Drayshina turned to him and smiled. "You must be tired."
"A little."
"Your mortal form requires rest." She studied him. "Kayos has informed me that you requested the aid of an angel. She will be eager to claim her reward, but we will delay her until you are ready."
Bane's brows rose. "I hardly think that she is in any position to make demands of me."
"Yet she will. Unfortunately the meddlesome children of the six who tried to create perfection can and do make demands upon us, and if we do not fulfil them they can become troublesome. Lesser gods are even judged and brought to penance by them."
"Lesser gods?"
Drayshina nodded. "You are young, and know little of the world, but all manner of things exist beyond your ken. Those who gain godhood through the charity of a greater god are lesser gods, such as Arkonen was before Lyriasharin returned him to his mortal existence. When he rose again as a dark god he became far more powerful, and made himself a greater god."
"So what am I?"
She smiled. "A foolish question, My Lord. You were born a god."
"But I was made one too."
"With the exception of the Seven, so were we all, in one way or another. I am the natural child of Ordur and his beloved Laryinias, daughter of Kayos. Lesser gods are those who are granted godhood after their birth, or are sired by a mortal god upon a woman."
"Are there any such in your domain?"
She inclined her head. "There were a few, but how many have survived Vorkon's reign is unknown as yet."
"Strange that I have not encountered any."
"Not strange at all, My Lord, they would fear you greatly." She walked to the edge and gazed down at the sea. "Even I, who am a greater god, fear you still. The lesser gods are not powerful, and if they return to the Forever they lose their godhood, which is why most choose to stay in the Lightworld, where they have the power to clothe themselves in illusory forms."
"Why did you make them gods?"
"They each performed a great service, or became my friends, or both. I offered it as a reward, some accepted, others did not."
"And they are all light gods?"
She laughed. "No, My Lord. They are good, but they cannot control the white fire. Only a greater god can do that. They use the blue power and command the elements, that is all."
"As I do when I cast out the evil."
"Yes." She turned to face him. "But even then you have far more power than them."
Bane sighed and rubbed his brow again, closing his eyes as fatigue settled into his bones like lead. "I must rest."
"Of course. Shall I return us?"
"No. I wish to be alone."
Drayshina nodded, looking concerned, then stepped back as he Moved in a chilling surge of dark power.
The goddess folded her hands and reappeared in the cell where Kayos sat before the Eye, Syrin lounging on the bed behind him. He rose and greeted her with a smile, taking her hands to draw her close and kiss her brow. When he stepped back, he looked deep into her eyes.
"Well done, sweet child. I trust you were not too greatly distressed?"
She suppressed a faint shiver. "I find him unnerving still, and his power frightens me, but his proximity was not as loathsome as I had feared."
"That is good. Your acceptance of him will help to undo all the wrongs that have been done to him in the past. When he casts out the power, meet with him again."
"I shall." She disengaged her hands and cast him a coy smile. "He is beautiful."
Kayos raised his brows. "More so than I?"
"You are my grandfather, my dearest lord. Besides my father, you are the finest of all the gods in my eyes."
"As it should be."
"Do you know where he has gone?"
Kayos glanced at the Eye, which was filled with swirling sparkles. "He is blocking me, from which I deduce a need on his part for privacy."
She nodded. "He said as much. He is resting."
Syrin stood up. "I can find him."
Drayshina turned to the angel. "You will leave him be until he has rested."
Syrin glanced at Kayos. "My task for him requires the use of his power, if he casts it out -"
"Then he will Gather it again if he chooses to do as you ask."
She sank back down on the bed. "Very well."
Drayshina turned to Kayos. "Do you think that he will?"
"Who knows what a dark god will do? I cannot predict him."
"You know him better than any other here."
Kayos nodded. "I think he will be more amenable if he is allowed to rest from the influence of the evil for a time."
Syrin stood up again. "The task must be performed soon, or it will be too late. I shall watch over him until he wakes."
Drayshina shook her head. "Do not wake him, he is exhausted."
"As you wish, My Lady." The angel smiled and stepped into the air, vanishing.
Kayos chuckled. "Are you the guardian of his sleep now, dear one?"
"He has earned it." She turned away. "He seems so..." She gestured. "I do not know how to describe it. He is so powerful, and yet..."
"So mortal?"
"Yes. Precisely. We associate mortality with our creations, and he is one of yours. Lesser beings, weak and flawed, whose short lives are mostly wasted on empty desires and thwarted dreams. Yet he is a greater god who could destroy us, but at the same time, it is within our power to end his mortal existence."
Kayos shook his head and sat down. "To do so would be sheer folly. I for one would certainly not wish to face his wrath when he regains his power as a true dark god. Even though he is tar'merin, he is more than capable of lashing out in anger."
"I did not say that it would be wise to do so, only that it could be done."
"And from that you deduce that we have some modicum of power over him?" Kayos sighed and glanced at the Eye, then waved it out of existence. "Yes, it could be done, but I shall strive to thwart any who attempt it, and will punish them should they succeed. He is my son."
Drayshina sank down on the chair opposite. "If he did not require your aid to raise up his beloved, do you think that he would protect you also?"
Kayos’ silver eyes glowed in the light of the lamp on the table. The silence stretched for several minutes, during which time they remained as still as stone. Finally he broke the tableau. "Yes."
"A little while ago, you could not predict a dark god."
"Not when it comes to the trivial demands of an angel, no."
"Yet if you are certain, why did it take you so long to answer?"
Kayos smiled and laced his fingers. "I did not say that I was certain. You asked if I thought that he would, and I do. That is not a certainty, merely a hypothesis."
Drayshina leant back and summoned a cup of ambrosia. "A bold one."
Another goblet appeared in Kayos' hand. "I will make an even bolder one, dear child. I shall hypothesise that if your life was in danger, he would protect you, too."
"Bold indeed. On what basis?"
"He is human."
"Ah. So you rely upon his humanity, not that he is tar'merin."
Kayos sipped his ambrosia. "Being tar'merin only preserves him from becoming evil, not from its influence. I believe that his goodness of spirit would triumph over the dark power's whisperings."
"Let us hope, should you ever need his protection, that you are right."
He chuckled. "I have managed fairly well on my own until now."
"But now you venture into danger, seeking out a dark god to free your granddaughter. Bane is powerful, but young and inexperienced. He allowed Vorkon to capture me. It could happen to you as well."
Kayos' smiled faded. "He also cast Vorkon down and freed you, let us not forget."
"Vorkon did not wish my destruction. Who is to say that this other dark god, who is old and wise by your account, will not merely destroy you?"
"I, too, am old and wise, dear child, more so than you, Bane and Telvaron put together. Do
not fear for me."
Chapter Thirteen
The Curse
Syrin watched Bane from the end of the bed, marvelling at the odd gentleness of his features in repose. He had removed only his boots, and his cloak spread around him in a glistening crimson pool. It had taken her a long time to find him, since he had chosen to rest in an empty room in Kyan's palace instead of the church, and the building was vast. She had sought him in the church first, thinking that he would seek the company of his wife and friends, but it seemed that he wanted the restfulness of solitude. He still possessed his dark aura, so evidently he had been too tired to cast out the power.
Bane sighed, and his eyes flicked open, impaling her with their brilliance. His brows drew together, and he stretched, tendons cracking, then sat up, running a hand through his hair. Rubbing his face, he yawned and shot her an irritated glance.
"Must you hover over me constantly, Syrin?"
"I was merely waiting for you to awaken, My Lord."
Bane glanced at the window, through which sunlight poured. "How long have I slept?"
"The entire night and half of yesterday."
He summoned a cup of ambrosia. "What do you want?"
"You asked for my aid, now I ask for a favour in return."
"Why do I get the impression that you do not usually phrase your requests so politely?"
She looked down at her hands. "You are right."
"Kayos warned you, did he not?"
"Yes."
Bane glared at her, and left the goblet hovering beside him to pull on his boots. Rising, he stretched again, drank some more ambrosia, then dismissed the cup and strode to the door, yanking it open. Two maids, who were walking past laden with laundry, yelped at his sudden appearance and cringed against the wall, their eyes wide. Bane snorted and marched away down the corridor. Syrin followed.
Evidently his description had reached the palace servants, and if any doubt as to who he was remained, her presence certainly dispelled it. The maids watched them pass with wide eyes, their expressions a mixture of fear of him and wonder at the sight of Syrin. Bane found a door that led out of the palace and ducked through it, emerging into manicured gardens. The sunlight made him squint, and he grunted with annoyance.
Syrin decided to remove her unwanted presence, since it seemed to irk him, and stepped into a Channel, where she watched him. Several noble couples who were strolling amongst the hedgerows gaped at him, and he glanced around, discovering her absence. Bane swung away with a swirl of his cloak and vanished. Syrin hesitated, reconsidering her plans. Clearly he was not inclined to grant her favour, as Kayos had warned her, and gods were illusive with their method of instant translocation, foiling her wish to stay with him.
It would take some time to find him again, for she could only walk the Channels where she presumed him to be until she spied him, a method that made his shield against Eyes useless, but was tedious. Since she had no idea where he had gone, finding him would be difficult unless she sought help. Walking along the Channel for a short distance, she found the one that existed in the room where the Grey God rested and stepped across into it.
Kayos looked up when she emerged from the air, and Drayshina turned to regard her with a look of mild inquiry.
"The Demon Lord is awake," Syrin announced, unable to hide her disgruntlement.
Kayos smiled. "I trust that you did not wake him."
"I did not."
"Yet you managed to annoy him."
"I did nothing to offend him."
Kayos sighed and shook his head. "I would say that your very presence irritated him."
"It would seem so."
"Have you made your request?"
"No." She hesitated. "He has left the palace."
"Probably to cast out his power."
"He must not."
"Then you had better tell him so."
Syrin's brow wrinkled as she considered the prospect of persuading the Demon Lord to do anything, which, judging by her success so far, was not going to be easy. Kayos was teasing her, enjoying her inability to demand a favour of the young dark god, and she was unwilling to admit her failure. Angels did not fail. She had learnt that in her childhood, centuries ago. Light gods sometimes required their aid, and in return granted favours that could not be denied. But Bane was not a light god, and therefor did not fall under the auspices of the pact. She would not be blamed for failing to exact a favour from him, but she did not wish to give up so easily, and she also did not want to ask Kayos for help in the matter, since he would deduct it from his own favour.
Light gods were inclined to drive hard bargains when it came to their favours, for they disliked fulfilling them. Not because they did not wish to help people, but because they were averse to revealing their presence, which was sometimes required. She was reluctant to admit that she had lost Bane, and also to forfeit any of her hard won payment by asking Kayos for aid, either in finding him or persuading him. She decided to try a roundabout method.
"I require your presence also, Lord Kayos, to tell you my favour."
The Grey God's eyes twinkled. "No you do not. You need my help to persuade Bane to grant you the favour that you require of him."
Syrin bridled, disliking his perceptiveness. "That should not be necessary."
"Indeed? And how much experience do you have in dealing with dark gods, Syrin?"
She hesitated, torn between her wish to preserve the favour that he owed her and her longing for Bane to fulfil his. He was right, she had no idea how to persuade the Demon Lord to do anything. "Your help would be appreciated."
"It will be part of my favour."
"As you wish."
"Good. Although, if he does not wish to be found, I will not be able to do so either." Kayos stood, waving away his goblet, and Drayshina rose as well.
"I shall accompany you."
Kayos inclined his head and created an Eye. The swirling sparkles cleared to reveal Bane standing in a forest glade, his black clothes blending into the dark trees beyond him.
Kayos studied him. "Well, he does not seem averse to being found by me."
Waving away the Eye, he Moved. Drayshina followed, and Syrin stepped into the Channel. Once within it, she found one that existed in the forest glade and stepped across.
Bane looked up as the god and goddess appeared a short distance away, his brows drawing together. Kayos walked closer, glancing at Syrin as she stepped from the air beside him. Bane shot the angel an irritated look as Kayos stopped before him. The Grey God studied him, his gaze settling on the wound on Bane's shoulder. He clasped it, and Bane's expression became blank as he concentrated on leashing his power so that Kayos could heal him. When the scratches had become faint scars, Kayos released him.
Bane rubbed his shoulder. "Had you waited a little while longer, you could have done that more easily."
"So, you are here to cast out your power."
"Yes."
Kayos sighed. "Syrin has a request first. Since we asked for her help, we now owe her a favour."
"You owe me two, Lord Kayos," Syrin pointed out.
"Two miracles, no doubt."
The angel smiled. "Naturally."
"I am in no mood for granting favours," Bane growled, "I have carried the power for too long."
"That which I would ask of you cannot wait, Demon Lord," Syrin stated. "If it is not done soon it will be too late."
"Ask it of Kayos then. He is in the miracle business, not me."
"His power is not suited to the task."
"Mine might not be either, if you tax my good will now. I have little left."
Syrin stepped closer. "You owe me."
Kayos pulled her back as Bane loomed over her, his eyes chilly. He met Kayos' stern glance, almost toe to toe with the light god, and Drayshina held her breath in the tense silence. Kayos' eyes narrowed.
"She meant no offense. She longs to help some unfortunate, but has not the power to do it herself. She did help you."
&
nbsp; "As I recall, I did not require her aid."
"But she was prepared to give it. She went with you."
"I have helped her already. The debt is settled."
Syrin slipped from Kayos' grasp and approached Bane again, looking determined. "I came to your aid when you lay bleeding, and called out for help."
Bane raised a finger, which made Kayos and Drayshina tense. "And I saved a town for you."
"The favour is small, tar'merin. A mere trifle to one of your power."
Bane glanced at Kayos, then took hold of Syrin's gossamer attire, dragging her closer. She met his eyes without fear as he placed his other hand upon her shoulder. He wondered if her lack of fear was born of courage, arrogance or ignorance.
"Tell me, angel, are you immune to my power?"
"No."
"Yet you do not fear me."
Syrin shook her head. "If you kill me, you will never receive aid from an angel again."
"And who says that I will ever need it?"
"You might."
Bane glanced at Kayos. "Would you try to protect her?"
The Grey God shook his head, looking uneasy. "I could not."
"Nor could anyone punish me, so what is to stop me from ridding myself of such an irritating creature as this?"
Drayshina stepped forward, but Kayos grasped her arm, stopping her with a shake of his head.
Bane noticed her movement and glanced at her. "Well, Drayshina, will you pit yourself against a dark god?"
"Only to ask your mercy, My Lord."
"I have none." Bane looked down at Syrin again. "Are you afraid to die, Syrin?"
"You would kill me for asking a favour of you?"
"No, for being a damned nuisance, following me around, waking me up, and generally annoying me."
"I did not -"
"And arguing with me."
Syrin looked away and mumbled.
Bane leant closer. "What was that?"
"I will not ask the favour, My Lord."
"Good, but that does not make your previous actions any less irritating."
"I shall desist."
Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows Page 18