by Taylor Leigh
Marus’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh, that is beautiful!’ He reached for the object and held it lovingly in his hands after Arkron passed it to him. ‘Fantastic!’
Arkron smiled. ‘Knew you’d like it.’
Marus looked at the object hard. ‘I haven’t seen one of these in years.’
‘Well, can’t have you just hauling round other Realm technology for no reason. It could be disastrous.’
Marus lifted the object and aimed it at a house wall. ‘But I can have it now?’
Arkron raised her shoulders. ‘Temporarily. Seems like a good time.’
Marus pulled the copper trigger and the device made a rippling bang, shooting a ball of red, shimmering, almost gas-like substance out of the end. The ball hit the side of the house, creating a decent sized hole in the wall.
Marus grinned widely. ‘Wonderful!’
Arkron smiled indulgently. ‘All right, don’t waste all your time shooting at walls. We’ve got to find Sinsetun before he reaches the palace. Lucinda won’t last long.’
Marus sighed and lowered the weapon. ‘Fine. But if we run into any other Denizens, I get first shot.’
The distant boom! of some new, infernal device echoed from above. Reginald felt ill. He didn’t want to know what that was. The further they climbed, the darker the feeling grew inside of him. Around him, he thought he was beginning to see shades. Ghosts were starting to stir and walk the streets. That was never a good sign. If spirits were awakening, what could possibly be so evil to rip them from their slumber?
Something hungry was coiling through the shadows, frightening even the spirits. And it was hunting. Growing steadily closer…
Arkron gestured to Marus, bringing Reginald back to the present with a shudder. ‘Be my guest.’
Horrible, inhuman screams echoed up ahead. Marus broke into a smile. ‘Here we go again!’ He raised the gun to the air, next to his head and went charging down a side street.
Arkron chuckled, shaking her head. ‘He thinks he’s such a hero.’
Reginald grinned. ‘Give me one of those and I’d probably be acting the same way!’
Arkron smiled. ‘Sorry, I only had the one, and I’m pretty sure Marus would run you through so he could play with it.’
Reginald winced. ‘I’m fine with my sword, actually.’
Arkron nodded. ‘Good choice. Shall we follow him?’
Reginald shrugged, desperately hoping it came across as nonchalant and didn’t betray his reluctance.
Arkron took off at a run and Reginald followed her, up towards the palace and a yawning darkness that Reginald felt threatened to swallow them whole.
Chapter Forty-Five
Andrew groaned and raised his head off of his arm, tasting the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. He must have bitten his tongue. Nothing new there. He was in complete darkness, which suited him fine. He’d always had an intolerance for light.
The memories of his latest attack were blurry to him and he couldn’t rightly remember where he was now, but at the moment it didn’t concern him. They were hidden, if only briefly. The sounds of the Blaiden tearing up the keep outside seemed to be more infrequent as he listened. They were getting bored most likely, and frustrated that they couldn’t find their prey.
‘You’re awake then, are you?’ Thedric said from somewhere in the dark.
Andrew sat up and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. ‘How long?’
Thedric shrugged. ‘Dunno. Fifteen minutes maybe. Could have waited till we got inside here before you blacked out, you know.’
Andrew ran his hands through his hair. ‘Where are we, exactly?’
‘Behind the dragon tapestry, like you said.’
Andrew frowned. What the deuce was he talking about? He didn’t remember a hidden passageway behind a dragon tapestry. He figured he must have spotted a sign of it when he was having his fit on the floor.
No.
He remembered now. He had seen something else. Something baffling. A trail of light had leaked past him, snaking along the floor and settled round the dragon. He remembered seeing the dragon glowing on the tapestry, as if sewn with shining thread. He must have been hallucinating. He decided it was probably for the best to not share with his brother. Thedric would think he was losing his mind. Perhaps he was. ‘They’re getting frustrated,’ he said instead.
Thedric nodded. ‘Yeah, noticed that. Do you think they’ll give up and leave?’
Andrew had no way of knowing. ‘They know we’re still here in the keep. The art of any hunter is patience. Waiting out your prey.’
Thedric stretched out. ‘Great. This is going to be a long wait then.’
Andrew wrapped his arms round his knees. ‘Or very short, depending how good their sense of smell is. No doubt they can smell you a kilometre away.’
Thedric kicked him. ‘What are you implying?’
‘Ever heard of soap?’ Andrew grumped. ‘It’s amazing they haven’t sniffed you out already. Hopefully if they do find us, it’ll be sooner rather than later. There’s hardly any air circulation in here and I don’t want to die choking on your body odours.’
‘Just because I don’t scrub myself raw with the stuff every chance I get doesn’t mean I don’t wash! Now shut up, they’ll hear you!’ Thedric hissed.
Andrew grinned in the darkness.
A distant howl caused them both to sit up straighter. Then another one came. Andrew cocked his head, listening. He could hear the faint sounds of the Blaiden dropping things and heavy bare feet thudding on the carpet. From up above them and the hallway beside them they could hear the Blaiden all heading in the same direction, towards the distant howl.
‘They’re leaving?’ Thedric breathed.
Andrew listened for a moment more. It could be a clever ruse to make them believe they had left and once they emerged, the Blaiden would fall on them, but no, this sounded too genuine and the Blaiden weren’t that crafty.
‘I think,’ Andrew said slowly. ‘We might just have gotten very, very lucky.’
* * * * *
It was wet and slippery, the rocks slick with green moss. When Victoria finally reached the bottom and waded through the creek, she realised Flynn was no longer in the spot where he’d landed. He had pulled himself up the clay-filled bank and out of the water.
She dropped down next to him and put her hands on his shoulders. She was just about to turn him over when Flynn whipped round, knife slashing. Victoria fell back down the slope in surprise, landing in a thick pile of clay. Tollin had started down the slope and, with a shout, jumped from rock to slick rock precariously.
Flynn pushed himself up dizzily, yellow eyes bloodshot as they locked with Victoria’s. He gave a weak snarl and started to move towards her. Tollin jumped across the bank and grabbed Flynn’s arm in one nimble move, forcing him to drop the knife. Flynn let out a cry of protest but it was as if all of the fight had gone out of him. Not surprising, considering the fall he’d just had.
Victoria pulled herself up out of the clay with some difficulty and crawled back up to the two men.
‘He’s got it bad,’ Tollin said darkly. ‘He must have ingested an immense amount of spores to be this out of it.’
Victoria shook her head. ‘He wasn’t like this several hours ago. He seemed normal.’
Tollin nodded. ‘He must of had them straight, not diluted in water.’
Victoria gaped at him. ‘Is that safe?’
Tollin regarded her. ‘I doubt it.’
He pulled a small pouch from one of his pockets and a smaller flask from his breech coat. Then scooped up some water from the stream and poured dark powder from the pouch into the flask, swirling the mixture.
‘That’s Story’s pouch!’ Flynn cried incoherently.
‘Yes,’ Tollin said patiently. ‘Just calm down, all right? Drink this. She gave it to me.’
Flynn tried to spit it out as Tollin proceeded to pour it into his mouth but after a moment of struggling, Flynn finally gave in. Then, to Victoria’
s alarm, his body began to convulse. Violently. Victoria glanced to Tollin, worried, as she gripped at Flynn, trying to keep him from falling into the water. His body flopped and jerked, but, mercifully, began to lessen in violence. Tollin glanced back at her, face sympathetic as Flynn at last went still.
‘Is he…?’ Victoria whispered.
‘Dead? No,’ Tollin said. ‘His body is just trying to readjust. Might want to step back for this next bit; could get slightly messy.’
As if on cue, Flynn rolled over and let out a horrible strangled noise. He retched several times and then vomited. The smell hit Victoria hard and she pressed her arm to her nose. Flynn vomited again and coughed hard. Tollin shoved the flask into Victoria’s hands. ‘He’s probably going to want some water now, I’d say.’
Victoria filled up the flask and came back to Flynn, who was still retching. He looked up to her, eyes and nose streaming, and took the flask. He drank deeply and Victoria had to go back and fill it twice more till he was satisfied. Finally, he sat back on his haunches, looking somewhat green.
‘Well,’ Tollin said quietly, ‘now that all of that is out of your system, perhaps we can talk. Feel better now?’
Flynn nodded sickly.
‘What was that?’ Tollin asked, brows lowering. ‘Some suicide attempt? I don’t even think the Blaiden would try drinking that many spores at once.’
Flynn spat onto the ground, making a face. ‘They’re the ones who offered them to me. They took me to the Source. I saw the Guardian. I took from the pods themselves.’
Tollin’s left brow rose unnaturally high. ‘Oh,’ he breathed. ‘They’re in the mountains, aren’t they?’
Flynn shook his head. ‘There’s a valley at the top of the mountain.’ He pointed weakly. ‘Beyond the pine barrens and the fen. There’s a basin in the ground. A water source. A spring.’
‘I’ve been there!’ Victoria cried. ‘Well, sort of. I never got that far.’
‘Flynn,’ Tollin leant in close. ‘How many pods are there? Are they easily accessible?’
Flynn frowned, rubbing the back of his head. ‘Six, I think. They are split open…like eggs.’ He glanced up, confused. ‘Why are you helping me?’
Tollin smiled. ‘Because everyone deserves a second chance, and you’re not a bad person.’ He held out his hand. ‘Can you stand?’
Flynn stretched his legs out. ‘Yes. Nothing is broken. I just hit my head.’
Tollin helped him up. ‘You have a concussion. Do you know anything about the Blaiden attack?’
Flynn groaned. ‘It was decided on the spot that we would attack tonight. I think it went against their original plans. After I found Story…I went to them, they took me to the Source and I agreed that my clan would help. The Blaiden would attack the village with my clan. I was supposed to meet them…’
‘Are the Druids at the village now?’ Victoria asked.
‘No,’ Tollin mused. ‘They won’t show up without their trusted leader, will they?’
Flynn squeezed his eyes shut. ‘They should be waiting for me. They are still more loyal to me than the Blaiden…’
‘Story knew of an antidote to the spores, Flynn,’ Tollin said. ‘Did you know that?’
Flynn shook his head, seeming surprised. ‘She mentioned nothing.’
Tollin nodded. ‘I believe the Blaiden knew about it, and that’s the reason she’s dead.’
Flynn slumped, hopeless. ‘They killed her.’
‘Yes,’ Tollin said. ‘I’m sorry. And the reason they did it, I believe, was to get you to turn on us. And, in turn, for us to turn on you.’
‘The Tartans deserve to be wiped out,’ Flynn said weakly.
‘No,’ Tollin almost snapped. ‘No. They have done wrong, but they do not deserve to die. This isn’t the way. Things can be worked out between the two of you, but not this way. Negotiations, talking—that’s the way and I swear I will not abandon you all. Your rights are just as important as the Tartans and a solution can be reached!’
Flynn chuckled darkly. ‘I’ve heard stories about you. You have made miracles happen before, but getting the Druids and Tartans to make peace would be impossible, even for you.’
Tollin rested a hand on his shoulder. ‘Not miracles. I just see hope where others see only darkness.’ His head suddenly jerked up as if on a string just as his mouth dropped open. ‘Everybody stay down,’ he murmured.
Thirty seconds later Victoria heard it as she crouched down low to the ground. Heavy feet and laboured breathing. Her eyes darted up the slope and she watched in mute horror as a pack of Blaiden dashed by, ripping through the brush as easily as if it were grass. They snarled and howled, completely inhuman, stopping for nothing. Victoria’s eyes locked with Tollin’s in wide panic. He motioned for her to keep quiet. As quickly as the pack arrived, it was gone again, galloping through the wood without any hint of slowing. Finally, Tollin pushed himself to his feet, swinging the direction they had gone, eyes narrowed. ‘Let’s get to higher ground,’ he said quietly.
The three unsteadily climbed back up the slope. Victoria jumping at every snapped branch.
‘No doubt they’re headed towards the village,’ Tollin muttered, holding his hand out to pull her up. ‘Good thing they missed our ride.’
Victoria tried, unsuccessfully, to wipe the clay off of her legs. She glanced up at the two men. ‘If the Druids are not at the village, they have to be out here somewhere.’
‘And if we can find them,’ Tollin cut in, ‘and Flynn can convince them to help us defeat the Blaiden, we can get them off of the Tartan and the Druid land.’
Flynn shook his head. ‘This will be a full-fledged war!’
They all shared a meaningful look.
Tollin sighed heavily. ‘If it’s a choice between war and slaughter, there is only one we can make.’
Victoria rested her face in her hands wearily when a new sound reached her ears. It was the heavy pounding of hooves. She lifted her head and stared at Tollin. A wry smile pulled at his thin lips and he nodded his head.
A tick after, Andrew’s great black horse burst into view coming up the path, carrying both Andrew and Thedric on its back. Thedric pulled the horse up to a stop and before Andrew had even dismounted, Victoria was running towards them. She hit Andrew in a rather undignified embrace and buried her face in his chest.
‘You’re still alive!’
Andrew choked slightly and peeled himself away from her. ‘And you are absolutely filthy.’
Victoria gazed up at him; she saw a large purple bruise forming on his cheek. ‘You’ve been hurt!’
Andrew smiled knowingly. ‘Sorry we took so long. Took a damned long time to catch the horse.’
‘Look, can we talk about this later?’ Thedric gasped. ‘And what the hell are you doing with that savage?’
Tollin cleared his throat loudly. ‘We’re not going to have any of that talk, Thedric. Flynn and the Druids are going to help us. Your little village is being attacked right now by the Blaiden. No doubt that’s where your group from the keep that just dashed by were off to. Now do you honestly think that the dear people of Miol Mor can handle that on their own? Aye? No, we both know that’s not true. The only way you’re going to survive this is if you have all the help you can get, so I wouldn’t complain!’
Thedric marched forward. ‘But he’s the reason we were attacked in the first place!’
Tollin, scrawny as he was, shifted, taking on an intimidating air that caused Thedric to step back a pace. Something about the man radiated supremacy. ‘And I’m telling you,’ he said slowly, voice a low, dangerous growl, ‘that he’s had a change of heart. Now we can stand here bickering in the snow, or we can actually get some work done!’
His brown eyes swept the group, shining black and serious.
Dead silence.
Andrew was unperturbed by Tollin’s intense stare. ‘Well, if they’re under attack, we better get back. No doubt Thedric’s guards are absolutely lost without his brilliant guidance and
I’m sure the rest of the villagers need a strategy to follow.’
Thedric narrowed his eyes. ‘How did you get a hold of my spear, anyway?’ he asked Flynn.
Andrew rolled his eyes. ‘Oh, please, Thed. You leave your spears scattered about like the love children of a whore!’
Thedric cursed.
Flynn nodded unhappily. ‘We find Tartan weapons sometimes littering the forest from your hunting trips. No doubt the Blaiden took it as a souvenir.’
Tollin’s eyes lit up. He held up a hand. ‘Oh, now wait a minute!’ Everyone looked to him. He grinned, spinning round in a circle. ‘The Blaiden are off of their land. They’ve all cleared out for this attack. It should be relatively, if not completely, unguarded!’
Victoria shrugged. ‘So?’
Tollin made a face, disappointed that no-one was catching on to what he was getting at—except for Andrew, who shook his head slowly, expression in a dark frown. Victoria realised whatever was coming was more than likely going to end in an argument. She braced herself.
Tollin sighed. ‘So, the sporepods are all grouped there! If someone, say, Victoria, was to slip in, she could destroy the pods without the Blaiden ever knowing! It would solve quite a few problems at once!’
‘You’re barking!’ Thedric shouted.
Andrew frowned unhappily. ‘No.’
Thedric marched forward. ‘She is not going!’
Victoria held up a hand before Tollin could reply. ‘Hang on, don’t I get a say in this?’
‘No,’ Andrew said again.
‘Of course!’ Thedric cried. ‘Tell him he’s mental for wanting you to go!’
Victoria straightened. The idea was exciting. Daring. It quickened her heart just thinking about it. ‘I want to go! I want to help. What do I have to do?’
Andrew glared at her with a dangerous light in his eyes. ‘It’s out of the question.’ He fixed his gaze on Tollin. ‘Out of the question,’ he repeated. ‘She’s been through enough and I’m not having any more nonsense over those damn pods!’