Awakening the Demon's Queen (21 page)

“
Making me and mine a great
threat to whoever hatched this.” Rathan’s thoughts flashed to the
people he loved the most—Kindara and the spawn, Danae, Renakletos
and Cerridwen. Kindara and the spawn were safe in the northern wing
of the castle. As was Cerridwen and her nurse. Danae…he had yet to
hear from his sister.

“
We need to be taking as
many precautions as possible. I have sent Phelius to Lothicano to
fetch Danae and the young healer Bronwen back. Yet other than
Phelius, I am not sure of any of the Council’s loyalty.”

“
So we know not who we can
trust within our own home.” Ren’s voice was lowered as he leaned
over to assist Rathan to his feet. “It is not safe here. Especially
for them.”

Rathan nodded, mind running over the
available options. Had it just been him and Ren his choices would
be different. But they had a child, a wounded woman, and a pregnant
one within their keeping that had to be kept safe at all costs. “We
need to get the Dardaptoans out of the realm and to safety.
Cerridwen, too. I can contact Phelius and have him bring the girl
healer and Danae to Gaia. My woman’s brother is a real mean
bastard, a Predatoi of disgustingly great skill. He will keep them
safe.”

Ren paused as he started to slide his sword
into the sheath his father had gifted him with on his one hundred
year birthday. “You’re asking me to send my only spawn to a demon
killer for safekeeping, brother. It is an enormous thing you
ask.”

“
I would send him mine. For
now, his keeping is safer than mine own.”

****

Kindara read the medical tome Phelius had
told her beginning healers in Relaklonos were required to memorize.
It was full of physiological data on all of the 3000 or so types of
beings found in Relaklonos. It was fascinating to read of the
differences between the disparate beings. They had so much more
than the dozen or so Kinds that populated her world. Gaia. Named so
millions of years ago, after the large supercontinent that had
broken into pieces to form the only world Kindara remembered. She
started to say something to Auri, but when she glanced up, Auri was
sleeping so soundly she hated to disturb her.

The sound of the door opening had Kindara
looking in that direction.

A small girl of less than five years stood in
the door.

Kindara smiled. The child had tiny silver
horns upon her head, and blue-black hair. She looked much like
Rathan. “Hello. Can I help you?”

“
I wanted to see the warrior
lady.” The little girl closed the door behind herself, then
approached the bed. “I am a warrior, you know.”

“
Are you now?” Kindara was
surprised when the child climbed onto the bed and sat staring down
at Aureliana. “So is she.”

“
I heard everyone saying my
daddy hurt her.” Sad red eyes looked at Kindara. “I don’t think my
daddy would do that. He’s a good prince.”

“
I think it was an accident.
What is your name?”

“
I’m Cerridwen Analia Deni
Malickus. The princess.” Pride was clear in the little girl voice.
“My uncle is the king and my daddy is the prince.”

“
I’m Kindara. I’m a healer
from Gaia. This is my best friend Auri.”

The little girl touched a strand of dark
chestnut hair where it curled on Auri’s pillow with an almost
reverent hand. “I think my daddy is sorry.”

Auri’s eyes opened and she tried to rise. She
looked at Kindara. “Kinney?”

“
Meet Cerridwen;
Renakletos’s daughter, I presume. She wants to apologize for her
father.”

“
Really, now? Hello,
Cerridwen. I’m Auri. How old are you?”

“
Five.” She held up three
fingers proudly. “Daddy says I’m a big strong warrior princess.
I’ve been kidnapped, you know.”

“
Really? I was kidnapped,
too.” Kindara was charmed and confused. A kidnapped child?
Renakletos’s missing daughter, certainly.

“
Did your daddy prince come
rescue you, too? Did Uncle Rathan take you like he did
me?”

“
Uncle Rathan did kidnap me.
But then he took me home.”

“
Uncle Rathan had cousin
Phelius take me to keep me safe. Then we waited for Daddy to come
save me. He’s good at being a saving daddy prince.” The child
leaned over to stare at Auri less than five inches from the woman’s
face. She tilted her head from side to side as she studied Auri.
“You don’t look like a warrior lady. They’re kind of ugly. You’re
pretty. More like a princess. Maybe daddy should save you,
too.”

“
I think I’ll pass on that,
peanuts. I prefer to save myself in most situations.” Auri crossed
her eyes to make the child laugh. “Does your daddy have to save you
a lot?”

“
No. Just this time. Cousin
Phelius said that people are trying to take the crayon from Uncle
Rathan. Said they think having me can help them do that. I told
Cousin Phelius that I have lots of crayons and we could share.
Uncle Rathan brought them from Gaia. I don’t think Cousin Phelius
understood what I was saying.” She pouted for a moment, before
sinking her little hands into the curls spread over the pillow.
“Your hair’s soft and pretty. You’re pretty.”

Auri touched the girl’s long black hair. “So
is yours. Where is your mommy, Cerridwen?”

“
I don’t think I have one
anymore. Daddy said to Cousin Phelius once that my mommy was
wordless as a mother.” She shrugged. “But I have my daddy and he
loves me lots and lots.”

“
So why did you come visit
me and Auri today, Princess Cerridwen?” Kindara asked, smiling at
the tiny girl.

“
Daddy still has to come to
the tower to rescue me. He hasn’t done that yet. I saw him with
Uncle Rathan. They were fighting like this.” She mimed swordplay.
“They were talking, too. I don’t like watching swords or fights, so
I came to the tower. Daddy will come find me and I won’t be
kidnapped no more. Are you still kidnapped?”

“
No. We came here so Uncle
Rathan could help us find medicines for our people.”

“
So no hansim prince saved
you?” the little girl frowned. “That’s so sad. I’ll tell Daddy he
can rescue you, too.”

“
That’s not necessary,
baby.” Auri sat up, though it was obviously difficult for her. She
began braiding the girl’s hair. The child let her and Kindara
smiled inwardly. Auri had a definite soft side—she used to spend
the evenings with Kindara and Jierra, braiding hair and polishing
nails. Girl things that Auri had little opportunity to experience
as the youngest child of sixteen brothers.

Kindara was about ready to caution her friend
when a shout sounded outside the hall. The room began to shake.
Paintings fell from the wall and crashed to the floor.

Kindara jerked to her feet. “Auri?”

“
I don’t know, Kin.
Cerridwen?” Auri’s words were tight. She clutched the child as
close to her chest as she could, using the arm opposite of her
injury to shield the child’s head and chest area. “Do you know what
that is?”

“
No…I want my daddy.” The
girl popped her thumb in her mouth as she cuddled close to Auri.
“I’m scared.”

The walls shook again. Tile displaced from
the ceiling and fell to the floor, narrowly missing Kindara. She
took the child from Auri. “Come. We can’t stay here. We’re going to
find your father and uncle. Auri, goddess knows I don’t think you
should be moving around, but we can’t stay here.”

The other woman was already struggling to her
feet. “Let’s move. You got her?”

“
I’ve got her. Tell me if
you need to stop for a moment.”

“
I’ll manage. Let’s get her
out of here before the damned walls come tumbling down.”

Chapter
Twenty-Four

Rathan recognized the sound of an antiquated
canon being fired the moment the first ball hit. He ran, his
brother on his heels.

Kindara. Where was his
woman? He flashed to her side, as the tell-tale
pop
that signaled his brother’s
flashing out sounded behind him. He knew Ren would be finding
Cerridwen and getting her to safety.

He repopulated in the back hall of the west
wing of his ancestral home. His brother was half a second behind
him, his larger body taking longer to repopulate. Kindara carried
young Cerridwen clutched in her arms and had her healer’s bag upon
her back, as she helped the warrior woman limp down the hall.

“
Take them.” Rathan pulled
his woman close to him as the walls around them shook. Someone was
aiming all their arsenal toward the west corridor. Toward his woman
and spawn. “Take them to Gaia. To her brother. Keep them there and
safe!”

“
I fight with you!” Ren had
his sword drawn, his face angry and fierce.

“
You protect them! They’re
my life, brother! Go!” Rathan pulled the warrior woman up into his
arms and shoved her toward his brother. “Pet, tell your brother and
your king the threat is to you and the spawn! You must be kept safe
until I come for you myself. No one else! My brother will stand in
my stead until I come for you!”

****

Kindara stared at him for a moment, her arms
clutched tight around the demon child. Fear was clear on his face,
fear and determination. “But…I can’t leave. Bron and Belnus…”

“
I will find them and send
them and Danae to you as soon as I can. But you must go!” His eyes
were wild as he opened the portal back to Colorado.

“
What is it?”

“
Canons, most likely. Laced
with warlock magics.” Renakletos held Auri close, tucking her head
under his chin as the walls continued to shake. “This wing is the
weakest. It will not be able to sustain much more damage before it
collapses from the force of the canons. Add in whatever dirty
spells the warlocks have created, we do not have much
time!”

“
But why?” Auri demanded,
her words muffled into the large warrior demon chest where he
refused to let her raise her head.

“
They want Kindara and
Cerridwen.” Rathan waved his hands, parting the ether to reveal the
inner gardens of Kindara’s home. Several shadows were present
moving behind the ether, but she could not make out their features.
“As my heirs, they are the main threat to Agmendias.”

Kindara’s hands tightened around Cerridwen
and she said a quick prayer to the goddess that she would be able
to keep her babe safe. “What are you going to do?”

“
Defend my damned castle and
rip Agmendias and his men into shreds. Ren, take them to her
brother or a man named Rand Taniss. The wolf will keep them as safe
as I would, and he owes me a blood debt. Above all, keep them safe!
Now, go! Go!”

He reached out and lifted Kindara off her
feet. He set her through the ether and into her world. She sat the
child down and turned back to the portal as Ren carried Auri
through. Rathan was just visible inside the ether. His world shook
around him. The wall behind him began to crumble.

Kindara’s chest seized. “Demon!”

She started back toward him.

He cursed, began waving his hands together to
close the portal. Kindara dove toward it, toward him.

Hands stopped her. Held her back. Strong
hands she couldn’t resist. The ether closed around the demon,
cutting her off from him.

He was gone.

“
No!”

The hands holding her pulled her tight to a
strong male chest. Kindara looked up into the face of her brother.
“Cormac. You have to help him. You!” She pointed at Rathan’s
brother. “Go help him. Go back!”

“
I follow my king’s orders,
though I do not like them.” Renakletos still held Auri against his
chest, glaring at the males surrounding them. “He said stay with
you and keep you safe. That is what I will do.”

Aodhan tried to take his sister from the
larger warrior. “Give her to me, demon.”

“
State your claim.”
Renakletos pulled her away. His daughter wrapped her tiny arms
around his thigh and held on as she stared at the half dozen
strange men surrounding her.

“
That’s my sister you’re
holding so tightly she cannot breathe.”

“
Put me down. I can walk.”
Aureliana squirmed in the warrior demon’s arms. “Kindara, are you
ok?”

“
I…we…need to go back. Help
him.”

“
My brother needs no help to
deal with the traitor.” Ren loosened his hold, allowing Aureliana
to breathe more freely. He ignored Aodhan’s reaching hands. “He
says stay here. Here we will stay. Now, is there someplace I can
put her? It is best she not be jostled too much. I am sure your men
folk will have many questions for me.”

“
You don’t put me anywhere,
demon, except down. I’m not helpless and I can walk.”

“
You have sixty-eight
stitches in your back and side, put there two days ago. You cannot
walk without hurting. You will be carried. You will not argue.”
Renakletos tightened his arms, his expression fierce. “Now, which
of you is the king? The healer’s brother? We have much to speak
of.”

“
Arrogance is a family
trait.” Aureliana wasn’t happy about it, but she gave in to the
warrior. She dropped one hand to touch the child’s hair.
“Cerridwen, you don’t have to be afraid. These are my friends and
my brother. Kinney’s big brother, too.’’

“
I suggest we all take this
inside.” Kindara recognized the voice of her king and she turned to
see him just inside the archway leading into the royal wing of
offices. Theo stood at his side. Kindara’s breath, unsteady anyway,
grew more ragged. How was she to explain what had happened to
Bronwen? “I would like some answers as to why you just appeared
within our gardens, despite our security—no demon should be able to
open a portal within the walls of this building. Not that you’re
not welcome, Kinney. It just should not have been able to be
done.”