Parting
Story by Raul on SoFurry
#8 of Old Works
Parting
Yslien sighed, it had been a year since she had purchased Arzhi from the slave market. And in that year much had happened. He had become mated to Natasla for a start, this had come as a bit of a suprise. They had both come into her room, Arzhi was blushing lots and hiding behind Natasla. Natasla looked like she had furmly made up her mind. When they told her, Yslien had at first been slightly taken aback. But then she had appoved the mating with a smile and a kiss for both her daughter and her new son. This techcnically made Natasla Arzhi\'s sister, but it was clear they loved eachother. Another side effect of their mating was that the magic keeping Arzhi subservient and shy, was dispelledm revealing his true nature. He was still shy and subservient, but showed an independant streak, and a strong will. Yslien often wondered how they managed to break his will in the first place.
She watched them from a window high up in the palace. They were chasing after eachother on the lawn, laughing. Yslien had never seen Arzhi truely happy, but once the slave spell was gone, he became happy, he showed more emotion than just servitude. This made Yslien feel suprisingly warm...to see a child laugh and smile. The same went for her daughter. Until she had brought Arzhi home she just moped around, she was bored and no matter what Yslien did, she just wouldn\'t cheer up. But now she was like she was when she was younger, happy and full of joy. Her scales were radiant and healthy, a year ago they were rather dull and dirty looking. Yslien slithered away from the window and back to a lecturn where a book was resting open. It was a shame she\'d have to seperate them soon though...through no choice of her own.
Resting her head on her hands, Yslien re-read the letter that had arrived with a poof on top of her book. It was from Quetzacoatl, the death god. He was the archduke of all demons and demonic entities. He had the role thrust upon him by the other gods as they deemed him to be the most reliable to deal with the demons. All of that was literally ancient history, but it was the contents of the letter that were the cause of Ysliens sorrow. It read;
_ _
\"Dear Yslien.
_ _
I am writing this to regretfully inform you that you must leave your home in th epocket dimension I created for you. The reasons for this make me as angry as they will no doubt you. The elder gods have deemed that all demons and demonic entities be condemmed to their own dimension, and not the realm of mortals. They say that demons can not be allowed to \"leach off the beliefs of mortals whilst tucked away safely in their own little worlds.\" I find this grossly unfair as not all demons are evil and malicious, you being a perfect example of this. But, my objections fell on deaf ears, so now you are forced to leave and head for the dimension they have prepared for us. Only one upside is that you will be able to bring your mansion here and keep it here. But, there is one more thing that I must inform you of. Your son and daughters mate, cannot come. The pathway which you must take will destroy his mind and soul, I am so sorry for this, but I cannot change what the other gods have decided. I\'m afraid he will have to be left out in the real world. Once again I am truely sorry.
_ _
Quetzacoatl
_ _
P.S. Ereht yam eb a yaw rof mih ot dnif uoy hguoht. I nac ton yficeps what...tub ereht si llits epoh, eh tsum revocsid eht yaw flesmih.\"
_ _
The last bit had confused Yslien for a moment before she realised what it said. But the impact of this letter would affect all their lives dramatically. A single tear rolled down Ysliens cheek as she left the room to tell the two lovers the news.
*
\"NO!\" Natasla screamed \"They can\'t do this to us!!\"
They were in the library when Yslien told them the contents of the letter. Natasla had spent a moment for this to sink in and then had gone berserk.
\"Why should they do this to us!? We are happy here, together!\" The young demon snake cried, tears rolling down her face.
\"It\'s not fair!\" she continued \"I-it\'s only been a year...we\'ve only been together for a year!! Why are they taking this away from us!? WHY!?\"
\"I-I know this is hard...\" Yslien answered, tears rolling down her face too \"I do not wish to seperate you two...I do not wish to be seperated from Arzhi either....he is my son and my lover too.\"
\"So why are you letting this happen!?\" yelled Natasla, her face was drenched with tears, her voice shaking uncontrolably.
\"Because she has no choice...\" Arzhi said. He had been slumped in a chair as all this went on, his face becoming sad and withdrawn. He looked up ant them both, tears trickled down his pale face.
\"I-I do not wish to leave...but..I do not want to die either...I-I...\" He trailed off and looked down, then touched two fingers over his heart
\"It...it feels like I have been stabbed...right here...stabbed and had the dagger twisted. I do not want to lose you Natasla, nor you mother...I love you more than anything in this exsistance...but if you must go then you must....I shall miss you so much...\" He began sobbing quietly
Natasla slithered over to him, her own sobs stopped, but her face was puffy from the tears. She wrapped herself around him and snuggled her head against his. Out of all three of them, this was hitting Arzhi the hardest. He had been a slave all his life, and had spent one year of freedom with those he loved. But now they were being taken away from him. They were both encircled by Ysliens gentle coils, hugging them close she started to sing softly. The clear soft notes made the two shuddering mates calm down. Arzhi took a deep shuddering breath and snuggled up against Yslien.
\"The portal will open tomorrow to take this place through to the new dimension. I wish for you to spend this last night together...I shall go and make preperations.\" She whispered
\"No mother...I want you to be with us.\" Natasla hissed softly.
*
Arzhi shifted in his sleep. He rolled to the left, and then to the right. He frowned and the sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking around. His heart sank, and a lump appeared in his throat. He was no longer in Yslien\'s palace. He could tell he was in an inn somewhere in the mortal realm, the sounds from downstairs told him as much. When he was with Natasla, they had come to earth to learn about it so that they wouldn\'t be helpless if they should ever get stranded there. Swinging his legs out of the rough bed he shivered in the cold. It was always warm in Ysliens land. He looked around the room and spotted an envelope on a small table. He went over to it and picked it up, the handwriting being in demonic runes. Fortunatly Arzhi had been told how to read these and, opening the letter, he read
\"To my beloved Arzhi
_ _
I am sorry to have to do this to you without telling you, but it is best to reduce the pain, please understand this. I have left you gifts in which to survive in the mortal world. You will see on the chair in your room several items. Their use will come clear to you soon. Be safe, we love you and miss you, we hope you can come back to us soon.
_ _
Yslien and Natasla\"
Arzhi sat down on the bed and cried.
An hour or so later he looked at the chair mentioned. On it was silken under garments and hardwearing leather traveling clothes. They seemed to be armoured in vital places too, the armour being thicker and solid around the chest and shoulders. A pair of elegant travelling boots stood beside the chair and over the back hung a sword and a pendant. Arzhi picked up the pendant and put it on, the feeling of the cold metal against his skin was somehow reassuring. He knew what it was, it was a magical pendant that allowed him to communicate with snakes and other reptiles and awarded him a small measure of control over magical forces. He had practiced with this amulet before so he knew how t worked. The sword was different though. It was a falchion in a dark blue sheath. Drawing it, Arzhi marvelled at it\'s superb balance and apparent lightness. The wide single edged blade glittered in the morning light that filtered through the window, the curving tipped blade looked wickedly sharp. He sheathed the blade and got dressed in the unfamiliar clothes. After this he went over to the wash basin and peered into the mirror. His skin was pale but not as white as it had been in Ysliens realm. His hair was still purple and his eyes were...different. They were yellow, with slitted pupils, he also noticed some other snake like features. Such as a slightly thinner, more slender tounge. He picked up the letter again and turned it over, there was writing on the reverse too. The runes looked rushed
\"Arzhi
I wrote this whilst mother was out of the room, she doesn\'t know about this as I will seal it in the envelope when I am done. When in the mortal realm you will notice some differences about yourself. I do not know what they will be but they will mark as one of the demonblessed. You will also have abilities beyond that of mortals as you are no longer the same. You spent two month\'s as one with mother, and you are mated to me. All I know of at this time is that you will be faster than normal mortals and you will be stronger too. I also suspect you have some degree of immortality but I do not advise you test this unless your life really does depend on it. That is all I can tell you now, I wish it was more but it was not so. I love you with all my heart and soul and will never forget you.
_ _
Natasla.\"
_ _
Arzhi gripped the paper tightly before folding it and stuffing it into one of many belt pouches Yslien had supplied.
\"I will find you both...and we shall be happy again....This I swear.\"
Drying his eyes he went to the door and opened it. A maid was on the otherside, her hand was raised as she was about to knock.
\"Ah! I see your awake!\" she said with a smile \"The lady that brought you in left specific instructions for when you woke up, come downstairs and I\'ll give what she left for you.\" Turning round she went towards a stair case. Running back into his room, Arzhi grabbed his sword and strapped it to his back. He checked to see if he could reach the hilt before running out the room and closing the door. He went downstairs and looked around. The inn was suprisingly empty, the noise Arzhi had heard earlier was coming from a kitchen. The maid came up to him and guided him to a table in the corner. Arzhi seated himself and the maid sat opposite him.
\"Yslien...\" she began, but Arzhi interrupted her
\"You know mo...Yslien?!\" he said
\"Yes, I am one of Her disciples. I was somewhat shocked when She came in...disguised of course, but She revealed herself to me. She gave me this and told me to give it to you when you awoke.\" The vixen reached into her apron and pulled out a leather bag and handed it to Arzhi. Taking it, he opened it and peered inside. It was full of gold coins and some gems. He smiled and slipped the bag into the chest plate of his leather armour. Probably the safest place for it, he thought.
\"There is also a...a...Saurian in the stables, She said you would recognise it. I have already prepared it with supplies.\"
\"I\'m guessing this means I am to leave straight away?\" Arzhi asked
\"Unfortunatly, yes. I\'d love for you to stay, as it would be fasinating to discover how you came into such favour with Her. She also told me ‘There is a way to get back to her, you must simply find it.\' She said you would understand.\"
Arzhi did understand...he understood very well. He looked up and smiled
\"I thank you for your hospitality, but if I am to be leaving then I should make a start....I have a long journy ahead of me I feel.\"
Arzhi stepped into the stables and looked around. There was only one horse in the stables, in the stall next to it however was a large reptilian beast. It was shaped like a small T-Rex, only with longer, stronger arms. It was already saddled with a number of supplies tied to the special saddle. Among these was a hunting bow and a quiver of arrows. He smiled when he saw the beast, it was his Saurian that Natasla had presented him as a mating gift. His name was Tochinoki , a beautiful rich chesnut in colour. His scales became black on his wrists and hands, the same with his shins and feet. He had a patch of black over his eye that was shaped like a star. He hissed when Arzhi approched.
\"I am glad that I still have friends in this world.\" He said softly, rubbing the lizards neck before untying the reigns and clambering into the saddle. Once there her took off the halter and reigns and tossed them aside, knowing that Tochinoki would never let him fall. He turned the lizard around and headed out of the stable. The vixen maid was standing there to see him off.
\"Before you go...I must ask you something.\" She said
\"Go ahead, I will answer the best I can.\" He replied
\"How...how did you come into such favour mith our mistress?\"
Arzhi smiled
\"She is not my mistress...she is my mother.\" He said, before kicking in his heels and urging his companion into a gallop. Tochinoki reared up and was off down the road.
\"M...M-mother...?\" the vixen said, shocked.
*
Tochinoki sprinted along the road, his powerful legs carrying them along faster than any horse could. The wind whipped through Arzhi\'s long hair. There were a few people on the road this early in the morning, they all looked slightly shocked as they saw a blur of brown and purple shoot past. The only people that could ride Saurian steeds had had years of special training. Arzhi could ride one because he was Demonblessed...and the fact that he could speak to reptiles. Arzhi only had a vauge understanding of what the term \"Demonblessed\" was. Although he had been into the mortal world and had been taught about it exstensivly when he was a slave in training. From what he did know, it was someone who had recieved the blessing from a demon, this usually resulted an odd mutations. Arzhi only knew he was Demonblessed because Natasla had told him in her letter.
\"You seem to have something on your mind!\" Tochinoki called...he actually let out a series of loud hisses, but Arzhi could understand fine
\"I miss them already....I think if you were not here I\'d be far to depressed to do anything.\" Arzhi replied
\"Do not say things like that! We shall find them again, even if it means I must carry you to the ends of the earth we shall find them.\"
Arzhi smiled to himself, tears being whipped away by the wind.
They soon left the road, heading through a small wood. Once through this, they emerged on the great rolling grasslands that stretched all the way up to the frozen north. Tochinoki was heading along at a steady pace, far smoother than any horse, whilst Arzhi consulted a map.
\"Mother supplied me well....\" he said to himself.
\"There are supposed to be numerous settlements and towns on these plains.\" He said to Tochinoki \"But I have no idea which one we should be going to....\"
\"Why not the biggest? That one is bound to have temples and places of magic that could help you.\"
\"You mean us...help us. I think you\'re right though...but even so...Thats quite a while away. Trust mother to leave us at an inn in the middle of no where.\"
\"So why did you make me leave the road?\"
\"That road lead south...plus we are not the most normal of travellers.\"
\"True...so how long will it take for us to get to this city?\"
\"I reckon at this pace...around three days.\"
\"Thats alot of time to ourselves...\"
Arzhi hit Tochinoki playfully on the shoulder
\"I\'m not suprised Natasla gave me you...all you ever think about is sex!\" he laughed
As night fell, Arzhi searched the supplies for a tent. Finding one he set it up, it was bigger than he needed...but then he realised there were two of them. Taking off Tochi\'s saddle, he stowed it in the porch of the tent, holding the flap open for the reptile.
\"It\'s not very comfertable.\" He said when Arzhi followed him inside.
\"It\'s a tent...not my bed...\" Arzhi replied \"...and I really need to start teaching you how to speak human language...all this hissing makes my mouth dry and my thoat hurt.\" He continued.
Settleing himself next to Tochi he petted the big lizards neck
\"But I suspect it\'ll be quite a job.\"
Tochi blinked at him, then gave him a long lick.
*
A guard walked past the rows of cells in the prison. Most of the prisoners were asleep, some were awake. One in particular was, he kept to the shadows. He\'d been planning his escape for a long time now, spending the months he had been incarcerated here gathering all the things he\'d need to get out. As the guard went past his cell he moved, reaching under his pillow and pulling out a peice of cloth. He unwrapped it and picked out a peice of wire, picking the lock for the shackle around his foot. The lock clicked and he tugged the lump of metal off, selecting a bigger, thicker peice of wire, he picked the lock on his cell. Opening the door with a quiet click, he stepped out of his cell. In the torchlight he revealed himself to be a tall, resonably muscular stallion. He was a dappled grey, his fur becoming black on his fore arms and hands and black on his legs up to the tops of his thighs. He wrapped some cloth around his hooves and slid quietly down the corridor, his wrapped hoves making little noise on the stone floor. Sneaking up behind the guard, he grabbed the human by the head and twisted sharply. There was a dull snap and the human dropped, taking a sword from the humans belt, the horse crept through the prison. Fortunatly most of the guards were in the guard room. The horse grinned to himself and practically walked out the prison into the town. After sneaking around some back alleys for a bit he \"aquired\" new clothes. Just as he came out of an alley, the sword in his new belt, he saw a person riding along the main street. It looked like quite an attractive human girl, with long purple hair. She was wearing some very nice looking leather armour with an exspensive sword strapped to her back.
\"Might be worth a bob or two...\" the horse said to himself.
Then he saw what she was riding. It was one of the largest Saurian mounts he had ever seen! Yet the girl rode it without any sort of haulter or reign.
\"I\'ll bet I can trade that for quite a bit too.\" He said, rubbing his hands and following the girl.
He followed her all the way to a large inn and watched as she took her mount round to the stables. It was coaching inn so the stables were large and spacious, he watched her pay the stable master with a leather purse and then slip it back in her chestplate.
\"She\'s careful...\" he muttered as she went inside the inn.
Following her he looked around the crowded bar area and saw her go to the bar, sneaking close enough to hear what she was saying to the tavern owner
\"...rry, but all the rooms are full.\"
\"Thats alright, I\'ll sleep in the stable with my Saurian.\"
The taverner look slightly perplexed but nodded anyway
\"So what can I get\'cha?\"
\"I\'d like mulled wine and honeycakes please.\"
\"Roight you are...\"
The girl left the bar and went to sit a table in the corner, she was soon served her food and drink.
\"Time to introduce myself I think...\" The horse thought and was about to make his move when a large bear staggered drunkenly up to the girls table
\"Hey therrr prettty lllady...\" he slurred
\"Leave me alone.\" She said
\"Awww...don\' be like tha\'! I can make it...worthyerwhile...\"
\"I am not a whore...now go!\"
\"Hey now! I don\'t like yer tone missy! Ima gonna hafta teach ye sum manners when talking ta a man!\"
There was wet thud and a crack, everybody who had been watching winced. The bear was lying on his back with the girl on top of him, she had him by the shirt and was glaring at him.
\"I told you to leave me alone...now do so before I rip your eyes right out of your stupid drunken skull!\" she hissed, and it really did sound like a hiss. It seemed only the horse noticed the girls eyes were glowing. The bear gibbered on the floor before trying to crawl away, the girl let go of his shirt and returned to her table to finish her food and drink.
\"Maybe this requires some re-thinking...\" the horse pondered
Later on in the stable, Arzhi was sitting next to Tochi, his back leaning against the reptiles warm scales.
\"Urrrgh...I have no idea what came over me! One minute I was calm, the next I was threatening to rip his eyeballs out!\" he said, rubbing his head
\"I don\'t know much but I suspect that you are suffering from you Demonblessing. It is affecting you differently here, than it would in Mistress\' realm.\"
\"Maybe your right, but after three days on those endless plains was driving me crazy! Even though this isn\'t a bed its still so much more comfertable than the floor of a tent.\"
\"You said it! And that dinner wasn\'t so bad either...at least I could recognise the meat....\" a small sob stopped Tochi in his tracks. He turned his head to look at Arzhi and saw that the human had curled up into a ball next to him.
\"Whats the matter?\" he asked
\"I-I miss them Tochi...I miss them so bad. W...when mother told us wat was go...going to happen...it felt like I had been stabbed in the heart....It still feels like that! WHY WON\'T IT STOP HURTING!!?\" Arzhi cried and began weeping fitfully.
Tochi rumbled deep in his throat and curled himself around Arzhi, the crying human snuggleing close to the Saurian.
\"I feel so alone! I just want to be back with them...If...if it wasn\'t for y-you...I...I think...I wouldn\'t have made it this far....I love you Tochi...please...don\'t leave me...\"
\"Have no fear little Arzhi...I shall never abandon you. You must also remember that I love you too.\"
Arzhi\'s sniffles subsided and soon he was asleep, his breathing somewhat shuddery. Tochi lay his head next to the sleeping boy\'s and closed his eyes. Soon the lizards gentle rumbling breathing filled the stable.
The next day Arzhi went out into the town to begin his...well...his investigations. He was determined to find out a way of getting to Yslien and Natasla, the only problem being he had no idea where to start. He thought that if the vixen had been a follower, then there must be others. The only thing he hadn\'t thought about was that demons were often regarded with fear and quite often hatred. He was all but ready to call it a day and head back to the inn when he heard something a little familiar. Turning his head he listened, the noise was muted by the sounds of the busy street, but he could definatly hear something. Following the noise, he wound his way through the crowds until he was in a dank alley way. The sound was much louder here, and he recognised it as chanting.
\"Demon speech?\" He said aloud, looking around for the source of the noise.
It was coming from a grate in the wall of a building. Crouching down and peering through the bars, Arzhi saw a number of robed figures standing in a circle, they seemed to all be swaying and chanting.
Looking around Arzhi found a cellar door a little way farther down the alley. Opening the doors he went inside, descending a flight of stone steps towards another door. He opened it a fraction and peered inside. The room was a typical stone cellar with a number of \"additions\". Rams skulls and pentagrams adorned the walls, all manner of weird objects were displayed on trestle tables with red and black cloths over them. Arzhi had to suppress a giggle...
\"What was that word again?\" he thought \"Ah yes....how cliché.\"
The people in the room hadn\'t noticed him so he opened the door and stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him. The chanting stopped and one of the robed figures spoke.
\"Well...no luck this time, but I\'m sure if we carry on, our prayers will be answered.\"
\"What exactly is it you\'re trying to do?\" Arzhi said aloud, making all of the figures to jump
\"What the!...How did you get in here!?\" one of them screamed
\"Through the door...\" Arzhi said \"And if you want to summon a demon...you really don\'t need the black robes and the messy chalk circle or anything.\"
\"And what would you know about it little girl?\" The robe that seemed to be the leader said.
Arzhi sighed
\"First of all, I\'m seventeen...secondly, I\'M A MALE!\"
There was a stunned silence, then one of the robes said
\"I\'m sorry...did you just say ‘male\' as opposed to ‘boy\'?\"
Arzhi sighed, he didn\'t know humans could be so dense.
A while later, Arzhi was sitting with the robes (who now had their hoods down) telling them about is ordeal...although he thought it prudent to leave out the whole Yslien and Natasla thing.
\"So what you\'re saying is that you need to get into this dimension where all the demons have been banished to? And this is the same reason why our attempts have failed in summoning one?\" the leader said, who turned out to be a wolf named Bernard.
\"Apparently so.\" Arzhi replied
\"And...you are one of the Demonblessed?\"
\"You know...for mad cultists you sure are stupid....and not nearly as mad or as zealous as you should be.\"
\"Well our faith has been shaken since the demons stopped coming. Before we did everything, we sacrificed people, we went on random beserker killing sprees, we managed to summon some lesser demons too. But then all the power stopped coming and our numbers dwindled.\"
Arzhi thought for a moment. These people were clearly demon worshippers, and they sounded like they knew what they were doing.
\"I\'ll make you a proposition Bernard.\" He said \"If you help me with this, then I shall help you with your problems.\" He said \"Although I do not know if killing people for what you belive is right...\" he added to himself.
\"You\'d do that for us?\" Bernard said.
\"Only if you do this thing for me, you know where I am staying, I will still be conducting investigations of my own. I expect you to report all your findings to me.\"
\"What about funsing though? It\'s not gonna be cheap this expidition of your...\" a large ruby landed in his lap.
\"Remember, anything you find is to be reported to me.\" Arzhi said from the door, before leaving, closing the door with a click.
Bernard stared at the large gem in his lap
\"What do you reckon?\" one of the other cultists said
\"I reckon...if this kid can help us regain our former power...I think there may be hope for us after all.\"
Tochi looked up from his nest in the hay as Arzhi returned.
\"Wow, you look tired.\" He hissed
\"Yeah...I\'ve also never felt so...so...grown up. In mothers realm...I was always free of any responsibility, I never had to deal with stuff like this.\"
\"This is the real world, and you have a lot to learn about it.\"
\"I know...but I found a lead...a group of cultists are willing to help us.\"
\"and what are they asking in return? Cultists are never ones to do things for free. When Natasla owned me, before she met you, she would always tell me about the ‘weirdos\' that kept trying to summon her.\"
\"All they seemed to want was their former power back, it seems with all the demons locked away, their power has been weakened in this world.\"
Arzhi rubbed his temples and sat down
\"How\'re the human lessons going then?\" he asked
Tochi cleared his throat and look proud of himself
\"Lesssson...go...good...me...get...better!\" he said proudly
\"You\'re still sssssing your esses.\" Arzhi said
\"Yeah well...you do realise my mother tounge is all hissing and trilling in fact?\"
\"I\'m speaking it to you know, right? Of course I know!\"
Arzhi rubbed his eyes. Everything seemed to be taking on a somewhat surreal turn. He honestly had no idea what he was supposed to be doing, he was relying on a washed up demon worshipping cult for help, he was sleeping in a stable when he had enough money to buy the inn three times over.
\"Gahhh! What am I doing!?\" he shouted, gripping his hair \"I don\'t have a clue what to do! How am I supposed to find them if I can\'t even guess where to begin looking!?\"
\"Calm dow...\"
\"I don\'t want to calm down!!\" Arzhi screamed, leaping to his feet \"I want them back Tochi! Do you understand!? I can\'t do this! I miss them so much and I just can\'t do this!\" He flopped down, tears pouring down his face
\"I can\'t do this without them...\" he moaned
Tochi pulled the crying boy close to him and hugged him.
\"I have no idea what that outburst was about, only understanding a few words of it. But you can do this...you must do this otherwise you really will never see them again.\"
\"ENOUGH!\" Arzhi said, pulling away from Tochi and standing up. \"I\'ve had enough of your reassurances! You always say the same thing!! I\'m fed to the back teeth of it! Just SHUT UP!!\"
Arzhi turned around and stormed out of the stable
Tochi looked slightly startled by this abrupt outburst
\"Well shit...\" he said
Arzhi ran through the streets, not really caring where he went. There were few people around at this time so hardly anybody saw him. He ran, tears streaming down his face, he was in a strange land with strange people. He was lost without Natasla and Yslien, he was sad because he had lost the two things in his life that made him happy. He ran until he was out of energy and flopped down onto a nearby bench. He had run into a park of some sort with a fountain at the centre.
\"What am I supposed to do?\" he asked himself quietly \"I...I\'m relying on a-a cult for help, I didn\'t even ask which demon they worshipped!\"
Leaning forwards he put his head in his hands
\"And I just shouted at my only friend...this is going sooo well.\" He said, his tears slowly stopping
\"Sounds like you could do with a bit of cheering up...\" said a femal voice
\"Go away slut.\" Arzhi said bluntly. There was a \"humph\" and the soud of foot steps heading away.
\"Thats not a very nice way to speak to a lady.\" Said a voice beside him
Looking up, arzhi saw a dappled grey horse was standing beside the bench he was sitting on
\"She was hardly what I\'d call a lady.\" Arzhi replied
The horse laughed and seated himself next to Arzhi
\"Indeed, I have to agree with you there.\" The horse had a reasonably cultured accent. He sounded like a typical \"ladies man\"...or at least one of those people that thought they were.
\"The names Magoichi.\" The horse said extending his hand.
Arzhi looked at it, slightly confused
\"You\'re supposed to shake it and tell me your name...\" Magoichi said
\"Oh! Uhm...sorry, I\'m new to this w...part of the world.\" He said, shaking Magoichi\'s hand \"My name is Arzhi.\"
\"Pleasure to meet you Arzhi, so what brings you to this part of the world?\"
\"I...I\'m looking for someone...or rather, a way of getting to the place where my friends are.\"
\"Wow...sounds tough.\"
\"It is...to be honest I have no idea what I\'m supposed to be looking for.\"
\"Well maybe I can help?\" Magoichi said with a smile \"Yes! This could be my chance!\" he added to himself
\"Oh really? How so?\" Arzhi said, not allowing the note of suspicion in his mind to enter his voice.
\"Well, I know this city better than anyone, maybe I could find some stuff out for you....for a fee of course.\"
Arzhi burst out laughing, causing Magoichi to glare at him
\"Whats so funny?!\" he asked, indignantly
\"Y...You mortals! Can you never do anything for free?!\"
\"Fuck this...\" Magoichi thought and slid his knife out of it\'s sheath.
\"I mean...I already hired a cult to help me look for these people...and..and...now you want me to hire you when we\'ve just met and I don\'t even trust you yet!\" Arzhi giggled
\"Thats right, you can\'t trust me...\" Magoichi said with a snarl, and slit Arzhi\'s throat
Arzhi froze, and then his body jerked, blood spraying from the ragged wound in his neck. Magoichi grabbed him and forced him to the ground, pinning him there until Arzhi\'s spasming and twitching stopped.
\"Nice and easy...I hope he\'s got money, it\'d be a waste to have killed him for a sword and a...amulet?\"
Magoichi reached down towards the golden disk
Arzhi could feel something next to him. Every thing was dark though, so he couldn\'t see what it was.
\"Hello?\" he called \"Is someone there?\"
\"Arzhi...you must find us! We miss you terribly...\"
\"Mother?! Natasla!!?\" Arzhi shouted
\"You musn\'t die...we shall never let you die...you must come back to us...\"
Arzhi\'s eyes snapped open, he snarled and span around, looking up at the horses shocked face
\"What?!\" The equine gasped \"Y...you...you\'re...\" he spluttered
\"Alive!?\" Arzhi hissed \"You...bassstard! You...tried...to...kill...me!\"
Magoichi crawled backwards
\"I...cut your throat! How can you be alive!?\" he spluttered
\"I...am...not...human...\" Arzhi snarled, his voice coming in gasps, the flesh and skin of his throat, melding back together, the lost blood being reabsorbed by his body, till all that was left was a pink line around Arzhi\'s throat.
\"W...what are you!?\"
\"I am the ssson of a demon...which isss all you\'ll ever know...\"
Arzhi\'s hand shot out and grabbed the horse by the neck, lifting the much larger being off the floor. Magoichi\'s feet dangled a good six inches off the ground, he was clawing ineffectivly at Arzhi\'s suddenly iron grip.
\"You tried to kill me...itsss only fair I return the favour.\" Arzhi snarled, his voice had changed from the slightly effemenate to a hissing echo.
\"Gnnng...wait!...I only...Gggggggh!\" Magoichi tried to plead but it was no use, Arzhi tightened his grip and grinned horribly.
\"Pleaggg...leg...me...go!\"
Arzhi smiled before hurling the equine through the air. Magoichi landed with a meaty thud, rolling over and gasping for breath he stared wildly around for Arzhi. A leather boot landed near his head.
\"Now...If I ever sssee you again...I will kill you.\" He heard the boys voice hiss. And then there was the sound of boots walking off into the night.
\"N...ext time we meet...Arzhi....you...you\'re a dead man....\" Magoichi gasped
*
Arzhi stumbled through the streets, sweat pouring down his face. He felt ill, it was like his skin was on fire...his eyes stung and he couldn\'t seem to formulate words. He staggered towards the alley where he had found the cult earlier that day. He opened the door and stumbled down the stairs, he kicked open the door at the foot and stumbled into the cellar. Nobody was there so he staggered to a table. There was a scroll of parchment and an inkwell and quill. Loading the quill he began to write...in demon runes. His eyes burnt with yellow fire as he wrote
\"I must leave now can\'t explain why but you can contact me. Speak these words when you need to and I will respond. I still need your help and I will uphold my part of the bargain.\"
Dropping the quill he collapsed on the floor and screamed. It felt like something was trying to split through his skin on the inside. He crawled out of the cellar and collapsed in the alley, gasping for air
\"Nyyyaaaaagh! Whats...matter...wit\'....meh?\" he gasped
He half staggered and half crawled back to the inn, collapsing into the stables when the pain got too much
\"TOCHIII!! HELP!!\" he cried
\"Arzhi!? Arzhi is that you?\"
\"Help...Tochi...I-I hurt!..._GRAAH! _hurts bad!\"
There was a rustle and some thumps, then a warm snout was pressing against Arzhi\'s cheek
\"Get...bow...an\'...blanket...\" Arzhi managed
Tochi sat down next to Arzhi and scooped him up with his strong arms. Laying the human (with some difficulty) across his back, Tochi grabbed the bow and the quiver of arrows and a blanket
\"What now?\" he asked
\"Out! Leave...city...now...pleeeassse...\"
Tochi nodded and ran out of the stable, heading for the main gates.
Arzhi moaned on Tochi\'s back, and in his fevered state, his mind wondered back to the short year he had spent with his love...
\"Arzhi! Wait for me!\"
Arzhi turned and saw Natasla slithering towards him. They had become ever closer friends since the incident with the gelloid cube.
\"Yes mistress?\" he replied with a shy smile
\"I\'ve told you not to call me that.\" She reprimanded, causing Arzhi to blush
\"Y-yes mis...Natasla...What was it that you wanted?\"
Natasla smiled and gently touched his cheek looking deep into his eyes.
\"Tell me truthfully Arzhi...do you love me?\"
The question shocked Arzhi for several moments. He had no idea how to reply, and for the first time his training as a slave did not have any answers. For this one moment, he was free from the influences of the slave magic that bound his will. This one time in sixteen years he was totally free to speak his mind.
\"Yes. I love you, and I love Yslien...and, and, everything about this place! I can\'t tell you how much I love both of you!\" Arzhi\'s pent up emotions were now coming freely as the slave magic weakened.
\"But most of all Natasla...I want you to beYERK!\" Suddenly the collar glowed and Arzhi was cut off. He looked at Natasla and blushed
\"I...I apologise mistress...I spoke out of turn, It will not happen again.\"
\"On the contrary.\" Natasla said \"I know what you truely desire, I can hear your mind...your subconcious screaming it out, but the dammned collar won\'t let you say it! Follow me, we\'ll get this sorted out once and for all!\"
\"Wait! Where are we going?\"
\"We are going to see mother.\"
Yslien looked up as Natasla slithered in, ptactically dragging Arzhi behind her
\"Well well, it looks like someone has got their mind set on something.\" She said with a small smile
\"Yes mother, I have. I want you to remove Arzhi\'s collar.\"
\"Oh? And why would you want that?\"
\"Because he wants to be my mate.\"
Yslien stopped and eyed Natasla. Arzhi was looky highly uncomfertable standing behind her daughter. He was fidgeting with the tip of Natasla\'s tail like some sort of easily distracted puppy.
\"Are you sure? It could be that...\"
\"Mother! You know very well what he wants! You are supposed to be the one in charge of all pleasure in the mortal realm, look into his mind and you will see what he wants!\" Natasla interrupted
She turned her head when a pale hand touched her on the shoulder.
\"She already has...I am free Natasla.\" She heard Arzhi voice say. Turning she saw he was holding the collar in his hands.
He tossed it aside and came up to Natasla, and held both her hands.
\"Ever since we first met...I loved you...but the collar stopped me from expressing these feelings. In fact, I have never been free, for sixteen years I have been a slave, willess and weak. But now the magic is gone, my true personality shines through. For all these years this is the person that was trapped...but now...as my first free choice....Natasla, I wish to take you as my mate.\"
Natasla smiled and Arzhi blushed. Leaning forwards the small demon kissed Arzhi on the cheek
\"I accept.\" She said
\"I guess this means less sex then?\" Yslien said with a slightly dissapointed look.
\"Why?\" Arzhi said \"Just because I am now mated to your daughter does not mean I will stop being your little pet...I just choose to be this time.\" Arzhi said with a grin.
Yslien smiled and hugged them both
\"You two are all I could ever have hoped for...and you may call me Yslien now Arzhi.\"
\"I\'d much rather call you...uhhh....heh...‘mother\'...if it\'s all right?\" Arzhi said in a small voice
Yslien kissed him on the fore head
\"Of course it is...but only if I am allowed to call you son.\"
Arzhi giggled and snuggled up to his new mother and his new mate
\"You can call me whatever you like...\"
Tochi sat next to Arzhi as he writhed on the ground. They had come to a halt in a larg copse of trees on the grasslands, Tochi ,seeing it as a place of refuge, had set up a camp of sorts in the hollow caused by the roots of a huge oak faling over. The network of earth covered roots made an effective wind break and the large sandy hollow was perfect for hiding in. Tochi had attempted to make a fire but had thus far faild, managing to make a pile of sticks and branches in the centre of the hollow, but having no way of lightning it. Arzhi moaned again and clawed at the ground around him
\"Ohhh! Arzhi! Whats wrong with you!? I don\'t understand...please talk to me!\" the lizard whimpered \"I don\'t know what to do!!\"
Arzhi arched his back and screamed, his body was soaked with sweat, his hair plastered to his face.
\"GYAAAAH! D-DON\'T LEAVE MEE!!\" he screamed
\"I won\'t leave you! Please stay with me!\" Tochi said, gripping Arzhi\'s hand in his own, much larger ones.
\"T...Tochi? where are you!? I can\'t see!\" Arzhi said, his voice fluxuating between reptilian and human.
\"I\'m here Arzhi! Stay calm...please!\"
\"Whats...happening!? I can\'t see! I hurt Tochi...I HURT!!!\"
Tochi whimpered again and pressed his snout against Arzhi\'s forehead. He was hot...really really hot.
\"Ooooh! Your burning up! I can\'t cool you down!! Please don\'t die!\"
\"Hello? Is someone there?!\" A voice called above the wind.
Tochi looked up and syuck his head over the lip of the hollow. It was a very windy night, the tops of the trees were almost horizontal.
\"Help!\" Tochi called \"We....ned...help!\" he managed, his saurian snout struggleing with the unfamiliar words.
There was the sound of clopping hooves and then a jingle as someone dismounted.
\"Hello? Is someone in there?\" a male voice called
Just then Arzhi screamed and thrashed even harder than before. There was a scratching sound and then a flare of light as a lantern was lit. A face peered over the lip of the hollow, it was a Hyena. He blinked when he saw Tochi and then gave a startled yelp when Arzhi screamed again. Tochi bumped the hyean with his snout and pointed at Arzhi.
\"Help...\" he hissed
They hyena looked slightly shocked that a Saurian mount was speaking to him, but he also saw that a young girl was lying in the dirt moaning and screaming. He scrambled down the hollow and studied Arzhi.
\"...Need to light a fire...\" he muttered looking around
\"Fire..fire!\" Tochi said, pointing at the pile of sticks he had gathered
\"Make fire! Make fire!\" he continued.
The hyena ran back to his horse and grabbed his tinderbox. Hurrying back he scrabbled with the large sulpherous matches and managed to light one. Applying the yellow flame to the fire, the dry wood caught fire almost instantly. The flames soon lit up the hollow, and the hyena looked at Arzhi. He knelt by the writhing humans side and opened one of his eyes. The pupil was slitted and black, but around it there were two rings of colour, one was firey orange and the other was black.
\"What sort of fever is this?\" The hyena pondered
\"Naaaat...aot...not...hyuuu....hoo...humahn.\" Tochi managed \"Deeemnon....blesssssed...\"
The hyena looked at Tochi quizzically before looking at Arzhi again. He raised his paws and held them over Arzhi\'s head.
\"Leah siht revef, dna erotser siht snosrep ytinas!\" He said, a green glow appearing in his paws
The glow spread down from the hyena\'s paws down to Arzhi\'s head, then it spread over his body. Arzhi slowly stopped thrashing and moaning and became still. His breathing became normal and his eyes flickered. A groan escaped his lips and he sat up, rubbing his head.
\"Eeurgh! Why am I so covered in swea...whoa! W-who are you!!?\" He exclaimed when he saw the Hyena
\"Calm down...I just saved you from a serious fever. Who are you? And what are you doing out here?\"
\"Hah...you won\'t fool me that easily...last stranger I trusted slit my throat.\"
\"Arzhi!! You are alright!!\" Tochi shouted with glee and, well, glomped Arzhi
\"Okay okay! Will you knock it off!? I\'m trying to deal with a stranger here!\"
\"Exscuse me? What did you just say?\" The hyena said looking confused
_\"Before I..._Before I tell you anything I want to know who you are and why you helped me.\" Arzhi said
\"Well...I...My name is Jiles. I am a healer from Ahmé,\"
\"Where?\" Arzhi asked
\"Ahmé...you know, the largest city on this continent?\"
Arzhi shook his head
\"What?! Where exactly are you from if you don\'t know about Ahmé?!\"
\"I...errr...thats not the point! I still don\'t know if I can trust you!\"
\"I am a healer. All healers take a vow to help whoever and or whatever they find. It doesn\'t matter if they happen to be a wounded wolf or...a Demonblessed, we must help them...\"
\"Wait! How do you know that I\'m...\"
\"Demon blessed? Well, Your Saurian told me...although this was rather shocking. But you\'ve asked enough questions, time for you to answer some of mine. Who exactly are you and why are you out here?\"
\"Well...my name is Arzhi and, to be honest, I have no idea what I\'m doing here.\"
Jiles looked into the fire for a moment before speaking again
\"Isn\'t Arzhi a boys name?\"
Arzhi sighed \"I am a boy...I never thought it would be this much of a problem in this world...but it seems it\'s a bigger problem than I thought.\"
\"Wait...‘this world\'!? Who the hell are you!?\" Jiles said incredulously
\"Well...\"
*
Magoichi walked up to a large temple in the heart of the city. Lanterns burnt outside of the main entrance and two gurads dressed in white stood outside, their bardiches looked very sharp. There was a clang as Magoichi approched, the two guards had crossed their weapons, blocking the exit.
\"What do you want at this hour?\" one said
\"I need to speak with the high priest.\" Magoichi said, stooping slightly to seem less intimidating
\"His lordship is sleeping, and is not giving any audiences.\"
\"But I have information on a cult and one of the demonblessed.\"
The guards looked at each other
\"Wait here.\" One said, and dissapeared through a small side door.
Magoichi stamped his hooves in the chill night air. His breath clouding in front of him, it was odd to think the guard didn\'t even look cold...but then again he was a husky, so it wa sunlikly he got cold easily.
The other guard reapeared and beckoned Magoichi
\"His lordship is not conducting audiences, but his aide is. Follow me.\"
He turned and ducked back into the door, Magoichi following him. The temple was warm, with bowls of flaming coals lighting the way and producing heat. They walked down a white marble corridor until they reached an oak door. Opening the door, the guard ushered Magoichi inside. Sitting behind a large wooden desk was a weasle in a heavy silken dressing gown
\"Make this quick! I do not appreciate being woken up in the middle of the night.\" He said curtly in a slightly nasal voice.
\"I have information for you that might prove to be of no small interest to you.\" Magoichi said with a grin
\"I\'m listening...\" the weasle said, leaning forwards.
A while later Magoichi came out of the temple, tucking a bag of gold into his tunic. It had been worth the wait in the cold, he had given the weasle every bit of information he could about Arzhi. The weasle had already given the order for the Everto Venator to head out and hunt down the \"Vile demonspawn\" and to scour the city for any cultists. All members of the Everto Venator, or Demon Hunters, had been given a description of Arzhi and orders to kill on sight
\"Arzhi...you are as good as dead.\" Magoichi chuckled to himself.
The next day, the main gates were opened and literally hundreds of horsemen galloped out of the city. Men wearing the black and white tabbards of the Everto Venator went through the city, searching cellars and houses for the cult that was helping Arzhi. Fortunatly Bernard had heard of this and had managed to clear out his cellar before they arrived, keeping the scroll from Arzhi safely hidden. He was still trying to decipher what it said.
\"So...what you\'re telling me is, that you are the son of a demon? And that you got seperated from her and are now trying to find your way back to her?\"
\"Pretty much, yes.\"
Arzhi and Jiles had spent the rest of the night talking, Arzhi had become more and more friendly towards the hyena...who was still somewhat shocked he had survived having his throat slit.
Arzhi was suprised that Jiles was taking things so well. According to the healer, demonblessed were regarded with fear and loathing throughout the land, and that Jiles didn\'t seem to act the same way.
\"I have very few predjudices, so having a very civilised conversation with a demonblessed is nothing to be shocked at.\" He had said when Arzhi asked him why he didn\'t run away screaming.
\"So you left the city with a bow and your blanket as your only possesions?\"
\"Yes, and I can\'t go back because I suspect that damn thief has gone to the authorities.\"
\"Hmm, I suppose I could give you some of my provisions...\" Jiles said
\"No need, I can hunt what I need, I\'m not useless you know.\"
Jiles laughed and stood up, he stretched and yawned
\"Well it was a pleasure meeting you Arzhi, but now I must head for the city, my services are no doubt...do you hear that?\" he said, cocking his head, one ear raised.
Arzhi raised his head and listened. It sounded like a large number of horses galloping towards them. He jumped up and began rolling up his blanket, slinging it over Tochi\'s neck. He strapped his sword to his hip and slung the quiver and bow across his back.
\"Whats the matter?\" Jiles said
\"Why do you think we have a large number of horses heading towards our location!?\" Arzhi said, clambering onto Tochi\'s smooth scaly back. He had to ride bareback, but Tochi wouldn\'t let him fall.
\"They can\'t see you here with me, if they catch you they\'ll likely kill you.\"
\"Oh don\'t be absurd!\" Jiles said with a chuckle \"The only people who would do something like that is the Everto Venator...and they...only...oh...\" he trailed off
Arzhi turned and saw through the trees a colum of men in black and white tabbards.
\"Are they...?\"
Jiles swallowed and nodded before he went to his horse and untied the reigns from the tree it was tethered to.
\"What are you doing?\" Arzhi asked \"If you stay here they won\'t come after you.\"
\"If they see you leaving and then they find me here, they will kill me. Simply because I am a witness.\"
\"They do that?\"
\"Yes, the churches and temples have a power greater than the high king.\"
Arzhi turned to look back at the approching soldiers as Jiles mounted his horse
Turning back he whispered for Tochi to set off. The lizard set off at a trot through the woods, Jiles following closly.
As soon as they emerged from the woods, Tochi broke into a run, speeding across the ground. Jiles kicked his horse into a gallop and soon they were racing along the grassy plain.
\"Where are we headed!\" Jiles shouted over at Arzhi
\"I have no idea!\" Arzhi shouted back \"I don\'t know this world like you do!\"
\"Well there is a mountain rage several leagues from here!\"
\"We\'ll head there then!\" Arzhi shouted and turned Tochi towards the distant purple haze that lay in the distance.