Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(37)

Do no lose your temper. The witches had already captured many of the Alterants. “You can no stir this pot anymore, Flaevynn. Interfere with the beast championship and you’ll be dealin’ with Kol D’Alimonte. He’s no one to cross and far worse than his brother.”

“I have no intention of crossing him.”

“?’Tis why Kizira must be freed. Ya need her ta be your representative at the beast championship ta deal with D’Alimonte and ta convince the Alterants they want what we offer.”

“I have taken control of Tristan and can compel him to act on our behalf.”

“Trust someone who is no a Medb? No.” Cathbad kept his arms at his sides, where he would not start a battle by trying to choke the crazy woman. “Besides, ’tis you who should be wantin’ Kizira ta compel the five Alterants we hunt for.”

“Why?”

“They carry powerful majik that we must harness, but if there’s a problem the majik may backlash through the connection. We can no risk somethin’ happenin’ ta ya.”

Flaevynn spun around, eyes thinned with suspicion. “Then she would suffer the backlash.”

He had to answer with plenty of arrogance and make this believable. “Aye.”

“Why would you risk that with your darling child?” She sneered the word child.

“For one thing, I believe either of ya can handle the backlash.” Then he chuckled in a cunning way to sell his next comment. “But let’s be honest. This is about survival. If we do no fulfill the prophecy—”

“Curse,” she corrected.

Semantics. “If we do no fulfill the curse, you vanish first, Kizira dies next, then I disappear a day later. If it comes down ta you or her, who do ya think I’ll be choosin’?”

He waited as his logic pecked at Flaevynn’s resistance, but he had given an argument she could not dispute. There had been many times over the centuries that he sided with Flaevynn against Kizira, all for this moment when he had to convince the shrew they were partners in this.

She lifted her hands in the air, her eyes glowing as if on fire. Sure signs she’d capitulated.

Flaevynn held out her hand and pointed at a spot between the two of them.

In the next moment, Kizira materialized on her knees, looking as if she’d been dragged through a field of jagged glass—a beautiful girl with raven hair and soft green eyes who would make a powerful queen if Flaevynn had not denied her the right to succession. Clothes torn, skin flayed open in places with blood seeping out and face haggard from the ordeal.

Cathbad bit down on the urge to snarl at Flaevynn, who had clearly done this to Kizira to strike back at him, and called her forth in this condition to see if he really would sacrifice his daughter.

Kizira held her head up, a proud and defiant gaze turned to Flaevynn.

Ah, child, do no be makin’ this more difficult. To keep her from speaking up and setting Flaevynn off, Cathbad asked Kizira, “Ha’ you learned your lesson, child?”

She twisted to him, eyes shocked for a moment until what light had been there dimmed. He’d suffer her disappointment for any hope of saving her.

Looking to Flaevynn, he asked, “Did ya take away her tongue?”

“No, she did not,” Kizira answered. “What do you two want now?” She pushed to her feet, wobbly but proud, and swung back to Flaevynn. “Because you wouldn’t call me back unless you needed me for something.”

Flaevynn’s face brightened, a sure indication of a cruel thought. “Cathbad claims you’re bright, although going against me undermines that claim.”

Kizira didn’t respond, which only encouraged Flaevynn to fill the void. “We’ve come up with a way to locate Alterants quickly, something far more efficient and foolproof than your ideas. Cathbad can fill you in on the details. He pointed out a risk to me I hadn’t considered. A witch must link to the Alterants we’re capturing and take control of the beasts in order to compel them. Five will be extremely powerful, the kind of power that could rival ours, which means there’s a chance they could drive that energy back through the link to their master.”

Kizira perked up. “Afraid of your new toys?”

“Fear has nothing to do with it,” Flaevynn answered with chilling softness. “This is about winning. I will compel you, then you will form a link with the Alterants and compel them. As Cathbad pointed out, of the three of us I am the most valuable and you are the most expendable.”

Turning slowly, Kizira faced Cathbad.

He had expected hurt and accusation of betrayal to line her gaze, but a cold wash of anger swept aside any other emotion. That worked best for now. He would explain to Kizira later.

“But be forewarned, Kizira,” Flaevynn said, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. “If I so much as suspect you trying to usurp me in any way, you will die slowly and painfully. Your value to me has run its course. Your choice. Do you return to the dungeon to finish out what time you have left, or will you perform your duty as a Medb priestess?”

“Tough choice. I may have to phone a friend.”

Tiny blue-and-yellow lightning bolts flashed with energy, snapping around Flaevynn. “Do you think I’m joking?”

Cathbad shook his head. Spare him from sharp-tongued women in his next lifetime. “Stop it, you two. Ya want the same thing we do, Kizira. Freedom from this.” He hoped his last comment broke through his daughter’s haze of anger to remind her of their last conversation.