Six Words [Chapters 31-34] (Patreon)

Hey peeps!

Here are some more chapters. ALSO, above is a map of the area in question for Six Words (the two nations that will be of interest). I'll get it professionally done, but this was the rough lines for the artist, LOL

*** Also, I changed the hunter demon's name to Harrow (for simplicity, and because he gains strength from fear)

Shami

Chapter Thirty-One

“Be careful who and what you give your loyalty to.

Tyrants wear the clothing of charity.

True leaders wear the clothing of responsibility.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            I smelled the demon long before I saw it.

            My heightened olfactory sense was thanks to the dog’s life essence I had absorbed, and for a short moment in time, I wondered what I would gain from absorbing this hunter demon’s life force.

            Mazun and Ryota pulled their blades at the same time, the moonlight shining off the edges of their weapons. They moved in front of me and took defensive stances, their knees slightly bent, their muscles coiled in preparation to spring forward.

            “Oh, sweet darkness,” Ketsu whispered. “Why am I here? Is it my fate to die in the wilderness?”

            He was so… dramatic.

            I moved him behind me.

            The life essence of the demon was so strong, I knew he was practically on top of us. Every hair on my body stood on end as the stench of blood wafted between the trees.

            Then the demon emerged from the darkness.

            Harrow wasn’t natural. He was the mix of a wolf and a weasel, and twenty times as large. He had a canine-shaped head, with fangs as long and thick as my arm and just as sharp as any sword. The demon’s body was elongated like a mongoose, and agile. The beast slipped between the large oak trees with ease. His fur and muscles rippled as he snaked forward, the low branches rustling as he pushed them aside.

            The beast had long legs, long fingers, and even longer claws—a sickly creature born of nightmares. His “hands” were human shaped, but padded on the palms and fingers like a dog.

            Spears dotted his back like spines, as though the weapons had been lodged there so long, they had become one with his body. And Harrow had at least two dozen of them, the long wooden shafts of the spears worn down or shattered in some cases.

            On a few of the spears… I spotted nets, each filled with human skull fragments. The bones, some which still had rotting flesh on them, clattered as the demon moved. They were the source of the rancid smell.

            Harrow also wore several necklaces made of human teeth—trophies of his kills.

            “What’s this?” Harrow asked with a growling chuckle. “Ring Warlock of death… Back so soon? Before you’ve mastered your magic? What a pleasant mistake.”

            “Stay back, fiend,” Ryota commanded. He tightened his grip on his blade, and it flashed with moonlight.

            The demon stopped only fifty feet from our location. His black, lustrous fur shimmered, his wolf-ears twitching.

            “You’re all mere morsels,” Harrow called out. “But the ring is a prize I cannot pass up.”

            When he smiled, I knew his plan of attack.

            “We should take cover!” I shouted.

            But it was a moment too late. Harrow had reached up with one of his elongated arms and pulled a spear from his flesh. With terrifying speed, he whirled the spear around in his palm and then threw it.

            The spearhead exploded through the trunk of a tree, skewering it. Harrow had been aiming for Ryota, but only slightly missed. Or perhaps, that was what the demon wanted…

            Ryota leapt away, startled. He hadn’t been expecting a projectile. He took cover behind a tree, as did Mazun.

            Ketsu had already fled, hiding behind the largest and oldest tree trunk he could find. I sidestepped closer to my historian, but I didn’t fully hide myself. Ketsu’s ragged breathing meant he probably reeked of fear—which was what Harrow wanted.

            The demon reached for two more spears, his creepy arms twisting as though he had three elbows. The bags of shattered skulls clattered about as Harrow dropped them on the forest floor.

            “Run,” Harrow called out, playful. “Run. If you all hurry away now, a few of you might make it back to the castle… But if you stay in hiding, none of you will survive.”

            With unnatural movements, the demon clawed his way forward. His red eyes locked onto me, but then he froze. The beast’s breath was hot, and with each exhale, he disturbed the forest around him, rustling the canopy.

            Harrow wouldn’t get to close—he stayed at least twenty feet away at all times. He dashed around the trees, moving to my side—moving around all of us—but the demon knew of my magic.

            He was afraid.

            Then Harrow threw another spear.

            It whistled through the air, straight for my leg.

            But I jumped! Faster than I had expected—faster than I had ever moved before. With shocking agility, I managed to avoid the spear, but then I slammed into the branches of the nearby tree and collapsed to the ground.

            “Rimon-nox,” Ryota called out.

            When the demon circled closer, Ryota lunged from his hiding place. He slashed in an arc with his blade, clipping the demon in one of his long legs. The lunar metal effortlessly gouged through the monster’s bone, severing the limb clean from the demon’s body.

            Harrow roared, flashing his fangs. With extreme speed, he clawed at Ryota. He clipped the bladekeeper in the leg, carving out a chunk of muscle. Ryota hit the ground, and then the demon… vomited.

            Yellow-green bile gushed from Harrow’s canine maw. It wasn’t blood. It was a disgusting swamp-like liquid that could only be from the deepest crevasses of a rotting body. The smell was toxic, and the life essence it radiated made me sick. Like acid, the bile ate away anything it touched, wrapping it, disintegrating it.

            The foul green liquid splashed across the dead leaves on the ground, and then over Ryota’s injured leg.

            “Ahh!” Ryota’s cry echoed through the woods.

            I dashed forward, panic taking hold of me.

            “Careful,” the Warden hissed in my ear. “You’ll only make the demon stronger if you’re afraid!”

            He sounded genuinely worried.

            But I couldn’t stop now. I ran toward the demon, wanting to save Ryota.

            “Tsk,” Harrow hissed the instant he saw me.

            Faster than a creature his size had any right to be, the demon slithered into the darkness, leaving Ryota. Harrow refused to allow me to get near, which was what I had been counting on. And even though the demon was missing a leg, and bleeding, his movement didn’t seem impaired.

            I knelt next to Ryota, his skin sweaty, his body shaking.

            “Everything will be okay,” I said. “You need to take cover. I’ll handle this.”

            Ryota gulped down ragged breaths. “You need to hide. The demon will—”

            Another spear whistled through the woods. It slammed into a nearby tree, inches from my head. I shivered as I ducked, my heart out of control in my ribcage.

            “You’re afraid,” the Warden whispered, caution in his tone. “The demon will be faster, stronger, tougher, the longer you succumb to the terror.”

            Another spear shot through the dark. This time, Harrow targeted Ketsu. My historian was crouched behind a tree, and the spear flew over the top of his head, carving a hole through the tree trunk. Ketsu shrieked and then leapt forward. He tripped, fell, and hit the ground, clearly too terrified to stand.

            That was all Harrow was waiting for.

            I stood, ready to run for him, but I knew I wouldn’t be fast enough.

            Harrow lunged out of the darkness, the demon’s supernatural speed frighting. His maw was open, and he was ready to crunch his fangs down on Ketsu.

            Without warning, Mazun slipped around a tree trunk and attacked the demon while the beast was distracted. Inches before Harrow chomped down on Ketsu, Mazun plunged his lunar metal sword into the side of the demon’s neck, carving out a hole that gushed crimson blood.

            Harrow thrashed, missing Ketsu, but slamming his tail against Mazun. He sent the bladekeeper tumbling like a small doll.

            “Fools!” Harrow roared. “I am the hunter, and you are the prey!”

            Fueled by the fear and panic, the demon sprouted a new leg. It burst from his flesh, the fur on his leg wet with hot blood, his new foot flexing his freakishly long toes.

            When Mazun went to stand, Harrow slashed at him, cackling the whole time.

            “You should’ve run!”

            Harrow cut four deep furrows across Mazun’s chest, completely slicing through the armor, clothing, and straight into Mazun’s flesh. My bladekeeper hit the ground, his weapon falling from his hands, his blood spilling across the forest floor..

            “Just for this…” Harrow held the side of his neck, blood weeping from between his fingers. “I’ll rip your teeth out of your skull while you’re still alive.” Then the hole on the side of the demon’s neck writhed before closing itself.

            Harrow moved forward on Mazun.

            I ran at the beast. Ketsu didn’t move—he remained rooted in place, terror as his chains. I passed him, determined to end this.

            Harrow whipped his wolf head around just as I reached him. With all my concentration, and with a controlled breath, I touched the beast’s black fur.

            “Die,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

            I activated my magic. The twisted and corrupt life essence of the beast slipped from his body and entered mine.

            It burned.

            I almost shouted in pain—and I almost ripped my hand away—but I didn’t.

            Harrow screamed again, but unlike everything I had attacked with my magic before, Harrow didn’t immediately die. He had so much life essence, it was like draining a lake of water. I siphoned his life, but not nearly fast enough.

            The demon thrashed his tail and struck me away. I was hit so hard in the gut, I lost my breath and landed on the ground on my back. The life essence of the demon surged through my body, burning like hot coals were lodged just under my skin. My back arched as the pain tore through me. With a strangled cry, I groaned.

            I had to get up.

            “You’re going to die if you don’t,” the Warden whispered.

            Harrow wheezed and coughed. He looked… older. Withered. Dying. His eyes were sagging out their sockets, his gums were melting away from his fangs—even his new leg was shriveled and shrinking, as though atrophying right before my eyes.

            “You,” Harrow shrilly cried. “You’re an abomination. Look what you’ve done to me!”

            Then, with his remaining might, Harrow leapt for me.

            I rolled to the side as the beast slammed down onto the ground where I had once been. With all my willpower, I got to my feet and ran for the nearest tree. On instinct—animal instinct?—I leapt at it and jumped off the trunk, propelling myself upward.

            The power…

            I hadn’t realized how powerful the red elk and the dog and everything else I had absorbed were…

            I sailed through the canopy of the forest. Again, on instinct, I twisted my body so that I would eventually land on my feet. Then I crashed through the leaves and hit the ground next to the demon. If I had been a normal man, I would’ve shattered, but I was something different now.

            Harrow’s sagging eyes jiggled with recognition when he spotted me. He flexed his fingers, his body coiled to strike.

            So I used my magic more aggressively. I hoped the others weren’t too close, and just allowed my Heat Death to finish this monstrosity.

            “I said die,” I shouted.

            Three nearby trees withered. Insects in the dirt died. The corrupted essence of the demon slipped from his body, his flesh breaking apart, his blood escaping him.

            “No!” Harrow screamed.

            With a weak slash from his shriveling arm, the demon swiped at me. His claws hit my shoulder, and dug a tiny wound. My tree-like toughness made it difficult for anything to really cut me.

            It was a pathetic wound—right before the demon collapsed.

            Dead.

            He was so twisted, wrinkled, and dehydrated, that I barely recognized the beast. His canine head and long body were practically rolled over on themselves, like how a spider curled up as it died.

            I swallowed a breath and ended my magic. Then I staggered backward, my joints aching, the fire in my body overwhelming. No one’s essence had ever been this terrible, this agonizing.

            I fell back into a sitting position, my vision blurring at the edges.

            “You managed to kill it.” The Warden chuckled. “I’d say I was impressed, but you made this whole fight harder on yourself with your terror.”

            After a few deep breaths, I wiped the sweat from my face. “I…”

            “Mazun?” Ketsu asked, so panicked he didn’t even use honorifics. “Mazun? A-Are you…?”

            I snapped my attention to Mazun’s body as he lay under a half-shattered tree. He bled from the injuries the demon had given him, unmoving.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Creation is the greatest power, purpose, and possibility.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            Ketsu rose from his position on the ground and hurried over to Mazun. With shaky hands, he undid Mazun’s armor and moved it aside. Then Ketsu took off his outer-most silk robe and wrapped Mazun’s injuries.

            “Say something,” Ketsu demanded. “Say anything.”

            I turned around, my thoughts on my second bladekeeper. Ryota leaned against a far tree, his leg mangled, his skin basically burned off, leaving his exposed muscle glistening in the moonlight.

            After a deep exhale, I pushed myself to my feet and hobbled over. When I knelt, he flinched away, shaken. His helmet and mask were on the ground next to him, as was his sword.

            “Rimon-nox…” When Ryota’s eyes focused on me, he relaxed. “I apologize.”

            His injuries were ten times worse up close. The demon’s acid had eaten away so much of Ryota’s flesh, some of his bone was visible. The man was paling, all color draining from his extremities.

            In one outing, against one demon, I had somehow lost both my bladekeepers? What kind of lord was I?

            “There’s no reason to apologize,” I forced myself to say. “You did a-admirably…”

            Ryota, casual as ever, offered me a smirk. “Don’t feed me lies. A dying warrior doesn’t want to be coddled.” He gritted his teeth and motioned with a tilt of his head toward his sword. “Bring me… my weapon. Please.”

            I stood, and then shuffled to the glittering blade. When I went to pick it up, I grunted with effort. The sword—it was so heavy. The blade had to weigh nearly a hundred pounds! But that was impossible. No one could wield a weapon so heavy.

            With a groan, because my body was still aching from the demon’s essence, I lifted the sword and brought it over to Ryota. When the man took his blade, he effortlessly held it close. It was practically weightless to him, even though it had been so heavy for me.

            Ryota turned the weapon around, angling the tip of the sword toward his chest.

            I grabbed the sword’s handle and shoved it to the side. “No. Wait.”

            Ryota took in a ragged breath. “I don’t have much strength left… Either I do this now, or I die a slow and disgraceful death.”

            An idea struck me.

            I didn’t want this essence I carried. It was twisted and corrupted, and burned more than anything. But weren’t the people from the Hantha Imperium part demon? What if I gave Ryota this essence? Would it hurt him like it did me?

            “Let me try something,” I said.

            Ryota painfully snorted a weak laugh. “I don’t think you can fix this with a couple of bandages…”

            I held out an unsteady hand. Then I touched the lunar metal blade, slicing open my own palm. When the blood wept freely, I pulled back.

            “What’re you—” Ryota whispered.

            I forced the life essence of the demon away from me, turning my crimson blood sliver. Just like with Mori, and the spiders, I offered my hand to Ryota.

            “Take this,” I said. “Hurry.”

            “What… is it?”

            “Do you want to die? Just take it.”

            I brought my hand to his lips and offered the silver blood. Although Ryota was reluctant, he eventually took my offering, drinking the essence I had stolen from the demon. He gulped once, coughed, and then wheezed. Some of my glittering blood splattered onto his chin and across the chest piece of his armor.

            But he had taken some of it.

            The agony coursing through my body lessened. I breathed easier.

            “Let the essence help you,” I said.

            Ryota wiped his lips with the hand of his hand. “What was that? It’s so… vile.”

            “It’s the life of the demon. Please. Focus on it. Allow it to permeate your body.”

            After a few steady breaths, Ryota leaned his head back against the nearby tree. He closed his eyes, and I hoped he was doing as I had instructed, but perhaps he was just preparing for death. If this didn’t work, I had no other solution.

            “Oh, thank the darkness,” I heard Ketsu whisper.

            I stood and turned around. Mazun was managing to sit up, so I walked over to him, thankful I had rid myself of most of the demon’s essence. The ache of its presence was tolerable.

            Ketsu fussed over Mazun as the bladekeeper pushed himself into a sitting position. The robes around Mazun’s chest were stained crimson, and he shook when he moved, his arms quaking. The injuries were deep, but I suspected no major organ had been punctured. If we managed to get him back to the castle, perhaps Mazun would live.

            I didn’t want to give him the rest of the demon’s essence…

            Mazun wasn’t half Hanthan, and I feared the twisted the nature of the demon would harm him.

            “You’d be correct,” the Warden cryptically replied, answering my thoughts before I voiced them. “A normal human won’t take well to demon energies.”

            Ketsu wrung his hands together. Then he patted around the ground until he found his ivory-framed glasses. One lens was cracked, but that didn’t seem to matter. Ketsu placed them on the bridge of his nose and sighed in relief.

            “You saved my life, Mazun-zar,” he said. “I am forever in your debt.” Ketsu offered the man a bow of his head.

            Mazun, bloodied and weak, just glared. “It’s my duty as a bladekeeper to protect others from such abominations. I would’ve done the same thing for anyone. You owe me nothing.”

            “I still appreciate your efforts.”

            “Some of us take our positions seriously,” Mazun stated, his remark rather pointed.

            Ketsu frowned. Then he stood, brushed himself off, and rolled his eyes. “Ugh. Even on your deathbed you’re insufferable. Why was I even concerned about you?”

            When I inched forward, I realized Mazun was also heavily bruised. The moonlight streamed down around us, illuminating the dark spots across his shoulders, neck, and face. The demon had struck him rather hard, and I suspected his slow movements were from the battering, and not the gouges across his chest.

            “Thank you, Mazun-zar.” I looked him straight in the eyes. “Even if it just your duty, I want you to know you’re appreciated.”

            He shook his head and didn’t reply.

            “Don’t waste your breath.” Ketsu crossed his arms. “The man is too proud. Too stubborn.”

            I wanted to reply with how Mazun was proving himself to reliable, but my words were forgotten the moment I sensed another presence. Something was here, its essence just as powerful as Harrow’s, perhaps greater.

            Tense and confused, I stood straight and wildly glanced around.

            Where was it?

            “Is something wrong?” Mazun whispered.

            “Another demon is nearby,” I replied, breathless.

            The leaves rustled, and a cold wind howled through the trees. Then some branches swayed, and a giant spider descended along a line of spun web.

            Kumo.

            I smiled as I approached him, my chest tight with joy. “Thank the good night you’re here.”

            “My mother…” Kumo landed on the ground in front of me. He rubbed his legs together. “She wishes… To see…”

            Several trees rustled this time. Dozens of branches shook and snapped. The leaves above us parted, seemingly on their own.

            I saw no spider, but the hot breath of something was upon me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I realized that Kumo’s mother was invisible. Unlike her weaker babies, she could remain invisible, even while moving.

            And this demon was above us.

            “I am Rimon, the Ring Warlock of Wist Castle.” I turned my attention to the branches. “Show yourself, so that we may speak.”

            Ketsu and Mazun both followed my gaze, their brows furrowed in confusion. Ryota, still off by the far tree, his injuries worse than the others, didn’t give this newcomer attention. He remained still.

            The area before me shimmered, as though heated. A gargantuan spider seemingly appeared out of nothing, its body bone white, almost translucent, its eight eyes red.

            The demon was far larger than I had been expecting—it was at least the size of the carpenter’s workshop within the castle walls.

            Four of the eight legs appeared to be normal spider limbs, though each was covered in spines sharp enough to cut through flesh. The other four legs were fiendish creations. They were legs wrapped with silk, holding animals—or people—onto the spider itself. The web sacs were open in a few places to reveal the eyes of the victims, their expressions frozen in silent terror.

            The demon’s massive abdomen pulsed with a sickly glow, revealing shadowy shapes writhing beneath its translucent surface, hinting at the horrors it might unleash. The air around the demon was thick with the stench of decay, though that didn’t surprise me. Just like Harrow, this creature seemed to love to adorn itself with the body parts of its victims.

            The spider’s maw, filled with rows of needle-like fangs, dripped with venom that sizzled as it hit the ground, leaving smoldering craters in its wake. A low, guttural hiss emanated from deep within the demon, reverberating through the air.

            “Oh, sweet darkness,” Ketsu whispered. He backed away until he hit a tree, and then he remained frozen in place.

            Despite his injuries, Mazun somehow grabbed his weapon and stood.

            “Stay back,” I said, holding up a hand. “I will handle this.”

            Kumo scurried around one of the webbed legs of his mother. Then he stopped and rubbed her legs with two of his own. “Saiki… My Mother… Saiki…”

            The demon spider moved closer, until she was practically looming over me. Her red eyes had small black pupils—it was creepy, since I had never seen any spider with eyes like that. Her pupils all snapped to me, drilling into me.

            “Saiki,” I muttered. Then I offered her a slight bow.

            With measured movements, the colossal spider brought one of her legs close to my head. I didn’t move, yet she didn’t touch me.

            “I detest humans,” the demon said, her voice deep, but feminine. “But I love my children, and they sing of your compassion, loyalty, and kindness.”

            “Several of your children live in my castle.”

            “This one sings of your generosity. He sings about the essence you gather in a web of your magic. He sings of his broken body, and how you mended him.”

            I nodded once. “I hope he also sung about how he rid my castle of insects, and how the Ring Warlock of the south has been trying to spy on me.”

            The demon hissed louder than before. Ketsu leapt around the tree, hiding behind the trunk.

            “I hate that human the most,” Saiki growled. “She is a grub who has transformed herself into a pile of pests. That Ring Warlock doesn’t understand the natural order. She wants me dead.”

            I held up a hand. “Saiki, the reason I came here was to speak to you about this matter. I’m not fond of that Ring Warlock, either. Nizuka wishes to control me, and I suspect she’ll try to kill me if I ever blatantly go against her wishes. I can’t have that.”

            The demon spider shifted her weight, her eight legs giant, her eyes glowing with hate.

            “What is it you propose?” she asked, her voice softer, sweeter—somehow more terrifying.

            “We make an alliance.” I placed a hand on my chest. “I’m a Ring Warlock who wields death. I’m not afraid of demons.” With a shrug of my shoulder, I motioned to Harrow’s corpse, the husk of his remains still withering. “Perhaps we can help each other.”

            The Warden chortled in my ear. He didn’t offer advice, though.

            Chilly evening winds wafted around us, shaking the leaves. Dozens of fist-sized spiders appeared on the branches as they moved around, their invisibility temporarily dropping. Once the wind stopped, the spider all vanished once again, hiding.

            “I will make this alliance,” Saiki sweetly replied. “So long as you give me one of your men.” She motioned to Ketsu, Ryota, and Mazun. “They are disposable, and I need their seed to create more offspring.”

            “You can’t have any of my men,” I stated.

            Saiki hissed so loud it echoed through the woods. When she moved closer, bringing her fang-maw closer to me, I could only assume it was threat.

            “I still have some of the life essence of the hunter demon.” I held up my injured hand. “You can have it instead.”

            “I don’t want a small amount of that pathetic demon’s essence. The Ring Warlock of the south slaughtered a great deal of my family and I want them back.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“The land on which you walk is alive. Be gentle with it.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            “I…”

            After a deep breath, I turned my attention to the others. Ryota was the only one who hadn’t much moved. I didn’t know if he was alive, but if he was, I wasn’t going to offer him up to a demon. Mazun was a loyal warrior, and while I wouldn’t betray his trust, I knew he was the only one who would go willingly if I commanded him.

            Ketsu was a eunuch. Even if I was comfortable with surrendering him—which I wasn’t—I was certain that Saiki would be enraged with the offering.

            And I couldn’t offer up random people from my prefecture. What kind of lord would I be if I did that? A monster…

            “Ketsu-rah,” I called out.

            The man slowly shifted around the tree trunk, until half his body was visible. He fixed his broken glasses and kept his gaze down. “Yes, Rimon-nox?”

            “I need your advice.”

            After a deep exhale, Ketsu left his position from behind the tree. He quickly made his way over to me, cringing whenever he glanced over at Kumo or Saiki. Once close, he practically locked himself to my arm, his fingers twisting into my sleeve.

            The mother demon eyed Ketsu, though she said nothing.

            “Yes?” Ketsu whispered.

            “What do you think I should do?” I whispered. “What else could I offer?”

            I was out of ideas, and I didn’t know how to make this right. On the one hand, I could leave, but then nothing would be resolved. On the other hand, I could kill Saiki and take her head back to Nizuka, which is exactly what she wanted. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with her again until winter…

            But I would have to kill Kumo if it came to that. As well as the other spiders.

            It wasn’t a route I wished to walk.

            Ketsu mulled over my request, and the longer he did so, the less frightened he became.

            “You could give her a man from the castle—an elderly one.” Ketsu shrugged. “Men of any age can still produce children, and some might willingly give their life to serve.”

            “I want a strong male—a capable male.” Saiki sucked in air through her fangs. “My children deserve more than the infirm. I want their voices to sing beautiful songs.”

            “You could request the emperor send you a prison of war,” Ketsu offered. “Several Ring Warlocks have asked the emperor for Hanthan warriors so that they use them in experiments, or to train their magic—I’m certain he would give you one if you but asked.”

            Saiki didn’t balk at that suggestion. She observed even closer, her hot breath waving over me with each exhale.

            Taking enemy soldiers seemed cruel, but I supposed that was the nature of war. However, it still didn’t sit right with me. I had yet to introduce myself to the emperor, which meant there were still several steps I had to take before I could ask him a favor.

            “Think of something else,” I whispered.

            The Warden chortled again, this time with more amusement. “Why not just take her as one of your concubines?”

            “One of my concubines?” I repeated.

            Ketsu grimaced the moment I even mentioned it. “Rimon-nox, please. I don’t think you understand the importance of who you choose to be one of your concubines… And this, uh, lovely spider will not inspire confidence throughout the prefecture.”

            Saiki laughed, though it was dark and vile. “I consume the male once I’m done fertilizing my eggs.”

            The Warden’s own dark laughter joined in. Apparently, this was too amusing. The Warden probably knew of Saiki’s murderous nature when he made the suggestion for her to be a concubine.

            Ketsu leaned closer to me. “You could offer her access to your magic.” He spoke in a hushed manner, but loud enough for the spider to hear.

            “Your magic?” Saiki twitched the fangs in her mouth. “You can offer your essence-stealing death to others?”

            From the tone of her voice, it seemed as though she didn’t know the costs of tethering herself to me. Yes, I could grant her magic, but then she would be bound to obey. Was that why Ketsu had asked it so loudly? To trick her?

            “How lucky you are,” the Warden said. “Not many demons will speak with humans. I doubt she’s aware of what your magic will cost her. This is your chance.”

            After a moment of thought, I nodded. “I can offer people my magic. Show her, Ketsu-rah.”

            Ketsu took in a deep breath as he glanced around. Most of the forest around us was dead—thanks to me—and he had to walk over to a distant tree before he could demonstrate his abilities. After he placed a shaky hand on the trunk, he activated the magic he had borrowed from me.

            The tree’s bark darkened as it died.

            Then the branches sagged, and the leaves fell off by the dozens.

            Ketsu barked in pain and jerked his hand away. He grabbed his wrist and cradled his arm, shaken. Was the only the second time he had used the magic? At least now he would develop tougher skin…

            I hoped.

            “Yes, yes,” Saiki said. She stood taller, her massive spider body pushing the branches of the trees to the side. “I want this magic. I need it. The power of death will make me mighty, and the essence gathered will make me unstoppable.”

            Kumo rubbed his legs together, and hundreds of spiders revealed themselves in the trees as they did the same.

            “I will agree to make an alliance with you, in exchange for some of your magic.” Saiki lowered herself once more, her spider face inches from mine, the glow of her red eyes intense. “Do we have a deal?”

            I held out my hand.

            But then I pulled it away before I touched her.

            “It’s more complicated than that,” I muttered.

            “Don’t tell her,” the Warden hissed. “Just make the deal!”

            Even Ketsu gave me an odd sideways glance, as though I was making a terrible mistake. But I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want Saiki to be resentful for the rest of her days. She wouldn’t be an ally, then. She’d forever be a rabid tiger I had on the end of a short rope. As soon as she could, she would destroy me.

            So I had to tell her everything. I had to be honest.

            “If I give you my magic, I’ll be tethering you to me,” I said. “You’ll have to answer my commands, no matter how harsh they may be.”

            Saiki remained silent for a long time. I waited, hoping she understood what I had told her.

            When she remained quiet, I decided to elaborate on my plans. “If you do decide to be tethered to me, I would want you to make this preference your home. To help us grow. And to keep Nizuka from our lands. I’d want you—and your family—to thrive, so long as it doesn’t come at the cost of my citizens. We could work together. Forever.”

            “It would’ve been so much easier if you had just tricked her,” the Warden whispered.

            I ignored him.

            A home built upon lies wouldn’t really be a home at all.

            And I understood why she was so excited to get my magic, rather than the essence I carried. She wanted the ability to easily gather as much essence as she wanted. This was difference between offering a fish or offering a fishing pole. With one, she could grow stronger forever.

            “If you just want essence,” I continued, thinking this over, “I can promise to give you spare essence when I collect it. Then you won’t have to tether yourself to me, and you can still make this prefecture your home.”

            “You want me to trust that you’ll keep your word?” the demon spider asked.

            I motioned to Kumo. “You can ask your children about my character. I won’t break my word to you.”

            All the spiders, including Kumo, chittered little songs. They were practically all in unison, singing to their mother, telling her things in a language I couldn’t understand.

            Saiki waved them away with one of her long spider legs. “Yes. I hear you. They sing of your kindness. It was the only reason I didn’t kill you when I had the chance.”

            I stiffened, unsure of where this was going to go. Could she have killed me? I hadn’t known she was invisible until after the fact. Perhaps, if she leapt at me right after I killed Harrow, she could’ve won, but it would’ve close call.

            “However,” Saiki muttered, “they do speak of your nest, and how you allowed them to part of it. You protected them from the other Ring Warlock. Humans don’t… normally extend such generosity to arachnids.”

            I held out my hand. “We can be allies. You can live in this prefecture—in my castle—and grow your family. But you must obey my rule. You can either trust that I will give you essence from time to time, or you can tether yourself to me, and collect your essence effortlessly when you see fit. Either way is fine by me.”

            While I wanted to save the tethers for my family, I could use how exchanging them for powerful allies was also useful. If I had a demon protecting Wist Castle, we would be well defended, even if I was missing three bladekeepers.

            Although…

            Demons did eat humans. That would be an issue we would need to address. And if Saiki ever consumed any of my citizens, I would treat it like any other senseless murder.

            Besides, we had plenty of enemies to choose from. I doubted she would go hungry.

            “Your magic,” Saiki whispered. “I saw you use it against that pathetic hunter. It kills… but how strong is it? Can I use it against ancient demons?”

            “It’s a gift from Axraksii,” I said.

            Ketsu tensed, shock written across his face. He didn’t want me to reveal that to anyone.

            The demon spider practically flinched backward, the black spots under her white-translucent skin swirling. Saiki was stunned into silence for a long while.

            “You made a pact with Axraksii himself? He is the First Shadow. He snuffed out the light. He is the only worthy male.”

            “It’s his magic I wield.” I kept my hand out, waiting for her decision. “So, I assume it’ll work against ancient demons, but I’ve never tested that.”

            Saiki’s red eyes glowed brighter. She inched forward, the odd pupils in her eyes shifting from my hand, to Harrow’s rotting body, and then back to my hand.

            I wondered what kind of demon she wanted to kill, and why it was so important. But I didn’t ask. That was beyond my concern at the moment. Currently, I had to solidify my power, and make certain I was protected from Nizuka’s threats.

            Saiki loomed over me.

            Then she reached for my hand with her fangs.

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Only one prefecture touches the Hantha Imperium, and that’s Temlin.

A narrow strip of land is all that separates the two countries.

For years, Hantha has attempted to steal a ring for their own purposes.”

- A quote from ‘Varinth’s Beginnings, a History Book’

            Saiki’s fangs oozed with her venom, but she slurped it up before any more droplets hit the ground. I waited, but right before she accepted my tough, the demon spider hesitated.

            “My children sing of your trustworthiness,” Saiki whispered. “So, give me your word that if we make an alliance, I can call upon you in turn. Even if I’m bound by your magic.”

            “For what?” I asked.

            “The other demons. It’s not just the Ring Warlock who wants me dead. Spiders are despised by many.”

            “If you’re my ally, then you’re my ally,” I stated, aware I was repeating myself, but it mattered here. “That isn’t just a word that means nothing, and when I speak, it is always with honor.”

            It was risky making an alliance with a demon, I understood. Since humans were their source of sustenance, it was obvious why they couldn’t necessarily be trusted. However, I had read stories in The Teachings of Shoki about how some demons were faithful allies to select humans. Perhaps it could work here.

            “Very well,” Saiki whispered.

            She touched my hand with the tip of one of her fangs, and I tethered her to me, the same as I did with Ketsu. It was powerful sensation, as though ice water were pouring over me, starting from my scalp and dripped down to my toes. It felt different than the first time, and I wondered if this was because I had attached myself to a demon rather than a human being.

            Kumo rubbed his legs, along with all his siblings.

            Saiki chittered as she sprang away from me, her massive spider body colliding with the trees and toppling a few.

            “Such magic,” she whispered.

            I only had one tether left.

            “You never cease to surprise me,” the Warden said in my ear. “Now what will you do with a demon ally, I wonder?”

            Saiki further moved away, her red eyes shifting to the darkness.

            “You should come to Wist Castle,” I said. “We will make space for you.”

            Her magic shimmered around her like a heat wave, shrouding her in invisibility. “I will. But first, I must gather my eggs and the last of my nest. Then I will make my way to your castle.”

            Although I couldn’t see her, I felt the tremors in the ground as she turned and crawled back up into the trees. The branches swayed, and leaves fell, but her body was hidden from sight. Saiki disappeared into the darkness of the woods.

            Then I turned around.

            “You never should’ve told her about your source of magic,” Ketsu cryptically whispered.

            I shook my head. “I can always command her to never tell anyone.”

            What did it really matter if she knew about my connection to Axraksii? Would Saiki speak to the emperor about my claims? I seriously doubted it. However, just to be certain, I could give her the command to remain silent.

            But then Mazun turned his attention to me, his eyebrows knitted. “You… gain your magic from Axraksii himself?”

            Ketsu threw his hands up in the air. “Now everyone knows. What did I tell you? I told you that if you kept talking about it, this would happen.” He motioned to Mazun, and then the darkness where Saiki crawled off. “This is a disaster.”

            “You worry too much,” I muttered.

            But even mentioning worry had my thoughts returning to Ryota. However, when I turned to head over to him, I realized the man was awake and looking well. I jogged over, expecting to find his leg a mangled mess, but instead seeing it mostly healed.

            It barely looked like he had been injured.

            “What happened?” I asked.

            Ryota ran a hand over the smooth skin of his leg. It was whole, his muscles intact—only his armor hinted at the awful wounds he had but minutes ago.

            “When Ketsu was fearful, something changed,” Ryota said under his breath.

            This was interesting. When I took life essence, it took me a full night of rest to absorb it, but when I gave it to others—Kumo the spider, and Mori the spirit—it seemed to become one with them instantly. Had that happened with Ryota as well? Had Harrow’s magic merged with his, and now he had some of the demon’s power?

            “I’m glad you’re okay,” I said.

            Ryota met my gaze, his eyes searching mine. “You saved my life. I thought you were a Ring Warlock of death? How… How did you…?”

            “If you’re well, we should head back to the castle.”

            I stood and then gestured for him to follow. I didn’t feel like explaining my powers any further, especially since Ketsu was already disappointed with my openness.

            Ryota managed to stand, which surprised the both of us. He took a moment to test out his leg, even placing all of his weight on it, as though seeing if he would buckle. He didn’t. The man’s body was functioning, and while he was still pale, I suspected he would live.

            The snap of twigs drew my attention to Mazun and Ketsu. My historian was attempting to help Mazun walk—as Mazun was now the only injured person in our group, his body quite bruised.

            “Lean on me,” Ketsu demanded. “If you’re not going to accept my appreciation, like a proper warrior would, at least accept my assistance.”

            Mazun half sighed and half groan as he rested most of his weight on Ketsu’s shoulder. Then he limped forward with the other man’s help.

            “Why are you doing this?” Mazun muttered.

            “Because I’m actually appreciative, and it’s insulting that you think I’m not sincere.” Ketsu struggled a bit with Mazun’s weight, but he soldiered through regardless.

            Mazun didn’t have anything to say to Ketsu. As a pair, they slowly made their way back to the path. Ryota turned to me, and motioned at them, as though we would follow. I shook my head.

            Harrow’s body…

            I walked over it and placed my hand on the husk of a corpse. The fell beast was dead. This was a demon no more. However, I had heard the bones and hide of demons were far stronger than normal. People often used demon bones for buildings, weapons, and armor. Should I take Harrow’s corpse back to the castle? What was the best way to do that?

            The dirt near my feet shook. Tree roots sprouted up near my sandal, and I stepped away to give it room.

            The roots formed a mouth and then smiled up at me. “Ah, Ring Warlock. We see you have slain this demon. Thank you.”

            Roots jutted up from the ground and then around the shriveled body. With deliberate movements, the roots snaked through Harrow’s body, tying themselves to it. The corpse began to sink, being pulled into the ground.

            “Are you taking this?” I asked.

            Mori’s root-mouth smiled wider. “The demon’s marrow will help feed us. This causes no offense, yes? We need nourishment from time to time.”

            After a long exhale, I nodded. If Mori wanted the bones, I supposed I would allow it. Harrow was a weak demon, after all. His bones weren’t going to be anything notably impressive. If we found an ancient demon, and killed that, it would be a different story.

             “Thank you for helping our crops.” I gave the root-mouth a short bow of my head. “We will be taking our leave, Mori-nox. Please continue to protect these woods and bring us bountiful harvests.”

*六つの言葉*

            We returned to Wist Castle right before dawn. Ketsu took Mazun to see the physician while Ryota and I returned to the audience hall. I still had some of the demon’s essence, and I wasn’t certain what to do with it. Obviously, I couldn’t sleep, or else I would absorb it.

            “You could corrupt your essence just a little bit,” the Warden whispered.

            As I paced around the throne in the audience hall, Ryota took a seat at the low tables meant for advisors. He crossed his legs and sat on Ketsu’s blue pillow. I had to wave him away from it, and even pointed to the white pillow nearby.

            Ryota begrudgingly got up and moved.

            “I don’t want to twist my essence,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “I’ll just wait until Kumo is here, and then I’ll give it to me.”

            “Hm. Or…”

            “Or what?”

            I came to a stop, my eyes fixated on the floor right before my feet.

            “You could give it to me,” the Warden sweetly said.

            I caught my breath, taken aback. The Warden hadn’t asked anything from me before. He wanted life essence? Why hadn’t he mentioned it earlier?

            “Why?” I asked, my brow furrowed.

            “I thought it was obvious. I want it. Do I really need another reason?”

            “But… what are you going to do with it?”

            I still had no idea who or what the Warden was. He had said I was wearing a piece of him, and when I glanced down at the ring, the black metal of the band seemed… colder than usual. What was this?

            “You gave essence to the spider for no reason at all.” The Warden growled in my ear. “You gave it to the tree, to your bladekeeper—I have no doubt you’d water the plants outside with it if given the option. You couldn’t spare just a tiny bit for me? Your ally? The one you thanked for helping you?”

            The Warden was right. I had given it to everyone who I considered an ally. And the Warden had helped me several times. It was concerning that he wouldn’t tell me what he needed it for, though.

            And he had made it rather clear that, while I considered him an ally, he didn’t consider me to be one.

            “I’ll give you the rest of this essence,” I whispered. “But if you want more, you have to tell me what you’d want with it. Deal?”

            The Warden said nothing.

            I waited, and when I realized he would never reply—never truly agree—I decided to just give him the essence regardless. Perhaps I would see what he was going to do with it.

            I closed my eyes and attempted to shunt the essence through my connection with the ring. Would the Warden be able to take it like this? I hoped so, because if he couldn’t, I wasn’t entirely certain what I would do next.

            With an exhale, the essence left me. The Warden gobbled it up like a hungry hatching takes food from its mother. Once gone, I felt much better. And the ring felt warmer.

            “Thank you,” the Warden said, his tone sincere.

            “You don’t have to be so cryptic all the time.”

            “Why do you keep talking to yourself?” Ryota asked. He leaned on the advisor’s table and eyes me. Despite his terrible injuries from earlier, and his shattered armor, he was looking rather healthy and awake. “You’ve been mumbling for two solid minutes.”

            I shook my head. “I apologize. I’m… a little preoccupied.”

            A terrible presence prickled the edge of my senses, and I realized a demon was close. I assumed it was Saiki, and I straightened my posture.

            “Is something wrong?” Ryota leapt to his feet. “You’re tense.”

            “The spider demon is here.”

            “Already?” Ryota touched his dark brown hair, his helmet and mask nowhere to be seen. “We haven’t prepared for her arrival.”

            I sat in the throne, up on the elevated dais. “I suspect she’s in her human form. If that’s the case, most people won’t recognize she’s a demon. I’ll receive her, and then find a place for her to stay.”

            She was drawing closer, and fast.