Demon Lord IX -The Forgotten Lands

By T C Southwell

The Demon Lord has travelled far across the God Realm to free the Fallen Goddess, and now he faces his greatest challenge. The demon gods are a considerable nuisance on the voyage, and a new factor makes Bane even warier of pitfalls, but no one foresees the danger that waits. In order to free Kayos’ granddaughter, Ashynaria, Bane must avoid detection or risk a confrontation. Without her co-operation, however, the plan will go horribly wrong. The dark god Telvaron is ancient and wise, and poses a dire threat, as Kayos warned. Some of his worst fears are realised, and a few he failed to predict. Bane is betrayed and flung into the last place in the God Realm anyone would wish to go; a place the Grey Gods have tried to forget, without success, despite naming them the Forgotten Lands. Injured and crippled by the celestial metal, adamante, Bane is alone, save for Majelin, the only one able to follow him. To escape the dangers of the hostile and unpredictable region, they take what appears to be the only quick route out that may find help, but it brings them to the ancient, accursed city of Naskara, where even greater perils await.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T C Southwell
• Release date: Jun 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310756030

T C Southwell

T. C. Southwell was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the Seychelles when she was a baby. She spent her formative years exploring the islands – mostly alone. Naturally, her imagination flourished and she developed a keen love of other worlds. The family travelled through Europe and Africa and, after the death of her father, settled in South Africa.T. C. Southwell has written over thirty fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as five screenplays. Her hobbies include motorcycling, horse riding and art, and she is now a full-time writer.

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Demon Lord IX

The Forgotten Lands

T C Southwell

Published by T C Southwell at Smashwords

Copyright © 2015 by T C Southwell

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Chapter One – Troll God

Chapter Two – Demon Gods

Chapter Three – Dark Domain

Chapter Four – Poison

Chapter Five – Spirit Dream

Chapter Six – The Goddess’ Fortress

Chapter Seven – Askaran

Chapter Eight – Spirit Steed

Chapter Nine – Demon Lord

Chapter Ten – Trap

Chapter Eleven – Golden God

Chapter Twelve – Betrayal

Chapter Thirteen – The Forgotten Lands

Chapter Fourteen – City of the Damned

Chapter Fifteen – Grey God

Chapter Sixteen – White Witch

Chapter Seventeen – Warlocks

Chapter Eighteen – Dark Gods

Chapter Nineteen – Condemned

Chapter Twenty – The Last Land

Chapter Twenty-One – Eternal Damnation

Prologue

When the Demon Lord goes to rescue the archangel Majelin from the underworld, he is caught in a black trap and they are flung into Arvandeth, where changelings have evolved into dark angels and been imprisoned for aeons. Bane cannot save Carthius, the light god who rules it, and his death destroys Arvandeth. Kayos is forced to summon the tar’merin to save his life, which allows some dark angels to escape. Majelin dies protecting Bane from the white fire, but Bane asks Kayos to save the archangel. Bane sets seven black wards, incarcerating the dark gods who once ruled Sherinias’ domain in the underworld forever, but it is rife with demons. He transports a stealth ship to the mid realm so Sarjan can hunt the demons, dark creatures and droges. Sherinias gives the white fire to her worshippers, and they spread it to all the churches in the land.

Now, the stealth ship Retribution carries Bane and his companions through the God Realm to his ultimate destination: Ashynaria’s domain, where he and Kayos plan to free her from a thousand years of slavery. The dark god who enslaves her is ancient and wise, and freeing the Fallen Goddess could prove to be the most dangerous challenge Bane has ever faced.

Chapter One

Troll God

The Demon Lord strode along a corridor towards the hold where the demon gods spent most of their time. If making his life unpleasant was their goal, they were succeeding. He had lost count of how many curses he had removed throughout the ship and from various crewmembers. Every day, a crewman tracked him down and asked him to visit the infirmary to remove more, and he had to take up the dark power each time. He had hoped to rest on the journey, but that was impossible with demon gods aboard. It would take powerful wards to keep them confined in the hold, and those would, in all likelihood, damage the stealth ship, even if it was possible to set them unnoticed, since the twins never slept. The curses were, for the most part, harmless, apart from the horror and fear they caused.

Dramon and Nomard set them on doorways, chairs, tables and in corridors and lifts – anywhere unsuspecting crewmembers might touch them. Then they sat in the hold and watched the resulting uproar in their Eyes. Crewmen and women had been cursed with giant feet, hands, noses and ears, or been struck dumb, deaf or blind – occasionally all three. Of course, the twins denied responsibility, and catching them in the act was impossible. They blamed everything on demons and the God Realm, and arguing with them was a waste of time. The curses had become such a common occurrence that the crew hardly reacted to them anymore. They merely went to the infirmary and waited for Bane. He had hoped the lack of reactions would spoil the twins’ fun, but apparently they had yet to tire of the sport.

The stealth ship had been travelling for six months since the three-day stopover at Drevarin’s domain, where most of the refugees Bane had saved in the God Realm had disembarked. Ethra, Sarrin and Artan remained, however. Ethra had dogged Bane’s footsteps on the trip to the light god’s world, begging to be allowed to stay, and he had given in. The orphan girl’s fierce loyalty was endearing, and he suspected that she had colluded with Mirra about the best time to approach him: when he was powerless. He hoped he did not regret his decision.

The stealth ship, with its modern weapons and mirror shielding, provided safe transport. It followed the demon hound Bane had set on Kayos’ trail, and, whenever it encountered an obstacle, Drevarin provided the necessary aid to bypass the hurdle or shield the ship. Now, they traversed an expanse of black rock between towering mountains under a purple sky, the hellhound bounding tirelessly ahead.

While life aboard Retribution was boring, Bane was glad he no longer had to deal with the God Realm’s dangers. He spent his time with his friends and family, talking, playing board games or watching the strange, but amusing vidimages that provided entertainment for the crew. Drevarin often joined them, but Kayos had disappeared shortly after they had left Sherinias’ world.

Apart from the curses, the demon gods had been quite well-behaved, considering their nature. In the hold, they had the company of two female droges, whom they must have brought aboard before the ship left Sherinias’ light realm. They had transformed the hold into a den of decadence, with rich food on golden platters and a gargantuan bed draped with opulent cloth and furs. Casks of wine and ale rounded off their fine feast. Bane did not care what they did in the hold, but sometimes they came to the mess hall to watch vidimage shows or play board games with crewmen, harmless until they started a fight. He had told Nikira that they were his associates, and to be treated with caution. Explaining the curses had been tricky, but he did not think it prudent to admit that he had brought two demon gods aboard, so he had blamed them on unknown forces. He did not want to alarm the crew, and the twins would find it even more amusing if their activities were known. Only the light gods and Mirra knew what Dramon and Nomard really were, and he wanted to keep it that way.

Two hours earlier, a crewman had broken his arm falling down a staircase after being struck blind and paralysed at the top of it, so the twins were graduating to more dangerous forms of their sport. Bane was sick and tired of the daily necessity to Gather dark power to remove the curses. Eventually, their pranks would seriously injure or kill a crewmember, and then he would be forced to take action.

The Demon Lord stopped outside the hold door and touched the panel beside it. It slid open, and he strode in. Nomard and Dramon reclined naked on the bed, one puffing a pipe and a nude droge feeding the other fruit. A black vidscreen was propped up on a pile of boxes, facing them, which had not been there the last time Bane had checked on them. Since he would have sensed an Eye, they had taken advantage of the humans’ technology to spy on him.

He motioned to the women. Out.

The girls looked at their masters, who sat up and grinned, and then one, whom Bane decided was Dramon, jerked his head at the door. The droges rose and flounced out, casting Bane bold smiles and winks. One blew him a kiss and the other ran her tongue over her lips in a suggestive manner.

He glared at the demon gods. Are you two not tired of the curses yet?

What curses? Dramon enquired.

You know full well.

Not a clue, old bean.

Deny it all you want. I know it is you two.

Nomard guffawed and looked at his brother, who hooted and slapped his knee. The pair fell about laughing, clapped each other on the back and wiped away tears of mirth. When their hilarity died down, they regarded him with twinkling eyes, chortling.

It would have been a lot more fun if you’d been one with a big ear or giant shnoz, Nomard remarked. We were hoping for a good laugh. He indicated the vidscreen.

Bane gestured, and the vidscreen vanished. The demon gods’ faces fell.

Now that’s just mean, Dramon observed.

Nomard declared, We’ll just get another one.

You will not spy on me, Bane said, and stop setting damned curses.

Or what?

I will cast you off this ship.

They chuckled, and Dramon asked, You and what army?

Stop trying my patience. I have had enough of your moronic games.

Nomard said, We’ll stop when you give us back our hounds.

That is not going to happen while you are aboard this ship.

Then we won’t stop, Dramon stated.

Nomard puffed his pipe. Yeah, and we’ll get you sooner or later.

That will never happen, but if you persist I will banish your droges.

Nomard blew a cloud of smoke. Then we’ll have to find other sport. This trip is dead boring.

Then leave.

The twins swapped a glance. Nomard said, "Nah. We like it here.

Continue, and you will not.

Dramon snorted and slurped his wine. Nomard puffed his pipe, which, from the smoke’s acrid smell, burnt a narcotic herb. They probably considered arguing with Bane sport, being tired of arguing with each other after several aeons of it. He spun on his heel and headed for the door.

Dramon called, The best fun we’ve had so far is when you come to lay down the law, old boy!

Back in his cabin, Bane flopped onto the sofa beside Mirra, who switched off the vidimage show she was watching and turned to him.

How did it go?

They will not listen. I threatened to banish their droges if they persist. Perhaps that will work.

Or they might come up with something worse.

He took her hand. They enjoy it when I confront them, so it does no good. I am tired of the endless strife. I long for the peace and quiet of home.

I do too. She hesitated. Perhaps we should start our family now.

He raised his eyebrows. How will that help?

It will give us something to look forward to, at least. Why must we wait any longer? The quest is almost over.

It could take months to free Ashynaria. I have no idea what I am up against yet, and I want to be with you.

I do too, of course, but we are safe on this ship. Nothing has threatened us since we left Sherinias’ world. And we have no idea how long it will take to return to Myrthran. There will be gods and worlds to save along the way, and I do not want to keep my life on hold. It has been almost two years. If we have to wait until we return home, we will chafe at every delay – or, at least, I will. She hung her head. I know it is selfish, but I am tired of waiting.

Things change. This ship is not invincible.

Mirra sighed, and he regretted denying her this one wish when he had given her so little and caused her so much anguish.

If you are sure it is what you want…

It is. Thank you. She beamed and hugged him.

He smiled. Then you must decide if you want a normal child or a demigod.

We can have demigods?

Yes.

She looked amazed. I did not even think of that, but of course… I should have realised.

You should take time to consider it.

You are just trying to delay me, and I do not need to consider it. Of course I want a demigod.

His smile faded. Why?

"Why would I not want a demigod for a son or daughter? He or she will be immortal, and have your powers. It would be wonderful."

Well, there may be drawbacks to having children with powers, you know, and they would not have all my powers; only some. I do not think they would be immortal, either, since I am not.

Her eyes sparkled. Tell me more. I want to know everything.

I do not know everything. I know very little about it, in fact.

We should ask Kayos.

This is hardly important enough to roust him from hiding.

How can you say that? It is important! Anyway, I am sure he will not mind.

But we have plenty of time, he pointed out.

I want to know what to expect beforehand. It is not as if he is busy. Come on.

Mirra jumped up and went to the door, and he rose and followed her.

As they strolled along the corridor, he said, I have not seen him for the entire journey. I do not know where he is hiding, and we are not going to find him by wandering around the ship. If he does not want to be found…

Mirra clasped her hands and whispered, Lord Kayos, we need your advice.

A moment later, the Grey God stepped through the wall ahead and smiled at them.

Bane stopped and returned it. Where have you been hiding?

Kayos shrugged. Around. He nodded to Mirra. Greetings, Daughter.

Lord Kayos. She inclined her head.

So, you have some sticky problem with which I can help?

Sticky indeed, Bane agreed.

Come. We will talk.

The Grey God led them along the corridor for a short way, then opened a door and entered an empty storage room, barely larger than a broom cupboard. A cloud couch occupied almost half of it.

Bane cocked a brow at him. Why have you been hiding in here?

I have not been hiding. I like peace and quiet.

Surely you could have found a larger room?

I like this one. Kayos waved a second couch into being and sat down on his.

Bane settled on the new one, and Mirra sat beside him.

Kayos asked, So, what advice do you need?

Mirra wants to know about demigod children.

The Grey God smiled. Ah. He looked at her. There is not much to tell, but I am a little surprised you would want them. They would face many dangers and lead complicated lives.

But they would have powers.

Indeed, and you would have trouble with flying children, I am sure.

Bane snorted and chuckled.

She said, Bane can deal with that.

I am not the one who wants demigod children, he protested.

You do not like the idea?

I have not thought about it. It never occurred to me that you would want them.

Think about it, then, because I do.

I will, he promised, quite intrigued with the idea, since she was so keen on it.

Mirra turned to Kayos. Bane says they will not be immortal.

He nodded. He is right. They will have the same lifespan as him, and they will not reincarnate. They will stay in a soul city unless a light god grants them a physical form. One or both of you would have to be immortal to have immortal children.

Bane smiled at Mirra. You will have to put a leash on them so they do not fly away.

She giggled. It will be fun.

I hardly think chasing a flying baby to change its nappy will be much fun.

Well, now you can fly too.

He snorted. Oh, so it will be my job to chase the children?

Of course, since I cannot fly.

We will have only one or two demigods, then.

That is not fair! We cannot have some who are and some who are not. How will those who are not feel? They will be envious of their siblings.

You jest. You intend to have a whole bunch of demigods?

We are only having three, remember?

If they are demigods, we probably will not have the energy for more.

She grinned, and then turned to Kayos. Why did you say their lives will be dangerous and complicated?

Anyone with power is beset with pleas for aid and offers of remuneration; as you know from Bane’s beleaguered life. Such endeavours are oftentimes dangerous.

She looked at Bane. But you will protect them, will you not?

Kayos chuckled. Then his life will be even more complicated.

But not dangerous, once we return home. No one will threaten him there.

You forget, child; your husband is almost as vulnerable as any mortal, without his power.

She looked pensive. Is there any outward sign that a person is a demigod?

Bane said, He will have a birthmark around his navel.

How do you know?

I met a demigoddess once, and saw her mark.

What happened?

I killed her, he replied. Or, at least, I helped.

So she was a dark demigoddess.

And she was trying to kill me.

How did you see her mark? she enquired.

I checked, to confirm my suspicions. I was not sure if she was a demigoddess or a sorceress.

That was when you rescued Sarrin, Ethra and Artan from that trap.

Yes.

Then no one needs to know our children are demigods, so no one will make demands of them. We will explain to them that they must keep their true natures secret.

Bane smiled. I daresay their spouses will notice the mark.

But they will not know what it means.

No.

Silence fell for a minute, and then Bane rose, drawing Mirra up. We will leave you to your cupboard, Father.

Kayos lay back, his eyes twinkling, as they left.

Commander Nikira leant over Chief Observation Technician Montar’s shoulder to peer at the scanner screen, her stomach knotted. A dark grey area, indicating fairly intense dark power, filled half the screen. Alarms blared in the observation room, adding to the already considerable stress levels. Since leaving Bayona, the crew had been on alert, and the scanners were always on, in case they encountered a dra’voren in the Wastes.

What the hell is that? she asked.

Montar shook his head. I don’t know, Commander, but it’s big.

How did we get so close? The scanners must have detected it ages ago.

They did, but we couldn’t identify anything. That thing’s so big it looks like part of the landscape. Eventually I ordered the pilot to stop, just in case, and then we spotted that.

Nikira keyed the intercom with the bridge. Reverse fifty yards.

Yes, Commander, the pilot’s voice replied.

The grey object on the screen shrank as the ship moved away, bringing more of it into view.

Montar leant closer, frowning. It looks like… a foot.

If that’s a foot, the rest of it must be… enormous, Nikira said.

Montar tapped buttons on his console and read the numbers that appeared on one side of his screen. It’s fifty yards long.

We should probably stay away from it, then.

There’s no way around. We’re penned in by mountains on either side.

Has it moved at all?

No, Commander, but something that big won’t move very fast.

Don’t make assumptions, she said. It’s a dravoren.

The ship’s in stealth mode.

And Bane can sense it when it is, remember?

Montar looked up at her. That thing’s head is far above us. To it, we must be like a tiny insect crawling past.

Sure, but that doesn’t mean it won’t stomp on us. You want to risk it?

No. What are you going to do?

I’m going see what our resident deities think. This is their area of expertise, I reckon.

Nikira straightened and signalled to another officer to shut off the alarms. Silence fell, which was, if anything, worse. She made her way to the mess hall where some of their strange passengers had once again chosen to reside. She had hardly seen Bane since they had left Bayona, and had the impression that he was avoiding her. The thought of seeing him made her heart flutter and her breath quicken, as usual. The mess hall door slid open to reveal Bane sitting on a cloud couch talking to his father and friend, who sat at a table, all three drinking wine. At the back of the room, Drevarin reclined on a cloud couch, gazing into space.

Mirra, Ethra and Sarrin sat at another table, probably so they could indulge in some girl talk. Bane looked up when Nikira approached, his expression deadpan.

She quelled the urge to bow. Sir, we’ve detected a dravoren on the scanners, in our path. I think you should come and take a look. It’s enormous.

How enormous? he enquired.

Its foot is about fifty yards long. It’s too big to see the rest of it.

Drevarin came over and sat beside Bane, who asked him, A giant, perhaps?

The light god inclined his head. Or a troll god.

All the troll gods I have encountered were asleep. He looked at Nikira. But presumably this one is awake?

Well, it’s standing up. Should we try to go past it?

No. If it senses the ship, it might decide to see what it is.

What’s it doing, just standing here in the middle of nowhere?

Waiting for something interesting to come along, I would imagine. And your ship would qualify. Bane rose to his feet. We will go to the bridge and see this god.

It’s dark outside, Nikira said. There’s nothing to see.

We can see a lot more than you. He motioned to the door.

Nikira headed for it, pausing when he stopped to murmur to Mirra, who smiled and nodded.

On the bridge, the officers tensed when Bane and Drevarin strolled out of the lift behind her. Bane stopped beside the pilot and gazed at the main screen, where mountains were silhouetted against a deep purple sky. In the foreground, the ship’s floodlights bathed rocky terrain. They appeared to be at the bottom of a gorge, its sides too distant for the lights to reach. Only the rocks’ formation and some boulders hinted at the possibility of cliffs on either side.

Bane sharpened his sight, so that the bridge’s subtle illumination brightened and the darkness outside developed details. The sky beyond the peaks became akin to a sunset, streaked with yellow and orange, and he made out a pair of massive, mottled brown legs with rough, scabby skin. The feet had long, curved toenails and horny sides.

He squinted at Drevarin as his sight adjusted again. Still think it is a troll god?

He shrugged. It could be a giant, I suppose, but they are rare.

It is bigger than the previous troll gods I have encountered.

They vary in size.

It is possible that it is asleep. I am surprised it has not seen the ship’s lights.

They do make its invisibility rather redundant.

Except floating lights are somewhat less conspicuous than a silver ship, Bane said.

True. But not much less intriguing.

I think it is time for Nomard and Dramon to earn their keep.

The light god raised his eyebrows. You intend to send them out there?

Well, I certainly do not want that thing chasing me.

I am sure they do not, either.

And yet, they are here to help. Besides, they have boasted that they can get bigger.

Drevarin smiled. Do you know where they are?

They are usually in the hold. Bane turned to Nikira. Keep the ship here, and switch off the lights.

She nodded. What are you going to do?

Make it go away, of course.

You’re not going out there, are you?

Do not worry about what I am going to do, Commander.

She lowered her eyes. Yes, sir.

Bane returned to the lift, Drevarin at his heels. Nikira started to follow, but he waved her away and pushed the lowest deck button.

Perhaps we should ask Kayos what he thinks, Drevarin suggested as the lift descended.

I am sure he is aware of what is going on.

The lift doors opened, and Bane led the way to the hold, becoming aware of shouts, shrieks and guffaws. The door slid open when he touched the panel beside it, and he strolled in. The demon gods had transformed their giant bed into a monstrous paddling pool, and they and the droges splashed naked in a gooey red fluid that looked like partially congealed blood. A demon god caught a buxom droge in a powerful hold, but she slipped from his grip and bounced off the bulkhead with a thud. The twins guffawed and the droges shrieked with laughter. The one who had been squirted out of the pool slipped and slid back to it. The hold was liberally splattered with goo.

One of the demon gods bellowed, Ha! The little gods have come to play!

We have not, Bane stated. But I have sport for you.

Really? The twins swapped a glance. What sort?

Someone bigger than you.

Impossible. Where?

In front of the ship.

The demon god, whom Bane decided was Nomard, waved an Eye with a fiery frame into being, and they peered into it. Kind of dark out there, old bean.

He is there.

He?

Or she.

Huh. How big? Nomard dismissed the Eye.

Vast.

And I suppose you want us to… What? Kill him?

Bane shook his head. Not necessarily. Just chase him away, if you can.

Oh, so you think we can’t?

I would say he will probably stomp on the pair of you.

The twins glanced at each other again. This could be a ruse to get rid of us, Dramon said.

Why would I want that? Bane enquired. You two have been quite well-behaved, apart from the curses. If you are afraid, though…

Nomard snorted and said to his brother, I’ll go. You stay and make sure they don’t sneak off.

Good idea, old boy.

Nomard climbed out of the pool, red sludge streaming off him. Drevarin pulled a face and averted his eyes from his nakedness.

A bull helm clanked onto the demon god’s head, and spiked steel armour clunked onto his chest and back. A tatty grey kilt clothed his hips and a huge broadsword thudded against his back, held at an angle by the broad strap across his chest, all of which confirmed Bane’s supposition that he was Nomard, unless the two sometimes swapped armour.

So, how do I get out of this tin bucket? Nomard enquired.

Bane indicated the door. This way.

Fresh shrieks and guffaws followed the trio into the corridor as Dramon resumed his game with the droges. Bane led the way and Drevarin brought up the rear, Nomard leaving a trail of sludge.

At the hull door, Bane placed his hand on the keypad, and it beeped, then the door slid open. A gust of foul air rushed in, making him grimace.

Drevarin pulled a face. Smells like…

A dromon.

Yuck.

Nomard ducked through the door and clomped down the sloping ramp as it whined out, sniffing. Smelly bugger.

Bane sharpened his sight, but the light god whispered a few words and the sky brightened to red and then to orange, revealing sweeping mountains on either side of a deep chasm whose floor the ship traversed. Ahead, silhouetted against the sky, the massive, vaguely man-shaped being stood with his chin sunk onto his chest. He had a sloping brow and an undershot jaw with curving yellow tusks. Rusty armour clothed his torso and tatty chainmail hung halfway down his thighs. His skin resembled granite, mottled with streaks of soot and grime and patches of moss and fungi.

Bane stepped off the end of the ramp and glanced at Drevarin. Troll god?

Definitely.

Asleep?

Dozing, I would say. They usually lie down to sleep.

Nomard said, That looks like old Eord.

You know him? Bane asked.

Could be. They all look the same to me.

So you could talk to him?

I doubt it. Last time, we stomped his head flat.

Drevarin suggested, Maybe we could just go past him, if he is not easily woken.

Oh, I wouldn’t try that, Nomard said. He’s got… thingies.

Thingies?

Yeah, you know… err… whatchamacallits. Nomard gestured.

No, I do not know.

Bane said, I think he means acute senses.

Sort of, Nomard agreed. But more like his toe plugged into the dromon.

Do demon gods not have a word for ‘friend’ or ‘ally’, Drevarin asked.

Nomard snorted. I wouldn’t call a dromon with a toe up its arse a friend, old bean.

Why would he…? Drevarin shook his head.

So he can catch a nap and still nab whatever comes along, Nomard explained.

Ah.

Kind of like an unwilling early warning system.

But the ship flies, so…

Dromons have… thingies, too.

Toes up other things’ arses?

Nope. What he said before. Nomard nodded at Bane.

Acute senses.

Yeah.

The Demon Lord enquired, So, are you going to chase him away?

Oh, I don’t know about chasing him away, old boy. Troll gods aren’t bright enough to know when they should run.

I thought all gods were intelligent. Kayos says it is a gift of godhood.

They are, Drevarin said. Nomard is just being… Nomard.

Watch and be amazed, the demon god recommended.

Nomard stamped, sending a ripple through the quasi-rock under their feet. It shivered, and then heaved. The stench intensified to a sickening putridity, and the valley floor writhed, sent up tendrils in search of prey and turned from black to mottled grey. Several tendrils snaked up the ship’s flanks, and it rocked, and then rose. Bane jumped back onto the ramp, and Drevarin followed.

Nomard drew his sword and set off. Tallyho!

The troll god was over a thousand yards tall, Bane calculated. Nomard, however, grew larger with every step, and his apparel and sword grew with him. Like an earth demon, he drew matter from his surroundings, particularly under his feet, which meant he incorporated the dromon’s substance too. The semi-sentient entity groped for him with multiple tendrils, but Nomard merely added them to his