Demon Lord III - Grey God

by T C Southwell

  Kayos stopped and created an Eye with a wave of his hand, interrupting Bane's reverie. He stepped behind the Grey God to peer over his shoulder, evincing a sidelong glance from Kayos, who clearly disliked having a dark god breathing down his neck. He hid his discomfort well, for Bane deduced it was considerably deeper than he let on. In the Eye, a strange heap lay on the red sand some distance ahead.

  "A mortal," Kayos murmured. "Still alive."

  Bane frowned at the distance speck. "Could it be a trap?"

  "No. The God Realm is too trackless to lay traps with living mortals as bait. There are many traps, but they are well concealed, and wait undiscovered for aeons before someone is unfortunate enough to step into them. This is just a hapless traveller the heat has brought low."

  Kayos dismissed the Eye and walked on, Bane trudging after him, almost ready for another rest stop. The area was neutral, and no blue aura surrounded Bane, while Kayos had only the faint silver one he always possessed. When they reached the crumpled form, Kayos bent to study it.

  "It is a woman."

  Bane created a seat and settled on it with a sigh, flexing his feet. Kayos expanded his shields to protect the unconscious woman, who lay face down on the burning sand. Mirra, Grem and Mithran dismounted, rubbed their posteriors and stretched. The two men watched the Grey God, while Mirra came over to sit on Bane's knee. Kayos rolled the woman onto her back, healing her with his touch, then conjured a flask of water and held it to her lips. She wore snug-fitting leggings under a long-sleeved, white velvet tunic that hung to mid-thigh, her feet shod in sturdy brown leather boots.

  Tangled dark brown hair framed a strong boned face with regular features and a generous mouth, and her tawny skin was streaked with dirt and sweat. Blue tattoos edged her hairline and ran down the centre of her forehead in a wavy line of tiny symbols. They continued down her neck and vanished beneath her clothes, to reappear on her hands in a series of intricate patterns that adorned each finger to its tip. Kayos indicated them with flick of his fingers.

  "A blue mage. That is how she has survived for so long. The nearest domain is far from here."

  Bane conjured a cup of ambrosia and sipped it. At least the woman had forced the Grey God to stop before Bane had to ask him to, and he hoped she would keep Kayos busy for a while. Other than that, he did not really care who or what she was, or why she was in the God Realm. Kayos trickled water into the woman's mouth until she swallowed, coughed and gasped. He persisted, and after a few minutes she gulped the water, taking hold of the flask with shaking hands. When she had drunk a fair bit, he pulled the flask away, foiling her feeble attempts to hang on to it. Her eyes opened, flicked over his face, and widened, her expression becoming awe stricken.

  "Lord," she whispered. "You answered my prayers. Thank you."

  Kayos shook his head. "I heard no prayers, child. Unless you speak my name, I cannot. Do you know my name?"

  "No, Lord."

  "Then to whom did you pray?"

  "Anyone."

  Kayos smiled. "Then no one heard it."

  "But you came. Thank you."

  "A lucky chance. You lay in my path."

  She became agitated, her expression changing from worshipful awe to anguished desperation. "Please, Lord, my goddess needs your help."

  "Hush. Drink. You are weak."

  "Yes, Lord."

  Kayos helped her to sit up, and her colour improved as she sucked the water down, her dark brown eyes losing their glassy look. Again he took the flask away before the water made her sick, and she gazed at him with mingled adoration and anguished hope.

  "I am Tarris, priestess of Drayshina, beloved Goddess of Arvanion, mid-realm of her domain."

  "I am Kayos."

  She gasped. "One of the Seven!"

  "Yes."

  "I am indeed honoured, Lord. I beg your aid. Without it, I despair, my world will be destroyed."

  "A dark god?"

  Tarris nodded. "He has risen from the Darkworld to wreak havoc and death amongst our people."

  "I fear I can do little to help your goddess, save perhaps to aid her flight."

  "She cannot flee. Demons and a dark goddess guard the Realm Gate."

  Kayos frowned. "She remains free?"

  "For the moment. He hunts her, but she eludes him. That is how I came to be here. She placed a glamour upon me, to give me her own appearance. Vorkon hunted me for weeks before he caught me, and then he was so enraged he had me thrown out of the Gate."

  "You are brave and loyal. Your goddess should be proud to have such a friend as you."

  Tarris shook her head. "I failed her, Lord."

  "I would like to help, but I cannot. Light gods cannot fight the darkness, else your goddess would have done it already."

  Her expression grew despairing. "She will be enslaved."

  "She told you everything, I see."

  "I am her priestess. She confided in me when she placed her glamour upon me. She feared I would be slain in her service."

  "Unusual. But there may be a chance to save your goddess. There is one who can help, if you can persuade him."

  A tremulous smile tugged at her lips, and she blinked rapidly, her eyes glimmering. "Speak his name, great lord, and I shall pray to him with all the fervour in my heart."

  "Indeed I shall, but you have no need to pray. He sits on yon rock behind me, and his name is Bane, the Demon Lord." Kayos indicated Bane with a tilt of his head.

  She studied Bane with a frown. "Is he a black mage? How can he help us?"

  "He is not a black mage, child, he is a dark god."

  Her eyes widened and her mouth twisted. "Lord, you are enslaved?"

  "No." He smiled. "He is tar'merin. He walks in the light."

  Tarris stared at Bane, who snorted and sipped his ambrosia, disliking the attention. "Tar'merin?"

  "Incorruptible. He can help you."

  "But will he? I know of no dark god who fights for the light."

  Kayos nodded. "There have been a few over the aeons, but the last died so long ago that only the gods who knew him and called him friend remember his name. I was not one of them, but I have heard of him. His legend lives still. This one is a mortal youth, but powerful."

  "Vorkon too is young and powerful, Lord, but not mortal." Her eyes flicked to Mirra, seated in the crook of Bane's arm, a mixture of amazement and pity in their depths. "I fear I lack the skill to persuade him. Will you not speak for me, Lord?"

  "Nay, child, it is your duty."

  "I fear him."

  Kayos shook his head. "He will not harm you. But first we will rest and eat. You need to regain your strength and ponder your plea. He will also be in a better mood when he has rested."

  She looked relieved, and nodded. "I thirst, Lord."

  Kayos handed her the flask, then scooped up a double handful of sand and murmured several lyrical words. A flash of white light engulfed his hands, and a plump roasted fowl replaced the sand. Tarris stared at it with ravenous eyes, setting down the flask to take it when he offered it to her.

  "Lord, you are good and generous. I praise your name. Kayos, one of the Seven, High Lord of the Universe, Creator of the God Realm."

  "I was not alone in that task."

  "Praise be to the Grey Gods. Ordur, Liyet, Hayet, Vayter, Erath and Airen."

  Kayos inclined his head. "They will be glad of your praise."

  Tarris tore at the fowl, washing it down with water. Kayos left her to join Bane, raising a stone seat near his. The Demon Lord turned to him with a slight frown.

  "I thought you wanted to free Ashynaria?"

  "I do, but she has been enslaved for nigh on a thousand years. A few more days will not harm her. I know Drayshina, she is a daughter of Ordur, and she teaches her followers the old ways."

  Bane grunted. "Your blue mage knows more than I. Who are these Seven?"

  Kayos bent and scooped up more sand, turning it into nuts for Mirra, who took them with a grateful smile. "The Seven Originators, who fo
rmed from star dust and fell into the burning wastes that became the God Realm. I was the first to awaken. I saw that there was matter and set it into motion, creating chaos. The others each took one part of that chaos and formed it to their will, creating the elements. With their help, Ordur bound it together and made the God Realm. From our tasks we took our names."

  Bane sipped his ambrosia, considering this. "That would make you the most senior of the Grey Gods? And the most powerful?"

  "The oldest, yes, but Ordur is my equal, the others a little less so."

  "You want me to help her?"

  Kayos created roasted meat and potatoes on a pottery platter for Mithran and Grem, who came forward to take it. "That is for you to decide, but I will not object. Listen well to Tarris' plea and judge the merit of her words. You know nothing of the old ways, but she is well versed in them."

  "I agreed to try to free your granddaughter, not save every damned domain along the way."

  Kayos nodded. "I know. I am not asking it of you."

  Bane glanced at Tarris, who averted her eyes, a flush reddening her cheeks. She looked to be in her thirties, slight signs of age marking her face, although she was slim and fit. He had not seen a woman wear trousers before, and found the way the soft cloth moulded her shapely legs a little disturbing. Her tattoos interested him, for he did not remember seeing such markings on the blue mage he had killed on the Isle of Lume.

  He turned to Kayos, who sipped a cup of ambrosia. "What purpose do the tattoos serve?"

  Kayos shrugged. "Every culture has its traditions. They probably serve a similar function to your rune scars, which allowed you to master the dark power at such a young age. For most it takes at least four hundred years to reach your level, even for those who are born gods."

  "And if you come to the domain with me, and I am killed, will you not be in danger of being enslaved like Drayshina?"

  The Grey God chuckled. "I think not, never fear. Even if you are killed, it will not take you long to recover sufficiently to leave the light realm, then you will be able to wield the dark power once more. Vorkon will search the Land of the Dead for your soul, not the light realm. I do not intend to let you be killed, however. You are far too valuable. I shall be nearby when you fight him, to heal your wounds."

  "There will not be anything to heal if he chops off my head."

  "But that is all he can do. All his power does him no good when he faces you." Kayos shook his head. "What it must be, to meet a dark god as an equal."

  "Damned terrifying." Bane sipped his ambrosia, glancing at Tarris again. The blue mage had sucked the fowl's bones clean, and knelt with her hands clasped in prayer.

  "To whom does she pray?"

  "Probably Drayshina."

  Tarris finished her whispered prayer and made a sign, then turned to face them with an air of determination. Rising to her feet, she tottered over to them. Kayos rose and moved away, turned his back and stared into the distance. Mirra slid off his knee and joined Grem and Mithran. Tarris stopped before Bane, her head bowed, then sank to her knees and pressed her brow to the sand.

  "Lord, I praise your name, long may it reside in legend. Bane, Demon Lord, Protector of the Innocent, Saviour of the Goddess Drayshina, beloved of the people of Arvanion." Her worshipful stance made her words a little muffled.

  "Get up," he said, annoyed.

  She straightened and sat back on her haunches, looking nervous and confused. "I offend you, Lord?"

  "You do not worship me, so do not act as if you do. Stand up."

  She hesitated, looking uncertain, then did as he instructed, keeping her head bowed and her eyes fixed on the ground. After several moments of tense silence, she continued her plea.

  "My goddess is in dire peril, and one of the Seven vouches that you walk in the light even as you summon the shadows to do your will. You have the power to save her, and, by doing so, an entire domain. If you do this great thing, your name will be sung in our churches and live on in legend for all time in our domain. Some may even worship you, and Drayshina will not object, if you are her saviour. She will be in your debt, forever your friend and ally. I beg you, Lord, with all my heart and soul, save us, ask any price and it shall be paid."

  Bane considered her words, ignoring the sneering of the dark power within him, which urged him to laugh in her face and scorn her plea.

  "Your goddess gave you permission to speak in her name?"

  "Nay, Lord, although I have prayed to her and told her of the hope you offer. She will honour my words, I swear."

  Bane glanced at Kayos, who continued to peruse the scenery. "You make bold promises, mage, but I have no need of worshippers, or a yen to have my name live in legend forever. Your offer does not interest me."

  Tarris looked stricken, then flung herself at his feet, crawling closer. "Please! I beg you, help us!"

  "Stop grovelling, and do not touch me."

  She raised her head, her eyes shimmering with tears. "She will be enslaved, at his mercy for aeons, and our world will die. Millions of people, Lord!"

  "This is supposed to concern me?"

  Two tears ran down her cheeks as she gazed up at him, then cast a quick, despairing glance at Kayos' back. Bane followed her eyes, noticing that the Grey God's shoulders had slumped. Tarris swallowed hard, bowing her head once more.

  "Tell me what you want, and you shall have it."

  "I want nothing."

  Her face twisted. "Then I offer myself as a sacrifice, to save my goddess and my domain."

  "I have no interest in sacrifices, mage, willing or otherwise, and since you are dead anyway if I do not help you, it is not such a great thing you offer. You may be well versed in the old ways, but you know nothing about me, and you do not know what you ask of me."

  "You command power beyond imagining -"

  "So does he."

  Tarris raised her hands in a gesture of pleading. "Ask what you will of us, Lord, and it shall be yours. You are the only one who can save us. Please! Have mercy, I beseech you."

  Bane gazed into the distance. "Begging sickens me."

  "Drayshina cannot escape him, Lord. Her fate is sealed. At the very least, you could allow her to flee, so she might be spared our terrible fate. This I ask of you."

  Bane's piercing eyes flicked to her face, and she met them, although her shoulders sagged and her face twisted as she fought to control her anguish. She looked down at her dirty hands and whispered, "Just free the Realm Gate, Lord, nothing more. Just let her go. That is not much to ask. A mere moment of your time. A gesture of your hand, to save the life of a goddess."

  "Who guards the Gate?"

  "A dark goddess and some demons, but she will pose no threat to one of your power."

  "You know nothing of my power, mage. If I attack this goddess, she will warn Vorkon."

  "Her demon messenger will take time to reach him, but I can call to my goddess in a moment, and she will come swiftly. I could even tell her of your intervention before you attack the goddess. Drayshina needs but a moment to escape, Lord."

  A touch on Bane's arm made him glance around.

  Mirra stood beside him, frowning. "Bane..."

  "What?"

  "Do you not think she has grovelled enough?"

  "It is not about -"

  "Oh, I know it is. The dark power enjoys humiliating others, and you know it as well as me."

  Tarris gaped at Mirra. A slight smile tugged at Bane's lips, and he raised a hand to stroke his wife's cheek, noticing, out of the corner of his eye, Kayos turn slightly towards them.

  "If you were without the shadows, you would want to help her," Mirra went on.

  "If I was powerless, I would be unable to do so."

  She nodded. "But the only reason you do not want to is because of its influence."

  "It may also have something to do with the dark god who could kill all of us."

  "Kayos will not let that happen."

  "He may not be able to prevent it. It will be dangerou
s, even with his help."

  "It will also make you stronger, as your battle with Arkonen did. If Telvaron is old and powerful, it may be a good thing to hone your skills on a lesser man before you face him, if it comes to that. If all you need do is free the Gate, surely it is not so dangerous, and you will be saving a goddess."

  "I understand your wish for me to save her, but I am surprised you want me to face unnecessary danger."

  Mirra laid a hand on his arm. "I have no wish for you to come to harm, you know that. But when we are called upon to do a deed for the light, we must not turn away. It is our duty to serve it."

  Bane sighed, considering his petite wife, whose deep need to help others would probably, he mused, be the death of him. He owed her a huge debt, however, and pleasing her was his greatest wish, so much so that it silenced the dark power's mockery. He turned to Tarris.

  "Very well, I shall free the Gate, if only to put an end to your pleading. You will pray to your goddess and beg her attendance. Then I shall speak to her."

  Tarris slumped with a sob. "Thank you, Lord. I will do as you command."

  Mirra slid her arms around Bane's neck and kissed his cheek.

  Tarris cast her a grateful smile. "Bless you, lady, and thank you. I had not thought to see a slave who could influence her master so."

  Bane's brows knotted, but Mirra giggled and clamped a hand over his mouth when he opened it to deliver a blistering rebuke.

  "I am not his slave, I am his wife," she said.

  Tarris looked stunned, glancing at Mithran and Grem.

  Mirra followed her gaze. "That is his father and his friend."

  Tarris' eyes flicked back to Bane, filled with awe and confusion. "How wonderful and strange, My Lady."