Demon Lord 3: Blue Star Priestess (22 page)

TWENTY-TWO

Ultimately, it’s not the loudest wolf

that rules the pack, but the quickest.

                                    —Caine Deathwalker

After returning to my bedroom and using the magic mirror to reach my suite in the clan house, I found a suit of scaled plate had been delivered.  It was light weight, a type of ceramic that was ten times stronger than steel and much lighter.  The helmet was fashioned to resemble a dragon’s head.  My face would be seen within its gaping maw.  Twin rubies on the sides were the dragon’s eyes.  There was a sword belt and a straight katana—but it wasn’t a demon sword.

Osamu stood off to the side as I inspected the gift.  “Where’d this come from?”

“Your father brought this gift.  You are instructed to wear it to the Great Hall, Caine-sama.  He said you would know why.”

“He gives me too much credit.”   Flames roiled in my guts.  I needed to confront Father.  We had a helluva lot to get straight between us.  The clan could no longer afford his secrets.  It was time for Lauphram to come clean about the enemy.  Still, it was a nice suit of armor.  I thought I might as well try it out.  Osamu helped me, hanging the sword at my side as a last touch.

“Very becoming,” he said.  “Can you move easily?”

I took a few steps, then experimentally tried a quick draw of the sword.  It flew into my hand, completed a series of passes, and slid smoothly back into its sheath.  “It will do.” 

I left, soon reaching the Great Hall.  The Old Man was there, sitting on his throne for once. 

Two hundred knights of the clan were in full armor, armed to the teeth, and standing in tight ranks—but leaving a center aisle. 
Closer to the throne, Kaden and Dimitris stood at attention, receiving instructions. I marched down the center aisle, causing a stir of whispers among the demons as they registered my presence.  I pushed between the First Sword and the Consignor, and stopped at the edge of the dais.

Kaden turned, leaning
toward me like a dog on a leash.  “You allowed the enemy to steal a minor under your protection, destroyed city property, nearly exposed the existence of the preternatural community, and you lay helpless, beaten as our enemy took a spell scroll from you that may well be the greatest threat of all.  And now you dare show your face in public?”

Dimitris cocked his head, studying me like a bug.  “Can we even be sure he’s not actually working for the enemy?  Can such damage as he’s caused truly be blamed on
incompetence?”

“Speaking of incompetence,” I s
tared at the First Sword, “Why was back-up never sent to the museum?”

Kaden crossed
his arms.  “I needed to know if you were worthy to lead us.  A lot of us have been wondering.  One who
is
worthy wouldn’t need others to save his ass.”

“I think the truth is much simpler,” I said.  “You were bought off.”

My words brought a deep silence.  I’d drawn a line and clearly stepped over it.  There was no turning back now.

Instead of looking angry, Kaden smiled.  “There are two truths set before
us here.  I formally challenge for the place of heir, and to clear my name of the accusation made against me.”

I looked to the Old Man.  “I am the heir, and if this failed abortion wants to die, I’m more than happy to help.”

The Old Man spread his hands, gesturing for space to be made.  His voice boomed, “Rite of Combat is invoked.  Let all acknowledge that strength is right, and skill is truth.  Any weapon can be used, but no magic.  The fight will continue until one warrior is dead, or can no longer stand.  The life of the loser is forfeit unless mercy be granted by the winner.”

Kaden sneered.  “Not going to happen.”

“I was going to say that.” 

I circled left.  Kaden stayed opposite of me, matching step for step.  The watching demons shouted encouragement, very little of it for me.  I figured Kaden had one more taunt in him before he’d get serious.  I decided I’d explode into him with the next word out of his mouth. 

He said, “I’m going to—”

And then I was on him, never drawing my sword; that would just have slowed me down.  People see my lack of size.  They tend to underestimate me.  What I lack in mass, I make up for in sheer quality of muscle.  And the recent transformations brought on by my dragon side had done their part to change me on a
molecular level.

I leaped and stared him eye to eye while my movement had yet to register with him. 

Belatedly, his gauntlets came up to grab me, but my armored fist slid inside his guard.  I used a single jutting knuckle—a Kung-Fu scorpion technique—to drill a nerve cluster between his eyes.  All my power went concentrated into that tiny point.  It was the same target point that once let a shepherd boy kill a mighty giant named Goliath. 

Kaden backed a step, touching his head as intense pain hit his system.  I landed, dropping a knee to the floor, punching him in the balls as hard as possible.  Kaden bent over, only to meet another fist.  I felt his jaw crack as he reeled backwards.  He stopped himself from hitting the ground by stepping back with one foot to brace himself.  He pushed himself toward me with that explosive power ifrits have.  His sword ripped through its scabbard, slicing for my face. 

I ducked, pulling out my own sword.  His blade whistled above my head.  I counter-slashed hard as I could, but Kaden jumped back and only tip of my sword scratched his gut.  He slide a few feet and stopped, staring back at me in surprised.

“I call for judgment!” Kaden yelled.

Everyone, including me, looked amazed.  The Old Man stood, his face twisted with annoyance.  He sounded pissed.  “On what grounds?  And it better be good.”

“Caine is clearly using magic.  No human moves that fast.  This must be his infamous dragon magic.”

“I’m only half-human, you cock-choking whore’s son, but I’m also half-dragon.  I don’t need magic to kill a traitor.  Besides, you forget I was trained by the Old Man.  Do you think he can be fooled?”

More than a few people spewed comments. 

The Old Man raised his hand.  “Resume!”

I jumped forward with my sword relaxed in my hand, trailing behind me.  I closed the gap, swinging one-handedly, letting the sword race ahead.  It connected with his sword.  Kaden wasn’t able to push back.  He rolled his blade on mine, searching for a gap to attack through.  I relaxed the moment he shifted, and went with the flow.  My sword passed his.  I turned my hand, and brought my sword back to him before he could return to guard, forcing Kaden to jump back.

I followed.  We traded blows at full force, making sparks as we connected weapons.  Kaden had centuries of battle experience under his belt.  It showed as he shifted his weight to his front leg, getting ready for a power strike to open up my guard.  I bent my knees and hoped this piece-of-shit sword would hold together.  Blocking his strike, I let it push me back. 

Kaden smiled, as I relaxed my arm.  He rushed in full speed, practically gliding across the floor with his sword over his head, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

I kept my gaze on the hilt of his sword until the last second, then let him the victory in my eyes.  I smiled. 

Kaden flinched.  His body tensed as he tried to change his mind, but it was too late. 

I raised my own sword and let the power of his rush drive my blade clean through his heart. 

The impact skidded us a good five feet.  When we stopped, Kaden dropped his sword and grabbed my arm, preventing me from pulling it out.  I felt the heat of his insides trying to melt the blade.  This wasn’t cheating.  As an Ifrit, an elemental demon, his body just did what it was supposed to.  If I wait much long, the blade would melt and pour out of his wounds, allowing him to heal. 

I let go of my sword.

He released my arm and dropped to his knees, feeling the pain of the injury. 

I smiled and picked
his
sword off the ground.  “You’re a special kind of stupid aren’t you?” I slashed. 

His head rolled.

The suddenness of it, the impossibility, against all expectations, stunned everyone in the hall.  To tell the truth, I’d kinda impressed myself as well.

I spoke, shattering the silence.  “Who’s next?”

The Consignor went and checked on his friend.  “He’s dead.  This cannot be.  It must be some trick.  Kaden was right.  Magic has been used.”

“Rite of Combat has decided the matter,” I said.

“You cheated somehow,” Dimitris yelled.  “You used magic.  It’s the only explanation.”

No, I did charge my fist with chi, the flow of my lifeforce, but that’s not the same as magic, though they run in the same
physical channels.  Any advanced martial artist could have done the same thing—not that I was going to defend myself.  Needing to do so would be a sign of weakness.

Dimitris turned toward the throne, meeting the Old Man’s blue-lightning gaze.  “Lauphram, we cannot possibly accept Caine as your heir.  It is too much to bear.”

The Old Man stood.  “Caine
is
my heir.  If you cannot obey me in this, you are free to leave the clan.” 

The crowd found its collective voice.  Murmurs spread then
died.  Backs were turned on Lauphram and me.  Twenty-five demons walked out of the hall.  The others closed ranks, bowing heads with fists over their hearts
. 

Lauphram came down off the dais and stood at my side.  He said, “Caine, this is just the beginning.  We’ll lose more the longer the war goes on.”

I was tempted to feel a little bad about that, then remembers that all our current troubles were because of skeletons in the Old Man’s closet. 

Much more of this
,
and we won’t have a clan to fight with
.  

I glared at my adopted father.  “We need to have words, Old Man.”

He nodded past me at Kaden.  “Clean up your mess first.”

“Let the next
First Sword do it.” 

Lauphram stared at me.  “And who do you see in that post?”

“That’s my choice?”

“Let the victor speak his truth.”

“Imari,” I called.  “Are you here?”

A new stirring rippled through the crowd.  My question surprised them.
After a moment, she came through the ranks, wearing armor made of actual fire. She stopped near the Old Man, bowing formally to him.  “My Lord.”

“You want the job?” he asked.

“Are you sure there is no one more deserving?” she asked.

Lauphram looked at me.  “It’s his call.”

“Just don’t fuck up,” I said.  “It will make me look bad for recommending you.”

She bowed to me.  “The heir’s word is law.”

I can get used to this.

I
pointed at the body.  “Do something about that, will you?”

She straightened.  “As you command.”

“I’m not distracted,” I told the Old Man.  “I know who’s behind all this.  Why have you been keeping it a secret?  Do you
know
what you let me walk into, blind as hell?”

“Caine, you aren’t ready for my, uh, other son.  Unlike me, he’s at the height of his powers.  Experience will be the only edge I’ve got in facing him.  You don’t have a chance.  I’ve been trying to keep you alive.”

“That’s what almost got me killed.  Well,
brother
and I have met and we’ve got something between us to settle whether you like it or not.”

“I applaud your spirit,” Lauphram said, “but no means no.”  He gestured to Kona who never seemed to get too far from Imari.  The massive fire demon came forward.  The next thing I knew, some kind of enchanted yoke was slapped around my neck.  Knights seized my arms and dragging me toward the outer corridor. 

“What the fuck?” I yelled.

I called on my tattoos, trying to warm them with a thought so I could fight back.  Nothing happened.  It was as if all my magic were in lock-down, kept just out of reach.  Screaming a few choice profanities, I was dragged out, and hauled to my suite.  They pitched me in.  I landed at Osamu’s feet.  He had a wrapped package under his arm, staring down with vague interest as I scrambled up, the stupid collar locked on my neck.

One of my new guards—wearing yellow mummy bandages with gaps that showed gray, petrified skin and tribal tattoos—pointed a finger at me like I was an errant puppy.  “Stay, Caine!  You’re under house arrest until further notice.” 

The door slammed shut.  I wheeled on Osamu, gripping the yoke.  “Get me out of his thing.”

“How would I go about that, Caine-sama?”

Good question
.   “Is Zero-T here?”

Izumi’s voice called from the bedroom door as she came out.  “No.  They took him out the same time they grabbed your mirror.”