T. C. Southwell

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CHAPTER FIVE

Earth Demon

In the pale, watery light of another gloomy dawn, the army broke camp. Mirra gazed at the ruins of the abbey as she walked past with Benton, glad that she now wore a healer's robe again. Bane rode far ahead on the dragon, a small figure in the distance, but no less daunting even so. While she walked, men came to her for healing, displaying burns and scrapes that they had received while demolishing the abbey. Mirra knew that every time she healed someone, her power grew a little less, and there was no sun to renew it, but she could not refuse them.

A hot, humid day developed, dull but sweaty. By the afternoon, Mirra longed for a cool bath in a stream or pool. She walked on the outskirts of the armed horde, hoping to catch any breeze that might come by. Benton accompanied her, for the army had no formation or ranks, it simply straggled along in clusters of gossiping men. Each race tended to stick together, forming pockets of trolls, rock howlers, goblins and men, each speaking their own tongue.

Bane's was the only solitary figure, far out in front atop the dragon. They followed a road bordered by green swathes of close cropped lawn, cutting through a picturesque forest of tall, pale leafed trees with striped grey bark. Small blue and white flowers grew among the golden leaves that carpeted the forest floor, broken by patches of moss and ferns. Since it was easier to walk on the road and verge than among the trees, the army had become drawn out into a long column that spanned about five leagues.

Mirra spotted a blackened patch in the grass ahead, and wondered what had caused it. Perhaps someone had camped there, but it was too big for a campfire site, and besides, it was out in the open. Benton saw it and called out to another soldier, pointing. Mirra studied it, perplexed, for it seemed to be getting bigger. She stopped in horror, gasping.

A brown form rose from the blackened area, twisting and growing. It developed a head, and six long arms. Benton shouted to his companions, and then he was beside her, dragging her away. Mirra needed little urging, she ran as fast as she could, her breath catching in terror. The earth demon shook free of the soil and acquired legs, coming after them. Benton tried to make her run faster, yelling and tugging at her arm, but she was at her limit. Men scattered before the demon, fleeing into the forest with shouts of fear and horror, but it ignored them, intent on its prey.

Mirra risked a glance back, finding the demon gaining rapidly. Her throat closed in panic, robbing her of much needed air and weakening her already rubbery legs. Benton raced wild eyed beside her, pulling her along, and she was surprised that he had not abandoned her. The demon was closing the gap, its long legs swallowing the ground in great strides, the thuds of its footfalls hammering her heart with fresh terror. Something struck her in the back, sending her sprawling and tearing her arm from Benton's grip. She cried out, rolling over to stare up at the monstrosity that loomed over her.

Like the fire demon, it radiated evil, the same dark power that Bane used. The waves of foul magic made her gut clench, as did its gruesome visage of mud. Stone eyes glared blackly, and huge thews of mud-muscle rippled on its body. One of the six arms descended with a sickening thud, and Mirra's leg snapped like a rotten twig. She tried to scramble to her feet as the bone knitted, but another arm fell, smashing her pelvis. For a moment she was paralysed as the healing took place, and another fist smashed into her gut. Golden power shimmered under her skin as it rushed to repair pulped organs, weakening her for a moment.

A movement caught her eye, and she cried out in horror as Benton attacked the demon, slashing at it with his sword. The fiend turned on him, flicking a negligent fist that smashed him away, sending him crashing onto the grass, where he lay still.

Mirra raised slender arms as the demon swung back to her, a futile defence against its powerful blows. Terror coursed through her in a flood of icy realisation that she was moments from death. Her shocked mind scrambled frantically for a means of survival, and a name sprang to her lips in a despairing cry.

"Bane!"

Mirra screamed as the demon's fist descended again, her cry cut off in a grunt as the air was crushed from her body. Her rib cage snapped under the blow, and for a moment she thought that her heart would be crushed. There was no pain, but her breath stopped as the golden power rushed to heal the damage. Her vision grew dim, and she almost passed out, then she drew a small breath as her lungs healed. Already the demon was raising its fists again.

A dark figure appeared beside the demon, as if out of thin air, the Demon Lord stood there. He raised an arm, and a bolt of black fire spat from his fingers, striking the demon before its blow landed. The earth demon staggered sideways, reeling from the blast, and Bane stepped in front of it.

"Do not tell me, Yalnebar, let me guess," he sneered with profound scorn. "My father sent you to kill the healer."

The earth demon shook its head as if to clear it, bits of mud crumbling from its chest where Bane's fire had struck. It placed a hand on the wound and straightened.

"That is right, Bane." It spoke in a deep, gritty voice.

"We had an agreement. Since when does my father break his word? I told him that I would kill her when I found another, and still he sends you, cloaked against my sight."

The earth demon shook its head. "He said that she had to die, that she is dangerous."

Bane snorted, his dark eyes glaring. "A mere human girl? Next he will be jumping at shadows."

"Do not insult the Black Lord," the demon rumbled.

"Tell him to stop sending flunkies. He knows that none of you are a match for me, Mealle has already tried, and Yangarra learned the hard way. If he wants the girl killed, then he must give me a better reason than that he thinks she is dangerous. I do not find her dangerous; I find her amusing, so why should I kill her now? I intend to send her below, as a gift for him."

"You set yourself against the Black Lord, Bane, you will pay."

The Demon Lord's lip curled with immense contempt. "I do his dirty work; I am breaking the wards to set him free. I am not setting myself against my father; I have agreed to kill her. But when I choose!" The earth demon opened its cavernous mouth to answer, but Bane made a vicious gesture. "Begone!"

The demon collapsed into a pile of earth, and Bane stared at it for a moment, then turned to Mirra, the black draining from his vivid blue eyes, the whites bloodshot again. His pallor had increased, and lines of anger bracketed his mouth and furrowed his brow.

"I take it that you will live?"

Mirra nodded, her breath catching.

Bane's eyes flicked away. "I doubt the same can be said for your gallant knight."

Mirra turned with a gasp, remembering Benton's heroic assault on the demon. She got to her feet slowly, weakened by the shock of her injuries and the sudden draining of her power to heal them. As she stumbled over to his crumpled form, she prayed that he still lived. Bane watched her with a cynical smile.

"I am amazed that he thought he could fight a demon. He was either very brave, or very stupid. But I opt for stupid, no one is that brave."

Mirra knelt and laid her hands on Benton, her power flowing weakly, for the demon had all but drained her of that which the golden pearl had bestowed. Benton had suffered terrible injuries from that one blow, several broken ribs and a shattered arm, deep bruising that would have killed him without her help. After a few minutes, he groaned and opened his eyes. Seeing Bane standing over him, he scrambled away, lurching to his feet and retreating, rather unsteadily, to a safe distance.

Bane snorted. "Is it not amazing, they actually think that they are safe at a distance." He shook his head. "What fools."

Mirra stood, swaying as the world swam around her. "Thank you for saving me again, Bane."

He glared at her. "Had you not called, I would have been spared the trouble. I begin to wonder if you are worth it, girl, my father will be angry. Seeing you dragged from the cesspit was amusing, but perhaps I should find other diversions. You should be glad if I let you die, I only keep you alive to watch you suffer."

She bowed her head. "I do not want to die."

"All the more reason to kill you. Your nuisance value is outweighing your amusing abilities." He paused. "And you have given me a headache."

She touched his arm, flinching at the evil power in him, and he jerked away. "Do not touch me! You take far too many liberties."

"I can help you, stop the pain."

"I do not need your damned help!" He turned and strode away, shouting for Mord.

That evening Mirra was brought to his tent as usual, and settled on the floor. Bane sat studying a map, barely acknowledging her presence. She gazed at him, fascinated by his striking features, the fierce perfection of his profile, his eyes shining like jewels in the light of the lamp on the table. Eventually he looked at her, his brows gathering.

"What are you staring at, witch?"

She glanced away. "I am sorry."

"I think the next demon can have you, you are starting to annoy me."

"No! Please, Bane?"

He put aside the map with a sigh. "Why did you call out to me today?"

"Because I knew that you could help me."

"What makes you think I wanted to?"

She smiled, her face gilded by the lamplight, her hair a golden halo. "You did before."

He stared at her, studying her radiant features, the innocent, trusting blue eyes. "You must be the most stupid female in the world. You think you can predict me? Mostly I was annoyed at that damned Yalnebar for sneaking out of the Underworld, so well cloaked that I did not sense him. Mealle I perceived, but the earth demon was very well concealed, my father had a hand in it."

"Will your father be very angry?"

Bane gave a bark of laughter. "He will be livid. But you see, there is little that he can do about it, and I am actually interested to see how far he will go with this. He needs me to break the wards, if I do not he will stay down there forever." His eyes glinted. "And he has another problem, too. In order for me to break the wards, he had to make me as powerful as he is. But I do not wish to disobey him, I must find out what the problem is, tonight."

Mirra nodded, then her eyes widened as he leaned closer, pulling the black bladed dagger from his belt. She gasped as he drew the blade along her cheek, stinging her skin. A drop of blood escaped before the wound healed, and Bane smiled.

"I thought so. Your powers are waning, witch; you have not seen the sun for a while, have you? Yet you still heal those stupid men, and soon you will have nothing left for yourself."

"I must help them while I can, it is my calling."

"How idiotic. And when your powers are gone? What then?"

"Then I will suffer and die, just like them."

His smile broadened. "Good, perhaps you will be more amusing then."

"Then you will not kill me?"

"You should be begging for death, girl, when your powers are gone, you will be at my mercy, and I have none."

She gazed at him. "I think you do."

"You are wrong," he snapped, annoyed. "Next you will be telling me that you like me."

"I do. I want to help you, Bane, you suffer so, and no one should suffer like this." She spoke with soft sincerity, her eyes gentle and pleading, as liquid as a new born fawn's.

Bane stared at her. "After all that I have done to you? How can you like someone who revels in your suffering? And I do, you know. You amaze me with your stupidity, you may even become boring. Beware that day, girl, for then I shall enjoy watching the next demon destroy you. Already you are pathetic and repulsive, a weak mewling thing." He turned back to the map, unrolling it again, and Mirra lay down with a sigh.

Chapter 5 Continued