Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows (28 page)

All manner of
beasts swarmed from the earth. Everything that had ever lived and
crawled upon the land rose from it anew. The beach's white sand
swelled and parted to release thousands of shining fish that
flip-flopped down it into the water. Great whales struggled free
and slithered into the waves beside dolphins and turtles, crabs and
sharks. The sea boiled with their numbers as they entered it and
swam away. Flocks of birds filled the sky, and the beasts that
thronged the meadow moved away as soon as they got their bearings.
They headed into the woods or out across the plains, as was their
wont.

Something
bumped into Bane's knee, and he looked down. A trembling gazelle
tottered on stick-thin legs, its liquid eyes filled with profound
innocence. Here was goodness in its purest form, born of the light
and destined to die for the good of others. He let it lean on his
leg while it grew accustomed to its sudden return to a mortal form,
and the miracle of the beasts rising from the torn ground continued
all around him.

The first-born
moved away to make room for those still being birthed. Clouds of
insects buzzed aloft and scattered, staying with their own kind. A
living carpet of mice, rats, voles, and all manner of small animals
seethed past him as they set out on their journey. The meadow was a
great hollow of torn soil, its substance used to create the
beasts.

The gazelle
wandered away to join its herd, and Bane turned to Kayos. "Is this
how a domain is created?"

The Grey God
shook his head. "No. A domain is formed in a god's dream, and
everything has its time for birth, not like this. A domain takes
aeons to be completed. First comes light and air, then green
things, then lesser beasts such as insects and worms, then small
beasts and finally larger ones. At that time, a god will awake and
survey his handiwork, and for a time it is an innocent paradise.
Inevitably he will long for more, and create something in his
image. Aeons will pass before the first demons appear, and the
darkness will start to affect creation, bringing strife."

The sinking
sun gilded the land, and night creatures now rose from the earth.
Flocks of bats and owls, and beasts with large eyes and ears crept
away into the forest. The pillar of white fire pinned Drayshina to
the glowing ground, and her sweet song rose and fell in a tuneless
melody, guiding the light. In the distance, herds of beasts
blackened the land. Bane summoned a cup of ambrosia and sipped it.
Some animals, whose young required guidance, had an adult with
them, such as the cats and elephants. There were twenty of each
kind, pairs in the case of those who took only one mate, five males
to fifteen females amongst the herd beasts.

As the sun
touched the horizon, Drayshina's song softened and sank to a
whisper, then ceased. She sighed, and her eyes drifted shut. The
pillar of white light swept back up into the darkening sky, and the
rainbows faded. The hollow's torn earth turned green as grass
sprouted all over it, and the soft glow ebbed from the land.
Drayshina opened storm-grey eyes and sat up, freeing herself from
the flowering creepers that entwined her. Her skin still glowed,
and her pearly gown drifted around her as she rose and approached
them.

Kayos smiled
at her. "It is good."

She inclined
her head, smiled at Mirra, and glanced at Bane. "I am glad you
came, My Lord."

"So am I." He
offered her his cup of ambrosia.

"All this is
because of you."

"Then it was
worth it."

She sipped the
ambrosia. "Will you stay much longer?"

"A little
while."

"I hope you
will return one day." Drayshina glanced at the setting sun and
handed back the cup. "I must leave. Will you come to the light
realm for a time?"

"I prefer to
remain here."

"As you wish.
You are welcome, if you change your mind. Until we meet again, My
Lord, farewell." She folded her hands and vanished.

Kayos turned
to Bane. "Would you like to return to the place where I found
you?"

He glanced at
Mirra, who wiped her cheeks. "No, we will remain here a while
longer."

The Grey God
inclined his head and disappeared. Bane sat and surveyed the deep
hollow, which still gave off a faint blue glow. Mirra settled
beside him, and he held her close. Syrin and the lesser gods had
vanished, leaving them with only the last of the scattering beasts
for company. An owl hooted in a belt of forest, and a posse of bats
winged overhead. The beasts would not hunt each other, he
suspected, until they had dispersed to their various habitats.
Until then, the light that had created them would sustain them.
Bane dismissed his cup of ambrosia and lay back. He closed his eyes
as Mirra cuddled up to him, enfolding her in his cloak.

Chapter Fifteen

Vengeance

The Demon Lord
gazed across the lake that filled the hollow. It teemed with water
fowl and insects, rushes sprouting on its banks. After two weeks,
birds nested and herds of herbivores still wandered in the
distance, while predators courted and played in the long grass.

Mirra sat a
short distance away, watching a water bird build a scruffy nest.
She enjoyed the peaceful surroundings with Bane, making up for the
time they had spent apart. His undivided attention had restored her
happiness, and her eyes sparkled with joy again. The relaxation had
also banished his weariness and diminished the self-loathing that
always came with his use of the dark power, restoring his spirits
somewhat, and she constantly reminded him that this world
flourished only because of his intervention. She had found an
abundance of sweet fruit and nuts to eat, a gift, he suspected,
from Drayshina. Sensing a presence, Bane glanced around.

Kayos said,
"It is time."

Bane nodded.
"Yes."

The Grey God
approached and sat beside him, casting a smile at the young healer
before studying the lake. "You should go to Avadorn. People have
been pouring into the city from far and wide to pay homage to the
powerful mortal god who defeated Vorkon and freed their world. A
new church has taken root, and temples spring up to worship
you."

"I have no
wish to be worshipped, nor do I want to be stared at like a
freak."

"They would
stare only in admiration and wonder, Bane. There is to be a great
feast in your honour at the palace, and a place will be set for you
at the head of the high table. As a mortal god, you are caught
between two worlds, a part of both, yet belonging to neither. Enjoy
the fruits of your victory and let them show their gratitude."

"Are you
going?"

The Elder God
shook his head. "I do not fraternise with mortals, given a choice.
Besides, I do not eat their food, and they would find my presence
inhibiting."

"And they
would not find mine so?"

"Not as much.
You are a mortal man, as they are."

Bane gazed
across the meadow at a doe that emerged from the dead forest to
nibble the sweet, sun-dappled grass. "It does not interest me. I
wish to spend this time with my wife, to make up for the time when
this quest of yours parted us."

"Perhaps she
would also enjoy some good food and company. The feast is in two
days’ time. Doubtless you will soon hear their prayers begging you
to attend."

"Then why did
you seek me out to tell me about it?"

"I was certain
you would not go unless I persuaded you."

Bane smiled.
"You are not succeeding."

Kayos clasped
the Demon Lord’s shoulder. "Take Mirra to the banquet. Have some
wine; indulge in the things mortals enjoy."

"No."

Kayos sighed.
"They will be disappointed. They wish very much to meet you."

"And I wish
very much to be left to enjoy some peace and quiet with Mirra. Who
do you think is more likely to get their wish?"

"You,
naturally."

Bane nodded.
Deer gambolled in the meadow, chasing each other, and stags sparred
with newly budded antlers. A pair of spotted cats loped through the
herd, engrossed in a game. Kayos summoned a cup of ambrosia and
sipped it. Mirra returned to sit beside Bane, bringing a tiny mouse
she had found in the grass. Hours passed as the sun sank in red
gold glory.

A whispered
prayer jerked Bane from his reverie, and he raised his head. The
soft words came again, filled with urgent desperation and pleading,
and he recognised the voice.

"Tarris."

Kayos eyed
him. "What is wrong?"

"She is in
danger." He concentrated on the prayer, glancing into the blue
mage's mind through it. "A black mage." He cursed and jumped up,
pulling Mirra to her feet.

Kayos stood,
frowning. "Doubtless there is more than one, and they will attack
all those who helped you. I will protect Queen Kyan. They must
think enough time has passed, and we have left the domain."

Bane swept up
his cloak and clipped it on. "I intend to kill them all. Why would
they imagine I would suffer them to live?" He turned to Mirra. "Go
with Kayos. He will take you to Mithran and Grem. Stay with them
until I come for you."

Bane spread
his hands and summoned the shadows as Kayos took Mirra's hand and
vanished. The darkness rose all around him, engulfing him in its
chill embrace, and he shuddered as it soaked into him. Tarris'
prayer whispered in his mind with increasing urgency, begging his
aid with desperate fervour. As soon as he had enough power, Bane
cut the Gather and Moved.

The Demon Lord
reappeared in a sunny rose garden. A short distance away, Tarris
writhed on the ground and screamed his name. A black-clad figure
stood over her, hurling bolts of shadow at her. Her shield was mere
shreds of shimmering blue, and the dark fire crisped her skin.

The black mage
swung to gape at Bane, then gestured and muttered in preparation
for a Move. Bane reached him in an instant and grabbed the warlock
by the throat, cutting off his air. He choked and struggled,
landing a couple of blows on Bane's shoulder before he went limp.
Bane dropped the corpse and turned to Tarris, who breathed in
wheezing gasps.

"You came,"
she panted.

Bane knelt
beside her and took her hand when she reached for him. "You are
hurt. Syrin!"

The angel
stepped from the air, her eyes widening as she took in the
scene.

"Find someone
who can heal,” he ordered. “Kayos, Drayshina or a healer. Not my
wife. Go!" She opened her mouth, undoubtedly to protest, and he
snarled, "Now!"

The angel
turned and stepped back into the air, and Bane looked down at
Tarris. "Help is coming."

"Shevra."

"Is she hurt
too?"

Tarris nodded,
pointing at a clump of rose bushes a few yards away. "Over
there."

Bane found
Shevra's body just beyond them, a black hole burnt in her chest,
her eyes blank in death. He knelt beside her and closed them, then
returned to Tarris.

"Is she all
right?"

"She is
dead."

Tarris' face
twisted, and tears spilt down her cheeks. "I heard her scream. I
was coming to meet her. When I ran up, he attacked me."

"Her death was
swift."

She struggled
to breathe. "She loved you."

Bane glanced
around at the darkening garden. "I must go. Tygon and Kyan are in
danger too."

Tarris gripped
his hand. "Please... stay with me."

"Help will be
here soon."

"It will be
too late."

Bane frowned.
"I should have killed them. I was going to do it before I left this
domain, but I did not think that they would have the courage to
strike at anyone while I was still here."

"You saved the
domain. Our lives are nothing compared to that. Shevra would say
the same. Thanks to you, we will be reborn." She coughed, and blood
oozed from her nose. "Do not leave me, please. It grows cold and
dark."

Bane gathered
her up and covered her with his cloak. "You deserve to live. It was
your plea that brought me here."

She smiled,
tears running down her cheeks.

He stroked the
tangled hair from her brow. "I wish it was within my power to help
you."

"Do not have
regrets. Knowing you was... a privilege." Her eyes drifted closed,
and her breath left her in a sigh.

Bane bowed his
head, regretting his failure to protect her. More prayers whispered
in his mind, from Kimera and Kyan. The black mages attacked all
their targets simultaneously, and he hoped Kayos would reach Kyan
in time. Drayshina appeared beside him, and he stood up.

"You are too
late."

"So I see."
Her stormy eyes darkened with sorrow. "My poor, sweet child."

"Perhaps you
would protect one of the others, like Tygon?"

Drayshina
inclined her head, folded her hands and vanished. Bane raised his
arms and Gathered, letting the shadows rush into him in sickening
waves.

Kayos appeared
in Queen Kyan's sumptuous bed chamber. Tapestries and paintings
graced the walls, rich rugs covered the floor and delicate
ornaments adorned carved tables inlaid with jade and gold. Kyan
crouched in the middle of it, her shimmering blue shield protecting
her from the bolts of darkness that a black mage flung at her in a
deadly barrage. The bodies of four soldiers lay by the door, holes
burnt in their chests.

Kyan's shield
wavered under the warlock's attack, and she cried Bane's name over
and over again. Remaining invisible, Kayos marched up to the mage
and touched his shoulder. The man leapt sideways with a shriek as
white fire ignited on his arm and swept over him, engulfing him in
a mantle of brilliant blue. He collapsed, writhed and clawed at his
throat, making strangled choking sounds. Kyan’s eyes widened with
horror as the warlock thrashed in the grip of the white fire. Kayos
grimaced and turned away, becoming aware of high-pitched,
hysterical screams coming from a nearby room. He Moved again.