Chapter 91
CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
Ellery
The sun was in the sky when I returned with Indon, Kevi, and Avex to the mouth of the cavern. It had taken the rest of the night, but we’d eventually hammered out a plan that, while large in scope, might have a chance of succeeding with a small number of amsirah.
Originally, I believed we’d have to go to the towns and seek help there. We’d stolen from Ivan and the duke to bolster the loyalty and hopes of the amsirah in those communities.
And I was sure that while some would sell us out for the massive reward the duke had placed on my head, most would gladly take up weapons to stand against their oppressors. However, no matter which way we turned it, we couldn’t figure out how to form an army without the duke knowing.
And once he learned of our plans, he’d move against us. We had to keep that from happening, and we had to keep the gargoyles a secret for as long as possible; they were our biggest weapon against him.
So that meant we had to move as stealthily as possible through the night and against our oppressors. A large army would completely undermine that.
If we could somehow sneak up on them and cut off the tail and body of the snake, we would eradicate some of his army before the duke even realized it. If that happened, we’d have a better chance of succeeding.
I stopped to lean against the tunnel’s wall as Kevi and Avex strode out into the morning. When they tipped their heads back to bask in the sun, my hand fluttered to my heart as it swelled with joy.
I’d made a reckless decision when I set them free, but even if they hadn’t agreed to help us, seeing this would have made it worthwhile. They deserved their freedom, and I’d fight to ensure they continued to have it.
“We’ll see you at nightfall,” Indon said.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kevi and Avex as they spread their wings and smiled. Those smiles were more radiant than the sun bathing them.
“They’re beautiful,” I whispered.
Indon tilted his head to study me. “We’re not often called that.”
No, I imagined they weren’t, not even by our ancestors who had stood beside them as guardians.
“That’s because some can’t look past the surface,” I said.
Indon’s colossal hand swallowed my shoulder when he gripped it. “The forest is talking to you, child. It is also multilayered.”
I chuckled. “Now that I already knew.”
Behind him, two ghosts floated across the clearing. I’d questioned if the stone might have something to do with their existence and if, once it returned to the gargoyles, the ghosts and poltergeists would vanish, but more than the Heart kept them here.
“Were there always ghosts and poltergeists in Tempest?” I asked.
Indon turned to study the floating apparitions. “Yes. They are as much a part of the forest as the trees.”
That made me a little sad. I would have missed Farley and his cohorts, but they all deserved to move on to whatever existence was beyond this one.
“What about magnetic storms?” I asked. “Did those also exist in Tempest?”
“I don’t know what those are.”
“Every few months or so, we get an extreme storm that ravages the realm and makes it impossible to open portals. After seeing the Heart of Stone, we wondered if it could be the cause, and it sounds like it was. Now that you have it again, they’ll most likely stop.”
“I guess we’ll find out in a few months.”
“I guess we will,” I murmured. “You don’t have to do this with us; you can fly into the woods and stay hidden. You can enjoy your freedom.”
“We will enjoy our freedom after we put things right again, and no one remains unjustly imprisoned. They forced us away from our position, but together, we are the guardians of this realm. We cannot turn our backs on it any more than you can.”
“You consider me a guardian?”
“I think you’re its savior.”
I recoiled at the word. “I’m no savior.”
“You’re ours,” Kevi said. “We’d still be in the shadows if it weren’t for you.”
“I was going to leave you there because we were too afraid to set you free. I only did so because I was out of options and hope.”
“You overcame your fear,” Indon said, “and we thank you for that.”
“Don’t thank me. You deserve your freedom.”
“And so do the amsirah.” He squeezed my shoulder. “You must get some rest, child. It’s going to be another long night, and you’re exhausted.”
I didn’t know how I’d ever be able to sleep while Ryker was in the hands of that monster who sired him, but I had to try at least. I’d been awake for over a day, and we had a battle to face tonight.
I couldn’t go into it even more exhausted than I was now. Adrenaline wouldn’t be enough to push me all the way through, and I could get someone killed if I were too slow to react right.
“I will,” I murmured as I dug the toe of my boot into the dirt.
“And child—” Indon waited for me to look up at him before continuing. “—you must get rid of that finger in your pocket.”