But even those soldiers didn’t offer a challenge upon waking and learning all that had transpired since the last time they’d been awake. Though they did surprise Vaspara by deciding to split themselves among the twelve other battalions instead of forming a thirteenth.
Once their battalions were moving, Vaspara, Sorac, and Bervicta began the flight back home.
“The Elites are up to something,” Bervicta hissed from her position behind Vaspara on Sorac’s back. The drake had offered to fly the harpy back to the fortress so they could all have everything ready for their newly awakened soldiers’ return.
“Yes,” Sorac agreed in a rumble.
“You mean how they split themselves up so they will have spies in all the other battalions?” Vaspara knew what she said was true. “They came to that consensus too swiftly for it to be anything other than a contingency Gryton put into place in case of his absence.”
“But that assumes they still trust him after his betrayal,” the harpy said, sounding highly doubtful of the idea that the soldiers would still trust in anything Gryton put into motion.
“His betrayal doesn’t negate his intellect and skills as a tactician. While Gryton’s defection has forced his Elites to sever all ties of loyalty to him, that in no way means they are no longer loyal to each other. I think they plan to measure the other command-level officers in order to determine who all they need to defeat to take control of each battalion.”
Bervicta swore. “Well, that’s auspicious. And if they’re successful, the Battle Goddess will admire the boldness of such a plan and likely let them live to command her army. If we don’t wish to be a part of the captains who are overthrown, I suggest we all start working with the Elites to earn their trust and loyalty.
Chapter 12
Erika
LORD DEATH’S ISLAND home was a tropical paradise. Erika hadn’t had time to see much of it the first time. But now that she’d had a chance for a brief look around, she admitted she wouldn’t mind spending some leave time in a place like this.
Heck, tourists would have paid hundreds of dollars for a week here. Well, if not for the host being death incarnate and all that.
Presently, she and her new dragon friend—Gryton still hadn’t shifted back—were seated off to one side of a natural amphitheater. Benches lined three of the surrounding slopes with the fourth side being open to the ocean.
The place was packed with gargoyles and dryads. If she was to guess, the entire population of the island had turned out. Though there was an invisible two-hundred-foot bubble around the dragon that everyone treated with a healthy respect. And the dragon was free with his hissing reminders when a gargoyle or dryad approached too closely.
Only Lillian and Gregory tested the dragon by crossing that invisible line and approaching Erika.
“Are you well?” Lillian asked her, even as the woman’s gaze cut away to track the slightest shift in the dragon’s body.
“Yes. Surprisingly well. Though my power doesn’t seem to be feeding on the dragon’s fire magic. I don’t know why. And he can’t or won’t talk.”
The Sorceress looked thoughtful for a moment. “I think I know why. He’s in control of his power far better than Gryton ever was, and your ability knows it and doesn’t consider him a danger, at least not to himself.” She paused and looked up at the dragon. “I mean no insult, my son. But it seems that now that your dragon has matured, your fire magic is no longer at war with you. I think all this time your dragon has been battling to assume your natural form.”
The dragon just tilted his head to study Lillian. After a moment, he rumbled something and nuzzled his mother. When his father ventured closer, Gregory was rewarded with a soft growl.
The gargoyle scowled up at the dragon. “Watch your tongue, pup. You are still a long way from being my match, but if you remain civil, I’ll teach you all I know about mastery over the powers of the universe and your own mind.”
Snorting softly, the dragon nodded infinitesimally and then settled down to wait. As usual, his tail curled around Erika, dragging her closer.
“Is he ever going to get less...” She was going to say needy but thought better of that. “Less...tactile?”
Lillian looked mildly concerned, but Gregory just laughed. “Not likely. Or at least not any time soon. He’s finally found someone he trusts enough to lavish affection on.”
“I have to agree with my mate,” Lillian said. “Gryton in his dragon form is a little like a dog with a favorite toy.”
“Heck, as long as he’s not raging, I’m cool with being his dog toy.” She looked up at his generous teeth. “As long as I’m not his chew toy, all’s good.”
Lillian nodded at the dragon. “We’ll still keep a close eye on his mental state, but for now I think he is calm enough to sit while Lord Draydrak tells us what he knows about Gregory’s and my last life together.”
Erika nodded and looked around at all the gargoyles arriving. The sky was still black with wings as more of the island’s residents came in for landings among the bench-lined slopes. Something else occurred to her.
“Is Lord Draydrak just going to divulge state secrets in front of everyone?”
Lillian chuckled. “Things are different here. Until Haven, which has now been explained to everyone, there were no secrets among the Legion members. Well, there are little secrets, of course. But if something affects everyone, then everyone has the right to know about it. Besides, gargoyles are some of the worse gossips. No secret would long survive here. I’m amazed Haven managed to remain covert. I suppose the credit must go to Draydrak for not allowing that knowledge to escape.”
Erika turned to look where the demigod in question was striding up the slope facing the ocean. When he approached the Avatars and the dragon, he held his hands out to show them empty as he had the last time.
“I am glad you have agreed to stay and listen,” he told the dragon. “We must put our differences aside and learn to work together to have any chance of winning the coming war.”
After he said his piece, Lord Draydrak backed away, giving them a little space. Which was good because the dragon wasn’t overly happy at Lord Death’s nearness.
She patted the dragon’s closest foreleg more to reassure herself than him. While Adept Thayn was calling the assembly to order, Erika glanced up at the dragon. “You really do need a name.”
His muzzle dipped lower, and he huffed softly once more.
“I also wish I knew what that meant.” She shrugged. “I suppose if you don't tell me your name, I’ll just have to come up with one on my own. Contingent on if you like it, of course.”
The dragon rumbled but only lowered his head to rest on his forearms.
But the naming of her new dragon mount would have to wait. Adept Thayn was finished and bowing toward Lord Draydrak. The demigod nodded.
“We are here today because of a plan set in motion over six thousand years ago, during the last time the Avatars ventured outside of the Spirit Realm. That last life ended when they created the elemental dragon sitting here with us today.” Draydrak’s voice took on a storytelling quality. “The Divine Ones had planned to use the Avatars, in their last lifetime, to bring back the healed Shieldbearer.”
That revelation got a mutter of surprise from the audience. Even the Avatars looked surprised by the news, but Draydrak merely continued.
“It wasn’t until after I destroyed the Shieldbearer and sent him back to the Divine Ones for healing that I discovered the source of his corruption. He’d gone to battle a true demon escaped from the void. The Shieldbearer was still young and wished to prove himself to his mate. But it was foolish to go after a demon of the void by himself. Even my twin and I wouldn’t face one of those beasts without several gargoyles or a djinn.”
Erika wondered what set demons of the void apart from the Battle Goddess’s army and other nasty things that went bump in the night.
“But the demon was cunning even in defeat,” Lord Draydrak continued.
“While the Shieldbearer had won the battle and destroyed the demon, it had still whispered seductive lies into his mind as it died, whispering that my twin preferred me to battle at her side, that I was a fiercer, more skilled warrior. And in her secret heart, she wished I wasn’t her brother at all, but instead her mate.”
Wow. Someone had nerves of steel and wasn’t easily embarrassed, Erika reflected. And he’d said that all without flinching.
“None of it was true, but the demon’s words festered in the Shieldbearer’s heart until slowly, over time, his jealousy grew. Then one day he decided if he could beat me and steal my powers, he’d also steal my place in the Battle Goddess’s heart. He believed she would then see he was her perfect mate.”
Draydrak sighed. “Of course, the Shieldbearer was already my sister’s entire world. From the moment the Avatars had come together by Divine edict and birthed the Shieldbearer into the Universe, my twin loved him without hesitation. He completed her soul.”
Draydrak glanced down upon the fae, gargoyles, and humans gathered around. Perhaps taking pity on them, he folded his legs under him and sat. They would still have to crane their necks, but Erika appreciated the gesture.
A moment later the big dragon changed positions as well, settling to sit on his haunches in a more upright position while he cradled Erika in his hands. Suddenly she didn’t have to crane her neck to study Draydrak.
She patted the dragon’s warm palm. “Thanks, big guy.”
The dragon made a soft huffing sound and a jet of steam issued from between his teeth.
Off on the other side of the amphitheater, Draydrak flicked his wings and folded them tight to his back. Comfortable at last, he continued his tale.
“It wasn’t until after I’d sent the Shieldbearer back to the Spirit Realm to be purified and healed that I realized the full extent of what his loss would do to my twin. I foolishly thought I could make her understand, that my love for my twin would be enough to help her deal with her grief until the Shieldbearer was healed and reborn to walk the universe with her once more.”
He paused again, one hoof pawing at the sand floor of the arena before he noticed the action and stopped. “But one thing I hadn’t foreseen was that the Shieldbearer would need a great deal of healing to purify his spirit and that the Divine Ones wouldn’t let anyone see him during that time.”
Draydrak closed his eyes for a moment, but the depth of his regret was still evident in his body language. “My Twin’s rage spiraled into insanity, and that madness destroyed worlds.”
“It was not your fault,” Gregory said softly. “None of it was.”
“Yes. I know my actions were necessary, but I realized too late what it would cost the three realms. I doubted myself after that,” he admitted. “I began to think that perhaps I should have gone to my Twin first and told her what I’d found and then together we could deal with the Shieldbearer. That way it would be my blow that ended his life, but my twin would have been there with him to hold him until his power unraveled and his soul was ready to journey back to the Spirit Realm where he could heal. I think my twin would have gone with him peacefully if events had unfolded that way.”
A snorting sound of dissension came from within the largest group of gargoyles gathered along the southern side of the arena. A moment later, a gargoyle was leaping up onto Lord Draydrak’s foreleg.
“The Battle Goddess would never have done what needed to be done,” the gargoyle challenged, and Erika recognized Thayn’s voice. “And I wouldn’t bet that she wasn’t corrupted by her mate after his run-in with the void demon. Old friend, you did the only thing you could to protect the three realms.”
“Perhaps,” the Lord of the Underworld agreed. Then, his gaze turning to where Erika sat upon the dragon’s palm, he continued. “In the Avatars’ last mortal lifetime, the Divine Ones had intended to use them to rebirth the Shieldbearer in the hope he would be able to persuade his mate to surrender her power and return to the Spirit Realm to be healed by the Divine Ones as he had been.”
Thayn snorted again.
Draydrak faced the elder, but he spoke to everyone as he continued. “As you can imagine from Thayn’s response, like him, not all the great players agreed upon this path. Many of the djinns believed, like Thayn did, that such a path would just put the Shieldbearer at risk of being corrupted once more, by the Battle Goddess this time. If he had indeed passed a taint to his mate, then she could just as easily give the infection back to him.”
Erika couldn’t help but think a particular group of immortals needed a health class to learn about safe sex. She’d only just finished that thought when Lord Draydrak looked back at her, and she had the distinct impression he was silently laughing.
Shit? Could he read thoughts? Of course he could.
“Yes, Null,” came a rich, mellow voice directly into her head. “One of my gifts is to touch the minds of all creatures, so that I may soothe them at the moment of their death. But the gift comes in handy for other things, too.”
“Ah. Sorry, I’ll try to keep my thoughts more respectful,” she hedged, not knowing what else to promise a demigod.
“No need, ancient one. I have heard and seen many things in my long lifetime, and I am not easily offended.”
While it was good he wasn’t easily offended, she was having trouble with everyone randomly addressing her as old soul or ancient one or some such. But Lord Death didn’t seem concerned with her worries and continued with his tale.
“It wasn’t the first time, and likely won’t be the last, that the djinns have bickered amongst themselves over one of the Divine Ones’ plans. What made this time different was that the Avatar was uncertain of the wisdom of reuniting the Lady of Battles with her Shieldbearer.”
Erika noticed a not-so-subtle shift in Gregory’s posture. This was news to him. Actually, the entire tale was probably new to the pair. After all, they claimed to have no memory of their last lifetime together that resulted in Gryton’s birth.
“Then once the Avatar sundered its soul to be reborn as the Gargoyle Protector and the Mother’s Sorceress, they became even more certain of the risk of their creator’s plan. In the end, they sided with the oldest of the djinns. While the Sorceress would have agreed to wait and first carry out the Divine Ones’ plan before trying her own, she was swayed by her Gargoyle Protector and the eldest of the djinns. Together the three of them concocted a plan to fight the Lady of Battles and finally send her back to the Divine Ones for healing.”
“I was at odds with my Sorceress?” Gregory sounded positively doubtful of the validity of the news.
“For a very short time, yes, you believed in something enough to act against your other half.”
“It wasn’t just him,” Thayn piped up. “Both legions’ councils also believed something more direct was needed to deal with the Battle Goddess.”
Lord Death nodded. “Yes. You wished to find a way to kill my Twin.”
“You know it needs to be done. She’ll never surrender, not even to the Shieldbearer.”
Draydrak looked off into the distance, his body still. If he breathed, Erika couldn’t see it. Perhaps he didn’t need to breathe and just did sometimes to put other people at ease? After a long silence, Draydrak stirred, his wings shifting slightly.
“And so, it came to be that the Avatars birthed their son into the universe, imbibing him with power as great as, or perhaps greater than, what my twin and I command. An elemental dragon rose out of the destruction of the Avatars’ mortal bodies. The backlash of magic was even greater than they’d expected, and their soul was damaged by Gryton’s birth. They weren’t able to impart their memories to him. His true purpose was lost to him.”
Draydrak turned his attention to Lillian and Gregory. “Had you confided in me before you acted, I would have been able to aid you, protected you against the ravages of your own power as you gave too much of yourselves to your son. But by the time I sensed what you were doing, it was too late, and you were too far
away to help. I couldn’t leave my temple without also freeing my Twin from the duality curse.”
Gregory paced in front of Lord Draydrak. “I remember none of this,” he admitted. “The few memories Gryton did manage to absorb before my Sorceress and I returned to the Spirit Realm were too chaotic to decipher.”
“Yet it happened, and it nearly destroyed the Avatar soul as well. Only with the aid of the oldest djinn, were you able to reunite your shattered soul in the Spirit Realm. Only cocooned in his power, his essence wrapped around you like a shield, were you able to heal and restore your soul to what it had been before your last lifetime and Gryton’s birth.”
Gregory stilled; his tail frozen in mid-swing. While Erika wasn’t completely familiar with gargoyle body language, she was starting to catch a few things. And every inch of the gargoyle spoke of his shock.
“I did not understand how or why it had come about, but in this lifetime, I have felt less,” Gregory uttered.
“Yes,” Lord Death agreed. “In time, you and your other half will be fully restored. But in this lifetime, you both are still suffering the effects of what Gryton’s birth did to your soul. My twin knew this. That is how she managed to trap the female half of your soul and forced her to be born into a vessel of the Battle Goddess’s choosing.”
Gregory nodded sharply. “I have wondered how your twin managed such a thing.”
“But you overcame my sister’s plans. Even Gryton has escaped her.” Lord Draydrak turned to face the dragon, something he seemed to avoid, likely knowing it triggered aggression in the dragon. But this time Death met the fire elemental’s gaze. “My intent was not to kill you. I had sent my gargoyles to capture you and bring you back here where I could study you and determine if what the Avatars had birthed into the universe was friend or foe.”
The dragon hissed a warning, his lips pulling back as fire licked between his teeth.
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 187
