Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows (11 page)

Shevra
brightened at the prospect of safety. "That sounds like a good
idea."

"Do not be
fooled. It will be safe only until Vorkon brings his dark army to
the city and lays waste to it, as he has done to so many others. He
will come himself, and eventually his army will triumph and snuff
out the white fire."

"And then we
all die," she murmured.

"Yes."

Vorkon glared
at the seven mages, the last of whom had reappeared before him a
few moments ago, and was still recovering from his bout of
sickness.

"Well?" he
demanded.

"We have done
it, My Lord," one mage said.

"All the
churches? Then which of you found the light god?"

The mages
glanced at each other, looking confused. "None of us, Lord."

"Where is
Teivor?"

They shook
their heads and shrugged.

Vorkon
growled, "Then it was he who found the light god, and he has paid
with his life, the fool. But now we know where he is hiding. You
will all go there, with seven new slaves." He swung to face the
group of demons beside him. "Fetch me seven slaves and be
quick."

They sank into
the ground, and he turned to the mages again. "Beware the light
god. Snuff out the flame, and he will flee. I know where he will
go, and he will get a nasty surprise when he arrives."

One of the
older mages frowned. "Lord, if he lights the flame while you are
there, it will destroy you."

"I am not a
fool, Reonar, I intend to be there before him, and besides, I am
too fast to be caught by the fire. He will be burdened with his pet
tar'merin, so he will be too slow to light it. If he throws up his
shields and cowers within them, he will be trapped forever. But I
do not intend to strike at him. He is no danger to me. I shall
catch him at my leisure. It will be a grand hunt. I intend to kill
the tar'merin while he is unable to defend himself."

The mages
smiled and nodded. "A fine plan, Lord."

Vorkon looked
smug. "Yes, it is."

Shevra gazed
at Kayos, who seemed to be deep in thought, staring into space.
Several minutes passed, then his eyes flicked to her, and she
lowered hers, flushing. He considered her before he turned to the
older man who sat beside Bane's cot.

"Mithran, I
need your help."

He looked up
in surprise. "Anything, Lord.

"When next
they come to snuff out the flame, there will be many of them. Grem
and Patrin will not be able to protect it. Therefore, we will
leave. I want you to carry Bane, so I am free to light the flame as
soon as we arrive at the city church.

"Gladly,
Lord."

Kayos glanced
at Shevra. "Go and fetch Patrin and Grem."

Shevra rose
and ran to the chapel, where Patrin stood guard beside the flame,
leaning on his staff, looking tense. The warrior, Grem, was
polishing his sword, and appeared a lot calmer. The dead soldier
and warlock had been removed, and the priestesses were washing away
the blood. She beckoned to Patrin and Grem, and they walked over to
her.

"Kayos wishes
you to come to him."

Grem glanced
at the flame. "What about -"

"Just
come."

The warrior
sheathed his sword, and Grem hefted his staff as they followed her
back to the room. Kayos looked up as they entered.

"I have
another task for you two, and it might be dangerous." Patrin
inclined his head, and Grem's hand caressed the hilt of his sword.
"We go to the church in the city," Kayos went on, "and I want you
both to guard Mirra. At the moment the church is empty, but that
could change swiftly. She must not be harmed. You will see to it if
I cannot."

Mirra looked
up. "I need no guarding, My Lord, I -"

"Yes, you do.
I know you are hard to kill, but I will take no risks with your
life. I swore an oath to protect you, and I intend to keep it.
Moreover, if anything should happen to you, Bane..." He glanced
down at the Demon Lord. "He will be useless to us then, I fear, and
furious. I have no intention of earning his wrath."

Mirra lowered
her eyes, biting her lip, and Shevra wondered afresh who she was
and why she was so important. The high priestess, who had been
sitting unobtrusively in the corner, stood up and came forward, her
brow wrinkled with concern.

"You are
leaving us, Lord?"

"I must, good
lady. We cannot remain here. You must flee this place. We will
leave now, before they come, in case Vorkon deduces our destination
and goes there ahead of us."

"Yes, Lord.
Your blessing, I beg you."

The high
priestess knelt before Kayos, and he touched her head, then she
rose and retreated to the doorway, where she gazed at him with
adoring eyes. Kayos and Syrin stood up, and the angel shot him a
pouty look, then stepped into the air, vanishing. Kayos turned to
Mithran and gestured at Bane.

"Bring
him."

Mithran rose
and slid his arms under the Demon Lord, straightening with a
grimace. "He's heavy."

Kayos smiled.
"It will not be for long."

"It doesn't
matter, My Lord. I never thought I would hold my son in my arms
thus, but I will carry him as far as you wish."

Shevra stared
at Mithran, amazed by this revelation. If Mithran, who appeared to
be no older than his mid-forties, was Bane's father, then the Demon
Lord was young indeed.

The Elder God
placed his hand on Mithran's shoulder and held out the other one
for Grem and Patrin to take. Mirra clung to Bane's hand, and
Shevra, afraid that she would be left behind, grabbed the doctor's
sleeve. Warm white light engulfed them, and a slight floating
sensation accompanied it, then she stood in an imposing chapel
holding Patrin's sleeve. He reeled a little, blinking, and spots
danced in Shevra's eyes. They stood beside a white marble altar,
where a cup of clear oil held a pale wick. Nearby pews were
overturned as if a fight had occurred amongst them, probably
similar to the one which had taken place in the chapel that they
had just left. This one had been lost, however. The flame was out,
and the chapel was deserted.

Kayos turned
to the altar, raising his hands. The marble floor blackened and
cracked with dull reports in a swiftly spreading circle. Shevra
screamed, and Mithran staggered back as Vorkon rose with terrifying
speed, the air humming, the shadows seeming to thicken in his
presence. He raised an arm and pointed at Kayos, unleashing a bolt
of shadow that knocked the Grey God down in a brilliant flare of
blue light and sent him rolling away. Vorkon swung to face Mithran,
a sword appearing in his hands.

Shevra gasped
and grabbed Mithran, trying to drag him aside, for he seemed to be
paralysed with terror. Grem leapt at Mirra, shoving her away from
the dark god and breaking her hold on Bane's hand as several earth
demons heaved up all around them, blocking any escape. Vorkon
closed the gap between himself and Mithran with a long stride,
raising the sword.

Mirra tried to
reach Mithran, but Grem held her back, pushing her away as she
cried out in anguish and despair. Shevra shrieked, yanking at
Mithran's arm, and his eyes widened as he realised what was about
to happen. Grem dragged Mirra towards the door, struggling with
her, and Patrin stood frozen in shock. Kayos stopped sliding across
the polished marble and jumped up, racing back towards the altar in
a blur of speed. Vorkon brought the sword down in a sweeping
stroke, aimed to cut Bane in half.

At the last
instant, Mithran swung away. His intention was to run, but the dark
god's blade sliced into his back, sheering through bone and muscle,
cutting deep into his guts. Shevra shrieked and leapt away, slipped
and fell in her panic. Mirra screamed, struggling to get free of
Grem and run to Mithran's aid. Mithran fell to his knees, his eyes
and mouth wide, blood pouring from the huge wound. Bane slipped
from his arms, and Vorkon growled, pulling his sword out with an
angry jerk, then swung around as Kayos reached the altar.

Before he
could raise his arm to strike the Grey God, Kayos clapped his hands
over the wick and spoke a musical word. A flash of white fire drove
Vorkon back, then the wick lighted, and the light spread from it in
the blink of an eye. Vorkon dived into the floor and vanished with
a howl of rage, but the demons were not quite so swift. White fire
shot up them, mantling them in a shimmer of blue. They writhed,
their mouths opening in silent howls, then they slumped into mounds
of dark soil.

Shevra crawled
towards Mithran, who lay face down in the pool of bright blood that
spread from him. Kayos reached him in a stride and fell to his
knees, placing his hands on Mithran's back. Golden fire ignited
under his palms and sank into Mithran's flesh, making it blaze red.
The huge wound closed, sealing up magically, and Kayos slipped a
hand under Mithran's shoulder, flipping him onto his back.

Shevra gasped
as he brought his fist down on Mithran's chest in a blow that
seemed likely to break his ribs. A flash of white fire sparked from
the blow, and Mithran arched as if in a seizure. When he relaxed,
he drew in a gasp. Kayos sat back, gazing down at him. Mirra broke
free of Grem and ran to Mithran's side, her eyes filled with
anguish and relief as she touched his brow. Shevra crept closer,
staring at Mithran with wide eyes.

Kayos smiled.
"He will live."

"He was
dead."

"Almost." He
shook his head. "Such courage. He saved Bane."

Shevra turned
to look at the Demon Lord, whose slumber remained undisturbed
despite his fall. "You could have saved him too, had he
been..."

"No. He
carries too much dark power. I could not have healed him quickly
enough. Although he is far stronger than a normal mortal... still,
it might not have worked."

"Goddess."
Shevra stared at Mithran.

Cries of
surprise and joy made her glance around as priestesses and blue
mages came running into the chapel, their eyes on the white flame
that burnt on the altar. The priestesses fell to their knees to pay
homage to Kayos, who got to his feet, facing the blue mages who
stood staring down at the two men on the floor. They bowed to him
and parted to allow Queen Kyan through. Her eyes widened at the
sight of Bane.

"What has
happened?"

"A long story.
Suffice it to say, the Demon Lord has been struck down, and Vorkon
hunts him."

"What of my
husband?"

"He is safe,
for the moment."

Her tense face
relaxed. "That is good news."

"Vorkon will
send his black mages with mortal slaves to snuff out the fire
again, and if they succeed he will return to slay Bane. He must be
protected at all costs, and since your weapons are useless against
a dark god, it must be with a wall of flesh. Your soldiers must
also protect the altar, and kill any who try to approach it. I can
help with the black mages, but not with the powerless mortals who
will be sent to snuff out the flame."

"Then we are
safe so long as we protect the flame?"

"No. Only
until Vorkon's dark army gets here, then we will be overrun."

"My Lord." She
bowed her head and sank down in a graceful curtsy. "We are in your
debt forever."

Kayos gestured
at Mithran. "Have your doctors tend to this man. He saved the Demon
Lord's life, and thereby, all of yours."

Shevra looked
up in surprise. "But you healed him."

"He has lost a
great deal of blood, and that would take time and energy to
replace. He will recover in a few days."

The Queen
gestured, and priests emerged from the shadows to carry Mithran
away. Kayos bent and slid his arms under Bane, lifting him in a
blaze of blue fire. He headed for the door through which the mages
and priestesses had entered, the muttering crowd parting to let him
through. Kyan followed him along a corridor, and Shevra kept a
respectful distance, not wishing to attract the Queen's attention.
Mirra and Grem walked close to her, the warrior with a comforting
arm around the slender girl's shoulders. They entered a
well-furnished room with a luxurious four poster bed, and Kayos
laid Bane on it, surveying the room with a curious gaze.

"For visiting
dignitaries?"

Kyan smiled.
"Dying kings and queens."

"Of
course."

Shevra settled
on a chair beside the bed as Mirra perched next to Bane, and Grem
took up position close to her. Patrin wandered over to the window
and gazed out of it.

Kyan turned to
Kayos. "Why does he sleep so?"

"A cruel twist
of fate and a well-aimed stone from an angry mob that thought him a
black mage."

"My husband is
unprotected."

"Until he
wakes, yes."

"I will send
my best doctors to try to rouse him."

The Grey God
shrugged. "As you wish. But I advise against using violence or
pain. If he wakes while they are sticking pins in him, they might
find themselves greasy smears on the floor."

She smiled. "I
will warn them."

"Good."

Kayos and the
Queen left, and Shevra's eyes roamed over Bane's peaceful features,
longing for him to wake. She glanced around luxurious chamber,
marvelling at the riches in it, then her eyes were drawn to the
window, through which warm golden light poured. Wonder and joy
filled her, and she rose and walked over to it, hesitating for a
moment before stepping into the light. It made her skin tingle, and
she spread her hands, studying them in the bright light, which hurt
her eyes and forced her to squint.

Amazed, she
took the final step to the window and gazed out at the beautiful
city that basked in the sun's rays. Below the window, green grass
covered the ground, and proud trees bore canopies of rustling
leaves. Their beauty made her gasp, and warm tears filled her eyes.
She longed to rush outside and touch all the precious greenery, but
stood transfixed, watching a colourful butterfly flitting amongst
the pink and blue flowers that bordered the garden.