Chapter 5

Names to know:

Cillian (Kill-ee-un)

Niamh (Neev)

Aoife (EE-fa)

Azier awoke to a floral aroma. Groggy and weary he observed his surroundings. As he looked around he spotted a very small human on a foot stool brewing something on a wood burning stove. He was stalky for his size. His hair a wirey red mess atop his head. He hummed merrily while he worked at his station. The clothes he wore looked scruffy and unclean. Without turning around, the tiny human spoke. "Awake I see? Would ya care fer a cup of tea?" The little man had an accent which told the Demon the being was not originally from this part of the world. Azier nodded for he found himself quite thirsty, and hungry at that.

The large Being tried to sit up, but a twinge of pain shot through him and sent him back down. "Easy there big fella. We wouldn't wantcha' ta rip open the sewin' now would we?" Azier sighed. He felt pathetic. "Try an' get up slow like." The hobbit waddled over and attempted to help the giant sit up.

"Who are you?" Azier questioned as he took the cup he was handed. "Names O'Malley me dear boy." The man smiled and stuck out his hand. Azier gently grasped the tiny limb. He felt if he grabbed it too hard the bones might be crushed.

"Alrighty then, I have told ya mine. Let's have yer name lad?" O'Malley patiently waited for his response. Azier thought it best not to give his name. He did not yet know if he could trust his new companion. "My name is Brad."

The dwarf paused a moment. "Alrighty sonny if that is what yer goin' with than it's nice ta meetcha Brad the demon." The little man chuckled and continued to cook the food he had started in a small black cauldron.

After taking in his surroundings, Azier began to piece together where he was located at least. He remembered a scout mentioning a small village of dwarves that was below the valley where they were stationed. "I see this is Gray Valley." He said to no one in particular. "Yer right there lad." That pass is only a three day run from the stronghold. If he could regain his strength, he could rejoin his camp and find Damion.

As if reading his mind, the dwarf spoke sternly. "They ern't there anymore sonny. Rumor is they headed north towards the town of the Unholy. Yer gonna' have quite the hike to reach them before they reach that cursed town." Azier clicked his tongue in frustration. Damn those beasts for doing this to him! He needed to hurry up and heal so he could make them pay.

As Azier was lost in thought the front door of the small dirt mound cottage burst open. "Da!" A small imp like child yelled as he ran through the door. "Ronan slow down will ye child?" An exhausted looking female dwarf followed in behind him. She had sunkissed skin and bright red locks that spiraled down past her shoulders. Her worn rags and cloth wrapped feet told Azier that she had just tended a garden. She smelled of earth and manure. She carried on her hip a baby girl that took after the rough and ragged look of the father.

"There's me beautiful family. Brad this is me lovely wife Niamh and son Ronan and this is me little lass Aoife." The dwarven man pointed to their guest they had been tending to. Azier went to speak but was cut off by Naimh's loud laughter. "Brad the great Demon huh? That is what yer goin' with." Her laughter went on for a few more minutes. "I'm sorry my dear boy. It's a pleasure ta finally meetcha."

"Thank you for taking care of me. I am sorry it must have been a burden." Azier bowed slightly wincing in pain as he felt the sting of his wounds. "Nonsense boyo, it is our honor to take care of those who protect us." Azier felt a tug at his pant leg as the small cub tried to gain his attention.

"Here, fer you." The young boy handed Azier a slice of bread and a chunk of cheese. He looked down at the boy and smiled. "Thank you." He said as his stomach let out a loud roar. This again sent the dwarven woman into hysterics. "Well let's eat shall we?" Azier blushed at his body's noises.

The home was indeed small. On the way to the table Azier bumped his head on the ceiling, tripped over a bench seat, knocked over a couple of hanging pots and pans and finally hit his shin on the corner of the table. The young child roared with laughter as the over-sized Demon made his way to them. Azier felt foolish. Even bending to sit in the tiny chair was impossible. They had to remove the seat and Azier sat on the floor to eat his meal.

Azier sat in silence as the family ate their food and happily talked about their day. He found the food prepared by the tiny man appetizing to say the least. He was enjoying the murmur of background noise until he heard a name that made him snap up and look over at the couple. "What did you say just now?" Azier demanded.

O'Malley looked at the demon and spoke. "Gabriel's forces have gotten stronger an' his Unholy armies are takin' back the lands slowly. I heard he was enslavin' any human who refused to take the Unholy's side."

"They've taken countless people from the villages nearby." Stated Niamh. "We could be next, but this stubborn old man refuses ta leave."

"Yer damned right I do! This is our home an' I ainta givin' it up without a fight!" O'Malley slammed his beer mug on the short oak table. "But what about the children Cillian? What future do they have if we stay here?"

"Your wife is right. You should flee and find safety. Any Demon camp would happily accept you. It is better than risking the life of the family you hold dear." Azier grew sad at the thought. He would give anything to change the outcome of the last battle he fought. The one where he lost what was most precious to him.

"No! I will stay an' fight! However, yer right about protectin' them. I will have O'Brian take you to safety." He looked at his wife and took her hand. "An' what will you do ya fool?" His wife tightening the grip of the embraced hand.

"I will go with this youngin' here an' help in battle." O'Malley looked to Azier. "Lad I am good with me hands. I can make any kinda axe, hatchet or blade. I happen ta be one of the best you will find around. Gimme a chance ta spill the blood of those filthy Unholy beasts will ya?"

Azier was hesitant to answer the determined man. As he thought about it, he looked at the family that had taken him in. "I will agree on one condition. I want to see one of the weapons you have made by hand." The dwarf agreed and the family finished their meal.

"Mo Chara do you really mean ta go off an' get yerself killed?" Niamh said softly. She didn't like it at the least. The sadness and worry on her face spoke to how deeply she cared for her husband.

"Niamh, I need ta do what I can fer you an' the kiddies. I can't just allow yer lives to be taken by those meirleachs. They've stolen too much from us already." O'Malley gently took his wife's arm and pulled her into an embrace. After he released her, he told her to prep for the long journey ahead.

"Brad I be needin' to go visit the person that will guide me family ta safety. He is the only one I trust with the task. After that I will show ya me wares." Azier nodded and followed him out the door.

The pair arrived at a wooden cabin, much larger than what Azier was expecting to come to. O'Malley knocked on the door. When it opened there stood a large hybrid woman. Her wings were Gray and had feathers speckled around it. They reminded Azier of a baby bird before it gets its down.

"O'Malley? Why are you here? The master is on a hunt." The slender sickly figure said in a weak voice.

"Then we shall wait fer him inside. I need ta speak with him tanight." The halfling opened the door and led both Azier and O'Malley to the den. The Cabin was lined with trophy heads. Everything from deer to even the smallest of prey. Rustic furniture decorated the interior, giving it a woodsy feel. The smell of pine and cedar filled the stale air of the cabin.

The two were led to a sitting room. A couple of fur covered chairs faced a centered fireplace. A desk sat to the side in the front of a window. Bookcases aligned the walls and taxidermized creatures decorated their shelves. "I will let you know when the master arrives." As she left she glared at Azier with a hatred that could only come from loss.

"What kind of person is this O'Brian? How did he come to be a master of a hybrid?" Azier was curious. Hybrids are powerful in their own right, not just anyone can make them obey. Even Ezekiel had times where he was hard to give orders to. He was also interested in the hybrids story as well. He had never seen one so sickly and weak.

"He is a demon like yerself. He came here from our country. The Village we lived in had been attacked and he was badly wounded, much like yerself. When we came here, he started the hunt. Wanted ta practice his aim to get his revenge on the savages that took our lands. Ya can hardly hear the patter of his feet and he is quick as the wind. He's also sneaky as a ferret. There's no way ta find 'im once he decides ta vanish. That is why he is the best fer taken the family to safety." Azier could tell that the old dwarf trusted this Demon completely.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity of small talk, the hybrid came in to announce the arrival of O'Brian. She motioned for them to follow her. She guided them to a room filled to the brim with alcohol. To the side sat a mini bar. The glasses hanging from the holder above were made by hand from the crystal that is mined from the hills. The steins were obviously carved from the trophies he had mounted on his walls. Behind the bar stood a short lanky figure. He stood as if he was going to flee at any moment. His head was shaved and his skin was scaled with scars.

"What is it old man?" The demon's voice scratched as he spoke with a rushed tone. "I need a favor from ya Gilliad. I wantcha to take me family to the demon camp." Gilliad looked up from the drink he was making and scoffed.

"That will take days. How do you plan to pay me? The baby alone makes the journey a risky one. I respect you Cillian, but I won't be sent to my death for free."

O'Malley took out a large sack of healing herbs and tonics. Along with a liquor called "Goldschlager". Gilliad licked his lips and smiled widely. "Leave it up to you to get your hands on the rare stuff. You got a bargain. Have your wife and the children ready to leave at dawn."

Cillian handed the bag over and shook the demon's hand. "I owe ya fer this one lad." Azier followed Cillian out the door of the cabin. The walk back was quiet. Azier was sure this was hard on the old dwarf. He knew all too well the feeling of leaving someone behind.

It wasn't too much longer that the two came to stop in front of a blacksmith stall. Along the walls were some of the most beautifully crafted axes and blades he had ever seen. You could truly see the mastery crafted into each obsidian and gold weapon. Each piece etched with depictions of battles fought. Azier lifted one sword to test the balance and weight of the blade.

"These are magnificent. The blade is sturdy and strong and the balance is perfect. You did all these yourself?" Azier, still breathless, continued to admire each weapon one by one.

"Ya bet yer arse I did! Each piece crafted ta perfection and carved with the battles my people fought." He picked up an axe from a wooden bench. "I wanted to remember them, and what better way than ta take 'em with me as I spill the blood of the heathens who took 'em from us?" The anger boiled in Cillian's voice. "Those bastards will pay fer messin' with us! Fer taken muh boy from me."

Azier looked upon the older male. "I'm sorry to hear that. How old was he?"

"He was fourteen when we were attacked by the Unholy. We had just come home from the fields. The sun was splittin' the stones that day. Niamh had just put the pot on fer supper. We heard a blast so loud yer eardrums might've come loose." He paused a moment as if to regain his composure. "It was too late, by the time we had noticed them they'd already stormed our farm. I tried with all me might to keep the boy in the house, but he was determined to save what he could. Niamh blamed me fer the longest time, ah." He wiped his tears and headed to a blade that sat alone on a workbench located in the back of the room.

The blade was large. Bigger than any Azier had ever seen. Cillian motioned for Azier to pick up the sword. "That one there is carved with our hopes." Azier looked at the blade and was met by his own face. "He has fought relentlessly fer us. Giving his all ta protect the humans who are still livin'."

The Demon leader was confused for a moment. "So you knew who I was this whole time? Why didn't you tell me?

"I figured ya got yer secrets fer a reason. I wasn't about ta ask ya how ya ended up like that. We believe you will be the one ta free us from the Unholy arses. I wantcha ta do it with the blade I made fer ya. Now let us get back or Naimh will have my head." The old dwarf chuckled.

Azier took the sword and a few of the axes then headed back to rest. The rest of the walk again was in silence. The two males, having much on their minds, wandered pretty aimlessly until they arrived at the cottage in the hill. Once inside Azier went straight to the bed. Lying down was a struggle for the pain that wasn't previously noticed was now blazing like flames through his body. After he was able to relax properly, he closed his eyes. Visions of Damion popped in his head. "Please be alright my boy." With that Azier drifted off to sleep.