Chapter 3 Part 15

Morteous Blackheart bolted upright in his bed. The newcomers were using magic. It was a telelocation spell. The sound was unmistakably alien and very potent.

Morteous climbed out of his bed. He noticed that the she-devil he had lain with was gone. He grinned at the memory. After a day of hard deliberations, they had all retired and the wench had joined him for the evening--a sure sign that the Dukes of Hell were as eager for their alliance as was House Blackheart. Yes, there was something to be said about bedding down with a woman who possessed a soft prehensile tail. He quickly dressed and left the room.

It was late afternoon, and the palace halls of House Blackheart were cold, but the torches on the walls provided enough heat to keep it from being too uncomfortable. He was preparing to awake his brother when down the hall he spied a light coming from under his nephew's door. Not wishing to disturb his brother's sleep unnecessarily, Morteous instead knocked on Miguel's suite door.

There was no answer, so Morteous opened the door and stepped inside. He had intended to leave a note. Instead, when he entered the room, he changed his mind. There before him was his nephew and a she-devil rolling in the cushions like a pair of wild animals in heat.

"Good evening, Uncle," Miguel said as he spied Morteous standing by the door. "Would you like to join the fun? Darwina here can summon one of her sisters for you. They enjoy corrupting our souls."

The she-devil laughed, "Don't you believe him, warlock. He is already more corrupted than I am, and his wickedness rivals my master's."

"No thank you," Morteous said with a smile. "I must leave. The newcomers have used magic again, and this time I got a solid fix on their location."

Miguel stopped his recreational activities for a moment. "Father will not be pleased if you are not present for the rest of the negotiations with the Dukes of Hell."

"It can not be helped," Morteous said. "Our enemies have reached the oracle. If they succeed in their mission there, then I may be the only person who can stop them. They grow more powerful by the minute."

"I shall awaken father," Miguel exclaimed with fear. "We shall go forth and do battle with our enemies."

"No, Miguel," Morteous said calmly. "This alliance with the devils is far too vital to put off." Morteous opened the door to leave. "Tell your father that I have gone to hinder our enemies. When the negotiations are complete, come to me and we shall face our enemies together."

"Set's blessings upon you, uncle." Miguel watched his uncle leave then returned to his play. He would tell his father the news in the morning. Nothing could be done about it until then anyway.

Morteous didn't even leave the hallway to begin his travels. Speed was of the essence and there was no time for show and dramatics. He closed the door to Miguel's suite and drew his travelling cloak about him. Conscious of the fact that doing so would drain his strength greatly, the warlock closed his eyes, and willed himself to the place where the newcomers had cast their spell.