Emergence of the Demon Lord

As time passes the Zorbrians finally begin to show up within Lord Jayis. In order to save him, Sufoh goes to speak with him, but when Lord Jayis feels disrespected, he seeks to punish Sufoh...through Kidja.

Emergence of the demon lord

         

Sufoh explained the situation to Kidja in the best and least frig-

htening way he could, though he left out his meeting with Fear. Since Ki-

dja took more interest than Sufoh in the Supernatural, it was natural that she understood the threat of the Zorbrians better than he did. She didn't know if they could simply be exorcized like any other demon, but there should be no reason why not. If they were to find someone powerful enough, it could probably be done. The hard part would be getting Lord Jayis to give up the power of the Zorbrians.

          Working for him, Sufoh knew first hand that of the all of his lord's personality flaws—and there were a great many—greed was his most prominent. Lord Jayis's longing for power was, indeed, what led him to become lord of the strongest Macari tribe but it was also, what had driven him to open the Supernatural Gate, and he was sure that Fear was counting on that greed to be his undoing. The Zorbrians had made a good choice in a host.

          Sufoh and Kidja spent the next season looking for an exorcist that could possibly remove the Zorbrians for Lord Jayis's body. The Silver Moon and Crimson Blood tribes were full of spellcasters, but choosing an exorcist was more than a matter of skill. They needed someone they could trust to keep what had happened a secret. If the tribe were to find out that their lord was possessed, they would probably panic and definitely blame Sufoh, since no one trusted him anyway. Also, Sufoh and Kidja would need someone that wasn't too afraid of the Zorbrians to go near them. That would be the most difficult part.

          As the weeks melted away, Kidja and Jorah worked on finding someone who could help their lord, while Sufoh continued to protect him; secretly keeping eye on him. Over time, he grew increasingly paranoid, always ordering Sufoh to check every crack and crevice in the palace where an assailant could be hiding. He also became irritable. Nothing satisfied him and he was terribly fastidious about everything.

          As Sufoh watched the changes in Lord Jayis, he grew more and more frustrated at the fact that there was nothing he could do to convince him to seek help. He had far more connections to other tribes than Sufoh did and he could easily find someone powerful enough and willing enough to exorcise the demons, but it appeared that he didn't want that.

          When his paranoia and irritability wore off, his physical prowess began to increase. His strength as well as his speed and agility increased. His was less prone to illness and he healed twice as quickly as he used to. His stamina had spectacularly increased as well. When training with his sword, he could go for hours without food, water, or rest. As much as it pained Sufoh to watch, he saw everything Fear had said coming to fruition. The power that Lord Jayis had sought was his.

          The very first week of the season of Slumber brought a fearsome blizzard over the Forbidden Forest. The tree braches hung low with the heavy coating of ice and snow. The village was blanketed as well. The blizzard was a sign of a harsh season to come. Fortunately, Lord Jayis had done distribution before the Zorbrians changed him. Sufoh was given his overabundance of the season's yielding, which he shared with Eana who was low-ranking and unwed, and therefore was given very little.

          She, as well as Kidja and Jorah were beginning to worry about Sufoh. It seemed, the more time he spent with Lord Jayis the more aggravated he became. Sufoh was never a very cheerful person, seeing him truly happy was always a rarity. Still, his growing anger and irritation were more than enough to drive the hot-blooded warrior to slay anyone, even Lord Jayis. It was all he could do to keep his rage under control and keep from freeing the demons himself.

          But Sufoh kept his temper at bay. He had more to focus on that his own troubles; namely, Fear's threat to Kidja. Sufoh still wasn't sure what the Zorbrian meant, but he didn't want to take any chances on her getting hurt because of something that had nothing to do with her. It was for that reason, that Sufoh kept Kidja near him as much as possible. He kept her indoors and left her in Jorah's care when he was with Lord Jayis. He also intensified her training. As much as he didn't want her to become what he was, she would need to learn to defend herself.

          By the time the time the season of Awakening came and the snow melted away, Sufoh and Kidja had become accustomed to the ways of Lord Jayis. However, for some reason, no one else in the village had noticed the changes in their lord. Those closest to him noticed that he was a better fighter, but as far his changes in personality and appearance went, no one seemed to pay them any attention. Sufoh wondered if this was the work of the demons also.

Even Sufoh, Kidja, and Jorah had found themselves disregarding further changes in his character. That was, until one day, one month into the season of Awakening, a knock at the door startled both Sufoh and Kidja. Sufoh went to the door with his sword in hand, and when he opened it, there stood a messenger. A soldier accompanied him.

The messenger pulled open a small scroll and read, "'Sufoh. The Lord Jayis orders your presence at his quarters immediately.'"

Lord Jayis's latest change had been giving Sufoh more orders than requests, treating him more like a servant than a friend. Sufoh assumed that the soldier was for the messenger's protection from him.

Sufoh looked back at Kidja and motioned her to come, with his hand. She grabbed her blades and followed Sufoh out of the door. As she passed by the soldier, he halted her progress by touching the side of his sword to the small girl's chest. Sufoh placed a hand on his sheath.

"I'm afraid the girl cannot accompany you this time," the soldier said to Sufoh, "Lord Jayis's orders."

Sufoh walked calmly toward the soldier, drawing his sword as he moved. The soldier gripped the hilt of his sword in both hands, as if it would help. Within moments, he dropped his weapon and stood still as Sufoh continued past him and, just as Sufoh sheathed his sword, the soldier fell on his face, blood gushing from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

Sufoh turned to the messenger. "I do not suppose you have any objections." The courtier shook his head in stunned silence. "That is good. Let us go now."

The walk to the palace seemed very long, especially compared to the time it would take when riding a wolf, but Sufoh was glad to have time to think. The Zorbrians were working a lot faster than he'd thought they would. Just two seasons ago, Lord Jayis was honoring him, and now he acted as if he needed protection from him. If he didn't let Sufoh and Kidja help him, it wouldn't be long before his spirit was completely consumed.

Upon arriving at the palace, Sufoh whispered to Kidja, "We should not meet with Jayis yet. We need to discuss how we are going to handle the situation."

Kidja got the attention of the messenger, who quickly responded to escape the same fate as the soldier that accompanied him to Sufoh's home.

"We need a place to sleep," she said.

"That's unacceptable," he replied mostly to Sufoh. "Lord Jayis doesn't like to be kept waiting."

"I do not recall asking if Jayis likes to be kept waiting," said Sufoh, drawing his sword. The messenger backed away, shaking and shivering. Sufoh advanced toward him and swung his sword, only to hit the blade of one of Kidja's. Lord Jayis wasn't the only person whose speed and strength had grown.

"Killing Lord Jayis's men is not the wisest thing you can do when trying to lift a curse from him," she advised.

Sufoh put the tip of his sword to the messenger's throat. "Consider yourself fortunate. Find us a place to rest and tell Jayis that we will meet with him in the morning."

Sufoh and Kidja were situated in one of the palace's guest rooms. Since no one ever visited the palace, the room was outrageously dusty, but they would have to bear with it until morning came. There was only one bed in the room, so Sufoh sat on the floor as Kidja slept. Sword in hand and unbound hair on his shoulders, he hung his head and thought to himself.

Jayis sent a soldier to protect his messenger from me as if I would ever be so cruel as to kill a man for simple pleasure. He is beginning to show signs of fear toward me, fear that I will betray him. It is just as Fear said. Of course, killing that soldier was not the best move I could have made. How did I let this happen? I should have never let him open up that gate. I should have stopped him! No, do not blame yourself, Sufoh. You will find a way to help Jayis.

"Sufoh?" Sufoh's thoughts were cut off by Kidja's voice. She rolled over in bed and looked down at him. "Sufoh, are you awake?"

"Kidja?" Sufoh looked up. "What are you doing awake?"

"I had another vision." He could now hear the fear in her voice.

"What was it of?"

"Well," Kidja began. "There was a giant wolf, even bigger than the ones we tame.  It walked through our forest and lie down in a cave. The wolf was badly wounded and bleeding. The more it bled, the more of the forest died. Later, a smaller wolf came and drank the blood of the larger one. When the blood was all gone, the forest had returned to life, but in the end, both wolves were dead. I think I know what this vision means."

"I must sacrifice both Jayis and myself." Sufoh knew as well.

"Sufoh, promise me you won't kill Lord Jayis, tomorrow," Kidja said suddenly.

"Kidja—"

"Promise me!" She cried frantically. She was so afraid for Sufoh that he would have felt cruel if he did not promise her.

          "Fine," Sufoh swore. "I will not kill Lord Jayis, tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"I promise. You have my word as a warrior and your brother."

"Thank you so much." Sufoh was glad to hear happiness in Kidja's voice again. "Now, can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why did you bring me here? I am only twenty and eight seasons, and a girl on top of that. What can I do to help you?"

Sufoh had completely forgotten his reason for bringing Kidja until right then. "Yes, thank you for reminding me. I brought you because need you to speak for me."

"Speak for you?"

"I can not talk to Jayis myself," Sufoh explained. "I was told that I would have something to do with the death of Lord Jayis. I did not want to believe it at first, but it has become more than obvious that the Zorbrians are expecting me to be the one who kills him. That is why they are turning him into a monster. They are twisting his mind to do the unthinkable in hopes that I will get angry enough to kill him. As we both know, I am neither slow anger nor to kill."

"That's true."

"The Zorbrians are cunning, I'll give them that much. But if you speak for me, the chances Jayis will say anything that angers me to the point of killing him are somewhat slimmer. Will you?"

"Of course," Kidja easily agreed, "but why are you here?"

"Even if he is possessed and losing his mind. Jayis is still my superior and he gave me an order. I must be here. However, Jayis only requires my presence. I have no obligation to talk to him."

"Clever," Kidja giggled, "but do you think Lord Jayis will accept that?"

"Not in a million lifetimes, but we have no choice but to try him. I shall tell you what to say when the sun rises, now go to sleep."

 

Morning hurried into the palace far more quickly than Sufoh would have liked it to. Before he knew it, it was time to meet with Lord Jayis. Due to the messenger's warning, it was no surprise that he was angry about being kept waiting, but anger was an emotion that Lord Jayis had exhibited often, as of late. Sufoh entered the throne room and sat in a dark corner, sword in hand.

Kidja approached the throne. In the rest of the room, total darkness surrounded a tiny encampment of light that had retreated to the center of the floor where a few candles kept the once-gorgeous chamber barely lit. Demons hate light.

"What are you doing here, girl?" Jayis's voice echoed throughout the room. "I want to speak with Sufoh. Where is he?"

"He's over there." Kidja pointed him out. "Didn't you see him come in?"

"Leave me before my sword makes you."

Sufoh gripped his sheath.

Kidja took a look over her shoulder, at the corner where Sufoh was sitting. He was difficult to see, but his scarlet eyes pierced the darkness with a glare that could kill. She heard the sound of Sufoh's hand squeezing his sheathed sword in an attempt to keep his temper under control. She tried to act like she wasn't offended, but if she didn't tell Lord Jayis what she needed to tell him soon, Sufoh would probably break his promise.

"Lord Jayis," she tried her best to sound articulate, "you are possessed by the six legendary Zorbrians. Their goal is to kill you so that they can be freed. We can find a way to exorcise them and reseal them before they take over completely, but you have to let us help you."

Lord Jayis looked at Sufoh in surprise. That surprise quickly became anger. "Sufoh!" he snarled, "I knew I couldn't trust you. I shall have you—"

Lord Jayis stopped, thinking. How could he punish Sufoh? No one with Sufoh's strength would allow himself to be tortured. Strip him of his position? No. Despite their talk, any of the other lords would gladly welcome a warrior as capable as Sufoh into their tribe. The lord's eyes scanned the room. What could he do…? Lord Jayis's gaze locked on Kidja and Sufoh's spine shivered cold. Of course, thought the demon lord. The girl!

Without another word, he jumped from his throne, bringing the immense blade of his sword down with him. Kidja sidestepped the hammering attack, pulling her blades from the sheathes on her back. She held them up to block the swing of the demon lord's sword. The colossal difference in their strength forced her backward and Lord Jayis lunged at her again, this time with a thrusting attack. Kidja moved, but he managed to cut her left arm, knocking her off balance and to the ground.

Lord Jayis raised his mighty blade to deal a deadly strike to Kidja, but his blow was held back by Sufoh's sword. The warrior appeared from what looked like nothing, a bloody inferno of fury blazing in his eyes. "You have made a mistake, Jayis."

Lord Jayis pushed against Sufoh's sword, but as strong as he was, he could not overpower him, not even with the strength the demons added. Everything within Sufoh screamed at him to kill Lord Jayis right then and there, but he had made a promise to Kidja. He slid his sword back and Lord Jayis's blade came close to his face—closer than it ever would have if he hadn't made that promise—but he spun out of the path of the sword and hit him with the back of his own. Lord Jayis slid across the floor and slowed to a halt.

He staggered up with a smirk on his face. "What's the matter Sufoh? Are you afraid to kill me?" He spoke with a voice that was not his own.

"I fear nothing!" Sufoh advanced at him but Kidja took his arm in hers.

"You mustn't allow him to anger you!" she screamed as she tried futilely to hold him back. "Remember your promise!"

Sufoh looked at Kidja and then at Lord Jayis. He stopped walking and forced his sword into its sheath with a loud click. He felt like a weakling, letting Lord Jayis get away with attempting to murder his sister, but there were more important things at stake than his honor. Steadily calming down, Sufoh said, "Kidja, we are leaving."

"But Sufoh, what about—"

"Now!"

Kidja scurried to the door and Sufoh followed.

"Sufoh," Lord Jayis called behind him, "I never did get a chance to speak with you."

Sufoh stopped and turned around. His eyes and his soul grew darker and a spirit rose up in him that heated his blood.

          "I do not know if you can hear me, but if you can, listen." His voice had deepened. "You think you have found my weakness, but I assure you, I do not have one. I do not yet know how, but I swear on my sister's life, I will vanquish every last one of you, even if I have to kill Jayis to do so."