Lords of lords can be described as humble or gentle in both movements and leadership. What most miss about these types of individuals is how they attained their glory. In fairy tales a peasant becoming a king isn't at all out of the ordinary but the way they grasp that power is happy and becoming of just human nature.
In reality that is not the case for those that actually have attained this title and keep it. You can not keep that power with hearts and hands intertwined. Power has a figure head that covers its reality from the outside world.
However from the perspective a person that gained power through dirty and grimey ways can cherish power; on the other hand a person that got power basically handed to them can easily let it into their head.
That is what i thought as I sat on my throne, if you could call a grand chair made from human heads aligned in a octangle from the base and human forearm bones as a backrest a throne, contemplating how far and unbecoming my journey to this spot has been.
"My lord, excuse me"
My thoughts were interrupted by my head commander of the combat witches. Quickly though I was back to being lost in my thoughts. Thinking on that aswell it has been weird since i can relate her callings to the ones my family used to, when my thoughts became my reality and everything else disappears before me. My thoughts were what kept me sane as a trudged my way to this day.
"My lord, please answer this lowly one."
A small hand was placed on my cheek as if concern was carried with it. The arm and body that were attached to this small limb was also small, at least compared to me. My commander of witches was quite cute in all honesty. She looked quite young maybe 13 to 15 but she was actually around 400 years old. Older than I was in all forms. Her body was petite and full of youth yet her eyes showed a whole different story one filled with horrid things, yet no matter how hard I tried I couldn't find myself to ask.
"Yes Amethis, what is concerning you?"
I returned her gaze as to say I was fully concentrated on what she wanted to say, as if I was actually present to listen. She removed her hand from my cheek which was also quite a peculiar thing being as I am a lord for just touching me I could execute her on the spot, but that wasn't my thinking and she knew.
With a bow Amethis put her hand on the hilt of her staff, She pulled the staff to the front and went into a kneel. My reaction was as called for as I already accepted being this "Higher being" I watched carefully through this interesting ceremony of sorts. The other witches that she commands and I "own", whom I had not noticed until now came behind her and kneeled aswell, making the same pose Amethis was.
"As you know my lord, we are but a mere speck of dust to this universe yet you accepted me and all my fellow witches into your arms with such grace."
As if practiced all 12 witches spoke.
"I vow my loyalty to you as my lord and will never betray you. This life is for you to give or take my lord."
I listened well for the first time in awhile as I stood and kneeled in front of the still kneeling Amethis, my arm wrapped around her neck in a half hug. After releasing her I gripped her arm and flipped it over, now pulling a dagger from my armor I pushed the blade across her forearm, after doing so I did the same to myself and placed my open wound against hers.
"And I, Amethis, shall repay your loyalty with blood, and with blood I shall return trust. Never shall I betray you and never shall you betray me. That goes for all in this room."
With a gaze around I could see all eyes were on me. I felt weird as there was no pain in cutting my own wrist and neither did Amethis flinch or pull away. I simply did and said as I had seen it be done in a movie I had seen before. She was my commander of witches but never did i expect her to pledge loyalty. My only reaction was to repay a sign of respect with what I knew to be an accepting repayment.
I had known that witches were treated and seen as peasants in the demon world but this was just common knowledge, in my home world there really was no such thing as peasants so to just claim I knew Amethis reason for this I could not answer. I had made her and her sisters my royal guards so I could take them out of the life of peasants but never did I say that they had to do anything in specific being that the commander of my army was enough to defend me. So I asked out of curiosity.
"Why do you pledge loyalty to me? I never said you had to. I gave you the freedom to do as you pleased under the pretext that it was my command."
It took a minute of concentration and silence for Amethis to respond, she stayed kneeled as I was. Being that I had finished my vows I returned to my throne of bones with blood still dripping from my arm. My heart was racing causing more blood to be pumped through my vein. It was a very gruesome scene as it had looked I just cut the arm of a child, little do the onlookers know that she had been through more than most so a cut on the arm has nothing compared to that.
"As you know my lord we met only a month ago. As a witch we are considered something that has no home and only used for battle yet you gave us a place to be and we intend to honor you and your decision with our lives."
"Ah, I see. I am sorry I hadn't noticed your feelings from the start."
I understood now witches make contracts with demon lords during times of war because they dominate the sky and overwhelm enemy magicians. Though after war and after the contract is over they return to being nothing and make money by transporting people or being bodyguards of lower status officials. Where it is not an uncommon occurrence for them to be beaten and whipped for the enjoyment of a higher official then left a few coins. That is why these witches here have pledged loyalty because they have found a use for their lives as all things should strive for. Somewhere they felt accepted and has a proper use. Even with that I cannot forget how savage they are in battle and how well they can sing and slaughter is unbelievable. They are taught from a young age how to sing and dance but their training as witches doesn't start until a demon lord sees potential in them. When that happens their aging stops but a life of torture begins. I guess that's just another reason a witches life is backwards, the old worship the young.
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"Is that all you wish for? Is there nothing else that I can give you so that I can prove our mutual loyalty?"
I was most certain there had to be some right of loyalty that witches had, well I was not sure if this ever happened before; a witch getting a high title of royal guard. The answer never came though as Amethis just shook her head from where she kneeled. In return I looked around to the other witches to see if they wanted anything at all but all I got was all of them silently shaking their heads. Ah, but an idea has sprung into my head. Raising a finger I spoke.
"You all know that witches are never to wear a symbol of one army or lord because you are all considered peasants."
Returning my hand back down to the armrest; I paused here to add dramatic effect which I was reluctantly disappointed to see that there was no effect to the crowd. witches are truly unfazed, I sigh then continue.
"I will have all of you wear my symbol as to show how much I care for you all as my royal guards. Here each of you come to me in line of power and strength."
With a slight uneasy nod each witch lined up in what looked like youngest in the front and oldest in the back, the oldest there looked around 14. I suppose the younger you made the contract the more respected and powerful you are. The uneasiness I assume was from how weird it had to be to have been told that as a peasant they were to wear the symbol of a demon lord.
"My lord we have finished, please instruct what these lowly ones shall do next."
It was funny having someone ask what they should do next when I have already told them but approaching me without my exact permission, or without worry for my wellbeing was a crime. I proceeded to raise my hand and call forth Amethis, she was the only witch with a name as she is the leader.
"come here Amethis."
I called out and she immediately came towards me, she came to me and kneeled. I lifted her up and turned her around so that I could remove the extremely thick layer of clothing off her back. It was really disheartening to see the scars from whips and knives that covered her back and arms, I shouldn't have been surprised but having such a young figure was unsettling to say the least. However I continued; with the fire magic that was recently mastered I engraved my emblem, a scar to prove she was apart of my elites. It was small but on the right of her back right above the shoulder blade. With that I put the clothing back onto her back and sent her back down my throned elevated platform.
"With this symbol you are marked for eternity with my symbol and you now represent me. I know you will perform well. The rest of you shall come to me prepared to receive my mark, one at a time please."
In unison and a proper smile they replied happily.
"yes my lord."
Each of them possessed some sort of scaring and none of them winced at the burn that I inflicted upon them. Witches have a high pain tolerance was my first thought but after thinking on it more it wasn't an ability they were born with but years of abuse are the results. After returning to their previous positions from when we first started I stood and smiled at each and everyone of my newly made vassals.
"there is one more thing that I must state to ease my consciousness, treat me not only as your lord but as a friend. I give permission to each and everyone of you to ask one thing of me and I shall do my best to do as you ask."
"yes my lord thank you for taking us in we shall make a song about this moment."
"please do, I will be all ears to hear it, you may be at ease, sit where you would like and talk amongst yourselves, there is a pipe over on the table. I wish to smoke and release myself of all worries. You should all do the same."
"yes my lord."
I pointed to the table that say right next to the door of the throne room. There laid some fantasy looking pipes that had flute like characteristics. Next to that was tobacco looking plant and the witches grabbed each thing proceeding to take a seat on the steps of my throne. With giggling and singing the witches got comfortable and unclothed to see the new mark they had acquired.
"bring me a pipe, I said I wished to smoke as well."
Almost instantly two witches had sprung to the left and right of me holding a pipe. Receiving it in my hand I put the tip to my mouth and the witch to my right lit the tobacco like plant with fire magic. I put my hand on each of the two girls heads and smiled breathing in the relaxing smoke. With giggles and smiled they returned to their spots just below me and sat take a pipe from one of the other witches who had just blown smoke from her mouth.
"our Lord pet our heads, our Lord pet our heads, he loves us, he loves us"
They sang to themselves as they continued to smoke, it had began to fill the throne room making it a slight hotter temperature than usual. Amethis however didn't really smoke that much so I looked over to her and called out.
"Amethis what is the matter, do you not like to smoke. If you don't what else could I do to help you relax?"
She thought got a second not wanting to easily ask something from such a higher being than herself. With a smile she looked at me and walked towards me a few steps up from where she was. I was unsure of how to react to I set up in my throne.
"what is it that you want?"
"I am sleepy my lord and being that I am not comfortable in this new environment I wish to lay my head in your lap my lord..."
Without hesitation the giggling witches all looked at me not thinking they had heard what she had said almost in disbelief, it didn't matter if they were clothed or not because they had pledged loyalty but wanting to lay her head on someone that is normally untouchable was insane. One of the witches spoke up. While Amethis waited for a reply.
"My lord she was only joking, if she must be punished please punish me instead."
As if I had answered without using words she spoke out yet I had truly not said anything. I hadn't even comprehended what she had asked before she was "going to be punished". I raised my hand and shook it.
"I said earlier that you all could request one thing from me and that one thing could be anything. Do you Amethis truly want this to me your one thing for today?"
I looked at Amethis making sure she wanted this as her request from me. The other witch had returned to he spot still in disbelief. Amethis walked to me and kneeled at my right side and slowly leaned onto my thigh. With a soft whisper she replied.
"yes my lord."
It was total silence for a second or two but everything returned to the normal laughter and giggling of the witches when they realized I was truly ok with Amethis laying her head in my lap. I returned my pipe to my mouth and started smoking again. Placing the hand that had the pipe onto Amethis cheek, I then moved it to her hair and slowly stroked it. I sat back on my throne and rested my eyes as I had done a lot today.That was how I achieved my first true vassals, my commander of my army was just appointed by another demon lord as thanks to me for saving him in a recent battle. However, that is another story and coincides with my journey to power.