I stared out across the plain of broken, blackened earth, the wind ruffling my hair. The cloud of dust ahead marked our quarry clearly. It was just a matter of time until we caught them now.

I’d lost track of how many days I’d been in this world, but it couldn’t have been more than a few weeks. However, I was keenly aware of the dull ache throughout my body that had been my constant companion for the last few days. I knew I should ask someone about it, but I found it hard to care about. There were too many important things going on to worry about something like that. It was probably nothing.

Besides, even if it killed me would it really be such a tragedy? In the short span of time since I was torn from my home and trapped here, I’d seen so many people die already. Death was positively mundane now. Why should I fear it?

I wonder when that had changed, even the humans Elmidath had slaughtered to summon me hadn’t done much to shock me. Was it part of my newfound demonic nature, some tampering on her part, or had I always been like this? I had no idea anymore, but I suppose it didn’t matter. The end result was all the same.

I was walking alongside Elmidath and Korzan, with the ogres bringing up the rear, when Korzan sighed. “Do we really have to go after them? Don’t we already have enough worry about?”

Elmidath shot her a pointed look. “They’re my responsibility, and if you wish to continue in my service then that makes them your responsibility as well.”

“Then maybe I would be better off somewhere else, because this seems like a complete waste of time. They made it pretty clear they wanted nothing to do with you.”

“Go then. If you have so little trust in me, then I have no further need for you.”

Ignoring Elmidath’s dismissal, Korzan addressed me. “What do you think?

“I think Elmidath is right.” In truth the only thing motivating me to help the villagers was a vague sense of wanting to do the right thing, whatever that was in this miserable place. “We should do what we can for them.”

“Which is what exactly?” Korzan replied. “They have nowhere to live anymore and neither do we.”

I was trying to come up with an answer when Elmidath pre-empted me. “We can worry about that later. For now, the most important thing is that we bring them back into the fold.”

Korzan shook her head, but didn’t say anything else. Picking up the pace, it wasn’t long before we caught up to the group of displaced villagers ahead. They came to a halt when they caught sight of us, coming together in a group to stare at us. Even as we drew closer, I could make out no emotion beneath their robes and wrappings.

Korston, the village’s de facto leader, spat in our direction and stepped forward. “What do you worthless ingrates want now?”

Elmidath stiffened. “Whatever may have happened, you are still my subjects and you will address me with respect.”

“We were your father’s subjects, right up until he destroyed our village. We don’t owe you a damn thing.”

Sensing that things were only going to get worse, I decided to step in. “We didn’t come here to fight; we came to make things right. What happened to you all was terrible, but there’s nothing we can do to change that now. The best thing we can do now is work together and figure something out.”

“We want nothing to do with any of you.” Korston’s voice was heavy with contempt as his gaze swept across our small group. “You’ve all done enough harm already, we’d be better off with you.”

“No, you wouldn’t.” There was no point sugar-coating it. The villagers would never accept their help if they didn’t think they needed it. “You’re lucky you all survived this far, but it’s only a matter of time before something dangerous comes along and starts cutting you helpless bastards down.”

Yuvina emerged from the crowd to stand beside Korston. “He’s right, grandfather, we need protection.”

“Shut your damn fool mouth, girl. We don’t need anything from them.”

Crossing her arms, she didn’t retreat in the slightest at her grandfather’s rebuke. “I know enough to realize they’re our only option. I don’t want to anything to do with them either, but what other choice do we have?”

I nodded to Elmidath for her to take charge. This was probably the best opportunity we’d get to convince them.

“The sooner you realize that, the better.” She raised her voice, such that all the other villagers could hear her clearly. “I’ve wronged you all in my role as your protector, but I swear that will be the last time. If you will follow me again, then I will do all I can to find you a new home.”

The quiet conversation amongst the villagers grew louder and more animated in response, only to be silenced by Korston bellowing at the top of his lungs. “No! I will hear no more of this nonsense!” When no one else spoke, he took a deep breath and addressed the crowd. “Haven’t you all had enough with their lies? They don’t care about us. The moment they think sacrificing us will benefit them, they’ll do it in a heartbeat.”

Yuvina moved opposite her grandfather and sighed. “Even if someone else is willing to take us in, do you really think they’ll be any better? That’s just our lot in life.”

“Then I’d rather die on my own terms.”

“Now who’s being a fool? Please, be reasonable. If not for yourself, then for me and all the others.”

Muttering angrily to himself, Korston stomped off.

With a strained smile on my face, I looked to Yuvina. “Is that it then? Do we have a deal?”

She nodded, then turned and went back to her people. Satisfied, I was surprised to find that Elmidath didn’t look the slightest bit happy and made use of the mental link we shared. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re so ungrateful they hardly seem worth protecting.”

“Well what did you expect? We did pretty much destroy their lives.” Now that I thought about it, their situation wasn’t so different to mine.

“It wasn’t on purpose; I was just trying to help my father.”

“I know that, but they don’t. I doubt they care why you were doing it.”

Elmidath lapsed into sullen silence, which was probably the best I could expect from her right now. Unsympathetic as she was towards the villager’s plight, she was still trying to help them. That had to count for something, right? Either way I was sure I’d walked enough for one day and sat down. I was exhausted and the pain was only getting worse. Hopefully it would be better once I’d rested.