“Indeed,” replied Hugo, raising an eyebrow, then he took a deep breath. “I need your help to leave the city,” he stated quietly.
Gorian’s sharp intake of breath was audible, even above the din of drunken voices. The older man shifted but held Hugo’s steady gaze.
“Why? Is this because of Winter Solstice?” he asked, eyes narrowing.
Hugo remained silent.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s about time you came to your senses and ran. Glad to see you’re going to do it before that viper sinks her teeth in to you or lets that twisted bastard Ream kill you.”
Hugo leaned forward, the rest of what he said came in a harsh whisper. “Yes. It’s partly because of Winter Solstice, but there’s something else.” He paused and took a breath.
Hugo quickly told Gorian of Diamond, her necklace and the Queen’s demand for Diamond to fight for her. Hugo noticed the colour leeching from the older man’s face.
After a long pause Gorian spoke. “There’s something you’re not telling me,” he stated, cocking his head to one side. “You might be able to fool everyone else with your blank looks, but I know you. I know what you are.” His eyes narrowed shrewdly. “You care deeply for this woman if you are willing to risk everything, including your life, for her. Why?” he asked curiously.
Hugo looked uncomfortable, embarrassed even.
A slow smile spread over Gorian’s face as he registered Hugo’s unfamiliar display of uncertainty and guilt. “You’ve bitten her,” he breathed incredulously. “Does she know what that means?”
“No!” Hugo hissed. “I didn’t do it to own her or control her. I did it to save her life,” he said vehemently.
“Okay. I believe you. And I don’t think for one minute you did it for less than noble reasons.” Grinning, Gorian patted Hugo’s shoulder. “It’s all right, son. Your secret’s safe with me.”
Hugo sat back, his shoulders relaxing.
“So, considering the Queen can track you anywhere, where do you want to go?” Gorian asked.
“I don’t know,” Hugo admitted, leaning both elbows on the table. He and Diamond needed to leave before Winter Solstice, and he hoped Gorian would have some ideas. Hugo had never before crossed the ocean. The Queen had always kept him carrying out orders in Avalonia or Rhodainia. Other guards were sent to the far off continents to kill or spy, but she had never sent Hugo.
“I have a shipment of tea and silk and—err—other things, coming in from Gar Anon, two days before Winter Solstice; but it will take two days to unload. The captain’s a sly bastard, out to make as much money as he can. But he owes me a favour. Likely he’ll leave the morning of Winter Solstice on the tide. The city guard will not bother the ship as I have an agreement with their commander. He looks the other way, and I let him and his family live.”
Hugo frowned but held his tongue. Gorian’s business rules were his own.
“There might be other ships leaving earlier from the main docks, but they will be too difficult to get you aboard without papers.”
And without being betrayed, thought Hugo cynically. “I’d rather take yours. The Queen will set her test soon. I know Diamond will pass it. She has to; there is no other alternative. But once she does, Diamond will be ordered to the wall. If we cannot get on an earlier ship, the battle with Ragor cannot be avoided.” That thought grabbed Hugo’s heart and squeezed. His voice was tight as he spoke, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled a calming breath. “If I can, I will get Diamond’s necklace back, but nothing is as important as getting her on that ship.”
Gorian frowned and took a big swig of his ale. “Is the necklace necessary at all? It might be nothing. Maybe the Queen is simply using it to influence her.”
“No, the way that viper looked when she saw the crystal glow means it should not be in her hands. Besides, the dragon necklace is precious to Diamond; it belonged to her mother. I took it from Diamond and, if possible, I will return it. I owe her that much,” he said heavily.
“A dragon necklace? That glows? Please, describe it—in detail—for me.” Gorian asked slowly.
Hugo frowned, but complied. The older man chewed his lip as Hugo spoke.
“What’s wrong?” asked Hugo suspiciously.
Minutes passed as excitement seeped into the older man’s face and eyes. “I think I know why she wants it. If I’m right, if it’s what I think it is, you have to get it back.”
“Why? What is it?” Hugo demanded, a frisson of anxiety tightening his stomach.
Gorian took a deep breath. “A key. A guardian’s key. For the gateway to Eternity.”
“Eternity? The land of the gods and resting place of our souls?” Hugo asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Gorian replied, his eyes bright and his face flushed. “There were only two keys.” The older man reached out and gripped Hugo’s upper arms. “I know this is a long story but you must hear it now. There will be no other opportunity. I must leave to visit old friends very soon. Will you listen?” he asked anxiously.
“Of course,” Hugo agreed.
“You know the legends about how the guardians are the protectors of Eternity and of the gods. Thousands of years ago, Lunaria beseeched Krahto, the high ruler of the guardians to stop Erebos. Her brother had become a dark god who existed only to kill and take the souls of the living. Krahto could not harm or kill Erebos, so he cast an enchantment that imprisoned the dark god on this planet. Once in place, no other god could breech that enchantment. Lunaria was distraught, believing someone should fight for the souls of this planet. Krahto listened to her plea. But knowing the gods are immortal, his heart was heavy. The high ruler imparted knowledge no other god had. The only way to kill a god is to mix his blood directly with that of another from his bloodline. When he told Lunaria, she did not balk. She vowed to fight Erebos. Wanting to give the souls on this planet a chance, Krahto formed the crystal gateway, the only way to breech the enchantment he had set. Through this gateway he sent Lunaria under the care of two guardians, Zulad and Nareen. Each guardian possessed a key for the gateway. The keys themselves look like jewels.”
Gorian paused and took a large gulp of his beer.
Hugo did the same, not wanting to rush his friend.
“The guardians eventually had two sons. One son, Vaalor, swore to fight alongside the goddess and his parents; the other son, Sulphurious, was cruel and bloodthirsty. Forsaking the goddess, he sought to serve the dark god. Erebos did not turn Sulphurious away. They worked together; Erebos taking the souls of his victims and Sulphurious consuming their flesh.”
“So Erebos resurrected Sulphurious? Not Ragor?” Hugo asked, lips pressed into a tight line. A shiver of dread ran down Hugo’s spine.
“I would imagine so,” Gorian agreed.
“So what does this tale have to do with the Queen?” Hugo asked, trying not to sound impatient.
Gorian turned the tankard of ale between his fingers. “Lunaria and King Arjuno had a child. Did you know that?
Hugo shook his head. “There are stories, but it’s hard to know what to believe.”
“Hmm, that’s true. Well, the night King Arjuno of Avalonia died, many events were set in motion. That was the night Lunaria gave birth to her child, and Griana, general of the king’s fae army, betrayed the king and became imprisoned in this city.”
“What? The Queen used to be a general? And she was a traitor to her own king?”
“Indeed she was, son. That evil female was never meant to rule this land.”
“Then how did she become a queen? How was she trapped here?”
“I only know the stories passed down to me. Prince Lexon, the king’s younger brother, took an oath to the goddess to protect her child, and all her descendants. Lunaria gifted him with powerful magic, and when the Queen returned from the battlefield and tried to kill the baby, Prince Lexon cursed her. He bound her to the city she coveted and cursed her to be barren as punishment for the harm she wanted to inflict upon a helpless child.”
“But what happened to Lunaria? To her guardians? Could they not save the king? Or even kill Griana?” Hugo asked, leaning forward on his forearms.
“Again, I am only repeating what was taught to me,” Gorian said.
Hugo wondered by whom, but remained quiet. Gorian’s secrets were his own.
“To lure Vaalor away from the goddess, Sulphurious attacked his parents before the battle. Sulphurious knew his brother would feel their pain as they died, and he ripped their keys from their foreheads.”
Hugo felt a sudden sense of foreboding and the beast in his soul stirred uneasily. “Gorian, what do the keys look like?”
Gorian took a deep breath, and held his eyes. “They are the size of a small jewel. One a polished ruby. The other a rough diamond.”
Chapter 17
The barmaid threw more logs on the fire. It sparked, bellowing acrid smoke back into the room. Both Gorian and Hugo coughed.
“Come, let’s get some air,” Gorian suggested, waving his hand in front of his face.
Hugo stalked after the old man, moving around the back of the bar and through the small kitchen to the rear door. They descended the wooden steps that led down to the side of the inn. Hugo’s mind whirled with questions.
Clutching their hoods up against the wind and rain, they descended into the storm and stood huddled against the wall for a little shelter.
“So Diamond’s necklace is the key to Eternity?” Hugo growled.
“It doesn’t matter if it is,” Gorian answered, waving his hand dismissively. “Trying to get it back will get you both killed,” he shouted against the onslaught of the wind.
Hugo’s face darkened under his cowl as a wall of shadow descended like a shroud around them, protecting them from the storm.
“Only me. And only if the Queen catches me,” Hugo replied. “Diamond doesn’t know I want to get it back.”
“Just leave it, son. I have friends who can help retrieve it. Besides, the Queen needs a guardian for it to be of any use, and she doesn’t have one.”
“No, but Ragor does.”
“No, he doesn’t. Think about it. Sulphurious is not helping Ragor. The Wraith Lord would have used him to burn Avalonia to the ground and his Dust Devils would have consumed the ash to travel faster. No, Sulphurious is not Ragor’s.”
Hugo rubbed his temples as a headache started.
“It seems your priority is keeping your young lady alive and then getting the hell away from this city,” Gorian pointed out. “You will need to run fast once you leave. And you know eventually you will have to fight for your freedom. The Queen will send Ream to track you wherever you go.”
“Not if I destroy the blood tether she holds,” Hugo growled.
Gorian cocked his head and raised his brows. “Shit! How many obstacles do you want to put in your way? I hope the woman’s worth it.”
Hugo gently knocked the back of his head against the wall, squeezing his eyes shut before looking at Gorian again. “Yes, she is. But gods damn it! I’ve done so much to hurt her. I don’t know if she will ever trust me.” He rubbed a hand over his face.
Gorian smiled sympathetically. “Hugo, why don’t you tell her what you’re planning? How you feel? If you don’t know if she trusts you, how the hell are you going to convince her to run away with you? Damn it, son! You’re sacrificing everything for her. The Queen might want your body to try and break that damned curse Prince Lexon bestowed on her, but if you run and then get caught, she is as likely to kill you as bed you. Diamond should know that,” he said.
Staring at the shadows for a moment, Gorian seemed to make a decision. He turned and bestowed an intent look on Hugo. “I have not been totally honest with you about my origins. I was not born here. I am from the Fire Mountains. I was born and raised there. If you make it to Gar Anon on that ship, head for the Fire Mountains. There are people in Salvir who will help both of you. Seek an audience with Queen Ilya. Tell her I sent you. Tell her of Diamond’s magic, of your Nexus, of that necklace.”
A sudden shout of warning came from the front of the inn, carried in by a gust of freezing wind along with the clash of metal on metal. Hugo cursed and pulled his blades.
Splashing through the deep puddles, Hugo and Gorian ran swiftly around the side of the building. Both skidded to a halt at the same time. Hugo could only gape at the sight that met them and, for a split second, his arms hung slack at his sides. His hood blew back and freezing rain pelted into his eyes. He rapidly blinked the water away.
Two dark shadows viciously attacked the slim figure. Diamond was holding a blade in each hand, grunting with effort as she blocked the strikes from the much bigger and stronger men. Her hood blew back, her silver hair glowing in the flashes of white lightening.
What the hell? How did she have any idea where to find me? Hugo tried unsuccessfully to make sense of her presence. In that second, she moved so quickly he struggled to see her through the rain. There was a sickening crunch as she slammed the hilt of her sword into one man’s nose. The guard crumpled to his knees, holding his face. Hugo roared at her to stop. But she did not hear him and slammed a kick into the side of the guard’s face.
Diamond skipped aside as the man fell. The second guard bellowed with ill-contained fury. Throwing his considerable bulk behind his sword, he attacked. Highly skilled, his sword blurred through the air and slashed at her ribs.
“No!” Hugo roared into the wind.
But Diamond met the attack with devious intent. Blades singing, she used the man’s rage against him; blocking another attack, she spun on her haunches and knocked his legs out from under him.
Gorian’s man fell, splashing water up into the air.
Diamond’s boot slammed down into his groin, eliciting a scream of agony even as her blade lifted high. The man lay on his back in the water moaning, helpless against her wrath.
Catapulted into action, Hugo moved before Diamond could finish her killing strike. Launching himself forward, he straddled the fallen man’s outstretched legs and faced his beautiful, fierce Nexus. “Diamond! Stop!” he thundered, meeting her blade with his own whilst slamming a wave of energy forward to shock her. Her sword stilled but her eyes remained bright and unfocused.
“Diamond,” he repeated, his voice gentling. “It’s me. It’s all right, they’re friends. They will not attack again,” he soothed, lowering his blade.
That look in her eyes was painfully familiar. Warriors, particularly inexperienced ones, could become completely focused on their victim, sometimes at the expense of their own lives; they lost awareness of the situation around them. Diamond was now so skilled at fighting, he sometimes forgot her inexperience with actual battle.
The man on the ground shuffled away from them.
Gorian helped him up. “I’ll deal with you later,” he promised. “See to your wounds, then get back to your post.”
The guards waiting in the shadows melted away into the darkness. Oblivious, Diamond blinked, staring wide-eyed at Hugo. Holding her gaze, he carefully stepped closer and guided her weapons back into their scabbards. Rain pelted down upon them, but neither moved. Her unbound hair blew around wildly, whipping against her shoulders and face. She pushed it behind her ears, hissing with irritation as it blew straight out again. Hugo couldn’t stop himself reaching out, gathering it in one hand and sweeping it over her shoulder to hold it there. “What are you doing here, Diamond?” he asked harshly.
No answer. She stared at his face, his hair, his eyes. He couldn’t look away. Suddenly, she threw her arms around him and hung on tightly. Stunned by her frantic embrace, he slowly wrapped her in his arms, then carefully folded his wings around her.
“I thought they had hurt you. They wouldn’t tell me where you were!” she cried, her voice muffled by his chest.
Her softness and warmth seeped into him, and he forgot they weren’t alone. He forgot the rain that drove down upon them, and the waves that boomed against the docks. He forgot everything as their magic twisted in a despera
te attempt to merge into one—until Gorian coughed uncomfortably.
“So? This is she?” he asked, stepping forward with a speculative smile.Diamond bristled immediately, as if she too had forgotten everything else in that one moment.
Hugo felt her begin to withdraw. He pulled his wings back but quickly grabbed her around the waist, pulling her hard up against his side. “Yes,” he answered, his eyes shining at Gorian’s lopsided grin. “Gorian, meet Diamond. Diamond, meet Gorian,” he chuckled throatily. The after effects of their magic making his body burn.
The look upon Diamond’s face was a picture. Utter shock, followed by a tight smile and a nod of her head. The old man returned the greeting, but Hugo didn’t miss the flash of surprise in his eyes before it was replaced with frank curiosity.
The rain beat down mercilessly upon their stagnant figures as they studied each other. Gorian nodded. “Come on, you two. Inside,” he ordered.
Hugo squeezed Diamond’s waist reassuringly, glad she did not argue. They all shivered with cold. The wind and rain raged, whipping at their legs as they walked. Gorian led them up the rickety wooden steps and in through the side door. They followed him through the busy kitchen, up the main staircase and into a small bedroom.
Hugo gripped Diamond’s wrist as though she might try and run away.
Located at the back of the inn, the room was cold and drafty. There was a bed, a washstand, one high-backed wooden chair and a small bedside table. Gorian lit the oil lamp.
The room was sparse, but at least it was dry.
Hugo still grasped Diamond’s wrist despite her tugging at him. He set his jaw in irritation, growling a warning. Her snarl back was pure defiance.
Tension and the heavy weight of magic fizzled through the air.
Gorian, clearly recognising it, flicked his attention from one to the other. “Stay here until you are dry. Perhaps it would be best to stay until morning. It’s dangerous out there tonight. And Hugo? This might be a good time to speak frankly to her,” he advised, raising his eyebrows meaningfully. “I will bid you a goodnight. I, too, need to get dry.”
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 44
