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On the next village, Yuval convinced a farmer who was heading to the capital to take him there, in exchange for help loading and unloading his goods and helping watch them on the road. His patience grew shorter as the miles separating him from the academy grew longer, but he knew he had to wait. Wait until they were at a safe distance. Wait until they were closer to home. How the road back felt longer than the road to the academy! Yuval saw pass city after city, an endless stream of roads. And every night, in every inn, he would pull out the crystal and caress it, watch every crack, watch the smoke within it swirl faster, more desperately.
“Soon,” he would promise every night. “Soon.”
It was in the city of Veel that his resolve broke. A small city, he had exchanged his services as healer for a room at the inn and some food and wine at the tavern. He’d gone to his room with a full belly and feeling quite exhausted, but still his fingers had found the crystal he always carried in his pocket.
Sitting on his bed by candlelight, he held out the crystal in his palm, and hovered the other over it. Eyes closed, he chanted words in the ancient language.
The cracks in the crystal grew larger and larger and at length the crystal shattered, the unexpected wave of energy that burst from it threw him back against the wall, taking his breath away for a moment and having him knock his head quite hard. The candles flickered with the force of the energy wave, but did not go out.
Yuval gasped in pain, hand coming up to rub the back of his head, eyes blinking away the momentary blurriness of his vision to instead focus slowly on the shape forming before his eyes. There, kneeling right before him, was his demon.
Curled on himself, the strong muscles rippled as the humanoid creature straightened... and cried with a bone-chilling roar. Yuval watched in amazement as the demon took in his surroundings; warily, slowly, the gold eyes stopped on Yuval, cat-eyes narrowing, recognition clear in them.
A knock came to his door, the hesitant voice of the innkeeper followed. “I-is everything alright in there...?”
The demon’s head snapped back to the sound and he hissed. Yuval acted fast. Loud and clear he called a “Just fine!” as he lunged for the demon, trying to cover its mouth with a hand. “Be quiet!” he called softly to the demon.
Obviously caught by surprise, the demon bit the hand and swiftly pulled Yuval off him, sending him flying across the room again, though not with as much force as one would expect such a beast to have.
Yuval gasped again, not bothering to get up at all this time. Instead, he raised his hands to draw some runes in the air. They lit up and disappeared as the spell took effect: no one outside the room would hear anything happening within it. A dangerous move for sure, for if he lost control of the demon no one would hear his cries of help... but it wasn’t in Yuval’s plans to be crying for help – nor to lose control.
When his gaze focused back on the demon, this one was stalking towards him, hand reaching out readily to rip out his heart.
“Stop!” Yuval called in the ancient tongue.
The demon stopped, gaze considering him.
“I summoned you,” he said, “You are to obey me.”
“I obey no one,” the demon hissed, his fangs showing, again stalking closer.
Yuval’s eyes widened a bit. “I command you to stop.”
“Why should I?” the demon didn’t stop.
Despite a sudden surge of fear, Yuval thought this was... “Interesting... ”
The demon was night right in front of him. He grabbed Yuval by his robes and lifted him up as if he weighed nothing.
“Stop-” Yuval called in a gasp, now slightly panicked. Would this really be his end? Could he really not control his summon...?
The claw came down on him...
“STOP!!” Yuval did what he never thought he would have in the face of death: he closed his eyes.
... The claw stopped at his chest, nails barely ripping the skin, enough to draw a bit of blood, but not to wound seriously. Yuval’s eyes slowly opened, breath coming hard. Blue eyes met gold.
Both stared at each other in silence. Yuval in surprise. The demon in astonishment.
Gold eyes went from those blue eyes to his claw and back again, and Yuval’s gaze couldn’t help but follow. The demon gritted his teeth and seemed to be making an effort to do... something... but nothing was happening.
Yuval let a shuddering breath, followed by a soft chuckle, which turned into a slightly hysterical laughter. Oh, that had been close! Thank the gods, some part of the summoning spell seemed to have taken hold – his demon would not be able to harm him even if he’d wanted to.
Of course, the laughter only angered the demon more, who gripped at his robe with both hands now and shook Yuval hard.
“Why are you laughing?!”
The mundane words made Yuval laugh all the more, despite not wanting to upset his demon.
“I am- sorry,” he gasped softly, trying to calm himself, hands slowly coming to rest tentatively over the demon’s. “Please, put me down.”
There was hesitation on the demon’s gaze, anger flaring still, also confusion... but he placed Yuval back down on his feet, slowly and reluctantly releasing him.
“My name,” Yuval began as the demon released him, reaching down to straighten his robe, trying to regain some of his composure, “My name is Yuval, and I am your summoner.”
“Means nothing to me,” The demon snarled.
“It means, for one, you will not be able to hurt me, as you’ve well just seen.”
Again those fangs showed briefly. Yuval shivered despite himself.
“Perhaps we’ve started this ah... relationship with the wrong foot.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Why?” Yuval blinked at the unexpected question. “Well, to aid me.”
“Send me back.” The demon hissed. Though he did not bother to reach for Yuval again, he did stand right before him, chest to chest, hovering slightly, just a head taller than him.
Yuval opened his mouth to say he wouldn’t, thought better of it despite the certainty that he could not be harmed, and said the next best truth. “I-I can’t.”
Another snarl and this time the claws ripped through his clothes once more as they grabbed for him. “Can’t?”
“It’s a one-way spell I’m afraid,” Yuval said, “Even if I could use a spell to send you elsewhere – and they are incredibly hard to come by and perform, mind you – then there’d be no telling if I could even send you back to your own world.”
“Try!” the demon roared, shaking him a bit again.
Yuval licked his lips. “I can’t. I am sorry, but you’re stuck with me.”
Another roar followed, this one carrying no words. The demon released him harshly and turned away.
Yuval stumbled but kept to his feet. He gave the demon a good long moment to come to terms with all this, watching his heaving back with interest. Who knew demons had this kind of... feelings? His interest grew once again. So, not the beasts they thought them to be. Certainly they could talk, obviously more than basic words. Clearly had a violent streak... could anyone blame him for it though? Yuval figured he’d be fairly pissed too if he were to be ripped from his world and thrown into another. But this... this made things much more interesting. He’d summoned the demon expecting no more than an obedient pet to do his bidding. Could it be he’d gotten more than he’d expected?
At length, he said. “What is your name?”
“... Amath,” he answered, turning back to him.
“Amath,” the wizard repeated, thoughtful. “Are you hungry? Thirsty perhaps?”
The demon turned fully to him again, squinted. Yuval felt the piercing gaze as if it were reading right through him. Slowly, the gold eyes looked him up from head to toe.
“Yes,” the word came slow, almost thoughtful. “Yes,” he repeated with more certainty.
“What do you eat?” Yuval asked.
“Meat,” came the answer.
“Raw, or cooked?”
The demon cocked his head, he looked at him with some anger still, but clearly the hunger was winning over.
“Don’t care,” the demon turned away again, this time surveying the room carefully.
Yuval nodded. “Let me fetch something,” he slowly moved towards the door. “Do not leave, you’re... different,” he waved a hand at his own ears and face “You will scare people, there’s no need to cause unnecessary ruckus, do we agree?”
The demon didn’t answer. He merely watched Yuval as the man slipped through the door. Once outside, and just in case, he placed a locking spell on the room; though he had little doubt the demon could easily go through the wooden door if he wanted. He hurried downstairs to request a couple plates of food to be brought up and, not wanting to leave the demon alone for long, hurried back up.
The only difference he found when returning to his room was the position the demon was in. He’d moved to the bed and sat there, watching the door, and thus now Yuval, intently.
“It’ll be brought up shortly,” he promised.
A bit unsure on what to say, he fell silent, and the demon made no effort to make conversation. Since the demon was watching him up and down with such shameless intensity, Yuval gave himself permission to do likewise. His eyes stopped again at those pointed ears, went down the strong body. The demon’s clothes were not much different from their own – perhaps a little more... rough, the sewing less delicate, more functional. Yes, functional, that was the word. The trousers were tight but comfortable for fighting; the top had no sleeves, the front open to his mid chest. The color was dark enough to hide blood. The arm braces were made of leather, a rust color and worn, having seen some action already. Were those claw marks he saw? The arms were resting on strong thighs. His eyes went back to the demon’s tight trousers out of their own accord, trying to get an impression of what could be hiding beneath.
When his gaze drifted back up to the demons, his breath caught. A small smirk spread on those lips, enough to show sharp fangs. Clearly he’d been caught looking a bit too much. The demon’s gaze traveled briefly down to his own groin, further hidden than his by the long robes, then rose again, a brow cocking.
So, Yuval thought, at least in that they spoke the same language... He wondered if he should be thanking the gods again that the demon did not seem inclined to rip his head off for watching him like that.
Thus they waited, having a slight staring contest, until a knock on the door and a call signaled the food was finally there.
Yuval went to the door, blocking the way in and grabbing the tray from the man, thanking him plenty and closing the door with his foot. He had barely turned around that the demon was on him, taking the first out of two plates of meat from him and quickly taking it away.
Like an animal, Yuval thought as he set the tray with the other plate and the drink aside. But animals did not speak, did not behave quite like this demon did. He watched the other devour a piece of meat, enthralled by the sight. One couldn’t quite call it gruesome, but it was certainly slightly discomforting to watch. He tore at the larger pieces like a starving beast, and yet at the same time, some form of manners seemed to be present... It was an odd mix of barbaric and civilized.
“Is meat all you eat?” he asked.
Amath looked back over his shoulder. “Is it all you eat?”
“Point taken... ” Yuval said with a sigh, though it hadn’t really answered his question. “I understand this is a... difficult time for you, but I’m trying to be polite here. I’d appreciate if you were as well. Or should I really think you are a demon?”
The other turned fully to him this time. He slowly went back to the bed and sat, resting the plate on his lap and taking another piece of meat. “Demon? Where I come from demons have blue eyes. Demons kidnap people. Who fits that description here?”
Yuval sighed again. He was silent while the demon finished his first plate of food, then reached for the tankard on the tray, extending it out to him.
“Here, something to drink.”
Amath took it from him with one of those wary glances, sniffed at the contents distrustfully, gold gaze still on Yuval.
“What is it?”
“Ale,”
The demon sniffed again. Took a sip. Took a drag. Downed it all in one go.
Yuval brought the other plate of meat closer. “Would you like some mo-” the demon snatched it from his hand “...-re...? I guess you do.”
Yuval watched the demon – no, the man – eat in silence.
Amath ate his entire share of food without a word, gaze pinning Yuval down the entire while. When he was done, he licked his fingers clean.
“What did you need my help with?”
Pulled out of his trance, Yuval asked, “What?”
“You said you called me for my aid. What did you need help with?”
“Oh... well... p-protection, I suppose... ” he said vaguely.
Amath got to his feet, slowly walking up to him, setting the plates and empty tankard back on the tray.
“You suppose?”
Yuval swallowed and, as Amath gained on him, took a few steps back until his back met the door and he could go no further.
“Well, you see... it’s a funny story... ”
“Make me laugh,” Amath drawled.
“Well... I uh- when we wizards reach a certain age, you see, we do a summoning ritual.” Yuval licked his lips slowly, trying hard to hold the demon’s gaze, not to seem as intimidated as he felt. It was hard to remind himself this demon – man – couldn’t really hurt him. Somehow he wasn’t quite as sure and cocky about his magic being strong enough to hold him back if he needed to. “We don’t know who or what we summon or from where. The spell isn’t really specific... You can’t pick and choose; you get something, or ah- someone, according to your own strength. It’s really quite random. The creature or umh- person... is supposed to be bound to us to do our bidding... ”
Amath hissed in response, but did not interrupt otherwise.
“Usually, this umh... ‘friend’, helps us in all we need. Protection, spell casting, whatever their forte is... ”
“So, you called me... because you’re useless.”
Yuval twitched. He opened his mouth to protest, but the other was not done talking. He raised a hand to bring it to Yuval’s neck, and though the grip was slightly painful, it was not really going to be deadly.
“You called me forth because you’re a weakling. You rip me from my family. My people. My duties... ” He hissed again. “All because of some whim?”
Yuval had to take comfort in the demon being unable to hurt him, because he knew that what he’d said simply sounded just... wrong. Like something they should definitely not be doing. It had never really occurred to him after all that whatever they summoned might actually come from a different world, have had a life before being ripped from them.
Sighing, Yuval brought his hands up, one to rest on the hand at his throat, the other to tentatively touch Amath’s cheek.
“I am sorry,” he said with honesty, thinking it was best he left out the fact that this had been a dare, and he’d still been too young when he’d done the summoning. “I did what I was supposed to, I didn’t know best. Most creatures that are summoned, you see, are not like you. They’re beasts, don’t speak, are only intelligent enough to be controlled. I will try and find a way to help you back – I can’t promise I will find it, but I will try, if you will stay with me.”
Amath scoffed and slowly released him. “Have I a choice?”
“You do,” Yuval said, “But you will find few people who speak your language here, and who will not want to kill you on sight.”
“I could kill them first,” Amath said, almost sounding proud about it.
Yuval patted his hand “I have no doubt,” he agreed “And then more would come. You would be forever at war with the world, and then what chances would you have of getting back?”
Amath watched him carefully, and Yuval held his gaze until it lowered to their hands. Realizing he was still holding the demon’s hand, he pulled back.
“What do you say?”
“Until I find something better,” Amath reluctantly agreed.
Yuval smiled, feeling slightly triumphant at this. “Excellent. Then, for now, let us rest. It’s late, and tomorrow we must figure out what our next step will be.”
Amath merely nodded. Yuval watched him retreat again, back to the bed, to take place there without even asking. Once more he opened his mouth to protest, thought better of it, and instead said, in a slightly demanding tone, “Make room for me.”
The demon glared his way.
“Fine,” Yuval said, “Don’t, and I’ll sleep badly and be unable to help you in the morning.”
He waited while the demon pinned him with his gaze, but he scooted aside at last. Yuval blew the candles as he passed them and slowly slipped in bed next to him, wondering if sharing a bed had really been a good idea after all. Despite his misgivings about it, he found himself tired enough, physically and emotionally, to fall asleep within minutes of closing his eyes.
