As the first rays of moonlight shone on the gleaming mountains of metal, the ferrous demons arrived. They skittered and chittered, squat green bodies impossibly agile as they crawled over the massive heaps while shoving bits of metal into their gaping jaws.
“Alright, guys, listen up! Now!” Carb’s commanding growls finally brought the roving demons to attention. “I didn’t invite you to the scrapyard so you could eat me out of house and home. Get down here, all of you! The Priestess of Cerridwen has something to ask of you.”
The largest of the ferrous demons cocked his head, his luminous green eyes fixed on Carb in consideration. Then his gaze moved to Cerri, standing calmly next to Carb. She wore the flowing robes associated with her priestess role. Her right hand grasped the staff of the goddess, its crystal tip wreathed in iridescent blue power.
The massive demon nodded once in agreement. “Attention, everyone. Potluck is off. Get down and get in formation.” As the demons reluctantly ended their feast and descended from the metal mountains, their leader bowed to Cerri. “Priestess, Hail and Welcome. My name is Astetes. Please forgive my subordinates. They have the manners of a bunch of hell-monkeys, which is to say, absolutely none.”
By the end of his speech, the demon troop stood at attention on the forecourt in front of the office. As one, they bowed to Cerri and spoke. “Priestess of Cerridwen. How can we serve you?”
Larry whispered to Carb, “What a bunch of brown-nosers. Takes a powerful witch like Cerri to get them to behave. No wonder you never invited this bunch of yahoos over.”
Carb snickered softly.
“I heard that.” Astetes’s lips curled in disdain.
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“Gentlemen, now is not the time for bickering. The world, indeed, the universe, is in imminent danger. Without your help, we may not succeed in saving it.” Cerri’s stern gaze traveled over the assembled demons. “There is a powerful magical tool hidden within this scrapyard. Its Guardian hid it well, and, with the help of his Familiar, placed wards of great power around it. While crafted mainly of metal, the tool features gold and silver, as well. I’m sure your ferrous demon magic can sense the tool and locate it more quickly than I or my witch team can.” The priestess hesitated, before glancing at Midnight, who bowed her head and mewed plaintively.
Astetes rubbed his chin and smiled. “While I understand your predicament, if I may be so bold as to ask, Priestess, what’s in it for us?”
Cerri smiled right back at him, her eyes flashing with intensity. “What’s in it for you? You get to live, demon. If this tool falls into the wrong hands, it will not only destroy the earth, but obliterate all the realms—and we are running out of time to prevent that catastrophe.”
Casting a troubled gaze over the assembled gremlins, Cerri uttered a last plea. “Demons, will you kindly help us by using your metal magic skills to locate this infernal tool? If we can rely on your help to find it, my team can concentrate on rescuing its Guardian and defeating the plotters who seek to steal and use it for their own selfish use. If you—or we don’t succeed, we are all doomed.”
The gathered gremlins stood in silence, their inward gazes reflecting a mind-conversation to which Cerri, Larry, and Carb were not privy.
Larry tried not to fidget as they waited for the demon’s answer. At a nod of affirmation from Astetes, Larry couldn’t help giving a woof of gratitude. Beside him, Carb’s body released its tension.
Cerri allowed herself a regal nod of thanks, then she turned to Carb. “Carb, as the scrapyard is your domain, I’m placing you in charge of the search. Please report directly to Larry or me with your progress.”
Carb’s shoulders rose, and a faint yellow blush colored his green cheeks. “Yes, ma’am. I—we will do our best.” He shot an interrogatory glance at Astetes. “Right?”
The larger demon’s lips pursed in displeasure at the usurpation of his command, but he nodded in agreement. “Let’s get to work, everyone.”