Dark God

by T C Southwell

  The cutter was a member of the abbey, and retreated at Jassid's command. Mirra wailed in despair and collapsed sobbing on the bed. The argument continued to rage unabated around her, until she jumped up and ran out. Tallis dashed after her, the arguing women following more slowly. Mirra vanished into a room down the passage, slamming the door. As Tallis reached it, the bolt slid into place with a clunk. She pounded on the wood, filled with an inexplicable dread.

  "Mirra! Open the door!"

  Mirra's reply came faintly from within. "Go away! I will do it myself!"

  "No!" Tallis turned as Ellese strode up. "She is going to cut herself."

  Jassid scowled. "She cannot. The pain will stop her."

  Ellese looked furious. "She can. She has power from the healing; she will feel no pain. You should not have interfered, Jassid. She is my healer, not yours."

  "For a girl so young to lose an arm is unforgivable. This decision was rushed, ill considered. Given time -"

  "Given time it will probably drive her mad."

  Jassid shook her head. "A few more days would make no difference to her mental state, but may give the healing a chance to work. I will have all my healers work on this -"

  "You do not know what a few more days will do to her mental state. I have touched that arm, and I say that healing will not work. She knows it too, and she is the most powerful healer in the land. Or have you forgotten?"

  A crash and tinkle came from within the room, and Ellese turned to pound on the door. "Mirra! Wait! I will sort this out!"

  Tallis pushed through the healers who had gathered outside the door and ran down the corridor, lifting her skirt so that it did not impede her, her bare feet slapping on the floor.

  Bane swung around when she burst into his room, a frown furrowing his brow. He was alone, and in the process of dressing, his shirt undone.

  Tallis gasped, "Come quickly, we need your help!"

  His frown deepened. "What now?"

  "It is Mirra!"

  Bane crossed the room so fast it seemed as if he had Moved, reappearing beside her. "What is wrong with her?"

  "Hurry!" She grabbed his arm and tugged him after her, heading back down the corridor. Bane trotted beside her, his occasional stumbles reminding her that he was still weak.

  "I could get there faster if you just told me where to go, girl," he said.

  Tallis pointed down the corridor. "Down there!"

  He snorted. "That is a big help."

  They rounded the last corner, and Bane stopped as he encountered the shouting match going on outside the room in which Mirra had shut herself. Ellese pounded on the door, demanding to be let in. Jassid shouted at some of Ellese's healers, who accused her of endangering Mirra's life. Jassid's healers defended her vociferously, and the two groups seemed on the verge of coming to blows.

  That, Tallis knew, would never happen. Even a dispute such as this was unheard of amongst healers. Bane strode up to them, and they fell silent at the sight of him, moving out of his path. The air crackled with the tension of his presence, and anger radiated from him in palpable waves. Ellese turned at the sudden silence behind her, and a pin dropping would have sounded like a thunderclap.

  Bane frowned at Ellese. "What is going on here?"

  She shot Jassid a hard look. "Mirra has locked herself in there. She will not let me in, and I am afraid she is going to do something foolish. I have to stop her." She addressed one of her healers. "Go and fetch Martal, tell him to bring enough men to break down a door. Hurry!"

  Bane walked up to the door, and Ellese put out a hand to stop him, then snatched it back with a yelp as he vanished with a surge of dark power that made the healers recoil.

  The Demon Lord reappeared just inside the door, and his gaze settled upon the girl who stood on the far side of the room, clutching a kitchen knife. Mirra stepped back and hid her swaddled arm behind her.

  "Go away."

  "No."

  Bane pulled back the bolt and opened the door. Ellese swept in and headed for Mirra, her hands spread in a placating gesture.

  "It is all right, child. We will do as you wish."

  Mirra's eyes remained fixed on Bane. "Get him out of here."

  Ellese turned to him. "Please go now. You have done all you can."

  "No."

  Mirra shouted, "Get him out of here!"

  Ellese tried to push Bane out of the door, but he refused to budge. "Bane, please go," she begged.

  He frowned at Mirra. "Tell me what is wrong."

  "No!" She began to weep, turning away as if she could not bear the sight of him.

  Ellese thumped his chest. "Bane, get out!"

  "No."

  Brushing her aside, he walked towards Mirra, who shrank into the corner and raised the knife. Bane eyed the weapon, then his eyes flicked to her face. He knew she would not harm him; her threat was utterly against her nature. He stopped before her and gestured. The knife vanished, and Mirra stared at her empty hand. Her weeping redoubled, and she turned her face to the wall. Bane touched her shoulder and jumped back with a hiss of surprise. For an instant he was frozen with shock, then he stepped forward and gripped the front of her robe, dragging her away from the wall. He turned her to face him, ignoring her struggles, and ripped the swaddling from her arm.

  "That bastard!"

  Mirra wailed and sank down in a heap, trying to hide her shame in the folds of her robe. Bane lowered himself to one knee beside her, his heart thudding with fury.

  "Damn him. If he was not already dead I would kill him."

  She bowed her head, her voice dead and hopeless. "Go away, please, Bane."

  "It is all right." He hesitated, then smiled. "I can help you."

  Ellese raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes shimmering with tears, and glanced at Tallis, who had elbowed her way to the front of the gawping throng in the doorway.

  "Goddess, have I been so wrong?" Ellese murmured, and gestured to the healers who filled the portal. "Get out, all of you. Tallis, you may stay."

  Mirra raised her head, her eyes seeking Bane's with a desperate hope shining in their depths. "Can you?"

  He nodded. "Whatever the Black Lord can do, I can undo."

  "Goddess!" Ellese smacked a hand on her brow. "I am an idiot."

  Tallis grinned, her eyes bright.

  Bane held out his hand. "Give me your hand." Mirra put her good hand in his, and he smiled. "No, the other one."

  Mirra lifted it as if unsure that it would obey her, shuddering as the scales rasped and the talons clicked together. Bane grasped it and closed his eyes. Four of the runes on his chest glowed with dull red light as he started a Gather, drawing the dark power from her flesh. It poured into him, a staggering amount for her to have contended with for so long, enough to transform ten people instantly to monsters. He dispersed some of it, filling the room with chill shadows that made the healers pale and gulp. The transformation wavered, the scales shimmering, then it flicked across onto his arm. He released her hand and raised the scaly limb, which flickered and wavered on his arm, studying it.

  "This is the last harm he will ever do to you."

  Bane gestured with the clawed hand, and the monstrous limb vanished, leaving his arm unscathed. Mirra looked down at her arm, which was restored to its former size and shape, save for some mottled red marks that melted away as her power healed them. She looked up at Bane, her eyes overflowing with joy and relief, then flung her arms around his neck and hugged him with all her strength. Bane rocked back on his heels in surprise, his masterful composure washed away by sudden uncertainty and confusion. The glowing runes died as he leashed the power, and his hands rose hesitantly to hold her as she wept against his chest.

  Ellese gripped Tallis' shoulder and pushed her to the door, opening it enough to let them slip out, then closed it in the curious faces of the healers outside. She confronted Jassid.

  "Problem solved. No amputation necessary."

  "How?"

  "Our resident god, how els
e?"

  Jassid's brows rose in surprise. "The Demon Lord?"

  "The one and only. I feel like a complete fool."

  The Lady stirred on her bed of glowing cloud, her eyelids flickering as the blue welts on her arm vanished. She sighed, a slight smile curving her lips. Her realm brightened, the opalescent sky turning to mother-of-pearl, the rocks igniting to diamond fire, the flowers shimmering like distant stars. She began to wake.

  Bane had never felt so awkward in his life. He had absolutely no idea what to do. Mirra seemed content to stay where she was forever, and he did not mind, but found that he wanted to push her away simply because the situation was so alien. He tried to rationalise it. She was grateful he had helped her, and this must be how humans showed gratitude.

  A part of him wanted to hold her tighter, but he was afraid of hurting her, and a strange, pleasant warmth suffused his chest. No one had ever hugged him before, and the fact that she did not seem to care that he was filled with the dark power made it all the more amazing. She had always shown a remarkable lack of fear, until she had seen him kill the emperor in the Old Kingdom. After that, he had not expected her to want to come close to him again.

  As if reading his mind, she loosened her hold and leant back to look up at him. "I am not afraid of you."

  He lowered his gaze to the floor. "That is... good... I suppose."

  "Yes, it is." She glanced at her arm. "I did not think anyone could help me, but I should have realised that you could."

  "So should the old woman. She is supposed to be wise."

  "Ellese? Yes, I suppose so. She was going to have it amputated. That is what I wanted."

  He frowned. "That would not have helped. The power was bound to you. It would simply have shifted to another part of you."

  Mirra looked sick. "I do not understand why it did not transform me entirely. I watched him turning people into monsters in the Old Kingdom. It was horrible."

  "You had help."

  "Whose?"

  He glanced up. "Your goddess, I think."

  "How do you know that?"

  "I do not, but it is the only explanation that makes any sense. She had to protect you because..."

  She tilted her head. "Because of what?"

  "Nothing."

  Bane leant back, rested on his arms and untwisted his legs to stretch them out.

  Mirra studied him, humbled to be so close to him, able to touch him without fear as she had longed to since she had first met him. Releasing one hand from his neck, she ran her fingers down his cheek, then stroked the curving feathers of hair that fell from the widow's peak. He closed his eyes. Emboldened by his acceptance of her touch, she leant forward and kissed him. He opened his eyes and stared at her in amazement, and she blushed, embarrassed by her temerity.

  "Thank you," she murmured.

  "For what?"

  She sat back and lifted her arm. "For this."

  "Oh, that." He regarded her in a puzzled manner. "Why did you do that?"

  "What? Kiss you?" Her face grew hot, but he did not seem to notice.

  "Yes. Do you do it with a lot of people?"

  "No."

  "Why did you do it to me?"

  Mirra giggled. "You did not like it?"

  "I did not say that."

  She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "I wanted to."

  "Why?"

  Her eyes filled with sadness, and she leant closer to run her fingers down his cheek again. "You are so beautiful. Who would not want to?"

  His brows shot up, and he pondered that, as if the concept of his appearance and its effect on other people had never occurred to him before. Ellese had told her what had happened with the mirror, and it amazed her that he had no idea what he looked like. Considering the reaction of people to him hitherto, he probably thought he was ugly.

  She asked, "You had a sweetheart, in the Underworld, did you not? Dorel? Did she not kiss you?"

  "No." He frowned. "She was not my sweetheart."

  "What happened to her?"

  "I destroyed her."

  "She has gone back to the Land of the Dead?"

  "No. She is obliterated. Gone forever."

  "Why?"

  He uncoiled, rising to his feet and staggering a little. "I do not want to talk about it."

  Mirra jumped up. "Well at least that is an improvement on 'do not question me, girl!'" She giggled.

  Bane's eyes slid away, and he bowed his head. "I treated you badly, and I am -"

  She clamped a hand over his mouth, making him start in surprise. "No, do not. I forgave you long ago. You have nothing to be sorry for. You saved my life more than once, and you saved the Overworld, all of us." Removing her hand, she gazed up into his eyes. "Will you do something else for me?"

  A vaguely suspicious look flitted across his face, reminding her of the old, distrustful Bane who had so frustrated her. Then he smiled. "If it is within my power."

  "It is. I want you to go to the Old Kingdom and undo what the Black Lord did to those people."

  "They are his worshippers."

  "They did not deserve what he did to them, and they certainly did not want it."

  "I am surprised he left any alive."

  "Not many. Will you do it?"

  Bane shrugged. "I have to go there to close the Source he opened. It would be a simple matter."

  "Thank you. I would like to come with you, to see you do it."

  "To make sure I do?"

  "No! Just to see you using your powers to do good."

  "A refreshing change."

  "Do not be bitter." She took his hand, glancing down at it. "Goddess! What happened to your hands?"

  "It is a long story."

  "Then let us go for a walk and you can tell me all about it. I long to be in the sun. Perhaps I can do something for your hands... Who healed you? Ellese?"

  He nodded, then smiled and made a brief gesture with his free hand. The scars vanished, and Mirra's eyes widened in amazement.

  "How did you...? You cannot heal yourself. Can you?"

  "No. It is an illusion."

  She giggled. "Very clever."

  Mirra tugged him into the corridor, where murmuring groups of curious healers lingered. When they spied Mirra they clustered around her to examine her arm, exclaiming in delight. Many of her friends from her old abbey hugged and kissed her, and Bane watched them with vague curiosity. Some of them cast him shy smiles of approval and awe, but none of them came too close to him, keeping a respectful distance.

  Only Jassid approached him, a determined glint in her brown eyes. She was a tall, spare woman with a gaunt, stern face framed by thin grey hair pulled back in a severe bun. He raised his chin when she stopped before him, meeting her eyes, and she smiled, making the sign of the Lady's blessing.

  "I would like to thank you, Demon Lord, for all you have done. For Mirra, and for the Overworld. May the Lady bless and keep you."

  Bane's face became expressionless, and Mirra realised that he had no idea how to respond to this. She grabbed his hand and dragged him away, leaving the abbess gazing after him with a disappointed expression. Mirra led him into the inner courtyard, where healers basked in the sun, and some cleared away the grey mud. The sun, still weak and intermittent, dried the slush, hardening it to the consistency of soft stone. Martal's men scraped it up and shovelled it onto the cart to be taken away and dumped. Mirra gazed around at the cracked walls, saddened by the damage that the abbey had suffered, while Bane squinted in the sunlight.

  "It seems we have a lot of work ahead of us, repairing all this," she commented.

  Bane cast a measuring glance at the damage. Raising a hand, he let shadows trickle from his fingers, and commanded them. The abbey shuddered, and the cracks closed with gritty grinding sounds as broken plaster rushed back into the walls. Men cowered, some throwing themselves down in the mud, and the horses pranced and shied. Faint screams came from within the abbey, and Bane’s gesture raised a fallen wall and sent broken glass drifti
ng back into the windows, making them whole.

  Mirra watched spellbound, her mouth open in amazement, as the mud in the courtyard rose in a grey blanket and drew together into a ball that drifted out over the walls. She sensed his power like a tension in the air, and a soft hum accompanied it. This, she realised, was because there were no wards. Without them, his power was practically unlimited, and he forced the domain's fabric to bend to his will with hardly any effort. A frightening thought, except that she trusted him. Repairing the abbey was a mere trifle to him, a gesture and a brief thought and it was done. Inconsequential, to someone who could raise mountains and reshape the land just as easily if he chose.

  Bane let his hand fall, and the power vanished. After a stunned moment, the men rose and stared around in amazement, then grinned and slapped each other on the back, wandering off to find some enjoyable pastime. Healers appeared in the doorways, their pale faces, taut with fright, relaxing into smiles as they realised who had caused the ground to shake.

  Mirra grinned. "Well, I was wrong. No work for us after all."

  Bane smiled, and they wandered on, into what had once been the orchard, now inhabited by bare, dead looking trees. Mirra went up to one and stroked its bark sadly, then shot Bane an impish smile.

  "You have had your turn to show off, now it is mine."

  Laying her hands on the tree, she raised her face to the sun and revelled in its warm touch as the power flowed like silk through her flesh. The light gilded her skin and ignited her hair in a pale halo. She sent it into the tree to nurse the dregs of life within it, encouraging the sap to rise and impart life to all its cells. Several minutes passed, then, with the slow grace of trees, tiny green buds appeared on its branches, swelling and opening little leaves to soak up the sun.

  Mirra stepped back as the leaves continued to unfurl, casting Bane a triumphant grin. He smiled, his eyes slits of blue fire.

  "You bring life, as I bring death."