Demon Lord III - Grey God (4 page)

"What, is it
'sit on Bane' night, tonight?"

"Maybe. I will
let you go when you promise not to read my mind, ever." She glanced
around as Mithran tugged a grumbling Grem away, who demanded
peevishly to know where they were going.

"Then I
definitely will not promise anything of the kind," Bane said.

"You like
being sat on?"

"Only by
you."

She snorted.
"You are impossible. Promise me, or else."

"Or else
what?"

"I will put
farron leaves in your dinner."

Bane's brows
rose. Farron was a powerful laxative. "You would never do
that."

"Why not?"

"Your healer's
oath?"

Mirra shook
her head. "That is not harm."

"I would
definitely consider it harm, and besides, a little while ago you
were volunteering."

"That was so
you could learn how to block it while I could control my
thoughts."

"You did not
do a very good job."

Her grin
faded. "Why, what did you see?"

"I am not
going to tell you."

"Bane!"

"No."

"That is not
fair!" She leant closer. "It should have been one of your vows, not
to use any of your powers on me."

"Probably, but
it is too late now."

She shrugged.
"Then it is the farron leaves for you."

He looked
horrified. "No, not the farron leaves! Have mercy! Help!"

Mirra giggled.
"The farron leaves it is."

He frowned and
growled, "Do you really think your Overworld poison will work on
me, witch?"

She froze, her
mouth dropping open in surprise and dismay, and he studied her
expression, his own becoming disbelieving.

"You think I
am serious?"

"You were
convincing." She blushed and looked away.

Bane chuckled.
"You are a silly little thing, are you not?"

"Sometimes."

"No. It was
not funny. I will not do it again."

She released
his wrists and hugged him, then raised her head to study him. "No,
next time I will laugh."

"You are
certain?"

"Absolutely."
She pinned his wrists again with a grin. "Now, about that other
promise...."

"What other
promise?"

"Not to read
my mind."

"I did not
promise that."

"I know, that
is the problem." She glared at him in mock anger. "Now you are
being facetious."

He chuckled.
"You cannot make me promise."

"I will tickle
you until you do."

"Ooh."

"Bane!" Her
brow wrinkled with frustration.

He sighed,
rolling his head from side to side. "I should put you over my knee
and spank you for even thinking I would do that."

"You would not
dare."

"You think
not?"

She crawled
further on top of him, pinning his legs, her toes pressed to his
shins. "Now you cannot."

"Oh, right, I
am helpless. Forgot that."

Mirra smiled
and stroked his cheek. "How did I become so lucky?"

"What makes
you think you are?"

"I have only
to look at you to know it."

He snorted.
"Damaged goods, already used and much abused, slightly bent out of
shape, and not very well trained."

"No you are
not."

"I am not
going to argue about it."

"Good, come
and dance." She jumped up and tried to tug him to his feet.

"No. I like it
down here, and if I get up someone will just sit on me again."

"No they will
not. I will not let them."

"My little
protector."

"Come on,
Bane."

He shook his
head. "I do not want to act like a dolt."

"You will
not."

"I will if I
have to prance around like that lot over there." He cast a scathing
glance at the revellers.

"Do I have to
drag you?"

"You could
try."

"Very well, I
will get help."

Mirra released
his hand, eluded his attempt to grab her and raced away, leaving
him groaning on the grass. She returned a few minutes later with
Tallis in tow, looking determined, and he smiled.

"You really
think the two of you are going to be able to drag me over
there?"

"We will have
a jolly good try," Mirra declared, gripping one of his hands. "Get
his other hand, Tal."

Tallis moved
to obey, and Bane growled at her, making her recoil. He chuckled,
and Mirra giggled.

"Tal, do not
be silly," she remonstrated.

"Silly?
Right."

Tallis shook
her head and bent to grip Bane's wrist, ignoring his mock glare.
They tugged on his arms, managing to shift him only a little with
much puffing and groaning, while he smiled at their efforts. Tallis
soon gave up, shaking her head at Mirra.

"It is
hopeless, Mir. He weighs a tonne."

"I will have
to put him on a diet, then."

Bane grinned.
"You could try."

"Oh, of
course, the ambrosia." Mirra sighed. "You will have to start being
a bit more co-operative, you know."

"You mean, let
you bully me?"

"Exactly."

"Why?"

"Because it is
normal
!" She stamped her foot in
frustration. "It is our wedding night, and I want you to dance with
me."

Bane studied
her despondent expression, then rose to his feet in a lithe
movement, making Tallis step back. Mirra looked up at him, and his
smile widened as he sank down on one knee.

"Your wish is
my command, My Lady."

Mirra swung
away. "Stop doing that!"

He chuckled
and jumped up, reached her in a bound and swept her up in his arms,
then strode towards the fires.

"I have legs,"
she pointed out.

"Very nice
ones, too, if memory serves."

"I have no
secrets from you, do I?"

"Not as far as
I know."

She glanced at
the fires as they drew closer. "You can put me down now."

"I could, but
I will not."

Bane ignored
her growl of frustration and carried her to the edge of the dancing
throng, where he set her on her feet. The musicians fell silent as
Bane turned to them, looking nervous, and the dancers stared.

"Play
something slow," he ordered, then turned to Mirra and said, "If I
am going to do this, I am not going to prance about like that
lot."

"I like that
idea even better."

"Good."

After a few
abortive tootles and tweets, the young musicians played a slow
melody, and Mirra stepped closer to twine her arms around Bane's
neck. He clasped her waist, and, following her instructions, moved
his feet in an appropriate manner. In moments he had mastered the
steps, as he was inclined to do with any new challenge, Mirra had
discovered. The rest of the dancers melted away to return to the
feast table or talk in the shadows, and the musicians kept playing
until Bane decided enough was enough and led Mirra away from the
fires. By that time, the rest of the healers where stretched out on
the grass, sated and tired. Bane glanced up at the full moon.

"It is late.
We should go."

Mirra nodded,
her heart fluttering.

Grem snored on
the grass beside the empty wine jug, and Mithran dozed next to him,
propped against a tree. Bane roused his father, but Grem was out
cold, so Bane hoisted him onto his shoulder and carried him to the
flower-bedecked cart, dumping him in the back. Mithran climbed in
beside him and stretched out with a sigh. Ellese appeared as if by
magic to kiss and hug Mirra, then turned to Bane and spread her
arms.

Bane eyed her
with a wry smile, but returned her embrace. Tallis hugged Mirra and
crowned her with a garland of daisies, and many of her other
friends from the abbey came forward to wish her well. Bane climbed
into the driver's seat and helped Mirra up beside him, then clucked
to the elderly carthorse that had waited so patiently since being
hitched up earlier. The throng of healers waved as the cart rattled
down the narrow, moon silvered trail.

When they
reached the two cabins Bane had helped his father and Grem build,
Mithran roused himself and took the cart away to unhitch and stable
the horse, promising to see to Grem as well. Bane opened the door
to the cabin he had shared with Mirra for over a year, picked her
up and carried her over the threshold.

"Who told you
to do that?" she enquired when he put her down inside.

"Father."

"What else did
he tell you?"

"Not much."
Bane waved a hand and muttered, "Fire."

All the
candles lighted, filling the cabin with a warm golden glow. Mirra
clicked her tongue and put down the tinderbox, shooting him an
exasperated look. Bane pushed open the door to his bedroom and
entered it, pulling off his jacket. She followed, her heart
pounding, and he sat on the bed and tugged off his boots, then
flopped back, patting the sheet.

"Come here,
wife."

Mirra sat
beside him, fiddling with her golden rune pendant.

He took her
hand and gazed up at her with fire-blue eyes. “So, you have been
trying to seduce me for two years, now is your chance." Her face
grew hot, and he chuckled. "Silly girl."

She snuggled
up to him and tugged at his shirt laces. "Will you do some
magic?"

"What would
you like?"

"Something
pretty."

"Hmmm." He
pondered, and then a glowing rainbow appeared above them. "You like
rainbows."

"It is lovely.
More."

Bane spread
his hands, and blue light poured from them, engulfed the bed and
turned it into a cloud. Cerulean fire crept up the walls, mantling
them, and sprouted delicate branches tipped with bright star
flowers of pale cyan. In moments, the room was transformed into a
fantasy world of shimmering clouds and filigree light, sparkling
with brilliant blooms of the palest hue.

"Beautiful,"
she whispered.

He gestured,
and the air filled with the soothing swish of waves on a beach.

"I did not
know you could do sounds as well."

"That is a new
one."

Mirra pulled
open his shirt and ran her hand over the contours of his chest,
tracing a rune scar. It filled with a sullen red glow, and she
gasped.

"Did I do
that?"

He chuckled.
"No, silly, I did."

"Oh, you...
"

"Monster?"

"Sometimes!"
She gazed into his eyes. "But you are my monster, and I love
you."

"And for the
life of me I will never understand why."

"Then you are
a dolt."

"Insults now?"
Bane pulled her down beside him. "For that, you will pay."

Mirra drifted
from sleep’s soft arms, becoming aware of a wonderful scent of
erros flowers, and that she lay upon satin softness, her head
pillowed on a warm arm. Opening her eyes, she gazed at the bed of
red erros petals within the glowing cocoon of the blue power that
mantled the room. She raised her head and turned to the man who
slept beside her, propping her chin on her palm. Time would not
touch him, and in a thousand years he would look as he did this
morning. How would he react when she grew old? Would he stop loving
her then? She thrust the thought aside, hating it and the pang it
sent through her heart.

Bane's eyes
opened, and he smiled, stretched and yawned.

She looked
away. "I will make breakfast."

His hand
flashed out and gripped her wrist, foiling her attempt to rise. "No
you will not." He pulled her close and enfolded her in his arms.
"You will stay right here."

"Then who will
make breakfast?"

He sighed. "We
need a servant."

"No we do
not."

"Then I will
make the breakfast."

She giggled.
"You cannot cook."

"I can make
porridge."

"Yuck. Your
porridge is lumpy."

"I am not
hungry, anyway."

She snuggled
closer to him. "But I am."

"Lumpy
porridge it is then."

"No, I will
make pancakes with berry jam, fresh cream and buttered scones."

He groaned.
"You are a temptress, and you are going to make me fat."

"You will
never get fat."

"Then you
will."

Mirra gasped,
raising a hand, and he released her to ward off the mock blow,
allowing her to slip from his grasp, grab her robe and escape. Bane
made an abortive attempt to catch her, but she eluded him and ran
giggling to the door.

"Witch!" he
said.

"Slow
poke!"

"Right, that
does it." Bane sat up and pulled on his trousers. "Time for a
spanking."

When he padded
into the kitchen, Mirra turned from lighting the stove, skillet in
hand. She brandished it as he approached, and he veered off and
filled the kettle instead. When he put it on the stove, she pointed
to a chair beside the table.

"Sit."

Bane smiled
and made a mock feint towards her, and she squeaked and jumped
back, raising the skillet. Chuckling, he flopped down in the chair.
He rose to make tea, then returned to his seat as she placed a
heaped plate in front of him.

Chapter Three

Grey God

Lyriasharin
leant back on her bed of glowing cloud and smiled at the image of
Bane and Mirra relaxing on the lakeshore in her Eye. She enjoyed
watching them, although she respected their privacy, too. Her
feelings for Bane had grown considerably, and she did not dare to
plumb them too deeply, afraid of what she would find. He said
something that made Mirra giggle, and a warm glow filled
Lyriasharin’s heart. He did not seem to mind that she watched him;
he could have prevented her from doing so, had he wished.

Lyriasharin
turned her head as a distant chiming filled the sweet, scented air
with musical notes. For a moment she frowned in puzzlement, then
realisation hit her like a bucket of cold water, turning her heart
to ice. Although she had not heard it for a thousand years, she
knew what it meant. Someone stood outside the Realm Gate, demanding
entrance, or was attempting to find a way in.