Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Ellery
Able to run again, I ran through the dense trees and rounded a boulder. On the other side of the rock, I came to an abrupt halt as two poltergeists flew toward us.
Farley and Cryton whirled through the air as they moved with the speed of an arrow set on its mark. A frantic energy surrounded them as they whizzed around before coming to an abrupt stop before the three of us.
“Lery!” Farley blurted. “Where have you been?”
“Where is he?” I demanded.
Their desperate energy could only mean one thing… they also knew something had happened to Ryker.
“They took him!” Cryton blurted. “They took him and some of the others.”
I’d already known something bad had happened, but the confirmation of my worst fears caused me to sway. Ianto clapped his hand on my shoulder to steady me.
“They also took my fucking dagger!”
Cryton sounded more upset about this than the fact that someone had taken Ryker and some of the others.
“Where did they take him?” the giant inquired.
“I don’t know; the palace, maybe,” Cryton said and pouted a little as he crossed his stubby arms over his blobby chest. “They took my dagger too.”
“Who…?” I had to pause to swallow the lump in my throat. “Who took him?”
Apprehension and uncertainty flashed through Cryton’s eyes. That look caused me to take an involuntary step toward him. When he took too long to answer, I decided I’d find a way to choke a response from the specter if necessary.
“Who?” I practically bellowed.
“His father.”
The blood drained from my head as I swayed again. Ianto’s hand kept me from sinking to my knees as my legs wobbled.
“Where?” I choked out.
Cryton and Farley exchanged a look that clearly said they thought I’d lost my mind. “I already said I don’t know where,” Cryton replied.
“No, where did they take him from?” I demanded. “Take me there.”
“You don’t want to go there,” Cryton said.
Ianto’s hand tightened on my shoulder when I swayed again. Then I threw back my shoulders, lifted my chin, and glowered at the poltergeist.
Passing out, crying, or shrieking into the wild were tempting but not viable options. I had to learn everything I could about what happened, and then I had to form a plan to get Ryker back.
I could panic after I found him.
“Take me there,” I commanded.
The poltergeists exchanged a look before Cryton gave the poltergeist’s equivalent of a shrug. “This way.”