Page 37 of The Demon's Delight
He shrugged, arms crossed over his chest as he relaxed his stance. “This is my post.”
“Big draw for trouble, is it?”
“You’d be surprised. Usually just brigands or wayward travelers, but occasionally a demon wanders through.”
“Ah.” I chuckled and put my wings away.
“The odd feeling on the road you got is the wards. Most people turn back. Those that don’t are left to deal with me.”
“Oh?” I smiled at him, but his face was stone serious. “Oh. Oh! Are you the ghost of this place?”
The gargoyle dipped his chin in confirmation but said nothing further.
“Seir?” Hailon’s voice called out, her tone edged with stress.
“I’m here!” I called, turning back toward the stone shelter. “I put some water on not long ago, I could make tea? Something to eat? She’s sure to be starving by now. Won’t you join us?”
Coltor scanned the area then gave a short nod, following me back to our little camp.
Chapter 18
Seir
Hailon was standing near the fire, both my cloak and hers wrapped around her shoulders. “Seir, I need to tell you something,” she said as I got closer. Urgency laced her hasty words. “As I was falling asleep, I could see shapes. Pillars, and walls. I think we’re inside”—she paused, eyes widening as she took in the large man following behind me—“the ruins.” Her multicolor eyes darted between us.
“I agree! I came to that conclusion myself not long ago when I started wandering around. This is Coltor. He’s the big scary haunting thing that keeps people away from here.” I turned to him. “There are lots of wonderful stories about you!”
“Good,” was all he said in response. He seemed a little rough around the edges, hard to make smile, but I wasn’t going to hold that against him.
“Ah… hello,” Hailon said, eyes wide as she stared at him. Coltor dipped his head in response.
“You must be famished by now, yes? I’ll fix us something to eat.” I went ahead to the packs and got started pulling out supplies. Hailon and Coltor stared at one another.
“Your companion is a demon,” Coltor commented, pulling some stumps inside to serve as seats. “But what, exactly, are you, my lady?”
“Me?”
“Coltor is a member of the stone kin,” I explained.
“Stone kin?” Her eyebrows pulled together as she joined me at the packs, helping to gather what meager supplies we still had to assemble a meal.
“Gargoyles and grotesques,” Coltor said, standing once again. Like I had during our little exercise session, he showed his wings in illustration. The abrupt movement made Hailon step back.
Coltor’s wings had fierce spurs on the tips and appeared to have more bones between the membranes than mine. They were the same leathery skin, however. Most of my brothers had at least some feathers on their wings, but not me. I was like Coltor, with bat-like smooth ones.
“Gargoyles like the statues?” she asked, eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “What’s a grotesque? What’s the difference?”
“Nothing, if you ask most of us. Some disagree, but they’re wrong.” He retracted his wings. “I’d demonstrate further, but I haven’t been able to shift properly since…” He stepped toward her, looking down into her face with a menacingly curious expression.
He was larger than me, bulkier, though not much taller. Compared to her, however, he was quite a bit bigger and intentionally hovering in a way that put him in a position of dominance. I didn’t like it. In fact, it made all my protective instincts scream.
I pushed my way between them, my favorite blade in my hand and pressed to the large artery in his throat before he could blink.
“She’s not your enemy, stone man. But if you approach her like that again, you will be mine. Do we understand one another?”
A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “I see. Apologies.” Coltor stepped back from us both, hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You’ll have to pardon my manners. I’m out here for long stretches with no socialization. I’m afraid I get a little rusty with how to interact politely. What can I call you, my lady?”
Hailon blinked, glancing between us before responding. “I’m no lady,” she said shaking her head. “My name is… Hailon.” I could tell she’d changed her mind last minute from offering her surname instead. She stuck out her hand, and he accepted, his much larger one engulfing hers as he gave it a gentle up-and-down shake.
