Count Druitte and Rowan were listening at close attention to his every word.
"I was younger than my brother at my death. I never knew how he was condemned, or even how it happened," Druitte added. Count Druitte's story closely related Rowan's, in that his transformation from human to demon happened so suddenly.
"King Solomon abused Halphas' skills of war to defeat his enemies in battle. He then evoked the other demons of the Goetia, and it was King Vine, who Solomon used to foresee things hidden. He forced Vine to reveal in his visions another demon of the Goetia who would sit at the throne of God's third heaven," Dantalion reflected on his angelic purpose as guardian.
Dantalion's armies, listening to his story, raised their glowing eyes at him, learning for the first time that their leader was once a coveted angel of God.
"The mortal sins of man are what sealed my fate. My brother demons never even had a chance at redemption, until now," Dantalion's eyes glowed with contempt.
Dantalion continued… "Solomon, exceeding all other Kings, grew angry at God for protecting me, coveting me above the other demons and keeping me from doing his bidding. His greed turned his pure heart away from God. King Solomon took on many wives, building temples and great thrones in honor of their false Gods. He continued using the great powers evoked by the demons of the Goetia, until they rebelled."
All Dantalion's legions listening to the story stood up, clawing and howling, honoring their condemned brothers for their chance at freedom.
"King Vine overthrew Solomon's great temples, unleashing storms that drove out his cities. Halphas' spiritual weapons were withdrawn from Solomon's armies. Halphas' brother, Druitte, was a casualty of war," Dantalion focused on Druitte.
"As his brother demon, I thought it safer you joined my thirty six legions other than Halphas' own. Condemned war heroes' guilt affects their abilities in battle," he half- smiled.
"And now, summoned by you, Lord Dantalion, we can hope to meet one another in war once again," Druitte's red eyes glowed.
"So our brother demons of the Goetia unleashed a magnitude of destruction familiar to that of Satan. I saw his fall from grace as a young boy. I questioned my purpose within the third heaven," Dantalion's eyes lowered toward the central fire still burning strong. "King Solomon begged for salvation from the demons' rage. God granted him mercy by purifying his spirit, allowing the King to seal our brother demons within a bronze vessel. Only with the passing of two ages by evocation of immortal blood can they be summoned once again. I was kept guardian of the third heaven to prevent the summoning of the four great Kings of Hell."