The spell would have a greater chance of finding Anna and Shadowlight that way.
With that in mind, he’d allowed himself to be taken alive and escorted here to this island stronghold of the enemy. He was kept under guard the entire time, even after being put in the dungeon.
Several gargoyles came to interrogate him, but none of them were Masters.
That’s when he’d begun suspecting they were off elsewhere. Studying the Battle Goddess’s hybrids, perhaps?
A half a day passed.
He’d given up on the idea of infecting one of the Elders. The longer he waited, the greater the chance one of the gargoyles would sense the spell, even protected as it was with a djinn’s magic.
Now he’d just settle for any gargoyle entering his cell alone.
Outside his cell door magic flared as the ward spells were deactivated.
Ridaner held his breath as he waited. He’d only heard three sets of footsteps approach.
New voices addressed the guards.
Then the door was shoved inward, and a hulking gargoyle entered, followed by two slightly smaller beasts. The biggest one glowered directly at him.
“Well, you don’t look like much,” the male said with a huff, but his eyes narrowed. “Which means you’re actually either very dangerous or a deserter. My bet is on dangerous. Shall we start digging and see what traps we find?”
The darkly sentient spell inside Ridaner stirred awake, sensing danger to itself and its mission. It studied its surroundings with an attentive eye.
The gargoyles kept shadow magic shields tightly around them. Under normal circumstances they’d be nearly untouchable, their magic able to absorb or repel greater quantities of magic, depending on what they wished. He’d once seen a gargoyle absorb a magical attack and then launch it back at his opponent.
This time a djinn’s magic would alter that outcome.
The gargoyles stepped nearer, calling on more of their shadow magic.
The sentient spell watched, waiting until they were closer.
From his position chained to a wall, Ridaner was only an observer. But between heartbeats the magic attacked, red and silver energy arced out of his body, ripping his chest open in sudden agonizing surprise as it rushed to escape.
Screaming in pain, his vision danced strangely. Then his legs gave out, and he half slumped to the floor, only held upright by the chains. A raw, tainted power drew all the heat from his body. Pain bled away with it.
He was left to watch with his fading vision as the power continued to lance outward, stabbing each of the gargoyles, even rushing out into the hall to attack the guards.
The magic pierced their shadowy defenses. Loud snarls followed.
With a mind that was growing fuzzy, he still saw the strategy in the spell’s attack. It wished to appear random, like an attack designed to maim or kill as many as possible, not turn one gargoyle into a spy.
But the gargoyles were far from defeated.
A moment later they launched their own devastating attacks. A wave of force unlike anything he’d experienced in his life struck his dying body. The power invaded every cell, then a blink later burned them away to ash.
His body might be gone, yet his spirit remained, watching helplessly as the blood witch’s spell shredded his soul for the energy it needed to inhabit another.
At first, he wasn’t even sure which gargoyle the spell had chosen. Then he spotted the fading tether that linked his soul to the dark weaving. But that leash was weakening, fading away, having already taken what it needed from him.
Numb and hollowed out, he watched as the tether vanished, taking with it the only clue as to which gargoyle now was home to the witch’s spell.
But he had fulfilled his mission.
Though, he no longer remembered what that was.
More gargoyles rushed into the dungeon, and not even their magic-enhanced sight could see what remained of his fading spirit.
He drifted for a time, watching as his form started to break apart.
Into the silence, a deep and soothing voice reached the shredded remains of his disembodied spirit. “Poor battered soul. Come, and I shall heal you of whatever that infernal blood witch has done this day.”
“Who?” the spirit asked.
“I have been called by many names. You will know me as Draydrak, the Lord of the Underworld. Though, you may call me Dray.”
Dray?
In life, he’d known Death would come for him one day—it was inescapable, even for a being who didn’t age.
But this was nothing like how he’d thought it would go. Was it?
“Do you know why you’re here?” the god of death asked.
“I...remember...little.” That was true. And strange.
A soul was supposed to remember everything from their last life. And yet there were great voids in his memory.
“I suppose that’s to be expected after what you’ve endured feeding that attack, but it’s still unfortunate, since I haven’t been able to see your future since the djinn’s magic touched you.” Lord Death sighed. “Come. Once I restore you, perhaps then you can tell me what mischief my sister and her pet blood witch hoped to accomplish by sending you deep into my territory.”
All his life, Ridaner had fought on the opposite side from this demigod.
Now it seemed strange to be seeking his aid.
Yet he was tired, and Dray’s power was like a welcome drink after days in a desert.
When the demigod called a second time, the wispy remains of a savaged soul followed him into the Light.
Chapter 40
THE SUN WAS ALREADY at its highest point in the sky when Anna woke the next day feeling more muzzy-headed than usual from the healers’ magic. As her wits sharpened, she’d thought she’d feel awkward around Obsidian. But that was not the case. If anything, she felt lighter as if finally sharing her terrible secrets lessened the dread.
Oh, the memories were fresher than they’d been in months, but the emotional pain wasn’t as severe. There was more anger than shame now. Perhaps one day she’d forgive herself for letting a couple of civilians get the better of her.
And Matt?
Looking back, she now knew Matt’s hold on her heart paled in comparison to what she and Obsidian shared. And she and her gargoyle partner weren’t even a couple.
At first, she’d been afraid Obsidian would act strangely around her, either pitying her or showing some new protectiveness, as if she was weaker now than she’d been just the day before.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he greeted her with the usual gargoyle nuzzles. Then offered to fly her back to Haven since she was stuck in human form for another day while her gargoyle body healed. Or whatever the heck the magic did that allowed her to shift back and have a fully healed wing.
When they reached the island, Truth sought them out and told them that several of the Adept-level mentors had returned from the future and were now asking for Obsidian and Anna.
“I take a nap, and all hell breaks loose,” Anna grumbled.
Obsidian shrugged. “It was a rather long nap. And Lord Draydrak actually spoke to me on the beach.”
“He what?” Anna pivoted and jammed a finger at his chest. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You needed the rest.”
“Not that much, you overprotective idiot.” But she softened her voice to take the sting out of her words. “Start talking.”
He did, telling how Lord Dray had sensed a new, unwelcome development in the time streams. The Battle Goddess had summoned a djinn—and now everyone was in a tizzy.
Apparently, real-life genies were way more badass than in the legends.
Great.
Like they didn’t have enough evil henchmen to deal with.
When they reached the council chamber, situated high in its towering hamadryad, all the Masters and several of the oldest Adepts were present and loudly discussing this newest development. Discussing? Hell, it looked more
like a shouting match.
Rook was the calmest, standing with his brawny arms folded over his chest, looking on with an expression of boredom. Verroc was the second calmest, although he was a little more animated than usual.
Thayn, the eldest of the gargoyles, was here as well. He just looked plain delighted.
When he spotted them, he came over and joined them.
“Haven’t seen this much excitement in years. A djinn. Wonder if I know him?” The ancient gargoyle just grinned at them.
Anna arched a brow and wondered why the old geezer found that amusing. It was on the tip of her tongue when Rook came up to them.
“I’m more concerned about the purpose of that attack,” Rook muttered.
“What attack?” Obsidian asked what Anna was thinking.
Master Thayn explained how a scout had found one of the Battle Goddess’s minions and brought him in for questioning.
“She was testing some new djinn-based battle magic. It was powerful and cut through even a Master’s shielding magic.” The elder rubbed at his chest where Anna could see a small, healing wound. “First scar someone has landed on me in ages. The magic came close to killing three of the guards.”
“We must find out more about this battle magic and create better defenses.” There was a determined glint in Rook’s eye. “I say we address this issue at once.”
Thayn snorted. “Normally, I’d agree. However, the power is far from perfected. The poor bastard she used to deliver the attack was torn open when he triggered the spell. Killing him was a mercy. If we can remove the djinn from the Battle Goddess’s keeping, we’ll have deprived her of her new weapon.”
“Fine, if you won’t let me send agents to learn more about this power, give me Obsidian. The others will be discussing these newest events for the next three days,” Rook pointed his complaint firmly at Thayn. “While they’re doing that, Obsidian can take his Adept Trial.”
“You think our young Rasoren is ready?” Thayn rubbed his thumb under his jaw as he studied Obsidian.
“Yes.”
Thayn grinned. “Then why are you three still here? Go down to the practice fields and make ready. The Legion might be needing its war leaders sooner rather than later. I’ll inform the rest of the council, and we’ll be along after we’ve finished discussing the djinn development.”
Rook bowed to the elder. “We’ll go at once.”
“You’ll do well.” Thayn clapped Obsidian on the shoulder. “Wait. I’ve got a present for you.”
The elder held out a belt with a dagger sheathed in an ornate scabbard. Obsidian took it with a laugh, thanking Thayn for his generosity. Anna didn’t get a good look at it until they were walking down the stairs and Obsidian held it out to Rook.
The design was familiar, one she’d admired a time or two herself. The old geezer had struck again. Rook just stared at what Obsidian held out, uncomprehending.
“Weren’t you wearing that when we walked into the council chambers?” Anna asked sweetly.
Strangely Rook looked utterly surprised for a moment as if Thayn didn’t pull that trick every time he visited, but then the Master just snatched up the belt and weapon and looked forward again.
They were halfway down the stairs circling the giant hamadryad when Rook commanded them to meet him at the arena. A moment later he took to the air.
Once he was well out of sight, and hopefully too far away for his mind-reading ability to work, Anna glanced at Obsidian. “That was odd. Wonder what’s chewing his ass?”
“Thayn, I’d say.”
But Obsidian’s gaze watched the spot where they’d last seen Rook.
Chapter 41
ANNA STOOD AT OBSIDIAN’S side as he took in the number of people gathering in the corridor. By the noise, there were hundreds more outside.
“You nervous?” Anna asked from her location at his shoulder.
“No.”
Anna snorted.
He gazed down at her and grinned. “Eh, that was a lie, wasn’t it?”
“Just a little one. Tiny, like no bigger than this.” She stood on her tiptoes and spread her arms as wide as they would go.
Her lighthearted humor had the effect on Obsidian she’d hoped, and he sighed, his shoulders relaxing as his mind calmed.
Together they walked out of the underground tunnel and onto the sands of the arena’s floor.
Unlike regular practice rings, this one was vast. Impressively so, with it being a good three or four times the size of the next largest ring. And there were bench-like seats on three sides, carved into the very stone of the mountain. She doubted the amphitheater was natural. It was too symmetrical. More likely magic had cut it out of the side of the mountain.
As large as it was, it still wasn’t large enough for the entire island’s population, but that didn’t stop them from trying, as a couple thousand gargoyles and dryads packed themselves into the space.
Above, a few gargoyles circled lazily on thermals as they waited for the first bout to begin.
“Seems like everyone wants to see you kick ass or get your ass kicked.” She grinned up at him since she was still in human form and he towered over her.
“Adept Trials are more exciting because they pit the student against multiple partners,” Obsidian explained. “They start with the student facing his peers. All of them. Then if he or she defeats them, they go on to face the mentors one at a time. If they defeat all their mentors— which can happen but is rare—then the student goes on to face off against all the newly titled Adepts from the past year.”
“Yeah, because that sounds fair,” Anna muttered.
“The student only has to defeat three of the Adepts, and they will be elevated to that level.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“But if the student is very skilled, he or she must keep fighting Adept after Adept until they lose.”
Anna eyed him up and down. “You hate losing a fight. We’re going to be here all day, aren’t we?”
Obsidian grinned. “Yes. I plan to win as many battles as I can.”
“Master Obsidian. Is that the title you’re really after?”
He snorted. “No. But I won’t turn it down.”
“So modest.”
“The only way I’d get named a master today is if I fight Rook and win. No one ever wins against Rook during a Trial, or so I’m told.”
“How do you get named a master? Kill a dragon or something?”
Obsidian rolled his eyes at her.
Well, how was she supposed to know? She hadn’t covered that crap in her studies yet.
“It’s like an Adept Trial in that the student must face all their peers and then face the Masters. The student has to beat at least one of the older masters.”
“Only one?”
“A gargoyle becomes more powerful with age.”
Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Master Thayn. He bore a large silver bowl in his hands.
“What’s that?” Anna asked along their mental link.
“That is why it’s called a Trial.”
Obsidian took the offered bowl and then drank from it, draining the dark, spicy smelling mixture.
“That wasn’t something harmless like wine, was it?”
“No. It’s a potion only known to Lord Dray and the council members. It cripples a gargoyle’s shadow magic for a day.” Obsidian licked at his lips as if it tingled or burned but handed the bowl back to Master Thayn without so much as a flinch.
His thoughts touched hers one final time. “This Trial is designed to teach a gargoyle that he can’t always count on his magic, that sometimes you must learn to take down opponents more powerful than yourself. Don’t be alarmed if our link starts to fade or feels like it disappears. It will return soon enough.”
“So, the old geezer is stealing your magic this time. Why does that not surprise me.”
The elder turned and grinned at Anna a second before his thoughts touched hers. “I’ll have
to think up some other surprise for you if this doesn’t offer enough to be entertaining.”
Heat crept up Anna’s face.
Right. Oldest gargoyle. Gargoyles get more powerful with age. Check.
After that Obsidian didn’t say anything more. Anna wasn’t sure if it was because he was mentally preparing to face his first opponents or if the drink worked that fast. Three more minutes crept by and the sensations that always flowed along their link, even when they were shielding their minds, suddenly stopped.
A heartbeat after that, their link blinked out of existence, leaving a hollow feeling in Anna’s mind.
She had to shove away the panicky little feeling its absence caused.
It hadn’t occurred to her how much their link was a part of them. She just took it for granted. Gods, what if only one of them survived the coming war? What would it do to the other? No. She wouldn’t think like that.
They either both survived or they died together.
She found that thought strangely comforting and was soon able to focus upon Obsidian and his test.
It took most of the afternoon, but he defeated all comers, first the novices, and then his fellow journeymen. He’d been magnificent to watch, making the defeats look easy, but up close she could see the toll.
The air near the arena’s floor had been cooled by the summoning of shadow magic by his opponents. Steam now curled up from his body even as sweat dripped into the sand under his feet. That alone told her while he’d made it look easy, it wasn’t.
Finally, Thayn called for a break.
Anna found herself rushing forward to check over her Rasoren for injuries before the healers had even made it to his side.
He laughed and touched a drop of sweat that was making its way along her hairline from temple to ear.
“You look like you’ve been battling your own demons, my Kyrsu.” His voice was rich with humor, but she still heard the weariness in it.
Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much willpower it had taken to stand in the sidelines and watch her partner get beat on by opponent after opponent.
“It’s not funny.” Anna grabbed a bucket of water right out of one of the healer’s hands and offered it to Obsidian. She needed to do something, to feel useful or her berserker gargoyle nature was going to come out and play.
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 143
