Graygor made it to the Mooar Mountain in record time, and wasted no time in scurrying through its dismal corridors to Schnither’s chambers. He barely acknowledged the sentries stationed at Schnither’s closed door, and shot past them almost before they had time to think. The guards blustered into Schnither’s room on Graygor’s heels, but were hastily bundled back out again through the open doors by Schnither, who had been impatiently awaiting word on the Wrens’ progress.
Schnither slammed the great door shut with just the slightest twitch of a finger, and without ever making physical contact with any part of it. “Now, Graygor, we are alone. Quickly, what news?”
“The girl and her family are on the move, Sir. They are en route to the airport via the Otonno house, and do not suspect a thing. My brother and I stayed with them all night, and none of those bumbling mortals sensed anything untoward.” Graygor paused, and the miniscule moment of hesitation was enough to cause Schnither’s head to jerk up and his mouth gaped open in an instant of uncertainty and panic.
“And?” snarled Schnither. “What went wrong?”
Graygor could see that his Captain was on edge, and realised that Abaddon the Defiler must be utterly intent on executing whatever he had planned to the last degree.
“Nothing, Captain,” he retorted quickly, anxious to appease his master and earn respect for himself. “It is just that I am thrilled…” he rolled the word over his hacked purple lips with gusto, “…to be able to report that those stupid angels really have returned to the Celestial City. They thought they were so clever and strong, but how easily they were fooled! Their departure will soon prove premature, and this time there will be nothing at all that they can do about it. They have let the girl down. They have let Him down…” Graygor’s obvious pleasure at what he had just reported was oozing from his entire form like a malevolent cloud, and the words slurped over his green tongue and dripped from his snarling mouth like a putrid slime. He could see that Schnither was pleased, and was sure he would be rewarded for his tenacity and ingenuity.
“Good,” Schnither growled, “It is exactly as I had hoped. The demise of the Wrens is at hand. Now, go back to your brother and continue to monitor the family’s whereabouts. I will assemble the troops here and meet you at the airport forthwith.”
Graygor loitered on in Schnither’s chambers, disappointment and indignation tugging at the sides of his mouth. Had he not been so utterly foul and malevolent, the sorry sight of his downturned bottom lip and little drooped shoulders may even have inspired something akin to sympathy for the wretched creature.
“What is it now?” Schnither barked, startling Graygor out of his self pitying reverie. The stubby little demon jumped and muttered, “Nothing, Captain,” as he turned to leave the room, deeply vexed to not even have his work commended.
“Oh, Graygor,” Schnither’s tone was quieter but nonetheless threatening, as the realisation of Graygor’s disappointment at once amused and annoyed him.
“Yes Sir?” Graygor spun around to find Schnither’s one-eared head just inches from his face, red eyes boring into his face. He squirmed backwards uneasily, but Schnither continued to invade his personal space as he hissed menacingly, “Well done, cretin.” Schnither’s face had twisted into the antithesis of a smile, and Graygor shuddered.
“T-thank you, Captain, it was nothing.” he stammered, and was immediately furious with himself for belittling his own achievements.
“Ah, I see,” smirked Schnither. “Well, if it was nothing, then you won’t be expecting any recompense, will you?” His voice had crescendoed to a booming roar and Graygor cowered beneath his foreboding form.
“No, Sir, it is my honour my Liege.” Graygor started to grovel, but was unceremoniously cut short by Schnither’s thunderous, “Be gone!” Graygor did not have to be told twice, and he turned on his heels and shot out of Schnither’s murky and claustrophobic chambers. He was indignant and smarting from the harsh rebuttal, but he would use his anger to fuel him to complete this mission – and then some! He would forget about Schnither’s failure to acknowledge his genius. Who was Schnither anyway but a jumped up demon with not even half the intelligence or ability that he had! Besides, there was every chance that his exploits would be made famous and perhaps even Abaddon himself would hear of Graygor’s incredible feats of evil and personally give him his due rewards.