A strange tickle in the back of his mind made him stiffen in surprise, ending his gloomy introspection. A yearning, sorrowful whisper called his name. The words were elusive, and he had to call them back from his memory and listen to them again. This time, he heard them clearly, and had no doubt as to who had spoken them. His heart warmed, and several doubts vanished. He rose and turned away from the lake, his cloak flaring, and Moved.
Mirra and Tallis sat some distance from the fire, away from its fierce heat and the trampling feet of the dancers who cavorted around it. Ellese had joined them, bringing a plate of food and sitting on the soft grass beside them.
Mirra's head jerked up as a sensation of illness rushed into the garden, and the bonfire roared. The wave of cold power was tangible.
The Demon Lord appeared beside the fire, his cloak swirling about him. The lurid light reddened his skin and threw shadows across his face, enhancing his demonic aspect. Most of him blended into the night, making him appear shrouded with evil power.
The dancers shrieked and dived into the darkness where their friends sat, then turned to gaze at the dark god who had appeared in their midst. A hush fell on the jubilant gathering as the quartet of amateur musicians that had been providing the music fell silent with a discordant thud of drums and yelp of fiddle. The fire roared, and Bane waved a hand at it, making the flames die down. Mirra sat frozen, staring at him in delight and breathless excitement. Tallis turned to her with wide eyes.
"It worked!"
Mirra nodded, her throat tight. "He came."
Bane walked towards her as the revellers relaxed and murmured amongst themselves. He stopped before her with a wry smile, and she rose to face him.
"You called?"
She nodded. "You heard me."
"So it seems. A novel experience."
"I hope you do not mind."
His smiled widened. "No."
"Where were you?"
He shrugged. "Thinking."
"Trying to decide what to do next?"
"Yes."
"And did you succeed?"
"I think so."
A qualm of trepidation twisted her heart, and she tried to find answers in his bland expression, but failed. "Will you tell me what you have decided?"
Bane glanced at Tallis and Ellese, who listened unashamedly, clearly curious about his plans for the future too. "Not here."
Ellese started to tug Tallis away, then stopped and groaned, gazing past Bane with a pained expression. He turned to find the reason for her dismay, and frowned.
Baron Martal strutted out of the gloom, his over-large chin jutting. He seemed to have found some courage, perhaps because he had faced the Demon Lord twice already and escaped unscathed. Mirra bit her lip, more nervous about Bane's reaction than Martal appeared to be. If the Baron goaded him into some angry act, it could ruin his future amongst his people and condemn him to being an outcast, or worse. Martal stopped several feet away, thinking, foolishly, that he was safer at a distance, as many had done before him. He glared at Bane.
"You are not welcome here, Demon Lord. Your sort has been banished, and you should join them."
Ellese stepped forward. "Martal, you have no right to -" She broke off as Bane raised a hand.
His eyes narrowed, and he addressed the portly Baron in a haughty tone. "Indeed. And who, may I ask, banished them?"
Martal raised his chin still more. "I do not deny that you had a hand in it, but you could not defeat the Black Lord. It was the Lady who banished him, not you."
Mirra started forward, a cry of denial on her lips, but Bane gripped her arm and glanced down at her. "I will deal with this."
"No! It is not fair! You saved us all. He has no right to be rude to you."
"Hush, it is all right."
Mirra shook her head. Bane did not deserve this, and she had called him here, not realising what would happen when he came.
The Demon Lord regarded Martal with cold eyes, his lip curling. "You are mistaken, Martal. The Lady helped, yes, but had she been able to do it alone, why did she let the Black Lord rise and ravage the land in the first place?"
Martal swelled with righteous indignation. "You did most of the ravaging! You are the one who broke the wards. You are responsible for countless deaths."
Bane glanced around at the pale faces of the people who had crept closer to listen to the altercation. "Yes, I am responsible for a lot of deaths, although I slew very few with my own hands, a tiny fraction of the countless number you claim. The men who followed me killed the rest. Ordinary men, like you, with more of a killing streak than I have. But I will wager that those men have returned home to their families and villages now, and they have been taken back, even forgiven for the crimes they committed."
Martal spluttered, "They were led astray! The blame does not fall on them. They followed you, listened to your words that corrupted their minds. You are responsible for what they did. Without you to lead them, none of this would have happened."
Mirra smiled at Bane's cleverness as he raised an enquiring brow. The Baron clearly did not realise what he had just said, for he continued to glare at Bane, whose expression became contemptuous.
"I led them, yes, but I did not win their loyalty with pretty words or empty promises. They flocked to my banner for the sake of glory, for the love of looting and conquest that all men harbour in their hearts, while others joined to save their lives. So it was cowardice or greed that drove them, which makes them worse than I, for the chain of responsibility does not end with me."
He glared at Martal. "I was corrupted by the Black Lord, torn from my mother's womb and raised in the Underworld. He made me hate the Overworld and all who dwelt in it. I was misled far more than the men who followed me. I did it out of loyalty, and I was influenced by the power he made me wield."
Bane paused. Apart from the fire's crackle, the silence was complete. Martal's eyes flicked to the audience, trying to gauge their reaction, which was hard to do, since they all looked at him blankly.
Bane continued, "I was led astray, yet I do not shirk the blame, nor do I ask forgiveness. When the Black Lord betrayed me, I realised that I had been tricked, and I set out to rectify my mistake. That I have done, with the help of the healers and the Goddess, and the victory you are celebrating here tonight is mine as much as theirs.
"The Lady claims responsibility for creating the Black Lord, and even her father Kayos had a hand in that mistake. So who is to blame? The men who did the killing? The one who led them? The one who corrupted the one who led them? The one who created the Black Lord, who corrupted me, who led the men? Or perhaps the fault lies with Kayos, who created all of us with flaws.
"Be careful when you allot blame, Martal. It sometimes leads to a long chain of people, and not all of them are bad. I have restored the wards, and the Black Lord will never rise again. I cannot bring back the people who perished, but I have ensured that no more will be slain by him, or his proxy. More than that, I cannot do."
The Demon Lord's gaze swept the silent people, daring anyone to argue with him. They muttered, and Martal looked deflated and furious, unable to refute the truth of Bane's words, yet clearly wishing he could. A tall, grey-eyed warrior stepped from the crowd and strode towards Bane with a determined air, and Mirra held her breath.
Martal grabbed the man as he walked past. "Do not touch him! He can kill you with a touch."
The soldier shook him off. "He can, but let's see if he will, since you haven't got the guts to trust him." He walked up to Bane and thrust out his hand.
Bane eyed it, looking puzzled, and Mirra thought the man would take offence, but he was evidently a clever fellow, and deduced Bane's confusion. "I would shake your hand, Demon Lord, and offer you my friendship."
Bane's eyes thawed a fraction, and he held out his hand, allowing the man to clasp his wrist in the manner warriors favoured. "I am not well-versed in human customs, but I understand that amongst them, friendship is the opposite of enmity."
"Without being burnt to a crisp," Martal muttered.
Bane smiled, ignoring the Baron. "I hope to reclaim some of that."
"I'm called Grem, Demon Lord, and if I may serve you, call on me."
Martal snorted. "Perhaps when he needs a sacrifice."
Ellese had evidently had enough of the sour Baron, for she took Martal's arm and led him towards the feast table.
Grem gazed after the Baron, shaking his head. "That's a bitter man. With almost his entire army gone, he has a big job ahead of him, finding new men and training them. Most of these who are left are mercenaries, like me. A man like him doesn't like to be outdone, even by a god." He bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll have some more food."
Bane watched him walk away, then held out his hand to Mirra. "Come."
She smiled and took it, and he led her towards the courtyard's gate. Tallis gazed after them with a forlorn expression.
"Where are we going?" Mirra asked.
"For a walk."
"It is dark."
"It will be dawn soon."
Bane led her across the rolling meadows to a distant hilltop, where he stopped. Mirra sat on the damp grass, her legs aching. Bane settled beside her, stretched out and leant back on his hands. She longed to hold him, to be enfolded in his arms and lie against his chest, but did not dare to touch him. He was a god, after all, and she could not take liberties with him, even if she loved him. Certainly not without his consent or even encouragement, and, since she had no experience with matters of the heart, she had no idea how to initiate an intimate moment.
Healers were not forbidden to love a man, and many married their sweethearts. Mirra had seen boys and girls flirting, even glimpsed lovers kissing in an orchard once, but this was not the same. When she had hugged him before, she had sensed his shyness and awkwardness, and it did not seem fitting to do that to him. She smiled as she recalled the brief moment of closeness she had shared with him after he had removed the curse from her arm. The sky brightened to pink, and the silence enfolded them.
His soft voice broke it, sending a shiver down her spine. "Ask any question you wish. I will answer it."
Mirra hesitated as dozens of questions presented themselves. She chose the most obvious one. "What are you going to do now?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On you."
Her breath caught and her heart leapt, starting to pound. She tried to see beyond his slight, amused smile, but failed. The clouds on the horizon glowed with golden glory, reflecting the light of the rising sun.
"Why does it depend on me?"
Bane sat up and took her hands. "Because I will do as you wish. What would you like me to do?"
Love me, her heart cried, but she swallowed the words. "Will you give up the dark power?"
"Yes."
She smiled. "Take me with you, wherever you go."
"Why?"
"Because I want to stay with you."
He inclined his head. "Then you shall."
Mirra could hardly breathe, and studied his face for some hint of his feelings, but his expression revealed nothing. She bit her lip. The question she longed to ask stuck in her throat, and her mouth was dry.
Bane leant closer, his eyes intent. "Ask me. I will tell you anything you want to know."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
She met his gaze, her heart quailing. "Do you love me?"
He smiled. "Yes."
Mirra sat stunned, unable to believe it, even though Ellese had been so certain of it. She had not had the courage to let herself dare to hope it. Arkonen's poisonous words had made her doubt it, and telling Tallis had been more wishful thinking than certainty. With one word he had made all her dreams come true, and, in that instant, she was happier than she had ever thought possible. He lifted her hand and placed it against his cheek, as if sensing her longing to touch him.
"I love you." His smile widened. "I hope that is the right way to say it."
"Yes. It is." She flung her arms around his neck and embraced him. "And I love you."
Bane held her, his cloak enfolding her in his warmth, and she relaxed against him, her heart overflowing. He lay back on the grass, holding her on his chest, and she raised her head to gaze down at him.
"You have much to teach me," he murmured. "How to be human, how to make you happy. This is what I want. Do not ever be afraid to speak your mind. I sense your hesitation, and it grieves me. Is it because of what I did to you?"
"No." She lowered her eyes. "It is because of what you are."
"Ah." He sighed. "Until Ellese told me, I was unaware of it. I do not want to be treated differently."
"But you may react differently."
"If I do, it is only because of my upbringing, and I want you to tell me when it is wrong. Will you do that?"
She nodded. His soft voice made her shiver, and she stroked his sleek hair where it lay across his shoulder. "You do not like to be touched, do you?"
He turned his head and gazed into the distance. "In the past, to be touched was to be hurt, and I learnt to retaliate." He looked up at her again. "But you have already taught me about gentleness, and it is a wondrous thing. I said many cruel things to you, but now I rescind them all. Do not be afraid to touch me. Ask as many questions as you want, and take as many liberties with my person as you wish."
She giggled and traced the bridge of his nose with her finger. "Like this?"
"Yes." His eyes roamed over her face, and he lifted a hand to cup her cheek. "You have seen me do terrible things. You know I can kill with a touch, yet you have never been afraid of me. You have a great deal of courage."
"There were times when I was afraid, but I always had faith."
"In what?"
"That you were not the monster everyone believed you to be. And, in the end, my faith was rewarded."
He caressed her cheek, frowning. "I was a monster. It was your faith that changed me. In some ways, I am a monster still, and I need you to teach me how to be good."
Mirra shook her head. "You have only to listen to your heart."
His eyes slid away to gaze at the rising sun. "All this, I did for you. This..." He gestured to the sun. "…And this..." He touched the grass. "All of it. Only for you. So you would be happy. I care nought for it. But if being what I am allowed me to do that, then I am glad that I am... what I am."
Tears stung her eyes, and she shook her head again.
He studied her, frowning slightly. "Why do you weep?"
"Because I am happy, and…. you should not be so humble. It is too much. I do not deserve to be the only reason -"
"Hush." He placed a finger on her lips. "I have no reason to be proud. I only restored what I destroyed. And you do deserve it. You saved me. I gave you back your world only so I might share it with you. For no other reason. You did cast a spell on me, and I am glad of it, for that is what saved me."
Mirra swallowed a lump and brushed at her eyes, forcing a wan smile. "Then I am glad, too." She hesitated, studying him. "What did you and the Lady speak about when I was injured?"
He looked away. "Hmmmmm. You certainly know which questions I like to answer the least."
"You do not have to answer."
"I have said I will, and so I shall. I do not renege on my word." He paused, his expression shuttered. "You were not injured, you died. I was... confused. Angry. I could not accept it. I threatened to destroy the world if the Goddess did not give you back to me."
Mirra's eyes widened. "And she did?"
He glanced at her and smiled. "Obviously, silly girl. But not before she made me see what I had been denying for so long."
"What was tha
t?"
He snorted. "Now you are being a dolt."
"That you cared for me."
"Yes. That was the reason I wanted you back."
"And so she brought me back to life?"
He looked away again. "In a manner of speaking."
"That does not answer my question."
Bane smiled. "She took the life force she needed to do it from me."
"What do you mean?"
"Several years of my life were given to you. But it is all right," he added at her horrified expression, "I have aeons to spare, and I would have given far more than she took."
"But still... That was... a great sacrifice. Did it hurt?"
He chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. "Yes."
"I am so sorry."
"It was worth it, and I will do it again if I must." He paused, eyeing her. "Will you do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Stop being sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. It was Dorel who killed you, and the Lady who caused me pain to bring you back, at my behest. None of it was your fault."
She sighed and shook her head. "You are without doubt the strangest person I have ever met. To sacrifice years of your life, for me."
"That, I did for myself. The rest, I did for you."
She laid her head on his chest and hugged him, and he enfolded her in his cloak as the sun rose in a golden glory, bathing them in its light.
Chapter Eighteen
Demon Lord
The next day, Bane informed Ellese of his decision to give up the dark power, which made her smile with relief and filled her eyes with a sparkle of joy. He opted to be purged the following day, since the healers were busy tending the gardens and had to prepare. He seemed a little depressed, and Mirra knew that giving up his power was not an easy thing for him. Ellese promised to find a blue mage to teach him how to use the blue fire, which only made him frown. He remained distant and preoccupied, and, when she could not cheer him up with idle banter, Mirra suggested they go to the nearby village and do a little shopping.
Dark God Page 33