Chapter 94
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
Ellery
I wasn’t sure what time it was when I woke, but the cavern was alive with the bustle of amsirah. They were being unusually subdued; I didn’t know if it was because of everything that had happened and our new, more dismal surroundings or if they were trying to let me sleep.
Even the children, usually so rambunctious and full of boundless energy, were subdued as they helped with the chores. Mr. Fletcher and Ianto were standing with a group of men and women who were listening to their every word. They sported weapons and looks of steely determination.
They must have decided who would come with us on our mission tonight. I didn’t get up to help them; they knew who would be best for this and looked like they had it under control.
Scarlet weaved her way through the crowd to the shadows where my blankets rested. She stopped beside me and knelt to sit on the blanket beside me.
She handed me a glass of water and a platter of assorted fruits, breads, and meats. I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t know when I’d get another chance to eat, so I had to do so now.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Make sure you eat.”
“Yes, Ruby,” I teased.
Her disgruntled look brought a small smile to my lips before it fell away again. “What time is it?” I asked.
“It’s almost time to go. The sun set an hour ago.”
This revelation astonished me so much that I froze in the middle of biting into my jerky. “It is?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t expect to sleep at all, never mind for so long.”
“You needed it. You also tossed and turned while muttering to yourself. At one point, you cried.”
My gaze fell to my hands as I closed my eyes against the memories of the nightmares that haunted me all night. Countless times, I’d reached for Ryker, only to discover him gone.
While I’d slept far longer than I’d anticipated, it wasn’t a good sleep. I wasn’t quite as exhausted as I was earlier, but I was far from refreshed.
“Did you sleep?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Are those the amsirah going with us?” I asked as I gestured toward the group with Ianto and her father.
“Yes. They’re ready to go whenever the gargoyles return.”
“Does everyone here know about the gargoyles now?”
“They’ve all been informed about what happened and who will aid us tonight.”
“Do they all know the plan?” They weren’t all coming with us, but it was best if they knew what we were doing, everything that could go wrong, and when to expect us back.
“Yes,” Scarlet said.
I finished eating my meal and set the platter aside. It sat heavy in my stomach, but hopefully it would give me the energy to get through this.
“Has Mouse been around at all?” I asked.
“No one’s seen him, but I’m sure he’s fine. He has a thousand lives.”
“Yeah.” But I worried about the day those lives ran out. “Where’s Xanthus?”
He’d vanished from his spot near the entrance of the tunnel.
“He went up the tunnel a few hours ago; no one’s seen him since.”
“Damn it,” I muttered.
Much like Mouse, the horse was good at taking care of himself, but the woods were far more dangerous now than they were before, and they’d always been extremely lethal. However, I’d known Xanthus wouldn’t stay; he’d never remain confined in such a way.
“I’m going to clean myself up,” I told Scarlet.
It was probably pointless, considering our night was about to be filled with a whole lot of bloodshed, but I couldn’t take the smell of myself anymore. I shouldn’t have slept in my filthy clothes, but I’d been too exhausted to care.
“I’ll be here,” she said.
I tucked my clean clothes under my arm and weaved through the amsirah to the tunnel with the natural water supply from a river above. With my lightning guiding the way, I found the bathing spot and washed myself and my hair with the trickle of cold water running down the wall from the ceiling.
When I finished, my teeth chattered, and I dressed quickly to put some warmth back in my body. I slipped Ryker’s ring back into my pocket, gathered my ruined clothes, and returned to the cavern.
A few amsirah greeted me, but most let me be as I made my way back to Scarlet. I tossed my ruined clothes onto the growing pile of debris in the middle; they’d have to be burned.
With my back against the wall, I slid down it to settle beside Scarlet again. She handed me a small sword and dagger; I strapped the sword to my side and the dagger inside my boot. I’d much prefer a bow and arrows, but they wouldn’t work well for this mission.
When the gargoyles emerged from the shadows, the amsirah stopped moving to study the three giant creatures who’d entered our space. Some of the amsirah edged away while others gawked, and a few brave souls inched closer to get a better look.
The group with Ianto and Mr. Fletcher watched in fascination. A few of them visibly paled, and one looked about ready to bolt; they’d have to get over their dread, as they were about to get a whole lot more up close and personal with the gargoyles.