Chapter Seventeen
“Qwantar escaped!” Krendal shouted. “Escaped? How in Satan’s name did he escape. Huh. Tell me Penzreel. Explain this to me. Perhaps I have such a small mind that I simply cannot understand your superior intellect.”
Penzreel shook from head to foot. He tried to lift his eyes to address Krendal but they stayed glued at his feet.
Krendal’s right arm violently shot out to his right and caught Roger square in the side of his jaw. The massive fist spun his head till Roger was looking over his right shoulder at the cell behind him.
Penzreel began to whimper. His brown trousers became darker where his legs came together. He tried to cover himself with his hands but the stain was too large to hide.
“Oh for crying out loud,” Krendal said. Shaking his head from left to right in disbelief he planted his fists on his hips and glared at Dweena. “What kind of dungeon are you running here my dear? Crawl back into your cell you worthless waste of life. Dweena, go get me Frandeleran.”
She stood frozen, staring at Roger crumpled on the floor.
“Now!,” he shouted.
Dweena immediately bolted from the cell chamber and disappeared down the corridor.
“Hectar!,” Krendal fumed.
Hectar slowly edged his way out of the safety of his cell.
“Yes master Krendal.”
“Master? You dare call me your master?”
Krendal quickly crossed the chamber and grabbed Krendal by his left ear. He picked him up several feet off the floor. Hectar screamed in pain as the flesh of his ear began tearing between Krendal’s long sharp fingernails. Krendal shook him like a rag doll.
“Please master, please. I thought he was here to bring you harm. We only acted on your behalf.”
Krendal threw him to the floor. Hectar covered his ear and scampered several feet away from him. He pulled his blood soaked hand away from his ear and wiped it on his shirt. He watched Dweena enter the cell chamber followed by Frandeleran.
“Ah, Frandeleran,” Krendal said. How are ya? Want to have a little fun? Hmm? Perhaps Dweena has filled you in on our little predicament here. It appears that this little dweeb Hectar attacked Qwantar as he came here to meet with me. Yes, he came here on Satan’s orders. Put him here in Penzreel’s little cell chamber he calls a dungeon.”
Krendal paced around Hectar.
“Claims he attacked them. Refused to identify himself.”
With one swift kick, Krendal catapulted Hectar through the door of his cell. He crashed into the wall at the rear and slumped to the floor quietly crying.
“I don’t want to die,” Hectar whimpered.
“Then,” Krendal said, “Penzreel, who was given charge over the “PRISONERS” here in this little dump somehow allowed him to escape. Can you believe it. And Dweena, oh dear, dear Dweena. Even she cannot explain to me how my head of security could allow such incompetence to persist in my realm. All she wants is to blame him for allowing Qwantar to escape. Can you believe it.”
Krendal slammed the door of Penzreel’s cell closed.
“And Roger. Hmph. Roger here, poor little Roger. He would have me to believe everyone is conspiring against him. They all hate him, despise him, loathe him. And I would have to agree. But what they should have done Roger, is to fear you. To tremble in your presence. To wet their little trousers with their own urine at the mere thought of displeasing you.”
“So Frandeleran, did you bring some toys to share with your ― new friends? Hm. Want to make my day? Help me smile again?”
Krendal bent over to his left and peered directly into Roger’s eyes.
“Want to remind the minions in my realm why they should shake in their boots and wet themselves?”
A grin slowly emerged upon Frandeleran’s face. Not a sound disturbed the silence engulfing the cell chamber. Krendal paced the chamber, slowing at each demon to stare them down. Each knelt in front of him as he stared at them.
“Frandeleran, remind my realm why they should fear me.”
“Yes master,” Frandeleran said.
“Dweena my dear. You are still useful to me. Come.”
Krendal spun around and swiftly exited the cell chamber. Dweena quickly followed him through the door and down the corridor. Frandeleran slammed the door behind them, slipped the key into the lock and sealed the fate of those around him.
***
Once Qwantar and Wahsail got past the demon in the door room, there was little chance that anyone would bother them. The constant flow of visitors through DeKaylm made it easy to blend in. They meandered their way through the fortress looking for Roger’s office.
Qwantar had not been to DeKaylm before. He mentally catalog everything around him as they passed through. Where the guards were, how many, their size. He watched to see where the high traffic areas for visitors led them.
“I assume Roger has several offices here,” Qwantar said.
“Which one will Krendal return to?” Wahsail answered.
“He may not return to any once he discovers we are no longer Roger’s prisoners. He may assume we have left and gone deeper into his realm. He may figure I am so angry with him that I just won’t care. Keep an eye on the corridor for me.”
Qwantar slipped into a small alcove. Wahsail stood just outside it. He folded his arms and leaned against the wall with his left shoulder.
Qwantar closed his eyes and searched for Krendal’s presence. He concentrated his attention in a tight circle at first and them slowly enlarged that area he scanned with his mind. He could sense their thoughts, their emotions, their attitudes. There was a general sense of unrest with Krendal present in the fortress.
Then… Qwantar locked onto Krendal’s presence. He immediate felt Krendal lock back on his presence. Qwantar felt Krendal force a thought into his mind.
“Qwantar, where are you?”
Their bond grew and Qwantar pushed a thought back to Krendal.
“I am here. Where are you? I have awaiting our meeting, though I must say I have been less than impressed with your hospitality.”
“My guards will escort you to me. Follow them.”
“Qwantar,” Wahsail said. “This don’t look good. There is a squadron of guards heading right for us.”
Qwantar stepped back into the corridor.
“It is alright my friend. The guards come courtesy of Krendal. It appears he has been sufficiently engaged with our presence here.”
The guards surrounded the two of them.
“Qwantar, we are honored by your presence. Please, follow us. We will escort you to Krendal.”
“Now this is how you treat a guest Wahsail.”
The guards quickly led Qwantar and Wahsail to one of Roger’s offices. Well, one of th offices that used to be Roger’s.
The lead guard opened the door to the spacious office. He motioned for Qwantar and Wahsail to enter. The two stepped inside and the guard pulled the door closed behind them.
The room was empty. More of a lounge than an office, though it did have a rather large desk near a window overlooking the main gates. There was a large conference table and an assortment of sofas and lush chairs. Behind the desk was a wet bar, well stocked with bottles and assorted snacks. Qwantar smile and motioned towards the bar.
“After you my friend.”
Wahsail led the way behind the desk.
The two poured themselves a drink. Qwantar pushed a couple of chairs back against a wall and the two sat down facing the door.
Krendal and Dweena watched Qwantar and Wahsail through the two way mirror behind the bar.
“Dweena, what do you know about this Wahsail? How did he end up in my dungeon?”
“The usual. He came, he saw, he got drunk, loud, and took a swing at a guard. Several actually. He knocked out about four of em before he got blindsided by Hectar believe it or not. He has been a difficult one to keep in the dungeon. Very crafty and powerful.”
Krendal stepped closer to the glass and took a sip of his drink.
“Dweena, I have a little job for you,” he said. “I need you to loosen these two up a bit, get them talking before I come in.”
“Yes my Lord.”
“And Dweena.”
“Yes?”
“Please be mindful that while I have spared you because you are useful to me, well, just be mindful.”
Dweena adjusted her uniform to expose a little more of her assets before she left Krendal staring through the mirror.
She entered the corridor and motioned for the guards to open the door for her. She entered the office and sauntered over to the mirror. She leaned over slightly for Krendal’s pleasure and poured herself a drink.
Qwantar watched her closely and took a sip on his drink. She strutted over to the chair between them and the doors and sat down. Her twelve foot frame barely fit the chair. She lifted her right leg up and over her left know and dangled her shoe on her toes.
“Evening boys,” she said.
“Evening,” Qwantar replied.
“I am Dweena. Krendal asked me to attend to your needs while he is delayed.”
“Qwantar,” Qwantar said.
“Wahsail,” Wahsail said.
“What brings you to DeKaylm?”
“The lovely beaches,” Qwantar said.
“Any beach in particular?” she replied.
“A beach is a beach,” Qwantar said.
“Do you always let him do all the talking Wahsail?”
He shrugged his shoulders and finished off his drink. He rose and went to pour himself another.
“Rumor has it that Satan himself sent you on a little mission here.”
“Rumors can be very misleading,” Qwantar said.
“Rumors can tell a demon more than the truth most of the time.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about the truth myself. Don’t believe there is any such thing.”
“I trust Penzreel wasn’t much of a challenge for you.”
“He was of great assistance.”
“Well, he won’t be of much assistance any more.”
“What business do you have here in the realm of Krendal?”
“Just passing through. Thought I would visit a couple of friends while I am in the neighborhood. I was sooo looking forward to finally meeting Roger. Haven’t seen him around have you?”
Dweena sat her drink down and placed both of her hands on the arms of her chair. She took a deep breath and watched Qwantar’s eyes drink in her beauty. She watched Wahsail sit down in the his chair. He placed his feet together and sat down slowly, deliberately, never taking his eyes off her.
“I am no threat you Wahsail.”
“Everyone is a threat to me.”
The door of the office opened and Krendal burst into the room. He strode up directly behind Dweena and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Qwantar,” he said. “At last we cross paths. Freshen your drink for you?”
He nudged Dweena to get up and get Qwantar another drink.
She got up and headed for the bar. Krendal sat down and looked Qwantar directly in the eye. The two sat quietly, staring one another down, waiting for the other to blink.
“So, Satan has sent you here to do some dirty work for him has he?” Krendal said.
Qwantar smiled. “Confidential.”
“Then confide. This is my realm and you do not cross my path lightly here. No one does. And you Wahsail, you will not be leaving here alive,” Krendal said.
Dweena held out Qwantar’s drink and waited for him to take it from her hand. He motioned her to set it on the table and leaned forward towards Krendal.
“Confidential. Not everyone has a need to know.”
“Dweena darling, please pull up a chair so Qwantar can speak a little more privately. The walls have such large ears you know.”
She pulled a chair up alongside Krendal’s.
“I need Jordan, Hadral and Dorcas.”
“Why,” Krendal asked.
“Confidential,” Qwantar replied. “And I need Wahsail here also. Took me a while to find him tucked away in your petty little dungeon. How’s Penzreel?”
“Where exactly do you need to go within my realm?”
“Wherever.”
“Well, this is a big realm, I would hate for you to get lost.”
“I know my way around,” Qwantar said.
“Never the less, it is my realm. This is as far as you will travel unless things become a little less ― confidential. Anselrio was a little more forthcoming with his request to visit my realm.”
“Anselrio,” Qwantar said. “That hot dog. Did he do a little grandstanding for your hired help?”
“Oh yes, always the showman isn’t he.”
“Always.”
“He did a most wonderful job entertaining us with his recent exploits to the Temple of the Eternal One. Seems he has gone on the offensive,” Krendal said.
“Not to worry.”
“Not to worry. He has sent Gabriel, Qwantar. Gabriel. You know how he disrupted your little world the last time he paid us a little visit. How I wish he would just stay in his place like the good little dog of heaven that he is. He has no business here.”
“Not to worry,” Qwantar said. “It is all for naught.”
“Yes, how they like to amuse themselves.”
“I will need Jordan, Hadral and Dorcas. They, Wahsail and I need to leave immediately,” Qwantar said. He smiled at Krendal and continued. “Gabriel is coming Krendal. Don’t you have somewhere to be? Tick, tock, tick, tock,” he said cocking his head left then right, left then right.
Krendal leaned in a little further.
“You’ll have no passage here lest I know where and why.”
“And you’ll have a difficult time explaining to Satan why you prevented me from taking care of business for him.”
“I have others fully capable of taking care of this business for him. You won’t even get close to her without my help. Without my permission.”
Qwantar leaned closer to Krendal. The two demons inched their faces closer together till they sucked in one another’s breath.
“Jordan, Hadral and Dorcas.”
“Where, why?”
Wahsail placed his hand on Qwantar’s arm.
“It appears that Anselrio has already informed him of your business here Qwantar. One can only puff out his chest when he has filled himself with hot air.”
Qwantar started laughing.
“You have a point my friend.”
“Oh, I am you friend now. A little while ago you had no friends, only enemies.”
Qwantar turned and looked at Wahsail. He shrugged his shoulders and then said to Krendal.
“Jordan, Hadral and Dorcas.”
“Where, why?” replied Krendal.
“You know where and you know why.”
“But I just want to hear it from you. You know how Anselrio can embellish event the slightest detail. I would hate for you to get to your destination only to have to face Michael by yourself. You know how pesky he can be.”
Qwantar looked at Dweena then back at Krendal.
“That little wench of a wife to Zechariah. She… she needs me.”
“Well I am sure she will be delighted to have you visit for a few days. Dweena, go fetch Jordan, Hadral and Dorcas for Qwantar. Then bring me Guffring.”
She rose and quickly left.
“Guffring knows better than most how the angels in her town will attempt to defeat you.”
“Don’t need him. Don’t want him,” Qwantar said.
“This is still my realm Qwantar, and make no mistake, if you push your luck with me, our sweet and loving master himself will deal with you in a most unfortunate way.”
The two demons rose. Qwantar bumped himself into Krendal in one last show of defiance of Krendal’s authority.
“Would you like a drink for the road?” Krendal said smiling at his two guests.
© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.
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