Once more Rygel thoughtfully paced. “Hmmm. What makes you think we need your help to leave this reeking cesspit?”
“Brutal’s army is searching everywhere for you. You may hide for a while, but in the end, they will find you. With our help we can assure you will get out with your hides intact.”
“I suspect Brutal wants your head alongside ours on his mantle, my lady,” Rygel replied. “That thought does not comfort me much.”
“We have more strength in our numbers than you do in yours.”
“Point taken.”
“In addition, I will guarantee you a safe sanctuary within the borders of Kel’Halla.”
Rygel shrugged. “We have our own countries we can return to, and still have a safe sanctuary.”
“How about a haven under my shield and enough gold to see you back to your own countries rich men?”
“Now that is sounding more reasonable,” he commented. “How much are you offering?”
I picked a number I hoped would satisfy him. “Ten thousand gold crowns.”
“Each.”
I stiffened, my own anger rising. “Now wait—”
Rygel shrugged. “Take it or leave it, Your Highness. How much is the life of your griffin worth?”
I glanced at Kel’Ratan. I found no help there. He merely shrugged.
“He’s worth any money, any risk,” I murmured. “Agreed.”
Rygel quirked a brow at Wolf. I could not see what his response was, but it must have been the affirmative for Rygel’s face broke into a wide grin. “We can agree to no longer disagree, aye?”
“Aye.”
“And we can be assured these two will behave themselves? What’s to stop them from killing each other the moment I release your bonds?”
I met Kel’Ratan’s eyes. “Well, cousin? Will you abide by the decision we’ve made here and not kill this man?”
Kel’Ratan’s eyes showed resignation, as much as if he shrugged his shoulders. “Aye,” he grunted sourly.
“And you, Raine?” Rygel asked. “You’ll not slit his throat at the first opportunity?”
Wolf’s mutter in my ear sounded loud in the quiet. “I will not.”
Rygel continued to slowly pace about the room, his head and eyes lowered. I grew impatient, fretting at the inactivity and feeling the need to make our plans.
“That’s enough, my lord. You have your agreement. Free us now.”
His eyes met mine and immediately I wished I had kept my mouth shut. For a moment, his face looked as cold as Wolf’s eyes, and as deadly. I suddenly remembered, too late, how he served as Brutal’s torturer and executioner. Rygel was a man with more power at his fingertips than anyone who lived on earth. I blithely demanded he free me, as I might have demanded a servant bring my supper.
Then, as though having shown his fangs, Rygel brightened and his face glowed with cheery good humor.
“Your Highness forgets who is in charge here,” he said genially. “For all of you are now my prisoners, should you aggravate me. What’s to stop me from freeing Raine, and the two of us departing? That would leave all of you”—his eyes and smile swept the room, touching upon Kel’Ratan, Witraz and the others in turn—“stuck in a rather awkward situation.”
With dawning horror, I realized how foolish I had been. What had I been thinking? To believe we could force a wizard of Rygel’s power into doing what we wanted, to make him a hostage. What made us think we could kill him if Wolf refused to behave?
“Of course, the spell binding you would eventually fall apart and dissipate,” he went on, still pacing. “In a week or so, I’d imagine.”
My horror grew as the reality of what he meant filled my mind. Frozen here, standing, unable to move…for a week? Such a fate was unthinkable. Certainly well within Rygel’s power, should he wish it. I stared into Kel’Ratan’s widened blue eyes, seeing there the same fear that must have shown in my own eyes. My warriors looked to me to free them, their eyes calm, knowing I would not, could not, subject them to such a fate. I drew breath to scream, argue, plead, order, demand…I knew not which—
“Rygel, cease.” Wolf’s quiet rumble filled my ears with a firm tone, a command, that I nearly wept with relief to hear it.
Rygel halted, looking past me at Wolf with an air of faint surprise. Whatever he saw must have decided him, for he smiled anew, this time in genuine sheepish apology.
“I am sorry, Your Highness, my lord.” He turned to include Kel’Ratan and my warriors in his little speech. “It’s just that I’ve had Prince Brutal ordering me around so much I can’t take much more.” He shook his head, and his apologetic tone seemed sincere. “I am truly sorry for that. I would not have left you all in that spell.”
My gut told me he indeed would have left us here, frozen and unable to move, eat, or shit for a week or more. Just to keep us from following them, or out of simple vindictiveness. I refrained from saying so, however, for, despite being female, I learned fast. Rygel was provoked more easily, or for less cause, than anyone I had ever met.
“It seems we all got off on the wrong foot,” he went on, still pacing. “We have our agreement, no? We will all play nice now.”
My laughter threatened to spill over again, this time in shaky relief, as Rygel’s self-satisfied smirk beamed across us all.
“Very good, then.”
Suddenly I could move again. Wolf’s hands fell away from my shoulders, my tunic damp where his fingers had been. I half-turned to glance up into his eyes, finding them curiously blank of any expression. Yet, my uneasiness remained. Rygel’s mercurial moods may lead us into unexpected danger. Like the tale of two twins, one good and one evil. I suspected I just met the evil twin. I wondered briefly if I could persuade Wolf to leave him behind.
“Oh, put that thing away, Kel’Ratan,” I snapped.
The tip of Kel’Ratan’s sword wavered a moment then dropped as he finally relaxed. He glowered at me, sheathing the blade in an irritated movement.
Wolf stepped away from me and bent, his thick midnight hair hiding his eyes. He slid a thin dagger from his boot and straightened. Unarmed, did I say? Rygel spun about and Wolf cut the ties still binding his hands behind his back.
“Much better.” Rygel rubbed his skin where the thin leather cut into him while Wolf sliced the remainder of his own ties from his wrists.
“Now where were we?” Rygel asked pleasantly. “Oh, yes. Agreements. Assuming we get your big pet back and escape with our hides intact, we can live in peace in your land as rich men? At least until we choose to depart?”
I nodded. “You have my word.”
“I don’t suppose you’d want to grant any titles while you’re at it? I’d like something grand, like the Duke of Someplace? In my homeland, I may be of noble blood, but I can carry no title, save that of lord. May I have a title?” His grin, boyish and charming, bloomed like a spring blossom.
I chuckled before I could stop. “That is up to my father.”
“And you’ll keep your redheaded friend here on a short leash? He agreed to not kill my brother. Naught was said about him not killing me. I would hate to wake one morning with a knife in my back.”
Kel’Ratan opened his mouth to protest, his fists clenching. I stilled him with a quick glance and a scowl. Muttering an oath, Kel’Ratan crossed his arms across his chest and turned away, face flaming red as his hair. Few ever questioned his honor and I was surprised he did not skewer Rygel on the spot. A great improvement on his self-restraint, I thought approvingly.
“Lord Rygel, my kinsman will behave himself,” I said. “You have nothing to fear.”
Rygel grinned. I was suddenly reminded of a rock leopard crouched over its kill, yellow eyes unblinking as they stared at me. If that cat could have grinned, it would have looked very much like this.
He made no motion of his hands nor gave any indication his powers were being used. Suddenly the invisible band wrapped itself around me and movement was once again impossible.
“I
have little to fear, Princess.” Rygel spoke quietly, his golden eyes alight with feral amusement. “Yet, if your kinsman decides to slip his collar, he may get hurt.”
My own anger rose at his audacity to threaten me. “Release me.”
Rygel’s grin grew wider and more predatory. “Now why would I do that?”
“You heard Her Highness,” Kel’Ratan roared. “Release her now.”
“I can turn you upside down and paddle your royal bottom,” Rygel went on as though Kel’Ratan yanking his sword from its sheath were of no more concern than a fly buzzing near his head. “Shall I?”
“You would not dare,” I growled.
“Oh, but I would.” The amusement in his voice turned to mockery, his yellow eyes glinting. “I have little patience for people who kidnap me and threaten my friends. I don’t much like women. The two combined… Well, let’s just say I might get irritated and hurt someone. Despite a certain someone’s royal stature.”
He bowed, his chilling laughter sending a chill over my flesh. My rage and indignation rose, mounting higher with every breath he drew. Had I a sword in my hand and the freedom to use it, the wizard’s head would no longer adorn his arrogant neck.
“We had to use those means.” My teeth ached from clenching my jaw. I relaxed a trifle and spoke more calmly. “It was the only way we knew to get you to listen to us.”
“To get us—”
“Rygel.”
Wolf’s soft rumble cut through the tension, startling me. While the tone itself was mild, I heard an edge to it that cut through any possible resistance. Rygel himself gave a tiny start, the arrogant humor and anger leaving his yellow eyes. Instantly, the bands of power wrapping me vanished. I breathed deep, inhaling calm and exhaling my anger in an attempt to restore my composure. Exercises learned long ago from my sword master. I almost failed. Almost.
“What’s done is done and we agreed to help them. Tormenting them further accomplishes nothing.”
To my astonishment, Rygel nodded, his expression suddenly rueful and no longer mocking. “Of course. My apologies, Princess. Forgive me?”
A sincere, if boyish, grin surfaced and he bowed low. My fury died at the change in him, but my suspicion rose in its place. Like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, his demeanor brightened. However, the cloud remained, out of sight.
“Forgive him, Your Highness, he has the manners of a randy goat.”
Once more, Wolf’s soft rumble surprised me. For a big man he had a surprisingly mellow voice and a quirky humor that intrigued me. I glanced at him over my shoulder, thinking to share a smile with him. Rather, I found him frowning slightly at his friend. I made no protest as he retrieved his sword belt and dagger, although his sword remained behind me, where I placed it. Kel’Ratan’s eyes followed the big slave’s, narrowed with suspicion. If Wolf found the stare offensive, he gave no sign as he buckled it back around his hips.
“As you are as thick as an oak stump,” Rygel retorted. “Well, Princess?”
“Of course, my lord. Let us all begin anew as friends.”
This seemed to please him for he straightened and reached for my hand. Kissing it lightly and with enough respect to warm my heart, he murmured, “Thank you.”
I shot another look from under my lashes at Wolf and realized with a sudden dawning who was the leader of this little pack. Despite his status as slave and Rygel’s as a lord, Wolf was a natural leader and Rygel instinctively deferred to him. I wondered if Rygel even knew that Wolf was the true leader. That may create problems in the future, I speculated, for I could not have my own authority challenged. Would our new pact fall asunder because of it?
I shrugged mentally and put it from my mind for the moment. It was all in Nephrotiti’s hands anyway. Bar’s safe return was all that mattered. I picked up Wolf’s sword by the cross-guard and held it out. He accepted it with a small bow and sheathed it in one fluid motion.
“Sit, my friends,” I said. “You too, Kel’Ratan.”
Only when Kel’Ratan sat down on the only other chair in the room would Wolf obey me. He took the edge of the bed and sat cautiously, as though ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. Rygel sank cross-legged to the floor. Witraz, Rannon, Left and Right returned arrows to quivers, and continued to stand about the room at parade rest, waiting.
“The High King’s soldiers shot Bar with at least two arrows when they brought him down,” I began. “He may have more injuries that I do not yet know of. Thus our task may be even more difficult as he may not be able to walk or fly.”
“Nothing easier,” Rygel replied with a quiet confidence. He jerked his thumb at his companion. “The lummox can pick the beastie up and carry him out on his shoulders.”
Disconcerted, I opened my mouth to explain how truly big Bar was when I saw the sardonic tilt to Rygel’s mouth and the glint in his eye. I quickly changed tack. As with Brutal, I turned on the feminine charm.
“My lord wizard,” I murmured with a feigned demure look downward. “I’m certain a clever magician such as yourself will think of a way.”
While unfamiliar with feminine wiles and games to sway men into doing my will, my charm worked, on a rare occasion. Although it never failed to make me feel the fraud. I was no girlie girl and hated pretending to be one. Yet, for some odd reason, it worked on Rygel. From under my lashes, I saw Rygel gaping, his sarcasm gone. From the tail of my eye, I saw Kel’Ratan smother a grin with his hand. He knew me well, that one.
Wolf gave Rygel what looked like a gentle nudge with his toe, but Rygel overbalanced and toppled sideways. “Rygel will heal the beast.”
Rygel yelped in surprise. “I will what?”
I shook my head. “My thanks, but we can take care of his injuries once we get him out.”
Wolf caught my eye and held it, smiling a small strange smile. His cold, strangely predatory eyes held mine captivated, enslaved. “And will we carry him out, a beastie of the size you speak of? What if he cannot walk? What then? Nay, Your Highness, I meant Rygel will heal him on the spot. That will allow the creature to walk out under his own power. Or fly. Or defend himself.”
“I’ve never healed a beast that size,” Rygel protested, slewing to glare at Wolf over his shoulder.
“You wanted to be a healer. Now’s your chance.”
“You have no clue how big that griffin is,” Rygel snapped. I may not have that much strength.”
“Are you the strongest, or aren’t you?”
“I bloody well am, damn your eyes.”
“Then cease your bloody arguing, dolt.”
They were not joking. I watched their expressions carefully, searching for any sign they were trying to escape the agreement and us. No doubt, Rygel’s indignation was genuine, as was Wolf’s confidence.
I exchanged a skeptical glance with Kel’Ratan. “Just exactly how does Rygel heal then?”
Wolf waggled his fingers, still smiling. “With magic.”
“Not all wizards do nothing but create love-potions or turn princes into toads,” Rygel snapped, scowling. “Some of us do have our uses.”
“Like healing?”
I could not halt the incredulous doubt from creeping into my voice. Rygel was a killer, Brutal’s chief torturer and executioner…men like that do not heal others. I wanted him there as a hostage to Wolf’s good behavior. That was the only use I had for him. I had not thought to find him actively helping.
Smiling, but silent, Wolf pulled his dagger from its sheath with his left hand. Holding his right arm away from his body, he savagely slashed his inner arm from wrist to elbow. All within the blink of an eye and before anyone could move to stop him. On my feet in an instant, I reached for him just as Rygel roared in fury.
“You flaming idiot,” Rygel bellowed. “Stupid, bullheaded—”
Blood did not just drip from the gaping cut; rather, it gushed in torrents. I frantically drew my own dagger to cut strips of linen from the bed to bind it before the man bled to death before my very eyes. Kel’Rata
n growled low in his throat in frustration as he, too, looked for something to staunch the flow of blood.
“—shit, so help me I’ll let you bleed out right here, right now.”
“Shut up and heal it.”
Wolf’s smile never faltered, nor did his gaze drop from mine as his life rapidly bled away. I hesitated under that calm gaze, my knife set to cut bands of cloth, mesmerized, a bird caught in the eyes of a snake.
“They need proof.” Wolf’s mild voice carried over the hypnosis of his eyes, calming, soothing. “Let’s give them proof.”
Rygel’s fluent cursing in two languages brought me back to myself. He had gotten to his feet while I frantically looked for linen and seized Wolf’s gory arm in his hands. Kel’Ratan would have gone to them had I not stopped him with my hand on his arm. My boys also leaned close, Alun making the signs against evil enchantment.
His face pale from blood loss, but Wolf’s smile never ceased. Yet Rygel’s curses slackened. With one hand on the wound and the other at Wolf’s brow, Rygel shut his eyes, concentrating. The seconds ticked by, the silence lengthening as nothing at all seemed to be happening.
Then Wolf arched his back in a sudden spasm, his eyes squeezed shut, a low groan emanating from behind his clenched teeth. He held the look and sound of a man in great pain. Tiny beads of sweat formed on his brow and upper lip, his breath coming and going in ragged gasps.
Rygel stood calmly, apparently unaffected by the agony Wolf was in. I exchanged another incredulous glance with Kel’Ratan, and then turned back to watch as Wolf’s tense face slackened and his whole body slumped. Unconscious, he slid backward over the bed, Rygel letting him go with a grumble and an exasperated sigh.
“Are you happy now?”
Rygel’s acerbic voice cut through my strange haze of astonishment. Before me, as though displaying a trophy, he raised Wolf’s limp arm. I saw naught but the inner, vulnerable, fleshly arm, still red with Wolf’s blood, displaying the smooth skin of an unwounded, healthy body. No wound gaped, no blood gushed dripped or even seeped. All that remained was an angry weal where the cut had been. Even that rapidly faded before my eyes. I gasped, shocked.
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