“They definitely came through here, but they managed to pull up. There were other people here. At least two, maybe three. It's hard to tell.” Raxx spotted footprints leading away. “They went this way.”
The demons tucked themselves into the hedgerow as they crept forward, keeping their bodies low, so as not to be spotted.
Raxx focussed his majick and carefully scouted ahead for danger. He could feel the hum of a powerful majick user close by, but he dared not probe too far. The shadow demon was sure if he caused too much of a power surge, they would come looking for the intruder.
“Surely any demons living here would have been too terrified to do the princesses any harm?” Lephas muttered.
Raxx hesitated before answering. There was something far more dangerous on this farm than simple demon folk, but he saw no sense in worrying the already fraught commander. He needed Lephas focussed and undistracted.
“Farm hands aren't known for being the brightest bunch, maybe they–”
A sharp howl pierced through the air, stopping the demons in their tracks. Raxx’s majick gathered in his chest, coiled and ready to strike.
“Fuck, they've got wolves? What kind of farm is this?” Lephas grated.
“Quickly, we need to–” Raxx began, but trailed off as a large, familiar wolf bounded around the corner towards them. Relief flooded him. Lephas whipped around, following Raxx’s gaze.
“Karn?”
The wolf pricked his ears at the sound of his name and Lephas pulled his snood down to reveal his face. Karn barrelled towards them, knocking Lephas off his feet.
“Hey lad.” The commander laughed, scratching and petting his wolf affectionately. “I'm so glad to see you. Where have you been?”
Raxx’s majick fluttered warningly. Someone was approaching, at speed.
“Incoming,” the shadow demon hissed, his majick flickering to life once more in readiness for a fight.
Lephas pushed Karn away roughly as a large demon skidded around the corner, sword in hand.
Raxx all but released the bolt of majick building in his palm, until the mysterious assailant pulled his scarf away from his face.
“Fuck me.”
“Oriel?” Lephas shouted with surprise.
The prince sheathed his sword and jogged forward to meet them. He grabbed Lephas and embraced him roughly.
“You're alive,” Oriel laughed. “Where the fuck have you been?”
“It's a long story.”
The prince’s eyes fell to Raxx over Lephas’s shoulder. “You took your time. What's taken so long?”
Raxx bristled and shot the prince a sour look.
Perhaps it wouldn’t have taken so long if you had helped me like King Zelrus had instructed.
“There were complications,” Raxx replied.
“Yeah, no shit. Would it have something to do with the faerie princesses I have tied up in the barn, by any chance?” the prince scoffed.
“Are they safe? Not injured?” Lephas asked, his concern was evident in his voice.
“They're a little scratched up and bruised, but nothing serious. Why should we care?” Oriel scowled.
Lephas ran his hand over a horn. “Well, uh, that's a long story too, but they're on our side. I swear it.”
“On our side?”
