Dartmouth clawed at the smoke enveloping him, snarling as he tried to cling to his domain in the Void. It slipped further away.

This can’t be happening! He seethed. I burned every book. Blotted every family tree. Shredded birth certificates. Strangled every bard that dared to sing. Died ALONE. My name should have been struck from the lists forever.

“I’M RETIRED!” he howled into the Void. The smoke didn’t seem to care about his status. It clung to his skin and dragged him inexorably under. He growled through gritted teeth, surrendering to the pull of the summons. Whoever was on the other side was going to die, no matter the conditions of the contract. He wasn’t putting up with humanity's latest disaster. Not again.

His feet settled on solid ground, his first sign of exiting the Void. As the smoke began to dissipate he assumed his most menacing scowl, drawing himself to his full height. Eons past, his towering physique inspired terror on battlefields. It would serve him well now. When the first glimmer of light pierced through the smokescreen he took a deep breath. His battle field war cry rattled whatever the smoke obscured as he bellowed,

“HOW DARE YOU SUMMON ME HERE! LONG HAVE I GROWN WEARY OF HUMANITY'S PETTY SQUABBLES!”

Somewhere beyond the thinning shadows he heard a gasp. Encouraged he went on.

“PRAY I NEVER ESCAPE THESE BONDS FOR THE WORLD WILL FALL TO ASH FOR YOUR IMPERTINENCE.” He intoned, pausing for dramatic effect. Through the haze a boxy shape loomed.

“What did he say?”

“He said he hates us and wants the world to burn.”

“Cool. Can we watch?”

Dartmouth blinked once, betraying his bewilderment. The voices were nothing like the grave tones that greeted him the last few times this happened. In fact, they sounded rather youthful. The smoke swirled, revealing a glimpse of the occupants of the box. He sneered. Of course it had to be a woman. They were the worst. The most blood thirsty campaigns he championed were grudge matches against ex lovers.

“What would you have from me, woman?” he growled, increasingly fed up with his situation.

“Am I to help you scorn your faithless husband? Or do you plan on chaining me to your bedpost as a slave?”

Wide eyes gaped up at him.

“Ummm… I’m twelve.”

The smoke billowed away revealing three scrawny children in stained clothing. The girl who addressed him had hair that looked as if it had never been threatened with a brush in its life, erupting out of her scalp and trailing down her back like a mass of tangled vines. No less chaotic, both boy's hair looked as if kitchen shears had been blindly taken to their curls. The boys were held in place only by the bony elbows of the girl jutting out from her sides. All three eyes pinned on him appeared to glow in the gloom they were huddled in.

Dartmouth narrowed his eyes in disgust.

“Don’t tell me they’ve reverted to using children for their crusades?” He crossed his arms and glowered at the trio.

“I said it last time. I’m not fighting your wars anymore.”

The girl blinked.

“We’re not at war.”

Dartmouth quirked his mouth, making it clear he didn’t believe her. The girl amended her statement hastily.

“I mean I’m sure there’s a war somewhere in the world. But we don’t have anything to do with that.”

His glare faded into a look of confusion as he processed her words. Why summon me when there is no war to wage? Feeling as if he was missing something important, he turned slowly in a circle, taking in his surroundings for the first time. Piles of dusty boxes were shoved in a corner, tracks in the dirt showing how they were dragged to clear space for the circle he now stood in. Broken furniture pieces leaned against each other like drunks. Cobwebs obscured the sole window that was caked in grime, barely letting any natural light in. Crouching he inspected the lopsided circle and mish mash of candles (the cinnamon one made his eyes water). He stuck his finger in the circle and brought it to his mouth. (He is licking the floor! Gross!) Straightening he dragged a hand through his black hair, bafflement clear on his face.

“What’s going on?”