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Mordred was fairly certain that Zoe would not murder Galahad. But only fairly. Time, and the Crystal, could change many things.
There was not much thought or energy he could spare for Galahad and Lancelot. He had a demon of his own to fight.
Urging his horse faster, he rode into the glade. It had only been a few hours since he had confronted Gwendolyn in her fugue state after killing the soldier. They could not have gone far. But if Grinn was smart, he would know that the fledgling fire elemental was now too much of a risk to be worth hauling about as an ally or prisoner.
Questions flooded him.
Were they in cahoots? Was it Grinn who inspired Gwen to betray him? Why did the demon keep her about, when he was known for hating the company of all others? What was his plan? How did she play into the demon’s lying low?
Soon, he would have his answers. If the demon did not kill him, of course. Their last clash upon the battlefield had ended with Grinn trapped within the Iron Crystal.
This time, he would have the demon’s head. Damn the council of elementals to the pits, he cared nothing for their opinion on the matter. Grinn would die.
No matter the cost.
* * *
Gwen was getting more and more nervous as they rode. She kept glancing behind them on the road, expecting to see horses or a dragon bearing down on them at any point. It was only a matter of time.
Grinn was still out cold, though it looked like the bleeding was slowing down. She shared in his pain. Literally. She kept expecting to look down and see blood. He’d live because she did—but if Mordred found them? Who could say how long that’d last.
When they reached a field, the grass cut low, she finally gave in to what she knew she had to do. She sighed. If they stuck together, Mordred would catch all of them. And once he realized he couldn’t kill the demon, but thatshegot hurt every timehegot hurt? That’d ensure that Mordred would kill her.
If Doc stayed behind on his own, Mordred wouldn’t stop.
If Grinn stayed behind? She looked at the curled-up, very injured cat. She knew he was really a demon and didn’t really deserve her help, but she had a very hard time leaving his unconscious body on the road. It just didn’t feel right.
And besides, it wouldn’t stop the fact that her heart was pulling her back toward the Prince in Iron. Even if it was going to get her into a lot of trouble. “Stop the cart. I…”
“I know, kid.” The wizard pulled the cart to a stop. “They’ll be here in about half an hour.”
“Could’ve said that.” She glared.
“You looked like you were going to crap yourself enough already.” He smirked. “Your plan’s risky. If he kills you, Grinn’s still too weak to bounce back.”
She sighed. “Then I guess there’s no more demon problem, huh.” She jumped off the cart. Eod lifted his head, watching her with that expression that said the dog had already figured out way more than what he had any business understanding. When she walked around to the back of the cart, the big hound pawed at her. It broke her heart.
“Take the damn dog with you, for fuck’s sake.” Doc sighed, exasperated. “He isn’t going to hurt his own mutt.” He clicked his tongue at Eod, who jumped off the cart, tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth like they were about to go for a romp in the park.
“You don’t know that.”
“I know Grinn has a much higher likelihood of eating that dog for lunch than the Iron Prince does of raising a hand to him.” The wizard looked back at the wounded cat. “I can handle this prick on my own.”
“How do you know you’ll be safe with him?”
The mage barked a laugh. “Oh, you sweet spring child.” He cracked the reins of the cart. “We’ll see you soon enough! And you won’t be happy when you do!”
With a sigh, she looked down at Eod and patted him on the head. “Well, here we go, I guess. Time to be bait.” Either she would slow Mordred down enough that Doc and Grinn could get away, or Mordred would rip her head off and unwittingly kill two elementals with one stone.
Unfurling her wings, Gwen sat on a stump by the side of the road and waited for the sound of hooves or the creak of a giant metal dragon.
Doc was right. They hadn’t been far away. Three men in full armor rode from the woods atop metal horses. There was no mistaking the one in the lead. “Stay here, good boy.” She patted Eod on the head. He whimpered but did as she asked as she stood and went to the center of the road.
The last thing she wanted to do was get Eod hurt.
Taking in a breath, she held it for a second, and let it out, igniting into flames as she did.
Time to face the music.
