The Sapphire Manticore (The Lost Ancients Book 4)

by Marie Andreas

  I was also now sitting on the carpet with no idea exactly how I got there. Before I could get back up, all twelve faeries swarmed me and started covering me in slobbery drunken faery kisses.

  “You save us!” Garbage was on my head again, but this time she wasn’t pulling my hair.

  At that moment the door slammed open. Alric, Padraig, and an army of houseboys—all armed with swords—swarmed in. Orenda was in the middle of them all, daggers in both hands.

  “What happened?” Qianru was behind the heavily armed collection, but they parted before her. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at the ceiling.

  All the marks, both the dark circle as well as whatever manticore-enhanced sealing spell I cast were gone. She looked to where I sat in the middle of the floor, fighting off a bunch of drunken faeries. Bunky hovered above all of us like a proud father.

  “She save us!” Leaf sang the words, and then started a jig. Soon all twelve were singing and dancing. The singing was still at low volume, and so far no minkies had been mentioned, but it was only a matter of time before that all changed.

  “Ya know? I think we might need to get these girls sobered up before we do anything.” I got to my feet with Harlan’s help—he cut Alric off with a glare when he stepped forward to do that same thing—then carried the bunch of faeries back to the bar and started stuffing them into bottles.

  Part of the reason was that clearly we were under attack, or had been, and having them drunk and warbling about wasn’t a good idea. Also, I didn’t know what they would say in front of Qianru.

  “Is no! You save us.” Crusty was the last one in and she wasn’t going in gently. The others hadn’t put up much of a fight; they were being put in full bottles of ale after all. Even Garbage went in without a fuss. Yet, Crusty refused to go in. Instead she flew up and kissed the exact part of my cheek where the manticore tattoo was. “Okay now.” Then she slid into her bottle.

  I took my time corking Crusty in her bottle. I wasn’t sure what to tell Qianru—or Alric and Padraig really. I trusted them, I thought. But finding out that Alric had yet again been keeping things from me wasn’t making me happy with him.

  I’d find a time later to tell Padraig and Alric, but not now. And certainly not in front of Qianru and the others. “There was an odd noise from outside and the girls are really drunk.” I smiled, but was now realizing that my having an ale was a bad idea. Sleep sounded so good right now I could taste it. The huge yawn that escaped wasn’t fake, but very handy. “I don’t think the two were connected, and I really need sleep.”

  Qianru stalked around the suite a bit, the scowl on her face reminding me again of one of the foul watcher birds back in Beccia. I was impressed that she could still evoke that imagery without her huge obnoxious hats with their black feathers.

  “I heard something, felt it really.” She pointed to Padraig and Alric. “They did as well.”

  I looked over her head as she was facing them and gave a quick shake of my head. Luckily for me, the houseboys were all fascinated by the faeries swimming in their bottles so none of them saw it.

  Alric caught it. “My Lady Qianru, we have all had a very long and tiring day. What say we all retire for the night, and revisit this in the morning before we leave?”

  Qianru glared around the room one more time, more at the walls and fixtures than any of us, and then finally nodded. “Agreed, the morning would be better. We shall be packed and ready to join you by then.” She waved a hand and all the houseboys immediately surrounded her. “Prepare for our departure.” With that, she and her entourage left the suite.

  “She’s coming with us?” I didn’t lower my voice too much. For one thing, I knew that once Qianru focused on something, everything else was ignored. For another, I also knew she didn’t care what I thought about her joining us. She was doing whatever she wanted to do.

  Padraig ran his hand through his hair. I wondered what it looked like for everyone else who saw his glamour. To me he only had hair on one side of his head, so the movement looked a bit odd. “We’re working on that. Qianru is fascinated with meeting Siabiane, something I have a feeling Siabiane herself might take issue with, even though she claims to be intrigued by her. I believe that is only from a safe distance.”

  “I almost had her convinced to stay here, but then, whatever happened in this room happened, and she clearly changed her mind again.” Alric’s pointed look was aimed at me, but Covey stepped in.

  “I believe Taryn is about to fall over on her feet, so if you will excuse us?” She didn’t even wait for a response, but turned me around toward the hall and the bedrooms.

  “I agree, she should be allowed to sleep.” Padraig’s voice stopped Covey. “But I need a brief summary of what happened. I’m sending word with one of the messengers to Lorcan of what has occurred. He needs to know.”

  Harlan looked up at that. “Messengers?”

  “Aye, Qianru’s houseboys are more than just house staff,” Orenda said. “Padraig can send a spelled message with one of them and they will get it back to the castle in an hour or less. Qianru sent a few yesterday to find out what was going on with both of you, but they came back without information.”

  Padraig nodded with a frown. “They wouldn’t have gotten through the reception hall. But when I spell this missive, it will force the guards to allow the bearer entrance.”

  I sighed. Nothing to do for it then, and I really wanted to sleep. I briefly told him about the voice, the reaction of the faeries, and my action. I left out the assist I received from the manticore. I’d tell Alric and Padraig about it when the others weren’t around. Orenda’s eyes got larger and she kept staring at the ceiling.

  “I think our friend is using the dead mage’s blood to send a spell through the shield. He couldn’t have hurt any of you—not as long as the shield is up. Nevertheless, this is still very disturbing.” Padraig looked at Alric grimly. “We need to find out who that mage is.”

  Alric gave a short nod, but didn’t add anything.

  Then they both left the suite to go borrow a houseboy.

  Covey completed her mission to aim me toward a bed. I pretty much fell in face first and fully clothed and didn’t really care.

  I’d been dreaming about a bunch of giant radishes flying around chasing me through the castle’s kitchen when I was rocked out of my bed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  At first I thought the horrible flying vegetables from my dream had become real. Once I woke up a bit more, I realized that the shaking was coming from the bed. Or rather the entire room. I was glad I’d fallen asleep in my clothes, so I just had to grab my boots, and run out into the front room.

  The door was open and Alric stood there dressed for travel—and fighting. His sword was sheathed at his hip and a brace of knives on the other side. Somewhere along the way he’d gotten his own clothes back, as he was garbed in his standard all-black ensemble. Now that I’d seen how colorfully most elves dressed, I realized his black clothing was a statement as much as it was to help him slink about.

  “Are we under attack?” Covey came dashing out but looking as calm and collected as if someone had called her down for breakfast.

  “Yes, but I’m not sure from what. Padraig is getting our things ready. It looks like we may have to take Qianru with us if we have to run.” Alric shifted something on his back. He’d added to his pack and it was now almost the size of one of the houseboys.

  He handed me my pack, which seemed a bit heavier than before, but not as large as his. “How are the girls?”

  I ran to the bar where Bunky was hovering over the bottles protectively. All the faeries were passed out, but I had no idea if they’d just gotten that way, or were ready to wake up. I dumped the remaining ale, not much, into a bucket, then grabbed a towel and poured all of my soggy little friends into it. None of them moved at all, but at least half were snoring. I rolled up the towel and shoved it into my pack. Bunky buzzed around as the walls shook again.

  I had
no idea what or who was attacking us, but I didn’t want to lose Bunky in the ruckus. I hadn’t forgotten Padraig’s comments about some high-ranking person trying to re-create constructs.

  “Okay, Bunky. I know you don’t like traveling this way. But I need someone to keep the faeries safe. We may be on the run.” The walls rocked again but it seemed weaker this time. Bunky looked up at me, then to the pack, then back up again. Finally, with what was his version of a sigh, he flew to where I held open the pack, and settled in. If a metal construct could manage to look long-suffering, he was doing it.

  I slung the pack on my back, just in time for my sword to appear in my other hand. If it kept doing that, it wasn’t going to be long before I poked my eye out with it.

  “I thought it might do that again.” Alric reached behind to his pack and pulled a scabbard out that looked like his. “This is spelled, so hopefully our flighty friend will stay in it.”

  My sword gave a slight green flare, but stayed put when I buckled the belt and scabbard around my waist.

  Harlan came out of his room, Orenda following right behind. Everyone looked rattled but ready.

  Joie ran into the room. He was breathing heavily but not injured that I could see. He did have a short sword out however. “Lady Qianru has set up a barricade, but we are not sure who is attacking us. We should all get out of here since they appear to be sending some very large boulders directly at this building.”

  “Where’s Locksead?” I hadn’t seen much of him since we’d come here, and there was no sign of him or his belongings now.

  “He’s outside, trying to see if he can tell who is doing this,” Joie said, but he was clearly anxious about us getting out of the house.

  We started out walking down the hall but Joie’s agitation was affecting everyone and soon we started jogging.

  The front rooms were empty and I spotted one of the houseboys disappearing down a dark hall with his arms full of relics.

  Before I could ask, Alric answered. “Qianru has a very good contingency plan. Her people sent her with that carriage we rode in coming into the city. It is a heavily shielded and spelled carriage. She can fit huge amounts of stuff in there—including all these houseboys and it’s safer than a castle chamber.”

  That would explain a lot about Qianru’s traveling, then. Most likely nothing was left in Beccia even though she had been planning on coming back—or so she said.

  We kept going out the front door. It was still dark, but the sky was showing some light along the edges. Two wagons awaited us there; not Qianru’s, so probably not shielded, but better than running the entire way.

  I waved at the damage to the house where three large boulders had landed near the foundation, and more were scattered throughout the yard. “Shouldn’t we try to fight? Or at least find out who is behind it?”

  Qianru had been standing so still, I hadn’t seen her in front of us. She turned away from the forest she was staring at—although how anyone could have lobbed those boulders through the trees, I had no idea.

  “I don’t believe we can win,” she said and pointed out the same ghostly shapes we’d seen on our way in. At this distance, I couldn’t tell if they were the ones who tried to kill us, or the ones who ignored us. Although if they were flinging boulders, it didn’t really matter so much.

  “Fascinating,” Covey said from next to me and I knew she was sorely tempted to walk out there and ask them questions.

  I batted her arm. “No, you can’t.”

  “I have no idea what you mean,” she said with a sniff. “I was simply admiring the uniforms. They were described quite well in the scrolls, but the detailing—”

  “We need to leave, now. All of us,” Alric said as he started putting supplies and packs into the wagons. A pair of horses whinnied and Joie came out leading Qianru’s carriage.

  “They’re ghosts, right? Then how can they do this?” As I spoke, a wide-eyed Tag came up next to me and silently took my pack and loaded it into the wagon. The way he gently handled it, I knew he had an idea who was in there.

  “They have been helped,” Alric said grimly and pointed up over the forest. It was close to dawn, so the sky was lightening enough to see the swirling dark mass over the ghosts. I had a feeling that once it became fully light, we’d be looking at red goo up there.

  Alric barked some more commands, and Padraig followed like everyone else. Padraig was older, but Alric had far more experience in these sorts of things.

  Within minutes everyone was on board one of the two wagons or Qianru’s carriage, except for Alric. And Locksead.

  “Has anyone seen Locksead?” Alric raised his voice and called a few times, but the only response was another rock.

  A rustle came from the far side of where the ghosts were trying to load more rocks. He was limping as he ran, and his right arm hung oddly, but it was Locksead.

  Qianru’s carriage was the closest to him, but I was still surprised when a houseboy opened the door and motioned for him to come in.

  Joie urged his horses closer, and then pulled the carriage alongside of us. Qianru didn’t step out but she lowered her window. “We must separate. Locksead was spying on them before he was attacked and has told me they are after Taryn and Alric. If you leave, they should follow you and we can return here.”

  Well, that was blunt. So sorry, you’re in danger, fend for yourselves now. I didn’t even know what to say.

  “Locksead has serious internal injuries. I’m afraid he shouldn’t travel.” She added that as an afterthought. That made more sense, but Qianru’s motivations had been questionable even before I knew she was some sort of spy.

  “Understood.” Alric called down from the top of our wagon. Tag had taken control of the reins of the second one from a slightly put-out Harlan. Considering I knew Tag was the better driver, I backed him up on it.

  With a clack of the reins, Alric moved our wagon alongside Tag’s. “Stay close behind us—the others will be going off on their own.”

  Tag nodded, and then we took off.

  The ghosts really didn’t have a chance with moving targets, after all they had barely been able to hit Qianru’s massive house. But a more few boulders did come our way. I noticed none of them went in the direction of Qianru’s carriage.

  It was sort of exciting, racing away from the forest and toward open fields as the sun came up. Or it would be if there weren’t a bunch of crazed ghosts chasing us.

  Harlan, Orenda, and Padraig were in Tag’s wagon—it was a little larger. Covey and I were the only ones in this one with Alric up on the driver’s seat.

  A few more elvish words of encouragement, or swear words, I couldn’t tell the difference, and the wagon picked up speed.

  “So, why would ghosts be after you and Alric? Did you make them?” Covey said with a smile. She didn’t look at all disturbed about being rustled out of bed after only a few hours of rest and going on the run. This was the same woman who it was almost impossible to even get out of her study in the university for meals if she found something interesting.

  I shook my head. “Not that I know of, and they’re older than even Padraig, I’m thinking.” I opened my pack and let Bunky out. There was more snoring now, so the faeries were still out.

  Bunky checked out the wagon, and then settled down next to the pack. No one would be getting his faeries.

  “But you seem strangely okay with all of this,” I said and gestured around the wagon. “Don’t you want to be back in your office?”

  Covey nodded and smiled. “I would have asked myself the same thing six months ago. I have to admit, this adventure is quite intriguing. And I think even the old me would have come along for a chance to meet Padraig.” Her eyes started un-focusing and again I wasn’t sure if her interest in him was intellectual, lustful, or both. “He’s very different than his scrolls.”

  I knew it really wasn’t my place to say, but it looked like we were all going to be together for a while and it would be better if Covey knew the
truth. She’d heard about him being under a spell for six hundred years, and that was horrific enough, she didn’t know about his wife and friends.

  Covey had been enjoying the excitement of our escape, but that faded quickly when I told her about Padraig and the glass gargoyle.

  She shook her head and I think I might have even seen a tear there. “That poor man. To have that happen right in front of you? And believe your oldest friend did it? It’s truly amazing he survived unscathed.”

  I wasn’t sure what was causing me to see through glamours, but it was yet another item on a growing list of things I would like to figure out before everyone else knew about them. And like all the others, my wanting that was fine, however it wasn’t going to happen.

  With a sigh, I explained the damage to Padraig’s face and, judging by the slight limp, his body. I also had to explain about the glamour issue.

  Covey was silent for a few moments, then processed everything, and shook it off. “His injuries must have been severe for the elven healers to be unable to fix him. Now when did you notice this change in seeing through glamours?”

  That was classic Covey, get new information—even bad news—process it, and move on. She gave me mental whiplash.

  I heard the whistling sound before the hit. Someone was firing arrows at us now.

  “Hang on tight,” Alric yelled and got the horses to move still faster. We had the curtains open, so I saw the ghost riders coming through the trees. The forest stretched out a thin finger to the right of us. The ghosts were riding ghost horses through the trees and shooting at us.

  I looked out the other side. We were almost to open fields, and Alric was already urging the horses to the left. We burst out of the trail as Alric took the chance that the fields were smooth enough to travel. The way was bumpier than the trail had been, but if it meant getting away from our ghostly escorts, I was all for it.

  I watched them charge out of the sliver of forest after us. The ones that came into the sunlight vanished, and then the rest went back into the woods.