The Heavenly Host (Demons of Astlan Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

can.” Damien zoomed in as the wizard nodded in confirmation of what he had seen. The small object in the sky was a flying carpet with people on it—three people.
    “Oh, shit,” Gandros stated slowly. The rest of the room gasped as well. On the flying carpet, apparently having a picnic, were Councilor Exador, an extremely dark-skinned woman in a revealing dress, and a man wearing leather straps with two straight-edged, single-sided blades over his shoulders.
    There were gasps in the room.
    Maelen said aloud, “Ramses the Damned.”
    “Bastet, Defender of Home,” Trevin D’Vils stated equally loudly.
    Maelen suddenly made a noise like he’d just swallowed wrong. Jenn glanced over at him; he was staring straight ahead and was looking extremely pale for some reason. She hoped he was okay.
    “Exador?” Randolf exclaimed. Chatter broke out again.
    “Silence, one at a time!” Lord Gandros exclaimed, and everyone quieted down. “Very well, first things first.  Thanks to Maelen here”—he pointed to Maelen, who seemed to be pulling himself back together quickly—“we were suspicious that Ramses the Damned might be wandering in the Palace. Now we have that confirmed.” There was a lot of talk among various associates with their Council members confirming this. Randolf, of course, had heard none of this and was looking particularly flustered.
    “Enough, let us continue,” Gandros stated. “It is becoming clear who our archdemons are, or were.” Randolf sputtered, but Gandros waved him down.
    “Trevin, what was the name you mentioned?” Gandros asked.
    “Bastet, Defender of Home,” Trevin D’Vils stated. “She is, or rather was, a goddess worshipped on the continent of Natoor, on the far side of Eton, more than a thousand years ago. She is from the forgotten Nyjyr Ennead pantheon. She was a defender of house and home, a protector of her people. She was considered a good goddess, not evil. She is definitely not an archdemon.  The Etonians displaced them; their troops and knights drove the religion underground. As far as I know, no one has worshipped them in close to a thousand years.”
    “So how do you know this?” Davron asked.
    “I travel. Archaeology is a hobby of mine, and I’m always fascinated by powerful female goddesses.” Trevin shrugged. “I’ve seen her likeness on many old scrolls and stone carvings. She often appears like this, and sometimes with the head of a cat. A black cat.”
    “Cat? Why a cat?” Randolf asked.
    “The original Natoorians believed that cats brought good luck; they defended the home from mice and rodents, who would eat grain and damaged goods. And, given the cat’s affinity for magic, I can’t say I disagree with their judgment.”
    Randolf shook his head.
    “Now I’m getting confused,” Tureledor said. “We have a flying carpet floating above this battle with a reborn Anilord Time Warrior, or maybe he’s an archdemon; an ancient forgotten deity who was a protector of life but now appears up to no good; and one of our own Council members who seems to have gone rogue, or who at least has conveniently disappeared”—here he glared at Randolf—“when we banished all the demons from the city.
    “Is anyone else having any trouble figuring this out?” Tureledor asked. The room erupted in a flurry of discussion again.
    “Folks!” Maelen rose to his feet. “Esteemed wizards, please let me speak.” He spoke with an air of authority and at a volume and timbre to quickly quiet the room. “I apologize for interrupting—”
    “Who are you again?” Randolf asked.
    “I am Maelen Serenanus, Doctor of Animastery and Animagic and Senior Fellow of the Society of Learned Fellows.”
    A new round of discussion suddenly erupted. Sier Barvon spoke up the loudest. “Are you telling us that the Society is still around?” That quieted the room.
    Maelen bowed slightly. “Yes, that is what my presence is informing you. However, that is not why I am speaking; the