Epilogue I – The Clans Folk

Gael stared at the horizon, lost in thought. Chen had returned two days ago. Two days that she’d spent in utter shock and horror.

“I knew this was a mistake. I knew it.” She spat bitterly, her gray curls rustling in the wind. “But no one would listen. Not the other elders, and not the warriors. And now who do we have left?”

No reply came. Just the quiet howling of the wind, and the shifting of the clouds above.

At least there were no more explosions. When the enormous eruption had sounded a week ago, the entire night had gone red. In her heart, she’d known then that something had gone terribly wrong. But she’d held out hope.

Hope that died the moment her scouts had returned.

But even then, seeing their weary expressions and hopeless gazes, she still hadn’t expected it to be that wrong. That their entire war force was entirely obliterated. By all accounts, not a warrior had survived.

Turning, she glanced at the posted guards near the edge of the amphitheater. Four of them.

Which was incredibly generous, given they had perhaps three dozen warriors left in total—even including Chen’s squad.

Of course, there were still hundreds of non-combatants. The crafters were the most valuable. A fraction. The rest were all women, children, and the elderly. The children at least would grow. Many could become warriors, if time allowed.

And there were more green folk around the outskirts that may yet still be gathered and migrated to them.

But even so… It all needed time.

Time that Gael was nearly certain they did not have.

She blinked. Something threw her from her internal musings. It took Gael a few moments to parse out what it was.

The light.

It was mid-afternoon, yet the horizon seemed to be dimming. Only, when she turned, it wasn’t just the horizon but the entire area around the open amphitheater that was noticeably more dreary.

Raising her head, she turned towards the guards—or where the guards had just been.

A blanket of dark fog cascaded down the stairs of the earthen arena, landing in an inky pool by the stage she sat upon. To her horror, it was expanding. Like some kind of living and breathing ocean of taint.

Cursing, she rose to her feet and grabbed for the leather dagger sheath at her belt. Despite her age, Gael didn’t hesitate as she unsheathed the iron and held it in front of her.

Clearly, the dark visitor wasn’t from Valdren. Not if they’d lost to those beasts and demons as Chen had claimed.

Beasts and demons. The idea was still so insidious she hardly believed it. But the proof was here, just in front of her.

Proof that her clans had clashed with Valdren and The Solari in a domain that belonged to none of them.

It turned out to be a nest of demons that somehow just happened to sit smack dab in the middle of the terrible massacre of her people. Something that she wasn’t convinced these beasts hadn’t been part of. Chen seemed sure they were simply holders of a domain—one that they had trespassed upon.

Gael, however, couldn’t fathom they hadn’t been involved. It was far too much of a simple coincidence that these demons would up and appear in their backyard right as Valdren and the paladins clashed with the warriors. Not to mention the corruption and taint. Both of which seemed to stem from that very same demonic domain.

Regardless, if they really had come to visit, perhaps she could begin to get some answers. And, maybe, just maybe, safety for what was left of her people.

“Show yourselves. I know it’s you, demons.” She kept her voice calm, showing no sign of the fear that plagued her heart. Fear for the hundreds of surviving exiles and clan folk that were going about their lives in the distance.

From the clouds of darkness, a figure resolved itself. Striding on two massive paws, a wolf as large as Rosk emerged.

Bigger, now that she really looked.

Gael’s eyes widened. Never had she seen a beast like this demon. Enormous muscles, wicked bone armor, and a nightmarish maw of what Gael could only describe as pure evil protruding along his shoulder. It had an axe-like appendage on the end with what she’d swear was dried blood still left on it.

Heartbeat quickening, the elder bit down to keep them from trembling. She once again looked upwards, at the top of the amphitheater where the guards had been. Yet, nothing but inky blackness remained. As if the night itself cloaked what was there.

“They are not there, human. My brethren have ensured your pack mates are somewhere comfortable so we can talk. Do not worry, they are not harmed.” The demon gave a toothy grin, before leaping atop the stage.

Hissing, Gael nearly fell over as she moved back to regain some space between her and the creature. Still, despite her fear, Gael’s reason remained. If this demon wanted her dead, she would be. She needed to focus on what mattered.

“Please do not harm my people. Our warriors are gone. We are no threat to you or yours.”

The wolf seemed to be confused by this. “I prowled through your village on my way here. I counted what must be three hundred or more of your kind. Where I come from, spawn such as that are not a threat today. But they do grow. I should know. Not long ago, I too was but a spawn like them. So when you say they are no threat to us, either you are foolish or deceptive. Which is it, human?”

“Spawn? You… Of course. Demons must use different words than us…” Despite the circumstances, Gael found herself curious. What was life like as a demon? How did they grow? Then, thoughts of her hundreds of massacred warriors returned to her mind and her will hardened. She shook her head. In front of her stood what must be the leader of the wicked beasts in their land. And regardless of if that leader was partially responsible or not for the downfall of Rosk and her warriors, she had more clan folk to save. More exiles to ensure stay freed. She would not falter.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened and lowered her dagger. It would do her no good here. Instead, she returned it to its sheath and gave a small bow. “Forgive me. I did not mean to mislead you. I do not know how long it takes a spawn of yours to grow into a warrior, but for humans, it takes decades.”

“Huh. Is that so.” The wolf rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Humans are quite interesting. Ah! Forgive me. May I have your name, leader of humans?”

“I am Gael. My people refer to me as an elder.” She bowed shortly.

To his credit, the demon returned the bow with one far deeper. Rising, he held out one massive paw, turning it upwards. “I am Boney The Night Caller—though you can just refer to me as Boney. It is a pleasure to meet you, Gael.”

She stared at the enormous paw for a few moments.

Am I supposed to shake? Is that offensive to a creature like this? Does it matter?

Deciding to take her chances, Gael leaned forward, clasping the paw firmly with her hand. The demon seemed logical and rational enough. This was a chance, and one she wouldn’t let go.

“Hear me, Boney. If you can promise me as leader of your kind that no harm will come to my people—that being all that reside here in this village—I will promise to do anything in my power that you ask in return. This I swear, under the very leaves that give us life.” She did her best to ensure no semblance of rage, fear, or mourning remained in her eyes. Just sincerity and a desire to protect her own. Something she thought this wolf may understand.

Gael wasn’t sure what she’d expected his reply to be. Cruelty or acceptance, perhaps.

But she got neither. Her words didn’t seem to insult or make the demon happy—rather, they seemed to confuse him.

“You think… I am the leader of my kind?”

Gael cocked her head. “Are you… You’re not?”

“No, human. My master resides there.” The demon released her hand, before pointing with his paw at the endless forests in the distance. West. Towards where Rosk had fallen.

That was not good. If this monster was but a servant to the true master… Gael sucked a breath inwards. “I see.” Then, a sense of vertigo hit her. She only now just really realized what was going on. Here she was, in a cloud of liquid darkness, shaking hands and talking to a two-meter-tall demonic wolf as if he was a foreign dignitary. But that couldn’t be. Creatures such as this, that were involved in the slaughter of so many, couldn’t possibly be so rational.

What was his true intention? Was he here to finish their people? To exact some kind of revenge? To collect humans for sacrifices? They were demons, and if they practiced dark magic, would they need her people as fuel?

“I can tell from your expression that you are thinking some very unsavory thoughts right now.” A soft smile touched the wolf’s lips. It looked almost comical on him.

“I… I…” Gael struggled to regain her senses. Finally, she ran her hands through her hair and growled in frustration. “What do you want with us, demon? What would you have us do?”

An emotion that Gael could swear was satisfaction gleamed in the wolf’s eyes. But it wasn’t a cruel satisfaction. It wasn’t that of a sadistic demon, enjoying the squirming of their prey. It was something deeper. As if… As if she’d just lost the opening conversation of a trade negotiation.

And that fact alone brought her a most odd sense of comfort. A thought that maybe, just maybe this demon had a touch of human in him after all. If not in form, then motivation.

“On the contrary, I’m here to introduce both myself, and the master I spoke of. As you’ve certainly heard by now, we’ve recently taken up residence nearby. So far, those of your kind have not been kind to us. Paladins from a land called The Solari, and metal men from Valdren. In both cases, we had to take… unsavory measures.” The maw on the shoulder of the wolf snapped its jaws, emphasizing the point.

Not that it needed to. Gael already knew as much from Chen. But the confirmation was something.

“Demon, believe me when I say, we had no knowledge of—”

The wolf waved dismissively, cutting her off. “Yes, yes. We know as much. We are not interested in furthering our hunt. Instead, we wish to form a sort of… agreement.”

Gael gaped. “You want… An agreement? Are you not demons? Are you not here to sacrifice our people?”

She could hardly believe it. Her warriors were gone, and this enormous demon had clearly been able to dispose of her guards like toys. Yet, he wanted an agreement. Like some sort of human.

“Gael, did I not tell you? When a pack is attacked, you defend yourself. We did this. In fact, it is my understanding that these Valdren soldiers killed many of your own, did they not?”

She nodded slowly.

“Then in a way, we have done you a favor by removing those that killed your warriors. I was there, you know.” He grinned, and this time a touch of cruelty did enter that canine face. “I can assure you. Those that wronged you were dealt with. Thoroughly.”

Gael studied him, trying to see through those predatory gold and red eyes. “Then… What is this agreement?”

“My master wants…” The wolf paused, as if recalling something. “Customers.”

***

Boney was delighted. When he’d first found the village, part of him—the half made of wrath and blood—had itched to release his claws and let strength do the talking. A part that Vorathrex would have reveled in.

Yet, the other half of him—the one that he was coming to like more and more—bade him otherwise. He’d pondered his master’s words over the week of travel, and by the end, had formulated a new side of himself.

One that was turning out to be delicious in a way no meat or ashroot ever had been. A hunt didn’t need to be blood. It could also be prey of a new kind.

Customers, master had called it.

Master was testing him. Boney knew it. Not as a warrior, but as a pack leader. This was his chance to show master that claws weren’t his most deadly weapon. But, as master had said, his mind.

So, starting with these surprisingly interesting humans, that was what Boney decided he would do.

By the end of his conversation with the elder human, Gael, he’d more than received the beginnings of her agreement. She seemed on edge, but something in his gut made him certain that he’d convinced her. At least in part.

And getting that agreement not at the end of his claws but the words he spoke?

It brought a new sense of joy Boney had never felt before.

“Anyway,” he said as they were wrapping up. “I will have your scouts returned to you. Again, no harm came to them. I apologize for the rude introduction, but we thought this best. To prevent any misunderstandings, you see.”

Despite his words, Boney did this as much for Gael’s safety as to show their strength. Master said that starting a negotiation on a seat of power always ended up with a better result.

Proof enough of that was before him.

“I see. Next time, I would encourage you to simply ask. I will leave instructions for my people as such.”

Boney let out a toothy grin. “Of course, elder of humans. As agreed, I will help your pack replenish your food stores over the next week. During that time, I will require them to wear the necklaces my master sent. A token of our friendship, from my master. My pack sees it as a sign of respect.”

That particular final line had come from his master. A bit of advice to help convince the humans to wear the golden jewelry.

But the hunting was his idea. He thought it was quite a good one too. The reason he’d chosen to offer his pact as such was primarily a way to gain more trust from the humans. This was a prime way to do so. Everyone loved fresh meat. It was what allowed a pack to live and grow.

Secondly, it was a light subterfuge. A way for him to spend time with more of these humans. Boney found himself curious about how they lived, and what they desired.

Gael bobbed her chin shortly. She hadn’t asked more about the signets, which was good. Boney preferred her to assume they were ceremonial and nothing more. Either she bought the story, or she decided not to push it. Either was fine with Boney.

“Demon.” The elder paused, before licking her lips. “I must ask. Is this taint… The sickness our forest carries. Is this your doing? We assumed it was Valdren, but seeing as you appeared at the same time that all of this happened… And the lights. What were those about? We’ve seen purple and red beams of light from your domain, followed by explosions. My people are terrified. While I can sit here and see your logic and reason, they are not as understanding. Could you perhaps ask your master to prevent any such demonstrations?”

“Of course. It was strictly measures taken to deal with—”

His voice cut off, as a feeling budding up in his mind sensed it.

Master… Now of all times?

Gael must have seen the resignation on his face. Tensing, she turned. Behind them, a column of orange light marred the skyline. It shot like a cannon, blasting through the air and pushing an aura of envious creation across the lands.

Moments later, a thunderous shockwave took the entire forest by storm. When the sound finally quieted, Gael whirled around and glowered. “You were saying?”

Boney winced. “Okay. I promise, that should be the last one. Master is just… excitable sometimes with his proclivities, you see.”

“Proclivities?”

Boney’s mind wheeled furiously. What would master do in this situation? Pivot. He’d pivot. Time to pivot the conversation.

“Yes, yes. Fret not. Master is a fair demon. Anyway. I’d like to begin discussions on future trade agreements!”

The look he got in return suggested that Gael was perhaps a touch less eager than he to discuss the matter at this very moment.