by Judith Post
Silence gathered for a while, as everyone considered Sidu's story, then Ally said, "There has to be more. The king tricked Sidu. What did he really want?"
"The gods' treasure we guarded." Vala grimaced. "While Sidu was smashing our eggs, and we were eating his fruit, the king and a few men landed on a different part of our island and stole it."
Ally shook her head. She hated everything about this king. "Did you get it back?"
Vala grimaced, his expression strained. "No. We were sent to find Sidu. Other griffins went to Mesopotamia. They didn't survive the battle, but civilizations age, and Laish moved on."
"Laish?" Ally asked.
"The king. He moved from place to place, always with the treasure. We sent group after group to retrieve it. None of them returned."
"So we're next," Fallon said. "Since we've completed our first duty, we're to kill the king and retrieve the treasure of the gods."
Ally rushed to her feet. "That's your reward for completing your mission?"
"It's our punishment for failing to guard the treasure."
"Who made the decision?"
Vala glanced at his friends. "The gods."
"And how do they expect you can do that when the other griffins couldn't?"
Vala's tone was hollow. "We probably can't. We'll probably die."
"Not if I can help it." Damn the gods. They were fickle, at best. Ally was living proof of that.
The sandy-haired griffin spread his hands. "It's our duty to return the treasure."
"That's stupid!" Ally's hands balled into fists. "Do you know where Laish is now?"
"In the Old Lands, living high on a mountain, surrounded by mists."
Ally locked eyes with Vala. "I'm going with you."
Vala started to shake his head to protest. "Our people don't endanger others."
"No, just yourselves. And the gods won't do anything to protect you."
Vala gave a slim smile. "I'm sorry, but you're not invited, even though we appreciate the offer."
Ally's chin shot up. Griffins obviously knew little about gorgons. She didn't like being told what to do. "I don't need an invitation."
Vala's smile widened as he tried to reason with her. "Without an invitation, you won't be able to find Laish."
Hands on hips, Ally countered, "First of all, yes, I can. I'm sure Athena or Artemis will tell me where he is, once I explain the situation. And second of all, this is a trade-off. I'll help you fight Laish if you spare Humusi and leave her in peace."
The young griffin stared at her. "Spare Humusi? We just told you that we don't punish innocents."
"You also told me that you had to kill Sidu when you didn't want to. So I can't be certain. I insist on a deal."
Vala laughed. "It's hard to win an argument with a Greek. But thank you. You're doing everything you can to let us accept your help and keep our honor."
"So I can go?"
"Can I keep you away?"
"No."
Dante came to stand beside her. "I'll go too."
"No." Vala was beginning to look frustrated.
"Where she goes, I go." Dante's tone didn't brook argument.
Samuel rose to join them, but Dante shook his head. "Summit City needs you. Ecanus and Gideon would be stretched too thin if you left too."
Samuel looked as though he might argue, then he gave a quick nod. Dante was right, they all knew.
The griffins looked a bit stunned.
Vala smiled wryly. "We don't usually have to negotiate with others."
"I got that idea." Ally shrugged. "You're in America, though, and everyone has freedom here."
"Like you Greeks?"
"More freedom. There are no slaves. You don't have to own land…."
Vala gave her a hard look and interrupted. "Then we'll abide by America's customs, but I want you to take this seriously. Your freedom might get you killed. This isn't your fight. You don't have to do this."
Ally turned to Dante. He looked as determined as she felt. He squared his shoulders and said, "Sorry, but gargoyles are guardians. It's what we do. You came to our city and now you're our responsibility."
Ally beamed up at him. She loved everything about this man.
Vala shook his head. "In that case, welcome to our group. And thank you. I don't know if we'll win, but we were doomed before."
* * *
When nine, gorgeous men boarded an airplane together, Ally couldn't help but enjoy the reactions. She knew that she was nothing to sneeze at herself, with her short cap of brown curls and willowy figure. After all, she and her sisters' beauty was what got them in trouble in the first place, but she was lost in the midst of the men.
She thought about asking the stewardess to hand out drool bibs when women's jaws dropped, but the stewardesses were drooling themselves. Their group sat in a cluster together, and Dante stayed close to her side. When he put a possessive hand over hers, she gave him a quizzical look.
He bent close. "I don't like the way the men stared at you."
She pressed her fingers to her lips to keep from laughing. "And you haven't noticed the poor women salivating when they look at you?"
"Don't be silly."
Ally wasn't fond of flying. The seats were too small. Her long legs were always cramped. And the air felt stale. Dante looked even more squashed. But after many hours, when Ally glanced out the window and saw the Mediterranean Sea, her stomach lurched. Home. Her heart clutched. So many good memories, and just as many bad. They flew to the far edge of the sea and, upon landing, rented a Land Rover to make their way to the mountains.
Wind whipped her short curls as they sped along narrow roads. Then they began their ascent. Ally could feel the magic when they passed into the warlock's region. Mortals wouldn't come here. They'd be repelled.
Laish's magic chafed her as the Land Rover climbed the steep incline. He'd cast a protective spell, to keep enemies away. Usually, no one could cross his boundaries, but he'd angered the gods when he stole their treasure, so the gods granted the griffins and their allies stronger magic for safe passage.
Magic or not, it was impossible to use vehicles to reach the high plateau that overlooked the arid lands. They parked halfway up the foothills and the men shifted. They asked her to turn away from them as the griffins undressed, folded their clothes for later, and their bodies reverted to eagle forefronts and lion rears. Wonderfully naked, Dante's body bulked up and his wings unfurled. He grabbed her, and they all lifted into the air.
Ally gulped and told herself she was fine. It was an odd sensation, being plastered against Dante's body as his wings soared above her. She'd never complain about airplanes again. She tangled her legs with his, so that they didn't dangle helplessly. They hit an air current and dipped and climbed, and she stiffened. Dante bent his head and nuzzled her cheek. Her body relaxed. They flew almost to the summit of the plateau before they swooped to a large ledge to make plans. The men returned to their mortal shapes. The young, naked griffin blushed with embarrassment.
Ally shrugged. "For Greeks, naked's no big deal."
It didn't help. Shy, he placed a hand strategically to cover himself.
Vala got down to business. "We can scale the rest of the mountain and try to enter Laish's fortress stealthily, or we can revert to our griffin forms and dive in. Which do you think is best?"
The men debated back and forth before they decided to plummet in as their immortal selves. A misused term, because even though they lived indefinitely, they could be killed. Vala concluded, "We'll have our magic as griffins and more strength."
Ally wouldn't shift until they landed. She'd be too heavy and too dangerous for Dante to carry. If a griffin accidentally glanced her way, he'd turn to rock and drop from the sky.
They soared above the clouds, out of sight, until they saw the high, stone walls that surrounded Laish's fortress. Then they dove. People shrieked as griffins grabbed soldiers off the guard walk and tossed them down the side of the mountain. A gong sounded, a
nd guards rushed outside, brandishing weapons.
Ally chanted a protective shield. Bullets ricocheted, felling some of the people firing them. People ran and shouted. Ally and Dante fought beside the griffins as they made their way to the gates of the fortress. Ally blasted the heavy doors open with white, hot energy, and they rushed inside the massive, stone building. They didn't have far to go. Laish stood in the center of his cavernous throne room, waiting for them. An army stood at his back.
Dante called to their friends. "We'll deal with Laish. You take the army."
As Dante landed before the warlock, Laish shot a bolt of energy at his chest. Ally raised her palms in time to block it. The warlock's eyebrows rose and his eyes gleamed with pleasure.
"What have we here?" he asked. "Not a full witch. You don't smell like one. But you're powerful enough. So what are you? A goddess?"
"No."
He took a step forward and inhaled. "I thought not. Most goddesses are too cowardly to fight their own battles, let alone someone else's, but I don't know your scent." His glance went to Dante and he laughed. "How touching. A little stone soldier brought to life. And you thought you could conquer me?"
Laish held his hands together and formed a ball of swirling energy. He hurtled it toward Dante. Again, Ally called for her protective shield. The ball hit the shield with enough energy to slam her against a wall. Her chest hurt. Her lungs burned. Were there any bones left in her arms? She expected him to attack her next, but he opened his hands and let loose streams of magic from each of his fingers instead. A smart maneuver. It caught them all by surprise. The white lightning tore through one of the young griffin's legs. It killed a row of Laish's soldiers. Ally didn't think he'd kill his own men, but then, why would a warlock value any life other than his own? It hit Vala and burned a hole in his shoulder.
Damn it! Ally swirled her arms—they felt like rubber—and a tornado of wind curved the blasts and lifted them away.
While she worked, Laish turned on her. He shouted a chant, and the floor heaved beneath her feet. She scrambled, but couldn't find her footing. Dante caught her before she fell, but her protective shield shimmered for a minute, and Laish forked a streak of magic that pierced Dante's wing.
Dante grimaced in pain, but pulled Ally upright.
They'd gotten lucky. If Dante hadn't reached for her, he'd be dead. The warlock's magic was too strong.
Ally planted her feet, anger swirling around her. No one hurt Dante. But how to stop him?
The warlock threw back his head and laughed, enjoying his power.
Ally waited, and just before he whipped his hands to take aim again, she shifted. Her legs roped into a snake's body, her hair darted and hissed, and her eyes burned yellow.
Dante and the griffins looked away. Laish stared in surprise. Then his eyes widened as he realized what she was. His lips began to part before they turned to stone. Most of Laish's soldiers gaped before they joined their warlock's fate.
A hand stroked the back of Ally's shoulder. Dante's voice was calm and even. "We're all right now. We can finish up if you shift back."
She took a deep breath. The fury boiling inside her turned to a slow simmer, and gradually she changed to her mortal form. She turned to look at Dante's wing. Tears stung her eyes. "It's ruined."
Dante reached out to stroke her cheek. "I mend. Just like werewolves and vampires, I heal quickly, even my wings."
The adrenaline left her, and her legs shook. Dante gripped her arm to steady her. He pulled her to him as the griffins finished off any remaining enemies.
When the fighting finally stopped, Vala and his men returned to human form and came to join them.
"It's done," Vala said. His tone held disbelief. "I never thought this day would come."
Ally threw her arms around him. The griffin stiffened in surprise, but she was Greek, after all, more demonstrative than most. "You earned this victory. Now you can go home."
He eased out of her embrace and gave her a quizzical look. "Where do you call home? I saw your expression when we flew over the Mediterranean."
Ally blinked back tears. "My sisters are dead. My parents turned their backs on us. Dante's tied to Summit City. Where he goes…."
The young griffin finished it for her. "…You go."
She smiled.
Vala shook his head. "To each, his own." Before he and his men went in search of the treasure, Ally insisted on pouring white magic into anyone wounded. They'd heal faster that way. While Ally incinerated dead bodies, Dante helped carry one sealed box after another into the courtyard, so that the griffins could fly them down to the Land Rovers. When all of the treasure was retrieved, Vala turned to the servants who remained in the fortress.
"Your master's dead. Your army's defeated. You're free to do as you will."
A man with a sturdy back and calloused hands stepped forward. "We choose to remain here, if we can keep our lands hidden from the real world. We haven't been a part of it for so long, we wouldn't fit in anymore."
Ally nodded. "I'll set a spell."
With that, they began their journey to the bottom of the mountain. Dante couldn't fly with his damaged wing, so he remained in his mortal form. Even though wounded, Vala could carry him. Dante straddled his back before Vala sailed into the air. Ally took a fortifying breath. The sandy-colored griffin bowed low to the earth for her climb onto him. She gripped his neck tightly as he soared skyward. The other griffins followed.
This wasn't her favorite airborne adventure. She felt odd on a strange man's back, and she feared she could be blown off the smooth feathers and freefall to earth. She exhaled a breath of relief when they landed.
The griffins chattered, in highs spirits on the drive back to the airport. When it came time to see Ally and Dante off, the young griffin gripped Ally's hands in both of his. "I didn't think I'd ever see my hatchlings. We wouldn't have survived this without you. Thank you."
The others pumped her hand or slapped her on the shoulder until she gratefully walked up the gangplank to board the plane.
Once in the air, on their way home, Dante rested his hand on her inner thigh, and all sorts of happy shimmers raced through her. She bumped shoulders with him. "Too bad planes don't have private quarters." The husky tone of her own voice surprised her.
Dante gave her one of his grins. "Gargoyles get a day off after they perform a duty. Keep that in mind."
On the trip home, that thought flitted in and out of her mind at regular intervals. The pot of gold waiting at the end of her rainbow. Her fingers itched to touch Dante, but she forced herself to behave.
When they finally pulled into the parking garage at the back of her apartment building, all she wanted was to hurry Dante upstairs and have him all to herself, but Samuel, Gideon, and Humusi were waiting for them. Damn gargoyles and their telepathy! But after Ally's first rush of frustration, she couldn't help but enjoy herself.
Wherever Humusi went, Gideon hovered. Once Samuel ferreted out details of Dante's trip, he held out his hands in surrender and nodded toward their youngest gargoyle.
"In case you can't tell, we've lost another man to true love."
Dante smiled, slipping his hand into Ally's. "It will happen to you one day, old friend. And you'll be happy when it does."
"Me?" Samuel shook his head. "No women for me. It's a complication I don't need."
Gideon laughed. "It's a complication you can't avoid. Your time will come. There'll be some immortal who'll capture your heart."
Samuel refused to believe him, but Ally narrowed her eyes, studying him. What kind of woman would entice their dear friend? She chewed her bottom lip, considering. She hoped she still knew him when it happened. She'd love to see Samuel in love.
The End
Samuel Meets His Match
The Third Ally & Dante Novella
A Lunch Hour Read
by
Judith Post
Copyright 2012
Someone pounded on the door. Was this becomi
ng a habit? Visitors dropping by before Ally wanted to see them? She opened an eye and looked at the alarm clock on her nightstand. It wasn't like she slept in. She usually got up at eight every morning, but whoever expected her to be social before five didn't know her very well.
The pounding didn't stop. For the first time, she wished for neighbors. They'd poke their heads out of their apartment doors and tell the idiot to take a hike. Not gonna happen. She lived above a pawn shop, between two other downtown businesses. None of them were open. Whoever was making the noise would just stand outside her door and knock until she got up.
She groaned, rolled out of bed, and stalked to the living room, grabbing her robe on the way. If an enemy tried to rush her, they couldn't enter her apartment—her wards were too strong. She threw the door open and glared.
Samuel, bulked up, with his leathery wings tucked close to his back, stood on the small stoop at the top of the stairs. His giant hand was wrapped around a young boy's throat.
"You let a boy see you in gargoyle form?" Ally couldn’t hide her surprise.
Samuel lifted the kid off the floor and shoved past her into the living room. "Sniff him. He's not mortal. A shifter of some kind." He gave the boy a small shake. "Maybe a weasel. No, make that a skunk."
Ally sniffed. Every magical being hid his true form these days, but she couldn't place his scent. She'd smelled it before, a long time ago. It stirred memories of Perseus standing over her sister, lifting Medusa's severed head to stuff into a bag, flying off—with Hermes' wings on his feet—before she or Stheno could grab him.
She frowned. Why would a scent make her think of that?
Swear words flew from the kid's mouth. Ally listened for a minute, impressed. A variety of languages—the kid must be well traveled. She'd heard them all before and turned her attention to Samuel. "I take it the boy's displeased you in some way?"
The kid tried to squirm out of his grasp, and Samuel tightened his grip. The boy's eyes almost popped out of his head.
