The Heavenly Host

“Yes, My Lady, along with the rest of his entourage and his hostage. I simply left them to come report to you,” Antefalken murmured around her nipple. He doubted he could distract her, but he would give it a try.

“So he’s at his cave?”

“He has nowhere else.”

“Well, that’s a shame!” She pulled back from him suddenly and gave him a wide smile.

“He’s bound to be hounded by who knows how many lickspittles trying to curry his favor! And the paparazzi will be insane. A cave just won’t do!” Lilith stood, marched seductively over to her diamond drink cart and poured two glasses of some blood-red beverage that did not look too much like blood.

She pivoted with the two glasses and came back towards Antefalken. “He must come visit me! I will provide him, his entourage and his hostage with appropriate accommodations!”

Antefalken smiled as best he could, taking one of the glasses. This was exactly what he had been afraid of. “My love! As always you are so wonderfully generous!” He raised his glass to hers in a toast.

She smiled sweetly. “So, when can we expect his presence? I shall have a feast prepared!”

“Ah...” Antefalken twisted his head slightly. “I will relay your invitation immediately upon my return. I am sure he will be... delighted.” He took a drink. “I can’t, of course, promise that he’ll accept — ”

“Oh, Anty! Do not be so dismissive of your charms! You are the most persuasive demon I know. I am sure you can convince him to enjoy my hospitality.” Lilith sipped her drink.

“You flatter me, My Lady. I will do everything in my power to persuade him.” She smiled at this. “However, he is a greater demon and I’m simply me...”

Lilith’s eyes were steel. “Again, I am sure you will succeed. I have every confidence in you.”

Antefalken ordered a second cup of Denubian Choco-Coffee^TM. This was not something he would be able to get out of easily. One did not turn Lilith down. No one did. Antefalken was sure that even Asmodeus would hesitate. However, he really did not think it a good idea for Lilith to host Tom and friends. For one thing, she hated Tizzy with a passion. He needed to get them out of the Abyss. But how?

∼

“So, do you think he’ll succeed?” a tall, reddish-skinned gentleman asked as he stepped through a wall that had simply appeared in Lilith’s parlor. He had black, slicked-back hair with only a touch of gray at the temples along with two small, dark, pointy horns, and a Van Dyke beard and mustache. He wore a somewhat theatrical suit and cloak with large pauldrons. As soon as he had stepped through, the wall vanished.

“I give it fifty-fifty.” Lilith refilled her glass and poured a new one for her eavesdropping colleague.

“You did seem to incentivize the bard,” Asmodeus observed, taking the glass. He grimaced slightly as he watched the blood wine flow down Lilith’s clear esophagus. “Would you mind changing into something less see-through? You know I dislike that form.”

Lilith frowned at him in annoyance and allowed her skin to return to its normal porcelain white. A black full-length dress and cape formed around her previously nearly naked body. “I am not sure why I take fashion advice from a man whose own form for the last few decades has been taken from some book he found in the outer realms.”

“It was an encyclopedia of various legendary beings, and I happened to be in it. While the likeness was completely wrong, I found it quite flattering to be included, so I took the form of the drawing.”

“I think it was a children’s book or something.” Lilith shook her head at his silliness.

“I doubt that; it was written by an obviously astute and knowledgeable author.”

“An obviously knowledgeable author?” Lilith arched an eyebrow and took another swig of blood wine.

“Yes, one Egary Gygax, clearly a name of distinction and good breeding. There were numerous other books of his in the library,” Asmodeus protested. Lilith rolled her eyes.

“I think the sage you had translating the book was probably drunk.”

“He was not. He was, actually is, quite trustworthy and knowledgeable. He has been with me for the last three thousand years or so. Further, this tome described me as the Law of Evil. And if there is anyone that applies to, certainly it is I.” He swept his arms around as if gesturing to his domain.

Lilith took another swig of blood wine. “Seriously? Have you cleared that with any of your colleagues? They all think they are the Law of Evil.”

Asmodeus gave her a small snarl and glare.

“Back to the issue at hand. Do you think the bard will bring this demon to us? We need to know how he managed to tap into Tiernon’s private mana stream. It is clearly the biggest breakthrough and most exciting development in the Eternal Conflict in at least six or seven thousand years! It could tip the balance in our favor once and for all!”

“Yes, and you want to know how to do it before any of the other princes find out,” Lilith observed.

“Well, at least before Tiernon comes down and obliterates this demon and sends the secret to the grave.”