Read Online Demon Lord IV - Lord of Shadows by T C Southwell - Free Book Online Page B

had not immediately
sought its source. Had he done so, he would have reached the
tar'merin before the light god could, and slain him. His failure
rankled, and he longed to lash out at someone. Slaying his minions
would gain him nothing, however, so he leashed his anger, saving it
for the day when he would find the traitor and vent it upon him. He
would pay for all the trouble that he had caused.
    The light god
was bold indeed to snatch the tar'merin from under Vorkon's nose,
and had put himself in grave danger. Vorkon knew little about light
gods. His education had been solely in the dark arts, but he
suspected, from the light god's odd garb, that he was one of the
elder gods. Capturing him would be a great achievement, and he
looked forward to it.
    The demons
returned with eight screaming, struggling people, and Vorkon sent a
command rune into each one, silencing them. Once the shadow rune
had entered their minds, they would obey any command the mages gave
them.
     
    Kayos paced
around, stopping to gaze down at Bane, then pace again. Shevra
watched his liquid movements. The aura of power that surrounded him
fascinated her. She knew the legend of the Grey Gods, and that he
had immense power, but could not understand his urgency for Bane to
wake. Surely they were safe from Vorkon here, on hallowed ground?
Kayos did not seem to think so, however, and that worried her. The
fair-haired girl sat beside Bane and stroked his cheek, looking
despondent. The Grey God stopped and waved a hand, and a flat,
glowing oval object shimmered into being before him. Shevra crept
closer to peer at it. It showed only swirling darkness, and Kayos
dismissed it with a curt gesture.
    "Vorkon blocks
my Eye, but he will seek me all the more now. He will try to slay
Bane before he wakes, and capture me."
    "Surely we're
safe here, Lord?" Shevra asked.
    He turned to
her. "Only for as long as it remains hallowed. If he sends a mortal
to snuff out the white flame, we will be in danger."
    "A black
mage?"
    "No, one such
could not approach the flame. It would strike him down. But if he
brings another..."
    "Then we must
protect it."
    The warrior
who leant against the wall straightened. "I'll do it."
    Kayos nodded.
"The mortal will be under a geas. You will have to kill him. Or
her."
    "I
understand."
    "I'll help
you," Patrin volunteered. "I'll find a weapon."
    "You will not
find any swords here," Kayos said.
    "I'll find
something." The warrior headed for the door.
    Kayos sighed
and rubbed his brow. "You had better tell the priestesses what has
happened, perhaps they can help. And about me, they are unaware of
my presence."
    "Yes, My
Lord."
    The warrior
slipped out, and Kayos sat beside Bane, leaning forward to grip his
collar and shake him. "Wake up, Bane."
    Shevra crept
closer and knelt beside the cot, gazing at Bane's peaceful face.
"Do our lives depend only upon him, My Lord?"
    "This entire
domain does."
    "But you
-"
    "I cannot
fight a dark god."
    Despite the
room's warmth, Shevra pulled her shawl tighter, suppressing a
shiver. "It's my fault that he was struck down. I called upon him
for help, but I didn't intend for him to be hurt."
    "Do not blame
yourself, child."
    "But if I
hadn't prayed to him..."
    "You would be
dead, along with all those who were with you."
    Her eyes
filled with tears. "I would give my life gladly, Lord, to undo what
has happened."
    "No one can
undo the past, and you did nothing wrong. It was an unfortunate
accident. A twist of fate, nothing more."
    "Why did he
save us, Lord?"
    "He fights for
the light, even though his power is dark."
    "Then he'll
free us from the darkness that swallows our land, and make the sun
shine again? I've never seen the sun, Lord."
    "When he wakes
up, he will, and one day you shall see it, child." His eyes flicked
over her. "Go and ask for food and a bath, make sure Patrin gets
what he needs as well."
     
    Tygon woke
with a snort, opening his eyes. He lay on the frozen ground, his
hands and feet numb, his teeth