Demon Lord VII - Dark Domain (26 page)

“Very clever,
you old grey bastard,” he said to Kayos. “You know full well demon
gods will not allow themselves to be trapped in a domain.”

“Why is that?”
Bane enquired.

“Because we
spent aeons trapped in one, and they are boring.”

“Then you had
best leave,” Kayos said, “because next we will close the realm
gate.”

Dramon glanced
at the four shadowy demon hounds. “You would regret this, if not
for him.” He jerked his chin at Bane.

Bane knew the
reason for his comment, as, apparently, did Kayos and Drevarin, but
Sherinias asked, “Why only Lord Bane?”

“Because,
stupid girl, he is a dark god, and that means he can destroy
Hellhounds, while light gods cannot. He is the reason we will
leave.”

“Why would you
care if he destroys your hounds?”

“Why not ask
your Oracle?”

Bane glanced at
her. “They value their hounds, which provide them with sport. Life
would be that much more boring without them, not so, Dramon?”

“Indeed.
Stultifying.”

Nomard turned
away, sheathing his broadsword. “Beware, Silver God, this domain is
on the brink of a catastrophe the likes of which few have seen, or
would wish to. We would enjoy watching it, but alas…”

“What do you
mean?” Sherinias demanded.

Dramon snorted,
picking up his spiked club. “You are going to start a war with
demons, and when you do, the light will pay a terrible price.” The
twins tramped towards the gate hall, their hounds trotting
ahead.

Sherinias
pattered after them. “Wait!” she cried. “Why do you say that?”

Nomard looked
back. “Demon dust builds mighty walls, and the sky will bleed when
angels fall.”

It sounded like
a quote, Bane thought, and clearly Sherinias shared his view, for
she asked, “Where is that written?”

“In the
stars.”

Sherinias
stopped and frowned at their backs until they vanished into the
clouds, then turned to Kayos. “Father?”

“We do not
intend to start a war with demons,” the Grey God said. “Do not
concern yourself.”

“What does it
mean, though?”

“When evil is
destroyed, the light must pay, too.”

“But we will
not be destroying demons, will we?” she asked Bane.

“No.”

She gazed after
the demon gods again, her expression perplexed. “Then why would
they say such a thing?”

“I think they
assume you would not wish to rule a dark domain, and will therefore
try to rid it of demons, a difficult and dangerous endeavour that
may very well start a war. But they are wrong.”

Kayos went over
to her and clasped her shoulder. “Go and close the realm gate,
child.”

“Yes,
Father.”

“Before you do,
you must welcome Bane to your realm.”

She cast the
Demon Lord a puzzled glance. “He knows he is welcome here,
surely?”

“But the Oracle
does not. Now that the world gate is closed, when the realm gate
closes the inner wards will be reactivated.”

“Oh, of
course.” She smiled at Bane. “I welcome you to the light realm, My
Lord. You may return whenever you wish.”

Bane inclined
his head with a smile, making her blush. As the young goddess
vanished along the path into the cloud gardens, Kayos approached
him.

“Do you think
the demon gods are really gone?”

“I doubt it,”
Bane said. “I am sure they found lying to us amusing, as they did
telling Sherinias what they did. Where is that quote from?”

“The Book of
Edict, in which Ordur set down all the universe’s teachings. He
used them to tame the chaos and help to form the God Realm. All
Grey Gods are privy to them.”

“And demon
gods, too, apparently.”

Kayos nodded.
“Many gods, especially the ancient ones, have read the book. Ordur
felt it would be beneficial for younger gods to share the knowledge
of how the universe works, to prevent its destruction.”

“How does one
read this book?”

“You have to
travel to the Oracle of the Ages and request it.”

Bane raised a
brow. “What is that?”

“It is the
Oracle Ordur used to create the first domain, long since destroyed,
except for one city built around the Oracle’s edifice.”

“Where is
it?”

“It is
Airedene, the City of Angels, in the heart of the God Realm.”

“Why are they
called Oracles?” Bane enquired. “They do not prophesy. They merely
store the history of all the domains they have ever been used to
create.”

“But, since
history has a way of repeating itself, often their wisdom is
prophetic. If only every light god followed an Oracle’s advice,
many catastrophes could be avoided, like this one.”

“So you also do
not believe the demon gods have left.”

“A domain with
so much potential for mayhem and amusement? Not likely. At least
closing the gates has stopped them following you around, in the
light realm, at any rate.”

Bane gazed into
the cloud gardens. “They cannot hide from me completely. I
perceived them when they arrived, even though they did not wish to
be seen.”

“They could be
a threat to us if they could become invisible. They are, in
essence, nothing more than extremely powerful demons, with similar
limitations and powers, although they are not limited to one
element and possess most of a god’s powers.” Kayos set off along
the path towards the gazebo, and Bane fell into step beside him,
Drevarin following.

“I think it is
time for you to create the wards,” the Grey God said. “Much as I am
loath to leave Sherinias, we must be on our way.”

Drevarin said,
“Perhaps the demon gods intend to start a war, and that is why he
quoted from the Book of Edict. Without leadership, demons will not
band together unless their existence is threatened.”

“But demons
hate their gods, so it is debateable that they will follow
them.”

“Unless the
demon gods reveal themselves to the people, thereby inciting them
to build ships and hunt demons,” Bane remarked.

“If the humans
go to war with demons, they will be annihilated.”

They entered
the gazebo and flopped down on their couches.

Kayos summoned
a goblet of ambrosia and sipped it. “Sherinias will be safe. Demons
and even demon gods are no threat to her, but it will be too
dangerous for you to become involved, Bane. If Nomard and Dramon
start a war, these people must fight it alone.”

“I did not
think light gods approved of war. Are you not supposed to be all
about love and life?”

“All wars, by
their very definition, are evil. They are started by greed, envy or
hatred. A light god can only tell his people how to save themselves
from evil, he can never stand upon a mountaintop and declare war,
but sometimes it is inevitable when evil seeks to gain power.”

“If I do not
create the final three wards, the demons will not go to war,” Bane
pointed out.

“No, but they
will rule this world and torment its people. Either way, this
domain will fall.”

“So, we are
damned if we do and damned if we do not.”

“That is often
the way of things,” Kayos agreed.

Bane summoned a
cup of ambrosia to sip while he pondered this, and a few moments
later a smiling Sherinias entered the gazebo, her eyes
sparkling.

“The realm gate
is closed, Father,” she announced. “We are safe.”

Kayos inclined
his head. “That is good, although we were safe before.”

She cast Bane a
shy glance. “Of course, yet I feel better.” She noted their grim
expressions, and her smile faded. “What has happened?”

Bane frowned
into his cup, unable to meet her eyes. Kayos harrumphed and gazed
into the gardens. Drevarin bowed his head.

“Father?” she
asked.

“It is nothing
for you to be concerned about, child.”

“Then why do
you all look so unhappy?”

Bane dismissed
his goblet and jumped up to stride into the cloud gardens. He did
not want to listen to Kayos explain the situation to her. Thanks to
the two demon gods who had wandered so casually into her domain,
she would probably be forced to witness a war in which most of her
people would die, and if they lost it, her domain would fall even
further into darkness. He had saved her from four dark gods only to
have demons ruin his triumph. As was usually the case when he was
troubled, he longed for Mirra’s company, and Moved to Miraculous’
mess hall. His wife rose from the table where she sat with Mithran
and Grem and came to embrace him. He held her close and bowed his
head to kiss her hair, then led her over to a cloud couch and sank
onto it, drawing her down beside him.

She gazed at
him with worried eyes. “What is wrong? What were those things?”

He sighed.
“Demon gods. Do not worry,” he added at her horrified look, “they
are not as bad as they sound. Mostly they are jokers and tricksters
in search of sport, but they are almost impossible to destroy. I
know of no way. Kayos and Drevarin are afraid they will foment a
war between humans and demons.”

“How can they
be stopped?”

Bane leant
back, shaking his head. “I do not think they can. Kayos wants to
leave as soon as the wards are set.”

“We cannot
leave these poor people at the mercy of demons and their gods.”

He smiled. “How
do you propose we prevent it?”

“If they are
just jokers in search of amusement, why not talk to them?”

“And tell them
what?”

“I do not know.
Offer them a bargain, perhaps. If they seek excitement, why not
offer them better sport elsewhere?”

Bane was
surprised by her idea, which did indeed have merit. “I wonder if
they would consider partaking in the rescue of a goddess fun?”

“Are they not
dark gods?”

“No, oddly
enough, they are considered neutral, with evil tendencies. They do
not destroy domains or kill light gods, or even enslave them. They
are merely wanderers who enjoy making trouble. They would prove an
excellent distraction when I rescue Ashynaria, if they agree.”

“Then you
should ask them.”

Bane nodded.
“It would serve a double purpose, getting them out of this domain
and helping to save Ashynaria. Since I am a dark god, they might
agree.”

“What has your
being a dark god have to do with it?”

“Well, I doubt
they would become allies with light gods. They consider them to be
boring, while I can offer them adventure.”

She smiled, a
little uncertainly. “You are not a dark god, though.”

“I give a
mighty fine impression of one. A true dark god would consider them
nothing more than a nuisance, and never offer them an alliance. It
is worth the attempt.” He drew her close and kissed her brow. “I am
glad I have such a clever wife.”

Mirra clasped
his face and gazed into his eyes. “You have your power?”

He nodded. “I
Gathered it to convince Dramon and Nomard to stop chasing me,
although it did not work. Sherinias had to close the gates.”

She leant
closer and kissed him on the lips, her smile sad when she drew
back. “You are supposed to be resting from it. After you speak to
them, you must cast it out again.”

“I shall.”

She hesitated.
“May I come with you?”

He eyed her,
dubious. “I do not think you will enjoy it. This is a dark
domain.”

“What does that
mean? I have seen it in your Eye, and it does not look bad. Not
like Drayshina’s.”

“Drayshina’s
world was being destroyed by a dark god. This one is being
destroyed by its people. They are corrupt, devious and
depraved.”

“Is it
dangerous?” she asked.

“No. Nothing
can harm you while you are with me.”

“Then I would
like to come.”

He hesitated.
“I will probably have to tell a few lies.”

“That is all
right. You will not be lying to me.”

“No, but just
be careful what you believe. I am quite good at it.”

“I shall take
everything you say to them with a pinch of salt.”

He smiled. “All
right then. Dramon and Nomard said they were going to seek an
alehouse.”

Chapter
Thirteen

Demon Deal

Bane waved an
Eye into being and sought the demon gods in it. The image that
formed was of the interior of a drinking establishment like none he
had ever seen before. Lights sparkled against a gloomy backdrop
crowded with people, most drinking bright liquids, some swaying and
groping on a floor covered with glowing multi-coloured squares.
Near-naked dancers twined around silver poles or performed
provocative contortions in golden cages, topless women sat in men’s
laps and nude men performed lewd acts for avid women. Bane was sure
most of the patrons were demons and droges, and it certainly did
not look like the sort of place Mirra would enjoy. Dramon and
Nomard sat at a table in the foreground, ale tankards in hand,
their appearance changed to that of ordinary men with identical
broad, pugnacious faces, clad in shiny black suits and a surfeit of
glittering gold accoutrements in the form of neck chains, rings and
earrings. They looked up, sensing his Eye, and one waved, while the
other raised his tankard.

Bane snorted.
“They are as fond of garish finery as demons.”

Mirra’s cheeks
grew a little pink as she studied the scene, but her expression
remained determined.

“Are you sure
you want to go?” he enquired.

“Yes. I am no
simpering maiden, and I have seen such lewd acts before,
remember?”

“Then you had
no choice; now you do.”

“I will
come.”

Bane dismissed
the Eye and rose, drawing her up beside him. “We will have to blend
in, so I shall provide an illusion for you, too. It will sicken you
a little.”

“All right, as
long as you do not make me look like one of those dancers.”