The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [144]
"No," Giogi whispered.
"Don't waste vour breath" Flattery said. "I'm the only one who can give her what she wants. Isn't that right, Catling?" the wizard asked, yanking on the mage's hair.
"Yes," Cat whispered, keeping her eyes down.
Flattery pulled at the sack Cat carried. "A little present for me, Cat? Something by way of an apology, you witch? Looted from Drone's lab, I take it."
Cat clutched the sack for only a moment, then released it. The wizard chuckled and tied it to his belt.
"Now, Giogioni, vou will give me the spur this minute," Flattery growled, rising to his feet and taking up the sphere holding Amberlee, "or I will feed this brat to a wraith. Then you will give me the spur or your aunt will be next. Or maybe Cat. Try to change your shape, and they will be dead before you can cross the room."
Giogi drew the spur from his boot. "I want to be sure my aunt is well. Send her to my side, and I will give her the spur to take to you."
Flattery snorted. He descended the dais and shoved Dorath with his foot. "Go," he ordered her.
Dorath rose slowly to her feet and crossed the room. The wrinkles on her face had doubled, and she looked very feeble. She stopped before Giogi and raised her hand to stroke his face.
"Don't be a fool," Dorath whispered, mustering as much of her grandaunt tones as she dared. "He can't be trusted. Flee now. Once he has the spur, no spells will affect him. None of us will leave here alive."
"I can't leave you," Giogi said, pressing the spur into her gnarled hands.
"I won't give him this," she hissed.
Giogi pushed his aunt's hand down by her thigh. "Carry it to him like this. When you reach him, think of the dream," he whispered.
"No," Dorath said, her eyes widening with fear.
"Yes. Do as I say," Giogi commanded through clenched teeth.
"I won't become that beast," Aunt Dorath whispered.
"Stop being a foolish old woman," Giogi said. "Be a hero, like your mother. It's our only chance. Amberlee's only chance."
"Stop whispering!" Flattery shouted. "Bring the spur to me, now!"
"Don't keep him waiting, Aunt Dorath," Giogi said. "Do it."
With her jaw still jutting out stubbornly, Dorath turned around. Her gnarled hands trembled with fear. She shuffled toward Flattery, hunched over with age.
Flattery set Amberlee down and strode toward Dorath, holding his hand out impatiently. Horrified, Giogi watched Dorath hold her hand out to the wizard. Flattery snatched the prize she offered.
Sweet Selune, Giogi thought, she was too frightened. We're all doomed.
Flattery turned his back on her, muttering casually, "Kill them."
Misty black wraiths and corpse-gray wights began closing in on Giogi and Dorath at once.
21
The Final Battle
Giogi drew his foil and rushed forward, shouting, "Stay back!" In his left hand the finder's stone flared with a light as bright as day. The undead backed away from the light, snarling and retreating to the back of the audience chamber.
Flattery whirled around suddenly. "What is this?" he shouted. He hurled at Dorath's head the object she'd just handed him. The old woman's shape had already begun to blur and grow, however, and the wooden darning sock bounced off her red wyvern scales and clattered harmlessly to the floor.
Without a second's hesitation Dorath smashed her stinging tail down on the wizard, catching him in the shoulder with its venomous tip. As Flattery crumbled to the ground screaming, Dorath snatched up in her mouth the globe that held Amber-lee, and whirled around.
"Run, Aunt Dorath!" Giogi shouted.
The wyvern plodded from the audience chamber as fast as its two birdlike legs could carry it, ducking to clear the door frame.
From the top of the dais Giogi saw Cat pulling out a scroll she'd concealed in the sash she wore. Giogi rushed toward Flattery, but one undead, a dark shadow unafraid of the light, intercepted the nobleman.
Giogi drew back. He still couldn't remember the entire rhyme about the undead, but the line "A shadow's touch saps the strength" came to him in a flash. He could hear