The eyes dart around until they light on Jasper. Then the only one we can see rolls to the heavens. “Baphomet’s balls, boy! Why didn’t you say so? I thought you were the demons ditching. Fucking freshman are always out here screwing around with my door and the animals they can taunt from outside of my wards.”
“Open the door, Arces. We have someone we want you to meet.”
Before he’s even finished speaking, the slot slams closed and I hear a series of locks disengaging. It feels like alotof them, given how far out The Beastiary is. I’m not sure I believe many students are taking the time to come all the way out to the edge of campus near the Wastes to piss off this old fart. More likely, he’s paranoid and set in his ways, so anyone who comes near is some kind of threat.
“Salem, is this guy crazy?”
“Point of fact, unemerged one… I am most certainly not.” The large, imposing demon fills the doorway, and I blink in surprise. He’s easily as large as Slash and Jasper, but Arces wears his millennia in a face full of scars that continue into the neck of his warrior-style clothing. He has a bright red beard like a Viking, and short fuzz on his head to match. “I am ridiculously old, and very short-tempered, but I am not mentally unwell.”
Kat tilts her head, looking at the giant demon, then nods. “Okay. Well, I like honesty, and do really badly with so many things that it’s laughable. I wouldn’tmindif you were unwell, I just needed to get a baseline so I can interact with you and feel safe.”
Damn, that was gutsy; I want to tell her how proud I am of her, but it would make her embarrassed.
Arces looks at Jasper, his imposing face splitting with a smile. “You don’t bring me boring, do you?”
“Jasper has brought you demons before?” Slash says, his brow furrowed. “That seems… unusual for our Prince.”
“Aye, it is,” The Keeper says as he moves out of the way to allow us all to come into his home. “Your Prince may be unyielding and harsh, but he is not stupid. His assistant position allows him to be with his caliphate—he was given that position because he made the right moves when he was a student. Those included mentoring and discovering powerful students for the staff.”
We all look at him this time, even Zavida. The Prince glares at us, snarling low as he pushes his way into the very open and airy living room of the ancient animal whispering demon. He drops into a big chair dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest. That just makes the weirdly jolly warrior dude laugh as he gestures at the other seats. I tug Kat along with me, settling her on the wide couch carefully. Oriel takes her other side, resting his hand on her knee lightly.
“Arces, this is our newest member, Kit. He was dropped into our lap unexpectedly by Darkstar, but that’s why we’re here.” Jasper watches as the big man fusses around until we’re all seated. “You don’t have to play the host because I’m here.”
I have to cover my mouth when the Keeper whirls around and gives our Prince a ball-shriveling look. He inhales deeply, then shakes his head at Jasper reprovingly. “You pups never want to do things the right way. It’s fucking annoying, Eversore. When people you don’t despise visit your home, you offer them a rest and a refreshment. How are you going to run a castle someday if you can’t be trusted to know how to act in a humble hut like mine?”
Uh, this guy’s house is anything but small, and it’s definitely not a hut, but I will not correct him.
“Your home is very spacious,” Kat says as she looks around. “Not a hut, by anyone’s standards, Keeper. But it is very welcoming and I wouldn’t have expected that from your original greeting at the door.”
We all look at her in unison, eyes wide, as she takes Dottie off her shoulder and lets the kinkajou scamper onto the low table in front of us. I wouldn’t have spoken to the legendary Arces Hornclaw like that, but then, I also wouldn’t push Jasper the way KK does, either. She has an extreme disregard for her health and well-being that borders on daredevil levels sometimes.
But luckily for her, the ginger demon bursts out laughing again. “Oh, I love this new kid. Means what he says and says what he means, eh? Now, give me a moment to put the kettle on, and when I return, I’ll take a look at that tinylittle creature. Not from around here, so I’ll need to be up close and personal.”
Once he’s gone, Jasper slouches in his chair, his expression relieved. “Zavvie, you were right about coming here tonight. This is important, and I’d let it slide.”
The Kitsuné looks happy and his tails pop out, swishing back and forth as he looks at the prince. “I thought if we got Dottie confirmed as a familiar, we could use her to track what kind of hybrid Kit is. Not every species or line draws them, after all.”
Oriel frowns, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know, Zav. More than one thing means either or all of the pieces could attract a familiar. Might not be the key to everything that you’re thinking.”
“I think our theory…” Xerxes says as they look around, then turn back to us. “is the right one. If that holds, then this won’t change our current path. However, everyone knows the Keeper can help demons learn to work with their familiars more smoothly. I think that would still be worth it, don’t you, KK?”
She gives them a bright smile, nodding. “Dottie and I do really well now, but if the Keeper can help me work with her even better… it would be good. I’ll take anything I can get until the powers I don’t have control over… manifest or whatever… fully. Especially with the Games coming.”
“Those bloody things!” Arces booms as he stomps in with a tray of very well-made tarts and a stack of tea cups. He sets it down on the sideboard, then grunts as he heads back to get the teapot. “Why in the Seven Realms the King let this go on, I can’t fucking imagine. He will not stand for a coup like your families pulled, so there’s no reason to kill off a bunch of serviceable elite demons by the barrel-full.”
Anton rises, walking over to quietly assist the Keeper in his tea time ritual without being asked. For a second, it looks like the big demon is going to shoo him away, but he hands him the cups to pass out begrudgingly.
Kat elbows me, leaning in to whisper, “Those tarts look great.”
“Theyaregood, new friend of the Prince.” The Keeper strokes his beard, giving us all a pointed look. “I was summoned in a time where even the nobles were taught basic life skills. I had options for what I would dedicate my life to—until that bloody coup. When it finally ended, the King showed his gratitude by placing me here and allowing me tochoosewhat I wanted to do for eternity.”
I’m not sure if that’s sarcasm or not.
“You chose to work with the animals?” Kat asks curiously as Anton hands her a cup. “That’s kind of cool, especially when you’re obviously a war hero. I would have expected someone like you to take over the classes Jasper does the assisting for.”
Arces walks around behind Anton, pouring tea carefully as he responds to her. “I considered it… Kit, was it?” When she nods, he continues. “But I’d had enough of fighting and animals have always responded well to me. My familiar is doing his rounds over the fields, but he’ll be along, eventually.”
Kat scoots forward, her posture eager as she asks, “Oh, cool! What is he?”
