The silence that followed the demon king's declaration was absolute. It was a heavy, suffocating blanket that smothered the low hum of the tavern. The burly bartender's face went from suspicious to pale, his hand tightening on the hilt of his knife. The group of dice-players by the fire had gone completely still, their eyes fixed on our table.
I felt a cold knot of dread tighten in my stomach. This was not how I had imagined this conversation going. I had pictured a subtle, careful inquiry, a few discreet questions whispered over a pint of ale. Not a declaration of war in the middle of a crowded tavern.
"You're a fool." The bartender said, finally, and gave a short shake of his head. "For one such as you, there's no help to be found in advice."
"Would you prefer to keep the rot that eats at your world?" The demon king asked, tilting his head. "If you are so cowardly as to accept it, I suppose it is no wonder the demon lord of this world is so weak as to be beneath my notice." He waved his hand, dismissively. "Nevertheless, I did not authorize your opinion. What I do is none of your concern. Consider yourself blessed to look upon me at all." He spoke with the same calm, bored disdain he used on everything. He didn't see these people as anything other than tools. Tools that were, at the moment, proving to be disappointingly dull.
"I don't know what you're talking about, nor do I care." The bartender said, gruffly, taking a step back. "Drink your ale and be gone from my establishment. We don't want trouble."
"I think it's a little late for that," I muttered under my breath.
The demon king ignored me. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table, the movement deceptively casual. He didn't say anything. He simply took the ale and took a sip, his eyes fixed on the bartender with an intensity that felt like a physical pressure. The silence stretched, taut and dangerous. The man was practically sweating, his face a mask of forced indifference. Then, finally, he cracked.
"Fine." He said, lowering his voice to a gruff whisper. "If you're serious about this madness... there's a man. Name's Kaelen. He used to be a scout for the lord's guard. Knows the lands around the castle better than anyone."
"And this Kaelen can be found where?" The Demon King asked.
The bartender's jaw tightened. "I don't know. He left the guard a year back. Said he'd seen things... things he couldn't abide by. Keeps to himself now. Last I heard, he was living up in the old watchtower on the northern ridge. But you didn't hear that from me."
The demon king stood and left the drink on the bar.
"You." His gaze flickered over to me. "Why don't you try speaking? Perhaps you'll irritate him into attacking you." He said, a smirk on his face.
"Wh-what?" I stammered, looking between him and the tavern. "No. You're the one who..."
"Come, wretch, before my generosity ends and I reduce this city to ash." He said, already walking out the door.
That's....
That cannot be. Something he can do.
There's just no way he'd have the power to burn an entire settlement like this when I'm leashing his abilities like I am just from my limited magical abilities.
And...!
That's without me resisting him, which I definitely would, and-!
I blink, shaking myself, and scramble to my feet.
Not letting that man wander unsupervised was my number one priority.
So I ran after him, Angus trailing behind. The tavern erupted into a cacophony of whispers as soon as we left, a low, anxious buzz that followed us out into the square.
"What was that?!" I hissed as soon as we were out of earshot, grabbing his arm and forcing him to turn and face me. "We were supposed to be discreet! Not announce our intentions to the entire room!"
His gaze fell to my hand on his arm, and a flicker of that cold, dangerous fury crossed his face. "You touch me?" he asked, his voice a soft, deadly whisper.
I snatched my hand back as quickly as I'd put it there. "Don't change the subject! You just told a room full of strangers that we're here to kill the local lord! What if one of them is a spy? What if they send a message ahead? We'll be walking into a trap!"
"Your insults never end, do they?" He asked, a sneer on his lips. He then looked away, back to the path. "The pathetic demon lord may do as he wishes. he is a worm pierced by a hook."
...Wouldn't that make him bait for something...?
But he doesn't elaborate at all.
So I simply stared at him in befuddlement. He ignored my question entirely. He began walking again, his long strides forcing me to hurry to keep up.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I demanded, jogging to catch up. "Are you just going to wander into the demon lord's castle and hope for the best? Is that your grand strategy?"
"Your only concern is to find a way to be less of a burden upon my greatness, fool child."
I draw in a breath.̀ draw in a breath.
It's all too tempting. I want to retort. I want to say something to him.
But I can't get the words out.
Not here. Not in the middle of the town.
Because he wasn't wrong.
He's supposed to be my great weapon, but besides his absolutely rancid personality, it's my own limitations that are holding us back.
And I...
I don't know what to do about that.
Unfortunately, Angus didn't pop any of his helpful little opinion tips in front of my face this time. Perhaps it was because he was too busy being spooked by the angry demon king's threatening behavior again.
That did seem rather like him, after all.