"I feel bad about your hand."
"It is already healed." He showed her his hand, and the welts had indeed all but faded.
"That's good. I'm glad."
That simple statement pleased Gareth.
Adele asked, "Aren't you at all concerned as to what this means? Aren't you worried what I could do? What I might do?"
"Why? What can I do about it?"
"It could be a way to fight vampires, to destroy your kind."
Gareth stopped. "I trust you."
"Maybe you shouldn't." His complacency was exasperating.
"If you decide that this is the best course of action for your people, then I concur."
"Gareth, remind me to explain to you about power and politics."
"I prefer diplomacy." Adele laughed and Gareth smiled at her. "So what did you think of Greyfriar's Kirk?"
She struggled to follow his example and bring her thoughts back to mundane matters. "It must have been beautiful once. A lovely place for weddings. But it's small compared to the palace I will be married in." She sighed. "You know, I've lost track of time, but I think I might've been married already if your brother had not kidnapped me."
The lines around Gareth's mouth tightened. In the beginning of this adventure, he hadn't given much thought to Adele's impending marriage. Now that he knew her, it weighed on him. For just a moment, he imagined a different life, one without the constraints of duty, politics, and prejudice. That was foolish and he knew it, but still, the thought of Adele not marrying that braggart of a vampire killer warmed him.
The princess rolled her shoulders back so she stood a mite taller. Her sad expression lifted and she regarded Gareth. She gave a smile as if to banish her gloomy thoughts. She must be the only woman ever to be depressed about her wedding to a great hero, but oddly it seemed like a part of her past and not her future. A lifetime had passed for her in these last weeks, and her old life was so very distant.
Adele said, "I'll tell you the truth, and you're the first I've admitted this to, but-from all I've heard of my Intended-I am not enamored of Senator Clark."
"Oh yes?"
"But our union is important for Equatoria. So my happiness doesn't really matter."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. In fact, I'll have to say that you are the only person trying to set things right." Greyfriar's pistols suddenly felt heavy on her hips. They had offered protection and assurance when she had needed them, but now with deft fingers she unbuckled the rig and handed it to Gareth.
"I gave them to you," he said in confusion.
"I don't need them. I'd like to keep one pistol, though. For my own protection. But the rest are yours. Thank you for the loan."
He reached to take the gun belt, gently brushing her soft, gloved hand. He felt another shock of pain, lighter, more a warning than damaging. The power was still coursing through her, taking its time subsiding. He covered the shock and inclined his head graciously as he took the weapons and tossed the belt carelessly onto one shoulder. He couldn't help but smile; the bond between them that he had thought lost forever had returned. Her scent was intoxicating.
Then another scent drifted on the wind and Gareth stiffened sharply, the leather belt sliding from his shoulder and dropping from nerveless fingers to the ground. Adele reacted in kind, her own hand slipping to the pistol in the pocket of her skirt. She had learned to read both Gareth and Greyfriar when they sensed danger. She swiveled her gaze about, but saw nothing.
"Run to the castle," Gareth commanded. He took to the skies in a single leap. "Hunters are coming," were the words that trailed back.
Adele grabbed his gun belt from the ground and fled. Her eyes continued to look up as she ran across the cobblestones uphill toward the looming castle. She saw no dark shapes in the sky. If she ran faster, maybe she could send Baudoin to help. Her fear was back, and she grasped the pistol rig tighter to her chest.
Soon she couldn't even see Gareth's silhouette. How far away could he sense the hunters? Far enough out so that the hunters couldn't sense her?
It took forever to get to the castle. Adele shoved open the great doors, letting them bang loudly against the stone wall. Only guessing where Baudoin was at this time of the day, she ran for the kitchen. He wasn't there, but Morgana was, and together they ran until they found Baudoin. His face was like granite when they told him.
"Stay inside," he said.
"How can we help?"
"Stay out of sight. It's up to His Lordship now."
Adele and Morgana exchanged anxious glances. Morgana grasped the princess's hand and squeezed. Adele's first instinct was to look out a window, but she resisted the urge. Instead she made sure Gareth's pistols were loaded and ready. She could only imagine what was happening over the skies of Edinburgh.
The air currents were fast, and Gareth rose quickly. Two distant specks marked the arrival of hunters to his domain; the creatures were not tracking vampires, so they would see him and discount him. Of course, the hunters might be following the scent of the Greyfriar, but that's why he wore human blood on his skin as the Greyfriar to mask his true scent to his fellow vampires. Then he had a terrible thought. Perhaps he carried enough of Adele's scent to attract them. Sure enough, the hunters veered and glared at him curiously as if trying to puzzle out why a vampire had a scent with faint resemblance to their prey. Finally they continued their flight toward the castle. They had Adele's scent. These were well-trained hunters. Flay used the best.
Gareth waited until they flew beneath him. Then he drew his arms in to his sides and descended at an incredible rate of speed. He slammed down onto the back of one of the unsuspecting hunters. It screamed in surprise and pain as its spine cracked. The wind rushed as they tumbled out of control. Even mortally wounded, the hunter tried to twist and claw his attacker.
Gareth struggled to hold the hunter close to him. If he gave it room to strike, he would be eviscerated. Gareth grunted as his skin was ripped across his shoulder practically to the bone. The second creature was on him already, but he had to ignore that. Gareth extended his fangs and buried them in the back of the hunter's neck, ripping through its ropelike tendons and sinking into the spinal cord. Digging deep, he tore at the base of the thing's brain. It thrashed before he felt a satisfying snap and the creature shuddered.
Gareth gave a maniacal shout at his victory as he released the limp hunter. Then he whirled to face the second creature, eager to destroy another brute. But this one was cunning. It could smell the power surging in its target and refused to be taken by it. The hunter soared up to gain distance and then turned to face Gareth. There was no glare of surprise or anger. A hunter was too simple for that. It was a killing machine, trained specifically to hunt and kill its target.
Now that it had regained some position of dominance, it came at Gareth.
The prince wrenched aside as long claws sliced the air where he had once hovered, but the hunter twisted its agile body, and one of its clawed feet stretched out and ripped an open gash the length of Gareth's thigh. He grabbed the hunter's hairy leg and pulled it toward him. He wouldn't allow it to circle and strike again, slicing him until he weakened. Gareth was no match for its agility and speed. The only way to take down the beast was to stay close, where his strength, before it faded, was the advantage.
The hunter screamed in protest as it was captured. It slashed again and again with claws and teeth. Gareth could feel blood loss weakening him. It was hard to command his limbs to hold this furious beast. He was losing the fight to protect Adele.
The fear of this creature attacking her gave him a renewed strength to endure its savage mauling. He wrapped his arms around the head of the creature, ignoring the fact that he left open his chest to the beast's attack, then summoned the vestiges of his fading strength and twisted. The beast let out a wail that abruptly ended with a dull crack, and its body went limp in Gareth's grasp.
The battered prince let it go and watched it tumble to the earth far be
low as drops of his blood followed after. He was badly wounded, he knew. His vision greyed; he needed to descend to the ground before he lost consciousness, but there was a voice behind him.
"Strange how the hunters led me to you." The words were laced with suspicion and spite.
Flay.
Wearily, Gareth faced her. Members of the Pale were with her. It showed her utter gall in bringing so many of her soldiers into his realm.
He snarled through blood-flecked lips, "I don't allow vampires in my land. Particularly my brother's underlings."
Flay sneered in anger, but she fought through it with feigned deference. "I am pursuing an escaped prisoner, the princess Adele. The hunters tracked her here, Great Lord." She stared down to the earth far beneath them at the crumpled cadaver of one of her pets. "I know she is here. Somewhere."
"Leave. Now."
Flay smiled cruelly over her sharp canines. "Though she is technically your prisoner, Cesare has graciously offered to retake responsibility for her."
"How kind. I decline."
"Cesare is coming with an airship to transport the prisoner once I have located her." Flay waved an elegant hand toward the distant castle. "Perhaps you will lend me your hospitality while we wait for your brother."
"You will not set foot on my land. Withdraw!" Gareth was stalling with the only weapon he still had strength to wield, playing the outraged nobleman. He had to buy precious time before Cesare arrived with reinforcements.
The war chief resented his haughty tone. Her every gesture said she wished to attack and be done with this foolish charade of respect. Gareth had had his chance with her, and he had spit on her proposal.
Flay kept tenuous rein on her anger. "You are making a mistake."
"Probably the worst I've made since failing to tear your head off in London." He could feel the blood draining from his failing body. He held himself erect, lest she suspect his weakness. "Go! I won't tell you again."
Her eyes simmered into steel. She turned abruptly and flew southward with her retainers following after.
Gareth remained where he was till they were distant spots in the sky. Then his strength left him and his density increased. He drifted helplessly to the ground far below, his dripping blood reaching the destination before him.
CHAPTER
A WAS AT Gareth's side as soon as he staggered into the castle. The servant dipped a shoulder under his lord's arm. Gareth was already throwing off orders, his mind occupied by only one thought: flight.
"Cesare is on his way. We don't have much time."
"Your wounds are-"
"Nothing. Where is Adele? She must be kept out of sight till we're ready to leave."
"She is waiting in her room."
The prince nodded gratefully.
"Gareth!" Adele ran to him, her face flushed with anxiety.
The prince cast an inquisitive eye at his servant, who was glaring at the princess.
"She was in her room," Baudoin intoned.
Adele wrapped her arm around Gareth's side. Even though she was no longer on hallowed ground or invoking her power, a harsh electricity buzzed through the contact. It mattered little to Gareth. He was comforted by her physical presence, and he relished that she felt no fear around him. The pain paled by comparison.
"You're hurt!" she exclaimed as she saw his torn frame.
"It can keep. Cesare is on his way. You must get to safety."
"How soon?"
"I don't know. But we must be gone from here before he arrives."
Her eyes were shining. "You're coming with me?"
"Of course, I trust your safety to no one but myself."
"Thank you." Adele returned her attention to his injuries. "We need to bind your wounds first. Or we won't get far."
"My wounds will heal. There is no time. Gather your things...."
"Morgana has already taken care of that for me. Besides, I don't have much, and I expect we will be traveling light. I have enough food for several days, then we may have to forage. Anything else I haven't covered?" At the end of the hallway stood a small pile of satchels and supplies.
The corners of Gareth's mouth lifted in a pained smile. "No. I see you've met every contingency."
"Exactly."
Baudoin asked, "Shall I pack Greyfriar?"
Gareth replied, "No. I have him hidden in various places if we make it to the mainland."
"You mean when we make it to the mainland, don't you?" Adele noted. "I have no doubt we'll reach Equatoria."
"I do," he answered, reaching down for a satchel, but Adele quickly picked it up and eased it onto his shoulders.
"You do?" she asked anxiously.
"It will be very difficult."
"We'll fight as hard as we can." Adele's demeanor altered again to the strong-minded princess he had come to know. She quickly distributed the supplies between them both, taking the heavier load for herself, and left her hand lingering on his. "That's all we can do."
Baudoin observed the tender touches between his prince and the human female. Such concern for Gareth's well-being on her part was disturbing. Even more distressing was the gentle look on his prince's face, almost thoughtful and even grateful. Perhaps it was a result of his weakened state.
"My lord?"
"My friend." Gareth straightened with weary resolve and motioned to Baudoin. "I want you to leave Edinburgh before Cesare arrives. It would be safer for you."
"No," was the simple reply.
"What?"
"It is best I stay. I can mislead Cesare and direct him away from you."
Gareth shook his head resolutely. "No. He is my brother. You won't be able to fool him. It is too dangerous."
Baudoin adjusted a strap on one of the packs, easing the strain on Gareth's wounded shoulder. "I know Cesare quite well. I did raise both of you. I have never shirked my duty before. I will not now."
"This is much more than just covering my masquerade as Greyfriar. Cesare will stop at nothing to regain the princess."
"Then why not give her back to him?" Baudoin simply asked, perfectly willing to sacrifice the human female to safeguard his prince.
Adele stiffened beside Gareth, her eyes darting between the two vampires.
"Because I don't want to," was Gareth's simple reply.
Baudoin heard exactly what he didn't want to hear in that one straightforward remark. His lord cared for the human princess, and there was nothing Baudoin could do to stop it. No vampire had ever dared place a human life before a vampire's. If nothing else would start a civil war, that would.
The servant did not know what future lay before them, but he would not abandon his charge. The prince had always been headstrong and unusual, causing great strife within the clan. Perhaps with any luck, the prince's inconvenient infatuation would fade over time, and this would all become just an annoying memory.
Baudoin shrugged his shoulders. "Then I don't want to leave the castle. If I can stall your brother only an hour, it's useful. It is my decision to make, not yours."
Gareth glared at his faithful friend, but he knew that he had already lost the battle. Baudoin had always accepted risks without question. But that did not mean the prince worried less for him. Cesare would strike him to hurt Gareth.
Gareth gave an answering sigh. "So be it. But don't let my brother use his influence to march his forces into Edinburgh. He only wants the princess and me. If he tries to occupy the city, just send him toward us. We will make do as best we can. All servants need to leave the castle. And send word to all my subjects to go into hiding."
"Where will you go?"
Gareth said, "North."
"The stones?" the servant asked, but Gareth didn't answer. Which was his answer. Baudoin eyed the bloody state of his liege. "You won't make it. It's too far."
Gareth's mouth opened in surprise at the bluntness. Baudoin was never one to mollify, but this defeatist attitude was new. "I don't have much choice."
Baudoin withheld a disparaging comm
ent. There was no solution to this problem. Gareth couldn't hope to outrun Cesare overland, and he couldn't take to the air for any length of time with the girl. But the prince would not abandon Princess Adele. "You had best leave immediately, then. You're wasting time."
Gareth clasped Baudoin on the shoulder. "We will see each other again."
"Of course." Baudoin could feel the weakness in the grip of his charge.
Gareth and Adele made their way through the castle and into a cramped, ill-used stairway. After descending far through the darkness, they reached a small barred opening set at the rear of the castle. They were hundreds of feet above the tumbled buildings, with a sheer cliff face between them and the ground.
Adele said, "I seem to remember a front door on the castle."
Gareth took out a rusty key and unlocked the iron door, swinging the heavy grate back until it slammed against the rocks. "This way is faster. I don't know how close Cesare is."
Adele took one look down and grimaced. "It's not that I'm afraid of heights, but that's a long way down without a rope."
"Hang onto me."
"But you're weighted down already! And wounded!"
"I can manage you. It won't be a leisurely fall, but we'll survive. Come on. Wrap your arms around me."
Adele obeyed, mindful of his injuries. She was relieved that he did not wince in pain as he took her weight and stepped off into the air. They dropped. Adele screamed, but they lurched and slowed into a more controlled plummet. The stones raced upward beside them at a dizzying pace. Adele's clothes flapped loudly as the strong crosswinds buffeted them. Gareth managed to keep them upright as they sank toward the overgrown lane below. They were coming down too fast. He was struggling. His gasping breaths near her ear were agonizing.
They landed hard on the cobblestones, and Gareth slammed down onto his knees. Adele held him tight as he slumped. He felt as light as air for a second, but then his density returned full force and she couldn't hold him.
"Gareth!"
It took a few moments before he responded. He struggled to his feet, easing his weight off her. "Let's go."
The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) by Clay & Susan Griffith;Clay Griffith;Susan Griffith Page 26
