Harb was awakened by the sound of a woman’s voice. He opened his eyes. His dark vision ability allowed him to see clearly, even though it was nearly pitch black in the tent. The only light was torchlight coming through the edge of the tent flap. Shendis lay next to him with her arm draped across his chest. He admired her shapely form until another call came from outside.

“Lord Harb,” asked the voice.

Harb sat up, rousing Shendis, who rolled over and sat up next to him. “Come,” Harb commanded, disregarding their nakedness.

After a moment of hesitation, the flap opened, and Kirima entered, flooding the room with the light of the torch she carried. Her head was bowed, and her eyes were lowered. She looked terrified. This can’t be good, Harb thought.

“If you wanted her to join us, why not have her arrive earlier?” Shendis asked. “Or did you wish for me to leave?”

Harb thought that he might never get used to Orc culture. As the chief, it seemed that he could bed whomever he chose. He had no interest in Kirima, and the woman had not come at his request. He chose to ignore Shendis’ remarks. “Kirima, why have you come at this late hour?” he asked.

Kirima breathed in deeply, steeling herself. “The expedition to summon the demon has failed. Greatness,” she added belatedly.

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Now her trepidation made sense. Kirima was in charge of the attempt to summon the Demon of Shadows, although she was really only communicating with the group that he had sent and reporting back to him with their progress. Her fear was understandable, since she was undoubtedly worried that he would allow Dura to torment her again.

Harb was upset by the news of the loss of a powerful weapon, but his stomach grew tight at the thought of the demon being loose and free of his control. “Tell me what happened.”

“Narg and a slave stayed near the Cliffcrest Keep while Umirlf and the rest went through the glimmer gate there. Narg investigated after no one came back. He said that there were signs of a fight within the containment field. Narg took the gate to the temple. There was no sign of the guardian demons, and everyone else was dead.”

“There was a struggle at the keep,” Harb said. “Does that mean that the demon was there?”

“Your scout is no expert,” Kirima said, “but from the tracks that he found, the same group that killed Umirlf and his group fought something in the containment field. He reported that their tracks led away from Cliffcrest Keep. I believe that the demon was contained, and the group waylaid our forces and either destroyed or freed the demon.”

“Well, that blows,” he said. “Kirima, come find me later today. I will have something for you to do.”

Kirima looked at Shendis and then back at him. “As you wish, greatness,” she said.

Harb rolled his eyes. “I mean, come to the command tent.”

Kirima bowed deeply. “Of course, greatness,” she said, exiting the tent.

Harb lay back down and tried to relax. The loss of the demon was a blow to his plans, but he had other nets cast.