Harald scrambled to his feet, and realized he felt guilty, like a child caught stealing sweets. The Handmaidens lay strewn about them, brutalized and criss-crossed with cuts where their heads or limbs weren’t completely missing. Adozen corpses, their blood black and glistening on the grass.

  He’d done this, yes, and how he’d done it might be… questionable, but he’d defended his friends. Anna. Eadwolf.

  Eadwolf!

  “Nessa,” he said, “check the roof. Eadwolf is up there. Make sure he’s all right.”

  Nessa was nothing if not quick; she gave a curt nod and jogged back into the manor.

  Brianna was striding down the driveway, eyes wide as she took in the massacre, but it was obvious the threat was over; Wyrmfall turned dark, and she pressed it to her back where it adhered once more.

  “An attack while you were gone,” said Harald. “I figure they tracked us from the cathedral. I felt like something was watching us, but never saw sign of them. They must have watched the manor, and when they saw you leave…”

  Brianna wasn’t disgusted or shocked by the corpses. If anything she was stern, focused, cataloging details as she approached. “I’m seeing bite marks, slashes made by talons.”

  “Shadowpaw, my Servitor mastiff.”

  Brianna slowed as she drew close to the manor entrance, still casting around. “These corpses…” She raised a brow and looked at him. “This was your doing?”

  “It was.” Harald tried to neither stick out his chest defiantly nor sound apologetic. He managed instead to sound calm, composed. “Eadwolf gave me some pointers after our duel. And my powers found a strange synergy with the abyssal nature of the Handmaidens.”

  “Strange synergy doesn’t explain this.” Brianna came to a stop at last before them, hands on her hips, then frowned and glanced at Harald and Sam. “But what matters is that you survived. Anna? Eadwolf?”

  “Nessa is going uptop right now to check on him. They incapicated him moments before I fought them.”

  Brianna looked up at the dark roof of the manor. “One moment.” She took one large step and then leaped with such strength that she simply vanished, became a fleeting shadow that arced up and crashed down upon the tiles above.

  “Should have saved Nessa the trip,” murmured Sam.

  “Live and learn.”

  A moment later Brianna dropped back down, Eadwolf in her arms. His head lolled, but he seemed otherwise unhurt. “They’ve done something to his mind. A curse, or enchantment.”

  She laid him on the grass.

  “Will he be all right?” asked Sam. “I can… here. Let me see if…” She closed her eyes, and then a flicker of blue spread over Eadwolf’s body, like ghostfire that passes over ship’s rigging at night.

  Eadwolf stirred, eyelids flickering, then abruptly sat up, hand darting to the sheathed knife at his belt.

  “Easy,” said Brianna, voice warm with relief. “The fight’s over. Pity they caught you sleeping on the job.”

  “Sleeping?” Eadwolf twisted about, taking in the corpses, then scrambled to his feet. “Trapped in a nightmare, more like. These… creatures’ idea of a seductive dream is revolting.”

  “I’m glad you’re all right,” said Harald, wanting to step up and clasp arms with the older raider, but he felt constrained, self-conscious, so he held back.

  Eadwolf glanced at Brianna. “The pup did this? Doesn’t look like your work.”

  “Because the bodies arent’ strewn about several city blocks?” Brianna snorted. “Correct. But I think he’s graduated from ‘pup.”

  Eadwolf eyed Harald. “This is impressive work. These demons took me down without much difficulty. I didn’t even hear what they were whispering to me before I passed out.”

  Harald shrugged one shoulder. “They tried the same on me. But my Crown kept their whispers at bay. And my Ego is ranked at 32. I think that helps.”

  “32?” Eadwolf’s eyes widened. “Your…?” He coughed abruptly into his fist. “That’s respectable.”

  “Respectable?” Brianna grinned. “That’s inhuman. And accounts for much of this. This kind of demon—Handmaidens, they call themselves—rely heavily on subterfuge, misdirection, and enchantment. My Predator’s Clarity and Ironclad Resolve would have safeguarded me against their machinations, but even so… how did you defeat so many?”

  “Aye,” said Eadwolf, running his fingers along his stubbled jaw. “A dozen demons should have been well beyond your ken.”

  “Well, for one, I had help.” Harald turned slightly to indicate Sam. “She’s a Netherwarden Knight. Her powers are designed to counter demons. Her Starfire Bastion played a huge role in degrading their abilities.”

  “Well…” began Sam, clearly looking to protest.

  “And Nessa’s martial abilities also enhanced us. Her Will of the Blade and Harmonic Resonance kept us sharp.”

  “But?” prompted Brianna, brow raised.

  “But… I don’t know. My own powers were perfectly suited to taking them apart. Constitution of 37 made me pretty tough—”

  Eadwolf spluttered. “37? You’ve a Constitution of 37?!”

  “Pretty tough?” Brianna laughed. “No wonder. I bet you could take a direct swing from Wyrmfall if I didn’t waken her up.”

  “Let’s not try it,” said Harald, raising both palms. “But yeah. That and… how to put it. My Well of Starless Dominion was draining them the whole time. And their demonic essence was just flooding into me. The more my Abyssal Imperium weakened and cut them, the more effective Well became, and we were able to last long enough that my draining power outpaced their ability to remain in the fight.”

  “And you captured three of them as Servitors,” added Sam, tone uneasy.

  Again Brianna re-appraised Harald. “You can make Servitors?”

  Harald laughed weakly and scratched the back of his head. “Yes…?”

  “That I’ve never heard of,” said Eadwolf, sounding almost angry. “Anyone? If you killed me, could you bind me into service?”

  “No! Only Dungeon monsters. Not real people.”

  “And you have them now? These Handmaidens?” asked Brianna.

  “I do.”

  Her expression settled. “Then summon one. Let’s see what we can learn from it.”

  Harald nodded, and reached into his Cosmos. Four presences were there, though three were clearly dark and intimately his own.

  Darkness swirled by his side, and Elixethera appeared, drenched in darkness so that every surface was midnight black, her skin, her hair, her teeth when she smiled.

  Eadwolf cursed and stepped back.

  “Greetings, master.” The Handmaiden’s voice was as before, rich and redolent with power and amusement. “Are we to kill these people?”

  “No.” Harald studied the voluptuous demon with unease. “We’ve just got some questions. Answer everyone here as if I were asking.”

  The Handmaiden canted her head to one side as she formed her lips into a petulant moue. “A pity. But very well.”

  “Your name?” demanded Brianna.

  “Elixethera.”

  “Why did Eclavistra send you to Flutic?” demanded the Dragonslayer Knight.

  “I don’t know.” The demon shrugged with fluid tranquility at the admission. “I have no memories of my past. Only the eternal and ever-present now.”

  “They’re not like regular Servitors,” said Harald. “She’ll perish permanently when she’s destroyed, and… I guess she’s just a shadow of her former self. Do you remember anything from your previous life?”

  The Handmaiden shook her head. “Nothing but veils of darkness. I know my name, my powers, and have my… appetites. But nothing remains from before. Only a ravenous desire to serve you, master, in any way you desire.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Well, she’s clearly still a Handmaiden at heart,” said Brianna dryly.

  Harald dismissed her, uncomfortable with the lascivious manner in which the demon was staring at him, and shuddered. “Too bad. Still, with these twelve dead, that means only eight remain.”

  “Eight we can deal with ourselves,” said Brianna. “Or perhaps we should just send you to mop them up? I’ll catch up on some sleep while you’re gone.”

  Nessa and Anna emerged onto the landing, Anna slowing as she took in the massacre, though she didn’t look horrified like she’d done that night outside of Gorkin’s estate. “It’s over?”

  “Mostly,” said Brianna. “If I’d known Harald was this effective against the demons I’d not have bothered visiting my old friends. Regardless, I broke off conversation when I felt this peril approaching. I was too late to be of help, but…” She grinned at Harald. “Turns out it wasn’t needed.”

  “Harald, you’re all right? Sam?” Anna moved up to join them, and then exhaled when she saw them hale. “Thank the angels. What now?”

  “Now?” Harald took a breath. “I think Brianna’s right. Together we can crush the remaining demons.”

  “And the dwarves?” asked Nessa. “They’ll be put out if they march forth in all their best clothing and find the battle over.”

  “You jest,” said Anna, “but you’re not wrong.” She tapped her chin. “There’s room here to use the battle now in a different manner. Before we were going to marshall the Houses to our cause. Now we don’t need them. If we fight the remaining Handmaidens with the dwarves by our side, we’ll be making a powerful statement to all of Flutic. As well as elevating the Deepforge dwarves as clear allies.”

  “What are you thinking?” asked Brianna. “A show of force to then negotiate from a position of strength?”

  “Someone still has the Twilight Crown,” said Anna. “They know Vic’s coronation is a charade. But no-one else does. If we defeat the Handmaidens and seize Vic’s fake crown, we’ll—”

  They all turned as the sound of carriages came from the avenue outside. Four or five of them were rolling up, the hooves of their horses clattering on the cobbles, and in moments they came into view outside the gate.

  Not hansom cabs, nor even private coaches.

  Beautiful, ornate, official House coaches, and all painted in emerald green and bronze.

  “House Veridian,” murmured Sam. “Lady Elara’s come to visit?”

  “So it would seem,” said Brianna. “Let’s receive her here. This tableaux will be its own statement.”

  Guards were leaping down from the carriages to open doors. Passengers were descending. An entire delegation had just arrived at Anna’s door.

  “I’ll let them in, shall I?” Eadwolf grinned in dark amusement. “Unless your ladyship would like to greet them at the gate?”

  “Thank you, as always, Eadwolf,” said Anna, tone distracted. She was watching the small crowd gather at the entrance to her estate.

  “She’ll want to talk about tomorrow’s coronation,” said Harald quietly. “Clearly we’re not the only ones manuevering.”

  “She must have the Crown,” said Brianna. “And she’s come to recruit us all. The question is: do we allow her to take the lead?”

  “She’s brave, coming here in person,” said Nessa. “She could have just sent representatives.”

  “Oh, she’ll have brought old Orin Vex and Newt One-Eye with her,” said Brianna. “Plus enough minor Gold-rankers to make her feel quite safe. If anything, we should be wary of denying her request.”

  “You think her capable of attacking me while my guest?” asked Anna.

  Brianna shrugged. “These nights? Anything’s possible. All decorum’s been drowned in blood.” She considered. “But my presence here should keep things civil.”

  “Good.” Anna drew herself up. “No time to dress appropriately for the moment. Too bad. But if what I’ve heard of Lady Elara is true, she’ll not care a pittance for my informal attire.”

  Eadwolf reached the gate. Exchanged words with guards on other other side, then laughed. A moment later he swung open the gate, and stepped to one side to let the members of House Veridian proceed down the drive.

  “Looks like he’s taking the rear,” murmued Brianna. “Good of him to keep an eye on things.”

  Anna moved forward to take point, and Harald watched as she shifted into formally being a countess. Her brow smoothed, her chin raised, and she lightly clasped her hands before her. In a moment, she exuded a natural command, calmness, and presence that felt startling.

  The delegation was, naturally, taken aback by the dozen corpses. But they were disciplined; they didn’t falter nor break into murmurs, though Lady Elara, at the head of the short column, took a moment to sweep the lawn with her dark gaze before dismissing the dead demons and resuming her approach.

  She was a handsome woman, her black hair a cloud about her strong-boned face, with a patch of gray at the front that imparted an air of distinction. To Harald’s surprise she wasn’t drenched in her House colors, but rather wore a black, formal dress, high-necked, with touches of green and bronze. She strode down the driveway in a business-like manner, and her gaze was sharp, probing, and alive with curiosity.

  “My dear Countess Sonora,” she said as she came to a stop perhaps a few yards away. “My apologies for the late hour. But it seems I’m not the first to distrurb your rest.”

  “Lady Verdant,” said Anna, tone mild, pleasant, with a hint of warmth. “You are welcome at House Sonora at any time of day or night. My apologies for the crude decor. We hadn’t yet had time to clean up.”

  “A dozen Handmaidens?” A orange-haired man to Lady Elara’s side raised a craggy brow. “Brianna, you’ve not lost your touch.”

  Brianna inclined her head. “Would that I could claim this victory as my own. Alas. The deed belongs to Sir Harald Darrowdelve here, and his two companions: Ms. Samantha Tuppins, and Lady Evernessa Ermarine.”

  All eyes turned to take in Harald and his crew for the first time. He became conscious of the black blood and ruin plastered across his frame, but a life spent in his father’s house meant that bowing in a courtly manner came easily to him even so.

  “Is that so?” Lady Elara studied him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Sir Darrowdelve. Ladies.” She turned her attention back to Anna. “The hour is late, and the city is in crisis. You will forgive me if I dispense with the usual nicecities. Lady Anna, you are no doubt aware that tomorrow evening a travesty is poised to damn Flutic into the arms of a demon queen. I, for one, do not wish to see this demonic coronation take place. If you are of like mind, I have an offer.”

  Anna smiled coldly. “You will find that I couldn’t agree with you more.”

  “Then I shall be blunt: the sight of these slain demons only confirms my instincts, and that is to recruit you and yours to my cause, as I intend to make war on this pretender king and slay his concubines. Though.” Lady Elara looked about the lawn once more. “It seems the battle will not be nearly as dangerous as I thought.”

  “You honor me, Lady Verdant,” said Anna. “I would glady be your partner in this endeavor.”

  The head of House Veridian smiled coldly, and her eyes glittered. “I am in possession of the Twilight Crown. Like all would-be rulers, I find myself eminently qualified to wear it and style myself the next queen of Flutic. I have, you see, one key characteristic that qualifies me to do so.”

  Anna’s expression, impressively, didn’t change from that of mild curiosity. “And what is that?”

  “I don’t want it.” Lady Elara’s tone grew cold. “But I am grown sick of watching my peers squabble like murderous children. I would much prefer to devote my time and energies to uncovering the wonders and mysteries of the Dungeon, but the present state of affairs is absolutely deplorable. Thus I shall be queen, and I shall see to it that order is restored. That done, we can all, together, work towards transitioning back to some sane form of self-governance.” Lady Elara smiled. “Thus, for now, you would not be my partner, dear countess, but my supporter.”

  Harald couldn’t help himself. Perhaps it was the victory over the Handmaidens, or Lady Elara’s arrogance, or having witnessed Vic’s exasperation over how the nobility couldn’t think of real change beyond putting someone appropriate in charge.

  He stepped forward. “With all due respect, my lady, you’ve not been fully appraised of the situation.”

  Something in his tone alerted the many raiders and guards that formed Lady Elara’s retinue, for they subtly shifted their weight as they regarded him.

  “Oh?” Lady Elara smiled. “What is it that I’m unaware of?”

  “Deepforge is answering Lady Anna’s.” Harald pitched his voice to carry. “One of my companions, a DreadRune, is even now summoning the strength of the dwarves from the depths to aid us in this crisis. Beyond that, Lady Brianna has successfully drawn the support of House Draken’s best raiders, who shall also be aiding us tomorrow. And then finally, there’s me.”

  Harald took another step, and the disdain he saw in Lady Elara’s face provoked him, pushed him over the edge.

  He stopped suppressing the Crown of the Abyssal Tyrant.

  Harald’s presence filled the night air, allowing the force of his personality to wash out over the retinue like a wave of dark majesty. His four Thrones—as many as Brianna herself possessed—fueled his intensity, and the shadows deepened to pure blackness, the temperature seemed to drop, and those who sought to match his gaze either averted their own or seemed to struggle.

  Lady Elara’s expression grew pinched as she glared at him, her skin waxen, her jaw closed tight.

  “You say you don’t want the Twilight Crown.” Harald’s voice had grown hollow with dread power. “You say that you are sickened by the squabbling of the other nobles. That you must claim control before you can turn your attention to what you truly desire. Then I say to you: give the Crown to Anna. You have no allies. She has Deepforge and the strength of House Draken.”

  Harald stared deep into Elara’s eyes, willing her accede, feeling her strength of will erode before the unending assault of his desire. “You are brave for having chosen this moment to step forth and stop the bloodshed. But you are a known quantity, and will be tested, time and again. If you don the crown, you will never be able to set it aside. Yours will be a life of politics, betrayal, assassination attempts, rebellions, blood, and barely controlled chaos. You don’t want that.”

  The ginger-haired man moved to step before Lady Elara, his craggy features grown wrathful with displeasure, but she stayed him with an outstretched hand.

  Harald continued. “Give the Crown to Anna. Allow her to announce herself. Support her. Avoid the attention. The bickering. The neverending quarrels. Anna already has the dwarves and one House. Further, she has my support. And what I will, takes place. And I desire this, Lady Elara. I trust Anna more than I trust myself, and I know she will be a fair and diplomatic ruler.”

  Harald took another step forward. “I urge you not to make this mistake. See the wisdom in anointing another, and avoid this fate you abhor.”

  The air had grown turgid with his authority, as if deep, powerful currents were slowly coiling about the House Veridian delegation. Lady Elara looked away, but saw strewn about her the corpses of the Handmaidens. Their violent ends only underscored Harald’s words.

  Abruptly, Harald suppressed the Crown. He felt the circlet of bright power vanish from over his head, felt his authority melt away, the air lighten, saw the guards of Lady Elara’s retinue draw sudden and startled breaths.

  Harald smiled. “Such is my request. I subject it to your greater wisdom, and thank you for hearing me on this matter.”

  He bowed his head a fraction and stepped back.

  The sound of metallic stars ringing out against the void filled his mind.

  The Demon Seed Has Stirred

  Your Presence has risen from 13 to 14

  Lady Elara was staring at him, wide-eyed, as if she’d suddenly begun hearing voices in her own mind, and none of them had anything comforting to say.

  “Sir Darrowdelve is most generous in his praise,” said Anna smoothly. “Perhaps we can adjourn this meeting for now, and resume conversation in the morning?”

  “Yes,” whispered Lady Elara. “That is… that would be most wise. I shall consider Sir Darrowdelve’s words. And… thank you, countess. For having this conversation at this late hour.”

  Anna bowed her head politely.

  The House Veridian delegation departed the grounds quickly, climbed into their carriages, and were soon gone.

  Eadwolf closed the gate.

  “Well,” said Brianna, breaking the silence. “That was unexpected.”

  Anna turned to glare at Harald. “You didn’t even ask!”

  “I didn’t have to.” Harld passed a hand over his face. “We all know we need to break this cycle of bloodshed. Vic’s right on half the stuff he says, he was just going about it the wrong way. With you in charge, and Lady Brianna by your side, Flutic has a half a chance to survive what’s to come. But first.”

  “First?” asked Sam, and he didn’t like the way she was studying him.

  “First we go kill the rest of the Handmaidens. When we meet with Lady Elara next, it will be with their heads in a sack.” Harald smiled, and he couldn’t repress some measure of delight at the prospect of another battle. “I’m confident that will help her agree with our point of view.”