People felt warm and cozy in the auction hall in Milik. Most thought it was because someone had thrown an extra log on the fire, but it was because of the fire that raged in Davilo’s heart. He gripped his cane as he sat in between the party that had taken one of his subjects.

  Raka had cozied up next to Lala, exchanging pleasantries. Lala shielded her scarred left side to Raka as she pretended to laugh at the orc’s jokes. Davilo, was less of a party person.

  “What is it you do, old timer?” Casios aske as he splayed his arms on the couch.

  “I am in the hunting game.” Davilo said, “Hunting and retrieval.”

  “Buying or selling today?” The dwarf asked as he reached for the nearly empty third bottle of wine on the table.

  “Selling. A Stormboar. Runtish, but still. Would make for an excellent door guard. What about you both? Buying or selling?”

  “Drinking mainly,” Casios said as he cheered with the dwarf and lifted his empty cup to let the waitress know to bring them another. The waitress rolled her eyes but left to bring them another bottle.

  “That’s right,” Casios said, “Pretend like it’s such a chore to talk to me. We all know you are going to head back to this table eventually.”

  “Surely,” Davilo said through a smile, “That’s not the only reason you’re here.”

  “Notice the two headed stag? You must know what that means, every fool with a heartbeat could tell you,” Casios said, “Means we’re a big deal. People want us places.”

  Davilo looked at the emblem. On it was a two headed stag. One whose head was facing away, not allowing them to see their eyes. The other showed its side profile. One eye seen on the shirt. Both sans antlers.

  “Two hummels,” Davilo said quietly.

  “Design choice,” Casios waved his hand away and looked at his empty glass of wine. The dwarf let out a breath.

  Raka bristled in her seat, “The company said they could use Ducervi as security. They offered us drinks in exchange for our sustained presence here.” .

  “Suppose they need some good fighters in case something goes awry.” The dwarf said while staring at Davilo.

  “Suppose you might.” Then Davilo looked over at Baela, the sorceress who was knocked out from the first bottle.

  Casios once again waved his hand, “She’s there when we need her. Besides, she’s a light sleeper.”

  The dwarf leaned in, “So, a storm boar. What are you doing with that way out here?”

  Davilo turned to the dwarf, “Forgive me. But… I am still so confused. You all are here in this auction house to enjoy a drink? In exchange for your security services? Surely, if they needed your services your company would have charged them money, No?”

  The dwarf leaned back in his chair and grabbed the bottle out of the waitress’ hand before opening the cork with his teeth and drinking from the bottle.

  “Come now, dwarf,” Casios said, “We all share that.”

  “I’ll wipe it on my sleeve,” The dwarf said. Then, to Davilo said, “You’re right. The open bar’s a consolation prize. They didn’t accept our booty but offered us a pick of the booze.”

  “Oh?” Davilo asked, “And what, pray tell, did you bring as booty? And where is it now?”

  “You ask a lotta questions, partner.” A soft but unfettered voice said.

  Davilo looked over at the new voice.

  “Baela,” Casios said, “You’re awake! We were entertaining our new friends.”

  “I see them,”

  Lala reached her hand out to Baela who looked right at it and didn’t shake, “I’m Lala. Very nice to meet you.”

  Baela looked right down at it.

  “Don’t be rude,” Raka said, “Shake her hand.”

  Baela scoffed but shook Lala’s hand. Lala offered the sincerest smile she could muster.

  “I’m going to take a walk.,” Baela said, “walk off some of that booze. Anyone want to join me?”

  Casios stood up, “I could use a romp. Shall you join us?”

  “Uh,” Lala said, she looked at Davilo. He shook his head, “We shalln’t. We would very much like to stay here.”

  Baela and Davilo did not stop staring at each other, “Unfortunately so,” Davilo said through his barely concealed glare, “Seems our pork is soon to be on the menu.”

  A gentle but firm voice said on the megaphone, “Good evening buyers and sellers, as the auction continues we do have to make a slight adjustment. It seems that Item 17 was an enchanted animal. This was a mistake on our part for not properly vetting and we are releasing them to freedom as is compliant with the law. Thank you.”

  “What?!” Lala said, “Davi… did you hear that?”

  “Uh,” Raka interjected, “Guys. We have to stay until the end. We promised our services.”

  “We’ll be back,” Casios said.

  “I have the meat sweats,” The dwarf said, “I could use a merry walk for my digestion.”

  Casios said, “And none of the girls here want to talk to me. Can't seem to stare a handsome powerful warrior in the face and realize you're missing out on a good thing. Oh well!”

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  Casios, Baela, and the dwarf had all stood up. Raka and Lala stared at each other. Raka let out a sigh, “We have to be back within the hour, guys.”

  “You should all join us,” Baela said as she forced a pleasant expression on every part of her face but her eyes.

  “No,” Davilo said. “We won’t come with you all. If you all want to leave then that is your right.”

  “I don’t think you understand-,” Baela said.

  “Alright fine, sod off then, old man,” Casios said, “We’ve been showing you a good time with free booze and you have been glaring at us all night. Weirdo. Come dwarf, Baela must walk the wine off.”

  Dwarf and Casios started to walk, but Baela stayed. Raka, Lala, and Davilo looked at her.

  “I don’t think you understand, ‘Davi.’” Baela said,

  Baela glared at Davilo who stayed seated. He was nonplussed. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the table and poured some in his glass.

  Lala was surprised that Davilo was acting so rational. But she didn’t want to question it. She looked at Raka, “Go with your friends. We’ll meet you back here. Maybe we’ll bid on something.”

  Tamas kept strumming the keys as he eyed the big group causing a hullabaloo over yonder near his teammates.

  “I insist you come.” Baela said.

  “No.”

  “Come on, Baela,” Casios said, “He doesn’t want to come. Sorry about this. Elves are normally demure but we got one that is screwy in the head.”

  “You can go, Baela,” Raka said, “I'll stay here.”

  “Come with us. The reasons are three fold.”

  “I won’t hear a single fold, dear,” Davilo said as he drank his wine, “I have business to attend to here. It is as my daughter said, we will maybe buy something.”

  “Reason one, it’s a nice night.”

  “Don’t care.”

  “Reason two, we’ll be around less people.”

  “I’m sociable.”

  ‘Reason three, I’ll tell you where your stupid lizard is.”

  Raka, Casios, the dwarf, Lala, and most of all Davilo turned to her in shock.

  “You’ll what?”

  “That is why you’re here. That’s why you’re wearing such a silly disguise. But I could smell that magic on you from the very beginning. The subtle stench of burning flesh that persists around you woke me up.”

  “That is my cologne. It’s called Burning Flesh No. 5. They discontinued No. 4 although it was my favorite.”

  “Now will you come with me?”

  “Should have led with the goods, my dear. After you.”

  “You’re not telling me. The old man?” Casios said, then he started to chuckle.

  Davilo turned to Lala, “The pig has been released, dear. Seems you better come with me before we can reconvene.”

  Raka shuffled uncomfortably up and adjusted her buckle, placing some noticeable distance between her and Lala, “We probably should keep it professional since… you know… you’re my enemy and all.”

  “Right.” Lala said as she got up, clearing her throat awkwardly as they all stepped away

  They walked in the comfort of the pale moonlight, down empty streets of everyone but the auctioneers having tucked themselves away from this sleepy town.

  The dwarf jogged at a more moderate pace, understanding what was about to go down, and needing to process more of the meat in his belly.

  “It wouldn’t be rude to ask to use the loo before we start, would it?” the dwarf whispered to Casios.

  Casios kept looking forward, “The floor lord, dwarf. We beat him… we’re in. This could be our big chance. If I could just get my hands on him, I can absorb his powers and we could use them against him. This could be our moment.”

  “Yes,” the dwarf agreed, “But do you think he’d let me use the bathroom first? I’m quite heavy and am poised for a bad fight.”

  Casios could not hear him. He kept walking. He turned back and looked at Davilo, who kept walking with a dour expression, “I know that we said we’d wait until we’re farther off from humans, but… let’s face it… this is our best chance, right?”

  “Uhm… no. Our best chance would be after I used the restroom. Are you not hearing me?”

  “I need to get my hands on him. I just need to touch him and this whole thing is over. I’ll use my boon and then it’ll be fire against fire. Oh… to steal his powers… It makes me dizzy. Or maybe that’s the wine I've drunk.”

  “You’re not hearing me. I’m just going to have to be direct and ask,” the dwarf then said it so loud that everyone in the group could hear, “As much as I’d like to get on with the conversation, or the fighting or whatever else… I do have to use the loo. That is my right as a combatant and I will hear no complaints.”

  “Great distraction dwarf!” Casios took the opportunity that his partner had so graciously provided for him. He burst backward, toward Davilo. Davilo gave him a withering look. The speed caused Lala’s and Baela’s long hair as well as the dwarf’s beard to flutter. It’s too late, thought Casios I’ve got him. Casios reached out his hand and headed right for Davilo’s arm. He would absorb all the power in his hand. As Casios reached out, Davilo’s costume had unveiled back to its normal red..

  Davilo’s skin burned hot. So hot that he lit on fire. The heat from the fire emanate quickly into Casios’ hand, causing him to recoil in pain.

  “Ahhh!”

  “Insolent little mortals,” Davilo said as his cane became a pitchfork again, “You all walk with such little reverence for your own institution. Drinking like nincompoops. Picking fights way above your paygrade. I know all about the Ducervi rankings. Each antler on your clothes represents a tier of skill. Two hummels. Not an antler between them. You four are the lowest of the lows. Barely rejects. You should have some respect next time a floor lord gives you some mercy. Why don’t you go run along to mommy?”

  “Don’t speak of Mother,” Raka seethed.

  “And why shouldn’t I?” Davilo continued, “Her and I go way back. She knows me and I know her. But you all don’t seem to know me well enough, lest you’d keep your filthy hands to yourselves. I am fire incarnate. I am Hell's Fury. Perhaps you need a demonstration of my power? You see that clocktower there? Beautiful isn’t it? Twelve hundred years old. A single gnomish family has maintained it for 12 generations. The little gnome girl being trained to take it over prays every night. Do you know what she prays for? To be taken away from all this. To no longer be the keeper of the watch tower. To be free of all her burden, but when she prays, she doesn't pray to your little gods. She prays to me. And why wouldn’t she? I get things done. SHASHABOOM! Flame blast!”

  Davilo shot his fire out of his pitchfork, it exploded the clocktower in the center of the town and the clocktower became engulfed in flames.

  “Lord Davilo!" Lala yelled, “This was meant to be a stealth mission!”

  “I suppose it was. And I tried to keep my promise to that little shrimp but there are other matters at hand. Now… dare you still face me?”

  The dwarf slipped off during the monologue to do his business in the bushes. He made it back just in time to see the fire slowly consuming the clocktower and looked around, noticing Davilo in his full form.

  “Blimey. I love a good fight, but we can’t fight a floor lord!”

  “This is not the mission,” Raka said, “We need to sell that little salamander or we'll return empty handed.”

  Casios gripped his hand as he stared at it, unholy fires caused burns like he had never seen, they swirled, and pulsed his purpled skin like some kind of infection, “That’s a lot of power,” Casios said with a hungry eye, “We won’t be so lowest of the low if we kill him for it.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Raka and Davilo said in unison.

  “Baela,” Casios pleaded, “Heal my hand. It’s just a burn!”

  “It’s not just a burn, Casios.” Baela said as she flicked her staff, a soft blue wisp made its way out and circled Casios’ hand, it helped but it still hurt. “That’s hellfire. And it will never fully heal.”

  “So,” Davilo said, “You’re already familiar with my work.”

  Baela stuck her staff up, “All too familiar.”

  Davilo looked at her resolve and stared down at the ground. He shook his head and then turned back up, there were tears in his eyes. Tears in a devil’s eyes were not made of water. They were like little firecrackers, popping out of the corners of his eyes.

  “Please. I beseech you. Please don’t make me kill you.”