Thistle winced inwardly at the words; he’d heard such phrases enough to know they had a strange magic. Words like that presented a theatrical opportunity that neither the gods, fate, nor whatever uncaring being oversaw the world was able to resist. Sure enough, the mayor had barely spoken when a huge explosion from the northeast corner rocked the arena.
“Demons,” Eric replied, his voice hollowed by the realization that he was too late. Very few heard him over the screams of the audience members now fighting back a fire.
“There are demons coming.”
12.
It had been such a simple plan. Exit the building, find Grumph and Gabrielle, consult Thistle, work out what to do next. After watching for a few minutes, Eric had determined that the pulse of the gem was indeed, speeding up, but it was doing so at a steady rate. He didn’t even know for sure if this gem had anything to do with the demons; right now, it was just a coincidence and a hunch. Besides, if it was building toward a detonation, then it seemed a reasonable guess that he had at least enough time left to formulate a well thought-out plan of action.
That was when he heard the scratching. It was from a cart over, the one in which the odd hat rested. Eric searched quietly, pausing as needed to see if the sound was still coming. It took some doing, but eventually, he found the source in a large crate near the back of the cart. Inside were two more gems. One was pulsing a bit slower than the first Eric had spotted.
The other was going so fast, it seemed almost like a constant shine. This second gem also appeared to be the source of the scratching. As Eric peered into its depths, he realized the swirling patterns on the gem’s surface were far clearer in this one — so clear, he could make out an image. That image was, unfortunately one of all-too-familiar claws scraping against the other side of rapidly pulsing gem.
All hope of a plan evaporated, and Eric rushed back to the makeshift entryway he’d made in the tunnel. He exited the beams faster than he would have thought possible, mind too preoccupied on what was happening. This was no longer a hunch; what he’d seen in the third gem had removed all doubt. Now, he needed to warn people; as many as possible, as quickly as he could. These gems were bigger, and he didn’t know what that meant, but he could make a damned good guess at what three of them would entail.
Eric’s speed was so great that, though the guards noticed him emerging from the rafters, they were only able to shout at him as he tore off in the direction of the arena. His newly-discovered speed after years of wearing bulky armor assured him they had no chance of catching up. Even then, the thought of being pursued might have quickened his step, were it not already being hastened by the memory of the claws scraping against the inside of the gem. That was more than enough motivation to give him speed.
He broke into the main part of the arena just as a portly man was barking orders, but Eric paid him no heed. There was only one target for the former guard: Mayor Branders. He was the man who could move people along, the man who might get them to safety before things went to hell. Or, rather, before hell came to them. With a deep gulp of air, Eric bellowed with all his might.
“RUUUUUN!”
The high-pitched ringing filling the ears of all present, a side effect from the explosion, had scarcely begun to subside when a second boom filled the air. This time, there was no delay, a third followed immediately on the second’s heels. This final blast proved more than the hastily-built stands could handle, and a section near the mayor’s position began to collapse. Many were able to scramble away, but a few went tumbling to the ground below. Scary as it was to see people falling away, it was nothing compared to the terror of what came next.
Once they landed, the screaming started.
Grumph and Gabrielle raced forward from the pen, joining up with Thistle along the way, and making it to Eric’s side in expedient time.
“What’s happening?” Thistle demanded, his voice firm, but calm, despite the growing pandemonium.
“Demons,” Eric said. “I saw one of the gems like at the goblin camp, followed it on a hunch, and saw inside it. There were more demons, and it sounds like all three gems have let them out.”
Thistle took a breath and let the absurdity wash over him. Dealing with magic was tiresome for a logical person because it often refused to make sense. Nevertheless, time spent debating the rationale of demons popping out of gems would be precious moments wasted. It was better to accept this strangeness as fact until it could be thought through later. Right now, all that mattered was that the demons were coming. Even if Thistle had doubted Eric’s deduction, the explosions and screams were more than enough to sell him on the demon theory.
“We won’t have long, but this time, we’ve at least got a few advantages,” Thistle said. “Eric, go rally the garrison and the guards. Let them know what they’ll be facing so they don’t go in blind. Gabrielle and Grumph, go let the adventurers know what’s happening. We’ve got enough swords and magical muscles to beat these beasts back before they get established. I’ll talk to the mayor and try to get him to evacuate the citizens.”
Thistle’s directions were interrupted by the sound of splintering wood. A demon, nearly identical to the ones they’d faced only days ago save for the fact that it was over twice as large, smashed its way out of the stands and into the side of the arena. The clacking of its claws filled the air, broken splinters of wood tumbling away as it crushed them effortlessly. Among the debris, a keen eye could pick out bloodstains on the wood, answering the question of why the screaming had grown noticeably quieter.
“Well then, I guess we don’t need to alert people, after all,” Gabrielle sighed, unsheathing her axe with some effort.
“You’re very wrong,” Thistle informed her. “Remember, these aren’t just demons. They’re smart, at least, smart enough to work together. If we don’t spread that information, lives will be lost.”
Grumph snorted in agreement as he sprinted off toward the pens. Gabrielle hesitated, then followed a few moments later.
“I think I know where the guards will gather in an emergency,” Eric said, taking off in another direction.
Thistle turned his attention up to the stands, where panic had already engulfed the sea of people scrambling to get away. He was a bit surprised they’d bought that part about alerting the mayor. What could one man do to direct so many people rightfully drowning in fear? No, Thistle had given them that falsehood because he knew they wouldn’t follow orders if he told them the truth.
A few creaking steps brought him forward as he let out a low whistle then yelled toward the towering demon with all the volume he could muster:
“Hey, ugly, I killed one of you just a few nights past. Friend of yours? If so, I’d be happy to reunite you.”
The demon turned its rat-like head and looked directly at him. From the hole it had left, three more equally-sized monsters emerged, their eyes also glaring in his direction. Well, he’d wanted to grab attention, and he’d certainly succeeded. His nimble fingers danced to his sheaths, surprised at the quality of daggers he’d found there. Right; he’d borrowed Sierva’s blades before things went crazy. He hoped she had magic to find them, because he doubted he’d get to hand them back.
One demon, perhaps, he might have been able to slay, with his new magic and Grumble’s blessings. Two would have certainly killed him. Four made what he planned seem so staggeringly stupid that part of him wondered why he was standing there. That part was quickly silenced. Thistle knew the terms of the bargain he’d struck; it was why he’d been so hesitant to take it. For all the perks and gifts that came with being a paladin, there was also an unshirkable duty attached. Paladins didn’t run. Paladins didn’t hide. Paladins were the shield of flesh between the forces of darkness and those without strength to defend themselves.