She had shifted the emphasis of her song. Even if Serene and the others could not escape, she would see to it that her former love’s mad creation never harmed anyone else. Given enough time, she would make the storm tear Castle Atriun to pieces.
A shadow loomed over her, a shadow with wings. Still singing, the cleric looked up, thinking that Stone had returned.
Only the gargoyle before her stood more massive than Stone and had three wicked horns jutting from his head. He glared at the bright surroundings, as if looking for someone else; then his gaze shifted to her. Hot, fetid breath struck her face, and her view filled with the toothy maw of the large gargoyle.
Crag.
Despite her growing apprehension, Serene ceased neither her playing nor her singing, fearful that to do so would reverse her success. The cleric tried to pretend that she sang without care, as if what she did should be of no consequence to the gargoyle.
Crag growled. Though not as quick-thinking as Stone, he knew that something didn’t look right. Certainly the winged fury did not trust this woman. He moved forward, reaching out with one taloned hand to touch where the harp should have been, frustrated when that did not stop the music, which seemingly came from nowhere.
The beast pulled back. His expression darkened further. “Stop muuuusic!”
Serene kept on playing, trying to decide how to deal with the intruder. Crag looked dangerously near to forgetting his master’s authority and attacking her.
“Where maaan? Where?”
She had no idea what man he spoke of, although Tyros came to mind. Had Rapp managed to free him?
When the human didn’t answer, Crag grew even more incensed. He leaned very close, causing the cleric to falter. The gargoyle suddenly reached out, snaring her right hand and putting a jarring end to her music.
“Let go of me! Valkyn will not be pleased!”
“Nooo …” Crag gave her an evil look. “Maaaster will be pleased.”
He pulled her to her feet. Serene didn’t fear so much for herself as her work. The storm would revert to Valkyn’s control. Gwynned’s defenders would once more be crushed from above.
A second winged form fluttered through the window. Serene’s heart sank further until the newcomer, instead of joining Crag, snarled at the larger gargoyle.
“Release human … now!”
“Stooone …” Crag seemed to forget all about Serene. His fiery eyes blazed with anticipation. “Traitor to Maaaster!”
The smaller gargoyle said nothing but simply flared his wings. The action startled Crag, who must have momentarily forgotten what Valkyn had done to his rival.
“Wingsss?”
Stone nodded. “Wings …” He extended his talons and puffed himself up. Now he looked nearly as ferocious as the other creature. “Claws, too.”
Crag tossed Serene aside carelessly and started for the other gargoyle. Only then did the cleric realize that Stone had challenged Crag to combat.
She leaped up, intending to help the smaller gargoyle, but Stone shook his head. “No! Play music!”
He knew as well as she that only her song and playing could keep the storm under control, yet still Serene hesitated. Crag was so huge.…
“Play! Sing, mistress!”
Taking opportunity of his foe’s distraction, Crag roared and charged Stone. The two rolled across the floor, hissing and snarling as they fought.
With reluctance, the scarlet-tressed cleric seated herself and once more took up her song to her god. To her relief, the words and music came back immediately. Serene could feel the storm suddenly bend to her needs again. Now, though, she had to press the attack, increase the intensity, and hope that Tyros escaped so that she wouldn’t kill him in the process.
And before her, Stone and Crag engaged in battle. Stone kept the pair rolling until he lay on top, but Crag used his greater weight to push the other gargoyle off of him. The larger beast snapped at the throat of his rival, barely missing. As Stone pulled away, though, Crag slashed with one set of talons, raking Stone’s chest and leaving a trail of crimson.
A tremendous crash shook Atriun, the tremors sending both gargoyles tumbling to the corner of the room.
Crag recovered first, and before Stone could stop him, he seized the smaller creature by the throat. Stone made an attempt to pull free, but Crag shook him. The larger gargoyle raised his rival high, then hurled him across the chamber. Stone smashed against one of the walls, then dropped to the floor, dazed.
With a triumphant roar, Crag flew to finish off his adversary.
* * * * *
Captain Bakal hurried toward the steps leading to the Wind Captain’s Chair, knowing that he had to be cautious. He had managed to escape the gargoyle, and the way ahead seemed clear, but the veteran knew that appearances could be deceiving. Not only did Bakal have to worry about the steps, but he had to do it with someone still in pursuit. The captain had caught a glimpse of General Cadrio, sword in hand, racing down from the battlements. Bakal considered himself a good swordsman, but he doubted his skills would long match Cadrio’s, especially armed only with the scythe.
Already inside the castle, Bakal did not at first realize what happened beyond the walls. The first violent Shockwave sent him to his knees, but he assumed that the defenders had simply managed a second hit with their catapults. Only when the captain reached a window did he realize that he might have been wrong.
The gargoyles fought among themselves. Bakal blinked, not at first willing to believe it. Despite the terrible storm and their master’s wishes, the two factions fought tooth and claw with one another. Why would Stone risk his people so?
Then lightning struck one of the side towers, ripping off a section of wall and laying waste to part of the roof. Bakal would have marked it down as an errant strike if not for a second bolt, which tore apart one section of the outer wall.
The storm had turned on Valkyn.
It hardly seemed possible, unless someone had purposely done it. Tyros, perhaps, but then Bakal recalled that clerics of Branchala had some effect on the weather. Could it be possible that Serene had taken control of the storm? If so, could she maintain her hold? The black mage would certainly investigate, and even his past relationship with Serene wouldn’t keep him from punishing her.
Whatever the reason, it made Bakal’s task more essential. If he could take over, or at least damage, the Wind Captain’s Chair, then certainly that would give everyone more hope.
He started up the steps to the tower, only to see one of the shadow servants descending. Bakal dropped back down and hid around a corner. The hooded figure paused at the bottom of the steps, but to the captain’s great fortune, it turned the opposite direction and soon disappeared down a hallway.
Once more ascending, Bakal watched the steps carefully. Although the shadow servant had moved unhindered, that didn’t mean the way was clear. From a pouch, Bakal pulled out a handful of small pebbles he had scooped up on his way into the castle for just this moment. The veteran didn’t know if what he planned would work, but he couldn’t think of anything else.
With careful aim, Bakal threw the pebbles on the steps before him.
He waited for a flash, a bolt, something. The steps remained normal. Bakal exhaled, both disappointed and relieved. Knowing that he could wait no longer, the captain carefully scooped up as many of the pebbles he could, then proceeded up, repeating the process.
On the tenth step, the pebbles vanished in a familiar flash of blinding light.
Swearing, Bakal let his eyes adjust, then studied the stairway. He had been certain that the tenth step would be safe and the twelfth the deadly one. The captain cursed his aging memory. Either he had miscounted or the spell had shifted position.
Carefully crossing the magical trap, he pushed on. Even though the next few steps proved harmless, Bakal’s nerves were on edge. It would take only one mistake, one lapse, to finish him. Valkyn surely had at least one more vicious trap set; wizards, after all, held a morbid fascination for such things.