‘And that greater good would be?’ asked the Warlock.
Jommy barked a laugh, then said, ‘The survival of the world.’ He leaned forward and all mirth vanished from his expression. In that instant Amirantha could see a hard-bitten veteran of some terrible struggles under the affable expression of this young man. ‘I’ve seen things. I’ve lived through things no man should have survived, and I’ve watched people I cared about die.’ He paused and then said, ‘There is no one in the Conclave for whom I wouldn’t lay down my life, and I’m certain that each of them would lay down his or her life for me.
‘It’s not blind loyalty either. These people make a difference.’
Pug said, ‘Enough, Jommy. We’re not here to convince Amirantha that we’re an agency of good and all those we oppose are servants of evil.’
The Warlock smiled. ‘No need. I already know that. At least I know you believe you’re serving good.’
‘Adroit comment,’ said Miranda.
The Warlock smiled. ‘Many of the people who’ve tried to kill me over the years thought they were serving a greater good.’
Jommy laughed. ‘I’ve had similar experiences.’
Sandreena looked impatient as she said, ‘The demons?’
‘Yes,’ said Amirantha. ‘What do you know about the demon realm?’
‘There are graduated levels of reality,’ began Pug. ‘This is what would be considered by some to be the first level of Hell.’
Jommy laughed. ‘At times I think that’s too generous.’ He saw Miranda’s expression darken and said, ‘I’ll be quiet now.’
‘We fought demons on the world of Shila, home to the Saaur, and found our way to the passage from where they came. We destroyed the rift between Shila and here and escaped.’ He neglected to mention that Macros, Miranda’s father, had died holding the most powerful demon of the Fifth Circle at bay long enough for them to succeed.
‘We know the demons are ruled by a creature named Maarg, and that he has captains. Of these we know little, save that a hundred years ago his first captain was named Tugor.
‘They have intelligence after a fashion, but it is very unlike our own.’
‘Agreed,’ said Amirantha. ‘So far my experience confirms they can be cunning, even clever, but there is a limit to their creative abilities.’
Pug nodded. ‘They seem drawn to the higher planes as moths to a flame.’
Amirantha said, ‘Such is the case. That is why any summoning must have a containment spell or ward accompanying it, or else the creature will devour everything in sight.
‘Even the tiny imps, like my Nalnar, would run rampant if unhampered.’ With a smile he said, ‘He has a particular fondness for baked goods.’
Miranda didn’t seem amused by the image. ‘Most of those we encountered were meat eaters,’ she said coldly.
‘Again, such is the case,’ said Amirantha. ‘But I believe those of the highest level can also draw life-energy directly out of living beings using their own particular brand of magic’
‘We know they have magic,’ said Pug, ‘for a demon convinced all who saw him he was the Emerald Queen, using an illusion.’
Amirantha said, ‘I would know nothing about that, as I have never encountered a demon with the power to create such an illusion. That the demon could perform such a feat surprises me. They tend to be fairly direct in their use of magic.
‘From what the few demons I can trust have told me—’
‘Trust?’ interrupted Miranda. ‘You have demons you trust?’
‘Trust, perhaps, is the wrong word. They are reliable in that they will do what I wish and tell me what I want to know because they see me as powerful; they know I can destroy them as well as banish them back to the demon realm.’
‘What have they told you?’ asked Pug, shifting the topic back.
‘They have cities, or something like social organization,’ said Amirantha. ‘Not cities such as we would recognize, but warrens in the caves of mountains; hives might be a better analogy.
‘They feed on one another constantly, but I have the sense there is something about that I don’t fully understand.’ He paused, and looked at Pug, Miranda and the others and said, ‘I have no certain knowledge, but I have an intuition that they never really die. I think their essence is consumed either by another demon or that it somehow returns to some fundamental state in their realm.’
‘Otherwise,’ said Jommy, ‘why haven’t they run out of food already?’
‘Yes,’ said Amirantha. ‘They do not farm or fish, and judging from what I’ve been told, their realm is devoid of any life other than demon life, as we understand it.’