Demon Lord V - God Realm Read Free

white
power within the metal would make them immune to his own. He
wondered why Armorgan had made them. Perhaps to bind a dark god in
his droge form, if they had the power to prevent him from shucking
it, or perhaps when he was unable to do so due to the presence of
light. Then, however, surely he would be able to Move to a dark
place? Or did the cuffs prevent that too? Would they stop him from
using his power?
    Artan broke
into his thoughts again. "Can you help us to find and enter another
world?"
    "I would be
more inclined to help you if you released me."
    Artan glanced
at Ethra, who listened to their conversation shamelessly. She
snorted, her lip curling. He shook his head. "Not until you
convince us that you mean us no harm."
    "Why would I
wish to harm you?"
    "Ethra thinks
you want to, for whatever reason, but we cannot risk ignoring her.
She has warned us of danger in the past, and she's been right.
Perhaps for your own sick pleasure, who knows?"
    Bane cast an
angry look at Ethra, the source of his woes. She paled, her brows
knotting, then yanked a long rusty dagger from her belt and lunged
at him. Bane flung himself sideways, his bound wrists hampering
him. Artan sprang to his defence, grabbing the girl as she lunged
at Bane again. She landed a few well-aimed blows on Artan's head
before he trapped her wrists and wrenched the weapon from her hand.
He cursed and hopped when she kicked him in the shin, then slapped
her, putting an end to her struggles.
    Artan glared
down at her. "Until I decide to kill him, you leave him alone."
    "He's
evil!"
    "He can help
us."
    "He won't!
He'll lead us into danger."
    The warrior
glanced at Bane. "Then we won't follow him."
    "Then what
good is he?"
    "He can help
us fight the monsters."
    "He's more
likely to stab you in the back during the battle."
    "Then I'll
kill him myself."
    Her eyes
glinted. "You'll be dead!"
    "He isn't
armed."
    "That won't
stop him."
    Artan pushed
her away, making her stagger back. "I'm not going to argue with
you. He stays alive until I say otherwise, and if you try to kill
him again I'll leave you here for the monsters, understand?"
    "You can't do
that!"
    "Why not?"
    "The others
won't let you."
    Artan cast an
eye over the group. "They can stay with you if they wish, but my
men go where I go and do as I say."
    Ethra glared
at him, her chest heaving, then stalked away to the edge of the
light. Artan walked over to Bane and squatted beside him again.
    "Did she cut
you?"
    "No."
    "I didn't
think so. You move pretty fast."
    Bane
suppressed a smile at the understatement. "Would you really leave
her behind?"
    Artan sighed.
"I wouldn't like to, but if she undermines my authority it will
affect our survival, and that I can't allow." Bane nodded, and
Artan stood up. "Can you walk?"
    Casting a
glance at the guard who still kept a bead on his heart, Bane rose
to his feet. Artan studied him, frowning.
    "Well you're
certainly big enough. Can you fight?"
    "I know how to
use a sword."
    "A pity you
don't have one then."
    "Indeed."
    Artan smiled.
"Prove that we can trust you, and I might give you one."
    Bane opened
his mouth to ask how he was supposed to gain their trust, but Artan
swung away, gesturing to the others. "Pack up, we're moving
out."
    The group
broke camp with the speed and efficiency of long time travellers,
packing their few belongings into several packs that were
distributed amongst the non-combatants. One of the soldiers thrust
a leather satchel into Bane's hands, and he slung it over his
shoulder.
    The four armed
men took up positions on the outskirts of the group, next to the
four torch-bearing members, who were the demon, his female
companion, the burly man and the young seeress. The two priestesses
walked in the centre of the group with the girl child, keeping
their distance from Bane. He was glad that he was no longer the
target of the soldier's crossbow, which was now pointed at the
darkness around them. Even the wood that had fuelled the fire had
been stamped