William's head hurt. It hurt a lot. He was also cold. Colder than he had been even in Khasmir. As he gradually pulled himself up, he found himself within what appeared to be a small hut. Sitting cross-legged near the far wall was the demoness, her tail whipping. Her bright blue eyes flared as he stood. His sword was still at his side, and his shield was slung over his back.

"Oh, you're awake," said the demoness. "I must say I like the new armor. It makes you look almost credible."

"Where am I?" asked William, inching his hand for his sword.

"In one of the villages that didn't quite manage to hold out or flee," said the demoness. "Don't worry; all the bodies are gone; the raishans are pretty good at cleaning up after themselves. All of the valuables are gone, too. The worshippers of Fortenex have been stripping the villages the raishans attack.

"Rather clever."

He grabbed his sword and surged forward to strike down the heartless-

Her tail lashed out, and he was thrown against the wall hard. As he tried to rise again, her tail slapped him backward, whipping him several times. His armor kept it from hurting him, but the weight behind her strikes was insurmountable.

"Ah, yes," said the demoness in a bored tone. "You only survived our last encounter because I was toying with you, right?"

"No, you weren't," said William, his scar burning.

"Believe what you will," said the demoness, looking around. "We won't be staying long here. I just thought we might stop and admire the scenery while I reveal the whole plan to you."

Not this again. William had had enough of her posturing in Seathorius. "Why would you reveal your plans for me?"

"Because they aren't my plans," said the demoness with a yawn. "Anyway, I'm mostly doing it for my entertainment. That is the purpose of the universe, after all.

"Now, how to begin? Ah yes. This little invasion is not my doing but the doing of a satyr named Karasush. A warlock of some power and a good name among the worshippers of Fortenex. He sent his will far afield. And he used it to summon the raishans to this place. His goal was to cause untold havoc, hoping he might step into the wreckage and build an empire."

William decided to humor him. "How?" he asked. "How could anyone be powerful enough to summon meteors?"

"He had help." said the demoness. "Several higher powers assisted him. In any case, we are here and going to him."

"Why would you help him?" asked William. That was a stupid question. She'd do anything to appease her vanity.

"Oh, he's helping me," said the demoness. "Some time ago, he realized my brilliance and inherent superiority. Thus, he offered me the opportunity to lay hands upon a weapon of unfathomable power. It is known only as the Axe of Fortenex."

"Does it have something to do with Fortenex?" asked William.

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," mused the demoness.

"No wonder you use it so much," said William. "What makes you think he'll just give you this axe? And what does it have to do with me?"

"One might say the axe is my birthright," said the demoness. "And Karasush will not be doing the giving. As for you, since you are so very self-centered, I shall get right to the point. I tried to kill you because your existence was an anchor for Melchious's will. If and when he fully recovers, he should be able to use you to claw his way back in.

"Now, the less intelligent would simply cut your throat and hope for the best. However, I have far grander aspirations. When I have gotten the Axe of Fortenex, we shall go to the plan's next step. Karasush and his minions will use you to draw Melchious into the physical plane.

"Constrained by a mortal body, I shall kill him again. And this time, it will stick."

"Astonishing," said William. "As always, you astonish me."

"It is refreshing to have one's perfection acknowledged," mused the demoness.

"No, I'm astonished because this is an idiotic plan," said William. "First off, unless I'm mistaken, you've only just met this Karasush person. How can you possibly trust him? And as for just being given the Axe of Fortenex, I'm assuming that Fortenex would be the one to hand it to you. In this imagined reality, why would he give to you of all people?"

"Why wouldn't he?" asked the demoness.

"Fortenex is a god of bloodlust and slaughter who values loyalty," said William. "You are a scheming manipulator who betrays almost everyone she works with. How could you possibly be found worthy-" He was slammed backward again.

"Silence!" said the demoness in sudden anger. "Oh, I do apologize. Sometimes, I become reckless when I hear heresy. You might want to stop dissuading me from this course of action, dear. After all, if I decide to call it off, then my first order of business would be to kill you."

"Yes, but then you'd have to admit you were wrong about something," noted William.

"In such situations, I simply pretend it was my plan," admitted the demoness.

"Rather an elaborate setup for what could have been a swift kill," mused William.

"Stop questioning my magnificence," said the demoness.

"No," said William.

The demoness looked to have something to say to that. But suddenly, she looked up, and William followed her gaze. The wind was howling. Outside the window, he saw a great storm of snow approaching them. As it came to the house, it settled down, swirling into a vortex. Finally, it dispersed to reveal a tall satyr clad in robes. He wore an iron mask that covered his face and a long tan cloak.

"Well, if it isn't my dear associate himself," said the demoness. "I am flattered that you came out here to provide me an escort befitting my glory. How have you been, Karasush?"

"Well enough," said Karasush. "I see you brought him."

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"But of course," said the demoness. "What other would I bring to so desolate a meeting place?"

"The question occurred to me before you said it," said Karasush.

Karasush looked at William. "Now, I imagine you are wondering who I am and what I want."

"I am told you are named Karasush and that you are, apparently, a mastermind. One behind an elaborate plan to unleash a demonic invasion upon Khasmir," said William. "However, given that she lies with every word out of her mouth, I am inclined to disbelieve anything she says. So I allow you to account for your actions."

"You speak as one in a position of power," noted Karasush.

"I assure you, though I am your prisoner, I am not without power," said William. "If any harm comes to me, there is no power in all the world to halt the wrath of Rusara and Raynald."

"And how would you like us to treat you?" asked Karasush.

"As the son of a Duke, captured in the battlefield," replied William.

"Well spoken," said Karasush. "I will grant your request. Come, we had the best return to my liege's fortress of Yarish. We have purged most of the raishans in this region, yet some stragglers may remain. You will be our guest there, and we may take this time to explain matters more carefully."

"I'm in no position to refuse you," noted William.

"And what of our agreement, Karasush?" asked the demoness.

"I said I might be able to draw Melchious into his body so that he could be killed directly," mused Karasush. "I did not say I would do it. I am already more than reasonable by letting you try for the Axe of Fortenex. I owe you no favors."

"But of course," said the demoness. Her tone was cheerful. William could only assume she was plotting bloody vengeance. "I shall accompany you, and we shall speak no more of this."

"Now we shall return home by a faster route than simply traveling by foot," said Karasush. "Stay where you are while I contact the spirits." Raising a hand, he snapped his fingers. Snow whipped up around them, swirling faster and faster around them. Then it settled.

They were standing on top of a hill overlooking a large village. It was a place of wooden halls with slanted roofs and a ramshackle look. The wind was even worse here, and many pine trees loomed over them. There was a great hall in the center of the village. Behind was a small shrine with an entrance so dark that he couldn't see a foot inside. It radiated hostility. That was strange since it couldn't have been more than twelve feet tall, and it was far thinner than that. It was also of a very different design from the village far below, with a more rounded look to it.

"You used your power over the spirits of this land to shift our location," noted William. "And this place was nowhere in sight of that village. You must be a mighty sorcerer to do that over such a large distance."

"You are perceptive, aren't you?" mused Karasush.

"My mentor Rusara taught me well," said William. "Tell me, how is it that you have gained such mastery? You must have a very close relationship with the spirits."

"In truth, it is only one spirit," said Karasush. "The dominant spirit of Khasmir and much of its power rests within this ring. The Lady Rusara has one like it, does she not?"

"Yes," said William. "A ring within which a spirit of eternal flame resides. I have never heard how she got it, but her hints tell me it was no easy task. How did you attain yours?" He was curious and wanted Karasush to be at ease with his presence.

"How does one attain power? There is but one way. Through service to a being greater than oneself?" asked Karasush. "You, of all people, ought to understand that."

"Some of us have not shackled ourselves to lesser beings," mused the demoness. "Now, where is the temple? Is it there?" She motioned to the hall.

"No. That is the great hall of the chieftain of this village," said Karasush. "The temple is there." And he motioned to the shrine.

"Interesting," mused the demoness, "your great hall is of similar design to my temple. As for the temple, it is rather smaller than I expected. Are you certain the challenges are worth anything?"

"Fortenex's Temple is far larger on the inside," said Karasush. "That is his way. However, we have much to discuss, don't we?"

"Yes," said William, "I believe we do. But before we discuss anything, I want to know a few things."

"Of course," said Karasush. "I will answer any questions you might have."

"Did your clan unleash the raishans on Khasmir?" asked William.

"It was a regrettable necessity," said Karasush. "The worshippers of Kreshlak were pressing in closer every day. We feared that we would be overwhelmed and slaughtered. We were thus forced to desperate lengths to save our people."

"So you summoned a swarm of demons en masse to slaughter men, women, and children," surmised William.

"That was not my intent," said Karasush. "My original desire was to summon only a few pockets of raishans. They were to distract the worshippers of Kreshlak. Distract them long enough for us to wage a counterattack and drive them out.

"I reached out with my mind into the depths of the void between worlds and drew a small part of them here. Yet, I did not count on the intervention of a third party.

"The situation has been spinning out of control since."

"My, what astonishing twists of fate?" cried the demoness in mock surprise. "Who could have ever foreseen that a pact with an insatiable swarm of monsters could backfire?"

"We were desperate," said Karasush. "If the servants of Kreshlak were to defeat us, they would have killed every man, woman, and child of our people. And since the raishans arrived, we have been working to destroy them."

"I'm sure that will be ample consolation for the thousands torn to shreds," said William.

"I am not making excuses," said Karasush. "Merely explaining what led to this situation. And allow you to fix the mistakes we made. Before yet, more raishans arrive."

"I was doing just that before you had her kidnap me," said William.

"And I don't see how any of this will allow me to come into my rightful inheritance," mused the demoness. William began to suspect that she was not nearly so detached from all this as she pretended. This appearance of idiotic vainglory seemed more a charade by the moment.

"How do I put this?" murmured Karasush. "Like Baltoth, Fortenex is a demon lord who became a god. That means his infernal realm is very close to the hells, where the raishans operate. And unfortunately, a powerful demon lord, Melchious, has taken their side."

"Your old master," mused William, looking to the demoness.

"Hardly," she scoffed, "he wasn't so much my master as someone who thought he controlled me but was disposed of." That, at least, seemed to be her real feelings.

"Whatever you think of him, Melchious has returned," said Karasush. "The raishans weaken the borders between the planes by their very presence. And the Temple of Fortenex is attuned to the demon realm.

"Melchious broke the borders between Fortenex's realm. Then he allowed the raishans to enter into it. By doing this, he has created a beacon of unholy power. One which will continue to draw the raishans to Khasmir until it is snuffed out."

"I fail to see how any of this was unexpected," said William. The demoness was correct in her assessment of the situation. "In any case, what is Melchious trying to achieve? From what I've learned, he is cunning in his way. He isn't interested in universal destruction as some of his kind are."

"Ah, yes. You are correct," said Karasush. "I do not know. But I have a suspicion. When he was a mortal, Melchious was once one of Fortenex's greatest servants. He was found worthy to wield the Axe of Fortenex. Yet he turned against Fortenex. From there, he went into the service of his nemesis—the Demon Queen Zigildrazia.

"The Axe of Fortenex was stripped from him. And it was placed in that temple until a worthy warrior takes it."

"Meaning myself, obviously," said the demoness.

"What makes you so certain you're worthy of it?" asked William.

"Well, I am one of Fortenex's daughters, after all," said the demoness proudly. "Rather than Melchious, who was many times removed from Father. As for my other qualities, I believe they speak for themselves."

"They do indeed," said William. "So Melchious wants to get his axe back."

"Yes. Or so I suspect," said Karasush. "The raishans presence in the temple may be wearing away at the seals which bind the axe in place."

"Which means you must destroy the beacon drawing the raishans here," said William. "And you want to deny it to Melchious, so you invited her here."

"Indeed," said Karasush.

"I see where this is going," said William. "Why didn't you just ask me for help?"

"If I were to reveal what transpired here to the clans, they would be howling for our blood," said Karasush. "I hope to avoid the truth from getting out. If it does, my people will surely be slaughtered. And we never meant for things to go this far."

"Well, they did get this far," snapped William. "And the whole world could suffer for it. Very well, I'll do it, but on two conditions."

"Name them," said Karasush.

"First," said William, "you will pay homage to my father, Duke Vanion, and the King of Antion. Your people will become vassals of Harlenor. With all the benefits and responsibilities that involves."

"Very well," said Karasush. "We're in no position to refuse you. What is the other?"

William didn't believe him for a second. Karasush had agreed far too quickly, given William's weak position. He could only assume he was trying to placate him and saying anything he thought William would want to hear. On to the subsequent request. "I want a full escort of troops to accompany me."

"That... may not be wise," said Karasush.

"Why not?" asked William. He felt more vindicated in his previous assessment by the moment.

"Fortenex is a warrior god. Those who enter his temple must pass his tests," said Karasush. "If you take an army with you, at best, they'll all be picked off individually, and you'll have to do it alone. The worst-case scenario is that you'll be killed with them."

"So Fortenex would rather lose his most sacred artifact to an enemy than allow me to take an army to save it?" asked William.

"In a word, yes," said Karasush. "There is a certain way these things are done. We're very set on traditions in Khasmir."

William doubted he was honest with him, but he was not in a position to argue with the man. "Tell me, why me? You must have holy men of your own."

"We do," said Karasush. "And I have sent several of my own in already. None returned. You, however, have demonstrated a remarkable amount of power. I believe you are capable of succeeding where they have failed."

"Alright, I'm game," said William. This was a trap. But if Karasush thought William was buying it hook, line, and sinker, he might need to correct it. "However, when this is over, I expect a written apology in calligraphy." If he could buy some time, he could slip away.

"Whatever you want," said Karasush. "Provided you return victorious. And if you don't return, I don't expect we have anything more to discuss."

"Very well," said William, "give me a day to prepare, and I will enter the temple and see it purged."

What had he gotten himself into?