Apostles of Doom

“And, you must admit, my lady, as we discovered upon my arrival on the Inferno, I have been at this quest far longer than most.”

Sir Lady Serah laughed. “Indeed, Sir Samwell, indeed.”

After the seemingly interminable climb, the stairwell exited into another foyer. This one, however, was of a very different architecture. It was quite normal — for a human palace, at least. Solid marble floors, four marble columns and a vaulted ceiling. On the opposite wall was a set of good-sized, white-lacquered, arched double doors, inlaid with gold. There were also rather ornate golden door handles as well.

“The Lady Hesseforthalus’s chambers,” the majordomo demon said.

“The locator is pointing right through the doors,” Gadius exclaimed.

“Very odd décor, for a Denubian,” Sir Samwell commented.

The demon gave him a condescending look. “Whoever said that Lady Hesseforthalus was a Denubian?”

“Can we see her?” Sir Lady Serah asked.

“We want to see who is behind that door with her. It must be Talarius,” Gaius said.

“And I keep telling you there is no one of that name here,” the demon said, shaking his head. “However, since we are here, I shall enquire if the Lady Hesseforthalus is receiving visitors.”

He walked over to the door and knocked gently. The door opened slightly and a short — something — opened the door. The three Knights Rampant all swallowed loudly at their first sight of a Denubian.

“I would have no idea where to strike such a creature,” Gaius whispered to Gadius.

“The rule is to look to the eyes, below which will be the neck; however, which eyes? There seem to be quite a few. I think there are an odd number…” Gadius replied.

“And I see nothing that looks like a neck,” Sir Lady Serah whispered back.

The door closed and the majordomo demon walked back over to them. “The Lady’s handmaiden is checking with her Ladyship. It will most likely be a few moments, if we are to be received.”

“We had better be received,” Gaius said ominously.

“You are a knight,” the demon pointed out. “I should think you would understand the nobility and courtly manners.” He stepped back and looked at the four of them. “The air and temperature are suitable here for humans — I assume you four are all human?” He seemed to be staring directly at Sir Samwell while saying this.

“We are,” Sir Samwell affirmed.

“Very well,” the demon said. ”Rest assured that should the Lady Hesseforthalus deign to give you an audience, you will be under her truce. That means she will not harm you unless you first try to harm her. Further, I also afford you the same promise in there, and out here, as Prince Asmodeus’s agent. Therefore, I should request you remove your helmets and sheath your swords.”

“Very well.” Sir Samwell complied, sheathing his sword and beginning to remove his helmet.

“Are you insane?” Sir Gadius asked. “We are in as hostile a territory as it gets!”

“If Asmodeus’s agent, one of his majordomos, gives you his word, he will honor it. There are rules to this place, bizarre as that might sound,” Sir Samwell replied.

It took a few moments, but eventually the other three knights also sheathed their weapons and took off their helmets, placing them under their arms.

The doors opened wide this time and the handmaiden spoke. “Lady Hesseforthalus shall see you now.”

The three Knights Rampant blinked in surprise. The creature was speaking in three-part harmony with itself. That was most unusual.

The major-domo made a gesture for the knights to proceed him into the room. They did so, warily. The room they entered was a large receiving room. A very large receiving room; so large, in fact, that it should not have been able to fit within the tower. There were several additional closed doors leading off the room.

Sir Lady Serah looked in puzzlement at Sir Samwell.

“Trans-dimensional engineering. The Denubians are experts at it. How they manage it in the Abyss?” He shrugged, implying he had no idea.

The room was once more all white marble with gold inlaid columns, golden braziers glowing with blue fire, radiating coolness. Huge, furry white rugs were draped everywhere on furniture and benches. At the opposite end of the room was a raised dais with a large, white, upside-down, conical-shaped throne, with its back to them.

“My Lady Hesseforthalus!” the majordomo announced. “May I present, uhm, well, Sir Samwell and three others whose names I have not been informed of.”

“I am Sir Samwell, First Knight of High Justice and Sworn Champion of the Keeper of Law, Ponchas the Third of Oorstemoth,” Samwell announced.

The majordomo demon raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.

“I am Sir Lady Serah, Knight Rampant of Tiernon upon Astlan!” Sir Lady Serah announced herself.

“I am Sir Gadius, Knight Rampant of Tiernon upon Astlan!” Gadius announced.

“And I am Sir Gaius, also Knight Rampant of Tiernon upon Astlan!” Gaius announced.

There were several moments of complete silence, and then a voice, a human-sounding voice, a woman’s deep and throaty voice, came from the other side of the throne.