The afternoon flew by quickly. They were all bit tense but there was an excitement to be had that was thrilling to experience all the same. The teleportation had them all a little off their game, feeling like it should still be midmorning as the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky was especially disorienting to the goblins (Len had had more than a few run-ins with the various forms of jet lag and was more bemused by the sensation than they were). Eventually, Curly asked to speak with her in private.
“What’s up?”
“So, I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m a pacifist.”
“Yup, not exactly sure how to make that work in the current situation, but I guess we’re gonna have to do what we can here.”
“That’s what I wanted to say. I don’t like violence. I’ve seen more than my share already, taken lives and lost the lives of brothers and sisters on the battlefield. I hate it. I don’t want any more of it, if there was any way to be rid of it completely outside of death, I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
“I get that, I do.”
“So I hope you understand me when I say that I’m willing to do this for you, and only for you. “You’ve done right by us. Better than I expected. Hell, better than any of us expected. I don’t understand this ability that you’ve got, but I know it hurts you. You’re going to need it during all this and if you’re willing to put yourself through that, I’d have to be the worst sort of coward to not do what I can for you. I won’t kill, even at the cost of my life. Even at the cost of yours. But I will fight.”
Len was at a bit of a loss. He really hadn’t talked about these things much during their time together, he’d done his part and seemed content enough to wrangle Larry when he was being particularly shitty, but he hadn’t been much of a sharer. This was probably the most words he’d spoken to her since the night she’d been put in charge of the three. She was also trying very hard not to crow in victory at actually having all three of her team nominally on board at last, it’d probably spoil the mood. Instead she settled for crouching down and hugging the old Goblin.
“Thank you. I’m not sure how far we can go but with you beside us, I think we can go farther.”
“Larry called dibs on the next talk,” Curly said with a smile, and walked back into their quarters.
“Yeah… I still don’t trust you,” Larry began.
“Shocker.”
“I don’t trust you, but I am starting to like you a bit. More importantly, I really like that thing you do. It’s fantastic feeling like I’ve got the strength of an Ogre for a bit. I get that it wears you out, but I REALLY like the way it feels. I mean, we’re all still gonna die, but I’d rather go out cracking some skulls and enjoying a taste of real power, you know what I mean?”
“A little,” she conceded.
“Look, there’s no way to be sure how all this is gonna go. We could all get slaughtered right out the gate and that’d be pretty shitty, but…” he paused, looking reluctant to say the next part. “It’s been kind of nice.”
“What’s that, oh sullen one?” she needled.
“It’s been nice, dammit. Having some people I could rely on.”
“Man, things must be looking grim if you’re going heartfelt on me.”
“Oh, cram it. Moe’s turn to say his piece.” Larry walked off and Moe walked in.
“Yeah, I really don’t have anything to say. Those two wanted to have this big moment and really get their feelings on the table. Me? I suppose I’m just glad to have another shot. I… it’s just kinda nice having a boss who doesn’t see me as a thing to be tossed onto a trap to see if the path is safe. Keep being decent and I’ll be by your side as long as I’m able.”
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“Thanks, Moe,” she said, smiling. “Now, how ‘bout we go find something to eat?”
“Miss Wraithwhisper,” said a familiar booming voice. “Your Lord wishes to speak with you.”
“Ah!” she exclaimed, caught completely off guard, then took a breath to recover. “Come again?”
“The Lord of all Demons has taken an interest in you. You will follow me.”
“Ah, yeah boss, guess I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Uh… yeah,” she said, and followed the Draconid.
* * * * *
“Sooooo…” she started hesitantly. “What’s this all about?”
“I do not know,” the Draconid replied stiffly. “Occasionally she is struck by whims. It is not my place to question, only to execute. You will be alone with her. Understand that she could kill you in an instant and may very well do so. Understand that any attempts to harm her will invite death.”
“Great pep talk you’ve got for me, buddy.”
He said nothing further and led her to a pair of ivory doors that opened for them.
“She will see you now.”
Stifling several entirely unwise impulses, Len crossed the threshold and entered the private chambers of the Demon Lord.
“Ah… you wanted to see me?” she asked, unsure of exactly what the protocol was here.
“I did,” said the woman, her back to the newcomer.
When the woman didn’t offer anything more, Len felt her jaw set completely against her will. She was being toyed with by this annoying royal. She didn’t like that one bit. Clearly the game here was to put her on edge. For what purpose she couldn’t say, but this whole thing felt off. Fine then, two could pull off the silent treatment just as easy as one.
“You didn’t seem terribly impressed by my speech earlier,” the woman said after about a minute of this game.
“I mean…” stalled Len. “It was fine, just pretty generic if you ask me. Everyone else seemed to love it, so I’m sure it’s just my own opinion of things.”
The woman turned then, and Len finally got a good look at her. She was taller than she’d appeared when she’d been standing next to the mountain of a man that was her Draconid… retainer? Not sure of that relationship and not really the time to examine it. Probably close to six foot, with long black hair and solid red horns that matched her skin and swept back over her ears. A month ago, it would’ve been a pretty frightening sight. Now? Len had to admit that she was quite pretty.
“You don’t seem to understand,” the Lord said. “You should be groveling before me, you should understand the inherent difference between us. Why don’t you?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Len cocked an eyebrow. “Listen, your Lordship, I get that your the boss in these parts, but I don’t do groveling. For you or for anyone.”
The Lord just stood there, and the expression on her face managed to snap Len out of her growing rage. There was actual fear in those eyes, a fear that was just barely contained, but a powerful one nonetheless. She took a step back and raised her hands in a show of peace.
“All that stuff with the crowd earlier… does everyone treat you that way?”
“Almost everyone,” the woman replied darkly.
“Look, I can’t tell ya what’s going on with that, but I’m… sorry your creepy Lordly mojo doesn’t work on me?”
The Lord didn’t respond for a moment then finally let out an explosive sigh.
“Look, it’s fine if you’re somehow immune to my ‘Lordly mojo’, I don’t actually care about it that much, but you shouldn’t let people know about it. That kind of ability, well… let’s just say that there’d be some guys that’d want to take advantage of it.”