Kai kept his silence and a straight face. He stared at the scarred man without moving a muscle. Better to be thought an idiot than to open his mouth and reveal he was a Demon.

  The forge’s heat intensified. The woman in the cream dress, her son, and the blacksmith turned toward the newcomer.

  His patience paid off.

  The blacksmith circled his wooden table to greet the scarred newcomer.

  “Demon? Can’t say I know anything about a Demon,” the blacksmith said.

  The scarred man nodded and pushed past the blacksmith. He glanced around, scanning the shop. Two more men followed him. All three wore purple armour. Renzo’s secret books had mentioned the purple-armoured bastards.

  Demon hunters.

  Ashes. Did someone see me fighting that snake?

  The scarred hunter glanced at the woman, then locked onto Kai. “Who’s this? Haven’t seen you around before.”

  Kai’s heart raced. He ran through his options. New in town, Demon spotted. He couldn’t be more suspicious. But there was a kernel of unreliable hope.

  What if they were looking for a different Demon?

  He almost laughed. Long odds but not impossible. Kharon had secured the Dark Gate before his revival - the bastard was too strong for subtlety.

  Kai had been flying without a care, but the building-size trees should’ve hidden him.

  He searched for a reply that wouldn’t lead to bloodshed.

  “Just visiting,” Kai said. “Came for a scabbard.”

  The scarred man’s eyes narrowed. “Buying a scabbard with no sword?”

  Kai shook his head. “Walking around with a bared blade seemed impolite.”

  The scarred man nodded. “Rightly so. Rightly so. You’ve a good head on your shoulders, young man.” He scratched his scraggly beard and peered down his nose at Kai. “But you’re new here, and we’ve had Demon sightings. I’m afraid your arrival is mighty suspicious...”

  He just had to use his demonic form, didn’t he? Kai analysed the three men, the three witnesses, and Shadow. And estimated how long it’d take to summon his dark blade and complete his dark work. He’d need to change his suit’s form to throw off suspicion.

  Wait - only rich people and nobles wore suits in the Darklands.

  Maybe he could postpone his dark work.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Kai raised his chin, sneering at the scarred man and his goons. “You dare? Do you know who I am?”

  The scarred man shook his head slowly. “That’s the problem - I don’t know you.”

  Kai couldn’t argue with that - but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to.

  He summoned his haughtiest tone. “My father won’t be happy about this. Neither will the Lord.”

  The scarred man’s brows drew together. His henchmen looked at him with wide eyes.

  The scarred man’s voice was guarded now. “Which Lord?”

  Kai’s chin rose higher. “Who else? Lord Nivisara, obviously.”

  The scarred man’s eyes went wide as his companions’. He stepped back before catching himself. One of his men whispered in his ear.

  The scarred man’s face hardened as he glared at Kai. “Sorry, sir. But we must perform a test.”

  Kai sighed inwardly. A Demon test. He’d heard of them but never seen one. Uncovering Demons wasn’t a priority in the slums.

  He prepared to summon his sword. Shadow tensed.

  The blacksmith sensed the tension and stepped between them. “Weyland, is the test really necessary?” He glanced at Kai, then back to Weyland. “I’d prefer to avoid trouble. Especially in my shop.”

  Weyland reached into his pocket.

  “Orders are orders. Outsider in the village, recent Demon sighting. What kind of hunter would I be if I didn’t perform a test?”

  Kai's jaw clenched. Weyland’s logic was sound. He was right, and Kai was indeed a Demon. The man was doing his job.

  And he had to die for it.

  But Kai held back. Who knew how effective these tests were? Better to see where the chips fell before confiscating the lives of everyone present. Maybe he’d get lucky. Rusk’s good fortune might’ve rubbed off on him.

  Weyland’s hand emerged gripping a grey stone carved with a horned demon.

  Subtle.

  “Just stand there,” Weyland said. “No sudden moves.”

  Kai nodded, prepared to make a sudden fatal move if needed. The stone glowed purple. The eyes of the demon shone green. Its green eyes pulsed three times, then faded. The stone turned grey again.

  Weyland looked up from the stone. “Well...”

  Kai’s fingers twitched. He sensed the blade tearing through reality, hungry for souls and slaughter.

  “Not a Demon,” Weyland said.

  Kai cancelled the summoning. The sword’s hunger echoed in his mind.

  Am I…not a Demon?

  Ridiculous. The scales, the wings, the horns. Doubting his Demonic heritage was ludicrous. But he’d passed a test designed to detect Demons…

  The answer was obvious: the tests were fraudulent.

  A propaganda tool to pacify citizens facing unknown danger, and a silent invasion by powerful forces. Knowledge of undetectable Demons among the population would cause mass hysteria.

  Neighbours killing neighbours. Brothers killing brothers. Witch hunts. Purges. Genocide of the uncertain.

  Kai considered whether chaos served his goals. A question for another time.

  These frauds didn’t know how close they’d come to bleeding out on the blacksmith’s floor. Lies saved their lives.

  Instead of his sword, Kai summoned a snobby smirk, stilled his heart, and adopted an air of superiority. “Satisfied?” He shook his head and huffed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m visiting Lord Nivisara on behalf of my father. Will you direct me, or will you accuse me of being an abomination next?”

  Weyland pocketed the stone and bowed his head.

  “My apologies, young master, but I have orders. I’m sure you understand.”

  Kai glared at him in silent condemnation. He played the noble pretty well.

  Weyland cleared his throat and raised his head. “Exit the shop, go right. You’ll see the Nivisara Castle soon. Cross the bridge and you’ll reach the Lord shortly.”

  Kai didn’t need directions - the red sun pointed the way. But he had a part to play - glancing repeatedly at the unusually static sun would raise questions. Knowing the way maintained his cover.

  The blacksmith offered him a smile and shrugged - he’d tried.

  Kai returned the smile with a nod. No hard feelings. He had his scabbard and gained intel. He’d come out ahead - except for the noble act he’d have to maintain.

  More leverage for the troublesome Ice Maiden.

  What came next was a mystery, but it was certain she’d demand a steep price for her help.

  Did Kai make the right choice? Or should he have left a bloodbath in the shop?

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