Forging A Demon Empire

Chapter 34

We were lead to the entrance of the mansion where the young man took a bow and left us as the door was opened.

A mature man dressed like a butler looked from Luna to me. “Welcome to the Chateau of Lion, Lord Lionel is waiting for you.” The man paused as his gaze was on Luna, he slightly bowed and extended his hand for us to enter. The other men waited for us outside after I signaled to them.

Luna and I entered inside the mansion. The butler lead us to the waiting area and as we sat he informed us that we will be joined shortly before leaving. My mind started to drift and as I was about to cast a spell. Luna touched my arm.

“Just wait for now, we are fine.”              

I nodded. Fine but wasn’t it strange that we had been singled out on the road was one thing if we were going to disappear after some reconnaissance but here in the lords manor who was to say that he didn’t find out about our scheme and our identity was blown or that the men we had left behind had been taken. The different possibilities flowed through my head.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, it’s good to see you again.” A young man entered he had brown hair and piercing gray eyes with a crooked nose. His skin was strange to me even for a human it seemed like a silvery ash.

Again, what was this man talking about?

“It is the same likewise,” Luna said.

I looked from her to him. What exactly was going on?

“Is that him, is that the one they are calling the troll slayer.”

“Yes.”

“I honestly expected him to be a lot bigger.”

“Luna what’s going on?” I asked.

“Lionel is a friend of mine sorry for the minor deceit.”

“A friend?” That didn’t add up from how the villagers were seen by the townsfolks and the deep entrenching hierarchy of this world that I had seen this should be impossible. Had Luna betray me?

“We meet a long time back when I was a travelling adventurer and remained in contact because we have the same goal in mind.”

“Yes, he replied taking a seat opposite us. “But there is a more urgent matter to deal with before that---.”

“I came here to help my father, Luna not to run quest for your friend and we don’t have anything to go by.”

“No, no I have instructed that your friends receive what they need to cure your father.”

“My eyes flickered to Luna, he knew about Seth and Caremila being here and he knew all along what we came after and that means he probably knew that I had taken into consideration about taking this country.”

“There is no need to panic, Reno like I said I am on your side Luna and I have been sharing information ---.”

“Damn it!” I shouted getting to my feet.

“Wait let me finish, and I have been sending info to her about the new armies that were being assembled by the other nobles.”

“How much more did she tell you?” I inquired.

 “She had told me about the issue but we weren’t sure and in the event that the search led you or them here we would have had help in a covert way. No one has been harmed or is even aware of our presence as we had followed them around the day to ensure they were safe and got what they needed,” The man settled back into the chair.

I took the time to process his answer no guards had entered and if Luna had betrayed me I was in a bad position. I was away from the capital and it was under her subordinate control. She was extremely strong and these soldiers, mages and guards that we witnessed were all professional. The odds of me winning or even escaping were low added to that they knew were we were. I could walk right into an ambush going back.

Taking a deep breath out. “What do you want?”

The man crossed his leg “Like I was saying now we actually need help with a matter one that the empire has hardly sent us any men for. Every twelve days at night many of the young women go missing and some young men around your age. Each time we try to find out where or how we are left with no clues no signs it’s just as though they disappear. The mages in the city can’t understand or discern what’s going on.”

“How is this my problem.”

“We need help and with your ability to slay monsters I believe that this is a problem that we have right now it’s the only thing that makes sense. In the last time my daughter was taken right now I am willing to do anything to get her back safely. We will support you and give you trade joining you in all but name against the empire. They are things you need for your town and I can help with that so please help me Reno. Help me save my daughter.”

“When is the next time this will happen?”

“Two days from now.”

 I bit my lip as I thought two days from now. “You want the creature to take me too because I am around the same age.”

“I figure it would come after you if it’s in the city.”

To fight a creature that I didn’t know anything about it sounded like a death wish. The battle of the Troll and even Luna was a factor of luck rather than power even some team work. Things no one seems to mention in that ridicous tales about me killing a troll.

“What if I say no, and just pack up and go home.”

The man thought about it and then smile then I would have to insist that you stay as I really need you to do this. There was an aura coming from him and Luna this man wasn’t a joke no wonder he didn’t have guards with him. He was strong.