Demon Lord VI - Son of Chaos by T C Southwell Read Free Book Online

inclined
his head. “You may.”
    “ I’m sorry for what we did to you earlier. We didn’t know what
you were.”
    “ That is not a question.”
    Nikira bit her
lip. He was not going to accept her apology. As Drevarin had said,
what they had done was unforgiveable. She glanced at the creator.
“What’s he doing?”
    “ Healing the tar’merin.”
    “ But it’s taking so long.”
    The angel’s
grey eyes flicked to the creator, then back to her. “Yes. Drevarin
is young, and not terribly powerful. He has taken it upon himself
to restore the strength of one who, judging by the time it is
taking, vastly outranks him. He also seeks the damage done by the
shackles that were placed upon the tar’merin, and he lacks the
experience to accomplish such a difficult task swiftly.”
    “ How can a man be more powerful than a creator?”
    “ Flesh is no constraint to power. That depends upon his will,
and spirit. Also, the Demon Lord is not merely a man. He is a
mortal god.”
    She looked
down at her hands, finding his direct gaze unnerving. “How did you
know he was a tar’merin?”
    “ No servant of the dark power can summon an angel. The Demon
Lord’s soul is pure, yet he bears the rune scars used to command
the dark power and its unmistakeable imprint upon his flesh. When I
touched him, I learnt much about him, including the fact that he is
tar’merin.”
    “ You can see souls?”
    He shook his
head. “I can see auras, which are the emanation of souls, and from
that I know whether or not a soul is pure. It is a gift that was
given to us when we were created, one of several.”
    “ Like the ability to become invisible.”
    “ Precisely.”
    Nikira
hesitated, raising her gaze to study his finely moulded
countenance. “How can we... make restitution for what we did to him
out of ignorance?”
    His eyes
drifted to the tar’merin. “Beg his forgiveness, offer him your aid
and loyalty, swear to obey his every command and throw yourself
upon his mercy.”
    “ Will that work?”
    “ It is impossible to predict a dark god, but I would recommend
that you do it before he regains his power. Since you are the
leader of these people, you could also offer your life to spare the
rest.”
    Nikira’s heart
sank. “Do angels help people, or only gods?”
    “ Mostly we help people. Gods rarely require our
aid.”
    “ Could you... help us?”
    His brows
rose. “If he chooses to punish you? Perhaps.”
    “ Thank you.” She hesitated. “I also beg your forgiveness, for
what we did to you out of ignorance and fear. It was...
shameful.”
    “ You will have to be far more eloquent than that when you beg
for the Demon Lord’s forgiveness. I hope that is not the best you
can do. I know your people are godless, and I pity you. I will
accept your plea.” He paused, considering. “I would also recommend
that you return the Demon Lord’s clothes before he awakens. You
have affronted his dignity enough.”
    “ Yes, of course.” Nikira stood up, hesitated, then made a
stiff, awkward bow to him and left the shredder room on shaking
legs. When she glanced back, the angel had closed his eyes and
resumed his placid pose. Grabbing the nearest contech, she dragged
him to the door and sent him to find the tar’merin’s clothes, with
instructions to clean and repair them as well.
     
     
    Drevarin
searched Bane’s flesh again, fatigue hindering him. Although he
drew in light power to replace what he expended, the process was
exhausting due to its complex nature. Revitalising a normal man
would have been a lengthy, though not arduous process, but Bane
consumed power at an unprecedented rate, and as yet there was
little improvement. He wondered if he had taken on a greater task
than he could accomplish, but even if he could not restore Bane
completely, what he had done would help.
    Once more he
sent the light into the Demon Lord, searching for that elusive
something that weakened him. His tiredness made him blunder, and
the questing