Carved

by Miki

  Mica says, “Hey beautiful, there’s a shed a little way down on the right. It has rope in it. Do you want to stay and guard them or go get the rope?”

  “I'll get the rope, Sis,” interjected Jared.

  “Damn it, Jared, you scared the daylights out of me! Don’t sneak up behind me. Damn it, I forgot you were out there.”

  Laughing, Jared continues, “Well, I was hanging further out from Mica. I saw the two coming. I couldn’t get close without them seeing me. Besides, with Mica near, they didn’t stand a chance.”

  “Jared, you stay with Mica and watch our friends and these two bag-o-dicks. I just might want to shoot ‘em if I’m left pointing a gun at ‘em.”

  I find the shed. Inside, I find the rope as well as two large animal nets. I bring it all back to Mica.

  “Well, Kendra, I’m not sure what we need the nets for. Do you want to let me in on the plan?”

  “I don't know how to restrain these two. They’re too gross to touch and I don’t want to catch anything. I think the net’ll work just fine. We only need to close it around them and tie it up in a tree. When everyone is awake, we’ll figure out what to do with them and find out who’s trying to kill our whole Guild.”

  After we have the two ass-wipes trussed up a tree, I replay the video for Mica and Jared. “Guys, I’m sure the traitor who was in bed with Jafer is Eltira, and there is only one fat gargoyle with us: Flint. Will you two help me drag them over and put them in the second net then hang it beside the two bag-o-asses over there hanging in the tree.” The two possible traitors where too far apart on the patio to make it easy, so it takes us a while.

  About one-o’clock, some of the humans are starting to get around. Mica takes our prisoners to Chairman Brinker, along with my phone to show the video, while Jared and I continue guarding our friends as well as our two traitors.

  After seeing the video, Chairman Brinker and a quorum of the Council send Glen, along with some of the castle guards, with Mica to relieve me while I returned to speak with the Chairman.

  “Kendra, there’s an underground prison here in the castle. We can lock these two in the cells until tonight’s meeting. You should rest,” said Mr. Brinker, as I’ve been instructed to call him.

  “Mr. Brinker, I need a plan to keep the Ceorfan safe while also keeping humans safe,” I told him.

  “Your Majesty,” Mr. Brinker said with more authority than I’ve heard from him before, “you will return to your quarters and retire until breakfast tonight. I will ensure my personal guard, headed by your brother’s friend Glen, will protect you and the gargoyles until each of you can join us for breakfast. We’ve apprehended Jafer and the rest of his men. I swear to you your friends will be safe.”

  Feeling I’d entered a battle of words and will that I wouldn’t win and feeling no duplicity in Mr. Brinker, I agree. After I returning to my suite, I tell Mica what’s going on and that he should also sleep. He’s as exhausted as I am, so I don't have to talk him into it. He feels the guards that Mr. Brinker supplied are competent and trustworthy.

  I go to my room and set my alarm for 4:30pm, so I can get several hours of good sleep, and wake when my team is waking, then I lie down in my clothes and fall fast asleep.

  I wake before my alarm, my donum singing. I hurry to the patio to see if everyone’s safe. They are. I call Thurston and ask if he’ll bring me some chai tea and maybe some shortbread if the kitchen has any.

  Sitting on the patio in view of several of the castle guards, I asked one of them if he knows if the council is meeting. He says he’s just left the meeting room and no one’s in there.

  That’s strange. I thank Thurston for bringing the tea and the most melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies I’ve ever had. “Kendra, if you want more biscuits, I would be happy to bring as much as you would like.”

  “Thank you,” I respond. He offers a slight bow as he backs away and leaves.

  I have my notebook out. I need a proposal to suggest to the council for what to do with Jafer and his crew, as well as a location where my people can sleep that’s more defendable and safer than our current suite.

  Finally, the sun is gone. I’m more comfortable when it’s dark. My friends are now fully awake, looking at the net containing Eltira and Flint. Eltira’s screaming her head off, Flint’s quiet. Mica lowers them and secures them in place. Eltira is still screaming, now with her father, Count de Treon, at her side. Flint is still quiet, but now sitting on the paving stones near the patio.

  I tele-comm Mega a run-down of what happened while they slept. He says he was aware for part of the night and knows some of the story, but not all of it. He asks Spar, “Will you move the television to the patio where we can all see it?”

  I play my video on the TV, where everyone can see it, including the irate Count. By the time the video is over, the Count is crying into his hands. His daughter is quiet, Flint’s ashamed, and everyone else is waiting for orders.

  Twenty-One

  Betrayed

  Kendra

  We leave Spar to guard the two prisoners and go inside so they won’t have any more information to give away to the highest bidder. “First, Mega, we need to be sure our people in Navan are safe,” I tell him.

  “That is not a problem. I have contacted Jericho. While this has never happened, we do have an emergency plan in place for this type of betrayal. If needed, Navan can be moved. However, for speed and immediate security, he will hide the old cave opening and make it impassable. He will then open another, hidden entrance, and make sure it can only be opened via a portal-stone. Jericho is already in Navan. He has assured me the previous entrance to Navan is now gone and he will soon have the new entrance completed.”

  “Thank you, Mega. On to the traitors.” I’m so mad, I can't even bring myself to say their names. “I believe we should lock them up in cells here in the castle. Mr. Brinker has provided me with several cells in an area we control.”

  “I agree with you, Kendra. We have all of the evidence we need to move forward,” Mega responds.

  We leave the room, and I instruct the guards to take Eltira and Flint to the cells under the castle. Mica and Spar will keep them restrained. They will verify the cells are strong enough to keep gargoyles locked up.

  After breakfast, we return to our rooms, shower, and prepare for a night full of business. Amber dresses me in blue today, again with the nude pumps. She brushes and weaves my hair in a serious looking librarian bun.

  Before the TASS meetings, Mega and I go to the cells to speak with the traitors.

  “Flint, why did you betray us?”

  He doesn’t answer. In fact, I notice that he has not spoken since waking from his torpification.

  “Please tell me what’s going on. At least, tell me why you’re silent now, after this betrayal.”

  Flint says nothing in return.

  Finally, I asked Mega, “Please tele-speak to Flint. I know we have an agenda, but I have a funny feeling he’s being manipulated in some way.”

  My commander nods.

  After we left, I tell him, “Eltira is a serious problem. She isn’t sorry. She could have killed everyone.”

  “Yes, my queen. Jafer is being paid by the Jessup cartel to kill you. Flint is convinced the cartel has his older brother prisoner. He left the threatening note you found. He hoped the cinnamon would be a clue since earlier, he had made you chai tea. We can use this situation to our advantage. Someone will have to infiltrate the enemy. I will tell you more after I gather more information. If you agree, Edling.”

  I nod slightly to Mega, not letting on that he’d spoken in my mind, “I think I have enough of the facts. I need Jericho to return here for tonight’s sentencing. I’ll proclaim the sentences for the traitors. For now, I need to find Mr. Brinker. I need to borrow the meeting hall.”

  My soldiers all have parts in the various strategy meetings. We come up with plans for collecting intelligence, so we can devise the correct plans to catch the Horde of Barat. I’m
satisfied, and we have full schedules for the next few weeks. I add in a few fake doctors’ appointments for my boss, to make it seem like I’m still healing. Then I check in with Chris back at the ranger station. I’m also able to put off work for a few more weeks.

  With Jericho’s return, I ask to speak with him privately. After doing so extensively, we enter the meeting hall, where we find the Guild members who arrived with us on this mission in attendance. Spar and Mica bring the prisoners in. Both stand shackled in the front of the hall, facing the Guild. I let them stand there, pausing.

  At last I nod to Spar. He brings Flint to stand in front of me, facing me.

  “Flint,” I ask, “do you have anything to say?”

  “My queen, I will, without complaint, take whatever punishment you deem fit. But, please, I beg of you, find and free my brother. He does not deserve to die alone at the hands of the cartel.”

  I nod to Jericho. He opens a portal. Through the portal comes Flint’s brother. It’s easy to see the relief on Flint's face when he understands his brother is safe.

  “Flint,” I start, “your brother was never taken by Jafer. He’s been on assignment, collecting information for the Guild regarding the cartel. After this meeting he’ll return to his assignment. You see, your treason was for nothing,” I finish, playing up the situation.

  “Flint, face me and look at me. I’ve wondered how a gargoyle would mete out justice. But, I’m not a gargoyle I am Dragon Queen of the Ceorfan. I will mete out justice as I see fit. You have endangered my people by telling an enemy how to kill a gargoyle. It was your job as a Warrior Elite to protect all. Your creed is, ‘…protect Ceorfan, human, and animal.’ Your actions have deliberately put others in danger to protect only you and your brother. This is a betrayal of the highest order. You are stripped of your Warrior Elite status, your rank, and any etchings of achievement. You are stripped of all titles and property. Your word is worthless to this Guild. Your name will be etched as a traitor in Navan. Flint, until a short time ago, your life hung by the thinnest of threads. Megahir pleaded your case to me. Prior to tonight, you’ve served with great valor and distinction. Because of this, you may reside in Navan until the end of your days. I hope you find a way to be of use to the very people you have betrayed. You are ordered to remain in Scotland so that we may keep an eye on you. What say you regarding my words?”

  “I am sorry, my queen. I’ll do whatever I can to make it up to you and our people.”

  “Flint, I have heard your words. Now get out of my sight.” Mica takes him in hand, guiding him out of the room. He ducks his chin, tears running down his face, shocked at his sentence. He knows a betrayer has no place as a gargoyle of any consequence in Navan. The few criminals we have live out their days in back alleys and gutters with the drunks and malcontents.

  “Eltira, face me and look at me to receive your sentence.”

  Eltira must be held by a spell, one that she is fighting. Only her lips can move. Apparently Jericho doesn't want to take any chances on her drama or possible escape.

  “You have lived many lifetimes because of your father the Count. Yet you worked with an enemy who wants to murder him, a man who gave of himself to give you life. You have told the cartel, and ultimately the world, of our secret city, Navan. This secret is death to reveal. What you have done could have killed the entirety of the Ceorfan Guild. Do you have anything to say?”

  “I hate you all. I wish I’d never become a part of this cursed race. It’s too bad that Jafer didn’t kill all of you all before you caught us.”

  “Then you’ll truly be at peace with your sentence. I’m afraid yours is different than Flint's. When your father gave a part of himself to you, he did so to let you live. For you to become carved, he needed permission of the Queen. She denied his request. I now undo what should never have been done. Jericho, if you please.”

  The old mage steps forward. “My friend, Count de Treon, please remove your shirt.”

  The Count, heartbroken, responds, “No, please my queen. No.” His pleading continues as Spar and Mica restrain him. Jericho closes his eyes and begins a hushed chant as he cuts through the braiding on the Counts shirt, revealing his chest.

  The Guild watches, transfixed with the events unfolding before them. I feel an outpouring of love and support for the Count. It grows to a point where I not only feel it, I hear it.

  With a weirdly imperceptible glance toward me, Jericho flicks his wrist and cuts deeply into the Count’s chest. He had told me earlier that this cut had to reach the pneuma, or ‘that which is breathed.’ “That is where his soul is,” he told me.

  He continues his chant even more loudly. The distressed green gargoyle continues pleading, no not pleading, groveling for me to save his daughter. A divot of bone pops out of his chest. Jericho catches it. While staying near the distraught gargoyle, the focused mage continues chanting until the wound closes.

  Mixed with love and support for the Count, I begin to sense goodbyes to the unrepentant female before me. The first goodbye to reach my ears is mine. “Eltira, goodbye. I don’t love what you did. I do love your soul. My hope is that you shall find the peace and happiness in death that you could not find in life.”

  Then more of the Ceorfan add expressions of compassion and love for her, containing no condemnation of me as I fear. None are accusatory. None condemn me, their queen for only a few days. A queen who, in her first acts of discipline, demands the execution of Eltira, a member of the Ceorfan for centuries. There is no hate today. None for Eltira. None for me. Only love and support for the Count, his only child… and for me.

  Jericho moves to the defiant traitor lifting her magical restraints. Still, nothing emanates from her but hatred. With her arms outstretched Jericho cuts her shirt loose. She is as exposed as the evil within her. Still defiant, she solicits anyone within hearing to carry out her one last desire—to kill the Guild.

  Our room fills with somber pleading. Not for the Queen to intervene; for death to treat Eltira with kindness. The compassion being pressed toward her is crushing me. I no longer feel, the way a human woman does. I feel like a Ceorfan Queen. I add my force to the entreating, impressing my own hope for her to be treated well in death.

  The lights in the hall begin a dance, dimming and brightening with no detectable sequence. With remarkable speed, Jericho cuts open her bare chest, painlessly. Out pops a stone, which Jericho immediately hands to the Count, who places it near his cheek, covering it with tears. Jericho replaces the piece of bone, earlier removed from her father, back into her chest. Her wound closes as the chanting diminishes, then ends.

  The room is silent. The lights have dimmed to a very low level. A chill fills the room, almost as if death were personally coming to claim Eltira. It’s astonishing to see a woman dissolve into a pile of dust. Even more so, to see the dust fade into eternity in a matter of seconds.

  The guild waits. the Count, in shock, stands.

  I take a few steps toward him. As I do, the room begins to clear. I walk toward him, searching his eyes. “You did the best you could with her. I’m sure the wild magic of the rogue mage is what caused the evil to fester in her. I’m sorry for your loss.” Tears continued to stream down his face. I continue, “You’re a good man and I’m certain you’ll do mighty things for the Guild. Our people need you, Count. Will you step back into your rightful place of leadership, or would you prefer I replace you as a member of the High Guild?”

  He sobs on the intake of a breath. Controlling himself just enough to speak, he tells me, “My queen you have my loyalty and my love. I hope the Guild will be improved by my understanding of this pain. My daughter did evil, I know that, but I loved her. My wife has gone on long ago, and she will not feel this grief. Of that I am glad. I will have to learn to live without my daughter. I will miss her for the rest of my days.”

  I hug him and tell him, “Go home to Navan. Rest, heal, and help Jericho keep the Guild safe. The Ducere and I will be home soon. Be sure to tell Elt
ira's story, so her name will be etched forever in the city.”

  Jericho gives me a hug then reaching out for the arm of the count, taking him by the elbow, he guides him into a portal and leaves.

  I feel sick. Dinner time is approaching, but I’m not hungry. I go to my room to speak with the others. “Jared, what do you want to do? Do you think you need to go home or stay here? I’m second-guessing my decisions.”

  “No, Kendra, you are right. The Ceorfan need representation with TASS. Our culture must be understood. If we can't convince this small group, we’ll have no hope of convincing the world we deserve a place in it. I’ll do fine. You, of all people, know the way I’ve set up my companies. I can handle them remotely, easily.”

  I hug him and say, “Thank you. I guess the real question is, do you want to stay in this decrepit old castle or get one of your own?”

  Jared laughs, a small subdued laugh. “I'm sure I’ll be okay here until I can find my own place. I need to figure out my options. I have a real estate company in London. I’ll have them take care of my accommodations in the long term.”

  There’s a knock at the door. Thurston is there. He’s brought a waiter, who has a cart with trays of food. “Kendra, the chef has sent your dinner to you. Would you like to eat it here at this table,” pointing at the coffee table in the living area, “or out on the patio?”

  “The coffee table is fine.”

  The waiter sets on tray on the coffee table and takes the rest to the dining table. There’s enough food for an army! It smells so good that everyone excuses themselves from their discussions to go eat in the dining area of our suite. All except Spar. I ask him if he’d like to eat with me in the living area.

  “I'm your Huckleberry,” he responds, which gets a smile out of me.

  We sit and talk over all the ‘what ifs’.

  “You did the right thing.” Spar says, peering into my eyes with his big blue ones. I can just fall into those eyes. “I believe in you, Kendra. I’ll try to always be here to back you up. I’ll make you a deal, honey. If I ever think what you’re doing is wrong I’ll tell you before you go overboard, okay?” He puts his big hand on mine, making me feel so much calmer.