Growling, Gregory shook off their hands and stood. He could not contain the growing horror inside himself. He paced between the trees for many moments before returning and halting before the Mother’s Sorceress.
“Our choice should have led to our destruction. Why are we still here?”
Lillian came to stand beside him and rested her hand on his arm. When he turned to her, she arched an eyebrow. “You make it sound like you’d rather be dead?”
Gregory sighed. “No. Of course not. But the Divine Ones should have acted to correct our…transgression.”
Daryna cleared her throat. “You think they didn’t? Neither of us remembers the life before this one.”
Slowly Gregory glanced over his shoulder at Daryna. “Life?”
“Yes. Gryton and I compared a few memories. From what we were able to put together, I’ve either misplaced an entire lifetime of memories, or the Divine Ones stripped them away. I’m pretty sure I know which it is.”
Gregory swallowed hard. “I still don’t…”
“Here,” Daryna held out her hand. “Take from my mind what I’ve learned while training Gryton to control his powers. It will be faster than having me try to explain it.”
He hesitated a moment, not really wanting to have this new reality become even more real than it already was. It was a foolish wish, no doubt, but he still didn’t want to face the truth head on.
Instead, it was Lillian who reached for Daryna’s outstretched hand, his mate doing what he wasn’t brave enough to do. After a few moments, Lillian released Daryna’s hand with a curse.
“That was…freaking strange. But, Gregory, I think Daryna is speaking the truth. Gryton, too, in his own twisted way. At some point in the past, we chose to break our vows.”
“Yes,” Daryna said as she glanced down at her hands. “Gryton is our child, and while I don’t know our reasoning at the time since Gryton hasn’t mastered all his memories, I do know that we chose to bring him into existence. And while the Divine Ones stripped our memories from that last life, they also let us continue as we have always been. We are still their Avatars, and they sent us back to fulfill some purpose in this life.”
Daryna’s voice softened, but still held a note of conviction. “I believe we have been sent back this time to stop the Lady of Battles once and for all. I intend to free Gryton from her and lead him back to the Light. I think in our last life, we knew the Battle Goddess was growing bolder and that she would find a way to upset the balance and bring war to all the realms. While I can’t know for certain, I do believe we birthed Gryton into the universe to be her replacement…”
“Replacement,” Gregory growled and then modulated his tone. “While I would like to see the Battle Goddess forcibly returned to the Divine Ones for healing, it is not for us to go against Divine judgment. They have allowed her to remain within the Magic Realm. Thus, they must believe the Battle Goddess needs to learn the cost of her own actions.”
“You don’t believe that,” Daryna said. “Or at least something made you set aside your beliefs at some point in our last life together.”
“Even you admit that you are only going on the flawed and incomplete jumble of memories I gifted to Gryton at his conception.” He paced as he mulled over this new dilemma. “It’s more likely that the Divine Ones scrubbed our memories and then sent us back here as a chance to fix our mistake. A test. One last chance to prove our worthiness.”
Daryna shook her head. “No. Think about it. Clearly, Lord Death called back his gargoyle army. Otherwise, there would have been a war between the twins. And only once has Lord Death ever acted without a direct command from the Divine Ones.”
“Guesses.”
“Yes. For now. But think about it. While our creators might not have sanctioned Gryton’s birth, I think they have come to see some use for him. I would even hazard a guess that since their own Avatars went against their wishes, our creators might be thinking long and hard about their decision regarding the Lady of Battles.”
“You may think that if you want,” Gregory said, slowly growing calmer as new purpose filled him. He would find out what was really going on and then do whatever he must to serve the Light. But Lillian was correct. Battling his other half would not benefit anyone except the Battle Goddess. Aloud Gregory said, “But I will not come to my own conclusions without more facts. First order of business is to find Gryton and question him.”
“Regardless what you chose to believe at present. The fact remains that the Divine Ones took our memories, unmade us, and then forged us anew for a purpose. We wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lillian had sensed when Gregory’s growing despair had changed to a better mindset. If hunting down one’s child was a better mindset. But for now, if he was focusing on finding a solution instead of the fact that they’d given life to a monster with unknown powers and ambiguous loyalty, Lillian was okay with that because it was clear the Mortal Realm would never survive a war between the Avatars.
Daryna was clearly going to protect Gryton. Equally clear was the fact that Gregory was going to do what he must to serve the Light.
Why the heck couldn’t the Light clean up its own mess this once?
Yeah. Right. That wasn’t likely to happen. So that left Lillian to act as the negotiator. Then noting the dark glowers Gregory and Daryna were sending each other, Lillian thought that maybe divorce attorney was more accurate.
“We need to come to a peaceful agreement.” Lillian stepped between them to make her point. “If the Avatars go to war with each other, everyone loses. Yes?”
Gregory grunted, and Daryna gave a sharp nod.
“And Daryna, even you must see that we must question Gryton. He might be our child just as much as this one.” Lillian pointed at her belly, silently reminding Daryna not to start a fight. “And after hearing what you’ve said about Gryton’s upbringing, I do feel some….responsibility to see if there is something worthy of saving deep in his soul. But that doesn’t mean he’s innocent or that simply by virtue of his parentage his hands are suddenly washed clean of blood. He’s snuffed out a great many innocent lives.”
All without a hint of remorse as far as I can see, Lillian thought to herself.
“I still believe he is worthy of being saved and that the Divine Ones have a task for him to perform and ultimately that he was brought about by our creators will. However,” Daryna paused to take in the sight of Gregory’s lashing tail. “I also understand that you both will need to see what I have seen in him. I am willing to work with you to retrieve our son so that you both may discover what I have already learned.”
“And if Lillian and I deem him incurable of the darkness the Battle Goddess has instilled in him?” Gregory’s words still managed to have a growling edge to them even though he wasn’t actually growling.
“I will not kill our son.” The air around Daryna snapped with rising power. “Nor will I allow either of you to harm our son.”
“Easy. If worst comes to worse, I’m still not going to let Gregory kill Gryton,” Lillian said.
Gregory huffed in surprise and now watched her with narrowed eyes.
“Think about it, Gregory. The last time Gryton attacked to capture Shadowlight, he didn’t actually kill anyone. I thought it was because he was too weak, but it wasn’t that. I think he was trying not to do any lasting harm to his ‘victims’ this time around.”
Daryna nodded as she released the power she’d been gathering back into the surrounding forest where it wouldn’t do any harm. “Yes, once I learned a little about Gryton, I came to understand that he finds his actions distasteful but hasn’t a choice. Now that I’ve given him an alternative to the Battle Goddess’ harsh rule, he seems willing to embrace it.”
“Fine,” Gregory said, an actual growl rattling in his tones this time. “I will find Gryton and judge if he’s curable. But if darkness runs to his core, I will see him destroyed for the good of all.”
Lillian lightly slap
ped her mate across the muzzle to get his attention. “No. If Gryton can’t be saved, then the Divine Ones will get to do the deed. There’s no way I’m letting any of us carry that kind of guilt into the next life. Daryna if you have a problem with that, go pick a fight with the Divine Ones.”
Daryna actually looked shocked and appalled. Lillian grinned. She’d had that same effect on Gregory from time to time. Taking advantage of Daryna’s shock, Lillian pressed hard. “Now…start explaining what happened to Shadowlight. You were somehow involved with that. I know you were because Gryton was. Talk. Or else I step back and see what Gregory does.”
Daryna’s expression underwent a subtle shift, losing much of its earlier confidence.
“I did not intend for Shadowlight to be taken to the Battle Goddess.”
“All Gryton’s idea?”
“No. I had meant for Shadowlight to go to Lord Death. Once the Lord of the Underworld sees just what his sister is planning, he’ll be forced to question the Divine Ones and their choice to allow the Battle Goddess to continue to exist.”
“Gregory was concerned what Death would do should he ever get his hands on me. I assume that he would be no more please with Shadowlight. So you’d planned to just hand over my little brother….” Lillian fisted her hands and then sought for calm.
Peacekeeper. I’m a peacekeeper.
Marginally calmer, she continued. “Throwing my little brother to the wolves isn’t helping your cause.”
Daryna turned on her heels and started to pace. It must have been catching.
“It wouldn’t have been throwing him to the wolves, as you call it. I’ve known Lord Death all his existence. He would see past what the Battle Goddess wanted to turn Shadowlight into. He would see Shadowlight’s pure soul. He’d never harm the cub.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make,” Gregory growled.
“No. But he needed to be trained. He, too, has a role to play in all this. You know he does.”
“He was mine to train.”
“No. He was a distraction. Lord Death has thousands of gargoyles. I intended for one of them to train Shadowlight, freeing you for more important things.”
“There is nothing more important than a child,” Gregory’s voice slipped an octave lower.
Lillian squeezed Gregory’s arm as she faced Daryna. “So what went wrong?”
“I knew Gregory wouldn’t part with the cub. Shadowlight means too much to you and Gregory can deny you nothing. Think of me what you will, but Shadowlight needs a mentor who can spend every moment with him. I asked Gryton to take Shadowlight to the edge of Lord Death’s domain where the other gargoyles would find him.”
“Somehow, that’s not what happened,” Lillian said with more venom than she’d intended. She couldn’t help it. She wasn’t a saint, and because of the Mother’s Sorceress, Shadowlight was now in enemy hands.
“No. I asked Gryton to call for three of his least liked lieutenants to aid him in capturing Shadowlight. I knew Gregory would make quick work of whoever Gryton summoned. They were to be a distraction only—not a true threat. But many more arrived than we expected and unfortunately that allowed for Shadowlight’s capture in truth.”
“Your plan sucked.” Lillian’s talons flexed against her thigh. “But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why did you betray Anna?”
“I did not betray the hybrid. She wished to go. And the cub will need a reason to fight for his freedom. An Anna will be the friend that will get him through a terribly dark time.”
“The human will be the mother bear to Shadowlight’s cub. But your plan still puts the human at great risk.” Some of Gregory’s rage diminished as his expression turned thoughtful. “However, I do agree that Anna’s arrival in Shadowlight’s life is not the result of random chance. I am certain that was Divine will at work. Perhaps this was as well. After all, the Battle Goddess admires two things. Strength and loyalty. Anna possesses them both. She might win the Lady of Battle’s admiration and be able to use that against her in some way.”
“Oh, lucky Anna,” Lillian hissed. “You two are cut from the same cloth.”
Gregory looked perplexed, so Lillian explained. “Now the Battle Goddess has them both to torture. She’ll use one against the other as leverage. She’ll break them both.”
“Then she will find she has forged a weapon that will cut the hand that wields it.”
“She. Is. Going. To. Torture. Them.” Lillian rocked forward onto her talon-tipped toes until she stood muzzle to muzzle with Gregory.
“Yes. The Battle Goddess is not above torture, both physical and spiritual. But as long as there is life, there is hope. The Lady of Battles will not kill them. And I do plan to rescue them. Soon. Just as soon as I get my talons upon Gryton and we have a ‘heart to heart’ and I determine if he’s as worthy as my other half says he is.”
Daryna stepped in closer to Gregory, reaching out to touch the side of his face, but he stepped out of reach.
Allowing her arm to fall back to her side, she tilted her head and her gaze turned vacant for a moment.
“Ah. That might be a bit of a problem as he just resurrected the remains of the spell I created to send Anna to the Magic Realm. He’s a quick study.”
Gregory snarled something in his native tongue and Lillian didn’t blame him.
“Peace. For now, it’s better this way. Besides, I still have faith that the human will find a way to free Shadowlight even before Gryton has a chance to aid in their escape. That human is tenacious and lethal. Before I sent her, I made sure she had an honest chance at rescuing the cub.”
“What else did you do?” Gregory asked, but sounded tired and like nothing would surprise him anymore.
“I further enhanced her gargoyle bloodline. She won’t shift into a full gargoyle for some months yet, but she will be stronger, faster and far more lethal.”
“So you gave mamma bear bigger teeth and sharper claws? Are you actually trying to get her killed?” Lillian couldn’t help the accusation. Screw being a peacekeeper. She knew Daryna disdained the humans.
Daryna arched an eyebrow. “Do you not know I can read you when we are close and you are angry?”
“Yeah. Well. At least I’m honest.”
“You haven’t always been honest to Gregory.”
Lillian growled and looked at Gregory. “You deal with her. She’s your other half.”
“It’s time we return to Major Resnick and explain to our human allies what you have done. You will no longer have the freedoms you had before. Do you understand what I am saying?” Gregory asked.
Daryna huffed out a sigh. “Yes. And you have my word that as long as you give Gryton a chance, I will not go against your wishes again.”
Gregory snorted out a humorless laugh. “Oh, my Sorceress. It’s not just me you will have to convince. It is the humans. I have agreed to be their ally and they mine. Thus I have a few more rules to adhere to than in previous lives. Those humans might see things in a very different light.”
“I will tell them the same thing I have told you. If given a choice, Gryton will side with us, and he will be a powerful ally in the fight against the Battle Goddess. And I think the humans will understand the value have having a ‘man on the inside’ to act as our spy.”
“Yeah,” Lillian muttered under her breath. “Because double agents are oh so trustworthy.”
Daryna glanced in Lillian’s direction. “Gryton will side with us. He has no love for the Battle Goddess.”
“Maybe,” Lillian said grudgingly. “But we’re done chatting. It’s time to go share this new information with Major Resnick. I’ll let him figure out how to word it to his superiors. But after that, we’re forming a plan to rescue Shadowlight.”
Gregory nodded agreement and then began to summon spirit magic and directed it into another of those portal spells. She really did need to learn more about magic and see if she could create such a spell. But that was a concern for later. Now, it was time to come clean
with the humans.
Daryna stepped up beside Gregory, showing herself to be docile and willing.
Lillian wondered how long that would last if Gregory later met Gryton and didn’t agree with Daryna’s assessment of their son.
Eying the Mother’s Sorceress, Lillian couldn’t help but think about that clichéd phrase about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. Somehow, given the situation she found herself in, it seemed like sage advice.
For now, her war with her sorceress self might be over, but the tension was still there, hinting at more war and peril just over the horizon. And come it would. For tomorrow they would begin the hunt for Gryton and find a way to rescue Shadowlight and Anna.
THE END
Thank you for reading Sorceress at War.
Lillian, Gregory, Anna and Shadowlight’s story continues in Sorceress Triumphant, coming later this summer.
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Sorceress at War (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 4) Page 19
