Sorceress Hunting (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 3) (23 page)

My lady?

Holy shit.

Another piece of the puzzle slid into place. River was
still loyal to her ‘goddess’ in some twisted fashion. Sure, she’d defected to
save her children—maybe—but that didn’t mean she was friendly. Certainly not
toward humans, and Anna wasn’t sure how much she cared about the other Fae
either.

Why, oh why, was this fanatic still free?

River continued like the others in the room weren’t
thinking of bars, locks, and sturdy walls. “When Shadowlight is mature, he will
be able to convert other species into full-blooded gargoyles. He will be their
master.”

“Sacrilege!” Darkness roared, making River stiffen.

Shadowlight jerked awake and jumped out of bed. Still
half asleep, he took up a defensive stance next to Anna.

She patted him on the head, ruffling his mane
affectionately. “Easy, kid. Your dad’s just having a conversation with your
mother. She said something that surprised everyone.”

Shadowlight took her at her word and slowly stood up,
sheathing his talons. He still wasn’t steady on his feet. She wasn’t the only
one to notice.

Lillian and Gregory came over to help steady the
youngster. Then, in a very un-demi-god like fashion, Gregory licked at
Shadowlight. The tender action reminded Anna of a mother dog grooming her pups.
The young gargoyle seemed to crave the reassurance and leaned against the older
one.

“Why is everyone upset?” Shadowlight asked at last.

Gregory huffed something, but it was Lillian who
answered. “We just learned the Battle Goddess changed you, sweetheart. You’re
different than other gargoyles. Apparently, when you’re mature, your blood will
be able to convert others into full-blooded gargoyles. It alarmed our father,
but it doesn’t change how we feel. I’m different too because of the Battle
Goddess’ manipulations.”

“Oh,” Shadowlight mused. “That’s why my father’s
memories didn’t explain about the changes I saw in Anna. Why would the Lady of
Battles want to grow her brother’s army larger? She hates him.”

Lillian planted a kiss on the top of Shadowlight’s
head. “The converted gargoyles would look to you for leadership. I assume the
Battle Goddess had planned to raise you as her own to ensure your loyalty.”

Shadowlight whimpered. “I don’t want to lead an army,
not for her.”

“You won’t have too,” Gregory said. “We will not let
her have you.”

Anna decided she like the demigods. Who knew?

When Shadowlight had first told her about the Avatars,
she had mentally added them to her list of Big, Bad, and Scary. Now she decided
she needed to move them to a new list. Big, Scary, but mostly benevolent.

“So,” Anna mused while studying River, “if
Shadowlight’s blood is supposed to create full-blooded gargoyles enslaved to
his will, why am I not either?”

“He isn’t yet mature,” River answered in a short,
clipped tone, and then eyed Anna with a calculating stare, “though as he
matures, you, too, might improve.”

Anna was beginning to think there wasn’t anything in
the world which might improve River’s attitude. However, airing that thought
wouldn’t do much to improve the situation.

“What will happen to Anna, now that everyone knows
what I’ve done,” Shadowlight asked.

It was the one question Anna had been too chicken to
voice.

Gran stood up and crossed the room, giving the
gargoyle an affectionate scratch. “That’s one of the things we need to discuss
at the council meeting.”

“But what if the other council members deem Anna too
much of a risk?”

Gregory, who had been reclining on the floor until
now, stretched and came to all fours and padded over to Anna.

She held her ground while a demigod sniffed her over.

With a huff, he reared up to stand on two legs and
then walked away. When he was half way to the door, he reached out, hooked an
arm through Lillian’s and then addressed the room in general. “Anna is now
family. I protect my clan.”

Shadowlight loosed a happy whine, bounced up so fast
he nearly knocked his father over and then launched himself straight at Anna.

“What? Wait…?” She didn’t even get her arms up in a
defensive position before the young gargoyle was upon her, his weight tumbling
her right over the narrow bed and to the floor on the other side.

She had the wind knocked out of her but otherwise was
unharmed. Unfortunately, she had no protection from the dozen sloppy gargoyle
kisses he was applying to her face, arms, and even her bandaged hands.

“Ah! Uck! Get off.”

The kid was hoisted off her. She climbed to her feet
in time to see Darkness holding Shadowlight a couple inches off the ground.

The young gargoyle seemed unperturbed by the change in
locations and just transferred his sloppy kisses to whatever part of his father
he could reach.

Anna scrubbed her face dry on a bedsheet and then
looked up in time to see a softer expression on River’s face as she looked at
her mate and their son.

Huh. Maybe River was not the full embodiment of the
cast iron bitch after all.

When Shadowlight finally got himself under control
enough that Darkness could release him, everyone else in the room began to file
out, heading to the so-called council meeting.

Darkness gestured her forward. “You must come too.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“What we discuss will affect you as well as the other
humans of this world.”

That was certainly one reason to go. The meeting might
also be her last chance to escape long enough to get some kind of intel to her
CO.

She didn’t delude herself into thinking she could
avoid recapture for long. Shadowlight would probably track her down through
their mental link within minutes.

She’d just have to plan carefully and act quickly.

Gregory led the way back up through the house, Lillian
close to his side with the others spread out farther back. He missed the
military efficiency of the gargoyle army. Not that he was even sure if they
would still accept him as their commander with this cursed tattoo around his
throat.

Only the Lord of the Underworld could tell him that.

And he wasn’t ready to face Lord Death just yet.

He glanced over his shoulder at the unorganized
procession behind him and sighed. Yes, he missed his gargoyles.

Very much.

But they were firmly on one side of the Veil between
the Realms, and he on the other.

Ah, well, he should be thankful for the allies he had.
His senses stretched back toward where the human-gargoyle hybrid marched
between Shadowlight and Darkness, plotting her escape.

That one hadn’t quite gotten the hang of shielding her
thoughts, though she was exceptional at projecting her intent to the other
gargoyles. Even Lillian was glancing back, a wicked grin on her lips.

“Was I ever that bad?”

“At shielding or sheer stubbornness?”

Lillian punched him in the arm. “Shielding!”

“Yes.”

She chuckled. “Fine. Is someone going to train the
poor woman?”

“Eventually. Once things settle down, Darkness and I
will take turns training you, Anna, and Shadowlight on the finer points of
being a gargoyle.”

“You’re taking this really, really well,” she said,
suspicion tinting her voice.

His one ear flicked at her in question. “What did you
expect me to do?”

“Well,” she coughed into her hand to cover a smile.
“You’ve never been the humans’ biggest fan.”

“Ah. I am…coming to respect them a touch more.
Besides,” he half turned and gestured behind them. “What do you see when you
look at the human?”

Lillian sighed. “This game again?”

“Humor me.”

She did and studied the human, taking her measure once
again. “I see one big security risk that’s pretty determined to get back and
warn the other humans what’s coming. Yet she seems to care for Shadowlight, and
I don’t think she wants to put him at risk. I imagine she’s torn at the moment.
She’s a good person at her core. I can see that easily.”

“Exactly,” Gregory grinned. “She is a pure spirit, not
one the Battle Goddess would have chosen for Shadowlight’s second in command. I
see the Divine Ones’ hand in this, and the unraveling of another of the Lady of
Battles’ carefully laid plans. She will be irate when she eventually learns of
this development. That gladdens my heart.”

“Hmmm,” Lillian looked thoughtful. “I had not thought
of it like that. I see your reasoning.”

Gregory reached the back door and led the procession
out into the gardens, heading toward the maze, where the other counsellors
waited at the center.

“It’s high noon. Are you sure no one can see or track
us?”

He gave her his best put upon look.

“Sorry I asked.” She raised her hand in surrender and
then marched to the maze’s center in silence.

Within the small central glade, he saw the entire
council was present, even those members he’d not seen since before the Siren
came.

The banshee stood between the pooka and the unicorn.
Greenborrow was making his way over to that group.

Even Whitethorn and Goswin were present, though their
ordeal at the humans’ hands was still easy enough to see in their hunched
shoulders and pale complexions.

Hyrand hovered near her daughter as if mother and daughter
were both expecting human soldiers to recapture Goswin at any moment. Jason and
his uncle Alan joined the sidhe and the two sprites.

Lastly, three large wolves in the company of the dryad
Russet emerged from the base of Lillian’s hamadryad.

Russet bowed to them both and then straightened.
“Allow me to introduce the new high alphas of the dire wolf clans, Kendrick,
and Natasha, and their daughter Brigid.”

The three large dire wolves lunged up and shapeshifted
into their human forms, their transformations smooth and possessing an elegance
only achieved through long hours of practice.

“Lord Gargoyle, Lady Sorceress,” the alpha female
said, “I am sorry the dire wolf nation could not have been at your side sooner.
We are here now and ready to serve.”

“Oh. My. God. Werewolves.”

Gregory sighed at the uncouth comment and turned his
attention to the human long enough for her to figure out she’d drawn attention
to herself she really didn’t want.

Shadowlight whispered something in her ear, and she
looked chagrinned.

“Mmm, sorry,” Anna called from across the meadow.

Natasha raised one eyebrow in question. “Why is there
a human here?”

Lillian pounced on that before it could twist from
neutral to accusation. “She’s one of the family.”

“Indeed?” the male asked, stepping closer to Lillian
so he could peer past her for a better view of the human.

Gregory studied Lillian as she turned a few different
shades of pink as she tried not to notice the alpha male’s lack of clothing.
The dire wolves were far too sensible to worry over something as silly as
physical modesty.

If their creators really wanted their creations to
swath themselves in yards of fabric and zippers, they’d have been certain to
gift it to them at birth.

Though it
was
a touch amusing to watch as
Lillian addressed the foreheads of the two alphas, clearly too flustered to
meet their eyes, or look anywhere else she might see too much.

After watching Lillian squirm at the mercy of her
embarrassment, Gregory stepped up to the alphas and thrust his muzzle under
their jaws and along their necks in the dire wolf way of greeting.

They returned the gesture, sniffing along his neck
before dropping his arms and stepping back.

Dominance established and social needs met, both sides
relaxed and the atmosphere took on a much more mellow quality.

“Gran has informed us of the dangers this Commander
Gryton poses to our world should he make it back to the Magic Realm and warn
the Battle Goddess,” Kendrick said with a frown “Gran also presented a piece of
his armor for our people to scent. All the packs have his essence now, and we
are prepared to hunt at your word.”

Gregory nodded his head in thanks. “Your aid is much
appreciated.”

Jason came over, his arms heavily loaded with
clothing. “Gran sent these—said there was no point encouraging the mosquitoes
and other opportunists.” He sighed dramatically and then slumped his shoulders.

Bridgid barked out a sound more canine than
Homo
sapiens
and took the offered clothing.

Turning to Gregory, Jason added, “Gran says she and
the others are ready to start.”

“Good.” He followed Jason back to the center of the
glade.

Several picnic tables had been dragged together, end
to end, in a way reminiscent of the last time he’d stood before this council.

Unlike the first time, he considered these beings
friends and allies, not potentially hostile strangers.

This time, he was going to ask them to trust again,
taking a chance on an even greater risk than last time.

*****

Lillian followed Gregory as close as his shadow. He
hadn’t confided in her about his plan. She sensed it was something big, and she
wanted to be able to support him.

But, damn, that would be easier to do if she knew what
he planned.

Something to do with their newest family member, the
human soldier, but what?

Gran called the group to attention, and they got down
to the business at hand.

It was more of a war council than a council meeting.
There was no bickering, just efficient planning.

Members of both Clan and Coven had worked all through
the night to complete hundreds of tracking spells similar to the messenger
spells Gran had been using for communication. The tracking spells were keyed to
Commander Gryton’s blood and would make tracking him possible even if he used
transportation spells to move from place to place.

They simply needed to be placed in a vast grid pattern
for kilometers around the hamadryad’s location.

Lillian listened while Gran explained at length that
they were banking on Gryton moving on the tree. He had no choice. When he did,
the tracking spell would relay his present position.

“It’s like you can just roll out a full surveillance
package, no tech required. Whenever, wherever you want,” the human soldier
said, real awe in her voice. “No wonder we had no idea we shared the planet
with other intelligent beings. You were always three steps ahead of us.”

The banshee came to her feet in one graceful motion,
which was no small feat Lillian mused since everyone was seated around picnic
tables. “Who is this human? Clearly she isn’t Coven. If you want us to fight
for you, you owe us an explanation.”

The table broke out in a chorus of shouted agreements.
Gran stood next, rapping her quarterstaff against the top of the table hard
enough to echo.

“The Avatars do not owe us an explanation. They do not
even have to ask for our aid. It should be freely given.”

Gregory chuckled. “Though an explanation is always
nice, all the same.”

He proceeded to explain at length who and what the
human was. He ended with the simple fact that as a human-gargoyle hybrid, she
was now firmly one of the Clan. As such, she was as much Fae as any other
sitting on the war council.

Lillian knew the opposition was not truly silenced,
but everyone was also sensible enough to know Gryton was the greatest danger at
the moment, and all conversation soon turned back to him.

Then she realized Gregory’s plan—the obvious solution
that linked both Corporal Anna Mackenzie and Commander Gryton.

The others at the table still hadn’t seen the truth
hovering in front of them.

“How can we possibly get the tracking spells spread
this far in the next few hours? The area is far too vast,” the pooka said, his
yellow eyes dimming somewhat. “Even I cannot run so fast. We don’t have enough
bodies to cover this much ground.”

“Even if we do manage to cover even half this
distance,” Whitethorn took up where the pooka left off and tapped the outer
edge of the mapped area, “we will be too spread out to fight Commander Gryton.
If he can best gargoyles in a fight, the rest of us won’t be enough to stop
him—many would not even survive their first encounter with him. We need greater
numbers to drive him into an ambush.”

There were several nods of agreement to Whitethorn’s
statement, but still no one thought to use the human. Lillian narrowed her eyes
and then summoned a touch of gargoyle magic, reaching toward the Corporal with
it.

Ah, the human had come to the same conclusion as
Lillian herself had. She waited, and still Anna did not speak up. Neither did
Gregory. What were they waiting for?

“I can think of a species capable of gathering the
numbers needed to track, herd, and lay an ambush for Gryton,” Gregory finally
said in the drollest tone Lillian had ever heard him use.

The table fell silent as one by one all the occupants
turned to look at him aghast.

“Gargoyles truly don’t do subtle.” Gran sat back in
her chair with a loud booming laugh, “Well, if you turn Anna loose, I’m sure
she knows enough to stir the military up really good, but will it be enough to
get the humans hunting Gryton? Or is it just more likely to confuse the hunt?
We’ll end up avoiding the military as much or more than hunting the commander.
I don’t see how that’ll be much of an improvement.”

“I’m not proposing we ‘stir up the hornet’s nest’ as
you might say, I’m proposing we form an alliance with the humans of this
world,” Gregory explained at last. “My other half once told me the humans have
as much right to defend their lives and lands as the rest of us. I did not
agree with her at the time, seeing only the humans’ many weaknesses and the
damages they had done to this planet. Now I see they are trying to make it
better, fix what they’ve caused to go asunder. This is their home as well. The
Lady of Battles, should she gain enough power to defeat her brother, will be
looking for new territory to conquer.”

Anna cleared her throat. “If I quote you on that last
part, I can probably get them combing the forest for this Commander Gryton.
However, they will be hunting the bunch of you as much as Gryton. There will be
no alliance—no lovefest, no singing Kumbaya, not after how a certain group of
gargoyles decided attacking five helos was a good idea.”

“Actually,” Gregory said as he tilted his head down to
meet the human’s gaze with such intensity Lillian actually felt sorry for the
woman. “That is exactly what you are going to tell them. Remind them what two
adult gargoyles and two fledglings were capable of. Then have them imagine what
an entire dark army will do to their planet and lastly, tell them that together
we can track and kill Gryton before he has a chance to inform his goddess.”