Chapter 46

As she pulled out the maroon and white dress Lilith saw two pairs of eyes looking at her glowing faintly in the dark of her closet. They had a faint red color reminding her of her own eyes. The two snakes watched as she took off her armor and Arming jacket. Then she put on a bra and the Commoners clothes. She then tied the waist belt around her checking the vanity mirror to see how she looked. Lilith then spoke to the snakes as she brushed her hair.

“How are you feeling today Noodle One?” she asked.

“I am very well rested Ms. Devine. Will we both get to go outside today?” The snake asked, the two of them moving to the top of her bed as he spoke.

“Oh, were you talking about your trip to the Drill Field with Noodle Two?” Lilith asked as she brushed her hair.

“Yes oh beautiful one. This room is nice but I would like to see what is outside too.” Noodle Two said as he stood in the arch way of the closet.

Lilith wanted them to get more experiences than just the closet but needed to curb their expectations in some way. “We are in a town and it is full of people. Some of them might be frightened by you if they saw you out in the open. So we have to be careful how we act.” Lilith put down the brush satisfied with her hair, having tamed it into a flowing river of red that stretched over her shoulders.

“Why are they afraid of us?” Noodle One asked moving to the edge of the bed as she turned to face him.

“They may not be afraid of you specifically but things that look like you. Snakes can be deadly, after all. Are you aware of your own fangs and what they are used for?”

“No, what are they used for. They make it hard to speak out loud and they poke my tongue.” Noodle One was now standing on the bed some 3’ high while Noodle Two had moved to follow him seemingly listening intently to the conversation.

“Those fangs could easily pierce a person’s skin and inject them with venom. That venom kills about half the people that are bitten in that way. So they have a good reason to be afraid of snakes.” Lilith explained.

“So that is why you told me to never bite anyone? Because I could kill them.” Noodle One asked.

“Correct.”

“What happens if we do kill someone?” Noodle Two asked.

Lilith thought about whether to explain this as a resulting punishment or from the experience of the victim. She decided that she wanted the snakes to empathize with people and would begin explaining things that way when possible. “When someone dies they can’t go outside any more. They can’t go inside either. They can’t meet new friends or talk to their current ones. They can’t see and they can’t move or think. They cease to be.”

“That doesn’t sound good. That would be very lonely.” Noodle One said.

Lilith pondered how Noodle One just used the term ‘good’ unprompted. Where did these creatures get their vocabulary from? How much do they know of how the world works and why? Then she remembered how her biology worked and where it came from. In the Abyss only powerful demon lords and some of the more unique demons could create more demons on their own. Was that what she had done? If She had just created two demons what did that make her? Did they had the basic knowledge of the world provided to them so that they would be able to take orders and fight in the blood wars? If so, where did that knowledge come from? Did it come from her? Just like their form, the cobra, came from her mind? Did she shape their minds too? She would have to test this.

“Noodle Two did you hear the explosions this morning?” Lilith asked in a flat tone.

“Yes I did tall one, they shook the windows and doors.” he said bobbing his head.

“How did that make you feel?”

“I wish I could have seen the explosions. Just hearing them was not enough.” Noodle Two said bobbing his head with much excitement.

‘Yep that snake definitely has some Texan in him’ Lilith thought. “Noodle One, if there was a large animal that could move faster than you would you try to ride it?”

“Like when I rode on your shoulders yesterday?” He asked.

Lilith contemplated the irony of being compared to a horse yet again but decided to press the point. “No I mean a much larger animal with longer legs that is only partially under your control. Maybe it listens to you, if you tell it where to go, but it decides how to get there. And it is large enough to kill you if it falls over. Would you still try to ride it?”

“Yes, I could see a lot farther from your shoulders it would be fun to ride an animal that is even bigger than you.” he said moving closer now at the edge of the bed next to the stump of the broken bedpost. Yep, he definitely had information taken from her psyche. At some fundamental level Lilith knew part of her was in these snakes. The paladin had even noticed the similarity. Now satisfied that these snakes weren’t going to go on a secret killing spree her mind turned to the state of the room.

Lilith had been stooping in front of the vanity in order to look at her hair in the mirror as she couldn’t sit on the chair any more. Deciding to correct the situation, she cast Fabricate modifying the chair much like she had at the dinner table the previous night. Then she moved the cube over to repair the crushed nightstand and then the broken bed post. Finally she removed the back and arms of the chair popping them off, the top part having wooden dowels and the bottom having matching holes. She placed the top of the chair into the back of the closet before closing it once again. Both Snakes watching her work and marveling at the magic. Seeing the bedpost restored Noodle One coiled around it like a stripe on a barber pole seeming to test it out for a moment before he returned to the bed.

“Today is going to be a bit busy, those explosions were from a battle that happened just outside of Farmer’s Gate. There were many orcs who came to kill us and take control of this area. But we won the battle and saved the town and all the people in it. So they are going to have a celebration tonight. You two might have to stay in this room but tomorrow we will go ride something really big and see the area east of here there are hills and trees and maybe even some caves.”

“So we can’t see this celebration even though it is inside the castle?” Noodle One asked.

Lilith shook her head no.

“Then we will be thinking about tomorrow, but what will we ride?” Noodle Two asked moving up to stand side by side with Noodle One.

“Perhaps a giant bird called an Eagle, but we will have to ask her first. Now be good and stay in here and stay hidden if anyone comes in.” Lilith said as she went out closing and locking the door behind her.

As she walking to the Master Study Lilith passed by a few militiamen who were also eating a late breakfast as the clock struck 10 o’clock. The mood was cheerful and they could be heard talking about the Cleric and the brilliant light as he cast some miracle to end the battle in spectacular fashion. ‘That seemed to powerful to be [Turn Undead]’ Lilith thought to herself. ‘Might have been [Divine Word]’

Soon she arrived at the Master Study where after a polite knock she was invited in. Inside she found Sir Tanel, Wendel and Celeste standing around the scrying orb. The orb was blank there were no images and no light coming from it. Seeing her, Celeste rushed forward giving Lilith a hug. Lilith looked down a little surprised at her friend’s actions. This wasn’t a normal kind of hug attack, her head was held low, her arms loose barely holding on to her. Lilith could tell she was seeking comfort but didn’t know why. Slowly she put an arm around her looking up at Wendel for an explanation.

“Whats wrong?” She asked.

“Celeste got back from Cromm’s hold a few minutes ago, it wasn’t pretty. She found it destroyed and burned. She hasn’t said much beyond that. We have been trying to scry on the people we know there but it keeps failing. I think they may all be dead.” Wendel said with a grave expression on his face.

“How does an entire castle get burned?” Lilith asked looking down at Celeste for an explanation.

“It wasn’t just burned.” She said rubbing her face against Lilith's chest. She then took a breath and continued this time looking up at her with wet eyes. “The towers and the Baroness’ residence were torn open. It was like some great beast threw the stone walls to the side and clawed its way in until it got to the bottom. Every surface where a person had been was charred black, the bodies were just limp piles of human shaped ash. The smell. It was terrible. There was smoke and nothing else. Nothing else moved except for the pillars of smoke caught in the breeze.”

“Oh…. Oh no.” Lilith put a hand to her mouth as it hung open in disbelief her gaze moving to regent.

“Oh, Yes” Sir Tanel said pointedly.

“It was that gold dragon. The one that was here yesterday. It had to be him.” Lilith said as she patted Celeste on the head with one hand while hugging her with the other. “How many? How many people should have been there last night.”

“Around eighty.” Sir Tanel replied while spinning away to look out the window one hand clenched into a tight fist.

“That's a lot of people. Now I understand why you fear dragons, even the good ones....” Lilith said as she pushed Celeste away and looked at her face to see how she was doing but Celeste soon pulled herself into a hug again her head resting on the side of Lilith’s chest.

“Im ok, it was just…. the smell..like …. like burning hair.” she said looking as if she was recalling the scene again.

Lilith pointed a finger at Celeste’s nose intending to make her upper lip smell like honey baked ham. She didn’t know if it would help but it might get the smell out of her nose or out of her mind.

“Is that better?” Lilith asked.

Celeste nodded ‘yes’.

“Well it wasn’t our fault. We aren’t to blame. It was the Baroness’ fault for consorting with demons and necromancers and it cost her subjects their lives too. That's why the leader of a kingdom is so important, even if is just a Duchy or a Barony.” Sir Tanel said as he looked at the blank scrying orb with disgust.

“In any case the bitch is dead and the orcs are dead and the necromancer is dead. At least the right people died today.” Lilith retorted.

“We did lose seven men though as well as the civilians at Cromm’s hold.” Sir Tanel said in a somber tone.

“Ya I know but it could have been a lot worse we really need to thank the Dawnbringer when he wakes up.” she said trying to lighten the mood.

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“Oh they are sleeping? I expected them to want to chat my ear off by now.”

“It sounded like they rode all night to get here. They said a messenger told them of the orc army and they pressed on traveling the whole night.” Lilith explained recalling her conversation with them from earlier.

“They were sorely needed we shall have a lot to be thankful for at the next service.” Sir Tanel said with a smile.

“Hey are you alright? What do you want to do for the rest of today? Did you eat yet?” Lilith held Celeste at arms length length again trying to get a read on her.

“I’m not hungry, but I think I want to take a nap. Can I use your room?” she asked. Grasping at one of Lilith's arms with both her hands.

“Sure just say hi to the two noodles first, I am sure they will be happy to see you.”

“There are two of them now?” Celeste asked while trying to shake her friends arm.

“Yes the spell completed last night but its gone now so no more midnight wake up calls.” Lilith said trying to keep her voice down.

“Wait Wait whats a noodle? Sir Tanel asked worried there was something strange going on in Lilith’s room though he dared not ask to enter it again.

“Technically its called a danger noodle but I am calling them Noodle One and Two for short. Its easier that way.” Lilith clarified

“Yes but what is it?” He asked again.

“You don’t want to know.” Celeste said before she walked out of the room to go lie down while Lilith and the two men stayed to talk some more.

“Whatever, So are you sure you killed the necromancer?” Sir Tanel asked seeming to let the subject drop.

“Yes I got him mid sentence. He was telling me how I couldn’t kill him, so I figured he had some type of death ward that was bringing him back to life after he pulled my sword out of his chest. So I hit him with disintegrate.” Lilith said quickly and then pointed her finger at the floor holding it in the shape of a pistol.

“That was pretty quick thinking Lils.” Wendel said with a nod.

“So there is no body?” Sir Tanel asked.

“No, just dust, but Sharl collected the head dress of that Warchief. It is probably hanging up in the barracks by now.” she said with a nod.

“Actually he had a runner bring it here a half hour ago.” Sir Tanel said as he pointed to a gaudy collection of fur and feathers hanging over the door frame of the study.

“Maybe we should put that in the banquet hall where more people can see it.” Wendel said as he turned his head at different angles to try and understand why an orc would wear such a thing.

“That would look horrible, you don’t want that room to look like a TGI Fridays do you?”

“A what?” Wendel asked.

“ahhh...hah. Like the Lady Luck Tavern. I mean.” Lilith said as she tried to come up with something they could relate to.

“Yes that isn’t a good look, you are right, but if we had that wing of the succubus hanging up that would have been a nice trophy.” Sir Tanel said with a smirk. “Now please explain this whole Danger Noodle thing I don’t like uninvited guests in my castle.” Sir Tanel said in a bit of a huff.

Lilith took some time to explain Noodle One and Noodle Two to both Sir Tanel and Master Wendel. She explained how they were made from her mind and shared some of her basic knowledge and personality. She also mentioned how the paladins had already checked her room and said as much. With the arguing over Lilith went on to ask about the slaves that were recovered and how they would be treated. Sir Tanel assured her that the various temples in town would sponsor them for as long as they needed but that the Duchy normally only gave refugees five days of support to either find passage home or find employment and a place to stay. If a refugee failed to make arrangements on their own and didn’t get a temple to sponsor them, they would be put to work in the stables in exchange for their room and board. Lilith thought it was a bit harsh but remembered how terrible their conditions were to start with.

With the most pressing issues settled Lilith began to make plans for the rest of the day. “Well it isn’t even half past ten yet, any idea what else I should do today?”

“Take a break Lilith. I know you have been pushing yourself to help us get ready for this. I have to plan for the celebration tonight and give a speech honoring the ones we lost. Wendel already contacted the Lord’s Alliance but we haven’t heard back from them yet.”

“We still need to report the destruction of Cromm’s Hold and the likely death of the Baroness.” Wendel said turning back to face Sir Tanel.

“Yes lets do that now. Lilith go take the day off you earned it. But be back here for dinner I will have something special for the men and for you.” Sir Tanel said, both he and Wendel giving her a sly smile at the same time.

“Ok I will be back by Six.” Lilith said as she headed for the door taking another look at the head dress hanging over it. Almost unprompted she let out a soft chortle ‘It looked like something ‘Cher’ would wear’ she thought as she started imagining the singer with green skin and a war axe. Her laughter continued for a bit as she left the study walking and sliding back to guest room number three.

Lilith entered her room quietly but it took a full ten seconds for her to move into the room turn around and pull her tail past the door before she could close it. The noises from the rest of the castle filtering in all the while. With the door shut and the sound muffled she turned to see Celeste lying on her bed with two snakes next to her, one under each arm.

Lilith looked at Noodle Two and asked “Are you comfortable?” as her voice whispered in his mind.

“Yes this one is soft and warm she is a good friend to have.” Noodle Two said back.

“You can say that again.” Lilith said into his mind as she smiled.

“Yes this one is soft and…”

“No that was a figure of speech you don’t have to repeat it.” She said a bit louder in his mind this time.

While rolling her eyes she walked over to Celeste noticing that her eyes were open but unfocused. Instead she seemed to be lost in thought staring at the ceiling. She was awake but still trying to rest her mind probably trying to make sense of all that she had been through that day. Then there was movement a soft smile drawing across her friend’s face. There was no mistaking the sound of Lilith entering a room. The dragging noise of a 500 lb tail couldn’t be imitated or copied.

“You feeling better?” She asked.

“A little. These guys helped me calm down. They remind me of you in a way.” Celeste said shifting her gaze from the ceiling to her friend.

“Well they should. They have some of my personality on a fundamental level, it seems.” Lilith said with a smile while she looked over the odd sight on the bed.

“Really how do you know?”

“Well they like explosions and riding things, and they like you. That's half my personality right there.” she said with a chuckle.

“Yes you might be right.” Celeste said as she pet the back of Noodle One’s head. His tail swinging slowly across the comforter as she did.

Lilith looked at the bed doing the math finding that there really wasn’t enough space for her to fit along with Celeste and the two snakes. Regrettably they looked too comfortable to consider moving them. She wasn’t that kind of a monster after all. “Uh I’m going to need a bigger bed.” She said Sitting at the edge of the bed with her feet on the floor her tail also holding her up like a third leg.

“Really? This one is quite nice. I don’t even reach the edges.” Celeste said extending her legs and arms all the way and hitting nothing.

“No really! My tail takes up so much space. I couldn’t even fit on there with Kevin unless I held my tail in my arms to keep it from falling off the edge.” she lamented.

“You two slept together last night?” Celeste asked rolling over to face Lilith with a strange expectant expression on her face. “Was he gentle? What was it like?”

“We didn’t go that far, I already told you I don’t plan on going that far with anyone. As far as I can tell I would get pregnant with a Cambion and I don’t want to bring anything evil into this world.” Lilith meant that. She felt very lucky that these snakes were so even tempered. It could have been a lot worse.

“Is that why you were asking us so many questions earlier.. you were worried?” Noodle One said out loud.

“I wasn’t worried I was just testing to see what you needed guidance on.” Lilith knew it was important for kids to have the trust of their parents. The confidence gave them a solid social footing and Lilith didn’t want to deny them that. Even if they didn’t have feet. ‘oh god am I treating them like they were my kids?’ Lilith thought. She was also impressed, they seemed to be getting smarter by the minute. Noodle one had made a guess at her internal motivations. That required a theory of the mind. Well some demons were pretty smart after all.

“So what did you do?” Celeste asked with a raised eyebrow.

“We took a bath together in the master bath up stairs it is huge, its like twice the size of the guest bath down here. It reminded me of the pools we had back home.”

“There you go about your pools again.” she said as she pet Noodle Two on top of his head.

“And then we dried off together and then we lie in bed and talked. He told me about his late father and I told him about my home state of Texas.” Lilith said with a smile as she recalled the previous night fondly.

“And nothing exciting happened?” she asked turning her head slightly. Her golden hair rustling where it made contact with the pillow.

“Well he did make a good attempt but he was kinda expecting it to be between my legs, and its not any more.” Lilith made a grimace at the mention of that last part.

“Wait it’s not?” she sat up with a start and Noodle Two moved away for a second looking to see where she was going.

“No not any more. Remember when I got rid of the underwear, when my tail tore it that morning after I slept in your room.” she said motioning with one hand at her rear.

“Not really but I was kinda focused on other things at the time.” Celeste looked down at her arm then back to Lilith.

“Ya sorry about that. Anyways its way back down here and he and I both agreed it looked too much like a snake so that's kinda where things ended on that front.” Lilith said as she thumped her tail against the floor for emphasis.

“Wait, down there?… Im sorry I didn’t know. Anyways so you aren’t upset?” Celeste asked as she went through a rainbow of emotions in three seconds time. Surprise, disgust, embarasment, appology.

“No I was actually trying to remind him that he shouldn’t be consorting with a demon like me since he is going to be a Duke one day.” she turned her gaze to the ceiling as she spoke.

“But you aren’t a demon.” she said with a bit more passion than expected.

“Well last night at midnight, Noodle Two climbed out of my mouth do you think that happens to normal people?”

“Wait while you were with Kevin?” Celeste asked as she patted the bed next to her with one hand.

“Yep.”

“He was the second person I ever spoke to.” Noodle Two said out loud before laying down again next to Celeste’s side.

“And he didn’t run screaming into the night?” she asked covering her mouth with a hand to hider her laughter.

“No but it was just one more nail in the coffin to convince him to stop treating me like I was human.” Lilith said now looking back at her friend.

“Well, he certainly is braver than I gave him credit.” she said with a smirk

“Yes he is a good guy. He smells good too.” Lilith said as she licked her lips after recalling his scent.

“Oh what does he smell like?”

“He smelled like a juicy bacon cheeseburger, don’t worry Wendel can summon some for us tomorrow.”

“I know what bacon and cheese are… Ok now I am finally getting hungry can we pay the kitchen a visit?”

“Sure. Noodles, you want to come?” Lilith asked as she got out of the bed and circled around to the middle of the room in front of the door.

“Yes Ms. Devine, if it is safe.” Noodle One said lifting his head up from the bed.

“Hold on let me make you two invisible.” Lilith then pointed a finger in their general direction and casting [Invisibility] making both snakes disappeared.

With some effort Celeste felt around on the bed until she found Noodle Two picking him up and draping him over her shoulder like a shawl, an invisible shawl. Lilith, however, could still see Noodle One allowing her to deftly scoop him up while making for the door. As she moved to the banquet hall he twisted around coiling several times until he was wrapped around her forearm like a living piece of jewelry, invisible snake shaped jewelry. They were a bit early for lunch but Lilith could smell the familiar scent of chicken coming from behind the kitchen counter. After getting one of the cooks attention, Celeste asked for half a serving to be made into a sandwich with the rest to be served on the side without the bones.

After about 5 minutes a cook called out her order and she went to pick it up. Once returning to her seat opposite of Lilith, Celeste began eating her sandwich as her friend continued telling her more about the paladins and the cleric who were currently sleeping. After she finished her sandwich, Celeste continued to nibble on the pieces of baked chicken until she felt a curious tongue flickering on her cheek.

“Do you want to try some?” She asked the invisible snake on her shoulder.

“Yes it smells quite good golden one.”

“Here.” Celeste offered, picking up a long piece holding it between her finger tips pointed back at him. Lilith watched with frayed nerves as her friend tried to feed an invisible poisonous serpent shaped demon, by hand, for the first time. That nervousness soon faded as Noodle Two opened his mouth just enough to grab the chicken pulling it back while tilting his head up to swallow it completely.

“Itssss very good can I have more?” he asked out loud in a hushed tone.

Shrugging, Celeste happily picked up two more pieces one going to her mouth while the second went to Noodle Two once again. Lilith noticed as Celeste's hair moved where it was in contact with the invisible snake realizing she could probably feel most of his movements that way she now knew how she was able to feed him so accurately.

“Ms. Devine, may I have some too?” Noodle One asked out loud.

Lilith watched as the Noodle uncoiled a loop off her arm so he could better reach closer to Celeste's plate.

“Stay still, let me ask first. It’s her food after all.”

“Oh here, I am done.” Celeste said as she turned the plate so that the chicken was facing towards her friend.

Lilith smiled at her picking up a snake sized piece moving it towards her left hand where Noodle One was waiting patiently. He then very delicately grabbed the meat, tilting his head back in a quick motion to swallow it.

She then took two more pieces leaving the last piece for Noodle Two. Holding the two pieces in front of her left hand they soon disappeared just as the last one had reminding her of an old fashioned magic trick, the chicken being vanished up her sleeve.

“What is this food called?” Noodle One asked after swallowing the second piece.

“I think this is baked chicken.” Lilith said hesitantly looking at her friend for confirmation.

“Yep its called Dessarin Chicken, one of the Duchess’s favorites.” she confirmed.

“Now that you are feeling better, what would you say to a little road trip?” She asked giving Celeste an expectant look.

“To where? And do we have to go by road?”

“Well you can always fly us. Funnily enough, last night the Duchess said she was going to grant me title over some land East of here that runs on the South side of the river. We could go check it out? I figured we might take in the sights, search for any caves or ruins and then maybe go for a swim in the river.”

“That actually sounds like a nice trip.” Celeste said, her face lighting up with anticipation.

“Ok then lets head back to my room. I am going to make you a swimsuit.”

“You mentioned that before what is it?”

“Its clothes that you swim in. They are made to work well in the water and dry off quickly.”

“Fine but they can’t be the same color as my underwear, I’d get them confused. We need to find something to dye them with.

Lilith excused herself heading to the kitchen to asked what kind of berries they had. She then got a large bowl of blueberries before taking Celeste and the Noodles back to her room. Once inside she locked the door and had Celeste take off her wizard robes to begin the process of fitting her for a swimsuit. Using [Fabricate], Lilith used some more of the stretchy material mixed with the pigment from the blue berries to make a rather fetching two piece suit. The top was slightly more revealing than the sports bras she had mad while the bottom had a stylish V shape in front and full coverage in the rear. Overall it looked similar to a swim suit that was popular back in the 90s.

“So am I supposed to wear it over my underwear?”

“No silly. We just did it that way so you wouldn’t be naked for this part. However you need to take it all off and put the swim suit back on under your robes.”

Celeste did just that placing her underwear in one of Lilith’s drawers. With Celeste going back to resting on the bed Lilith made something similar for herself out of the white cloth except with crossing strings on the back side going both above and below her tail. Getting around the tail would have been difficult with solid fabric but with the material cut and spun into string it was a simple matter. Celeste clapped after seeing the final product before Lilith put her armor on over it. She also strapped on her greatsword just in case they ran into something dangerous in the caves.

“Noodles you want to come too?” Lilith asked

“Yes it would be nice to travel with you Ms Devine, but did you already ask the Bird?” he said standing up to about 3’ tall as he spoke.

“I’m the bird silly.” Celeste said with a laugh.

“Ohhh” they both said in unison in complete non-understanding. “Huh?”

Lilith picked up both invisible snakes putting them on her shoulders, where they soon wrapped around her neck, their tails finding purchase inside her armor. The four of them then walked out to the grassy field between the castle while Lilith explained Celeste’s enchantment.

“Ready?” Lilith asked as they got to the middle of the field.

“Ya just don’t drop any invisible snakes. I can’t catch them if I can’t see them.” she said while tilting her head in Lilith's direction.

“I can see them just fine but I am dropping that spell in a second anyways.” she said waving a hand in the air.

“Ok then here I go.” Celeste said as she pulled her right hand in and placed her mouth around it. Soon standing before Lilith was the 14’ tall Golden Giant Eagle. Lilith could feel both snakes jostle around craning their necks for a better view.

“Well you are a lot prettier than a dragon at least.” Lilith said into her mind. She then read out the rune words for [Enlarge/Reduce] causing Celeste doubled in size. Now almost 30’ tall she was practically the same height as the city walls. In the distance Lilith saw the guards on said wall turn their way one of them pointing while shouting at the others.

Celeste lowered a wing for Lilith who soon climbed aboard securing herself with her legs on one side and her tail on the other. ‘It is kinda like riding side saddle’ she thought.

Then with two hops and three beats of her giant wings Celeste was airborne with three demons on her back, heading East into wild lands on a sunny and clear day.