Part VII (Kaimei)

I'm sitting on a low bench in my armory, head bowed, sword across my knees. In a few hours, once the sun will reach its zenith, we are going to leave. I breathe deeply, deliberately, gathering my power around me. Two months of preparations are culminating in this very day, two months of planning, of hoarding all our resources. Are we ready? Not really. Nobody could be ready for what we are going to do. Nobody else could even dream about it.

My hand closes around the hilt of my sword, feeling its familiar shape and weight. The sword of my fathers, ingrained with their life-force, their will to hold out. Involuntarily, my grip tightens.

Soft footsteps approach but I don't move. Just my wife. But what is she doing here? She knows she has no place in this. Paela hesitates at the door, but as I don't say anything, she takes a few steps forward.

"Husband, I need to talk to you."

"Now?"

One word, but enough to convey my disapproval. She raises her chin just a little.

"Yes, now. I would not have you leave without knowing."

After I short silence I nod, signaling that I will listen. Paela straightens herself, shoulders squaring as she draws a deep breath.

"I am with child."

It takes a few moments for her words to penetrate. Then everything else is forgotten and I am on my feet, sword clattering to the ground as I pull my wife into my arms. Startled, Paela gasps, hands coming up to grasp at my shoulders. A child. My child. I immediately loosen my grip, suddenly afraid to hurt her. Almost shyly, she smiles up at me and I realize that I am smiling as well. I have a few hours left.

Arm still around her, I steer my wife back into our rooms and settle her into a padded chair. Even though I know that it is too early to feel anything, I reach down to cup her belly. There's no difference, not yet, but is growing in there, this new life, our child. I silently resolve that for giving me this, this great joy, she shall have everything - anything she asks for, anything that is mine to give. My child will be powerful, a true Azeel and I will teach him in person, or her, I suppose. It really doesn't matter. A child...

If only she had told me sooner, days, weeks ago, the second she knew for certain. For a moment, I am tempted to go down and change my orders, tell everyone that we aren't going after all. But no. This child is all the more reason to go through with the plan. It needs to be done.

When I have to leave her alone, several servants are tending Palea, two of them under orders to not leave her side under any circumstances. I pick up my sword from the ground and belt it around my waist. In the courtyard, the Azeel are waiting, a hundred upturned faces watching me as I descend from my tower. They are our best, roughly half of the fully trained warriors and even as I take my place in their midst, six of them step forward. They are going to breach the dimensions and hold the gap for as long as we stay over there. Another dozen is assigned to countering the effects of the poisonous makai air. It wouldn't do to be forced to retreat after Gods know how short a time. I'm hoping to be out of there after two hours at most but, well, better safe than sorry.

The sun is warm on my skin. In the makai it will be night. I nod, and the world is eclipsed by a light too bright to endure. Then the makai closes in around us. It is a lot like diving head first into a pool of ice water – for a moment I can't breathe and even once I got used to it, it feels like the air itself is warping my perception. I shake my head. In front of us, the palace is looming, the palace of the Demon Emperors. All around me, the men are forming ranks, unsheathing their weapons as they move forward. They know what to do: get in, wreak havoc and kill as many high-ranking demons as possible, ideally starting with their Emperor himself. Then, before they have a chance to send for help, I am going to give the signal to retreat. It's a good plan as plans go. Now we'll have to see how it holds up in reality.

Of course, the palace, itself, is shielded but we are human and our magic is different from the powers that dwell in this hell. And, after all, they are not expecting an attack in the very heart of their world. All in all, it is surprisingly easy to get inside.

Once we are past the gates, we break up into groups of four or five men each, spreading across the area. Soon the first lights flare up and the sounds of battle, both physical and magical, fill the air. A startled figure appears in front of me and, seeing strange markings and pointed ears, I strike it down. Yes! I make for the largest building, rushing past marble walls and dark, gaping hallways. He must be here somewhere, their new Emperor, the one with the claw for a hand and the power of a beast-god. It is him I have come for.

But the corridors are empty, deserted and shouldn't somebody be here?! Even worse, I don't feel power, or rather not enough of it. Still, I keep running, keep extending my senses until I am sure that I have reached the center of the palace. Then, finally, I allow myself to pause. I walk through another door and what I find makes me freeze. He is here.

He is standing in front of a tall window, turning to me with a mixture of surprise and awe. A trap? But no, he seems unable to do anything but stare, genuinely stunned by my presence. Perhaps he belongs.

Without taking my eyes off him, I take a step back. I keep walking backwards until I can close the door and throw the bolt. Never turn your back to a demon. He never moved from his place by the window.

I set out into another direction. Somewhere here the Demon Emperor must be waiting.