Carzic Mons walked into Erik’s house. His form shifted, lengthening. The silly mustache became a fully manicured beard, pure white. He ducked under the doorframe. The armor shimmered, and melted, becoming the great axe he always wore at his side.

The Riders charged forward, blades in hand.

“Move one step closer and I’ll kill her,” Carzic said. He continued holding Claire gingerly, smiling down at the baby as she screamed.

Harsk held out a hand. They couldn’t beat Carzic before, but then he had had his cultists. Now he was alone, but confident. The Demon Lord had something that he wanted to say to Harsk.

And Harsk needed to hear it.

“Finally, some leadership.” Carzic’s eyes flicked to every one of the Riders in turn. He smirked at Nettie’s face, before looking back to Harsk.

“This is a family members only meeting, Harsk. I’d suggest you leave your refuse outside. I’d hate to damage your garbage.”

Carson glanced to Harsk for orders. The Rider sighed, and walked in.

“Carson. Surround the house. No one gets in or out.”

“Harsk?”

“Riders,” Harsk said. “Stay resolute.”

The six Riders saluted, and fanned out.

Carson looked to Nettie, and shook his head. “Selfish. We’re all being selfish.” He moved and took his place at the gate. He whistled for his horse, and started loading up crossbows.

“Nettie,” Harsk murmured. “Come in.”

Nettie shuddered, and complied.

Carzic sat on the stairs, smiling. He always seemed to be smiling. He held Claire in one hand, and examined the half-finished block Erik had been carving earlier.

“Crude, but then again, it’s just the broad strokes,” Carzic said. He handed the block back to Erik. “I’d recommend a lighter stain. Children don’t like too many dark colors.”

“How would you know?” Nettie asked.

Carzic looked around, and spotted Ilda in the kitchen. “Ah, the mother!”

Ilda stood rooted to the spot.

“Come here, come here,” Carzic said. He beckoned her forward. “This is the closest we’ve had to a real meeting of the fathers’ families.”

Ilda moved towards Carzic. “What do you…”

“Ah, ah, ah.” The Demon Lord pointed to a spot next to Nettie. “Let’s put the breeding stock next to each other.”

Ilda reddened, and folded her arms. She didn’t move until Carzic laid a finger on Claire’s throat. Nettie could feel her stiff presence.

Carzic examined the two women, and frowned. He looked at Erik. “So I must admit, your heifer does look more refined than mine. But you have to understand, this was twenty years ago. And you humans have this tendency to age so quickly. She was a looker before she was spoilt.”

Nettie clenched her fist, and unclenched. He was just trying to provoke a response. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

“So, Ilda cow,” Carzic said. “I apologize for the deception these past few months. And for killing the previous sheriff. And Cherdie, for that matter. But I did need to meet Harsk’s son.”

The Demon Lord stretched. “Don’t we all make a pair. Two children. Two mothers. Two neglectful fathers.”

He frowned. “And one father who misses his own child.”

“I don’t know where Kait is,” Harsk said.

Carzic pointed at Nettie. “She does. She saw her a few months ago.”

Harsk gaped at Nettie.

“I did,” Nettie said. “And she’s getting strong. Getting ready to slice your throat.”

“Good. Finally showing some spunk.” Carzic stood up. His tail swept across the stairs.

“Do you know why I’m here, Harsk?”’

Harsk looked up. “To torment me further?”

“No.” Carzic thought about it. “Actually, yes. I had several plans in that vein. Spreading your sons entrails across a burning city. Drenching the lake red with blood. Hours upon hours I would spend, thinking about just how it would feel to destroy this town.”

Harsk nodded.

“And then I met your son.” Carzic walked over and hugged Erik. “Your wonderful, weak, insignificant son. Do you know how hard it is for a son to fall that far from the father’s glory? I have tortured the damned souls of lepers who could at least take solace that their son now owned a goat.”

Carzic laughed. “And you had this. No wonder you felt the need to take my daughter. Far better stock there.”

He slapped Erik to the ground, and sighed.

“But now. I’m here, working as always. Forging a little deal with the Fae in the area. Something your little troupe has already caught onto.”

“Nonagression pact?” Harsk asked. “Do the Fae truly believe you?”

Carzic shrugged. “Not all of the Fae. We have to convince every city, every tribe. Don’t help the humans, and we’ll let you live. Everyone wins.”

He laughed. “We’ve had some reticence, but not really. This is the wish of every fae. A perfect world, without humans. We’re just delivering.”

“One of them will be next,” Harsk said. “They have to see that.”

“No they don’t.” Carzic leered. “Their hatred of you far exceeds their reason. And by the time they figure it out, we’ll have climbed up to the next rung on the social ladder, and start this all over again.”

“You’re not going to get away with this,” Nettie said.

“Stupid idiot,” Carzic said. “We’ve already been getting away with it.” He looked at the two Riders. “While your friends were off rediscovering your dedication to your Cause, we’ve taken three cities. We’ve wiped out whole swaths of the plains. The Demon Lords are getting ready for a major campaign back across the sea.

“Face it, Harsk,” Carzic said. “You’re just not big enough of a legend to be important anymore.”

“Then why are you here?”

“For the look on your face when I do this.”

Carzic stood up, and walked towards the door, baby Claire curled in his grasp.

Erik paled. “No! Don’t take Claire!”

“What!” Ilda stood up, and rushed towards Carzic.

“One more step,” Carzic said. He looked at all of them in turn. “One more step, and I rip her throat out.”

Ilda looked at Carzic, and then Claire. A tear ran down her face.

“Not my baby,” she whispered. “Please don’t take my baby.”

She understood. Carzic leaned against the door, watching Ilda break down. She wobbled, and fell to her knees, crying out. “Not Claire. Don’t take Claire,” she blubbered. “I’ll do anything. Anything.”

Carzic nodded to Harsk. “This. I want you to see this, Harsk. This is what you inflicted upon me. For twenty years, I have had to endure being that pathetic wretch. Hoping, praying that I could actually see my child. Constantly denied, while you raised her.”

He held up Claire, smiling. “She may not be a daughter, but she will do nicely.”

Nettie looked around, trying to find a solution. None of the Riders could stand against Carzic and hope to win. Claire’s parents definitely couldn’t. They weren’t trained, and even desperate, would only get everyone killed.

The Rider looked at Harsk, pleading. This was his time. When he came up with the plan. The one solution to do good.

Harsk stared off into the distance. Nettie couldn’t tell if he was stoic, fuming, or even indifferent.

Nettie stepped forward. “What do you want, Carzic?”

Carzic frowned, and looked at her. “Who gave you permission to speak?”

Nettie bit her tongue, and started again. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “What, do you want?”

“What makes you think I want anything?”

“Because you wouldn’t take this long if you didn’t have a trade in mind.”

“You have nothing I want.”

Nettie smiled. “I’ve been talking with my daughter.”

That made him pause. “Lies.”

“She’s rolling with an unusual creature right now. A cute boy, child really. Has strange abilities. But with him and that adorably ugly mug of a horse Clari-Ann helped her get rid of a Demon Lord a few months back. Ghennish, right?”

He glared ahead.

“Do you want to know how he died? Do you want to know what she’s done since?”

“Tell me. Tell me now.”

Nettie shook her head. “Time to deal,” she said.

Carzic laughed. A booming sound that echoed off the walls. “Cow, you are getting better than I give you credit. Well done!”

Carzic looked at Harsk, and nodded.

“I have had a deal in mind. And it’s not that hard a choice, really.”

He held out the child to Harsk. “I’ll give you your granddaughter back.”

Harsk folded his arms, waiting for the catch.

“In exchange for the town.”

“What?” Erik asked.

“I’ll return your granddaughter right now, if you simply stand down and watch me kill everyone in this town. Not your Riders, not your son, not anyone you care about. Just sit there. And see.”

Carzic held out Claire. “Tell me how much your granddaughter is…”

Harsk dashed forward, knife in hand. He stabbed at Carzic’s arm, driving down. The demon leapt back, laughing.

“Funny, Harsk. But you shall still need to…”

Harsk slashed again. Stepped forward, and drove his blade towards Carzic’s side. Carzic hissed, and danced out of the way again. He pulled his axe out, deflecting another strike.

“What are you doing?”

“Harsk!” Erik shouted.

Nettie moved towards Harsk. He couldn’t be serious. He couldn’t seriously be contemplating attacking.

“Riders!” Harsk shouted. “Attack!”

“No!” The shout escaped Nettie’s lips before she thought.

The Riders burst through the door. Through the windows, surrounding Carzic. They leapt to the attack, trying to bring Carzic down.

The Demon Lord kicked out behind him, his Rider flying back out of the house. He stared at Harsk, incredulous. “Truly?” he asked. “This is your morality, truly?”

The Riders descended on him, knives flashing as they sought to bring him down. Carzic leapt one way and another, keeping his enemies at bay. Claire was kept cradled gently in one arm as he maneuvered. And the Riders kept getting closer.

“For gods’ sake, dad!” Erik screamed. “That’s your granddaughter!”

Harsk’s eyes flicked to Erik. Then back to Nettie, who stood rooted to the spot, uncomprehending.

Carzic would do it. What she knew of him was that he wouldn’t bluff. He would kill her.

Harsk was going to kill his own granddaughter.

Carzic lashed out with his axe. He split one of the Rider’s side open. The boy fell wordlessly to the ground. He scrambled to stem the wound, but bled out in seconds.

Claire started screaming.

“I’ll kill them one by one, Harsk,” Carzic said. “Each and every one of your favorite sons. Than the one you sired, his mate, and this whelp. Is that what you want? Is that what will satisfy your purity?”

“Stop!” Erik rushed forward, and tackled Hark to the ground. “Stop it. Stop it now!”

Harsk kicked his son in the side. Erik wheezed, clutching at a rib.

Carzic’s tale wrapped around Harsk’s arm, and drew him in close.

“Yes, let’s stop,” Carzic said. Harsk struggled against the tail, trying to get free. Carzic laid his axe on Harsk’s throat.

“Not now. I need to be able to think.”

Erik looked up at Carzic. “Please. I’m begging you. Not my daughter. Please don’t take my daughter.”

“Harsk stole my legacy,” Carzic hissed. “Now I am returning to favor.”

“Then punish him! Don’t, don’t hurt her. She’s just a girl.”

“So was mine!” Carzic roared. “And now she hunts my kin, brainwashed into his fanaticism. My daughter seeks my head because of Harsk!”

“Then kill him!” Erik said. “Just get rid of him. End this, please.”

Carzic laughed. “You want your own father dead?”

“If it means Claire has a chance to be normal?” Erik said. “It’s not a choice.”

The Riders looked towards Erik, eyes narrowed. Their blades turned towards him. Nettie wondered if he’d make it a step before they killed him, too.

“I don’t want him dead,” Carzic said. “I want him to suffer.”

“And killing her won’t do that,” Nettie said. She stepped forward, arms raised up.

“Nettie,” Harsk intoned. “Stay out of this.”

Nettie ignored him. “For Harsk, the only thing that matters is the greater good. He’ll kill all of us to get there. Order, and the survival of humanity. Everything else pales in comparison.”

Carzic raised an eyebrow. “He’d let all of you die, just to stop me?”

“He’d kill us himself,” Nettie said. “He’s that much of a bastard.”

Carzic looked down at the Riders. They stared back, impassive. Nettie shuddered, and realized why it was so chilling. It was the exact same look the cultists had given her, right before they slit their own throats.

Carzic sighed. “What a waste. Months of keeping an eye on everyone, down the drain. I can’t even find a good hostage for Harsk to bite on.”

He looked at Claire. “Well, there’s no reason to keep you alive. Or anyone else for that matter.”

“There is, actually.”

Carson leaned in the doorway. He looked down at a letter, smiling. Behind him, a man and his mule shivered on the front lawn.

“Who is that?” Carzic asked.

Carson looked back. “Oh, him? Just some old messenger boy from way down south. Was sent some messages, and just came into town.”

He laughed, looking down at the paper. “Crazily enough, one’s for Harsk, sir. From Kait.”

Carzic glowered. “Give it here.”

Carson shook his head. “Sorry. Looks like you’re full-handed.”

Carzic thrust the child in Erik’s arms. He dashed towards Carson, dragging Harsk along with him. Snatched up the letter, and looked it over.

“Can I go now?” The messenger asked.

Carson shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’m more than half-sure you’re not in danger.”

“Those ain’t exactly good odds.”

Carzic laughed. “She’s taken on a damn whelp. And a Human. She found the Human! That girl has no clue what power she’s got right under her grasp!” he kept reading. His eyes were now alight, jovial, finally reading his daughter’s own words.

“Well, Harsk. She’s still demon hunting. You should be so proud. Still hunted for looking like she does…she hopes you’re well, even after the Eustyn stuff.”

He paused, and looked down at Harsk. “What is a Eustyn?”

Harsk huffed. “Nothing. There is no Eustyn.”

Carzic shrugged. “She’s not coming back, because who would want to? However, you should know that she is traveling to the Lost…”

Carzic dropped the paper. “The Lost City. She’s going to the Lost City?”

The Demon pointed at the messenger. “You! Who are you?”

“I’m just a…”

“What did she promise you?!?” He screamed.

“The demon girl?” The messenger quailed. “Money. She just promised I’d get more money.”

“Not Kait. Her! That harlot!” Carzic fumed. He moved onto the lawn, steam rising out of his horns.

“She can’t possibly think that she could take on…but maybe she doesn’t know. Do either of them know? But when she finds out, what she’s going to do to her…”

Carzic looked back at Harsk, and shook his head. He let go of the Rider, and kicked him back into the house.

“I’m not going to be you, you bastard,” he breathed.

Carzic picked up the messenger, and looked him over. “Money, you said? Is that what you want?”

The messenger paled. “Not anymore.”

Carzic glared, and plucked two flowers out of the ground. He waved his hand, and they shimmered, becoming rubies.

“Hold these with you always,” Carzic said. “And they’ll always protect you from harm.”

The messenger’s eyes bugged out. “What?”

Carzic placed the gems in the man’s pocket. “A debt accrued by my daughter, paid,” he said.

He turned back to Nettie. “It looks like I have to rescue our daughter from her own foolishness. I don’t have time for myself anymore.”

He pointed back at Harsk. “That’s twice I’ve spread you, Harsk. When I face you next, I will kill you. Because it seems nothing else can stop you.”

He turned towards the southwest, and leapt. Leapt past the fence, past the next house. He leapt over the clouds, and disappeared.

Harsk got his feet. He walked back into the house, picked up his knife, and looked at the Riders.

“Inadequate,” he muttered.

The Riders hung their heads.

“Do better next time.” Harsk nodded, and moved towards Erik.

“Son…” he trailed off, glancing to Claire. He sighed. “Protect yourself.”

“Kill yourself,” Erik muttered. He held Claire just away from his body, scared that he was about to hurt her. “Just go ahead and do it. Stop making everyone else pay for your crusade.”

“I don’t expect you to understand.”

“You were going to kill my daughter,” Erik said. “Your own granddaughter. Just for a chance to kill a demon. That is all that has to be said.”

Harsk nodded, and left. The Riders followed him. As they closed the door, they could hear voices, screaming, pleas for the child.

“It looked like he was heading Southwest,” Harsk said. “We resupply, and get on the road in five minutes. No excuses. We can’t trust the Fae anymore, not that we ever could. Be on our guard when we’re not around humans.”

“And please remember,” Nettie said. “Everyone is expendable.”

The Riders stirred. Nettie and Carson stood at the gate. Carson’s calm face masked his despair, while Nettie didn’t bother to contain her anger.

“Out of the way,” Harsk said.

“Babies, Harsk,” Nettie said. “A child. Is there no one that you’re unwilling to give up?”

“No,” Harsk said. “No one.”

He opened the gate, and started walking. “If we are to survive as a species, we have to be prepared to make sacrifices.”

“And if we sacrifice everything, what’s left after?” Carson asked. “What does it matter if we win by burning everyone else down around us?”

“Then they’re gone,” Harsk said. “They’ll all be gone.”

“That’s not what we signed up for,” Carson said. “We’re trying to help people live their lives. Save them.”

“And this is the cost,” Harsk said. “This is what it means.”

The sky shone a bright blue. Birds chirped. A few townsfolk had started to wander towards Erik’s house, curious as to what all the ruckus was about.

“We make the hard decisions so others don’t have to.”

“And you won’t be bothered by them,” Nettie said.

“What would you have had me do?” Harsk asked. “Let him take the girl? Kill the town? Either way she was scarred. At least her death would have meant something for the greater good.”

Nettie slapped him across the face.

The Riders surged forward, furious. Carson lifted a crossbow, pointed straight at them. They stopped, and raised their hands.

Harsk tilted his head, and rubbed the welt. It was going to bruise, he knew it.

“You’ve changed, Nettie,” Harsk said. “You used to believe.”

“I believe in people,” she said. “I believe in good. I believe in stopping these demons. But I’m not going to give up my soul to do it. I won’t give them that satisfaction.”

She whistled. Al-Hattal and Carson’s horses jogged up.

“We’re all going to war,” Nettie said. “We’re all going to have to fight against the demons. But we’re going to do it together, for each other. I won’t make life and death decisions for humanity alone. We won’t lose ourselves.

“And I’m certainly not following you into the Pit to soothe your ego.”

Nettie swung up on her horse, turned North, and started Riding.

Harsk sighed, and looked at Carson. “You, too?”

Carson shrugged. “Thing of it is, you are right. Hard times are coming. We need the broken men to have their legend. We need you as a hero.”

He got up on his horse. “But if we all survive this, what will you do, then? You’re always willing to consider death, Harsk. Have you ever given an ounce of thought to life?”

He rode off after Nettie.

Harsk snorted, and looked to the Riders.

“Let’s get going.”

Ilda Swain left soon after. Hair disheveled, tears ruining her makeup. She’d walk to her husband’s house, and tell him everything. They would be gone within the week.

She wanted to take Claire. Take her far away from her father. Far from the demons, and this life, and this pathetic little man.

But he had held on tight, and refused to let go. Even as they argued, even as Claire screamed when she was woken up, he held her close.

That night, he rocked her crib with his foot, keeping her asleep while he sat in his favorite chair. He kept carving the toy, his face stoic and resolute. There was an axe sitting in his lap, and a crossbow under the couch.

Tomorrow he’d be calling in favors. To get his house refurbished, and hire a new nanny. There was so much work to be done.

Carzic Mons. He rolled that demon’s name in his mind, over and over.

Let him come. Let Carzic, the Demon Lords, even Harsk come banging down his door.

He’d never let them come near her again.

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Thank you for reading. I hope that this sparked a piece of magic for you this week.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Jack Holder

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