XI.
Not everything in Dis was majestic and opulent.
The small private homes were usually built from rough stones and hardwood, the most ancient houses square, rectangular, or oval. They had thatch roofs supported by wooden poles built with a subterranean level. Houses were sunk partially below the ground surface for support from the heat beaten soil.
Often villages outside Dis consisted of a cluster of a handful of dwellings built around a shared courtyard, the interiors with a hearth and raised surfaces for beds. The floors were covered with white or yellow clay, and more often than not, had subterranean storage pits, and the demons who weren't Lilim favored that setup in the outskirts of the capital, as well.
There also were the taverns of the lesser demons where gossip, cheap weapons and rare goods were traded for luxury goods or coins. Higher demons or Lilim from his court seldom went there because it was beneath them although they sent their staff to collect information on their adversaries or get goods from Earth or findings from the other realm the King of Hell despised so much. As possession was no longer possible these items became more and more rare and, being astronomically expensive, even mere knockoffs increased their worth tenfold.
Lucifer Morningstar had turned toward an inn where he would probably not be recognized and could happily mingle, drink, and obtain information about the aftermath of the battle. He walked through the large main iron door into the courtyard and stumbled over two intertwined males with a female. This was certainly the right place. A den of depravation! Lovely!
His boots sounded somewhat dull on the cobblestone, very much in contrast with the smooth tap, tap, tap of the hellhound's pace. He had gotten heavier, and probably larger judging by the size of the door.
"Wait here!" he ordered Garm before he stepped through another large door and the staircase down into the inn's main eating hall.
The building was as so many others made with quartzite beams locking into another by a groove and a tongue while mortice holes were holding them in place on tenons, the flint walls distinct but also durable and heat resistant. Nonetheless, being so close to the fiery rivulets, many demons were prone to keep the main rooms underground, a tradition kept from their original cave dwellings.
Thick candles on iron holders lit the way downwards until he was greeted by a hall with a chimney-like hearth, segmental stone arches holding up the ceiling and dividing the room into several, rather private sections and a main area where food was served.
The Devil chose a table in a far corner and looked around.
Along the left side of the flintstone wall a rustic wooden bar held seats for a dozen customers and almost all were taken by merchants showing their goods to each other. Metal, precious stones, weapons and peculiar artefacts were inspected, valued and often found a new, satisfied owner. The larder seemed to be behind the bar, as well as a pantry - the owner of the inn being able to keep an eye on the food without hassle.
At the tables demons were feasting and making business at the same time, not unlike Earth, while the smaller sections were reserved for other pleasurable activities, solars of some sort. Some demons were playing dice or other games while enjoying each other's company.
Lucifer was painfully missing something. Music. No music in Dis. No amount of laughter, chatter or cracking of fire could make up for it. Even the guys at the polar station had been listening to some hard rock.
He ordered a demon to bring him something to eat and hot moss water to drink.
Stupid sulphur aftertaste again!
The water tasted terrible; the meat was edible.
xxx
The female that had brought him the platter with meat and cooked turnip sat beside him and started to touch his arms, even if he hadn't shed his coat. His mojo was doing its thing and he turned to get a better look at her. She had a pretty orange and yellow skin. Her eyes were black slits with a yellow iris, and her tongue was long and soft when she licked his claw as he pulled her hand off.
"I am not interested in that!" he grumbled.
"Would you prefer a male?" she inquired.
"No, I am not in the mood for that type of company."
"What are you in the mood for?"
"Information."
She licked her red lips which highlighted her sharp, white teeth.
"About whom?"
"Whom? Perhaps I am looking for an artefact?"
"No, it's always about somebody when a customer sits in the back observing the bar and the entrance."
"Perhaps it's only the habit of an old warrior." Lucifer showed his incisors.
"Don't you think I can't read the posture of my clients?" She pushed her hand on her hips somehow reminding him of the detective and he laughed.
"Very well then. So tell me, darling, who can help me with information about what's going on with the Lilim or the palace? I will make it worthwhile for you, too." He pulled a sachet out of his coat and then held the polished quail-egg-sized padparadja against her décolletage. "See, the jewel fits you perfectly."
The stone caught not only her attention.
Two demons from the next table started glancing over and whispering to each other. Lucifer closed his right claw and the whole stone disappeared from sight.
"For the right intel I am willing to reward you or anybody else." Lucifer turned his head to the next table and let the stone slowly roll back into the sachet.
The girl hissed but leaned nearer to him, licking her lips and her eyes became bigger.
"Not here. Let's move over to the lecti. Less prying eyes and ears."
"I am quite well over here. Don't even think you or any of your friends here can outplay me." He grinned menacingly to make his point. "You would regret that."
"Suit yourself." She picked up a turnip and bit in it seductively. "What do you want to know?"
"I told you already." Pinching her nose with his right claw, Lucifer underlined his now more playful tone.
"Can't you be more specific? I can tell you a lot about the palace. One of my siblings serves there."
"Is that so? How come if you're no Lilim?" His hot breath brushed over her neck.
"He cleans the kitchen, latrines and the stables. Lilim consider than beneath them."
The Devil nodded. Lilim were as proud as he was. Perhaps even more.
"He also listens to their conversations. They don't consider him a threat, probably because they could end his life without repercussions."
Another truth.
She picked up another turnip and ate it slowly. He had no way of knowing if it was in order to build anticipation or to measure what she should tell him, so he waited, cutting a slice of meat for himself.
"The King hasn't returned to the palace after the big battle, he hasn't returned since he came back from Earth."
"That's no news."
"True, but the Lilim in the palace are convinced he wants to abandon or destroy the city for good. There have been rumors and they are terrified."
"I see. Why do you think is that?" He put another piece of meat in his mouth. Seemingly casual but absolutely deliberate.
"Dromos has not been found yet and thousands of Lilim have been obliterated. They fear the same fate if the Lord thinks they are on the usurper's side."
"Well, that is to be expected. Tell me something I cannot deduce by myself and might be worth the stone and not just a slap on your buttock."
"There are still several hundred Lilim supporting Dromos and a certain family is hiding him."
"Go on." He waved his hand.
"Dromos is actually in the city. Hiding in a house of a follower who has quite a prominent position in the palace." She whispered the last sentence and looked worriedly around, her eyes stopping where two Lilim were apparently playing a boardgame, but their eyes obviously locked at the tables and the bar. "The patrons over there belong to the palace."
The Devil turned to fully look at her face, grabbed her chin with his left and held it up.
"Don't you worry, darling. Do you have a name for me?" His eyes flashed briefly, and she recognized him even with the hood obscuring his features.
"My Lord!" She mouthed, but no sound left her throat as a dagger sliced her neck from behind and blood spilled all over the table and barely missed him.
"Bloody Hell!" he exclaimed jumping up from the bench and glaring at the killer. "Look what you have done! I am not going to pay for your mess!"
In front of him both demons from the other table laughed and displayed their triangular iron daggers.
"Give us the orange stone and you might get out alive, stranger."
"I don't think so." He replied rather calm, pushing the dead body away from him before raising himself to his full height and adjusting his jacket's sleeves. "Scumbags don't get anything for free."
The whole mess hall's attention was now on them. Some demons at the bar were already betting on the imminent fight. Even the Lilim from the palace looked interested enough.
The large and cobby demon who had slain the girl pushed the table away, water now dripping from the pewter cup and diluting the ever-growing blood splatter on the floor.
Lucifer Morningstar's mouth twisted and showed his large fangs and needle-like teeth.
"I hadn't finished my dinner! Ox!"
"Oh, you won't need that anymore. I am going to tear your guts out and make myself a nice necklace with your claws."
Seeing Lucifer unarmed, another, rather too fancy dressed demon threw him a misericorde which the Devil caught swiftly. The large demon in front of him was almost his height, but much stockier and therefore probably slower. The small, skinny one was the one to be wary of and the former strategical chosen corner place limited the range of defense. Nevertheless it meant no one could attack him from behind. The Devil waited for the first strike and indeed, the skinny lowlife was the one to execute it. Green fingers thrusted into his side, but Lucifer was fast enough to spin around and stab him in the shoulder.
The demon in front thrusted toward Lucifer but again the Lord of Hell was quicker and like an experienced matador turned on his heels before he stabbed the hairy creature fast and several times between the shoulder blades.
"This is hardly a fair fight. You are far too slow!" The Devil exclaimed in an amused tone while the other two were breathing hard. "If you want the stone you must step up the game."
The customers cheered, enjoying their entertainment and drowning out the painful screams.
Blinded by wrath the larger one rammed against Lucifer. He missed him by a few inches. The wall took the hit. The Devil was just too swift and smooth. The small, critter-like demon darted from another angle. The triangular dagger held over his head would have reached its target if Lucifer hadn't ducked. The blade sliced the partner-in-crime's fist. Stench of putrid pus and sweat invaded the Devil's nostrils.
"You odor is as disgusting as your table manners are!" Lucifer stated without giving them another look and walking over to return the long fine blade to its owner.
"Thank you! I won't be needing that anymore."
He strode over to the bar and ordered a brew before the green pest attacked him from behind yelling and cursing him. Lucifer just turned slightly around, grabbed him by the neck and smashed his face on the counter, breaking the skull, grey buttery mass spilling through the crack and dropping on the floor.
The patron to his left grunted first and wrinkled the nostrils but then ordered and pushed a brew stein over - grinning.
"My treat."
The Devil smirked back and took a healthy gulp before turning his attention to the ox who was snorting and puffing and finally charging against him. He again stepped to the side at the last second moment possible. The demon broke the bar and Lucifer immediately stood over him:
"As much as I appreciate a fight, I enjoy a good brew and a pretty female more. You greedy ass took both from me." He leaned down and pressed a claw against his throat. "The punishment has to fit the crime, don't you agree?" he whispered.
The large demon tried to push himself up from the destroyed counter. He kicked against the Devil's legs but missed every time, Lucifer being too skilled for him. When the Devil ended him and the life slowly slipped through his trachea, he finally understood who his adversary had been. His glance grew in recognition before it broke.
The customers at the bar acknowledged the kill only briefly, took their belongings to a table and continued talking to their peers.
Lucifer returned to his place after throwing a pouch with coin to the owner. A new stein and a platter with meat was left on a replaced table while the three corpses were dragged out by the staff. The putrid and acrid smell ceased somewhat after the floors were cleaned with strewed sand absorbing the liquids.
xxxxx
Once Lucifer pushed the empty plate to the middle of the table the fancy dressed male approached him, took a stool and sat across him, arm crossed.
"That was entertaining."
"Glad to be of assistance." The brew was almost finished.
"What was it about?"
"Greed. What else?" The stein was now empty, and Lucifer looked up from it and tried to place the male. He never forgot a face even if it took a bit longer.
"That could have been bargained."
"I am tired of making concessions or talking my way out. If they want a fight, they get what they desire."
A waiter brought two steins and the smell of grain was far more agreeable than the one of the few remaining blood spots on the now mostly sandy floor.
"What brings you here?" The well-dressed demon looked at Lucifer curiously. "We both usually do not mingle down here."
"True. We don't. It's my first time in the outskirts of Dis."
"Yet, I am not sure I have seen you in other parts of the city, either."
"Perhaps not in this getup." Lucifer was somewhat amused how the other was assessing him, too. "I needed information which I would probably not get anywhere else."
"And have you obtained it?"
"What if I have, what if I haven't?" The Devil chuckled. "It doesn't concern you anyhow."
"Anything going on in this city is of my concern."
"How so? Now I am curious."
"A good merchant looks for prospects and for issues that could diminish his fortune." The demon answered.
"Agreed. What do you do business with?"
"Trinkets for the palace. Nice things. Pretty things like your stone. Anything that might draw the attention of the palace." He took a sip of the brew and added almost whispering. "Or anyone."
"Am I interesting enough?"
"I would say so."
"And you want me there as what? Sex toy?"
That sparked laughter of the businessman.
"I can't picture you being submissive."
Momentaneous Lucifer Morningstar felt a sting thinking of his detective and how he followed her so eagerly in every way. But never submissively, he thought before he pierced through the large, pitch black irises into the very depth of his drinking buddy. "So what is your desire?"
"To become the most successful merchant of Dis." Nothing interesting there.
"And what do you want me for?"
"Organize some fights to entertain the palace. You are very skillful and elegant, with more finesse that your physique would suggest. I might gain the favor of some ladies."
Now Lucifer laughed.
"I don't fight for entertainment."