The Meeting

It was late afternoon when a soldier came to the library. Gavin was going over books about the history of the world with Riley as his guide. They had started going over the history books after lunch. Gavin had mentioned that he didn't know much about the world and its people.

"General, sir."

The soldier stood at attention. Gavin let out a sigh and and leaned back in his chair.

"At ease, soldier. Report?"

"Thank you, sir. I have a magic crystal for you from Captain Raul. He said that it contains the recording that you requested."

"Ah, the noble's meeting."

The soldier placed a crystal that was almost as big as his hand onto the table in front of Gavin. It closely resembled a crystal wand, a miniature version, and was a light blue shade. Gavin had heard enough about the enhancement abilities of the magic crystals. He knew that knowledge could be stored in them, but he had no clue how to use it and it must have shown.

"Do you know how to activate it?" The soldier asked, then dropped to one knee, head bowed, when he realized what he had said. "I-I meant no disrespect, sir."

Gavin chuckled, "There are a lot of things about this world that I do not know, magic crystals being one of those. I am not afraid to admit my ignorance. Can you tell me how to use it?"

"Yes, sir." The soldier raised his head. "While holding it you power it with magic, any element, and tell it to 'activate.'"

Gavin picked up the crystal and looked it over. It seemed innocuous enough and similar to crystals sold in his world, though much larger.

"Is it only usable once, or can it be used multiple times?"

"Once it's programmed it can be replayed as often as you wish. You would have to intentionally cancel the programming."

So much like a computer. He couldn't wait to try it out.

"Let the captain know that I received the crystal and that I appreciate his efficiency."

The soldier stood and bowed before leaving the room. Dealing with the soldier was almost as exhausting as the fear the maids had whenever he came near them. He was coming to realize that the humans saw him in the same way they did the demons, and the demons were treating him the same way they did Caine.

"We don't have many of those in Edicia."

Riley leaned over to look at the crystal.

"Why not?"

"We've only managed to find a small stash that was quickly mined out. Most magic crystals come from Galarede. I hear they can do more than use it to enhance magic."

"How does it work, trading with a country that hates non-humans?"

Riley looked down at his hands. He was struggling with the whole non-human thing himself. His whole life he had been told that humans were the superior species. Now he is the prisoner of the demons and is living better than if the sides were reversed.

"You bring the humans who live in your country to handle the business side and don't leave your cabin." He looked over at Gavin, "At least that's what I've been told."

Gavin snorted his distaste and turned his attention back to the magic crystal. He moved dark magic down his arm and to the crystal in what he hoped was an appropriate amount. Activate.

In front of them an image appeared. They were looking down on a group of people gathered at a table. Everyone was richly dressed and the table was laden with food and wine. It was hard to see the faces of each person, the view was as if they were hiding on the ceiling.

"It's outrageous that demons were even allowed within the city. Now they're talking nonsense like giving magic training to commoners?"

"I say we cooperate for now, but only do the bare minimum to see how things turn out."

"Troops from the capital should be arriving soon. I can't see the king allowing this to continue for long."

"What do you want me to tell them?"

Gavin knew that last one was Ondrea, he recognized the voice.

"I think you should tell them nothing so that they kill you faster. I would rather be cast away like the other noble families than be related to a coward like you."

Ondrea lowered his head at the harsh words of the man sitting next to him.

"That should be Percival, the eldest of the Capell family and it's head. He's also Ondrea's brother."

Riley interjected. He knew enough about the nobles of Dreymore to identify them. The talks continued in this way for more than twenty minutes. Only two noble families dared say anything positive. Most stayed neutral, but a few were completely against it and pushed for the nobles to only give minimal assistance when requested.

Ondrea's brother was the loudest aggressor, verbally abusing Ondrea every chance he got. Gavin was relieved when the playback ended.

"I don't think I care for Percival Capell. I'm glad the captain was able to get this recorded, I now know who has potential. I'll share it with Caine to get his opinion on it. How does the noble hierarchy work? I've been around Ondrea Capell and he had no more magic than a child. I had always assumed that all the nobles would use magic."

Riley sighs, "The oldest gets everything. If they're lucky, the second born will get something, but after that you're just dead weight. That means that your family won't invest in magic training, no spells, nothing. They will usually end up serving most of their lives as soldiers.

"The only exception to this in Dreymore is the Rudhall family. They have five children, the youngest is the only male. Seren, the oldest and head of the family, has made certain that all of her siblings have training in magic. She is one of the few that said anything positive."

"That's a little harsh. No one chooses the order in which they're born."

"Our world is harsh. I've only gotten the training I have because I was royalty. Even then I haven't had any magic training. I've been too ill most of my life to safely sustain any element."

"You can't use magic at all?" Gavin was surprised by that revelation.

"If I try to use magic it leaves me bedridden for a week. It's just too much for my body. I told you, I'm weak."

Gavin laid a hand on the back of Riley's neck as the other leaned forward in his seat, looking down at the floor.

"You don't have any control over the physical state of your body. Having health issues is not a sign of weakness."

Riley turned his head to look at Gavin, "It still makes me weak, if only physically."

"I've got you covered there, Riley. I'm your strength now."

Gavin stands, picking up the crystal as he does.

"I need to speak with Caine before I meet with Ondrea. I want you to do something for me while I'm busy."

"Oh?"

"I'm going to take you to the bedroom and you're going to fix yourself a nice, hot bath. I want you to relax and forget about everything."

Gavin held out his hand and Riley took it, standing up as he did. Gavin smiled and pulled him close.

"If you have to think about anything, think about me. Tomorrow you can worry about things and dwell in the past. Tonight you aren't allowed to do any of that."

"I-I'm not sure I know how…"

"You'll have to figure out how because it's an order."

Riley chuckled, his cheeks turned pink as he looked up at Gavin. Gavin kissed Rileys nose then stepped back. Hand in hand, they walked to the room that they now called their's.

"Remember, relax, take a bath, enjoy yourself. I'll have them send your dinner here."

Gavin left once Riley closed the door. He wasn't certain if Riley could do as he asked, it pained him to see how much he believed the negative things he had been told. How can you tell someone you are related to that they're useless?

He knows that he's lucky to have grown up in a tight knit family. He hasn't ever thought about saying something so horrible to his sister, and she's never said anything even remotely similar. Both of their parents are supportive and understanding. Even in his world it wasn't a normal occurrence.

Gavin found Caine is the former lord's office looking over papers. Caine didn't look up from his work when Gavin walked in and sat down across him. Gavin placed the magic crystal on the desk and waited for Caine to look up before saying anything.

"This crystal has a recording of the nobles meeting after your speech this morning."

"Learn anything interesting?"

"A couple nobles are completely against us and will most likely have to be dealt with before long. Two spoke strongly in our favor, but most were neutral. I did get to see the interaction between the representative and his oldest brother, who is also the family head."

Caine stacked his papers and leaned back in his chair. Gavin had his full attention.

"Would you like to watch the recording?"

Caine shook his head, "No, I'm placing my trust in you to handle this."

"That may be poorly place, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"I've given you the tools you need to succeed. So far you've exceeded my expectations."

Gavin laughed. Exceeded his expectations, huh? I'm just over here grasping for a foothold and hoping I don't fall.

"You've manipulated me to get an outcome you wanted. I'm pretty sure everything I've done since I met you has been guided by you in some way."

"They're merely the tools I've given you. Everything was your choice; winning the challenge with Xanthe, killing the nobles, taking in Riley. You could have taken a different path each time. Am I wrong?"

"No." Gavin ran a hand through his hair as he released a heavy sigh. Caine hadn't denied manipulating him, but he also knew that he had been given multiple choices each time. He could have lost the challenge, let the captain deal with the nobles. He could have simply consoled Riley and maintained a friendship with him, nothing more.

Each time he had reviewed his options and gone with the one he wanted the most. It just so happened that his choices drew him further into the side of the demons, closer to Caine, and further away from the humans. Will I become just like Caine one day? Become worse?

"Like I said, I've given you the tools to succeed. You were the one who made the choices and exceeded my expectations every time. I need someone like that standing next to me. What we're about to do going forward isn't for the faint of heart.

"Being near me as we go to war isn't for the faint of heart."

Caine looked down at the papers with a look of annoyance and suddenly stood.

"I'm going to speak with Xanthe. Use the office for your meeting with the noble's representative."

Caine moved to lean against the desk, standing next to the chair Gavin was sitting in.

"Utilize your knowledge of the representative. Once you understand who you're working with the easier it will be to get what you want from them."

Gavin stood. Manipulated or not, I can't help but find myself drawn to him. Maybe I've sold my soul to the devil by choosing this path, but it's been chosen and I'll continue down it until the end. His resolve was set in stone. He would stand with Caine through the war, stand at the forefront of the demon army, until they've conquered the world.

"I suppose I'll try and continue to exceed your expectations."

They kissed and it lasted far longer than either expected. The pull between them seemed to deepen with each day until even Caine felt like he was losing himself. Caine was the one who ended the kiss.

Caine stepped away, a smile lifting his lips. "I'll have the guards send your representative when he arrives. Good luck."

Gavin shook his head as he moved to sit in the chair that Caine had vacated. It felt strange to him, sitting behind a desk. He hadn't even graduated high school yet and he was already the second in command of a country.

While waiting for Ondreas to arrive Gavin watched the meeting again, paying close attention to how the other nobles treated Ondrea. He knew that it would help to have a noble who was loyal. One who was motivated by more than fear.

A knock at the door woke him from his musings and he put away the crystal.

"Enter."

Ondrea opened the door and stepped in. He looked in poor shape; dark circles under bloodshot eyes and drooping shoulders were the biggest indicators.

"I came to report about the meeting as you directed."

He bowed as he stepped into the room.

"Close the door and come sit down. Would you like a drink?"

Gavin pulled out the bottle that Caine had left in the drawer of the desk. Neither of them planned to drink it anymore. He figured that Ondrea could use it right now. Ondrea nodded his head as he sat down.

"Yes, sir, I would."

Gavin held back a chuckle as he watched Ondrea drink the glass in one go. He refilled the glass before putting the bottle away. I don't want him drunk.

"How did the meeting go?"

"Not well."

Ondrea seemed unwilling to explain further so Gavin pushed.

"Were they against volunteering men for the army?"

Ondrea proceeded to describe every aspect of the meeting. He didn't hold anything back.

"Some were outright against everything. Most were against everyone having access to magic."

Ondrea kept his eyes glued to a spot on the desk. He was trying his best to remain calm while giving an honest report of the meeting. He didn't want to incur the wrath of Gavin, but he also didn't know what would trigger said wrath.

"That is something we won't back down from. The demons believe that they are only as strong as their weakest member. Our weakest member can use more magic than most nobles. When we said that everyone had the chance to learn magic, we meant everyone."

Ondrea looked up as he felt Gavin's eyes bore into him. Everyone?

"Even me?"

"Yes. Anyone, as long as they're willing to swear fealty to Lord Caine and the kingdom of Yisa. We do not limit how strong someone can become."

"I would give up my life for the chance to use magic and become stronger."

"Really?"

Ondrea nodded, his eyes lit with the flames of desire. He had been told his whole life that his oldest brother was the important one. He had been cursed with having the same elemental affinity as his oldest brother, which meant that his family had no use for him. As an adult he had given up on the idea of ever being anything more than a glorified servant.

"I have the same elemental affinity as my oldest brother. That alone meant that I would never be allowed to study magic. The Capell family doesn't need more than one with fire affinity."

"Because of your honesty in reporting the nobles to me, I have an offer for you. If you swear your life to me, I will personally teach you magic and help you become stronger."

"M-me? Why?"

"Lord Caine values loyalty, so do I. I make this offer because I know what was discussed at the meeting. If you had glossed it over or outright lied about it I wouldn't be making this offer."

Ondrea found it suddenly hard to breathe. He should have known that they would be spied on. He had considered doing what Gavin had spoken of because he feared what would happen to him. In the end he had decided that it wasn't worth lying about. If the truth killed him, then it killed it.

"I-I want it. Percival tells me all the time that I'm weak and useless, but I know it's not true. I am only weaker than him because they won't let me be anything else."

"You must be certain about this, it will be a lifelong commitment as it involves a slave mark."

Ondrea let out a sigh and dared to look Gavin in the eyes.

"As the third born my value is barely above a slave. What difference does it make if I am an actual slave? I meant it when I said I would give up my life."

Gavin stood and motioned for Ondrea to do the same. He walked around the desk to stand in front of Ondrea.

"If you're certain then remove your shirt."

Ondrea nodded his head and removed his shirt. He found it hard to breathe again as he watched Gavin draw the mark on his chest, over his heart, and speak the spell. It burned a little as the spell ended and sealed itself within the mark.

He found himself filled with a mix of excitement and fear. The fear far outweighed the excitement. What if it was all a lie and I did this for nothing?

"You will most likely regret this more than once. With war looming I don't have the time to train you properly, so you will have to learn at a fast pace. You will have to come prepared to endure the hell that I will be putting you through."

Gavin moved back to sit behind the desk. His mind was racing as he put together how he was going to train Ondrea. He's never taken on something like this before, but he had a great teacher in Xanthe and knows that if he needs help she will be willing to advise him.

Caine's words came back to him then and he fought to suppress the smile that threatened to reveal itself. Give them the tools to succeed. That's what I'll do with Ondrea. I'll turn him into a loyal soldier of Yisa.

He could sense the potential of the man before him. It wouldn't surprise him if he exceeded all expectations and became a powerful mage.

"You're dismissed for now. I want you to report to me at first light tomorrow. I will begin your training then."

"Yes, master." Ondrea bowed, his shirt back on. He was ready for morning to come.

"Oh, one more thing."

Gavin's words stopped him halfway to the door. Ondrea turned around to face Gavin who was still sitting behind the desk.

"I'm sure they'll ask you about our meeting. I'm sure you understand that what we've discussed here does not leave this room. I want you to relay a message to the nobles.

"Let them know that Lord Caine will not allow Dreymore to return to the humans. We will see the city destroyed before we allow Edicia to retake it. That may make them change their minds about the quality of men they send for our armies."

"I will make certain the message is delivered."

He bowed and Gavin waved him off.

Gavin let out a long sigh after Ondrea was gone.

"Fuck, I hope that was the right choice."