She cleared her throat, ignoring the pointed looks from a few of the members who made obvious gestures of impatience due to her tardiness. Rather than acknowledge this, she took note of which members needed to be taught a lesson on who was running the show here. She started right in on her speech. “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” she began, and then paused a moment to glare at one of the men who made a rude comment about having hurried to get here and then ended up sitting around for half an hour for her to arrive. She did not rebuke the comment, deciding instead to simply continue on with her information. “I have been made aware by my extensive network of informants - details of which does not concern you - that we have had a traitor in our midst. In fact, right under our very noses.”
She paused again for dramatic effect, amused when several of the members glanced around as if expecting her to point the finger at one of them. She let them mutter amongst themselves for just a moment before enlightening their pitiful attempts to divine who it could be. “Lord Gryffon, who until recently I so charitably gave house to has been found to be a traitor of this country and, in fact, a spy from Treymayne!” Her mouth twitched into the tiniest of smiles at the outburst of reaction through the Council. Gryffon had been well-liked, though why Jezebel could never figure out.
She caught her thoughts wandering as to why he was so liked when he spent so much time talking to people that weren’t worth the effort, and she pulled them back to the meeting. The cacophony had died down, and they were once again looking to her for direction. As it should be, she thought smugly. “I have already dispatched one of my own guard troops to bring this traitor to justice. It will be my extreme pleasure as my first act of an official Council member to carry out an inquisition into his clandestine behavior.” She smiled at them all and continued, “Also, I have reason to believe that he may have a co-conspirator in his spy dealings. One of my own maids, a girl named Layna. It shames me to think that I had traitors under my own roof and therefore played a part, though indirectly, in exacerbating our spy troubles. I suppose that's what I get for being so generous and so trusting. Now that I have discovered this betrayal, as a concerned Council member and a loyal citizen, I would be remiss to ignore the alarmingly real and substantial evidence against them which could result in dire consequences for our country if their actions are not forcibly and immediately ceased.”
The Council members broke into a flurry of voices once more, and one member spoke up with a tone that did not properly display his subordination to her. She narrowed her eyes a trifle.
“Lady Jezebel, we are all aware of your current problems with Lord Gryffon and the girl Layna.” Jezebel's eyes narrowed further, becoming mere slits, and she inadvertently let out a hissed breath as he continued. “As Council members, we are responsible for the safety and proper maintenance of the country. Not carrying out your personal vendettas.”
Jezebel fought hard to control the anger that threatened to boil over at his words, and in her mind she burst him apart with fire. Who has been spreading that kind of talk? She silently raged, and made a mental note to take a good look at the so-called friends she had been speaking with lately. I may just need to find a new circle if this is the way my current friends are going to treat me.
She took a deep breath and reminded herself that convincing them was only a formality as she was the one of real importance. “I have here,” she responded as sweetly as she could manage through clenched teeth, and patted the bulging folder before her, “reports of Gryffon carrying out secret meetings with known operatives, being present for no apparent reason at a known drop point, and there is also this tiny little detail that no one in the town he claims to have come from has heard of him. Is that enough proof for you?”
The man gave her a grudging nod but impudently insisted, “We will want to see these reports for ourselves and have time to have our own people look into it before we could possibly decide on the proper action to take. He is a noble after all.”
The rest of the Council members were nodding their heads in agreement, and Jezebel again had to douse her anger. I really must find a way to work around having the whole Council agree on actions that I should be able to just command at will. She was glad now that she had had Devon take it into his own hands to bring Gryffon in rather than having left it to the authorities.
“Fine,” she told them, trying her best to sound nonchalant. “While you all are talking about taking care of the country, I will put my people to work on actually locating the fugitives and really taking care of it. And if anyone would like to hear my personal accounts of the illicit contact that Layna had as well, I would be happy to tell you. I saw her with my own eyes speaking with him in low voices over pieces of paper that I later noticed to be suspiciously like delicate documents that I had had on my desk while she was cleaning, which would suddenly show up in a different spot than where I left them.” She wracked her brain for another piece of seemingly damning evidence that she could use against the girl, but couldn't on the spot think of another so she said, “Well, the list goes on and on, like I said, I trusted them and only now am beginning to put the pieces together to find what was going on right under my own roof.”
The Council discussed this revelation for some time while Jezebel took a seat and tuned them out. Their insignificant talk did not concern her. Eventually their dull brains would come around to the realization that she was right. She let her thoughts drift instead to what she would do with Gryffon once Devon found him. It would be wonderful to get that little whore charged as well, but even bringing her in for questioning Jezebel had high hopes that perhaps she'd simply keel over from fright – like they said happened to sheep when they were being chased by wolves. She remembered her face during the short little trial over the book incident. She shifted her weight slightly in her chair to cover the grin that was threatening to spread over her face as she thought of it. She did so hope that he was able to find the girl too. But Gryffon...oh, Gryffon would be such a treat…
CHAPTER 17
Layna and Gryffon waved good-bye to Megan and Carolyn as they disappeared into the swarm of ladies that had converged on them the moment they stepped into the Golden Girl's lobby for their happy home-coming.
The two had barely stepped back onto the street, when suddenly a group of men separated themselves from the crowd, intent on her and Gryffon. Layna sent a frightened look towards Gryffon and he pushed her roughly into an alley.
“Run!” he commanded. She shook her head at him, silently begging him not to ask her to leave him. “Go!” He gave her a stern look. She gave in, turning on her heel and fleeing. Tears sprung to her eyes.
Shouts rang out behind her as they came upon Gryffon. “Get him, men!” one of them yelled. “He's the one all right.” Layna stopped running and turned, horrified at the scene she saw behind her.
A man was fighting with Gryffon, who held him by the hair and was landing blow after blow on his bloodied face. Though Gryffon had the upper hand, there were too many of them. Layna raised her arm towards him in a futile attempt to stave off the blow she saw coming from behind, but her warning shout was lost amongst the din.
Gryffon fell and was roughly kicked in the side by the man who he had been punching. The man spat out a mouthful of blood onto Gryffon's now-limp form.
Before she could sprint back to his side, they had him slung over a horse. They rode off with him into the crowd, scattering people as they went.
“No, no, no,” moaned Layna as she pushed her way through the people who stood around, looking dumbly between her and the wake of the retreating horse. She glared around at them, and cried out, “Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't anybody stop them?!” People simply watched her outburst, or hurried off to avoid being caught in the scuffle.
She raced through the streets, making her way to Mila's house. Her breath came in ragged bursts as she sprinted, the cool air biting at her lungs. She came up short as she rounded a corner and saw that there were several men
standing outside the house she shared with Mila.
She whipped back around the side of the building and plastered herself against it, breathing hard. Quietly she made her way around the back, and carefully climbed up the side of the house. She cracked open a window after peeking inside.
“All's clear up here,” said a voice at the top of the stairs, and heavy steps descended. Layna held her breath until the boots thudded onto the stone floor at the bottom, and then she heaved herself through the window. She tiptoed to the doorway so she could hear what was being said downstairs.
“Where is she?” demanded another voice, and Layna shuddered as she recognized it as Devon's.
Mila's calm voice answered sweetly. “Why, I don't believe I know who you're talking about.” Layna heard a loud thwack of flesh against flesh and a faint grunt.
“Oh I think you do know, Mila,” said Devon. “And I think you're going to tell me because you know what will happen if you don't.”
Layna heard Mila spit at the man and inwardly cringed for her.
Devon paused, obviously angered by the insult as he growled, “You shouldn't have done that.”
Layna heard a dull thud, a sharp intake of breath, and then a moan as something heavy hit the floor.
Devon barked an order to the rest of the men, “Burn it. Burn it to the ground.”
Footsteps banged into motion and Layna heard furniture being overturned and liquid splashing on the ground before the front door slammed shut. Layna listened carefully for any sounds that anyone was still inside, but heard only the faint crackling of a fire.
She carefully made her way to the stairs and peered down them, scanning the room for the men. Her breath caught in her throat as she leaned farther out and caught sight of a foot lying sideways on the ground.
As she bounded down the stairs towards Mila's sprawled body, she broke into tears. The woman lay on her back, a puddle of blood slowly seeping out from a knife wound in her chest. Mila gasped for breath and smiled weakly at Layna.
“Well,” she wheezed, pausing as a fit of coughing overtook her. A dribble of blood started at the corner of her mouth. “That was not a very polite visit.” Layna held her hand over her mouth, blinking away tears. She reached her other hand towards Mila in an effort to do something, preparing to reach for the power despite her lack of training.
Mila saw her pain, and even in her own agony tried to soothe her. “Hush, child, it simply was my time. Please don't bother trying to heal me, unfortunately the little snake has good aim. You can't do anything. Not yet, anyway.” She smiled, a bright red stream flowing down her cheek. “Don't worry about me, I'm off to a better place...” Her voice faded out, and her head fell limply to the side as the life left her.
Layna sank to her knees in anguish beside her, oblivious to the fire which had started raging around her. She let out a long wail, weeping for the loss of a friend and an innocent person. It’s all my fault, she never would have been in danger if it hadn’t have been for me. And Gryffon…She rocked back and forth, her hands over her face, sobbing uncontrollably. Flames started to lick at her dress and her sleeve caught fire, painfully jolting her back to reality.
She stood unsteadily and took hold of Mila's arms gently, trying to drag her outside, out of the fire, but she could not. Even if she could get her outside somehow, what would she do with her?
Layna stood amongst the roaring flames in indecision, not wanting Mila to bear the injustice of having the burning house crumble around her. The table caught on fire as flames licked the oil that had been poured there, and Layna was reminded of a funeral pyre. She gathered her wits about her and gave Mila a parting kiss on the cheek before struggling to lift her body from the floor to the burning tabletop.
Once Mila's body was up on the table, Layna carefully arranged it, folding her arms on her chest. Taking a deep breath, Layna opened herself to the power. They had not had time to get very far in training her talent, but she knew enough that she could manipulate the fire. She very carefully imagined dipping her fingertips into the stream of power, and siphoned off a tiny amount. She used this to focus the flames on the table to incinerate Mila's body in a proper cremation. Tears flowed freely as she watched her friend and mentor slowly burn until all that was left was a pile of ashes on the table. Layna gathered these up in a jar that had so far escaped damage, and vowed to spread them somewhere that Mila would have liked.
Her panicked mind took over then, and she bolted upstairs, banging open drawers to hastily put together what few possessions she had. She flung open the window she had come in through, and glanced outside to make sure no one was watching. Once it was clear, she threw the bags down and then climbed down herself. She raced to the stables and thanked the Three that Axe and Fly were still there. Carolyn and Megan had wanted to walk this morning. She readied the horses in record time, putting their bags on Axe before hopping up onto Fly herself, and leading both out the back.
Layna watched in agony as the flames engulfed the house, and then jumped as suddenly a bright flash surprised her, causing her to step back involuntarily. A wisp of light came through with the smoke, rising slowly towards the heavens. Layna watched the light ascend and felt a calm spread over her, allowing her paralyzed mind to slowly creak back into motion. She realized with a panic that the streets were beginning to fill with shouting people as news of the fire spread. Layna took a step, and hesitated, indecision halting her once more. A voice seemed to whisper in the wind, Go, and Layna burst into motion.
She didn't know what else to do, so she led Fly towards the outskirts of the city, slowing to go through the side gates. She held her breath, praying for the gate guard not to stop her. He simply nodded at her crossing, however, and she nodded back tensely. She led the horses slowly for a good distance, forcing the appearance of calm, before allowing her terror to overtake her, and she gave them the reins.
They galloped off into the wilderness as Layna cried hysterically, dropping the reins altogether and allowing Fly to take her where he pleased. She was lost in a flurry of wild thoughts as panic totally overcame reason, the cold wind biting at her neck as it whipped her hair wildly around her in Fly’s swift flight.
In a short while, the horses slowed to a trot, and then a walk. Fly lowered his head as he sniffed around on the ground, pawing through the snow to try and find some food to forage. Axe had followed them as well, being battle trained as he was, and Layna sighed in relief at that small piece of good fortune.
Her breathing slowly became more even, and she forced her mind to pull herself together and think rationally. She had just let the horses go where they pleased, and now she was out in the middle of the woods on her own. The sun was getting lower and the temperature, though heading towards spring, was still dangerously cold at night. Layna prodded her thoughts in the direction of making a shelter and a fire and nothing else.
She hopped off Fly and tethered him loosely where he had been grazing, and then went to find wood. Luckily, the snow in the forest was thinner because of the trees and Layna was able to gather together an adequate pile of relatively dry wood. She put her hand over the pile and whispered the word that Mila had taught her, staving off a tear that threatened to form in her eye at the memory, and carefully reached for the power. A tiny flame burst into being within the pile, and soon her small fire was solidly burning. A far cry from the first time she had tried to make a fire she thought proudly.
She yanked her thoughts away from th
e painful direction they were once again trying to pull her in, and set about to find a bunch of pine boughs to lay on to sleep. As she was searching, she found a bunch of small rocks and she gathered these as well, setting them on the edge of the fire to warm. Soon she had enough boughs to make a relatively comfortable bed and she went to Fly's saddlebag. Inside, there was a portable water bag that Gryffon had thought of to always carry with them in case they needed water but couldn't get close enough to it themselves. She unhooked it and shook it out, the oiled leather forming a large bowl shape, and she stuffed it full of snow. She sat down with it next to the fire, holding it close to melt the snow while warming her hands as well.
She stared into the fire, finding its dancing flames mesmerizing, and she numbly took stock of her present situation. So, basically, I am all alone in the middle of nowhere with only the few belongings I was able to quickly grab while my former house was burning, my mentor brutally stabbed to death, and my best friend kidnapped by probably the same murderers who were doing who knows what to him at this very moment. Well, it couldn't get any worse, right?
Layna cringed at the thought, and looked up at the sky waiting for the Three to curse her with sleet or snow or something, but the night remained calm. She sighed. She would have to try and save Gryffon - she couldn't just leave him in the hands of those people. Not when he had already saved her from the same, and she...and I just can't leave anyone in their hands, she finished the thought.
No matter how hard she thought about it though, she had no idea how she was going to help him. She couldn't just walk into Jezebel's manor, she would be caught immediately. She knew the way around, of course, but she was sure that the other servants were under strict orders to report it at once if they caught sight of her. Despite their inclinations towards her, she was unsure that they would risk their own lives for her sake. All her imagined schemes ended with death or imprisonment, and soon Layna found herself yawning uncontrollably, her earlier hysteric energy completely drained.