Windsworn: Gryphon Riders Book One (Gryphon Riders Trilogy 1)

by Derek Alan Siddoway

  Ivan’s head turned, and his eyes focused on Eva. Raising a hand, he beckoned to her. Without waiting, the boy turned and walked into the chamber, toward the orange light.

  Still grasping her sword, Eva followed, Fury at her side. When they crossed into chamber, Eva gasped. It was the largest room she’d seen in the Gyr, hundreds of feet high and wide. The circular cavern walls were carved with gigantic runes twice Eva’s height. They pulsed and throbbed, bathing the chamber in a fiery glow, and Eva felt like she was inside a gigantic smelter.

  Eva realized they stood on a large round platform of stone that dropped off before it met the cavern walls. A rectangular stone table stood in the center, about twice the length and width of a person. Across from them, Eva saw another entrance: a long stone ramp leading up to a pair of massive rune-carved doors. Ivan continued across the room to the table then stopped.

  “Ivan, we’ve got to go,” Eva repeated in a louder voice.

  As she spoke, the stone doors across the chamber opened, and Celina stepped into the light.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Eva’s mind tried to make sense of what her eyes showed her. Celina descended the ramp and walked toward them. As she approached, Ivan’s gaze followed her every move. Eva took a step back, mind reeling. At her side, Fury hissed.

  “How good of you to join us, Eva dear,” Celina said. In the light of the runes, her face looked even paler and more drawn than the last time Eva had seen her, weeks before.

  “You.” Eva said. “I don’t —”

  Celina raised her hand, the one with the Wonder gauntlet on it. “All will be explained, Eva. You’ve done well to make it this far, but then again you’ve had a good teacher these past months, haven’t you?”

  She smiled that sly fox smile, and the runes on her gauntlet pulsed with orange light of their own.

  “What’s going on?” Eva demanded.

  “Something very special,” Celina said. “An event over a thousand years in the making, and you’ve got the unique opportunity to witness it.”

  The woman lifted a dark stone knife from the table and held her gauntlet over the table. As she did so, Ivan began to chant. Eva recognized it as the same deep, dirge-like voice he’d taken up in his chambers. His voice grew louder and faster, and Celina ran the knife through her palm. Blood flowing from the cut, she pressed her hand over a rune in the center of the stone table and held it in place until blood ran into the grooves. Ivan fell silent.

  Eva took another step back. “This…this isn’t right,” she said. She reached for Ivan’s arm and pulled, but the boy shrugged her off again, eyes transfixed on the blood-filled rune.

  “He can’t hear you,” Celina said. “He’s completely under my control now.” She flicked her wrist, and the runes on her iron band pulsed. Ivan took a step back from the table. Somehow the blood from Celina’s cut multiplied on the table and ran through hundreds of little grooves.

  “You?” Eva said. She struggled to comprehend. Celina, who had stuck up for her in front the Council, had believed in her when no one else did and picked her up at her lowest. It made no sense.

  Celina nodded. “Yes. “

  Stunned, Eva took a faltering step back as Fury crouched down beside her, prepared to attack.

  “Clever as you are, Eva you’ve only been shown a small piece of a much larger picture,” Celina said, ignoring their movements. “Your gryphon isn’t just a rare specimen, Eva. He’s a powerful omen. I knew when Devana first laid the red egg that it would be the key to my work.”

  “Your…work?” Eva said, voice hoarse. Blood continued to run down the solid sides of the table, catching in a groove running around the base.

  Celina nodded. “I told you before, my entire life was changed on that expedition to the east. There, among the ruins, I discovered a power far greater than my own.” She raised her left hand and turned her arm to show the glowing bracer. “This ancient relic opened my eyes and taught me secrets none have known for centuries. And ever so slowly, a grand future revealed itself to me, if only I had the strength to make it so.”

  Eva struggled to sort through the hundreds of questions bombarding her. She halfway wondered if this was all some insane trial set forth by the Windsworn, but when she looked at Celina she saw nothing but madness in the woman’s dark eyes.

  “But Uthred,” Eva said.

  “Uthred? Ha!” Celina laughed, a cold heartless sound. “That loyal fool doesn’t have the strength or the vision to do what I will do. He began to suspect me, of course, but he had no proof, even after he started following me into the Catacombs. The Scrawl boy here proved a lovely diversion, though — his unique power made him especially vulnerable to the power of my Wonder. Poor Uthred couldn’t unravel what was happening before his very eyes, but he was persistent, I’ll give him that.”

  “So, it was you,” Eva said. “You killed Devana and forced Ivan to steal the egg. You attacked Sigrid and Cassandra, and you killed Danny.”

  Eva felt a chill run down her back. “Why would you do that? What did they ever do?”

  “They got in the way!” Celina hissed, clenching her hands into fists. The runes on the wall flared like fires fed by a gust of wind. She stepped around the dais, toward Eva, closing the gap between them. “I used the powers of the gauntlet to place Devana in a trance for the Scrawl boy to steal the egg, but her motherly instincts proved too strong. I had no other choice. While I fought the gryphon, my hold on the boy weakened, and he used my secret knowledge of the Catacombs to escape. I feared then he would recall me when captured, but the Wonder’s rune magic overpowered his memory.”

  “But why steal the egg at all? Why involve Ivan?” Eva asked.

  Celina smiled her cold, hungry smile. “The theft of the egg and its subsequent discovery in the hands of the Scrawls would have made Rhylance go to war with those tattooed idiots. Unfortunately, Ivan brought the egg to you for whatever reason, and it hatched.”

  “Why would you want to destroy the riders?” Eva asked. She continued to take small steps backward every time Celina spoke, doing her best to get as far away from the woman and the table as she could. Just being in its presence filled her with foreboding. Yet she couldn’t leave Ivan. “You’re the right wing of the Windsworn, second only to the lord commander!”

  “Oh, I don’t want to destroy them,” Celina said. “I intend for them to serve me, when I rise to power. A great storm is coming, Eva, the like of which hasn’t been seen in a thousand years. With the Windsworn and Rhylance weakened by war with the Scrawls it will come to pass that much easier.”

  Eva glanced at Ivan. She’d hoped distracting Celina would weak the woman’s hold on Ivan, but the Scrawl boy continued to stare at the table. Its channels all filled with blood, and Eva wasn’t sure if it was a reflection from the walls or not, but it seemed to give off a faint glow of its own.

  “And the others?” Eva asked. “What did Cassandra, Sigrid, or Danny ever do to you?”

  “After that debacle at the court, I needed it to look like Ivan had made another attempt at the red gryphon’s life,” Celina said. “The Scrawl and your gryphon share a unique magical connection that allowed me to lead Fury from your room toward the Roost. Unfortunately, Uthred was snooping around and muddled things up. I used Ivan as a diversion, but by the time I got back to the Roost I’d lost control of your gryphon and was almost spotted by Cassandra and Sigrid.

  “Danny was another unfortunate victim,” Celina said, shrugging like she was talking about a flower killed by an early frost and not the murder of a young, innocent boy. “The king and the Windsworn Council weren’t acting fast enough. And for the ritual to work the best I need both Ivan and the red gryphon, but your bond had grown too strong to overpower him — I had to lure you both here. Once again, Uthred would have ruined that if I hadn’t sent Tahl to free you and sworn him not to tell. And now, here you are.”

  “I trusted you,” Eva said. Behind Celina, the trails of blood were definitely glowing now, t
he same fiery orange color as the giant runes. Ivan started chanting — harsh, angry words that froze Eva’s heart and filled her with dread — and the light grew brighter and brighter.

  “Ivan, stop!” she shouted.

  The boy ignored her.

  “He can’t hear you, Eva,” Celina said. “My control over him is complete.” The chanting grew louder, and to Eva’s horror, Fury turned away from Celina and stared at the stone altar as well.

  “Fury!” Eva tugged at him, but the gryphon ignored her, focused on the table. He started walking toward the Scrawl.

  “Fury!” Eva screamed again with no effect. “IVAN, STOP!”

  Celina blocked Eva’s path, arms folded across her chest, eyes burning with a feverish light. “You have two choices, Eva,” she said. “I spoke the truth when I said you had the potential for greatness. Join me, and no one will ever laugh at you again. You will be feared and respected and will answer only to me.”

  “I don’t want that,” Eva said. She looked at Ivan and Fury, tears running down her face. “I don’t want people to fear me.”

  Celina sighed. “Such a waste of potential. Just like your father.”

  Seeing the look on Eva’ face, Celina let out a cold, harsh laugh. “Andor never told you, did he? That cocky, loud idiot was part of our expedition to the east. You don’t know how bad I wanted to shove a sword through him before we got back. And then, if that weren’t enough, he had an affair, and you came along. It almost tore the kingdom apart.”

  Celina spat out the words like poison. Eva’s head spun. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her mouth went as dry as the stone beneath her feet.

  “Who?” Eva managed to ask in a cracked voice.

  “If you can’t see reason, then I guess you’ll die never knowing,” Celina said.

  The block of stone glowed like an ingot of steel heated in the forge fire. Ivan’s voice rose, and he started shouting now, his voice ragged and hoarse from chanting. Fury sat down beside him, captivated by the glowing altar.

  Eva rushed between them, shouting and shaking each in turn, but neither the boy nor the gryphon felt her presence. Anger rising, she turned to Celina, sword clenched tight in her hand.

  The altar exploded without warning. Eva flew backward, shards of rock slicing her body and the air around her. She landed in a heap on the ground, several paces away. In place of the altar, a giant, midnight-colored golem shook the rock free and struggled to its feet.

  Eva could only stare as it took one faltering step and then another. Clear of the debris, it stopped in front of Celina. The woman raised her glowing gauntlet and pointed at Eva.

  “I’m sorry, my dear,” Celina said, sounding genuinely disheartened. “This is where your story ends.”

  The golem turned toward Eva, and her ragged breath caught in her chest. Built wider and taller than Seppo, the golem’s eyes burned like hot coals in the fire instead of Seppo’s deep, gentle blue. Its armor was built for war — thick-ridged plates designed to turn or catch a blade, inscribed with ancient, forgotten runes.

  Eva looked at Fury and Ivan, who stared at her with blank expressions. The golem flexed its hands and curled them into fists in anticipation. Each finger was thicker than Eva’s arm.

  “This will be quick,” Celina said from behind the golem. “I owe you that much, Eva.” The woman waved a careless hand toward her, the automaton watching her every move. “Kill her.”

  The golem bounded forward, covering the dozen paces to Eva in less than four steps. Eva barely had time to grab her sword before it attacked. She threw herself to the side just in time, rolling up into crouch, weapon at the ready. Undeterred, the golem covered the space between them in a single step. It swooped down for her, but Eva was too quick. She dove between its leg and hacked at the small of its back with all her might. Her blade struck the iron armor with a clang, reverberating so hard in her hands that she almost dropped it.

  “The Smelterborn is indestructible,” Celina said from across the chamber. “There is no escape. Soon, I will raise an army of them, and all of Altaris will bow before me!”

  Eva backed away as the armored golem lumbered toward her. She managed a glance at Ivan and Fury, desperate for any help she could get. “Hey!” she shouted. “Snap out of it!”

  Before she could see if the words registered, the golem lunged at her, forcing Eva to dive out of the way just in the nick of time again. When she recovered, she saw Ivan had the same blank look, but Fury had his head cocked to the side, studying her with some intent.

  “Enough!” Celina shouted. Her impatience seemed to channel into the golem. It came at Eva with more intensity now, seeking to grab, stomp, or crush her any way possible. Each time, Eva stayed a half a step ahead of her opponent, sweat running down her face and soaking her uniform. Each time, the Smelterborn came at her just as fast and hard, showing no signs of tiring.

  “Fury, help me!” she screamed, rolling to the side as a huge iron fist smashed into the rock, causing the ground to shake.

  The gryphon took a hesitant step forward. “No!” Celina shouted, looking away from the golem to Fury. The fledgling paused, but so did the golem with Celina’s concentration split between them.

  That gave Eva an idea. She retreated from the Smelterborn, all the while shouting at Fury. The golem followed her every move. She managed to maneuver it between her and Celina while keeping a direct line of sight to Fury. Each time he heard her voice, the gryphon shook his head, tail twitching and wings flailing, but Celina’s control held firm.

  “Fury, please!” Eva shouted. She tore her eyes away from the golem to focus on the gryphon. “Help me!”

  “Kill her now!” Celina shrieked.

  Eva’s eyes met Fury’s, and she stared at him, seeing recognition dawn on his face. Too late.

  In her moment of hesitation, the Smelterborn’s fist came out of nowhere. It struck Eva, and she flew across the chamber, hitting the stone floor hard and rolling.

  Vision swimming and body aching, Eva tried to move as the golem strode toward her and picked her up by the waist in its iron hand. Weaponless, Eva pounded its cold, lifeless hand with her fists, knowing it was useless. The Smelterborn turned and walked toward Celina, holding Eva out in front of it like child showing its parent a toy. Through a dizzy, pain-wracked mind, Eva felt her breast bone burning and wondered if her chest had been crushed.

  “I taught you well,” Celina said, shaking her head as the golem neared. “A pity you won’t listen to reason.”

  The burning grew shaper, and Eva gritted her teeth and arched her back in the Smelterborn’s grip until she realized it wasn’t her body at all. The necklace. She tore at the collar of her uniform, scraped and bleedings fingers clawing to pull the Wonder free.

  “Have you gone mad?” Celina asked as Eva tore at her clothing.

  In one last desperate rip, Eva latched on to the chain and yanked the necklace free. The rose-colored light burned bright as the sun, and she twisted away, burying her face in her elbow.

  Celina’s shrieks filled the chamber. “What is that? Get it! Get rid of it!”

  The Smelterborn’s grip slackened, however, and Eva fell to the ground. Scrambling, she scampered out of the way as the golem floundered around. Free of being trampled, Eva grabbed the stone’s chain and thrust it up into the thing’s face. Celina screamed again, and the suit of armor threw its hand over its face, stumbling backward from the light.

  A familiar scream cut through the din, and Eva saw a flash of copper as Fury leaped and struck the Smelterborn’s helm, almost knocking it off its feet.

  “Get it, boy!” Eva yelled. Holding the Wonder aloft in front of her, other hand covering her eyes, Eva advanced on the Smelterborn and Celina, who hid herself behind the suit of armor, still shouting for it to attack.

  Fury wheeled away and struck again, causing the Smelterborn to pull its hands from its face in an attempt to fend off the gryphon. The chain grew hot in Eva’s hand, and the light flared brighter. Celin
a’s screams of pain stabbed at Eva’s ears, her world consisting of nothing but light, deafening shrieks, and heat.

  “Please!” Celina begged. In the shade of her hand, Eva saw the woman fall to her knees behind the Smelterborn. “Make it stop. I’ll do anything you want, just make it stop burning!”

  Eva paused and lowered the Wonder, shielding the light with her other hand. Almost at once, Celina’s screams ended, and the golem paused. From behind the golem’s legs, Eva saw Celina’s face curl into a snarl.

  “CRUSH HER!”

  Arms wide, the Smelterborn leaped forward. Eva dropped to one knee and buried her face in her free arm, thrusting the Wonder above her like a shield. A bone-shaking roar spit the cavern. Celina screamed so loud Eva’s ears rang. The sound of thunder filled the air, and the ground shook.

  Then all fell silent.

  Eva dropped the burning necklace as the light from the stone faded. Head spinning, she sat it on the ground beside her, using both hands to keep herself from tipping over. As her eyes adjusted to the dying orange light, she saw the Smelterborn lying on the ground. Before her eyes, its armor began to rust and corrode away. A pale, twisted hand stuck out from beneath it, attacked to a dull armor bracer.

  The sound of feathers signaled Fury landing beside Eva. Seeing Celina’s body trapped beneath the golem, she leaned over and retched.

  “Eva!” Ivan’s confused voice cut through the silence, sounding almost as dazed as she way. “Where are we? What’s happening?”

  “Celina…” Eva muttered, her voice distant in her ears. “Smelter…thing.” Eva’s vision jilted and swam even more, white stars popping up everywhere she looked. She shivered, drenched in a cold sweat. A part of her worried she might lose consciousness and tried to lean away from her pool of sick.

  “Good…boy,” Eva said. Her hand slipped from Fury’s head, and oblivion embraced her.

  Chapter Thirty

  When Eva awoke, the first thing she recognized was light. Not the rose-colored light of her Wonder, but warm, soft sunshine, which didn’t make any sense given that she was in a cavern. Where was the Smelterborn?