Tales of a Seductress Saga - Tales of an Enchantress β Chapter 40
βDamn it! Does the Demon King understand how important this treaty is to the demon realm? We canβt afford another war.β
βBe careful, Typhon, or your words might be misinterpreted as disrespect for our Lord.β A dark, scrawny man spoke up.
βIs that a threat?β Typhon looked darkly at the man as if he wanted to pull his sword and strike the man down in an instant.
The man held out his hands and gave an innocent look. βIβm merely pointing out the harsh reality. It has always been my job as a Truthsayer.β
βTruthsayersβ¦β Typhon almost spat as he said that word. βIβll never understand the tradition of hiring your kind.β
βIt is your refusal to use my kind that is the very reason you have no real power outside of the army. The demon King commands, it is only your job to figure out how to carry out those commands.β
βI have always gotten the job done. Do not try to accuse me of insubordination.β
The dark man grinned. βI wouldnβt dream of it. You have earned your place in the military. Your command of the army has always been explementary. The Demon King wouldnβt have promoted you to Lord General of his armies otherwise. However, let us worry about treaties and diplomacy. You can worry about what to do if diplomacy fails.β
βHmmβ¦ part of me thinks you want a warβ¦β Typhon turned his head away in disgust.
βEven if the Demon King does, your only concern should beβ¦ how to win it!β The dark man snorted.
When Typhon remained standing in front of his planning table without another word, the Truthsayer merely nodded and turned to leave the tent. As he reached the entrance, he noticed me standing there, having stayed outside while they discussed things. Had this been something I wasnβt supposed to hear, likely the guards wouldnβt have let me be so close. The man was deathly pale, his skin white with an almost bluish hue. His eyes were also completely red. As to what race he was, I couldnβt even guess. There were several hundred types of demons in the demon realm, and I hadnβt made an effort to identify all of them yet.
βA human slaveβ¦ disgusting.β When the manβs eyes caught mine, he immediately looked away and muttered those words.
My charm and looks seemed to hold no sway over the man, at least if I allowed the expression on his face tell me so. However, I was a woman adept at deception, and the truth was my appearance had greatly startled the man. I had the sense that the only reason he looked away is to stop himself from pushing me down. With just that brief interaction, I could feel that this was a man used to power and being able to use it however he wanted. He was a man who would flick his fingers and rape a farmerβs daughter just because she aroused him in passing, likely in front of her own husband. As much as he had browbeat Typhon in the tent, the truth was Typhon did hold a great deal of power, and this man was deeply agitated and threatened by Typhon. Whether Typhon knew this was how the man felt, I didnβt know.
It seemed like the longer I stayed in camp, the more I started to remember all of Novaβs teachings. The Cambion lifestyle had been almost suffocating with how upfront and honest everyone was. This sort of subtle subterfuge and politics actually allowed my abilities to thrive much better.
βFor a Truthsayer, he seems to lie quite easily,β I muttered to my side.
The man immediately stiffened and stopped his step without turning back. His shoulders shook in a suppressed rage. However, the guards on either side of the tent actually put their hands on their blades. I was Typhonβs girl, and if this man turned to strike me, these two men would defend me until the moment Typhon ordered otherwise.
βHahaha!β The laughter breaking out from my side was from Fanreek, who let out a barking laugh, slapping me on the shoulder.
Where my comment was jabbing, Fanreekβs actions were flat out disrespectful. It actually took some of the manβs anger off of me, and directed it all on Fanreek. I suspected Fanreek had done this intentionally, for which I was thankful. My words had came out unintentionally and I didnβt expect the man to stop.
βFanreek, come inβ¦ and bring my slave with you.β A voice interrupted from within the tent.
With us being called by Typhon, the Truthsayer could only sniff and head the rest of the way out. His back was still shaking with agitation and he clearly was embaressed. I probably shouldnβt have said anything, but my mouth got the better of me. I know I was a slave, but after listening to him talk down to my master, a strange part of me felt the need to bite back.
βHeyβ¦ Fanreek, what is a Truthsayer?β I whispered to him as we entered the tent.
Fanreek shot me a wondering look and then let out another laugh.
βDemon Kingβs and their council members typically higher Truthsayers.β It was Typhon who spoke up. βOn the surface and to commoners, they act as representatives. They spread the truth of their lords to the masses. They deliver decrees, spread commands, and even negotiate on behalf of their masters.β
βOn the surface? So, what do they really do?β I knew the words were unbecoming of a slave, so I immediately coughed. βAhemβ¦ if master pleasesβ¦β
Typhon gave me a look out of the side of his eye, but I couldnβt read if it was a pleased or displeased look. βTruthsayers tell the truth. Theyβre the one person in the kingdom that can tell a King exactly what they think. Kingβs and other people of power end up living in a bubble surrounded by yesmen. Most people are either too afraid to tell a Demon King what they truly think of his decisions and methods. Truthsayers are a protected group designed to counter that.Β Harming a Truthsayer is equivalent to treason, even for a Demon King. They force leaders to question their actions, putting pressure on them to truly consider their actions.Β Well, good Truthsayers work that way. The worst of them become just another aristocrat using the power they borrow from whichever noble they keep on a short leash.β
βAnd who is he?β I asked.
βHe is a Moroi. Truthsayer of Tigon. Tigonβs second only to the Demon King in power. Tigonβs been opposing the Demon King in actions since before you were born. He believes in demon purity and has an extreme hatred for humans. Letting his Truthsayer lead the negotiations is like throwing oil on fire. You need not worry of such things.β Β Typhon shook his head, giving me a stern look.
βShould we not worry?β Fanreek spoke up. βThe demonβs bane is a very real problem. I side with you, my lord, we can not afford another war. Every year the humans grow stronger and we grow weaker.β
Typhon poured a drink and took a sip before responding. βSome would argue that this is why we should strike now. If we can wipe out the humans, or at least subjugate them, we should do so before we become too weak and unable. Besides, it is the Demon Castleβs official position that the demonβs bane is a myth.β
βPah!β Fanreek almost spit. βItβs no secret that the demon line weakens with every generation. Itβs because of all these purebred lines. They keep their monster blood in the family so desperately that the monster blood grows thin. Soon, weβd be little different from humans ourselves.β
Typhon gave a wry chuckle. βThe same people would make the argument that the purebred lines are the only reasons we have any demon blood left in the first place.β
βItβs those damn purebred families not wanting any new families to be made! They kill off the progenitors themselves when the humans donβt do it for them. Donβt tell me they donβt!β Fanreek seemed surprisingly impassioned by this conversation.
Meanwhile, Typhon merely held up his hands and sighed in resignation. It seemed to me like this was a conversation the pair had shared many times. Fanreek was well respected in the army and was one of the few people who would talk to and talk back to Typhon. In some ways, he was almost like Typhonβs Truthsayer, although neither man would appreciate me making the comparison, it seemed.
In truth, the men rarely talked. Fanreek kept to himself and his whores, and Typhon remained as a leader. It might have been arguments such as these that kept the two men from being closer.
βYou canβt have come here to have this conversation,β Typhon finally sighed. βWhat do you want, old friend, and what does it have to do with my slave.β
Fanreek sniffed, shaking himself and letting go of his building anger. βIβd like to take your slave into town for a few nights. Sheβs been a slave for a while but has mostly had to fend for herself. She needs proper livery and other goods that canβt be found in the camps.β
βVery well, take her.β Typhon waved a hand.
Fanreek stopped for a second and then shook his head. βI was expecting an argument. You really do treat her more like a daughter than a slave.β
βDamn it, Fanreek, what do you want? You made the request, take the girl!β Typhon slammed his hand on the table.
Fanreek held up his hands. βEasy, easyβ¦ Aria, why donβt you go outside for a second. Typhon and Iβ¦ Ahemβ¦ have things to discuss.β
I gave the man a frown, but when Typhon nodded I knew I couldnβt ignore their order. I turned around and left the tent. The men watched me leave until I was well outside the tent and earshot. There was no way for me to continue listening to their conversation. Correction, there was no way for me to listen to their conversation without the use of my skills. I immediately activated my Stalker, and soon I was back in the tent. Typhon had sat down at the table, and Fanreek was getting a drink. I took a steep breath, but a moment later it looked like the two didnβt detect my skill. I let my breath out in relief.
βWhat is the slave girl to you?β Fanreek asked.
Typhon remained silent for a few moments before letting out a sigh. βDo you think sheβs a human spy?β
Fanreek stared stiffly for a bit before he shook his head. βNot a chance. Itβs been almost a month now since sheβs joined the camp. Iβve observed her that entire time under your request. I donβt believe that slave collar works on her, but other than that, I donβt sense any treachery. Itβs almost like the heavens crafted a perfect woman and dropped her right into the Cambion tent.β
Fanreekβ¦ thatβs a bit much. Even I felt a bit like blushing at those comments. It only disturbed me slightly that Fanreekβs association with me was an order. I had suspected as much, but this only confirmed it.
βHmmβ¦ she talks back, and she looks her superiors in the eye. These are not the acts of a slave.β
Fanreek shrugged. βYou didnβt ask me if she made a good slave. In truth, she makes a terrible slave. Frankly, half of her behavior wouldβve gotten her killed ten times over if you werenβt protecting her.β
I frowned. I really thought I had been doing a good job. What does he mean Iβd be killed? I had the whole camp wrapped around my finger!
βGiven her beauty,β Fanreek continued, βher abilities, and her demeanorβ¦ sheβd make a useful ally.β
βAn allyβ¦ hmβ¦β Typhon seemed to be contemplating the words.
βWhat are your plans for her, really?β Fanreek asked.
βMy sonβ¦β
βNot Seris!β
βNo!β Typhon shook his head. βAt first, I was just going to give her to Seris to play with, but after seeing her, Iβd rather want her to join Bradrick.β
βBradrick? Isnβt he the one who insists on doing the- ahemβ¦β
βYes.. given her skillsets, perhaps this Aria could keep him safe. Better yet, he can put a baby in her belly and decide to stay home and stop gallivanting around.β
βYou really do see her as a future daughter-in-law?β Fanreekβs eyes rose widely at that, clearly very surprised.
Typhon waved his hand. βI donβt care about this purebred crap. To me, the demonβs bane is an inevitability. Yetβ¦ although this slave looks to be human, I somehow have the feeling that her demon children would be no weaker than a purebred. This is all just a maybe, anyway. If she becomes a mistress, or a companion, or even a guard, it matters little to me.β
Fanreek nodded as if agreeing with that strange sentiment. Meanwhile, I touched my stomach and shook my head. I had no desire to be popping out babies! I was a girl who was up for many things, but being pregnant was not one of them. I immediately started making plans to stock up on anti-pregnancy herbs and smuggle them around at all times. If I had to secretly take herb to keep this son of his from knocking me up, I was prepared to do it. Whatever loyalty I felt for his family ended at that line. Iβd not going to mother his grandkids!
By the time I recovered, I found their conversation was coming to an end. I could only pull out as quickly as possible. When Fanreek came out of the tent, I was still a little flushed.
βWhat is it?β Fanreek asked, then gestured with his head. βCome on, letβs head to town.β
I gave a nod enthusiastically and stood up, running ahead of him. Now, I knew the first thing I planned to get in town, a lifetimes supply of anti-pregnancy medication! No matter what happened, I would never become a mother!