Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows (29 page)

Drayshina
appeared in a marble room ornamented, like most of the palace, with
jade and gold inlay. Steam swirled around her, and through its damp
veil she spotted a dark, cloaked figure standing beside a sunken
bath. Prince Tygon cowered against the wall, his nakedness
partially obscured by the intense blue shield that protected him
from the black mage’s bolts of shadow. Each bolt ate halfway
through the shield before dissipating, and the Prince screamed, his
face twisted with terror.

Blood ran down
his chest from a deep gash in his shoulder, evidence that he had
been surprised in the tub. Drayshina became invisible before either
man noticed her and moved swiftly to the Prince’s side. She touched
his shield, allowing a little white fire to mingle with it. The
warlock growled a string of curses as Tygon's shield brightened and
stepped forward to hurl another bolt of shadow. A flash of blue
light consumed the black fire, and the mage cursed again as he
realised that someone vastly powerful had joined the battle on
Tygon's side.

The warlock
gestured and muttered as he prepared to flee, then white fire swept
over him. He howled and collapsed, and Drayshina released the
Prince's shield, but he continued to shriek and cower. A wild-eyed
Kyan appeared in the doorway and rushed to kneel beside him,
reaching past his shields to shake him. Tygon lashed out, knocking
her backwards, and she cursed as she renewed her efforts to rouse
him from his hysteria. Drayshina Moved.

Bane ended his
Gather as soon as he had enough power to defeat a black mage.
Creating an Eye, he found Kimera pinned against the wall of a
well-furnished room, a warlock’s black barrage shredding her
shields. Bane reappeared behind the mage, and Kimera's eyes
widened, then the warlock spun, unleashing a swathe of black fire.
His expression turned to horror, and he recoiled.

The dark power
washed over Bane in a chill caress, and he smiled as he spread his
hands. The warlock yanked a dagger from his belt and flung it,
surprising Bane. The weapon struck his arm, and the black mage made
a dash for the door as Bane glanced down with a frown. The Demon
Lord sent a lash of fire after the fleeing man, who leapt into the
air with a choked shriek and exploded, spraying the walls with
blood and shredded meat.

Kimera let her
shields wink out and slid down the wall, her face grey with shock
and terror. Bane created another Eye and sought Bashir within it,
knowing that little time remained. The blue mage slumped over an
inlaid desk, a blackened hole in his chest. Evidently he had been
taken by surprise.

Bane sought
Shrea next, and an image formed. Yet another warlock hurled shadows
that ate through her shield. The black mages had chosen a time when
their foes were alone in their quarters, preparing for the evening
meal. The black fire penetrated Shrea's shield and struck her
chest, crisping her clothes and skin. As she fell backwards, Bane
Moved.

The mage spun,
his face twisted with terror, as the Demon Lord touched his
shoulder. Smoke rose from his hair, and he collapsed with a choked,
gargling scream. Bane stepped over the dying mage and crouched next
to Shrea, who gasped. Her shield vanished and she closed her eyes,
her face a mask of pain.

"Thank you,
Lord."

"Help will be
here soon."

She opened her
eyes. "You are hurt."

Bane glanced
at the dagger in his arm. "It is nothing." She tried to sit up,
grimacing, and he pushed her back. "Lie still. You are hurt worse
than I."

"The
others?"

"Three were
killed."

Her expression
became anguished. "Who?"

"Shevra,
Tarris and Bashir."

She groaned.
"Who else was attacked?"

"Kimera, and I
assume Kyan and Tygon."

"What about
Patrin?"

"Who is
he?"

"The doctor
who saved you from Vorkon. Surely they will want him dead,
too?"

Bane placed a
hand on her brow. "I require an image of him."

A young man’s
face formed in his mind, and he created another Eye. The swirling
light within it solidified into an image of a man running through a
dark garden, swerving and dodging around bushes. A bush beside him
burst into flames, and Patrin flung himself sideways, rolled to his
feet with admirable agility and dashed away. Bane adjusted the
Eye's focus, bringing the shadowy pursuer into view.

The warlock’s
shields absorbed the beams of blue light that struck him from
behind. Evidently soldiers pursued him in turn, but their weapons
had little effect. Bane dismissed the Eye and Moved ahead of the
warlock. A shield wall shot up from the ground at his gesture, and
the mage struck it and rebounded, collapsing with a grunt. Five
soldiers rounded a hedge and raced towards Bane, opening fire. He
stepped back with a hiss of surprise at the sharp stabs of pain as
three blue beams struck him in the chest. He ended the stunned
black mage's life, released his shield, and Moved.

Back in
Shrea's room, the blue mage sat on a chair, her wound healed. Kayos
and Drayshina gazed into an Eye. Shrea bowed, and Kayos dismissed
the Eye as Bane approached him, rubbing his chest. The Elder God
smiled.

"Did it sting
a little?"

"It did."

"It was an
honest mistake."

Bane nodded.
"I know."

"Is Patrin
safe?" Shrea asked.

The Demon Lord
turned to her. "Unless there are more black mages abroad tonight,
or he fell down a well in his panic, yes."

"Thank you,
Lord."

Kayos placed
his hand on the wound in Bane's arm and jerked out the dagger. Blue
light flared under his hand for several moments as he struggled to
push past Bane's power, then the wound healed and he released
him.

"You must
learn to shield yourself better."

"Are the
others well?"

"Tygon was
wounded, but he is all right now."

The door
opened, and Kimera stumbled in, grey with shock. Her eyes widened
in surprise at the celestial gathering, and she sank to her
knees.

"Great lady,
Lord Kayos."

"Arise,
child," Drayshina said.

Kimera
approached Bane and knelt again. "Thank you for my life, Demon
Lord."

"Get up."

She buried her
face in her hands and sobbed. "Bashir is dead."

Shrea helped
her to a settee and sat beside her, rubbing her back. Bane glanced
at Drayshina, who smiled and folded her hands. The light gods
vanished, and Bane was about to follow them when the door burst
open again. A score of soldiers armed with silver tubes ran in,
spotted him and raised their weapons. Shrea jumped up.

"No! He is not
a warlock! He is a dark... god."

Bane shot her
a look of amused disbelief, wondering when a dark god had become
less threatening than a warlock.

Shrea added,
"He is the Demon Lord. You are not to fire upon him."

The men
lowered their weapons, and the officer bowed. "Lord."

More soldiers
charged in, forcing the officer to shout in order to prevent them
from opening fire. Bane smiled at their reaction. A moment later, a
dishevelled and obviously upset Kyan entered. Her eyes were
pink-rimmed, and a bruise formed on her cheek. She stopped at the
sight of Bane and curtsied.

"Lord."

"Queen
Kyan."

She cast Shrea
a quick glance. "I am most grateful for your intervention, My Lord.
On behalf of all of us -"

"I have been
thanked enough, I assure you,” he interrupted. “I only saved
Kimera, Shrea and Patrin."

"Patrin was
attacked, too? How did he survive?"

"He proved to
be fleet of foot. He is probably in the next city by now."

Kyan forced a
wan smile and went over to clasp Kimera's shoulder. "My
condolences."

The blue mage
nodded, dabbing her eyes with a wrinkled handkerchief.

Shrea asked,
"How is the Prince, Majesty?"

"Resting. The
doctors gave him a sleeping draught." She turned to Bane. "May I
offer you some refreshment, My Lord?"

Bane
considered before nodding. "A good wine would be welcome."

The Queen
ordered four soldiers to remain to guard the mages, and dismissed
the rest. The officer looked a little scandalised and cast Bane a
doubtful look as he left.

Kimera
whispered to Shrea, who rose. "We would like to join you, My
Lord."

Bane was
surprised that she had asked him, then realised that he far
outranked the Queen, and shrugged. "As you wish."

Kyan led them
down a corridor to a luxurious book-lined living room decorated in
burgundy and yellow, and panelled with red wood. She sent a servant
to fetch refreshments and gestured to the largest cushioned chair
Bane had ever seen. He swept aside his cloak and settled into it,
and the women took seats nearby. Kimera dabbed her eyes, and Shrea
patted her hand. An awkward silence fell while Bane grew
uncomfortable under the ladies' furtive scrutiny.

"I regret that
I could not save them all," he said.

"No, My Lord,"
Kyan protested, forestalling Shrea, who opened her mouth but was
not quick enough. "You have done more than enough. You have no
reason to regret anything."

"I do not
require a reason."

"Of course
not." She looked flustered. "I only meant that after all you have
done..."

"Kyan, if you
are going to agree with everything I say, this conversation will
quickly become boring."

"I am sorry,
Lord." She flushed, looking mortified.

Shrea said,
"For someone who can move instantly from one place to another, it
took you a long time to reach us."

Kyan shot the
mage a horrified look. "Do not be disrespectful, Shrea."

"No, speak
your mind," Bane said. "I would much prefer that you treat me as a
peer. You are right; it took me too long to reach Tarris. I was
resting from the dark power's influence. It took a few moments to
Gather enough to Move. Shevra died before she could call for help.
Tarris' was the first prayer I heard, by which time Bashir was
already dead, I think."

Shrea looked
away. "I am angry, My Lord. Forgive me." She hesitated. "Do you
truly wish to be treated as our peer?"

Bane
nodded.

"Will you
answer our questions?"

"If I
can."

A servant
entered with a tray of glasses and a bottle of wine, and Kyan made
an unobtrusive signal that Bane guessed was an order for food as
well. It seemed that she wished to keep him here for as long as
possible, and perhaps this was a good opportunity to learn more
about ordinary people. He had not mingled much in the Overworld,
since the people there hated him. The interaction might even be
entertaining. He sipped the excellent wine and settled deeper into
the huge chair.

Shrea leant
forward. "What is the extent of your powers?"

Bane shrugged.
"I am not sure. They are still developing, due to my extreme youth,
Kayos tells me."

"Is there
anything you cannot do?"

"Certainly. I
cannot heal, nor can I create life."

"But you can
create inanimate objects?"

"Yes."

Shrea licked
her lips. "Will you show us?"

Bane held out
his hand, and an eir'greth sword appeared in it with a slight
frisson of dark power. The weapon was identical to the ones he had
summoned to fight Vorkon and Arkonen, a double-handed broadsword
with a simple gold hilt and a keen, double-edged blade. Bane rested
the tip on the floor, and Shrea put down her glass and rose to
approach him, her eyes on the weapon. She reached for it, and then
hesitated, glancing at him.

"May I?"

Bane opened
his hand, letting the sword hilt rest against his palm. She
hesitated, apparently afraid that it would burn her or something,
but then her confidence grew. She caressed the ribbed gold hilt and
ran her hands down the gleaming blade, discovering its keenness
with a soft oath. Sucking her injured finger, she lifted the weapon
with some difficulty.

"It is
heavy."

"It is not
meant for a woman."

"Even a man
would find this heavy, I assure you." She studied the blade. "It is
perfect. You imagined it into being, did you not?"

"Something
like that."

"Where did the
substance come from?"

Bane sipped
his wine. "Somewhere. I do not know."

"Why did you
choose to create a sword?"

"I have more
experience at creating swords than anything else. In fact, I cannot
recall creating anything else in that fashion."

"Can you also
unmake it?"

He shrugged.
"Probably. I have not tried, I just discard them."

"How many have
you created?"

"Quite a few.
I lose count in the heat of battle. If I lose one, I summon
another."

"It has no
special powers?"

He smiled.
"No." She held it out with obvious reluctance, and he waved a hand.
"Keep it if you wish. I have no use for it."

"Thank you, My
Lord." Shrea took the sword back to her chair and sat staring at
it.

"Will you tell
us of your battle with Vorkon?" Kyan enquired.

"There is not
a lot to tell. We hacked at each other with swords for a bit. He
summoned demons, so did I. They fought, we fought, and eventually I
overpowered him, then the seventh ward was activated, and I
returned to the mid realm."

"Were you
injured?"

"A
little."

Shrea looked
up from her perusal of the sword. "What is it like, to be a
god?"

"Since I have
always been one, I cannot really say."

"But you have
so much power. Are you not tempted to use it for your own gain? To
rule a domain?"

Bane sipped
his wine, studying its rich red glow in the lamplight. "Why would I
want to do that?"