“The problem,” replied Pug, “is that it might take a while.”

Kaspar looked out at the battle raging beyond the door while Magnus sent another blast of searing energy at a demon charging in their direction. “Keep discouraging them,” said Kaspar, “while I get a better look.” He tapped Laromendis on the shoulder and said, “You up to giving me a boost up to the roof?”

“Certainly,” said the elf. They stepped sidewise out the door and Laromendis made a stirrup with his hands. Kaspar stepped up and the tall elf boosted him high enough to allow the General to clamber onto the tiles of the building.

Magnus stepped outside in time to destroy a flier who saw Kaspar as an easy target, and the General shouted, “Thanks!”

Kaspar saw that activity from the pit had ceased and shouted down, “I think that’s all of them!”

He looked around the fight and cursed himself for not having had a better notion of how this struggle might unfold. He had made one poor assumption, that a quick strike by overwhelming forces would obliterate a disorganized band of cultists and a few demons.

What he hadn’t expected was that the demons would be armed, organized, and getting reinforcements. Still, his forces were gaining the upper hand through sheer numbers. Which was a good thing, he considered, as it seemed to take three or four human soldiers to best the larger demons.

The stench from demon blood was making his eyes water and another flier came hurling out of the night sky and almost took his head. He felt the heat from its flaming body as Magnus dispatched it.

Kaspar sat on the eaves and then dropped to the ground with an audible grunt. “I’m too old and tired to be doing this,” he said to no one in particular.

Pug and the others had come out of the small building as the ebb and flow of the struggle had taken the combatants to the other side of the large fortress. Kaspar said, “We’ve got the upper hand if something doesn’t change unexpectedly.” He nodded. “I’ve got to find my commanders and see if we can coordinate this a little better.”

He hurried off and Pug turned to Laromendis. “Why don’t you see what your brother and Amirantha are up to down there. Magnus and I will protect this building.”

Laromendis said, “Of course,” and ran back into the building.

“There’s a new war under way,” said Belasco. “It’s been under way for centuries. The five demon kings have been battling for supremacy since time began, this endless Demon War. But this new war is something different.”

Amirantha said, “How is it different?”