Demon of the Black Gate

“There’ll be a slight delay.”

“Slight delay!” Chenli was seething. “The gate is closed! Shut. Dammed fouling, goat-smacking UP!”

Rovinkar stood in Chenli’s command tent. The collapse of the gate two days ago had thrown the camp in dissarray. There was no invasion to fatten their coffers, and the dramatic fiery collapse of the Gate had divided much of the army into sides. There was an opinion shared by many that the demonic cloud and whirlwind was a creature loosed by the Steppes, while a few questioned the weapons of their own army. The crews manning the idle trebuchets kept the oil they’d smeared on the missiles at a distance, and many made what warding signs they knew against the small barrels.

“The Emperor has used this to his advantage,” continued Rovinkar, “just as I suggested.”

“The idiot got here just in time to have his portrait drawn with the gate behind him, holding the laurels of victory. Now that he’s found his army, he’s leaving for Abbysin in the morning: mission accomplished. He’ll probably find a new wife on the way back in Houri. In the meantime, I have a legion all suited up and with nowhere to go!”

“It can be to your advantage, excellency.” Rovinkar was not to be bullied by the harsh Chancellor. After confronting the terror of the demon, the mean-spirited Chancellor was a mere trifle. A belligerent child. He kept his demeanor cool. That always sounded to harsh ears as the voice of reason.

“Send a few home, and the rest can stay here, guarding against further threats from the Stands … you own the supply commissions do you not?”

“Not directly, but yes, the guild is mine. What do YOU intend to do.” Chenli demanded.

“There are a few steps I must take. Like I said, a slight delay. The spawn is not truly of this dimension anymore. It will want to return to its nest. I will draw it in, and arrange it so that the Gate is cleared at the same time.” Rovinkar was not sure of the last promise, but he pressed on. “The armies can be recalled, and we can proceed. Your guilds will surely prosper.”

“Maybe so,” returned Chenli. “but there are already opinions and protests about the whole invasion in the camp. If I hear it here, then you can be sure you’ll here it throughout the whole bleeding empire faster than the pigeons can fly.

“I have ways to weed that sort of thing out. A very small contingent had seen both events, the Shaft and here. You weren’t expecting that hell beast to go entirely unnoticed did you? Apparently our offical line started to smell to them. Too bad. Right now they’ve become unfortunate casualties of the first assault. It doesn’t matter. Sooner or later, there will be a reckoning about this … demon … that has, what ... gotten away from you? Do you have a plan to get it back?”

“We can keep the population confused for there is no way for them to know that it is anything except Standish perfidy.’ Rovinkar countered with smooth assurance. “All the more reason to fear the Stands and conquer them. A few witnesses, dead or otherwise, will hardly make a dent in public opinion.”

Rovinkar added a bright note. “This is no defeat, surely. The emperor has his historic moment, and the people will see their army at the vanguard of oppression. This may work out better for us, don’t you see.”

The cheer fell on Chenli’s deaf ears. “I see that YOU still have a problem. A big one. Let me know when you’ve solved that. I’ve decided to accompany the Emperor to Houri. I much prefer the delights there to the dust here. Sirarm!

Chenli called for his Guard Captain, the signal that Rovinkar’s time was up, though he was more than ready to leave. Chenli was right in a way. He did have a problem. The demon was free and loose somewhere in the Stands. That the demon and himself were still connected by the rites of spell that brought the fell spirit forth was his biggest concern. If the demon were able to comprehend its existence and follow that link, he would surely be listed among the casualties of the affair. Rovinkar would use the connection to first find the demon. Rovinkar’s study had revealed much of the nature of the demon. He had no doubts he could corral it. The link would then become once again the compass; the elements the magnet and avenue to bring it back. He would not need all of the elements. The demon had been born in fire. Fire would restore it to its prison.