The Demon-Eater: Hunting Shadows (Book One, Part One by Devin Graham

why it splits into the eastern and western tracks for
no other foreseen reason. Or, that's what I heard. And they could
not say for certain who the shrine was to. And, anyway, who can really say
with utmost confidence that there is truly even a shrine
there.”
    Gabriel frowned and
continued on. A demon shrine?
    “ This is certainly one of Hort's better balls,” Gabriel heard
as he drew close to another group. “I wonder what's got him so
busy, he can't even mingle with the other lords.”
    Here we are.
    “ I
heard the duke's making quite a few deals tonight,” Gabriel lied,
as he slowly made his way past the group of four noblemen. From his
periphery, he saw them turn there heads to regard him, and he
slowed to a stop, turning around and facing them.
    “ Well, that is no news at all,” one of them, a tall,
just-greying man replied, then chuckled softly. He was a pretty fellow, despite
his slightly crooked nose . “Why, Duke Hort
is always making deals. And—terribly sorry—, but I don't believe we
have yet met...”
    “ William Baryon,” Gabriel said, giving the man a cordial nod.
“I am Tulius's brother—or half-brother, rather.”
    “ Oh yes,” the man said, half-grinning, “the viscount... I am
Thadias Lockre, the count of Lemrich and those few small towns
surrounding it. This is Jimothy Booker, Stial Hessen, and Mahre
Sep.” Thadias pointed to the other three in turn.
    “ I
heard the entire reason for this event is so Hort can see to it his
daughter finds a suitor,” Booker, a shorter, hard looking man,
said. “Perhaps, the duke is merely using his time to speak with the
potential suitors himself.”
    “ Suitors?” Gabriel said, thoughtfully. So Duke Hort wanted to
see his daughter find a potential husband, then. Perhaps that would
be enough for him to use to get onto whichever balcony the duke was
on.
    “ The duke has been growing anxious in that pursuit of late,”
Thadias nodded.
    “ Placent—Father Truth rest his soul—told me only just a few
weeks ago that the girl simply refuses to marry,” another
nobleman—Mahr?—spoke up. “He will likely choose for her tonight, if
he does not give her another chance to choose for
herself.”
    “ Yes,” Thadias said, sounding amused, “she is quite stubborn.
Everyone I know says so.”
    “ Where is this daughter of the duke's?” Gabriel asked and four
amused eyes turn on him. They seemed to imply Gabriel's motives for
him.
    “ Just look for the table encircled by swooning noblemen, good
man,” Thadias said, wearing that half-grin of his again. “There are
many seeking to romance the young lady this night.” His tone seemed
to say, Many from greater
houses.
    Thadias nodded his head in the direction
just over Gabriel's shoulder and he turned to see a flock of young
men gathered around a table which was set apart from the rest, like
vultures. Between the nobles, Gabriel caught a glimpse of the one
young woman sitting at the table, her stewards surrounding her like
an honor guard might the king.
    Gabriel only had a glimpse of her, but—with
her chin resting atop her hands as though to keep her head from
banging against the table—she looked miserable.
    “ And her name?” Gabriel asked, turning back to Thadias and the
others.
    All four of them cocked brows nearly to
their hairline, looking dumbfounded by the question.
    I really should do more
research, Gabriel told himself.
    “ That is the Lady Renette,” Thadias said, eventually in a
matter-of-fact tone.
    “ Thank you.” Gabriel gave the group one last nod and started
away.
    “ This should be interesting,” one of them said from behind, as
he strolled toward the table set siege by noblemen.
    Gabriel skirted around the
outside of the crowd of hopeful noblemen, all speaking to one
another in haughty, overly-loud voices about their feats or
financial holdings or—quite simply—their eligibility, in an attempt
at capturing the attention of Lady Renette. Gabriel peered between
the other