Barlowe, Wayne - God's Demon

"How would you like to spend whatever of Eternity is left in the Pit, Mulciber? Away from all of this. Forever. Do you suppose Abaddon has any need of your services?"

Mulciber was unreadable in his expression, but his silence spoke for itself.

"What does the Fly need?"

"A little more respect, Mulciber." Adramalik enjoyed negotiating from strength with Demons Major.

"What does the Prince need of me?"

"The Prince, as I said before, requires a wall ... a wall around the Keep so imposing and featureless that it will prevent the Heretic from entering. My spies in Adamantinarx tell me he is marshaling a vast army the size of which has never been seen in Hell. This Keep and the Prince's palace are clearly his goals."

"And how much time do I have to build this 'imposing and featureless' wall?"

"A week. Perhaps two. No more."

Mulciber's eyes widened.

"Just where am I to get the raw materials for such a project? As impossible as it is."

"You have at your disposal every soul in the capital. Every brick in every building, every paving-soul, every single soul who walks the streets of Dis ... they are all to be used either to build it or to be built into it. All the Maws and Demolishers in the armies of Dis are at your disposal as well. After construction is completed you are expected to layer atop it the most potent of guardian-glyphs you can formulate.

"And one thing more, Mulciber. You are to supervise the construction yourself."

"But look at me. ..."

Adramalik did not need to look at the pedestals and the walls where the demon's body parts were strewn to know what he was asking. "Your first task clearly is to become ambulatory. I could not care less how well formed you turn out or how uncomfortable you will be. I—the Prince expects you to be present on the wall to deal with any problems, not up here, quiet and removed, as you put it."

Mulciber's eyes closed in resignation. Adramalik thought he saw small puffs of steam start to obscure them.

"As you will, Prime Minister."

Adramalik turned and left Mulciber, content in the knowledge that the one demon in Hell who had found relative peace was about to become the busiest.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

THE FIELDS OF ADAMANTINARX

Algol had finally risen.

The din of ten thousand war trumpets and drums, of uncounted sigils flaring to light, of a million impatient, armored bodies rising to their feet, was beyond anything in war Hannibal had known or could have imagined. The ground beneath his feet trembled in response and he clenched his toes just to remain standing. He knew that if he had had a heart it would have been thundering in his chest.

Algol had climbed to its zenith and with it the great Second Army of the Ascension had taken up arms to begin its long march toward Dis. As they left their front ranks to join Satanachia for the beginning of the march, Hannibal and Mago exchanged grins, but each knew what was in the other's mind: would they ever see Adamantinarx again? The Soul-General looked behind him toward the city and saw, still standing on the distant rostrum, the white form of Sargatanas and the less distinct shapes of Eligor and all of the others who were to stay behind until their moment came.

There had been no grand speeches, no ceremonious invocations, nothing in the host's departure that could be construed as anything but necessary. What had been said in the past was enough for the present.

The briefing had been short and direct, with Sargatanas and Satanachia doing most of the talking. The assault on Dis was to be something of a ruse, as Hannibal understood it. The massive ground attack would ultimately prove to be a diversion from the more covert aerial attack to follow. Eligor and Satanachia's Flying Corps commander, Barbatos, would combine their forces and train until they were sent to Dis. The generals under Satanachia's command had been given their orders and departed for the field, leaving the two Demons Major and the Soul-General to linger with Sargatanas.

Walking slowly before each of them, Sargatanas had said, "Demons, Hannibal, I cannot tell you what we will find waiting for us in Dis or how this will come out. But I can tell you that even though we live in shadow, we fight for light. Go now, and spread that light where none has ever shone!"