Giselle was not terribly surprised to find herself back at the pit she had spent the past couple years in. This time, however, she was not inside the pit, but standing beside it. As she stood there, she supposed she should reflect on the time spent in the filthy hole and how she was finally able to leave, but all she could bring herself to think about was if she had made the correct decision in accepting Amarth’s deal.

It was too late now, she thought to herself as a nearby door swung open and Delvios sauntered in. He wore that same expression as always, looking as if he was better than everyone else around him. Amarth came in after him, a scowl on her face, her red scales or skin, Giselle wasn't sure which, flashing in the low torchlight.

“Get out,” she ordered. Several smaller demons Giselle hadn't noticed fluttered out through the door. Delvios smirked as he watched them leave before turning his attention to the gnome.

“Everyone,” Amarth shot a withering glare at Delvios. His smile faltered for just a moment before sliding back onto his face, as oily as ever.

“Of course, my lord,” he gave her a small bow before sneering at Giselle. With a slow stride, he left the room, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

Amarth watched the door for a few moments before turning her full attention on Giselle. The gnome could feel the anger and power radiating off the Demon Lord like heat, washing over her in thick waves.

Giselle felt just a flicker of fear, but it was soon extinguished. Yes, the Demon Lord could kill her, but she had made a deal with the warlock. What was there to fear at this point anymore? She had endured years of torture at their hands and welcomed death. The worst case scenario was more torture and eventual death, something she had come to terms with long ago. But she did have a chance at escaping and seeing Gild again, and that was the only thing that made her listen to the demon's proposition.

“I will send you back to the Mortal Realm, and in exchange, you will find the Spear of Larnath for me.”

Giselle said nothing, so Amarth continued, “When you find the spear, take it, and then open a commune with me. You can use this to get in contact with me, it is also how I will get you back into the Other.”

Amarth handed over a small stone sigil, not much bigger than a pebble. A spider-like face was inscripted on it, the lines softly pulsing with red against the desert sand colored stone. It felt slightly warm in Giselle’s palm, radiating some of the same angry heat that the Demon Lord did.

“When you are pulled back, you will hand over the Spear to me, and that will be the end of our engagement. You will be sent back to your Mortal Realm, no questions asked.”

“How do I know you won't just betray me and kill me once you have the Spear in hand?” Giselle found a small pleasure in noting how steady her voice was when speaking to the spidery demon.

“We will sign our contract in blood. It is the oldest of magics and will keep both of us to our words. Will that be satisfactory for you?”

Amarth did not look happy about the arrangement she was making. It could all be a façade put on by the demon, but Giselle was certain if the other Demon Lords knew what she was up to, or what she was trying to acquire, they would quickly and violently put her down. Why else would she be asking a mortal to go and get it, rather than send some of her lesser lackeys?

“What exactly am I looking for?” Giselle asked.

“That is up to you to discover and find out. It is called the Spear of Larnath, named for someone long ago, and it is a real artifact. That is all I know and am willing to give you. You live in that realm, you'll figure it out.”

“Now, onto the rules of our engagement,” Amarth continued. “Absolutely no talking to your husband, that insufferable other warlock who I couldn't grab.”

“Why not?” Giselle's retort came sharper than she intended.

The demon frowned at her, “Because I don't want you conspiring with him in any shape or form. You mortals are such pests, sneaking and plotting and attempting to hurt beings of a higher plane than yourselves. It's disgusting, really.”

“Will the sigil spy on me and know if I’ve attempted to talk to him?”

“Of course not, I'll have imps and other trash demons tailing you and making sure you keep to your word.”

“Why don't you just get them to find the spear for you?” Giselle decided to test the demon. “Surely having an army of imps trying to track this down is easier and much more efficient than one single mortal, and a gnome at that.”

“Not important,” Amarth said with an impatient wave of her hand. “If my minions come back to me and report any sort of wrongdoing, or anything that can be interpreted as you breaking your end of the bargain, your soul is mine for eternity.”

“And what's my protection? Do I get something watching you and making sure you aren't trying to get me to fail or force me to break my oath?”

“The blood pact will protect your end of the bargain. And as for me trying to interfere with you, you will just have to trust that I want the spear more than I want a fully mortal soul,” she grinned viciously, rows of needle sharp teeth on full display.

“The blood pact will keep me safe?” Giselle asked.

“Like I said, it is an ancient magic. I can't break my word to you as long as you bring me the Spear. No harm shall come to you after our contract from myself or any of my minions as you are returned to the Mortal Realm.”

Giselle thought it over for just a moment. She really had nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing this vile creature's bidding.

She nodded. “What do I do to sign the contract?”

Amarth extended a sinewy claw and took Giselle's hand in her own. Moving faster than Giselle’s eye could follow, she pricked both of their fingertips. With another gesture, a white stone rose from the ground between them. It looked like a pedestal with an open book resting on top of it, but it was one solid piece of marble.

Amarth ran her finger tip along the stone, singing her name in black blood.

She gestured toward the gnome, “And now you.”

Giselle reached out and signed her name slowly, watching as the trail of blood was absorbed into the stone just below the demon's now dry signature. As soon as she finished there was a noise like a thunderclap and the stone was gone, having dropped back down into the floor.

“Excellent!” Amarth said gleefully. “Now I will send you to a lovely, bustling town. It is a nexus between multiple realms and the easiest for anyone to get into. Prepare yourself, warlock. I do not look kindly upon failure.”

Giselle nodded and closed her eyes, preparing herself to be thrown back into the mortal realm. Her heart was hammering and emotions were threatening to break through the blockade she had managed to set up so many years ago. She has never been to a nexus town, but only wished the Gild was far away from there.