Read Online Demon Lord III - Grey God by T C Southwell - Free Book Online Page A

forward. "Afraid of dying out there, far from
your home, far from Mirra. Alone."
    "You want me
to defeat another dark god, but what makes you think I can? I could
not defeat Arkonen without your aid."
    "You were
young and inexperienced. Your powers have increased a great deal
since then, and with the passage of time, they will grow more."
    "I could not
get through his shields." Bane's eyes grew distant again as he
recalled the terrible day he had fought Arkonen. "He toyed with me.
He laughed at me. I never want to do that again. I cannot defeat a
dark god."
    "You can,"
Kayos said. "There have been others like you, who destroyed
them."
    "Mortal?"
    "No. But you
are just as powerful as they were."
    "Arkonen said
there was no way for me to defeat him, and as far as I can tell, he
was right. Only the white fire defeated him."
    Kayos shook
his head. "It can be done without the white fire. It has been done.
You just need to learn how."
    "And are you
going to teach me?"
    "I can teach
you many things, but not how to use the dark power. That you must
discover for yourself."
    "If I live
long enough," Bane said.
    "You
will."
    "Is that a
prediction?"
    "Just a
feeling." Kayos sat back, glancing at his daughter.
    Lyriasharin
said, "Do you recall, My Lord, what you said on the day I restored
your hands, and I asked if you would help me, should I require your
aid one day?"
    "I am not
convinced that this is within my power." Bane shook his head. "When
I agreed, I certainly did not have something as dangerous as this
in mind."
    "Do you wish
to speak to Mirra before you decide?"
    "I know what
she will say."
    "Then you will
help us?"
    Bane sighed,
lowering his eyes. "I know nothing of this God Realm."
    "I will be
with you, naturally," Kayos said. "Without me you would not find
Ashynaria; the God Realm is dark and trackless."
    "How did you
find her?"
    Kayos smiled.
"It took me a thousand years."
    "How long
would it take to return there?"
    "Now that I
know the way, not long."
    Bane looked
thoughtful. "A Move takes only a moment."
    "We cannot
Move there. To Move within the God Realm is to be lost."
    "If I do this,
I want something in return."
    Kayos glanced
at his daughter, a slight frown wrinkling his brow. "What?"
    "Make my wife
a goddess."
    Lyriasharin
looked away, and Kayos' frown deepened. "That is not your decision.
By doing so, you will change her destiny forever, deny her rebirth
as a mortal, and bring her into the dangerous world of gods."
    "I will
protect her."
    "She may not
wish it. And you may one day fall, leaving her at the mercy of dark
gods."
    "I will not
fall."
    Kayos thought
it quite likely that he was right. He had not seen many with as
much power as this young god. "The choice is hers, but, if she
wishes it, I will raise her up if you free my granddaughter. Then
you must both leave here, and she must create her own domain. This
too, she must be told. Our kind is uneasy together. We prefer
solitude. It will be hard at first, and dangerous for such a young
goddess."
    "But we will
be together forever."
    "Nothing is
forever. In my lifetime I have created seventeen sons and
twenty-seven daughters. Only one still lives."
    "How old are
you?"
    Kayos
shrugged. "When I was created, there was no way to measure time,
save by the birth and death of stars."
    "Who created
you?"
    "As far as I
know, no one. I came into being in the dust of a dead star, and
fell to the God Realm, which still burnt."
    Bane looked
thoughtful, and Kayos wondered if he was considering their request,
or merely pondering the new information. Kayos glanced at
Lyriasharin, who gazed at Bane, her eyes filled with sorrow and
love. Even if she had yet to admit it to herself, his daughter was
smitten with Bane, which saddened Kayos, for Bane clearly loved his
wife. Finding this young, mortal tar'merin in his domain filled him
with wonder and excitement. It seemed too good to be true. He had
long hoped to meet a tar'merin.
    Lyriasharin
murmured, "What will you do if Mirra does