Jubaya Speaks
Astrids and warrior fairies withdrew from the turbulent sludge pool as Kendra walked toward it, the horn clutched tightly in her hand. She stopped a couple of steps from the edge of the roiling pond. The surface became still. Slowly a shape arose from the muck, dripping black filth. It looked to Kendra like the charred head of a praying mantis.
"Hello, child," said a slithery voice that matched the words she had heard in her mind.
"Hello," Kendra replied, unsure what else to say. She did her best not to stare in horror. Judging by the dimensions of the head, Jubaya was probably two or three times her size.
"I am Jubaya," the demon said. "Tell me your name, child."
"Kendra."
"Your full name."
"Kendra Marie Sorenson."
"You are the one who slew Gorgrog the Vile, King of Demons."
"Yes," Kendra admitted, her grip tight on the horn. She wondered if Jubaya might lunge at her to get revenge.
"Relax, child," Jubaya soothed in greasy tones. "I pledged not to harm you, and I am bound by my word. It is you who could harm me. Contact with that horn would send me to the endless night."
"I'm not going to attack you," Kendra said. "How did you know I killed the Demon King?"
"Such an act leaves an unmistakable residue for those with senses to perceive it." A six-fingered hand emerged from the sludge, the grimy fingers extremely long. "Would you take my hand?"
Kendra recoiled. "I'd rather not."
The elongated fingers rippled. "Please, Kendra, I must get a sense of you. The horn will protect you from my touch. It is why I asked you to bring it."
"Can't we just talk?"
"There are other ways to communicate besides speech. Just take my hand for a moment. Don't be afraid. I promise not to hurt you. Do I appear so hideous?"
"My brother got burned making a deal with a demon," Kendra said. "People I love died."
"No deals," Jubaya asserted. "Just a conversation. I wish to help you."
"Why would you want to help me?"
"I will tell you after you take my hand. Don't be afraid. Don't be squeamish."
Kendra didn't like the idea of touching the demon, but she didn't want to be rude, and it was clear the conversation would not progress unless she relented. Bracken would not like it, she felt, but how big of a deal could it be? Was she just being prejudiced? She had the horn and could strike if the demon attacked. If Jubaya wanted, she could lunge at her right now. Instead the demon waited, hand extended.
Kendra stepped forward, bent down, and shook cool fingers that felt like raw hot dogs. The contact gave her shivers. She let go and wiped her hand on her jeans.
"Ah," Jubaya said, her hand disappearing into the pool. "Much better. Why did you not strike me with the unicorn horn? You had my hand. You could have destroyed me."
Kendra felt off balance. "I don't want to destroy you."
"But you could have," Jubaya said. "I am a threat and a problem to your friends. You have personal reasons to mistrust demons. I have caused discord and strife throughout my long years. You made no oath to spare me."
"I don't go around killing people," Kendra said.
"And yet you killed the Demon King."
"He was attacking," Kendra said. "I was protecting my friends."
"You are not ruthless, Kendra," Jubaya said. "It's an endearing weakness. We are fundamentally different, you and I. We do not view the world the same way. We do not employ the same methods. If at any moment in my life I could have killed Gorgrog, I would have done it without hesitation. My approach to life has particular strengths and weaknesses, as does yours. You used Vasilis to slay my king. The Sword of Light and Darkness."
"How do you know?" Kendra wondered.
"When we touched, I saw much that you have seen. Your mind is well protected. I needed voluntary contact for a glimpse. After you killed Gorgrog, you could have claimed his crown. You could have attempted to become the Demon Queen. Why did you abandon the crown to Orogoro?"
"No reason, really. Taking it never crossed my mind."
"We are so profoundly different, Kendra. That was one of the five major crowns. You could have become one of the most powerful women in history."
"I don't really get what you're talking about. Major crowns?"
"The Demon King. The Fairy Queen. The King of Dragons. The Queen of Giants. And the Underking. The five great monarchs. You could have been one of them. Any regrets?"
"Not really," Kendra said. She thought about it. "I wouldn't want to be the Demon Queen."
"But the power."
"Besides, some other demon would have probably killed me."
Jubaya nodded. "Yes. On that point at least we share common ground. Self-preservation. And you're right. My kind would have eaten you alive had you attempted to rule them."
"Orogoro is the new king," Kendra said.
"Indeed. Ruling from a new prison. How very majestic."
"You didn't leave with the other demons," Kendra said.
"And so I am in a position to help tidy up the mess they left behind," Jubaya said. "Rushing forward at every opportunity is not always the wisest tactic. Are any of those who departed talking to the slayer of the Demon King?"
"No."
"You asked why I wanted to take your hand. Demons view the world differently than you do. Let me allow you a glimpse. To a demon, all the world is a chessboard. An elaborate game with so many pieces. A game that can be won. Most of the pieces are virtually irrelevant. But some are important. You, Kendra, are an important piece."
"Me?"
Jubaya gave a slow, rich laugh. "I adore the innocence. Kendra, some would argue that the most valuable pieces in the entire game are the five monarchs. You destroyed one of them. And earned the trust of another. And you befriended the insecure son of a third."
"Raxtus," Kendra said. He had been there at the battle against the demons with his father, Celebrant, King of the Dragons. How much had Jubaya seen?
"Are the monarchs the most essential pieces, Kendra? Or the pieces that alter the destinies of the monarchs?"
"I don't know," Kendra said.
"And yet you bend the world with your will," Jubaya murmured. "We truly are different, Kendra Marie Sorenson. I wish I better understood some of what you don't know."
"Is that what you wanted to tell me?"
"No. Why do you imagine I desired to speak with you?"
"Well, if you think I'm important, I guess to use me somehow?"
Jubaya bobbed her head. "So, you do understand something about demons. How do you imagine most demons will view you after you killed their king?"
"I thought they would hate me," Kendra said. "But it sounds like they might also admire me?"
"Right on both counts," Jubaya said. "Would you rather every demon in existence wanted you dead? Or would you prefer to have every demon in existence impressed by you and supporting you?"
"That seems obvious."
"The emotions to drive reactions in either direction is present. Knowing what you know of demons, do you expect they are happy about their defeat? Do you suppose they rejoice that a new age of demonic rule was thwarted?"
"No."
"What do you imagine they want?"
"Revenge."
Jubaya chittered. "Exactly. The question becomes whom they will target. You killed the Demon King. It was a pivotal moment of the battle. But what is the main reason the demons went to the fairy realm instead of spreading across the world?"
"The dragons?"
"That should not be a question. Demons and dragons have an ancient rivalry. If world domination is a game, the battle of Zzyzx created a major shift in the balance of power."
"What can the dragons do?" Kendra asked. "They went back to their sanctuary."
"Yes, they did," Jubaya agreed, "but armed with new power. Heed my words, Kendra Marie Sorenson. I have studied world events for many millennia. A new age of dragons is about to dawn, and there are few who will be ready or willing to stop them."
"How does that affect me?"
"Would you like to see dragons take over the world?"
"No."
"Who else do you suppose would like to see the dragons fail?"
Kendra finally realized where Jubaya was going. "The demons."
"Now you're seeing it."
"You want to help me stop the dragons?"
"Without the backing of the dragons, you would not have stopped the demons. Should you end up fighting the dragons, most demons will see you as an ally and view the fall of Gorgrog through more generous eyes."
"Why would I fight dragons?" Kendra had barely survived her brief stay at Wyrmroost, the dragon sanctuary. Some of the worst experiences of her life had happened there. Dragons were enormous and virtually unstoppable. The last thing she wanted to do was become their most wanted enemy.
"Perhaps you will not," Jubaya said. "But if you do, help might be found from three demons: Talizar, Batoosa, and Vez Radim. They could be of great service to you . . . and to your brother."
"My brother?"
"You are fairykind. There are some limits to the assistance they could offer you. But Seth is a shadow charmer."
"The last thing Seth needs is new demon friends," Kendra said heatedly.
"He was betrayed by Graulas," Jubaya said. "I wish I could say I was surprised. But interacting with demons can be a more profitable experience when you share common interests. Demons have a score to settle with the dragons. You could receive help from the sources I named. With my mark on you, they will look upon you favourably."
"Your mark?" Kendra asked. She had worried there might be a catch to all of this.
"I shared it when we touched. It will cause you no harm, and only demons can see it. My approval will be a protection and will open doors for you."
"What if I don't want to go through your doors?"
"Then don't," Jubaya said. "I wished to converse with you. We have conversed. If a day comes when you could use help, remember our talk. Or forget it. That choice is yours."
"Okay," Kendra said, once again wiping against her jeans the hand that had touched Jubaya.
"Go tell your unicorn that I will now submit quietly."
"Thanks."
"Your gratitude is premature. Don't thank me yet. The day may come when you actually mean it."