No Stone Unturned

by Frank Morin

  "Those are enhanced," Ailsa explained. "Concentrated to triple their normal strength, an edge you may need."

  "Thank you!" That was definitely a gift he could use.

  "They will expire more quickly, and should you tap to exhaustion, the negative effects will also be multiplied."

  "You must showing me secret of this trick," Gisela said.

  "Perhaps one day." She placed hands on Connor's shoulders. "You have the knowledge and now the tools. You must craft your own destiny."

  His excitement settled into resolve. "I'll find a way. I can't leave everyone in danger, and I have to deal with Shona's threat against our family."

  "And Evander," Jean added.

  He grimaced. "Yes, I'll figure out how to face him."

  "Maybe he'll just let you leave," Jean suggested. "With so many gealls running their course and plots being revealed, perhaps those are the greater evils he suggested he was looking for."

  "Perhaps," but somehow he doubted it.

  Aunt Ailsa said, "Warn us when you decide what you are going to do, and we'll help in every way we can."

  "I can tell you one thing," he said, the beginnings of a plan forming in his mind.

  "I'm going to break some rules."

  Chapter 60

  Midnight passed with Connor still awake in his little room in the loft of the Sculpture House, waiting. Ilse could not afford to delay until Anika was tortured or even killed. He felt convinced she would make her move that very night, and it fit his mood perfectly.

  It was past time to take control of the game, and he'd finally figured out what he needed to do. That knowledge gave him a sense of freedom he hadn't felt since the last time he died. He just needed Ilse to give him a chance to explain before really trying to kill him.

  A soft step outside of his door sounded loud in the hush that had settled over the Sculpture House. He prepared to tap granite, which he had already absorbed.

  "I'm awake," he spoke loudly. "So stop skulking."

  The door swung open and Dietmar poked his head in. The wiry Wingrunner looked as grim as Conner expected. "Ilse waits."

  Connor stood, already wearing his full Insanity battle gear, but without the mask in place yet. Powders and spare stones hung at his belt, and he'd prepared his tertiary stones, drinking a soapstone mixture, nestling a piece of slate into his boot, and tucking a bit of marble under his tongue. If Ilse had come for a fight, she wouldn't find him an easy target.

  Dietmar, who was never afraid to run boldly through the Carraig in daylight, looked nervous, glancing at every shadow as they crept through the building.

  "Relax," Connor whispered as they ghosted through the main workroom. "You're as jumpy as a pedra rancher at milking time."

  Dietmar frowned. "No milk pedra. Ride them."

  That did sound like a lot of fun.

  Ilse and Erich waited in the deep shadows of the formal gardens north of the dark mass of the Rhidorroch. Ilse had a poet's heart to stage their final meeting in the same place she had first revealed herself to him at the Carraig.

  The little team looked grim. They had lost almost half their members and they were clearly ready to fight to the death if the night's incursion did not go well.

  "About time," Connor said. "What took you so long?"

  That gave her just the pause he hoped for. Erich still swelled with granite power and loomed over Connor. "Will come, or many fight?"

  "We can't leave yet," Connor said, trying not to feel intimidated by the fuming Rumbler.

  "It's beyond time for you to make up your mind," Ilse said.

  "Well, I'm not leaving without rescuing Anika and Margrit," he said, hands on hips. "Shame on you for even considering it."

  "This is no time for games." Ilse gave him a disgusted look and waved Erich back.

  "No, it's time to make a break," Connor said. "We free the prisoners and get you out of here."

  "Don't force my hand," Ilse warned.

  "Just stop threatening long enough to listen," Connor said. "I can't arrange to leave while you're all lingering."

  "What is your plan?" she asked with abundant distrust.

  "I'm going to orchestrate a scene with Shona and really infuriate her," Connor said.

  "Is good," Erich said with a smile.

  "To what end?" Ilse asked.

  "To get her to threaten to remove my patronage," Connor said. Ilse nodded in understanding, but he finished anyway. "Then I turn unclaimed in front of lots of witnesses and run away to the mountains. Everyone, including Shona, will think I'm going to die as a ravening, mindless beast."

  "Dougal knows the truth," Ilse said.

  Connor grinned. "Doesn't matter. He's trapped himself in his own web of lies. He can't tell anyone without revealing the truth he's worked so many years to conceal. He'd lose all his Guardians."

  "That's brilliant," Ilse said. "Was this Jean's idea?"

  "She helped me figure it out," Connor admitted. "And of course, when I show up again somewhere as living proof of that lie, he'll lose all his Guardians anyway."

  "Finally, we have a plan," Ilse said, looking relieved.

  "We just need to get you and your team out of here," Connor said. "Come on."

  As he led the way through the gardens at a jog, Ilse asked, "Do you know where they're keeping my girls?"

  "I'm about to find out."

  They exited the north side of the gardens and approached the cluster of buildings that housed Rory's army. When Ilse realized who he was going to visit, her tension returned like an avalanche.

  "This is unwise," Ilse whispered as they crouched just outside the barracks where Rory's army slept.

  "It's the only way," he replied in a normal voice.

  Ilse started at the volume and cocked back a fist. He gave her a confident smile to hide his own worries. This would be the hard part.

  "It'll be easy."

  Despite a vigorous shake of her head, he marched toward the pool of light surrounding the entrance. Even if they argued the rest of the night away, Ilse wouldn't come up with a better idea.

  Connor pushed open the door and entered the long barracks, lit only by a single oil lantern on a table, the wick turned almost all the way down. The feeble light seemed to flirt with the shadows more than drive them away.

  "What do you want?" A Boulder in a wooden chair tipped back against the wall challenged him in a sleepy voice.

  "I will speak with Captain Rory," he declared loudly enough to disturb some of the sleeping soldiers, who cursed the guard.

  The Boulder recognized Connor's mask and he snapped a quick salute.

  "General. . .what's your name today?"

  "Pick one. Where's Rory."

  He pointed down the barracks to a door on the far side.

  "Thank you. Carry on."

  Connor expected to have to awaken the captain, but was surprised to find Rory sitting in a hard-backed wooden chair next to a small desk, one uneven leg propped up on an old boot. Rory looked tired and sat with chin on fists.

  "Hello, lad," Rory said with a heavy sigh. "I figured I'd see you tonight."

  "Captain." He had figured Rory would see the only solution, at least to one part of the problem.

  Rory gestured at a ceramic bottle on the desk. "Care for a drink?"

  "Probably not the best time."

  The captain grunted and leaned back. "It's so much easier when we can fight them before we know them."

  "What would you say if I told you I could get her out?"

  Rory shook his head. "She wouldn't leave. Not Ilse, not even then. Not until you go with them or they kill you."

  "What if I could arrange that?"

  That got his attention. "Lad, I don't like the position you're in, but Lady Shona needs you. Running would only make things worse for everyone."

  "I didn't say I was running."

  He frowned. "You already tried dying for a cause, lad. Didn't work out last time."

  "I know. I've got a better idea this ti
me."

  Rory sighed. "Life gets complicated around you."

  "I don't plan it. No one will leave me alone."

  "No matter what you choose, no one ever will."

  "They might after tonight."

  Rory rose and clapped him on the shoulder. "It's a hard lot, but I hope you make the best of it."

  "I don't want it."

  "That's why I trust you."

  "Then tell me where she's being held."

  Rory sighed. "It's not going to end well, lad. That I can promise you."

  "At least let me try."

  Rory raised his glass. "That is one remarkable woman. If only. . ."

  Then he downed the dregs out of his cup and told Connor how to find the dungeon.

  As Connor tuned to go he warned, "Don't hurt my men."

  He nodded. "They know how to get out of my way.

  Chapter 61

  On Connor's second knock, a panel slid open in the reinforced door blocking his entry to the dungeon guardroom. Tomas grinned and yanked open the door before he could begin his carefully rehearsed lies.

  "Come on in, lad."

  Cameron, who sat in a hard wooden chair that looked like it probably left splinters every time anyone used it, groaned and tossed Tomas a small pouch of jingling coins. The rest of the circular room was unadorned stone.

  "I hope you have a plan once you get outside," Tomas said as he bounced the coins on his palm, then lay down on the floor. Cameron heaved himself out of his seat and lay down next to Tomas. "Because the Tallan's own fury will descend on you once word gets out."

  He should have known they'd be even less fooled than Rory. Ever since he met the two Fast Rollers, they'd been able to see to the heart of things faster than anyone else. He felt bad forcing them to choose between a friend and duty a second time, but was relieved they chose friendship.

  "I know. It's been good seeing you both again."

  Then he tapped soapstone and drew water from a tank he had sensed in the prison complex. When water gushed through the look-see port, he encased them in ice thick enough that it would take time for them to break out.

  Cameron laughed. "I'll take those coins back."

  Tomas gave Connor a disgusted look. "I bet on your creativity, lad. You can't just go around using the same tricks every time."

  "Sorry. Too many distractions."

  When he opened the door to Anika's cell, she lunged out and pulled him into a crushing hug. Her hair had shifted from rust to more the color of muddy water and smelled like tree sap. "Mine very okay friend," Anika laughed and gave him a fierce kiss on the cheek.

  "Ready to go?"

  She only hesitated long enough to accept a bag of granite powder Erich had insisted on sending down with Connor before the two of them ran for the exit. On the way out, they freed Margrit, who also gave Connor a fierce hug.

  When he pressed a little piece of quartzite into her hands, she squealed with excitement and kissed him on the lips.

  "A pleasure to save you," he said, trying to conceal his astonishment.

  "Am many sorry," Margrit said, blinking and squinting at him. "No see many well with no stone." She popped the quartzite into her mouth and her eyes began glowing softly with her Longseer power. She visibly relaxed.

  Connor had never heard of a nearsighted Pathfinder before. It seemed somehow wrong.

  He led the ladies out of the keep without issue. Outside, Erich laughed and embraced his sister with such enthusiasm he might have crushed her without the protection of granite.

  While the others greeted Anika and Margrit, Ilse shook Connor's hand and gave him a warm smile. "Well done."

  Connor led the small, happy party toward the outer gate of the Carraig complex. Dawn would arrive soon and already linn workers were beginning to stir. None of them would pay a group of Petralists any special heed. Still, it was past time to leave.

  They exited the inner wall and Connor waved to the guard. Their course took them past Lord Nevan's palace, where Jean would join up with Ilse's team and escape.

  Someone stepped out of the shadows between two of the huge granite columns fronting Lord Nevan's palace. It wasn't Jean.

  "I'm sorry, lad, but I can't let them leave. Not yet."

  "Captain Rory? What are you doing here?"

  Anika rushed past, grinning like a schoolgirl about to take her first dance at the Sogail. Erich followed close, glowering so deep he could almost suck on his own eyebrows.

  Anika leaped into Rory's arms and they embraced with a fierce passion. Giggling, she punched him in the jaw.

  Setting her back on her feet, Rory said. "Before you go lass, I owe your brother a fight."

  Anika nodded enthusiastically, her blue eyes glowing like she'd eaten a Solas. Erich only cracked his knuckles and shook out his shoulders. "Is good. Many break head."

  Ilse planted herself between the two men. "We don't have time for this."

  Anika and Erich both bombarded her with a flood of arguments in Grandurian. Smiling, Rory added, "If it helps convince you, I'll promise to call my army to surround you unless you let this happen."

  Ilse threw up her hands in disgust. "Captain, your timing is terrible."

  Rory shrugged, "Some things just have to be done."

  She pointed a warning finger at him, then swung the same threatening gesture on Erich. "Very well. Fight for Anika's honor, but I forbid you from making too much noise."

  They both agreed and she stepped aside, a hint of a smile softening her angry expression. Connor watched in disbelief as the entire party paused from their flight away from enemy territory to allow the two men to fight.

  "Really?" He blurted out. "Can't we do this another time?"

  "No," half a dozen voices spoke together.

  They had no sense. They were ruining his plan.

  The two men faced off and began circling each other. Anika blew Rory a kiss. "Many luck, mine capitain."

  In response, both men swelled to massive size and lunged. They collided with a flurry of punches and kicks, beating on each other so brutally, Connor couldn't keep the individual blows straight. He had seen both men fight more than once, but never had he witnessed such a raw display of unbridled battle fury.

  They began shouting war cries, and Ilse hissed, "Quiet!"

  Even in the midst of their titanic battle they hushed, although nothing could dim the heavy pounding of rock-hard fists striking stone skin. The fight ranged across the road with neither man gaining advantage. They didn't seem interested in trying any tricky moves, but just max-tapped in a full-on bash fight to rival the stories of legend.

  Anika circled the two combatants, clapping occasionally, grinning so wide Connor could have used her face as a fish net in the Lower Wick.

  After a full minute, Connor began fearing one of them would run out of granite and die under the other's hands. He couldn't decide which of the two he wanted to win, but didn't want either of them hurt. The constant pounding of their fists and grunts of exertion so close to Lord Nevan's palace would surely alert someone. They didn't have time to waste.

  "We have to stop this," he urged Ilse.

  "Not yet," she said in a distracted tone, her eyes locked on the mighty struggle.

  It seemed wrong for Ilse to respond to a situation as a woman instead of a captain. "You're completely ruining your image. You realize that, right?"

  "Hush," she said. "In our country, such contests are important."

  "As important as escaping?"

  "In their own way, yes."

  With no other course left open to him, Connor dipped a finger into the pouch of enhanced granite Aunt Ailsa had gifted to him. He could never stop those two with his normal strength, so it was time to put Ailsa's gift to the test.

  He absorbed just a little of the precious powder. The special granite faded into his skin and his curse roared to life with such power Connor gasped with awe. It rippled up his arm and even though he didn't tap it, his muscles expanded and quivered with the need t
o smash something. His entire body thrummed with strength, but the intense itching faded to a cool numbness. He lifted one hand and stared. Unlike the normal ash color it usually took on when hardened by granite, his skin had faded to black that still somehow glowed in the dim light.

  "I said don't interfere." Ilse glanced at him, then looked again, expression startled. "What have you done to yourself?"

  Before he could answer, Rory ducked a heavy blow of Erich's and as the Grandurian spun halfway around from the unspent force of the blow, Rory curse-punched him in the ribs.

  Erich tumbled away and rolled into the darkness between two of the huge pillars fronting Lord Nevan's house.

  "Let's move away from there," Connor said, and everyone including himself started in surprise at the deep richness of his voice. He could get used to that.

  Erich emerged from the shadows and grasped one of the columns.

  "No!" Ilse shouted. Too late.

  With a heave of his massive shoulders, Erich ripped the pillar out and stepped through an avalanche of falling stone facade.

  Ilse threw her hands up into the air in disgust. "Really?"

  "Many sorry," Erich said, looking chagrined. Then he hit Rory with the granite column. Connor lost sight of the captain as he flew away into the darkness like a Sogail contest ball.

  Anika began scolding Erich loudly in Grandurian and his grin of victory faded under the tirade. He tried defending himself but Anika stormed off after Rory with a final shout, "Is cheat!"

  Lights came on inside Lord Nevan's palace and voices shouted for explanations and call to arms.

  "We need to leave," Ilse barked. "You two quarrel later."

  "I think we're beyond that." Rory stepped out of the shadows beside another pillar and ripped it out with another thunderous avalanche of broken building. Connor couldn't imagine how he returned so fast, but those concerns paled with the need to scramble out of the way as the two men began sparring with thirty foot granite pillars.

  The crashing din of their duel echoed like a thunderstorm that had swallowed diorite. With a final mighty crash, both pillars exploded, and the two men stumbled apart. The area looked like all the Cutters of Alasdair had gone insane and tried to pound the front of the palace like a huge stone in the blocking yard.