“Whatever you need!” The demons shouted out many answers but they could all be boiled down to a single reply. Even in a heavily populated city, souls were still an impressive bargaining chip. 

“Good, good.” I praised them with a smile. “If you’re all going to be this obedient then I’ll have no trouble rewarding everyone.”

I closed my palms and the souls flew back inside of me. The demons looked crestfallen. Most of them stared at me eagerly, as though it would prompt an immediate reward.

“Don’t get greedy.” I waved my finger. Some of the older demons followed it with their eyes like hungry dogs. “I just wanted to be sure that you’ll work when the time comes.”

“No souls now?” One of the hungrier ones spoke up.

“Not now, but soon.” I nodded. “Stay in this tower and wait for me to return. If I can’t find you, then I’ll just assume that you aren’t interested.”

Once again they all made varying promises but the overall message was the same: “I understand, boss.”

“Perfect. I’ll be back later.” I replied, turning away to leave.

My aging body cringed at the idea of taking another trip down those seemingly endless stairs. I looked back at the demons and weighed my options. It was possible to bribe one of them to carry me down but that would be both demeaning and expensive.

“Oh, Elver, let me lend you a shoulder.” Hades offered.

“I can make my own way down, thank you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not looking for a reward right now.” Hades grinned innocently.

I stepped back. Hades had conveniently placed himself in the back of the crowd once I brought up my proposal. Because of that, I couldn’t tell if the souls had enthralled him like the others. I looked into his eyes and could see his false smile as clear as day. However, there was something else there as well.

“…Fine. Let’s go.” I put my arm over his shoulder and we began our descent.

To my surprise, Hades didn’t say a word on the stairs. He dutifully led me down to the ground floor before speaking to me.

“Those other demons might be greedy enough to fool but I’m different. I know that you wouldn’t give away all those souls.”

“I already showed them the souls.” I shook my head. “If I don’t satisfy them later, then I’ll be the one getting hurt.”

“When a lord hires fifty mercenaries, he only prepares enough coin for thirty of them. You’re even shrewder with souls than you are with money. So I’m assuming that whatever job you give us will have a high mortality rate.”

“You aren’t a former sorcerer for nothing, Hades.” I chuckled. “Although you’re slightly incorrect. The job itself isn’t important. My main goal is to keep these demons within arm’s reach. Right now I can’t just leave them to wander.”

“That’s rather noble of you.” Hades raised an eyebrow. “Why go to the trouble?”

“Do you want to know?” I held out my hand. “Then follow me for a while. I could use an assistant while my pupil is away.”

“I thought I just told you that I’m not easy to fool.”

Without another word, I brought out a single soul and tossed it his way. Hades devoured it without reservation.

“Ok, you ate the advance payment. That means you’ve accepted the job.”

“Or I could just run away.”

“But then I’d be very angry.”  

Hades flinched. Then he sighed. “Fine.”

~          ~          ~

The lord’s castle is a truly odd structure. It bears a host of vestigial features from when castles were mainly defensive garrisons. The edges of each roof are lined with crenellations for archers to fire through. Two stone towers guard the east and west sides of the castle. Right now though, they don’t house any guards. How could they? This eyesore sits in the center of a massive fenced-off garden in the northern corner of the city. It is almost as if the Malcolm family never expected their town to grow into such a sprawling city.

It’s the perfect home for a lord who is in way over his head.

I strolled up to the garden’s main gate and muttered a greeting to the two guards. When I placed my hands on the metal door, one of those peons rushed to stop me.

“What are you doing!?” The guard drew his sword.

“Let me into the castle, I have business with the lord.”

“The lord isn’t expecting visitors at this time. Especially not from someone like you…” The guard trailed off as he looked me up and down.

He made a fair point. I wore my tattered red merchant’s hood and a stained brown tunic with pants of equal quality. I wasn’t even dressed to meet with a stall vendor, let alone the lord.

“He is expecting me, I’m just a little late.” I replied.

The guard looked ready to retort but he stiffened when I pulled out a golden seal. I handed it to him and he checked it over carefully. After spending far more time than necessary, the guard handed it back to me with a sigh.

“Either the king suddenly started employing vagrants or you’re a master forger…” The guard turned to his partner. “Go fetch the lord.”

“Haven’t you heard of wearing the right clothes for the occasion?” Hades whispered to me. “That cloak is great for making people underestimate you but it’s not…”

“-Don’t talk right now.” I hissed back.

“But-” I cut Hades off again by shaking the lantern he was hiding in.

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When I offered to take him with me, I expected to spend some time searching for heavy clothes that could hide his glowing veins. Fortunately, Hades’ body was much more convenient than I thought. Whether it’s a roaring bonfire or a small lantern flame, Hades can shed his physical form and dwell within that fire.

After some time, the lord finally arrived. The original guard followed close behind with a couple extra knights in tow. Lord Malcolm was the very definition of a small man. Short temper, small dreams and of course, short of stature. His tall, curly brown hair bobbed rhythmically as he trotted up to the front gate.

“So this is the forger.” The lord eyed me up and down. Then he sneered. “I assumed my knight had been exaggerating but after seeing you…”

“Yes, I understand. I may not look the part but I am in the king’s employ.” I casually stepped towards the gate only to be stopped once more by the first guard.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Lord Malcolm announced. “Why would someone with the king’s seal visit now? If you were just a messenger it would not be necessary.”

“Well, the king’s visiting isn’t he?” I stared down at him.

“Yes, yes he is.” He glared back up at me.

“I’m here as one of his trusted advisors. The king can’t be expected to live in any old shack. He sent me ahead to make sure that this castle can accommodate him.”

“Hmm...” Lord Malcolm furrowed his brow. “I heard that someone like that was coming but…”

“Then there’s no problem!” I stepped up to the gate once more. Malcolm quickly raised his hand and the guard blocked me for a third time.

“But I was expecting that person three days ago. How did you only just arrive in Wren?”

“I’ve been busy.” I waved my hands dismissively. “That’s not important. The king will be here soon so let me in.”

“There’s no way I can let a vagrant like you in this castle.” Malcolm shook his head slowly. “I’ll confiscate this seal. I don’t know how it came into your possession but it certainly doesn’t belong with you.”

“You’re going to steal an advisor’s seal and leave him out in the cold!?” I shouted. “Do not overstep your authority.” 

“That’s my line, vagrant.” The lord turned away.

Malcolm whispered something to his guards. Then he left, but not before turning back to smirk at me. The gate finally opened but was the guards who used it. Suddenly I was surrounded.

“Follow.” One of them grunted.

I wasn’t given time to reply. He took me by the arm and I didn’t ‘follow’ so much as accept that I was being dragged away. Once we were far enough from the castle they lead me into an alley and drew their weapons.

“Hmm…I can guess what’s going to happen next.” I said smugly.

“I think we all can.” A guard replied.

“Is that so? Then you’re all very brave.”

The knights gave me a questioning stare which abruptly turned to one of fear. The fire in my lantern grew larger and larger until it crept its way out of the metal cage and stood up like a man. Hades casually stepped through his own fire and smoke, making an entrance that was truly befitting of a demon.

Hades was ruthless and quick. He didn’t even give them time to scream. Before I knew it, the only human standing in the alleyway was me. After killing them, he immediately drew out their souls and scarfed them down.

“You certainly work fast.” I chuckled at the gruesome scene around me.

“I saw an opportunity for more souls and took it.” Hades thought for a second and then added. “Before you could grab any for yourself.”

“Please, how much of a miser do you think I am? This was your handiwork so you can keep the rewards.”

“Well anyway, what were you trying to do there? I’ve never seen you fail at negotiating.”

“I’m just making my job easier later on.”

“By getting fired?”

“Malcolm doesn’t have that authority.”

“…I don’t understand.” Hades scratched his head.

“Keep following me around and you will.” I replied while carefully checking my clothes for blood. Fortunately, Hades was a rather clean killer.

“Man, it’s just like they say…When you can’t find out who did it, it was probably Elver.”

“Who says that?” I turned to watch Hades as he wracked his mind for an answer.

“Um…I’m not sure.” He grinned sheepishly.

“It was you. You dolt.” I shook my head in disappointment. Of course, that was a lie, but if his mind was already that far gone then reminding him won’t help. I sighed in resignation and inadvertently triggered another coughing fit.

“Whoa, looks like you’re finally reaching your expiration date.” Hades looked me over carefully. “Maybe you should think about joining the rest of us. Actually, you have a mark of the sorcerer…Does that mean you’re planning on passing on your knowledge to someone else?”

“Bah.” I sputtered as my throat finally calmed down. “I didn’t draw this mark myself, I was born with it. Plus, it doesn’t pass on memories, only specific knowledge. I’ve witnessed its effects first-hand and it’s far from perfect.”

“Well, demon it is then.” Hades chuckled. “Just wait until this event is over. I don’t want to eat you.”

“You’re assuming that you’d win.”

“You wouldn’t be able to use sorcery anymore, of course I would win.”

“Forget it.” I shook my head. “Right now both of those methods are incomplete. I have a lot more research to do before I’ll be ready to leave this body.”

I picked up the lantern and held it out to Hades. He nodded and flew back inside.

“Where are we going next?” He asked.

“Why should I tell you now?” I replied with a grin. “It’s more fun if it’s a mystery.”