The Gryphon Highlord

by Connie Ward

  "I wasn't looking for it.” Ginger seemed embarrassed. “Fleurry's not as incompetent as I'd hoped. He took precautions. I won't underestimate him again."

  I rubbed my eyes. “We have to leave Edenwood. Now."

  "Why?” Ragsey protested. “No one saw us. No one can identify us. We're in no danger here."

  I sped him a dark look. Could it be he didn't want to leave because he'd taken a fancy to our pretty bar wench?

  "That's not the point,” Ginger hissed at him. “Valleri wasn't at the meeting. Sounds like maybe he had no intention of coming here at all. He may already be in Shanasea, perhaps engaging Naren even as we speak."

  Ginger was worried, and with good reason. But I didn't think he understood the full import of what Valleri's absence implied.

  "We have to return to Idyll and report our failure. We must figure out what to do next."

  "Not only that,” I interrupted. “But at any minute a Royalist could walk in here with a Shouda and it would be all over for us."

  Ginger's head jerked up, a flicker of surprise in his grey eyes. He had not considered that possibility. I arched a brow, silently chiding him for his oversight, and pushed away the empty mug.

  * * * *

  We slipped out of Edenwood at dawn while the town slept off its collective hangover. We rode in silence, each of us angry for one reason or another. I considered the escapade a complete disaster, my relief giving way to disgust. Ginger was a madman and a fool. It galled me to think he would risk our lives to serve his own ego.

  At noon Ginger sent Ragsey to scout ahead. The mage guided his mount close beside mine. “I can't say how relieved I was to see you again.” His tone was gentle and shy, like a little boy's. “I was afraid the Royalists had caught you."

  "Afraid why?” I snapped. “Because you feared for my life? Hah. You feared I'd give away all your precious Crusader secrets."

  "That's not true. If keeping secrets were my only priority I would have let you fall to your death when that platform gave way. I was afraid they'd captured you, to torture and kill or who knows what else? I shouldn't have left you behind."

  He'd had no choice, of course. The two of us would have been unable to fend off all those soldiers. We'd both be dead. Nevertheless, I could not shake the irrational feeling he had deserted me. Nor the conviction Ragsey had deserted us both.

  "Is that why you were so glad to see me? So you wouldn't have to live with your guilt?"

  "Why do you have to twist everything I say? Why are you so angry?"

  I jerked on the reins, halting my horse. “You abandoned me,” I spat. “You were relieved, yes, by my return. But I saw no tears spilling into your beer. Don't pretend to care what the Royalists may or may not have done to me."

  He stared at his hands where they clenched the reins. “I did not abandon you. Not intentionally. I wanted to go back for you. Ragsey argued. He said it was too dangerous.” He raised his gaze to mine. “I would not have left Edenwood without you."

  As much as those words startled me and set my silly heart aflutter, they did not assuage my anger. “It doesn't matter. We never should have embarked on this mission. It was doomed from the very start. You risked our lives needlessly. For what? A chance at the Gryphon Highlord? A chance to be a hero? You can't continue to think everyone is as stupid as you. Did you ever once stop to consider the possibility that the whole thing was a trick to draw you out into the open?"

  Ginger was speechless. He pinioned me with a look that said he wanted to strangle me. Unafraid, I continued, “No. I can see not. I don't know why I waste my breath talking to you."

  I prodded my mare but Ginger snagged my arm. He dragged me from the saddle and leapt from his own. “How dare you admonish me? If I wanted your opinion I'd ask for it. Just who do you think you are anyway?"

  I wanted to shout, ‘I am the Gryphon Highlord! I am the Princess Kathedra, heir to the throne!’ But I restrained myself. Barely. The arrogance of the dog! I was outraged he'd dare manhandle me in such a fashion when he should be on his knees in my presence. It took all my self-control to keep from mindspelling him into the nearest ditch.

  Setting my teeth, I ground out, “I am someone who is trying to help, if you would only swallow your pride and let me. If you wish to aid your comrades and their cause you must put aside your own ambitions until a more auspicious time. You must learn patience. It was pure folly to undertake this mission thinking yourself so much cleverer than the Royalists, thinking yourself so invincible. What have you accomplished? Furthermore, what will the Gryphon Highlord accomplish thanks to your blunder?"

  His gaze grew stormy, his fingers tightening around my arm. “I will concede I gambled wrongly. But had my plan succeeded, it would have meant a major victory for us. I took a chance, and I admit I made a mistake. But I don't need you to point it out for me. You must learn to mind your place."

  My thoughts whirled, colliding with each other inside my head, screaming to be vented. I forced them still with the consolation the mage would one day kneel before me and beg my forgiveness.

  A nice fantasy. Ginger would sooner have me torture him a hundred different ways than bow down and call me queen.

  Glaring at his fist where it gripped my arm, I demanded, “Unhand me.” Later, when I'd been crowned queen, I'd have it cut from his wrist.

  "Apologize first."

  "I will not.” I yanked myself free. “It is you who owes me the apology."

  "I owe you nothing."

  "You owe me your life,” I reminded him.

  "I repaid that debt by saving yours!"

  "Whose fault is it that it needed saving?"

  Ragsey appeared then, interrupting our shouting match as he rode back toward us at full gallop. He hauled his mount up short before us, a wild look in his eye. “I hate to break this up, but there's a Royalist patrol heading our way. About six of them, I think. They must have followed our tracks."

  "Shouda?” I asked, scanning the area for suitable cover, but the closest was a clump of trees a mile away.

  "No, thank heaven.” Ragsey looked scared, more so than during the Shouda attack, though his hand on the reins was steady and firm.

  "We're going to have to fight,” Ginger muttered.

  "With what? I don't have a sword."

  He hesitated, still struggling with the part of himself that didn't trust Ruvie the librarian. He exchanged a glance with Ragsey, who came to my defence. “She can fight, Ginger. I've seen her take Repachea down."

  The ground began to tremble with the drum of Royalist hooves. I held the mage's tepid gaze. “Or do you think they'll spare me because I'm a girl?"

  That brought him around. He gave me his spare blade then tossed me the reins to his horse. Ragsey and I watched, a little anxiously, as the mage plucked a bottle from his magicks pouch and proceeded to pour liquid the colour of onyx onto the ground before us. When he was done, an iridescent line about a dozen yards long separated us from the charging Royalists.

  Next he snatched the reins from my hand to lead his horse towards the streak of glistening fluid. Five feet away the stallion balked violently, almost dragging the mage off his feet. The beast wheeled and ran back to its fellows, clipping grass at a prudent distance. Ginger gave us our instructions. “Stay back, behind the line. The potion is a bane to horses and other dray animals. Smells like blood and fire to them. They'll come up against it as if they hit a wall and refuse to cross it."

  "Won't they go around?” I asked.

  "They won't know its there until it's too late, and by then we've already done some damage. Ragsey, get ready with your stars."

  The Royalists were almost upon us. Their uniforms blazed the colours of the Tenth. Oh, was I looking forward to this, a chance to strike back at Uncle. I tested the weight and balance of the sword, which was a tad heavy but I could compensate. I itched to take on a Royalist blade, eager to test my mettle after so long a lapse. I pulled my hat lower and donned my hood, betting the Royalists would not recogn
ize me with my shorn hair.

  We braced ourselves, stood our ground. Excitement churned my blood, alongside a nervous anticipation. I practised the mental exercises Sestus taught me, for if I allowed the tiniest mindspell, Ginger would know it. His feelings for Royalists left me no delusions. My free hand crept to the pouch at my belt, extracted the crystal on its chain to rub it between thumb and forefinger in hopes of encouraging serene and pleasant thoughts. Baby deer gambolling in a field of daisies. Puffy white clouds in the shapes of hearts and kittens. Thumping the mage's thick head against a brick wall, if we survived that is.

  The horses came up against Ginger's barrier of fear at full speed. Less than a nose from the line, just as I was about to dive for cover, they stopped. Rearing, lunging, screaming, they tried to twist away and instead collided with their neighbour. Two of them dumped their riders immediately, and Ragsey took out another horseman with a clean throw to the man's throat.

  Despite his wounded arm, Ginger waded in among the chaos of flailing hooves and tumbling men to cut a Royalist from his saddle as he fought for control of his terrified horse. Ragsey went after one of the soldiers on the ground and I took the second, booting him in the chin as he tried to gain his feet. Knocked onto his back, he managed to raise his blade against me. My blow struck him hard, breaking his grip and sending his sword aloft. After a quick glance to check that both Ragsey and Ginger were distracted, I ran my blade through the soldier's arm, producing the desired scream, then cracked him senseless with my hilt. I didn't have it in my heart yet to kill a Royalist who, in reality, had been one of my own.

  I looked around the field of battle. Ragsey had winged another rider with a star, though had succeeded only in pissing the man off. The Royalist jumped from his horse and took after him with his sword. Ginger had his hands full with a soldier wielding an axe nearly the mage's height. Not exactly a standard-issued weapon, but I guess regulations had gone to hell in my absence.

  The sixth Royalist had managed to get his horse under control. He backed it up, away from the turmoil, and fumbled to load a crossbow. I ran at him, my blade reaching for his torso, but he lifted a foot from his stirrup and planted it in my shoulder. My sword flew; I hit the ground with such force constellations exploded in my head, and looked up to see the rider's bolt trained roughly on my chest area. I was aware then that my hood had fallen back, exposing my hair and face, and the man's eyes that a moment ago had been narrowed with concentration went wide with shock and recognition.

  His mouth opened, a name shaping his lips, a shout, I'm sure, gathering in his throat, when Ragsey stepped between us, knocking aside the crossbow. The bolt discharged, but skewed harmlessly into the sod three paces away. I scrambled to my feet, hunting for my lost sword, but a gurgling scream told me Ragsey had already dispatched the fellow. And just in the nick of time, too. Another second and my true identity might have been revealed.

  "Thanks, I owe you,” I said to Ragsey, who merely grinned and went off to help Ginger with the axeman. He fell upon the Royalist from behind, blade slicing deep into his back even as the mage's sword sliced his head from his shoulders.

  Afraid that more Royalists might be on their way, we did not tarry to loot the dead or injured. Neither Ginger nor Ragsey looked that close at the soldier I'd knocked cold. As we collected our horses, Ragsey remarked to the mage, half in jest, “A teleportal would come in handy right about now."

  I couldn't agree more.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Sestus greeted us upon our return to Idyll, his cheerful smile soon vanishing once he saw our grim faces. Ginger and I had exchanged less than ten words over the course of our journey home, which suited me just fine. The encounter with the Royalists had only added fodder to my disgust with the mage. I dismounted and strode straight past Sestus, not bothering to conceal my displeasure.

  "Ruvie? What's wrong?” he called after me.

  Never breaking stride I flung over my shoulder, “I'll talk to you later.” Let Ginger speak his piece first. Then I'd have my say.

  Eager to see Belvemar I went to the infirmary. He'd been in my thoughts constantly during the ride home. Did I say home? Yes, Idyll is my home now.

  Biddy met me in the doorway. “How did it go?” she asked in her gruffest tone.

  "It was a disaster."

  "Hmmph,” she snorted. “I could have told you that and saved you the trip."

  "How's the captain?"

  She shook her head, a cloud darkening her features. “The same, though depressed. He talks about dying when he talks at all. He's giving up."

  "Not if I can help it."

  Brushing past her into the infirmary, I knelt beside Belvemar's cot. The old Crusader stirred when I called his name and his eyes fluttered open. I smiled. “I'm back."

  "Oh, Ruvie,” he moaned. “I'm so glad to see you. Are you all right? Where's Ginger? Was your mission a success?"

  I clutched his frail hand in mine. “It did not go as Ginger hoped,” I replied with a certain amount of satisfaction. “We are no further ahead than when we left. Ginger will give you the details. I just want to know how you're doing."

  "Better now that you're here, safe and sound,” he sighed. “I missed you all these long days with nothing to do but worry. I feel so useless lying here. I'm a burden to everyone."

  "Hush. You're going to get well again and help us kick some Royalist butt. Until then I want you to stop talking rubbish.” I gave him a dastardly grin and a big hug. He brightened considerably.

  "So tell me,” I said, pulling off my riding gloves. “Has Sestus heard from Naren?"

  "A dispatch from Shanasea arrived this morning. Naren says everything is quiet up there. Too quiet. But he's ready for a Royalist siege. He can hold out indefinitely."

  I nodded, thoughtful. “Repachea?"

  "There hasn't been word from him in a while. He's not much on writing reports. Why do you ask?"

  "No reason.” In truth, a growing misdoubt had set up residence in the pit of my stomach.

  Belvemar smiled, his eyes gently teasing. “You are concerned for the handsome young captain, yes? Well, don't worry about Repachea. He's as safe as a fledgling in the nest. He also commands the finest gang of mercs in Thylana."

  I was concerned, but not solely for the handsome young outlaw leader. Valleri was going to strike somewhere and I didn't think it would be Shanasea.

  Belvemar suddenly let out a groan. His smile faded, his eyes quivered shut. Biddy appeared and pressed a vial to his lips, making him drink. She pulled me away to whisper, “It's for the pain. So he can rest."

  "How's his wound? Is it healing?"

  "Yes, but slowly. It takes all his strength. He's very weak and tires easily."

  "I understand. I'll visit again tomorrow."

  I returned to my quarters, where I unpacked my things, including the dagger, which I tucked away in a secret place for future access. Then I bathed and changed into fresh clothes. By the time I finished supper it was full dark. Exhausted, I sat before the hearth and sought insight in its dancing flames while I awaited the inevitable knock at the door.

  Finally it came. I steeled myself for the confrontation with Sestus.

  He pushed his way inside. “I know what you're thinking, and I understand your anger, but you're wrong. I had no idea Ginger would pull something like that. I had no part in it. I told him it was a stu—"

  "Stop it,” I interrupted, my tone cool and authoritative. “You haven't the slightest idea what I'm thinking. Otherwise, you'd be speechless with horror. Sit down."

  He tossed me a questioning glare, but sat.

  "I don't care whether or not you knew about Ginger's sabotage plan. It doesn't matter. The fact is we shouldn't have gone to Edenwood. Do you really think Valleri is so inept a leader? Do you really think he would leave himself vulnerable to leaks and spies in the first place?"

  Sestus stared at me, struck dumb by my tirade. My alter ego, the Gryphon Highlord, had resurfaced and she had rebuked him a
s she would any other Royalist officer who'd made a serious tactical blunder. Perhaps I overstepped myself, but I refused to back down. His recklessness had nearly cost me my life.

  Recovering his tongue, Sestus said contritely, “Look, Little Red. I admit we made an error in judgment. We underestimated Valleri and Fleurry both. But it was an opportunity too good to waste. We had to try and seize it."

  "An opportunity too good to be true is what it was,” I snapped. “Ginger's arrogance and your haste led us into a trap. We haven't done Gregaris any good either."

  "Trap?"

  "What else? Someone planted the rumour that the Gryphon Highlord was going to be in Pixley. The presence of magebane suggests they were expecting us."

  Sestus shook his head. “Wait a minute ... you think Fleurry deliberately lured Ginger to Edenwood?"

  "No. I think Valleri did. Fleurry didn't seem to know that Val wasn't coming until Urharde told him. Obviously the Royalists realize the Umagi pose the greatest threat. So the question remains ... was Ginger their chosen target, or would the assassination of any mage do?"

  Sestus waved the question aside, his face darkening as he began to understand the broader implication. “If the leak was engineered, that means the information claiming Valleri is headed for Shanasea is also false."

  "Exactly. Naren reports no sign of him."

  "He could be anywhere, ready to launch a sneak attack.” Sestus bolted to his feet. “I've got to get out a warning."

  I placed a gentle hand on his arm. “It's too late, Sestus. He's probably already done his damage. You just haven't received word yet."

  Word came two days later in the form of an exhausted and bedraggled messenger. He'd ridden hard for a week straight, collecting a fresh horse in every Crusader outpost along the way as he spread his grim news. He'd nearly killed his last mount in his urgency to reach Idyll.

  Valleri had scored himself a major, if bloody, victory. He'd destroyed the teleportal assigned to Repachea's protection and decimated the outpost called Killary. The Gryphon Highlord's elite troops had swept into camp in the dead of night and birthed a massacre. The wizard-calibre Umagi stationed there was the first to die, leaving Repachea bereft of magical influence with which to defend the outpost. He himself had barely escaped slaughter, rallying his troops into a fighting retreat.