Demon Lord III - Grey God by T C Southwell Page B

a few minutes
of rest. Kayos created more food for the trio, and Bane
contemplated what he must do next. When they had finished their
meal, he stood up, allowing the rock seat to sink back into the
ground. He had not intended that his father should ever see him use
the dark power, but now he had no choice.
    Scanning the
area for hot spots, he went over to the nearest and stretched out
his hand, allowing a trickle of power to flow from his fingers. The
hot spot flared, sprouting flames, and Bane spoke the harsh words
of summoning. The flames roared up into a blaze that made his
father, Grem and Mirra step back, their eyes wide. Mirra had seen a
summoning before, but that made it no less daunting.
    A chiselled
head formed in the fire, weaving with sinuous grace atop a powerful
arched neck with a flowing, fiery mane. A graceful body coalesced,
and the demon steed pranced, its glowing hooves striking sparks on
the molten rock as it turned to Bane and bowed. Its white hot,
malevolent eyes sought the three humans, then flicked to Kayos,
brightening. Bane commanded it, and it swung away. Its fire
darkened, and glossy black hide covered it until it almost looked
like the normal horse it had once been. It snorted and tossed its
head in displeasure, fighting Bane's control, then subsided and
stood still, becoming statue-like.
    "Shaniss,"
Bane murmured, repeating the name the dark power whispered in his
mind.
    Turning to the
hot spot again, Bane summoned a second demon steed, this one darker
and bulkier than the first, which fought his control with more
determination, snorting fire, but subsided too, defeated.
    "Ardon," Bane
named it as it transformed into a mighty iron-grey charger.
    A third demon
steed stepped from the fire at his behest, this one burning almost
white-hot with fury. Its narrow head snaked towards him, ears laid
back as it defied him. Once more Bane's power forced it to bow to
him, its eyes filled with baleful fire as it turned into a shining
red roan.
    "Kess." Bane
frowned at the third demon steed. "You will obey these three
humans. You will harm nothing unless attacked, and you will protect
them."
    Kess lunged at
him, its teeth snicking together beside his cheek, then retreated,
swishing its tail. Bane made no attempt to avoid it, knowing it
could not harm him. He commanded the other demon steeds, then
turned to his father, who stood open-mouthed, his eyes wide. When
Mithran glanced at Bane, such intense sorrow filled his expression
that Bane was unable to meet his gaze.
    He faced
Mirra. "Which one would you like?"
    She shivered,
shaking her head. "None of them."
    "You cannot
walk that far, and I am not carrying you all the way."
    "You choose
one, since we will share it."
    "I will
walk."
    "Why?"
    He shrugged.
"I have no need to ride."
    "You will get
tired too."
    "A little,
yes."
    She glanced at
the demon steeds again. "Then I choose Kess."
    Bane eyed the
furious steed, which snorted fire and pawed the ground. "She is
yours."
    Mithran shook
his head. "You expect us to ride those things?"
    "They will not
harm you, Father."
    "They're
evil."
    "Yes."
    "Isn't there
something else we could ride?"
    Bane smiled.
"No."
    Mithran
grimaced. "How do we make them do as we want?"
    "Talk to
them."
    "Won't they...
you know..."
    "Corrupt you?
No."
    Grem
approached the black demon steed, Shaniss, displaying the courage
Bane had always admired, and reached out to touch its shoulder. It
tossed its head and swished its tail. The warrior ran his hand over
its silken hide.
    "It's just
like a horse."
    "It is a
horse, long since dead and condemned for some terrible deed. Beasts
are not capable of true evil, but can be corrupted by the humans
who abuse them."
    "Amazing,"
Grem said.
    Bane turned to
Mirra and lifted her onto Kess' back, where she clung to the glossy
mane, biting her lip.
    "All right?"
he enquired, and she nodded.
    Grem swung
onto Shaniss' back, but Mithran continued to hesitate, looking
reluctant. Bane went over to him and