Demon Lord III - Grey God (9 page)

"Perhaps Kayos
will help you as Lyriasharin did."

Bane raised
his hands. "I am not going through that again."

"That is
selfish, Bane. You have to save Ashynaria."

"No, I do
not."

Mithran spread
his hands on the table. "I agree with Mirra, Son. You have the
power to save a goddess, you cannot refuse."

"Yes I
can."

"Well you
should not. Has the dark power corrupted you already?"

Bane shook his
head. "Kayos says I am incorruptible."

Mithran looked
startled. "That's wonderful!" His brows lowered. "Then I don't see
the problem."

"The problem
is I am not taking Mirra into a dangerous place like the God Realm,
which, according to Kayos, is full of beast gods and demon gods,
the kind no one wants to meet. Especially me."

"It's a noble
quest," Grem muttered, earning a scowl from Bane.

"Mirra has
more courage than you," Mithran said.

"It is not a
question of courage," Bane said. "It is common sense. Who amongst
you was witness to my battle with Arkonen?"

Mirra snorted.
"No one could have got close without being incinerated."

"Exactly."

"But I was
there, even though I do not remember it."

"You were
protected by my demons."

"Exactly.
Summon demons to protect me, a demon steed to carry me."

"No!" Bane
thumped the table, making the candles jump, but only Grem started.
Mithran regarded him stonily, while Mirra bowed her head and
clasped her hands.

"No, do not,
Mirra," Bane groaned, shaking his head, then he jumped up and swung
away as Lyriasharin appeared beside the table, her hands folded
before her. Mirra bowed her head, Grem and Mithran fell to their
knees, their chairs scraping as they vacated them.

Lyriasharin
gestured. "Arise, good people."

Bane turned to
face the goddess, inclining his head. "Lyriasharin."

"My Lord. You
are beset, it seems."

"Indeed."

"This angers
you."

"Of course it
damn well angers me."

The goddess
smiled. "You would rather they agreed with you mindlessly?"

"No, just see
common sense."

"My Lord, you
are the only one who doubts your abilities. You should be
flattered."

"I know my
abilities, and it has already been proven that I cannot defeat a
dark god. Why will no one believe that?"

Lyriasharin
moved closer. "You were brash. You did not think about how you were
going to defeat him. You were driven by hatred and a lust for
revenge, made fearful by Mirra's peril, and weakened by your
wounds. Many factors were against you then. If Mirra had not been
Arkonen's hostage, perhaps you would have found a way to beat him,
even destroy him."

Bane indicated
Mirra with an angry flick of his hand. "She wants to come with
me."

Lyriasharin
turned limpid eyes upon Mirra, smiling. "Bless you, My Lady."

"Bless her? It
is madness!"

"A little, but
mostly courageous and, since you will not go without her,
fortunate."

Mirra blushed
and smiled, then gasped and fell to her knees as Kayos appeared
beside Lyriasharin, his silver eyes and hair gleaming in the
candlelight. Grem and Mithran sank down again, bowing their heads.
Bane snorted and swung away once more.

Kayos made a
languid gesture. "Arise. Greetings, My Lord."

Bane turned to
scowl at him. "We can decide this matter without celestial
intervention."

"I understand
your anger."

"Of course you
do. I will wager you understand everything."

"Quite a lot,
yes. You have no wish to be dragged from your peaceful existence,
and I would not ask such a great favour of you if it was not
important. My granddaughter's pain is endless, Bane."

"And if I was
not... what I am, you would have no way of saving her."

"Yes. But you
are what you are, and for that I am truly grateful." He paused,
considering Bane. "I want to show you something before you
decide."

"I have
already decided."

"You should
see it anyway." Kayos waved a hand, and an image appeared in the
air above the table. A beautiful woman lay in the grip of a
seething sea of grotesque dark creatures. They tore at her
tattered, shimmering white raiment and flesh with clawed hands that
left glowing wounds. She writhed, her face twisted, her mouth open
in a silent scream. Silken skeins of dark golden hair swirled
around her head, and her creamy skin was flushed with exertion, her
lips twisted with pain, her eyes stark with it.

"This is how I
found her," Kayos said.

Within the
Eye, the dark creatures scattered as a fire demon in true form
waded into the fray until the goddess lay in the midst of its
flames, her flesh glowing golden as she burnt. She thrashed, and,
although the image was silent, Bane could hear her terrible screams
in his mind, for he had heard their like before. Streams of pale
light became visible, flowing into Ashynaria to replace the power
that was being used to keep her alive. The image swelled, and the
demon was struck aside by a shining white shield that lashed out
from behind the eyes that beheld the image, for this was Kayos'
memory.

The fire demon
dimmed and swirled, then turned its white-hot eyes upon its
attacker, causing Bane's hands to clench with futile anger. Kayos
smashed the demon until it weakened, and the dark creatures watched
the battle with glowing red eyes. Ashynaria lay on a cracked stone
floor, her wrists, ankles and neck shackled with black metal that
had an oily sheen, like the blade of Bane's dagger. Kayos fought
the demon for several minutes, then more appeared, and the image
faded.

"At that point
I knew Telvaron was on his way, and I had to leave." He looked at
Bane. "You could have defeated those demons with a single lash of
power, and freed her from the chains, which are made from duron, a
metal found only in dark realms, and which will only obey the will
of a dark god. I was able to give her only a few moments without
pain. You do not have to fight Telvaron, just free Ashynaria. That
is all we ask."

A soft sob
made Bane glance at Lyriasharin, whose cheeks were wet with tears.
Kayos put an arm around her shoulders, and she leant against him.
Bane jumped as a hand slipped into his, and he looked down at
Mirra.

"Please, Bane.
I want you to free her."

Bane walked
over to a chair and sank down on it. Mirra settled on his lap and
twined her arms around his neck, burying her face in his hair. He
looked up at Kayos.

"I do not want
to do this."

"I
understand."

"How long will
it take to get there?"

Lyriasharin
slumped with a soft cry, and Kayos patted her shoulder. "That
depends on what hazards we meet. If all goes well, about a
year."

"I require an
oath from you."

"Name it."

"If I am
unable to, you will protect Mirra."

Kayos nodded.
"I swear it."

"I'm coming
too," Grem declared.

"And me!"
Mithran chimed in, not to be outdone.

"No." Bane
shook his head. "It is too dangerous."

"All the more
reason," Grem said. "You'll need us."

"Grem can
teach me to use a sword," Mithran added.

"No. Mirra at
least is immune to the black fire, and she is hard to kill when she
has her power. You two would only be liabilities."

"We would
not." Mithran scowled. "Whatever else you are, you're still my son,
and you'll obey me. We're coming."

Bane eyed him,
a slight smile tugging at his lips. "It is indeed a son's duty to
obey his father, and I am surprised you failed to mention it
before. However -"

"No. You'll do
as you’re told. Your mother would have walloped you for disobeying
either of us."

Bane sighed,
and Mirra whispered, "He is as stubborn as you are."

"I know," he
whispered back.

"Then unless
you want to debate this all night, you may as well agree."

Bane glanced
at Kayos, who looked amused and irritated, but clearly had no
intention of intervening.

Mithran
nodded, his eyes bright. "Good, that's settled then. When do we
leave?"

Kayos turned
to Lyriasharin. "I will spend a few days with my daughter, whom I
have missed these past thousand years. Make your preparations.
Perhaps you can find more volunteers to join our merry throng."

Lyriasharin
took her father's hand with a smile, and they vanished. Grem let
out a pent breath, sagging, and Mithran looked thoughtful.

"We'll need
provisions, ropes, clothes, weapons and tools. I'll go to the
village and buy them tomorrow."

Bane shook his
head. "Bring only your weapons and spare clothes. All else, Kayos
can provide."

Mithran sat on
the chair beside Bane. "This will be a grand adventure."

"More like a
torturous ordeal filled with hardship, danger and death. I wish you
would reconsider, Father."

"No. If I stay
here I'll just sit around wondering what you're doing and worrying
about you and Mirra. I want to be there to help you if I can, guard
your back and advise you, as I couldn't while you were growing
up."

"That was no
fault of yours."

"But this time
it would be."

Bane gazed at
the Realm Gate, studying the intricate patterns and carvings that
covered it. Some of the runes he recognised, others he had not seen
before, and the way in which they were used puzzled him. He sensed
powerful wards of warning and defence woven into the fabric of the
portal, directed towards the God Realm beyond. Kayos stood with his
daughter, cupping her cheek as he gazed deep into her tearful eyes.
Mirra stood beside Bane, her hand in his, and Grem waited nearby
with Mithran, both gazing around at the magnificent Gate Hall and
the glowing gardens outside. They wore hardy clothes and chain
mail, swords at their sides, daggers sprouting from their belts and
water skins slung over their shoulders.

Two Overworld
weeks had passed since Lyriasharin had asked for his aid, and he
had spent the time searching within himself for guidance and
pondering this new path that now stretched ominously before him.
The prospect of putting the people he cared about in so much danger
had kept him awake many nights, but Mirra had divined the source of
his unease and pointed out that Kayos would protect all of them
without Bane extracting another oath from him, because he was a
light god. More than that, the choice to come on the quest had been
theirs, and they had the right to control their destinies.

The prospect
of facing another dark god, one even more powerful than Arkonen,
still filled him with dread, however. He had fought Arkonen to save
the Overworld for Mirra's sake, but this dangerous adventure would
gain him nothing if Mirra chose not to accept his gift. The
prospect made him uneasy, and he wavered, tempted to revoke his
agreement and go back to his peaceful existence. The fact that a
powerful light god, perhaps the most powerful of all, would be at
his side to help him allayed his concerns somewhat.

Bane sighed,
gazing at the massive Gate. He was not eager to see what lay beyond
it, and waited for Kayos to bid his daughter a fond farewell. The
Grey God kissed her brow and stepped back, and Lyriasharin
approached Bane, laying a hand on his arm in a gesture of trust and
affection that he had always appreciated.

"I will miss
you, Bane." She reached up to run her fingers down his cheek. "Be
careful. I fear the God Realm is a vast and terrifying place. I
would not like you to come to harm."

"Nor would
I."

The goddess
turned to Mirra. "Look after him, My Lady. He will need your wise
council and comfort. The path you have chosen, though a difficult
one, is brave and worthy."

"Thank you,
Lady."

Lyriasharin
smiled at Mithran and Grem, who bowed. "You are courageous men, and
I applaud you. Mithran, your son does you great honour, be proud of
him."

"I am,
Lady."

The goddess
stepped back, and Bane faced the Gate as Kayos took something from
his pocket that shone like a star and touched it to the mighty
portal. The Gate chimed, filling the air with sweet notes that
echoed around the vast hall. The sound chilled Bane's heart and
made his hackles rise, though he had no idea why. Mirra's hand
tightened on his, and Mithran and Grem tensed. The Gate glowed, its
chiming peals shivering the air, and Bane glanced at Lyriasharin,
who bit her lip. She flung him a tight smile when she noticed his
scrutiny, then her eyes flicked back to the Gate.

The chimes
stopped, and the locks disengaged with a soft grating of stone in
the leaden silence that followed. The huge door swung inwards
slowly, revealing a yawning abyss of darkness beyond, which
swallowed the pale light of Eternity. Kayos stepped into it,
vanishing as if he had passed through a wall of darkness. After a
moment's hesitation, Bane followed with Mirra close beside him. He
found solid footing that sloped downwards, and advanced cautiously.
When it levelled off, he turned to look back at the Gate, which
appeared to be too far away, a small rectangle of brilliant light.
It narrowed and vanished with a faint boom, and he glanced down as
Mirra's grip on his hand tightened. She frowned, holding her
stomach, and Grem and Mithran also looked ill. Bane realised that
the dark power around them was intense, and extended the protective
shield that had automatically enveloped him in the presence of so
much dark power. The trio relaxed, Grem and Mithran looking
puzzled, while Mirra cast him a grateful smile.

Lines of white
fire hissed across the Realm Gate, some extending from it for a
short distance, and Bane moved away, their power making his skin
prickle. He eyed the white wards that protected the Realm Gate,
making mental notes for future reference. Since Kayos had built
this domain, it stood to reason that these wards were stronger than
most. The white wards shimmered with blue as the dark power around
them warred with it, giving off a harsh light.