The Gryphon Highlord

by Connie Ward

  "Why are you covering for Averi? Why didn't you tell Valleri the truth?” That didn't make sense to me.

  "Because Averi's paying me not to tell him.” He grinned, flipped the dagger end over end in his palm. “Everything was running smoothly too, until Ginger decided to take you to Edenwood with us."

  "That was a ruse designed to lure Ginger to his death, wasn't it? He was never supposed to reach Edenwood."

  "My mission was to spy on the Crusaders and assassinate their leaders at the appropriate time. The Shouda were just a horrible coincidence. Truly,” he added sheepishly, “I am petrified of dogs. Valleri told me to remove Ginger after Urharde had departed the warehouse. But even after I'd planted the magebane, Ginger managed to escape."

  "You fool,” I gasped. “Had I been captured, Fleurry would have been alerted to Val's deceit."

  "And that would matter to me how? Fleurry would have marched you back to Gryphon, thus revealing Valleri's grand deception and signing his execution. Fleurry would have rewarded me generously for bringing him Ginger and the Princess Kathedra. So generously in fact, I might even now be basking in the sun on a faraway tropical isle. It was a win-win situation."

  Maybe for him. My head spun with all I had just learned. I needed to stall, needed time to think of a way to escape. But Ragsey just kept on talking.

  "You should be thanking me, Highness. If you had only waited another five minutes before you went poking around Castarr's quarters, I'd have been out of there and you'd be dead or captured. I was going to dispose of the evidence safely, but you gave me the idea to implicate Castarr instead."

  Yes, not one of my more brilliants schemes. I lifted my chin, defiant. “I won't cooperate with you or Valleri. I will fight you all the way back to him."

  "Too late. He's already here."

  A strange mixture of fear and anticipation gripped me at that revelation, laced with overtones of suspicion. “How can that be?"

  "Valleri could have put an end to the Crusaders long ago. He needed only to attack Idyll with every man at his disposal, then every last Crusader of note would have fallen beneath his steel. But he hesitated, fearing for your safety. Only when I informed him that you had forsaken him in favour of your outlaw friends did he decide to act. He could not allow it to be revealed you were alive, else Bertrand would have thrown him in the dungeon alongside Arial. As of dawn, Valleri was free to march on Idyll with a fury belittling that unleashed upon Killary."

  His lips parted in a wicked grin. “The massacre has already begun."

  I shook my head, dazed with horror. “No ... no."

  Ragsey grabbed my arm and shoved me toward the mouth of the cave. Poised high on a bluff, our vantage provided a clear view of the situation below. “Look. Look at it!” he commanded. “Do you see the fires? Do you hear the screams?"

  Indeed I heard and saw everything. Idyll had been besieged and near destroyed. Smoke billowed up in towering black columns from a dozen fires spread throughout the barracks area. Strewn among the human carnage, debris and fallen weapons littered the road leading to the teleportal, which had been cut off by members of the Fifth. A brave group of Crusaders still battled a group of Royalists sporting Urharde's colours on the eastern outskirts of the sundered outpost.

  "Val came through the teleportal an hour ago, using the key I took off Repachea after I stabbed him."

  My scathing retort was interrupted by a familiar battle cry as a screaming rampager led a cavalry assault down upon the beleaguered Crusaders, the standard-bearer flying my banner. Nay. Valleri's banner now.

  The Crusaders scattered before the charge. Withdrawing, they regrouped and opted for a fighting retreat into the trees on my distant right. Urharde's Seventh harried them mercilessly. Numbly, I watched as Valleri whirled his war-horse and raised his fist in victory. Shouts of triumph rose up from the Royalists as the last of the Crusaders scurried into the trees. Recall sounded. Valleri kicked his mount into a gallop and led his Royal to a northern rise where he met Urharde, there to savour their bloody success within taunting distance of the survivors hidden in the forest.

  Frantic, I scanned the battlefield for Crusader bodies. But the distance was too great and I was unable to identify any single corpse. Who had fallen? Sestus? Ginger? I was sick with grief and all-consuming guilt.

  Ragsey hauled me back into the cave. “You see, Kathedra? It's over. The Crusaders are all but crushed. Valleri is victorious. All that stands in his way now is Bertrand."

  The mention of Uncle jarred me back to the situation at hand. “Where is he?” I demanded. “Has Valleri harmed him?"

  "Bertrand remains unharmed, for the moment. But he's under no delusions. The rumours that the Regent had ordered your murder have done their damage. Once Valleri returns with news of his crushing victory and his heroic rescue of the Princess Kathedra, Bertrand will be forced to abdicate. Oh, but you know what? Princess or no princess, Valleri will be in control of the throne. So you'd best hope he still cares enough for you to pay me my demands."

  I had no intention of being dragged back to Valleri to become his puppet or prisoner or both. Actually I had no intention of being dragged anywhere. Although the idea of bargaining with this contemptible man made my stomach roil, my options were sorely limited. “I can offer you so much more than Valleri can, Ragsey. After all, I am the rightful heir. He is but a brash usurper, a common cutthroat. Help me and I will reward you with riches beyond anything he has promised you."

  He stared at me a long moment, contemplating my words. “You can't tempt me,” he replied. But his very hesitation implied that I could.

  Of course I did not intend to fulfill my oaths. His only reward would be my blade in his heart. “Think about it. You can't go back to the Crusaders and once Valleri learns of your duplicity you'll be a hunted man. There's nothing left for you in Thylana. From where I see it, I'm your only ally."

  His hand tangled in my hair, long enough now to become a disadvantage, yanking back my head to expose my neck as the blade came to rest against my skin. His breath fanned my cheek; his lips brushed my ear. “Tell me of these rewards, highness."

  "Gold, if that's what you want. Or a captaincy, perhaps. A Royal of your own."

  Turning the blade, he drew its flat along my cheek, relishing my startled gasp. Though his actions belied his intent, Ragsey was receptive to my proposal, and more. He trembled with anticipation, with the effort of restraint. “Is that all?"

  "Possibly, but I don't negotiate trussed up like a chicken.” He'd made the mistake of betraying his wants, his eagerness, and I could afford this bravado.

  His fingers extricated themselves from my hair, glided down the length of my arm to my hand, where they fondled the ring Ginger had placed there. “You're truly helpless, aren't you?"

  Well, not completely. He referred to me by name or royal title, concerned only with my Teki powers. He did not remember I was also a soldier, one who had helped Ginger and him beat back a Royalist attack on the road from Edenwood and had touched swords with him on the practice field.

  Harsh laughter drifted over me. “I'm not stupid. I'm not Averi.” He brought the blade into my line of vision. “If you think to toy with me, highness, I'll make you rue it. Cross me and I won't hesitate to kill you. Valleri will just have to content himself with a body."

  The knife lowered, touched the rope binding my wrists, and began to cut through. My relief was palpable. Sensing it, he withdrew the blade. “Wait. I have a better idea. Let's seal our pact first."

  "What?” I barely got the word out, my throat locking tight with dread.

  He turned me to face him. His eyes burned a dark fire. I nearly wept when he sheathed the dagger. “Show me you mean what you say, then I'll untie you. Once you surrender all you have, only then will I trust you."

  The bastard was playing with me.

  But my ploy had worked. Sort of. I was no longer under threat of his knife, and therefore able to resist.

  I let him guide me to the wal
l at my back, just beneath the torch, allowed the press of his body to mine, luring him closer with a pretence of submission. As he bent nearer, I ducked under his chin and rammed his jaw with the top of my brow. The blow snapped his head back, striking the rock face so hard he put a tooth through his lip. Off-balanced, he staggered away, sliding down the length of the wall.

  Lifting my bound hands, I grabbed the torch from its cranny and swung to meet him. He'd regained his footing to stand between my only exit and me. “Don't come any closer,” I warned with a thrust of the brand.

  Ragsey swiped a hand across his bloodied mouth, then drew his sword. “You little bitch,” he hissed. “I'll make you scream for that."

  He came at me with an awkward swipe. I dodged it, danced out of his reach. Again he charged, dropping his shoulder and leaving his opposite flank wide open as usual. I swung, aiming for his ribs, but struck his arm instead, setting his sleeve afire. Shrieking, he flung aside the blade and fell to the floor, desperate to extinguish the flames.

  At last a chance to escape. I threw down the torch and ran past him out of the cave. The sharp zing of metal scraping stone told me a throwing star had grazed the cave wall.

  Outside, blinded by the sunshine, I stumbled towards Ragsey's roan and pulled free its tether. But as I tried to mount, Ragsey staggered from the cave, bellowing in rage. His noise spooked the horse and it bolted, stranding me.

  Having no other choice, I plunged down the rocky embankment, skipping and skidding over the loose dirt. I heard Ragsey sliding after me, close on my heels. But without the use of hands to balance me, I slipped and fell, rolling down the last dozen yards to the path below. My pursuer, too, lost his footing, his tumble depositing him in a tanglebush. Flame shot through my shoulders, reverberated along my spine, but I shoved myself to my feet and headed for the trees.

  I ran, or hobbled, cursing Ginger for stealing my powers, for so blithely rendering me vulnerable to his enemies. A glance over my shoulder found Ragsey right behind me. Another star whizzed past my temple to bury itself in the trunk of an elm. I screamed, uncaring who heard, friend or foe, although it was possible I had no friends left alive.

  Ragsey caught up in no time, tackling me with bruising force. We hit the rough turf together, the impact driving the breath from my chest. He was on me in an instant, his fist hurtling forward. Pain exploded in my jaw. Dazed, I felt his fingers curl around my throat, squeezing like a vice. I couldn't move, couldn't fight, my body trapped beneath his.

  "Bitch!” Ragsey raged as throttled me. “I'll kill you first!"

  I fought for air, fought to free my arms, struggling to push him away. The world grew dark, silent. Oblivion beckoned.

  Then a voice from somewhere behind me said, “What the hell is going on here?"

  A crazed look in his eye, Ragsey glanced up at the speaker. “Leave it be, Naren,” he panted. “This doesn't concern you."

  "Let her up."

  Ragsey feigned disbelief, even as his fingers tightened once more around my neck. “But she's a traitor. She's betrayed us to the enemy just as Castarr warned us."

  "Get off her, now.” Despite the roaring in my head, I heard the unmistakable click of a crossbow cocking.

  Ragsey's eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?"

  "Disobey me and find out."

  A sneer twisted Ragsey's face. “You won't shoot me, Naren. You can't. We're on the same side.” He drew his dagger. “Surely, you don't suggest we set her free?"

  "Put the knife away, Ragsey. Let's not act in haste. We ought to discuss it first. Reasonably."

  Of course Ragsey could not hazard the chance Naren would take my word over his. “No!” he roared, raising his knife. “There's nothing to discuss.” The blade glinted in the sun as it flashed down. A whimper of fear escaped my lips, the only sound I could muster.

  But the blow didn't strike. Instead something slammed into Ragsey with such weight it knocked him clear off me. Sputtering, choking, I gulped in the raw air, my lungs burning, my head buzzing. Someone was yelling; a commotion arose. Closer, the vague form of a man hunched over me, the plethora of spots that swam before my eyes obscuring my vision. I think I may have even blacked out for a moment or two. I heard my name, shouted it seemed from a great distance, followed by a staggering silence as the darkness crawled over me.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Ungentle hands hauled me to my feet, forcing me to stand on weak, wobbly legs. Naren retained his grip on my arm, partly to steady me, partly to restrain me. I was his prisoner now. And he was not alone. A beleaguered group of Crusaders, fresh from battle, sat their weary mounts nearby, all just as grim-faced as their leader.

  Breathless, dazed, I gasped out, “Ragsey? Is he—?"

  "Gone. We lost him in the scrub."

  "Naren ... thank you. If not for you he would have killed me. He killed Repachea. He stole the key ... gave it to Valleri."

  "Quiet,” he hissed, his fingers grinding into my flesh. “I don't want to hear it."

  I gaped, distressed by the frosty glint in his eyes. “You don't believe me?"

  Naren made no reply, his mouth set in a taut line as he unbound my hands.

  "If you doubt my innocence, why did you rescue me?” I demanded, ignoring his previous order. “Why did you fire on your own comrade if you harbour doubt?"

  "Liar or not, you are still Thylana's princess. It's not for me or Ragsey alone to decide your fate.” Before I could protest, he swung me onto his horse and mounted behind.

  "Where are you taking me?"

  "Idyll.” His arm snaked around my midriff, holding me firm while his other hand clenched the reins. “Or rather, what's left of it."

  I cringed at the reminder. “Your arrival was timely."

  "The two of you made such a racket it's a wonder you didn't attract the Royalists’ attention ... or perhaps that was your hope."

  "Naren, surely you must be aware I would suffer as grievously as you or any other Crusader should I fall into my enemies’ hands."

  "Even Valleri's?"

  "While I don't think Valleri seeks my death,” I answered after careful consideration, “I'm quite certain he wants me in no proximity to the throne."

  Naren seemed to accept that.

  "What about Ginger?” I asked in sudden panic. “And Sestus? Are they safe?"

  "I don't know anything,” he snapped. Doubtless, he was just as worried for his friends as I was. “Valleri's attack caught us by surprise. Apparently, Erol's been in his back pocket all along. We didn't even get a warning. Once we recovered our wits and restored some order Belvemar, Ginger, and I rode out to meet the Royalists on open ground. Sestus and Castarr remained behind to defend Idyll. The last time I saw Belvemar and Ginger was just before the final skirmish with the Seventh. I have no idea where they are or if they're even alive. I can only hope they made it to the forest. The Royalists have cut off all access to it from this side, making it impossible for us to regroup. But I have no intention of deserting those survivors trapped in the ruins of the keep."

  Not that he and a handful of exhausted men could do anything to save them, but brave, noble-hearted Naren was going to try.

  Since Idyll had been reduced to little more than a heap of smoking rubble, abandoned by the defenders, the Royalists did not see fit to occupy it just yet. In fact, they ignored it altogether. Valleri and Urharde seemed more concerned with the Crusaders parked in the forest, content to exchange periodic arrow fire. Therefore, we rode unchallenged over the shattered gates and into the main compound, strewn with debris and corpses.

  Pockets of flame burned sporadically among the smouldering embers that were once homes to the Crusaders and their families. I recognized a pile of charred timber and crumbled stonework as my quarters. For the most part Idyll was levelled. Again. Valleri was not going to trouble himself by searching the wreckage for survivors.

  We dismounted under the cover of half-demolished buildings. Naren left his men to stand lookout. Then he led me by my
arm, bruised and aching, through the ruins that were the oldest part of Idyll to a small square door in the ground, and knocked a secret knock. The trapdoor cracked open and an armed guard peered out. Upon recognizing the captain, the sentry waved us down. We descended steep, roughly hewn steps in near total darkness for what seemed a mile, then stepped into the dungeon, where I had spent hours sweeping and filing for the cause of liberty.

  Although Idyll's battered survivors greeted Naren warmly, they viewed me with clear hostility. As a second guard guided us through the crowded chamber, I scanned it for faces dear to me ... and found none.

  We finally arrived at a room in the far rear. There Castarr paced fretfully. Not a hair was out of place. Not a speck of dirt smirched his face. And I did not see a single scratch anywhere on the gutless bastard. He turned at Naren's entrance, surprised and relieved by his friend's advent. Good old Naren would know what to do!

  "Naren!” he exclaimed. “Thank heaven you're all right.” They embraced with hearty laughter and slapped each other's back, glad I suppose, not to be dead. Then Castarr saw me.

  "Her!” he exploded, shoving Naren away. “I can't believe you brought her here, the miserable traitor. She did this to us. She betrayed us to her Royalist lover just like I told you she would."

  As Castarr took a menacing step towards me, Naren got between us and recaptured my arm. “Easy, Castarr. We don't know that for sure."

  The tension of the moment was diffused as someone arrived with food and water. I drank my fill of the pitcher, then passed it to Naren, never taking my eyes off Castarr. Scowling at my dishevelled appearance, he sneered at the captain, “How did you manage to reacquire her?” He spoke as if I were an escaped criminal.

  Naren drained the jug and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. “We were making our way back here when we happened across her in the ravine, locked in mortal combat with Ragsey. He's gone, I think. Or maybe he's—"

  Castarr's eyes widened. “She killed him? The murderous whore, I'll—"