We spent a few more days at Izanami’s palace while her agents gathered intel. Meanwhile I explored her city. It was a fascinating place. Fey came in different shapes and sizes. Pixies, sprites, dryads, satyrs… When you walked down a street you saw wings, horns, wooden skin, hooves…

  Lily spent a lot of time with Ivy, Izanami’s knight. Lilith tried to expand her diplomatic connections. Lucy and myself were busy trying the local food. We definitely needed a train connection to import some of the local delicacies.

  I contemplated looking for recruits but I did not want to poach Izanami’s people. Not that everyone here worked directly for her but they were her subjects. I was pleasantly surprised to see that fey with different elemental affinities lived here. If it was a common thing for them to mingle, at least to some extent, it would give me more options for recruitment, once I found a more neutral city.

  On the third day Izanami summoned all of us for an update. As Shani entered the room I blinked. The red from her bunny ears seemed to slowly bleed into her skin.

  “What is happening to your skin, Shani?” I asked.

  “Oh? I met some amazing dryads! They love blood too and we talked a lot about absorbing it. We killed some things and compared notes!” She told us excitedly.

  “She went on a hunt with some of my dryads.” Izanami added.

  Well, if it was approved by her it was fine, I guess.

  Once everyone was here Izanami addressed us: “My people were unable to identify Beira’s location. However, there is an abandoned city in the north, in the frozen wastes. No one has officially lived there in the last 200 years. It’s a hostile place, filled with monsters. It would be a great hiding place. There have been rumors of undead in the area, another indication that something is amiss.”

  “How far away is it?” I asked.

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  “If you travel quickly you can be there in a week. But I can point you to a grove on the way. You might want to inquire about hiring some dryads there, for your own county. The detour would cost you another day of travel. But they are close to the frozen wastes and might have additional information for you.”

  “One additional day does not sound too bad.” I mused.

  Lucy nodded. “They might have good food there as well.”

  “I like dryads, they have good taste in blood!” Shani added, then she tilted her head. “Well, some of them. And for some reason they also like flesh, and bones.”

  “Do you think some of them would be willing to work for a demon lord?” Lilith asked.

  “Of course mistress! Everyone would be blessed to work for you! I shall teach…” Erin insisted, until Lilith interrupted her: “Do not antagonise the locals.”

  Erin immediately bowed. “Of course, my queen. My apologies.”

  “Do you want to plant dryad trees in hell?” Izanami asked, ignoring Erin.

  “If that is possible, yes. But I also want them for the mortal realm, to work alongside my succubi. I want to expand my ranks and include other races. The dryads I have met so far would be a good fit.” Lilith replied.

  “Ohhhh, now I want to see a demonic tree dryad!” I said. It did sound like a cool thing. Actually, what kind of trees were there? And how could you change a dryad based on the tree? Could you feed them monsters, or potions, to change them?

  “I do not think such a thing exists. As for recruiting them, you are welcome to try. Such a decision is up to them, not me.” Izanami replied.

  “Can’t dryads have special trees? Surely there are demonic trees, right? Actually, how are dryads born? Do they bond with a tree or are they born from a tree?” I asked.

  “Both are possible. If a tree is exposed to a large amount of magic over a long period of time it can form a dryad. But dryads can reproduce as well. Two dryads can create a new tree which will also house a dryad.” Izanami explained. “As for changing them, that is possible in some way. They can grow stronger depending on what they consume. But it usually does not change the nature of their tree. An apple tree will remain an apple tree, even if those apples might change in color, taste or develop magical properties.”

  “What if you made one into a warlock?” Lucy asked.

  Everyone stared at her.

  “Has no one done that before? It would grant a dryad demonic powers and definitely change her.” Lucy added.

  “In theory, yes.” Izanami replied. “But creating a warlock is not an easy process, nor can it be done very often. A dryad is mostly stationary. Moving their tree is difficult. If you create a warlock you likely want a more versatile agent.”

  “So it could be done but no one decided it would be worth it?” Lucy asked.

  “I know of at least one archfey who made a dryad a warlock.” Izanami added. “I just don’t know of any other creature who bothered.”

  Lilith did look thoughtful. Maybe I should try to convince her. I really wanted to see a demonic tree dryad.