Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows (18 page)

"Stay with me,
Bane!" Kayos gripped his uninjured arm and tugged it. "Get up!"

Grimacing,
Bane raised his head and shook it, bringing everything back into
sharp focus. He sat up, becoming aware of the demons that beat on
Kayos' shield.

"Hurry," the
Grey God urged. "You must free Drayshina."

Bane staggered
to his feet, gripping his injured arm. Blood oozed between his
fingers. The Grey God watched him with deep concern, then let his
shields drop. Demons rushed at them with raised fists and raking
molten eyes.

Bane gestured.
"Begone."

Walking over
to the flesh beast, he laid his bloody hand upon its scaly hide.
Hundreds of spears impaled it, and dark ichor oozed from its many
wounds, yet parts of it still lived. Dozens of earth demons rose
all around him, and again he dismissed them, but they continued to
rise in an endless procession, distracting him from his task,
though their numbers dwindled. He gave up banishing them and raised
a curving shield wall around himself and Kayos, which allowed him
to touch the flesh beast but required less concentration. The
transformation melted away, the spines receding, the black, scaly
hide turning to pale human skin.

Fourteen
people fell free, ten of them dead. The living scuttled away to
cower next to Bane's shield, leaving Drayshina lying on the floor.
A dozen spears impaled her, each wound edged with pearly light. To
his amazement, she still appeared to be asleep, and unaware of her
injuries. Kayos pulled out a spear, his expression shuttered. Bane
took hold of one and tugged. It slid free easily, and the wound
vanished. Blood dripped from his fingers, splattering the goddess'
shimmering raiment. Kayos pulled out the last spear and picked her
up, glancing at the demons that Bane's shield held at bay.

"Let us leave
this place. I will heal you at the church."

The Grey God
vanished, and Bane followed. He reappeared in another poky, poorly
furnished room, where Kayos laid Drayshina on a cloud couch. Bane
sank down on the nearest chair, exhausted. Kayos came over and
placed a hand on the wound in his arm. The Demon Lord bowed his
head and closed his eyes, leashing his power more firmly to aid the
light god's healing. Blue fire edged the golden glow as the hole
through his muscle closed slowly.

When it was
healed, Kayos turned his attention to the gash across Bane's chest,
which, fortunately, had missed the rune scars. They glowed with
dull red animosity, and Bane's frown deepened as he fought the dark
power's wish to lash out at the intruder. The shallow wound healed
swiftly, and Kayos removed his hand, gazing down at Bane's bowed
head.

"That trap was
meant to kill you."

"I should have
seen it."

The Grey God
shook his head. "It was well hidden, and the demons were meant to
distract you, as were the bars and blades. It was cleverly
designed, its lesser ploys set solely to lull you into a false
sense of security."

Bane pulled
the edges of his torn shirt together and fused the material. "Did
my power harm you and Drayshina?"

"Not really.
It hurt quite a lot, since I had no shields, that is all. It was
too unfocused to do us any real harm, and Drayshina knew
nothing."

Bane glanced
at the goddess. "What is wrong with her?"

"She has cast
herself into a dream state to escape her former situation. It will
take a while for her to waken."

"So that
Vorkon could not torture her?"

"He still
could, but not so easily."

Bane looked up
at him. "Could those spears have killed her?"

"No. They
would have caused her a great deal of pain, had she been awake, but
only the dark power can kill a light god."

The Demon Lord
sighed and rubbed his face, then created a couch and lay down. He
looked even more exhausted, his pallor pronounced and dark shadows
under his eyes. Kayos settled beside Drayshina, pondering the young
dark god. Although Bane's deeds were good, he showed no true
concern for anyone save Mirra, no gratitude or affection, but that
was to be expected.

It saddened
him that a man with such a good soul should be robbed of his
gentler feelings. As soon as the domain was restored, Bane would
require a rest from the evil, and must cast it out for a time. He
wondered what Jishka would do next. Her options were reduced now
that Drayshina was beyond her reach. If she was wise, she would do
nothing until an opportunity presented itself, then try to kill
Bane. Although she was not as dangerous as Vorkon, they could not
leave her at large, and finding her would be difficult if she only
sought to avoid them. He squeezed Drayshina's hand.

"Come, sweet
child, wake up. You are free. The Demon Lord has kept his word, and
Vorkon is cast down. Awake."

Chapter
Nine

Fire Dance

Shevra stood
before the full length mirror and gazed at her reflection in
amazement. Tarris had procured a flowing gown of gauzy crimson silk
dyed with swirling flame-like gold and yellow patterns. It clung to
her, flaring at the hips into a many-layered skirt comprising
pointed panels that floated and shifted when she moved. Her skin
glowed from the hot bath that Tarris had arranged, and her hair had
been brushed until it shone. Tarris smiled, wishing it was she who
possessed such beauty, talent, and courage.

"He cannot
fail to be impressed."

Shevra turned
to smile at her. "I hardly recognise myself. What if he doesn't
know who I am?"

"Make sure he
does. I doubt that even he has ever been seduced by a complete
stranger."

Shevra swung
back to the mirror, twirling and lifting her arms in a graceful
motion. The empty room where they had made their preparations was
deep in the bowels of the palace, away from prying eyes and
unwanted interruptions. Once it must have been an opulent bed
chamber, but now the ancient hangings were torn and mildewed, the
carpet dusty and the four poster bed sagged on one side. It
retained an air of mystery and romance; a forgotten bower where
perhaps once royal couples had met, or a king had lain with his
mistress. A bottle of wine and two crystal goblets stood on a dusty
table. Numerous candles added to the light of the four torches that
burnt in sconces on the walls.

Tarris watched
the young fire dancer with a twinge of unwelcome envy. "Are you
ready?"

Shevra
smoothed the gown and nodded, looking nervous. "I hope he isn't
angry."

"Why should he
be? Even he should be flattered to be seduced by such a beautiful
maiden. He does not look like he has ice in his veins. Tell him you
are doing it to thank him for saving you, and let him make of it
what he will."

"I hope you're
right." Shevra gazed at her reflection again.

Tarris walked
to the door and glanced back. "Good luck."

Shevra shot
her a smile, her eyes bright with excitement. "Thank you, Tarris,
for everything."

The blue mage
nodded and let herself out. When the door had closed behind her,
Shevra turned back to the mirror to assure herself that she looked
as alluring as she had a moment ago, her heart fluttering. Several
doubts assailed her, but she thrust them aside. One had to be bold
to seduce a god. Or mad. Bowing her head, she clasped her
hands.

Bane jerked
awake, his brows drawing together as he sat up and yawned.

Kayos glanced
at him. "What is it?"

Bane rubbed
his brow. "A prayer."

"Someone in
danger?"

"No. She only
asks me to come. I know her." Bane searched his memory for the
owner of the voice that whispered in his mind. "A girl I saved. I
do not know her name."

"The one from
the army camp?"

"Yes."

"Shevra."
Kayos raised a brow. "What does she want?"

"I do not
know."

"Are you going
to go?"

Bane shrugged
and stretched. "I am awake now. I suppose I could go and see what
she wants."

"Yes, I think
you should." The Grey God's eyes twinkled.

Bane eyed him.
"Why is that?"

"Just a
hunch."

"Perhaps you
would like to share your insight with me."

"I think you
should find out for yourself."

Bane rubbed
his face, then pulled on his boots and rose, clipping on his cloak.
"I hope it is not a waste of my time. I am not inclined to answer
prayers, and frivolous ones anger me."

"Do not be
angry, even if she only wants to talk to you."

Bane snorted.
"That had better not be all it is."

"I am
confident that it is not."

The Demon Lord
swung away and Moved.

Shevra stepped
back as the air before her darkened. The surge of dark power made
her stomach clench. The Demon Lord turned to face her with a swirl
of his cloak, his brows drawn together in a deep frown. She dropped
to her knees, bowing her head.

"Lord. Thank
you for coming."

"Get up." Bane
scanned the room, his eyes lingering on the bottle of wine. "What
do you want?"

Shevra rose,
her legs trembling, her throat tight with trepidation and joy. He
towered over her, darkening the room with his presence, more
formidable and breath-taking than she remembered. The candlelight
gilded his features and made his eyes glow, accentuating his
flawless, sculpted visage. She found herself holding her breath and
forced herself to let it out, gulping.

"I... I wanted
to thank you, for saving me and my town."

His eyes
glinted. "And for that you woke me?"

"I - I didn't
know you were asleep." Shevra retreated, her eyes wide. "I'm sorry,
Lord." She longed to sink into the floor. Her plan now seemed like
madness in the face of his ire. "It's just... You saved me three
times, and I've never had a chance to thank you."

"Well now you
have." He swung away.

"Wait!”

Bane turned to
face her again, his frown deepening. Shevra almost lost her nerve,
then rallied her flagging courage. What was he going to do, kill
her? She gestured at the bottle of wine.

"Will you not
have a glass of wine with me, to celebrate? You've rescued our
goddess, have you not?"

"Just a few
hours ago, and I was getting some much needed sleep when you woke
me up."

Shevra went to
the table and poured two glasses of wine, offering him one. "I
apologise. Had I known, I would have waited."

Bane took the
glass, his frown easing. "You are certainly a brave one."

"Thank you.
They do say that fire dancers are brave, or perhaps mad."

"Is that what
you are? I wondered, after you were able to control fire at the
battle for your town."

She nodded,
sipping her wine. "Some call us fire mages. We're not as powerful
as blue mages, since true fire is only an element."

"A dangerous
one."

"Indeed, My
Lord. But we're just entertainers."

Bane glanced
around the room again. "An odd place for a social meeting."

"I also wish
to give you a gift, for saving my life."

"And for that
you require copious amounts of dust and cobwebs?"

She smiled,
some of her trepidation leaking away. "They're a bonus. All I
really need is the privacy."

"Indeed? Why
is that?"

Shevra gulped
her wine. "Because my gift is... a private performance, for you
alone." She hesitated. "Would I be correct in assuming that fire
cannot harm you, My Lord?"

"You
would."

"I suppose you
can use it as I do, as well?"

Bane smiled.
"Also a safe assumption, although I do not entertain."

"May I ask you
a bold question, My Lord?"

"If you
must."

"Are you
foremost a man, or a god?"

Bane tilted
his head. "That has been puzzling me for years."

"You're
uncertain?"

"Undecided.
But, if you require an answer, which you do, else you would not
have asked the question, I would have to say... a man."

Shevra smiled,
warmth invading her heart. "That's the answer I was hoping
for."

"Why is
that?"

"Many would
die for the honour of being your friend, but it's hard to be
friends with a god."

Bane sipped
his wine, raising his brows. "You want to be my friend?"

"That, and
more." She put down her glass. "But I become too bold for my own
good, I suspect."

"It is quite
refreshing, and certainly unexpected, Shevra."

"You know my
name?" She shook her head. "Of course you do. Forgive my
foolishness, My Lord."

"Not knowing
the extent of my powers does not make you foolish, even I do not
know that. As it happens, I only know it because Kayos told
me."

She smiled,
then tilted her head. "Shall I begin?"

"As you
wish."

Shevra turned
and walked away a few paces, aware of his eyes upon her, which sent
shivers down her spine. Swinging to face him, she raised her arms
in a graceful, beckoning motion, and the flames in the sconces
leapt. Streaks of fire flew across the room to settle about her
fingers, swirling with the languid gestures of her hands. Raising
her head and meeting his eyes, she began the fluid movements of the
true fire dance.

The fire split
into several flames, which swirled around her as she swayed and
spun, her hair flaring in glossy wings. Her hands described
graceful motions, and the fire following them, encompassing her in
a bright web. She flung back her head and guided her fiery
accompaniment with sweeps of her arms, her hands flowing around
her, playing with the flames. The tempo of the dance quickened, and
she leapt high, the dress swirling like the flames that now
sheathed her twisting, graceful form.