12. Next Best Plan
Next Best Plan
The clearing would be just big enough for him to turn into a Stormbird.
He could already feel the creature’s electrical energy building in his veins.
The hair on his arms and the back of his neck rose and he shivered with anticipation.
Khos was turning around in circles, doing a happy dance at the thought of him shifting, but that dance stopped when he sent Khos an image of him lifting the Dire Wolf up with his talons and carrying him through the air.
The Dire Wolf blinked at him. Khos looked down at his paws on the earth.
Looked up into the air. Khos flexed his toes against the ground.
Ryder laughed. He reached over and scratched between Khos’ ears.
“It’s all right! I would never drop you,” Ryder promised.
“Khos isn’t alone in being a little nervous about being up in the air.” Charlie tugged at his tie. “I admit I’m more a–”
“Ground Vampire than an air Vampire?” Ryder quirked a smile.
Charlie beamed. “Why yes, old man! You’ve got it!”
“Well, I promise you, too, that I won’t let anything happen to you,” Ryder said and was surprised when his throat tightened a little with emotion at Charlie’s almost hopeful look at that.
“Yes, yes, you’re a powerful Immortal. Gave all of them a run for their money before. I’m sure I’m in good hands with you!” Charlie chuckled though there was a little worry in his tone.
“Before we fly across to the other side of that army, what’s our plan to get into Lasting?” Fiona asked.
She was gazing back at where the army was and picking at the hem of her shirt a little anxiously.
“I was rather hoping that since Charlie can make both of you look like feathers on my back that he could make the three of us appear to be Kalys and Khos to be a dead Dire Wolf,” Ryder suggested.
“Well, yes, I could do that!” Charlie brightened. He clearly loved using his gift.
“Let’s just hope that they don’t ask for a demonstration of our powers,” Fiona murmured.
“Uhm, ah, yes, yes,” Charlie murmured.
Charlie’s gaze darted away from them both which had Ryder frowning. What could the Mirryr Vampire be hiding here? Despite his ability to disguise his face, he was an awful liar. Or maybe he was just an awful liar with them, because he didn’t wish to lie. That was a thought.
“I’m more worried that there will be secret handshakes or passwords or something,” Ryder said, putting Charlie’s aversion out of his mind for now. “I imagine there’s some way that they identify each other and who belongs where so to speak.”
“And won’t they recognize strangers?” Fiona asked.
“We won’t go as strangers!” Charlie piped in. “I just need to catch a few visuals of the people inside and I can duplicate them easily. Don’t worry about that. Also, I’ve known quite a few Kalys in my day, especially those around in this time. We should be fine.”
“Famous last words?” Fiona lifted an eyebrow, but she was smiling.
“It’s our best bet in any case. We need to get to a gate and go someplace that is not here,” Ryder said.
“But what about the time travel bit?” Charlie rubbed his hands together anxiously. “Fifi can’t even teleport within this time, how is she going to get us back?”
“The gates and my gift are connected,” Fiona said, brow furrowing as she stroked her chin. “There might be a way to use them to get us back.”
“Those structures were likely made to adversely affect normal Vampires, but Immortal gifts are different,” Ryder said slowly.
“Meaning that we were sent back in time accidentally?” Fiona asked.
“I think you can do that, but the structure caused that part of your gift to trigger. As Wyvern, you must have known how to do it,” Ryder suggested. “Maybe you can remember or figure it out again.”
“Time travel? Really?” She blinked.
“Every Immortal had special aspects of their powers that they kept from the others,” Charlie quickly said as if trying to rush the words out in guilt for holding words back earlier. “Time travel was likely one of yours. In fact, I’m certain it is.”
“Why is that, Charlie?” Fiona asked, smiling and uncertain.
“Ah, well, there was a time when someone quite special to you… died,” Charlie explained.
“I remember them falling. I remember their blood spilling, their bones breaking, their skull being crushed. I remember their last breath. I remember you screaming. I remember… And then everything was back to how it had been a moment before all of that happened. They were not dead. They were alive. They were saved. When I asked others if they remembered, none did. But perhaps it was because I was there and felt your grief. It left a mark.”
Fiona stared at Charlie for long moments, but then she slowly nodded. “I trust your recollection and understanding of what happened, Charlie. I just wish I could remember myself so that I could get us out of here without having to face what’s in there.”
She tilted her head towards the city.
“We’ll figure this out, Fiona.” Ryder put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Now, I need to undress and I’m afraid I’ll need one of you to hold my things otherwise I will be naked once we get to the other side.
Not that it will matter with Charlie’s glamor upon us, but still, I’d like to have pants when we get where we’re going. ”
“Definitely, old man. Pants are the thing.” Charlie nodded sagely.
Ryder quickly and efficiently stripped out of his clothes. Fiona took half and Charlie the other. It was then that Ryder felt something cold settle in his chest. He let out an involuntary sound and put a hand over his heart, which was beating rapidly.
“Ryder, what is it?” Fiona asked, alarm written large in her voice and eyes.
“Oh, dear, this can’t be good,” Charlie muttered.
“I don’t know what is happening… Ah! It’s– it’s Grayson. Something is… wrong,” Ryder whispered and felt a shudder go through him.
“How do you know? You have some of Balky’s powers now?” Charlie asked a little anxiously.
“They’re connected. Maybe we all are. But they are closer,” Fiona breathed, coming to a conclusion that none of them knew was out there until now.
“I’ve got to get to him!” Ryder cried.
But he didn’t know where–or when–Grayson was. He had no idea if the gates would work to bring them together. And, even if they, would they do so in time?
“Okay, okay, so we need to get to a gate,” Fiona babbled. “I’ll figure out a way to get us back! I swear it!”
“Yes, I need to–”
It really is all of you, but different, a voice murmured in Ryder’s mind and he sensed in the others too.
Balthazar?! Thank the gods! We couldn’t reach you before, Ryder cried.
Balthazar, you always do manage to get through in the best moments, Fiona said.
Only Charlie did not look delighted. In fact, he looked very ill at ease, or more like, full of dread.
Balthazar… oh, gods, that name! Is it really popular in the world you all live in? I can’t quite imagine that, the voice continued.
Ryder opened his lips to speak, but then said through his mind, Eyros?
Yes, Weryn, it’s me, Eyros answered. And Wyvern, too. Oh, and what about–
Charlie. My name is Charlie, Charlie sent.
There was silence over their mind link for a moment and then Eyros answered easily, Ah, yes, of course, and Charlie. When Ashyr told me about all of you in the future being all chummy and such, I didn’t believe him even though his mind told me no lies.
Ashyr? You mean Grayson? You’ve spoken to Grayson? Ryder asked, feeling dazed and hopeful. If Eyros had connected minds with Grayson that meant his beloved was in this time, not the future. But where was he?
Yes, Grayson. I have spoken to him. But I’ve been locked out of his head by those bloody awful slices, Eyros growled the last.
What do you mean? Do the Kaly slices have Grayson? Fiona asked.
They do. Marched him right into the center of their den of evil and then cut me off from him! Eyros actually sounded worried, more like Balthazar than before.
Then we need to get to him! Now! Ryder said and started to move to the center of the clearing to shapeshift.
Weryn, if you go in there half-cocked–what does that word come from? Hmmm–anyways, if you go in there without a plan, Ashyr will be dead. Again, Eyros cautioned.
We have a plan! Ryder’s heart was beating so hard. It was Grayson’s heart that his own heart was reflecting. Grayson was in terror or pain or both. He had to get to him!
I’m surprised that you care to help us, Eyros, Charlie pointed out carefully.
So am I. But… Eyros paused here.
Grayson told you about the future? Your future? Ryder interrogated.
Yes, he said some quite extraordinary things. And now, here you all are and you’re… well, you’re just like he said you’d be, Eyros sounded surprised, but also hopeful.
Ryder grimaced and his hands fisted. He could well imagine his last interactions with Eyros. If he went into his memories, he could know. He wasn’t shirking doing that, but now was not the time.
I can only imagine the qualms you had to get past to reach out to me, Ryder said quietly. After everything I’ve done.
Eyros was silent for a long time. You’re… different. But people don’t change!
Fiona let out a soft laugh. That would have been my line, Eyros! At least before I was dragged kicking and screaming to open myself to people again. But they have changed. We’ve changed.
Wyvern… facing things rather than running away from them? That’s new, Eyros admitted. And you’re here. All together. To help Ashyr.
Of course, we are, Fiona answered. We’re so much stronger that way. We have each other’s backs. We wouldn’t leave Ashyr to face all this alone.
You–you believe that, Eyros again sounded shocked and almost dismayed.
They have changed, Eyros, Charlie chimed in softly.
And you almost believe it as much as Wyvern, Charlie, Eyros muttered.
That’s close enough for it to be true for a cautious creature like me, Charlie answered. You’ve reached out. You want to help.