Sorceress at War (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 4)

by Lisa Blackwood

“Gryton, my child. Lower the defenses, I’m coming in.”

  “I’m not a child,” came his surly reply. “Even though I was foolishly naïve to believe I could trick the Battle Goddess and the warriors under my command, I didn’t intentionally betray you or the young gargoyle.”

  “I know.” Daryna grinned. If he was grumpy, his injuries couldn’t have been too extensive.

  Gryton didn’t lower his defenses as she’d asked, but they became visible without her having to counter them. She carefully picked her way over and around all the trigger spells.

  She ducked her head as she stepped through the cavern’s low entrance. Inside was the familiar narrow crevice that finally widened several paces in. Firelight flickered on the walls, but there was nothing cooking over the fire.

  Gryton sat next to it. He’d removed his armor from his upper body and was dressing a couple dozen shallow slashes that covered his shoulders, arms, and chest.

  He’d torn up two of the canvas bags she’d used to bring the supplies. She was caring another similar bag again today. This one was filled with an assortment of bandages and salves. Not that he would need them for long. She planned to heal him well before the dawn when Gregory would begin his hunt.

  But the bandages and gauze would help with the cleanup.

  “Lillian did an excellent job on you.”

  Gryton snorted. His lips curled away from his fangs, but there was a hint of admiration. “See how well you do going into battle and trying to overpower your opponents without actually killing them. And when your opponents are gargoyles, let me assure you that is no easy task.”

  “Yes, about that,” Daryna said as she set her bag down next to Gryton and pulled out a few squares of some linen type material. “Gregory has enough of your blood and essence to track you. He’s attending to Lillian’s minor injuries, but once he is done that he will be on the hunt well before dawn, I imagine.”

  Gryton poured a bit of water onto a cloth using one of the humans’ strange soft-sided clear bottles and then started dabbing at his wounds. When it was clean of crusted blood, he moved to the next. “I’m not going to sit by and allow my gargoyle sired to kill me without a fight.”

  “I don’t intend for you and Gregory to meet face-to-face just yet. He’s not ready to hear the truth.” Daryna handed Gryton another bit of cloth. “I intend to weave a spell upon you that will hide you from Gregory’s searching magic. It’s not a permanent fix, but it will be better than nothing.”

  Again, Gryton grunted in way of acknowledgment.

  “You’re very like your father. Grumpy. Non-communicative. Brooding…”

  His fangs flashed again. “What does it matter if I am? He’ll still hate me on principle.”

  That might very well be true, Daryna decided. But she didn’t utter that allowed.

  “We have other problems.”

  He jerked his head in a swift affirmative, his expression turning slightly less haughty. “I only expected those I specified for the mission to come. That many more came must mean the Battle Goddess suspects me of treason.”

  “Perhaps she did, but those who captured Shadowlight saw Gregory attack you. They will carry that news back to the Battle Goddess. If we are lucky, she will assume you are actually innocent of betrayal and that by coming here you acted to retrieve the collars that Darkness and River stole. And your actions also allowed Shadowlight to be captured. We can use that to our advantage. It never hurts to have a spy in our enemy’s court.”

  “That wasn’t my intention. If I go back, she will see through my deception and will seek my death just as surely as her brother did in the past.”

  Daryna laughed. “Then tonight’s session will be about how to hide your innermost thoughts, showing her only what you want her to see, what she will think she has pried from your unwilling mind.”

  Gryton glanced down at the fire. His dark skin didn’t betray his shame, but it was clear in his voice. “I lack the control needed to do as you say.”

  “As a child raised in her kingdom for eight years, under her ever watchful eye, I managed to hide my plans from her,” Daryna said as she handed him another piece of white gauze. “If I could do that for all those years, you’ll be able to manage well enough with some guidance from me. You’ve already excelled well beyond what you were capable of a few days ago.”

  Gryton still looked skeptical but seemed willing to put his trust in her. “Very well. You haven’t misled me. But I still don’t know if I’ll be able to rescue Shadowlight from the Battle Goddess’ domain.”

  “Oh. You won’t need to worry about that. I’ve already sent another for that purpose.”

  “You sent Gregory, after all? I thought you said he was attending to Lillian.”

  “Oh, he has a plan to rescue Shadowlight. It involves sinking his claws into you, but I came up with a better, less risky idea about how to extract the young gargoyle cub from our enemy.”

  One of Gryton’s eyebrows arched in question.

  Ah, she’d surprised him. It only lasted a moment before his expression smoothed into understanding. “You’ve sent the berserker. But why? She is nowhere near ready to undertake her part in your plan. Her hope of successfully freeing Shadowlight is far less than my own odds.”

  “My son, you have so much to learn. This is a long game. I don’t expect the hybrid to succeed. Not right away. First, she needs to see what true evil is. She needs to focus all that potential she has locked inside her. Only then will we be able to shape her into a weapon to aim at the heart of the Battle Goddess.”

  Gryton looked unhappy. “If she goes after Shadowlight, she will become the Battle Goddess’ weapon as well, not yours.”

  “Like you are?”

  “That’s different.”

  “Not so very much. And, yes, the Battle Goddess will teach her hate. But the human is a rare soul. Her moral code is an iron core that runs deep. The Battle Goddess will not be able to corrupt her. Besides, Shadowlight will need a friend in the unfortunate situation he has found himself in. The shared hardship will only cement their bond of friendship into something truly astounding.”

  “How can you be so confident the human hybrid will survive with her morals intact?”

  “Because,” Daryna said with absolute certainty that came from far outside her own mind. “Shadowlight finding and saving Anna was Divine will.”

  Gryton laughed, a harsh sound full of bitter amusement. “It must be true. Only the Divine Ones would create such a harrowing and complex path to inflict upon some hapless soul.”

  “The Divine Ones set many tests and trails so that our souls may learn and grow.”

  “Then I must be very well learned.”

  “Indeed,” Daryna said. “However, there is still much you must learn and time is short. I still need to heal you, weave a few spells, and then go seek out Lillian and Gregory. All before they realize I’m missing.”

  “Life is never dull, is it mother?”

  “No, my son,” Daryna said with genuine mirth. “It never is. Now let me teach you how to lie so that even the Battle Goddess won’t know the truth from falsehood.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Pounding on the door jilted Lillian out of deep sleep. Gregory growled out something dark and menacing, which was quite a feat since he was in human form. But that didn’t impede his reflexes at all. He was already fully awake and stalking buck-naked towards the door.

  “Gregory. For the love of God, put clothes on.”

  Of course, he ignored her.

  Lillian grabbed her own robe and pulled it on moments before Gregory jerked the door open. “Are the Lord of the Underworld and the Lady of Battles presently battling on the front lawn?”

  Gran stood framed by the door. Major Resnick was at her shoulder and looking downright impatient. Lillian’s grandmother answered first, her voice sounding a touch distracted as she took in Gregory’s form. “No. I don’t think so, my boy. Something else has come up though.”

  Lillia
n was bringing Gregory a robe to wear when Major Resnick pushed past him like he wasn’t afraid of getting bounced back out into the hall by an angry, naked human-formed gargoyle.

  “Anna is missing. Do you know anything about it?”

  Each word came up clipped and barely controlled. It was completely unlike the Resnick she had gotten to know. Gregory must have sensed it as well, for he merely took the robe Lillian offered and answered truthfully. “No. We haven’t seen Anna since she left with you after Shadowlight was taken. I wasn’t aware she was missing.”

  Lillian stepped in closer. “Anna was really broken up about what happened to Shadowlight. Are you sure she hasn’t gone someplace to be alone? She might be out in the forest hunting.”

  Resnick snorted. “Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s out hunting, but it’s not deer. We have security footage of her going into the restricted area, attacking fellow soldiers, and then stealing an assortment of the modified assault rifles and sidearms.”

  “You’re certain it was Anna?” Gregory asked. “Several species of Fae can shapeshift and make themselves look like someone else.”

  “I remember. Like you did when you pretended to be one of my men.” Resnick shook his head. “Unfortunately, no, I don’t think that’s what happened. Anna was clearly using shadow magic.” Resnick tripped over the word magic like he was still having trouble using the term. “Only a gargoyle has that ability, correct?”

  “Yes,” Gregory agreed.

  “The only reason we know it was her is that we just had the banshee ward-spell the surveillance cameras to better protect the compound.”

  “Give me a few moments and I’ll be able to confirm if it was Anna and not a shapeshifter,” Gregory said as he closed his eyes and summoned magic.

  The beginnings of a spell raised gooseflesh upon Lillian’s arms. After a moment, he huffed angrily. “There are only two gargoyles in the Mortal Realm. Myself and Lillian.”

  Lillian jerked in surprise. “You’re saying Anna is gone. Do you think Gryton got to her like he did Whitethorn and Goswin?”

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Gregory growled. “Take me to the place where Anna trespassed. I should be able to pick up her scent and then determine if she was forced into doing this.”

  Resnick nodded. “If Gryton didn’t get to her, then I fear she’s gone after him on her own to take revenge for what happened to Shadowlight. She might even now be Gryton’s prisoner.”

  “I wouldn’t be so certain of that,” Gregory said, closing his eyes. A moment later, Lillian felt him call power as he shifted back to his gargoyle form.

  She stared at Gregory, but it wasn’t because he’d shifted. She was getting better at reading his thoughts. “My God. You think Anna has gone after Shadowlight. But how is that even possible. She doesn’t have the power or knowledge to get to the Magic Realm. You once said that traveling between the realms took a lot of magical strength.”

  “Yes, it does. And, no, Anna couldn’t get there on her own. But if she had help…”

  The Mother’s Sorceress.

  Gregory thought Anna had somehow convinced Daryna to help. Lillian was worried for Anna of course, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret the woman’s decision. If Anna had managed to convince the Sorceress to help, it meant that Daryna thought Anna had a chance of rescuing Shadowlight.

  Resnick tilted his head to look up at Gregory. “There’s only one problem. Anna would never go against orders.”

  Gregory’s tail lashed back and forth with a great deal of violence. When Lillian touched his thoughts, she felt his ongoing internal debate. He was thinking about sharing something with Resnick he’d rather not.

  At last Gregory sighed and drew in a deep breath. “There is something we have not shared with you or your superiors. It regards Anna and Shadowlight and how the young gargoyle managed to save Anna’s life. It wasn’t natural; not even for a gargoyle.”

  Resnick froze in place, waiting for Gregory to continue.

  “Shadowlight was altered by the Battle Goddess. One such change is his ability to use his blood to heal others. Although, it doesn’t just heal them; it changes them as it did Anna. That part you know. What you don’t know is that there is a magical component that binds them together. Anna is Shadowlight’s second.”

  “Second?”

  “Second in Command,” Gregory clarified. “If fate had not intervened, Shadowlight would have grown up to lead the Battle Goddess’ armies, but he would also possess the ability to convert others and enslave them. Anna is already soul bound to him. That bond will only grow stronger as he ages. Already her need to save him is affecting her thinking. It’s a mindless need to protect. One that I don’t know if Anna can fight.”

  Lillian, still linked to Gregory’s thoughts, sorted through them for the one answer she still wanted.

  If Anna couldn’t reach Shadowlight on her own, would she seek out someone else who could?

  Gregory’s thoughts were darkening and becoming more upset, but he did share them. “There are a very few beings with the strength to travel between the realms. Presently, there are only three here in the Mortal Realm—myself, my Sorceress, and Commander Gryton.”

  So either Anna had gone hunting Gryton and had been captured and taken prisoner. Or Daryna had helped Anna reach the Magic Realm.

  Daryna was a much better alternative to hope for than Gryton, but Lillian didn’t know what would have changed the Sorceress’ mind. She’d been most adamant that it was too dangerous for either herself or Gregory. If it was too hazardous to the Avatars, what possible chance did Anna have?

  Resnick’s expression told them that Gregory’s comment had clarified some conclusion he’d already come to. “Then we can only assume she went after Commander Gryton and he was waiting for such a move and has already captured and transported her like the cub.”

  “That is the greatest likelihood.” With a deeply unhappy growl, Gregory continued. “I will track Anna’s trail and get to the bottom of this. As soon as I know what is truly afoot, I will pass the information along to you.”

  Major Resnick nodded sharply. “I’ll brief my superiors.”

  After the military man had left with Gran in tow, Lillian turned to Gregory and asked the other question in her mind that he didn’t want to face.

  “Do you know where Daryna is?”

  “No,” Gregory said with horror and disbelief in his voice. “And I cannot sense her anywhere near. She has hidden her presence from me. But I will find her.”

  And by his tone, Daryna was in for a world of trouble when he did.

  “Then it’s possible she’s been working with Gryton all along. I’m coming with you.”

  “No. The child. It’s too dangerous.”

  “I’m pregnant. Not dying. And no, I don’t want to risk our child, but I must go. If Daryna has been playing with us all along,” which Lillian thought likely, “then I can’t trust you to deal with her. I’ll make the hard decision. You can’t. Killing her would destroy a part of you.”

  “Lillian,” Gregory said in a gruff voice edged with pain. “You are no match for her. Besides, we don’t know that she’s tainted. It’s possible that the amount of magic she’s called upon today has hastened her body’s degradation. Thus, her mind and judgment may be impaired. If so, I will do what I can to help heal the damage.”

  “You don’t know that though.”

  “No. That’s why you can’t come.”

  “That’s why I am coming, you great overprotective idiot. I am the one being in all the realms she won’t kill. She needs my body, so the soul and power of the Mother’s Sorceress will have a home to return to. And she wants this child.” Lillian rested her hands on her belly. “She’s wanted to have your child for a very long time. Anyone can see that.”

  Gregory glanced down at his talons. “And I have wanted to grant her that wish for many lifetimes. It has been my great, secret shame. Even the thought is a betrayal of my vows to the Divine Ones.”


  “Gregory, they are the ones at fault. For wishing to have a child with the one you love should never be a sin.”

  “A part of me agrees with you, but that changes nothing.”

  “Fine. You’re unreasonable, but so too am I. This is the last time I say this. I am going. Now let’s go see what has become of Anna and if it’s Gryton or Daryna who is at fault.”

  Gregory was slow to nod agreement, but eventually, he did. Smart male.

  It wasn’t until he started for the door that she noticed that he was clothed and his arm and wrist bands were back in place. However, she was still naked under her robe. “Hold up. I need to shift and then dress.”

  He halted with his hand on the door, but nodded and waited patiently for her to shapeshift into her gargoyle form and dress. Then, together, they headed down to the front drive where Resnick was waiting with a small convoy of armored vehicles.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Gregory had allowed himself to be crammed into one of the vehicles with Lillian. There really wasn’t room for one gargoyle, let alone two. But Resnick had insisted.

  And he’d learned when to pick his battles in a long ago lifetime.

  They arrived at the military headquarters a short time later, and he and Lillian were escorted inside. Already, he’d caught a hint of Anna’s trail. Her scent was the same as he remembered. There was no hint of either Gryton or Daryna. So Anna had been by herself, at least at this point.

  Gregory continued deeper into the building where the weapons were stored just to be certain. But again, he found nothing unusual in her scent. He followed the trail back to the surface and on outside, north and west away from the military’s base.

  Anna had continued out of town and into the forest. Resnick and his team were still following him, but they were having a more difficult time in the forest.

  Gregory continued at a fast run. About twenty minutes outside of town, he found a clearing in the forest where a great weaving had been created.

  The spell had already unraveled, the energy dissipating back into the surrounding land. But he would recognize the essence of that power anywhere. It was the match to his own.