WingSpan (Taken on the Wing Book 1) (36 page)

“We go now, Master Soar.”

“Take the four aloft,” Soar strategizes as Talon savagely kicks. The rest of Lev’s guard crowds around. “Then inside we split up. I’ll lead four down into the visitor dens. You and Talon take the rest through to the main chamber to the family dens. Talon knows the way and he goes with you. Your team splits; Talon down to the dens and you defend from their warriors in the royal dens. When we’re done below we’ll deal with any who follow you.

“Talon, if you figure out where she is we go straight for her.”

Talon nearly tosses Lev and Soar off. The thought of Shadow’s small dagger covered in blood won’t go away. His mouth waters anticipating revenge as the dozen rangers take to the sky.

“It’s pretty,” Shadow whispers.

The pain is gone from Cloud’s healthy pink hands and shining on the middle finger of her right is a ring she didn’t have back at Jasper. Three emeralds look black in the firelight. Her left ear is a worry. The right is whole and pink as is the center of the left but the outside edge only turned a darker grey as the rest of her frostbite healed. Since she’s still unable to lie down, Shadow’s thigh serves as a pillow for sleepy Cloud.

Tundra’s big wings block the fire’s heat as he adds more wood and stirs up the flames.

“Sire Sher found me as I was leaving,” Cloud says. Shadow absently works her fingers through some of Cloud’s smaller tangles. “For a second I thought I was in trouble but he only wanted to talk.

“He said he and Arden and Tawny were proud of my strength and that I survived without my eyrie. Sire Sher didn’t expect me to stay when I became an adult and promised I will always be welcome in Jasper. Then he asked why I chose to follow you.”

“What did you tell him?” Shadow asks although she feels the answer in their spirits. She smooths Cloud’s hair as she concentrates on worry for Talon and love for her young gryphon.

“I told him I love you, Dame Shadow. That you love me and I think Talon does too. I thanked him for giving me a place and a chance. He gave me the ring and said he was proud of me again and when I put it on it made him happy.”

“I’m proud of you too,” Shadow adds as she lifts Cloud’s chin.

Cloud saddens as she thinks about what to say next.

“I remember this place.”

“Yes,” Shadow softly agrees. “This was your home before you went to Jasper.”

“No, not just this place. I remember this den; the tunnel down here. I think the rock remembers because it still smells of my dame.”

“Oh, Cloud…”

“It’s okay, Shadow. With you here with me, it’s okay.”

Cloud’s bravery is admirable but maybe it’s not bravery at all. Perhaps it’s enough that she can feel close to the dame she barely remembers. Shadow closes her eyes and thinks of the families she met in Jasper and imagines Cloud and her rambunctious twin testing their patient dame every chance they got.

“I wonder sometimes about my sire,” Cloud muses. “Was he away? Does he know I—”

“Gryphons,” Feather speaks from the hall. Shadow hadn’t been listening for her stealthy steps. “Torrent wants you to join the patrol above the mountain. I’ll keep an eye on them until your replacements arrive.”

“Feather—”

“What are they going to do?” Feather’s light laugh is convincing. “They are chained and weak. Get up there now.”

As the two disappear up the tunnel Feather rushes to Shadow’s side. Key in hand, Feather reaches for Cloud’s collar.

“Feather,” Torrent says from the doorway. It’s a warning and Cloud shoves herself under Shadow’s wing. She trembles even though it’s been several hours since her body warmed.

Shadow’s eyes make contact with Feather’s and in that moment she sees herself two and a half years earlier. The life is gone from her spirit. Shadow shakes her head, uncertain if Feather’s final act is suicide or an attempt to make amends for helping Torrent.

“After what happened to Swift I thought I could protect my brother and you by coming here. I knew Torrent wanted you and it didn’t matter before we met and you mated with my brother. But now he wants you dead. I thought if I kept Torrent close I could keep him from hurting you,” Feather says. “Maybe I still can.”

She puts the key on the mat where Torrent can’t see then grabs the dagger from beside Cloud and stands, turning to face the gryphon she once loved.

“Feather,” Shadow tries as she palms the key. “Put the knife down.”

“No,” Feather answers, taking two steps to the side out of reach. Torrent hasn’t moved. Torrent watches her, momentarily saddened before his emotions lock up. “The devil I know.”

“Feather,” she tries again. “I know you believe Talon is dead and you’re not thinking straight. I still hope, Feather. You’re not alone. Please put the knife down. Please? Everyone understands.”

“It’s too late.” Feather holds the knife up level with the ground. “Disloyalty. The knife has been drawn.”

“It’s too late,” Cloud echoes and while Torrent’s attention is on Feather, Shadow opens the lock around Cloud’s neck. If they’re going to die today it won’t be chained to the wall like animals.

Torrent charges as Shadow puts the key to her own lock. Feather moves with impressive speed and as she turns she viciously swings the knife into Torrent’s path. But he expects her attack and brings his armoured leg up, aiming to kick her head. Feather gets an arm up to block and there’s a crack as his boot connects. She sags but stays on her feet, her broken arm at her side as Shadow’s shaking hands get the key in her own collar. With a shout, Cloud pulls her over and they roll clear while Torrent spins to a stop where they had been on the mat.

The key flies over Cloud, striking the wall behind the fire with a metallic clink then landing in the burning wood and embers. They tumble out of reach and Shadow cries out as her bruised ribs take Cloud’s weight and her chain pulls taught.

“Feather!” Cloud yells as Torrent begins to circle.

Shadow nearly sits on Cloud to keep her against the stone wall. The teen’s warning growl gives her chills and there’s no mistaking Cloud’s desire to get involved. In spite of being unarmed Cloud tries to get away. She may have been as close to Feather as she was to Swift.

Torrent doesn’t waste any time moving in on Feather. She keeps her knife up, fingers loose on the handle as they face each other for what could be the final time.

“Your brother would have done well in my guard, Feather,” Torrent whispers. “I didn’t ask much of you and Swift; simply get him on board. Instead she fell in love with him while you did nothing more than wring your hands with ethics.”

The corners of Feather’s mouth drop with heavy sadness as she brings her knife hand up to wipe away a rivulet of blood from her temple. She doesn’t say another word as she drops into a crouch. Even though she’s half naked against Torrent’s armour, she seems only intent on provoking him into finishing her off. Shadow sees no other reason for Feather’s actions.

Torrent doesn’t draw his daggers as he comes closer. She holds her ground against his first step, then backs away toward the fire as the distance between them shrinks. Torrent’s wings, high with dominance, are a fearsome contrast to Feather’s; lowered with what can only be shame. Cloud growls again, pushing past Shadow but moves no further. She doesn’t resist when Shadow takes her arm, holding the teen on the floor.

Shadow raises her hands to Torrent like she remembers from her dream.

“You won’t touch her,” she proclaims but there is no heat and Torrent laughs.

“This isn’t your home, female. You have no magic here.”

Feather releases a screech and dives at Torrent, making brief contact with the knife as he dodges and doing no more damage than a scratch to his arm.

Feather’s former lover doesn’t play with her any longer. As she gets into position for another attack he is already behind her. With his arms over her wings, he pins one down over her broken arm as the other grabs her wrist to take control of the knife.

Torrent picks Feather up off the ground and turns, giving Shadow and Cloud a good view. Then he brings the knife down and slides his hand over hers, taking complete control of the blade. Instead of driving it into her throat he holds her still as if granting a reprieve. A section of his hair falls forward and for a moment it’s the only moving thing in the room. Second thoughts? Shadow can only hope but the set of his jaw says this is a display of power and control.

Nothing more.

Cloud screams and with alarming strength pushes Shadow away. Shadow is in no shape to hold the bigger female down though she grabs at her heels as they slip from her fingers.

“No,” Shadow yells. She tries to flare her wings in warning but one hits the chain as her voice fails.

The knife descends but only a small amount as Torrent shifts his weight to his rear foot. His boot comes up at Cloud and she catches it on the hip as she grabs his arm and sinks her teeth in. Feather tries to get loose but Torrent has her broken wrist and she drops to her knees. The weight of Feather’s body against Torrent’s relatively weak thumb pulls her right arm free and she uses it to hang on Torrent’s left. The knife pops up and before Torrent can make his muscles stop pulling he drives a deep cut along his cheek.

Torrent drops the bloody knife and knees Cloud in the stomach, knocking her stumbling across the room. Shadow pulls her chain tight to get between Cloud and her attacker though she can’t get close enough. Not nearly.

Feather refuses to let go of Torrent, holding on as he picks her up and throws her through the air. The only sound is the devastating crunch of breaking bones as Torrent slams her into the wall. Feather’s spine and head land squarely on the uneven stone and she drops, still and lifeless to the ground.

Cloud moans; her body stiff. She gets to her feet and looks at Feather. One wing is beneath Feather’s broken body; the other is raised, extended toward the center of the room and partially covering her head.

“Next,” Torrent hisses as he kicks Shadow’s bloody knife to Cloud.

“No,” Shadow tries.

Cloud picks up the knife and in spite of her obvious pain she advances.

“Cloud, please?” Shadow begs but there is nothing she can do.

Chapter Thirty

The Sire’s guard swarmed the four gryphons patrolling above the Welch Peak Eyrie and took out two as the fourth turned on one of his own. Lev gave the big gryphon he called Tundra a wave. As Tundra disappeared into the dark they turned their attention to the mountain below.

Then Talon led the charge to the eyrie. Not because it was his job but because he was helpless to do anything other than snuff out the cause of Shadow’s distress.

Once inside, they found one guard in the entry.

Talon silently brought them directly to the great chamber since he was certain Shadow was in the family dens. To their surprise the chamber contained what looked like the bulk of Torrent’s forces and confronted with the wild cries of Lev’s guard, many took advantage of the great space to make an unsuccessful run for the entrance.

“Feather!”

A female’s cry reaches Talon from deep within the family dens. It’s impossible to tell whose voice has called his sister through the echoes and twist and turns of the stone tunnel ahead.

Talon doesn’t bother fighting the rogues in the chamber. He’s fueled by the scream and blinded by Shadow’s terrified desperation as he disappears alone down the tunnel in pursuit of the fading echoes.