The Heavenly Host

She knew the form well; it was her succubus disguise. Of all her non-cat forms, this was probably her favorite. It was ideal when she wanted to slum it as a type III demon. Hmm, that reminded her: she needed to concentrate on making sure her aura was appropriate to her assumed station. After a few self-inspections of her aura, she was satisfied and headed to the bar.

She had arranged to meet her favorite avatar there. Admittedly, they were meeting where he was working undercover. Through the swinging wooden doors she strode, noting that a few demons did eye her lasciviously, which was nice. However, none paid her to too much attention. At least none beyond what her current disguise warranted.

Where was he? Ah, there he was. A young, slim demon with a human torso of ebony and the thighs, legs and tail of a horse. His head was human except for some very large incisors and curly horns twisting from the sides of his temples. His black, tightly curled hair was neatly trimmed on his head. He was lugging a basket filled with mugs to the back of the bar. Bess sauntered over and sat down at the bar as he set his load down.

“What does a demoness have to do to get a drink around here?” Bess asked playfully.

Tut looked up in surprise, having not recognized his mistress in this form. He quickly started to bow and Bess slapped her claw down on his arm in a warning not to do so in public. She shook her head.

“Mistress, I’m sorry; I didn’t recognize you,” Tut said softly and nervously.

“Obviously not.” Bess grinned and looked down to the demon’s groin, which was reacting to her succubus disguise. Tut quickly moved to cover himself.

“Mistress, I’m so sorry. I meant no disrespect,” Tut murmured, embarrassed.

“Tut, tut, my lad.” Bess tilted her head, she loved saying that. “It’s all part of the disguise.” Maybe she should incorporate that feature into some of her other forms. It could be useful. She looked around the room to ensure they were not being overheard. Thinking better of it, she quickly ringed them in a veil of silence. If no one was staring directly at them, they probably would not notice the veil.

“So, I assume you are aware of the duel in Astlan between the Etonian knight and the greater demon?” Bess asked.

“Everyone is talking about it; a great victory!” Tut said, smiling. Like his mistress, he held only a divine fury in his heart for the Etonians.

“It was indeed. But what do people know about this greater demon and his entourage?”

Tut shrugged. “Unfortunately, not a great deal. Although Marfaenel claims the greater demon has actually been here, in this bar, no one really believes him.”

Bess shrugged. It was kind of a dive bar for someone that powerful, but it was clear this demon was playing a deep game, as was she. “Nothing more?”

“Well, some demons have said that Tizzy was in the demon’s entourage, and others claim the bard Antefalken.”

“Tisdale? The octopodal basket case?” Tut nodded.

Bess thought back to the fight. She had not paid much attention to the demon’s followers. They had spent much of the fight under that net. However, it was quite likely; that pest was everywhere. They had not had the outpost completed but a day when he showed up there, in the highly secret middle of nowhere Abyss location... with a giant batch of cookies to welcome them to the neighborhood! Bess shook her head.

“Who is this bard you mentioned?” she asked.

“Antefalken. I gather he’s a rather famous demon bard,” Tut said. “I have seen him in here on occasion, but I have never spoken with him.”

“Well known, you say?” Bess asked. Tut simply nodded. Bess twisted her mouth, thinking. “Does he have any particular allegiances, patrons?”

Tut grimaced slightly. “He is well known in the cathedral, apparently, and it’s rumored that he is on very personal terms with Lilith.”

Bess’s right eyebrow shot up. “You mean...?”

Tut nodded. “Yeah, very personal.”

Bess sighed; this was starting to look bad. If this greater demon was one of Lilith’s pets, things were going to be very difficult. She really did not need demon princesses, and particularly not Lilith, getting their noses into this. She would need to talk some more with her demon partners.

∼

“So that was weird,” Tom said as he entered the cave.

“What was weird?” Rupert asked.

“I was out flying around, stretching a bit, and I encountered a demon in human form wearing alpine climbing gear and shorts, eating a baloney sandwich on a mountaintop. He had climbed it in human form,” Tom said.

“Well, that is one way to kill an infinite amount of time.” Tizzy shrugged, not particularly interested. He had been muttering to himself, having one of his odd internal conversations.

“He also likes to ski on the really high mountains,” Tom said.

Antefalken frowned. “There are several that do that in the courts, your new friend must be rather wealthy; skiing is not cheap unless you can form your own skis.”

“He says he goes to Von Trapp or Slippery Slope,” Tom said.