“Under different circumstances, I’d say it’s good to see you, Gahu.”
She heard murmuring through the onlookers. “It’s Forest. The Shape shifter. The smuggler. She’s friends with Philippe. She kills vampires for fun, why is she with one?”
“I’ve got strict orders, Forest. I must kill any vampire I encounter. New orders recommend the same treatment of Elves now that they have lumped in with the suckers. Shape shifters are welcome on a case by case basis,” Gahu said severely. “Seeing as you are a Halfling, you are regrettably half my enemy. The fact that you have always had a good standing relationship with Philippe has bought you a few seconds to explain yourself.”
“I, unquestioningly, know how bad it looks for me to be in the company of a vampire. Believe me, enduring his company has been the foulest trial of my life. You know how I hate suckers. Unfortunately, his life is tied to the success of my mission; a mission for the Lair and for the victory of the wolves in this war.” She gave a meaningful look around at the bystanders. “But that is all I can tell you here. I must see Philippe at once!”
Forest watched Gahu as he considered her words. She knew she had said all the right things. He was an officer of the army and acted predictably. If in doubt, escalate the problem up the chain of command.
Gahu looked at the men standing around. “Back to work!” he barked loudly. Within seconds, they were alone.
“All right, Forest. Let’s go see Philippe.”
“Thank you, Gahu,” she said, bending down and pulling Syrus’ arm across her shoulders, helping him to his feet.
The three of them began walking towards the ground entrance of the mountain. Many wolves hissed and growled at Syrus, but none did any more than that because of the warning look they got from Gahu. Forest maintained her solid exterior, but inside she felt like a scared little girl. At any moment, Syrus’ presence would push one of them a little too far, and in the blink of an eye, Syrus could be dead. She was relived once they stepped through the entrance of the mountain out of the open.
The air inside the mountain was cool and slightly moist with a smell of minerals. She had been in this place many times before as a guest. It was a huge entrance hall with many doorways leading off to various locations within the mountain. Gahu seemed as relieved as she was that there was no one in the large room except a few guards.
Two massive and menacing wolves guarded the entrance to the long ascending hallway that led to Philippe’s chambers. Chosen, no doubt, for this post because of their natural ability to invoke fear. Gahu stepped up to them and began talking quietly. One of the guards bristled at Syrus, but the other eyed Forest closely. She could see the light of male appreciation in his eyes. She winked at him, causing his cheeks to color red.
Gahu came back to her. “Okay. You can go up, but the sucker has to stay here.”
“No,” Forest said forcefully.
Gahu raised his hands in surrender to her vehemence. “Sorry. If you want to see Philippe then you have to leave the sucker here. I doubt he could make the climb anyway by the look of him.”
“That’s just the problem. He can’t take much more abuse, and as much as I’d like to see him dead, as I told you before, my success hinges on his life. I need him alive and able to travel. I can’t just leave him here where anyone can see him and have access to him.”
Gahu nodded. “You’re right. Okay, let’s take him somewhere more private.”
He turned, and Forest followed, pulling Syrus along. He led them into a side hallway and through a low door into a small weapons room.
“You can leave him here with me. I promise that nothing will happen to him. I’ll guard him myself until you return. Okay?” Gahu said.
Forest eased Syrus down to a sitting position on the floor, propped against the stone wall. She felt his pulse again and squeezed his hand reassuringly. He didn’t respond at all and kept his face to the ground. She wanted to hold him and tell him she was sorry for leaving him alone. She wanted to weep over the pain he had suffered because of her weakness. He would most surely scar around his neck and wrists. The silver had burned deep. And she wished she could offer him the remedy of her blood to help heal him, but she could do nothing but leave and hope that it was not the last time she would ever see him.
The guards at the entrance to Philippe’s hallway stood aside as she approached and let her pass. Her feet moved swiftly as she built lies inside her mind to convince Philippe to let them go. All she had to do was get them out. If they could get out, they could go directly to Maxcarion and then escape all surrounding danger completely.
She wound through the heart of the mountain in the dark passage and met no one on the way. Philippe’s ornate wooden door loomed before her, and she crossed her fingers, praying that his affection for her had not waned since she had last seen him. If only she had a bottle of French wine on her.
She knocked. There was no answer. She knocked louder. Nothing. She pushed the door open. The antechamber was empty. She strode through it to the double doors of the bedchamber and knocked; again, there was no answer. She pushed the doors open and walked in. Philippe was not in his chambers. Forest’s hands were shaking, and she had to concentrate on breathing slowly. Why hadn’t they told her that he was out?
A gust of warm afternoon breeze blew through the open balcony doors, but it didn’t feel good to Forest. She shivered. This was bad. The longer she had to be away from Syrus, the more likely everything would fall to pieces and they both would end up dead. She moved toward the balcony to look out. She could see the army bellow, amazed at their number. Her old loyalties would have delighted in this sight. How could the wolves fail now? They looked more than ready to overthrow the vampires. However, she didn’t delight in the sight at all. Syrus had caused everything inside her to shift, and she found herself on the other side of the fence now.
“Who are you?”
The voice that came from behind Forest made her jump. She whirled around but saw no one. She drew her sword, her eyes darting over every inch of the room. She spotted the eyes buried under fur on Philippe’s massive bed.
“Show yourself,” Forest said, moving forward slowly.
Netriet moved out from the pelt into a slumped sitting position. I’ve seen it all now, Forest thought. A sickly, one-armed, female vampire on Philippe’s bed; she scarcely believed her own eyes.
Netriet smiled at the look on Forest’s face. “Shocking, I know. But don’t worry, you’re not hallucinating. What is your name?”
“Forest,” she said weakly. “Are you sure I’m not hallucinating?”
“I wish I was only a figment of your imagination.”
Forest sheathed her sword and came closer to the bed. “Who are you, and how did you get here?”
“My name is Netriet, but I’m no one, obviously. I was sent here as a sacrificial messenger. Most regrettably, for me, after I delivered my message, Philippe decided to keep me instead of kill me. He’s been experimenting on me.” She took a deep shuddering breath, her emaciated frame shaking with the effort of talking so much. “So, what brings you here?”
“I have to convince Philippe to let me and the vampire I travel with, go.”
Netriet raised one eyebrow. “How are you going to do that?”
“Philippe is very fond of me. I have a chance.”
“You’re an Elf, right?” Netriet asked a confused look on her face.
“Half. I’m also a shifter.”
“And you travel with a vampire?”
“Yeah. He’s down in the base of the mountain under guard. I have to get him out before they kill him.”
“Who is he?” she asked.
Forest hesitated. “I can’t tell you that. We’re on a mission for Fortress.”
“Fortress!” Netriet said through her teeth like it was a dirty word. “I was sent here by a traitor inside Fortress. A mole who feeds Philippe secrets.”
Forest’s eyes widened. “Who? Who is it?”
“I don’t
know, an elf. A woman with lots of power.”
Forest’s mind crashed through the possibilities of who the mole might be. “Is she a member of the Rune-dy?” Forest asked.
Netriet shrugged. “Could be…yeah…possibly.”
“Does Philippe know the identity of the mole?”
“No. He’s asked me many times.”
Forest’s thin hope grew a small layer of fat. “Will you help me?” Forest asked. “I promise once I get out, I won’t leave you here like this. I swear on my life, I’ll send someone back for you.”
Netriet hesitated, seeming to mull it over. “You know if you would have showed up yesterday, I would have begged you to kill me. But last night I came up with a plan. Don’t bother sending anyone after me. I’m going to end Philippe. I’ll help you any way I can, not that it will be much.”
“Thank you.”
An hour dragged along like a snake with a wounded belly. Forest paced the floor restlessly, waiting and constantly beating back the emotion that screamed and clawed at the bars she put around them.
“Forest!” Philippe bellowed jovially when he finally came back to his chambers. “How are you?”
Forest couldn’t answer because Philippe swooped down on her, picking her up off the ground and planting a hard kiss on her mouth. She stumbled to the side when he dropped her back on the ground. “It’s fantastic to see you. I love your new shape.” His eyes raked her hungrily. “Very appealing,” he half growled. “So what is all this nonsense I hear from my guards that you’ve brought a vampire into my mountain?”
“He’s not the first,” she said smiling, gesturing to Netriet.
“Ah yes.” He blushed. “Has she told you why she’s here?”
“She didn’t need to. I’m the one who sent her.”
Philippe narrowed his eyes at her. “So you’re the mole?”
She smiled confidently. “Didn’t you guess? I thought for sure you would have.”
Philippe twisted a strand of his beard around a finger. “You did come to mind from time to time.” He raised his eyebrows at Netriet who nodded in agreement.
“So, you’re here yourself now. What is going on? Why did you tell me to wait in the message you sent with Nettie?”
“I hadn’t intended to be here until tomorrow. However, a little pack of yours captured my slave and brought him here, so here I am. I told you to wait because I have, or will have if you let me leave tonight, a weapon for you that will take away all doubt of victory.”
Philippe’s eyes widened in excitement. “What is it?”
“There is a wizard residing in your Wood. I have been in contact with him, and he will join your army against the suckers, but he insisted that I come personally and complete the transaction.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let us go now together, you and I.”
“No. I must follow his instructions. That is why I brought the sucker downstairs. The wizard wants him for some kind of ritual sacrifice. But it is private, evil magic. The wizard demanded that I come alone with a vampire no one would miss. He said he would only deal with me.”
Philippe sat down and eyed her closely. “You can’t expect me to just take your word for it.”
“I don’t,” she said plainly.
“You play marvelous games, Forest. I know you. But I cannot fathom why you would lie to me about such a thing. Or why you of all people would be in the company of a sucker if it weren’t for the reason you said.” He chuckled darkly. “I believe you hate them more than I do.”
Forest smiled as though this were a great compliment.
“Still…I sense there is something …something wrong with this picture…perhaps something you’re not telling me?”
“Philippe,” she drew his name out seductively. “There are many things I’ve not told you…” She gave him a hot look that did not fall short on him. “ I’m a woman.”
Netriet, who watched silently from the bed, had to commend Forest on her wiles.
He stroked his beard a few more times before getting to his feet again. “All right, I’ll let you go, but since I’m not sure how far to trust you, you shall go collared.”
“Of course,” she said shrugging, but her insides were filled with dread. Netriet had told her enough about that thing.
Philippe rolled the ring in his fingers. “Let me see…” he said to himself. “How best to command you? Hmmm…”
Forest saw the fearful look in Netriet’s eyes; it did nothing to calm her.
“Aha. I have it,” Philippe said putting the ring on his own finger. Forest watched unsure what was happening. He closed his eyes for a moment before pulling the ring off, smiling at her. “Which hand would you prefer?”
Forest held out her left hand.
“You know it caused me quite the problem when you sent me this without instructions how to use it. That’s why I kept Nettie. Why she doesn’t still have both of her arms.”
“I’m sorry about that. I was in a hurry to get the message to you, and I was remiss.”
Philippe took her hand and slid the heavy ring onto her index finger. The stone was a deep iridescent grey just like Syrus’ eyes. It was beautiful, she thought, before it bit down into her finger. The spikes on the inside of the ring pierced all the way through the bone. She swore loudly.
“You have nothing to fear if you told me the truth. The collar will pose no threat to your life so long as you reach the wizard before the sun rises and complete the transaction.”
“That’s all?”
Philippe chuckled at her. “The collar is tied to the life of the vampire you brought with you. It will kill you at sunrise if he still lives.”
All the blood drained from Forest’s face.
“What’s wrong?” Philippe asked.
“This damn thing really hurts,” she said holding up her hand. “Well, I’d better get my sucker and get going if I’m to make your time limit.”
Philippe walked down with her to the little room where Gahu was still guarding Syrus. Syrus looked a little better, able to stand on his own. Forest thanked Gahu and pulled Syrus behind her by the wrist. Philippe sent Gahu ahead to clear the way for them so random wolves didn’t spot them, and to send the order that any and all wolves in the Wood were to return to the Lair immediately.
Everything around the Lair was quiet, devoid of prying eyes when Philippe and Gahu walked Forest and Syrus down to the edge of the Wood.
Philippe smiled broadly at her in parting. “I’ll see you soon.”
Forest only nodded and turned her back on them, the two of them disappearing into the trees.
Philippe waited for a few moments. “Get a team and follow them, Gahu.”
The sun was setting as Forest and Syrus reentered the wood. The pain around the collar throbbed and made her whole arm feel heavy. The words had not yet formed inside her head before then. I’m going to die in the morning. Syrus followed her as he had at the Lair, silently and with his head down. When she felt they were sufficiently away from where Philippe had sent them off, she turned to him and wrapped her arms around him.
“I’m sorry, Syrus. I’m so, so sorry! I should have never left you.”
He made no reply and was like a dead weight in her arms.
“Please, Syrus. Please forgive me.”
“What difference does it make?” he said in a low flat voice. “It’s all over now anyway.”
“It’s not! I found Maxcarion when I ran away from you. I know where he is. It’s not far at all!”
She stepped back from him, and he raised his head a little. “How did you get us out of there?”
“I told him half-truths, and he believed letting us go was in his best interest.” Forest turned and began walking again. She couldn’t tell him about the collar. She just had to get them to the wizard so he could have his sight back. When she had thought about this time before and how she would say good-bye to him, she didn’t realize how final it would be.
“So that’s it? You’r
e really not going to tell me the whole of it?” he asked incredulously.
“I’m tired, and we have to move quickly.”
Syrus didn’t push the issue further; he seemed too weak and dejected to argue. The shadows stretched along the ground as the sun sank below the treetops and the sky slowly undulated with its dusk colors. Forest looked up at the sunset, realizing with a sharp pang that it would be her last and she couldn’t even sit and enjoy it. She pushed ahead; she had to complete her mission. It was the only gift she could give Syrus. She wouldn’t die whining and crying. She would die with the stiff upper lip of a warrior.
Forest slowed her pace. They would be there soon enough. She reached for Syrus’ hand. He moved away from her. A sob rose in her throat. She couldn’t let it end like this. She reached for him again. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, hold my hand.”
He raised one eyebrow, but his face softened, and he held out his hand to her. She made sure to grasp it with her right hand. Her left felt so heavy now. She would have to hold it up with the other one before much longer.
The Dryad graveyard loomed in the distance ahead, and she couldn’t stop the tears in spite of her determination not to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Syrus asked. “I can smell your tears.”
“Oh, I’m just so happy,” she lied. “We’re here.”
The stone trees gave off a faint green glow in the darkness. They stood in the center of the graveyard. There was no noise here. The silence of the dead was absolute.
“I can feel his presence,” Syrus said quietly. “My magic recognizes his.”
“It’s time to say good bye,” she said facing him.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not going in there with you. You don’t need me anymore.”
A number of different emotions flashed across his face. “Fine, don’t go in with me, but don’t leave yet. Please don’t leave before I get a chance to see you with my own eyes. It’s not over yet, Forest.”
“All right. I’ll stay right here and wait. You go. Do you need me to show you the door?”
“No. I can feel where it is.”
Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia) Page 22
