Rising smoke indicated my return.

I peered over the hilltop and saw the village razed by the king's army -- again. This occurred every 8 years when some jackass prophesized a gifted child who would be destined to overthrow the king. The king -- beyond stupid, egotistical, and trigger happy -- wastes the small villages that fit so-called description of the child.

The strongest communities rebuild, but unfortunately, the strongest ones end up being the poorest. The people don't have anywhere else to go. If they did, their lack of survival skills would lead them to a premature death. So they put back together their ram shackled houses and brace themselves for the next assault.

I returned to my hovel and withdrew a summoning tome from my stack of books and turned to Beahguillion. The page was crisp with no folds. The letters remained unfaded by the elements.

I performed the ritual. An abhorrent succubus walked through the summoning circle several hours later.

"It happened once more?" Beahgullion said and bit her lip.

"Yes. This will most likely be the last time. The king is beyond elderly and his health should fail him before the next wave of crazed 'gifted child' proclamations." I pointed behind me and towards the village.

She hissed. "You know, you could have beckoned me to deceive the king. I would have given him everything from riches to fulfilling all his sexual fantasies. And I would have torn his heart so badly that he'd --"

"Enough. The king has been without emotional connections since before the first time I called on evil. You would have given him more of what he already has. I have a cart near the trail that leads to the village. Now get to work, Beah. There's no rest for the wicked. You should know."

"Fine. And how long do I have to do it this time?" she asked.

"3 years. I've stocked it with some food blankets this time, but I expect you to help the farmers and tailors produce more. And of course, keep the men and women warm throughout the night." I gave her a mocking wink. "And don't worry about some of the villagers recalling the last time you provided them everything and took it away. Most died during the king's assault."

She sighed and walked out of the hovel. Her appearance changed from a creature from hell to a heartbreaking beautiful woman as she approached the man's cart.

I laughed inside knowing I burrowed under evil's skin with a loop hole. The presence of an ex-lover can provide solace for a fractionate moment under a specific circumstance. For instance, when one's soul has been crushed to powder.