The Mark of the Demons by John Jakes

Author:John Jakes [Jakes, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy, Supernatural, Soldiers, Epic
ISBN: 9780759226883
Publisher: ereads.com
Published: 2004-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Brak studied the pinched face, the young eyes that were too wise. “What makes you ask such a question?”

“A feeling. The old woman—Mother Mil—she had no blood or bone when she died. And the lord and lady wouldn't have run away if Kes had tried to rob them, as some are saying happened. That wouldn't make sense.”

Brak felt dismal. Just as Pol had predicted, the realization of truth was swift to arrive. But he only grunted. “Perhaps so.”

He searched the bank, saw dromedaries and mules clustered perhaps a half a league upstream.

Shadowy figures glided in and out among the beasts.

“Are the others up there?”

The boy glanced that way, nodded. “They're seeing to the beasts and broken chests. Hadrios is wild with anger. We lost three or four animals.”

There was a small sound. Brak turned, started. All this time Friar Pol had been sitting on a stone directly behind him.

“Join the rest,” Brak ordered the boy. With a nervous glance at the two, he obeyed, running off.

“Now, Friar,” the barbarian said. “You knew when Mother Mil died that something unnatural plagued this caravan. Before the rest come, you owe the truth to me.”

“As well as courage to the one I serve,” said Pol with bitterness. He seemed to have aged during the night. “It's true I tried to pretend the threat didn't exist, even though my duty to my order demanded that I recognize the twins for what they were.” His lips twisted. “You probably find me a lamentable spectacle. I tried to evade the issue. Compromise with the forces of dark. I stand before my god humiliated and—”

The barbarian's contemptuous spitting brought Pol's head up suddenly. “Pity those people yonder instead of continually pitying yourself!”

“But I am a coward who—”

“Who acted bravely enough in my behalf tonight.”

“River demons are one thing, Brak. Demons such as Ky and Kya—”

"Enough!"

The roar made the priest start. Baleful-eyed, Brak repeated, “The truth.”

Friar Pol sighed, blinked watering eyes and began.

“I did become suspicious when I observed the manner in which Mother Mil died. When you told me of Civix, I was certain. Lord Ky and his sister are Blood-eaters.”

“I do not know what you mean,” Brak said. But the words made his palms crawl as though they had touched filth.

Pol's sunken eyes gleamed. “They are ageless things, Brak.Things. Not human beings, although once they were such. But that was years—or more likely—centuries ago. As I told you, my studies before I entered the order acquainted me with the legends about them. They never grow old. At least they remain ageless and youthful in their appearance.”

“What kind of sorcery can make that so?” Brak demanded.

“The power,” said Pol, “of Yob-Haggoth.”

The wind screamed low against the noise of the rushing river. The barbarian remembered the little stone pendant on Kya's throat. He remarked on it to the Friar, who nodded in reply.

“They are special servants of the Dark One. In return for total obedience, the god has made them immortal. But no sane man can think it a boon.

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