The First Book of Demons

Baal sat at a low table in his tent, reading his scout reports. Hasan sat across from him, fiddling with the hem of his silk shirt. He knew that Balthazar would be coming for him. It was the only logical and practical step to take. He likely intended to surprise Baal by reaching his camp as quickly as possible. It didn’t matter that he had the advantage of royal blood in his veins. Baal would crush him easily and quickly. He would set Hasan on the throne temporarily, until he could garner more support for himself amongst the nobility. Then he would take the power that should have been given to him the day after Sami’s death. The young prince Balthazar was just not capable of dealing with the threats that the kingdom faced. Only Baal was powerful enough to protect them. Baal didn’t know why Balthazar couldn’t see that. He was just a spoiled brat, like all the royal princes.

  “I’m bored,” Hasan said, reclining against a triangular cushion. He let out a heavy sigh, “I don’t know why I had to come with you.”

  “You couldn’t very well stay at the palace, now could you?” Baal said, forcing down his irritation with the young prince. He was a pampered brat that had no business being in a military camp, but Baal had no choice but to take him with him.

  “I don’t know how you can stand this,” Hasan said. He picked idly at a bowl of fruit next to him. “There’s nothing to do.”

  “Perhaps you could prepare for the upcoming fight,” Baal said, grabbing another report and breaking the wax seal on it. “I don’t believe Balthazar will sit idly by while you to take the throne from him.”

  “Fight?” Hasan scoffed, popping a piece of fruit in his mouth. “I have no intention of fighting. That’s what I have you for.”

  “So you do,” Baal said with a sigh as he unrolled the report. He would take care of the spoiled prince in time, but for now he would have to tolerate him. His eyes scanned over the report. He knew Balthazar was coming for him, but he had yet to determine where exactly he was. Tavi was securing the borders, and Balthazar would most certainly recon with him before attempting to come after Baal, but there was a lot of uncertainty to his exact location. He’d had his scouts scouring the area, looking for any signs of them. So far, they hadn’t been able to come up with anything concrete.

  A young yellow-eyed demon stepped through the heavy cloth flap that covered the tent entrance, his broad shoulders opening as he straightened in the entrance. He gave a passing glance at the demon prince that sat across from Baal.

  “Father,” he said with a curt bow, “I’ve located Balthazar. He’s with Tavi as you suspected.”

  “You’ve done well, Raza” Baal said, beaming with pride as a smile spread across his face. He set the rest of the scout reports aside and stood up.

  Raza was his only son. He was the spitting image of his father and a chip off the old block. They would be the start of a new Devasi Dynasty that would crush their enemies with ruthless, brutal force. Raza stood taller at the measured praise from his father.

  Hasan watch the father and son pair embrace for a moment, envy filling him. Sami had never showed much interest in Hasan, no matter what he did. All Hasan had ever wanted was a little recognition from his father, a word of praise, or even a glance of satisfaction, but it was well known that Balthazar was always the apple of their father’s eye. It was the first-born son that got all the praise, all the attention. It made Hasan sick to think about having to bow to Balthazar.

  Baal had offered Hasan a glimmer of hope and he had happily clutched onto that opportunity with both hands. He was aware that the entire kingdom, Baal included, thought very little of him, but he intended to change that opinion once he was Lord Sultan. Hasan may not be battle hardened like Baal and he may not be as respected as Balthazar, but he was a born leader. He’d just never been given the chance to show that.

  Balthazar was a fool to dismiss such an experienced and powerful demon as Baal, and replace him with a lowly concubine’s son. The only reason Tavi was given the position of Lord Advisor was his close relationship with Balthazar. It was a grave mistake on Balthazar’s part, and that mistake would be Hasan’s redemption. He didn’t necessarily want Balthazar dead. He just didn’t want him to be the Lord Sultan.

  “They have a creature with them,” Raza said, stepping back from his father. They both settled down on a cushion on either side of the table. “She’s not Devasi, or even demon for that matter.”

  “A creature?” Baal asked, an eyebrow arching. “A Faeye?”

  “I don’t think so,” Raza said, shaking his head. “Those haven’t spotted around these parts for centuries.”

  “There’s only so many things she could be,” Baal said, looking thoughtfully at Raza. His nose was one of the best Baal had ever known. It was one of the reasons he had him scouting instead of helping run the camp and gain supporters among the nobility. It was concerning that he couldn’t scent out the creature.

  “Her scent is like nothing I’ve ever encountered,” Raza said. He shifted a little in his cushion. He didn’t like not being able to give his father a clear answer. He didn’t like not knowing what that creature was. He also didn’t like how intrigued he was with her. “I’m not sure if she is a captive, but there is no doubt that she is valuable to Balthazar.”

  “Valuable in what way?” Baal asked. He rested a hand on his knee and leaned forward slightly.

  “She’s slow, too slow for them to keep the advantage of surprise in attacking us,” Raza said. “Yet Balthazar is keeping her with them. In fact, he’s got two of his men carrying her.”

  Baal leaned back and scratched at the stubble on his chin, considering the information. Balthazar couldn’t spare the men to send her back to the palace. They were outnumbered as it was. The only other options would be to leave her behind or take her with him. If she weren’t valuable in some way, it would make more sense just to leave her.

  Baal could see the interest shining in his son’s eyes. This creature must be something very special indeed to capture the attention of both Balthazar and Raza.

  “Bring her to me if you can,” Baal said, “I want to smell her for myself.”

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