"The streets look abandoned at night," Zephyr informed the Draegorths and Sorgaran. Zephyr was the only one still managing to slip in and out, mostly undetected.
The small group was in a traveller's town, a place many had passed through just inside Iron Hold. They allowed anyone to enter as long as they aided in trade, spent coin, and didn't cause any trouble. That was how three Draegoerths, a Sorgaran, who concealed his horns, and a Slinktail, sat in an open, brightly lit tavern discussing such matters.
Nobody looked in their direction because they, too, wanted to be left alone.
"Hmmm." Sorgaran tapped his fingers against the table.
Zephyr sat to his right and Garzon to the lord's left. Zephyr should be standing like Garzon initially ordered him to, but Sorgaran insisted while Maz and Tez watched on in silence.
It was clear Zephyr was getting on Garzon's last nerve. The previous time Zephyr snuck in to see their meeting with the demon lord, Garzon threatened him. However, this evening, Maz was the one to bring him on orders by Sorgaran himself.
If it wasn't for Sorgaran's confidence, Zephyr might have fled by now, even through such trying times.
Zephyr had been more valuable to the lord than the others. He didn't just want their coin but essential information that would help. That was something a thief like the Slinktail could do.
With the Draegorths' enormous size, they were unable to sneak around. Garzon didn't seem like the type to do such tasks either.
"It's getting dangerous," Zephyr continued, looking into the ale Sorgaran ordered for him while Garzon, Maz and Tez drank nothing. Zephyr couldn't deny his delight at Gaz's sullen expression.
It had to be a power play, something to spark Garzon's fury. Zephyr couldn't deny the lord and had to grit his teeth at Sorgaran's amused expression. Zephyr would get his head bashed in when they returned to camp.
"You don't run into problems, though," Garzon clipped, his large hand clenching as his skull head tilted to the side, watching him.
"I get myself out of the situations quickly," Zephyr answered Garzon's underlying question.
Sorgaran raised his hand, silencing them further. "I freed some Draegorths in the Northern villages. They wreaked havoc, keeping the enforcers and hunters entertained for a while." He grinned wickedly, eyes alight as though he could see the blood and gore right now. "This will give everyone enough time to leave."
"Where will we go?" Zephyr asked, ignoring Garzon's simmering glare.
Sorgaran shrugged. "Shadowmere if you can make a deal with the vamps. The Dark Forest… I doubt the fae will listen, and elves are just as stubborn.
"There is always Wormley or Howlers Hills across the river. Werewolves might be willing to strike a deal so they have more power to attack the vamps…." Sorgaran then turned his attention to Garzon. "Inform me where you choose. Don't make me work for it. You know what will happen."
Garzon bowed his head. "Of course, my lord."
"So, we're just going to run?" Zephyr asked, looking between Sorgaran's smooth complexion and Garzon's monstrous one.
Sorgaran tilted his head. "Why? Is a weak Slinktail going to fight them?"
The demon lord's mockery quietened Zephyr. His part of the meeting was done, and although it was an achievement to be a part of it, it didn't mean he'd jumped the ranks. Zephyr was still only a Slinktail.
✧ ✧ ✧
"Zephyr, keep up the good work." Sorgaran grinned, hand slapping on Zephyr's shoulder loudly, his eyes flicking to Garzon, his intent clear. They were strolling out of the tavern and into the dark, cold, cobblestoned street.
Did Sorgaran want Zephyr to succeed or Garzon to actually kill him?
The demon lord smirked and parted from the group, not saying another word to any of the Draegorths who were about to disperse and return to the camp that would be packed up. Zephyr took three steps before another beefy hand landed on his shoulder.
He braced himself for the attack, ready to defend himself, but Garzon merely turned him around. "Where are you going?"
Maz was the only one to stop in his tracks and look between the two demons, but one flick of Garzon's wrist ordered him away. The minotaur huffed, the puff from his nostrils swirling around him before he turned away, following Tez down a dark alleyway.
"To camp," Zephyr replied, his tone calm as he stared back at Garzon's skull head.
"Nah, I have a special quest for you." Zephyr didn't like where this was heading.
"Sorgaran already gave his orders-"
"That's Lord Sorgaran." Garzon squeezed his shoulder, the bones rattling and almost cracking beneath the Draegorth's strength.
Zephyr hissed, biting his tongue.
"And I'm giving you more orders. There's a Draegorth I want you to rescue. Once you get him out, you can come with us to the next camp."
This wasn't an ordinary quest.
It was clear Garzon was trying to get rid of him. Zephyr could decline it, but then he would need to leave the group and search for another. With the promise of working more for Sorgaran, as much as a prick he could be, it would be difficult to find his standing again.
For now, Zephyr would follow through with this 'quest'. If the demon lord discovers Zephyr went against his orders, he would use it against Garzon, and perhaps the lord would take matters into his own hands.
Probably not. Sorgaran didn't like lifting a finger, preferring to scheme and use pawns in his stead. Zephyr could be that pawn for now, but he'd already proven himself far more helpful than the three Draegorths, who got most of their coin from Zephyr's earnings.
"And where is this next camp going to be?" Zephyr questioned, accepting the quest.
Garzon shrugged. "Undecided yet."
"And I will find you how?" Zephyr asked, his voice laced with irritation. He didn't know how long this 'little' side quest was going to take, and it is more than likely Garzon and the others would be gone by the time he returns if he returns.
Garzon grinned, his mouth far too wide as he leaned forward, breath revolting. "You're smart... I'm sure you'll figure it out."
Garzon shoved him away after giving him a brief description of his friend.
Zephyr set off in the opposite direction to the Draegorths, set on helping this Draegorth escape the clutches of the hunters. Garzon allegedly only got word of this about his friend today. It should be a simple task—all his words, of course.
Draegorths didn't have friends, they had competition.
Still, Zephyr would use this to his advantage if there was one. By midnight, a few hours after departing from the travellers town to, Greenstead, another more rural location between Emerald Gate and Iron Hold, Zephyr arrived. Like the others the place looked abandoned.
Even without a curfew, not many people would be wandering the streets now. Guards patrolled the grounds vigilantly. None yawned or slacked off. It was like their boss was making the rounds, and they couldn't afford to be discovered relaxing.
It was going to be tricky, though. There were more guards than what Zephyr was used to.
After scaling buildings, sneaking along alleyways and throwing pebbles in opposite directions to distract guards from where he needed to run, Zephyr finally located a cage full of Slinktails but no Draegorth. He watched, lying down on a tiled rooftop, looking from cart to cart full of demons.
There were many more than any he'd seen before. Had they all been hiding in Geenstead? That couldn't be right, the place didn't seem big enough matching the rows of cages he could see now.
Yet there was still no Draegorth. Did Garzon lie about that part as well?
Was he hoping Zephyr would be caught and thrown in with the others-
"What do we have here?" A feminine voice called mockingly. Cool steel pressed to the back of Zephyr's neck. It was a blade.
Fuck.