Evelda hardy slept a wink last night. She fell asleep due to being so worn out from work and the trauma of the day before, but she soon awoke with hunger. She now stood in the middle of the village wearing the white dress that was far too big for her. It bunched around her middle, overlapping where the belt held the skirt up, and she finally felt right wearing it. The Demon lord Turuk saw her naked yesterday. He didn’t seem moved by her, of course, being so underweight and plain, but she still felt vulnerable. For the first time since she was handed this dress, she appreciated the bulk of it, making her appear larger than she was. The extra fabric almost made her feel more secure…
When I’m looking at the demon I bet I won’t feel safe anymore.
Evelda fussed with her hands against her front and continued to wait. It was nearly 11, by the sundial in the middle of the village, and they needed to leave promptly. She hated to think what Turuk would do to them if they arrived after Noon. Her nerves finally started to settle once Lord Bryne came into view. He wore his best robes, a dark brown leather tunic and trousers tucked into high boots. His shins were wrapped with white and grey fur and fixed in place with thick brown leather cords. Hanging from his shoulders was a large wolf pelt as a cloak, showing his wealth with golden chains and ornate longsword.
A lot of good that will do you when you see him.
“It is time to leave, Evelda.”
“Yes my lord.” She bowed her head and ignored the gasps and stares they received as they walked through the open gates and into Skygget forest. “Follow my lead and stick to the shadows. I doubt very much that the Demon Lord has told his minions not to attack us on this day, or any other.”
“Quite right. If a beast does attack, I will protect you with my blade.”
Evelda turned and smiled bravely at her lord. His skin was pale, he limped as he walked, and he was just as pasty-faced as she was. I doubt you have the strength to even lift that sword my lord, but the thought was nice. He’s trying to reassure me. I must look terrified…
They hardly spoke as they slowly retook the steps Evelda took the day before. They only exchanged words when a large stone or upturned root appeared in the way, or to pause when they heard a strange noise in the shadows.
Finally, they arrived at the Glade, and she heard the lord gasp. “Such beauty.”
“Yes, it’s very pretty my lord.” They stepped out of the shadows and into the open meadow. “But this is where the Demon Lord appeared yesterday. This is where he instructed me to bring you today.”
“It’s so warm.”
Evelda questioned if he’d even heard her. The old Lord was in awe staring at the beautiful summer’s dream around him. “I’ve seen sketches of places like this. There’s no snow…”
“Douma used to be covered in green and bountiful life.” Evelda snapped her head around. He’d done it again. Without making a single noise the demon had appeared behind her. His tall form loomed quite close in fact, so she took a few timid steps back. “It could be so again, if you agree to a new contract with me.”
“Lord Turuk.” Lord Bryne stood as proudly as his dwindled strength would allow and bowed his head. “Young Evelda told me of your exchange yesterday, and I have come to make a new agreement with you. To save the lives of my people, I agree to give you a new virginal bride.”
“Before you agree…Lord Bryne…” He chuckled sinisterly. His cloak twisted around his form and those raggy edges felt like long fingers through the grass. Evelda was reminded how easily he’d ensnared her feet yesterday, and took another step back. She now stood level with Lord Bryne and wrapped her arms around herself. “I have some additional terms to our arrangement.” If it was possible, Lord Bryne would have paled further. “I was betrayed the last time I came to collect on my deal by a Bryne. Simply…because I chose a woman for myself. You see.” The cloak opened over his front and spread out along the gassy floor at either side of him. He wore black leather trousers, a belt made of what looked like the bones from a human spine, and necklaces of equal menace. Each row of the necklace held so many teeth. Two human hands were mounted with pride in the place where a normal necklace would have had a pendant, and were connected to the chain at the wrists. The bones were wired or stitched together somehow.
His chest was bare and showed his skin to be a dark grey in colour. It also showed him to be very athletically capable. Those biceps had aided their master in breaking many a mortal man in two, Evelda assumed. His shoulder pads were made of dull silver metal, and curved spikes jutted out to increase the breadth of his frame.
That sword Lord Bryne was earing looked more and more useless by the second.
“I see.” Bryne gulped but tried to keep his voice even. “And what are the additional terms you seek?”
“I want to choose my own bride.” He lifted both hands palm upward, showing them to be clad in metal gauntlets. The metal was the same as his shoulder pads, but they didn’t have any spikes except for the claw tips of each finger. The demon gestured with his hands slowly, a grin sounding in his voice. “I have a graveyard full of potential wives, who never gave themselves to me. I tire of hopeless cases. I wish to select my own bride from your village, virgin or not, but the choice is to be mine. You will not refuse me, regardless if in the end I choose one of your children to become my spouse.”
“I-”
“I have not finished.” The demon began walking, his metal boots silently pressing into the grass of the glade as he began circling the pair. His cape a long train of darkness behind him and such a contrast to the natural bounty of the glade. “I wish to enter your village at will and observe your people. I want to know what I’m getting before I select my bride.” His orange and yellow eyes made Evelda feel the heat on her face from their stare. Like each orb was made of real fire and capable of scorching her from a distance. “Your people will carry on their lives as if I’m not there. If I choose to interact with one of your people, they will not run, or disrespect me, or I will punish them.”
“…” Bryne’s mouth was open, but no words came out.
“I also reserve the right to select more than one bride.”
“What?!?”
“I have no interest in taking one bride for her to fail to meet my needs. Like all the others before her. Having a back-up bride, so to speak, is in my best interests. If the one I select to be my main bride, is fit for purpose, then the others I select will simply be her company. I might even send them back, if they are not needed.” His long cape glided along the grass behind him. “I will also select these women for myself as well. All weddings you have planned are to be cancelled until I have made my selection. I do prefer virgins, after all.”
“We have one planned tomorrow for-”
“Cancel it.” Turuk stopped dramatically and locked those fiery eyes onto Bryne. After a terrifying moment, the human lord nodded. “If you agree to this, then I will make all your fields bountiful, your crops rich, your cattle healthy and prolific breeders. I will allow safe passage for trade on the main road through my forest and my protection from any bandits. Medicine will be provided by the forest when your people fall ill, and you will want for nothing. I’ll even instruct my familiars to enter the village at night and repair your desolate buildings for you.”
Turuk came to a stop once more once he stood before them both. “All this, in exchange for your village’s submission of my choice of bride, and a few backup women that you may get back if my first choice is…willing.”
The time it took for Bryne to say yes felt like an eternity, and his voice sounded so hollow when he did speak. “I will begin the enchantments necessary immediately. Go and relay the wondrous news to your people, Lord Bryne. They are saved.”
“Thank you, Lord Turuk.” Lord Bryne bowed, and slowly took steps towards the forest tree line. Evelda hurried after him, relieved to be going home, only for the demon to step between them.
“Not you, Evelda. You and I have to talk about the debt you still owe me, thief.” Her heart started hammering against her chest with horror, and she trembled with fear.
“I-I-I brought Lord Bryne here! I did my part of the-the-the deal.”
“Foolish girl.” He chuckled darkly and didn’t seem concerned that Lord Bryne had stopped retreating. “That was in exchange for the medicine for Sigurd Bryne. One vial of crushed root does not cancel out the months of theft you have carried out against me.” She was trapped in his fiery gaze.
“Oh please.” She whimpered and stepped back when the demon became to gain ground on her. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“If you agree to a deal with me, then no harm will come to you Evelda.” He chuckled, like she was a cute puppy doing something silly, and not a woman cowering from a demon. “Let’s make a deal.” His cloak twisted shut, hiding his armour from her and those fiery eyes held her trembling form in place. He stalked around her, and as he moved Evelda realised that Lord Bryne was watching in horror. Powerless to stop this. He had a whole village to protect, and she was one peasant girl. She would get no help from him. “I have just agreed to save your village by returning their crops and cattle to top form…but so many of your people are starving.” She raised a brow and returned her focus to the demon. “They will likely die waiting for the next harvest to eat or to trade.” She gulped. He wasn’t wrong. Turuk hummed deeply and inclined his hooded head to one side. “Wouldn’t it be great, if a wagon of food and wine and fine linens would just…oh I don’t know.” He shrugged his armoured shoulder plates, not making him look less menacing in the slightest. “Appeared magically? Every day. At dawn?”
“…” To her horror her stomach gurgled at the prospect of being fed. She held her stomach and nodded.
“Well, I’m not going to do such a thing out of the goodness of my heart, Evelda.” He cackled darkly and continued to stalk around her and only her. Like in his eyes, Lord Bryne was no longer there. “You are a thief. You have already professed to have no coin to pay for the mushrooms you have stolen from me. So I propose a trade.” Evelda trembled. He stood right behind her. Her form was cast in shadow, but she didn’t dare turn her head to look at him. She was too frightened to see how close the demon who wore human bones as jewellery stood at her back. “You will be my ambassador to Douma.”
Until he said that. She snapped her head around to look over her shoulder and up into those fiery eyes with alarm. “I have permission to enter the village now at will. To observe your people and select my future bride, or brides. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have a graveyard of failed wives.” A chill shot down her spine and her stomach twisted into knots. “Observing your women will aid me in my choice, but I fear there will be…behaviours and exchanges that may confuse me. False behaviours. Because I am looking. I will, therefore, require you to stand with me when I come to your village and translate what I am seeing.”
Oh no. S-stand beside him as he stares at the women of Douma?!? He can’t be serious?! “You will do this for as long and as often as I require until I have selected a worthy bride. Then your services will no longer be needed and your debt will be paid.” He craned his head forward, and to her credit, she didn’t flinch. She saw the outline of his face, but nothing besides his eyes penetrated the shadow of his hood. “Therefore, it will be within your best interests to help me find a bride as quickly as possible.”
He stared into her hazel eyes, and she stared back at him. “I will require you to wear an enchanted pendant whilst in my presence, so I may trust that what you say is the truth.” He raised his head and spoke loudly again. “If you agree to this deal Evelda, I will supply my generous daily aid to your people.” He walked away from her and towards the prone human lord. “Is that not fair, Lord Bryne?”
“It would save countless lives.” Lord Bryne dared to plead with Evelda, putting yet more pressure on her to agree.
“Even your Lord Bryne says you should do it.” Turuk chuckled, and his hand extended from the seam of the cloak. He opened his hand, and a golden chain dangled from his middle finger. “Do you agree to my deal, Evelda?”
“Will you deliver aid now?” Evelda knew she didn’t have a choice in this matter. If she refused, anyone who died between now and the harvest picking up would be on her hands. She couldn’t live with that.
“I will. If you agree to our deal.” He swayed his hand, making the golden chain sway as well. “Do you agree?”
“I do.” She nodded and chewed her lips to prevent herself from squealing as he moved towards her again.
“Then you must wear this whilst in my service.” He dangled the necklace before her, and with trembling hands she took it. “Put it on.”
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