“She just needs some more rest and soon she will be up and saving us all in no time.” I told the inquisitive young thaumaturge.

It was partially correct, she would wake up soon. The spells had done all they could, her rising should be imminent. Whether or not she could save us is wishful thinking. I mean her demons are fearsome and the weapons they are making even more so. But against such vast numbers, I don’t know much about war, but that seems like bad odds.

“She will Master Gerald, she will wake up and defeat those bad men.” Her confidence was everything a child was capable of.

Emily was a bit of a paradox, she could act like a child her age, saying outrageous and naive things. But on the other hand, she could talk to a vampire and a horde of demons. Child-like bravery I suppose it was.

“I’m sure your right and it’s Senior Gerald, I’m not a master.”

She covered her mouth, trying to draw back those careless words. “I’m sorry Senior.” She apologised, ashamed.

“Nothing to apologise for, I won’t be a master anytime soon.” I thought about my drug habit and figured that being recognised as a master was not in the cards.

“I’m sure you will some day.” She beamed.

I shrugged not dismissing the possibility. Looking over the mistress, I checked her temperature and found no fever, she was recovering well. I hoped she would wake up soon, I can’t keep the charade going much longer. And who knows what the demons will do?

I hadn’t heard anything from the chamber guards, so perhaps they were too occupied to notice. That seemed far-fetched, but can’t deal with that now.

Suddenly the room shook, and the sound of a booming impact rang throughout the castle. “What was that?” Emily asked.

“Dammit, they are using catapults, their is going to be so many wounded.” I spat those words, knowing full well I am going to be busy.

I decided to get a jump on events and quickly left triage, telling Emily to stay put. She was annoyed but eventually relented, good thing to, as taking a child into a war zone is not my idea of a smart move.

I turned right and quickly jogged down the hallway, the sound of further impacts could be heard. They were going to town on that wall. Unsurprising since the first assault was a failure, whoever was in charge is probably pissed.

I left the inner castle and entered the courtyard, the place was swarming with activity. Soldiers ran around madly, making their way up the wall, trailed by reinforcing undead.

The peasents were scattering to safe areas, running past me and down into the keep. I looked around for wounded, but none so far. I turned my gaze to the wall, noticing a giant object descending rabidly.

It struck the wall with a terrifying crash, I jumped at the sound. Everyone else scattered for cover and I did the same. I hid inside a nearby passageway. A few peasents had the same idea and quickly ran by me, hiding further in.

Several more impacts resounded and I started to notice they were getting closer. I could hear another volley, instead of colliding with the wall, it overshot and landed in the courtyard.

Slamming into a nearby building, crashing through the roof and collapsing the structure. When the dust settled, the building was wrecked. Recalling there were people in there, I tentatively looked to the sky. Noticing no further volleys were forthcoming, I raced over.

Pulling away small debris and casting a few spells to locate survivors. I sensed three living and trapped, with that knowledge I called everyone I could. Only managed to get two soldiers and one brave burly peasant.

“Help me with this!” I directed the trio to several pieces of debris.

Collectively we removed them one by one, and what we found horrified us all. The dead were strewn about the building, and a collapsing roof left very few survivors. Mangled corpses littered the area and one of the soldiers emptied his stomach right on his shoes.

I didn’t waver and immediately directed towards the survivors. It appeared to be a mother and child huddled in the corner, now that the debris was gone, we could hear the wailing.

One of the soldiers and the burly man went to her. I followed suit and gave her a quick once over with a minor healing spell. She only had scrapes and bruises. I would thank the gods but it’s hard to when so many others are dead.

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They took her and her baby out of here, while I and the remaining soldier found the third survivor. The moment I identified him beneath all the dust and debris, I came to the conclusion the gods hate us.

It was Wilhelm, badly injured and out of commission. “Two wizards down and an army at the gates. We are screwed.” Luckily the soldier didn’t hear me and I set to the task of first aid magic.

The healing spells I laid on him were pretty strong ones and mana expensive. He had a broken arm, a nasty head wound and bloody gashes all over. I added a numbing spell for good measure, just in case he woke up.

The soldier came back with a stretcher, luckily I had the foresight to spread these things all around the castle. Loading the wizard, we quickly walked him away from this death trap and into triage.

The woman and her baby followed suit and triage was getting full. I could see several newcomers, luckily with only scrapes and bruises.

Laying him on the bed, I continued with his treatment. “What are we going to do?” One of the guarding footmen asked.

“I don’t know.” I replied, genuinely not knowing.

I am a dropout thaumaturge with a shady record and some decent healing spells. I don’t know the first thing about how to command a castle in a state of war.

“Sir Felmun will take charge.” I added, desperately hoping the knight was doing his job.

“But what about the demons, your control ring? Can’t you command them to repel yhe invaders.” The footman questioned, referencing the lie I told.

“I don’t think we need demons right now.” I evaded.

“But they have taken the wall, I heard from some of the soldiers. They managed to seize a section.” He explained fearfully.

“What?!” That was all I could say.

If that was true then we were screwed. Besides the undead, our soldiers were not equipped to fight in close quarters. They were green, only partially trained men at arms. Minus Sir Felmuns contigent but they were few.

Magical and undead support was the crux of the defence, less we want to see our defensive line fall upon the first attack.

“Like I said, can you send the demons. All will be lost soon!” The footman wailed getting too much attention.

I yanked him by his collar and faced him sternly. “Shut up, less you destroy any sense of morale we have left.” I whispered angrily and he nodded timidly.

I looked around and to be honest not much in the way of morale, but then again this was triage. I thought about his request while finishing up my spells. The rest could be tended to by basic medical knowledge most peasents knew.

With my spells complete I made a decision. “Monitor him, I will be back.” That was all I said before leaving triage and making my way down.

Arriving at the summoning chamber, the guards looked fearful, their gazes looking to me for answers. “Open the door.” I didn’t satisfy them and instead gave an order.

They obeyed, so rank had its privileges. I entered briskly and they shut it behind me. Instead of a horde of demons I just found the mistress third order, Asmordis as he was calling himself.

“Were are the others?” I asked.

He turned to me from whatever he was doing and spoke. “They are gathering components from the Abyss. I want to a try a few things.” He explained before turning back to his work.

“Get them back, the enemy is on the wall, I need you to repel them,” I said plainly, no fanfare needed.

“Where is the mistress, shouldn’t she give this command.” He said and his words cut through like a knife. I didn’t answer and that was all he needed. “Is it perhaps she is unable to.” He turned to me with an evil grin. “Perhaps I am free from control while she languishes in slumber?”

I rolled my eyes, he had the right of it but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of being scared. “So you know, are you going to help me or rip my guts out and rampage?”

His talonned hand went to his chest like he was affronted by the idea. “I am scholar young wizard, I don’t rampage.” He explained raising his nose at me.

“So if you not going to rampage, will you help me?” I asked, pressing the question again.

“Perhaps, but this is a request not an order, so honour demands an exchange be made.” He explained.

“You want to make a deal, what do you want?” I deflated, dreading this eventuality.

“Nothing of import, I merely wish to extract a promise.” He offered and I was puzzled.

“A promise?”

The demon grinned as if everything was going as his devious plan intended. “Yes a promise to assist me in a great task, to obtain an answer to one of the great mysteries of the multiverse.” He went on a little theatrically.

“What are you talking about, what mystery?” I asked, wanting him to get to the point.

“The greatest mystery of all.” He paused for effect. “Where do demons really come from?” He poised the question as if it was an ancient mystery that we didn’t already know.

“The Abyss.” Was my answer and he frowned, it was quite frightening.

“No, I have it on good authority that demons are not native to the Abyss.” He corrected and I felt like I was in school again. “But that is for another time. Do we have a deal?” He offered a clawed hand to shake.

“No contract?” I asked, expecting a giant document to sign.

“Nope, merely a deal on a gentlemen’s honour.” He corrected.

I paused wondering if this was the best course and then thought better of it. I took his massive hand and carefully shook it, sealing the deal.

“Excellent now let’s summon my demons.” He said, withdrawing his hand carefully so as not to slice mine in half.

He began chanting a summoning spell and I noticed the chant was slightly different than the ones I had seen before. Suddenly a familiar demon phased into existence. It was Astragoth holding a bucket filled with steaming sand.

He looked around confused before settling on his demon lord. “Boss, I haven’t finished collecting this stuff.” He said, gesturing to the bucket.

“Put it down Astragoth, it is time.” The demon lord explained and his minion dropped the bucket, excited.

Asmordis turned around and grabbed a long staff, charred black and threw it across the room. Astragoth caught it in two of his hands, caressing it lovingly.

“Don’t worry baby, I will be gentle.” The demon whispered to the staff as if it were a lover.

“Take that and eliminate the enemies on the wall.” The demon ordered and Astragoth saluted.

I thought to myself again if this was the right thing to do. But then again the other option was getting killed when the enemy sacked the castle.