"I'm afraid, Erin, that there is a demon out there somewhere."
The other soldiers gasped in fear and surprise, but Erin simply acknowledged this information with a tired, grim look of unsurprise. "Anest. It is good to see you again. I wish the circumstances were different."
There was an uncomfortable silence. To break it, Belloc said, "Captain Erin, your company had best stay here tonight. A demon is no great threat under the light of day, but when the sun goes down it is deadly, and you having nothing to fight it with."
Erin shook his head. "There are other patrols out there, with no more protection than ours. They must be warned as soon as possible. I will not sit in easy comfort while my men are dying."
"Then go with all caution," said the wizard, "but take with you some lanterns and oil which I will provide, and tell every soldier you meet to sleep by fire and light."
Erin bowed. Then he and his company, with lanterns supplied by Pip, rode off into the darkness and the rain.
The days and weeks went by without a recurrence of that dreadful night. There were many more soldiers about, and Belloc's advice seemed to have restored their confidence.