Tom also carved shelves into the walls of the cave, he didn’t really have anything to put there, except for the dragon teeth, which were a bit large for a shelf anyway. He hoped that someday it might be possible to acquire a few things, but for now it was something to do. He also considered a table, but for now it would be difficult to gouge one smooth enough, and he really didn’t need one.
Tom also didn’t like the idea of sleeping on the cave floor all the time, but again, he had no way of getting a mattress, or even any straw. As far as he’d been able to tell, there was no plant life here in the Abyss, as Tizzy called it. He also had no idea how he could get any from Astlan. If, as Boggy had indicated, only spirits could travel between planes, how could he bring anything material here?
While he was pondering this, he once again heard voices calling his name. Actually, this time, Tom really didn’t mind. He had been beginning to run out of things to do, and that meant he would have had to start thinking about his parents and friends again, which he really preferred not to do.
The world changed slowly this time, like the last time. This time, however, he was prepared and so could calmly watch the whole thing. The image of the familiar tower room slowly superimposed itself over his cave. He saw the pentagrams glowing at his feet, a shadowy Lenamare appeared to take form in his cave. The light level increased with the new image; eventually it seemed that his cave was the hollow image and the tower room the only real place. Shortly, his cave was gone, and he was completely in the tower room with Lenamare and Jehenna. The whole process had lasted about thirty seconds.
Tom stared at Lenamare, who naturally stared back unflinchingly. Tom said nothing; he would let Lenamare do the talking. He would not trifle with any of the, ‘How may I serve thee master... ‘ bit, which Boggy had described most masters as preferring. Lenamare might be able to control his pain, and his coming and going, and therefore force him to obey some commands, but he wasn’t going to get any more from Tom than was absolutely necessary.
“Demon, I Lenamare have graciously decided to allow you to perform a task for me.” As if he should be grateful, Tom thought. Lenamare paused, as if expecting a response. Tom simply continued to stare. “Know that I have a message for a fellow wizard, and at this time I can only spare one so lowly as yourself to deliver it.” If what Boggy had said about the relationships between demons and master was true, this guy was either immensely powerful, or incredibly stupid.
According to Boggy, most wizards were fairly wary of all demons, especially the more powerful ones, consequently they were usually only used for the most difficult tasks, or when for some reason it was impractical for a human to do the same thing. Delivering a message, sounded like a task better left to a human. Unless, of course, it had to be done with all speed, in which case, Tom guessed a demon would be better.
Lenamare held up a sealed tube. “This is the message you shall take. It goes to the wizard Zilquar in Beltan. Do you understand the concept of a map, demon?”
Tom couldn’t decide if he should give Lenamare the satisfaction of answering. As he thought about it for a moment, though, Tom decided that it would probably save himself some work if he admitted that he could read a map. He decided however, that if he had to play a demon, then he would give these two assholes the full treatment, at least until he could do something more constructive.
Inhaling, instead of exhaling, and lowering his voice as low as possible, Tom attempted his best imitation of what he imagined a powerful creature of evil sounded like. “Of course... foolish mortal.” Actually, Tom was quite pleased with the effect. He had misjudged the power of his lungs slightly, and the echo that would be produced in the small room; his voice came out deep and booming, with a hint of crackling in it. Darth Vader would have been proud, Tom thought.
Out of the corner of his eye, he was pleased to note that Jehenna stepped back slightly, surprised by his voice. Lenamare, of course, didn’t so much as bat an eye. Speaking carefully now, Lenamare pulled open a scroll with a map on it. He pointed to a small star on it. “This star, demon, represents my keep, the red line represents a human road that goes towards Beltan. You must go south. Do you know which direction is south?” Tom tried to simply smirk. “I will point in the proper direction, before you leave.” Lenamare said sounding slightly frustrated at not receiving an answer. “This X on the map represents Zilquar’s tower.” He pointed to a spot near a bunch of squiggly lines, which Tom assumed were mountains. “It is in the mountains.”
“You will go directly to the tower and demand to speak to Zilquar. You will harm no one nor anything at this point. When Zilquar identifies himself, you must give this canister to him, sealed, unopened, and undisturbed in any manner, and state that you were sent by me, Lenamare. You will then depart his tower, leaving Zilquar and all that is his or his subjects’ intact and unharmed. This includes all people who work for or are slaves to Zilquar. You will immediately return to me for further instructions. You will not deviate from your course to or from the tower in any way. You will do nothing that I have not commanded you. You are to say nothing to Zilquar that might harm me or mine in any possible manner, indirectly or directly; however you are free to speak as otherwise necessary to carry out this mission.”
Tom stared down pointedly at the pentagram on the floor. “I shall now release the pentagram, you will harm neither I nor any of my people, nor anything that is mine.” Lenamare and Jehenna put out two adjacent braziers, and made arcane gestures with their hands while chanting, “Disolum, tripedus, prodentes ved sultos. Akien et veltos, summa lux.” They both stepped back as Lenamare motioned for Tom to leave the circle.
He stepped forward over the line. He could feel a slight resistance, but he had no real difficulty. As he stepped out, he looked around the room seeking an exit. The curtains were all shut tightly; he couldn’t tell where any exits might be. Lenamare handed him the tube and the map, saying, “You should be back in no later than three days, if you fly all the time. If you do not return then, you shall experience the compulsion spell I’ve placed on you and I guarantee you won’t enjoy it.”
Tom just glowered at Lenamare. He wasn’t particularly mad, he just figured it would make a good effect. These people were almost comic in their seriousness. Tom supposed however, thinking of the fantasy novels he had read involving demons, and more than a few first person shooters, that if he was in their place, he might act similarly.
“So, mortal,” Tom said in his booming indrawn voice, “do you mind if I just smash through your pitiful walls. Or do you plan to provide me with an exit?”
Lenamare looked slightly peeved at the moment, and Jehenna looked slightly taken aback. There could be a few enjoyable moments in this job, Tom thought, hiding a smile. This demon business wasn’t always boring; however, he imagined that it would probably get pretty old, quickly.
“Here, use this window.” Lenamare drew back a curtain revealing a shuttered window. Tom looked at the window, it was big enough for Lenamare or Boggy to get through, barely, but he doubted that he would fit. The shutters swung open, it would definitely be too tight.