She examined it for a moment first. It was made of thick gold with many links of precious metal making the main chain. From the centre hung a tear-shaped pendant. Flames had been etched into it and an orange stone set in the centre truly made the pendant look like it was on fire. “Now.” Sensing his patience was running thin, she hurried to pull the chain over her head and then pull her hair out to flow down her back. The pendant rested on her bosom. “If it comes off, I’ll sense it. And you will experience my wrath. Do you understand?”
“It doesn’t come off. Ever. I understand.” She nodded frantically. Now please let me leave. Come on please. Evelda wanted to go and cry in a corner somewhere. She was to be the demon’s agent? How will anyone in the village ever look at her again?
“Good. I will send the wagon upon your arrival in Douma. I will arrive tomorrow. Make sure your people are prepared for my presence.” He barked at Lord Bryne, and then stepped away from Evelda. She wasted no time in running to the Lord and going under his protective arm.
“May we leave now?” The Lord dared to speak at last.
“Yes. We have concluded our business…for now.”
Lord Bryne pushed the trembling girl forward and into the forest. All the while Evelda sobbed, not knowing how she’d survive her new servitude.
Once they were alone, the lord pulled her to a stop and shook her biceps.
“Evelda. Evelda look at me and listen very carefully.” Another shake of her boney body and she blinked up at her lord. “You need to hide that pendant beneath your clothes. Do it now.” He released her, and even as her tears continued to flow, she shakily pushed the necklace beneath her baggy white dress. “You can’t tell anyone that you work for the Demon. They will think you have made a deal with him of a sinister nature.” Her jaw dropped with astonishment.
“What kind of deal could I have made with him besides the one I have?”
“To help him find a bride?” He pressed his lips together and looked so sorry for her. “That is what you have agreed, but they will see you communing with the creature and think you are giving him ideas on who to select. You will be hated regardless, who he selects in the end.”
“That’s not what we agreed!” Evelda cried out. “I would never tell him who to pick!”
“I know. I was there. I heard the specifics of the deal. But fear amongst desperate people is a dangerous thing, my dear.”
“So what do I say when people ask me why he keeps talking to me?”
I’m going to die. If the demon doesn’t kill me, my countrymen will…
“You are going to allude to the fact that you think he is interested in you.” She just stared at him, confused as hell. “I am going to tell them that is going to appear in the village with the aim of choosing a bride. Or brides. If you say you don’t know why he keeps talking to you, but keeps wanting to talk to you, then they will naturally believe he thinks you could be a potential bride for him.”
“No one will believe that.” Evelda stepped back and shook her head. Bryne tried to encourage her by holding her arms and nodding at her.
“Yes they will. You are a young woman, a virgin, and un-promised. In fact, it will reassure them that he is interested in taking you and not one of their daughters.”
“But there are far prettier-”
“Demons have peculiar tastes.” He cut her off. “Trust me, they won’t question it. If however, they learn you are working for him as he chooses from the other women, I don’t want to think what would happen to you. Do you understand me? No one must know of your deal.”
“I…I understand my lord. Thank you.” She snuffled and wiped her tears on the back of her sleeve. “I won’t help him pick a wife. I’ll answer his questions, but I won’t make suggestions or approve of any of his choices. I will die first. You must know that.”
“I know child.” He cupped her cheeks and sighed. “You are a good girl. Like your mother.” A sadness danced in his grey eyes. “I will do my best to protect you. I give you my oath. But you must not tell a soul about this deal. Not even your friends. Valdis and Talita must never know of this. Are we agreed?”
“Yes sire.”
“Good. Now let’s hope the food Turuk has promised arrives promptly. The thought of food, real food, makes me slaver at the mouth.”
They walked the rest of the way back to the village, and Evelda thought more of her predicament. Even as they found a wagon following them as they reached the gates of Douma, Evelda thought of Turuk.
I need a plan. She stood back as the food and wine from the wagon was distributed amongst the masses. There was enough food to feed all of Douma like kings for a day. Instructions were barked out by the Lord to get a large fire going in the main hall to cook the meat. Salmon, chicken, and boars were waiting to be skinned and plucked. Live goats were tied to the back of the wagon and were taken off to the fields to graze. Onions, parsnips, and carrots were taken away to be peeled, and bags and bags of grain were taken away to the storehouses. No doubt Evelda would be one of the workers sowing the grain tomorrow.
Two kegs of red wine were also carried to the hall. Tonight would be a real feast, alright. Although, the toast Lord Bryne would have to make would be a doozy… If he has any sense he’ll get their bellies full so they are more sedated and remember what a well-fed stomach feels like. That way they won’t want to go back to the starvation they had before, and not oppose the deal.
Evelda was relatively ignored as the food was prepared and distributed amongst the people. To everyone else’s knowledge, she was simply the guide to facilitate the deal Lord Bryne had made with the Demon. And the deal had been successful, as their lord had returned with a bountiful offering. They didn’t know the food they now drooled overcame about because of Evelda’s agreed servitude to the beast of Skygget.
She felt the pendant pressed against her bosom and gulped. The weight of it was a constant reminder of what tomorrow could bring. When would the demon lord appear and demand her presence? When was she going to have to be in his presence again…? Her skin crawled and her blood turned to ice when he was near her. The thought of his presence still lingered in her veins as she entered the great hall. Less than an hour later, food was being served and the wine flowed. Despite her current impending doom, Evelda’s hunger was greater than her sorrow. She greedily shoved chicken wings and boar strips into her mouth. She savoured every bite and washed it down with rich red wine. Even the roasted vegetables tasted divine. She ate what would have been a normal portion to a person who hadn’t been starving. But because all of Douma had eaten scraps for so long, it made them feel bloated with food.
Evelda felt hollow as Lord Bryne stood and began his address. He kept it to the point, not wanting to agitate his subjects any more than they would be already. The deal was simple. The Demon Turuk would come and go as he pleased, and observe the women to choose a bride. He might choose more than one, and they had to let him. He also said that he’d allow it if the demon chose his precious Talita. So no daughter of Douma was exempt.
Evelda watched the horrified expression on her friend’s face. The last bride the demon had wanted was a Bryne daughter. She must think she’s a shoe-in. An obvious choice. She was also the loveliest woman in Douma. Even Evelda didn’t like her chances of being left behind…
Lord Bryne then went on to say that all upcoming weddings were to be cancelled until the demon made his choice. Anor showed his outrage, and Valdis actually seemed…relieved. Lord Bryne asked what he would prefer. The village to starve and his bride to be one of those suffering, or to wait until after the demon and gone and guarantee his children would live healthy long lives? Anor returned to his seat, and the Lord continued to explain the terms of the deal.
Evelda zoned out to stare down at her goblet of wine. She knew the details anyway. She was there. All the redhead could think about was how she was going to have to be the demon’s tour guide. His translator. His bloody minion.
She downed the rest of the goblet and decided she’d had quite enough of this farce. Everyone around her was cheering and revelling at their salvation. Most didn’t have daughters of marrying age or weren’t already married, so they didn’t have anything to worry about.
Evelda held her arms and pushed her way out of the hall. She aimed to go straight home and crawl under the covers of her bed. Maybe cry a little more…
“Evelda!” Oh…great. Putting a brave face on, she turned and smiled sadly at Valdis. Her friend was smiling at first, until her icy blue eyes looked into the haunted hazel ones of Evelda. “…you saw him, didn’t you? What…was he like?”
“The thing of nightmares.” No hesitation. For once she’d stunned her friend into silence. With a sigh, Evelda tried to change the topic. “I’m sorry your wedding is cancelled.”
“I’m not. That pig can keep his damn hands to himself for as long as possible.” Valdis put her hands on her belly and looked visibly concerned about the redhead. “The full belly is nice. They’re all partying in there like their prayers have been answered. By a demon no less.”
“Most of them don’t have to worry about becoming the demon’s bride.” She shrugged. “It’s cold. I think I’m going to head home and sleep.”
“Evelda wait.” Valdis put her hands on her shoulders and embraced her. “I’m sorry I made you go into the forest. You wouldn’t have gone through the ordeal of seeing that demon if I hadn’t have made you.”
“You know it’s not as straightforward as that.” Evelda sighed. As angry as she was at Valdis, she knew the stakes. “Sigurd would have died. And at least we now have food in our bellies. And a possible future.”
Oh sweet Gods. Evelda bit her lips and realised that her anger was misplaced.
“Are you not angry with me anymore?” Evelda looked into the longing icy blue eyes of her friend. “Because I can hardly stand anyone else in Douma, and no one else can really stand me either. Talita is sweet but she doesn’t understand me like you do. You’re my best friend and I hated that I sent you out into that forest. To that demon.”
“Don’t fret Valdis.” She hugged her weeping friend closely. “If you hadn’t, Sigurd would have died and we’d still be starving. If anyone saved this village, it was you, Valdis.”
“Then why do I feel like I’ve doomed someone in this village to marry that monster?”
Evelda held her friend until she stopped sobbing. “I think I’m going to start wearing mud on my face and stop taking showers.” It was such a random statement that the girls couldn’t help but break into laughter.
“Who are you trying to put off?” they started to walk together towards Evelda’s house. “Anor or Turuk?”
“Is that his name? Creepy.” Valdis shuddered. “Both, of course.”
“You better head home. It will get really cold soon.”
“Stay warm tonight.” Valdis kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You too Valdis. Goodnight.”
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