I know I said it was just going to be a brief story, but I decided to
continue it anyway. Please review for an increased chance of further
updates.
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"This is an outrage, Morgan!" thundered Alvis, the head council member. Morgan half way agreed. He had expected that his proposal would be automatically scorned, but he hadn't expected his own position on the matter to be wavering. Here, in the middle of the court, so far from the woodland, it seemed absurd. As Morgan had retold his tale of how he found Akakios, he nearly wanted to shout at himself for insubordination, yet he pressed on.
"Further more," rang out Alvis' voice. "We do not, and have never allowed any paladin to simply scoop up a minion of Hell's to keep as a pet..."
"I didn't bring him here as a pet, sir," interjected Morgan. "I brought him here as a recruit."
"Which is even more ridiculous!" responded Alvis. "What makes you think that a demon like the one you brought here can be trained to use the lavatory, much less how to properly wield..."
"We have seen various different types of demons wield different types of weaponry," Morgan cut off once more. "We have also seen them use simplistic pieces of armor. Since I know of no human merchant willing to part with these goods for the sake of arming demons, we are forced to conclude that the demons have intelligence enough to forge and use armor and weapons."
"Perhaps, Morgan, but to what effect?" asked Katrina, diverting the attention from old Alvis before he popped something. "And what, uh, breed of demon is it that you've brought?"
"You know very well that the creatures wielding these weapons used them effectively enough to pillage entire villages, many of them filled with strong men ready for battle! As for his breed, I have no idea. To tell the truth, I've never seen any demon like him," admitted Morgan, feeling that this was slightly beside the point.
"Do we even know what it eats?" Alvis asked, his question dripping with sarcasm.
"It seems to be content with human food," replied the deep rumbling voice of Samuel.
"And how long before it craves human flesh?" snapped Alvis.
"I find no humor in that," Morgan seethed.
"No humor was implied," Alvis casually leveled. "But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll allow the tiny beast to stay for a while, on the sole condition that his life be tied to yours. If he shows one flicker of corruption, you both will pay the price."
"But sir, Akakios could very well be pulled into temptation that has nothing to do with the fact that he's..."
"Then I suggest you keep a close eye on him and make very well sure that he doesn't get tempted by anything, understand?" Morgan looked downcast as he hung his head, considering Alvis' proposition. "Well?" asked the head council member. "Do you accept?"
********** A half hour after the meeting was concluded, Morgan was bouncing Akakios on his knee. The demon child looked happy, but the paladin's face was quite grave. He hugged the demon closely and whispered in his ear, "Both of our lives are in your hands now, child."
"This is an outrage, Morgan!" thundered Alvis, the head council member. Morgan half way agreed. He had expected that his proposal would be automatically scorned, but he hadn't expected his own position on the matter to be wavering. Here, in the middle of the court, so far from the woodland, it seemed absurd. As Morgan had retold his tale of how he found Akakios, he nearly wanted to shout at himself for insubordination, yet he pressed on.
"Further more," rang out Alvis' voice. "We do not, and have never allowed any paladin to simply scoop up a minion of Hell's to keep as a pet..."
"I didn't bring him here as a pet, sir," interjected Morgan. "I brought him here as a recruit."
"Which is even more ridiculous!" responded Alvis. "What makes you think that a demon like the one you brought here can be trained to use the lavatory, much less how to properly wield..."
"We have seen various different types of demons wield different types of weaponry," Morgan cut off once more. "We have also seen them use simplistic pieces of armor. Since I know of no human merchant willing to part with these goods for the sake of arming demons, we are forced to conclude that the demons have intelligence enough to forge and use armor and weapons."
"Perhaps, Morgan, but to what effect?" asked Katrina, diverting the attention from old Alvis before he popped something. "And what, uh, breed of demon is it that you've brought?"
"You know very well that the creatures wielding these weapons used them effectively enough to pillage entire villages, many of them filled with strong men ready for battle! As for his breed, I have no idea. To tell the truth, I've never seen any demon like him," admitted Morgan, feeling that this was slightly beside the point.
"Do we even know what it eats?" Alvis asked, his question dripping with sarcasm.
"It seems to be content with human food," replied the deep rumbling voice of Samuel.
"And how long before it craves human flesh?" snapped Alvis.
"I find no humor in that," Morgan seethed.
"No humor was implied," Alvis casually leveled. "But I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll allow the tiny beast to stay for a while, on the sole condition that his life be tied to yours. If he shows one flicker of corruption, you both will pay the price."
"But sir, Akakios could very well be pulled into temptation that has nothing to do with the fact that he's..."
"Then I suggest you keep a close eye on him and make very well sure that he doesn't get tempted by anything, understand?" Morgan looked downcast as he hung his head, considering Alvis' proposition. "Well?" asked the head council member. "Do you accept?"
********** A half hour after the meeting was concluded, Morgan was bouncing Akakios on his knee. The demon child looked happy, but the paladin's face was quite grave. He hugged the demon closely and whispered in his ear, "Both of our lives are in your hands now, child."