Leoht (BloodRunes: Book 3) (10 page)

“The Hyrdraeden have the journal of the man
who killed the Dark King which details his forging of the sword and
the materials that had to go into its making.”

“How did you ever find such a thing and keep
it hidden?” Gryffon asked, “People have been searching for the
mystery of the Slayer for ages.”

Aileen smiled, her quirky nature back in full
force. “That’s just one of those mysteries you’re going to have to
live with never knowing.”

Layna sighed dramatically and lamented, “I
guess I’m used to it, it’s just like when I was a maid and only got
the barest of details concerning the intrigues of the court
gossip.” She winked at Gryffon and he smiled back at her as she
went on. “Well, thank you Aileen. The information you did give us
is very helpful. Now that we know that the sword is legitimate and
was really made by someone who wants the same end goal as we do,
even if you couldn’t tell us who exactly that is, we can use it
safely. Now, we have to figure out how we’re going to use it.” She
paused a moment in thought. “Sounds like we’re just going to have
to find a way to get into the palace in Gelendan and then close
enough to the King to force him to come with us to the source of
Nuko’s power.” She added as an afterthought, “I still can’t believe
it’s him using the Bloodstone.” Aileen had filled them in on what
had transpired during their personal ordeal and revealed that King
Nathair had transformed into a dragon and was declaring himself a
god. Apparently, that was pretty significant proof that it was him
who was using the Bloodstone.

At least that was one mystery that was
solved, even if what it revealed was more bad news. Aileen had also
indicated that she thought it was imperative that the Bloodstone
and the source be destroyed together and as close to simultaneously
as possible. Otherwise, she was concerned that his essence would
simply ‘snap’ back into the other vessel and become that much more
powerful in the time that it would take to destroy one and then
bring the sword to the other since the sword appeared to be the
only thing strong enough to damage either. It was a concern that
Layna said the Three shared.

Gryffon was impressed with how much Layna had
grown. Just months ago she was terrified at having to play any part
in the conflict, and here she was stating that they were ‘just’
going to have to break into a palace and kidnap a King. He found
her new confidence appealing, though a tiny thought gnawed at him
in the back of his head, wondering if it was the Three’s presence
that made her that way and not really her at all.

“Are we sure that it’s a good idea to have
them together? Won’t that also give him the chance to reenter his
body and become a full-blown dragon again?” He voiced a concern
that had been nagging him since Aileen had unveiled her plan.

“I have an idea that will make it impossible
for him to do so, but you’ll have to wait to find that one out.”
She smiled at Layna’s dramatized sigh and continued, “But once they
are there together, we will be able to use the sword to destroy
both the body and the Bloodstone.”

Layna looked sick to her stomach. “Isn’t the
Bloodstone inside of the King now?”

“Yes.” Aileen stated, “It will most likely
require his execution unless we can find a way to detach it from
him.”

“And no one’s going to notice the sudden
disappearance of the King who’s declared himself a god…”

Aileen smiled. “I have a feeling it will work
out just fine.”

“Are you sure you don’t know how the Slayer
got the information about how to make Leoht?” Layna asked her
again.

Echo’s voice suddenly sounded in their heads.
-
I believe that you two should not make your presence known, and
should leave here quickly. There are more and more who are noticing
your roles in the transpiring events. And not all of them are happy
about it
.-

“Good advice,” agreed Aileen, and Gryffon and
Layna nodded. Layna was re-strapping Leoht back onto her belt when
the messenger came to tell them that the council was gathered to
hear them.

They made their way back towards the palace
and were quickly ushered inside the council chambers. Gryffon kept
his description brief and to the point and upon Layna’s request had
left out the details of where he had gotten this information. For
some reason she trusted Katya and did not want to force her further
involvement and Gryffon respected her wishes. The council was
understandably extremely concerned that the enemy would be
deploying such a horrible mix of atrocities, and Gryffon was glad
that they seemed to take him at his word this time.

Apparently, Jezebel had been detained after
the King had declared himself a god and had then blasted herself
out of the cell with magic, making his and Layna’s stories seem
that much more credible and one of the council members even offered
him an apology at having been skeptical of them as a result of
being duped by her faux lack of talent. Layna also got an official
apology on behalf of the entire council representing the late
Baron’s family for the unfortunate incident. It had been sorted out
in their absence and it had come to light after Jezebel’s escape
that it had been her who had first mentioned the idea of a truth
serum and where to get it to the Lady Aria. The merchant had not
been tracked down and no one could remember there ever being one
there so it was now supposed that the entire thing had been set
up.

Gryffon noticed Layna’s face pale a bit as it
was revealed that Jezebel had been out to kill her, but she
accepted the apology gracefully.

After a few short questions from the group
about their information, they were thanked and they left the
council chambers. He looked at Layna and gave her a grin, “Mission
accomplished, looks like they are more willing to take the threat
seriously now. I guess we have Jezebel to thank for
something
.”

“Ugh,” Layna replied, wrinkling her nose in
distaste, giving her an adorable look, “If I never hear that
woman’s name again I’ll be happy. I can’t believe she tried to
kill
me.” She paused and looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Well, I guess I really can, but still…”

“I know what you mean,” Gryffon answered
emphatically, knowing all too well. “I think that Echo’s advice
would be well heeded, we probably shouldn’t stay here too long. Is
there anything you wanted to do here, or should we just get
started?”

“Might as well set out right away, we’ll have
to stop for supplies someplace, but if there’s a town nearby that
would have what we’ll need, I would feel better waiting until we
get there to pick them up. Ever since Echo said that about people
having it in for us, the hairs on the back of my neck have been
standing on end.” She looked over her shoulder nervously. “Did they
ever find Jezebel?”

He shook his head negatively. “I doubt that
she’d be hanging around, but just in case…” he let the thought
trail off. “It wouldn’t hurt to be gone before people even realize
we’ve been here. Like Echo said, there’re quite a few people around
who know we’ve been involved in a lot of what’s going on. One thing
or another is bound to have bothered someone.”

“Do you think Lady Aria still thinks I had
something to do with her father’s murder?

The question seemed to be asked innocently,
but Gryffon felt there was something more beneath the words.
Gryffon hoped she wasn’t still on her obsession that he wanted
something more from Aria than the casual friendship they had fallen
into. “No, I know she doesn’t. She felt really horrible for doing
that to you. I’m sure she would love to see you and apologize if
you’d like.”

“No,” Layna answered, a little too quickly,
“let’s just get out of here.”

Gryffon led the way out of the palace and
back towards the stables. By unspoken agreement there was
unfinished business with Aileen and Echo that needed to be
addressed before they made their way completely out of town.

As they exited the building into the
courtyard, a familiar voice called out their names.

“Gryffon, Layna!” Lady Aria rushed over to
them and immediately gave Layna a hug. Layna looked more than a
little surprised, but she returned the woman’s gesture with no hint
of malice on her face. “I am SO sorry,” Aria gushed to her and
Layna nodded her acceptance of the apology. Then Lady Aria took his
arm possessively and Gryffon groaned inwardly, seeing the look of
hurt flash across Layna’s features. He knew Aria didn’t mean it,
but sometimes she really had no tact.

He was beginning to extricate himself from
the situation gracefully when all of a sudden there was a
tremendous crash and all three of them looked up in horror to see
that something had hit the stone building above them and as they
watched, several large boulders separated themselves from the wall
and came crashing down towards them.

His first thought was for Layna and he
started in her direction, but she already had her hands above her,
weaving a shielding spell and her eyes had turned white, evidence
that the Three were currently with her. Knowing that she was safe,
he turned to Aria who was staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her
impending doom.

Not sure of Layna’s width of the spell,
Gryffon hastily erected his own defenses and shoved his body into
Aria’s frozen one, tumbling them both out of the way of the falling
rocks. As they came to a halt, he shot a glance back at Layna and
watched in disbelief as all of the stones suddenly stopped, mere
feet above her head, and then slowly settled to the ground around
them.

Apparently that was just the first course,
however, as a ball of fire was hurled towards Layna, prone in the
middle of the debris and no doubt drained from the show. He
scrambled to his feet and ran to her, shouting a warning.

She turned and held a hand out to the
approaching fireball, and this slowed and stopped as well. She
walked towards it and laid her hand against it and it pulsed for a
moment and then seemed to dissolve into her.

But she didn’t stop. She marched to the edge
of the courtyard in the direction that the fireball had come from
and Gryffon noticed a man crouched beneath a tree by the outer
wall. His mouth was moving and no doubt Layna had another set of
spells forming on his lips to come at her. Her pace did not slow,
however, the determined walk took her directly in front of the man
who stood and looked around himself in alarm.

Layna drew Leoht from the sheath at her side
and Gryffon couldn’t help but admire how good she made it look. She
said something to the man that Gryffon couldn’t hear and he shook
his head negatively. Then he sprang off the ground into the tree
and vaulted over the wall. Layna didn’t move to follow.

She turned back towards them and Gryffon was
about to call out to her when something attached itself to him. He
looked down and saw Aria clinging to him in panic. “Is it all
over?” she asked through a deluge of tears. He glanced up at Layna
and saw her face harden, her eyes returning to their natural shade.
He shook off the feeling of guilt. Wasn’t it her that kept telling
Aria that they were only friends?

He put his arm around the sobbing woman and
talked soothingly to try and calm her. She buried her head in his
shoulder, soaking his tunic while Layna looked on. After a moment
she cleared her throat jutting out her chin in the direction behind
Gryffon and saying, “Sorry to interrupt, but if we want to get out
of here today, we might want to do so while we still have the
chance.”

Gryffon looked behind him where Layna had
indicated and saw that a crowd of people was forming, and lots of
them were pointing towards the three of them. He eased Aria away
from his chest and looked down at her puffy red eyes. “Are you
alight? Think you can handle the questions for us?” She looked
pitifully up at him but she nodded, releasing her death grip on his
tunic.

“Let’s go,” he said to Layna.

*

Layna watched as Aria clung to Gryffon like
some kind of pathetic sad sop and she couldn’t stop her eyes from
narrowing the tiniest bit at the tenderness in his grip while
Gryffon peeled her off him.

She turned on her heel and stalked off
towards the stables, still on a bit of a power-high. Whenever she
touched the power if gave her a boost of confidence and today it
was making her think bad thoughts about the Lady Aria. She mentally
scolded herself; she had been nothing but nice to her.
Except
when she almost ‘accidentally’ killed you
. The little voice in
the back of her head was not helping matters. Why was everyone out
to kill her?

She took a deep breath and paused, looking
back to see if Gryffon was following yet. He came up behind her and
asked, “What was that all about?”

Layna froze, had he somehow heard the mental
tirade she’d just had in her head about the Lady Aria, who, now
that she was thinking more rationally really didn’t deserve the
inner bashing?

Cliodhna interjected a thought. -
Relax. He means the assassination attempt. And anyone can see
that it’s you he cares about, silly girl. Stop your fussing
.-
She could almost feel the thoughts of the other two shushing her
with disapproval of Cliodhna’s interference in the matter.

-
I don’t think so
,- she thought back
bitterly, -
it was Aria he jumped to save
.-

Cliodhna chuckled. -
Well, you
didn’t need much saving did you? He’s waiting
.
- She fell
silent and felt all three of them lapse into the tiny corner in the
back of her head.

Layna pondered that a split second, perhaps
she had a point…but when she turned gaze to Gryffon, the look on
his face sent her thoughts spiraling right back down their previous
path. She’d been told her eyes turned completely white while
communing with the Three which granted must look rather creepy, but
Gryffon looked more like he was being forced to interact with a
leper.