Demon Lord III - Grey God Page 20

  "You are brave."

  "Thank you."

  "Do you find me frightening?"

  She nodded. "Terrifying, My Lord."

  He gestured at the heaps of soil on the marble floor. "The mages they were emulating are long dead."

  "Thank you for destroying them."

  "It was a pleasure."

  Kyan tried to stifle a shudder. Bane glanced at the doors, which one of the mages had opened. Several soldiers armed with silver tubes sidled in, eyeing him.

  "These are here to protect you? To kill me?"

  She shook her head. "I did not summon them."

  "Your mages, it seems, have less faith in Kayos than you, but they cannot harm me."

  The Grey God stepped closer to the Queen. "Order the guards to leave."

  She turned to the soldiers. "Leave us!"

  The men hesitated, then obeyed, and Bane turned to Kyan as the doors closed behind them. "Are your mages ready to leave the city so that I can kill their guardians?"

  "Yes, My Lord."

  "Good. I need the five most powerful."

  "I am second in that regard and my husband is first."

  Bane scanned the crowd. "Then let him and four others come forth and accompany me now."

  "If five leave the city together, unguarded, the black mages will become suspicious, My Lord. Vorkon himself might choose to come instead, or he may accompany them. He treasures his mages. May I suggest that only two leave, and head for another city as if on an errand? A company of soldiers must go with them, to allay the black mages' suspicions. Then they will strike, and more than two, perhaps four or five, as they have done before." She walked back to her throne and sank down on it.

  Bane turned to face her. "Very well. Vorkon might even think that it was the soldiers who killed his warlocks. Your most powerful mage must set the seventh ward. Let it be him and one other who leave the city first."

  She shot a nervous glance at the crowd and beckoned to someone in it. "My consort does not leave my side, Lord."

  A slim, handsome blond man with a rather weak chin hurried to her side and took her hand, casting Bane a brief, furtive look without meeting his gaze. Bane's eyes narrowed as he studied the mage, whose pallor betrayed his fear.

  "He will have to leave the safety of your skirts to create the seventh ward, young queen."

  She stiffened, raising her chin. "Then he shall, but choose two others to be your decoys."

  "It stands to reason that the most powerful warlock will guard him, and I doubt he will be one of those who attack the decoys if your husband is not one of them."

  "But when he creates the ward, you will be there to protect him."

  "A black mage cannot scry or Far-See any more than you can, otherwise they would be trying to spy on this meeting. But Vorkon can, and I can sense him, so I know that he has not glanced this way yet. The seventh ward must be created in secret, or Vorkon will destroy it before it is completed.

  "The black mages who watch you have cast seeking spells upon you, which inform them only of your whereabouts. Your husband's guardian must be amongst those who are killed, or when he leaves the city to create the ward, his guardian will inform Vorkon, who will be suspicious of two outings by blue mages within hours of each other, especially one who is afraid to venture beyond the city gates."

  "We are all afraid to leave the city," Kyan pointed out in gentle reproof. "You intend to create the ward today?"

  "We will begin today, for it will take several days. Vorkon must lose your husband, or our plan will fail. To do that he must leave the city before a new warlock is assigned to him."

  "I understand. Then it shall be as you say."

  Bane walked over to the throne, and as he approached, Tygon grew paler, released Kyan's hand and backed away. Bane stopped and eyed him.

  "Of what are you a master?"

  Tygon gulped, his green eyes wide. "Stone."

  "Excellent. What do you know of ward magic?"

  "A - a little. I should read some books first, to - to brush up."

  "There is no time. Vorkon will replace the demons I destroyed, and they will inform him of our plans."

  He glanced around at the silent throng. "No word of what has been discussed here must leave this room." They nodded, and he turned to the Queen. "I require three other decoys, and since you know this realm better than I, perhaps you know how I can destroy their guardians without arousing suspicion?"

  Kyan hesitated, glancing at the mages who were also her advisors, but they averted their eyes. She looked up at Bane, flinching from his gaze. "There is a place near the edge of the city, where a blue mage was killed a few months ago. His guardian saw an opportunity to slay him, as he was close to the fire wall and unguarded. It could be arranged that two more mages wander into that area."

  "Only two? Why not three?"

  "Blue mages seldom seek each other's company, Lord, even two together is unusual, but three would arouse suspicions."

  Bane scowled, then gave a curt nod. "Two will have to do then. I want no suspicions." He glanced at Kayos. "Do you intend to stay?"

  "No." The Grey God turned to the priestesses. "Do you wish to return to your abbey?"

  Sharri nodded, but Tarris shook her head. "I will remain and serve the Demon Lord."

  Kayos held out his hand to the high priestess, and they vanished with a faint stirring of air. The blue mages looked more nervous, and many sidled away from Bane. He turned to the Queen.

  "Make the arrangements now, there is no time to waste. It will take no more than a day for Vorkon to replace his demons. Once he discovers their loss, five of your mages will die so that they can be replaced with demons."

  Kyan looked horrified. "How?"

  "He will Summon them, then kill them. This is not hallowed ground; they are not safe from him here."

  "Then why has he not killed them already?"

  He shrugged. "He toys with you. Perhaps his black mages have asked to be the ones to destroy them. I am sure he finds your futile struggle to hold his power at bay amusing. If there is a temple in the city, they should seek sanctuary within it."

  "Can you not protect them?"

  "From a Summoning? No. Impossible, young queen."

  She inclined her head and turned to the silent throng. "You will seek sanctuary in the temple, and no word of what has passed here shall be repeated. The four foremost will stay."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Black Mage

  Most of the crowd hurried out, leaving four nervous individuals, who shifted uneasily under Bane's scrutiny. A portly, balding middle aged man with a mild, chubby featured face laid a comforting hand on the waist of a handsome, matronly woman, and a slender, sharp-featured young woman with straight brown hair stood beside Prince Tygon. Kyan rose and descended from the dais to join them, Bane followed.

  "Kimera and Bashir will go to the gardens, my husband and Shrea will make preparations to leave the city."

  Bane nodded, and Tygon and Shrea left. Kimera and Bashir walked to the door, and Bane turned to the Queen.

  "Go to the temple."

  "Vorkon would not dare -"

  His brows drew together. "Do not presume to judge him by your standards. To him, you are of no consequence, a mere toy, if a pretty one. He will think nothing of killing you, and that would be preferable to his keeping you as a plaything, so do as I say."

  Kyan raised her chin, and her eyes glinted, but she retained her regal dignity. "As you wish, My Lord."

  He turned to the mages. "Take me to this garden."

  Kimera and Bashir made hasty bows to the Queen, then hurried out, Bane striding after them. They almost trotted down the hall, glancing back often. The people in the hall stopped to stare at Bane, apparently intrigued by his odd clothes, since it was upon them that their eyes lingered. His garb set him apart with its old-fashioned laces, studded wrist guards, and sweeping cloak. It had a timeless quality about it too, and was durable and functional, as well as intimidating. Peop
le stepped from his path, and some who possessed mage tattoos frowned in suspicion. He considered becoming invisible again, but discarded the notion, since then he would be forced to avoid the people.

  The mages darted between two pillars, leaving the hall, and when he followed, he collided with a fat, bejewelled man clad in a silken smock. The man rebounded, staggering back with a soft grunt. The mages stopped and turned, looking dismayed, and the fat man gaped at Bane, his eyes wide. The Demon Lord stepped forward, and his hands flashed out to grip the man's throat, sending a surge of dark power into him. The fat man disintegrated with a soft shriek, leaving behind a mound of dark soil and a settling cloud of dust. Bane brushed the dirt from his hands and glanced at the gaping mages.

  "That was Lord Jaran," Bashir mumbled.

  "That was a demon," Bane said. "Do not imagine that the five in the throne room are the only ones in your city."

  "No, no of course not. But... Lord Jaran! He is on the High Council."

  "Not anymore."

  "How many do you think are in the city?"

  Bane shrugged. "Dozens probably. Some are spies for Vorkon, others are here for their amusement, as they have always been."

  Bashir glanced at the passers-by. "We should move on."

  Several people had stopped to gaze at the trio with curious expressions, clearly unsure of what they had just seen. Bane gestured to Bashir to lead the way, and he set off once more, Kimera at his side. At the end of the short corridor that led from the hall, sunlight poured in through an arched doorway, and Bane squinted as they walked out into it.

  Odd, horseless carriages swept past with soft hums, and Bashir approached one that was stopped beside the road, a bored-looking man leaning against it. He snapped a name at the man and climbed aboard, closely followed by Kimera, and more slowly by Bane, who settled opposite.

  The carriage was designed much like the horse drawn ones, with the driver seated in a small, glassed-in box in the front. The passengers sat in a comfortable, open area with a folding roof for inclement weather. Most of the carriage was wood, with leather-covered seats and metal under parts with rubber-rimmed wheels. Its soft hum rose to a whine as they speeded down the road, and a faint vibration ran through the frame. Bane watched the driver turn the wheel before him to guide the vehicle and use a lever to slow their progress on corners.

  "How do you store the blue power for this contraption?" he asked Bashir.

  "We discovered a type of crystal that holds it quite well, and it is drawn out to turn the wheels through a mechanical device called an engine."

  "I see. Ingenious."

  Bashir swelled with pride. "Thank you, Lord."

  "I can see why Drayshina finds you so interesting. Who puts the power into the crystal, a mage?"

  "No, My Lord. The machine that creates the shield wall provides power at many outlet points around the city, where people pay a small fee. That was its original purpose, but when the darkness began to swallow the land it was modified to emit the shield wall as well."

  "What do you do outside the cities?"

  "We have roads between most, and where there are none, we use horses. Our inventors are now working on machines that will be able to fly."

  "Very clever." Bane gazed at the passing scenery, a busy metropolis of broad straight streets lined with shops and bazaars, side streets giving access to affluent residences. Flowering trees shaded the roads and houses, and gardens edged them with bright colour. The carriage slowed and turned into a narrow street that led towards the fire wall, then stopped before a set of wrought-iron gates festooned with a flowering creeper. Bashir and Kimera stepped out of the carriage, and Bashir paid the driver a few coppers. Bane followed them, and the vehicle hummed away. Bashir pulled open the gates and led them into a well-kept garden dotted with trees and shrubs.

  "This used to be a popular place for people to come and relax, picnic and play with their children, but since the mage was killed, few people come here," Bashir explained.

  The garden's sole occupant was a gardener pruning bushes. Bashir glanced around, starting to sweat.

  "How long do you think before they come?"

  Bane shrugged. "By now they will know that you are here, and vulnerable. First they will wonder what you are doing here, then they will have to decide whether or not to kill you, and since you are so high ranking, I do not doubt that the temptation will be too strong to resist. Then it depends on whether or not they seek out reinforcements. Since they do not know how long you will be here, they will hurry. I would say half an hour."

  Bashir mopped his brow with his sleeve, and Bane wandered towards the fire wall, which touched the ground a short distance away. It made no sound, but the power emanating from it was tangible, making his hair bristle. The mages glanced at each other, and then followed him. Bane stopped next to the fire wall and studied it, sensing its harmless nature. Despite its fearsome appearance, the blue fire from which it was formed was of a kind that did not burn. He passed his hand through it, receiving a tingling sensation and a static charge that made blue sparks shoot between his fingers. The fire wall's power was directed upwards in a faint blue shimmer, holding the black clouds at bay.

  "My Lord." Bashir shuffled his feet and lowered his eyes when Bane turned. "Are you going to make yourself invisible? These are, after all, black mages you face, far more dangerous than demons. There could be as many as five of them, and they will have shields. We will fight too, of course -"

  "No, you will not. I do not need your help. You will defend yourselves, nothing more. They might be a little harder to kill than demons, but they cannot harm me. As for them being more dangerous than demons ..." He smiled. "They are not; they are just different. A demon could destroy several armies of humans, and all their efforts to destroy it would be futile. A black mage, on the other hand, although he could indeed kill hundreds of men, can be slain by an arrow through his heart just as easily as you. But no black mage would dare to fight a dark god, so yes, I will become invisible, but only so that they do not flee before I can kill them."

  Bashir forced a sickly smile. "Of course, My Lord, it is just that we find them more formidable than demons, but you, naturally, would not. A blue mage could fight a demon and exhaust it, send it below, but we cannot prevail against a black mage."

  "That is because demons do not use the dark power as a weapon. They are elementals, although they do contain dark power."

  Bashir looked intrigued. "But surely they are condemned spirits who have gathered the power to make themselves demons?"

  "No. Demons have no souls. They are the children of the dark power, created by it."

  "How? The dark power can only destroy."

  "They are not alive. The dark power cannot create a living thing, but it creates demons the same way that whirlwinds and thunderstorms form in your world. A pocket of dark power forms, becomes dense, then animate. It gathers the element in which it finds itself, and a demon is born. At first it is tiny, and it takes many hundreds of years for it to become large and sentient, and a few more decades to learn how to speak and use its power to form a human disguise."

  Bashir looked awestruck. "Thank you for explaining that, My Lord. If Kimera or I survive this war, we will set this knowledge down for all to know and wonder at. It will be noted that this was a gift from you."

  Bane snorted. "Do as you wish. It merely served to pass the time. But enough has passed, I think."

  The Demon Lord made himself invisible, and Kimera moved closer to Bashir, slipping her arm through his. "We should combine our power; we can form a stronger shield that way."

  He nodded, patting her hand. "Yes, we should do that."

  Bane watched them cling together like lost children in a dark forest with a pack of wolves howling close by. His explanation of how demons came to be made him ponder the origins of the seven light gods who had risen from the cosmic dust eons ago. They must have formed the same way, only from light power instead of dark, and, since they had formed in
the inanimate matter that had existed then, they contained all the elements, as all living things did.

  That was because the Grey Gods had created all living things, once Kayos had set the matter into motion and created chaos. It must have taken millennia for them to become sentient in the cold emptiness of the Before Time, and eons more to become self-aware. What had they looked like? Formless blobs of energy and matter, floating aimlessly about, slowly gathering more matter and energy, growing in stature and intellect? How had they chosen their shape and size?

  Had they perfected it over the eons, forming that which they needed when they found a need for it? Legs to walk when ground became available, hands to touch when the urge took them, eyes to see and a mouth to speak, when finally two had met. That seemed logical. Kayos' memory started at the point when he had become self-aware, so what had gone before would always remain a mystery.

  Were they grey because the matter from which they had formed was grey? He was certain that they had no blood, but nor were their bodies pseudo flesh like a dark god's shell. They were more like demons, but made up of all four elements instead of only one. The same elements that Ordur had separated out of the chaos, helped by the other five gods. He decided to ask Kayos the next time they were not busy.

  Bane sensed the faint surge of dark power that heralded the arrival of the warlocks, and turned. Five black-clad figures shimmered into being, and doubled over as they retched from the aftermath of the Move. They looked ill, as black mages always did, a penalty for using the dark power. They wore well cut tunics and snug fitting trousers much like the younger members of this society, but their gold chains and jewelled rings revealed their vanity.

  Two were old, their handsome faces leathery and weather-beaten, their grey hair tied back with leather thongs. All five possessed the refined features that the dark power bestowed, nasty expressions of snide gloating marring them as they straightened to face their quarry. Two of the younger mages had sandy hair and brown eyes, and had probably been downright ugly before they had taken up the dark power. The third possessed sharp features and slanted green eyes in a narrow visage framed by short, dark brown hair. Bane wandered closer as one of the older warlocks sniggered and gestured at the blue mages.