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

not wish to be raised
up?"
    Bane looked
away. "I will accept her decision."
    "Then it is
agreed?"
    Bane
hesitated, casting a piercing glance at Kayos. "I will consider
it."
    The Elder God
inclined his head. Bane rose, swung away with a swirl of his cloak
and vanished in a flash of blue light, leaving fading sparkles that
drifted down.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    God Realm
     
    Bane
reappeared in a glade some distance from his house, close to the
track that led to it. For a moment he stood with bowed head and
clenched hands, concentrating on the hated sensations of the dark
power within him, even though it was only dregs now. Only one of
those sensations had he missed, the only one that held any
seduction, the strongest lure of all. Power. Closing his eyes, he
raised his head and spread his hands, letting the shadows pour from
his fingers and sink away into the ground. The last shreds were the
hardest to shed, and fought to remain in his bones, but he evicted
them with brutal determination, a lot of his strength draining away
with them. As they left him, his shoulders slumped, and he
sighed.
    "You there,
turn around!"
    The shout made
Bane start, and his gut clenched as he recognised his father's
voice. If he had still had any power, he would have Moved, but
without it he had no choice but to obey. He did so slowly, dreading
his father's reaction. Mithran stood at the edge of the glade, Grem
beside him, a loaded crossbow aimed at Bane's heart.
    Mithran's eyes
widened. "Bane?"
    "Yes,
Father."
    Grem lowered
the crossbow, frowning.
    Mithran raked
Bane an incredulous glance. "What are you doing?"
    "I -"
    "Why are you
wearing those clothes?"
    "I -"
    "Have you
taken leave of your senses?"
    "No, I -"
    "How could
you?" Mithran's face twisted. "How could you turn to the darkness
again?"
    Bane rubbed
his brow. "I have not -"
    "I won't let
you!" Mithran shouted, striding up to his son, his eyes afire with
wrath. Grem followed, looking wary. Mithran grabbed the front of
Bane's shirt and yanked him closer, glaring into his eyes. "You
want to become what you were? You take up the power he gave you?
You turn to evil?"
    "Father." Bane
placed his hands on his father's shoulders. "Let me explain."
    "What possible
explanation could there be? You renounced the dark power!"
    "Yes, I -"
    "How will
Mirra feel when she finds out? How could you do this to her?"
    "She
knows."
    Mithran shoved
him away. "You've betrayed her, all of us."
    "I want to
hear his explanation," Grem muttered.
    Mithran turned
to him, then bowed his head, frowning at the ground. Bane nodded at
the warrior, but received a glacial stare.
    "Mirra asked
me to -"
    "Don't lie!"
Mithran shouted, swinging around. "She would never do that."
    "Usually, no.
Lyriasharin visited me yesterday, with her father, Kayos. Later she
returned and asked me to go to Eternity. She needs my help."
    Mithran's jaw
dropped. "The goddess was here? And Kayos? After a thousand years,
he's returned? You went to Eternity?" His amazement grew with each
startled question. "She needs your help?"
    Grem looked
stunned.
    Bane nodded.
"Yes. If you doubt me, ask Mirra."
    "You..."
Mithran gulped. "What was it like?"
    "Bright.
Fluffy white clouds, that sort of thing."
    "By the
light," Mithran muttered. "I have a son who visits the gods in
Eternity."
    "What are you
doing here?"
    Mithran
glanced at Grem and waved a hand. "We're on our way home. Grem
needed to use a bush, and we saw deer running past, so we decided
to see what had frightened them in case it was dangerous."
    Grem shook
himself from his shock. "What help does the goddess need?"
    "I will tell
you at home. Mirra is waiting for me."
    "Of course."
Mithran stepped closer to his son and clasped his shoulder. "Sorry
about that."
    "It was
understandable."
    "Even so, I
shouldn't have doubted you."
    "It is all
right, Father."
    Mithran gave a
jerky nod. "Let's get home so you can tell us all about it. You're
not going to frighten old Carrots, are you?"
    "No. I have
cast it