by Caris Roane
“But you would do well to return to the kitchen. Besides, I’ll have the Ruby fae’s meal ready in half an hour. Will you take it to her?”
Sandra gasped. “What time is it?”
“Almost half-four.”
She put a hand to her lips. “Oh, Goddess.”
But her fae powers intruded and this time the future rolled through her mind. She had a sense she was being presented with one possible path, not necessarily a fixed sequence of events, so she allowed the various images to come together.
A swell of pure excitement flowed through her, sending shivers racing over her shoulders and sides. She knew then exactly what she wanted to do and it included the fortress housekeeper.
She grabbed Yvonne’s hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind her.
“What are you doing?”
“I have Griffin with me, here in my bedroom.”
“What?” Yvonne looked genuinely shocked and all three forehead ridges drew so tight together the seams turned white from the pressure.
“Griffin. Come here.”
The bathroom door opened and Griffin appeared on the threshold. He’d donned his clothes once more, though it appeared he’d brushed some of the dirt off.
“Look who’s here,” Sandra murmured.
A smile softened his features. “Mistress Yvonne. The miracle worker of the fortress kitchen. The meals you serve have made my life bearable, and I thank you.” Those allowed to sleep in the fortress also had table privileges for the first meal of the night. The food was outstanding and Yvonne was the reason.
Sandra took Yvonne’s hand then waved for Griffin to join her and take Sandra’s free hand.
He frowned slightly “What’s going on?”
“I’ve come to a decision. You both know Margetta intends to mate me to a wraith tonight and I can’t do it. Won’t do it.” She narrowed her gaze at Griffin. “In fact, I’m not even sure it’s possible at this point.”
Yvonne’s eyes widened and a gasp followed. “By all the angels serving the Goddess in heaven, you’ve bonded with Mastyr Griffin. I can feel it in these powerful vibrations flowing through my hand.” Her face crumpled. “Sweetheart, what have you done? She’ll kill you both now.”
Sandra squeezed her hand. “She’ll have to catch us first, all three of us.”
“What do you mean?” Yvonne’s brows rose and her ridges once more compressed.
Sandra’s lips curved. “How would you like to see your daughter, Eva again, who you told me lives in Juniango?”
Yvonne shook her head back and forth. “I don’t understand. How could that ever happen?”
Sandra knew the time had come to lay it all out. “We’re going to leave together, you, me and Mastyr Griffin. I want you in the rose garden just after I deliver the meal to the Ruby Fae. Be there with anything you want to take with you because Griffin and I are leaving the camp as soon as I help the Ruby Fae to escape. And you’re coming with us.”
Griffin released Yvonne’s hand then moved to stand in front of Sandra, his brow furrowed. “This won’t work. Yvonne has already said they’re hunting for me. It won’t be long before they storm this place, especially if Margetta hears about it.”
“She won’t. Or if she does, she won’t believe either of us is disloyal. She’s odd that way. She thinks her slaves adore her.”
Yvonne made a disgusted snort. “She’s addled, that one.”
“I’d have to agree.” Griffin scrubbed a hand through his hair. “All right. So what are you proposing?”
“First,” she turned to Yvonne. “Do you have the duplicate key to the tower room?” She smiled, because she’d already seen it in her vision.
“Yes, I do, but no one knows this.” Yvonne’s face lightened suddenly. A moment later, a smile lit her features. “I see what you’re doing now.” She chortled softly. “I’m in and I don’t give a flying forest gremlin if I die tonight.”
~ ~ ~
Griffin slowly paced Sandra’s bedroom. He’d stayed behind because it would be one of the last places Fulton would be able to send troops to look for him. Fulton would need permission from Margetta herself to invade the women’s quarters for whatever reason. But it chapped his hide to be forced to wait like this.
Yvonne and Sandra had agreed to say that they’d each seen him earlier in the fortress and that he’d finagled a beer from Yvonne. But he’d left some time ago, through the rose garden, heading to the quarters housing the female service slaves.
Setting Fulton on a wild goose chase was the best they could do and it might just work. If fate was on their side, they had a chance.
They were also of one mind, that no matter what, Regan must be given an opportunity to escape her imprisonment. A woman with so much power, once bonded to one of Margetta’s loyal mastyr vampires, would become a formidable opponent in the final stages of the war. Griffin had no doubt Margetta would help force the bond, perhaps using a controlling spell to alter the Ruby Fae’s good nature.
Timing was crucial, though. Griffin had to remain hidden in Sandra’s room until the key was delivered with the next meal. If all went well, Sandra would be able to get the key to the Ruby Fae, after which Regan could escape the fortress. Then he would attempt to carry Sandra and Yvonne through the terrible mist spell and out of the Dauphaire Mountains.
But dawn was coming soon, as well as the appointed hour for Sandra’s wraith-bonding ceremony.
They didn’t have much time.
What concerned Griffin the most, however, was the mist he now saw from Sandra’s window. Since he’d completed the blood rose bond with her, his increase in power had brought the mist fully within his vision. It appeared as a thick wall surrounding the entire camp, including all the space overhead. It was no wonder his previous escape attempts had failed.
But instinctively he knew there was a pathway through the spell. He’d sensed it before. And now that he was bonded with Sandra, its existence became fixed in his mind. The trouble was, he couldn’t see it, at least not yet.
The lives of Both Yvonne and Sandra were on his shoulders now. But without the pathway, Margetta’s spell might as well have been made of cement.
~ ~ ~
When the fat troll opened the door to the tower, Sandra walked in. The Ruby Fae stood near the small table and chairs, her hands folded in front of her. She looked composed and elegant, but she made no move to sit down nor did she speak to Sandra until the tower cell door closed and the lock turned in the grate.
Regan’s gaze went almost immediately to the white towel rolled up beneath Sandra’s arm. Sandra forced herself to remain calm, even though her heart beat so hard in her chest it was a pulse in her ears.
She didn’t make eye contact with Regan, since the troll watched them both through the barred window in the door. She didn’t want to give anything away at this late hour.
“As you requested last time, Mistress,” Sandra said pointedly. “I brought an additional towel for you.”
Regan, of course, had made no such request, but she responded in kind. “Thank you. I’m grateful you remembered. And how are you, Sandra?”
“Very well, thank you, Mistress.” Her tone was breathy, as she slid her gaze to Regan and dipped her chin once.
She set the tray on the small table, then moved to the washstand, tucking the towel next to a basin and companion water pitcher. She’d dreaded dropping the towel for fear the key would tumble out and clink loudly on the stone floor. But the towel fit perfectly between the two ceramic pieces.
To Regan’s credit, she appeared impassive. But Sandra caught the glitter in her eye as Regan sat down on the stool in front of the table.
Knowing it was important to stick to the habitual order of service, especially since the troll was still watching, Sandra moved each item off the tray in the same measured sequence as last time, though her fingers trembled slightly.
Regan held her hands together on her lap in a tight clasp. Her gaze seemed to be fixed to the
braid draped over Sandra’s left shoulder.
Regan’s voice entered her mind. You brought the key? It’s in the towel, right?
With her back to the door and therefore the prying eyes of the troll as well, Sandra met and held Regan’s gaze. I did.
Because Sandra was also positioned to block the troll’s view of Regan, she touched Sandra’s arm. Can you come with me? I’m a strong flyer.
Sandra wanted to shake her head, but knew the troll would report even this small movement to Margetta. I might have my own way out. But if not, do all you can to take this monster down.
She watched the Ruby Fae’s eyes fill with tears. I will. May the Goddess be with you.
And with you.
No other words were exchanged, though two tears rolled down Sandra’s cheeks.
Sandra took the empty tray from off the table, and nodding to the troll through the barred window, she heard the key turn in the lock once more.
When the troll opened the door, Sandra moved into the small hallway beyond. She slowly made her way down the curved and very steep stairwell, her slippers shushing on the stone floor.
She offered a prayer to the Goddess to protect Regan and guide her as she made her escape from Margetta’s fortress. The Ruby Fae’s future was now out of her hands, but she hoped with all her heart Regan somehow found a way past Margetta’s spell.
When she reached the hall that connected to both the outdoors and the fortress proper, she waited for the troll to open the door for her. She avoided eye-contact, which helped keep the troll’s occasional advances to a minimum.
For a moment, when he made no move to open the door, she feared this would be one of those times she’d have to shout and threaten him. Mostly, he drank too much beer, as he had been tonight, and smelled like it.
She directed her thoughts to Griffin. We’re at the bottom of the tower. The guard is trying to decide whether to flirt with me or not.
Do you need me to come to you?
Not sure. Let me talk to him first. She glanced at the troll and aloud said, “Well? Mistress Yvonne is waiting for me. And in case you’ve forgotten, I have a ceremony tonight. And I don’t think Margetta would like it if you roughed me up just before she mate-bonded me to a wraith.”
“Fuck,” the troll spit. He huffed a sigh, wrinkled up his nose and pulled the door wide.
Sandra crossed the threshold and felt his hand graze her bottom. She turned toward him, nostrils flaring. “You sure you want to be touching me? Because remember, once I’m Invictus, I won’t have any manners left and I might just feel the need to come after you.”
He looked up at her like a hurricane had just hit his face. “Y-yes, Mistress. Apologies.”
“Then make it up to me and carry the tray back to the kitchen. I’m going to freshen up in my room. Maybe then, I’ll think of you with kindness.”
He took the tray and moved down the hall, his slippered feet padding quickly. As a house slave, he was required to wear soft shoes. Margetta didn’t like a lot of clunking in her home.
To Griffin, she pathed. I’m on my way.
Her heart once more set up a racket. She wondered if Regan had made her escape yet. From the tower cell, Regan could cross the roof of the fortress and levitate over the side, though how she was supposed to navigate Margetta’s powerful spell, Sandra didn’t know. But at least she’d provided the Ruby Fae with a chance to get out.
Griffin’s voice slid through her mind. Yvonne’s not here yet.
She’s not? Okay. Something has prevented her. Yvonne should have returned to Sandra’s bedroom by now. I’ll go to the kitchen and see what the trouble is.
We’re running out of time. Once you have her, let me know you’re on your way and I’ll meet you in the rose garden.
Will do.
Sandra ran down the servants’ stairs as fast as she could, her skirts held in both hands. She was puffing by the time she reached the hall outside Yvonne’s room. She heard Fulton shouting at her.
Needing an excuse to barge in, she ran the short distance to the supply room and gathered up a small basin, a towel and some soap.
She hurried back to the housekeeper’s room and with Fulton still attempting to shout Yvonne down, she pushed the door wide. “I’m here for your feet, Mistress. Oh, hello, Mastyr Fulton. You’ll forgive me, I don’t have much time and I promised the housekeeper I’d tend to her corns before my bonding ceremony.”
Fulton glanced down at the housekeeper’s currently bare feet and recoiled at the sight of the knobby enflamed lumps on her toes. “Well, it’ll have to wait. I have business here.”
“Then you won’t mind if I take care of Mistress’s feet while you speak with her?”
“No. Yes. Who gives a fuck, and where is Mastyr Griffin?” His face had turned red.
Sandra shrugged. “How should either of us know? Isn’t he your responsibility?” To Yvonne, she said, “I’ll just fetch some warm water. I’ll be right back. But remember, my bonding takes place in fifteen minutes.”
Yvonne stared at her. “Thank you.”
Sandra left the room and went into the kitchen. She needed to play this out and hopefully Fulton would get so frustrated, he’d leave. Griffin?
I’m here.
Fulton’s in a state and has been harassing Yvonne in her room about you. I’m trying to get her out of there.
Let me know when you’re ready. There’s a commotion on the roof, by the way, and a number of Invictus pair are flying above the tower cell.
So the Ruby Fae was attempting her escape. Or maybe she’d already done it and was now long gone.
How do you think Margetta found out so fast? Margetta had never kept guards around the tower or on the roof.
Griffin was silent for a moment. My guess is she might have had another spell in place, one to alert her if Regan left the tower. Though all the confusion might work in our favor right now. I’m looking at twenty wraith-pairs in the air. But hurry.
I will.
With trembling fingers, she filled a tea kettle with hot water from a pot on the stove, added some cold water to cool it down then returned to the housekeeper’s room.
Fortunately, Fulton was gone when Yvonne returned.
“You were brilliant. He left in a huff shortly after you said you were fetching water.” Yvonne smiled. “But I think it was the sight of my ugly feet that did the trick.”
“Why did you even have your slippers off?” She placed the tea kettle on the nearby table, setting it on a wood trivet.
At that, Yvonne offered a crooked smile. “I’d go naked from this place if I could because I don’t intend to take anything with me. Not a damn thing. I’ll wear this gown, however, mostly because I don’t want to scare off Mastyr Griffin.” She even chuckled. “Now how about we do our disappearing act?”
These words eased Sandra’s nerves a little. Yvonne seemed confident about their plan, or maybe she just didn’t care what happened along the way. They were alike, each resigned to do what they could, but if the plan failed, so be it.
Sandra suggested they chat in quiet voices about the vegetable garden as they made their way to the entrance hall. That way if anyone was listening, nothing would appear to be out of the ordinary. Both Sandra and Yvonne had run-of-the-fortress privileges.
As it was, there were very few slaves about and the few they saw were heading to the north door to have a look at the commotion in the skies. Griffin was right; Regan’s escape would work in their favor.
Once in the rose garden, Sandra alerted Griffin that she and Yvonne were in place.
Heading to the entrance hall now.
She then watched the frantic movements of the wraith-pairs flying above the fortress. She could also hear Margetta shouting orders for a large force to go in pursuit. Although, given that dawn was less than an hour away, Sandra didn’t think the wraith-pairs would be able to accomplish very much.
She held Yvonne’s hand as together they fixed their gazes to the sky.
&nbs
p; Yvonne whispered. “We did it, didn’t we? We got the key to the Ruby Fae.”
She squeezed Yvonne’s hand. “Yes, we did. And my senses tell me she got away.”
Now, with a little luck, she and Yvonne could make their own escape, along with Griffin. But what remained unknown was how they were to break through Margetta’s spell.
As Sandra continued to watch the dark night sky, she began to see the containment spell, like a wall of fog forming a massive shield above the fortress, as well as the camp and the surrounding forest. Doubts rose in a heavy swell through her heart. How were they supposed to escape now?
The door to the entrance hall opened and Griffin appeared. Shutting the door behind him, he started to move in their direction, when a man’s voice called out, “So you’ve been hiding behind the skirts of a couple of stupid women.”
Sandra whirled and watched Fulton appear at the hedge entrance to the garden, a dagger in one hand and his red battle energy glowing in his right palm. And he wasn’t alone. Two more vampires, each a mastyr, moved into the space to flank him.
Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Yvonne, shielding her. And without giving it a second thought, she levitated them swiftly down the gravel path to the west, getting them both to safety. One glance at Griffin told her he was ready to battle the vampire who had made his life hell for the past year.
CHAPTER FIVE
Griffin had seen Fulton beat slaves to death then hide their bodies from Margetta. He was a mean sonofabitch. And he wasn’t even bonded to a wraith yet.
The men who flanked him weren’t much better. Griffin had been at the receiving end of their fists as well as a variety of weapons over the past twelve months. If Margetta hadn’t insisted on keeping Griffin alive, he would have been long dead, something he’d craved the first months of his captivity.
He knew what Fulton wanted and Griffin was ready.
He slowly moved in the bastard’s direction, stepping down from the front stone step and along the gravel path. The rose bushes gave way to a broad stretch of grass, thirty feet to the hedge where Fulton and his men stood. He stopped at the edge of the lawn and waited.