Stone Guardian(73)

Wulver left the room. The second the door closed after him Laire started jumping, a huge smile on her face and her body shaking in repressed excitement. “I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go. You don’t even like the Oracle. Let me.”

Before the first words were out of Laire’s mouth, Fallon started to shake her head, and as soon as the green-haired woman took a breath, Fallon used it as her opportunity to say, “No way.”

“Please please please.”

“Let me rephrase. No way in hell.”

Laire stopped jumping, a small pout coming to her lips. How she had been able to prevent an ankle fracture while jumping on those spikes, Larissa would never know. “Why not?”

“Because if they have an orgy going on, you’ll want to join. And if they don’t have an orgy going on, you’ll want to start one. I’ll take Aislynn with me.” Fallon looked over at Larissa. “Congratulations. You are about to do something many mortals dream about but few get to experience. You’re about to meet the Oracle.”





Chapter Twenty-Four





The acolyte was a young elf male, no more than hundred years. His hair was shorn in the way of all those newly pledged to their necromancer master while the scar pattern on his chest marked to those who knew the symbols who his master was. His eyes gleamed with a feral and fierce devotion, one the gargoyles had yet to crack.

Terak stood before him as he had the last several hours. “I ask again, why are you here trespassing on our lands? Your master knows my kind are resistant to your magic, so it is not in his best interest to court the wrath of Gargoyles.”

The high-pitched giggle teetered on the edge of sanity. “Perhaps my Master knows he has nothing to fear from a Gargoyle obsessed with a worthless human woman. Tell me, Gargoyle, is what’s between her legs so unique that you let it take you away from your Clan?”

There was nothing Terak wanted more than to feel flesh fall beneath his claws, but long training kept him still. This was the most the acolyte had offered all day. There would be time for vengeance later. Now there were only answers to be found. “Not so worthless. You have been unstoppable in your quest for her. Why should only necromancers possess that type of power?”

For the first time, a gleam of intelligent cunning peeked out from behind the madness. “You don’t even know her secret.”

“I know you want her so badly you go directly against the Guild to collect her. What else do I need to know to realize her worth?” Only when the words were spoken did Terak realize their truth. He had been so focused on the necromancers and the new knowledge of their ultimate plan he never considered all the other avenues where danger now lurked. She was a prize of great worth. His stomach wrenched hard at all the ways she could be now used to further various interests.

“Our source never indicated you felt this way.”

Source?

Betrayal.

A gargoyle was in league with this evil, feeding them information. Who? In exchange for what? He pushed the bitter burn away to think on later. To the acolyte he said, “I am Mennak. I am answerable to no one, and your master is pitiable if he does not know even that about my kind.”

The acolyte made no reaction to the offense. Instead, his mad smile gleamed brighter. “Only time will tell us if your words are true, gargoyle. We should like to see you prove them.”

And a gut-deep realization spread through Terak that he would get no more from the acolyte, no matter the methods used.

Malek waited outside the thick cell doors. “Does anyone else know he is here?” Terak asked once he cleared the prison. Malek had been the one to find the acolyte, and had come straight to Terak.

“No, just as you ordered.”

“You heard what the creature insinuated?” Terak wanted his second-in-command to gainsay him, to tell Terak he was wrong in thinking one of their kind turned on them.

Instead Malek nodded. “I wish I did not believe it, but it makes sense.”

Terak placed his hand on Malek’s shoulder. “At this moment, I trust only you. Keep watch on the grounds. With the capture of the acolyte, the necromancer may try to force a meeting with the betrayer.”

Terak headed for his chambers, but was waylaid by Krikus. “There is an issue with the human woman,” the old councilor said without preamble

Cold, sick fear spread through his stomach. “Is she hurt?” and even he could hear the terror the tone held.

“She was captured by the Guild. We do not know where they hold her.”

A powerful relief hit so hard he was dizzy, and almost embarrassed himself with the need to lean against the wall. Instead he forced legs to stiffen and hold his weight upright.