Page 13 of Bound In Stone, Claimed In Fire

“How far did you travel before you found that temple?” I ask abruptly, hoping to distract myself from spiraling thoughts.

Sariah glances at me, brow creased. “I’d been running for weeks, ducking between abandoned settlements and old watchtowers. Prazh’s terrain isn’t too welcoming, which worked in my favor. My pursuers didn’t expect me to survive in these mountains for long.” She gives a mirthless chuckle. “Neither did I, honestly.”

I nod, imagining her stumbling upon the half-buried ruin purely by chance. Fate has a twisted sense of humor. “The temple was once a gargoyle stronghold, centuries past,” I offer, though my recollection is hazy. “It might have been converted by purna at some point, or at least partly. The wards you tampered with were a collaboration of sorts—my magic, layering upon old purna glyphs.”

She considers that, stepping carefully over a jutting rock. “That explains why the incantations seemed half-familiar. I recognized some purna script, but there were entire sections written in runes I couldn’t decipher.” She sighs. “I wish I’d known what I was touching, but desperation clouds judgment.”

A flicker of understanding passes through me.Didn’t I also act out of desperation when I locked myself away with Nerezza?I keep that thought to myself. The path narrows ahead, forcing us to walk single-file. My focus shifts to picking a way through loose stones. The tether hums whenever she lags behind, a subtle pull urging us to remain close.

The hours slip by under the relentless sun. We cross precarious ridgelines, weave around jagged crags, and descend slopes that threaten to spill us into deep ravines. Occasionally, we spot a flash of movement far below—maybe wild goats or other hardy creatures adapted to Prazh’s harsh environment. Each time we see signs of life, Sariah’s eyes light with a flicker of hope. She’s probably thinking about hunting for food, though I suspect chasing agile goats over cliff faces isn’t the best plan.

Midafternoon finds us pausing near a small stream trickling through a rocky cleft. We kneel to drink our fill, the icy water a shock to my system. My thirst barely abates, but it’s refreshing to have any relief from the dryness of the altitude. Sariah cups her hands, water dripping from her chin as she sips. She looks up, blinking at me, droplets clinging to her lashes.

“You know, you never told me where gargoyles originated,” she says, as if the question has been gnawing at her. “I mean, I know the old stories of how your kind and the purna fought vicious battles. But there’s not much in our archives about your creation. My coven mostly taught that you were a plague conjured by dark elves or something equally ridiculous.”

I let out a low snort. “That’s nonsense. Though ironically, gargoyles were once dark elves. The first generation, at least.” I pause, recalling the moment I realized the truth. Over time, the knowledge was buried, and gargoyles shaped their own identity. “A twisted magic turned them into what we are now. But we thrived, spread across different regions. Some remained hidden in the mountains, others in fortress-cities. We believed we were chosen to bring balance.” A bitter note enters my voice. “The rest of Protheka never quite agreed with that assessment.”

She exhales softly, eyes reflecting a hint of sympathy. “That explains why your architecture has certain similarities to old elven stonework. Our coven records mentioned that, but we always chalked it up to… well, coincidence.” Her gaze lingers on me, curiosity woven with caution. “You’re far from the monstrous beasts we pictured.”

A sardonic grin pulls at my mouth. “We can be monstrous. Many gargoyles treat weaker races with indifference, or worse. We have a vicious reputation for a reason.”

She looks away, perhaps uncertain how to respond. “Still,” she murmurs after a moment, “you don’t seem all that vicious.” The statement carries a hesitant gratitude, as though acknowledging that I haven’t mauled her for her mistakes.

I straighten, ignoring the strange warmth that flickers inside me at her observation. “Drink up,” I say. “We should keep moving before nightfall.” I move a few steps away, tension crawling up my spine. The tether vibrates, a subtle reminder that I can’t get too far.Damn this bond.I remain close enough that she can feel safe, but not so close as to encourage idle chatter.

She rises, brushing water droplets from her lips. “We should find a place to rest soon. Another cave, perhaps?”

I nod curtly. “We’ll search the lower valleys. The terrain should flatten enough for a campsite.”

We set off again. My mind churns with old memories that surge unbidden: Nerezza’s laugh, the swirl of her hair, her voice when she promised she’d save my people. Guilt gnaws at my gut. If I’d been stronger, if I’d seen the darkness creeping into her heart sooner, could I have stopped it?Or was I always doomed to lose her?The path we walk now echoes the one I traveled with her, long ago—though that journey ended in heartbreak.

A sudden slip of Sariah’s foot snaps me back to the present. She yelps, sliding down a short embankment of loose gravel. Without thinking, I lunge, my arm shooting out to grab her. My claws clamp around her wrist, preventing a painful tumble. The tether flares, intensifying for a heartbeat, sending heat rushing through my chest.

“Careful,” I growl, pulling her upright. “You’d break a leg in that ravine.”

She breathes hard, leaning into my grasp for a moment. Her eyes dart to where the ground drops off. If she’d fallen, it might have been a nasty injury. Slowly, she lifts her gaze to meet mine, cheeks flushed. “Thank you,” she says, voice shaky.

I nod once, swallowing the jumble of emotions. “Try not to die. We have a curse to break, remember?” My words come out harsher than I want to, as if deflecting the sudden closeness. The memory of her pulse fluttering under my fingers unsettles me.

She slides her wrist from my hand. “Right,” she whispers, averting her gaze as she regains her footing. The tether’s energy gradually settles, but my skin still tingles where we touched.

We continue on, more cautious now. The afternoon wanes, throwing elongated shadows across the mountain ridges. Eventually, the path dips into a rugged valley filled with irregular stones and a few scraggly evergreens. I spot what looks like a natural alcove in the rock face ahead. Approaching warily, we discover a shallow cave about a dozen paces wide, partially protected from the wind by a protruding ledge.

“This should do,” I remark, stepping inside. My voice echoes faintly. The ceiling is high enough that I can stand comfortably without scraping my horns or wings. The stone floor is relatively even, with scattered pebbles and minimal debris.

Sariah examines the entrance, eyes narrowed. “It’s not too deep,” she says, “but it’ll keep us safe from the wind tonight.”

I grunt in agreement, setting down the branches I carried. It isn’t much, but it’ll last for a small fire. As twilight creeps in, the temperature drops. I feel the chill keenly, though gargoyles are more resilient than humans. Sariah stands near the cave mouth, arms wrapped around herself, eyes scanning the valley. The wind ruffles her hair, sending a few silver-streaked strands across her face.

I exhale slowly, stepping behind her. “He won’t appear out of nowhere,” I say, referencing Drayveth.

She startles slightly, turning to face me. “You can’t be sure. He’s cunning, and he can track my signature if he’s close enough.”

I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “This valley is broad. We’d spot a group approaching from a distance. Even if they traveled at night, the noise alone would give them away.” I hesitate, noticing the tension in her shoulders. “We’ll keep watch in turns, as before. No point in letting our guard down.”

She nods, expression strained. “Right. I’ll take first watch this time.” A small flash of determination glints in her eyes.

I regard her for a moment, assessing her endurance. She looks exhausted, but I suspect letting her stand guard might grant her a sense of control. “Fine,” I concede. “But you’ll wake me if anything seems off. No playing hero alone.”

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