The Heavenly Host

“And Talarius recognized him as this demon, and it also appears the child demon recognized Talarius.” Hilda paused to think. “Surely it must be coincidence. Surely, Lenamare would have detected that he was a demon?”

Trisfelt spread his hands palm up on his knees. “One would surely think so. We go through a large battery of tests during the entrance exams. I cannot see how something like that could possibly have been missed. Every master in the school interviewed him!”

Trisfelt shook his head, staring at the small demon’s image before him. He blinked suddenly. “On the road to Freehold, before Exador’s people attacked...” Trisfelt thought for a few moments. “I asked Rupert to help with the horses as we set up camp. He did not want to; he was quite panicked, in fact. Jenn and I brushed it off as childish fear, but he proved to have good reason. The horses were scared to death of him and went into a panic when he approached. I never thought much about it until now, but...”

“The horses must have sensed he was a demon,” Hilda added.

Danyel was shaking his head. “So this smaller demon had infiltrated your school years before?”

Trisfelt shrugged. “So it now appears. But the boy was such a good kid! He was very sweet and shy; I can’t possibly see how the boy I knew could be a demon!”

Hilda sighed. “From what I have heard and read, you would not be the first to be so fooled.”

“But if the Rupert demon truly is a child, how could it play such a tricky game for several years? Hiding among two of the greatest conjurors alive today?” Trisfelt asked in befuddlement.

“Well, I’d have to assume it is as Talarius said — the big demon is lying. The Rupert demon is not a child; it is simply pretending to be,” Danyel stated.

“To what end? Simple infiltration?” Trisfelt asked. “We really are not that interesting of a school. Despite Lenamare’s claims.”

Hilda thought for a moment. “As I understand it, Exador and Lenamare were at war over a book in Lenamare’s possession.” Trisfelt shrugged and nodded. “Is it possible this Rupert demon was searching for the book? On behalf of this larger demon?”

Trisfelt shrugged, shaking his head. “At this point, anything is possible. So then, is this larger demon in league with Exador? Is that how Exador knew he had it?” Trisfelt shook his head in exasperation.

“I’m not sure we can answer anything on this now; let’s move on,” Hilda said.

They moved on to the part where Verigas started ranting. Hilda motioned for Trisfelt to pause it at the point where Talarius stopped the argument between Tom and Verigas. “Well that certainly confirms what Jenn and Gastropé said,” she stated.

“From that perspective, it does seem like the Rod sort of overreacted,” Trisfelt said.

“Be that as it may, the ends were justified!” Danyel stated confidently.

Trisfelt shook his head again. “So if the big demon and Rupert were in collusion with Exador, why would they bring the Rod right to the gates of the city and the huge horde of demons? And it seems very sloppy to select a priest of Tiernon as your gateway in such a case.”

“To say the least.” Hilda was shaking her head. “Let’s table this as well and move on.”

They continued the balling, getting into the fight. Hilda gestured at Trisfelt to pause shortly after the demon had started shooting those electric ice bolts and blasts at Tiernon. “That circle around the demon, it appeared a bit ago. We have no Sight with this recording, but I’m reasonably certain the priests have encircled the demon with a draining ritual of some form,” Hilda said to Trisfelt and Danyel.

“Yes, that’s correct. The priests worked in full support of Talarius, using both animus and mana draining rituals; they also used mana-funneling rituals to Talarius. Then, as you’ll see shortly, archers began shooting Arrows of Quôlume at him with very nasty payloads,” Danyel replied enthusiastically as Hilda made faces at him trying to get him to be quiet.

Trisfelt glanced curiously at Danyel, his suspicions reawakened. “That’s very specific knowledge you seem to have.”

Danyel blanched suddenly. Hilda intervened, waving her hands as if it were nothing. “I sent Danyel out to make inquiries among the Rod, particularly during the time you and I first met. And then a few more times since we’ve been back in the city. Over the years, he’s proven an able assistant in ferreting out useful information on my behalf.”

She needed to distract Trisfelt. “However, what I find odd is that these rituals that Danyel mentioned, are they not dark rituals? It was my understanding that priests of Tiernon were proscribed from using dark rituals.”

Trisfelt looked surprised. “Now that you mention it, I seem to recall hearing that as well. Very odd that they should do so.” Hilda looked back to Danyel, who was looking even more uncomfortable, if that were possible.

“I am sure it must have been approved by the Arch-Diocate,” Danyel said nervously.