“So do we have a deal?” I asked cautiously.

I may have said too much. But what could I do, I needed wizard supplies. The good stuff from the planes of men, the abyssal stuff will take some time to work out. The trio did that huddle thing again, thankfully this time, they didn’t take forever.

“You plan to summon your demons?” Ephemia questioned.

“Yes, they will be useful in the upcoming battle, will they not?” I wondered.

“True, but.” She trailed off and as to why she was reticent, it dawned on me.

“You are concerned about me summoning new demons not under your control.” I confirmed.

“Yes unless you give me there true names.” She frowned the moment she said that.

“You can control that many demons and my illustrious and powerful self?” I asked, cheekily.

She frowned in concentration, staying like that for over a minute. Eventually, she shook her head in the negative, accepting her own limitations. This is understandable, even at my height I could not control a major demon and four lesser demons.

“Okay, how about this, I will summon one demon at a time. And since you have bound me and I will bind them. You will have control. Fair enough?” I suggested, it was rational and could work. A chain binding is probably the most apt term for it.

The trio went into that huddle. Now the waiting game begins again. I was very patient and let them whisper and discuss. I could guess what they were saying. The knight would be against it. Belus would be for it and my mistress will probably just do what she wants.

Eventually, they came to a decision and as expected, agreed. They would provide me with spell components, for conjury and pyromancy. I made sure they remembered to get me some clothes, and they promised to provide me with wizard robes.

“Now demon, I shall release you from your confinement. By your true name I command you, Asmin. You will not harm me, my colleagues here and anyone within my domain.” She commanded and I felt the compulsion spell.

I will admit, it was impressive. Subtle yet strong, I found it very hard to shake the order. But it was a reasonable order and I didn’t resist. Regardless, it was quite disturbing to be on the other end of this. I think I can better understand why Astragoth tried to cut my throat.

With a somatic gesture, I felt the wards give out and my prison was lifted. I stepped outside the pentagram, the trio stepped back cautiously.

“Well then, when should we start?” I asked, folding my arms and waiting.

What followed was more waiting, half terrified servants carted in familiar items and laid them out on the nearby table. I carefully walked over, inspecting the items. It was an impressive stock. Finally, a large billowy wizard's robe was laid next to the items.

I turned to inspect the apparel, noting it was a simple black robe, nothing fancy really. Carefully I picked it up, trying not to cut it to pieces with my deadly talons. Hoisting it over my head, the robe cascaded down to just above my hooves.

It was not a bad fit but it restricted my wings. I fiddled with the appendages and managed to slice gashes in the fabric, my wings jutted out from the robe and I was comfortable.

Sighing I relaxed, before noticing a belt with several loops and pouches attached. Recognising it as a wizard belt, I quickly wrapped it around my waist and was glad to see it fit.

Turning around theatrically, I did a little pose. “How do I look, dashing, the most handsome demon wizard you have ever seen?”

“You are the only demon wizard I have ever seen.” She declared cheekily, I think she is warming up to me.

“Well now that I am appropriately attired, let us get down to business.”

“What order of demon will you be summoning?” Belus asked, either concerned or intrigued, I really could not work him out.

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“I think I will summon my first order, as to put you all at ease.” I suggested, gesturing to my mistress to agree.

She thought about it, looked to her knight who was scowling a little less and so she agreed. “Continue my servant.” She said imperiously like a queen to a vassal. Oddly when such commands were coming from an attractive woman, it felt weird and not just from the compulsion.

I wondered momentarily if I was one of those masochists. Those people like to be dominated, usually by a powerful woman. I shook my head, getting rid of such thoughts.

With those strange thoughts behind me, I inspected the components arrayed. It was a decent spread, I recognised most of them, with a few exotic ones I had never seen. I quickly grabbed a few, attaching them to my belt and soon I was well equipped with pyromantic spellwork.

“Well now that I am loaded up with fire magic, time to get the conjury components, let’s summon a demon.” I proclaimed, smiling widely.

“Oh joy, more demons.” The knight muttered, clearly defeated.

I gave him a shrug, got the go-ahead from the mistress and started preparing the braziers, various components and pentacles. It didn’t take too long, the majority of it was already prepared. I was ready in no time and stood before the pentagram, the three were to the side, observing.

They had weapons and spells at the ready, which was understandable, but I was only summoning Jelmak, that little demon was harmless. With a snap of my fingers, the braziers lit. That was a useful trick, pure demonic power, no wizardry at all. Cheating, but I could accept it for the little things.

I began chanting the typical spell, with a few minor variations I came up with in the abyss. Since I am not a mortal summoning a demon, but a demon myself. So the spell sounded more like a demon lord commanding a vassal, than the typical binding.

“By your true name, Jelmak. I summon thee into this chamber, I command you!” Slowly a form materialised in the centre of the pentagram, a familiar form at that.

The demon Jelmak, the pint-sized little first order I summoned years ago, phased into reality. He looked the same as usual, a tiny red gargoyle-type creature. His appearance oddly enough, was not the thing that drew my attention. What was grasped in his hands gave me pause.

“That book!” I spoke aloud, scaring the little demon.

It clutched a very familiar leather-bound book in its arms. The booming voice of a demon seemed to scare the poor creature. It ducked its head down, likely expecting a good wack or perhaps a decapitation.

Realising my mistake, I trailed back on myself, regaining my calm. “That book, is it a good read?” I asked the demon, knowing full well it was.

The book was in fact a journal, my journal. It was filled with pages upon pages of my own research. I thought it was lost when this insanity began. I quickly realised how the demon got it, thieving little bastard, I should have kept a better eye on him.

“Apologise my lord, I mean no disrespect. Please do not tear me limb from limb, I beg you for mercy!” The demon pleaded, its head lowered.

I glanced back at the three, they looked puzzled. I shrugged and turned my attention back to the demon. “You may raise your head.” I commanded, trying to keep my tone, less domineering. It was hard with this deep booming voice.

“Oh great one, thank you for your mercy.” The demon paused, its beady eyes glancing at the three others and then all around the room, finally settling on the pentagram.

“Well, I can explain this.” I quickly spoke as the demon would likely have questions.

“Great one, please forgive my impertinence, but may I ask what is happening?” Jelmak asked, timidly.

“That is a good question, good on you for the initiative. I knew selecting you as my minion was the best choice.” I play acted, taking the role of a benevolent demon lord. If there was such a thing, honestly I doubted it.

“I have summoned you for a special mission.” I explained, smiling in what I hoped was a friendly manner.

“Special mission my lord?” He asked cautiously in a very soft voice. His eyes went to the trio of humans again and he got a puzzled look.

I followed his gaze and frowned, how would I explain them? I was already going with the whole demon lord act. So revealing that I was a newbie demon bound to a wizard would not be good.

I mulled it over and eventually inspiration struck. “Yes Jelmak, me and my mortal allies are under threat from a vampire lord. We need soldiers to destroy these invaders.” I was laying on it pretty thick, but as that demon once said, go big or go home. I can’t recall which of my demons said that.

“A vampire, do you mean the unlife that drinks blood?” The little demon asked, eyes wide.

“You know of them?” I asked.

“Not me personally, never seen one. But Etragos he has seen a bunch. His accursed master used to summon him a lot to a place called Nysegard.” He explained excitedly, I on the other hand recalled the world, a place was crawling with the unlife.

“Etty used to tell stories of killing vampires, ripping them limb from limb and popping their skulls. It sounded awesome, that was until his master got killed in this big battle and poor Etty never got to kill vampires again.” Jelmak ended his tale on a sour note.

“Well then.” I interjected. “Etragos will be delighted when you tell him that he gets a chance to fight more vampires.” I informed the demon with a smile and all the demonic charisma I could muster.

“Really, oh he will be so excited.”

“Yes, so I need you to tell your companions that there demon lord will be summoning them to wage glorious war upon the undead.” I thrust my fist in the air, really getting into the groove. The little demon started jumping for joy.

I could only imagine what the trio was thinking. I hadn’t informed them of my improvisation and their new position as supposed allies to a demon lord. But demons were known to lie, perhaps I could use that to my advantage. I grinned evilly, thinking about the events to come.