This demon knew he could easily defeat at least four of the demons who presumed superiority and stood before him, but to rise too quickly among the host was to call unwanted attention to oneself. It was a perilous pose, and had he made one misstep, calling attention to his uniqueness, those captains nearby would have destroyed him utterly, for his mind was turning alien and was now self -aware enough to be a threat to all of them. He still showed the proper mix of fear and danger to those directly above him, enough fear so they judged him under their sway, yet dangerous enough for them to avoid attempting to consume him. For unlike most of his brethren, he had discovered guile worked better than confrontation in gaining valuable life force and intelligence. He had captured a unique soul and had been harboring it, using it, becoming cunning and dangerous. He peeked out from behind a stone column, lest he call attention to himself. The demon without a name stood at the edge of those summoned to “s once-grand hall. But internecine conflict was put aside among the elite of the host as a new gate from the Fifth Circle to Shila was completed, opening the way for the supreme ruler of the demon realm to communicate. Hunger now gripped the demon host, and again they returned to their ancient habit of feeding upon oneĪnother. Anything larger than the smallest insect had been devoured. Now the world of Shila lay in tatters, the remaining life reduced to lowly creatures at the sea bottom, lichen clinging to rocks in crevices upon distant mountain peaks, and tiny creatures that scuttled under rocks to avoid detection. Only when the mad High Priest unsealed the portal admitting the first demon to deny his city to the conquering host of the Saaur, was the barrier breached. Immense energy was required to open a gate, and for years the demons had been thwarted by the accursed
Demons who stood as tall as trees crouched low eying not to be seen. Yet all in the hall remained motionless, terrified of that which was appearing on the other side of the newly created gateway. All were beings of massive muscle and evil intent, dark magic and murderous, nature. Some bore proud wings, antlers, or bull’s horns. Some wore the faces of dead animals, while others were humanlike in aspect. In what had once been the throne room of Jarwa, last Sha-shahan of the Seven Nations of the Saaur, the thirty-foot- high wall of stones opposite the empty seat of power seemed to waver, then vanish as a black void appeared.
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: We are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems.Īrthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy Ode, st.
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