Page 64 of The Simurgh

Then the Seraph would give Lucifer that rarest of things, a smile that took the angel from beautiful to divine. Those smiles had been so rare in the end.

A duo of elves emerged up ahead, stepping out from behind a tangle of verdant brambles. They were dressed top to toe in rather resplendent armour: silver alloy plates overlaid with ruthenium filigree, carved to resemble ivy, and with rich brown leather trimming the joins and stitched in a braid around their necks. Upon their chests, and backs, were large, identical crests, etched in a silver-blue that shone subtly. A curious design, a large pair of rabbit ears, with matching paw prints surrounding it in a circle, but it was the crown between the ears that made Lucifer the most curious of all.

‘Hurry it up, Odion,’ one of the guards called. ‘Told you that last bowl of debray was a mistake. Wouldn’t want his majesty to learn you’d been late due to dropping a load along the way.’

The pair laughed as their pace slowed, presumably so that this Odion might catch up. Lucifer needed to get closer, to interrogate them in the way he preferred, but first he would wait until all the party were together.

The wait was short.

A third elf emerged from the forest at a run. ‘Thought it best to eat all I could while I had the chance. No telling how long this will go on for. The angel is long-winded at the best of times.’

‘Hmm, enjoys the sound of his own voice, that one,’ the gruffer of the three said.

Lucifer marvelled at the stroke of luck befalling him. Or perhaps it was a sign he followed the right path at last, the fates rewarding him for choosing to put an end to what he’d started with the prince.

‘Who’s he got in that tower then, you think?’ The guards walked in uniform steps, and the rasp of their armour provided enough noise to cover the occasional crunch of undergrowth as Lucifer followed behind.

‘Same one he’s been keeping in the dungeons the past few days, I expect.’

‘A beauty, I’ve heard. Maybe the angel’s just lonely, and needs somewhere to park his cock.’

‘Has he got one?’

‘The beauty or the angel?’

‘Either, I suppose. I’ve heard the prisoner so sublime there’s no telling what lies beneath.’

‘You sound like you’re keen to find out, Wethen,’ one said with a chuckle.

‘By the Thrones, no. His Majesty can keep all his special guests to himself, I don’t want any part of all that.’

‘True. Will be a boon when it’s all done,’ Kapra said. ‘I don’t mind saying that it gives me jitters, being in the middle of all this. I hope our king is certain of this path he’s taken. I’m not sure I am.’

‘That’s not wise talk for an elf of the Erlking’s personal guard. Enough now.’

‘Yes, Captain. Forgive me.’

All of this was music to Lucifer’s ears. Not only an elf of rank among those who walked ahead of him, but the king’s guard no less. Truly, this must be Celestial approval in the form of luck.

‘Not me who should concern you. Keep your thoughts in your head and off your tongue, lorebider.’ The captain was the gruff one, someone who sounded well practised in stern delivery of orders. ‘Let’s get the pace up, shall we. We’re late enough as it is.’

Lucifer had no intention of losing sight of them and wished to be close as possible to ensure the enchantment dug deep. He launched into a run, sending up flurries of bright purple leaves and a sparkling dust that made his eyes itch.

‘Captain, did you hear that?’

Lucifer hurdled a pile of pointed rocks, like stalagmites of black fire opal, his heel glancing at a column, snapping it free.

All three guards spun about, raising staffs with nasty pointed tips. The crests upon their armour gleamed silver-blue, none of them identical. There was little time to study their intricacies, but each seemed centred upon an animal, one was definitely a horse, with a circlet of horseshoes surrounding the rearing beast.

‘Stay back,’ the captain shouted. He bore the crest with the rabbit ears and crown. ‘We are the Erlking’s Lorebider’s, the highest ranked of his guards. Do not say you weren’t warned.’

The others flanked him, each one step behind their leader. One held his staff in the way of a spear, whilst his companion brandished his like a shield before him. His armour was crested with the horns of a goat, and the requisite crown and hoof prints.

Lucifer sent his enchantment forth. ‘Everything is quite all right.’

He used a relaxant, something to unwind their tension. They certainly had themselves in knots of alarm, and as Lucifer’s charms untied them, the captain released a deep sigh.

‘It’s all right, it’s fine.’ The captain lowered his staff, his eyes heavy hooded, their solid colour like lake ice. ‘Carry on, lorebiders. All is well.’