The pale demon named Airon had kept to himself for days. He stayed in the room he was left in when he was unconscious. No one but the servants had gone near his room. The servants had to bring him food, even though the pale monster scared them. Solymr felt it would be best to leave the other demon be, as he had reacted strongly to the loss of hims arm. It must have been hard for the bigger male. However, Solymr felt it hard to go back to his daily activities without letting his thoughts wander to the stranger. It was rare seeing demons these days and this one, he was strange.
Solymr sat with the book he was writing about Southern Ravenshore history, but felt it hard to get any words down.
He then thought of what Celeste had said to him, right after Airon had been escorted back to his room by the surgeon.
Celeste, who was still cled in armour, stood beside Solymr in the round garden, in the castles inner yard.
''I heard from a guard that a 'big, pale monster had been taken to the castle' and you had a finger in it all.'' She had said with a big smirk. Solymr swallowed and then nodded. He wasn't afraid of Celeste. He had practically helped raising her as a child and teenager. Though, if the other demon was to harm anybody, Solymr would have part in the blame.
''He is a demon, Celeste. I had to help him. I do not think he is dangerous, well.. He is capable of harm, but I think a lot of things have happened to him and I want to help.'' He felt it hard to speak.
Celeste looked curiously at him then at the sword embedded in the statue.
''Solly, I do not often ask of your help, but I have an order for you.''
Solymr felt his heart skipping a beat. This couldn't be good. ''Please, Celeste, I can't get that darn sword out of Mathilde. I-I will pay for the repair, but I can't lift that thing!'' He felt exhausted just by the thought.
''No, you dumbass! I want you to make the pale ox stay! For what I can see, he has no intentions of staying here, but I want him on my team. I want him in my personal guard.'' She said, still smiling.
Solymr thought she must have hit him. He was shocked. ''What, why?! You of all people? And you don't even know him, he could be..murderer or something!'' Solymr exclaimed.
''What? Didn't you just tell me you wanted to help him? You seem to trust him so why shouldn't I?'' She said then pointed at the sword in the statue of the savior. ''See that? That's not normal. Throwing such a huge sword like a wooden stick is far from normal power. He has something I want. I don't really care for his background, all I care about is he can help me and my men with that power. He would make a fine soldier.''
Solymr stared at the gigantic piercing metal. Even when the pale demon had been having trouble swinging it, he could still throw such a big item, and even while being ill. He saw what Celeste meant.
''What makes you think he will stay, and why should I be able to persuade him?'' Solymr asked.
Celeste made a low chuckle. ''I heard him, you know. I heard what he said. His whole way of living, earning money was over, all that crap. I have what he wants. A way of living. But he probably won't listen to me and my angry yelling. In fact, I don't have the time, as you know. But YOU, you can probably skip a few of your stupid books to seduce a fellow kin!''
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Solymr almost choked, face fiery red. ''Seduce?! You told me to talk!''
Celeste laughed loudly. ''Oh, look at your face! No, seriously, make him WANT to stay, okay? Let him see the light.''
They stood there for a minute in silence. Solymr felt the blood pumping around in his body too quickly from what he was used to.
Celeste clicked with her tongue. ''I need him, Solly. We need him. We are still far from having the men we need against Jackall. So please, make him want to stay.'' She had said and left, leaving Solymr in the garden alone.
Solymr finally snapped back to reality and saw he had written nothing the past half hour. This wouldn't do.
Should he visit Airon? Would it be wise? He had never been good at following his gut, it had ealier in his life let him to trouble.
''You look troubled?'' Asked one of the other scholars. The huge library had very few people in it, Solymr one of five.
''No, I'm fine. I just have a headache, making it hard to write, I guess.'' Solymr answered with a slightly forced smile.
The other scholar nodded and said, ''Well, why not go and get some rest? No need to force yourself, Solymr.''
Solymr took it as a cue to go see the other demon and left the library shortly after.
Solymr felt his heart beat too fast again. A scholar rarily felt their heartrate go up, so the feeling of being nervous and excitement made him feel..Too alive.
He stood in front of the wooden door. Heart throbbing in his chest. He felt like he was a small child again. He remembered the same feeling when his coming of age ceremony was held.
He knocked on the door twice, thinking the sound was too loud. He heard nothing for a minute, then a deep voice.
''I already have food.'' the other said.
''It's not a servant, it's-it's me, Solymr. The other demon?''
Again, some silence followed by some rustling and noises behind the door. The wooden door went slightly open, and in the opening a flash of pale, white skin appeared. ''Oh, it's princess. What do you want?'' The pale demon sounded very tired, but at least he looked less sickly.
''I'm glad to see you're better. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I would.. Perhaps I could, um.'' Solymr trailed off. He had not thought this through, at all. Airon opened the door a tad more, leaning up against the wall on his shoulder. He waited, looking amused at the flustered smaller demon. ''Yes?'' Airon said, with a voice so deep Solymr felt i vibrating in his own chest.
''I would just like to talk.'' The dark skinned demon said with a beaming red face. Airon smiled from the sight. What an odd one, that stubby horned demon was. Way too polite, way too learned. ''Very well, but if you try getting any more of that foul tasting medicine in me, I'll throw you out from a tower.'' Airon said and opened the door fully.
Solymr had no trouble imagining it. That task would surely be an easy one for the big demon.
Solymr stepped into the room feeling the excitement turning in his belly.