Page 10 of Magic & Secrets
“I will show you where the child is hidden,” I told the woman and left Enya and Mina to burn the Bane Shifters’ hearts.
As the sun broke across the horizon, the settlers separated their dead from the enemy before dealing with the bodies. Rebekka and her mother thanked me and offered supplies.
“Can I use one of your handheld radios to call my overseer?” I asked rather than take their meager food supplies.
Soon, my sisters and I sat in a circle on the hill near where our horses grazed. Rather than conjuring a standard communication spell, I used the radio to contact the Citadel. A few minutes after we requested to speak to Gregory, the Warlock’s voice came over the handheld.
“Why are you communicating this way?” Gregory demanded. “Use your magic.”
“The strange magic in this location kept us from reaching you,” Mina casually lied.
We had agreed to this falsehood before contacting Gregory. Using our magic would allow the Warlock to enter our minds. I had no intention of slipping up and revealing Roque to the Gathering.
“We have destroyed the Chauve Vampyre coterie and helped the humans reclaim their settlement,” Enya said before Gregory could complain more about the radio communication. “Mina has located a pride of Lion Shifters involved in the attack. Should we hunt them?”
Unable to hide his irritation, Gregory muttered, “Are you truly asking me if you should complete your mission?”
“The Bane Shifters are currently hunting in the same direction we would be traveling,” Mina said in a tranquil voice, despite her growing frustration at our overseer. “We were told to avoid them.”
Gregory exhaled softly, considering our fates. “The Murade haven’t gotten wind of the attack on Haven Junction yet. Your movements in the Territories won’t draw the attention of our enemies.”
“And what of the Bane Shifters?”
“Avoid them. Track these Lion Shifters. If the Bane Shifters crowd your location, back off and allow them the kill. Keep your distance but use them to track the other factions behind the attack.”
“The Chauve Vampyres carried Bane Shifter hearts,” Enya stated.
Gregory’s tone was filled with indifference. “Likely trophies.”
“Or sacrifices,” I said, instantly wishing I had kept my mouth shut.
Knowing Chauve Vampyres worshipped no deities, Gregory quickly demanded, “Sacrifices to what?”
“One of the Chauve Vampyres was twisted by magic,” Enya interjected when I remained silent. “This creature seemed to be the coterie’s leader. It was larger and stronger. There might be more of them somewhere. The other Chauve Vampyres might worship them.”
The Warlock considered her words while I smiled at Enya for swooping in to help me. She mimicked my gesture. Mina watched us, still irritated.
In my head, I whispered her name like I did when we were younglings. Sensing me soothing her, Mina finally smiled.
“Interesting concept, Enya. The Gathering will consider this new Chauve Vampyre threat. You three remain focused on your targets. The sooner they are disposed of, the quicker the Bane Shifters will return to their mountain.”
Once Gregory disconnected from the call, Mina turned off the radio and covered it with her pack as if paranoid we might be overheard.
“The Gathering expects us to track Bane Shifters?” Mina hissed. “They’ve gone mad.”
“They expect us to die passively at the hands of our enemies,” Enya said, sounding tired. “If they thought we’d use ancient magic, they wouldn’t put us in the position to face Bane Shifters.”
I recalled Roque standing at the foot of Mt. Elysium. He felt right in that picturesque location. The image of him hunting within the Territories seemed unnatural. Roque belonged on his mountain.
“We will hunt the Lion Shifters,” I said, standing up and brushing off my pack. “If our targets bring us to the Bane Shifters, we don’t need to fight or flee. After all, no one knows what we are. Why wouldn’t the Bane Shifters believe we’re Elven half-breeds?”
My sisters considered our cover story as they stood and eyed me. “They might be so blood thirsty, it won’t matter what they think we are,” Enya pointed out.
Mina scowled harshly. “I refuse to die without a fight.”
I tried to envision myself battling Roque. I pictured my swords swinging toward him. I could even imagine drawingblood from the beautiful male. Taking his life would be out of the question. The very thought left me lightheaded.
“It won’t come to that,” I insisted. “Bane Shifters are big, strong warriors with big, strong egos. They’ll never view us as a threat. We might even aid them in eliminating the Territories of this new menace. We can return to the Citadel as heroes.”
