Born of Stone (14 page)

She considered the alley and looked back over her shoulder to the other end. “This way first,” she said, pulling him along behind her.

They had traveled nearly an hour and Phaidra’s frustration was palpable. Nel wished he could reassure her somehow but knew she was frightened for them both. He felt confident he could keep her out of danger so long as they didn’t run into Albain or Iva.

They had just reached the end of yet another alley when the familiar sounds of battle reached his ears.

“Wait. Hear that?” he asked her.

She stopped and cocked her head to listen but then shook it slowly. “I hear nothing.”

He knew his senses were more acute than most species’s, but the Kevan warriors were usually very perceptive. A glance at Phaidra would tell anyone she was no warrior. He wondered at the mystery of her.

“I hear a battle,” he said. “I want to see who would be fighting on the city streets but I need you to promise you’ll run without hesitation if I tell you to.”

Fear crossed her face but she nodded vigorously. “I will.”

“Good. If we get separated, go find the exit. If it exists, leave this city and head for Angor. Tel them Master Nel has sent you and you’re under my protection.”

“And if I don’t find it?”

“Run back to Iva and tell her I kidnapped you. If you can hit your arm or acquire a bruise or scratches that might help.”

Her eyes widened. “They’d never believe you would hurt me. I certainly wouldn’t.”

That made him smile and he had to touch her again. He cupped one cheek and marveled at the softness. “I’m glad to know that, pretty one. I would never intentionally hurt you. However, they do not know what a captured Master might do. We’ll have to pray for their ignorance.”

She nodded again and her cheek warmed his palm. Her innocence was like a fine wine, heady and addictive. He finally gave in to the urge to kiss her again, though he knew this wasn’t the time or place for such things. When he pulled away, it took a moment for her eyes to reopen.

“You’re going back to Halstrid with me,” he said. As of this moment, there was simply no other option he would willingly tolerate. She nodded again and his mind eased. “Good. Let’s go.”

They made another turn and the sounds of battle grew louder. He was amazed there weren’t women warriors in the streets. Keva was known for their warriors. Why were they remaining in their houses?

After the final turn, he quickly discerned why. There were no houses nearby. Three of his brothers were deep in battle with all manner of creatures. The street was littered with bloody bodies and the Masters were finishing off the last few. Phaidra gasped and quickly jumped behind him. He felt her trembling at his back.

“What are those?”

“The minotaur? Or the cyclops? The big ones are trolls.”

Her small fists gripped his arms but she remained hidden behind his back. He decided to leave her there while he watched his brothers finish the job before them. They were on a cobblestone street lined with small concrete buildings. The buildings each had torches set along the walls facing the street, lighting the space as if it were day.

Orestes swung his sword and beheaded the final troll while Steinn and Goran killed the cyclops together. The three looked to each other a moment before surveying the damage.

“Well, you three certainly made a mess,” Nel called out.

Orestes spun and the others tensed. All three raised their swords before realizing who they faced. Then they closed the distance and yanked him off his feet.

“Brother! Where have you been?”

“Are you well? What the hell, man?”

“Are you wearing a sheet?”

Nel couldn’t help but laugh in sheer relief with the familiarity of his kin surrounding him. They all continued questioning him until he held up his hands.

“Are those cuffs? You were chained!” Orestes’s roar echoed through the street and a dog barked in answer.

“Yes. I was chained to Iva’s bed and kept prisoner these past days.”

“No wonder we couldn’t find you,” Steinn said.

Goran stepped to the side and looked past him with an amused expression. “And is that your captive or your guide?”

Nel turned to see Phaidra cowering against a building, looking as if she would gladly blend into the wall behind her.

“Captive? Most certainly not.” He went to her and gently took her hand between both of his. Then he pulled her over to his brothers.

“Brothers, this is Phaidra of the House of Iva. My savior.”

Chapter Ten

It took a few minutes for everyone to share stories, but soon they were on their way back to the north gate. There was no sign of Albain and Orestes had already decided to name him a traitor to the realm.

“Phaidra spied Albain in the House of Iva,” Nel said. “I’d like to know how he plays into this whole mess.”

Orestes spared his brother a glance, noting Nel still held the little Kevan’s hand. He smirked and shook his head at the sight. Seemed he wasn’t the only one to have fallen under a woman’s spell. What was it about these particular females anyway?

“Whatever his part, he will have a lot of explaining to do to the rest of the Twenty and to the King.”

“Indeed.”

They continued in silence until they were a few paces from the gate. Now that they were together, there was no need for subterfuge. Iva wouldn’t dare challenge four Masters from leaving, even with one of her Fifths in tow. They reached the gate and all eyes were on them, but not a single Kevan lifted a sword to stop their exit.

“The gate is closed,” Phaidra said quietly.

Orestes heard the fear in her voice but left reassurances up to Nel. He kept his full concentration on the gate before them and the many women guarding it.

“Master of the Gate,” he called out. “I would speak with you before we take our leave.”

Most of the women remained still and at full attention. Half faced the Masters—the other half faced the barrier and everything beyond. Less than a minute later, a lone figure descended the stairs leading from the top of the wall. Orestes recognized the strawberry-blonde, a woman he had bedded many years ago. She was still beautiful and still deadly. But he knew her to be a levelheaded and fair-minded woman. They were in luck.

“Master Orestes,” she said as she neared. “I’m sorry to see you are leaving our fair realm so soon.”

He offered a slight bow of his head. “Lady Anabella, I wish we were here for leisure only. Unfortunately, I must warn you of a contingent of minotaur and trolls farther into the city. We fought them along with a cyclops or two.”

She laughed and shook her head with disbelief clear on her face. “That is quite impossible. I’ve been guarding this gate for the past three days. I can attest no such creatures passed this way and this is the only gate into Keva.”

“But there are other ways in,” Steinn added. “You know this as well as I.”

She glanced at him and then quickly away, neither admitting nor denying his claim.

“Be that as it may, my lady, we did fight those creatures. The wizard Albain led us right to them and then disappeared. He should be questioned.”

Nel stepped forward then but Orestes noticed he kept Phaidra hidden behind him. Of course, Anabella would surely have already seen her.

“You must also question your Lady Iva,” Nel said. He held up his wrists to reveal the metal cuffs. “She kept me prisoner in her house for the past four days.”

True shock crossed Anabella’s face before she looked over her shoulder and called to one of her guards. Another woman ran from the gate with a large ring of keys dangling from her hip.

“Release him at once and keep those cuffs. We will be able to discern who made them and how,” Anabella said.

The woman yanked the keys from her hip and seemed to pull one at random but it worked on both the wrist and ankle cuffs.

“Please forgive this transgression, Masters,” Anabella said with a low bow. “I assure you, Iva did not act with the will of the Council, and the full Council will be alerted immediately.”

Nel gave a small bow before gently pulling Phaidra from behind his back. She followed his lead but was visibly trembling. Orestes tensed as the young woman stepped in front of Nel to face Anabella. She kept her head lowered and looked ready to run away at the slightest provocation.

“This one from the House of Iva will accompany us to Halstrid. Of her own free will,” Nel said.

He placed his palms on Phaidra’s shoulders and nudged her slightly forward before withdrawing his touch. She lifted her head slowly to look Anabella in the eye for just a fleeting moment before nodding.

“That is truly your wish?” Anabella asked.

“Yes, madam.” Phaidra nodded again.

Anabella looked Nel in the eyes. “Very well. But she is no prisoner of Halstrid. We did not condone your capture so she will not be punished for it.”

Nel frowned and set his hands on Phaidra’s shoulders again. “She is no prisoner,” he agreed. “And will be treated with the utmost care and respect.”

Anabella signaled to the women behind her. “Very well then. Go your way in peace, Masters, and be assured you will have a report by sunrise two days hence.”

Orestes nodded and his brothers followed suit. The gate slowly creaked open and they all headed for it without further delay. The moment they were through, Nel took on his gargoyle form, shocking Phaidra into taking a flailing step away from him.

“You have no need to fear me, pretty one. I told you that.”

The frustration in his brother’s voice was enough to make Orestes smile. He had a feeling Phaidra and Astrid would get along well.

“Come,” he said. “We must make haste to the King. He should be told of all that has befallen this night.”

Without another word, the four leapt into the sky, Nel with Phaidra securely in his arms. They headed north to the castle of King Kadmos, ruler of Halstrid. Orestes’s mind once again strayed to Astrid and he wondered what she was doing at that moment. He sorely wished he could see her face and let her know she was in his thoughts.

Astrid woke with a start and glanced around the darkened library. The candles had all burned low and there was no light from the nearby window. She had fallen asleep while reading the pretty picture book Master Wynn had handed her. She immediately looked down to her lap and breathed a sigh of relief to find the book closed and unharmed.

She sat up and placed the book on the seat beside her. A delectable scent had her looking to a nearby table where a silver tray laden with dishes sat waiting. Master Wynn must have brought her dinner after all. She smiled at the thought and hurried to the tray with her stomach grumbling. The dishes were filled with meats and fruits, pastries and steaming vegetables. There was so much food she almost didn’t know where to start. A small empty plate was also present so she took it and began with a little bit of everything.

She had just finished the last bite from her plate and was licking her fingers when the library door slowly opened. Thinking it would be Master Wynn, she had a smile ready to greet him and thanks on her tongue. The words died in her mouth as soon as her visitor stepped inside.

“Hello again, lovely duster, how are you this evening?”

She wanted to jump up and run from the room when Albain closed the distance, but feared offending such a powerful man. Though Wynn’s words of warning echoed in her head, she remained in her seat.

“Fine, thank you. How are you?”

He grinned and stopped beside the table still laden with food. He waved a hand over it. “Have you had your fill already? I wasn’t certain what you liked, so I ordered the kitchen staff to prepare a bit of everything.”

And just like that, what had been so delicious moments ago sat like stone in her belly. He had ordered her food, not Master Wynn? She fought the urge to be sick and forced a smile to her lips.

“Thank you, sir. I was quite hungry when I woke.”

That made her realize he had seen her sleeping and her skin crawled. Nothing for it now. She just had to get through some polite conversation and hopefully he would leave.

“Yes, I imagine you were. Dusting is hungry work after all.”

He chuckled but it wasn’t a happy sound. She rose slowly with the small empty plate in hand meaning to use it as an excuse to leave the library. But before she could get a word out he closed the distance and took it.

“All done, eh? Don’t want any more?”

He was studying her so fiercely it caused goose bumps to rise on her skin. She shook her head and took a step away. Suddenly a wave of dizziness assailed her. She stumbled and would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her arms.

“Ah,” he said. “There it is. I feared you hadn’t eaten enough for the potion to take effect.”

“Potion?”

“Yes, my dear. I’ve given you a potion to keep you asleep a bit longer and completely pliant. Can’t have you waking until after we reach my destination. You will be the tool I use to gain what I seek from these damnable gargoyles. Master Orestes will see to that personally, I’m sure.”