Chapter Seventy-five

“You were going to let him attack those poor girls. I wasn’t about to let you harm them. Kill me or not, he’ll never get his deviant hands on them.”

Gregron yelled out, “Chirbon, now!” Pulling Damion’s sword, he pressed it against Claven’s throat, backing him away from Damion who was writhing on the floor. His body moved in strange ways as he let out the worst blood curdling screams-or roars-Gregron had ever heard. “What the hell did you do to him!” Gregron yelled at the fairy who stared as the others grabbed Reniza and Jaquisis, pulling them from their entertainment at sword point and holding them there. Though the second dwarf disappeared. It was Cala, Gareth, and Chirbon. “Whoever’s free, to me, I have to go get the other women lose.” It was Gareth who answered the call. Once Claven was under Gareth’s sword, Gregron got in her face. “Make it stop!”

“I... I can’t!” Tears started streaming down her face. “What are you doing?”

“We came here to see if we could rescue you and the Chiaro’s daughter! The moment Damion heard Gareth’s wife was here, pregnant no less, we knew we had to do something! Without him, we likely won’t make it out of the damn palace! Now use your magic and free him from whatever—”

“I can’t!” She screamed back, tears flowing. “It was an actual spell. A charm. His mind is lost, his magic will be mine in a few minutes, we’ll have to work with what we have.” Her shoulders slumped as Gregron moved through the room.

“Where’s the key!?” Gregron came storming back, grabbing Claven by the hair and pulling him up.

“I should have known no one would find you more attractive than me.” Claven spit in his face.

Gregron brought his leg back, but a hand grabbed his ankle. “NO!” Damion screamed, pulling at him. “Armistice.” He growled, rolling to his side. Gregron got down on his hands and knees beside Damion. “Hurry and go. No. Time.”

“Right. Anyone know where the key is kept?”

A woman hanging from the wall who looked an awful lot like one the Chiaro folk called out, “It’s usually in his robes! Likely a secret pocket inside the left breast.” Gregron nodded, grabbing the robes. He sighed, holding the key tightly in his hand. He ran in, staring with the Chiaro. “Do you have an extra sword? I’m a warrior and can help fight.” Gregron nodded, handing her Damion’s sword once she was down.

“I don’t see Mary!” Gareth called, he was losing his focus as he looked through the sea of women.

“I’ll find her, pay attention!” Gregron called back. “Warrior.”

“My name is Cherbet, Master.”

“Are you the daughter of Chief Chirbon?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know where the pregnant girl, Mary is?”

“I do. You rescue them, I’ll get her.” She moved to another secret room, pulling open a movable wall.

“Hey, Cherbet!” Gregron pulled his shirt off and tossed it at her. Most of these women were naked as the day they were born, not dressed like slaves. She nodded, but didn’t put it on. Instead, she wrapped it around whoever she’d found behind the wall.

“She’s too weak, she’s not going to be able to run.”

Gareth called out, “Mary! Love! I’m here.” Her head came up, her green eyes searching for her husband. “I’ll carry her the whole way if I have to.”

“No.” Gregron shook his head, going to Gareth as the slaves gathered round. “I can’t fight. It’s too much of a risk for the Kingdom of Thambair. I’ll carry her. I’ll take center for better protection, we won’t take a chance she could be hurt. Cherbet, Chiron, one of you at the front, the other at the back. Gareth, Cala, you’ll take right and left. Fairy!”

“Aveline.” She sneered.

“Fairy, you’re the reason we might not make it, so you keep center with me. Use your magic to keep the soldiers and Council off us. I expect you to take his place.” Gregron said angrily pointing at Damion, who’s screams only continued to grow worse. “I thought you said you’d have control of his magic soon. When is that going to happen?”

“It already should have. I don’t know… it’s never not worked before. But…” she worried her lip. Gregron threw his hands up then stared at her, waiting for an answer. “Well, it’s said if the target is truly in love with another, the spell will break, and-well, kill them.”

“No.” Gregron whispered. They were out of time. At some point, the guards would catch on to what was happening. “Damion.” Gregron dropped down again. His eyes were completely black, the black spiderwebs started to wind their way up his arms and neck. Further now than Gregron had seen before.

Damion’s arm shot out hitting him in the center of the chest. As he fell back, Damion got to his hands and knees and let out a god awful roar. “What is that!” Gareth yelled. Looking over. Damion’s skin started to boil, and soon it was ink black from fingertip to elbow.

“Nothing good! Let’s go!” Reaching down, Gregron tried to get the coursebine pendant out of Damion’s hair, but just couldn’t. Eventually, he grabbed his danger, cutting it away with half of Damion’s hair. “I’m sorry.” He whispered, standing he went to Mary, wrapping her in Claven’s robes, he pulled her into his chest. “Here, keep them in the sheath until it’s time, only use them if you must.” Handing her six weighted throwing knives. “Head toward the Tower of Mirrors. We need to go to Thambair. If they follow us, there’s a whole army standing at the ready.”

Aveline turned pale. “You came here, knowing you were going to do this?”

“Yes. And you’re the one who will be explaining to Princess Volencia why her beloved couldn’t come home.” Gregron glared at her, but this was no time to fight. “Everyone, listen well. We’re going to get out of here. Chirbon, you know the way?” He grunted nodding, putting himself at the fore.

“If I leave the front, it will be to protect the rest of you, who will take lead?” Chirbon looked at the others.

“I will,” Gareth agreed. “I know the way. How many mirrors up?”

“Five.” Gregron answered automatically. “You all hear that? Worse comes to worse, get to the mirrors, the Princess in Thambair will help all of you. She’s waiting for us even now!”

“You’ve broken the Armistace. I will come for you.” Claven growled.

“I’ve broken nothing. Not one of Volencia’s folk have threatened you today. We do not wage war. These are not my men, and they are not of Thambair. Holding their wives and daughters hostage? This was your own doing. We’re only here with support. Besides, you had Damion in your hairs all day.”

“Damion doesn’t count you idiot.” Claven said, smiling. “He’ll die here, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“Then he gave his life to them. There’s no better heroism than that.” Gregron looked at Damion. Something told him he wasn’t going to be dead and gone. No. Something much worse was coming, and they needed to move. Now.