Demon Lord V - God Realm

by T C Southwell

  Sarrin tugged the bandage tight, making him wince. "Why the hurry to leave? We have shelter and food here while you recover."

  "Because Frendar does not want us to leave. We are his newest toys, and therefore his most cherished. He will keep arranging accidents to make sure that we stay. Although he could not have sent the vampires, he certainly caused that fracas downstairs. He made me fall from the stairs, for his own amusement, no doubt, but also to injure me. Next time he might choose one of you, but he will concentrate his efforts on me, I think."

  "Have you silenced this room now, Lord?"

  "Yes."

  Sarrin tied the bandage and turned to him. "If you took up the dark power -"

  "No."

  She studied him, noting the faint sheen of sweat on his brow. "What would happen if you did?"

  A faint, wry smile curled his lips. "He certainly would not want me to stay then. But Morwanor would find out, and he would not be able to resist killing an injured dark god."

  "Yet he will allow an injured blue god to live?"

  "Yes. A blue god is beneath his notice, and, although he may do it for sport, it is not a challenge."

  Sarrin glanced around as a flash of light came from the doorway. A small child stood there, scowling at them. Golden curls framed his cherubic face, and bright blue eyes glared above a snub nose sprinkled with freckles. He wore a light god's traditional grey garb, and his lower lip protruded in a pout. Sarrin stepped back with a gasp, and the men jumped up, their eyes wide.

  "I want to hear what you say!" Frendar shouted in a childish treble.

  "Hello, Frendar," Bane murmured.

  The child god marched closer. "Take off your spell!"

  "Why not do it yourself?"

  "I can't!"

  "Then that is just too bad, is it not?"

  Frendar stamped his foot. "That woman, Kimi, she's telling my people to leave me."

  "No, she is asking them if they want to, and because you are so nasty to them, they will."

  "I won't let them!" Frendar turned his glare upon Sarrin, and she cowered. "I'll take away their legs and make them crawl on their bellies!"

  Bane sat up and swung his legs off the bed, drawing the child's attention to him. "Why not come with us, Frendar? We will find a nice domain where you can be happy."

  "I like it here!"

  "I think not."

  "I do!"

  Bane shook his head. "It will get dark here one day. The fire pillars will eventually die, and you fear the dark."

  "No they won't!"

  "Yes, they will. Nothing in the God Realm stays the same forever." Bane had no idea if that was true, but it was a fair guess.

  "My brother won't let them die!"

  "Your brother?"

  Frendar scowled at Bane. "Morvanor."

  Sarrin gasped in horror and surprise, but if Bane was shocked, he hid it well. He nodded. "I see. Did Morvanor kill Tyrashin?"

  "No, that was the nasty man."

  "So when you ran away, Morvanor followed you here."

  Frendar's lower lip protruded further. "The bad man chased Morvanor too. Why did you make the bad spell?"

  "Because I do not want you to hear what we say."

  "Why not?"

  "Because it is not your business."

  "I want to hear!" Frendar stamped his foot again, then rose into the air and drifted closer to Bane. The group retreated, Artan helping Ethra, who gaped at the child god.

  "That is unfortunate for you," Bane said, "since I do not wish you to, so I will not allow it."

  "You're just a blue god!" A cunning glint entered Frendar's eyes. "Take it off, or I'll hurt your people."

  Bane frowned, then inclined his head. "Very well, I shall take it off."

  "Now!"

  The Demon Lord made a negligent gesture and murmured a word.

  Frendar looked smug. "If you put it on again, I'll give her horns!" He pointed at Sarrin, who cringed, and Juvo stepped in front of her.

  "I will not put it on again." Bane held out his hand. "Let us be friends."

  Frendar eyed the proffered hand. "No." He giggled and vanished.

  Sarrin sagged, her legs shaking, and Juvo helped her over to the chair. Bane sat with his head bowed, leaning on his good arm and looking pensive.

  "What do we do now?" Mithran demanded.

  "We leave."

  "If Morvanor is Frendar's brother, might he not enlist his aid to stop us?"

  Bane sighed. "I do not know."

  "How is it possible for a light god to have a dark god for a brother?" Sarrin murmured, shaking her head.

  "He is a lesser light god. He was once a human, as was Morvanor. Tyrashin raised Frendar up, but Morvanor made himself a dark god after he died. Frendar must be many centuries old."

  Grem cursed. "This just keeps getting worse."

  Bane lay back, and the others returned to their respective resting places, looking downcast.

  Kayos parried a bolt of dark power, his shield flashing blue. Torvaran was weakening again, the battle they had fought for so many domain days depleting his stores. The vast amount of shadows he had brought into the area had destabilised it, and dark, lightning shot clouds roiled overhead. As the region darkened, Torvaran was able to Gather from the shadows he had expended, although a lot of it had dispersed beyond his reach. It enabled him to fight for longer before he was forced to travel to the dark region to Gather more, however.

  The five remaining fire demons and one earth demon stood to one side, awaiting new orders. Torvaran's enjoyment of the battle had not yet waned, and he still wore a gleeful grin. The Grey God spun and leapt, parried and ducked, shining shields occasionally shooting up from the ground to block Torvaran's attempts to charge in and grab him.

  Sarrin looked up as Kimi appeared in the doorway, her feline face twisted with anguish and despair. She clung to the wall, hopping on one leg, the other dragging. Sarrin rose and went over to her, helping her to the chair. The rest of the group were asleep, but the soft sounds woke Artan and Grem, who sat up and stared at Kimi, their expressions gloomy. Her predicament required no explanation.

  "He must help me!" Kimi cried, clinging to Sarrin's arm. "Please, beg him to help me!"

  "Hush, child. He is asleep, let him rest."

  "Please!"

  "He cannot!" Sarrin snapped.

  "But he's -"

  "Only a blue god, while Frendar is a light god."

  Kimi's eyes overflowed. "I did as he asked, and My Lord punished me."

  "What happened to the people you asked?"

  "They were struck blind the instant they agreed, or their legs became useless, like mine."

  Sarrin shook her head. "I am sorry, Kimi. It seems it was a mistake. Pray to Frendar for forgiveness, perhaps he will restore your leg."

  "But -"

  "Hush. Be careful what you say, Frendar is listening."

  "He'll never let us leave, will he?" Kimi sobbed.

  "He has no intention of it, no."

  The cat woman bowed her head and wept, and Sarrin patted her back in an effort to comfort her. She glanced at Bane, who lay like a statue, only the steady rise and fall of his chest showing that he was alive. How long would they be trapped in this infernal place, the playthings of a malicious child god, and why was Bane so reluctant to use the dark power? He claimed to be weak, and certainly he was injured, but it seemed to her that there was more to it than that. Kimi's sobs gave way to shuddering gasps, and she crawled into the corner, where she curled up like an injured cat. Sarrin asked Grem to stand guard, and then lay down on his vacated bedding, drained by all the stress.

  When she woke, the others ate another meal, and Artan passed her a plate piled with succulent food. She picked at it without appetite and glanced at Bane, who still appeared to be asleep. Hopefully the rest would restore some of his strength, she mused. His reluctance to put an end to this intolerable situation annoyed her. Her truant thoughts dismayed her, and she berated herself for her di
srespect. As a god, he knew far better than any of them just what he faced here.

  Ethra dropped her plate and clutched her head, her face contorting with pain and terror. A pair of sharp, twisted horns sprouted from her brow, growing longer. She gripped the horns and screamed, her eyes wide. Sarrin jumped up and ran to the bed.

  "Lord, wake up!" Sarrin shook Bane as Ethra's screams hammered at her ears, and Artan's bellows mingled with them as he tried to get her to calm down. Kimi cowered in her corner, her face buried in her hands; the rest of the group stared at the hysterical girl.

  The Demon Lord's brows drew together above the bandages that covered his eyes, and Sarrin stepped back, afraid he would lash out, thinking himself under attack. Ethra's screams rang around the room, and Bane sat up, turning his head towards the sound.

  "What is going on?"

  "It is Ethra!" Sarrin cried. "Frendar is changing her!"

  Bane swore and swung his legs off the bed, then stretched out his hand towards the terrified girl. "Quiet."

  Ethra gasped and fell silent, her eyes wide and dazed.

  Bane lowered his hand. "Sleep."

  The girl's eyes closed, and she went limp in Artan's arms. Bane turned to Sarrin. "Help me to dress."

  Sarrin picked up his shirt and eased the sleeve over his stone-sheathed arm. "What are you going to do?"

  "I grow weary of this. He will keep tormenting us if we stay here. Diplomacy is wasted on a spoilt child, and he is in league with his brother." He glanced at the men. "Pack up, we are leaving."

  "What if Morvanor tries to stop us?"

  "I hope he does not. What did Frendar do to Ethra?"

  "She... she has horns." Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his tunic.

  Bane's nostrils flared, and as soon as she had done up the last button, he bent to grope for his boots. Grem came over to help him, and Kimi stared at Bane with wide, tear filled eyes. Sarrin tugged at his tunic, straightened it and brushed away imaginary dust.

  "Frendar punished Kimi for speaking to the others, and now she has a lame leg. Can you help her?"

  "No. Only the light power can undo what was done with it. I have had enough of Frendar's childish games."

  A soft skirl of giggles came from the corner of the room, and everyone stared at the spot. The men gathered up their few belongings, much of which they had not unpacked, and stuffed it into the bags. Bane stood as Grem finished lacing up his boots, and Sarrin clipped on his cloak. Juvo put Ethra on the litter, placing the bags around her legs, and the soldiers picked it up. Juvo shouldered more bags, and Sarrin picked up a small bundle. Grem came over to the bed and scooped up Mirra, then handed her to Mithran when he stepped forward. Artan helped Kimi, and Sarrin placed Bane's hand on her shoulder.

  She glanced up at him. "Your weakness is not the only reason you do not want to use your power, is it, Lord?"

  He hesitated, and then shook his head. "No."

  She bit her lip. "I am sorry for what we did to you."

  "I know."

  Artan led the group out into the hall, Bane bringing up the rear. They negotiated the stairs slowly, Bane feeling his way along the wall, Grem beside him. When they reached the bottom, malformed people rose from the chairs and shuffled towards them, crying out to Bane to take them with him. He nodded, and they fell in behind him. The lame supported each other and led the blind, carrying bundles of possessions and supplies. Evidently word of Bane's offer had spread, and those who wished to come had prepared for the journey, despite the child god's punishment. As they approached the common room doors, Tronak stepped from the shadows beside them, and Artan drew his sword with a hiss of steel.

  "Get out of the way," he said.

  "Frendar bids you stay."

  "I don't give a damn what Frendar bids us, we're leaving."

  "My lord will not allow it."

  Artan snorted. "I'd like to see him try to stop us. He doesn't know who he's dealing with."

  "A mere blue god, even a mortal one, cannot prevail against a light god."

  "He's not..." Artan's face became blank, and he glanced back at Bane. "Sorry, My Lord."

  "You lack for nothing here, but out in the darkness there are many dangers."

  "We'd rather face them than stay here and be turned into monsters. Now get out of the way or I'll cut you into little pieces."

  Tronak stepped back into the shadows, and Artan strode towards the doors, which remained closed. The group ground to a halt, and Artan tried to open the doors, but no matter how he strained and struggled, he could not, even with Grem's help. Sarrin glanced up at Bane.

  "The doors will not open, Lord."

  "Stand aside."

  All those in front of him moved out of the way, and he raised his head. His nostrils flared, and the doors shuddered. A chortle came from the air beside the doors, and Bane's head turned towards the sound. He raised his arm, and blue fire spat from his fingers to mantle a child's form. Frendar gave a shriek of rage, and the fire died. Bane faced the doors again, and once more they shuddered. His brows drew together in a fierce frown, and he strode up to the doors, his hands outstretched.

  The Demon Lord placed his palms upon them, and the doors flew open with a terrific bang, spraying splintered wood into the street. A yelp of childish rage came from nearby, and Sarrin glanced around. Artan marched through the sagging doors, his hand on his sword hilt, scanning the street for danger. Grem stopped beside Bane, his sword drawn. Sarrin stepped in front of Bane and guided his hand to her shoulder, then followed Artan, who set off at a brisk pace, heading out of town.

  Bane limped beside Sarrin, stumbling on the stony ground, and she avoided rougher areas. Strange beings emerged from the ramshackle houses to watch them pass, and many joined the procession, helping crippled comrades. They all resembled beasts, or some part of them was transformed into that of a beast. They stumbled and fell as their legs ceased to function, while others cried out in despair as their sight faded. More and more were left behind to crawl in the dust and plead for mercy. Sarrin glanced up at Bane's grim face.

  "Can you not help them, Lord?"

  "The only way to free them from Frendar's power is to kill him."

  She shivered. "To kill a light god is sacrilege."

  "Yes."

  Sarrin hunched her shoulders as the crippled people's pitiful cries followed them down the street. By the time they reached the last of the dilapidated houses, only their group could still walk. Artan collapsed with a grunt of surprise, taking Kimi down with him. She wailed in despair, and he swore, thumping his useless legs with a furious fist.

  Sarrin stopped, and Bane turned his head towards her. "What is it?"

  "Frendar has crippled Artan."

  A soldier yelped and sank down, tipping Ethra from the litter. Juvo cursed and fell to his knees. Sarrin gasped, grabbing Bane as her legs buckled. He staggered, his sprained ankle protesting, and she released him. Mithran sank to his knees and lowered Mirra to the ground; Grem staggered with a curse and fell to one knee in the dust.

  The last soldier drew his sword in futile defiance before he too fell with a grunt, his sword skittering away along the stones. Bane's legs tingled, and he sensed the white power flowing into him from somewhere nearby, innocuous and placid, but with a malicious intent behind it. He sank to his knees as the strength drained out of his legs, and then sat back on his haunches.

  Sarrin turned to him and gasped as, with a burst of white light, the child god appeared near Bane. Frendar chortled and skipped around the dark god.

  "You can't walk now," he taunted. "And you can't see!"

  Bane bowed his head. "Do not make me harm you, Frendar."

  "You can't! You're too feeble!"

  "I can, but I do not want to."

  "You're just a blue god; you can't do anything to me!"

  Bane spread his hand, and blue light poured from it in a shining stream. "Let us go."

  "No! You can crawl back to my town, and stay there! Then maybe I'll let you walk a
gain!" Frendar watched Bane, looking puzzled. "Why have you sprung a leak?"

  Bane smiled. "If you let these people go, I will not hurt you. We can still be friends, and you can come with us."

  Frendar's eyes were intent upon the blue light flowing from Bane's hand. "You're still leaking."

  "I know."

  While Bane let the blue light flow out, he concentrated on the white power that paralysed his legs, tugging at it experimentally with his will. He was curious to see what he could do with it in the benign form that Frendar had channelled into him. Although his attempts to manipulate it failed, it retreated when he pushed at it. So, he could cast it out, but he could not use it. That much he had suspected, yet still he was disappointed. The last dregs of blue fire seeped from his fingers, and Bane cast out Frendar's power with a flick of his mind.

  Sarrin sighed with relief as Bane stood up, and the child god glared at him. The Demon Lord started to raise his arms, then let them fall back to his sides, and her heart twisted with shame. The torture Bane had suffered whilst wearing the shackles was clearly still fresh in his mind, and his tension spoke volumes of his reluctance to Gather the dark power again.

  "Let these people go, Frendar," he said.

  "No! You can go, but they stay!"

  Bane cursed and stepped towards the child, who skipped back. "I will make you release them if I must. I am not a blue god, I am a dark god, stupid boy, now let them go."

  Frendar cocked his head and eyed Bane. "Liar! You've got no power!"

  Bane's mouth twisted. "Then you leave me no choice."

  Raising his arm, he spread his hand towards the darkness that lay beyond the ruddy light of the roaring pillars of fire. The shadows surged forth, pouring into him with a sickening rush of evil that made Sarrin's stomach twist. He staggered under the weight of the foul burden, and Frendar vanished with a shriek. Sarrin found that her legs would move again, but Grem was the first to leap to his feet.

  The horns on Ethra's head sank back into her flesh, and the rest of the men scrambled up, Juvo helping Sarrin. She gazed at Bane, saddened by what he had been forced to do. Already he had cut the Gather, and the shadows swirled around him, thwarted. Sarrin glanced back, expecting to find Frendar's people rising to their feet also, but they still crawled over the stony ground, wailing their misery.