Demon Lord VI - Son of Chaos Page 20

  “You are not my first father.”

  “No.”

  “The one who made me... his name was Pretarin, son of Astrekar.” Her face twisted. “Darkness came... A dark god. He opened the Gate. Pretarin tried so hard to protect his domain, his people, and me. I was but a few months old. He was old and wise and powerful, but he... he entered his shield sphere... he should have been safe.” Her eyes widened, roaming over Kayos’ face. “The dark god opened it!”

  “What was his name?”

  “The... the Destroyer.” Tears spilt down her cheeks. “Torvaran.”

  Bane jumped up and swung away, going over to the wall, where he closed his eyes and leant his brow against the cold stone. He had seen Pretarin’s death, and it rushed back to him vividly, as if he had killed Sherinias’ father himself. Someone clasped his shoulder, and he turned his head to find Drevarin beside him, his eyes filled with sympathy. Bane faced the wall again, unable to look at Sherinias as she continued her story in a broken whisper.

  “He came after me... He spent a year trying to enter my chamber. He failed.” Her voice filled with alarm. “Where is he now, Father? Tell me that he cannot harm us!”

  “He cannot,” Kayos murmured. “You are safe, child, be at ease.”

  “How can you be certain?”

  “Because he has been destroyed.”

  “Thank the light,” she murmured. “But how was he destroyed? Who could do such a thing? He was powerful.”

  “Do not concern yourself with that now.”

  “I would bow down to his destroyer and bless his feet with my tears, Father.”

  Bane glanced at Drevarin, who smiled.

  Kayos said, “That is as it should be, and perhaps one day I will tell you his name, but it is not for you to know now.”

  “As you wish, Father.” A short silence fell, and then she said, “Pretarin left a message for me, and for you. He wishes me a long and happy life, and he sends you his gratitude for birthing me. He says that if I have been born, my new father can only be one of the Seven, a Grey God.”

  “He was indeed wise.”

  Bane turned. Sherinias gazed at Kayos with a stricken, tearful expression. “You are the eldest of the Seven, Father. I am fortunate and honoured.”

  Kayos smiled. “Go on with your learning.”

  Her expression became vacant again. “Much time has passed since then. Five centuries have I slept. My people... have become corrupt.” Her eyes widened. “The Realm Gate is open. The World Gate also. I must close them!”

  She tried to stand up, but Kayos held her hands, preventing her. “Do not be alarmed, Daughter. We are in no danger.”

  “How can that be? There is much danger outside. The Oracle warns me so. It urges me to close the Gate. There are dark gods.”

  “Oracles do hate open realm gates, but I assure you, we are safe.”

  She calmed, nodding. “If you say it, then it must be so.”

  Bane frowned, pondering how terrible it must be, to live in such dread of dark gods. No wonder Kayos had not told her who he was. She would be terrified of him if she ever found out. He glanced at Drevarin, who watched Sherinias with a rapt expression. Kayos rose and plucked the cup of ambrosia from the air, handing it to Sherinias, who sipped from it.

  “Is your learning complete, child?” Kayos asked.

  “It is, Father. I am ready to take up my duties.”

  “Rest a while. There is no urgency. You have much work ahead of you, but it can wait. I have something to tell you.”

  Bane cast him a worried glance, but the Grey God only told her about the city outside the Gate and how they had sent Nikira to warn them. Evidently the Oracle knew nothing of what happened outside its domain. When he finished, she nodded.

  “That is good. They must return. This domain is old, and while I slept too many people have been born. There is not enough food for them, and they have ravished the land. I will have to curtail their numbers. I shall unleash a plague.”

  “Good. Rest now.”

  Kayos took the cup from her, and she lay down and closed her eyes. He rose and came over to Bane, studying him. “Are you all right?”

  “No. I would rather be anywhere but here, yet I am trapped. I feel as if I had killed him myself.”

  “But you did not.”

  “I have the memories.”

  Kayos inclined his head. “That is unfortunate.”

  “Now I know why tar’merin grow to hate themselves so much. We have to live with those memories, which are abhorrent.”

  “Then you must find a way to forget them.”

  Bane snorted. “That is not so easy.”

  “The more important things are always harder to achieve.”

  “How long must we wait here?” Bane glanced around like a trapped wolf.

  “Until Sherinias has rested. A few hours.”

  “How fares our harbinger?”

  Kayos formed an Eye, and they gazed into it. Nikira sat on a narrow bench in a bright cell, her expression forlorn. The gold emblems of her rank had been torn from her uniform, and Bane frowned.

  “They have accused her of treachery, it seems. She cannot deliver our message while she is locked up, and they are running out of time.”

  “Sherinias will close the Gate when I tell her to,” Kayos assured him.

  Bane walked over to his seat and settled on it. “She fears the darkness very much.”

  “She is a child. We all do. Only a fool would not. But you are not the darkness, Bane.”

  “I give a damned good impression of it.”

  Drevarin chortled. “Indeed you do.”

  Bane fought the smile that tugged at his lips, but lost the battle when Drevarin poked him in the ribs, chuckling. Kayos glanced between them with a smile.

  “You two have become firm friends, I see. You are good for Bane, Drevarin. I am grateful that you are his friend.”

  Drevarin’s grin faded, and he looked at Bane. “I touched his soul when I healed him of the damage the dark power did when he wore the adamante shackles. I know him well, so I have no fear of him.”

  Bane snorted, and Kayos frowned at Drevarin. “You did not mention this before. Tell me.”

  Drevarin related the tale of his healing of Bane’s spirit bond, and the Demon Lord yawned. Kayos formed another couch and gestured for Bane to rest upon it, which he did with a sigh.

  Chapter Twelve

  Child Goddess

  When Bane floated up from the soft arms of sleep, Sherinias spoke to Kayos and Drevarin.

  “Why is he such an enigma, Father?” she asked, and Bane listened, curious.

  “In time you will learn about him, child, but for now it is better that you do not know everything.”

  “He is mortal, so it must have been dangerous for him to travel so far through the God Realm with you. Why did you bring him?”

  “It was not so dangerous for him.”

  “Because you protected him?”

  Drevarin snorted, and Kayos said, “He was born a god, Sherinias. He has many powers, some that even we do not possess.”

  “And you required these powers?”

  “Yes.”

  “They must be wonderful indeed, for you to require them. Will you tell me what they are?”

  Kayos sighed. “Your curiosity is understandable, but do not tax me so.”

  “He is my brother.”

  “And your questions will be answered in good time, but not now.”

  “I do not know how to treat him. He appears to have little power, yet his is older than I. Do I honour him as my superior, treat him as an equal, or regard him as inferior?”

  Kayos did not hesitate. “You will honour him as your superior, in age and power. You will treat him with the utmost respect, and, if he commands you, obey him without question.”

  “I will do as you wish, Father, even though I do not understand it. You say he is a greater god, but his mortality lowers his status amongst us. It confuses me.”

>   “In time it will be clear.”

  “He has a strange name. Why did you name him a curse?”

  “I did not name him.”

  “Then who did?”

  Bane opened his eyes, sat up, yawned and stretched. Kayos glanced at him with a look of relief, from which Bane deduced that Sherinias had been plaguing him with questions for some time. Drevarin smiled at him, his eyes twinkling, and Sherinias studied him.

  “Who gave you such a strange name, Brother?”

  Bane raised his brows in surprise, for he had assumed that her questions would cease once the object of her curiosity was awake. Kayos shot him a warning glance, and Drevarin looked glum. Bane swung his legs off the couch and summoned a cup of ambrosia to slake his thirst, regarding her.

  “That is a long and amusing tale that I shall share with you one day, but not today.”

  “Why is it such a mystery?”

  “It is not, but you have much to do, and no time for long tales now, Lady Sherinias.”

  She looked startled, but lowered her eyes. “Of course, Lord Bane.”

  “Forgive her impertinence,” Kayos murmured, backing him up. “She is young.”

  “Only a few hours old, and with much still to learn.”

  “How can I learn when no one will teach me?” Sherinias grumbled.

  “We will, in good time,” Kayos stated. “The origins of Bane’s name are not vital to your work or existence.”

  “Yet the more you deny me, the more I wonder at the secrecy.”

  Bane stood up and dismissed the cup. “Then wonder, but now I think we should leave.”

  Sherinias shot Kayos a puzzled look when he rose and nodded, holding out his hand to assist her off the couch they shared. “Come, child, it is time to cast the mortals from your realm.”

  “All save one?”

  “Indeed. I would not try that if I was you.”

  Bane smiled and went to the door, where he waited for Kayos and Drevarin to catch up. Kayos turned to Sherinias.

  “Drevarin will make us unseen until the mortals are gone, but I think they should be allowed to see you. It will give them something to ponder. We will be close by, should you need us.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  Kayos gripped Bane’s arm, and Drevarin took the other as Sherinias headed for the entrance. She stopped and eyed them with a slight frown.

  Kayos waved her on. “We must protect Bane from the wards, child.”

  “Of course.”

  The beams of white light flickered as Sherinias approached the doors. Bane sensed Drevarin’s light shield envelope them as they followed her through the portal. Outside, a gaping crowd had gathered, and many men in stiff uniforms stood around, talking and gesturing. They swung around as Sherinias emerged, and several reached for the sleek black weapons on their hips. Bane stiffened in alarm, but Kayos tugged his arm, steering him to the side.

  “They cannot harm her,” he whispered.

  The men drew their weapons and pointed them at the light goddess, who stood in regal splendour in the ghostly radiance of her tainted realm. It brightened all around her as white fire swept through the land in a shimmering glow. Her hair gleamed like a raven’s wing, and her sparkling raiment caught the light and split it into tiny rainbows. Her skin glowed golden, and her dark blue eyes shone with cold fire. She waited for a moment, allowing them to see her, and then raised her arms in a graceful, sweeping gesture.

  “You are forbidden here. This is my realm. Begone!”

  The crowd vanished in a flash of radiance, along with all the garbage and dirt they had tracked into the light realm. Bane glanced at Kayos.

  “Impressive. Is that all of them?”

  “Only the ones she can see.”

  Sherinias glanced back at the birthing chamber, as if seeking the presence of her father, then set off along the path towards the Realm Gate. Kayos and Drevarin released Bane, and they followed. The journey back through the light realm was an enriching experience, Bane found. The land brightened as Sherinias walked through it, and she banished the people with graceful gestures, their dirt, garbage and dross buildings vanishing with them. The clouds swelled as she passed them and the silver filigree trees burgeoned with glowing mist. The sky lightened and shimmering rainbow hues appeared in it, bringing warmth and radiance to the land.

  “The light realm is awakening,” Kayos said, smiling.

  Sherinias banished the playgrounds, inns and entertainers, and the broad avenue narrowed behind them as clouds rushed in to fill it. By the time they reached the Gate Hall, the sky had taken on its proper scintillating brilliance and the glowing clouds made Bane squint. Sherinias paused beside the open Gate to glance through it with a shudder.

  “Father?”

  “Leave it, child.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  Sherinias walked on, banishing crowds of frightened, wailing people, and discovered that her gazebo had been turned into a bandstand. Flying vehicles still passed overhead, coming through the open World Gate. Sherinias headed towards it, her brow furrowed with anger. Drevarin loosed the light shield, and Kayos stopped beside the gazebo.

  “Sherinias.”

  She turned, her frown fading at the sight of him. “Yes, Father?”

  “Leave that one for now. The people outside must pass through it.”

  “Of course.” She approached them. “They anger me. Such arrogance, to invade my realm and disport themselves like demons within it.”

  “Some of them were demons,” Bane said.

  She cast him a startled glance. “But I cannot banish demons.”

  “They left when they saw you.” Bane turned to Kayos. “I will go to Nikira and send our message. She cannot do it alone now.”

  “Perhaps I should go.”

  “Where do you go?” Sherinias enquired.

  “Into the God Realm.”

  She looked alarmed. “It is dangerous out there, Father.”

  “I can take care of myself. Do not be concerned.”

  “Please stay with me.”

  “I will go,” Drevarin volunteered. “What must I do?”

  Bane snorted. “I will go.” He swung away and headed for the Realm Gate.

  “Remember, when you come back...” Kayos called after him.

  Bane waved a hand. “I will remember.”

  “Be careful, Brother,” Sherinias said.

  The Demon Lord strode out of the Realm Gate and paused to summon the shadows. When he had Gathered enough for his purpose, he formed an Eye and found Nikira’s location, then became invisible and flew over the glittering city to a tall, bright tower. Entering it close to the prison cell that housed her, he walked along polished corridors that smelt of antiseptic and old sweat. When he encountered soldiers dawdling in the halls, he took a more direct route, passing through the walls. He found Nikira seated in her cell, her face tear-stained. A glance at the corner of the ceiling found one of the tiny glass eyes that seemed to be everywhere, and he wondered if they were listening too. He stopped beside Nikira and extended his shield to envelope her, becoming visible to her. She gasped and fell to her knees.

  “Lord!”

  “Get up.”

  She stood, gazing up at him with rapt adoration.

  “I am going to take you to your leader, so you can deliver Kayos’ message.”

  She nodded, her eyes bright, and gulped. “Anything you want, Lord.”

  Bane studied her. “This will feel strange. Do exactly as I say. We are going to walk through the wall, but do not be afraid. Close your eyes if you need to. I have not tried this before, so to be safe, I need to be in as much contact with you as possible. It will be unpleasant for you. You will feel ill, but I cannot prevent that.”

  Bane bent and scooped her up, and she wound her arms around his neck. He muttered the harsh word that invoked the power of rock walking, as he did each time he stepped through something solid. She shivered, retching as the dark power invaded her and made her flesh incorporeal
.

  Bane strode through the wall, finding the slight tug of solid matter far stronger when burdened with a person. He put her down in the corridor, and she staggered and bent to vomit a pool of bile. She clamped a hand over her mouth and swallowed several times, while he waited for her sickness to wane. When it did, he led her along the corridor towards the building’s outer wall. She remained pale after the gut-roiling power of rock walking.

  “Where is your leader?”

  “Building Five, Orderan Street.”

  “That means nothing to me.”

  “If we go to a window, I can show you.”

  Bane nodded, and Nikira guided him to a window that looked out across the huge city, where she pointed to a distant tower. “That one; on the fifty-fourth floor.”

  “Damn. We will have to fly.”

  She cast him a tremulous smile.

  “It will not be pleasant for you. My power will sicken you,” he warned.

  “I can handle it.”

  Bane glanced around as a man with a humming machine entered the empty room, polishing the floor. Nikira looked nervous, but the man ignored them.

  “We’re invisible?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Amazing.”

  “Will your leader be there now?”

  She glanced at a clock on the wall. “Yes, he should be. It’s the middle of a work day.”

  “When we get there, I will speak through you, all right?”

  “Whatever you want. I’m glad to see you, and I’m sorry -”

  Bane bent and picked her up again, and she clung to his neck. Muttering a harsh word, he stepped through the window, experiencing again the slight tug. Outside, he directed the black fire downwards, hovering on a column of searing shadow. He glanced down at her, and she managed a wan smile.

  As Bane flew towards the distant building, Nikira gazed down at the glittering metropolis, her face filled with wonder. She seemed to tire of the scenery in a few moments, and buried her face in his neck. He found that rather discomfiting, but there was nothing he could do about it. As he approached the tower’s fifty-fourth floor, he invoked rock walking again and swooped in through a window. His feet hit the floor, and he put her down, supporting her as she tottered, clinging to him. She retched again, and when she straightened, he glanced down at her.