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She lifted her chin and one strongly arched brow. “Fine. You ready, Mastyr?”
“You don’t have to be sarcastic.”
“Oh, yes, I think I do.” She didn’t wait for him to argue further, but gripped his arm tighter and teleported him to the far southern edge of the realm where the Tannisford fir forest met the Sea of Vermed. The constant force of the waves had created a string of caves filled with white sand and blue water. It was a favorite place for swimming and for troll teens at night, a place to let romance take its course.
~ ~ ~
Rage still had hold of Stone, but he took a few seconds to channel all that frustration and anger into the sight of three wraith-pairs circling above the wide hole that led down into the most central grotto. The wraiths were up to their usual scare-the-shit-out-of-the-enemy with their loud, piercing shrieks.
What’s the strategy? Do you want me to teleport as many of the trolls out as I can?
He turned to her, frowning. That’s right. You can do that now. Good. We’ve got new options.
Her brown eyes glittered, a sure sign she was ready to take on the mission. He could at least appreciate this part of her.
Tell you what, he said. Teleport to different locations around the edge of the forest first. See if we’ve got any other wraith-pairs in the area. We don’t want to be outflanked.
Got it. She vanished instantly.
He remained in the shadows of the coastal firs. While she searched the area, he pathed with Harris letting him know the location and the nature of the attack. Harris happened to be checking out a rogue attack a few miles to the east with a team of three and he knew of another squad only ten minutes away.
Harris pathed, A sighting of three rogue wraith-pairs came in about twenty minutes ago. But they left the area. Looks like they’ve headed to the grotto.
Sounds like it. Aralynn’s on recon, scouting the area, but I’ve got a visual on the Invictus. Shit. One of the pairs just dropped down into the grotto.
Go get ‘em, Mastyr. We’ll be there shortly.
Rosamunde returned quickly with a frightened troll kid in tow.
Stone spoke in a low voice. “Son, listen. I know you’re scared, but I need you to hold it together. My Guardsmen are on the way. But Mistress Aralynn and I have to know the lay-out. How many of you kids are down in the grotto and did you see more than just these three wraith-pairs?”
The troll was shaking. “We shouldn’t have come here tonight. My parents will kill me when they find out.”
Rosamunde put her hand on his shoulder and Stone felt her fae vibrations kick in. “Calm down, Sweetheart. Mastyr Stone and I can get everyone out safely, if you’ll tell us what we need to know. Look at me.”
As soon as the boy met her gaze, Stone watched him fall under Rosamunde’s fae thrall. The kid dragged in a deep breath, visibly relaxed and in a few words detailed the situation: Only three wraith-pairs, but there were nine troll teens below, ten in all counting the boy. Several swam to the farthest caves but would end up trapped once the Invictus got into the grotto.
Rosamunde told him to sit down and to stay put.
The troll dropped to his ass, his three forehead ridge rolls tight. He had tears in his eyes. “I will. I promise.”
Rosamunde had calmed him with her faeness and Stone felt certain he wouldn’t have to worry about this kid doing anything stupid.
Rosamunde turned toward him. She even smiled. How do you want to do this, Mastyr?
For a split second, he thought she might be flirting. Then he realized she was as she’d always been: Game for battle, as was he.
He repressed the urge to smile in response. You got your dagger?
She drew it from its sheath in a soft rasp. Let’s go.
Follow me. Stone levitated just a few inches above the forest floor. It was an unusual stretch of land, a narrow isthmus not more than thirty yards wide with the Sea of Vermed crashing against both fairly short cliffs. That trees had grown in the narrow space indicated the density of the land above what had to be a solid stone base below.
When he reached the edge of the forest, he pathed to Aralynn. I want you to come out above the uppermost pair and take out the wraith. She’s bonded to a troll which will make it easier to disable this pair. I’ll swing around then come in from the north. And remember, if you’re in danger—
I know: Get the hell out of there.
Good. Let’s roll.
