Hill sprang to his feet, pulled on the clothes Liszt had brought him, and rushed onto the terrace on Purvi's back.
Below, the Hellgate's usual black smoke had turned into a sickening black glow. Greater Demons were pouring out in numbers. This was no longer just a training ground for Blood War recruits.
They were preparing for all-out war, not treating their cannon fodder as expendable as they had before.
What had set the Demons off?
Hill glanced toward the Star Mountains. He had a feeling this had less to do with the Demons learning of the Undead's arrival than with Corellon's sudden descent tonight.
Was the Demon Lord on the other side afraid the Father of Elves was about to return to the High Forest? Was he sending another army to sweep through the entire forest?
The Demons would never surrender a place as useful to them as the Hellgate. Toril's greatest powers, the Gods, were certainly no weaker than those of the Bottomless Abyss. A gateway through which any Demon below lord rank could freely enter Toril was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
The Devils of Hell had even been punished by the Lord of Hell for losing this portal!
Sneaking across was nothing like entering freely. The Hellgate was the Demon Lord's trophy from his victory over the Devils and Elves. He would never want Corellon to take it from him.
Hill frowned at Black Rose and the Asking Sword Family below. Their defenses were starting to buckle. Without hesitation, he used a series of Water Mist divine spells to restore their health and mana, then dropped the Oil Painting to grant buffs to the defensive Knights at the front.
He immediately ordered Purvi to flee.
Sure enough, barely a second after they left, countless dark arrows