’s nether lips. In an instant, the girl’s virginity was torn to shreds.
The reaction was instant. Val screeched like a banshee, her back arching as the demon’s tail moved deep within her. The blood from Val’s torn hymen coated the tip of the tail like a layer of crimson paint. In seconds, the fluid seeped into the demon’s flesh. The demon let out a loud, exaltant sigh.
“There’s nothing like consuming a woman’s virginity!”
The demon began pistoning her tail in and out of Val’s slit. At first, she moved slowly, savoring the girl’s tightness. Then she began to pick up speed.
All the while, Val writhed on the cot and babbled incoherently. The noblewoman’s prayers were silenced forever more. Now came the wild, animalistic sounds of a woman being rutted.
“Oh fuck,” the demon moaned. “You’re so pure! Shit, I wasn’t ready for this!”
Terrible curiosity overwhelmed Honey, driving her to take a peek at the scene. She immediately regretted this decision. In the most lewd display the trilly had ever seen, the demon held Val’s legs apart by the thighs. The noblewoman’s skirt was hiked up and Honey could see everything.
The demon had Val’s womanhood impaled on her appendage and was mating her like a man would. The tail of the creature bulged hideously and seemed to be delivering an unholy payload deep inside of the poor noblewoman.
Meanwhile, Val was insensible. Her body rocked back forth with each lecherous thrust of the demon’s tail. Her pretty brown eyes were glassy and empty and her tongue hung out of her mouth, trailing spittle onto her chin and the side of her mouth. Whatever the demon was putting inside of the poor noblewoman was horribly effective.
“Oh yes, Valeria! Take my venom into your womb! Fuck yes!”
Val let out a weak moan as her body was filled with the dark liquid. Her face was a bright red and Honey could practically feel the heat radiating off her from her place on the ground.
Then, the demon withdrew her tail from Val’s slit. The tip exited the noblewoman with a loud schlick and wiggled above with an almost triumphant presence.
“What do you have to say for yourself, Valeria? Was your first time all you ever hoped for?”
Val blinked and took a deep breath. Slowly, she brought her hands down to her crotch and began to fidget with her privates. She looked to be in pain.
“It burns. On fire,” she huffed. “Getting worse.”
“Oh no! That’s not good,” the demon said. “I wonder what is happening.”
Val steadily grew more agitated, trying desperately to reach inside of her slit with her fingers. She was clearly in a great deal of pain.
“What did you do to her?” Honey cried.
The demon glared at Honey and threatened her with a point of her clawed index finger.
“I was talking to Valeria, you little runt,” she snapped. “But I suppose you asked a good question.”
The demon ran a hand across Val’s body, taking time to cup the noblewoman’s breasts and pinch her nipples through the soft fabric of her dress. Then she answered.
“When enough of my venom enters a person, it reaches a breaking point. The person becomes consumed with lust to such a degree that they cannot go too long without sex before their body and mind break down. Eventually, they will die without it. The more venom, the faster it happens. Our dear little noblewoman here received a particularly large dose.”
Val shuddered on the bed. Her hands worked furiously at her entrance, but her condition only seemed to be getting worse.
“I would give poor Valeria a couple minutes tops. Unless I put this tail back inside of her, she’s a dead woman.”
“No! Oh divines, please no!” Val whimpered.
“But Valeria, I thought you were willing to die for your people. Shouldn’t you be thrilled?”
“Not like this,” the noblewoman sobbed.
“Reality bites, doesn’t it? You think you’re going to go out with a blade in your hand and fire in your heart, and instead you get to die begging to be filled like some random whore!”
“I don’t want to die!” Val begged. “Just put it back in. I’ll do anything for you!”
Honey felt the half-digested fish stew from earlier rising from her stomach. What a disgusting and pitiful sight. How dare this monster treat poor Val like this. Honey closed her eyes and looked away once more. She could not bear this anymore.
“Your offer is very tempting, Valeria,” the demon said. “But I’m done railing you for the night. I guess you’ll just die!”
“There has to be something I can offer you!” Val whimpered.
The demon shook her head.
“What happened to that brave young woman I saw earlier? She was willing to give up life in an instant to avenge some crusty old general.”
Val looked away in shame. It was clear she was reaching her limit. Soon, it would be too late for her.
“I want to live,” she said simply.
“Of course you do. Who doesn’t?” The demon answered. “But the answer is still no. My tail has gotten its fill.”
“Please!”
“Not happening,” the demon said. “But, there is one thing.”
“What is it?” Val whimpered.
Don’t take it! Honey thought. Val, she’s trying to trick you!
But mortal terror had clearly taken root in the noblewoman’s heart. Val was not thinking with clarity.
“There is one other way to survive my venom. You must feed on my essence and become my daughter.”
The demon clutched at her large breasts and gave them a squeeze. From her black nipples bubbled a thick, black liquid.
Val went pale.
“Your daughter? What does that mean?”
“You become one of us,” the demon answered.
“I would rather die!”
“I thought you would do anything to stay alive?”
Val shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn’t join forces with humanity’s ultimate enemy. She couldn’t betray all those she swore to help.
“No, I won’t do that.”
“Then you’ll die. At least you were noble, right? You didn’t save anyone or do much good at all. But your soul is intact.”
“Don’t say that,” Val whimpered. “I tried! I tried to help!”
The demon patted her cheek.
“You tried, but you didn’t succeed. You died on a cot begging for sex from a succubus. Meanwhile, everyone in your precious camp was slaughtered. It’s quite a way to end the story.”
“Stop mocking me!”
“I’m not mocking you,” the demon answered. “I’m giving you a chance.”
“I don’t want to hurt people. I don’t want to be a demon.”
The demon shook her and began to stroke Val’s cheek. There was mocking kindness to her bearing now. The fight was over and the demon was treating Val like a wayward child.
“Demons have freewill. Just think, with the new power given to you, you could save so many of your people! What good does dying here on this cot do to help anyone? A pure and kind soul like yours is rare in this world. Just think of what your compassion would look like with my power flowing through your veins.”
Val’s mind raced and her body burned. She knew she was running out of time. She could feel her control slipping away. Soon, it would be too late to make a decision. The demon was almost certainly lying to her. Still, she did not want to die. To have the end of her story be so embarassing and miserable.
“I shouldn’t,” Val said.
The demon kissed her on the cheek.
“But what do you want?”
“What I want--” Val trailed off, a million thoughts assaulting her brain at once.
Honey could not believe what she was hearing. Was Val really going to listen to this monster?
“Don’t do it, Val! She’s lying to you!”
Val gave Honey a forlorn look that told the trilly everything. Her pleas were hopeless in the face of mortal terror. Besides, who was she to tell the brave noblewoman she should die rather than live?
“Don’t hurt her,” Val said. “Don’t even lay a finger on her.”
The demon grinned. She held up her hand and said “succubus’s honor.”
Val gave Honey one more pained look. Honey could see the shame and confusion etched into the poor woman’s face. It only made the trilly feel worse to know that she might get away while her friend suffered.
“I’ll do it,” Val said.
The demon arched her back, accentuating her luscious bosoms while letting out an ecstatic groan. The triumph in her blazing eyes was a frightful sight.
“You’re going to make such a wonderful daughter of mine!”
Then the demon swooped down, lowering her massive, leaking breast to Val’s mouth. Val gave the turgid nipple in front of her a disgusted look, but stretched her neck forward and gave the nipple a light, slurping kiss. Then she pulled away, a little of the black fluid staining her cherry lips.
The noblewoman kept taking little, awkward sips of the demon’s breast, each time taking a little more of the demon’s essence into her. With each drink, her breath got a little shorter and her heart beat a little faster.
Val’s sips grew more frequent as the seconds passed by as well. Soon she was licking the excess fluid off of her lips and the sides of her mouth.
“It tastes good, doesn’t it, my child?”
Val did not answer. She was too busy with the demon’s nipple. She reached out and held the breast in front of her steady, the pliant flesh feeling like a soft, fleshy pillow. Then she took a long, slow drink.
Honey peaked and watched as gulp after gulp of the fluid rolled down Val’s throat. The trilly could not believe she was watching the pure-hearted noblewoman give in to such a fate. If someone as strong as Val was this helpless in the hands of demons, what did that mean for a people as vulnerable and weak as the trillies?
“That’s it, Valeria. Nurse at mommy’s nipple. Drink my milk and grow!” The demon howled.
Val sucked obediently. The fight was gone from her heart and now the only thing seemingly driving her was an unquenchable thirst for the demon’s milk.
Before long, the noblewoman’s movements became more erratic. She sucked wildly at the demon’s chest, streams of black milk gushing from the sides of her mouth. Her free hand reached out and began to fondle the demon’s other breast with lascivious desire.
The sounds in the tent were a carnal nightmare to listen to. There was the wet suckling of Val’s lips on the demon’s nipple. The lecherous groans of the demon. Worst of all, Val kept making soft mewling noises that showed how deeply she enjoyed this moment.
The demon turned and addressed Honey with a look similar to that of a child about to reveal a practical joke to her hapless victim.
“You want in on a secret, little trilly?”
Honey shook her head. She absolutely did not, but the demon told her anyways.
“The venom wouldn’t have killed her,” the demon answered. “I lied and she bought it!”
“That’s awful,” Honey shrieked. “Val, stop it! You don’t have to do this!”
Val did not respond. The noblewoman was locked to the demon’s nipple, sucking away as if the outside world did not exist.
“I’m afraid it’s too late, little trilly,” the demon said. “Dear Valeria has given herself completely to her mother.”
“Val, please!” Honey sobbed. “Don’t let her do this to you. It’s not too late. You can stop this!”
The demon chuckled.
“Let’s put that theory to the test, shall we?”
The demon sat up and shoved Val down on the bed. The noblewoman’s face was a mess of black ichor and saliva.
“Valeria, your friend thinks you should stop and try to save your soul. What do you think of that?”
Val’s eyes were blank and glassy for several seconds as her body writhed and jerked on the bed. Then, a terrible light appeared in the woman’s eyes as she shot forward with manic desire.. The noble woman seized the demon’s breast and simply said “more,” before resuming her feverish sucking.
“See, trilly? Valeria has already given me her heart.”
“No,” Honey whimpered. “That can’t be true.”
“Believe whatever you wish. Just know that this will be your fate as well. You can be my little sex imp.”
Honey burned with anger in that moment. How could a being have so little honor?
“I’ve never turned a trilly before,” the demon continued. “I’m curious. Will you grow bigger or stay pint-sized?”
Honey looked away, the last sparks of hope draining from her heart. No one was coming to save her. Being turned by the demon was likely the least painful fate possible. Val sure seemed to enjoy it.
However, just as the trilly bard let herself be consumed in sorrow, a faint blue glow began to seep through the cracks in the tent. The glow intensified until it became brilliant and painful to look at.
Now what was that? Honey wondered. Knowing her luck, it was probably some fresh horror from the pits of hell.
All of a sudden, the tent split down the middle with a deafening tearing noise. The canvas fell away and the three of them were bathed in a warm, azure light that filled the air. The demon looked up and tried to speak, but before she could, was knocked back several feet with a gust of wind.
The blue glow faded and there, standing before Honey, was a figure she recognized. It was the cloaked man that had visited her and Garth by the fire. His hood was down and his silver hair glittered as if it were made of powdered diamonds. His eyes burned with blue light.
“You have nothing to fear, Honey Landfree,” the man said.
