The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9)

by Lisa Blackwood

  She gave him a sad smile. “Gryton once told me your mother believed there were many realms existing side by side, and that in some of them there would be other Vasparas and Soracs and Grytons and Bervictas. If she was correct, then maybe in some other realm or world or time, there is a place where we didn’t take the djinn when we escaped with your eggs, and we are even now raising them, living and loving and free.”

  Sorac was silent for a time. When he at last blinked and focused on her, he nuzzled her gently. “I like that thought, my beloved.”

  “Come then. Let’s go. We might not have a happy ending in our future, but we can at least comport ourselves with honor and integrity.”

  “Honor and integrity are in short supply it seems,” he rumbled out. “After all, the Lady of Battles betrayed all of us a very long time ago by allowing a soul feeder among our ranks.”

  “That might be true. But keep that thought to yourself, you great lizard. I don’t want to see you die before you must.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Together they made their way down the valley’s northern slope. It was a naturally broad valley, more like a canyon system, but over thousands of years, they’d expanded the area at key points to make room for the ever-growing army. Even walking swiftly, the march was long, and morning soon turned into afternoon.

  They reached the midpoint of her battalions’ location and stopped at a natural rise sticking out of the otherwise gentle slope. Below her, the incline led down to where the sleeping army waited in the carefully arranged terraces.

  “This is as good as any spot,” Vaspara muttered as she climbed the side of the natural ledge.

  Sorac remained below her, his haunches on the ground, tail curled around his legs, head held high and proud as he stood next to her.

  “You could at least look humble about our failings.”

  “There is nothing to be humble about. I certainly don’t view your love as a weakness to be hidden away so others don’t see it,” he said in a rumbling purr. “Let them look upon us. We are still fierce and masters of ourselves. And we were loyal to the Battle Goddess for as long as possible. It was the blood witch who convinced the Battle Goddess to send us to watch over that suicide mission into gargoyle territory, all so Taryin could experiment with her twisted foul magics.”

  “Your prejudice is showing again, my love.”

  The drake snorted. “It’s not prejudiced if I’m telling the facts as they unfolded.”

  “Still, I would suggest you allow your battalion to see the facts without your emotions painting them in a particular color.”

  “Fine. You have my word I’ll let them all see what a disaster the blood witch will bring upon them for themselves.”

  “That’s a better idea.” She flashed him a grin and then closed her eyes and centered herself. Turning her hands palm up, she spread them wide and began chanting the words of the spell even as her magic rose to answer her call. At the first touch of her power, the layers of protection covering the valley flared to life, becoming visible to the naked eye.

  Soon she was mentally wading deep into the spell and manipulating the command nodes, signaling them to begin waking the sleepers. The new commands slowly spread out over the entire netting, making it shimmer brighter as it turned from a pale blue to a sparkling emerald-hue.

  Once the new commands reached the distant outer edge of the spell net, the entire construction shivered once and then began to descend over the waiting statues. The ones nearer to her and Sorac’s location were the first the spell touched, and their stone-like skin gave way to flesh and blood bodies. Slowly the spell net dipped lower into the valley, continuing to reach new rows of statues, waking them as it had the first.

  As the spell continued its work, she studied the first line of warriors spread out in either direction, checking to see that they all returned to life and none of them were in severe distress.

  She’d performed the waking five times before and knew it was never an easy spell to rouse from. Her battalion would all need three or four days to feed and fully recover, but so far, all in her line of sight were doing well enough.

  “They are strong,” Sorac said with a little pride.

  “Of course they are. When have I ever allowed weakness to take root in any of my warriors?”

  Sorac chuckled. “Point taken. I would expect nothing less from the soldiers under mighty Vaspara’s command. After all, she was second only to Commander Gryton and me.”

  “You’re getting cocky, lizardman. It was the other way around as I remember it. You were second only to Commander Gryton and me.”

  The firedrake snorted. “I must be getting confused between battle sport and bed sport, and the way I make you whine and moan and scream when you’re under me.”

  Vaspara snorted. “I was allowing you to retain your sense of masculinity. If we ever get the chance to play at bed sports again, I’ll strip you of your delusions, and it will be you moaning and crying and begging while I work my mastery over that impressive cock of yours, mighty firedrake.”

  “I love it when you talk dirty, my succubus. And while I would love to discover where this will lead,” he grinned at her, his teeth gleaming in the sun, “your battalion will soon need your guidance.”

  He was correct. Closing her eyes again, she triggered the second part of the spell. This was far less showy but required much more concentration. Calling up the most important memories of the last year, she began to weave the spell that would deliver each memory into the minds of the soldiers under her command. She started with the defection of River and how she’d escaped to the Mortal Realm with her mate and her son to join the Avatars.

  Once that memory was racing down the lines of the spell net, she next showed how Gryton had gone in pursuit of River, and as a result of that, other members of the Battle Goddess’s army had managed to recapture River’s son. Later another opportunity had presented itself in the form of the cub’s new Kyrsu coming after him.

  Vaspara showed how swiftly the two had excelled in their training, and how they were greater assets than River and Stalks the Darkness. She gave the soldiers a moment to assimilate what they’d just learned. Once she was confident they were ready for the next, she showed that how unknown to Vaspara and everyone else, while Gryton had been in the Mortal Realm, he’d encountered the Mother’s Sorceress and had flipped sides, only returning to the Magic Realm to act as a spy and to attempt to rescue the cub.

  There was a great stirring in the ranks at this news, but they were too well trained to speak out yet, and she focused on the next bit of news. Blood Witch Taryin had acted against orders and attempted to weave one of her slave spells upon Anna and Shadowlight, but the two rebelled, unwilling to be slaves to such a dark spell. They managed to inflict what would have been a mortal wound upon the witch, but in their youth and inexperience, they’d left her locked in a cage with Captains Ninara and Honnan instead of finishing her off. The witch fed upon the two captains, devouring their lifeforce and then their souls to regenerate herself.

  Gryton had then fought the witch and the other remaining captains to allow Anna and Shadowlight the time they needed to escape to Lord Death. Faced with impossible odds, Gryton was eventually overcome, and the Battle Goddess tortured him.

  The Lady of Battles had planned to set his power cascading out of control and then toss him through a portal spell linked to the world in the Mortal Realm where the Avatars resided. If all had gone as planned, Gryton would have died, rising into a fiery sun. But the Avatars had infiltrated the Goddess’s kingdom in secret and rescued their son, killing a great many of the Battle Goddess’s warriors in the process.

  Vaspara paused to allow her warriors to assimilate everything she’d just fed them. Once she deemed them ready for the rest, she continued to tell of how the captains’ numbers had been cut in half from the previous events.

  But the witch had survived and soon began creating new spells to hunt and track Shadowlight and Anna. When she di
scovered she couldn’t achieve her plans using a blood witch’s magic—a gargoyle would scent that stink and hunt it out—she summoned a djinn.

  This news caused another great stirring among the warriors spread out in the valley below. It wasn’t as great as the news about Gryton being the Avatars son, but a djinn was dreadfully dangerous.

  While the memory of how the blood witch began hunting and feeding on the servants—some loyal families having served for generations—might not be strictly needed for the soldiers to do their duties, Vaspara decided to show them the witch’s callousness anyway.

  Then she showed how Sorac had acted to save his and Vaspara’s servants by secreting them away to protect those loyal servants.

  It set the tone for the next part, of how the Battle Goddess had sent a small force led by the newest captain into gargoyle territory to deliver the spell the witch and the djinn had come up with to locate and return Anna and Shadowlight to the Lady of Battles.

  Vaspara and Sorac were sent to oversee the new captain, but they were not in command of the ill-fated venture. Somehow the gargoyles discovered the tracking spells and set their own trap. A trap the young captain led the small company into. It was a blood bath, everyone besides Vaspara and Sorac being slaughtered by the gargoyles.

  Vaspara showed that only her talent with a sword and Sorac’s might had allowed them to capture two of the Legion warriors and use them to bargain for their own escape. She didn’t hesitate to show them how betrayed and used she’d felt knowing the Lady of Battles would allow the blood witch to do whatever she wished to achieve an end.

  Then after she’d swallowed that bit of bitter reality, she had come to realize everyone back home would think they were dead. She’d convinced Sorac they could just disappear, join their servants and start a new life elsewhere. Besides, he had a nest with fourteen eggs hidden away, and if servants weren’t safe, what guarantee did he have that the witch wouldn’t eventually turn her attention to them?

  Vaspara implied she’d seduced the big firedrake into going along with her plan to save his young.

  “Hah. And there goes the succubus trying to protect me again,” Sorac rumbled, his words carrying far and wide. “I’ve loved Vaspara for centuries and have always wanted to start a life with her, but there was one problem. I couldn’t leave my clutch vulnerable to Blood Witch Taryin.” The big drake lowered his muzzle so he could affectionately nuzzle her.

  “Sorac,” she sent along a private link, “I don’t think it was a good idea to show them how much you care about me.”

  “I am done with deceit. Let them see our devotion to each other. They are smart enough to know our love has always been a strength, not a weakness.”

  Aloud, he continued. “Vaspara aided me in going back to collect my clutch in secret. Unbeknownst to us, the djinn had sensed our return and was waiting for us. He demanded we liberate his bottle and escape with him. In exchange for our aid, he would allow us to take my eggs from that place. We did as he asked.”

  Vaspara then showed the newly awakened battalion the rest. She even allowed them to glimpse her awe and terror the day she’d been at the nest when the first egg began to hatch and later her poor attempts at being a mother. But as much as she’d feared to be a mother, the little ones had won her heart, and she would do anything to see them safe.

  Then the day came where Blood Witch Taryin and Captain Bervicta arrived on the island and captured the little ones. She and Sorac had surrendered to protect the hatchlings, and now they were slaves to the blood witch.

  Vaspara looked out over the valley, making eye contact with as many of her soldiers as she could. “Do not make the same mistake we did. Do not toss away your honor and respect, everything you’ve worked for, in a moment of weakness. The Lady of Battles was merciful to us because of all the years of service we performed for her. She will not be so merciful a second time.”

  “Merciful is not the word I would have used to describe what she has allowed the witch to do to us.” The firedrake’s thoughts were accompanied by a huff.

  “I know. And the battalion is smart enough to know that I am warning them of what they have to look forward to.”

  “There is that.”

  Vaspara nodded to the firedrake and then turned her gaze back out to the valley and the soldiers waiting there.

  “While the Lady of Battles may have restored our titles and ability to command, she will not strike out if any of you are not confident in my ability to lead and wish to challenge me for leadership.” Vaspara stepped away from Sorac and held her arms out wide. “Come. Speak now and I will answer your challenge in three days, once you are recovered.”

  At last, the murmuring of voices rolled across the valley. Soldiers cast subtle glances to their left and right as if seeking guidance from their neighbor.

  “They are conflicted. We clearly betrayed our duties, and yet they aren’t certain our choices weren’t forced by the leniency the Battle Goddess has given her dark witch.”

  “Yes. But will it be enough?”

  “We shall see.” Sorac sat with his tail curled around his haunches, the tip flicking gently. He looked bored, but she sensed the tension in his body, the willingness to strike if anyone threatened Vaspara outside of a formal challenge.

  At last, the battalion grew quiet once more, and a few individuals moved through the throng and organized into a line directly in front of where she and Sorac stood. Vaspara kept a neutral expression on her face while she awaited their verdict.

  Of the twenty lined up before them, three stepped forward to act as spokespersons for the rest of the battalion. She recognized each of them. After all, she’d trained them, spending extra time with the most skilled of her students.

  Brunin, a blond-haired incubus who also had the distinction of being one of her cousins, was the first to speak. “If the Lady of Battles is content that you remain her captain, I am equally content to continue to call you my captain as well.”

  He bowed deeply before stepping back into his place in line. Vernik, a male of centaur blood approached next. He too bowed deeply. “I have no issue calling one of the most beautiful women in the army my leader.”

  Sorac gave a growling laugh at the centaur’s words. “As long as all you do is look, stallion. She’s my mate now.”

  Vaspara smacked Sorac on the muzzle. “Not helping, Lizardman.”

  “So far, so good. We’ll have to see about the last one.” He just grinned as the third person approached.

  The female of mixed harpy-sidhe blood was tall and solidly built, with both a set of wings and arms like Bervicta. Though she lacked the harpy captain’s height, nor was she quite as broad in the shoulders and chest. But that didn’t mean Saskurna wasn’t deadly in her own right. She was a superb assassin. It was said she could even sneak up on a gargoyle and give the surprised male a good grope before burying her blade in his body.

  Vaspara secretly thought that might just be an exaggerated rumor. Gargoyles were notoriously hard to approach in secret. Though she wouldn’t put it past a harpy to attempt to feel up a gargoyle if given a chance. They were bold females that generally took what they wanted.

  If any of the soldiers under Vaspara’s command were to issue a challenge, she’d expect it of this female. But Saskurna surprised her by dipping into a deep bow and then straightening.

  “What those two lovely males weren’t masculine enough to admit is that no one wants to take you on in a battle for leadership.” The female shrugged her wings. “Perhaps if the current climate were different someone would desire the power enough to risk their neck, but with a blood witch slinking around, devouring unsuspecting souls, no one wants the distinction of becoming a new captain and drawing the witch or the djinn’s attention. Doesn’t sound very good for one’s long-term survival.”

  “I detect no lies,” Sorac offered.

  Vaspara agreed. She’d detected no deceit in any of the soldiers.

  “Very well. Ready yourselves to return to t
he city. The other members of our battalion are already setting up tents in the valley below the city.”

  The battalion came to attention, and the loud thump of many fists hitting breastplates in a salute rang across the valley. She repeated the motion in answer. Next she turned to Sorac and nodded her head.

  He dipped his head low enough she could easily mount, and then they were winging their way farther down the valley to Sorac’s sleeping battalion. Once they reached them, Sorac did as Vaspara had done before him and soon his soldiers were awake and hearing the same tale from Sorac’s lips.

  They responded in much the same manner as hers had. Though they were swifter to confirm no one wanted to challenge the firedrake’s leadership. While Sorac was giving his men their orders to return to the city to begin gathering supplies, Bervicta came winging her way into the valley.

  “Male, you fly entirely too fast. How is your leader supposed to keep up?” But Bervicta’s voice was humorous. Her eyes darted over the sea of bodies already starting to march down the valley on their way to the fortress city. “It went well, I take it?”

  “Yes, surprisingly.”

  “Not so much of a surprise to me. No one ever enjoys meeting you in the ring even when it’s just for practice. A fight that might end in death with an angry firedrake looking on?” She snorted. “No. I’m not surprised you didn’t get a challenger.”

  “Sorac in firedrake form does make a very menacing partner.”

  “Exactly. By the way, did you wish to stay and watch me awaken Gryton’s Elites?” Bervicta grinned. “It certainly won’t hurt if a firedrake is standing on my one side, steam rolling out his mouth while you stand at the other shoulder glowering that look of yours that can make a male’s cock both hard and want to crawl between his own legs to hide at the same time.”

  Vaspara laughed at the harpy’s words and accompanying gestures. “I will stand at your side.”

  “Good, because I was going to command you both if you didn’t agree.” She glanced at the stone soldiers still lined up in formations. “If anyone is willing to offer a challenge to yours, mine, or Sorac’s leadership, it will be one of Gryton’s personal pets.”