Black wizards - Douglas Niles [129]
"Pardon me – I seem to have the wrong room." Concern etched his brow as he looked at her face. "Are you all right?"
He stepped into the doorway, and she shrank against her pillow in fright. "Yes – I am! Please go!"
Kryphon toyed with the idea of killing her immediately, but laughed off the notion. Even if this was a druid, she was certainly no threat in her battered state. He decided that she would serve him in another, far more satisfying way.
Then the door next to hers opened and two men stepped into the corridor. They looked pointedly at the wizard, still standing in the doorway of the woman's room, before they went to the stairs.
"Excuse me." Kryphon bowed to Robyn and backed out of the room, closing the door. He cursed the men who had seen him, for he could not afford to be observed – especially if something untoward were to happen to the druid.
Yet, Kryphon thought, I can be patient. He was certain that the druid would be here for awhile.
She would keep until tomorrow.
* * * * *
Black-cloaked figures whirled around her, striking with needle-sharp beaks and raking claws. Robyn felt her skin split as it was torn from her body. She felt herself dying.
And then she awakened, soaking wet, from the nightmare. At first, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then, abruptly, her door swung open. She gasped at the tall, bearded man who stood peering in at her. She was not just startled, she was afraid. For she was certain that Vaughn Burne had locked the door earlier when he had left.
The man said something; she answered, and all the while horror was building in her chest. She wanted to scream. He looked ordinary enough at first glance, but she saw something sinister in his eyes.
Then he closed the door and was gone. She sprang from the bed and turned the latch, making sure the portal was secured. Then she darted back to the security of her covers.
It took her many minutes of meditation to relax. She called upon the power of the Earthmother to soothe her, but that power was faint. Finally she was able to push the tension from her body, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
She was unaware of the invisible sprite sitting upon her headboard. Yazilliclick had been delighted to see her awaken, but he did not want to disturb her. He watched over her alertly as she went back to sleep.
* * * * *
"Did you find her?" Doric asked.
Kryphon shrugged. "I found an old hag, barely alive, and not worth the trouble of killing. It's the cleric we must find!"
The slender woman nodded, disappointed. Then she had a sudden thought. She sat up and examined the sorcerer's face surreptitiously.
He had lied to her!
She knew now with certainty that Kryphon was much more interested in the druid than he was admitting. Had he killed her already, cheating Doric of that pleasure? No, she decided, he looked preoccupied, like he wanted something. Like he wanted… the druid!
The knowledge exploded within her in a wave of jealousy, and she almost drew her dagger and thrust it through Kry-phon's heart before she regained her self-control.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" asked the sorcerer.
"I feel… ill," she replied, trying to mask her rage. She would plunge her dagger into a heart, but it would not be Kryphon's.
"Would you like to come with me?" he asked.
"Can you seek the cleric without me?" she inquired coyly.
"Certainly! My purpose tonight is to learn. I will come and get you before it is time to act."
"Very well. I will await you here." Ignoring his look of annoyance, she squeezed his leg. It gave her a little thrill of pleasure to deceive him.
"I shall seek his chapel. Sooner or later he will have to go back there," Kryphon said. Then he was gone.
Doric waited for several minutes, which was as long as she could bear. Then she rose and left the inn, entering the darkened street with anticipation of blood. She fingered her slender dagger and walked quickly toward the back of the Black Oak Inn.
* * * * *
"Lord O'Roarke would like you to join him in the dining room," said the guard to