“Well, at least my day wasn’t a complete waste,” Gryton began. “I was able to do more scouting around the military camp earlier this evening as well as in the stone cottage that’s serving as a meeting place for the Fae.”
Gryton turned the rabbit cooking over the coals. Belatedly he glanced between his simple meal and the female who had given him life. “Are you hungry? Rabbit is all I can offer. But you are welcome to share.”
“No, but thank you.” Daryna dropped a pack next to a ridge of rock that doubled as a bench. “I brought you some supplies. There’s some food stolen from Vivian’s hearth.”
His interest piqued at the mention of the old witch’s cooking. Even cold, day-old food created by her hand was better than what he’d eaten back in the Battle Goddess’s domain. He expected it was enchanted, but he didn’t care.
Once all was said and done, and they defeated the Battle Goddess, he decided that if the old witch who was only known as Gran survived, he’d make sure she had a place in the new world.
“At least you were able to do some scouting.”
Gryton glanced up at her. “The other Fae were not able to see me. Not even the gargoyle child and his pet berserker.”
Daryna smiled. “You noticed that about the human hybrid as well.”
He huffed in remembrance, his eyes narrowing. “I still have a scar from her. I would like to return the favor sometime.”
She arched an eyebrow. “From what I saw in Lillian’s memories, you already did.”
“Her burns healed without even a marked to show for it,” he pointed out.
“The hybrid is not our enemy. Leave her alone for now.” Daryna’s expression turned thoughtful. “You’ve been able to scout the area and determine the best location to capture the young gargoyle?”
He frowned at the fire. “I tracked the young gargoyle for the better part of two days — at least when he wasn’t in the company of your male half.”
“My male half? It wouldn’t kill you to call him your father.”
Actually, if Gregory learned the truth, he just might kill Gryton. Regardless of what his mother said, he knew better than to trust his spells and mind tricks to work on his sire. “From what I overheard, there will be more of the training exercises like the one today. That will be the best time to capture Shadowlight. The rest of the time there are too many guards around.”
“I’ll have to do something to distract Gregory for you.” Daryna frowned in thought.
Gryton cleared his throat. “Separating the child from his berserker will be almost as difficult.”
“Yes, Anna is like a mother to him now. Even if she wasn’t being influenced by Shadowlight’s altered biology, she would still be protective of the youngster. The need to protect seems to be hardcoded into her DNA.”
“Hardcoded? DNA?” The Mother’s Sorceress sometimes used words he didn’t know. He hated feeling inferior.
“They are human words that simply speak of bloodlines and origins,” she explained. After a moment her expression turned thoughtful again as she started to pace around the cavern. When she completed one revolution, she halted before him.
“That protective nature might be what we can use against her. If there is some new danger to the cub, her nature and training will demand she go find it and neutralize it before it can become a threat to Shadowlight.”
Gryton arched an eyebrow. “What would be a big enough distraction to draw away Gregory, Lillian, and the hybrid? If they’re chasing me, I can’t very well be snatching the child.”
“No.”
“And you can’t risk revealing our alliance yet.”
“Hmmm. No.” Daryna agreed.
Gryton had two other assets he hadn’t told her about yet. He supposed now was the time for a show of trust. “I have two assets that might be helpful in this endeavor. When I first arrived here and was scouting the area, I found the two Fae that the human military had captured. When they were unconscious, I took the opportunity to weave a few subtle spells that would enslave them to my will. I simply have to trigger the spell, and they will be mine to command.”
“Ah. You mean the sidhe Whitethorn and the sprite Goswin?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Use them.”
“Even with their help, it won’t be enough of a distraction.”
“No.” Suddenly she grinned. “But if you call for reinforcements from the Magic Realm, you can use them as a distraction to lure away Gregory and Anna and then you can snatch Shadowlight and take him to Lord Death’s domain.”
Gryton grunted. There were two parts of the plan he didn’t care for. “Gregory has command of his full power again. He’ll make short work of whoever comes to my aid.”
Again Daryna smiled at him. “And that will rid us of a few enemies while furthering our plans.”
“You’re wagering a lot of hope that Lord Death doesn’t just kill the gargoyle cub outright.”
“I know Lord Death. His one great regret is that he acted too quickly in destroying his sister’s consort. Now he is rather too cautious.” Daryna gave the cooking rabbit a turn. Fat dripped into the fire, making it pop in hiss. “He will study the cub and find him a pure heart. He’ll then train him into a proper gargoyle who will serve the Light. But more importantly, Death will realize just what game his sister is playing and the type of power she now uses. Creation is the domain of the Divine Ones, not for the likes of a mere servant.”
“And you think Lord Death will not overlook his sister’s breaking of divine will?”
“Yes.”
Gryton refrained from commenting that his own existence was in violation of divine will. Instead, he said, “Do you actually think seeing what Shadowlight is will stir Lord Death to act faster? I’m not sure even that will be enough for him to risk breaking the duality curse.”
Daryna nodded as she gave the rabbit another turn. “Likely not. But we’ll prod him with more evidence. Anna won’t just sit by and do nothing. Eventually, her magic will drag her back to Shadowlight’s side. Once Lord Death learns that his twin has found a way to create female gargoyles, he’ll realize that his sister has achieved a way to breed a new army that will serve her. It will push him into acting.”
One side of his mouth twitched as he fought a grin. “You figured that bit out about the female gargoyles already?”
“Yes. It was no great feat.”
“The Battle Goddess said that once the gargoyles meet their female counterparts, some will likely fall prey to baser instincts and will be easy enough to seduce into serving her instead.” Gryton arched a brow. “Once Shadowlight was mature, she planned for him to convert her succubus demons into gargoyle hybrids. Those females can be very persuasive.”
“It is good that River defected and took Shadowlight with her. I would have hated to face and kill my host’s baby brother in battle.”
She reached out and remove the rabbit from the fire. “Your dinner is ready and I must return soon.”
Gryton nodded. “I will summon three of my least liked lieutenants to act as unwitting distractions for your other half to hunt down and destroy while I capture the gargoyle child.”
“I will see that Gregory agrees to take part in another of those training exercises. It will take some soothing to get all parties working together again. Give me four days.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Gryton started to pull apart the rabbit, using his claws and fangs to tear into the stringy meat. Around a mouthful of food he said, “Then three days from now before dawn colors the sky, I will make my way to the hamadryad and use her strength to project a message to my people. I’ll share with them what I’ve learned about the Fae and military alliance and that there will be a training session the following day that will provide the perfect opportunity to snatch the young gargoyle.”
“Good. After this, we will be one step closer to ridding ourselves of our enemy.”
Chapter Nineteen
; Gregory stood off to one side as scientists fitted Anna and Shadowlight with more of their strange sensors and bits of technology.
“Oh for fuck sakes,” Anna growled. “Just give me the goddamn thing and I’ll do it myself.”
“Language!” Gran barked as she tapped her staff against the ground threateningly. “I won’t have that kind of speech around the young one.”
“I’ve heard worse.” Shadowlight said then asked, “What’s a clusterf—?”
“Where did you hear that, sweetheart?” Gran asked without breaking stride. “And you shouldn’t use words like that.”
His brows scrunched up in thought.
Gregory tapped into Lillian’s memories to learn the meaning of the human term and winced.
“But Anna uses them,” Shadowlight said with a stubborn hint of challenge in his tone.
A resounding thump sounded as Gran’s staff smacked down on Anna’s shoulder.
“Ouch! Crazy old witch!”
Another blow landed with superhuman speed. “Damn it!”
A third landed with more force.
“You’ve got to be effing kidding me!” Anna dropped into a crouch, realizing she needed to defend herself since Gran wasn’t going to relent.
Gregory wondered how long it would take the stubborn hybrid to figure out that if she simply filtered her mouth…
Gran’s staff weaved back and forth menacingly while Anna retreated.
“Fine. I surrender!” Then under her breath, “But you’re still a crazy old witch.”
“I heard that,” Gran hissed.
“I did too,” Shadowlight said and looked like he was about to pounce on the two women and join the fun.
“Enough!” The command was barked out by Resnick. “We are ready to start.”
Gran and Anna both looked mortified. Shadowlight merely dropped to all fours and raced around the others excitedly.
Gregory decided four days of training wasn’t enough to turn his new cubs into respectable warriors. Every day since that first disastrous training session, Gregory had taken Lillian, Anna, and Shadowlight out into the forest to teach them more about shadow magic.
Still, he was taking no chances with his cubs’ safety this time. Before Resnick had sent his teams out into the forest to lay their ambushes, Gregory had scanned and scented each member of the hunting teams that would be testing the prototype weapons. He hadn’t bothered to hide in shadows.
After they had gotten over their initial shock, Resnick’s soldiers had conducted themselves well and had proved they could adapt to whatever strange situation they found themselves in. They seemed open-minded enough and willing to cooperate with their new allies.
This time, Daryna and Gran stayed behind to meet with the military and other civilian leaders to hash out some new terms. Gregory didn’t care what was agreed upon as long as it didn’t involve him working directly with some paper carrying, silver-tongued human.
When he wasn’t training his young gargoyles, he enjoyed the relative peace and quiet of working with the sidhe metalsmiths as they forged more ward-spelled swords and other weapons for the Fae.
Daryna glanced up at him. “Working with the humans was your idea.”
“Actually, it was Lillian’s.”
“Yeah,” she whispered from his other side. “I’m sorry about that. Had I known that we would be moving targets for them to practice their marksmanship on, I might have agreed with you.”
Gregory mentally agreed but decided not to comment further. His grumpiness spoke for itself. They’d been training each day. And while the sessions were helping Lillian, Anna, and Shadowlight master their shadow magic and learn to fight as a team, it was also taking him from his other tasks. He missed not having other gargoyles to help with preparing for battle. Darkness had been a great aid for the short while he’d been with them. However, if other gargoyles came, he somehow doubted they’d come as friends. He still feared how the Lord of the Underworld would view Lillian, and now Shadowlight and Anna as well.
One problem at a time. Get the humans prepared. Then he’d do what he could to finish preparing the Fae of this world. Only then, once he’d done all he could for the earth, would he returned to Lord Death and rally the Gargoyle Legion. He’d left that as the last task on his list for he feared the Lord of the Underworld might send him back to face the Divine Ones’ judgment.
He’d reassured Lillian more than once that if the Divine Ones were truly angry at them for bending a few sacred laws and begetting a child, he and Lillian would already have been wiped from existence and recalled to the Spirit Realm immediately.
While his words might be true, it didn’t mean there would be no punishment. He just hoped the punishment wouldn’t result in his and Lillian’s separation.
“What’s wrong my gargoyle?” Daryna asked, her voice rich with concern for him.
He’d never been good at hiding his thoughts from her. With a glance in Lillian’s direction, he saw that she was deep in conversation with Gran and Resnick. Deeming it safe, he shared his thoughts with Daryna.
Her expression smoothed after a moment, a soft smile gracing her lips. “I do not think we need to fear Divine judgment or wrath. Most of what has unfolded in this lifetime is a direct result of the Battle Goddess’ meddling. If any deserve punishment, it is her.”
Daryna glanced away from him, looking off into the horizon. When she spoke again, it was in a voice that held a bitter tinge to it. “And we know the Divine Ones have never been able to call to heel their wildest child. What we have done is minor in comparison.”
Her words might ring with truth, but that didn’t mean he felt any better.
However, he didn’t have time to dwell on it now. The teams that would be hunting him and his protégés were already in position. Gregory dropped to all fours and loped over to where the other gargoyles waited. It was going to be another long day. He could feel it in his bones.
Chapter Twenty
Lillian was just moving in for the ‘kill,’ her sights set on one of the new soldiers recently assigned to the training units when a magical disturbance raced across all her senses.
Shadowlight, Anna, and Gregory all froze in place and looked to the east. They’d felt it, too. Whatever ‘it’ was. Gregory lunged up to stand on two legs while he dropped his cloaking magic. Effectively appearing out of thin air in front of the soldiers.
He held up a hand and addressed the soldier closest to him.
“Inform Major Resnick and the other human leaders that someone, or more likely several individuals, have just arrived in the Mortal Realm. And they are not allies.” Gregory turned toward Lillian. “Those newcomers can only be here at the Battle Goddess’ behest. I imagine they’re here to find out what happened to their commander as well as River and Darkness. When they learn of Gryton’s defeat and Darkness’ death, they’ll try to capture River.”
“But why come now? Surely the Battle Goddess isn’t yet ready for a full-scale war.”
“This is likely reconnaissance on our enemies’ part. But do not fear. The spell Daryna and I wove around the hamadryad will have captured and transported them to the holding spell well outside of town. I’ll deal with these interlopers.”
“We’ll rally the humans and go together,” Lillian said with growing unease.
Gregory shook his head. “No, I want you to stay well away from the danger. Play fighting with the humans is one thing; battling a real enemy is something else altogether. I won’t allow you to risk your life or that of our unborn child.”
Lillian’s hand crept down to the curve of her stomach. The concept of a child was so new, she often forgot she was pregnant. She barely showed and she didn’t feel that different. But the tiny life was strong within her. While she wanted to be stubborn, she wouldn’t risk her child either. “Very well. I’ll stay behind.”
“Daryna will transport you, Shadowlight, and Anna back to the hamadryad. The tree has some of the most powerful shielding. The Mother’s Sor
ceress will stay behind to protect you in the off chance one of the enemies manages to get past me.”
“What about you? You don’t know how many you will be facing.”
“I’ll take a small army of human soldiers to face the newcomers. Once the enemy has been neutralized, I will call you to me.”
Lillian stepped up to Gregory and gave him a hug. Nuzzling him, she inhaled his scent, drawing it deep into her lungs. Letting him go was hard, but she did.
“You be careful and make sure you come back to us in one piece.” Lillian stepped back and allowed Daryna to take her place.
The other woman stood on tiptoes until Gregory bowed his muzzle a few inches. Daryna pressed a lingering kiss to the side of Gregory’s cheek. For once, the usual jealousy didn’t manifest; Lillian was too worried about her mate’s well-being.
Daryna smiled up at Gregory. “As my firstborn body has already said, be safe and return to us. I will keep all the young ones safe while you deal with the enemy.”
Gregory huffed softly and then nodded. With one more glance at Lillian, he turned and dropped to all fours. With a powerful leap, he broke into a ground devouring run. Within seconds he was out of sight, but Lillian could still follow his progress in her mind.
“Come, we need to go to the hamadryad,” Daryna urged. “We’ll guard her just in case any of the enemies get past Gregory. Once they realize they don’t have the element of surprise and are outnumbered, they will seek to escape back to the Magic Realm to inform the Battle Goddess what is really going on here.”
Lillian found herself actually nodding in agreement to something the Mother’s Sorceress said. Together with Shadowlight and Anna, Lillian hung back while Daryna summoned a strange portal in the air. The spell shifted and swirled with bright molts of magic for about ten seconds and then it calmed, forming a door in the very air. On the other side was the south entrance to her maze.
Daryna called to them and walked on through. Lillian, Anna, and Shadowlight each glanced at the other and then with the equivalent of a group shrug, they crossed into the portal one at a time and out the other side, back to civilization.
Sorceress at War (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 4) Page 12