"So," I said to Cain. "Your old friend Cecil wants to climb the legendary Mount Ordeals.
What do you think of that?" We had relocated to the Tower of Zott, which was decidedly
less comfortable than my old house of crystal, but business is business.
"I think he's an idiot." Cain sighed. "He's probably going to die in the process of
climbing the fucking mountain."
"You may be right, but if he gets assistance from others who can fight the undead, the
fact that he carries the Dark Sword will be of little consequence. If he makes it to the top
of the mountain, he must be killed before he is stripped of the armor of the Dark Knight
and becomes a Paladin. If he succeeds, he will be even more of a threat than he is
already."
"Let me be the one to kill him, Master." Cain seemed eager all of a sudden.
"Why should I?" I snapped. "You had your chance to kill Cecil, but you went soft
because of your precious Rosa!"
Cain winced. "I—I'm sorry."
"You'd better be sorry," I snarled. "You're pathetic, Cain. You very nearly risked our
operation for that." I gestured toward Rosa, looking disgusted. "You could have had her
regardless. But now… I have other plans."
"O-other plans, master?"
"You'll have to wait for a piece of the precious Rosa. Cecil is alive, and he'll want her
back… whole." I stared down at Cain, with a slightly bitter, sadistic look in my eyes.
"You'll have to keep your roaming hands off her, Cain…"
"Yes, sir. Now… about Cecil?"
"Of course… come, Scarmiglione!"
Scarmiglione appeared before us, his tattered white cloak grimy. "You called, Master
Golbez"
"Yes, I did." I leaned back against the wall. "The Dark Knight Cecil is climbing Mount
Ordeals. He wants to become a Paladin."
"I'm not sure I quite follow you. How does this involve me?"
"Kill him before he can become a Paladin. There is a house of light at the top… that will
strip away the essence of darkness inside him. Kill him before he gets that far,
Scarmiglione. If you don't…"
"I can imagine what will happen to me if I fail, Master Golbez. I am very aware of the
weight this job carries, and I'm honored that you've selected me to carry it out. I will die
at the hands of the Dark Knight before I retreat… but I will not die."
"Glad to hear that you've finally deemed me worthy of your support," I sneered.
"I have seen what you can do and I believe strongly that I was mistaken in my first
impression of you. You are a lethal fighter and a more than competent leader. I was an
idiot. You don't need to tell me that."
"Good, it would be a waste of my breath." I tossed an amulet to him. "Take that and wear
it. It'll keep you alive if he manages to kill you."
"What does it do?"
"It'll resurrect you. Once. If he kills you once, it'll bring you back… stronger than
before. But it only works once. So if he kills you a second time… you're dead,
Scarmiglione, and there's nothing I or anyone else can do it, save going to the Realm of
the Dead to get you back… which isn't worth it, if you die at his hands."
"I understand, Master Golbez. I won't fail you."
"Glad to hear it. Go and prepare yourself."
He left.
"So Scarmiglione will kill Cecil then?" Cain leaned back and looked at me. "Is that it?"
"It should be… if all goes well." I stared at him, my eyes boring a metaphorical hole in
his skull. "Otherwise, you may very well get the privilege of watching Cecil die. I may
even let you strike the killing blow. Isn't that nice?"
"Yes, master. May I leave, please?"
Yes. Go. Get out of my sight, Cain. I can't stand the sight of you, get away from me, I
don't want you here, there's something wrong, I can't tell what it is, please don't make
me think about it… what are you doing to me Cain you're confusing me I'm Master
Golbez I can't think like this…
"I suppose so," I said finally. "Get yourself a meal too, if you like. You're probably
hungry since I haven't given you meal time for the past couple of days."
His stomach growled audibly. "Uh… yeah, I am feeling a bit peckish. I'll just go get
something then." He walked away to the invisible food storage. I kept it invisible for a
good reason. He reached in and pulled out some sort of thing—I think it was a
sandwich—and took a bite. "May I leave, sir?"
"Yes. Go."
Cain left. I slumped down against the wall. I felt sick, and I didn't even know why. It was
too late in the game to get drunk, so all I could do was beat my head against the wall. No,
I couldn't do that. Cain would see. And hear. He'd know something was wrong, and he'd
want to know what. He'd get suspicious.
But how I longed for a bit of booze… no. Nonononono. Can't think like that can't get
drunk can't take that risk it could put the whole operation at risk I'm getting sick I can't
take it any more…
"Master Golbez? Are you feeling all right?" Cain was still here. Why wouldn't he go
away?
"I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. I think it must be all of the alcohol I've consumed lately, I
think it's finally catching up to me with all of the leftover hangovers I never had. Don't
worry about me, go on your way…"
"If you're not feeling well, I have to stay with you, Master Golbez. It's my job to serve
and protect you if I have to. Please don't be angry, but this is what I've been drafted to do
and I intend to do it."
"Leave me, Cain."
"I can't do that sir."
"Go." I glared at him. "Don't make me tell you again."
"Yessir." He began to walk away. Towards that place where we kept the girl Rosa.
"Get her to work for us and I may even give you a vacation," I sneered.
"I don't think that's going to happen," he said bitterly.
"You just may be right." I sighed.
I told him.
And he was gone.
the water demon responded crisply.
Cagnazzo seemed shocked.
I cut the connection.
Cain was in the other room. I could hear him talking.
"I could get you out of here, Rosa, if you'd let me."
"I don't like what you've become, Cain. You're nothing but a slave to Golbez. I won't
help you or do anything that you want. Leave me alone."
"I can take what I want from you, Rosa. Golbez isn't going to stop me. He won't even
care. Nobody will know. I could kill you, and it wouldn't matter. You're pointless, Rosa.
Useless. Pathetic. I can do what I like, it doesn't matter…"
"Leave me alone, Cain!"
"Leave her, Cain." Rubicant. Rubicant was here, in the tower, without being summoned,
and speaking to Cain.
I stood outside the room, slumped against the door, listening with a bit of amusement. No
need for booze anymore, this was more interesting than being drunk.
"Why are you ordering me around like this? You're just a demon, I'm not going to listen
to you." Cain was angry now. He turned away from Rosa to glare at Rubicant. "Get out
of here. You're such an ass sometimes."
"Is that all you can call me? She's helpless, Cain. Can't you see that? Don't you care? Of
course not… honor doesn't mean anything to you, does it?" he sighed. "Never strike at a
helpless victim. Never. If you do, I swear that I'll kill you."
"You? Kill me?"
"Easily. I'm an elemental demon, Cain, but you're a soft, pathetic little human. You are
all weak. It's the way of humanity. They have some worth, but they are weak. Take this
Rosa here… she's a pretty girl, sure enough, and you're human as well…"
"I love her," Cain snapped.
"No you don't." Rubicant glared at him. "You're missing my point entirely. If you loved
her you wouldn't be doing… this." He gestured toward the two of them—and Cain's
half-removed armor—disgustedly. "Get out of here. If you're that desparate, I'm sure
Barbaricia would be happy to oblige you."
"Barbaricia?"
"Yes…" Rubicant murmured. "After all… you're both creatures of the sky. Talk to her.
She may be growing tired of me… I can't say I'd blame her for that. but get out of here…
the man Cecil won't want her back if you've destroyed the woman he knows and loves—
or so he thinks." He turned and left.
He also happened to walk past me. "What brings you here, Emporere of Fire?"
"Your minion is acting irresponsibly."
"Very well." I nodded nonchalantly and pulled a bottle of whiskey from a compartment
hidden in my armor. "Care to join me in a drink, Rubicant?"
Rubicant produced a glass from under his cloak. "Don't mind if I do."
I poured him a glassful and took a swig from the bottle. "To life and conquest."
He smiled at me in a bitter sort of way. "To Master Zemus."
"Indeed." I knocked my bottle clumsily against his glass and downed the contents. "I
hope this doesn't mean that we're going to be caught drunk and unawares by any…
hereos."
"I hope so too…" he murmured. "But right now I think I just need a sleeping pill and a
nap."
What do you think of that?" We had relocated to the Tower of Zott, which was decidedly
less comfortable than my old house of crystal, but business is business.
"I think he's an idiot." Cain sighed. "He's probably going to die in the process of
climbing the fucking mountain."
"You may be right, but if he gets assistance from others who can fight the undead, the
fact that he carries the Dark Sword will be of little consequence. If he makes it to the top
of the mountain, he must be killed before he is stripped of the armor of the Dark Knight
and becomes a Paladin. If he succeeds, he will be even more of a threat than he is
already."
"Let me be the one to kill him, Master." Cain seemed eager all of a sudden.
"Why should I?" I snapped. "You had your chance to kill Cecil, but you went soft
because of your precious Rosa!"
Cain winced. "I—I'm sorry."
"You'd better be sorry," I snarled. "You're pathetic, Cain. You very nearly risked our
operation for that." I gestured toward Rosa, looking disgusted. "You could have had her
regardless. But now… I have other plans."
"O-other plans, master?"
"You'll have to wait for a piece of the precious Rosa. Cecil is alive, and he'll want her
back… whole." I stared down at Cain, with a slightly bitter, sadistic look in my eyes.
"You'll have to keep your roaming hands off her, Cain…"
"Yes, sir. Now… about Cecil?"
"Of course… come, Scarmiglione!"
Scarmiglione appeared before us, his tattered white cloak grimy. "You called, Master
Golbez"
"Yes, I did." I leaned back against the wall. "The Dark Knight Cecil is climbing Mount
Ordeals. He wants to become a Paladin."
"I'm not sure I quite follow you. How does this involve me?"
"Kill him before he can become a Paladin. There is a house of light at the top… that will
strip away the essence of darkness inside him. Kill him before he gets that far,
Scarmiglione. If you don't…"
"I can imagine what will happen to me if I fail, Master Golbez. I am very aware of the
weight this job carries, and I'm honored that you've selected me to carry it out. I will die
at the hands of the Dark Knight before I retreat… but I will not die."
"Glad to hear that you've finally deemed me worthy of your support," I sneered.
"I have seen what you can do and I believe strongly that I was mistaken in my first
impression of you. You are a lethal fighter and a more than competent leader. I was an
idiot. You don't need to tell me that."
"Good, it would be a waste of my breath." I tossed an amulet to him. "Take that and wear
it. It'll keep you alive if he manages to kill you."
"What does it do?"
"It'll resurrect you. Once. If he kills you once, it'll bring you back… stronger than
before. But it only works once. So if he kills you a second time… you're dead,
Scarmiglione, and there's nothing I or anyone else can do it, save going to the Realm of
the Dead to get you back… which isn't worth it, if you die at his hands."
"I understand, Master Golbez. I won't fail you."
"Glad to hear it. Go and prepare yourself."
He left.
"So Scarmiglione will kill Cecil then?" Cain leaned back and looked at me. "Is that it?"
"It should be… if all goes well." I stared at him, my eyes boring a metaphorical hole in
his skull. "Otherwise, you may very well get the privilege of watching Cecil die. I may
even let you strike the killing blow. Isn't that nice?"
"Yes, master. May I leave, please?"
Yes. Go. Get out of my sight, Cain. I can't stand the sight of you, get away from me, I
don't want you here, there's something wrong, I can't tell what it is, please don't make
me think about it… what are you doing to me Cain you're confusing me I'm Master
Golbez I can't think like this…
"I suppose so," I said finally. "Get yourself a meal too, if you like. You're probably
hungry since I haven't given you meal time for the past couple of days."
His stomach growled audibly. "Uh… yeah, I am feeling a bit peckish. I'll just go get
something then." He walked away to the invisible food storage. I kept it invisible for a
good reason. He reached in and pulled out some sort of thing—I think it was a
sandwich—and took a bite. "May I leave, sir?"
"Yes. Go."
Cain left. I slumped down against the wall. I felt sick, and I didn't even know why. It was
too late in the game to get drunk, so all I could do was beat my head against the wall. No,
I couldn't do that. Cain would see. And hear. He'd know something was wrong, and he'd
want to know what. He'd get suspicious.
But how I longed for a bit of booze… no. Nonononono. Can't think like that can't get
drunk can't take that risk it could put the whole operation at risk I'm getting sick I can't
take it any more…
"Master Golbez? Are you feeling all right?" Cain was still here. Why wouldn't he go
away?
"I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. I think it must be all of the alcohol I've consumed lately, I
think it's finally catching up to me with all of the leftover hangovers I never had. Don't
worry about me, go on your way…"
"If you're not feeling well, I have to stay with you, Master Golbez. It's my job to serve
and protect you if I have to. Please don't be angry, but this is what I've been drafted to do
and I intend to do it."
"Leave me, Cain."
"I can't do that sir."
"Go." I glared at him. "Don't make me tell you again."
"Yessir." He began to walk away. Towards that place where we kept the girl Rosa.
"Get her to work for us and I may even give you a vacation," I sneered.
"I don't think that's going to happen," he said bitterly.
"You just may be right." I sighed.
I told him.
And he was gone.
the water demon responded crisply.
Cagnazzo seemed shocked.
I cut the connection.
Cain was in the other room. I could hear him talking.
"I could get you out of here, Rosa, if you'd let me."
"I don't like what you've become, Cain. You're nothing but a slave to Golbez. I won't
help you or do anything that you want. Leave me alone."
"I can take what I want from you, Rosa. Golbez isn't going to stop me. He won't even
care. Nobody will know. I could kill you, and it wouldn't matter. You're pointless, Rosa.
Useless. Pathetic. I can do what I like, it doesn't matter…"
"Leave me alone, Cain!"
"Leave her, Cain." Rubicant. Rubicant was here, in the tower, without being summoned,
and speaking to Cain.
I stood outside the room, slumped against the door, listening with a bit of amusement. No
need for booze anymore, this was more interesting than being drunk.
"Why are you ordering me around like this? You're just a demon, I'm not going to listen
to you." Cain was angry now. He turned away from Rosa to glare at Rubicant. "Get out
of here. You're such an ass sometimes."
"Is that all you can call me? She's helpless, Cain. Can't you see that? Don't you care? Of
course not… honor doesn't mean anything to you, does it?" he sighed. "Never strike at a
helpless victim. Never. If you do, I swear that I'll kill you."
"You? Kill me?"
"Easily. I'm an elemental demon, Cain, but you're a soft, pathetic little human. You are
all weak. It's the way of humanity. They have some worth, but they are weak. Take this
Rosa here… she's a pretty girl, sure enough, and you're human as well…"
"I love her," Cain snapped.
"No you don't." Rubicant glared at him. "You're missing my point entirely. If you loved
her you wouldn't be doing… this." He gestured toward the two of them—and Cain's
half-removed armor—disgustedly. "Get out of here. If you're that desparate, I'm sure
Barbaricia would be happy to oblige you."
"Barbaricia?"
"Yes…" Rubicant murmured. "After all… you're both creatures of the sky. Talk to her.
She may be growing tired of me… I can't say I'd blame her for that. but get out of here…
the man Cecil won't want her back if you've destroyed the woman he knows and loves—
or so he thinks." He turned and left.
He also happened to walk past me. "What brings you here, Emporere of Fire?"
"Your minion is acting irresponsibly."
"Very well." I nodded nonchalantly and pulled a bottle of whiskey from a compartment
hidden in my armor. "Care to join me in a drink, Rubicant?"
Rubicant produced a glass from under his cloak. "Don't mind if I do."
I poured him a glassful and took a swig from the bottle. "To life and conquest."
He smiled at me in a bitter sort of way. "To Master Zemus."
"Indeed." I knocked my bottle clumsily against his glass and downed the contents. "I
hope this doesn't mean that we're going to be caught drunk and unawares by any…
hereos."
"I hope so too…" he murmured. "But right now I think I just need a sleeping pill and a
nap."