And so, it was that after seven days the general burst out from his containment, a broken and wounded man, now dead bent upon seizing any chance to again walk by his daughter’s side.
“Name your price, man, and it shall be yours!” the general urged the traveler.
“Beyond what is visible to the eyes lies the Realm of the Undying. There are those there whose souls will soon the claimed by the Devil and those who soon will meet their maker. And then there are those who are the Sleepless, who will languish in the Realm of the Undying for all eternity. Your daughter’s soul lies in this realm. It was the devil who took her, but he realized too late that she was not meant for him. Now she walks about as one of the Undying in this realm, bound to suffer for all eternity until one may come from the land of the living to give life back to her soul and body.”
“Tell me, wizard,” the general exclaimed, “That you do not toy with me, for I will have your tongue pulled out and tied around your neck.”
“I do not toy with grieving men, My Lord. I only intend to erase their pain.”
“What must I do then, to bring back my Zeina?”
“You must descend the Realm of the Undying and slay Garone, the horned demon who watches over the agents of darkness in these parts and who guards the gates of Hell in the Realm of the Undying. Toss his head across the River of Fire and Poisons and you will have your daughter back. Toss his head into the river and his soul would also be destroyed, but you will not bring your daughter back. But you must bring me his horn. That is the price you must pay in exchange of my help. Promise this to me, My Lord, and I will help you get back your daughter!”
Then said the general to the mysterious wizard, with his hand on his sword, “For my daughter I will face a thousand demons and the devil himself, if your word be true.”
The wizard smiled, “T’is true, my lord” said he to the general, “T’is all true. You need but the courage to face the Devil.”
“My days of joyousness and peace are fled, so to the Devil I will go.”
And so, it was that in a manner only understood by the wizard, he transported the general to the mysterious Realm of the Undying to seek his daughter and claim the horn of Garone. It was a place not from this world, yet of this world, where no living being but the general trod. It was a dark place that seemed many countless leagues beneath the world, where dark frightening caves and unfamiliar features could be seen in every turn and direction. The only light here came from the countless fires produced from the many simmering volcanoes that threatened to shoot out their burdens to the surface.
The general understood the dangers he faced from Garone, the Devil’s Guard. But he feared little, for his urge to retrieve his daughter was stronger than his fear of becoming one of the Devil’s own should Garone prevail over him. The general wore around his neck an ornament provided by the wizard. It was the tailbone of the Bruth, a creature slain from this realm many generations prior, and whose tailbone was to make the diabolical powers of Garone harmless against the general, yet make Garone, his demons and minions mortal to the general’s sword and dagger.
After many hours of walking and searching within this realm, the general chanced upon a stone bridge guarded by man armed with a spear and a dagger. He made no move to give grant passage to the general.
“Give way, man,” demanded the general, “So I may go about my affairs.”
“I am no man,” said the bridge keeper, “I am a Sleepless, bound to languish here for all eternity and never again to return to the land of the living. What brings you here, man from the land of living?”
“I search for my daughter and the horned demon. I must slay him to take my daughter back with me. So I ask you to make way.”
“Return to land of the living now while you can, for should you cross this bridge as you intend, you may not seek what you search for and you too will become a Sleepless—a wondering soul who will never again find any rest. It is a fate ten times worse than death.”
“From where do you come?” asked the general.
“From whence I come, no man or woman may tread. It has been three centuries since I came to this realm, searching too for my sister’s son. I lacked the courage to face Garone, so I now suffer as a Sleepless, hoping that a living soul may put an end to my misery and send me to my maker or the Devil.”
“I wish you luck, Sir, but now you must make way so I may proceed with my affairs.”
“I see you wear the tailbone of the Bruth. Garone, the horned demon will fight you for it.”
“Be he the demon or demon not, he is my daughter’s taker, and by my sword I will slay my daughter’s taker.”
“Then be kind to me, Sir. Strike me dead with your sword and end my days of being a Sleepless.”
“I will do no such thing, Sir, for you have done me no harm. Your life is not mine to end.”
“Then, Sir, I challenge you!”
With this, the Sleepless being straightened his spear and lunged for the general, who wasted no time in running his sword through the heart of the Sleepless being. It closed its eyes and smiled, then turned into vapor. Whether it was claimed by the devil or its maker the general could not tell.
The general calmly walked across the bridge,
