‘A fair assumption for the moment,’ said Pug, ‘though I have encountered and destroyed a fair share of them.’ He thought it best for the moment to forgo mentioning that one had almost killed him.
‘I don’t know what sort of child you were, Pug, but I was curious. I’d sit over an anthill and prod it with a twig to see how the ants reacted. My eldest brother liked to see things die, and my middle brother like to hurt things. In my defence, my fascinations were the most harmless, except perhaps to the ants.’ He smiled, and seeing no reaction, continued. ‘We spent a great deal of time alone. Our mother had little use for us once we could be set aside to fend for ourselves, she had her own interests.
‘Looking back on my childhood, it’s surprising that any of us survived. Mother provided charms and potions, wards and minor enchantments for local villagers, who endured her proximity because they occasionally found her useful. At a very early age, we boys were shown that our presence in the village wouldn’t be tolerated. Each of us wandered into the village. Each of us in turn was beaten and chased away. I had the dogs set on me.’ He rolled up the sleeve on his left arm, showing old bite marks. ‘I’ve had this scar all my life. I was only seven years of age.’
Magnus said, ‘Harsh.’
‘In a way, yes,’ said Amirantha. ‘But I was also tempered to endure a great many hardships. It’s why I’m still able to sit here and speak with you, rather than having had some demon decorate a cave with my entrails years ago.
‘My curious nature led me to a cave a few miles from my mother’s hut, and there I found ancient runes cut into the stone by some primitive shaman. Even at the age of ten I could feel the power behind them. I had learned some lessons from my mother by then, minor cantrips and spells, things that would hardly impress, still I was something of a prodigy, or at least my mother said so. My brothers hated me even more for having shown talent at an earlier age than they.
‘I stood alone in this cave, and suddenly something on the wall seemed to make sense to me. I don’t know if there were ancient powers still abiding in the runes, or if my native ability had seized on their meaning, but I remember thinking that here was something I could play with.
‘I conjured Nalnar, and we had a very rocky introduction. He’s not malicious, at least not compared to his brethren, but like all manner of demons he can be unpredictable and combative. Fortunately, he was also very young, and while he managed to singe my hair a little, I eventually beat him into submission.
‘We then spent a good month learning to speak with one another - the demon language is almost impossible for humans to manage, without magic, and at that time I had little power to speak of. I would bring him here once or twice a week over two years, and learn what I could of him.’
Pug and Magnus now looked thoroughly fascinated.
‘When Sidi slaughtered our mother, Belasco and I went our separate ways. At our final parting he accused me of being complicit in our mother’s death, though I’m certain he knew that to be false; he just liked having other people to blame.
‘I’ve encountered him on a number of occasions over the years, and despite two civil conversations, he tries to kill me most of the time. I’ve been avoiding both my brothers for over a century now.’
Both Magnus and Pug were unfazed by this revelation. Given how long Sidi had been a thorn in Pug’s side, that his younger brother was also long-lived came as no surprise.
‘After fleeing my brothers, I wandered and Nalnar, my little demon friend, became instrumental in keeping me alive. He’s nimble and clever, and for nearly two years stole things for me, like a pie from a window, a new pair of trousers from a wash-line, or a coin from a beggar’s bowl. And while I was lonely, at least I had him to talk to.
‘I learned more of the demon realm.’
Pug said, ‘Please stop. I think there are things here I wish for others to hear, as well.’ To Magnus he said, ‘See that our guests are comfortable and let me know when—’
Amirantha sat bolt upright in his chair and said, ‘Demons!’
‘What?’ asked Magnus.
‘Where?’ asked Pug.
‘Here, close.’ He stood, turning his head as if he was listening for something. Then he pointed to the north. ‘There. Not far away. More than one.’
‘How do you know?’ asked Caleb.
Flashing an angry expression, Amirantha said, ‘Trust me.’ To Pug he said, ‘They are powerful. We must go and meet them, now.’
‘North?’ asked Pug.
Then Magnus said, ‘Kaspar. He’s fishing on the north beach.’
‘Take us there,’ said Pug.
Brandos said, ‘I should come. I’m the only sword you’ve got that knows how to fight demons.’
Pug glanced around the room and said, ‘We all go.’