Maylin's Gate (Book 3) (12 page)

"It's I who should thank you."

"You thank me?" He narrowed his eyes brushing the snow from the furs covering his chest. "For what?"

"For the shield." General Demos peered back up the mountain and surveyed their path of destruction. "Without it, I would have died."

He had given General Demos the shield on instinct without considering the man friend or foe. "You're welcome." He stared at the ground and kicked an ice chunk attached to his frozen boot. "But, it was an accident."

"Whatever the case, I'm grateful." General Demos squinted through the swirling snow. "I'm not one for cold weather. Should we find your friend?"

He adjusted his grip on the pack and checked his sheba blade. Both had made it down the slope intact. "Yes. Let's go." He trudged forward through the knee-deep snow toward the valley's far end.

Like a faucet pouring snow, the sky opened and heavy snowflakes filled the air. Visibility dropped to zero and the sun slipped under the peaks to the west.

He trudged past towering pines pulling his boots above the snow with each hard-earned step. He recalled his last trip through the valley. Aided by magic, he had made fast progress.

He hung his head and stared into the whiteness at his feet willing his body forward. The wound on his leg burned and rivulets of sweat rolled down his face.

"Who is Moira?" General Demos said in a clear even tone.

That the general could carry on an easy conversation annoyed him. He'd relied on magic too often this past year. He felt soft and weak. "Moira?"

General Demos pushed through the snow like a man out for a Saturday walk in the park. "She must be important for you to come all this way."

He could think of no good reason to offer his enemy any information. "She's a friend."

The pair pushed ahead trundling through the snow for the next thirty minutes. General Demos didn't push further for which he was grateful.

Through the forest's shadows the edge of the first home appeared.

He raised his head and inhaled expecting to catch the familiar scent of wood smoke. Instead, the sharp scent of pine filled his nose. "It's just ahead."

General Demos followed in his path careful to lag a few yards behind.

The sight of a ten-foot tall baerinese trooper might give Moira a heart attack. For the second time that day, he appreciated the general's foresight. That he felt gratitude for a man who led the invasion of an enemy bent on eradicating humanity shook him. General Demos wouldn't think twice about killing him, Rika, or any other human.

Unlike his last trip to the valley, snow buried the paths between the cabins. Shadows clung to the cabins and nothing stirred. An ominous sign in such an isolated place.

Worry pinged at the back of his mind. "Something is wrong." He reached for his blade and slipped it free of his scabbard. Without enhancement magic, he staggered under the sheba blade's weight.

The sharp ring of General Demos's blade leaving its sheath set his skin crawling. He should've listened to Rika and disarmed the general. How was he to know his magic would falter?

He whirled and found General Demos facing him with blade drawn. His stomach sank and he reached for the enhancement magic churning in his core.

"Here." General Demos turned the blade toward him hilt first. The general slid free a second blade and wrapped an enormous hand around its grip. As if reading the apprehension on his face General Demos spoke. "I've no wish to fend for myself in these mountains."

His shoulders relaxed and he wrestled the sheba blade back into its sheath. He took the offered sword and tipped his head once again grateful for the general's restraint.

"We work together?" General Demos paused waiting for his answer.

He didn't have a choice. He'd rather have General Demos with him than face the Adris Mountains alone. Elan knew the man appeared more than capable, but he wouldn't shake the general's hand. Anger still raged for the atrocities at Porthleven and Ripool. "Agreed. But only until we've reached safety."

"Of course, human," General Demos's tongue flickered as if tasting the air. "Remember, you aren't the only one extending your trust."

He nodded and turned in a slow circle. "These cabins should be full of people." He glanced toward Moira's cottage. "And, no smoke is coming from Moira's chimney. The place looks abandoned."

"The air here tastes wrong," General Demos said.

"Tastes wrong?"

"We use our tongues as a sixth sense," General Demos said.

A sixth sense? He found himself intrigued but couldn't afford to stop and ask questions. "Let's go. Maybe Moira left a note." He pushed ahead winding his way through the snow until he reached Moira's porch.

"I'll wait a safe distance behind," General Demos said.

He lumbered up the short steps and froze on the snow-covered porch. Adrenaline pumped through his legs and his stomach turned to knots.

Moira's door stood ajar. Splintered wood hung loose from the frame and shadows draped the interior.

He shot a glance over his shoulder and waved for General Demos.

In a blur of motion, General Demos flew up the steps and paused beside him. The general crouched in a defensive position with blade drawn.

His jaw fell open. How in Elan's name had the man moved with such speed?

General Demos's tongue flickered in short bursts before stepping through the open door. "Human, come look."

He stepped forward and paused inside the splintered door frame.

The interior of Moira's cabin stood in shambles.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Portal

Light poured from the cave entrance high on the Trinity Range's central peak.

Danielle loosed a warning screech and extended her talons. She beat back her wings and fluttered inside the entrance. Her talons skittered against the smooth stone and she came to a stop beside two wide-eyed knights.

Arber closed in behind her and shifted into a sparrow before darting through the entrance.

Jeremy leaped from the saddle and yanked it free.

Shields appeared around two knights guarding the entrance. The lead knight swiveled to face her while unsheathing a shard blade.

Jeremy stepped between her and the battle knight.

The lead knight's jaw fell open. "Jeremy."

Jeremy smiled. "Evening Ronald. Do you plan on carving a hole in the royal princess with your shard blade?"

She shifted into human form and turned to face the knights.

A slow blush crept up the battle knight's cheeks. "Of course not. I...." The shard blade winked out and the shields disappeared.

The battle knight, Ronald, dropped to a knee before her. "I apologize for giving you a fright Your Highness. I meant no harm."

Beside her, Arber shifted into human form and stepped before her like a tavern bouncer ready to strike.

She rested her hand on Arber's shoulder. "It's okay." She slipped past the guardian and stood before the battle knight. "You should never apologize for doing your duty Knight Ronald. It's I who should apologize for pouncing on you unannounced. Rise and be at ease."

Ronald stood and sheathed his blade.

"Where might I find Master Brees?" She said.

"Master Brees?" Ronald said.

"The obsith shaman," Jeremy said.

A kernel of recognition sparked in the knight's eye. "Ah yes. I'm sorry. I've been on duty less than an hour, but I believe he's in the excavation with Sir Alcott."

"Thank you Knight Ronald." She nodded to the shield knight standing behind Ronald. "And you too Edgar. We'll find our way."

The battle knight's shoulders eased. "Yes, Your Highness. If there's any way I may be of service, you've but to ask."

"Thank you. Good evening to you both." She tipped her head to the stone-silent shield knight before walking to the cavern's rear.

She paused before the door her team discovered during her last trip across the range. A trip she'd rather forget.

Memories of Alana and Maura came flooding back. Maura had served on the warden's council and tutored her during her academy years.

She had grown up arm in arm with Alana and her friend's death still haunted her. Both women had lost their lives because of her poor choices.

"Let it go." Arber's baritone voice came from behind as if reading her thoughts. "They're both at peace."

She half-glanced over her shoulder and stepped through the door.

Ancient writing covered every square inch of wall space. Soft light bathed the room where she and her team had discovered the Book of Order. Oil lamps hung from brass poles sprinkling the room's perimeter. Coal fed braziers at each corner heated the room.

Around the room, scholars sat on high-backed stools. They copied the strange words onto scrolls of heavy parchment.

Scaffolding surrounded the shallow pit where the Book of Order once rested on a stone lectern. A stone lectern that now appeared missing.

A long-lashed Ayralen woman with green eyes and full lips appeared before her. "Your Highness, we weren't expecting you this evening." The woman tucked away a clipboard and curtsied low before her.

Jeremy and Arber gawked at the woman like some priceless sculpture.

She glanced between them and whispered. "You can both put your tongues back in your mouth now."

Jeremy glanced between her and the woman. The shield knight's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "I...I don't know what you mean."

She smiled. "You two act like you've never seen a pretty girl." She turned to face the woman and raised her voice. "Please. There's no need for such formality."

The woman turned a pair of intelligent eyes on her. "Can I help you? If you're looking for Sir Alcott, he's —"

She held out her hand interrupting the woman. "What's your name?"

A blush spread across the woman's cheeks. "I apologize Your Highness. My name is Collette Bellenger. I work with Sir Alcott."

The revelation came as no surprise. Alcott liked them young and pretty. "Collette, I'm looking for Master Brees. He's..."

Collette's expression took on a dreamy, faraway look. A smile curled the young beauty's lips.

"I'll take it you know him?"

Collette's blush deepened. "I wouldn't say that I know him. I know of him. Would you...?" Collette paused holding her gaze for a long moment. "Never mind. I last saw Master Brees and the lady guardian speak with Sir Alcott several hours ago."

"You were about to ask something?" She said. "What was it?"

"It's silly." Collete's gaze drifted to the floor. "I shouldn't bother a princess with something so trivial."

"If I can help answer some question, just —"

Collette's eyes glimmered with excitement. "Would you mind introducing me to him? I'm all thumbs when it comes to meeting men, and Master Brees seems so fascinating."

Did this woman think she had nothing better to do than play matchmaker? "I'll see what I can arrange," she said using a brusque tone. "Where can I find Brees?"

Collette set the clipboard on a nearby table. "He's in the excavation." She pointed toward the scaffolding. "I'll take you."

"I'm sure we can find our way," she said her words coming short and brisk.

"It's no trouble at all. I love going into the excavation. I learn something new every time."

She wanted nothing more than to shove the girl down the hole head first. Why was she letting Collette's infatuation with Brees bother her? She plastered a thin smile on her face and nodded. "If you insist."

Collette grinned and hurried toward the scaffolding. "It's this way." Collette pointed to a ladder peeking above the lip of a square hole. A hole matching the lectern's width to perfection.

"Collette." An ancient withered voice came from across the room. A scholar near eighty seasons bent over a scroll with brow furrowed. "I'm wondering if you might help me with a translation?"

Collette stared at the elderly man as if he'd asked her to cross a bed of nails. "Can I do it later? I need to show the princess where to find the shaman."

The scholar's head shook causing his jowl's to shake like a bowl full of lard. "I'm afraid it can't wait. All our work depends on the correct interpretation of this passage." The elderly man glanced between her and Collette. "Unless you'd prefer we stop working?"

Collette's shoulders sagged before turning to face her. "Your Highness, would it be okay if you found your own way?"

"That's fine Collette," she said. "You're clearly needed here." Satisfaction oozed from her every word.

"Just keep going down until you can't go any further," Collette said. "You'll find Master Brees at the end of the hallway."

She smiled with genuine appreciation. "Thank you Collette." She glanced over her shoulder and motioned for her companions.

Arber and Jeremy moved in beside her hovering like a pair of overprotective nannies.