Chapter 43

  Everything was aching by the time Axl reached Korinth. The burns on his arms and torso had dulled, but now his joints and muscles were strained from days of near-constant riding. Between the aches and the thoughts running around his head, he felt like beating answers out of the first authority he laid eyes on. But Axl also knew that coming in like a violent storm would only make matters worse. In fact, he had hoped to ride into the barracks quietly gather what he could before speaking to a superior.

  He did not succeed.

  Despite the evening hour there was a sudden alarm with his return. Apparently, they had not expected him to come riding in at all. It was a young recruit who ran up to take his horse who told him the news: Kern had reported him dead. The young man then retold the story about a terrible fire in Bellane caused by an evil magician. Axl did not correct him as he let him take his horse.

  Just like the demon said, Axl thought to himself as his mind replayed the whole strange meeting once more.

  The morning after the fire, he had awoken in a house heavily bandage with much of his body still feeling as if he were baking in an oven. No one was about, but he found his burns dressed and food waiting for him by the bed. His body screamed at him when he attempted to sit up, so he laid back down and stared at the ceiling – waiting for his mysterious caretaker to return.

  “Already awake?” An oddly cheerful voice popped into the room though Axl couldn’t see anyone from his bed. It was a sparse room with only one door. He looked up to see if there was a window by his head, but no. There was only one window on the far side, and it was closed.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “I’m everywhere and nowhere,” the voice replied. Dread started to well up in Axl’s chest. It forced him to try and sit up again.

  “Ah ah ah, you need a few more days before you try that!” the voice chided.

  Axl groaned as he was forced to lay back down by the intense wave of pain.

  “What the hell are you?”

  “Something you can’t fight, so why try? Besides, I’m not here to torment… much. In fact, you owe me a big thank you. If not for me, you would have died in the fire.”

  Axl did not like this even if there might be some truth to what the voice was saying.

  “Show yourself,” he demanded.

  Out of thin air a young man appeared, but it was not a man. No man would dress like that. The creature looked as if he was from the south lands, but Axl had never seen those people wear gold tattoos or such outlandish clothing. It looked like an ancient statue come to life, dripping in gold finery. But this one had an odd set of golden eyes and teeth that belonged to an animal.

  Axl held his breath as he realized what had him. This was no monster of flesh and blood but a spirit-like demon. There were very few stories of saviors ever defeating such a creature. Most considered them almost god-like in their abilities with no weapon to vanquish them.

  “No, no, there’s no need for that,” he said as he seemed to pick up on the captain’s apprehension. “I’m here to be a friend! I saved you from the fire, and now I’m going to help you with the one who started it!”

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  “What?”

  “That no-good Kern fellow! He had orders to kill you! You weren’t sent out to take care of Waldron. Kern was sent out with you so that him and Waldron could take care of you!”

  Axl grew still as the idea collided with all the oddities of his mission. Why he was sent alone with only Kern. Why he was sent at all when he had other responsibilities in the ranks.

  “There we go. Now you’re catching on,” the demon said with a grin as he leaned against the foot of the bed casually.

  “Why? Why would they want me dead?”

  “Because you questioned them! You disagreed with their plans for the old temples, did you not?”

  “It seemed unnecessary,” Axl replied.

  “Oh, but it is necessary! You see, they’re following a very careful plan, and they can’t have reasonable people like yourself poking holes in it.” The demon playfully prodded at Axl’s feet beneath. Axl scowled at twisted his body painfully away from the surprisingly physical touch.

  “And why do you care what the saviors do?” Axl did not believe what he was hearing or seeing for that matter. He was carrying on a conversation with a creature that he had sworn to vanquish even if he had no idea how to do that.

  “Oh, I don’t! But I do have an interest in someone who’s going to make it their business to sort out that plan, and I want him to stay in one piece.”

  “Who?”

  “Why that chilly little resurrectionist you’ve been bothering!”

  “What? Why would he care about what the saviors do? He’s on the run.”

  “Yes and no,” the demon tilted its head left and right before it began to walk around and explain.

  “Normally, he would just walk away. He has good sense like that. But he recently met your man Titus and the whole thing about burning temples and invading neighbors has him twisted in a delicious knot.”

  Axl scoffed at the explanation, but the demon continued.

  “Well, believe it or not, you’re going to cross paths with him again. And next time, you’re going to help him.”

  “And why would I help him? What’s your interest in him?” Axl eyed the smiling creature skeptically.

  “Oh, it’s a bit of personal business I’ve been trying to conclude. But as for why you’re going to help him. There’s the obvious fact that you owe me. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret.” It then came close enough for Axl to smell its oddly sweet perfume and see how its eyes glowed in the dim corner of the room. “He’s going to help your little bunch of sword-wielding idiots.”

  Axl had leaned back into the bed but still stared at the creature with nothing but suspicion. He didn’t believe it. This was a creature that spewed nothing but lies, twisting words into any shape to get what it wanted.

  “I owe you?” Axl questioned. He nodded stiffly to the room and the food. “It looks like some villager pulled me from the fire and started patching me up. Not you.”

  “Who do you think got you outside in time enough for them to find you?” the demon lifted a brow as he stood back and waited for an answer. “If you don’t see the value in my act, I can always take it back.” The demon lifted his hand, palm up, and a small ball of fire appeared. “I can put you right back where I found you.”

  Axl grew still at the sight.

  “Well?” the demon asked. “Still want to question it?”

  “No,” Axl replied tightly.

  “Good!” The demon closed his hand and snuffed out the fire. “I knew you’d be reasonable! Handsome too I might add!” He said with a wink and a smirk.

  Axl sneered at the compliment. “So, you just want me to help the resurrectionist?”

  “Yup! Be a friend.” He said as he started to vanish. “I’m sure you know how that works.”