Stone Guardian(98)

She had a student to save, necromancers to thwart, and a gargoyle to make amends to. It was going to be a busy night.





Chapter Thirty-Six





The magical shield around the mountain pulsed in bright arcs underneath the hand of the Battle Mage, the glow illuminating her almond-shaped eyes and small, straight nose as she talked to Fallon, Terak, and assorted other warriors. “We can create a pocket in the shield for a small amount of time. If everything goes well, the pocket would stay open long enough to allow eight to twelve people to get through before the barrier seals itself again. Then we’ll have to recast the spells, which will take at least ten minutes per casting. The first waves are going to be deep in the shit and sans back-up. First wave should be ready to go in three minutes.”

Fallon nodded, her calm expression telling all that the mage’s words were exactly what she expected to hear. “How many waves can we get in before the start of the ceremony?”

Laire looked up at the moon. “Not many. Three at most, and that’s if the casting is perfect with no problems.” She waved her hand toward a group of haggard beings chanting in front of the wall. “As you can tell, perfect might be hard to achieve.”

Fallon looked over at Aislynn who stood at the edges of the group. The elf was on lookout, her bow at the ready. “Any signs someone has seen us and is coming to do any damage here?”

“None so far. The invisibility the wizards cast seems to be working.”

The shield started to flicker and break. It wouldn’t be much longer. Fallon turned back to Laire. “What about inside? Any clues what’s going on there?”

“I can give guesses, nothing better,” said Laire. “They suffered major casualties today, and they know they did damage to us. Even if they suspect we’re here to attack them, I wouldn’t be expecting huge amounts of guards, but the guards they do have will be fresh and ready to fight. As for the mages, a lot of spell power has been used today to get ready for the ceremony. They won’t be at full power any more than we are. But there is at least one vampire in there, and a half-tapped vampire is still a powerful enemy.”

Terak clenched his jaw, keeping his snarls behind teeth instead of roaring out his displeasure. It was of no matter how many stood guard or fought tonight. They were dead, and he would get his mate back.

“Gargoyles,” With a snap of her fingers the mage brought before them glowing map in the sky, pointing at a little x marked far away from the squares and circles that dominated the bottom of the map. “This is where you guys are being teleported. The cave has an entrance here that is high in the mountains and goes down. Impossible for anyone not winged or otherwise flying-abled, which is probably why they didn’t put a barrier there. Bad news is we don’t know exactly how easy it will be to travel that path. No dwarves we know had anything to do with the construction of these caves. At best, you’re going to arrive t-minus fifteen minutes, putting you somewhere between the second and third wave. At best.”

Terak shook his head. “I will be in the first wave through the barrier. The rest of my warriors are to be transported.”

Malek came, putting his hand on Terak’s shoulder. “We will retrieve our Meyla. Do not fear.”

Terak placed his hand on Malek’s shoulder, returning the gesture. He looked over at the warriors who stood ready to fight. “No matter the end of this night, we will teach the vampires to fear the Gargoyle.”

Laire flicked her fingers with clear impatience. “As heartwarming as this all is, all gargoyles who are going to be flying need to gather together. Teleporting this many beings is not easy, and I’d like to get you somewhere close to the entrance and not Siberia.”

Malek let go and stood at the head of the bunched group of gargoyles. With a wave of her fingers, the mage made the gargoyles disappear.

The mage swayed after they disappeared, and Fallon went over in front of her. “Laire?”

The Asian woman waved her off. “Long day. We all have to push past, right?”

Fallon smiled, and for the first time Terak could see friendship in the expression. “Right.”

“Thirty seconds,” called one of the wizards working on the barrier.

Laire clapped her hands in a bid for attention and motioned toward the entrance. “If you’re stupid or suicidal, please step up to become the first wave.”

Fallon gave her a slit-eyed glare as she removed her sword from its sheathe. “That wasn’t directed at me, was it?”

“If the heavy-ass sword fits.”

“Ten seconds.”

Terak walked to the barrier behind only Fallon. Fallon gave a quick glance towards him. “Well Gargoyle, let’s do this.”