Page 81 of Demon Bound

“More?” It sounded just like what Azreth had been suggesting. This wasn’t a random attack. But she hadn’t thought there would be more monsters.

She turned to the guard. “Will you give us a few minutes?”

The guard raised an eyebrow, but she nodded. Raiya reluctantly guided the ex-Paladin aside.

Adamus bit his lip, looking torn. “Ontag-ul is my hometown,” he said somberly. “I am indebted to you for saving it. I was at the gate when it happened. The battle was impressive to behold.”

“He is impressive,” she agreed.

“You were, too,” he clarified. “Although I thought you were mad to run at it like you did.”

“Thank you.”

“Where’s the demon?”

“He’s resting,” she said vaguely, not sure she wanted him to be aware of just how injured Azreth was. “As he deserves.”

Adamus flashed a friendly smile. “You’ll hear no arguments from me.”

Raiya came to a stop in a secluded section of the camp and turned to Adamus. “What do you want?”

He cleared his throat, his expression growing serious. “There have been other attacks,” he said. “Along the road to the north, I heard.”

Raiya stiffened as she imagined more of those beasts. How many more could they possibly take on? Just one had almost killed them.

“There have been at least two,” he said. “I don’t think they were demons, like your friend, but there’s no doubt they’re hellspawn. The rumors I’ve heard said they were smaller beasts, but fearsome nonetheless. If there have been three already, you can bet there will be more. They’re killing people. Destroying houses and farms. It’s only a matter of time until they get into the cities and cause even greater harm.”

“They came from the same place Azreth did,” Raiya said. “My husband brought them here. I don’t know how or why, but he did.”

Adamus looked both relieved and dispirited to hear her say it. “That was my suspicion, as well.”

The only other person she might suspect was Gereg, but she hadn’t seen any evidence that there was anyone at the temple besides Eunaios who had the knowledge to summon demons.

What was Nirlan’s goal? Why set monsters loose on his own land? Was he that desperate to get to her and Azreth? Was all this destruction her fault?

She could not run away with the Roamers and forget their troubles, as much as she wished to. They had to deal with this. There was no one else who would.

“I have to do something,” Adamus said. “But I don’t know if I or the other Paladins can handle this. This, ah, is the part where I humbly ask for your help.”

“You want the help of a demon and his mistress?” she asked dryly. “Are you certain?”

He smiled. “Not even a little.”

“Then why are you doing this? Why trust us?”

“To tell you the truth… it’s just a feeling I have. I think Paladius is telling me to believe in you. Even if I don’t understand it, I trust him to guide my heart.”

“And why are you so personally invested in this? None of the other Paladins care so much.”

He raised his eyebrows a little. “It’s why I became a Paladin. To help people. To try to, anyway. I don’t know if I’m doing a very good job.”

She looked him over. She saw no sign of deceit. There was something about him—he completely lacked bitterness. Somehow, he’d avoided becoming jaded like her as he’d grown into adulthood, and he’d held on to a childlike sense of hope. “I’m not sure whether I envy your optimism or pity your naivete.”

“That makes two of us, lady.”

Chapter 26

When the caravan stopped for lunch the next day, Azreth went off on his own while Raiya ate with Jai and Madira and some of the others. When she went to look for him later, she found him near the herd. The sun was bright and cold that day, and he was a vibrant spot of alien blue in the landscape of green and brown. He was still wearing her gauze bindings, though she guessed he’d probably healed quickly enough that he no longer needed them.

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